A CLEAN SLATE

The course of Harvard's Senior elections, becoming, of late years, increasingly liable to charges of incompetence and corruption, has terminated in complete and utter chaos. Indifference on the part of class officers, carelessness or willful distortion of truth on the part of poll-watchers and count-takers, short-sightedness on the part of the election committee,--all will come in for a share of the blame. But no individual culprits may be named; the atmosphere of crass negligence which overlies the whole affair obscures the cause of the injustice which has been wrought.

An inexpungible stain remains upon the class records of 1921 and 1922. Irreparable damage has been done innocent individuals; a worse dishonor rests upon the student body. No means may be found by which a fair opportunity will be given to candidates, premature estimate of whose relative standing in the class, judged by the election of Wednesday, must of necessity impair their chances. What is worse, upon the Seniors and Juniors collectively must fall the lasting shame of having failed in their duty to their fellows and their university.

It is well, however, when all aspects of the tangle are considered, that another election should be called. It is imperative that the Seniors should start with a clean slate. The poll next Monday must be free from any taint of suspicion. There must be no such guarded hints of club or caste prejudice, private or social interest, as have disgraced former elections. Full justice must be done.