Catholic General

The Klan fight by no means ended at the Democratic Convention in Manhattan. Frank X. Schwab, who is not a steel man but Mayor of Buffalo and Supreme General of the Knights of St. John (Catholic), addressed his order at a business session. Partly he denounced, partly he seemed to threaten. Said he:

"I want to ask you with all sincerity to advance with all your power the military department of our order. This department, I believe, is more essential now than ever.

"God only knows if the time is not coming when our country, as well as our Church, will have to be protected against the un-American organization which is now becoming so strong in this country.

"We have seen within the last ten days the power that they have already developed. They are working underhanded whenever an opportunity presents itself. They are not true Americans or they would not have to cover their faces, and they would let the people of this country know who they are and what their ideals are."

He also denounced "the six greatest evils" of the day. These, according to his enumeration, are: "Divorce, race suicide, the public dance halls ('some dances,' said he, are 'soul-killing in the extreme'), the narcotic-drug habit, the hip-pocket flask, and the automobile-brothel."

The Klan would agree with him in denouncing all these objects, possibly qualifying the objurgation of divorce. The Klan probably would also be at one with Mayor Schwab on the question of "a strong military department."