Quincy Group Appeals to Parents For Support of Draft Resistance

The Harvard Draft Union is seeking to involve parents in its draft resistance work.

The Quincy House chapter of the Union has sent a letter to the parents of Quincy's 410 students asking for "moral, legal, and financial support" for its work.

Barry A. Margolin '70, undergraduate coordinator of the Union, said yesterday that if there is a "positive response" to the letter, other Houses will follow Quincy's lead.

Asks 'Opportunities'

The letter, written by Arthur N. Dion '68, head of the Quincy chapter, asks parents to "help us find opportunities for draft resisters to serve society in the business, academic, and professional communities."

"We ask the businessmen among you," it reads, "to pledge to hire draft resisters when they begin to return from jail. We ask the lawyers among you to pledge your legal aid. We ask all of you to pledge your generous financial suport."

The letter is dated March 26, but was mailed Wednesday. An insert, pointing to the recent peace overtures in Vietnam, says, "The war remains morally and politically indefensible; the draft is still a terrible reality. We continue to believe that opposition to the draft is an honest and direct response to the choices forced upon each of us."

"The immediacy of our choice no longer allows us the luxury of inaction," Dion wrote in the letter. "We must either fight in this war or we must fight against it."

The letter said that the Harvard Draft Union will "provide financial assistance and legal aid to those students whose fates will be decided in the courts." The Union will also help maintain contact with students who emigrate to Canada and with those who, although opposing the war, decide to enter the armed forces it said.

Dion said yesterday that he was hopefull of strong support from the parents in light of the response to a letter to Quincy parents soliciting funds for the House's recent production of The Cavern. That appeal raised more than $750, Laurence L. Brunton '69, its organizer, said yesterday.

The Quincy House chapter, Dion said, has been one of the most active since the Union was formed in February. Quincy has held two meetings on draft resistance and a special session in draft counselling, he said.