Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-03-25

ana they have got one of the besr
hlgh schools in the State of Maine,
where the Protestants and Catholics
can go to school together
cat this point Justice Barnes was
escorted to the left of the Speaker by
the Messenger amidst the applause
OF the House, the members rising.)
Mr.. Bragdon (continuing)-and no
protestant has occasion to feel that
ne is at any other place than at home
When he is in that school.
NO" the representatives of other
Sectarian schools came before our
Committee this winter and told MS
that they must have their usual an
preparation or they would he com
Feiled to close their doors. ReDre-
sentatives of st. Mary's did not tell
us that they would close their doors.
ana they will not, but that school,
under the present arrangement. is
ran under the approval of our Com
missioner of Education, and no ref
erence to any religious subject IS
made during the school session. But
II we cut out this appropriation and
remove that school from the inf1l-
epce of our State School Depart-
ment, they will not close their doors.
they have got enough money to run
that school, but it will be run as a
catholic school purely and simply,
and the result cannot be of benefit
of the st. John Valley.
Where else would the Protcstants
along the river get a high school ed
ucation? 1t is the only high school
or the river with the exception of
one at Fort Kent in connection with
the Madawaska Training School. II
mas been established without author
lty from the Legislature. and is Maid
Ior entirely by the State of Maine.
DO you want to cut out these small
appropriations to keep such schools
as ST. Mary's alive and adont tho
pclicy of the State going into those
laces and establishing schools that
the public is going to pav for on
tirely and have the education of onlv
a handful of children. as would he
the case If such a school were es-
ley? '''ii al
think If you consider this matter
carefully, you will agree with me
that the passage of this amendment
would not bring about the result
contemplated but exactly the oppo-
Site result. tApplause)
Mr.. STITHAM of P1ttsfeId. ,rr
Speaker and members: It is not NV
intention to take up but lust a few
minutes of your time. 1t has been
quite well known throught the corri-
dors or the State House that have
peen opposed to the Barwise measure
ana want to 20 on record at this
time as opposing the sectarian hin
known as the Rarwise bill.
am against this resolve for the
reason that 1t is unfair. 1t is aimed
directly at one class of Names peo
pie: 1t appears to he aimed at. and
VIII affect. only two academies under
the control of the Roman Catholic
church, and from, not my own inter-
pretation. but from consulting with
many lawyers and judges, and from
talking with tho attorney generals de-
partment and Dr. Thomas department
Of education find that this is true. T
find that this bill is not generally un-
derstood by the legislators themselves.
I find great many mon whom I have
talked with who really do not inter-
pret this bill correctly. feel that the
public. your constituency. WHO is in
terested, perhaps. in your sending
something to them. feel that they are
going to get A resolve sent down to
them calling for public money to be
kent awav from sectaran schools.
This bill. as interpreted by myself.
as mentioned. stops with the two
schools. The title of the measure is
misleading: "Resolve. proposing an
amendment to the Constitution prohih-
iting the use of public funds for sec
tartan school" The resolve itself
says: And no grant. appropriation.
or use Of public money or public prop
erty. or loan Of public credit, shall he
made or authorized by the State or
any political division thereof for the
purpose of founding, maintaining or
aiding any school or institution of
learning, whether under public control
or otherwise, where a denominational
doctrine is inculcated.'
That Is the only place in the bill
where there is any mention of a secta-
rian work. The Interpretation Of the
word "inculcate" is this: Webster says
that inculcate means to teach, to I'M
press by frequent repeitions. admo-
nitions, to urge on the mind. as Christ
inculcates humanity on his followers
And ms applied to sectarianism, 1t
means to consciously guide you to
an understanding or appreciation of
the religious doctrine, creed or belief
Of any particular sect.
AS, I have stated. this resolve. ac-
cording to the word "inculCate.
does not affect the Sectarian schools
of this State. TO my mind there are
a dozen or fifteen so-called Sectarian
schools or academies that will get
out from under this particular mea-
sure. And 7 sav that it is unfair to
entite n bill "Sectarian," and tag 1t
"Sectarian." and get behind 1t and
Use it and fool the people in that
way.
do not believe the people who
sent YOU here want You to sign
bill that is directed solely against
two schools in the State. /. myself,
want to go on record as voting ab-
solutely against this measure. 1t Is
absolutely unfair. to my mind.
The SPEAKER: Is the House
ready for the question?
Mr.. WING Of Auburn: Mr..
Speaker. other members have given
their views with regard to this bill
and I propose to give mine. l was
sent here rs Republican. The
word "Republican" was written over
the column in which my name ap-
peared on the ticket where the citi-
zens recorded their vote for or
against me in the city which l have
the honor to represent. ] have
thought as l have heard and listen
ed-with, I hope. respect, and Ger
tainly with interest-to certain
members who have spoken here OF
the change which came over our
method of transacting public busi-
ness some years ago when we ceased,
in a sense, to be representative
body and became merely the SER
wants of the people.
The arguments advanced here
TODAY might we'll obtain when the