The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-16
A MOTHER ON FRATERNTTIEs.
Criticises the Action Of Those Who
Would Suppress Them.

fraternfties and sororities organized by
the high school students, in a communlca-
ton to the State Journal. says:
.ssorne Of the ladies' who attended the
meeting of infuriated mothers were JuStl-
fed in SO doing because they went TO de-
fend their sons and daughters, while some
others would be excused for their presence
because 1 understand, they did not know
the nature OF the meeting or the frame OF
mind some of the mothers were IN am
sorry I can not think or some excuse LOl
the rest who were there, for think the
meeting was certainly most unfortunate
and something every nOthef Snou1u t.
eret All matters could have been easily
and quickly regulated without any OF this
t1lrnlflfuOus upheaVal but there are those
who still take a club instead of a feather
to knock a fly Off,and some mothers never
learn that a grain OF tact is worth ton
of force: that they may lead their chill
dren but they can never drive them, and
that opposition never wrought any real
good in dealing with young people
THE boys learned of the secret meeting
about a S soon as the mothers heard of 1t,
and by noon the day of the meeting they
had every name of those who attended,
they knew all about the petition just
who signed it and those who did not; they
heard what each mother had to say, who
the bitter and prejudiced ones were and
all about the scene when one mother was
SO courteous as to cast reflections upon
the son of another mother who had re-
fused TO sign the petluon; also thaL one
mother said her boy ought to use his
money to buy shoes and stockings for the
family instead OF spending 1t for parties;
that there were many bouquets exchanged,
and tears galore, indignant, bitter and
passionate words, but really no hair pull
ing. It must have been a most cheerful
spectacle and a charming picture to be-
hold. And all for what2
"One mother, in speaking of the affair,
said she could manage her daughter at
home, but some OF the mothers were
spanking their children in public. faith
er asked if some of the girls did not sneak
off to the parties. How can they expect
anything else, why should their girls not
deceive them if some of their mothers ap-
point secret meetings and steal off to
them? That the mothers were hasty in
their action and unwilling to reason is
evident from the fact that Prof. White
more requested committee of them to
confer with him before taking any action
in the matter, and they positively refused
to do So The committee of gentlemen
these mothers appointed to wait upon the
board of education asked the members of
the sororstes and fraternities to meet
them last Saturday to be investigated.
The presidents of the fraternities ignored
the request, as the 1raternlt1eS are not on
trial. They are under no obligations to
answer questions at this time. One of the
boys said he had not been subpoenaed yet
fraternity went to the meeting out of curl
OSlty. They found that three of the
committee had the good taste to keep out
OF the controversy, and think business
could not have been very pressing with
the other two gentlemen.
I understand the committee hardly
knew how to begin, but finally one of the
gentlemen had the courage to state that
the fraternity boys had poor grades. Then
there was birthstone in the air a frater-
nifty boy told him in few words his state
ment was false and proved to him that
every fraternity boy could show the very
best grades in his class, that none were
better. This same brave man then asked
why they took such a limited number into
the fraternity, why the most Of the school
were not permitted to join? The same boy
replied by asking him why his 'cOnversa-
ton club was so select, why they didn't
branch out and take a goodly number into
it? When the gentleman saw what he
was uD against he FASTENED to ask the
same fraternity bOE If his fT9TeT-
nifty friends was running for some politi-
cal office if he would not aid and give
him every support in preference to any
one else2 The young man then handed
him a bouquet by saying: Mr.. Committee
club was running for chief, police judge
or some such office, wouldn't you clap
your hands? The meeting was immediate
~ adjourned, the committee had failed to
get the best of the boys One Of these
active committeeman boosted, I under
/ stand, that if there was no law in Kan
sas that would control the boys he would
see to it that the next legislature passed
one; If this most worthy gentleman had a
blush for shame; as he has none there
will be time enough for him to assist US
| IN governing our Poys-by ordering a law
to control-when the parents request him
to do SO; he will then, no doubt, cover
himself all over with glory.
In the Wrong Light
Il think these mothers have put our
boys in a wrong light before the public.
They are not q set of incorrigibles, as
!
fact that some of the mothers appealed
to the board of education to control, in a
measure, their children for them; since
/ they consented to their sons joining the
fraternity and gave the boys no reason to
think that they objected to it, but, on the
contrary made them welcome in their
/ homes and gave cause to feel that they
/ approved of them and had faith in them
| I can not understand the consistency OF
/ their action and I do not believe It would
/ be possible for them to explain it.
| Their method and course of action was
wrong and wholly unnecessary There
4 has never been a time that the fraternity
1 boys were not ready and willing to grant
/ every request the mothers of their sorori-
4 " friends made OF them and they agree
with the mothers that u o'clock is late
enough for their social affairs and that
/ extravaganza in the entertainments is
not fitting for boys and girls of their age
even if they could afford it, and they also
! agree that they can not afford it, even if
4 proper thing for the mothers (as they
/ were the only ones who could do it, to
/ have called a meeting, open and above
DOdrd, ana declded on the hour for the
( boys and girls to adjourn their social af-
fairs, dispensed with carriages if they
/ thought pest ana liked a limited amount
/ for decorations and refreshments, then
made known to the boys and girls the re-
| suit of their meeting and requested them
| to abide by their decision. Coming from
| the mothers as a whole to the fraternity
/ and sorOrIt1eS as a whole. the societies
| and not only cheerfully yielded, but they
! would have thanked the mothers for their
action In this way no one organization
would have advantage over the other
Every one can readily see that one boy
one fraternity or one mother was power
less to act; it was necessary to have it
come from whole body to the societies
as a whole; all the boys and girls needed
was fixed limit. Then the mothers Should
enter into their young lives, take an in
/ terest in their pleasures, counsel advise
and act as mOderatOrs in all things
| The fraternitieS are small Organiza-
ions. 1t is not difficult for a few boys
10 work In perfect harmony, while great
boy for membership 1 believe his grades
and progress are what counts rather than
his age. I know the fraternity to he A
power for good. I consider it a very great
advantage to the boys and a wonderful
help to some of them. as it seems to be
just what they need. It dfsciDlines and
develops; it acts as a restraint; in some
instances If hanr