Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-12-12
Gov. Hoard and the Bennett Law,

The following letter written by
Gov. Hoard will place him right
in the eyes of the people of the
state, irregardless of the attempt
on the part of the Democratic
press to mis-represent him on this
question Here is his letter:
MADISON, Nov. II, I889.-MT
Dear Mr.. LuchSlnger. I am not
seeking to make the Bennett law
an issue in the next campaign.
IF it becomes the issue it will be
through the opponents of the law,
a portion of them, by manifesto,
having already declared their
hostility to any one who favored
the measure.
| have, l believe, as friendly a
feeling toward our German-Ameri-
can population as any man in this
country; and if did not believe
that the Bennett law would assist
in the advancement of their youth
| would certainly oppose its con-
tinuance on the stature books. ]
want the little German boy and
girl, the little Norwegian, the little
Bohemian and little Pole, the
children of all foreign-born parents
to have the same chance in life as
my children. Without a knowl-
edge of the English language they
cannot have this chance. This is
a very plain proposition, with
which | know you will agree. |
plead for these children of foreign
born parents for the reason that |
personally know many who were
born in this country who are
handicapped by ignorance Of the
language of the country. Should
not something be done to give
these bright young people an
opportunity to rise according to
the ability God has given them?
Advancement in life for them is
out of the question without a
knowledge Of the language of the
country.
| am confident that when the
Lutheran people come to look at
the Bennett law in its right light,
and study its provisions, they will
fail to see in it any menace to
their rights or tenets. 1t seeks to
interfere with no religion. 1t
simply requires that for a certain
number of weeks in each year
children must attend some school
where a certain amount of English
instruction is given. 1t does not
seek to abolish the parochial
school, or interfere with the teach
INC of German.
Let the opponents of the Bennett
law take a case that recently came
under my observation. A short
time since, Hon. R. M. La
Toilette caused a comparative
examination to be held for cadet
at West Point. A number of
candidates entered for the place,
some of whom had graduated at
the University of Wisconsin. An
impartial committee awarded the
prize, after a severe and critical
examination, to a German lad in
Grant county, whose education
had been obtained in the country
school, if | am not mistaken.
The boy had an equal chance with
the American boy, and he won.
No one reloices more at his
success than his American friends.
IF he had been deprived of the
English language, this opportun-
ity would have been lost to him.
| cannot believe that it would
be doing justice to the little boy
of the present, born of foreign
parents, to deprive him Of all
opportunities to become the peer
of the native born boy, by post
poning this question for score of
years; nor can | believe his father
or mother will think so when they
come to know just what the
Bennett law means. Of course
they love their children, and they
cannot wish to keep them down as
underlings by the side of the
Yankee boy, knowledge is
power" knowledge of the