Evening star., 1937-02-10
I ERE are the opinions Of some
Of the members Of the House
regarding the red rider-as

- OF the members OF the House
regarding the red rider-as
Il = expressed in debate on the
repeater bill Monday.
Representative Norton Of New Jer.
sey-Let us examine this. so-called
"red rider" and the effect it has had
upon this community. At the same
time let us bear In mind that it is
only because of the peculiar type of
government in the District that such
a thing could happen. In your city
and mine we have a board of educa-
ton responsible to the people. It is
either elected by the people or appoint
ed by the city mayor or council and
therefore either directly or indirectly
responsible to the people who have
the power Of the vote. The people If
the District, having no power. must
accept the direction of Congress and
that brings me to the point that we
are responsible for this ridiculous red
rider" and the circumstances sur
rounding it.
Representative Short of Missouri
Mr.. Chairman, the so-called red rider
which was inserted in the District Of
Columbia appropriation act for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1896, ap-
proved June IA, 1885. providing that
hereafter no part of any appropria-
ton for the public schools shall be
available for the payment of the salary
Of any person teaching or advocating
communism" never should have been
enacted into law. (Applause.) It is
obnoxious to conscience, repugnant to
reason, and totally contrary to the
spirit and genius of the American peo-
pie, our traditions, and our insti-
tutions.
Representative Martin Of Colorado
Mr.. Chairman, this is the most ex-
traordinary situation I have ever seen
in the American Congress. This red
rider" is unquestionably the most un-
welcome stray dog that the people of
Washington ever found on their door,
steps. applause and laughter.) They
unanimously want to kick 1t out, and
we are asked by some gentlemen here
not to do the kicking.
Representative Fish of New York
Mr.. Chairman, am for the unuuali-
fed repeal of this so-called "red rider. ="
(Applause) 1t Is q travesty, a mock
cry. and an utter legislative absurdity.
1t never should have been written into
the law, and the best thing we can do
Is to take it out Immediately. 1t is
an insult to the school teachers of
America for Congress to say to them
that they must submit af1idavits that
they are not teaching or advocating
communism. It would be an insult to
us If some higher authority said that
before we got our monthly pay We
would have to make similar affdavits.
Representative Ford of California
Mr.. Chairman. favor the uncondi-
tional repeal of the "red rider because
1t is an un-American attempt to CEN
sor education and TO suppress free in
quiry and unbiased study of systems of
government differing from our own.
Under the "red rider" education
would tend to degenerate into some
thing prescribed, lacking vitality and
lacking the liberty to examine all
facts freely and openly and without
restraint. Truth never harmed a STU
dent. 1t Is attempts to hide the truth,
to fence it in with taboos, to force
pupils to accept as facts the opinions
of their elders without examination,
that Is stultifying and harmful.
Certainly We as Americans need not
fear to permit our schools to present
the facts in regard to communism and
every other governmental system. We
have confidence in our own system
democracy-and believe that by COM
pairing our system with others its SUI
periority for us will be doubly ap-
parent.
Representative Harlan of Ohio-Mr.
Chairman, we are all agreed that the
factual teaching of communism is not
Objectionable. But if you were a
teacher in the District schools, with
the ruling of the controller general be-
fore you in reference to this matter,
would you take chance on teaching
anything about communism? When
your pupils saw this big spot on the
map known as Russia and asked YOU
what form of government is there,
would you tell them communism, or
would you say anything about it? II
you had pupil in one of these schools
who is dumb enough not to want to
know what kind Of government exists
in Russia or anywhere else, what
would you think Of that child?
We are all agreed that to advocate
communism is bad thing. We do not
want the teachers to advocate COM
munism. We do not want them to ad-
vocate embezzlement. We do not want
them to advocate stealing chickens
We do not want them to advocate
smuggling. But we do not put it in
the law.
To put that In the law Is an imputa.
ton against the intelligence, honesty
and patriotism Of our teachers, in
whom we have placed the future hopes
Va Jul uCAuONAdSy, dllu l SpcdA dS u
former teacher and as a son of q
teacher, knowing something about
their problems.
Representative Kvale Of Minnesota
Mr.. Chairman, my only purpose in
requesting this time is to combine my
protest with others against this un-
American and unfair restriction upon
free education in America as repre-
sented by the particular jurisdiction
we hold over the District. I see no
more purpose in this law than I do in
demanding Of every Member of Con-
gress that he take some religious oath,
or an oath not to mention the word
communism and God help some of
us. It would take the words out of the
mouth of good many Of us. E
Representative O'Connor of New
York-There are lot of people in this
country who have very little to do,
n
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