THERE WERE ENORMOUS piles of trash along Boylston St. Monday morning, the remnants of a Sunday Oktoberfest celebration arranged by Harvard Square businessmen. The merchants had asked city permission to shut off the street; it was granted without debate. And if there was a lot of litter, it was not too high a price to pay for a pleasant celebration. Not only that, the businesses that line Boylston St. even made some money.

The cooperation that marked the Oktoberfest venture, though, faded when it was the city that asked a favor. Several weeks ago, city councilor Alfred E. Vellucci proposed renaming Boylston St. in honor of slain president John F. Kennedy '40. In part, his move was a reaction to rumors that Harvard was downplaying the name of the late president in relation to the government school. But still, his reasoning was sound; Kennedy was a politician much beloved in this city; he represented it in Congress for six years; he went to school here, and lived here, and now along Boylston St. there is a school that bears his name. And so--also bearing in mind that Boston has a Boylston St.--his idea was quickly adopted by the council.

A week later, though, much had changed. The businesses along Boylston St. were up in arms; if the proposal went through, they would--brace yourself--have to get new stationery. As a result of their anguished protests, the council has temporarily backed off, scheduling a hearing. At that time, the businesses, which grow rich in their prominent location, should agree that a new box of envelopes is not too high a price to pay in honor of Kennedy. And the council should give in only so far as to allow a two-month phase-in period, during which a sign would proclaim the thoroughfare "Kennedy St., formerly Boylston St."

We hope the businessmen show grace in this situation, so that when next October they ask the community's leave to block off a street it too can show grace--and close down a boulevard named for our late president.