New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-13
International Club Cir
cuIates Protest, Asking
Future Policy
PRESIDENT BUTLER
REFUSES TO TALK
Movement Is Started to
Have Radicals Speak
on the Campus

The International Club Of CoIumols
began yesterday to collect signatures
OF students, alumni and members Of
the faculty to resolutions calling upon
President Nicholas Murray Butter 20
declare publicly the policy which the
university authorities would follow in
the future in the treatment of student
thought and student forum activities.
Members Of the club declared last
night that the action of the university
authorities in refusing TO permit Count
Iva Tolstoy 20 speak in Philosophy
Hall last Saturday evening was a bold
and dangerous eneroachment upon the
liberty of thought and freedom Of &C
ton said 20 characterize America
Meanwhile plans We're made for d
mass meeting Of protest 20 be held IN
Philosophy Hall tomorrow noon. The
university authorities decided 10 allow
the students to use the building. Plans
we're also under way, should the au-
thorities fail 10 modify their censor
ship of speakers invited by student or
CARNATIONS, 20 ask persons whose views
probably would not be popular with
many members of the faculty 10 speak
on or near the university campus.
Prominently mentioned among these
proposed speakers were Emma Gold
man and Mrs. Hanna s. Skefhngton,
Irish revOlutionist, sutfragist and paci-
fist
President Butler seemed greatly an
noyed when asked yesterday whether
the ban on Count Tolstoy would be
lifted.
There is no Tolstoy matter he de-
clared emphatically. Il have nothing
at all 20 say
The resolutions TO be presented 20
President Butler follow, in part:
Whereas. The authorities of Column
bia University have decresd that stud
ent organizations must in the future
submit their programme for meetings
20 the secretary OF the university for
faculty approval, stating particularly
the names Of their speakers with the
contents Of their addresses, before such
programme may be conducted on uni
vers!ty grounds; and
Whereas. This action has been taken
on the sole ground that Count Tolstoy
was persona non grata 20 university
professor and the explanation has been
made that in the future any depart
mental head may assert this privilege;
and
Whereas, We of Columbia Univer-
sity see In this action a bold and dan
gerous encroachment upon, and an in
tolerable curtsilment Of that liberty OF
thought and freedom of action which
is said to characterize America, and
q Il 4 Il / arrsaH 81 al
enlightened institutions Of learning;
Therefore, we. the unders igned, de-
clare ourselves heartily opposed 20 the
assertion by the faculty of such a
rule and record ourselves in favor Of
the pursuit ar Columbia Of that earn
estness Of purpose and liberty OF
thought which makes for a fearless
sitting and winnowing Of ideas; and
we further
Resolve, That President Butler be
called upon 20 declare publicly the
policy Of the university IN the future
as 20 the treatment Of student thought
and student forum activities
Thousands Of leaflets, containing in
substance the statements of the resolu-
tions and giving notice of the mass
meeting. we're printed last night for
distribution in classrooms this morn
ing
Professor Prince Explains
Professor !. D. Prince, head Of the
department Of Slavonic languages, who
prevented Count Tolstoy's appearance,
said last evening at the Hotel Wander
bilt that his action was not caused by
objections to the counts liberal views.
Il did not hear Of the proposed Toll
stoy meeting until Friday Professor
Prince said. II inquired about u, and
learned that a group of students IN the
International Club-not the member
ship as d whole had made the ar
rangements. II appeared that no mem
Der Of the faculty had been consulted
concerning the meeting.
"At once | took up with President
Butler the adyisability OF allowing
Count Tolstoy 70 sneak. and we decided
that because of the critical situation
in foreign affairs it was better that he
should not do 50. ! accordingly mott
fed him 10 that effect by telegram.
81 have nothing against Count Toll
stoy personally. On the one occasion
when we met / found him very agree