The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-05-28
PATRIOTIC
SPEAKER IS
TURNED DOWN
Hammond People Indignant
at Snub to Memorial Day
Speaker Yesterday.

0pCdhCi iCSlCludy.
In what work could the pupils Of St
Johns Evangelical Lutheran school Of
Hammond be engaged that is so i'm
portant as not TO permit a brief inter
ruption for patriotic exercises and in
| struction?
Every other school OF Hammond,
public and parochial welcomed the
! speakers representing the G. A. r.
| Spanish War Veterans and American
Legion.
Why does this North Side German
school refuse to participate in Ham
monds Memorial day exercises Mon
day in honor Of its soldier dead?
Every other school Of Hammond
public and parochial promptly ac-
eepted the invitation Of the veterans
/ These questions have been asked
over and over by Hammond people as
liks wildhre. the report spread that
Richard siegel. principal OF the school.
had refused TO allow Attorney Albert
E. Grifnths of the American Legion
to address his pupils and at the sam
time turned down the invitation to
take part in the parade and memorial
exercises Monday.
Attorney Grifhths. Alderman PAT
Reilley and Attorney II. z Granger
representing the Legion. G. A r.. ano
Spanish war veterans respectively
were members OF one Of the speakins
parties assigned to tour part OF tn,
schools ot Hammond, Wednesday
Thursday and Friday other groups
| Of speakers had been allotted various
(
that every school child OF Hammond
should be reached in this way
The speeches we're simply little les
sons in patriotism. They explained
the significance Of Memorial day and
the duty or all good citizens TO PAL
| their respects 10 the dead who hao
fought for their country. They closea
/ BY urging the children TO march in tht
parade Monday and help make the
services a success.
Many OF the schools had been noti-
fed IN advance. The children were
| carried out The Industrial high school
vas marched to the speaking place in
six sections because Of the number o.
pupils. At the Polish school in Eay.
/ Hammond no previous arrangements
had been made However. when the
visitors explained their mission. tn,
instructors dropped everything and
marched the youngsters right out in
the open to hear the speeches They
accepted the invitation to participate
Monday.
50 Il vent everywhere in Hammond
until st. Johns school on TowIe street
was reached. As the Lincoln public
/
ers in the Methodist church auditorium
nearby. Attorney Grifhths thought he
would save time and speak at St
Johns school while Mr. Reilley and
| others addressed the public school
children.
Approaching the school he found
the front door locked After knocking
several times. Principal SiegeI unlock
! ed the door and came outside. He ap-
peared .peeved" over the interruption.
Grifhths told him what he wished to
do and met with the nrst and only re-
bun.
rs it compulsory; do we have to do
it?o asked the instructor
Griffths replied that there was no
/ law compelling it. whereupon Mr.
| Siegel Informed him that the children
were very busy and he didn't want
them disturbed. He stated that he did
not wish 10 get into trouble with the
governing board of the school.
He was told how the other schools
Of Hammond were CO operating with
the organizations Of veterans in the
work. He expressed the opinion that
some OF the children might take part
| in Mondays exercises as individuals
but said that the school would not be
represented as an organization.
Then I suppose you object to my
talking to the pupils" said Grifhths
Yes, Id rather you wouldn't" was
| Slegel's inal statement Then he re-
/ entered the school room and closed the
door. There was no patriotic speaking
at St. Johns school this week unless
Mr.. Siegel did It himself
! Grifhths reported his failure to
other members Of the party later and
4 tn a short time news Of the affair had
| travelled the length and breadth or
the city. Indignation was general and
no one was willing to accept the eA-
pianation that children could be too
busy to listen TO a four minute speech
/ on patriotism and Memorial day. Mr.
siegel had passed the buck to his
board and IL justified in doing so
unfortunate affair other school
boards Of the city do not tie their
principals hands on the subject or
admitting patriotic instruction in
classes.
Mr.. siegel this morning confirmed
the story Of Mr.. Grifhths.
There was young man at the
school who wished to make a speech"
! he said but I had had trouble form
erly with the board because OF speak
ers. who had been allowed to talk 70
the pupils. Then. too. the children
were having written tests in the
classes and I could not permit them
to he interrupted under any ctreum
stance"
He was asked what sort Of speeches
had brought about his trouble with
the governing board.
We'll. there were some speakers