The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-10-02
Read what Democrats, Not Office
Seekers have to say.
TO OUR FELLOW DEMOCRATS.

There are times when blind allegiance
to party leaders becomes treason to par
ty, to the state, to reason and to con-
science. We believe that the Democrats
of Wisconsin are now confronted by such
crisis; that the political conditions of
the state campaign are such as to impose
upon them the grave necessity of choos-
ing between submission to the unwar.
rantable dictation of leaders and their
duty to the party. the state and them
selves. To ascertain if this be true, let
us examine the situation.
THE BENNETT LAW
In 1880 the legislature of this state
enacted a statute (ch. SIG, Laws 1885, J
commonly known as the Bennett law, a
law which has been widely discussed and
grossly misrepresented, but which COM
paratively few persons have read
Omitting that portion of it relative to
child labor in factories. ETC., as to the
wisdom of which there is no dispute, its
provisions are briefly as follows:
1. That all children between the ages
of seven and fourteen years must Except
as hereinafter provided). be sent to
school for a certain number of weeks in
each year, the number to be fixed by the
school board, and to be not less than
twelve nor more than twenty-four weeks.
?. That no school shall be deemed
one within the meaning OF the law unless
reading, writing, arithmetic and United
States history be taught therein in the
English language.
;. That those who wilfully and persis-
tently disobey the law may be prosecuted,
but only by authority of the school board,
before a justice of the peace, and shall,
if convicted, pay certain forfeitures or
penalties for the benefit of the school
fund
4. That any child shall be excused
from the attendance at school required
by the law, upon its being shown to the
satisfaction of the school board; a. that
the parent or guardian is not able to send
such child to school; b. that instruction
has otherwise been given for like period
of time to such child in the elementary
branches commonly taught in the public
schools; c. that such child has already
acquired such elementary branches; or,
a. that the physical or mental condition
of such child is such as to render its at
tendance inexpedient or impracticable.
5. That any child between the ages of
nine and fourteen years, who, without
the leave and against the. will of his
guardian, parent. etc, habitually absents
himself from the school to which he is
sent" ETC., may be arrested and dealt
with as truant child.
The above is a fair statement of all the
essential features of the law; if any ques-
ton or doubt its correctness, we beg
them not to accept the bald statements
in the laws opponents, but to carefully
read the law itself.
We believe the true grounds of their
denunciation Of this law have never
been stated by its opponents; that they
dare not make public the real motive and
anlmus of their opposition. But chief
among their ostensible objections are the
following:
OBJECTIONS URGED AGAINST THE LAW.
1. That it compels parents, etc, 20
send their children to school within the
district in which they reside.
,. That tits an attack upon or an I'M
warrantable interference with parochial
schools.
;. That it denies to those prosecuted
for its violation, the right of trial by jury.
4. That it is unconstitutional.
5. That it is "paternal."
ANSWERS TO THE OBJECTIONS.
These objections can Only be urged
either by those who have not read and do
not understand the law, or by those who
are interested in wilfully misrepresenting
it. We will consider them separately.
/. 1t is true that the first section pro-
vides that the parent, etc. shall cause
his child to attend a school in the district
in which he resides, but this objection is
wholly removed by the next section.
which, as above shown, exempts from
such attendance any child to whom 'in-
structon has ofAe,soiss been given for
like period of time in the elementary
branches commonly taught in the public
schools" leaving the parent absolutely
at liberty to send his child to school
wherever he pleases. or have him eduoat-