Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-22

my opponent for the Republican
nomination for governor is now
leading the fight in this State against
the adoption of the constitutional
amendment which 1 have proposed
prohibiting the appropriation of
public funds to sectarian or paro-
chial schools" said Senator Brew
ster. II believe it is worthwhile to
review the arguments which have
been made during the past four
months.
First. it was stated that we were
unnecessarily disturbed over this
matter, as no one was seeking a
share of these funds. 1t was init
mated that this was all rather a
tempest in a teapot" The speaker
stated that "he had never heard nor
read nor seen any attempt to secure
ination of the legislative records
and the public press during the past
10 years disclosed repeated attempts
to influence public thought and leg
islative action in the direction of the
adoption of this policy by very
substantial group within our State.
This objection has not since been
urged.
public school and the parochial
school were for all practical pur-
poses merged in certain sections of
our State under existing law was
challenged as a very unfair and mis-
leading statement From the sworn
returns on file in the State Depart
ment of Education it appeared that
public schools in some sections of
our State are conducted in Roman
Catholic converts. taught by Roman
Catholic sisters in the religious garb
of their order, with parochial in
struction given in the same room,
by the same teacher. Immediately
after the close of the public school
day. 1t also appears that one of
the leading Roman Catholic laymen
in this State, as chairman of the
committee on education, in our Sem
ate Record had characterized this
system as a merger of the public
school and the parochial school, and
that the Roman Catholic bishop of
Maine has repeatedly recognized it
as a merger. This objection to the
amendment also has not been fur
Their urged.
"Then 1t was charged that the adj
vocacy Of this amendment would
cause dissension and disunion among
our people. 1t appeared that exact
ly this same policy had been advo-
Gated by President Madison, Presi-
dent Grant and Theodore Roosevelt,
and by Governor Baxter within our
own State in recent months. Thirty
three states had also adopted prac-
tically this same amendment within
recent years, and in Massachusetts,
its adoption was very earnestly and
successfully urged by Senator David
I. Walsh and Martin Lomasney and
other Roman Catholic members OF
the Constitutional Convention. as q
means of preventing dissension,
disruption and disunion." Why is 1t
| wrong for Maine to have the same
protection that these Roman Cath
Ollie citizens themselves urged SO
strongly in Massachusetts? This OBJ
| lection, too. is now not stressed.
SIN the most recent statement the
opposition to the amendment Is plac-
ed solely upon the ground Of its effect
upon the academies Of our State.
Thirty-f1ve of these academies are
non-sectarian and the proposed
amendment affects them in absolutely
no way, directly or indirectly. This
statement rests upon the simple pro-
pOSltlOn tNdI d prlVdlo dCaueilly Is
not a public school, and upon the
further fact that the proposed con-
stitutional amendment expressly rec
ognizes the public monies may con-
tinue to be paid to schools not under
public control SO long as they are not
under sectarian control. This elimi-
mates from the prohibition of the
amendment the private. non-sectari-
an academies OF the State.
This leaves ten academies within
our State which, under their present
system Of control. would be affected