Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-08

The latest critical CONNIE
HirSt and John Webb Of Fair
fax County, and Lewis Mac
Cracker. Republican candidate
for the House Of Delegates
from Arlington County. Yes
terday. Arlington's three in
cumbent Democratic members
of the house hit the commit
tees request for book lists.
Mr.. Hirst said he objected
ito any added burden on our
teachers and school administa-
tive staff who are doing a tre-
mendous job in the face of
great difficulties.
He said ne didn't recall the
General Assembly giving the
committee mandate to inves-
tigate school libraries.
Opposed Creating Group
Mr.. Webb said he opposed
creation Of the Thomson COM
mittee, and warned at the time
that 1t likely would degenerate
into a witchhlnt that would
not reflect credit upon the
State Of Virginia"
Recent events, said Mr.. Webb.
have demonstrated that my
fears were wen grounded. I
look forward to the day when
the committee will be dis
solved"
Mr.. Maccrackan said a week
ago he had called attention to
the star chamber methods of
the Thomson Commute" and
charged that the committee
now was "at the point Of start
ing to burn school books" He
said the delegates from Airing
ton who voted for the existence
Of such a committee seem sur
priSed at what they have helped
to create" He said there is
now no question that even
members Of the machine in
Richmond are concerned by
what they have created for they
realize that in plotting evil they
have fallen into the web"
The legal opinion that Ar
lington does not have TO turn
over the reference book lists to
the committee was given the
school board by the boards at
torney. James H. Simmonds.
said Board Chairman James G.
Stockard.
A check Of the nearby area
showed that only Fairfax
County has agreed to supply
the requested list. Fairfax
Supt. w. T. WOodson said he
had advised the committee the
list would be forthcoming, but
it may take a while to compile
it."
Awaits williams Return
Ray Sanger. assistant super
intendent of schools in Alexan-
dria. said he was awaiting the
return Of Supt. T. c. williams
to discuss the committees re-
quest. He said it would be q
tremendous Job" TO compile
all the requested information
on reference books.
Falls Church Schools Supt.
Irwin Schmitt said he had not
vet received the committees
request. and will take the mat
ter up with the school board
when he does.
Mr.. Simmonds was asked for
an opinion in Arlington after
the principals Of the county's
secondary schools received re-
quests from the Thomson COM
mittee for data on school
books.
The investigating group sent
similar letters TO junior and Sc
Nor high schools in Fairfax,
Alexandria and Falls Church.
Specifically, the committee
asked for lists Of text books
used In history. social studies
and civics classes, along with
the names Of reference books.
Sending Reply
Arlington School Supt. T.
Edward Rutter said he is send
ing a reply TO the Thomson
committee. but explained that
he felt 1t would be improper TO
make the letter public.
Mr.. Rutter said that ne is
supplying the Thomson COM
mittee with the text books in
formation. but not with the
library books data. This re-
Spouse. Mr.. Rutter explained,
is in line with established pol
icy toward information re-
quests by individuals or organ
izations.
I'VE have always supplied in
terested citizens IL. Arlington
with information on the text
books used in the schools" the