The Washington times., 1925-03-24
Of I ICIAl
Of BOARD
j R Ct s
CHANGE
Greenwood Quits Committee
on Secret Societies, Sug-.
costing Peyser for Place

Hopes of Washington high
school students for a modifica-
ton of the board of education's
rule against their joining fra
ternities and sororities mounted
high today with the announcement
that Ernest Greenwood, q member
Of the board, has written a letter
to President James 7. Lloyd, ask
ing to be relieved from the duties
Of chairman Of the special COM
mittee on fraternities in the
schools, and suggesting that Cap
tain julius /. Peyser be appointed
in his place.
Captain sPeyser, as . member
of the board, already has declared
himself vigorously infavor Ck !
new ruling BY the present board
allowing students to join fraterni-
ties without the penalty of being
barred from athletics, dramatics
and other school activities.
Ninety Students Defy Ban.
Other members of the board, in.
Guiding Mr.. Greenwood, feel that
the present ruling against fraterni.
ties is futile and point to the situa-
ton at Mckinley High School,
where ninety students, many of
them leaders in their school work
have declared to Principal Daniel
that they belonged to banned organi-
cations and intended to retain their
membership in them.
In addition, fears of school Of
ficials that the youthful rebellion
at Mckinley High School would
spread to other schools were realiz-
ed today when two Central High
School fraternities filed their lists
OF members with principal Alvin
w, Miller.
Regret Greenwood's Action.
High school pupils, who have
been following the situation closely,
expressed regret that Mr.. Green
wood has asked to be relieved of
the craftsmanship Of the fraternity
committee, because they felt he had
made a study of the matter. and
that he would eventually have
evolved q plan which would have re-
acted to their benefit.
On the other hand. hopes were eX-
pressed on every hand that James
T. Lloyd, president OF the Board
of Education, would follow MI
Greenwood's suggestion and appoint
Captain Peyser as head OF the spe'
frat
the high schools.
In his letter to the board, Mr..
Greenwood points out that while
CAPTAIN Peyser already may have
formed a definite opinion as to
the action which the board should
take. I know him well enough TO
saw with every assurance that as
chairman of this committee his at.
titude will be strictly Judicial anu
that he will be governed entirely by
an impartial, investigation. regard
less of any opinions he may have
held up to the present time.
Wants Thorough Investigation.
Mr.. Greenwood feels that the
present controversy Is of such i'm
nortance that it demands the most
careful and thorough investigation
and that his work on the commit
tee of building, grounds and equip
ment. and the special committee Oh
Manning the new $19,0O0,0O0 build
ing program would keep him from
giving the time necessary to con-
duct a thorough investigation INTO
the fraternity problem.
Mr.. Greenwood's letter in fulI
follows:
Mr.. James r. Lloyd, President,
The Board of Education,
District of Columbia,
Washington, D. c.
NV dear Mr.. Lloyd:
I respectfully request that De
relieved from my duties as chair
man of the special committee on
fraternities in the high schools
and suggest that you appoint Cap.
tain Peyser in my place.
While there have been num-
her Of statements accredited to
Peyser appearing in the
daily press which might Indicate
that he has already formed
definite opinion as to the action
which the board should take l
Enow him we'll enough to say with
Very assurance that as chairman
90 tE;s committee his attitude will
ba strictly judicial and that he
will be governed entirely by an
impartial investigation regardless
Of any opinions which no may
bave held up to the present time.