Evening star., 1925-04-30
BIBLE BILL VETOED
BY OHIO GOVERNOR
State Not Ready to Secede
From Religious Liberty,
Donahey Says.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
COLUMBUS, Ohio. April 30-The
Buchanan Bible bill, passed by the re
cent session of the Ohio General AS
sembly, TO make daily reading of the
Bible in all public schools of Ohio
compulsory, was vetoed today by Gov
Vic. Donahey, because lit opposed the
principles of civil and religious liberty
which have made our Government tho
model for the world"
Contrary to expectations. the Gov
ernor did not make any comment on
the action of various factions in the
legislature which supported or op-
posed the bill. The bill was actively
supported by Ku Klux Klan members
of both branches of the assembly.
In considering the bill the veto
message said, Let US remember that
il was the hope and desire for religious
freedom that inspired the settling and
founding of the United States of
America.
For Religious Liberty.
The founders of our country, hav-
ing in mind their own sacrifices in
obtaining liberty of religious thought
and seeking to hand down to their
children This hard-earned freedom, un-
impaired for all time, were careful to
write the doctrine of separation of
church and State into the Federal
Constitution.
The makers of the constitution of
Ohio did likewise, and their action
was ratified by the people. All the
States of the Union are in accord on
this vital principle. Ohio is
not ready as yet to secede, and 1t is
to be hoped it never will. from the
principles of civil and religious lib
erty which have made our Govern
ment the model for the world"
The governor then cited a bill
passed by the Legislature two years
ago over his veto, accepting as State
property the John Bryan Farm on
terms prohibiting forever any form
of religious public worship thereon.
Scores Legislature.
I'm the one instance the general
assembly forbade religious worship in
a portion of our State. In the other
the assembly seeks to compel the
State to teach religion to all the
school children of Ohio without re-
gard to the teachings received at
their mothers knees. 1t is my be-
lief that religious tedCnlng In our
homes, Sunday schools and churches
by the good mothers, fathers and
ministers of Ohio is far preferable to
compulsory teachings of religion by
the State"
The governor further held that the
bill was unnecessary, because under
existing Ohio law, when the people of
local communities desire. or demand
it, boards of education in their dis
cretion may require the reading of
the Bible in the public schools.
Ends Bitter Fight.
The governors disapproval of the
bill marks the end of one of the bit
terest religious fights waged in the
Ohio Legislature in recent years. The
measure, introduced by Representa-
tive Ross P. Buchanan, Carroll Coun-
ty farmer, sought to compel all pub
lie school teachers of the State to
read 10 verses from the Bible to the
pupils every school day. 1t also would
have compelled every pupil beyond
the fourth grade to memorize the
ten commandments.
Religious factions and other organ
izations took sides on the question of
the passage of the measure, and
throughout It's stormy route, through
committees and on the floors of the
House and Senate, the galleries were
packed with spectators interested in
the outcome.