About this record
Republican Senator John Coit Spooner was a strong supporter of the Bennett Law. Though he admitted that the law was not perfect, Spooner argued that the basic tenants and spirit of the law were sound, and that most of the oppositon had more to do with politics than the law itself. He refuted the notion that the law was inspired by hatred for foreigners, urging, rather, that the law sought only to give immigrant children a chance for success in a largely English-speaking country. Spooner gave this speech in support of the law and Governor Hoard in Milwaukee in 1890. The text of the speech was made available in both English and German in an attempt to sway the opinions of German Americans.Citation
Spooner, John Coit. Senator J.C. Spooner on Compulsory Education. From his speech at the West Side Turner Hall, Milwaukee, Friday, October 3, 1890. (Milwaukee, Wis. : J.C. Spooner?, 1890).