ATTACK ON ACADEMIC FREEDOM.

The Boston Transcript in its Thursday night's issue asked a fair question which is entitled to a fair answer. After quoting at some length Mr. Harold I. Laski's remarks to the Boston Policemen's Union in Fay Hall Wednesday night, as reported in the Boston Post, the Transcript says editorially:

"It is not too much to ask, as we believe, of the governing bodies of Harvard and Yale, whether the Harold I. Laski, who addressed last light's meeting at Fay Hall is an instructor in or lecturer upon American Government or Soviet Government. The parents of the sons entrusted to his tutelage are entitled to know. The followers from Maine to California of straight Americanism will, we think, insist upon knowing."

Ostensibly the Transcript is asking for information. As regards his work at Harvard, a glance at the Elective Pamphlet shows two undergraduate courses given by Mr. Laski--Political Theory and English History Since 1688, and two research courses in Recent Political Ideas. None of these concern themselves with American government, and treats the Soviet principle only as a part of the general history of political ideas. We do not agree with Mr. Laski's remarks before the Policemen's Union, nor do we believe his presence there good taste. But we feel equally that any attack on the right of any member of the Faculty to say what he wants is to be resented. The Transcript is attempting to bring pressure to bear on Harvard to remove one of its instructors by stirring up parents "from Maine to California." We venture an opinion that these same parents place more trust in Harvard University than in the remarks of the Boston Transcript.