In answer to a subpoena to appear before the Wood-Rankin Un-American Activities Committee, Harlow Shapley, Paine Professor of Practical Astronomy and director of the University Observatory, replied in a sharp statement yesterday charging the committee with interference in a political campaign and going beyond its jurisdiction.

Professor Shapley, who has been active in the congressional campaign of Martha Sharp against incumbent Joe Martin, received the subpoena yesterday from the Congressional Committee's counsel Ernie Adamson. The order demanded that Shapley deliver all records and files of the several political organizations with which he is affiliated.

Politics Charged

"The subpoena I received today on the eve of the elections from the Wood-Rankin Committee to Investigate Un-American Activities, is an obvious political maneuver to discredit the activities of all independent voters in this election, particularly in the contest between Martha Sharpe and Joseph Martin," Shapley declared when he had seen the subpoena.

"Last week I was visited by Ernie Adamson, counsel for the Wood-Rankin committee, who questioned me regarding contributions to Mrs. Sharp's campaign by the Massachusetts Independent Citizens Committee of the Arts Sciences, and Professions. I promised Mr. Adamson a reply and subsequently wrote to inform him that all information on any campaign expenditure of he Massachusetts ICCASP and all other chapters of ICCASP would be filed with the committee on campaign expenditures, which is the authorized committee established by Congress to receive this information.

Adamson Sent Subpoena

"I then received a letter from Mr. Adamson requesting information on 'secret' systems of campaign expenditures in connection with CIO-PAC, National Citizens PAC and ICCASP. Today I was served with a subpoena to appear before the Wood-Rankin committee, and produce at that time all files, memoranda, and records related to ICCASP, the joint anti-fascist refugee committee, CIO-PAC and NCPAC."

"I am a sponsor but not a member of the governing body of the joint anti-fascist refugee committee. Therefore, I am led to the conclusion that the subpoena has been issued as an attack against the ICCASP and that the other organizations have been brought in merely to confuse the issue.

"According to the resolution under which it was created the Wood-Rankin Committee has no authority to investigate the campaign expenditures. I was amazed that any committee of the House of Representatives in this way oversteps its jurisdiction in order to play partisan politics," Professor Shapley con- cluded.

Wednesday or Thursday are the days named on which he must appear before the Committee and he will presumably comply with the order. The Wood-Rankin Committee is the heir of the Old Dies Committee and has been active this last summer in investigating left-wing organizations