Norwich bulletin., 1910-12-01

The plot thickens in the play for supremacy now going on between the school committee, DTS. Spicer, Nor gan and Smith, the superintendent of schools, William H. Holmes, Jr., the principal of the Westerly high school, John H. Swain, and the eight students who have been suspended because of membership in a secret society desig- mated as M. V. C.. which the school authorities propose to suppress. Some time ago, the school committee gave orders that there should be no mora initiation of members into that or any other secret society of the school aft CT June 30, 1910, and farther that the society would not be tolerated in the school Since then two members have been initiated in violation of the school rules and the society's influence was still exerted in school matters. Hence the suspension of the members of the present student body, the graduates, of course, being beyond the jurisdic- tion of the school committee.
 Tuesday evening there was a joint session of the school authorities, the eight suspended students, and their fathers. For nearly two hours there was lively discussion. after which the school representatives were in ex- ecutive session until midnight.
 Wednesday morning the suspended members were handed a slip of paper for signature, declaring .tat they would withdraw from active member ship in the M. V. c. society while they were students of the Westerly high school.
 This the boys declined to do. They also turned down the proposition to consolidate with other societies in the school and thereby avoid rivalry that was considered prejudicial to the best interests of the school. So the mat ter stands unchanged and the M V. c. hnNE still 1naLed the school, and with no change of senti- ment in sight.
 The M. V. c. club is an old organ ization, exclusive and limited in its active membership. As all the boys that desired to, were not permitted to join, they formed a rival society des- ignated as H. T. S., which has a mem- bershi- of 56, all active members of the Westerly high school.
 The school authorities have now started in to abolish that society, and on Wednesday each member was given declared they would withdraw from membership while students in the Westerly high school
 The boys declined to affix their sig natures and they were given until Thursday morning to return the papers properly signed or take the conse-. quences. It is believed that if the papers are returned they will not bear the autograph of any member of the H. T. s. society. Therefore, they will be probably suspended. as are the members of the rival M. V. c. society.
 The other secret society at the school, known as the T. s. J., is com posed entirely of girls. Several months ago an effort was made to convince the school authorities that this could not be considered a school society. It is understood, however, that the T. s. J. is in the same category with the M. V. c. and the H. T. 5. and will receive like treatment.
 The school authorities have given this matter long and serious consid- eration and gave to the members of these societies that addition to mem bership must cease and that the soci- cities would not be tolerated as they created a rivalry and feeling in the school that was a serious detriment
 Edward c. CundalI, the efficient clerk of the Third district court, and who has held the office since it's crea- tion, about six years ago, is not candidate for reelection and will end his services when the present term ex- pires next February. MT. Cundall, al- though not a lawyer, is well Versed in law. and when acting as judge in the absence of Judge Williams, his de- cisions were always strictly within the law, and accepted as such by at torneys in the cases on trial. Mir. Cundall was before becoIling clerk of the court, the high sheriff for Washington county, an office which he filled to the complete satisfaction of the people
 He served in the civil war and is member of Budlong post. c. A. F.. and resigns the clerlSship simply to be re- lieved of the work and responsibility, and take life easier.
 Already there are aspirants for the clerkship to be vacated by Mir. Gun da1l. among them being Attorneys Clarence F. Roche and Everett A. Kingsley