The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-11-20
Liberal Viewpoint
by DR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

president BUTLER Of Columbia university
L Is well known for his remarkable versatility.
According to facts set forth in the Nation he
never has afforded better example Of his in
genuity than in his present attitude toward lib
eralism and Fascism.
He frequently has expounded liberal prin-
ciples, and indicated the necessity of an educa-
tional system which would defend and vindicate
liberalism. Last July, when addressing the So
ciety of Pilgrims in London, he sharply called
their attention to the dangers Of Fascisrn and
reaction and suggested that the English-speak
ing world ought to rise in their overwhelming
might to defend the democratic foundation on
which their civilization is being built"
At the same time, according to the Nation he
permits full-blown and unabashed Fascist prop
aganda to flourish under his very nose at the
Casa Italiana, the center Of the Italian depart
ment of Columbia university. The Nation
charges that this has become an unofficial adj
iunct of the Italian consul-generals Office in
New York and one of the most important
sources of Fascist propaganda in America"
1t would seem that DR.. Butler is determined
to be prepared for either aternative-a liberal
America or a Fascist America.
THE story Of this remarkable situation as
i unfolded in the Nation is as follows:
The Casa Italiana was erected mainly through
funds contributed by the Italian Americans Of
greater NEW 1OTk. Agents OF IL6 1JdIldu SOF-
eminent also have contributed to the support
and furnishing of the Casa Italiana.
The head of the Italian department at Co.
lumbia university is Professor Dino Bigonylari,
openly Fascist in his sympathies and activities.
He invited to Columbia as visiting professor
of Italian, Giuseppe Prezzolini, a renegade 1tal-
ian liberal and one time associate of Professor
Salvemin in the defense of Italian liberalism
and democracy.
The Italian department at once proceeded to
build up Signor Prezzolini as a forerunner OF
II Duce. The heroic eXegeSiS necessary TO make
out of Prezzoni sort of John the Baptist for
Mussolini was executed by Professor Peter M
Riccio of the italian department. Shortly after
this effort, Signor Prezzolini was made director
of the Casa Italana and full professor OF Italian
at Columbia.
The Casa Italiana maintains an educational
bureau headed by high school principal Leon
ard Covello. The bureau of education carries on
Fascist nropaganda among the New York Ital-
ians According to the Nation, the Italian con-
sul-general of New York City contributed S3OOO
last wear for the maintenance of this bureau and
other related activities of the Casa 1tallana.
THE Casa Italiana also has an official pubhca-
| i ton known as the Italy America Monthly
This is overly Fascist in tone and in nine months
of publication has not carried single artc1e
which was in any way critical OF the Fascist
regime IN Italv It's leading contributor has been
Beniamino de Ritis an officer OF the italy
America Society and a Fascist propagandlSt
There are no anti-FaSciStS in the COLUMBIA
Italian department, and Professor Arthur LlV-
ingston the foremost American scholar III the
field of Italian literature and culture, has peen
edged out of the Italian department into the
| department. of French. Thus, while a foreign
! Journalist of no scholarly pretenslonS he mas
been brought in as full professor OF Italian.
Nobody of sense or balance would demano
that Fascism should be excluded from IAN
hearing at Columbia university, in spite OF Its
divergence from American traditions. BY the
same token, however critics OF FasclSm shouIc
be allowed the same privileges and freedom
The Fascist Italian department at Columbia
is not willing to concede this. 1t accords nc
hospitality within its own confines to anti
Fascist scholars and it has refused to invite
eminent Italians critical of the Mussolnl re-
gime to lecture at Columbia. So long as 1t thus
! abuses the principles Of intellectual freedom If
this fashion, it can not fairly invoke them IN It's
own behalf.
One can we'll imagine what howl would &C
up if the Soviet government helped to furnish
| and support Karl Marx House at Columbia
university and if a prominent Moscow editor
were called to Columbia as full professor Of Rus
sian literature and culture. The present pro-
cedure of the Casa Italiana is precisely com
parable to this.