Evening star., 1916-04-14
NO ADVANCE MADE
ON PUBLIC FORUM
Speakers Before House Dis
trict Committee Wander
Far AfieId at Hearing.

The public forum pot pourri contin-
ued before the House District commit
tee today, arguments arising over the
Sunday forum question including in
their scope mention of the revolution
ary war. the pork barrel, minority
rights and the race question. Many OF
the speakers left the details of the bill
entirely and made verbal explorations
into the broad field encompassed under
the head of human rights. The real
question at issue appeared insignfhcant
whenever any one would revert to 1t
for a moment or two.
One of the principal speakers in IA
vor of the Hollis-Jo ohnson bill today
was Prof. Henry E. Jackson of Peking,
China, who has been in Washington
eight months, and who said he would
return to Peking. land take the forum
idea with. him." An interested man IN
the audience, at this statement, said In
a low voice: That's where 1t belongs.
Prof. Jackson, connected with the work
of Princeton University IN certaln
course of lectures in Peking, gave mint
that one of the real reasons why
favorable report on the forum question
is wanted is to give an impetus 10
forum organization work in other COM
munities.
Replies to DR.. McMurray.
Prof Jackson took issue with DR.. NC
Murray. who yesterday made a direct
reference to the danger OF unbrldleo
speech in public forums.
Il am surprised to learn" said Prof.
Jackson, that there still are men VINO
believe that there should not be free
speech. That is one of the principles
for which our fathers fought the reVo-
lutionary war"
Representatives Mapes and Lloyd,
after the Constitution had been brought
into the discussion. developed the fact
that the matter of Sunday opening is
the only issue.
The audience in the big hearing room
was very intense today and applause
followed each speaker frequently as
points were made by either side of the
question.
One of the most applauded speakers
was Mrs. N. H. Darton, president OF the
Franklin Thomson Parent-Teacher As
sociation. She favored the bill, and In
rapid-f1re controversy with Repre-
sentative Ragsdale of South Carolina
held her own remarkably well.
Others Given Hearing.
other speakers were Arthur Minnick
of the Rhode Island Avenue Citizens
Associa ton, for the bill; Evan H.
Tucker president Northeast Citizens
Association, who made the point that
the bill limits the use of schools as
forums to a small number. whereas
the present act gives unlimited use;
Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes, for the bill;
A. j. Driscoll. president of the Grover
Cleveland forum, and Conrad Syme,
corporation counsel
Miss Margaret Wilson made supple
mentary statement late yesterday
afternoon. Other speakers yesterday
included DR.. Wilbur F. Crafts, Mrs. c.
N. Chapman, J. H. Adriaans, w. c.
Arnett and Alonzo T. Jones.
Representative Ragsdale yesterday
again referred to the fact that E. J.
Ward, spokesman for the Hollis-Joh
son bill. is paid one dollar a year by
the bureau of education. Representa-
tive Ragsdale has made point of this
fact to show that Mr.. Ward is not
bona fide employe of the government.
of why E. ]. Ward is on the pay roll of
was made today by Representative
Lloyd of Missouri. Representative
Ragsdale brought out the fact few
days ago that Mr.. Ward enjoys the
prestige of a government expert, at
salary of 81 year. Representative
Lloyd today asked Mr.. Ward If he had
any other employer, and while Mr..
Ward said that he had one other, he
refused to tell the committee today
who the other one was.