The New York herald., 1922-06-18
DR.. LOWELL HAS FORM
NOTE ON JEW ISSUE
Same Reply Is Sent to All
Who Write to Him.

WUO WTt(e 20 0tW.
Special Dispatch to THE New YoaK HEsALD.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. June 17.-Harvard
officials said to-day they had not seen
admission Of Jews and said to have
been written by President Lowell to
Alfred A. Benesch. Of Cleveland. a
Harvard graduate. and therefore would
cffer no comment upon 1t. The letter
has not bean published here.
The personnel of the committee to con-
slider the enrolment question was not
yet ready for announcement. they said.
This committee Is being appointed in
accordance with the recent vote of the
board of overseers. authorizing Presi-
dent Lowell to appoina committee
drawn from the faculties Of the uni
versity, ito oonsid er and report to the
governing boards. principles and methods
for more effective sitting of candidates
for admission to the university"
1t Is understood this committee will
proba bly, take many months to study the
problem and that no further action Will
be taken nor any change made In the
committee has reported.
1t is understood that President Lowell
has heard from numerous graduates
regarding the charge that the university
is to discriminate against Jews, and that
he had prepared form letter to send
to these men. While he declines to
comment on the communication to Mr..
Benesch, he also refuses to present for
publication a copy of this form letter.
contending that it Is private communi-
cation and he believes 1t should be con-
considered so. by himself as well as by
the men to whom It was sent.
the Associated Harvard Clubs meeting
yesterday did more than anything else
to clear the Harvard atmosphere. even
though he told plainly, without using
the actual words. that the Harvard
facualty twice has considered and
passed resolutions in which there were
references to racial discrimination.
While DR.. Eliot did not say so. it is
evident that premature unofficial pub
lication of these Harvard plans caused
the faculty to take new tack. and 1t
was practically forced to call upon
higher authorities to help 1t devise a
the university. This sitting process
will not only effect the college depart
ment but is to be used in every de-
partment Of the university. 1t became
known at the Associated Harvard Clubs
meeting yesterday
Dr. Eliot, in reply to a question from
G. H. Little, Harvard graduate. who
Is president Of the University of Maine
and who sought to And out why the uni
'versity authorities had never denied
that they considered barring Jews.
said:
There has been a stir at Harvard
on the Jewish question. We must talk
plainly on these matters. gentlemen.
There has been stir and some men,
hers of the faculty of arts and sciences
got prematurely excited on the sub
ject and, in the face of a confused state
of mind and melted by urgent speeches.
did adopt two measures of doubtful ex-
pediency. After an intermission they
rescinded both and adhered to an orig
inal vote they had adopted.
This first vote has been brought
before the overseers and, with ex-
eellent notifications. has been adopted
by the overseers, whereby a commit
tee OF fair and selected men has been
appointed. not only to make out the
facts of the present status of racial
percentages In the whole university
but also to study the means of better
sitting the candidates for admission to
all departments. In my judgment that
is as wise action as can be taken to-
day
'In the disturbed state of the public
mind on Semitism in general the
wisest step that can be taken is ia
consider the matter, and later, IL ad-
visable. take deliberate action. l hope
this body, doubtless split by opinions
and projudices. will take no action. bu,
will confide 1t to this committee SC
we'll appointed by President Lowell"
Mayor Curley of Boston In Bunke-
Hill speeches said of Harvard to-day:
These people seek to bar men be-
cause of an accident Of birth. This is
the most intolerable thing that could
be done by any educational institution
The men who are barred are not re-
sponsible for their race any more than
l am Of mine.
God gave them their parents and
their race. as he has given me mine.
All of us under the Constitution are
guaranteed equality, without regard to
race, creed or color When Harvard
loses sight of that fundamental we.
who are not yet Disseminated against.
should assist those who are obtaining
their equal rights as guaranteed them
as American citizens.
1T the Jew IL barred to-day, the
Italian will be tomorrow, then the
Spaniard and Pole and at some future
date the Irish"