Radical

From Brazil to Manhattan in the fall of 1936 went Fernando Tude de Souza, a young Brazilian physician, to prepare himself at Columbia University's Teachers College to take charge of reorganization of education in the state of Bahia. Bearing letters from Brazilian officials, who held him one of the country's most promising students of education, Fernando de Souza was introduced to U. S. educators by Dr. Stephen Duggan, director of the Institute of International Education. He soon became a campus character at Teachers College, famed for his difficulties with English, his earnestness, his enthusiasm for progressive education. Last summer de Souza packed himself, his wife and their two babies aboard ship to return to conquer ignorance in Brazil which (he said) "has the greatest indice of illiteracy in the world."

Last week his friends at Teachers College were alarmed to hear from him that 'my situation is terrible." For Fernando de Souza has been in a predicament since Getulio Vargas made himself dictator of Brazil (TIME, Nov. 22). He wrote:

"I am writing to you from the jail! Can you realize this? Since November 13th I am jailed as 'a communist' ! ! ! The principal proof against me is my friendship with the progressists educators of United States. . . . Dr. Harold Rugg, John Dewey, Jesse Newlon, Kilpatrick, George Counts, Butler, Monroe and Stephen Duggan are 'dangerous people' are 'communist leaders' and Teachers College and Progressive Education and Institute of International Education are centers of communistic irradiation! ! ! to the Brazilian Fascists. Can you realize this monstrosities?1 ... In the year 1933 when I received my degree because I am physician I wrote a thesis about 'The Social Problem of Abortion.' Now the authority thinks that this scientific work is a proof of communism! ... I give my word of honor: never I was communist. . . ."

Fernando de Souza's U. S. friends hastily prepared to appeal to the State Department to do two things: 11) help get Fernando out of jail, 2) save the good names and non-subversive reputations of Teachers College's eminent, 'liberal Professors John Dewey, Harold Rugg. Jesse Newlon, William Heard Kilpatrick and George S. Counts, of its conservative Professor Paul Monroe, of mild, pacific Dr. Stephen Duggan. of Columbia's Republican President Nicholas Murray Butler.

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