South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-18
HAGERTY ALONE
AGAINST GERMAN
LANGUAGE BAR
Upper House Spends Entire
Afternoon Considering
Foreign Language
Measure.

AfNtlNtu anu passed a new anu Ter
man language bill, prohibiting the
teaching Of any foreign language or
foreign subject in elementary.
parochial or private schools. The
bill does not apply to high schools
inasmuch as this feature was cover
ed in bill passed by the senate and
now before the house. The vote on
the new bill was 81 TO 1. Sen. Charles
Hagerty. South Bend, opposing IT,
Sen. John Decker, Button, was alb
sent.
The entire afternoon was spent in
considering the bill and several
amendments were offered to change
the phraseology and one amendment
adopted added another section to
provide that if the supreme court
should hold any part of the bill un-
constitutional. the other sections
would still be valid
Sen Franklin McCray introduced
the bill, after Lieut.. Gov. Bush open
ed the session with a speech III
which he deplored the delay Of the
legislature in enacting other pend
ing anti-German bills into laws
Bush said that the bill was drawn
by himself and McCray to assure
that any legislation on this subject
was absolutely right" He referred
TO the quibbling over the Negley-
Alldredge bill, applying the anti
German doctrine to the common
schools and the Lowe house bill
placing parochial and private schools
under the same regulations. He in
directly took exception to the three
weeks delay Of the Negley-Alldredge
bill in the lower house and the house
delay on the Lowe bill.
There is an insidious serpent
abroad in this land" Bush warned
I'VE have seen the trail this serpent
leaves and ] believe II is presen.
even in this legislature"
Opening his speech. Bush read
petition from $50 residents of Sey-
mOur Of German extraction, who de-
manded action on tho pending legis-
latiOn against the teaching Of the
German language. Immediately fol-
lowing the speech, which was greet
ed with applause from the floor OF
the senate and the visitors gallery.
the lieutenant governor recognized
Sen. McCray for introduction OF the
bill
Fundamentals I'm English.
The bill is not intended or con-
strued in any way to interfere in any
degree with any religious sect as TO
its form Of worship, catechism. or
any other manner in which people
Sen. McCray explained. ct
applies only to the fundamentals Of
education, that they be i'm the Eng
lish language and not in German"
During Sen. McCrays speech the
Negley- bill and the Lowe
bill. passed by the house last Thurs
day. were transmitted to the senate.
but they were ignored and probably
will be considered tomorrow. The
McCray bill. to be known as senate
bill 276. will be transmitted to the
house early tomorrow
There was some fight on suspend
ing the rules, some senators wanting
until TOMORROW TO consider the bill
before they voted on II.
Sen. Negley was joined by Sen.
Kline in asking that the Negley-
bill. which was amended
by the house. be considered. This.
Sen Masters contended, would not
conform to the demand Of the pub
lie. and he characterized the bill as
the biggest joke that has ever been
perpetrated on the people OF Indi-
ana"
No Opposition Over State.
He said the Negley-Alldredge bill
was not drastic enough and that the
new bill would answer the purpose.
Masters unsuccessfully tried to
amend the new bill to make II more
drastic. Negley. answering this. said
no opposition had developed over the
state to his bill and declared that
the motion 70 suspend the rules was
'born OF panic"
Regretting that he could not vote
for the first section. which applies 20
elementary schools. Hagerty defend
legislature should not enter re-
ligious schools or those maintained
by private money
Hagerty told OF the Polish inter
ests or St Joseph county and their
in the war. and said he
did not believe in the policy OF leg
islating them out Of the right 10 con
duct their education in the Polish
language
The senate adjourned about six
O'Clock until $40 o'clock tomorrow.
after having considered the anti
German bill since 2:15 O'Clock.
Lower House Interested.
More interest was manifest among
the members Of the lower house this
afternoon in the business before the
senate than that before them. and
little was accomplished in the three
hour session which was convened at
. O'Clock. The senate measure. pro-
viding for the creation OF a state de-
partment OF banking was the only
measure passed. IL was carried by
a vote OF "a 10 81. the democratic
members forming the bulwark OF the
along with nine republic
ans. including Reps. Rowbottom.
Smith, Grayson. Day. Delaplan.
Hare. Jinnett. Lowe and Sambor.
Building and loan associations
throughout the state made final
effort oefore the session was con