The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-08-16
SMITH-TOWNER BILLS NOT SUB
JEcTITo COMPROMISE.

The Smlth-IOWner educational bills
have elected considerable interest on
the part of those who think favorably
of them, and also on the part of the
opponents of these measures. Num-
erous protests have been sent to Sen
ators and Representative in Washing
ton in reference to these bills, and
some of the peoples representatives
have asked their constituents for rea-
sons for such protest. All the SEN
ators and Congressman have now been
supplied with a substantial argument
against these bills and their inherent
tendency through the medium of the
leafiet, For the Freedom of Educa-
tion," sent to them by the Central
Bureau of the Central Society. And
some of them are prepared to oppose
the tendency which these ills foster
Among the letters received by the
Central Bureau as result of the cir
culation of this leafiet there is one
from a Representative stating: "I am
inclined to agree with many of your
arguments against Capitalization of
SouSdtlOudl COuLlOl Allu L,
from a Senator from western State,
whose name is known to millions be-
yond the borders of his own State,
says: Replying to your letter, in
which you refer to the Smith-Towner
bills, will say that with my present
views am opposed to these measures.
There is too much Capitalization of
power in the Federal Government
these days, and every possible scheme
is suggested to rob the States of their
rights and to concentrate all power in
the National Government
Opposition against the Smith-Tow-
ner bills is also voiced in a resolution
adopted by the National Benedictine
Educational Association of America
recently in session at Peru, Ill. Points
3, and of the resolution read in
part:
SO. Power to create and control the
school depends on the power to con-
troll the money that creates the school.
a. Consequently, liberalization of
all school moneys, the essential fea-
ture of the Smith-Towner Bill, is the
death-knell of educational freedom.
IS. Consequently, the voters of
America will employ all legitimate
agencies, and the final sanction of the
ballOt-bOX, against measure subver-
sive of the educational freedom guar
anteed to our families and our States
by Constitution that has lately been
rewritten in the life-blood of their
sons and brothers,
In addition to these expressions, it
will be we'll to consider the fact that
while the National Education Associa.
Towner bills, has set up the educa,
tional policy of France as an example
to us, the Bishops of that very coun.
try are not at all enthusiastic over
the present school arrangement in
their country. In the "Semaine Reli,
us, we find a letter of ''the Cardinals
Archbishops and Bishops of France to
the French Catholics" several para,
graphs of which treat of the school
situation, the rights of parents and the
rights, limitation of rights, and duties
of the State in sense of protest
against the present policy. Thus even
in the instance quoted, the N. E. A.
propaganda in the interest of the bills
mentioned is misleading.
Opposition against the Smith-Tow
ner bills should be continued. Sug
gestions or requests for amendments
are practically beside the question
because the fault with the bills is not
in minor flaws or imperfections but in
the fundamental tendency to central
ization, which has always been accom-
panied by grave danger to society and