Evening star., 1953-10-09
Urged .
10 Probe Selves.
For Subversiyes
Education Council
Considers Proposal
At Sessions Here
By james 6. Deone


Creation by the Nations
schools and colleges of their own
inveStigative agency to deal with
Communists was suggested to q
group of educators today.
The idea was proposed by Car
ter Davidson. president of Union
College, in New York State, to
a discussion group of the Ameri-
can Council on Education. Mr..
Davidson suggested the agency
as an alternative to congress
sional Investigations.
The educators-some of whom
seemed to like the idea-decided
to pass 1t along to the council
with a recommendation for q
special study.
Council Chairman Robert L.
StearnS said formal action might
be taken on the subject at q
business session this afternoon.
The council. representing nearly
1000 institutions and organiza-
tions, is concluding it's seth an
nual meeting at the Hotel
Statler today.
Inquiries Debated.
Mr.. Davidson'S proposal was
part of a suggested policy state
ment which grew out of a debate
on congressional inquiries into
campus communism.
The statement declared that
many of the congressional in
quirieS have involved unfortu-
nate publicity and public mis-
understanding. and suggested
that Investigations ought to be
conducted by the universities
themselves.
Mr.. Davidson suggested that
the council and other leading
educational organizations join
forces in a study leading to the
establishment of a central edu-
cational Investigations service
employing trained men.
The service would cooperate
with law-enforcement authorities
in conducting Investigations, but
the results would be turned over
to faculty members and trustees
for appropriate action.
Endorsement Withheld.
A discussion group of some so
educators talked for about an
hour and half and finally de-
cided not to give it formal in
dorsenlent but merely to report
on the discussion to the full
council.
James McCaskill of the Ma
tional Education Association de-
clared the group should not
approve any congressional in
vestigating committee. Warming
that congressional inquiries
threaten to establish Federal
control over education, he said:
"The incidence of communism
among professors is less than
the incidence of embezzlement
among bankers"
Prof. Kirtley Mather Of Har-
ward criticized the Jenner COM
mittee, declaring it's sole pur-
pose was ito bring out into the
public gaze individuals who could
there be barbecued because they
invoked the protection of the
Fifth Amendment"
Excuse Party Membership.
Ralph E. Himstead, general
secretary of the American AS
sociation of University Profess
sors, asserted that party MEM
bership. should not be regarded
as automatic grounds for dis
missal of a college teacher.
MANY college teachers" Mr..
Himstead declared, "are terribly
absentminded. They might not
take the trouble to formally
resign"
This statement brought a re-
buke from another professor,
who declared that he wasn't
much in sympathy with such
observation-disclosures.
Arthur S. Adams, council pres
ident, in an address last night,
said the council has been help
ing institutions and school sys-
TENS to work out procedures for
dealing with subversive in
fluences
He said the council has con-
centrated on giving information
and stimulating discussion. It
has been urged both to dcnounce
congressional Investigations and
to welcome them, he said.
Delegates yesterday heard a
sharp debate on the merits Of
congressional inquiries.
Harry D. Gideonse, president
of Brooklyn College, charged
that colleges are not prepared
to do adequate policing. He
described congressional investi-
cations as in some cases dis
tinctly helpful"
Because many educational
institutions lack investigative
facilities and power to subpoena
witnesses there is often no way
except legislative inquiries to
smoke suspects out, DR.. Gide-
onse asserted.
The Brooklyn educator sharp
ly criticized the methods of SEN
ator Mccarthy. Republican, Of
Wisconsin, terming them "a
wholly irresponsible kind of eff
fort, sometimes blatantly dema.
gogical."
Damage Is Charged.
William T. Laprade. chairman
of the committee on academic
freedom and tenure of the Amer
ican Association of University
Professors, asserted. h owever.
that Congress and Legislatures
always do damage"
Hollis F. Price, president of LIE
Moyne College, Memphis, Tenn,
said anti Communist investiga-
tions have been operating Ito