Alderman Jacobs Introduces Bill
      Making Students' Radical Activiaties
            Punishable by Fine or Imprisonment

"We Have Got To Smoke Them
  Out," Says Mr. Jacobs, Re-
  ferring To Propagandists

DELAY HEARING OF BILL

Dr, Laidler Assails Bill As
  "Fascist Menace"; Prof. War-
        sof Voices Protest

          Any activity by students in defiance of public school or college authorities is made a misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine or six months' imprisonment or both in a bill presented by Alderman Elias. H. Jacobs. The hearing of the measure, which will be held before the general welfare committee of the Board of Aldermen, has been postponed till two weeks hence, in order to allow Alderman Jacobs to revise the bill.

The text of the Jacobs Bill is printed on page 5 of this issue.

 
          This bill would prohibit. students from engaging in any activity in defiance of the duly constituted institution of New York City which is regulated by the Board of Regents. Any person violating the ordinancewould be subject to a line of not more than $500 or six months imprisonment, or both.

            In delimiting the bill Mr. Jacobs, declares that it "is needed to defend American institutions. There is a small minority of subsidized propagandists in our schools," he said. "They have been subsidized to undermine our institutions. We have got to smoke them out," he concluded.

            Mr. Jacobs denied his bill was intended to suppress criticism of public school and college authorities. "Just illegal criticism," he explained.. Speaking of the college men who participated in the anti-war demonstrations at City College. Mr. Jacobs declared, "Now the actions of these students–yes, I guess you might call them pacifist students–were criminal. They should have been dealt with accordingly."

            According to Dr. Harry W. Laidler, executive director of the League for Industrial Democracy, the measure is "a Fascist menace and a danger to the educational system," and should be revised "out of existence."

            In a letter to alderman Jacobs protesting against the introduction of the loyalty bill, !r. Laidler wrote: "I am sure on reconsideration that you will free yourself from the hysterical reactionary pseudo-patriotic forces that may have urged you to introduce this bill."

            A plea to Alderman Jacobs in the name of the democratic ideals which "our colleges sought to instill in you" to withdraw his bill, was voiced on Tuesday by Professor Louis A. Warsoff of the Government department before the Young Folks League of Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

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May 20, 2004