Evening star., 1937-02-21
EXTENSION URGED
IF RIDER IS KEPT
GilligaE Suggests It Cover
All Schools and Colleges,
Public or Private.

n Congress fails to repeal the "red
rider" it should extend it to all public
and private schools and colleges, as
well as all Government employees and
members of Congress, Henry Gilligan,
vice president Of the Board of Educa-
ton, asserted yesterday. He issued
statement bitterly criticizing propon-
ents of the measure. which bans teach
ing of communism. in the District pub
lie schools.
II defy anybody to prove that any
enc Of us (employes and members OF
the Board of Education) has been false
10 the oath of allegience," Gilligaa
declared.
His statement was made in reply I'd
charges made by Rev. Lawrence j.
Kelly, s. j., pastor of st. Aloysius
Church, in an address at Gonzaga
School Friday night, that radical
teachers" had been hired for certain
courses in the District public schools
Referring to newspaper report Ct
Father Kelly's talk, Gilligan said the
priests statement lis merely con-
tinuation of the undeserved and en-
tirely unwarranted propaganda that
resulted originally in foisting this fool
ish rider on the public schools"
Holds Remarks Supported.
Father Kelly told a reporter yester-
day that everything he said in his
address was based on facts brought
out at House committee hearing
before the red rider was adopted by
Congress. Adoption of the measure
was based on results Of the hearings,
he declared.
In his address. Father Kelly con-
tended the amendment is no insult to
or q reflection upon the teachers, but
1t restrains those who would advocate
communism. Repeal would encourage
Communist instruction, he said.
Here Is the way it appears to me-"
said the priest. Whatever is done
In Washington concerning commun-
ism will be followed throughout the
whole country. If Congress repeals
the rider it will be playing into the
hands of the Communist party"
Conferees Meet This Week.
Senate and House conferees on the
question Of repeal of the measure prob
ably will meet some time this week,
Senator Black, Democrat, of Alabama,
said meanwhile
The text Of Gilligan's statement fol-
lows:
My attention has been called to
the newspaper reports of the address
OF Father Lawrence ]. Kelly in Con-
Eaga College Hall last night regarding
the red rider repeal. In the absence
OF President Doyle from the city I
will merely repeat what has been
said on numerous occasions by the
board as a body and by its individual
members:
No Specific Instance Cited.
I'VE will never countenance any
Communistic or other subversive
teaching in the public schools. In
all Of the entirely uncalled-for hys-
terra on the subject of the teaching
or advocating Of communism in the
public school system, not one single
definite instance has been brought to
the attention of the board All en-
pioyes Of the Board of Education and
the members themselves have sworn
allegiance to the Constitution Of the
United States, and defy anybody
30 prove that any one of us has been
false to the oath OF allegiance.
There il no more reason for the
red rider binding the public schools
Of the District Of Columbia than
there H for its binding effect upon
parochial or other private schools
here or elsewhere over this country.
The statement of Father Kelly is
merely . continuation of the unde-
served and entirely unwarranted
propaganda that resulted originally in
foisting this foolish rider on the pub
lie schools.
L am most hopeful that Congress
Uill wipe out this slurring legislation.
II it does not, then in all good con-
science 1t should extend it to all
public schools and colleges through
out the country and also to all Gov
ernment employees as well as its own
members"