Sanders Meeting Begins Fast Here To Protest War

The Harvard fast-in protest of the war in Vietnam began yesterday, with the Rev. Richard E. Mumma, of United Ministry, claiming that President Johnson and President Pusey should be fasting too.

Speaking before 500 students in Sanders Theatre, Mumma said that according to ancient tradition, the king fasts for his country's tragedy--"which means Johnson should be fasting and not the children of the land."

Mumma and Michael L. Walzer, associate professor of Government, both called for translation of outrage toward the war into effective political action and long-range commitment.

Walzer accused protestors of having "no stamina" for staying with unexciting political work. "The highest virtue today is not in radical rhetoric or in personal risk-taking, but in a commitment to the daily routine of political work."

Meetings of the fasters will be held tonight in several Harvard Houses and Radcliffe dormitories. Lawrence A. Blum, teaching fellow in Philosophy, said he planned to emphasize "personal commitment rather than anti-war emotion" at a Dunster meeting tonight.

Fast headquarters will be the former Radcliffe room in the Memorial Church basement. It will be open from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday and until 7 p.m. on Tuesday. A doctor will be present from 2 until 4 p.m. on Monday.

Organizers of the fast distributed black arm bands at the meeting. Blum said this was not to separate fasters, but to encourage them to speak to non-fasters about anti-war work.