Alberg Charged With Introducing HYRC Factions

Two members of the executive committee of the Harvard Young Republican Club yesterday charged club president Tom A. Alberg '62 with "dictatorial methods" and with introducing "factionalism into an atmosphere of harmony."

Richard A. Derham '62 and Douglas C. Salmond '62 further accused Alberg of "using his position in the club to advance his personal interests in national Young Republican politics." Alberg labelled the charges "empty."

The accusations came at a meeting of the executive committee Tuesday to consider Alberg's proposed ten-man slate of Club delegates to the Massachusetts Council of Young Republican Clubs on April 15. The list omitted two-time delegate Howard J. Phillips '62. Phillips had been "front-runner" for chairman of the state Council and was opposed to Alberg's prospective candidacy for Chairman of the College Service Committee of the National Young Republican Federation.

The Committee needed 11 roll-call votes before rejecting by a 6-6 vote a motion to reconsider the slate, thus passing it. Salmond claimed that the delegation consisted of Alberg's "flunkies," that the members of the executive committee who voted with Alberg "owe their positions to him," and "there is no doubt in my mind" that a general meeting of the Club would elect Phillips to the delegation.

Factionalism Divides Club

Factionalism has been a growing threat to club harmony, Derham stated, "but this is the first time it has come out into the open." He cited the closeness of the executive commitee's votes as evidence of a general split within the club as a whole.

"If there is factionalism," Alberg retaliated, "there are only two people in the faction. The fact that only two of the 13 executive committee members support their charge speaks for itself." Members of the committee who voted against the slate, he continued, have already lost interest in the "extreme" claims of the two dissidents.

Delegates were chosen for the contributions they had made to the club," Alberg declared. "Eight of them are presently members of the executive committee and two are past members."