Sometimes the results desired are sought through the impositions of teacher's oaths. Sometimes by more direct methods, but the outcome is always the same, i.e., the assignment to busy-bodies, often moronic in mentality, of the power to terrorize able and honest teachers, with the ultimate ruin of the morale of the teaching force. Few teachers would object to taking a loyalty oath if other citizens did the same, especially editors, preachers, radio speakers and the directors of movies, all of whom exercise a far more direct and potentially corrosive influence on public opinion. But as now applied the oaths inevitably reflect upon the character of the teaching profession. Moreover, their sponsors can hardly hope thus to accomplish their real purpose, for supposing that rarest of animals, a disloyal teacher, no oath is going to prevent his making his real views felt."
Other Speakers
In addition to those mentioned above, other speakers on the afternoon program were: Stanley Baldwin, Chancellor of Cambridge University, from England via shortwave; Learned Hand '93, president of the Alumni Association; Alexander Dunlop Lindsay, Master of Balliol and vice-Chancellor of Oxford University; and George Russell Agassiz '84, president of the Board of Overseers.
Quoting from Mr. Agassiz: "What the world most needs today is the wisdom to apply its knowledge wisely; in the sane realization and full acceptance of the fact that Nature is 'a Divinity that shapes our ends, rough hew them how we may.'"
Just before the final singing of "Fair Harvard," President Conant made the adjournment until the year 2036. Praising Jerome D. Greene '96 for his gigantic and successful organization of the Tercentenary proceedings, he went on to quote once more President Quincy's prophecy of 1836:
"'A century will soon roll away and there will be another clan-gathering of the sons of Harvard. They will come rushing as it were on the wings of the wind from every quarter of our land!' Here he interpolated 'every quarter of the globe.'"
And in conclusion: "Mr. President, I move that this assembly of the alumni be adjourned to meet at this place on the 18th of September, 2036."
DORGAN DEPLORES HARVARD'S ATTITUDE TOWARD OATH BILL
The unmerciful buffeting received by the Oath Bill during the Tercentenary Days did not go unbeeded by its sponsor and champion, Representative Thomas Dorgan of Dorchester.
"Harvard is tolerant when a thing pleases them, but when it does not please them, it is different," summed up his opinion of the University's policy and prefaced his remarks. "It would be much better if Harvard would try to solve some problem to get the unemployed back to work than to be seeking the truth.
"I would certainly appreciate it if President Conant would get some of intolerant professors to seek the truth, whether or not the Teachers Oath takes away fundamental rights. The truth will tell that it does not.
"The whole story is that Harvard, which is positively controlled by the big interests, is getting away with it and has been for a long time.
"Wake up Harvard and cut out the clowning and talk about the most serious things in life, such as unemployment and taxation. Oh, no, Dear Harvard would not talk on that because the rank and file might then seek the 'truth.'"