The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-27
KAMSAS cOMHENT
> "FR ~ FIcHT PROMJSEn

A FRAT FIGHT PROMISED.
Inc attitude of Member Ravenscraft,
the clark county representative in the
KANSAS legislature, betokens a fight on
!raternities at the coming session, and
Is quite probable that strict legisla-
tlon relative to fraternities in high
scnools Will be passed. The tendency
IS continually growing that fraternities
IN any school or college or university
are unnecessary, to say the least, and
IN many instances they are positive
oetriment to the. school and the 'under-
graduate body. Princeton university
solved the problem of doing away with
fraternities many years ago, and every
student who enrolls at the great New
Jersey university is compelled to take
an oath that he will not become afilia-
Is connected with university affairs.
In the place of fraternities clubs are
instituted which, while resembling fra
ternlties, are said to be free from
many of the evil influences of the
Greek letter organizations The great
est objection to school fraternities is
that they are clannish in their operations
ana nave tendency to destroy the
democratic spirit. It is said that large
ly on account of the taboo placed upon
fraternities is the fact that Princeton
is the most democratic university in
the world. There a mans worth is
placed in his ability, not in the amount
OF money he can spend, the booze he
can consume or his peg-top trousers.
Fraternities, in the larger universe
ties where the barb element is suf-
fcient to hold the frats in check and
where the true social and political
status can be determined without mis-
conceptions, may be permissible, but
there is certainly no place for them in
the secondary and high schools.
College fraternities are nearly 100
years old, and originated in the United
States. Union college may be called
the mother of Greek letter societies.
The Phi Beta Kappa society was
founded at William and Mary college
in the latter part of the Eighteenth CEN
fury, but in a few years 1t disclosed
its motto and became an open society.
Union college is credited with des1gnat-
ing the fraternity system as 1t exists
today, the first to be organized being
the Kappa Alpha in 1926. In recent
years the old societies and the newer
ones have grown in size and influence
very rapidly. Twenty-Five years ago
occupied by these fraternities. Seven
years later there were 20 such houses. |
In 1898 there were AIS owned and occu- |
pied by the national, local and wom- |
States. The latest enumeration is not
at hand, but the number has doubt |
less more than doubled In the last de- |
Gazette.
HOW COLORADO WOMEN VOTE
Rev. Anna H. Shaw, president of the |
National American Woman Suffrage
association, accompanied by Miss
Laura A. Gregg, we'll known public |
speaker, Miss Ray Costelloe and Miss
Elinor Rendell. two enthusiastic and |
beautiful English suffragettes, was In
Denver, November 3, for the purpose of
seeing women vote at national cleo
ton.
The Denver Post sent the party from
polling place to polling place in a huge
automobile, and they witnessed many
an interesting sight. AT one place
where a nervous man fidgeted uneasily
in the line of waiting voters, a woman
ahead of him courteouSly exchanged
her place for his At another, color
ed woman, who could not read, asked
for help in marking her ballot. There
was no laughing or chafhng, no MP
pant remark, but the assistance was
given gravely and in good faith. AT I
another polling place. they saw the old
est woman voter in the city-Mrs. Rich
ard Sophris, aged 97-wa1k proudly in
With head erect and give her name in
1 clear voice. In one of the most fash
enable precincts where women COM
Prise SIS per cent of the total registra-
ion, one of the judges said: The Wo-
men always turn in heavy vote mere
md we have no trouble trying to get
.l1le. and they have their own ideas
about what they are doing"
Governor-elect Shafroth, of Colorado,
las been a staunch woman suffragist
or years, and the women rejoice at his
election. as they do in that of judged
lindsey who ran on an independent
ticket and is said to have been elected
w the votes of women.-Emporia Ga
.ette.