Letters

The Economic Answer

To THE EDITOR:

The testimony of Charles David Blodgett sent in by Edwin Dreschel '36 on how to head off "communism" has its value, but is by no means a panacea for the control of Marxian dogma. By leaning our case for economic freedom upon the straws of theology we would be jumping from whatever raft of economic thought we possess onto a flotsam of loose sticks, many of which are already as waterlogged with fallacies as the ideologies confused in the teachings of Marx.

The writer is a volunteer teacher of basic economics in the field of adult education in addition to being a forester, whose business is helping the Almighty grow in the manner that makes them most useful to his fellow men the trees, which only God can make. He knows God from the personal experience of working with God. This experience makes him aware that the brush heaps of theology like the bushel of Holy Writ hide most of the little bits of spiritual truth that mankind has acquired during its progress upward to its present predominant position on earth. To expose these brush piles to the torch of Marxism is very like handing a box of matches to an arsonist.

To conquer Marxism, it must be met in the lists of political economy, where its fallacies can be exposed to the people who have been confused by them. Hiding behind hollow symbols of religion only weakens those who conceal the economic weakness of their thinking that way. To fit youths to dispose of Marxism, they must be armed with economic truth, for economic truth like any other truth has its own spiritual appeal. It is the outward appearance of new truth that gives Marxism its appeal to youths who are uninformed about its economic fallacies.

Much of our educational effort properly is directed to creating social consciousness. Uninformed regarding the basic economic facts of human society, those in whom our efforts to build a social conscience are most successful become those most exposed to the appeal to social conscience, which Marxism makes. The highly spiritual individuals often fall the hardest, just as maidens with the highest degree of uninformed modesty often are most susceptible to the wiles of the deceivers of womankind. The deceptions of theology are no protection against the deceptions of fallacious economic or political theory....

In the writer's college days at Dartmouth and four other institutions of higher learning, basic economics in the American tradition were hush-hush, and the struggle between mercantilism and its heir, Marxism, held the center of the stage. That battle still rages. It is no wonder that youths become confused when they find large corporations, which extol the virtues of a free economy, advocating that Marx's instrument for the destruction of free enterprise which he called Capitalism, the tyrannical income tax, should be replaced by consumption taxes of the same tyrannical type, against which the American colonies rebelled in their quest for economic liberty. We cannot expect, successfully, that youths, who see their elders submit tamely to larcenous tax systems built upon the recommendations of Marx, will not become con- fused when they are called before commissions supported by these types of grand larceny on the installment plan to explain how they became enamored of Marx's political dogmas.

I The American pattern of government on behalf of liberty already has been subverted for a long time by the very ones who now put on the most patriotism for the preservation of its emasculated remains and proceed to perpetrate further emasculations.

Harvard, Mass.

"The Only Reason"

To THE EDITOR:

Mr. Ireland's amazing letter in the January MAGAZINE prompts me to re-enter the argument about Dartmouth and intercollegiate football.

Mr. Ireland seems completely to have forgotten that Dartmouth is an educational institution. It does not appear to occur to him that intercollegiate football is utterly irrelevant to the purposes for which the College was established, and that higher education is the only reason for its existence.

He has put his argument in its true light when he compares the College with the Gillette Company. Mr. Ireland sees football as a "public relations medium" to propagandize and sell a product. Mr. Ireland unfortunately seems to have no idea what the product is that he is so worried about.

I have commented on Mr. Ireland's views because they appear to be shared by at least a few alumni. Another opinion on this matter is contained in a letter I wrote to President Dickey last fall, which follows:

"I am informed that a large number of alumni are criticizing you and McLaughry. Pay no attention to them.

"In fact, this seems to me to be ah excellent time to get rid of intercollegiate football at Dartmouth. Football in college should be recreation, not business, not the occasion for headhunting expeditions such as appear to have been "launched against you and McLaughry.

"Practically, this is the best .solution. Otherwise you will have to resign yourself to placating the headhunters for the rest of your life. If you move now to put football into its proper place, you will have one explosion and that will be all. I grant it will be a hard explosion to ride out, but you will be happier at the end of the voyage.

