Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-05-16
GREENWOOD BACKS
FRATS IN COURT
Refuses to Join School Board
Defense Against Sc.
cret Societies..

Ernest Greenwood, vice president
of the Board of Education, declined
today to join with the board in de-
Tending the suit filed against it in the
District Supreme Court for the rein
statement of three high school boys
in positions they lost in school organi-
cations because of affiliation with un-
approved secret societies.
Capt. julius 1. Peyser, chairman of
the boards committee on athletics
and Fairgrounds, who consistently
supported the fraternities in the re-
cent controversy with the board, also
is expected to align himself with Mr..
Greenwood in the legal battle.
Points Out Position.
In a letter to Corporation Counsel
Francis H. Stephens. who has been
designated by the commissioners to
defend the board, Mr.. Greenwood
pointed out that he believed the board
had exceeded it's authority in at
tempting to wipe out fraternities and
sororities, and requested that he not
be made a party to the defense. The
letter follows:
You have doubtless been advised
of the fact that the members of the
Board of Education have heen served
with an order signed by Mr.. Justice
Bailey to show cause why a writ of
mandamus should not be issued to
us commanding us to restore certain
high school students to various
honorary positions, eligibility to rep
recent their schools and other rights,
these having been taken from them
because of membership in organi-
cations not approved by the superin-
tendent of schools. l understand,
from a statement issued to the press
by President Lloyd. that you have
been instructed by the District Com
missioners to represent the board in
these proceedings.
Agrees With Frats.
This is to advise you that I am in
thorough accord with the statements
made by the petitioners and that I do
not wish you to deny them on my be-
half. 1 believe the writ should issue
to the board members and do not care
to be placed in position before the
court of attempting to show cause why
1t should not. l agree with the petit
TONERS that the adoption of the rules
of the board with regard to organiza-
tions which do not happen to have the
approval or the superintendent OF
school, was wholly beyond the power
and Jurisdiction conferred upon the
Board of Education by law, and was
an abuse of the discretion vested in
said board, that said rules
are arbitrary, capricious, unreason-
able, and discriminatory, and
that by the action of the defendants
in bringing the relators within the in
hiblt1on of said rules they have been
wrongfully, regularly and unlaw-
fully deprived Of the positions, activi-
ties and representative honors which
they heretofore lawfully held and en-
joyed."
II wish to call your attention to
the fact that a little over two years
ago and before became a member of
the board l appeared before 1t on be-
half of the Sphinx Club of Western
High School, making claims which, in
substance, were identical with those
made by these petitioners. Prior to
that time and for period of approx
mately a year had been correspond
ing with the superintendent of
schools, laying the facts with regard
to the Sphinx Club before him again
and again, without result. Finally ]
threatened court action and the su.
pertntendent then laid the matter be.
fore the president of the board and ]
was granted hearing. NY conten.
tion was that the school authorities
had no jurisdiction over this organiza
ton for reasons which in substance
were Identical with those set forth in
the present proceedings. The board
I, Continued on Page {, Column a.