Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-07
HARDING Wants
FACTIONS T0AGREE
Asks Friends in Congress to
Harmonic Views on New
&, Department.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

President-elect Harding has asked his
friends in the Senate and the House who
are interested in establishing either a
department of public welfare or a de-
partment of education to get together
and harmonic their views. RI possible.
in single proposal that he can sup
port.
The inside story of the conflicting in
terests and influences that have come to
the front in connection with the new
department extends back into the cam
paign and involves an unfortunate mis-
understa nding 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 10
promote and organize the educatlonal
facilities of the United States so as to
cut down the high percentage of illlt-
eracy, to Americanize foreigners. pro-
mote physical education. including
health and sanitation. and the training
OF teachers.
Several Proposals Made.
During the last campaign several pro-
posals were made for a department OF
social welfare or a department OF publc
welfare. on the theory that opposition
from the Catholic elements would there
by be lessened and on the theory that
bureau of education could be put into
the department of welfare.
But this the League OF women
Voters and other women's o-ganiza-
tions have declined to support. and
the argument is being made that the
politicians. who are always fearful OF
religious prejudices among their con-
stituents, have totally exaggerated the
position of the Catholics. who, while
anxious to have no legislation en-
acted which would interfere in the
slightest with their control over paro-
chial schools. are nevertheless repre-
scented as being unwilling to appear
be fore the public as the foes of any
educational project that has for ITS
object the betterment, of all Amer
leans without respect to race or re-
liCion. Indeed, Cardinal Gibbons him
self recently wrote letter to
friend which took the position that
it would be unfortunate indeed II
the impression became widespread
that the Catholic church was opposed
to the promotion OF education Dy the
federal government
The real trouble arises because OF
the variety of proposals and the fact
that the details of the Smith Towner
bill, which represents the wish OF the
educators of the country. who are
back of the measure, as well as the
League of Women's Voters. have not
been widely explained. In the first
place, no control over courses of study
or management of schools is given
in the bill. All appropriations are
distributed by the several states of
the Union, SO that whatever may be
the relationship existing in each state
between public and parochial schools
it will be ma intalned.
Furthermore, the purpose of the de-
partment of education would be TO
organize facilities and enroll teacher
and provide organizations of which
the states can take advantage. The
national department of education will
be a clearing house Of Information
for state boards Of education, and
will at the same time stimulate edu-
cational processes in the states, for
the truth is some states of the Union
have been woefully lacking in teach
ers and facilities. and without federal
aid they would continue to permit IL
literacy and poor schools.
states Mast Contribute.
Nevertheless. the states will be
Obliged to contribute dollar for dollar
with the federal government. % that.
other projects, the combined federal
and state energy will make for prog
ress.
During the campaign the effort to
create a department of public well
fare won friends because 1t was gen.
eraI in character. but several menu
beers of Congress who want a depart
ment of education say that every
part Of the ten departments OF the
government Is supposed to have for
its object the public welfare, and
what is desired at present is de-
is the way Mr.. Harding expressed
himself during the campaign. and
it Is declared by those who have seen
him recently that he hasn't changed
his view:
Indeed, education is so intimately
~
fare and to the perpetuity Of our free
institutions that it must be consid-
cred Of primary importance in any
program for social betterment. So
important is education to the life of
the nation and so extensive its work
that IL has been proposed to estab-
1ish federal department of educa-
tion and to conduct research and car
ry on investigation in the field OF edu-
cation, and to encourage and assist
the states and local communities In
the promotion of education. The fed
eral government has established the
precedent of promoting education. 1t
has made lNeral grants of land and
money for the establishment and sup
port Of colleges Of agriculture and
mechanic arts. and in more recent
years has made appropriations for
arts Without interfering In any way
with the control and management of
public education by the states. the
federal government could extend aid
10 the states for the promotion of
physical education, the AmericaniZa-
ton OF the foreisn-bOrn, the Sradica-
ton of illiteracy. the better training
Of teachers and for promoting free
educational opportunities for all the
children of all the people"
II is declared that Mr.. Harding has
in mind appointing a woman to be the
first secretary of a department OF ed
ucation. but legislation will, of
course. be necessary before the new
department could be created.
Copyright, 1911