"And even more important than your personal happiness, Dartmouth will have a chance to bécome the center of liberal education that it has always threatened to become.

"I think you would have much more support than might be anticipated should you make) such a move. Most alumni are sensible enough to realize that intercollegiate football has nothing to do with education, and that it is an unremitting and almost always unsatisfactory process of proselytizing and putting last things first."

Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.

Cobwebs to Blame

To THE EDITOR:

I have read Mr. Edward Connery Lathem's reply to my letter citing an omission in his article of last October.

I'll abide, by the record that it was in March 1915 when Taft spoke in Hanover, and that he was then a Professor of Law at Yale and not a Supreme Court Justice. I'm certain he was an ex-President of the United States.

Whatever Taft was scheduled to discuss, his talk did run to the subject of preparedness as I recollect he advocated a large Army and Navy, comparing them to a police force. He emphasized the fact that when there are policemen on the corner trouble isn't likely to occur, and so, an ample Army and Navy would act as a deterrent to those countries bent on trouble.

With early March 1915 fixed as the date of Taft's visit to Hanover, I am inclined to believe that February 1917 was the time that John Sullivan (1918) and I entertained Taft at Toy Town Tavern, Winchendon, Mass., as we didn't "get good" on our banjos until 1916.

It is amazing how the cobwebs of some forty years will obscure dates, though, curiously, they never dim events.

Newton, Mass.

Death of Pal '51

To THE EDITOR:

I am sure you would want to be informed of the death of Pal, the devoted and wellknown Seeing Eye dog which belonged to Ted Glaser '51 and which received a special citation or diploma from Dartmouth at graduation that year for constant attendance and good leadership. Ted Glaser's wife writes in part thus of Pal:

"Pal tried so hard to work up until the last. Her poor tired heart began missing beats. She didn't quite make her eleventh birthday which would have been next month. But she saw Ted through perhaps the most vital part of his life, college, marriage, our first real home, the home she loved for she could run and be happy, our wonderful baby, she loved him even as we did. Also she saw Ted through his first job and helped him get settled in his new one."

This noble beast, so gentle, unselfish, loyal, and devoted, died on February 3rd or 4th in Poughkeepsie where Ted Glaser lives and serves as research mathematician for I. B.M. Their address is 45 Hillis Terrace, Poughkeepsie, New York.

Since Pal lived four years at Dartmouth I thought it fitting that notice be given by your magazine of her passing.

New York, N.Y.

Class Reports

To THE EDITOR:

Recently brought to the attention of Dartmouth's class secretaries through a communi- cation from the undersigned is the large collection of class reports of the colleges and universities of New England to be found on the shelves of the Library of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, 9 Ashburton Place, Boston, Mass. These reports, aside from their general interest, are much in demand for the information they give to persons engaged in genealogical and biographical research. Class reports from Dartmouth are fairly well represented there, but not enough. It is hoped that ail classes will see to it that their reports and other publications of genealogical value are donated for this good cause. It not only will increase the value of the Library, but will provide exceptional facilities for insuring the preservation and usefulness of these class reports for future generations.

The response to this communication thus far is satisfactory and many letters warmly endorsing the movement have been received. In sending class reports and other publications, please be sure to address them to the Librarian of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, 9 Ashburton Place, Boston 8, Mass. (not to the undersigned), and give full name and address of sender, in order that all donations may be properly acknowledged and suitably indexed in the files of the Library.

Boston, Mass.

More A bout Dogs

To THE EDITOR:

And speaking of dogs! How about the non-faculty ones like Lonnie whose real name is Smarty Pants of Laura Hill and who lives in the Charles Proctor house during the winter?

Lonnie can hardly wait to move from Windsor to his Hanover residence where he renews his friendships with the neighborhood canines. He seems to distribute his favors impartially and judiciously, let's say, as he goes south on certain mornings to call on Bucky Hayward and another day he travels north to find Judge Stone's collies. Nor does he miss the Outing Club where Miss Gill's pet is in residence....

Hanover, N.H.