Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-04
SOCIALISM, IN COLLEGE
FOUR PROFESSORS ARE. "sYMPA-
THETIcALLY INTERESTED" IN IT.

NEW YORK, December 4.-Socialism is
making such deep impression in Column
bia University. where four professors are
'sympathetically Interested" In 1t and stu
dents socialistic league is being formed
that some friends of that conservative IN
stitution are becoming disturbed. Although
the university Is not officially promuigatinS
the teachings. the socialistic leanings Oh
several members Of the faculty nave
aroused comment among the older Alumni
Prof Franklin H. Giddings of the de-
partment of sociology and the history OF
civilization in a magazine article published
last month shows that he Is In accord
with many beliefs of the leading socialists
of this country In his lectures in the uni
versity he Is less positive in his views. ne
has more scope, however, as one VI sie
faculty of the Rand School Of Social SCI
ence in East 10th street. where he as
courses on sociology. This institution was
founded to teach socialism. and among us
graduates are such opponents as upon
turer in the Rand school is Prof. Charles
A. Beard of the department of history OF
Columbia. He gives instruction In the
evolution of the state.
Both Profs. Giddings and Beard vote the
ticket of the socialist party when they be-
lieve the political situation demands It.
Prof. Giddings made stump speeches In the
last campaign in favor of Morris Hillquit,
a recognized intellectual leader of the So
cialists, who. was a candidate for Congress
Others in the List.
Prof James T. Shotwell, who teaches
medieval history in Columbia, has re-
turned from a two years sojourn in Eu-
rope. confessing to a favorable impression
Of socialism as he has seen 1t in France
and other countries.
Prof. John Dewey of the department of
tYN1,f INV vryhn
economics, is a frequent visitor to Heilcon
Hall. socialistic colony at Englewood,
N j., over which Sinclair presides.
Evidences that the student body In Co
lumbia sees much that is worthy of atten-
ton in socialism is shown by the fact that
preparations are being made for organizing
a soeialistic club. to be affiliated with
league of which Jack London is president.
All this is beneath the aegis of an insti-
tuition where ten years ago such views
would have been considered the worst
once Kings College, and was founded by
royal charter. On one of her fagpoles
rests a gilt crown. and from it flies
square of blue bearing the emblem of roy
atty. The institution has in every way
stood for the traditions, although it has
kept in touch with the progress of the day.
Socialism meets opposition, however,
from other of the facss
strongly indivdualistic in their views.
Professor Giddings' Stand.
II have no objection" said Prof Gid
dings yesterday, ito saying l am inter-
ested in socialism, and I may say sympa-
thetically so. 1 voted the ticket of the
socialist party at the last election because
1 believed it was necessary to do some
thing to stop the aggression of the cor
porations. / made speeches in favor of Mr.
HillQuit because l considered him a better
man for the position than his opponent and
because of personal friendship. l do not
consider myself an out and out socialist,
however, and certainly not a radical one
do not teach socialism in Columbia, but
deal with it in connection with lectures on
sociology"
Prof. Beard while pursuing postgraduate
studies in the University of Oxford. in
England, met many of the Fabian social
lists, who are willing to make reforms, one
>at a time, instead of sweeping away the
also was merely "sympathetically inter-
ested," although he votes the socialist
ticket.
my attitude is rather that of the stu
dent" said Prof. Beard, land l have made
a study of 1t with every desire to do 1t
justice. 1 would be willing, however, to
see certain reforms accomplished through
the republican party or the democratic
party The doctrnaire socialist would
never consent to that. I am not a socialist
ton"
Prof. Shotwell said that although he
was in a measure in sympathy with So
cialism, he was by no means a socialist.
He declared he was impressed with the
good which socialism had done in Europe.
where it had drawn the common people
together, but he was by no means sure 1t
could be made to conform to conditions in
the United States