The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-04-30
Magazine Of the Phi Lambda Epsilen
Fraternity Contains Editor
ial Which is Of Gen
eral Interest.
PLACED IN WRONG LIGHT
School Boards do Not Understand Pur-
pose Of Fraternity Because Of :
the Secrets Of orsani-
zation.

The Phi lambda Epsilon magazine
contains an editorial which advances
some OF the fraternities arguments IN
favor Of the life of the society in our
high schools. It speaks of the school
boards being unable to understand the
purpose OF fraternity because OF the /
secrecy Of the organization and also
OF some OF the mistaken attitudes OF
both parties The articles is as fol-
lows:
The opposition of school boards TO
the high school fraternity is a move
ment which has been growing for the
past few years, until it has spread over
the whole country. 1t has been dis
cussed in varying degrees of intensity
! In almost every school where chap
| ter of fraternity exists. 1t has re-
suited in producing. not solution 10
the problem. but more complex ma
/ ture of it, and this has been due IN
great part to the mistaken attitude Oh
both parties The school boards have
been unable to get at the purpose OF
the fraternity. because the fraternity
is secret, and consequently the men,
beers of the school boards have decld-
ed upon numerous things which they
have exploited as objections to fraters
mites n high schools. Their errors
have resulted from ignorance OF the
subject which they have discussed, and
a too hasty action based upon this ig'
norance
On the other hand. the fraternities
have resented this action, and justly
so. because 1t has placel them In
wrong light; but this protection OF
= their own interests has been done IN
such a way that antagonism has
sprung up. This has served to widen
the breach until both parties have de
;. MED themselves the opportunity to be
= come better acquainted with eacI
:. other. Until a more perfect under
!. standing has been reached between
= the general public and the fraternities
: no settlement is possible.
"A The causes for the rise in the ira
: ternity opposition movement can cas-
- lily be seen il it is viewed from an un
biased standpoint. While it is base'
on error, the foundation for this erro
can be traced, not to all fraternfties
but to some fraternities the member
:, of which have doubtful standing an
:, a questionable record. Here lies tn
secret of the trouble. So Ion
=, as the members of sound, health
fraternity deport themselves accordin
to the standards held UP by their fri
ternity, there is no serious trouble
= When the department of the member
changes, then there arises opposition
This occurred when high school fr
ternities were comparatively youn
and 1t has since been repeated. 1t hs
SMl caused a sympathetic wave to pas
$Il over the whole country. Where tn
$Al members of a chapter have stood tn
#dI test and not been found wanting, tn
Sui opposition has served to increase rae
SUI proves, while on tie other han
$M their failure to do so has served to '
Sui tally injure them and their fraternit
SUI giving the opposers one more weape
&Jl to use You can see, then, the nece
sity for proper conduct, both for yo'
- OWN SOOQ duu luI ludt VI soui iA1e-
~ nifty.
z The plea has been raised that Il
fraternity interferes with school wor
While this might be so, there is l
possible excuse for such results. r
member your VOW to advance o
school" Your record helps to make
mar the record of your school. Y
should be moved to work, not shir
If you ever have trouble in 70
school, your record as a conscientio
pupil, not necessarily brilliant 81
dent. will stand as the best reco
mendation you can have.
Much weight is given, by the oppo
ton TO the accusation t-lat fraterniti
control the elections in schools, pl;
ing fraternity and sorority members
office regardless of their ability
worthiness. This has never been, 4
will it ever be, endorsed by the F
ternity. 1t is contrary TO the best
terests of both school and Fraterni
which you have promised TO upho
Stand for the man whom you think
best suited for the place. and If
should be brother, congratulate 20
cell
A last precaution, which is by
gS means to be held lightly, is to av'