The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-08
OUT THEY MUST GO
Senate Passes the Anti High
School s. Frat !" Bill.
Was Occasion for War OF Words
on Floor.
VOTE WAS DECISIVE.
Stood Twenty-three for to Nine
Against.
One of the Measures Advocated
NV (LoraruOvs H0oh
TOTE WAS DECISIVE.
One of the Measures Advocated
by Governor Hoch.


Kansas senate drove the 4'frats" out of
Kansas high schools on Thursday
afternoon, and passed the Miller anti
fraternity bill by vote of % to 8.
The fatal significance of % is again
apparent.
All this trouble for the "frats''
originated far away in the county of
Haskell, where a mild-mannered,
white haired little man named Miller,
town of Santa Fe, assumed the role of
leader of the Goths, Vandals, and
other barbarians, and wrote a little
bill, which fatty prohibited the organ
ization of fraternities or sororities in
any high schools in cities of the first
CT second class.
Meantime Governor Hoch had
drawn up message to the legislature,
in which he commended the anti
fraternity movement and urged the
passage of a bill of this kind.
The house of representatives passed
the bill without much opposition, it
was favorably reported by the senate
education committee, and on Thursday
afternoon occupied the first position
On the calendar under the head of gen
eral orders.
The balconies of the senate cham
Der We're crowded with the members
of the fraternities and sororities at the
Topeka high school, while on the floor
of the house were number of teach
ers from Topeka and other cities. The
boys and girls We're hoping to see the
bill killed, while the teachers were al
most unanimously in favor of it.
After a spectacular display of orator.
cal fireworks by Senator Getty of wy
andotte and Senator Fitzpatrick u
Chautauqua, the committee of the
whole, by decisive vote, recommend
ed the bill for passage. Then. to ruo
it in on the fraternities. the committee
at once arose. put the bill on fins
passage. and passed it by the follow
ing vote:
For the bill-Benson, Baker, Brewer,
Buschow, Carver, Conner. Dolley, Full
ton. Griffin, Hamme, Harrison, Huff
man, Hughes; Martin of Bourbon, Mil
Ter, Porter of Montgomery, Robertson,
Simons, Stannard, Tucker, Wilkerson,
Young-23.
Against the bill-Betts. Getty. Hay
den, Hodges. Lower. Quincy, Stan
nard, Stillings, Waggener-9.-
Shortly after the2lvote was taken, d
large box of Carnations was placed on
Senator Getty's desk the gift of high
school fraternity members. ~.
The Miller bill stood first on the cal
committee of the whole it was taken
up at once The bill was as follows:
Section /. 1t shall be unlawful for
the pupils of any high schools in cities
of the first or second class to partici-
pate in or be members of any secret
fraternity, or secret organization what
soever. that is in any degree school
organization.
"Sectfon . Any board of education
of such cities of the first or second
class are hereby authorized and en-
powered to deny to any student regul-
arly enrolled in such high school. who
shall violate section 1 of this act any
or all of the privileges of such high
school or to expel such student for
failure or refusal to comply with the
requirements of this act
Section 3. This act shall take eff
feet from and after its publication in
the statute-book."
Senator Waggener moved as an
2 amendment that Kansas university
and all other colleges in Kansas be
included in the schools from which
fraternities are barred
Senator Fitzpatrick said: 81 don't
wants this amendment adopted. He is
to this bin and he wants to
make it unpopular. There will be
speeches made here to the galleries,
but / want to talk to the senate. 1t
may be all right for the students of
ternities but certainly the same rule
does not apply to high school chill
dren.''
Senator Getty opposed the bill. He
children in my town have urged me to
support this bill, because they had
rather have their children in club
rooms than running about the streets.
There is no logical reason why Kansas
students should not be pro-
if high school students are
prohibited, from Joining fraternities.
But the law should never be put on
the statute books. 1t is unconstitu-
tional. The law is a direct violation
of the constitution which guarantees
equal privileges to all.
There have been school teachers
here lobbying against this bill, especi-
ally the school teachers of a certain
city. Scandalous stories of the actions
in these fraternities have been whis-
pered into our ears. Certain women
have been here lobbying against this
bill; women who have no children of
their own, but who spend their time
on pink teas. Are we to believe such
stories?
It think it is most humiliating that
in a document of state the governor
should advocate such a system of reg
ulation as he did advocate"
In reply Senator Fitzpatrick said:
TT is our duty to pare off from this
school system of ours the
thousands of boys and girls in Kansas
who have felt the blight of these social
which the fraternities fos-
ter. I believe the schools should be
more democratic. I feel my own dis
advantages from lack of education. 1
quit school when 1 was Is years of age
because the children made fun of my
patched clothing. There is nothing
more dangerous than to teach the poor
boy that the boys who chew and smoke
and swear are the leaders of society.
mo one has whispered scandalous
stories into my ears, but you know that
the schools have been practically de-
serted for "a week while the children |
were here in this legislature lobbying
against this bill Pass the bill and send
these children back to school, make
this plea for the children who have no
parents, or whose parents are unable |
to do for them as they should. The
children of the rich should understand
that they cannot go into the schools |
for the purpose of establishing theis