28 FEBRUARY 1969, Page 24

The grand old dukes of the LSE Sir: In the

midst of your leading article 'The grand old dukes of the LSE' (14 February) lies a remark which highlights a flaw in reasoning not uncommon among commentators on the current malaise in society. You criticise the LSE governors for taking measures which . . will assist the militants by making that disruption total, and punish the innocents still further by seeing that their grants are taken from them' (italics mine).

Here again we have the familiar theme that guilt is attributable to a small minority of militants and that the vast majority are poor innocents caught between the trouble-makers and the authorities, and suffering undeservedly through the actions of both. How often this view has been expressed in dissertations on industrial disputes, racialism, hooliganism, crime and violence! Time and again the vast majority are absolved of all blame and looked upon with pity. Never has so much been suffered by so many at the hands of so few!

To my mind continual portrayal of the mass of the people in this way is false, and is a dangerous practice. They are far from innocent and should not be encouraged to believe that they are. In most instances they are accessories to the 'crime' and are guilty through default.

The `baddy' minority are organised and mili- tant; they are accused of creating situations which are harmful to the 'goody' majority and hostile to the authorities. The authorities, is

retaliating against the few `baddies,' are penalis- ing all the 'goodies.'

Is it not time that the 'goodies,' in true Western style, asserted themselves, conquered the outlaws and appointed a wise, incorrup- tible sheriff to uphold law and order on their behalf?

Apathy and passiveness are, of course, dreadful obstacles to real democratic progress, but they are unlikely to be overcome until the 'innocent' majority are made to realise that they are as responsible for chaos, disruption and anti-social behaviour as the militant minority and the dictatorial authorities.

J. Cowrie 47 Darnley Crescent, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow