The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-03-28
Principals Left to Cure
Violent Cases in Way
They See Fit.
EMBLEMS ON ANKLES NOW
Broadway Flappers Shift Clips
From Coat Lapels as Fad
Hits Low Estate.

OF temporary aberration-a sort of
rash Of mental measles"-which will
subside shortly through lack of CO.
hesion and momentum. That is TIE
opinion of William l.. Ettinger Super
intendent of Schools, who yesterday
outlined the attitude OF the educa-
tional authorities toward the SHIFT
ers."
Miss Gertrude Robinson-S Smith,
president of the Vacation Association,
who started tie anti-Shifter campaign
in an effort to save girl workers from
being duped into paying initiation
fees, says that there is still danger Of
the fad surviving for a time, espe-
cially among stenographers.
Mr.. Ettingsr concluded. after reading
all the dire reports about passwords
and paper clips and ominous threats.
that something ought to be done" about
Shifting. but at the same time he didn't
like the idea of being "stampeded" into
precipitate action which might give the
girls and boys a laugh on the authori-
ties.
So he just called Acting President
George J. Ryan Of the Board of Educa-
ton into a chummy little conference on
the fourth floor Of the Education Build
ing. IN Park avenue, and together they
decided before delivering any reaction
airy ultimatun1 the whole affair might
better be investigated in casual sort
of manner that wouldn't incite the ridi-
Guile of the flapper sorority.
The outcome was a number OF tele-
phone talks with several of the prin-
cipals of important high schools. all of
whom reported "the situation well in
hand" and told Mr.. Ettinger not to
worry. J. Herbert Low Of the Erasmus
Hall High School reported that the
Shifters wera exclusively the youngsters
Of the lower grades and the older pupils
had taken "a firm stand" and the cpl
demic seemed to be on its last paper
clip.
Thus heartened, Mr.. Ettinger issued
an announcement that the educational
authorities would refuse to recognize the
existence OF the Shutters, leaving the
Individual principals to combat the
menace in any way they saw fit.
Il don't really think there is anything
10 worry ApOul, he Salu. Inc move
ment has probably been accelerated by
the commercial gentlemen who are try
ing to sell official emblems and 1t has
taken hold of the imagination OF the
children who like to wear badges. The
school principals have taken n stand
against il and from what we hear the
agitation is dying out"
Miss Robins Smith. in her offices II
the Vacation Association, said she had
received scores OF letters commencing
her upon having exposed the Shutters.
One woman wrote that the emblematic
phase of the movement seems to have
shifted from the coat laped to the ankle.
In a stroll ON Broadway yesterday, this
woman wrote, she saw no less than fiji
teen Shutters. all OF them having brace
let's fashioned from paper clips fastened
together and worn on the ankle just over
the shoe top.
Anti-Shifter societies have been
formed among students in Yonkers,
White Plains, Mount Vernon and other
towns in Westchester county after the
warning reports had been received from
New York regarding the grating phase
Of the society. The teachers also arc
doing everything to combat the move
ment. They say the popularity Of the
movement was really responsible for
It's downfall. as II was discovered that
everybody was a Shifter and II lost It's
importance.
PITTSBURGH. March 21.-That the
Shifters have a membership OF several
thousand In the University Of Pitts
burgh. the Carnegie School OF Tech
nology and the Pennsylvania College for
Women was brought to light today
through the protests OF Shifters agains'
Irritation charges.
1T is all a matter Of fun and nom
sense at Pitt" said Miss Thyrsa w.
Amos. dean OF women. when asked for
an opinion on the activities OF the Shift
ers at the University OF Pittsburgh. 1t
seems to me to be very far fetched to
charge the organization. IL II can be
called such, with being an aid 70 firta-
ton. The organization was introduced
here several weeks ago by members Of
the girls basketball team after trip
TO Bryn Mawr, University OF Pennsyl-
vania and Swarthmore, where II was
much in vogue"
The Shfters have made much head
way In some other western Pennsylvania
towns. Johnstown IL said TO have 1000