2(£ ANDREW J. SHIPMAN MEMORIAL 



My Dear Mr. Secretary : — It has been brought to my 

 attention that an order has been issued by the Commissioner 

 of Indian Schools. This order relates to the general matter 

 which you and I have had under consideration and concern- 

 ing which, at your request, the Commissioner was collect- 

 ing detailed information for our advice. The Commis- 

 sioner's order has been made without consultation with either 

 you or me. 



It prohibits not only the use of distinctive religious insignia 

 at school exercises, but also the wearing of distinctive religious 

 garb by school employes, and provides that if any school em- 

 ploye cannot conscientiously comply with the order such 

 employe will be given a reasonable time, not to extend, how- 

 ever, beyond the opening of the next school year, to make 

 arrangements for employment elsewhere than in Federal 

 Indian schools. 



I fully believe in the principle of the separation of the 

 Church and State, on which our Government is based, but the 

 questions presented by this order are of great importance and 

 delicacy. They arise out of the fact that the Government has 

 for a considerable period taken for use of the Indians certain 

 schools theretofore belonging to and conducted by distinctive 

 religious societies or churches. As a part of the arrange- 

 ment then made the school employes then employed, who 

 were in many cases members of religious orders wearing 

 the distinctive garb of these orders, were continued as teachers 

 by the Government, and by ruling of the Civil Service Com- 

 mission or by Executive action they have been included in the 

 classified service under the protection of the Civil Service law. 



The Commissioner's order almost necessarily amounts to a 

 discharge from the Federal service of those who have entered 

 it. This should not be done without a careful consideration 

 of all phases of the matter nor without giving the persons 

 directly affected an opportunity to be heard. As the order 

 would not in any event take effect until the beginning of the 

 next school year, / direct that it be revoked and the action by 

 the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in respect thereto be sus- 

 pended until such time as will permit a full hearing to be 

 given to all parties in interest and a conclusion to be reached 

 in respect to the matter after full deliberation. 



Sincerely yours, 



William H. Taft. 



This was the letter of a just and courageous man, and it 

 expresses the spirit of fair play by which Catholics every- 

 where are content to abide. It was a well-merited rebuke to 

 the author of the inconsiderate order conceived in hostility 

 to Catholics alone; and all publicity should be given to the 

 scope and purpose of such a letter. It is not the first time 

 that such attempts have been made at Washington to attack 

 Catholic customs and usages, now that the old-time method 

 of openly vilifying them will no longer answer. Representa- 



