The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1922-04-07
Symbols OF New Society Said
To Be Introduced Into
High School
ORGANIZATION SPREADS
LIKE CRAZE OR EPIDEMIC
No One Knows Where Il
Started And Its Purpose
Is Petty Grating

According to reports current, seem.
ingly supported by the appearance of
symbolic insignia, a new society has
been introduced into Mt Vernon by
some of the pupils of the high school
1t is known as "The Shifters."
The Shifters, according to what in.
formation is procurable, are said to
have been founded in Boston, Mass,
or Providence, r. I. 1t spread rap.
idly so many other places something
like a craze or epidemic.
The Shifters organization is des-
cribed as heterogeneous and loosely
knit society" of children, 1t appears,
from the ages of nine to 29, or there.
abouts. No one knows who started it.,
it is doubtful there is head to the
organization-if 1t can be called that
and the purpose Of it all is said to
be petty grating. 1t may be consid-
cred doubtful the Mt. Vernon men,
bers are aware Of this characterize
tion, but it is nevertheless part Of
the criticism and censure the society
has been exciting from those familiar
with it in other places.
According to descriptions and &C.
counts given of the Shifters, FLAP.
pers "and "slats' make up the great
body of the strange, informal clan,
first introduced into Eastern schools.
A "slat" is male "flapper."
The sign Of the club is an ordinary
paper clip it is said-the common or
desk variety of bent wire which holds
sheets together. 1t is said to be hold
ing the membership together in per-
nicious familiarity sealed by a start.
ling freedom of relationship and gov
erned by a remarkable set of rules.
| Any Shifter, according to the pro
cedure may initiate q new member
To bring him or her in all that Is
necessary is to make the neophyte
| promise to pay whatever Is asked.
This is not named until the promise
is given. 1t may be anything from
the wrist watch ON the new members
wrist to the $500 bill in his pocket.
! Once "fleeced" with membership ir
the amorphous society as the only
compensation, the new member is ad
vised of his right to search out can
didate for himself and help get his
Initiation fee" back by doing the
candidate out Of some dauble or 8
mite of money. This method of pro
gressive campaigning is said to ac
count for the rapid spread of the or
ganization.
1t is said that thousands of schoo
children, high school pupils and 9th
ers are wearing the badge of the or
der, a genuine clip or smybol man
ufactured by a Providence jewelry
company in the shape of the little clip
for so widely has the membership al
ready ranged that it is profitable, jew
elers' agents say, to make the pins.
The first warning against the Shift
ers appears to have been spoken by {
Mrs. Gertrude Robinson-Smith. 1t re
suited in bringing to light the curious
creed of the Shifters. Much Of it ap
pears merely foolish, much else is vul
gar and not little, If reports arr
true, establishes menace.
| Wearers of the Shifters' pin ar
supposed to do anything for anothe
Shifter." The result of indiscrimin
ate membership, it is claimed, is lei
ting down of social barriers, cam
araderie among strangers, a fetisl
against snobbery and a freedom O
conduct calculated to bring about ser
ious conditions in the case, at leas
of younger members.
One New York paper has discover
ed that the paper clip is not only al