The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-04-27
DR.. OMAN IS
GIVEN BACKING
OF Ministers
INDIANAPOLIS MethodiStS
Laud De Paw Chief as
worthy Man.
CONDEMN EVANS TALK
American Legion Decides
to Probe Schools
Patriotism.

Faith in DR.. G. Bromley Oman
as a man and minister" who as
president of De Paw university is
worthy of confidence and corpora
ton" was expressed in resolutions
adopted by indianapolis Methodist
ministers at their weekly meeting
at Roberts Park NJ. r. church today.
De Pauw is a Methodist school and
DR.. oman long has been minister
Of that faith.
But his patriotic purity is to be
probed by a committee from the
Seventh District American Legion.
Spurred into action by Representa-
tive Hamilton Fish's charge that the
Legion is being outdone in RED
hunting" by Veterans of Foreign
Wars, the Legion committee OF tnlr-
teen to investigate De PAW was an
nounced today by DR.. Frank E. Long,
district Legion commander.
Conduct own Investigation
The ministers conducted an inves-
tigation of their own the past week,
special committee having been
appointed for that purpose. This
was done because William P. Evans,
insult attorney, had charged IN a
speech that De Paw is preaching
subversive doctrines OF Sex, SOVIET
ism and Socialism,
Il nl
address to De Paw alumni at a
meeting at which DR.. Oman was
not present. An alumnus himself,
Evans own patriotism and loyalty
to the school was attacked by the
ministers today.
They pointed out that although
Evans speech was made at
Founders day dinner no word OF
loyalty was dispatched to the alma
mater nor was a single De Paw
song sung.
Five Against Resolutions
only five of the forty-eight min
listers present voted against the
resolutions supporting Oman and
condemning Evans. The resolutions
said:
/. We condemn severely all I'M
fair methods Of attack. Crit
cism of an institution should be
brought before properly consti-
tuted authorities and not thrown
before the public without an OPP
portunity for explanation or
refutation.
2. We stand decisively opposed
to the use Of partial truth or the
distorting of facts in dealing with
men in public life whether they
be in church, college or state.
3. AS a ministerial association,
we are heartily in favor Of the
freedom of thought and express
sion. We are opposed to all
forms of bigotry and autocracy.
We are opposed to all attempts
to close the door to the realms OF
knowledge or investigation We
feel that the truth is always able
to stand in its own right and
needs only to be discovered and
not defended.
Express Hearty Commentator
q. After a careful examination
of the names of all those invited
&c speak before De Paw un1veS-
sity students during the lar
three years and a review of sub
iectS upon which they spoke we
express our hearty commentator.
We believe that the program has
been we'll balanced. Business men,
scientists, historians, economists,
military leaders, workers for in
ternational peace, world travellers
and Christian statesmen, all have
been heard by the students.
5. We congratulate DR.. Oman
and De Paw on securing DR..
Ralph Sockman, president of the
Greater New York Federation Of
Churches and pastor of Madison
Avenue NJ. E. church for the
1881 commencement speaker.
6. AS a ministerial association,
we wish to express our faith in
DR.. Oman as man and minis
ter. We deem him one of the
constructive leaders of education
and religion. He is a man who
speaks openly and fearlessly, but
who tolerates differences of opin-
ion without personal malice. De
Pauw university has in him a
man worthy of confidence and
cooperation.
The Legion Investigation also is
based on the Evans charges.
Mark E. Hamer, advertising man
who was made chairman Of the
Legion probe committee, referred to
comment today on the question OF
Legion jurisdiction in the matter.
Il want to find out what and
who we are to investigate and
also why" he declared.
Other committeeman and the
posts they represent are:
Verne ShoIte McIlvaine-Kothe post; Zoe
Rand Beckett. McIlvaine-Kothe post;
George T. wheiden. John Il. Holiday
post: judge Harry o. Chamberiin. Indi-
annapolis post: DR.. LaRue D. Carter. Paul
coble uost: V. n. Armstrong. Memorial
post: Sidney S. Miller. Mouvaine-Kothe
post; wilfred Bradshaw Madaen-Notting
ham post: Merrill Woods, Irvington post:
Cecil Stalnaker. Bruce P. Robson post;
Kleber W. Hadlev Harvard Barcus post,
and Stephen holland. Hilton Q. Brown Jr.
post.