Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-01-08
HARMONY SOUGHT
IN PLAN FOR NEW
j. s. DEPARTMENT
President-EIect Asks Friends
to Get Together on Educa-
ton Portfolio - Woman
Likely to Get Place
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Teased Wire Service to The Journal.)
ICnnvrinht 1920

Copyright, 1920
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-President-
elect Harding has asked his friends
in the senate and the house who are
interested in establishing either a de-
partment of public welfare or de-
partment of education, to get togeth-
er and harmonic their views, If pos
sible in a single proposal that he
can support.
The inside story OF the conflicting
interests and influences that have
come to the front in connection with
the new department extends back
into the campaign and involves an
unfortunate misunderstanding as to
the true position of the Catholic
church, which lately has been the
subject of a lively discussion in the
Catholic press.
The whole thing receives about the
establishment of a federal inst1tu-
ton to promote and organize the edu-
cational facilities of the United
States so as to cut down the high
percentage of illiteracy. to American
ize foreigners, promote physical edu-
cation, including health and SANTA
ton, and the training of teachers.
Proposals Made In Campaign
During the last campaign, several
proposals were made for Depart
ment of social welfare or a depart
ment of pubic welfare, on the the
DRY that opposition from the Catho-
lie elements thereby would be lessened
and on the theory that a bureau of
education could be put into the de-
partmept of welfare.
But this the League OF women
Voters and other women's organlza-
lions have declined to support, ana
the argument is being made that the
politicians who always are fearful
of religious prejudices among their
constituents, have totally exaggerated
the position of the Catholics, VINO
while anxious to have no Legislation
enacted which would interfere III the
slightest with their control over pa
rochial SCHOOLS, nevertheless are rep
resented as being unwilling TO appear
before the public as the i L 81 81 o ~
EDUCATIONAL project that has Tor It's
object the betterment OF all A'nerl-
VANS without respect to race or re-
1igion.
Indeed. Cardinal Gibbons himself
recently wrote letter to friend
which took the position that 1t would
be unfortunate indeed II the impress
, sion became widespread that the
: Catholic church were opposed to the
promotion of educa ton by the federal
government.
Information Clearing House
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 we'll as the
League of Women Voters nave not
been widely explained. In the t1rst
place, absolutely no control over
courses of study or management OF
schools is given il the bill. All ap-
Preparations are distributed by the
several states of the union so that
whatever may be the relationship eX-
. and parochial schools will be main
tanned.
Furthermore the purpose of the de-
partment of education would be TO
organize facilities and enroll teach.
ers and provide organizations OF
which the states can take advantage.
The national department of education
will be a clearing house OF lntorma-
tion for state boards of education and
at the same time will stimulate edu-
cational processes in the states. for
the truth is, some states OF the
union have been woefully lacking In
teachers mad facilities and without
federal aid they would continue TO
permit illiteracy and poor SCHOOLS.
Nevertheless the states will be
obliged to contribute oollar Ior uol-
lar with the federal government so
that. as in the case of good ROADS
and other projects. the combined fed
eraI and state energy will make Tor
progress u.rdino,. Views
During the campaign the enort 10
create a department of public well
fare won friends because 1t was gem
eraI in character. but several mem
bers of congress VINO want a Depart
ment of education say that every
mart of the ten departments OF the
ppovernment is supposed to have for
It's object the public welfare and what
ia desired at present is department
to promote education. Here IS inc
Ivav Mr. Harding expressed himseH
cIared by those who have seen MN
recently that he hasn't changed MS
Indeed, education is so intimately
related to every phase OF 4i Hu,ii1 az
welfare and to the pe tbet f. must
he considered of primary importance
in any program for soclaI pel'et -
ment. SO important is educatlon "
the life of the nation and SO eA.
tensiYe it's work that it mas pee cen
nroposed to establish federal oe-
31artment of education and TO con
duct research and carry on lnVestl--
cation in the field of education, ana
70 encourage and assist the states
and local communities IN the pro-
motion of education. The tederdi
government has established the preG-
ssIent of promoting education. 1t
has made liberal grants Of land ana
money for the establishment and
support of colleges of agriculture
and mechanic arts. and In more re-
Sent years has made appropriations
for vocational education and house
hold arts. Without interfering IN
anv way with the control and man
agement of public education by the
states, the federal government could
extend aid to the states for the pro-
motion of physical education. the
Americanization of the foreign born.
the eradication of illiteracy, the bet
ter training of teachers, and for pro-
noting free educational opportuni-
ties for all the children of all the
people.
has in mind appointing a woman to
be the tifst secretary of a depart
1nent of education but Legislation, of
course, will be necessary before the