The San Francisco call., 1909-04-02
'FRATS' ARE TO GO
BYORDEROF BOARD
Secret Societies Doomed in All
the Public Schools of
Alameda County
Members of Fraternities AM
nOunce Determination to Give
Battle in the Courts

OAKLAND. April Open warfare
was declared tonight upon the board
of education by representatives of the
Greek letter fraternities. who have
ordered resistance to the enforcement
of the anti-fraternity law which was
recently enacted by the state legisla-
ture. By unanimous vote the board
of education tonight adopted drastic
resolutions. enforcement of which
means the determination of the high
school fraternities and the unfolding
of the anti-fraternity law.
Bertrand L. York. representing the
special anti-legislation ALUMNI com
mittee Of the Phi Sigma Fraternity.
and Attorney Edward A. Cunha of the
firm of Weiman. Wood & Cunha, who
have been retained to take the case
into the courts, were at the meeting,
as well as representatives of the other
fraternities with chapters in the
Oakland high school. They did not
make any fight in the board, as they
said that they would go at once to
the courts.
DECLARE LAW UNCONSTITUTIONAL
fraternity law as passed by the legis-
lature is unconstitutional, and that
the Oakland board Of education did not
act within its rights when it passed
such stringent resolution tonight
If the law is declared constitutional
the chapters Of the Phi Sigma frater-
nifty viii be withdrawn.
Just what immediate steps Will be
taken toward lighting the action Of the
Oakland fc1 I'd af saTss
prepared 10 say. In the meantime the
members OF the Phi Sigma fraternity
who are students al the Oakland
high school have been advised by their
attorneys TO ignore the resolutions and
10 continue with limitations and meet
ings as heretofore"
CONFERENCE OF FRATERNITIES
The Phi Sigma fraternity has called
a general meeting Of all o. the frater-
mites on the Pacific coast TO be held
II San Francisco at a date yet to be
selected. At that meeting il will be
proposed to form a permanent legis-
lative committee. composed of one
member from each fraternity and So
rority- The plan calls for a committee
ro meet all measures calculated to
abolish fraternities and sororities in
the public schools whether secondary
or higher.
The resolutions which were adopted
tonight We're drafted by District At
torney W II. Donahue at the request
or school Directors Kelly, Wood and
We'll, who were appointed a committee
TO prepare them.
The resolutions begin with a state
ment that the existence of secret, oath
bound societies tends TO foster a clan
nish spirit of INSTRUMENTATION which re-
suits in much evil to the good order.
harmony, discipline and general well
fare OF our schools" They contain d.
recttons that disobedience is to be pun
ished with suspension. expulsion or a
total disbsrment from all student ac-
uvitfes and privileges except attend
ance and graduation.
The law enacted by the legisla-
ture was quoted and the direct order
given that it must be obeyed strictly.
SEVERE PENALTIES IMPOSED
Any pupil who joins a secret. oath
bound society, whether il is connected
with the school or not. is liable to sus-
pension or expulsion. the new rule OF
the board Of education declares ANY
pupil who continues a member of such
an organization after April 30 Of this
year may be visited with the same pen
alties.
Furthermore, any pupil, whether a
member or not, who takes part in or
attends a meeting or caucus of frater-
nifty members, composed in whole or in
part OF pupils. is subject to the loss
Of all privileges except the mere right
TO attend classes and graduate No
such pupil may take part in athletics.
journalism or debating. and is to be de-
MED recommendation for admission to
the University Of California without
+ examination.
The board directed that the resolu-
tions be read TO every pupil in the
high schools.
BOARD EFFECTS ORGANIZATION
The board met for the FIRST time to-
night with it's newly elected members.
A new organization was effected, off,
GERS being chosen and committees
named.
Director A. L. Hannaford was unani-
mously elected president. Superin-
tendent OF Schools ]. W McClymonds
was chosen to succeed himself. A COM
mittee OF three. composed of s c. Simp-
son. Thomas Bendel and Charles Over
~, representing the evening schools.
presented to superintendent Nicely
monds a handsome silver bonbon set
in recognition of his work on behalf
OF the evening schools. McClymonds
was also reelected secretary of the
board
The following standing committees
were named:
classification Emerson Kelly.
Evening scbools-O' Connor Wentworth Cook
Finance-Orr. Well. Emerson
Furniture and suPplies-Cook, Crandall,
Evaus
High schools-Kelly. Wood Wei.
Manual training-Wood. O'Connor. Wentworth.
Judicisry-Weil. Evans. Crandall.
-Observatory-Em Kelly Orr.
Rules and regulations Wentworth, Cook,
OConnor.
Sehoolhouses and sites-Evans Orr, Wood.
pAV COMpI IMENTC To