Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-05-08
Inquiry Closed
In Russian Talk
AT WesternH High
School Board Accepts
Principals Report
Admitting Error

Admitting Error
fSee Editorial, westerns Red
Scare" on Page Ala
With two congressional inquiries
under way, the Board Of Education
has closed its investigation Of Mrs
Shura Lewis talk on Russia al
Western High School after accept
ing q report terming the incident
unfortunate" and an "error ir
Judgment" by the school principal
Four students walked out on the
Russian-born lecturers talk during
an assembly Tuesday and drew
signs bearing the inscription, ''Dowr
with Russia" in protest against
what was termed q too pro-Rus.
sian" speech.
The school principal. Nathanie,
A. Danowsky, said Mrs. Lewis, SO
spoke for IS minutes on the Russian
educational system but depressed
into some political aspects" which
he said he had asked her not to do
The Board of Education yester-
day refused to order DR.. Hobart M
Corning, superintendent of schools
to investigate the matter further
after he had submitted his report.
Representative Mundt, Republican
of South Dakota had announced
earlier that the House Un-American
Activities Committee, of which he Is
acting chairman, would go into the
matter at its next full meeting.
Chairman Dirksen of the House
District Committee began a formal
inquiry by asking DR.. Corning for
q full report of the incident.
DR.. Corning told the Board of
Education meeting he was instruct
ing each school principal in the
future to submit for advance ap-
prevail by his Office any programs
which include outside speakers.
Mr.. Danowsky had invited Mrs.
Lewis to speak after hearing her at
Wilson Teachers College last jan
uary. Her appearance at the college
was arranged by the Institute of
Pacific Relations, 1t was said.
The four students, whose placards
were confscated by Mr. Danowsky,
are Virginia Lanham. II, of 4522
Lowell street NV; Virginia
Marackle, II, of 3700 Huntington
street NV; Ruthe Pigott, 10, of
2126 N street NV, and Dick Smith,
18, of 2205 Russell road, Alexandria.
They were joined in their demon
stration by several other students, it
was said, but the group had re-
turned to their classes after a short
time.
Representative oKonski, Repub-
lican, of Wisconsin, president of
the Anti Communist Association of
America, announced he would pre-
sent scrolls and flags to the four
at $3.50 pm. today on the steps Of
the Capitol.
Representative .Corbett, Republi-
can, of Pennsylvania, who said he
would obtain some flags that have
flown over the Capitol for the stu
dents, thought it would be a fitting
reward for their demonstration of
Americanism."
Mrs. Lewis, who returned last
night from New York, where she
had gone shortly after her talk, said
in a statement that she did not
mean ito create such a situation"
and that she speaks in order "to
bring about better understanding
between these two great countries. ~
After DR.. Corning's report to the
Board of Education yesterday, Adel-
bert Lee, board member, offered a
resolution that called for further
investigation and the dismissal of
any teachers who were found guilty
of supporting or advocating any
thing that could be construed as not
defending the Constitution"
Motion Not Seconded.
No action was taken on the mo-
ton, following heated exchanges be-
tween Mr.. Lee and other board
members, because no one would
second the motion.
Mr.. Lee said that after Mrs. Lewis
had spoken at Wilson Teachers
College in January. he received sew
eral phone calls from people who
felt the tone of her address was
so un-American that criticisms
would be made that our Washing
ton schools were encouraging Com
munist projects"
DR.. James A. Cannon, another
board member, asked Mr.. Lee:
Did you report to the superin-
tendent or the board what you
heard in january"
Il did not" Mr.. Lee answered.
aft you had, this whole thing
would not have happened" DR..
Cannon retorted.
Mr.. Lee then went on to say he
also had information that certain
publications used by the schools had
published un-American articles.
Says He Read Articles.
LIT. HODerC "A. Maurer, anOther
board member, then took issue with
Mr.. Lee.
'If you are referring to publica-
tons used as collateral reading,
read them" he declared. "One did
have an article on communism in it.
But 1t is utterly ridiculous to say
they are un-American. The publ
cations have nothing unpatriotic in
them"
Both men explained later they
were referring to news sheet which
is distributed to the school at in
tervals and is used in school systems
over the country. They identified it
as the American Observer, which is
published by private firm.
II have information that the pub
lication recommended a book, the
author OF which had a criminal
record" Mr.. Lee said.
THE book was not recommended, -
Dr.. Cannon interjected.
Mr.. Lee then told the board there
had been criticism of un-American
teachings In the school system in
the past.
Questioned by Mrs. DOYLE.
Mrs. Henry Grattan DOYLE. pres
ident Of the board, then entered the
djscIISSior,