Evening star., 1936-02-13
RED RIDER REPEAL
FIGHT JOINED BY
WOMEN'S GROUP
University Branch Urges
Mrs. Norton to Use Her.
Influence.
HARM TO TEACHERS
AND PUPILS Is SEEN
School Repression Cannot Provide
Sound Instruction and Ideals,
Says Letter.

The Washington branch Of the
American Association of University
Women today joined the fight for
repeal or modification of the widely
discussed anti-communism rider in
the 1896 District appropriation act.
Charging the so-called Red rider"
intimidates the public school teacher
and denies pupils sound instruction,
the organization urged Chairman
Norton of the House District Com
mittee to use her influence to have
1t removed from the appropriation
act.
THE Washington branch of the
American Association of University
Women" said a letter received by
Mrs. Norton from Mrs. Howard G..
Nichols, president, earnestly petitions
you to use your power and influence
for protection Of the public schools
of the District of Columbia. We be-
lieve that the so-called anti-com-
munism rider on the District appro-
priation act defeats its own end by
seeming to fear that an honest, WELL
informed study of the Russian govern
ment might make American children
less loyal to their own.
Pupils the Sufferers.
Further than this, we are con-
vinced that when public school teach
ers are intinidated by such a pro-
hibition as this rider, the real suf-
ferers are the children themselves.
Schools that are subjected to repres-
sion of this kind cannot provide either
sound instruction or those ideals of
integrity and independence which
ought to be our children's birthright
as American citizens"
Mrs. Norton's committee has before
it for consideration a bill introduced
recently by Representative Sisson,
Democrat, of New York, which would
modify and clarity the rider so teach
ers could outline the facts of CON-
munism in the class room or elsewhere
without jeopardizing their salaries.
The committee is expected to pass
on this measure at its regular meet
ing Wednesday. and Mrs. Norton is
confident it will be reported favor
ably. In that event it would be placed
on the House calendar in time for
action on the next District day Feb
ruary "a.
Opposition Expected.
The bill. however, is expected to
meet some strong opposition on the
floor Of the House. Representative
Blanton, Democrat, of Texas, chair
man of the subcommittee on appro-
priations in charge Of the District
supply bill and champion of the red
rider" several times has served no.
tice he would vigorously resist any
attempt to have it repealed. There
are number of other members #
the House who probably will join him
in the battle, including Representa-
tive Cannon, Democrat, of Missouri.
who was chairman of the subcom-
mittee on appropriations when the
rider was attached to the District
supply bill.
The rider Is now permanent legisla-
ton and cannot be eliminated except
by enactment Of legislation for that
purpose. 1t could have been pre-
vented from being put in the appro-
priation bill at the time of its ap-
proval on point of order, since House
rules prevent legislation in an ap-
preparation bill. A point of order
cannot now be made against the
rider when the 1887 District appro-
priation bill is considered In the
House.
Mrs. Norton has promised to lead
the fight for passage of the Sisson
bill. She contends the "red rider"
already has done serious harm to the
educational program in the public
schools aside from the embarrassment
1t has caused teachers.