New-York tribune., 1921-05-23
I4a(,taartlisa Asks
Lifting of Ban
On DIR. Holmes
Declares Address for Which
Minister Was Excluded
From Schools as Near
Anarchist Il Scholarly
Promises to See Prall
Community Church Pastor
Declares Free Speech Is
the Question at Stake

Major T. II. lie Guardia, President Of
The Board Of Aldermen, has taken up
the cudgels for DIR, John Haynes
Holmes, pastor of the Community
Church, who was barred recently from
leeturing ia the public school forums.
The Aldermanic President has read DR.,
Hclnes's The Collapse of Civilization,
and instead Of classing it as "approach-
ing the border line Of criminal an
archy," as the school authorities did,
Major La Guardia declared it was one
of "the most scholarly essays on pres
ent conditions ! have ever read"
In letter to DIR. Holmes yesterday
the Aldermanic President said he eX-
pected TO see Aiming S. Prall, presi-
dent of the Board Of Education, and
try to reach an understanding as to
procedure by which the "wrong" of
the minister's expulsion from the
schools would be righted.
"If we cannot agree on procedure !
will go it alone as ! have on other
occasions" wrote Major La Guardia.
On April 2S the Aldermanic Presj-
dent wrote DR.. Holmes in regard to the
action of the Board Of Education in
excluding him from the schools and
asked him to forward some of his
speeches in order that ne might deter
mine whether he would be justified in
taking some steps looking to the res
toration of the privileges which had
been taken away from him.
Mr. Holmes, on the following day,
sent q reply TO the Aldermanic Presi-
dent, thanking him for the interest he
was taking and inclosing two of his
addresses, one of which was THE Col
lapse of Civilization" While the Al
dermanic President told DR., Holmes
that he would like to read more of his
speeches, he appeared to be sufficiently
convinced of the injustice of the action
of the school authorities TO take up the
matter with the head of the Board of
Education.
81 am greatly interested and pleased
to receive your letter of the 26th. tell
ing me of your interest in the situation
precipitated by Superintendent Et-
finger in forbidding me to speak at q
forum meeting in public school," DR..
Holmes said iii his letter to Major La
Guardia. at seems to me that this is
a most fragrant instance of the viola
tion of those ordinary rights of free
speech which we have long since
learned to associate with the principles
and ideals of Americanism; and it is
encouraging TO know that a public Of
fetal of your distinction and influence
is considering taking some steps look
ing to the restoration of privileges
which have been taken away.'
DIR. Holmes said he did not know just
what one of his addresses had aroused
opposition" but that The Collapse Of
Civilization; Can Humanity BE Saved, -
was the one announced for Sunday
evening, April "a, when he was not al
lowed to speak. DIR. Holmes said that
he did not expect the Aldermanic Preai-
dent to agree with all the ideas set
forth in these addresses. but that if he
could find in either, in spirit of ideas,
archy." he would indeed b. surprised.
Referring to his reading of "The Col
lapse of Civilization" in his letter to
DR.. Holmes, Major La Guardia said: 81
am less pessimistic of the present than
you, but you are more optimistic of
the future than T."