The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-01-12
Liberal Viewpoint
BY DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

MATTHEW WOLL seems to be up to his old
| WI tricks again. A malicious campaign has
been started against liberal teachers. Such
| teachers are almost invariably the ones who
support labor unionism in their teachings and
public statements. They are also those most
inclined to favor the unionization of teachers.
It would have seemed that Mr.. Vol as vice
! president of the American Federation of Labor
would have been one Of the first valantly to
array himself on the side of the teachers now
under fire. Instead, he has thrown himself
heartily into the heresy hunt
For this he is called" in cogent and timely
fashion by DR.. Henry Lincille of the Teachers
Union in the following letter to William Green
president Of the American Federation of Labor
"DEAR Sir and Brother:
II L am writing to you to enter formal
! protest against the participation IF Matthew
| VOL a vice president Of the American Fedora
ton of Labor in the "heresy-hunting" activities
! of the Hearst newspapers, which are being di-
rected against liberal college teachers in some of
| the great universities.
ct is true, Mr.. Vol now speaks as acting
! president of the National Civic Federation an
organization that was active in the state of New
York in support Of the Infamous Lusk school
| laws, which organized labor itself helped to
| abolish in 1923.
! However, it is because Of Mr.. WoIl's respon-
sibility as leader in the labor movement that
organized union teachers are forced to bear the
! brunt of the discredt of his stand in opposition
| to the spirit Of academic freedom in the schools
| and colleges of this country.
| For several years teachers unions have been
! trying to further the organization of the college
! teachers who are friendly to organized labor. We
are obliged to state frankly at this time that the
| most serious obstcle we have met in this en-
! deavor is the current belief among educators
/ that MI VOL represents a reactionary and
fascist spirit; and because of his frequent public
| utterances of the character such spirit tends to
| be charged against all labor leadership, no mat
| ter how progressive it may actually be.
Since Mr.. VOL appears to be Indifferent to
! the need OF protecting academic freedom in the
! colleges even in behalf of the interests of or
gained labor, we believe that it is incumbent on
! enlightened labor leadership, of which your own
attitude toward intolerant Fascism is a we'll
known example, to protect the labor movement
from dlScredit in this emergency.
II bespeak your deep concern in this matter Of
making it known to the liberal and progressive
( elements throughout the country that organized
labor stands for freedom of conscience, freedom
| Of inquiry, and freedom Of speech, not only for
| the workers in industry, but also for the white
collar" workers in educational institutions with
out whose trained intelligence, scholarship, and
| friendly cooperation organization labor may
not be able to make effective Roadway against
the social forces aligned in opposition to our
movement"
"Fraternally yours,
HENRY r. LINVILLE,
President of the Teachers Union of New York
IT is to be hoped that President Green will
Il let this sink ill.," for the benefit of educa-
ton and labor alike. Teachers can enjoy no
real freedom, independence or initiative unless
they can present united front against the
heresy hunters through organization.
Labor can not afford to reject the affiiation
of the intellectualS. And if it continues to allow
the Matt VOLS to speak for it and to direct its
policy it will deserve the charge of Benjamin
Stolberg that its program is bankrupt" and its
leadership is "impotent.'