Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-14

have reigned for more than a hun
dred years and where there has
been no bitterness nor unreasoning
prejudice against race or religion,
there should have come any influ-
ence which could swerve its people
from the wonted calm Judgment or
drive from their hearts the real spir-
it OF the Master.
\ Menace
In these days OF disturbed con-
ditiOns and mental unrest it is easy
Tor ordinarily thoughtful men and
women TO be misled and to DRIFT
from their moorings ands III some
! cases to launch out on uncharted
: courses, Even the churches engage
in somewhat lively debate about Ger
tain matters which are not absolute
! ly essential to true religion or Chris
! tian living. Devout members OF
, churches. well meaning and sincere.
: are caught by fair sounding phrases
and do things and take positions
| which are hardly consistent with
! the doctrine of love as cnunciated
! by the NaZarene Any organization
which has for its basic or partial
! purpose the creation of racial or re-
! ligious rejudice, and which tends
/ to lead men away from safe and
! normal standards Of Judgment and
! OF action is not founded on cndur-
| ing principles and is a menace to
| true patriotism and to the peace and
! harmony of the State and the ma
! ton. And a man should think long
before he lends himself to any Sit
uation where he is helping con-
! sciously or unConsCiously to advance
or encourage such Influences. Any
! organization seeking to kindle in
: the hearts of men feelings of bitter
/ ness, of hostility and of unreason-
! ing prejudice is not a safe guide to
, follow and is not a helpful factor
in society,"
Mr.. HARRINGTON spoke of Names
resources, deploring influences him
, dering development. and declared
an attempt is being made TO have
the people believe that there is i'm
/ mediate danger to our public school
system. Some believe. from a mis-
INCORPORATING of the facts that
there has been an attempt on the
| part Of the Legislature or the mu-
, inequalities to divert public money
to narochial schools 40 paroChia1
school in Maine has, TO my knoNl+
edge, ever received one dollar from
/ public funds. and I believe the pres
, cnt constitution is ample nov to
! take care of any such contingency,
and / am absolutely against the ap-
propriation of any public money Tor
narochial schools. He called atten-
! tion to the article in tho constltu-
. ton relative to the schools.
He said: Il am convinced thar
under Article VIII no town would
have the right to divert any 81 us
4 school funds to parochial SChooIS
and this opinion is shared by good
J. authority And my opponent has not
. denied the truth of the statement
Us far as L know.
Same Amendment
"Nv opponent has charged me with
avoiding This alleged issue as to his
proposed constitutional amendment.
In his latest circulars which nave
been sent broadcast over the state
, the amendment which he stu pro-
| noses and advocates Is the same,
| word for word. as the one presented
, at the last Legislature and on when
: the vote was taken. Under the
( terms of that amendment thirtY-h|e
[ non seCtarian academies scattered
, through the various counties OF the
/ state would be prevented from en-
tcring into contracts for the eduoa-
J. tlou of bows and girls of high school
aye in the towns which they serve.
| This alone is sufficient reason why
| the amendment should not he passed
because the tuition money received
Nv these academies from the towns
under these contracts is the prln-
! Cipal source of revenue to these
/ academies, and If they were deprived
! of that income most of them, If not
/ all. would be obliged 10 close their
| doors.
Another reason why the amend
| ment as proposed should not pass is
! that it cuts off all academies. both
! non -SeCtarian and SCGtaria0. at one
! blow. without giving them even the
! shortest period Of time for re
! adjustment. allowing no time for
! seeking other possible sources of
| revenue. This. also, is itself good
! reason why the amendment as pro-
| posed should not pass. | voted
| against the amendment, and | submit
/ that any fair minded person to whom
! the matter was explained would do
I the same thing. Remember that the
| proposed amendment is identical with
! the one voted on at the last ses-
SION.
Another effect Of this amendment
would be to raise n most serious
question az 10 whether or not the
state would be able to assist these
. non sectarian academies. as it now
does, with money paid under exist
ing law for aid in carrying on some
of the courses of study in the cur
ricula OF these academies. a result
which would still further cripple
these splendid schools in their work 4.
Two old academies mon SeCtarian) !
in kennebec county. one at Itch
field and one at Monmouth, would be
obliged to close their doors. II the
proposed amendment we're passed, .
and they are typical OF the others
Again | feel that the matter is
safe in the hands Of the Legislature
where it has rested for over a hun /
drei years. The present Constitu-
ton contains safeguards under the
powers given by it to the LeEisla-
ture which amply protects any pos
sible situation.
ANY one or all Of the foregoing
reasons would seem 10 be sufficient
for am right thinking person to OPP
pose ths-proposed amendment. When
nay opponent presents a different .
amendment, 1t will he time to discuss
it. He must take his position, as he /
has. on the one proposed. not on one ,
which might he proposed. II he still
maintains that / am evadinE, | am I
unable to see how / could make my !
position more definite and clear.
The present Constitution alb !
solutely prevents the use OF q dollar -.
of public funds for parochial schools. 7
and l am against any possible use Of {!
public funds for such schools, as !
have repeatedly stated.