EDITORS HERALD-CRIMSON. -My attention has been called to a communication in the HERALD-CRIMSON Tuesday morning, Oct. 9. As an officer of the Total Abstinence League I deem it my duty to answer some of the seeming misrepresentation in the communication alluded to. The character of the article, whether the writer intended or not, is calculated to prejudice members of the college, especially freshmen, from joining the League.

The writer asks, "Has it held meetings of any recent date to set forth its views ?" The last public meeting was held April 13, at that time the officers had good reason to expect that Wendell Phillips would address a public meeting before close of the term. Mr. Phillips, however, was unable to come for certain private reasons, and then the short evenings and near approach of final examinations made it seem to the officers of the League inexpedient to hold another public meeting.

There has been considerable trouble to get speakers of right stamp to address the students. The president, Mr. Cummings, has spent a large amount of time in trying to get desirable speakers.

The whole article in question is characterized by entire ignorance of what has been done by the society through its executive committee. The sneering remarked about, "lack of sincerity" is unjust and has no foundation to rest upon.

The figure of the society as "it sits with folded hands and tearful eyes awaiting the regeneration of the students" certainly is strongly drawn and pathetic, and should have awakened in the writer a kinder sympathy rather than a criticism so unfair and misleading.

It has been the aim of the society to spread its principles by having men who practiced these principles, and whom the mass of students were bound to respect, to come to Cambridge and address public meetings of the society. We do not wish to conduct ourselves as fanatics, but in a manly, dignified manner deport ourselves according to the principles we represent, so as to obtain at least the respect and good will of the majority of our fellow students.

If the writer of the article above alluded to would have one quarter as much patience as he apparently lacks in charity and in knowledge of his subject, he shall know yet whether we are alive or in a moribund state.

J. B. WILSON, Sec'y H. T. A. L.