Evening star., 1935-11-07

OpJcCt W GllC uS- Va eAAC WI u
'teach,'" he said. Il want the whole
truth taught. 1 want the children
taught evils positively. There Is moth
ing left in the Ten Commandments
to discretion. They are positive. Chill
dren should not be allowed to use
discretion in dealing with communism.
They should be told what to think
about communism, just the same as
they are taught what to think about
murder, assassination and civil war"
Robert A. Maurer, board member,
asked Gen. Fries If he had considered
the patriotism and good sense of the
average teacher before making his
protest, and Henry I. Quinn, also a
member, asked If the general would
object 'if all facts-the good and
bad points alike" were presented to
school children.
"But communism hasn't any good
points," Gen. Fries replied. His sup.
porters applauded.
Favors Protective Teaching"
"I believe in protective teaching.
he continued. "just as I believe ir
protective medicine"
Under questioning, he said that he
didn't know a single teacher who ad-
vocates communism.
After his address, Gen. Fries wa;
asked to introduce others who sup.
ported his stand and Joseph j. Nal.
10y. department commander of the
American Legion. asked that the boarc
take no action at all on the Prettymar
opinion until Congress could convene
next January and consider the ques.
ton again.
Among others who spoke against the
present stand Of the board were Ed.
ward B. McDade, of the Veterans o1
Foreign Wars: Mrs. Margaret Hopkins
Worrell, of the Columbia Heights Cit.
izens Association; Frank L. Peckham
Of the American Legion; Mrs. Maude
A. Wise, Daughters of America; Ver-
mis- Absher, Southeast Citizens Associa-
ton; Edna M. Holland, Loyal Women
OF America; Milo D. Summers, Sons OF
the American Revolution, and Grover
Ayers. Ten-mile Square Club.
Suter Proposes Conference.
When they had finished, Jesse c.
Suter proposed that Q conference be
called In which all views on the SUBJ
ject Of communistic teaching might be
considered.
I'VE are all after the same thing" /"
he said. "and I feel that the place to
teach the truth is in the public
schools. Let the children have the
truth, the whole truth. accurate In
formation. and have no fears what
ever. I would go so far as to say am
in favor Of indoctrination in Amer
icanism. but give the children the
whole truth and I am not afraid OF
communism. I"
Lets 60 into the real situation be-
fore we begin criticizing. 1t is my
opinion that most Of the people who
have sent communications to the board
are not aware Of real conditions"
Suter was interrupted a number Of
times and Mrs. Doyle raped for order
Gen. Fries interjected the demand
that no Communist be allowed Ito
speak here or any place else in
America"
Boards Supporters Speak.
Suter quickly cleared his own skirts
Of the possibility that he is q
Communist.
H. T. Austin, an attorney; Edmund
Campbell, also an attorney, who
described himself as "an American
veteran and the father of two chill
dren"; Frederick A. Ballard, attorney:
s. H. Miller, 75-year-old school
teacher, and Albert E. Stephan of the
Columbia Heights Citizens Associa-
ton, rallied to the boards support.
Each Of them praised the stand
taken by the board and the opinion
given by Prettyman.
Are we to teach history and polit-
ical science" Ballard asked, "or parts
OF the courses? Are we to have our
teachers tell our children to skip
pages 100 to lis because they are too
young? Or are we to teach the TRUTH"
Miller said he spoke for 100000
school teachers and defied challenge
OF their Americanism.
Mrs. Doyle finally was forced to
limit discussion Of the subject and
ended the meeting with an invitation
to the public to file any statements
on the subject individuals or organ
1zations wish to make.