Speculation over Honoraries Grows; Big Crime Contest Open to Students

Every year as the workmen in the Yard hurry to finish the Tercentenary Theatre for Commencement exercises, speculation begins over the awarding of Harvard's Honorary Degrees. Traditionally one of the most tightly kept secrets in the University, the honorary degrees are invariably the CRIMSON'S favorite subject for "informed" guessing.

The fact that year after year the CRIMSON is in error on almost all its predictions does not dampen the enthusiasm which attends this yellow journalistic ritual, and again this year other members of the Harvard community may try to pin the tail on the donkey. The CRIMSON will once more hold its oft-acclaimed Name the Honoraries Contest, and this spring the prize will be a slightly used copy of the CRIMSON Telephone Directory--brought up to date by numerous corrections.

CRIMSON Names Candidates

To help get the ball rolling, the CRIMSON has a flock of candidates who must be placed in the "sure thing" category. Francis Russell, Ambassador to New Zealand, will be in Cambridge on June 11 and is regarded as practically a certain choice for an honorary. Likewise, J. N. Douglas Bush, Gurney Professor of English Literature, one of the foremost scholars in the country, will probably receive a degree.

Werner W. Jaeger, University Professor, who retires next month after many years of brilliant work in the classics, and Ernest F. Gombrich, visiting professor of Fine Arts and During Lawrence Professor of the History of Art at London University, are two more high on the list of prospectives.

As a gesture of good will and greeting, the University will also probably bestow an honorary upon Mrs. Mary I. Bunting, Dean of Students at Rutgers University. The CRIMSON learned several days ago from very reliable sources that Mrs. Bunting will probably become the next president of Radcliffe College, succeeding Wilbur K. Jordan. Jordan, himself, is also a strong possibility for an honorary.

In music, both Samuel Barber and Carlos Chavez, Charles Eliot Norton Professor of Poetry, are strong candidates, and in the money-raising department--known officially as distinguished service to the University--H. Irving Pratt '26, the new Program Director, and a number of big givers are in the running.

Edwin C. Kemble, professor of Physics, emeritus, whose distinguished work in his field and in General Education made him one of the most invaluable men on the Faculty, could well receive an honorary, and Tsung Dao Lee, professor of Physics at Columbia, Francis E. Low, Morris Loeb Lecturer on Physics and professor of Physics at M.I.T., and Robert B. Woodward, professor of Chemistry, who is rumored to be near the completion of the synthesis of chlorophyll, are also candidates for the degree in science which the University traditionaly awards.

Harry Truman Suggested

For years, the CRIMSON has stated definitely that former President Harry S. Truman will receive an honorary, and this year there will be no change. Truman's time will come--Oxford has already climbed aboard the rapidly accelerating HST bandwagon--and it could well be that this June will see the great man in Harvard Yard.