Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-03-27
MILWAUKEE REPUBLICANS
Pledged to Amend the Bennett Law
or Enact New One.
The Policy of the Next Campaign
Settled at Milwaukee.

MILWAUKEE, Marcn 22.-The republic
can city convention was called to order to-
| day at o'clock, by W. P. McLearen, at
Robert Chivas hall. After electing
committee on credentials. Henry c. Paine,
chairman of the state central committee,
addressed the convention as follows:
LAS is well known to you all, there has
been carried ON for several months in the
newspapers of the state, somewhat earn
est and sometimes an Incorporate discus
sion over the compulsory education law
passed by the last Legislature, known as
the Bennett law.
The continued agitation of the subject
seemed for time to threaten the harmony
and unity of purpose which for many years
has prevailed within the ranks of the re-
publican party In our state.
1.-The continued employment of large
numbers of children under IA years of age
in our workshops and factories, and the
failure of thousands of children to attend
any school whatever, seemed to call for the
enactment of legislation looking to the
amelioration of this condition.
st is stated that there are more than
fifty thousand CSC, 000) children in our state
today under IA years of age who during
the last year have attended no school what
ever, public, private or parochial As |
said before, many are employed in factor
les and workshops. Many are denied school
privileges by reason of poverty, and
through negligence or indifference of par
ents. For these the state should inter-
pose and provide a way to give
them such an education as shall fit
them to become useful and intelligent
.itizens of the commonwealth But in
the exercise of this undoubted right of
compulsory education, care should be
taken that the state does not infringe
upon those rights of conscience and per-
sonal liberty guaranteed to all by our con-
stitution
g No state in the Union has more COM
poslte population than Wisconsin. Nearly
every nation in Europe has contributed to
this result.
''These people leave their homes and
their kindred, emigrating to our shores,
where they hope to gain for themselves
and their children position and compe-
tence, which they can never attain in the
old world.
Their first efforts are directed toward
gaining knowledge of the language of
the country, and to educate their children
able citizens of the commonwealth. have
yet to find the first foreign-born citizen, be
he German, Norwegian, Polish or what
not who is not only willing but anxious
to learn the English language.
Hence it has been the policy of the re-
publican party to seek by a suitable legis-
lation to aid in assimilating these various
elements into harmonious body, and the
result has been marvellous
'Mr. President, | will read short ex-
tracts received from several gentlemen
who have participated in the discussion
referred to, and whose opinions reflect the
different views held by republicans upon
the subject under consideration.
Mr.. Payne then read several extracts
from articles antagonistic to the Bennett
law and resumed:
Therefore | present to the convention
and move the adoption of the following
statement of principles:
I'm the education of the children of the
republic lies the safety of our free institu-
tons.
eve believe in the public schools, and
are proud that our state has come to justly
rank with the foremost of the states, so far
as it's schools and educational institutions
are concerned.
1--WE wish to see no backward step tax
en-, but rather that all our educational
agencies shall be advanced to even high
er standard.
'We believe, moreover, that no child
should grow up without being taught to
read and write in the English language,
nor without being educated in the prin-
ciples and history of our government.
I'VE endorse without reserve, that pro-
vi cir of Low yUl,Io o., 70
child labor, and to place children under
IA years Of age in schools, where they may
be educated and trained and the founda-
tions laid for intelligent and useful citi-
zenship.
$50 far as the so-ca'led Bennett law
may be considered as involving the rights
of the state to make and enforce suitable
legislation to secure compulsory educa-
ton, including the requirement of read
ing and writing in the language of the
country, it has our cordial assent and APP
probation.
| 1--WE affirm the natural ard inherent
right of the parent to the selection of the
| school in which his child shall be educated,
and any provision of this law which are at
variance with this principle, we believe to
be against sound public policy and an in
| frlngement of those traditions touching
personal liberty, and the rights of con-
science, in which our people have been
educated, and to which they solemly adj
here.
'The rights of conscience, and the
rights of worship, according to individual
preferences are sacred rights, and the re-
publican party will be the last to question
| this vital maxim.
eve therefore believe that the law
should be amended or a new law enacted
in accordance with the principles herein
set forth
MILWAUKEE, March 22.-The republic
can convention this afternoon renomin-
ated Thomas H. Brown for mayor; Alder
man Theobald OJen, for comptroller; Ex-
alderman Fred Heiden, for city
treasurer, and Eugene S. Elliott, for
city attorney, 1t adopted the platform
indorsing the Bennett law, which Brown
assented to in his speech of acceptance.
The democrats will probably indorse David
s. Rose, the nominee of the citizens con-
vention for city attorney.
SPARKS FROM THE WIRES.
P. C. McConkey, proprietor of the
Windsor hotel, and Charles Graham, en-
ploye of the Caligraph newspaper, shot
and killed each other early Yesterday,
Red Lands, Cal. jealousy is supposed
have been the cause.
Judge Barnett at New York, has de-
ferred action until Friday in consequence
of the position of Sheriff Flack and the
ot of ,,,fo ~