Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-25
CHURCH SCHOOLS.
No Money for Them in the Indian
Appropriation.
LINTON OF MICHIGAN THE LEADER

In Fight In the House Committee a the
Whole Against Giving Money to sect.ri.n
Schools for the Rcd ChIldren-Friends OF
the Gin Mako Appeals In vain-Comsnent
% the Marquette stasas-senass Listens
- . Morgan Serial
WAsHrNGToN, Feb 25-The house in
committee Of the whole, after a very inter
estinR debate, by q vote of 90 to "a. decided
that none Of the appropriations Of the
Indian appropriation bill for Indian
schools should 60 to sectariaa schools. The
only sectarian schools to which money
now goes arc Roman Catholic in denom-
ination, and the fight yesterday was led
BY Linton, . Michigan man. who is the
most pronounced and openly avowed A.
p. A. member on the floor. In last years
bill the appropriation was cut down p
per cent, with the understanding that it
should be cut down 20 per cent each year
until It ceased at the end OF five years.
The committee on Indian affairs pursuing
that policy this year recommended that
this appropriation be again reduced 30
per cent, but Linton moved an amend
ment to the effect that no portion Of this
appropriation should go to sectarian
schools.
Predicts Disaster for His OpponentA
tributed the defeat Of many members two
years ago TO their refusal to abolish sec
tartan schools. But" said he. ''the
storm of ballots and the flood of indigna-
ton which overwhelmed them will be but
as a zephyr and rivulet compared with
what will happen IL congress persists in
shis policy" He had read great mass of
resolutions from churches and other
sources protesting against appropriating
money for contract sectarian schools.
Every member Of the house, Linton said,
knew that the pending bill carried $3.50, 600
for sectarian schools, every dollar of
which would go into the Golfers of one
church. Over 1900 children were educated
at these schools. 1t could not be argued,
he said, that these children would suffer.
Church Would Take Care Of Its Own.
The Roman Catholic church would take
care of its own. 1t was powerful enough.
1t had q right to, but not with public
money. 'It may be that am thought an
extremist on this subject" said he, ''but I
know 1 am right and know the people
are with me-" Both political parties, he
declared, were pledged to the complete
divorce Of church and state. He knew. he
said, the nature Of the pressure upon
members; he knew the lobby was ut work,
but that would not deter him from doing
his duty. He referred to the fact that
the state of Wisconsin had presented to
congress n statue Of Pere Marquette which
was soon to be set up in Statuary hall
He would be the first churchman there.
Gives the Members q Warming.
ut may he" he continued, that Father
Stephan imagines that at a time when
tho statue of Perc Marquette, ROBBED in the
gown Of u Jesuit priest and decorated with
the paraphernalia of his church, is to be
erected in tho nations sanctuary, made
holy by the presence Of the martyred Lin
coin, is a good time to force $3.50, 900 from
the hands of congress. But 1 warn him
that he is mistaken. and warn members
that the people will not tolerate such an
unconstitutional appropriation Of public
funds"