Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-31
THE OPPOSITION

Rep. Maher said that his most Sc
rious objection to the Smith-Towner
Dill was legal one. He felt he ought
to say that he subscribed to a reli-
gious belief upon which seems to have
fallen the burden of opposing this
measure here in Maine. He sloried
; in this because outside of Maine. he
thought they were in fine company.
There was another organization to
which he felt quite, sure the author of
this memorial would pay respect;
this was the American Bar Associa-
ton. This organization appointed
that great lawyer and fine investiga-
tor William d. Guthrie of New York
to study this measure and report to
them. His decision was against the
bill
He quoted former Secretary of the
Interior Franklin X. Lane as having
stated that federal control of schools
would be a curse to the country.
Rt. Rev. Louis S. Walsh, bishop of
the Catholic diocese of Portland. said
that he was present from a sense of
duty to oppose this memorial for the
purpose of maintaining the wonder
full, great relationship between the
States and the national government.
Had he never heard anything about
/ this measure until the arguments
do of hao vi ho Oh he
against it, He then inquired of Rep
Barwise how much of this 00,000,0 0C
which Maine would get under the bill
it would first have to pay into the
federal treasury.
Rep. Barwise said that he did not
know definitely. but that it was his
understanding that there went in
| from duties collected on the border
about one per cent. He could not say
how much the consumer paid. 80
How much income tax does the
State pay?" asked Bishop Walsh.
about $4,000, 900 / think"
The Bishop then said that it was
estimated that Massachusetts
would pay $7,00o000 of this fund and
get back 100000; New York would
pay S22 100000 and get back about
100000 900, and all the other Northern
states would pay in like proportion
and receive in the same measure In
presenting arguments for the bill this
feature was not much talked Of.
IF Il thought that the education
of the children were endangered and
could not be controlled by the State
and municipal authorities I would Of
fer no objection to the mith-Towner
bill" said the Bishop. but I believe
that we can still carry out the tradi-
tons Of the past 100 years and dc
this without the aid of the Federal
government. Every child of IA years
should be able to FAY at the age OF
IA ne has received a complete ele-
mentary education at the hands OF
his parents, his city and his State,
and all these things can be controlled
under the present conditions"
| Bishop Walsh questioned the ability
of the Legislature at this date to me-
morialize Congress upon a matter
of such vast Importance as the Smith
Towner Bill.
In speaking of the opposition to the
bill Bishop Walsh quoted President
Stills and 26 members of the Bowdoin
faculty as opposed to it. President
Roberts of Colby. President Emeritus
Eliot of Harvard. President Hadley
of Yale, President Hibbens of Prince
ton and other prominent educators
State Deputy John F. Daley of
Brewer of the knights of Columbus
represented that organization in OPP
posing the measure as being I'M
American and discussed the figures
of illiteracy at considerable length.