Evening star., 1936-05-24
LIBERALS TO LEAD
FIGHT TO RESTORE
SCHOOL FREEDOM
Sisson Bill Foes to Adopt
Parliamentary Moves to
ForeStaII Vote.
AUTHOR OF MEASURE
OPPOSED BY BLANTON
Ban on Teachers Condemned in
Statement by Civic, School
Ban on Teachers Condemned in
Statement by Civic, School
and Church Leaders.
BY JAMES e. CHM.

repeal the so-called red rider" to
the 1885 District appropriation act is
scheduled to break in the House to-
morrow on what probably will be the
last District day" of the current ses-
sion Of Congress.
House liberals will lead the fight-a
fight for restoration of academic free
dom in the class rooms of the public
schools. where teachers now are
muzzled with respect to everything
that pertains to Communism and red
Russia.
Representative Sisson, Democrat, Of
New York, author of the bill. viii
direct the battle for its approval.
Members of the District Committee
who have Endorsed the measure will
aid him. The opposition will follow
the lead of Representative Blanton,
Democrat, of Texas. who was instru-
mental in having the rider attached
to the appropriation act.
The impending scrap has attracted
Nationwide attention, largely as a
result of activities, of educators and
educational organizations in all parts
of the country who regard the red
rider" as an unjust reflection on the
teaching profession.
Fate of Measure in Doubt.
| The ultimate fate of the measure.
however. is in doubt. SiSson Is con-
fident of victory. The opponents
all of them except Blanton, who said
he doesn't make predictions-are
equally confident of its defeat.
"Behind-the-scenes" preparations
have been going on for several days
by both opponents and proponents Of
the bill in an effort to outwit one an
other with parliamentary strategy. 1t
Is a foregone conclusion that the OPP
ponents will adopt every parliament
tary move permitted under House
rules to forestall vote.
As prelude to the battle, Richard
w. Hogue, director of the Independent
Legislative Bureau: Mrs Henry GRAFT
tan Doyle, president Of the Board Of
Education, and MSgr. John A. Ryan
Of the National Catholic Welfare
Council and a professor at Catholic
University, issued statements con-
demning the red rider" and its effects
on teachers and pupils.
Blanton also inserted in the appen-
dix of the Congressional Record yes
terday II pages reviewing the history
of the red rider" in which he denied
it was slipped" into the conference
report on the appropriation bill last
year He concluded with this state
ment:
L hope and pray that whenever the
Sissy BILL which seeks to repeal the
law against Communism is taken up
in the House. it will be showed under
oy an overwhelming vote, in protection
to the $4,000 school children in this
Nations Capital"
DIR. Ryan Cites Insult"
DR.. Ryan described the rider as "a
gratuitous insult to the patriotism of
the entire body OF teachers in the
public schools of the District of Co
lumbia."
why should hey be required to
swear that they have not taught Com
munism when. so far AS can be aScer-
tanned. few if any of them have taught
Communism? he asked.
Mrs. Doyle explained that the results
Of the red rider" have been 'unfortu-
nate in more ways than one"
"As a parent" she said, the most
unfortunate result has been that chill
dren are not getting the benefits OF
the contrast between he methods Of
communism and the ideals of Amer.
ican democracy"
Hogue said the rider was adopted
without the knowledge of nearly every
member of Congress. He pointed out
that a number of issues are at stake,
including the undoing of a serious.
though inadvertent, wrong that places
members of Congress in false light
before the country, the lifting of an
unjust ban of legislative coercion in
the field Of school administration, and
the removal from the National Capital
of dangerous precedent for the rest
Of the country"
Blanton claimed in his remarks in
the Record that more deliberate,
spiteful, malicious falsehoods have
been broadcast over the United States
about the red rider than about any
other law ever passed by Congress" +"
He cited II alleged false" assertions.
Walsh to Confer With King.
Chairman Walsh of the Senate Edu.
cation and Labor Committee expects
to confer tomorrow with Senator King,
Democrat, of Utah. TO ascertain the
latter's views on the bill approved last
week by Walsh's committee, to repeal
the red rider
The Education and Labor Commit
tee is ready to report the bill to the
Senate, but decided to consult Sena-
tor King, as chairman of the District
Committee, before making a report.
Senator King said yesterday he
plans to consult his colleagues on the
District Committee to find out wha:
their wishes are regarding the bill.
The repeal measure is being sponsored
in the Senate by Senator Wheeler,
Democrat, of Montana.
Representative Maverick. also a
Texas Democrat, in radio address
last night predicted that the Sisson
bill will pass the House. He rtdi-
culed the red rider and called it -
hideous form Of persecution" Of the
teachers.
"It is q piece of tyranny to have
such law" he said, land the teach
ers of this country. as well as the
mothers and fathers who have any
children to educate, should resent
this"