The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-03-05
THE SMITH-TOWNER BILL

The Star is glad to endorse the
following from the Manufacturers Re-
cord:
Let the South Beware Lest 1t Lose
Control of Its Educational System
A more or less imposing array of
declarations and associations and clubs
are quoted as enthusiastically endors-
ing the Smith-Towner bill. This bill
undertakes to establish department
of education with secretary at the
head of it who shall sit in the cabinet.
1t carries an Appropriation of $780,
100000, of which S7,500,0 900 would be
for the removal of illiteracy, similar
amount for the Americanization of
the foreign-born, S50,000,000 for phys
ical education and sanitation, and
SIS 100000 for preparation of teach
ers.
The World Digest of Reform News,
issued by the board of temperance,
prohibition and public morals of the
Methodist Episcopal church, states
that "the one opposition to it is from
the Roman Catholic church" 1t also
says that "the work of Americaniza-
ton and the stamping out of illiteracy
could be completely accomplished by
the provisions of this bill within ten
years. We know positively that the
opposition is not confined solely to
| the Roman Catholic church, for the
| Manufacturers Record is certainly to
be numbered among those hostile to
the bill. We should say that anybody
who imagines that complete Ameri-
canization of the foreign-born, and
the abolition of illiteracy can be
accomplished under the terms of the
proposed measure, or any other with
in 10 years, is extraordinarily optimfs
tic, and but poorly informed as to the
true status of affairs.
The bill is contradictory in its pro-
visions. In some sections the principle
of federal supervision is very obvious
ly set forth; in others the principle of
exclusive state control appears to be
adhered to. But even if the bill, in
every section, stated in the most en-
phatic language that it was the in
tent never to attempt or permit inter-
ference with state control, we should
say that every such statement
amounted to nothing. Those writing
the bill might sincerely believe that
no encroachment on state authority
would follow. But the flow of events
would, repudiate their promises. They
would wake to find that education in
America was under the dominance of
a bureaucrat in Washington. That
would be the inevitable result.
1t is not reasonable to suppose that
the United States would expend mill
ions without control of the spending
units. The secretary of education
and his whole office force would con-
stantly be seeking to enlarge his
Isphere of action. The contention was
made and proved to the satisfaction
of the colonists that when the colonial
judges were paid their salaries from
London, it was to London that they
gave first consideration. Communities
drawing school funds from Washing
ton will do as Washington says, soon
er or later.
An object of the agitation of which
the bill is a result is the training of
all American teachers at central in
struction place in Washington. The
vagaries of a particular professor
would be taught as gospel truth from
one end of the country to-the other.
Education would be standardized. We
know of nnthinf that cn,,ld ho mora