The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-10-21
FIGHT INTERESTS
NATION
EDUCATORS SPEAK FOR PRIVATE
SCHOOLS.
IN. C. w. c. News Service. J

| elections, the nSnt Tor the freedom
of education continues to be the
dominant issue of the Oregon political
arena. Distinguished educators have
already voiced their condemnation of
the proposed measure. Although Cath
olic schools represent the greatest
number of those that would be
menaced by the proposed legislation,
the fight against the measure is be-
ing waged as vigorously by other
denominations as by Catholic inter
ests.
| Protestants Aid Fight.
A telling pamphlet has been issued
and spread broadcast this week by the
"Non-Sectarian and Protestant School
Committee" which analyses with
great care the arguments advanced
in support of the measure and ef-
fectually refutes them. Among these
arguments was that to the effect that
the bill would accomplish "the as
| similation and education of our for
| eign-born citizens" To this argument
the committee replies with figures
showing that Oregon is third among
the States of the Union in the low per-
centage of her illiterates, only Iowa
and Nebraska having better records.
| Oregon's percentage of illiteracy is
only 1.5 per cent.
Experienced political observers have
ventured the prediction that every
newspaper in Portland will come out
openly in opposition to the school
monopoly measure before the election.
The only newspaper which has thus
far voiced it's opposition to the bill is
the Portland Telegram
For more than six months" said
the Telegram" editorial, in which it
was made apparent that the paper had
| decided to burn its bridges as regards
| the issue, Oregon has been distract
| ed over political warfare inspired by
race. prejudice and religious hatred.
This warfare has been made the issue
of the present campaign. The anti
private school bill and the things for
| which the Ku Klux Khan stand have
been automatically joined.
| "For the first time in the history
of this state, organized effort is put
forth to write a law which dis
eliminates against minority on ac.
count of religious beliefs One
branch of the Christian Church is the
conspicuous object of attack by the
school BILL
"All true Americans wish to per.
petuate not only the form of our free
| government, but its spirit, and every
person who is guided by reason
knows thai the spirit cannot be main
tanned if cherished rights of con
siderable minority are trodden under
foot. Equality is our foundation
stone. 1t would be national suicide to
shatter it,
| 1t is expected that the words Of
professors and college presidents ir
other parts of the country will have
no inconsiderable effect in stimulating
Oregon educators to more active op
position of the measure.
i One of the most significant state
ments made was that of DIR. Nicholas
Murray Butler of Columbia, in par
as follows
/ Or. Buffers Statement.
Education is primarily and funda
mentally a parental and famil,
privilege and duty. The parents of {
child are responsible before God ant
man for it's upbringing and it's prep
aration for an honorable and usefu
life. It is an essential part of thei
civil liberty to train their children
in such wise and in such form of re
ligious faith as they may prefer ant
choose.
I'm our American theory, the stat,
steps in not to mOn0polize education
or to attempt to cast all children in {
common mold, or forcibly to depriv,
them of all religious training and in
, struction. but merely to preven
J damage to itself. 1t offers a free op
portunity to every child to receiv'
: Elementary education, and usual.
: much more than that, in tax-support
. ed schools. But it is in no sense th,
, business Of the state, in our American
: political philosophy, to attempt t,
J monopolize education or to proven
the freest choice by parents of th
. teachers and schools of their children
!. s.This measure is exceedingl,
, dangerous, in that it strikes directl.
! lat the authority and dignity of tn
! family, at religious training of ever,
: sort (since unsupported schools ma.
under no circumstances offer sucl
: ltraining), and at that complete educa
ltion which is the only training wort
Having.
"This measure should be entitled 4
Bill to. Make Impossible the American
System OF Education in Oregon !
is fundamentally un-American i
principle and purpose and should b
Overwhelmingly defeated"
Il Arthur Hadley. former president Q
!, Yale, DIR. Edward T. Derine. asst
. ciate editor of the Survey Magazine
DIR. Wilbur of Stanford UHiversit,
: Robert E. Vinson, president of th
? University of Texas, and Harry Prat
. Judson, president Of Chicago Uniyel
! sity. also have voiced their oppositio
Ito the measure.