Eisenhower & the Professors
Sir:
The letter of Gordon Ferric Hull, professor emeritus of physics, Dartmouth College, which appeared in your July 28 issue, amazes me.
Professor Hull believes General Eisenhower's appointment at Columbia University will make Communists out of educators. Does he believe all educators to be without intelligence ? Does he not realize that Communism means an end to academic freedom? . . .
I believe Professor Hull to be entirely wrong. More men like General "Ike" in executive positions would probably eliminate most Communists from our teaching staffs.
GEO. C. BARNES JR.
Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering Virginia Polytechnic Institute Blacksburg, Va.
Sir:
Let Reader Hull and the obscure educators of America for whom he speaks take heart at General Eisenhower's appointment. When American universities become such big business that only the leader of the world's greatest concentration of men and mechanical might is fit to head one of them, the evil is not a "grotesque choice" but the complacence of the educators who have fostered or countenanced such a growth. . . .
Even now a professor emeritus, certainly one who is a professor of physics, should not despair. Every indication warns that in the impending World War III only those who have mastered "the intricacies of research" can become the directors of physical might. Then will the obscure have their recognition, reward and revenge in destroying the humanity they have labored in obscurity to serve. Reader Hull, like any good scientist, must realize that the distant goal has not been made unattainable by the latest development. He and the rest to whom the presidency of Columbia University was the ultimate need merely and slightly to shift their aim.
WILLIAM C. STOKOE JR.
Assistant Professor of English Wells College Aurora, N.Y.
That Cover
Sir:
Your story on Hedda Hopper (TIME, July 28) was a titillating yarn, but what stopped me in my tracks was the cover portrait of Hedda, complete with headgear composed of the implements of her trade.
Back in 1938, I came upon Miss Hopper during one of my trips to Hollywood. She was playing in a Paramount picture, Thanks for the Memory, and agonizing through her first columns. Even at that time, as you can see from the enclosed picture, Hedda's typewriter had gone to her head. . . .
EDITH LINDEMAN Amusement Editor Times-Dispatch Richmond, Va.
Sir:
LOVE THAT COVER. THOSE CRACKS. THAT MAGAZINE. YOU'RE THE TOPS. NO TIME ON MY HANDS. TOO BUSY REREADING TIME.
HEDDA HOPPER Kansas City, Mo.
To Conquer the Unconquerable Sir: Just finished reading "Twilight Existence" (TIME, July 28), in which the mother of a feeble-minded child expresses a wish that euthanasia may be legally extended to cover the slaughter of feeble-minded and so-called hopelessly deformed children. . . . Euthanasia is not the solution for this problem. . . .
Feeblemindedness, malformations of the human body, tuberculosis and other diseases are a test of man's ingenuity. Many of the so-called incurables of the past are today among our outstanding citizens and humanitarians. To conquer the so-called unconquerable is man's highest aim.
Rather than sanction euthanasia, let us call the attention of society to its obligations. . We can help this mother, along with all the other mothers and fathers who may be burdened in like manner, by providing homes and hospitals with trained personnel to care for these unfortunates.
RICHARD BRUNS
Wheat Ridge, Colo.
Sir:
. . . Our child was pronounced a Mongoloid at six months. We were most fortunate that it should have been detected so early in life. From that time to this we have exerted ourselves physically, mentally, financially and spiritually to her best development. She is now j> years of age and all facial Mongoloid characteristics have vanished. She runs about and plays like another child. Her laughter fills the house and her sense of humor gives us great joy. We make no attempt to urge her to "strive to keep up with others," for we know she is retarded in many ways. We compare her with no other normal child of her age; we are only delighted in self-progress and achievement.
MOTHER'S NAME WITHHELD Gloucester City, N.J.
Mr. Radziwill Is Amazed
Sir:
IN YOUR FOREIGN NEWS SECTION JULY 14TH AN ARTICLE ABOUT ME APPEARED, THE RESULT OF A PRIVATE CONVERSATION MR. SAM WELLES HAD WITH ME DURING HIS RECENT STAY IN WARSAW. BEING MYSELF A JOURNALIST, I HAVE TO EXPRESS MY AMAZEMENT AT THIS ARTICLE, WHICH MUST BE CONSIDERED AS AN INTERVIEW PRINTED WITHOUT MY PREVIOUS CONSENT. IN CONSEQUENCE THERE ARE MANY DISCREPANCIES AND MISTAKES WHICH I HEREBY WISH TO CORRECT.
FIRST, THE TONE OF THE WHOLE ARTICLE HAS BEEN COMPLETELY CHANGED BY CONTINUALLY ADDING TOO STRONG EXPRESSIONS. SECOND, SOME QUOTATIONS IN THE SAID ARTICLE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN UTTERED BY ME AS THEY DO NOT CONFORM WITH THE PRESENT SITUATION IN POLAND WITH WHICH I AM WELL ACQUAINTED. FOR EXAMPLE, I DID NOT SAY
"THE GOVERNMENT BLOC," TO WHICH I BELONG
AS DEPUTY, "JUST HAS NOTHING VERY MUCH TO OFFER THE PEASANTS." I AM AT A LOSS TO UNDERSTAND HOW SUCH AN ABSURD PHRASE COULD HAVE APPEARED IN MR. WELLES'S ARTICLE. "THERE ARE EVEN LEFTIST CABINET MINISTERS HERE WHO HATE RUSSIA" THAT HE COULD NOT HAVE HEARD FROM ME. . . .
KRZYSZTOF RADZIWILL Warsaw
P: TIME regrets that Correspondent Welles's interview embarrassed Mr. Radziwill.--ED.
Hale & Harkness
Sir:
I shall appreciate a correction of your statement in TIME, July 28. ... "When in 1935 oil-heir William Hale Harkness Jr. died of cancer in Shanghai. . . ."
The late Mr. Harkness' correct name was William Harvest Harkness Jr. He was my own first cousin. . . .
As for William Hale Harkness Jr., it is my understanding that he is very much alive and spending the summer in nearby Watch Hill, R.I.
VIOLET HARKNESS COTTRELL
Westerly, R.I.
P: TIME erred. Very much alive indeed is William Hale Harkness Jr.--ED.
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