Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-10-23
BY Mrs. Alexander Thompson

OY MIS' AlCAduuCE 4hVupoVu
(Former representative in the
Legislature.
There has probably never been
a bill presented for the approval
Of the voters Of Oregon which has
lcaused such widespread discus
sion as the so-called compulsory
education bill on the ballot for the
November election.
Having represented my district
in the legislature for two regular
sessions and one special session, |
feel that l need not protest my
very great interest in our public
schools. My record speaks for it.
self; by every vote and every
speech while | served my state |
proved my faith in, and my con-
Germ for our public school system.
| hold no brief for the private
school except that feeling we
should all have in according to ev-
cry citizen, the same right which
we claim for ourselves, s,-therefor
am unalterably opposed to this
bill because | believe in freedom
Of speech, freedom of press, free
dom of education. l believe that
we should continue to safeguard
the privileges guaranteed us by
the constitution in protecting the
individuals right to life, liberty |
and property.
Americanism at Stake.
1t occurs to me that the dis
cussion as to the value of religious
training in connection with secular
education is beside the question.
The real issue lies deeper than
this. There is an underlying
fundamental American principle
at stake; it raises the question as
to whether the child belongs to
the parent or to the state. The
family is the unit of the state and
when he state seeks to abrogae
the rights of parents and usurps
their authority both the family
and the state are weakened there
BY Absolute state control of edu-
cation is not an American ideal 9
any more than state control or IG-
ligions or medicine, but a viola
lion of the fundamental principles ;
lf our American government.
Germany advocated and prac- h
iced this sort of thing in order g
o control the thought of the v
generation and build up a
zig military machine, but this
dea has no place in a democracy.
Less than five years ago our boys "
ought the greatest foe of modern P
ines for this very principle. Are e
We to establish here in America, A
ere in our beloved Oregon, an "
utocracy equal to that in Ger e.
lany which thousands of our gal ii
ant soldiers fought and died to W
estroy? The bill is not American ly
ut quite the reverse. 1t is pater- VI
alism at it's worst. If the state az
an establish and control all ele- m
lentary education, the state can te
'gically designate the higher in tV
itutions to which parents must ca
md their children, doing away fe
with such splendid cl;
ats Of learning as Reed college, de
Inville college and Pacific amo i'd
'illamette universities, etc. to
cans Confiscation of Property. tel 70
The law would be unjust be- W
use it would mean the confisca-
IN of millions of dollars worth iei
private property. Our govern Dy
ent has never advocated confis- lni
tion of property except for the IN
blic good. Two notable in eV
,nces heine the confisoation of otl
g slaves of the south and later trS
E saloons, both evils that threat gf'
ed the welfare of our nation. Is aW
egon now to be the fool of the pia
nily of states and class our I'M
endid private schools along
tn those two evil institutions :
ich our government abolished? I
is ineonceiyable that we should
this in the face of the fact :,
It we number among our most -
liable and patriotic citizens, -
n and women who have re- y
we'd their early training in these =
titutions.
We have on the statute books A
v, a splendid compulsory school '
which regulates all private
ools. If there are influences in
Of these schools that tend to-
d disloyal citizenship, or if un- M
|