The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1922-09-12
Letters tiers from The People
HOLDS THAT COMPULSORY
EDUCATION MIL N VICIOUS
Editor. The Herald;

| clearly as possible the nature OF TINS
vicious bill.
The purpose of the bin rs II reads,
| is to force all children under tho axe
Of sixteen to attend the public school
and no other. The history " Its en-
try on the ballot makes no savory
reading for those who wish to Keep
America clear from the Black Hand
methods OF Europe and to preserve
our schools intact from the Influence
W pernieious politics. II was con-
ceivcd In the minds Of some leaders
OF organizations who visited Europe
two years ago and brought back with
them tho Idea that they could force
Communism and Sovietism into this
country by closing the private
schools. Oregon was chosen rs the
weakest state and the most likely tn
fall for freak laws, These people
woro helped by the ku kluxers. who
imagine and aim to deprive some citl.
zens OF the rights given them by God
and guaranteed by the constitution.
Acting under this un-Amcrican Inn
pulse, a petition was produced sov.
eral months ago. To have the bill put
on the ballet. Sufficient signatures
were procured through misr"nrcscn-
tation and fraud. The people were
told that Il was u compulsory cduca.
ltion bill. without having explained To
them what kind Of compulsion. and
without being told that we already
have Compulsory Education bill.
This fraud was continued. through
the papers. by declaring fifty thous-
and signatures had been secured.
When these signatures were counted
ut Salem. Il was found that there
were only twenty-cight thousand,
and Of these twenty-cight thousand.
twelve thousand were found tn be
repetitions or otherwise Illegal.
We say his bill, is vicious because II
would have vicious results should u
ever become law. II would unjust.
ly tax the people over two million
dollars annually. besides placing an
extra bond OF over six million dol.
lars for new building, II IL vicious
because. under the phase OF law. l,
would deprive without compensation
some citizens Of the lawful use Of the
buildings for which they have spent
millions of dollars: II is vicious be-
cause II makes for class distinction
and class hatred among the citizens
Of our community. and above all IL
is vicious because IL deprives people
OF the right which God implanted In
the nature nj things: the right OF
the parent over the child. and would
deprive them OF the freedom guaran-
teed by the Constitution OF the Unit
ed States. .a
Some have false impressions that
this ID a fight between the Mns0ns
and ku kluxsrs on the one side. and
ths Catholics and other religious or
on the other. We absoi-
utefy. maintain that such n not the
case: that'ih6t sfiysIb~r een, OF tho
Masons ,inGth0 soanly. or any other
county In the state, knew such n bill
was TO be proposed. THE supreme OF.
ficerA Of, the Scottish Rite Masons
only have had a hand In fhis. We
have the public statement OF many
prominent Mssons that u is. not thu
practice of their order to encourage
such freak and anti-American propa-
ganda: that they believe In a square
ieai for all. Those cf you who have !
read Secretary kozer's pamphlet and /
who happen TO know the original /
source OF this proposed hill are
struck with the audacity OF the fac I
ton makers who. coming from other 2
states and countries. have the hardi- +
hood 10 inject this bill into Oregon ;
politics.
This IL not a political fight: our
schools have no right In the vagar-
ss OF politics and We have no inten- 4
lion 10 line up with any party. New
we do not intend to give
'ur strength TO any candidate who
'ries TO carry water on both should 4
RS.
Enough OF this explanation; ! have
40 fear for my church or school. Big n
TRY and opposition VII, only streng-
hen them. both of which have shown
marked Increase since the advent OF
his stir last spring. when the de-
unct Record began ats campaign OF
les. witness our two crowded SER
ices In klamath Falls each Sunday.
But anyone looking into this mat
CT seriously must be impressed with
he, threatening results: strifcs and
atreds Of the bitterest kind: injury
D the business man: people moving
ut OF the state: others refusing to
nter. And what do the promoters Of
he so-called Compulsory Education
I'LL offer In exchange? What good
AZ any one Of these promoters i
rOught 10 the county? And when
hey have succeeded In their attempt.
I'LL they decrease your taxes? he