To The Editors of the CRIMSON:

It is generally agreed by now that the recent elections to the Freshman Smoker Committee were inefficiently conducted. . . .

Certainly these inadequacies in the election demand reform. Candidates must be asked to present orally their platform so that voters will not ballot solely for a name but for a person whose competence they know. This is especially important in elections occurring in the first part of the freshman year, when the class has virtually no acquaintance with the candidates beforehand. In the future, furthermore, nominations must be made sufficiently in advance of the election to permit ample time for election preparation.

It was thus a definite, but unpleasant surprise to read of the Student Council's recent appointment to its ranks of the chief non-Council member of the Freshman Election Committee; namely, Richard W. Kimball. At the recent open meeting of the Student Council, which I attended, Mr. Kimball smoothly assured the Council that the election had proceeded perfectly. That group, without pausing itself to investigate, resolved to congratulate Mr. Kimball for his "outstanding ability, special skills, and particular knowledge complementary to the functions of the Council." I find these special skills incompatible with the past record of the Freshman Election Committee. Mr. Kimball was defeated for election to the Student Council last May by the voters of the Class of 1950. Why then should the Student Council appoint Mr. Kimball to its august body? Is it because he has a friend on the Council, or is it merely because the Council is so hard-pressed for workers that it will take on anybody so ambitions as to desire the post?

If the latter explanation is correct and the prestige of the Council has sunk so low that it cannot attract sufficient manpower for its functions, the policy of appointment to the Student Council is no remedy. Not only is this policy entirely undemocratic, but it leaves such disgust in these not inclined to oligarchic philosophies that the prestige of the Student Council must inevitably suffer.

The Constitution of the Student Council must be amended to admit of the complete election of its members. David M. Heer '50