Struik Denies D.A.'s Accusations Of Plotting Against Government

Dirk Jan Struik, suspended M.I.T. professor of Mathematics, denied yesterday charges made in a bill of particulars filed by the District Attorney Tuesday that he conspired to overthrow the governments of the United States and Massachusetts by force and violence.

At a press conference held at his home, Struik, under indictment for conspiracy, said "it is true that I have lectured and written on Marxist subjects, but it is not true that I have advocated the overthrow of the government by force and violence."

The District Attorney contended in the bill of particulars that Struik, with Herbert A. Winner, an advertising executive also under indictment, plotted revolution while teaching at the Samuel Adams School for Social Studies. The District Attorney charged that Struik allegedly said "the time for the revolution would take place in time of war between the United States and the Soviet Union or in time of heavy depression."

No Overt Acts

The State's charges were based mainly on testimony supplied by Herbert A. Philbrick, former F.B.I. undercover agent, and on statements that Struik made or articles he had written. No evidence was given of direct overt acts in the bill of particulars.

Struik denied the charge that he had said in Cambridge that the workers of the world should be armed to carry out a revolution. "The charge is not only untrue, but it is an intellectual insult," he stated. "I have never said it and I am not going to say it. I believe in the Constitution of the United States and I believe that the people can accomplish any reforms they need through the Constitution."

Later in the conference, he quoted from Article 7 of the Massachusetts Constitution, which says: "The people alone have the uncontestable and unalienable right to institute government and to alter or totally change the government when safety, happiness, and prosperity require it." Pointing out that not only he, but the District Attorney too has taken an oath under the Constitution, he said that he will always stand for it, but "never go beyond it."

Marxist, Not Communist

Struik has consistently maintained that he is a "Marxist," not a "Communist," although he says that he is "very sympathetic to the Communist party." He defines Marxism as a world movement, Communism as a political party.

"I cannot prophesy the future," he said, "but I think that Socialism will some day come to the United States. When it does, I think it will strengthen the progressive and the peace movement here."