Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-08
,.ma,l place. and would tend to make

them smaller.
He declared that he was educated
in protestant institution ana tnat
| he was treated squarely and had the
greatest friendship for them.
He wasn't sure what this sectar-
ianism he had heard so much about
was. He supposed that all who be-
longed to a sect had some religion
and was forced to the conclusion that
| they were sectarianS and that the
non -sectarian was some pagan VINO
was willing the others should pay
taxes which he could spend.
This whole proposition Is 80 cruel.
said Mr.. Keegan, that am surprised
that there should be an attempt to
impose such a thing on the State OF
Maine. ! have always felt that we
could trust the members OF the Legis-
lature. but now we are told that we
cannot trust them any more. That is
the whole question. Any legislation
Of this kind would be disastrous"
Opposition Of the farm bureau or
PLANTATIONS of the State to the pro-
posed amendment was voiced by John
Leland, president of the Maine FEEDER
alton of Farm Organizations, and Dan
iel 4. Foster of Winthrop, represent
| ing the Kennebec County Farm Blu
reau. Mr.. Leland said that, SO far as
he could see, the resolve would cut out
the appropriations to farm associa-
| lions.
Bishop Walsh
| Before beginning his remarks In OPP
position to the measure, Bishop Walsh
asked the privilege of questioning Mr..
Barwise in order as he said, to clear
the atmosphere, and it was granted.
| "Mr. Barwise," said he. during the
primary campaign and before the cleo
ton in Bangor did you make this
part of your PLATFORM"
"I did not" was the reply.
| did your constituents know your
views on the question:"
mot that 1 know Of"
do you represent your constituents
on this matter?'
| yes"
We'll, if you did not make it part
of your campaign, how can you say
that you represent your constituents"
1.-The proposition has been widely dis
cussed."
''Mr. Barwise," said the bishop, ARE
you a Christian"
The Bangor representative did not
get chance to answer this question.
He started to say something, when
Chairman Buzzell brought down his
|
question.
"All this matter Of the union of
church and state is out Of the ques-
tion." said the bishop at the beginning
of his address. IF this whole Legis-
lature should propose it. I would go
up and down the State and preach
against it until I dropped dead.
LAS to this amendment, l prefer to
leave things as they are. I. represent
ing myfpeople. don t want you to give
half a cent to any institution under
our care unless you are sure that you
are going to receive two and three
times that amount in return for the in
vestment.
IF you will read over all the laws
passed since the State Board of Chari-
ties and Corrections was created. sou
will see that everything is protected.
All of these institutions are practical
ly under State control"
Bishop Walsh called attention to the
st. Louis Home for Boys, which he
erected at Dunstan. saying: THE
State Board of Charities and Correc-
tons came to me and asked me to
build it. Our people put up this insti-
tuition at cost of $50, 900 and paid for
it, and all we ask for is maintenance.
1t is the children who get the money
the children of Maine men and women.
After the State has given us $4,000,
spend $1,000 over and above that. Is
that any strain upon the State? For-
merry the States money was given to
us in a block, but now we have to make
a report to the board of charities and
we are allowed so much per capita for
the boys in the institution. The State
practically comes in and takes control
| We give $4,000 and $500 interest on
the investment, and $4,000 is given US
by the State.
I'm that institution are five sisters
daughters of Maine. They give their
time, and they go on giving it for five
years. or 10 years. or until they drop
dead. is there sectarianism there? Is
there anything un-Americano The
whole question has been put in false
light.
\ There isn't person in the State of
Maine. knowing the conditions in these
institutions. who would dare come up
here and present such proposition. 1t
is the welfare of the State that 1 am
thinking of. and if there is any one of
our institutions that is not rendering
the service to the State that you think
1T ought to. I will be one of the first to
ask YOU to close it up
Bishop Walsh declared that all the
constitutional amendments of the
| various states referred to by Rep,
Barwise had been copied from Mas
sachusetts. Massachusetts was his
! native State and he claimed to be
100 per cent pure, but he wanted
to say that for 100 years Massachu-
sets refused to allow a Catholic to
hold office and that it was only after
SO years of education that the right
was gained.
He referred to the liberality of the
| trainers of the Constitution of Maine
who gave all people equal rights in
| the State regardless of religious pre-
! ferences. He asserted that all this
talk OF union of church and State was
| poppy-cock. The money given to
parochial schools did not go to the
| church.: instead the church gave to
| the schools.
| Il say to you gentlemen" said the
Bishop. that it is easy to throw ont
a spark. l have control of myself
| and OF some others. but, gentlemen.
urge upon you not to throw out a
| spark at this time of great restless
ness"
Barwise-I would like to ask
bishop Walsh if his announcement
'Mo weeks ago that he was going to
attack this bill on the grounds of un-
-Aiilerlcanlsm and irratiOnality is not
responsible for the line this hearing
has taken.
Bishop Walsh say no sir. T
meant that to overrun what had gone
on III Maine all these years was nm
american and irrational. l was NOT
discussing the constitution of the