The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-20
Prodigal Sons of High School
Eraternities to Be Reinstated.
School Board Decides to Grant
Students Their Rights.
END OF THE "FRATS."
All Members Have Promised to
Abolish Organizations.
Indignation Aroused Over the
City Influenced Board.

The members of the fraternities of
the Topeka high school who were sus-
pended from school on account of their
connection with the secret societies
and their alleged violation of the state
laws will be reinstated by the board of
education at their next meeting, which
will be held on the first Monday in
February.
There were nine boys included in
this private and conservative expuI-
sion act created by the school board,
and four of them have been barred
from the class rooms since the first
of January. The other five boys were
suspended from school January 10.
When asked if the report that the
boys would be reinstated was true.
Colonel J. D. Norton, president of the
school board, admitted that 1t was very
probable.
Eyes. think that everything will
be cleared up at the meeting we will
hold in February said the colonel.
IT have no reason to think that the
boys will not be back in school after
this meeting and their studies contin-
ued as before. This matter has been
settled to the entire satisfaction of
every one concerned"
The four boys who were suspended
for year-after the first fall of
the guillotine-LaRue Royce, Chester
Sawers-have been out of school for
considerable time and have lost
large number of valuable class reel
tations and lectures. They will at
tempt to make up their work and con-
tinue as before. Some of the boys
have been tutored during the interim.
The remaining boys who were
brought up on the carpet'-Clyde
Mills. Roy Agard, Lyle Bailey, Merle
Snyder and Ernest Nold-have only
1Yf NJ
and their loss in studies will not be
felt as severely as the victims of the
first suspension.
It has always been stated by the
high school authorities that the boys
were expelled until June. But the Bit
ter feeling which ran riot over the city
and the public sentiment freely ex-
pressed by all has changed their
minds and the reinstatement will be
made as soon as the board of educa-
ton can place their official seal.
1t has always been contended by
majority of the people of Topeka that
in suspendfng the above mentioned
boys the high school authorities were
nying them a square deal" 1t has
been known that there are about 100
members of fraternities and sororities
in the Topeka high school, but the
the above mentioned boys, who were
no more to blame than the rest
1t is also known that practically all
Of the fraternity and sorority members
in the high school have been discovered
by Principal A. J. Stout and have been
called up before Superintendent Whit
temore, where they admitted their
guilt. They gave the same promises
and offered the same apologies as given
and offered by the expelled boys and
they were told to go back to their class
rooms without interference.
1t is this fact that has aroused the
intense feeling in the city and has
caused such a sentiment against the
actions of the school board and high
school authorities.
81 am glad, of course, that our boys
are going to get back in school," said
one of the fathers of the boys this
morning. "but can't help but feel that
our boys have been the so-caIled goats.
They know and the high school au-
thorities know that there are scores of
other boys and girls belonging to high
still these have been the only ones TO
suffer"
1t is known that the parents of the
expelled boys have been bringing con-
siderable weight to bear upon the high
school people and that the decision to
make the reinstatement was born from
their influence and from the general
sentiment over the city.
In consideration of the favor grant
ed them the boys have promised to keep
out of secret societies hereafter during
their connection with the high school.
All of the fraternity and sorority MEM
bers have made like promises and with
the meeting of the school board Feb
.ruary the death kneI1 of the fratern-
tiles and sororities will be sounded
again. The action may also put a stop
m the 0f1eT Or0a piZatiOnS in the state,