Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-03-25

feel party responsibility. L admit
1t ana l am willing to assume it's
Obligations. The gentleman who,
at the present time, heads this State,
III seeking the nomination of
his party, went before the
people with practically this
amendment which Won are
discussing, in his mouth. The great
convention of the party of which |
am member went on record in
Portland with these words in regard
to education: while we recognize
ana commend the public service rem
dered by the numerous private insti-
tutions of learning within the State.
we believe public funds devoted to
education should be expended in sup.
port OF the public schools to the eX-
cluSlon of private institutions Of
learning except such as are the sole
lnStrumentalities of furnishing hign
school education within the localities
they serve and which are wholly un-
der the supervision of the Commits
Sloner of Education: and as to those
we recommend such legislation as
may be necessary to restrict the aid
which they receive to such as is fair
and equitable and measured by their
oNIpthi iViilI tIlleIitS.
The Governor of Maine, when he
addressed this Legisla turc, called at
tention TO the demands of party. lie
called attention to the requirements
of party platforms. He called the at
tention of this legislature to the ne
ceSslty of paying some attention to
the platforms upon which they were
elected. He said: anglo Saxon ira
ditions call for compromise in order
to progress. and these party plat
forms constitute a contract by whose
obligations we are bound unless
prior TO the election we have mani
tested our dissent. These platforms
may seem meager in their directions
on the pressing problems of our day
but it is only by a sincere endeavor
to interpret them in our acts that we
can restore party government to the
place of first Importance it long oc-
cupied in our governmental life. This
is the contribution which we are
privileged to make to the stabiliza-
tion of conditions in our national life
today"
SO, 1 hear the call of party in this.
| have heard a very distinguished
Senator from Cumberland argue be-
fore Committee, of which l have
the honor to be a member, that
party government was falling down,
was breaking away, that there was
no responsibility to the people; as a
result thereof. because of the direct
primary law, that we were proceed
ing by choice of men and not by
choice of principle.
Now. I do not believe in govern
ment of men. l believe in a govern
Nf l-,, lnt 1n,r
suits from principle and not from
the whim and caprice of men. and it
is only by principle on this side and
a proposition on the other that we
can form any intelligent judgment,
and principle can only come to the
minds of the people but by party,
and ! am here as party man TO take
my place as a party man as part of
the Republican organization of this
State which has endorsed this kind
of legislation, and to keep my faith
with the promise that my party
made when they put me out as
man responsible to represent them.
And that is the ground l put my
vote upon. l put it upon party and
not upon the petty ground of religion
or anti-religion or anything of that
kind, and | shall vote for this meas
ure and take the consequences as
party man. (Applause.)
Mr.. HALE: Mr.. Speaker. I wish
TO say only few words in reference
simply to the position which has
been adopted by the gentleman from
Auburn, Mr.. Wing.
/ am a party man. | feel the re-
sponsibility of party l was elected
by ballot which at it's head Re
publican" / was elected with my
record on this measure two years
ago we'll known to the people. l ad-
vcrt:sed in the public newspapers of
this Commonwealth. my attitude. l
received no votes from the gentlemen
who are in favor of this bill. a great
many of you came here without any
support whatever from that parti-
cular wing" of the Republican party
-(Applause)-fro that particular
wing of the Republican party which
is in favor of this bill.
Now, let us be honest about this
party platform. Let us read it hon
estly. What does it say? while
we recognize and commend the
public service rendered by the num-
erous private institutions of learn
ing within this State, we believe pub
lie funds devoted to education should
be expended in support of the public
right; no objection
"to the exclusion of private institu-
tions of learning except such as are
the sole inStrlmentalities of furnish
ing high school education within the
localities they serve" Now. some of
those instrumentalities are sectarian
in character. and if you vote for this
measure, you are going against party
platform. (Applause) "And which
are wholly under the supervision of
the Commissioner of Education; ana
as to those we recommend such leg
Legislation" mean
constitutional amendment" 1T never
did before I do not think it does to-
day-"Such legislation as may be
necessary to restrict the aid which
they receive to such as is fair and
equitable and measured by their ac-
tual requirement"
Support that legislation. have
no objection to it. But support it on
the floor of this House where YOU
ought TO support it.
Mr.. STITHAM: Mr.. Speaker, Just
a word in regard to the party pat
form. This seems to be pretty
good opportunity to say that ! have
a measure before this Legislature
which applies to the Republican
platform and which is the only
measure that does.
The SPEAKER: Is the House now
ready for the question?
Mr.. WING of Auburn: Mr.. Speaker.
I move that when the vote is taken.
it be taken by the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were called for.
a sufficient number having arisen.
The SPEAKER: The motion before
the House is that of the gentleman
from Auburn. Mr.. Wing. that this
resolve proposing an amendment to
the Constitution prohibiting the use
of public funds for sectarian schools
have final passage. A vote of yes is