The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1945-07-06
LOOKING
AAEAD
y GEORGE S. BENSON
\ presidenf--Hardixg college
Searey. .ArkaAsas
Baited Hooks

Two years ago when national leg
islation affecting schools was pro-
posed (S-637) nobody who favored
the bill ever called it the federal
school control bill" That alone
would have defeated it. No sincere
friend of Americas public schools
wants them bossed by the national
government. The thing was referred
to always as federal aid to educa-
ton" That sounded much better.
But great many people were not
fooled at all. They had seen bait
used to hide hooks before by polit-
ical as well as practical fishermen.
Although the bill stated, right in Sec
ton One, that it would be nice
little law if passed and not help
any government man, or group of
men, grab the schools and run away
with them, the platitude was ignored
by our sage and seasoned Senate.
Amended by Senate
On the floor of the Senate the
federal aid'' bill underwent some
changes. AS changed, no part of
the federal funds therein provided
nor any part of the local funds there
by supplemented could be used to
make or maintain any distinction
between races. That's federal con-
troll, beyond dispute. / am not dis
cussing the merits of the amend
ment. am saying this: Federal
control will follow federal aid as
night follows day.,
The subject is alive again now. A
committee in the House and another
committee in the Senate are once
more considering legislation that
flies the flag of federal aid to edu-
cation Once more / am empha-
sizing that financial aid to local
schools from far-away Washington
will bring federal control of local
schools in spite of all the protective
clauses ever built out of words.
1t Is Federal Law
The Supreme Court of the United
States, the most powerful tribunal
on this war-cursed earth, has estab-
lished precedent in favor of fed
eral control. The Supreme Court has
ruled that the federal government
can control that which it subsidies.
Little, protesting sentences in the
preamble of new legislation figura-
lively fade away in the light of this
Supreme Court ruling.
Some people may want to argue
that federal aid to schools is not
federal subsidy of schools. I main
tain that any distinction between the
two things is distinction without
difference. I have learned quite
a little about these twin bills recent
ly and about people who advocate
their passage. The bills are prac-
tically alike and they point to gov
eminent control like a compass
points to the north.
The Entering Wedge
Both bills call for a 300 million
dollar annual outlay of federal
funds, and it's only start. Testi-
mony of people who journey to
Washington boosting the idea is very
clear 1t translates the handwriting
on the wall. They expect federal aid
to grow rapidly after the first bill is
passed. I also think it would grow
in less than ten years from federal
subsidy to federal control.
am opposed to federal aid there
fore for several reasons: (D 1t will
lead directly to federal control of
education. (2) When the national
government controls the local
schoo1s, the children's parents have
nothing to say about what takes
place at school, (3) If it happens,
popular education, so dearly bought,
will be nothing but a handy stepping
stone toward political dictatorship.