Political Clubs Accuse Thomson of Meddling

Five college organization spokesmen last night sharply attacked John R. Thomson '57, president of the Young Republican Club for allegedly attempting to subvert the Political Forum. They charged that he caused the Forum's latest scheduled speaker, Sen. Styles Bridges (Rep-N.H.) to cancel his March 1st talk.

This is the second time that Thomson, an outspoken foe of the Forum, has been under fire for tampering with Forum speakers. In November, he admitted urging Sen. John Bricker (Rep.-Ohio) not to address the Forum.

Last night, Thomson refused to comment on the charges.

Bridges, himself, after having expressed a desire in January to William C. Brady, past president of the Conservative Club, to speak before the Forum, told Brady this week that he now would speak only before the HYRC and the HCC.

When asked why he suddenly changed his speaking plans, Bridges referred the CRIMSON to Donald T. Botswick, chairman of the Young Republican Speaker's Bureau in Washington.

In Touch with Thomson

Botswick said he had received no direct message from Thomson concerning the Bridges speech, but admitted that "somebody at Harvard" had been in touch with him. "I was approached by one of Harvard's Republican alumni who was in liaison, I imagine, with Thomson," Botswick added.

Botswick, the Forum members said, asked Bridges not to appear under the auspices of the Forum. "Anyone would get clobbered before the Forum by liberals asking loaded questions," Botswick explained. In November, Thomson said that if Bricker appeared before the Forum, he would find the clubs "stacked greatly against him."

When told the Forum consisted of many groups which were not liberal, Botswick said the Conservative Club was all right, but "we have complaints about the other organizations."

Helping out Thomson

"If any such group wanted help," he added, "it would be better to work with John Thomson. Our function is that when Republican organizations want speakers we do our best to provide them.

"I will do anything I can to help out John Thomson," he continued. "Anything Thomson wants I will do my best to get for him. If John wanted Bridges at Harvard, I could prevail on the Senator to go there."

By last night, five of the nine Forum groups had issued statements. The others indicated that they might have something to say tomorrow. Those who attacked Thomson were the Liberal Union, the Young Democrats, the UN Council, the World Federalists, and Debate Council.

"John Thomson is a first class bird dog; furthermore he is an idiot. Contending that Republican speakers would be dragged over the coals by a left wing organization goes against the fact that the Forum has had trouble finding members to oppose the resolution against recognition of Red China," charged George M. Fredrickson '56, past president of the Harvard Debate Council.

David A. Titus '56, former president of the UN Council, said, "The Republican National Committee, in calling off Bridges, is relying on unreliable sources. It looks to me like a case of the tail wagging the dog if a member of the HYRC could have the power to call off Bridges."

"It is clear that the methods used by John Thomson and others of his sort to defeat the Political Forum have been unquestionably underhanded," stated Charles B. Smith '58, president of the World Federalists. "The only results which he can expect from his actions will be a general discrediting of the good name of the HYRC.