Faculty Stirs Against Local Loyalty Investigation Move

Faculty reaction stirred last nigh against a bill filed yesterday by State Attorney General Clarence A. Barnes in the Legislature calling for the elimination of Communism from the Massachusetts Public School system.

The newest Barnes Bill-his name was attached last fall to legislation restricting labor unions--was put in the same class as the activities of the House un-American Activities Committee by Earnest A. Hooton, professor of Anthropology.

Any effort to screen Communists from the pedagogic profession or to weed out alleged disloyalty was branded "a witch hunt" by the famous anthropologist, "which might take on political and partisan coloration."

Publicity from Politics

"Minor political figures, as in the Washington Hollywood probe," elaborated Hooton, "try to capitalize on the publicity value of the personalities they examine at the expense of the public." He put himself on the record as opposed to Communism, but did not believe that "investigations" were the best method of registering opposition.

Similar misgivings were expressed by Pitirim A. Sorokin, professor of Sociology. "Such a bill, if enacted, would do only harm," he declared. "It would put a halo of martyrdom around the Communist cause and eventually strengthen it."

Positive action against Communist doctrine, Sorokin thought, should take the form of a vigorous battle of ideas, so that undecided middle of the readers "could see the superiority of our native ideals by direct comparison."

Futile as Teachers' Oath

"As futile as the old Teachers Allegiance Oath," was professor of Geology Kirtley F. Mather's description of the Barnes proposals. In 1935 a law was passed requiring teachers to sign endorsements of the U. S. Constitution. Mather, terming it "coercion" at the time, refused to sign.