The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-03
SECRET SOCIETIES MUST G0 EDCT OF BOARD OF EDUCATION
 IN SENSATIONAL MEETING ON CLARK HAVING CASE LAST NIGHT

IdIe CIllS eO1CC snail De lnellSIDlo " graduate from the High school with | his class, and shall also be deemed in l eligible to receive 8. diploma He shall further be barred all privileges of ths schoo1.'
 | Flow do you propose to ascertain ! whether the students are members when the societies guard their meet | inGs with so much secrecy?" asked the reporter
 ''By placing each student under oath, i and forcing him to make an affidavit as to just where he stands. I guess the prospect of being prosecuted fo1 perjury will make the students tell the l truth. But if we are not satisfied with the statements of the students, or if they refuse to make a, statement under oath, WE SHALL SUMMON THEIR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS, DISCLOSE UNDER EXAMINATION ALL THEY KNOW ABOUT THE STUDENTS CONNECTIONS WITH SUCH ORGANIZATIONS. "We have been in doubt from the beginning" continued the commissions CT, ''aS to just how far we could go in this matter. It was held in some quarters that these organizations were positively beneficial to the students, that they placed within their reach cer- tain advantages as to social environ- ment, as we'll as developed their litef-
 
 But I personally have grave doubts as to these claims. I believe the so- cieties should go, and I intend that they shall go if it is within my power.
 We have found this the most vex- ing problem that has come to our at tention, and older members of the board have told me that it is the worst proposition ever put up to them We felt we were not in position to judge rightly as to just what was the best step to take without consulting with the school faculty. We were assured sympathy with Mr. Simons, the prin- cipal. but to our surprise we found later that at least three members of the faculty refused to sign the dec- laration against the secret societies. Sc we found ourselves little better off than when we started to guide our- selves by the sentiments of the High school faculty.
 ''The statement signed by most of the faculty is very strong. It de- clares the societies are seldom if ever helpful and usually harmful to the pecially upon the undemocratic spirit the organizations foster among the students It also states plainly that the best interests of the school are in variably Subordinated to the welfare of the fraternities and sororities.
 
 out of the purposes of the High school. Although I am not prepared to say. I understand this statement was pre- pared by MT. Simons, probably the most bitter foe of the frats and sororities, after he had consulted with signed it.
 '"This showed us that the majority of the faculty was arrayed against the existence of the organizations But I maintain that there are certain ele- ments that should be borne in mind. The members of the faculty would nat urally be inclined to favor their super for, MT. Simonds. He has ever been a bitter foe to secret societies in the school. Further. the Clark case was especially unfortunate as an excuse to secure the teachers opinion. I say this because I personally believe the secret organizations are not such a bugaboo as many would have them appear.
 The High school teachers might have believed in signing this paper, that they were either giving or with holding their approval from such acts as led to the disaster to Miss Clark. That is not the view I would have them take of the matter. I want their opinion as to whether the orga- nizations are in the aggregate harm full to the students progress. If the
 
 fair minded man will vote for any step that will tend to wipe them out. I fear however that in this case the teachers were made to believe they were either standing for ruffianism and hoodlumism, by withholding their signatures, or declaring for law and order by aff1xing their names. As matter of fact I have learned indi- rectly that several of these signatures were placed upon the document, al- most under dureSs.
 "We do not rest with asking the opinion of our own High school teach CTS. We went to many cities. Among them now recall Albany. Erie. Utica, Hartford, Meriden, Des Moines, Kan sas City, Wilkesbarre. Providence, and Scranton. In every single in- stance we were informed that the Boards of Education took strict pre- cautions. to prevent the. existence of any such societies.
 We were doubtful as to our legal rights in the matter until City Attor- ney Cullinan at our request prepared an opinion for us. He called our attention to several cases. one in the Supreme court of the State of Wash ington, to which the members of the fraternities and soroities carried just The city attorney tells us the court sustained the action of the School Board in wiping out the societies. He also told us about cases in Des Moines and in Chicago. In Chicago the stu dents carried their controversy into the supreme court, and as in the case of the Washington students, they lost their fight,
 Don't think for a minute that we acted hastily on the steps we propose to take. The set of regulations we are about adopt-unless something goes amiss-have been practically agreed upon for several days. We submitted a draft to the city attorney and he spent some time looking up parallel cases in various states We feel that we cannot go astray if we us plainly that what we propose to do is legal.
 q don't want to be misunderstood pha sorority has taken the wrong at titude in this matter all through. In the first place it has been hostile and antagonistic to the Clark family. I don't mean the girls sent the Clark child home to die without a word. But I do believe that for grown women the alumnae of the sorority have been conducting themselves like grade school pupils.
 'sThe most surprising piece of inn pertinence of the alumnae came to our attention last night in the form of A communication. Just what it's purpose was I can't fathom. The scr
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