New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-12
A NUT FOR BRYAN TO CRACK.
WHY DID HE VOTE AGAINST INSTRUCTION IN
ENGLISH IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
OF -MExICO7

WHY DID HE VOTE AGAINST INSTRUCTION IN
ENGLISH IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
OF NEw-MExIco7
Washington. Aug II (SpeciaD.-"Owing to cir
cumstences over which he had no control the
career OF the boy Orator OF the Platte IN the
House OF Representatives was comparatively
brief one In the opinion OF the leaders OF MS
party In Tint body. however. Including se'el"i
members OF President Cleveland's Cabinet the
marty would have been benefited II the career had
been shortened at least onc-half. But that Is
neither here nor there" Mr.. Bryan did some Things
during his stay In Congress which he himseii 10 INV
sorry for and would be glad to have oohtera'eu
and forgotten. For example. he would rejoice u
his votes on the proposed amendments OF the Dill
for the admission OF New-Mexico INTO inc Univ"
could be expunged from the record
That hill was pendinR In the House OF Repre-
sentatives In June, 1894 As reported from inc
Committee on Territories the bill required ina.
provision should be made FOR the estaohsn"'e"'
and maintenance Of a system OF puohc s.'oo'
which shall be open to all the chidreh Vi sa.u
State and free from sectarian control 10 'nis
provision Mr.. Smith, Of Illinois. who had oeen ioi
four years a member of the Committee on Terri
tories and who was thoroughly familiar with the
subject. offered this amendment: And In all OK
which public schools the English language shall
be taught"
Now every intelligent man. in Congress and out
of It. who had ever paid the least attention 10 the
subject knew that the amendment was wise ana
necessary one New-Mexico had been territory
of the United States for nearly half century
more than a generation-and yet In large poruo"
OF the Territory Spanish was practically the oh'y
language spoken OF taught IN the schools. II new.
Mexico was to become a state In the Union ~
seemed only important but vitai tnae , ei,o
English language should be taught IN the pubic
schools which were to be supported py grants VI
land from the United States. 1t did not so seem
prVa u
which rejected Mr.. Smiths amendment HIS AMI
mostly against everything Engsh-except Tree
trade-appeared 10 embrace his own mo,ti
tongue Ii was even stronger that that OF MT
Goldzier Of Illinois. Democratic memoer VINO
voted for the Smith amendment along WIN d
half dozen other Democrats and all the fopuhS.s
present The Republicans voted sohdy lot 'ne
amendment. , 49,, r.,ao,sd
Mr. Wilson of Ohio proposed one In mliueI
form which provided "for teaching the Engnsh
language as branch OF study In all pubic sch99 l
hut not to the exclusion Of other languages Inns
amendment was also rejected, and the name o. o.
William J. Bryan, Of Nebraska. was recordeu ~
the negative. BY this vote he placed hms s |
snuarely on record against the requirement tna'
The English language should be taught In the pup
lie schools of a new State of the united Sta.g -
which were TO derive their main support from .l'
proceeds OF public lands granted by the Ohi'eu
States. 49,, 49,. .r,org the
II is perhaps worth noting that among e en-
members who voted for the wilson amenuneene
were four who were American citizens OF io'e's"