SDA Plots Blows Upon Barnes Bill

Organized counterattack against the proposed Barnes Bill evolved from a conference of Students for Democratic Action members in the Liberal Union last week. Several Massachusetts chapters of the SDA will testify against the bill when it receives hearings before the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

The proposed bill provides for investigation of communist activities in public and private schools and colleges in the Commonwealth. These teachers who are convicted of communist activities will be subject to fine or imprisonment, and a penalty will be imposed on the institutions to which they belong.

If the Barnes Bill becomes law, the SDA anticipates a fully purge of all liberal teachers in Massachusetts and has stated its unqualified disapproval of any investigation of this kind which would jeopardize academic freedom.