Evening star., 1936-05-24
Repeal the "Red Rider

The House is expected to take up the
Sisson bill for repeal of the red rider"
tomorrow. Representative Norton in
tends to ask for fair division Of time
between the advocates and opponents
of the legislation in order to prevent de-
laying the vote by fllibustering or other
obstructive tactics. Her request should
be granted. The Sisson bill should be
brought to a vote and passed.
The red rider" should be repealed
The effect of what might have been an
innocuous rider on an appropriation bill
has been to create an issue that is
damaging to the school system. 1t is not
an issue that is going to be dropped by
those who oppose the red rider. AS long
as this legislation remains on the book
it will successfully obscure consideration
Of the vitality important matter of ade-
quately supporting the public schools
with adequate revenues. meeting the
pressing demands now existing for more
school buildings and larger teacher per-
sonnel.
The red rider" has provoked under
standable resentment among the fine
body of loyal, self-respecting teachers
and officials in the school system by sub
jecting them to the humiliating process
of swearing in order to receive their just
compensation, that they have not been
guilty of an act that as loyal Americans,
already sworn to uphold the Constitu-
ton, they would spurn.
The red rider" has been supported
by its proponents on the basis of grave
but improved charges, slurring the fit
ness and character of members of the
Board of Education, school officials and
the teachers. To uphold the red rider"
is to deny to these honorable men and
women the overwhelming reputation of
such charges which, on the basis of the
facts revealed through investigation, is
their due.
1t is probable that debate on the "red
rider will assume the character of a
debate on communism-even the right
to advocate communism in the public
schools, 1t would be merely good STRAIT
egy for the advocates of the red rider"
who are the opponents Of the Sisson
BILL so to shape the channels of debate,
making it appear, if possible, that re-
peal of the red rider" gives to teachers
of the public schools the right to advo-
cate communism as we'll as to teach the
facts relating to form of government
adopted by the Russian Soviet.
OF course, that would be an utter mis-
representation of the issue. The in
dividuals and the organizations leading
the fight for repeal of this mischievous
legislation are not Communists or parlor
pinks. They have been as vigorous in
denouncing the insidious indoctrination
of communism as have the most vigorous
advocates of the rider itself Their op-
position to the red rider" is based on
grounds that have nothing to do with
the merits or demerits of doctrines that
are fully as obnoxious to them as to any
body else
Repeal of the "red rider" would not
give the Board Of Education or the
teachers authority or encouragement to
embark on a red crusade in behalf of
communism. The effect would be exact
ly to the contrary. Repeal of the "red
rider" would return to the Board of
Education that full responsibility which
1t should exercise, free from arbitrary
and ambiguous statutory restraint in
the instruction and welfare of Washing
ton school children. The Board of Edu-
cation and the school authorities would
be even more vigilant against any DOS
sible inroads by subversive doctrines
than before. They will be more alert
than in the past against carelessly per-
mitting the use of literature in the
schools against which valid objection,
on one ground or another, can be raised.
The House leaders should bring the
"red rider" controversy to a final vote
tomorrow. And, since the sole issue now
is between outright repeal and retention
Of the rider in its present hurtful form,
that vote should pass the Sisson bill for
the "red rider" repeal.