Mather Calls McCarran Remarks 'Typical'; Langer Wants Analysis of Current Trends

William L. Langer '15, Coolidge Professor of History, has called on historians to increase their contribution to the free world's struggle against communism.

The historian, Langer said, must never surrender to the journalist and radio commentator "the grave and inspiring task of providing his fellow men with bearings on the present as well as anchorage in the past."

Speaking at a business meeting of the American Historical Association in Washington, D.C., on December 29, Langer expressed the belief that the democracies have not been as effective as the communists in providing a clear idea of their aims and beliefs, saying: "In many parts of the world where communism has taken root and is spreading, there appears to be a general feeling that Marxism-Louinism-Stalinism provides a complete philosophy of history, a convincing analysis of modern society, and a persuasive program for the future.

"The free world, on the other hand, is unable to provide a statement...of the philosophy and program of liberal democracy and free enterprise."

"...we are touching here upon a serious problem, significant for our own culture as well as for the fate of the non-European world. We are all keenly aware of the fact that during the past half century the western world has been passing through a major crisis, a crisis so profound and severe that some consider it unprecedented in human annals."

Historians, Langer implied, can help improve the present state of affairs by providing a definition of the free world's philosophy, "comprehensive yet succint," and by delving deeper into current world-wide trends. Only by properly analyzing the present, Langer says, will we be able to draw up sensible plans for the future.

Kirtley F. Mather, professor of Geology, yesterday rebutted charges made by Senator Pat McCarran (D-Nevada) that Mather had used "catch phrases" stolen from the Communist "Daily Worker" in a recent St. Louis speech.

The speech was largely devoted to criticising the McCarran-Walter Internal Security and Immigration Act. Mather called McCarran's remarks "quite typical of a man who has the attributes of a demagogic politician" and said that he believed the so-called "catch phrases" were not only original but had been used by him "at least a year ago."

Speaking before the American Association for the Advancement of Science on December 28, Mather clatured that the two McCarran-sponsored laws had dropped "a red tape curtain" around the United States. This was an obvious stab at McCarran's controversial immigration act which compels everyone entering or leaving the United States to swear that he is not a communist, anarchist, fascist, criminal, prostitute, etc.

At the same meeting, Dr. Edward U. Condon, director of research for the Corning Glass Works and one of America's outstanding physicists, was installed as President of the Association for 1953. Thereupon the entire audience of scientists erupted into applance. Mather suggested that the ovation presumably stemmed from "the reaction of the scientists to the attack upon Dr. Condon's loyalty recently made by the House Committee on Un-American Activities, an-attack that was officially ignored by the council of the Association but which must have been in the minds of its members." McCarran is Chairman of the Un-American Activities Committee.

As his final blow, Mather reiterated his contention that "Senior McCarran's definition of a communist or communist sympathizer is anyone who disagrees with him."