Evening star., 1936-01-06
CHA|RMEN FROWN
ON NSCHOOLPROBE
King and Mrs. Norton Say
Evidence Lacking of
"Red" Influence.

The move of the Federation of Cit
liens Associations for a congressional
investigation Of alleged communistic
influence in the District public schools
received a setback today from both
Chairman King Of the Senate District
Committee and Chairman Norton of
the House District Committee
Mrs. Norton said from the ir1forma-
ton in her possession she did not be-
lieve an inquiry is necessary at this
time. She declared she still had faith
in the patriotism of the school
teachers.
"I do not take the radical view that
the word communism should never be
mentioned in the public schools Mrs.
Norton added. But. rather. I think,
great care should be exerted when 1t
must be explained. I feel there is no
need to repeal the so-called COM
munism rider in the 1896 appropria-
ton act for the District, as no inno-
cent person could be involved since
the wording is such as 1t is"
Asks Reasonable" Facts.
Senator King explained that facts
such as would warrant reasonable
members" to act would have to be pre-
sented to his committee before 1t would
undertake an investigation.
Il don't have enough facts about
communism in the District public
schools to discuss the situation thor
oughly at this time" said Mrs. Norton.
1T has always been my policy not
to hold an investigation until I am
completely convinced of the need for it.
From all nave heard it would seem
there is no need for an investigation at
this time as the Board of Education
now is holding one. After all, the
School Board is responsible for the
text books in use in our public schools.
Il have a great deal of faith in the
teachers of our public schools. I be-
Heve they are just as patriotic as I
am, and certainly would 60 far to
offset communism. The situation in
the schools in the District that causes
me more anxiety than communism is
their overcrowded condition. and 1t
would seem that if every one in the
District who is interested in seeing
that every child had seat in school
would exert his influence to that end,
we would be doing something really
worth while for the children attending
the District schools"
King Favors Ban.
Senator King favors retaining. and
enforcing strictly. the present ban on
the teaching or advocating Of Com
munism in Washington public schools.
AS to the possibility of a Senate
committee inquiry to determine
whether there are conditions in the
school system that are favorable to
anti patriotic or communistic propa-
ganda. Senator King said his off,
hand opinion would be that facts
sufficient to justify reasonable men
in taking action" should be offered
before his committee took such a
step. He added. however, that any
petition from the citizens. proposing
such an investigation would be con-
sidered with great respect.
Resolutions urging the House and
Senate committees to make such an
inquiry were adopted by the Fedora
ton Of Citizens Associations Satur-
day night.
George z. Sullivan, chairman Of the
federation's committee, today denied
emphatically that he had charged the
federation contains "a sprinkling Of
pinks. or even reds as he was quoted
as saying.
It said no such thing. and it seems
TO me that quoting me as saying that
is calculated to injure the good pur-
poses of the committee and the cam
paien," he declared. Il am now writ
ing a letter of protest"
Sullivan said that a copy Of the
federation's resolution calling for
congressional investigation here and
throughout the country will be sent
to Capitol Hill at once, and that it will
be followed up by the committee with
in the next few days.