The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-08-18

then countermarched To Fergusouiz
theatre where the visitors made addresses
and volunteers carried out program OF
vocal and instrumental music.
The program was opened by the Grant
Band, which rendered one of its choicest
selections in its usual artistic manner
after which Chairman William II bet
trey introduced Jr. Past State Councillor
Raymond. The gentleman was cordially
received by the large audience His re
marks were very brief. He dwelled upon
the tact that Notwithstanding the hard
times the membership of the Jr O. L. A.
NJ. had made a great increase throughout
the country and that in Pennsylvania
alone there are 100000 members, showing
hard work on the part of the order; and
In this work Shenandoah played leading
part Mr.. Raymond said Schuylkill
county has many striking characteristics.
One Of them is the great number of pa
trlOtlc people who have enrolled them
selves as members of the various patriotic
organizations within its borders. Mr..
Ray mond closed by complimenting Jen-
niugs Guards on its general appearance,
march and drill, The address was very
favorably received.
After singing by the Jennings glee club
which was given applause that required
an encore, State Councillor Kerr was
introduced and he was enthusiastically
received. Mr. kerr's great fight i'm the
interests of the public schools has brought
him into national prominence and where
ever he has appeared on his tour through
the state large crowds have received him
cordially.
Mr. Kerr spoke about three-quarters Of
an hour, basinR his discourse upon three
topics-immigration, the public schools
and naturalization. He denounced unre-
stricted immigration in most vigorous
terms and pointed out the evils which
must follow. We have protection on a
thousand things, he said, but there is one
thing on which there is not bit Of pro
lection, and that is American labor. II
it is logical for the manufacturers TO have
a tariff on the class of goods they manu-
taCture, it is equally true that The men,
whose only weapon of defense in this
country are the sinews, muscles and bones
of their arms, ought to receive protection,
There should be a system of protection to
cover the whole country, not one TO solely
tax the goods that come from the foreign
countries. letting labor in free of duty.
The Jr. O. L. A. NJ. proposes to agitate
this question until laws covering it shall
be passed.
On the question of naturalization, Mr..
Kerr said the Jr. o. L. A, NJ. protests
| against the existing methods, among
| them leaders of political factions seeking
certain people and rushing them to the
judges OF the courts to be naturaiized
| irrespective of their qualification 70 sneak
read, or understand the English lanpiaCe
| and their understanding of the princinIes
OF the American government and its laws
10 illustrate the evil of this Mr.. Kerr
pointed out case in Cambria county
where an important election was decided
by the votes of sixty men whose means OF
collecting their pay for labor was a com
parlson OF their brass checks with the paw
rolls FN'
Speaking of the public schools. Mr..
L - "a Ir q
have been obliged to take up the question
II the people elected to look after it had
properly performed their duty. The or.
ganlzatlon Is not fanatical on the uues-
| ton. 1t does not antagOniZe anyone ON
account OF his or her creed. 1t went into
the courts and applied for an Injunction
TO restrain the nuns from teaching in the
puDuc schools because it believed that no
sect, under whatever name has a RIGHT to
90 into the public schools. The Riverside
school, named because it is the 3ith ward
OF Plttsburg is built on the side of
Ihe ONO river; 1t has thirteen or four
teen rooms and is as fine a building
as any school house in the state.
But, strange as il may seem, wolfe the
children of the ward number sufficient to
NIL every room in the building, only three
We're occupied by public school children.
Within stones throw is a parochiaI
school building of three rooms and all
crowded. Was there any harm in allow
ing the parOchial school children with
their teachers, who are sisters of the
Order of St. Joseph, to occupy tho unoc-
cupied rooms of the other building There
was. The public school building was NOT
built for any particular denomination.
but for public school education. It mat
ters not whether there were twelve or
only half room unoccupied, no church
has right to go into the public school
and assume authority there. The public
schools of our land were intended by our
ioretathers to be non-sectarian. (Ap-
plause).
After more singing by the glee club the
audience dispersed and the state officers
were escorted to Robbins opera house.
where an ice cream festival was in pro-
gress under the auspices of the Jr. o. u. A.
NJ. While there the State Councillor was
presented with a handsome double ink
stand in behalf of Major Jennings Conn
ell The presentation address was made
by Mr.. Raymond. In responding Mr..
Kerr said he would remember his visit to
Shenandoah as the most pleasant during
his tour. To-day Messrs Kerr and Raw
mond visited the mines.