Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-12-19

Washington under the auspices Of
the Chiidrenss Bureau. This pro-
gramnie provides an educational
minimum and q physical minimum.
1t also provides for fixing hours and
wages. for placement and employ
Tent supervision. for employment
certificates, and for compulsory
school attendance laws. Much Of
all this ID to be in charge of the
Federal Government, and supervised
By bureau agents. Without going
into further detail. suffice it to say
that in all seriousness the agencies
drafting this programme would
prohibit any person. male or female,
under twenty one, from doing any
form OF work after six O'Clock in the
afternoons. -
And this is the legislative pro-
gramme OF the very same agencies
by which the proposed amendment
was forced through Congress No
wonder they insisted that all amend
ments limiting its scope be- killed.
They wanted wide-open amend
Inent, and they got it. Should the
amendment be adopted by the
States, it will be said that the peo-
pie have given Congress a mandate
to carry out this programme.
Frausht With Danger
Let those who advocate this
amendment. so fraught with danger
to our Republic. study the govern
ment Of France, that happy hunt
ing-ground of bureaucracy, where
almost every detail Of local govern
ment Is regulated from Paris. Let
them consider the deadening effect
OF bureaucracy upon the indie
pendence and moral fibre of the
German people. Let them study the
great principles of local self gov ,rn-
ment established in our dual system
OF State and Federal governments.
Let them ponder the words of John
Fiske, the great historian, VIII" in
his Critical Period of American
History uttered this solemn warn
ing
eff the day should ever arrive
(Which God forbidD when the
people of the different parts of
our country shall allow their
local affairs to be administered
by projects sent from Washing
ton, and when the self-govern-
ment of the States shall have
been so. far lost as that of the
uepdI ItItSHlS VI T IdhSS, VI SNSh
so far as that of the counties
of England,-on that day the
progressive political career Of
the American people will have
come to an end. and the hopes
that have been built upon it for
the future happiness and pros
perity of mankind will be
wrecked forever"
During the recent campaign in
Massachusetts, awake to the dan
ger to the Republic and to their
own Commonwealth. leading citi-
zens, ,,heads of institutions Of learn
ing, experts 10 problems Of child
hood. and leaders in religious
thought Joined in opposition to
this MEASURE. Among these were
the Presidents of Harvard Univer-
sity, of Boston College. Of the Massa-
chusetts Institute of Technology,
and of Holy Cross; Frederick +.
Cabot, Judge of the Boston Juven-
lie Court; Joseph Lee, President OF
the Playground and Recreation AS
ISOLATION of America; His Eminence
Cardinal O'Connell; and Right
Reverend William Lawrence.
The people of Massachusetts fol-
lowed their advice by voting $685.
119 to >247,22l against the amend
ment. In every representative and
senatorial district in the entire
State there was a majority against
the amendment.
The proposed amendment is not
only a menace to our institutions:
IT. is unnecessary as well.