Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-25

ponents has been a one-sided strug-
gle. To all the accusations of their
enemies. the Greek letter men have
maintained an attitude of silent con-
tempt; but recently the charges have
become of so serious character that
the societies have i'm self defense been
compelled to reply. DR.. e. c. Moore,
superintendent of the high schools, has
often expressed himself as opposed to
any organizations in the schools lit
erary, fraternal or otherwise, and fra
ternity men believe that he is prom
inent factor in the present struggle
One of the first communications to
be received giving the frats' side of the
| questions was from the Phi Alpha
Omegas, a prominent society of the
high school This fraternity has
branches all over the country and Is
! of national character. Following is
the letter from Henry p. Goodwin:
"On behalf of the Geta chapter of the
Phi Alpha Omega National Fraternity.
/ wish to thank the Los Angeles Herald
for it's broadminded action in allowing
the various high school fraternities the
| opportunity of replying to the numer-
Gus accusations and charges which
have been brought against them lately.
fraternity man will be able to give
our side of this controversy from that
standpoint. Also that during the four
years of my course in the Los Angeles
high school l was not fraternity
man.
Objects of Society
"In the first place. the charge is
made that fraternities and sororities
tend to raise false ideas and ambitions
e
any fraternity man knows. our aims
are most laudable. Speaking now
solely as a member of the Phi Alpha
Omega will say that our objects are,
first, to raise the standard of scholar
ship amoung our members; second, to
create a brotherly feeling between
them; third. to encourage and promote
in every way their good standing So
cially, morally and physically; and
fourth, to make good citizens of our
members.
"As far as we are concerned we have
endeavored and striven along these
lines, and have succeeded, as records
will show. Certainly these ambitions
and aims are laudable, and the results
are even more so. Every man in our
chapter here in Los Angeles high
school is living example of our work.
Again. the charge of clannishness
and of fostering an undemocratic feel
ing is brought. l will admit that we
are clannish. We should be. Any per-
son, no matter where he is, whether
in school, in business, in society, or In
any other branch of life, chooses his
friends. and associates with them al
most to the exclusion of the others
around him. 1t is perfectly. natural
and right that a number of mutual
friends should clan together and form
a society, club or other organization
to carry out their common aims and
ideas. A man is going to choose his
friends and chums whether he is a
fraternity man or not. 1t is well known
that if a body of people have some
thing in common, it tends greatly to
bring them closer together.
Dissipation Not Tolerated
"The serious charge has been made
that fraternities lead to dissipation,
drunkenness and the use of tobacco.
[ will state in this regard that in the
first place. our fraternity absolutely
prohibits the use of any Intoxicating
liquors and the use of tobacco in any
form. Again, our suppers have, in
majority of cases, been held in the
homes of the members and our parents
have in every case provided the re-
freshments and have been present at
our suppers We have never had drop
of intoxicating liquor at any of our
fraternal gatherings. 1 will admit that
some of our boys smoke, but that can
not be laid at the door of the order
They would smoke anyway, and did so
before they joined us.
''It has been said that the older men
in the fraternities encourage the
younger men to drink and dissipate
AS our chapter here in Los Angeles is
comparatively young one, L cannot
speak with as great certainty as | can
on these other subjects. However, I
can say that to the best of my knowl-
edge, the older men in our high school
orders have been great help to their
younger brothers, in making them
study, and in helping them to under
stand that they must keep their stan
dard high if the fraternity shall re-
main up to the standard to which we
aim.
Fraternity Men Popular
'As for the fraternities being snob-
bish, | can only say that as general
rule the fraternity boys come from the
best families and have had the best
kind of home training. They are gem
orally among the most popular men in
the school and are liked by everyone.
OF course there are some people In this
world who get the sore head if 1
may be permitted to use a slang
phrase, If they do not receive an in
vitation to join some fraternity or
secret society. AS rule, these are the
people who are doing the main part of
the complaining against the fraterni-
ties. Is it right that we should be
judged by what this class of people
say about us? We do not think so.
"There is general feeling at our
Los Angeles high school against the
existence of the frats. This Is based,
to a great degree, on the statements
of these knockers who claim to have
an inside knowledge of all these frat
affairs. For instance, in a Friday
paper. one girl of the high school says
she knows she was blackballed three
times by one girl in a certain sorority
Now anyone who knows the first thing
about the rules governing the frats
and sororities will say that for any out
slider TO know of such a state of affairs
is absurd and ridiculous.
Says One Is Harmful
Il will admit that in one instance
there has been great deal OF harm
done by a fraternity. This frat to
which / have reference Is the one
which maintains rooms in one OF our