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Professors Hit Red Bill, Attack Dever's Signing

Beer Doubts Constitutionality, Howe Says Measure Rushed With No Chance to Protest

Five professors yesterday attacked the anti-subversive bill which Governor Dever secretly signed List Saturday night. Samuel H. Beer, associate professor of Government; Mark DeWolfe Howo '28, professor of Law; Zachariah Chafee, Jr. University Professor; Kirtley Mather, professor of Geology; and Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. '38, associate professor of History, were in agreement in condemning both the bill and Dever's action in signing it.

Beer told the CRIMSON. "I think it is very possibly unconstitutional and I think in general that it is a great pity. I'm disgusted and indignant that the Governor should have signed it. He let down both the liberal voters and the Commonwealth."

Beer then discussed several features of the bill. One clause says that any person who rents an auditorium to a subversive organization is liable to penalties. Beer stressed the fact that except for the Communist party, which is now outlawed by the act, the definition of a subversive organization is not clear.

Auditorium Clause

Because of the time element involved, Beer pointed out, the owner of a hall may not bother to check thoroughly into the nature of groups which request use of his building, and thereby refuse many legitimate organizations.

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Also, Beer continued, although the bill provides a form of judicial procedure before an organization can be penalized, "I gather that the procedure does not necessitate that the accused organization be represented at the hearings."

"Therefore, it is possible for an organization to be labelled subversive without representation before the court."

"However," he said, "This is not as bad a bill as the other bills of its kind that have been offered to the legislature."

"But," Beer concluded, "None of the bills I have seen have any necessity. None of them really deal with the genuine Communist danger. They're pure demagogy aimed at trying to get votes and hitting the headlines. They have no utility value or need at all."

Administration Weakness

Citing Dever's action. Howe, who supported the Governor in the last elections, said "I'm awfully mad."

"It's a shocking sign of the weakness of the Democratic administration. Governor Dever has let us down frightfully, not only in letting the bill become law, but in signing it so hastily without giving an opportunity to people to present their views."

"I shall certainly never support Governor Dever for public office again."

DUNSTER vs. BERKELEY

Dunster's fourth-place football team will have a tough time at 2 p.m. this afternoon against Yale's Berkeley College. Berkeley was second only to champion Calhoun in North League play in New Haven. Furthermore, Berkeley sports Yale's best intramural passer in the person of Dick Reid. The Mitres also have a very strong line.

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