The Washington times., 1921-05-16
SPEECH
VIEWS SCORED
Professor Chafee, of Harvard,
Facing Discipline for llbe-
raIity, Hapgood Finds.
Nv NORMAN HAPGOOD.

What is in some ways the most
astounding of all our recent inter-
ferences with freedom Is now being
attempted. 1t strikes at scholarly
explanation of the principles that We
are supposed to hold sacred. 1t
involves the repute of the most dis
tinguished university in America.
Zachariah Chafee, professor In tn:
Harvard law school, wrote book
called Freedom of Speech" 1t sets
forth in expert fashion what were
the principles OF freedom as they
existed before the war mania struck
us, and the red mania that was The
legitimate offspring.
ANALYZEs WAR RESTRICTIONS.
1t then analysed the acts passed in
the years since the spring of 1917
for the suppression OF opinion, and
the behavior OF courts. juries and
prosecuting officials under those
acts. The book was praised by
critics OF the most diverse sorts as
a much needed contribution in a
period of lethargy and oppression.
Now the standpatters have organ
lied to get Professor Chafee out Of
Harvard, IL they can. A leading
part is taken by Austin Fox, who
was employed to try to keep Mr..
Brandeis of the Supreme Court In
that violent contest Mr.. Fox and
his friends would have succeeded
had it not been for the determine
tion of Woodrow Wilson.
These people have raked through
not only Professor Chafee's book,
but also a magazine article preced-
Inc 80 "A aG..x,
preston here and there that they
may make the Harvard overseers
look upon as unfair" They mean
an opinion stated with more energy
and heat than would be necessary
in an argument before court.
The principle on which our safe and
sane friends rely in their attack on
this distinguished scholar. is easily
understood and easily stated. To
show feeling, strong conviction, in
favor of everything claimed by prop
erty is the mark Of a statesman, a
good citizen, and gentleman. To
raise hysterical cries about reds"
whenever economic or Industrial ques-
tion is involved is mark of decency
and balance.
COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY.
But for an educated and comfort
ably placed citizen to speak in favor
of freedom of opinion is a sign of de-
generacy. 1t is considerable evidence
that he is betraying all that is most
valuable in our almost faultless civil
ization. 1t is lese majestic against the
best of all possible worlds.
Another man | know. born to
wealth and high social position. made
himself unpopular by his considera-
tion for the less fortunate mass. A
Government official. OF less aristo-
cratic origin. got OF long TRADE at
him, ending up with You arc a
traitor to your class" Ny friend re-
piled:
THAT may be; perhaps, also. you
are a traitor to yours"
IT was a wicked return, but perhaps
in the circumstances IL was justified.
The committee OF the Harvard
board of overseas, that has been
named to look into the objections
urged against Prof. Chafee, consists
Of Judge Julian w. Mack. Robert
Grant, judge and author. and Judge
Swayne. Judge Mack is liberal. the
other two conservatives.
A group of Harvard graduates. not
on the oversees, is associated with
this trio. While it consists in the
main of conservative citizens most Of
go SO far as to reprimand a Harvard
professor for believing that the no.
torious Abrams case was sbominably
conducted by the trial Judge.
They would not like his evident ap-
proval OF Justice Holmes dissenting
opinion. that the defendants had as
much right to publish their views as
the Government has to print the con-
stitution now appealed to in vain.
They would not like it, but they can
hardly be too severe on the opinion of
supreme court justice who is by
many able lawyers looked upon as
the ablest thinker in ANY courts in
the world today.
Moreover, the dean of the Harvard
Law School. Roscoe Pound, is a great
scholar, and an equally great hater
OF sham patriotism and tricky perse-
cution Of minority opinion. The pros
pect therefore for a successful out
come to this last and most ridiculous