The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-06-30
Wis. u STUDENTS
FREEDOMS FIGHT
Series of Intellectual COmbats.

| In the classrooms at the University
of Wisconsin there is a fine tradl-
ton of intellectual freedom, won and
consolidated over a period of some
decades. But the eye of President
Birge is watchful of any independent
group of students which NEEDLES too
much in social problems, and over his
shoulder peer the equally watchful
eyes of the regents. Is it that the
wise men of the University consider
that certain hateful ideas may fairly
be prescribed by them when found
wandering outside the sanctuary OF
the classrooms? Or is their watch
fulness occasoned by fear of crltl-
cism-criticism from comfortable
citizens who might forget their man
ners if they saw facts. and theories
whose social standing is not of the
best parading the academic groves
too boldly? There are a number OF
possible coniectures, any one OF winch
is equally discreditable to the intel
lectual candor and courage OF the
President and his associates:
The students are doing what pro-
fessors did in the days when the free
dom of teachers to speak their MINDS
was an issue,-they are fighting.
Throughout this past year, a resolute
handful of them-the members of the
Social Science Club-have been try
ing to win the right to hold open
meetings on the campus where stud
ents might listen to lectures of their
own choosing. The campaign has
been a series of interesting shlndys.
In October the Social Science Club
applied for a room where they might
present DR.. Scott Nearing. The re-
quest was denied. Thereupon, at
cost of $50, the club engaged the
Madison High School Auditorium,
where on October 31st DR.. Nearing
delivered the scheduled address on
american Foreign Policy" :,
On January 3rd the club submitted
to the authorities the following list
of prospective speakers: W. E.. b.
Dubois, Frank Vanderlip, Upton Sim
clair, Otto H. Kahn. Kate Richards
O'Hare, John Haynes Holmes, Sena-
tor Robert LaFollette, William g..
McAdoo. When the list came back
there was a note with it indicating
that Mrs. O'Hare and Mr.. Sinclair
would not be tolerated.
In most of our states-New York
for example-those who have been
the slowest in recovering from the
shell-shock of war have been the
makers, administrators, and enforcers
of the law. But in Wisconsin, where
the state administration is Progress
sive Republican, Governor Blaine lent
a sympathetic ear to the students of
the Social Science Club when they
came seeking a place outside the
jurisdiction of the University where
they might hear Mrs. O'Hare. HeI
granted them the use of the Assem-
bly, Hall in the Capitol, and when the
local Legion Post assailed him, he
stood firm on the principle of intel
lectual liberty which the administra-
ton of the state institution of learn
ing had denied So on March Both,
Mrs. O'Hare. a refined. elderly wo-
man-spoke on "Crime and Grim |
inals" to a tremendous audience of
students and townfolk. She told them
of her experiences in jails where she
lay during the war as a political
prisoner. Lieutenant Governor Com
ings was there to introduce her. and
Adiutant General Holway raised his
voice from the platform when the
ebullient patriotism of the American
Legionnaires seemed about to throw
the meeting into chaos.
But the browning victory was wor
in the battle over Upton Sinclair.
Mr.. Sinclair arrived in town on April
28th. The meeting was scheduled for
MAY 1st. No hall had yet been Sc
cured. Mr.. Sinclair's son, who met
him at the train. apprised him Of
President Birge's attitude. and told
him that the meeting would have
to be held away from the campus.
Thereupon Mr.Sinclair. who was ma
turally affronted. went to see Presl-
dent Birge to learn what there was
about him that made him unfit in the
eyes of the President to address a
body of students. There ensued a.
couple of entertaining sessions. In
the first, Mr.. Sinclair seems to have
handled President Birge somewhat
as he later handled the university
tennis champion. To borrow tennis
Technology. President Birge was not
in good form and Mr.. Sinclair played
him a love match. The second inter-
view was with the regents. Mr.. Sim
clair first justified himself to them
as a man and a citizen. And then
he told them that if he spoke in the
University he would confine himself
to his announced subject, "The Col
lege Student and the Modern Crisis"
But that if he spoke outside of the
University his address would be on
1.-THE Control Of Our Universities by
the interests that he would
use a local illustration.
A few hours later the board voted
to permit the Social Science Club the
use of the gymnasium in which to
present Mr.. Sinclair. and on May 3rd
1000 people crowded in to hear him.
President Birge is said to have an
nounced recently that censorship will
in the future be more lenient-The
New Student.