The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-02-03
Opponents of Measure Claim
II Is an Attempt to Confuse
Church and State-'PeOple
Should Be Ashamed to Ask
Schools to DO What They
Ought to DO at Home Says
Senator Richie

The week day religious education
bill was killed, 33 to l6, by the state
senate Wednesday, after a dozen SEN
ators had debated for more than an
hour
Senator Hamilton opened the fight
against the measure. He criticized
the bill as an attempt to confuse
church and state. declared that it was
unconstitutional and said that chill
dren now have opportunities OF being
taught religious education. He later
said that it was nothing more than
Il request by "the churches and homes
for IA policeman's billie" He con-
tended that as the schools are con-
Quoted by public funds, it would be
wrong in principle to use the schools
for religious matter.
Senator Sathre, who introduced the
bill with Senator {. Norman Bruins
dale, Trail county, strongly advocated
it's passage He denied that il would
confuse church and state questions
and that it is unconstitutional. He
said that it would involve no addi-
tional expense.
SCHOOLS are now mOnOpOlizing tht
time of the Students Satire said
1--WE are merely asking that, on tht
request Of parents, children may bt
given religious instruction. He sale
that he represented the majority o.
from l25,OOO to 10000 church mem
bers Of the state, and that the wishes
of this many people should be given
some cons Iteration.
Steele Makes Able Attack
One Of the most able attacks on
the bill was made by Senator Alfred
Steele Stutsman county. Opening with
statements that he in no way min.
imizcd the value of religious instruc
tiOn, he asserted that "if the churches
have fallen down, as this bill indi
Gates, surely there is some method o.
correcting this without adding to thu
heavy load of the schools"
He averred that the bill, which
would give each school district tht
right to determine whether or not i
, would permit such instruction, wOulC
result in local bitterness and dis
putcs.
at would establish precedent
that might result in the destruction
/ of schools" Steele declared. ut is s
dangerous thing to let religious dis
putes enter into the schools" HI
said that religious disputes woult
enter into school board elections.
F, That the bill begins at the wrong
end in correcting lack OF religious in
struction was the contention of Sen
ator C. G. Ritchie, Sheridan county
| He agreed with Steele that il woult
result in bitter fights over election,
of school boards. but centercd his at
tack on the statement that the hOm.
should be responsible for religion:
F, education.
Shame on fathers and mother.
who ask schools to do what the,
ought to do at homc,' he said. H,
also argued that the bill would b,
impractical in rural districts where
there was lack of persons wht
would be able to give proper religion.
education. He interrupted his tall
with jab at preachers who fail t
live up to their duties.
Plenty Of Time Outside School Hour
Senator Eastgate opposed the bill
with the argument that time for sucf
teaching could be taken from bas
ketball games, glee clubs and parties
He said there are now l85 days fret
from school each year that could b.
used for this purpose.
Senator Ole Ettestad, McHenr,
county, said that he believed in reli
gious education, but the bill wal
impractical. "You cant patch up twt
Continued on paye thrss.)