CATHOLICS AND PROHIBITION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18673, 30 September 1922, Page 17

CATHOLICS AND PROHIBITION

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— One of your contributors asks why ’ I am restricted to saying mass privately. Why were Father Hayes and Father Cronin not allowed to say mass, even privately’ lam so well satisfied to say mass anywhere, even in catacombs if necessary, or behind a rock in the mountains, as was done in Ireland for long periods, that I have not inquired 'into any reasons for it. If the liauor trade is so eager to know, let its voluble spokesmen ask the proper church authorities., One possible reason may lurk behind a remote fear that some obstreperous and demonstrative adherents of ‘‘the trade” might, in some localities, break out into a mild sort of riot, should they suddenly and unexpectedly discover a prohibition priest saying mass. Let them get gradually used to such an edifying sight. Let them not forget that the persecuted at times turned Persecutors. Achibishop Ireland’s declaration that, since the liquor traffic cannot he reformed, the only way to deal with it is to abolish it entirely, never was in any of his written speeches.. It was delivered at a Cathoilo (ernnerance meeting in Minneapolis, _Minn. Father M. Mahoney, now parish priest at Mendota, Minn., was present, and made a brief report of it for a prohibition paper in New York. The famous quotation has been printed and reprinted a thousand times without any protest or correction from its author. The Anti-Saloon League, of which the archbishop was one of the vicepresidents, has it, in a number of its circulars. The New York World, quoted by one of my “wet” critics, is no more reliable on prohibition statistics than Lucifer explainthe state of grace in tho Garden of Eden. A letter dated June 3. 1922, signed by Michael Hughes, chief of detectives in the Police Department of Chicago, and addressed to Cantnin W. H. Hawkins, P.O. Box 1879, Wellington, says: ‘‘The total criminal complaints in 1919 in Chicago number 16,656; in 1921, only 11,666. Tho Chicago Crime Commission gives the following from official records: In 1919 Chicago had 250 murders; in 1921. ISO murders. In 59 large cities. _ including New York. Chicago, and Philadelphia, with a combined population of over 20 millions, arrests for drunkenness have decreased 65 per cent. Alcoholic cases in the Chicago House of Correction decreased from 1772 in 1918 to 150 in 1921. The weekly Health Department report for the City of New York shows 560 deaths from alcoholism in 1917; 86 in 1921.” 'Maybe ‘‘the trade” desires more facts, A letter, 1 dated May 23, 1922, written bv ,C. S, Young, secretary of the Police Commissioner of New York City, and addressed (o Captain W. H. Hawkins, says: “The total number of arrests for drunkenness in 1917 were 19,453: in 1921, 8169, The total number of 'major crimes in 1917 were 13,141; in 1921, 10.436.” _ According to official vital statistics. New York Citv had a death rate of 71 infants in 1000 in 1921. The average death rate of infants in Canada was 85 in the same year. In Montreal, the only Canadian city still cursed with the retail liquor trade, the infant death rate was 155. The infant death rate in Franco was 200 per 1000 infants. In 1921 the American people used from one-third to one-fourth more milk than in liquor days. Mothers now haye more food and clothing for their babies, are more comfort and less worry for themselves. “The trade” has small hope to save itself from the destructive wrath of the people next December. ■ Its spokesmen are pitiable in their ghastly attempt at Celtic humour where they protend to see somem-ng supremely funny in Mr Todd’s success in hindering them from turning the mass ink) a last rampart for their doomed business 1 am, etc., Georoe Zuhchei..