Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-07-21
Makes Stand Plain
Continued from PAGE Qnel

from rage Onc
| going to part company with me on the
Massachusetts amendment now called
the Maher amendment
Denying that the Maher resolve was
a compromise measure, Mr.. Holmes
wrote:
Il want to say to you that I shall
stand by my guns. and | have a right
to expect you TO do the sa me. | am
emphatically in favor of this amend
ment I anu willing to risk defeat at
the polls in my candidacy for the Sen
ate for the sake OF nay convictions, and
| expect YOU to do the same. | shall
assume that you were sincere when
you stumped the state two years ago
calling for the Massachusetts, aplend-
ment, until the contrary appears.
However, I think that you should lose
no time in announcing your unquali-
fed support of the Maher amendment
It's adoption viii once and for all end
the condition of sectarian conscious
ness and religious hate which has set
friend against friend and districted
the people for two years past"
In his reply the governor refers the
Lewiston man To his speech of May
at Eockjand, in which he spoke in IA
Vor OF the resolve. In his speech at
Tacoma the governor SAYS that he de
clared the resolve was not a partisan
issue. A statement confirmed by the
position taken by Mr.. Holmes in favor
of it.
The Governors Letter
The governors letter TO Representa-
ative Holmes follows:
MY dear Mr.. Holmes:
l., 81 I,-1,r i,+a
stating your strong and unqualified
support OF the Constitutional Amend
ment which is to he passed upon by
the people in referendum on Sep
TENDER thirteen.
LAS the recognized Democratic
leader in the last Legislature and
one of the leading laymen of the de-
nomination that has been most sensl
tive regarding legislation Upon tuis
score your declaration seems nicely
calculated to definitely remove this
subject from partisan politics and
SeCtarian controversy in the cam
paign that is now at hand.
ION May seventh Of this year at.
Rockland | spoke regarding this
amendment at the request of the Wo-
mems E,duca tional Union and made
my position entirely clear as rather
fully reported in the papers of May
eighth TO which | would refer YOU for
my views.
There has been nothing said by
me at any time TO Indicate any
change in my position At Tacoma
the speech to which YOU refer was
designed simply TO eliminate this
question from partisan politics whore
ii has no proper place in view of the
* Il in
also to remove any basis for the sug-
gestion that the decision Of the peo-
pie upon September thirteenth would
not he final so far as this political
generation is concerned.
The statement that this Consti-
tutional Amendment is not the one
proposed by me" is a simple state
ment Of fact.
In referring to this proposed
amendment as Compromise | had
in mind the unqualified prohibition
upon the grant of public funds as
proposed by the so-caIled Barwise
amendment of four years ago which
represented substantially the views
voiced by my predecessor in his In
augural address at that time. Tha:
measure at that time seemed to me-
too extreme.
''t "iIiSlIhilltill w MIN pIODOSeu
in that legislature was the most
moderate suggestion that has been
considered in dealing with this qucs-
ton being confined entirely to sectI-
rian schools hut il was objected
that there should not be discrimina
ton between sectarian and other
private schools. Some members of
the legislature were apparently i'm
pressed with the justice of this suS-
gestion which was urged by various
religious denomina tons opposing the
ameudment which / had proposed.
Your proposal seemed to me
compromise between the two amend
ments considered four wears ago be-
cause il drew a line fairly evenly be
tween those two extremes and com
manded the support Of over two
thirds Of the last Legislature on this
account
Your consistent position and firm
stand in this matter must command
the admiration and respect of all cit
liens Of our State irrespective of
their views upon the issues which
this amendment presents and | agree
with You entirely in your hope ana
expectation that this amendment T.
adopted will once and for all end
the conditions Of sectarian conscious
ness and religious hate which has set
friend against friend and distracted
people for two years past
This is contamination devoutlv
to be wished for by all friends of the
progress and prosperity of our
State.
1T does not seem TO me proper as a
Republican candidate for Office to use
Republican platforms in this cam
paign for the discussion Of an issue