The Washington times., 1925-03-21
FRAT ROW HITS
stop THIEF"
CAST
Boy ousted from Play While
Officials Probe Alleged
Membership

The reaction from the discovery
of more than three score fraternity
members at Mckinley High School
has begun to show at other high
schools it was indicated today when
1t became known that boy who
held a prominent part in, stop
Thief the Central High School
spring play, was removed from the
cast last night shortly before the
curtain rose.
The incident was explained at the
school today as doubtful case
Action was taken, it was stated,
because the performance last night
was competitive. To avoid any
questioning of the performance
later, it was deemed best to re-
move the boy, according. to Central
officials, although his membership
in fraternity had not been es
tablished to the point Of warrant
ing summary action.
IL was the view OF the observers
Of the new fraternity row today
that the slowness Of students at
and declare their membership 10
due to the fact that they are bene.
fitting by the experience OF Nc
Other high schools are known to
number many members of forbid
den secret organizations.
VIII Enforce Rule.
Acting Superintendent s. E.
Kramer and Principal Frank Daniel,
Of Mckinley. conferred today. The
outcome of the conference was the
decision that the only course is to
enforce the board of education's
ruling until it Is changed.
With approximately 100 students
in three high schools admitting
membership in banned secret organ
izations, high school principals have
adopted policy Of 'watchful wait
ing" 1t was made clear today by
those officials.
The next move in the situation
created by the discovery Of fra
ternity membership in Mckinley
fraternities whose alumni members
rallied to the defense Of their under
graduate brothers in past strife
with school authorities.
Whatever action may be taken In
protest against the ban on fratern-
tiles and sororities must be taken
with the Board of Education, whose
ruling school officers are merely
following in suspending members OF
the frats from participating In
scholastic activities.
so Members at Mckinley
The total admitted membership
in fraternities and sororities Is
at Mckinley. twelve at
Central and one at Business High
School. Despite constant effort on
the part of Principal Allan Davis,
OF Business, to uncover clandestine
membership in forbidden societies.
but one member girl-has been
found. She volunteered the state
ment Of her membership.
The girl has been removed from
a position in the school bank and
on the school paper.
OF the twelve members at Cen
trail, eight are girls. The only posi-
ton in any school activity was held
by one of the boys who had a minor
part in the spring play from which
he was removed late yesterday.
Despite persistent rumors that
secret societies flourish at West
ern, no member has been found
there by school officers, 1t was
stated today by Doctor y s. New
ton, principal.
Cites Purpose of Ruling.
Washingtonians were reminded
today by Doctor Abram Simon,
former president of the board Of
that the original purpose
of the school board in banning Sec
ret organizations among high
school students was to maintain
the democratic character which
should mark the public schools.
Doctor Simon, who was president
Of the board Of education when the
fraternity problem came up three
years ago, called attention to the
fact that the fraternity question in
the District high schools is of
long standing and goes back into
previous school administrations.
THE original purpose of the
board of education in adopting a
banning membership in
secret organizations was to prevent
the domination by these societies
of student activities" said Doctor
Simon.
1.-THE situation got to the point
where the fraternities and sororl-
ties held the whip hand and these
aimed at keeping the
honors within their own
circle. The board of education
acted against them on the belief
thai such organizations were not
and as such had no
place in the public schools.