Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-20
7. N. c. A. Lecturer Hints at
High School immortality.
CALLS FOR CORRECTION
Educators Deny His
limitations.
ARE INDIGNANT AT CHARGES
Accusations Regarded as Too In
definite to Allow Of Specific
Contradiction.

| CHICAGO, January o0.-"Unless steps
of corrective character are taken at once
a high school scandal involving the mo-
| rality Of our boys and girls will shock
the nation from coast to coast. make
| this startling statement advisedly. 1t
is based upon facts existing, not in Chi
cago alone, but in all the centers Of pop
| ulation.''
Fred B. Smith, member OF he ex-
ecutive staff of the committee o. ninety
seven.' made the above statement last
night in an address before GOO Chicago
business and professional men at a ban
quet in the Auditorium Hotel
1.-THE committee Of ninety-seysn' is an
organization Of business men the Unit
ed States and Canada. 1t proposes in the
next eighteen months to win for Christian
churches millions Of unconlerted men
throughout the cities of North America.
Committeeman subscribed $4,000 to
finance the campaign during the day
when the movement was launched, and
| more is promised.
Speakers before the committee at the
day sessions showed that there are
3,OOO.OO more women and girls of Chris.
| tian churches In North America than men
and boys.
Trying to Reach Urban Population.
THE great problem Is to reach the
people in the Cities" said James G..
| Cannon, banker, of New York city.
| There we have an intensity Of living
| that creates at the same time an in
tensity Of relaxation, and there lies the
danger. The people of this nation are
too preoccupied to pay the attention
| thy should to spirituality. The people
of this nation can be made to recognize
the claim of the gospel only by a severe
give them. We will shake of some of
the spiritual lethargy that has come
with commercial life''
President Harry Pratt Judson Of the
University of Chicago. who presided at
the banquet, said the reason there was
| SO small a proportion Of men in the
churches today was that there were no
man-size jobs in tie church.
AS soon as you get big jobs in the
c come in, ~ he said That e is tne sole sole
reason why there are SO few men in
the church. We must have less poetry
and emotion, and more business and
action"
Defense o. the Schools.
The general application by Mr.. Smith
Of his prospective scandal has aroused
the high school AND public education au-
| thorities of Washington to warm de-
tense. not only OF the secondary schools
fof the Capital city. but of those Of the
country in general.
| IF Mr. Smith hos onv inf0rnQ ti0n anent
the standard OF morality prevailing In
the Washington schools, those interested
say, he is cordia ly invited to express
himself specificall. and give the board
of education authorities the value of his
information.
II would like to get something definite
| from Mr.. Smith, said A. T. Stuart su-
perintendent Of schools.
Il don't know what he Is talking about;
low standard of morality In our public
schools or in those OF other cities.
am under the imp. ession that the children
| of Washington come from pretty good
homes. The school isn't the arbiter OF
morals-the homes are. It the boy or
girl has the proper home influence
don't believe the incidental association OF
a public school In Washington will con.
troll or pervert the moral makeup. al
though, of course, the school may have
something to do with it."
Indefinite Accusations.
Mr.. Smiths address was on the general
subject OF morals and the reports from
Chicago do not quote him as having dwelt
at any length on the school question.
Those that have rushed to the defense OF
| the Washington high schools are, there
fore, at loss to know what particular kind
If immortality Mr.. Smith fears will "shock
| the country"
AS lecturer of note, who has spoken
many times in Washington under the
auspices of the Young mems Christian
| Association, and who is supported by a
| club of local Y. NJ c. A.. workers, Mr..
Smiths remarks have created q wide stir,
not only in educational circles, but in
| home and social circles as well.
| Miss Edith c. Westcott, principal of the
| Western High School, refused to make Q
statement lor publication without first
having considered Mr.. Smiths remarks.
(, lecturers statement had created a suffi-
| GENTLY serious situation to call for con-
| ference of principals Of local high schools
| before any statement should be given out.
High Standard in tho Schools.
Mr.. Smith has grossly overstated any
| immortality prevailing In high schools =
said Emory NJ. Wilson, principal OF the
Central High School. THE average of
| morality is higher In the public schools,
and particularly in the high schools. to-
day than anywhere else through our
communities. Mr.. Smith doesn't do the
| boys and girls justice. OF course, there
are boys and girls in the schools, as there
are In all communities. who do not do
| the right thing, but the general stand
| ard in the schools Is much higher AS to
| the scandal that will shock the country
| from coast to coast l haven't the slight
est idea what Mr.. Smith refers to-
That's pretty strong for Washington
or almost any other city," said George
E. Myers, principal of Mckinley Manual
| Training School, when part OF Mr.:
Smiths speech was read to him. 'Of
| course, the moral influences ct sone
schools are not all they should be. but |
can't take so pessimistic view as does
Mr.. Smith.
Faulty Home Conditions.
1.-THE home and general social condi-
tions are more generally to be blamed
for all kinds of immortality than the
schools. This, l think. Is the fault at
which Mr.. Smith is really striking-not
the school, but the home. Many things