Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-03-28

putting that strongly. but it is not
the fact? You have heard our for
mer Chief Executive speak upon this,
YOU have heard Our present Chief
Executive, and all over our country,
not only in this State but in every
one, the enforcement of law is one OF
the burning questions, and, gentle
men, the question of enforcement
of law comes, not from the laws
that we put upon the statute
book, but it comes from within
us, from the way we look upon the
Government and what our regard for
law and order is.
Y or may attend church, I may at
tend church, you may be member
of the church, / may be a member,
but l do not believe that there is
man or woman in this room, church
member or not, who would for a mo-
! ment entertain the idea of removing
from every town and hamlet in our
State and in our Country, every
church and what every church stands
for. Think of that for a moment.
Take the city of Augusta. and take
every church out of it, take out every
principle that the church stands for.
and would you want to live here
Would you want to live anywhere
tiIiI SuCn CoHu1tlOIlS. Allu,
members, you may not be particu-
larly interested in church work but
II there comes home to you what
would happen if such a state of af-
fairs should come about. l believe
that every one of you would align
himself with some church and see
that every principle was enforced
We as parents dc not do our duty
to our children. In how many homes
is there religious education? / blush
to acknowledge that in my own
there is not as much as there should
be. We leave it to the Sunday
School but we do not see that all the
children reach them. Here is an OPP
portunity for the furtherance of what,
in my opinion, will give us greater
observance of law. We have tried
education; it does not reach 1t. Re-
ligiouS training has been tried, as
you have heard, in many places over
our country, and it does reach It,
Put the boys and the girls where
they will come under the influence
of the teachings of Jesus Christ and
you need not worry about the future
of our country. (Applause)
Mr.. CROCKETT of Hollis: Mr..
Speaker and members of the House:
/ hope this bill will pass because it
is intended to benefit our boys and
girls, to give them a better founda-
ton for Life'S activities, To gain the
highest degree of education obtain
able we all know it is necessary to
have an all-round development which
means sound body, mind developed
by the best education obtainable and
religious training that will enable us
to meet the temptations and disap-
pointments of life. Our schools are
concerned primarily with the intel
lectual development of the pupil. The
World War taught us, during the
draft, that we need to give some at
tention to the physical welfare Of our
boys and girls. 1t Is gratifying to
note that some progress is being made
in this direction. School officials are
seeking the cooperation of parents
when corrective measures are deemed
necessary.
There is nothing compulsory in this
bill, yet 1t may enable us to reach
some OF our boys and girls who are
getting little or no religious training
in the home or in the church. In con-
sideration of this problem let us not |
forget the influence of the automobile, |
the movie, and the radio. New condi- |
tions call for new methods. Now, |
say there is nothing radical or COM !
pu1sory in this bill. There will be no !
religious training given without the |
consent and approval of parents. EN- J
perenced school officials have advised |
me that this bill would present no |
problem which would interfere with |
the ordinary work Of the schoolroom
1 hope that this bill will pass be-
cause 1 believe that it may do some
good and that it can do no harm. I |
am sure we all agree that this kind of |
training is desirable and necessary,
and 1 hope that we can agree to give
this bill our support. (Applause)
Mr.. HOLMES Of Lewiston: Mr..
Speaker, 1 wish, too, to very heartily
support the motion of the gentleman
from Bangor, Mr.. Holman. will say
just a word. Having in mind that I /,
am a member of a school board,
had been interested in the subject
for some time. and l think it was
believed that we already
have the right under the law, but a
doubt has been raised by the fact