Anti-Council Bloc Junks Demands for Abolition

The somewhat amorphous student group of 50 men which has been circulating petitions to abolish the Student Council last night decided at its first organiational meeting in Adams House that it wasn't so sure about abolition after all.

It emerged from its meeting at 11:35 p.m. with a name, The Temporary Committee of the Last Minute Men; a chairman, Edward H. Cass '51; a claim of 1500 names on its petitions; and a platform.

The significant plank in the platform was a disavowal of the group's initial intention to abolish the Council. A "genuine and representative Student Council, which will speak for the students and not dictate to them" is the new object of the committee.

"Constructive Purpose"

W. E. W. Gowen '51, a spokesman for the committee, insisted that the Last Minute Men had more than a destructive purpose in mind. "We admit we"ve used the sensation of the rules issue to bring this whole business before the students," he said. "But our purpose has been constructive. We want to awaken the students to reform the Council."

A statement by the committee claimed it had rounded up almost 1500 signatures on its petitions. These names, it said, constitute a "clear mandate . . . for a more representative a body for the undergraduates of Harvard."

Council Replies

Edward F. Burke '50, president of the Council, and Roy M. Goodman '51, treasurer of the Council, late last night issued a statement replying to the charges against the Council:

"To say that the Council is unrepresentative when the men on it were elected from every class and House in the College is absurd. As to the charge of dictating, there has not been one instance in the Council's history in which it has dictated anything to anybody. This is the worst smear campaign in the College's recent history.

"It is apparently being run by a small group of irresponsible men who, by their irrational approach, threaten serious injury to the whole College. The question of rules and regulations must and shall be settled calmly and rationally."

Following last night's meeting, Cass issued a call for recruits for his committee. He announced that there would be another organizational meeting for all men interested in Lowell 0-35 at 10:15 p.m. tonight.