RES PUBLICA

With the approach of the presidential election, Harvard takes on a more fevered appearance. Buttons of various sizes and hues appear. Meetings of political groups, assemblies, debates, all fill the air with their cries and cheers. Everywhere can be heard political discussion, opinion, creed, code or cant. Statistics; proving either of two sides, are called into play by the clever. Rumor and scandal, easy to remember and difficult to refute, are used by the unscrupulous. The whole college is caught up in the maelstrom of political interest and factional discussion. Harvard has awakened to the fact that there is a presidential election on November third, and November third is only five days off.

Yet, underneath the circus arua, the college has felt the grip of both national and local politics. In a land of 120,000,000, many millions are bound to vote on impression--snap judgment. Other millions, more mature, vote on a combination of prejudice and reason. It cannot be denied that men, trained to think and observe while in the universities, will later turn out to be the thinking voters of the country. Habits of reason and logic formed in college are not lost in later life, but rather tend to influence the owner to careful and restrained opinion in place of blind and spiteful off-hand judgment.

Harvard has already displayed a great and impressive interest in the election, not only with reference to the presidential appointment but as well in regard to the senatorial and gubernatorial candidates in the state. Such a role cannot be too highly praised, either when the college is represented as a group or individually. Harvard graduates and under-graduates should and must take an even greater part in the political activities of the state and country. If and when they do, they will prove an asset both to the University and to the system of education under which they were fostered.