The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-02-02
Officers of the Local High
School Fraternities and So
rorities Make Reply to the
Board Ruling:
SAY THAT GAMBLING
IS NOT TOLERATED
One Coed Denounces the
Ban as IAN Outrage and a
Crime" - Board Stands
Firm in Its Action.

Indignant over the statement of
Principal I. e. Ncff Of the local high
school, which he made public yesteb
day to the effect that high school
fraternities are undesirable evils;
poker has been played in fraternity
rooms, and that club rooms are con.
ducive to bad habits. members Of the
three fraternities in this city today is
sued statements In answer to the
charges. Fraternity men in this city
declare that Principal Neff's state
ment does them deep injustice and
believe that 1t should not pass unans.
wsred.
They declare that there are but few
fraternity men In the high school, as
compared with the large number who
compose the alumni.
They say that there are students
In the high school who belong to Sec
ret organizations and societies other
than fraternities. and that the school
board should also legislate against
them.
Fart Cotton Objects.
In speaking 'in behalf of the Phi
Delta Kappa fraternity. Earl Cotton.
an officer Of that organization. en-
phatiCAlly declares that there has been
no gambling in the rooms Of his fra
ternity and that instead Of enc0urag-
ing its. members to acquire bad habits.
and preventing those members who
are IN high school from keeping up In
thcir studies. the fraternity has al
ways been willing to cooperate with
the school authorities in every re.
spect.ss .+f,r . ... 1.
"The Phi Delta Kappa fraternity has
strict rules prohibiting gambling and
drinking In its rooms MIR. Cotton
saiA A~-s.RsAaslpalr -Nesf f,- nsntions no
particular fraternity but when the
word frat" 10 used 1t is generally TAX
en- to include every member Of every
secret organisation and in this respect
the principal has done the Phi Delta
Kappa fraternity . deep injustice.
From the fraternity of which am
q member I receive benefit in more
than one way. and am sure that II
Principal Neff would extend his in
vestigation' he would find that the fra
tcrnity spirit tends to promote the bet
ter things instead Of encouraging the
features Of which he speaks"
Charles Twloo Replies.
Charles Twigg. head Of the Kappa
Alpha Phi fraternity. declared that
Principal Neff has not given the fra
ternity men Of this city q square
deal" He asserts that the fraterni'
ties In this city have been conducted
along the right lines and that Prin
cipal Nefrs charges are rather harsh
Speaking for the fraternity Of which
he 10 president, MIR. Twigg said:
"The power to regulate grades 10, oi
course, in the hands OF the teachers
Of the schools and consequently. since
they are against the high school fra
ternities. they do not give fraternity
men any the best Of the deal.
From the fathers standpoint
where would he rather find his son
in cigar or pool room. or in club
room?
which 10 preferable-fraterniti
rs they have been conducted. or q
public Club or say . 'Millionaire's
state laws or the school rules. with an
initiation fee Of $500. Which would
Principal Neff prefer"
Raymond Wickemeyer. = member oi
the Beta Phi Sigma fraternity also de
nies the charges made by Principal
Neff In regard to poker playing in fra
ternity rooms. He declares that the
charge In this respect. as far as his
fraternity 10 concerned. Is withou,
foundation. MIR. Wickemeyer also de
clares that the fraternity benefits it,
members and that II its member.
which are I'm the high school are fore
"a 70 sever oil connection with tn,
fraternity they will be deprived. to I
certain extent. Of these benefits ant
that Il would be TAR better for them 1
they were allowed to remain In thu
fraternity.
Members Of sororities are also in
dignant over the action Of the schoo
board. One member OF the Psi lot,
xt sorority in speaking Of the matter
Souchsd her indignation In the femi
nine expression. IT'S IN outrage ant
crime"
0upt. Neff stated today that al
though he expected . very few to qui
the local high school because Of tn,
discrimination against fraternit,
member, no action would be taken Il
ssmooth matters over"
GUARDIAN is ASKED
A petitiou asking the appointmen