Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1890-10-11
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law, and prOnOunCes that measure just
and necessary, The league was formed
by Hugh Ryan and w. H. Timlin, two
leading Democratic LAWYERS of Milwau-
kee, and embraces fully a thousand
patriotic Democrats, who live in all
parts of the state. The text of the adj
dress is as follows.
To OUR FELLOW DEMOCRATS: There
are times when blind allegiance to party
leaders becomes treason to party, to the
state, to reason and to conscience. We be-
lieve 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 choosing between submission
to the unwarrantable dictation of leaders
and their duty to the party, the state ana
themselves. To ascertain it this be true,
let us examine the situation.
THE BENNETT LAW.
In 1889 the Legislature of this state en-
acted q statute (Ch. 619, Laws 1889, COM
monty known as the Bennett law, law
which has been widely discussed and gross
ly misrepresented, but which comparative
" few persons have read. Omitting that
portion of it relative to child-labOr in fact
cries, etc., as to the wisdom of which there
is no dispute, it's provisions are briefly as
follows: ..:
|. That all children between the ages of
Z and IL years must Except as hereinafter
provlded), be sent to school for a certain
number of weeks in each year, the number
to be fixed by the School Board, and 20 be
not less than twelve nor more than twenty
four weeks.
2. That no school shall be deemed one
within the meanlng Of the law unless read
ing, writing arithmetic and United States
history be taught therein in the English
language.
g. That those who wilfully and persist
eEtly dis0bey the law may be prosecuted,
but only by authority of the School Board,
before Justice OF the peace, and shall, if
convicted, pay certain fOrfeitures or penal
ties 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 satisfac-
ton of the School Board q. 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 common
ly taught in the public schools; G. that
such child has already acquired such ele-
mentary branches; or, d. that the physical
or mental condition of such child is such as
to render it's attendance ineXpedient or
impracticable.
S. That any child between the ages of 9
and IA years, who, without the leave and
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
question or doubt its correctness, we beg
them not to accept the bald statements of
the laws opponents, but to carefully read
the law itself.
We believe the true grounds of their de-
nunciation of this law have never been
stated by it's opponents; that they dare not
make public the real motive and animus of
their opposition But chief among their
ostensible objections are the following:
OBJECTIONS URGED AGAINST THE LAW.
|. That it compelS parents, etc.. to send
their children to a school within the dis
trict In which they reside.
2. That it is an attack upon or an I'M
warrantable interference with parochial
schools.
3. That it denies to those prosecuted for
its violation the right of trial by jury.
4. That 1t is unconstitutional.
5. That it is 'paternal."
ANSWERS TO THE DIRECTIONS
These objections can only be urged either
by those who have not read and do not un~
derstaud the law, or by those who are inter
eSted in wilfullv misrepresenting it. We
will consider them separately.
l. 1t is true that the first section provides
that the parent, ETC., shall cause his child
to attend a school In the district in which
he resides. but this objection is wholly re-
moved by the neAt section, which, as above
shown, eXempts from such attendance any
child TO whom construction has otherwise
been given for like period of time i'm the
elementary branches commonly taught in
the public schools" leaving the parent ab-
solutely at liberty to send his child to
school wherever he pleases or have him
educated at home if he prefers, pro-
vided he in any manner causes such child
TO receive, at any school or place. the re-
Qulred amount of instruction. mart of