New-York tribune., 1917-11-28
Letters Revealed Disloyalty


cent pure"
Letters Revealed Dlsloyalty
Mr.. Moffett said that he had received
letters showing where disloyalty ex-
listed in the schools; that in one in
stane twenty-seven witnesses heard
a principal make disloyal statements,
and that one teacher, on hearing that
the Lusitania had been sunk, "gOt in
toxicated to celebrate a German VIC
tory
"When We get through with our cam
paign to rid the schools of disloyal
teachers there is going TO be use for a
large. well-ventilated concentration
camp" shouted Mr.. Moffett.
Mr.. Moffett declared he had discov.-
cred q reluctance on the part OF loyal
teachers TO give information about DIS
loyalty, because of fear that they
would "lose their jobs" He thereupon
telegraphed to State Commissioner of
Education John H. Finley, asking pro-
lection for those who gave evidence.
In reply. Mr.. Finley wired that he
would afford unqualified protection for
such teachers. On this basis Mr.. Mof-
fett said the routing out of disloyalty
was to be made thorough"
What he called the teachers creed"
was read by Mr.. Moffett and roundly
aprlauded. 1t contained seven rules for
teachers One of these said:
81 teach my pupils that if men like
Robert La Toilette, Jeremiah O'Leary
instead of poor limitations. and If they
dared to preach in Germany the sedl-
tious doctrines they preach in America,
attacking our national war policy and
denouncing the sale of Liberty bonds,
they would have been 'spurlos ver-
senkt long ago. And ] teach that such
men should be put in concentration
camps along with all teachers who re-
fuse to sign a loyalty pledge and kept
there until the end of the war"
Calls Estimate Correct
DIR. William T. Hornaday, a trustee
of the American Defence Society, de-
clared that he was convinced that Mr..
Moffett's estimate of 1000 dlsloyal
teachers was not incorrect DR.. Horna-
day held up a copy of protest signed
by eighty-six teachers against approx
ing of the loyalty pledge circulated last
spring. He read the name OF Henry
l.. Linville, president of the Teachers
Union. As one of those who refused TO
sign. and was about TO read the other
names when DR.. c. Ward Crsmpton' tne
chairman, interposed:
Better leave those out
Dr. Hornaday, waving the protest
aside. attacked socialism in the
schools. "The school children to-day
ore in great danger" he said. 81 feel
ag IL they are threatened by a den o.
rattlesnakes. Instlling ideas of the
alien socialists into the minds of chill
dren is worse than II they were bitten
nv rattlesnakes." He attacked Emma
Goldman, Alexander Berkman, Morris
Hillauit, Max Eastman and Elmer
Rosenberg for spreading "alien social
ism" in New York.
Roosevelt Assails Disloyslty
Finally DR.. Hornadav read a letter
from Colonel Roosevelt approving Of
the dismissal Of teachers who refuse TO
EXPRESS their loyalty. The letter said:
al heartily approve Of the efforts
for the dismissal Of all teachers who
refuse TO sign the loyalty pledge or
who in any way have shown the
slightest symptom of disloyalty to
this nation and Of sympathy with
Germany and the other foes Of this
nation at this time. A public school
teacher should stand in loyalty and
Americanism precisely where we ex
pect an officer of the army or navy
TO stand, and should be held >to an
equally rigid accountability for the
slightest symptoms Of disloyslty or
Of failure of thoroughgoing Ameri-
canism."
Mr. Wilcox said that no teacher who
failed 10 teach Americanism in the
classroom was aft TO teach
Thomas w. Churchill also spoke.
May Drop German Textbooks
/ Definite steps TO drop the study f
The German language and the use of
! German textbooks from the elementary
schools for the period of the war"
/ VIII be taken to-day at special meet
ing Of the committee on studies and
! textbooks of the Board Of Education.
Members Of the committee predicted
/ yesterday that recommendation to
/ eliminate German would be edopted
and that the board would proceed to
make the change Immediately effective.
The plan, If adopted, will throw
. tpits ~tlHhl itdCNeTS OF befindn out OF
positions and will affect 1880 pupils.
+ German language courses will continue.
/ however, In the intermediate and high
schools, where 1G7 teachers of the Ian.
gusge are employed.
| Franklin II. Giddings, chairman Of
the committee, said yesterday that
I there were two reasons for dropping
/ German. "We believe il necessary
/ prccaution to remove possible German
/ influence from the children" he said.
Wherever German IL taught there is
possibility Of certain amount OF
/ pro-Gernan sentiment.
Another reason is that u is useless
10 try 10 teach German 10 young people
who have 20 little time 20 devote 10 IL.
Whether the stady will be reinstntcd
after the war will be considered when
the war ig over"
Move to he Opposed
Another official Of the Board Of Edu.
cation ssid he would vigorously oppose
dropping German. "You don't suppose
The GUmans are dropping English