The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-10-04

HARVARD, as a source Of learning,
IL has ever doomed large among
educational institutions in America; in
fact, it's reputation has grown to in
ternational proportions. We are not
so well satisfied that this is as it
should be, due to the high type of
mentality exhibited by majority of
its graduates, or ascribable to the
splendid quality of their contributions
to Americas growth, culturally, in
dustrially, or politically, as we are
satisfied that Harvard has acquired,
over a period of years, traditional
greatness to an extent quite un-
merited. Be this as it may, we
nevertheless do expect when two Of
Harvard's eminent sons lock in
tellectual horns in controversial COM
hat on so important an issue as "Can
we absorb the Negro" that we will be
treated to a scientific analysis of the
so-called Race Problem. Not, of
course, in an attempt to follow it in
all of its qualifications, but in a more
or less exhaustive examination Of it's
salient features, particularly those
pertinent to the subject. the bio
logical aspects, the disturbing ethnic
differences, the accepted racial char
acteristics of white men and black
men, and it might be, we would also
expect them to seek out the causes
which give rise to what we understand
as race prejudice, tracing these
causes scientifically to their true
source, which most certainly is not to
be found in what Mr. Stoddard so
dogmatically calls race differences.
We would expect, when Mr.. Locke
speaks, an introduction to some ac-
ceptable reasons why the Negro can
be absorbed, and those reasons we
believe would go to show the posi-
sibilities of the absorption of that
group as whole, not to the accept
ance of a cultured feW-the cultured
elite, we believe our debater with the
Harvard Oxford and continental
educational background calls them.
But after all, we must not forget that
colleges do not make men, but rather,
that men make colleges, and Harvard,
oh well, Lowell has proven that
Harvard is -.
What Price Colleges?
If what has been delivered through
the columns of the Forum" is a full
measure of the offering such highly
erudite gentlemen as Mr.. Locke and
Mr.. Stoddard have to contribute when
a subject so vexing in its analysis as
the question at issue here is the piece
de resistance, we may well pause and
deeply ponder when the question is
raised of the value of college train
ing in preparing Americas youth to
adequately handle problems of mo-
ment to the community, to the nation,
to a troubled world which needs to-
day, as never before, leadership by
those capable of engaging in, and
directing scientific social engineering
What is the natural reaction of a
sane man upon reading "Can we alb
sorb the Negro?" as presented by the
spokesman for the cultured elite and
the pseudo-scientist? Immediately
we conclude that Mr.. Locke is a
Ounce, and Mr.. Stoddard a charlatan,
and we believe that this is the con-
clusion of many others. After the
first furry of passion is passed, and
deliberation had, we revise the
original determination and stamp Mr..
Locke an erudite ignoramus of some
superior parts, but leave Mr.. Stod-
dard in the category to which we
first assigned him, adding, however,
that his pseudo-scientific verbirage
and sophistry is calculated to deceive
the uninitiated, and should be ruth
lessly dissected. The superior parts
attributed to Mr. Locke are manifest
in his fluency and his pleasing
plus his amazing naivete
and his inanity indeed a striking com
bination.
Cultural Recognition.
Coming to the debate, we find Mr.
Locke's one point is, America should
grant the Negro cultural recognition.
He Celebrates upon this theme from
various angles, at one time stressing
the dire results to coming generations
II the embarrassing issue of mass
recognition on demand is left to them
when such an issue can so peaceably
be settled now by the recognition of
those Negroes whose cultural gifts
are of an exceptional order. Then
ne tells US mass recognition is not
in question; that despite
non-recognition of the cultured elite.
black effort will so forward, and
again, that intelligence thrown back
upon the depressed masses means
radical leadership and revolutionary
fire. These contradictions are beastly
confusing; but in contra distinction to
these, he vouchsafes, GAS an Ameri-
can, and as 4 Negro. l would so
much more prefer to see the black
masses going gradually forward un-
der the leadership Of recognized and
representative and responsible elite,
than to see a frustrated group of
later hurl this mass at
society in doubtful, but desperate