Evening star., 1922-11-14
OREGON VOTE BLOW
T0PR|VATE SCHOOL
Compulsory Public Education
May Be Tested Before
Supreme Court.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
PORTLAND, Ore, November A.
Out Of the election fog from which
politicians in Oregon are striving vain.
ly to emerge looms one shadowy shape
that is causing doubt and fear. anger,
joy, exultation, remorse and wonder.
1t is the compulsory education bill."
latest triumph of Oregon's initiative
principle of government. Behind 1t,
apparently tottering, are the private
schools-Lutheran, Catholic parochial.
military academy and fashionable
schools for the poor little rich girls"
And behind them a famished-looking
creature stalking about with no place
to lay his head, the man who used to
be private tutor, but whose occupa-
tion-like Othello's-is gone.
In the foreground one may see a huge
pile Of ballots. some 1900 of them. They
represent the majority by which
Oregon citizens decreed that every
child Of grammar school years must
attend the public schools only But
that majority is not going down as the
seal of an uncontested principle Of gov
ernment and education.
claw Unconstitutional.'
Don't worry" lawyers are telling
| Archbishop Christie, head Of the state
parochial school system in the state,
as well as the other chiefs Of dozens Of
private denominational and non-secre-
tartan schools" the law is unconstitu-
tional.'
If this is SO, eventually the courts
u.i1
started. There is plenty Of time. The
law does not become effective for four
years. BY that time. if it is consti-
tutional. it can be strengthened and
made workable by supplemental legis-
lation providing facilities for housing
and teaching all the little children OF
particular faith. or no faith at ALL who
today are being educated outside of
the little red schoolhouses.'
I'VE haven't started any court ac-
tion-yet," explained William L.
Brewster. former city commissioner,
who led the fight against the bill in
the recent campaign. It will, Of
course. be attacked entirely on con-
stitutional grounds. There is no ques-
ton about the legality Of the cleo
ton. The people have spoken. but
we argue that no one. not even a ma
jority of the people, actuated as we
believe they were by religious preju-
dice and the generally confused state
of public opinion. can abrogate the
Constitution by compelling a parent
| to educate his child in opposition to
his religious beliefs"
Brewster represented the private
schools rather than the religious in
the recent fight, but he spoke today
| been hardest hit by the outcome Of
the election.
Agencies OF Education.
II. s. Malcolm, thirty-third- degree
Mason and head Of the Scottish Rite
bodies in OREGON. nominally was spon-
sor for the bill. He has insisted that
; the measure was not directed at the
denonlinational school. All schools,
other than the public institutions.
We're assailed as agencies for funda-
/, ers are finding their way to America
! that the problem of Americanization
is growing more difficult daily.
What is unconstitutional there
! fore" he and the proponents of the
| law demand. about requiring COM
mon fundamental in education where
| by all children shall have inculcated
! in them American ideals? The re-
/ Iigious question does not enter. Par
ents still may encourage habits Of re-
what the Sunday schools are for"
But what will be done with all
these pupils if the law finally is up
held is serious problem already
troubling officials and the thinking
people of the state. The oregon
schools, especially in the cities where
most of the religious and private
schools are. long have been over
crowded. The taxpayers have groan-
ed and continued each year to pay for
more buildings. moro teachers, better
salaries. an reflected in the soaring
tax figures.
This was of course hammered home
from the stump by the opponents OF
the legislation in the recent cam
paign. But with the information be-
fore them the voters and the tax
payers voted for the measure just the
same.
See Khan Behind Bill.
Many people have professed to see
in the passage of this law the work
ings of the ku Klux Klan. which pro-
fesses to be white American, Chris
tian and Protestant"
This particular influence also has
been charged with many other re-
suits of the Oregon election.
It is unlikely that any legal attack
will take place on the bill until after