Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1921-01-26
HARDING ASKS HARMONY


Have yos written to ysur Congress
mas and United States Senators
vrsias then to ssppsrs The Smith
Tower hiu7 Il neans great th;as,
for the beys and sirls Of CunLer
land County.
President-elect Harding has asked
hi. friends in the Senate and House
who are interested in establishing
either a department. Of public welfare
or = department of education to &c,
together and harmonic their views
If possible in single proposal tina,
he can support.
The inside story OF the coaictine
interests and influences that have
come to the front in connection with
the new department extends back in
to the campaign and Involves an un.
fortunate misunderstanding as to the
true position of the Catholic Church
which has lately been the subject of
a lively discussion in the Catholic
press.
The whole thing revolves about the
establishment Of a federal institution
to promote and organize the educa-
tional facilities of the United States
SO a. to cut down the high percentage
Of illiteracy, to Americanize the for
eignsrs. promote physical education.
including health and sanitation and
the training of teachers.
During the last campaign several
proposals were made for q depart
ment of social welfare or depart
ment Of public welfare on the theory
that opposition fram the Catholic
elements would thereby be lessened
and on the theory that bureau of
education could be put into the de-
partment Of public welfare But this
the League Of Women Voters and
other women's organizations have de-
clined 70 support and the argument
is being made that the politicians
who are always fearful of religious
among their constituents
have totally exaggerated the position
Of the Catholics. who. while anxious
10 have no legislation enacted which
would interfere in the slightest with
their control Of the parochial schools.
ire nevertheless represented as being
TO appear before the public
As the foes Of any educational project
hat has for its object the betterment
of alt Americans without respect to
ace or religion. Indeed, Cardinal
Gibbons himself recently wrote let
er to friend which took the posi-
ion that it would be unfortunate in I
iced if the Catholic Church were op-
,osed to the promotion of education
~ the Federal Government.
The real trouble arises because Of !
he variety of proposals and the fact
hat the details of the Smith -ToWner
ill, which represents the wish of the
ducators of the country, who are
ack Of the measure as we'll as the
eague of women voters, have not
cen widely explained. In the first
lace, absolutely no control over cour
es OF study or management Of
chools is given in the bill. All appro-
riations are distributed by the sew
raj states of the Union SO that what
yer may be the relationship existing
! each state between public and pa
ochial schools Will be maintained.
furthermore, the purpose of the de-
artment Of educatioa would be to
rganize facilities and enroll men,
ers and provide organizations of
hich the state can take advantage.
he national department Of education {
i'll be clearing house of informa-
on for the boards of education
I'd will at the same time stimulate lc
iucational processes in the states,
IT the truth is some states of the t
Mon have been wofully lacking in |
achefs and without federal aid they a
ould continue to permit illiteracy S
I'd poor schools. {
Nevertheless, the states will be f
'hged to contribute dollar for dol e
r with the federal government 50 a
at as in the case Of good roads ana Q