HARVARD TEACHERS' UNION WILL NOT ACT IN DISPUTE

Although its members have unanimously registered themselves as "unconditionally opposed" to expulsion of any locals from the American Federation of Teachers, Harvard's branch of the Teachers' Union will take no action as a group on the recent revocation of three charters by the Executive Committee of the Federation.

The Harvard local sent a telegram to the Executive Committee before its meeting in Chicago a week ago protesting the plans for the expulsion of three member unions, two in New York and one in Philadelphia, Francis O. Matthiessen, associate professor of History and Literature and president of the union revealed.

Political Juggling

Although revoking the charters, the Executive Committee has put the question up to the 40,000 members of the Federation through a referendum, to be conducted this spring. This is a bit of political juggling by the Committee, for a simple majority of members will uphold their decision, whereas, if the question were brought up at the annual convention this summer, a two-thirds majority would be required to oust the three unions.

The local can do nothing as a unit, but each of the 100 members will got one vote in the referendum. It is likely that a wide majority of the membership of the union will vote against the decision of the Federation executives and in favor of the three contested unions, judging from the telegram which was sent to the Chicago meeting.

The three unions, two of which are composed of high school and one of college teachers, were accused by the Committee of opposing democracy in education. The real reason for the action that was taken, however, seems to be that the conservative leaders of the Federation, almost ousted from power after a bitter battle over policy last summer, are trying to get rid of all the opposition radical elements in the Federation. New York has always been the center of the leftish side of the Federation.

The text of the Harvard local's telegram follows:

"We are unconditionally opposed to the expulsion of any locals before the convention next summer. We take this stand in the interest of full democratic procedure and of unity and effective usefulness for the union and regardless of the issues in the present dispute."