New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-19
AVERT ROW IN schools
OVER HOME RULE DEBATE
Certain Principals, Fearing In
lection of Politics, Withdraw
Local Topic for National One.
HAND OF TAMMANY SEEN
PEOPLES Institute Favors Form
er Subject, but Change Is
Made to Prevent Politi-
cal Undertaking"

Tammany Hall has so far Influenced
,,ublic debate I'm the public schools that a
ssries Of discussions on "Home Rule" have
been abandoned for fear of injecting poll
tics into the contests. The Metropolitan
Dehating League. which holds its meet
incs under the auspices of the People's In
stitute. IS divided into three parts. Even
ing high schools arc one part. and after
all preparations had been made by teams
from eight evening high schools to discuss
Home Rule" that subject was forsaken
for Panama Canal Tolls" And thereby
hangs q tale.
The Peoples Institute was in favor Of
discussing Home Rule" so declared Les
Ter +. scott, secretary. when he confirmed
the report Yesterday that the local subject
had been withdrawn for a national one
The facts are these he added. a
number Of principals Of the schools were
afraid that TO discuss Home Rule would
fe 10 inject politics into the discussions.
and. following consistently precedents of
the past, they requested that subject OF
national rather than of local interest be
substituted 10 preclude any such charge.
They realized that there was only one
side to the question. anyway and that il
The debate were carried on there might be-
some offence given in way that would
SAVIOR Of undertaking"
When Mr.. Scott was asked if il was
considered offensive to Tammany Hall TO
conduct debate on that subject, he said ;
That was probably one OF the things
considered
The debates in question We're To have
taken place from May TO 9. Teams from
eight evening high schools which were to
have participated were TO represent the
noroughs Of Manhattan. Brooklyn The
Bronx and Richmond. From what could
he learned yesterday the debaters had
set TO with a will, and the negatives as
well as the Alternatives had practically
finished their preparations.
Now, however. they are forced to direct
their attention TO the canal tolls ques-
ton. and there viii be considerable extra
work to be done TO get the arguments for
and AGAINST the tolls I'm shape by the
schedule time
A principal i'm one Of the day high
schools i'm Manhattan. which Will also
have debates next month, said Yesterday
that no debates We're ever abandoned IN
his school because the question at issue
might have a local bearing which would
give offence TO any political party. HIS
school is not represented in the debating
league and he was surprised when told
how the Home Rule" debates had been
abandoned because a number Of principals
had decided ii was best not TO raise
Political rumpus in the schools
For some time the Peoples Institute
mas been devoting much effort IN promot-
ing social centres for public recreation
and public discus sion in the schools.
At the office of Or. Maxwell. City Su-
perintendent of schools it was said yes
terday that nothing was known Of the
debating.
All the league discussions have been
leenly participated in by the students OF
the schools included in it and the queS-
ton Of tolls. while decided on rather rare
in the day. is popular with the teams.