The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-08-26
SENATOR PAGE WAKES UP
ii LAST MOMENT aNG !.
REEVES VOCATIONAL BILL
Let's II Remain on Calendar for
Long Time. Then Asks Ac-
ton Which Is Impossible
LOUD CRY FOR MEASURE
People in Many Sections Had
Requested Legislation on
Industrial Education.
by gibson GARDNER.

WASHINGTON, Aug. Eo.-lne No'
catlonal education hill advocated by
Senator Page. OF Vermont, has been
atsthe top OF the senate calendar for
exactly six months. AT any time IL
was. In order for Senator Page TO
mako. it the order OF business and
ask FOR It's consideration. At the sug-
gestion Of his colleagues-notably
Senator'S Lodge, Smoot, Gallinger and
Root--the Vermont senator permitted
his bill TO remain on the calendar
while they considered things in which
they were interested. During the
closing days OF the session, when
Page mildly asked that his bill be
brought forward all the old members
OF the senate came down on him like
q load OF bricks.
In the congressional proceedings
for Aug 10, six pages are taken up
by Lodge, Oyerman and Smoot, tell
ing why the Page bill ought net 10
be pressed at the present time. Lodge
got q sudden attack OF states
rights" and feared for the insidious
attack on the federal treasury. His
argument would have sounded we'll
In the mouth OF some Bourbon Demo
crat. Oyerman toll Page II was not
chubby to press his bill. He told the
senate that as a fellow-boarder he
had urged upoI Page that ii would be
indiscreet 10 bring forward this bill
az the present time. Said Overman:
81 live n the same hotel with the
senator from Vermont and / have
conyersed with him about II and ad-
WEED against this course. l believe
he Is injuring the prospects for his
bill. co not believe there are a
dozen senators upon this floor who
wart the bill to be taken up at this
time
Senator Lodge discovered some
thing sinister in the way OF public
opinion behind the Page bill, Said
he.
Il have been here good many
years and know organized pressure
when see 1t brought to bear
Senator Page said that he had de-
voted all his vacation last sumper to
perfecting his vocational education
bill and had written between three
and four thousand letters to prom
inent. educators In all parts OF the
country. Mr.. Page noted the fact that
the bill had been endorsed by the
best-known educators In Massachu-
sests-Lodge's state. DR.. Snedden,
formerly OF California, now of Massa-
chusetts,. assisted In. perfecting the
bill II has been approved by the
National Association for the Promo
ton of Industrial education. and the
National Educational Association at
its recent convention passed resoIu-
tions endorsing IT, So did the Ma
tional Grange.
Judge McAdoo, chief magistrate OF
New York City. wrote to Page en-
dorsing the bill, and adding:
The criminal ranks OF this city
are being recruited largely from the
boys and girls. who, at II, 13 and Ia
years OF age. passed out into the city,
some OF them as bootblacks, some as
newspaper boys. some as messenger
boys, some In one occupation, some
In another. They are drafted into
cheap and oftentimes criminal man
ho0o largely because they are not be
Ing cared for in proper school"
Senator Page suggested that the
welfare of the country's children was
probably as important business as
the senate might consider. He was
willing to allow the bill to be post.
poped IL the senate leaders would
promise q definite date for vote next |
December. Owing To The. opposition
Of Smoot even this was denied.
That strong blur will sometimes
be called, is shown by the experience
Of Richars W. Austin, OF Tennessee.
Mr.. Austin appeared in the house as
the advocate Of water power legisla-
ton. During It's discussion he be-
came nettled at the insinuation OF
Mr. Rainey, of Illinois. that he might
be interested In the water power pro-
Ject under consideration. So he got
very loud as to voice and red as TO
face and told the house that IL any
body could show that In any remote
way he was connected with the water
power trust, OF as a congressman had
served that interest he would resign
his seat. whereupon Rainey began
to look up Austtn's record and in the