Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-16

funds to sectarian or parochial
schools. This was modelled very
closely on the Massachusetts amend
ment, sponsored by Payson Smith.
where conditions were very similar.
Citizens of Maine have been viewing
for some years, with increasing con-
Germ, the movement to secure public
funds for church schools. and there
is abundant evidence that they are
now ready to vote intelligently upon
this proposal The last Legislature,
however. as a result of the action of
certain leaders, failed by Il few votes
to submit this to the people.
stand firmly for the immediate adop-
ton of such an amendment in the
State of Maine without further dan-
gerous delay. and ! am devotinG
whatever influence and energy |
possess to telling the people in tile
several sections Of the State exactly
why this seems of great importance.
"in his inaugural address last
year Governor Baxter declared him
self in favor of constitutional
amendment prohibiting giving OF
public funds to any private institu-
lions, covering schools. hospitals and
all other charitable institutions,
whether or not they were OF a sec
tartan character. This proposal was
embodied in the original "Barwise
Resolve. 'aS it was called. Much OF
the charitable work in the state of
Maine has been built up on the lasis
of state grants to various private
institutions, most OF them OF 4 nom
seCtarian character. 1t may well he
that in time to come this policy may
he changed and public institutions
substituted to do this work, but il
must necessarily take n long period
of time to supply the other ncccssar2
agencies. This question Of aid to
private institutions was first brought
before the people by Governor BaX
ter. and has not received such eX-
tCnsive public consideration as is
very necessary before a comprehen-
Sive constitutional amendment is
placed before the people for action.
ct has always seemed TO the eX-
tremely unfortunate to complicate
the proper protection of the public
schools of the state concerning
which the people are now very fully
informed and ready to act. with the
far broaCer question of state aid to
all private and charitable institu-
tons in respect to which the con-
siderations are very different.
The people are now ready to set
tie the scctarian school question. The
broader question of all private aid
can he considered and determined on
it's merits as public interest is
aroused. Pressing of this broader
question at this time will inevitably
result only in the confusion of the
public school issue and will play di-
rcctIy into the hands Of the forces
which desire to defeat the Constitu-
tion3l amendment prohibiting the di-
version of public funds to sectarian
or parOChial schools.
TT is gratifying to find Governor
Baxter standing firmly for the pro-
lection of our public school system
against the encroachmcnt of any and
all religious sects, and also to know
that he is thoroughly alert to the
continued encroachment of tax-eX-
Cmpt real estate in our various cities.
His clear decla ration upon these
points at the Lincoln day dinner
should he Of great assistance in clari-
lying the thought of the people Of
Maine upon these issues.
General Grant and President Madi-
son We're equally clear upon this
question Of diversion Of public funds
to Sectarian schools and over thirty
states in this country have adopted
very similar amendments in recent
years as the pressure became insis-
tent for n diversion OF public funds
for these purposes. 1t has seemed
necessary in Maine to appeal from
the leaders OF the last legislature to
the people of the state to consider
the merits Of this proposed amend
ment and from the information which
/ have gained from all sections Of
this State / am satisfied that prac-
tically seventy-five percent of the
people stand firmly for the constitu-
tional amendment which I have pro-
posed. believing II Is now necessary
in this state in an application Of the
fundamental American principle OF
the separation Of church and state.
All measures of reform seem al
most inevitably to be associated with
individuals who have championed
them. Governor Bakers entire pub
lie career has been built upon the
embodiment Of certain principles
which he earnestly believes should
govern our public policy. Measures
must be enacted by men. and whe,
Their we wish ii or not. men and can
didates must be judged by the mea-