The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-29
Smith CARD BILL PASSED
Receives a Large Majority Of Votes
in the State Senate.
A PROTEST FROM MENNONITES
Delegation from the Sect Calls Upon
Governor Hastings Upon
the Qucstion-Spccches by Sen.
ator Vaughan and Others.
Special to the Scranton Tribune.

Special to the Scranton Tribune.
Harrisburg. Pa. May 2S.-The gal
leries of the senate today pre-
sented an unusual sight. More than
fifty Mennonites from Lancaster county
We're seated there. The men were clad
in the plain attire that marks this de-
nomination, and the women, their old
Fashioned poke-bonnets removed, wore
little white muslin caps. and caps and
dresses of sober black, drab or brown.
They were there to protest against
the passage of the Smith religious garb
bill. which was a special order for
IL o'clock. There was n large attend
ance of spectators, the floor of the SEN
ate being crowded, and the senators
We're present in force.
At the close of the morning session
| the Mennonites were escorted to the
executive department by the senator's
and representatives from Lancaster
county and introduced to Governor
Hastings. Short addresses We're made
by Bishops Brubaker and Eby. They
| appealed to the governor not to consid-
er the bill from a political standpoint,
but from q religious standpoint. If 1t
| becomes law 1t would drive the men,
| bers of their sect out of the schools as
| teachers. Governor Hastings said he
was proud to be presented to such a
delegation of men and women. He was
glad to see them and promised to give
. the bill very careful consideration when
1t came before him for his action. He
would remember what the bishops had
said, and would try to do his duty in
the matter.
The friends of the bill were by no
means missing during the proceedings
of the senate. Representatives Smith
and Spanger, the champions of the
measure in the house, mingled with the
| senators urging them not to be in
| fiuenced against the measure by the
presence of the Mennonites EX-State
Councillors Buser and Raymond, of the
| junior Order of United American Me-
chanics, and other members Of the legis-
lative committee of the order were on
hand. John w. German, of this city, a
leading member of the Patriotic Order
Sons of America, and other representa-
tives of the patriotic societies were pres
ent to encourage the senators who were
pledged to its support.
The debate on the bill was opened by
Senator Kaufman, of Lancaster. He
said the opposition to it was not con-
fined to any single denomination. He
had received letters from members Of
the Christian Endeavor society, the Ep-
worth league, the Brotherhood of An
drew and Philip and the Society and
Brotherhood of st. Andrew, protesting
against its passage. But he particular
ly spoke in behalf of the $4,000 Mennon-
ties and Dunkards of the state, IL, 900 of
whom live in Lancaster county. They
were a people Who were never in the
almshouse, never in Jail and never went
to law.
Senator Kaufman protested against
the passage of the bill because it pre-
vented the wives and daughters of the
| Mennonites and Dunkards from teach
| ing in the public schools unless they
| took off their caps and cape, which We're
the emblems of their religion, purity
and piety. 1t had been argued that the
bill would not apply to them. Then let
that be specified in it's provisions. 1t
had been argued that 1t would never be
enforced against them, but they were
too conscientious to apply for teach
er's position in violation of law. 1t was
serious question, question of hearts
and homes, and too high and holy to
be settled on grounds of political policy.
The senator appealed to his colleagues
not to put such a bill on the statute
| books.
| Mechanics Heard From.
Senator Green, of Berks, said he had
| resolutions in favor of the bill from
lodges representing / Zoo members of
the Junior Order of United American
| Mechanics in his district. He thought
these people were needlessly alarmed
at stories of sectarian attacks on the
| public schools. Any man or set of men
who would dare to attempt TO tear down
that system should be branded as a
traitor. But it was not menaced, and
it was too firmly intrenched in the peo-
pies hearts to be successfully attacked
Senator Green reviewed the Gallitzin
case at length. and read from the opin-
| ion of the supreme court to show that
the bill was unconstitutional. He said
no Democrat in the senate would vote
for 1t and that If 1t passed the time
would come when the people would be
ashamed OF 1t, as are the people of
Massachusetts when told of the burn
ing of witches in Salem 200 years ago.
Senator Finn, of Allegheny, said the
most of Senator Green's arguments
were ridiculous. For himself he be-
longed to no patriotic order. He had
been bitterly opposed to the bill as it
came from the house. But it was now
a proper bill and should pass Whether
1t affected these people present, or any
| othCi pass.
Some years ago Catholic minister in
Pittsburg, one of his best friends and
member of his party, became principal
Of one of the public schools Though
this was as but grain OF sand upon the
| seashore, he could recall nothing that
had aroused deeper sentiment in that
city.
The Allegheny senator said If this
bill were not passed the schools would
get where they never should go, and
that was into politics. If this bill
failed another would come up. Per-
haps 1t would be attempted to uni
form the teachers. He believed it
would be right to do anything to keep
religion and politics out of the public
school question. This bill was a con-
servative measure. 1t placed no pen
atty upon the teacher, and 1t should
become a law.
Senator vaughnn's Speech.
Senator Vaughan, of Lackawanna,
4 4l.r.A LII