The Washington times., 1908-12-30
.FRATS TOO ACTIVE
IN SCHOOL SPORTS
Interference Has Caused So
cietieS to Be Placed Un-
der Control.

That the possibilities Of favOritism be-
ing exercised by student managers Of
athletic teams was potent factor in
starting the investigation OF high school
fraternities, which viii be brought 10
close when Superintendent Stuart issues
an order placing the secret societies
under direct control OF the principals.
came TO light today as the result Of
charges made by the anti-trat element
Of two leading high schools.
The fraternities, which have been on
the ragged edge Of existence for the
past six months. pending an investiga-
ton by the Board Of Education. are rest
Ing easy after Superintendent Stuarts
order since that is practically the first
official recognition ever given the or
gauizations by school authorities and
practically establishes their position
with the same control that has always
been unofficiaIy exercised by the prin-
cipals.
But athletic circles are aroused over
the news that a welI-dehned movement
was under WAY in at least one Of the
big high schools TO bring the alleged
conditions which operated against nom
fraternity athletes
While principals have been guarding
against any such possibility, 1t is said
that the power welded by the frate--
mites was so strong that, including, as
, they do I'm at least two schools, the
majority Of the athletes, they held the
balance of power in athletic associa-
ton elections. and in the election Of
team captains In many cases, II Is
said, team managers. coaches and prac-
tiCaUy the entire squad were composed
sOlidly Of fraternity men, and the few
uninitlated who tried TO make places
were discouraged early In the game. In
addition 10 this. in one or two in
stances. the antis point out. alumni
coaches and frat men coached the
teams. which added 70 the barrier
against the outsiders.
School authorities who talked on the
subject this morning were inclined TO
! believe that the alleged evil had been
/ exaggerated ard claimed that while
/ evidences Of attempts to swing elections
/ had been attempted, Interference by
/ principals frustrated plans in that d.
rection.
Barton X. Everman, chairman of the
I high school committee of the Board OF
] Education. which conducted the inVes-
/ tigation. declared that the influence OF
! fraternitieS in class elections and In
athletics had been thoroughly gone over
1 by the committee.
! we found nothing in any of the
| high schools that would make US be
/ Iieve the fraternities WELD a power be-
! vond that justified by their member
! ship, though the pOtentiality OF these
! organizations for activity in that direc-
/ tion was one reason for the action
| taken in placing the societies directly
/ under the hand Of the principals.
Will Be Watched Closely.
.No attempt will be made" declared
| Mr. Evermau. Ito eliminate the secre
society element, but steps will be takeI
to bring them under the strictest super
! vision
/ DESPITE opposition Of recent years
ones have sprung up in all but one ~
the high schools. Many Of these hav,
acquired chr rters with national Organi
! zati0ns in prep school circles. and IN,
| national conventions of two OF IN,
! best-known societies were held her
At Central High School there ar
four BOYS fraternities with natiOna
A charters, as We'll as several local secrC
I societies. Sigma Lamba includes a larg
number of girls, and, it is understood
wields a power almost as great in tn
class and athletic association election.
as the boys fraternity Of that nam
with the words reversed. At Easter
is Phi Alpha Epsilon, and at Western
has recently been organized Pt Phi.
branch of a Central society. TechnicO
also has several powerful local secre
! societies.