The evening world., 1921-01-06
HARMONY SOUGHT
BY HARDING ON
EDUCATION PLANS
Conflicts in Connection With
New Department Extend
Back to Campaign.
BIZ Dapid LaLprence
Especial Correspondent Of The Eve
ming Worldly

ming WORLDLY
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 CCopyright,
1ss1).-President- elect Harding has
asked his friends in the Senate and
the House who are interested In es-
tabllshlns either a department of
public welfare or a department Of ed
ucation to get together and harmon
ize their views If possible in q single
proposal that he can support
The inside story of the conflicting
interests and influences that nave
come TO the front in connection with
the new department extends back into
the campaigpand involves an unfor-
'tunate misunde rstanding as to tho
true position of the Catholic Church,
which has lately been the subject of
discussion in the Catholic press.
The whole thing revolves about the
establishment of 4 Federal institution
to promote and organize the educa-
ticnal facilities of the United States
50 as to cut down the high percentage
of illfteracy, to Amerlcanize foreign
ers, promote physical education, in
Guiding health and sanitation, and
the training OF teachers.
During the campaign, several pro-
posals we're made for a department
OF social welfare or a department Of
public welfare on the theories that
opposition from the Catholic Gle
meuts vvoIiId tbor.1,,, ~, ,...., q, - .
that a bureau Of education could be
put into the department Of welfare.
But this the League OF Women.
voters and other WOmen's orga MIA
tions have declined to support and
tue argument is being made that the
pOhICiahs VINO are always fearful
VI IeilslouS preJudiees among their
constituents have exaggerated the
position OF the Catholics. who while
anxious to have no legislation enacted
Whlch would interfere in the slight
est with their control over parochiaI
schools are nevertheless represented
as being unwilling to appear before
the public as the foes of any educa-
uonal project that has for its oh
Ject the betterment of all Americans
/ "lthout respect to race or religion.
indeed, Cardinal Gibbons himself
recently wrote a letter to a friend
whloh took the position that IL wolIjd
be unfortunate if the impression he
came widespread that the CathoNc
Church opposed the promotion of cd
ucation by the Federal Government
Inc real trouble arises because of
the variety of proposals and the fact
that the details of the Smith-Towner
Dlll Whlch represents the wish of the
educators OF the country as well as
the League Of Women's Voters have
not been widely explained. In the
! first place, absolutely no control
over courses Of study or manage
ment of schools is given in the bilI
and all appropriations are distributed
by the several States so that what
ever may be the relationship existing
IN each state between public and
paroChlaI schools will Zoe maintained.
Furthermore, the purpose of the Dc
partment Of Education would he To
organize facilities and enrol teachers
and provide organizat tions OF which
the States can take advantage.
The National Department OF Edu-
cation Will be a clearing house NJ
Information for State Boards of Edu-
cation and will at the same time
stimulate educational processes in
the states, for the truth is that some
Estates of the Union have been WofrIlIv
without Federal aid they would con-
tinue to permit ilHteracy and poor
schools.
Mr.. Harding during the campaign
said:
so important is education to the
life of the Nation that ii has been
proposed to establish a Federal De-
partment of Education and to con-
duct research and carry on investi-
cation in the field Of education. and
TO encourage and assist the States
and local communities In the promo
| ton OF education"
! II is said that he has not changed
his views.
without interfering in any way
with the control and management OF
public education by TIE States, the
. Federal Government could extend aid
to the States for the promotion OF
physical education, AmericanizatioE
! of foreign born, eradication of Hit
eracy, better training Of teachers and
= for promoting free educational op.
portunities for all children. II ls dc.
clared that MT Harding has in mind
appointing a woman TO be first sec
. retary Of a department Of education
but legislation will OF course be nee.
cssary before the new department
could be created.