Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-06-26
M. Fl. MeCord on the BennettLaw

Our congressman has written a
letter to Mr.. Wheelock, Of Med
ford, in which he leaves no doubt
IS to where he stands in reference
to the Bennett Law. Read it, here
it is:
Washington, May 80, 80.
Mr.. z. 7. Wheclock,
Medford, Wis.
MY DEAR SIR.-Your esteemed
favor of the 18TH inst. came duly
to hand Replying thereto permit
me to say: think l am IN accord
with the public sentiment of Wis,
on the Bennett law; I think | am
in accord with the sentiment ofthe
great body Of the republican party
who l believe are firm supporters
of the principles of that law, and
whether this is SO or not. / know
l am right, for there can be no
doubt but the principles Of the law
are right and in the interest of
good government. The principle
embodied in that law is the great
underlying strata upon which the
fabric of our government rests.
A government whose foundation
&ests entirely upon the ballot of
its citizens must prepare those citi-
zens to cast their ballot intelligent
ly. Failing to do this the found
alton must necessarily crumble
and the fabric eventually fall.
The law was not designed to
interfere with private or parochial
schools, or the right Of any body
to patronize such schools, but it
was intended to see that every
child between the ages of seven
and fourteen, attend some school
where certain branches are taught
in the English language, for
certain time each year, and such
provision is right and necessary,
and the republican party and all
good citizens should stand up and
be counted for it. II the law is
unnecessarily harsh or restrictive
in any of its provisions those pro-
visions may very properly be
amended or repealed.
But the principle Of compulsory
education is absolutely necessary
to the prosperity of our govern
ment and it is the duty Of all good
citizens to see that it is maintained;
no matter if it be at the cost of
temporary political power and
control in our state and nation.
The democratic party in the past
have repeatedly shown willing
ness to adopt almost any subter-
fuge by which it might hope to gain
power; embracing the soft money
plank of the greenback platform
in IS77; coquetting with the social
istic elements in 1885, 1886 and
1887, and now listening to the
song of those who oppose the
public schools; but it is incredible
to think that they will commit the
great folly of joining their fortunes
with a movement that while it
may promise temporary success is
sure to result eventually in igno-
minious defeat and disgrace Our
Lutheran friends who are good
and patriotic citizens are as firmly
in favor of a compulsory school
law as any body, and when they
learn as they certainly will that
there is no disposition on the part
Of the republican party to interfere
with their private schools, they
/, will again be the same staunch
consistent earnest republicans they
have ever been. In cnacting this
law the republican party as repre-
sented in the observation-disclosures
it has not passed as party meas
ure-had no more idea they were
attacking the private school than
they were attacking the public
school, nor have they now in up
holding the law. They meant to
enact a compulsory education law
by which every child in the state
between the ages of seven and
fourteen, should be compelled, if
necessary, to attend some school
for at least twelve weeks III each
year where the English language
IN the common branches is taught,
and that they mean to maintain.
This is all there is to the Bennett
law and any action or party mimi
cal to this principle is inlmical to
the welfare of the state and nation.
Yours truly,
NJ. II. McCord.
Senator Sherman has introduced
-, SI,o C,.o&, III, r,-,o LII g. ~, :,