The Inquiry

(Ed. Note--The Crimson does not necessarily endorse opinions expressed in printed communications. No attention will be paid to anonymous letters and only under special conditions, at the request of the writer will names be withheld.)

To the Editor of the CRIMSON:

In unmistakable terms, President Hoover has recently raised the question whether democracy can act speedily enough to save itself. If it can, it will be only by reason of the existence of an informed and alert public opinion. A group of undergraduates, persuaded of the importance of considering the perplexing problems of our times with an inquiring attitude, has been brought together during the last week to form the Harvard Inquiry. As the first published accounts of it were slightly misleading, it will not be amiss to take this occasion to clarify the origins, aims, and program of the Inquiry.

Although a few of its first sponsors are among the members of the Liberal Club who have been called "dissenters", the members of the Inquiry already number many more who have never been connected with the Liberal Club. Furthermore, it is the intention of the organizers to keep the two entirely separate. The Liberal Club exists to champion the civic virtues of free speech and academic freedom, to esponse unpopular causes, and to dramatize occasional controversial issues as they arise. The Inquiry, however, is being formed to investigate the political and economic conditions which call for change, to seek understanding rather than action, to discuss rather than demonstrate. It is true that there will be some resemblance in the program of the two groups, but this is more superficial than real. The Inquiry proposes to raise one question of general significance each year and to take it up from as many aspects as there are qualified speakers available to describe its main contours. The Liberal Club program is ordinarily more diversified.

Anyone who is interested in knowing more about the Harvard Inquiry is asked to get in touch with M. F. English, Eliot House I-52, W. S. Salant, Winthrop C-42, or myself at Dunster House G-21. John De Witt Norton '34.