The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-10-02
THEY MUST BE BEATEN.
DEMOCRATS REGULATE THE
PARTY AND PLATFORM.

Organize Against the 1nIquItous RAT
form.
The Wisconsin Democratic Bennett
Law League has issued an address to
fellow Democrats, urging the OrganiZa-
tion of Democratic Bennett law clubs
in all parts of the State, and emphasizing
the necessity of defeating the State
Democratic platform and ticket "to
cleanse and purify the party and
strengthen it for future victories" The
league was organized by Hugh Ryan and
w. III. Timlin. Democratic lawyers in
Milwaukee, and already numbers sew
eraI hundred members scattered through
the State. The address is clear pres
entatiOn of the issue presented to Wis
consin voters this year and vigorous
arraignment of the Democratic party for
its opposition to the school law 1t 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 believe that
the Democrats OF Wisconsin are now CONFRONTED
bv such q crisis that the political conditions
Of the State campaign are such as to impose
upon them the grave necessity of choosing be-
tween submission to the unwarrantable dicta-
ton of leaders, and their duty to the party, the
State, and themselves To ascertain if this be
true, let examine the situation
THE BENNETT LAW.
In 1889 the legislature OF this State enacted
statute (ch. sig, Laws 1882, commonly known
as the Bennett law, q law which has been widely
discussed and grossly misrepresented, but winch
comparatively few persons have read. Omitting
that portion of it relative to chld-labOr in fac
tories, ETC., as to the wisdom of which there is
no dispute, its provisions are briefly as foIoWs
]. That all children between the ages of
twelve aud fourteen years must Except as here
matter provided be sent to school for certain
Of t1Q a
fixed by the school board, and to be not less
than twelve nor more than twenty-fOur weeks.
2 That no school shall be deemed one within
the meaning OF the law unless reading. writing,
arithmetic md United States history be taught
therein in the English language.
g. ThHt those who Will:ully and persistently
disobey the law may be prosecuted. but only by
authority of the school board. before Justice
of the Peace, and shall if convicted, pay certain
tOrfeitures and 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 n, that the parent or guardian is not
able to send such child to school; b, That in
struction has other wise been given for like
period of time to such child in the elementary
branches commonly taught i'll the puOnc
schools c. that such child has already acquired
such elementary branches or, d, that the phys
ical or mental condition of such child is such
RS to render its attendance 1neXped1ent or I'M
practicable.
s. That any child between the ages of o and t
years, who, without the ave and against the
VIII OF ms parent, guardian, etc, ma ntually
absents himself from the school to which he is
sent" ETC. may be arrested and dealt with as
truant child.
tal features OF the law; if any question or doubt
It's 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 denun-
citation of this law have never been stated by its
opponents that they dare not make public the
GAL mot n md an inns n
But chief among their OstensibIe objections are
the following:
OBJECTIONS URGED AGAINST t e LAW
]. That it cOmpels parents, ETC.. to send their
children to a school within the district in which
they reside.
q That it is an attack upon or an unwarrant-
able interference with parochial schools.
3. That it denies to those prosecuted for it's
violation the right of trial by Jury.
d. That it is unconstitutional.
s. That it is "paternal."
ANSWERS TO THE OBJECTIONS.
These objections Only be urged either by
those who have not read and do not understand
the law, or by tho who are intere ted in will
fully nIisrepresC .ng it. We will consider
them separately.
/ 1t is true that the first section provides that
the parent etc, shall cause his child to attend
n school in the district i'll which he resides but
this objection is wholly removed by the next
section. which, above shown, exempts from
such attendance any child to whom instruction
has otherwise been given for like period of
time i'll the elementary branches commonly
taught in the public schools, leaving the parent
absolutely at liberty to send his child to school
wherever he pleasea, provided he IN any mGa-
ner causes such child to receive, at any school
or place, the required amount of instruction,
part of which shall be given in the English Ian
guage
2. The nretense that the law attacks or. inter-
feres with pGrOchial schools has it's origin either
in ignorance or in dishonest intent 10 mistake
the facts.
The only shadow of q foundation for any such
claim is that the law requires that children be
tim in elem nnfaTU in
and that there are parOchial schools where the
language is an unknown tongue. There are
many who believe that English should be taught
in every school in the United States but this
law does not go so far as to apply that rule to
the State of Wisconsin Large sums are aunu-
ally paid ont of the school fund for teaching
German in the public schools aud it might not
seem altogether unreasonable to ask the paro-
chal schools to teach q little English; but this
is not done, the State having wisely refrained
from making any demand which might be con-
strued in any manner interfering with pri-
waite schools. Under this law, if parent
chooses to send his child to parochial school,
and the church sees fit to have All the instruc-
tion in such school impaired in foreign
tongue, so be it, only, in that case let the
citizen of an English-speaking State, shall
ceive. in some other school or at home, the
requisite amount of instruction in English.
and he Will have complied with the law. 1t is
at once absurd mOnstrous to accuse the
State of unlawful usurpation of power because
for its own self-protecti0n and to secure the
proper equipment Of it's children for the duties
of citizenship, it demands that such children
be taught to speak, read and write the legal
language of the State. 1t is hard TO believe that
any American citizen. whether of native or for
eign birth, can honestly and seriously object TO
a requirement so manifestly for the best inter
ests of both the child and the State.
g. The statement originated by the German
Republican Lutherans and shamelessly reiter-
ated in the Democratic State platform r. bid
for their votes that this law denies to those
prosecuted for it's violation the right of trial by
Jury is absolutely untrue. and can only be made
with dishon est intent to deceive those who have
not read the law The procedure under the law
is this: Suits to enforce the penalties imposed
bv the law can be instituted only by authority
OF the School Board men elected by the people
of the district except in some cities where
School Commits siOnerS are elected by the Com
mon CounciN, the person charged with violating
the law is given five days notice Of his default
before suit is begun and if, uIo1 the hearing of
anv such prosecution, it shall appear to the sat
isfaction of the court mot the School Board)
that before or after the receipt of such notice,
such person has caused his child to attend the
school as provided in the law. in good faith and
with intent to continue such attendance, then
the penalty shall not be incurred. But if no
such showing is made the prosecution proceeds.
before the Justice, and the defendant, in all
cases before a justice, may demand aud have a
jury.
4 The charge of uncons5itutionaEty is, pre-
sumablv, based upon the alleged denial of trial
bv iurv and falls to the ground with the dir :
11Tnval of that charge.