Taft Opposes Congress Red Professor Inquiry

Senator Robert A. Taft yesterday told the CRIMSON he would oppose any investigation of individual college professors by a Congressional committee.

In a statement from his Executive Secretary, Taft said he does not believe Congress should investigate communism in the college "unless you are investigating an organized activity of some sort."

Taft's Executive Secretary said the Senate Policy Committee would decide shortly which of several committees planning investigations would scrutinize the colleges.

The Senate Majority Leader said investigation of communism in colleges would be worthwhile "where you had organized activity."

He pointed out "in New York a teacher's union claimed to be dominated by the Communist party. That's a proper subject for investigation. I wouldn't think we ought to go into businesses or colleges or everywhere else and just say, 'He's a Communist professor' and throw him out.'"

Taft criticized the Department of Justice, saying that many investigations were undertaken by Congress because "the Executive Department was not doing its job."

Now, he maintained, many of these activities will be conducted by the Justice Department. Taft indicated he believes any investigation of suspected subversive individual teachers would come under the department's jurisdiction.

If someone felt a particular college faculty member should be investigated, the inquiry should be left up to the college itself, and not the government, Taft stated.

"I think that is clearly the attitude of the McCarran Committee. They are not concerned unless you have or can show an actual Communist organization operating." Taft stated.