THE PRESIDENT'S RADIO SPEECH

American university presidents have often utilized the strength of their position to give special significance to their public utterances and gain thereby national notoriety. The community listened to a president's words and valued them highly merely because he happened to be the head of an institution of learning. It made no difference whether he was especially qualified to deliver his particular judgment. In this way, as the personal prominence of many college presidents increased, their real worth diminished.

President Lowell has always shunned publicity; his public speeches on non-educational subjects have been limited. In making his debut over the radio last night he did not break away from his established custom. It was not so much as President of Harvard, but rather as Professor Lowell of the Government Department that he was speaking. As such his opinions demand wide recognition since there are few who will challenge his knowledge of world governmental affairs. In asking that the United States and the League of Nations cooperate in effecting an economic boycott on Japan he gave his assenting vote to a sentiment which it is hoped will gain rapid momentum.