Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-03-07
Row Over School Aid
Revived by Barden;
SpelIman AssaiIed
BY the Associated Press

pT NV Hssociofeo FTe3S
NEW YORK, Mar. 7.-Repre.
sentative Barden, Democrat, oil
South Carolina has revived the
controversy over Federal aid te
parochial schools. He blames the
Roman Catholic Church for de.
feats so far of proposals for Fed
eral aid to education.
Mr.. Barden, author of a bill
which would limit Federal aid tc
unsupported schools, told 8
luncheon gathering yesterday that
Francis Cardinal Spellman OF
New York had spoken as "a cruel
authoritarian" on the issue in an
exchange with Mrs. Franklin D
Roosevelt last summer.
Mrs. Roosevelt followed Mr.
Barden as speaker at the meet
ing sponsored by the Committee
on Federal Aid to Public Educa-
ton.
Her first words when she rose
to speak were that she Never
considered that I'd come here to
talk on a religious matter"
Opposes Senate Bill.
She did not refer to her con-
troversy with the cardinal and
reiterated that she could not
speak for any Federal aid bill
But she voiced opposition to the
original Senate bill that allows
the States to spend Federal funds
for schools according to their own
laws.
Mrs. Roosevelt said the real is
sue is how to obtain Equality of
educational opportunity for all
American children"
The cardinal took exception
last summer to newspaper COL
umn Mrs. Roosevelt wrote on Fed
eral aid to education. Mrs. Roose-
welt replied in a letter she made
public. Later, the cardinal called
at her Hyde Park, N. Y, home
md neither has since revived the
latter.
Charges Smear Attempt.
His eminence, the cardinal, u
re Representative declared, made
lie very erroneous decision that
ne way to get me, and those of
Ike convictions, out of his way
vas to apply ugly names, be-
7,nirch and besmear to the point
that we would seek cover.
THE same Cardinal Spellman
attacked a great, noble American
lady and mother-Mrs. Franklin
D. Roosevelt-one who has de-
voted her life to the happiness
and freedom of all people-re-
CARELESS of race, creed or color
and accused her of discrimination
unworthy of an American mother
He spoke as cruel authori-
tarian."
Representative Barden said yes
terday was the first time he ever
had mentioned Cardinal Spell
mans name on a public platform
Office Has No Comment.
Cardinal Spellman's Office SAID
it had no comment ON Mr.. Bar
uen's statement about the prelate
The cardinal is in Italy on a
holy year pilgrimage.
Mrs. Roosevelt said she had sent
her own children to private schools
and never had seen "the slightest
reason" why any one should have
helped the family pay for that
type of education.
She declared she does not favor
a pending Senate bill which would
let some Federal money be used
for fringe services and leave it up
to the State to decide whether
private and parochial schools
should get any funds. The bill
was introduced by Senator Ebert
Thomas, Democrat, of Utah.
Barden Sees Loophole.
Under the Thomas bill, the
fringe services would include such
items as health and transporta-
ton. Under the Barden bill, nc
money would be allowed for fringe
services. in either public Or private
schools.
Representative Barden said the
Thomas bill has "a loophole
through which funds could be
used for private or church schools
THE Roman Catholic hier-
archy," he said, can win the
controversy if the Thomas bill is
passed"
Saying he is not concern ed with
any one else's religion, Nj. Bar
den declared:
II am of the honest opinion
and I do not believe any one
would deny. that a Roman Cath
olic parochial school is an adjunct
OF the Roman Catholic Church
and, as such, is as much a part
OF the church activities as the
Sunday sermon.
Twill Never Compromise"
$50 far as I am concerned ]
will never compromise on the
principle involved. ="
Leo Pfeffer, an official of the
American Jewish Congress, said
at the conference that the Cath
Ole Church, in it's efforts to get
public money for parochial schools
aims at the eventual clerical
supervision of all education.
BLLFoLD, mans. containing valuable