New-York tribune., 1922-06-18
Head
Drafts Secret
Letter on Jews
President Lowell Has Pre-
pared Form Answer Tor
Alumni Who Have Writ
ten About Discrimination
Sitting Vital. Says Elliott
Mayor Curlcy Asserts if One
Race Is Barred From Col
lcge Others Will Follow
S,,,,or pt,roteh 10 Tn, Tr,ba-,

Srfriri Di'rnfch n Ihf I1bnrf
CAMBRIDGE. Mass. June i7.--Presi-
dent A. Lawrence Lowell Of Harvard
University has prepared form letter
10 scnd to alumni who have been
writing him regarding the charge that
the university is to discriminate
against Jews. it was learned to-day.
He refused 10 make public a copy OF
the letter, saying that It was private
communication and should be con
sidcred 20 by himself as we'll as BY
those 70 whom % be sent.
na.vard oAici-ls ',fused 10 comment
on the letter made public yesterday
~ Cleveland ly Alfred a. Bcneseh, a
Na.,a-i .fGdIaic, in which President
.reil aas quoted as admitting the
l.irg artl-s.mitIc feeling among
lc Islcn,a.' ard srnouneing that q
committee would ,r ppointed IN a few
DAYS 10 r udr ihc advisability Of re-
durinc tho nuwbsr a. jewish students
enrolled. Omcials said they had not
seen tho lcitcr. and a. far as they
knew me personnel = any such COM
mittee had not been decided on.
This committee Is being appointed
in accordance with the recent vote Of
the hoard OF overSoers authorizing
President Lowell TO appoint COM
mittee drawn from the faculties Of
the university "to consider and report
10 the governing boards principles
and methods for more effective sitting
Of candidates for admission 70 the
university" II is understood that this
committee probably will take many
months 10 study tho problem and That
no further action will be taken nor
any change made IN the existing Gu
trance requirements until the com
mittee has reported.
Dr.. Charles ". Eliots frankness At
The Associated Harvard Clubs meeting
Yesterday did more than anything else
10 clear the Harvard atmosphere. even
though he told plainly without using
the actual words that tho Harvard
faculty had twice considered and
rasscd resolutions In which there were
differences 10 racial discrimination.
While DR.. Eliot did not say so. II Is
evident that premature unofficial pub
ucation of these Harvard plans caused
the faculty 10 take new tack, and
they were practically forced to call
upon higher authorities 70 help them
devise a plan for sitting the incoming
classes Of the university. This sitting
process will not only affect the college
department. but Is TO be used In every
department Of the university, u became
known nj the Associated Harvard Clubs
meeting yesterday.
Adhered TO Original Vote
Doctor Eliot, in reply 20 a question
from c. c. Little, q Harvard graduate,
who is president OF the University OF
Maine, and who sought 70 find out why
the university authorities had never
denied that they considered barring
Jews. said:
"There has been n stir at Harvard
on the Jewish question. We must
talk plainly on these matters, gentle
men. There has been a stir and some
members Of the faculty Of arts and
sciences got prematurely excited on
the subject, and in the face OF con-
fused state Of mind. and melted by
urgent speeches. did adopt two
measures OF doubtful expedieney. After
an intermisslon they rcscinded both
and adhered TO an original vote they
had adopted.
"This fret vote has been brought be-
fore the oyerseers and, with excellent
notifications. has been adopted by the
overscers, whereby a committee OF fair
and selected men has been appointed
not only 70 make out the facts Of the
present status Of racial percentages in
the whole university, but also 70 study
the means OF better sitting the candi-
dates for admission 10 all departments.
In my judgment that is as wise action
Us 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 TO
consider tho matter and later, " ad-
vigable. take deliberate action. / hope
this body, doubtless split by opinions
and prejudices, will take no action. but
will confdo IL to this committee, so
well appointed by President Lowell
Intolerable, Says Mayor
Mayor Curley Of Boston, in Bunker
Hill speeches, said Of Harvard to-day:
"Thcse people seek 20 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
/ am for mine.
God FaTe them their parents and
their race as lie has given me mine.
All Of Us under the constitution are
guaranteed equality. without regard 10
race, creed or color When Harvard
loses sight Of that fundamental. we
who are not yet Disseminated against
should assist those who are not OBJ
tanning their equal rights as guaran-
teed them as American citizens.
"If the Jew Is barred to-day, the
Italian will be tomorrow. Then the
Spaniard and Pole, and at some future
date the Irish"