The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-07-17
ENLIGHTENING THE BIGOTS

ENLIGHTENING THE BIGOTS.
The efforts of bigotry to abolish
private and religious schools in
Michigan are meeting with oppo-
sition from unexpected sources.
Not only are Catholics and others,
whose schools will be affected by
the adoption Of the proposed
amendment to the State Constitu-
ton, opposing it's passage by every
means in their power, but the
better class Of citizens Of all creeds
are uniting in an attempt to pre-
vent such a drastic change in the
State Constitution.
The Republican candidate Tor
Governor Of Michigan. Frank B.
Leland, President Of the United
Savings Bank Of Detroit, and
Regent of the University of Michi-
gan, maintains that the amend
ment should be defeated as an I'M
American proposition. In letter
to Rev. Henry Frincke, Lutheran
minister Of Monroe, Mich, he
says:
" I do not favor this amend
ment for many reasons. | think
it is un-American. There
is no point Of view from which
the passing Of the proposed
amendment would be wise. Z,
seeks to compel the attendance at
school Of children commencing at
the age of 5 years. Many Of our
best educators do not believe chill
dren should be sent to school in
any case until they are two or
three years older than that.
"The proposed amendment
would abolish not only the Catho-
lie parochial schools, at which it
apparently is particularly aimed,
but the schools Of several other
religious denominations as we'll as
all private schools, and would
even compel the state itself to re-
turn to their homes it's own wards
in it's deaf, dumb, and blind
schools. It would prohibit the
attendance Of pupils under the
age of 16 years in private art and
technical schools. No Thoughtful
person in my judgment could pos,
sibly defend such a course.
"Looked at from purely eco
nomic point Of view the proposed
amendment would be equally I'M
| wise. In Detroit alone between
10000 and $4,000 children attend
parochial and private schools, and
in the whole state over $4,000
children attend these schools. If
schools Of this character through
out the state were closed, in many
localities it would be impossible
for long time to provide school
room accommodations for them
The passing Of the proposed
amendment would cause the prac'
teal destruction of over $780,.
100000 Of property now used for
school purposes in the state
Building the new schools required
at public expense would cause an
enormous increase in taxes.
"Again leaving entirely out OF
consideration the foregoing facts
can we forget that the people a.
whom the proposed amendment is
aimed furnished one million sol
diers for this country in the grea1
world war from the effects OF
which the world will scarcely re
cover in 100 years? Who fought
more valiantly than they or who
responded quicker to their coun
try's call?
| Il am not a Catholic, nor yet
a Lutheran, nor an Adventist, no.
a Jew, having as matter of fac
been brought up in the teachings
lof the Methodist church. How
lever, I would be sorry indeed t.
have any religious feelings what
lever dominate my position or my
vote in matter of this character
/ Besides all this, as a lawyer j
lis my view that the proposed
amendment would not be constitu
ltional even if it were passed ant
| therefore it has no place on TIL
Ballot. However, as to that point
II think the matter should be re
.ferred to the attorney general I