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~~ ' Some ere ns ai nha si mri ne ARE Ane wa SUBJECT: * ; ee ERNMENT ro . . a a 19 br - nae Federa! Bureau of Investigation “f.*, FROM ss: ord mi ; * sels ioe Jaele TS 28 you may deem appropriate, a letter dated Fe ruary 15, 1951, hoe essed to the Attorney General by Albert Ey arnett of the Cant tend torney General _ . me Re ea rz - I am quoting below, for your information and for such ats has been in recent correspondence with you about -the ac~ tivities of agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in that mountain community. Apparently, some agents have surmised that the free admission of negroes as students at Highlander constituted evidence of communist point of view. These agents are said to have stated that such would be the natural interpretation on the part of many people in the region. This is, of course, a totally in- accurate interpretation, both of the school and of the best sentiment in the southeast. Under supreme court ~ Director of Highlander Folk School at Monteagle, Tennessee, __ authority many public institutions of higher learning .. -. ‘Ct | = have opened their registration to qualified negro students. | J N At the present time between 1100 and 1200 negro students = are studying in such institutions. Southern people are aad more generally happy than unhappy over this outcome. 5 Students here in my own institution recently voted as overwhelmingly favorable to the admission of qualifiedhrrrrren - ies negro students. “I have known Dr. Horton and the Highlander Folk School since the foundation of that institution. I am a regular 7” i contributor to its budget and I am in deep sympathy with its programs and objectives. F. B. I. agents should be investing their time and the government's money in detect— ing the real enemies of America, rather than harassing | nl those who so competently and intelligently support and extend denocracy as the Highlander ‘Folk School., I am sending a copy of this letter to Senator Estes fefauver, who is personally acquainted with Highlander Folk School and its staff and, to Dr. Rorton.® oO ; UsRRCORLED &