The Mail

To the Editors of the Crimson:

Please accept my congratulations on your mature, clear-sighted editorial of last Friday. Intellectuals must recognize, despite any differences they may have with his program, that "by questioning the omniscience of the policy-makers of the moment, Mr. Wallace is fulfilling one of the most valuable functions in our society."

But, if Henry Wallace is a modern Socratic "gadfly" stirring Americans to reconsider their hastily accepted attitudes, he, like Socrates, calls as well for practical action to develop a progressive social policy. For those who argue about the validity of a position in political affairs, a point arises where concrete action becomes necessary-that is, there is a close relationship between political theory and practical politics.

Last Thursday afternoon a group of Harvard and Radcliffe students held an informal reception for Robert W. Kenney, the former Attorney General of California. As head of the California Democrats for Wallace, Mr. Kenney is working for the practical achievement of Mr. Wallace's position. The reception ended as a "bull session" on the prospects for progressive political activity in America, especially among students.

Most significant was the attitude of student leaders present concerning political work at Harvard. There has been a marked tendency recently to "atomize" the progressive elements at the University into relatively small groups along what is often a rather abstruse line of division. It would have been quite simple to increase the already complex alphabetic conglomeration at the reception by creating a new political organization with more meetings for the already harassed progressive students to attend. Something much more reasonable was quite generally agreed upon, namely the importance of concentrating on issues and campaigns rather than organizational forms.

For example, one member of the Harvard Liberal Union indicated that his organization is interested in working in the forthcoming Cambridge community elections in behalf of the Reverends Hughes and Stokes, two Negro ministers who are running for school committee and city council, and who already have amassed considerable progressive and labor support in Cambridge. In this kind of campaign all Harvard progressives can cooperate with the H.L.U., crossing organizational lines and setting long range differences aside out of respect for the immediate issue. Perhaps there are more important questions facing Harvard students, but it would be heartening to see a unified liberal student body help guarantee the election of these candidates. Calvin J. Goodman '50.