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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, November 2, 1967
Goodbye, Hubert? Dear draft lady...
Whatever happened to Hubert H. Humphrey?
Is our Vice President, as someone remarked this week, now a taxi driver in Buenos Aires? Not quite . . . but that's close.
Currently on a glad-handing mission to Saigon, Humphrey made a rare front-page appearance, not as a key ambassador or statesman but as an American official who narrowly escaped a Viet Cong mortar attack. He should be more careful, in more ways than one.
Shortly after South Vietnam President Thieu's inaugural address Tuesday, Humphrey said in Saigon: "Despite any temporary popularity polls, despite criticism, despite understandable impatience, we mean to stick it out in Vietnam until aggression is turned back."
Richard Nixon, as Vice President in 1959, took a dramatic trip to Moscow. There, in the famous kitchen debate, Nixon and Premier Khrushchev found themselves in an impromptu but tense discussion of basic U.S.-Soviet differences, one in which the Vice President fared well. Nixon's Gallup Poll rating shot upward.
Haven't we heard that somewhere before? Hasn't Vice President Humphrey become an LBJ mouthpiece and official administration apologist? Apparently so.
His performance humanized the cold war and encouraged a Big Four summit conference.
Hubert H. Humphrey has received no such assignment, nor shown the potential for such leadership and initiative.
But perhaps Humphrey does have that potential. If only the President had given him a chance. . . Putting speculation aside, however, it seems evident that Humphrey is now a political has-been.
In Detroit, Republican Gov. Claude Kirk of Florida recently told a news conference he believes President Johnson's 1968 election plans include dumping Humphrey altogether. He said Johnson will withdraw his support of Humphrey, throw the Democratic convention open "and let the Democratic left wing select the dove of their choice" for the vice presidential spot.
Although the Republican governor prognosticates from about as far outside Democratic strategy councils as a man can get, his prediction about Humphrey's political non-future seems likely to materialize. Certainly Humphrey is no longer a Democratic asset, at least in terms of future political office.
He is a forgotten man slowly dying a political death.
—Allan Northcutt Editorial Editor
Letters to the editor
Save trees to hide Fraser
To the Editor:
To KU's Current Campus Beautification Policy
The stately pines stood straight and tall.
Their bark knurled and aged with years.
the green of their branches least life to the Fell.
And the tap on their bark ran like tears.
But the cedar, hard steel hand of a bulldozer
Reached out and ripped bark,
branch end root;
Thus wastefully ended the life of these pieces
Which for years had stood tall, proud and mute.
I watched with dismay as the
bulldozers uprooted and discarded three "ancient" pine trees next to Old Robinson Gymnasium yesterday. The waste in itself was upsetting, but this concern was compounded by the fact that at the same time these trees were being discarded, the ugly west face of New Frazer stood naked and blaring at all who pass. On the sides of this same building apparent great expense has been incurred to plant numerous saplings which will no doubt 'n 10-15 years begin to beautify the campus and hide New Frazer's glitches. But I ask why some of this expense could not have been used to transplant those three pines a distance of 300-400 yards. Their
age should entitle them to a continued place at KU.
Bruce R. Wolkuter Leawood senior
Paperbacks
Most of us know the success formula of these three—Brett Halliday's Murder Takes No Holiday (Dell, 45 cents), A. A. Fair's Give Em the Axe (Dell, 50 cents), and Wayne D. Overholser's Hearn's Valley (Dell, 45 cents). Shoot 'em up. Cowboys and detectives.
Nonsense——I Have A Firm Grip On The Reins
The lusty, busty school offers this month two more by Frank Yerby—Captain Rebel (Dell, 60 cents) and Floodtide (Dell, 75 cents). Let's see now—the first is about a blockade runner in the Civil War and his many lovely ladies; the second is a wild tale set among the Greek pillars and magnolias. Slaves and sex—an old Yerby combination.
The Gothic stuff—romance, suspense, damms in distress, spooky old houses, mysterious lovers, an atmosphere of evil, all going back to the day of the Brontes and Walpole: The new offerings are Mary Savage's The Coach Draws Near (Dell, 50 cents) and Earbara Levy's Place of Judgment (Dell, 75 cents). What is it about blase 1967 that makes such books so popular?
..quotes..
Israeli Premier Levi Eshkol, urging Jews from abroad to live in Israel: "We do not desire to rule others, but our political and military problems would seem vastly different if we were four million Jews instead of 2.5 million."
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Judge Philip F. Gilliam, Denver Juvenile Court, in opposition to a new Colorado law preventing judges from sentencing juveniles to the state reformatory: "I don't agree there's no such thing as a bad boy. Some of them are meaner than hell."
By Paul Haney
Mrs. Mary LaHoud Selective Service System Local Board No. 29 Sweet Spring, Kan. Dear Mrs. LaHoud:
I am writing you because I am confused as to how I should obtain a student deferment from the draft. I understood that the dean of men here was taking care of that and that I had nothing to worry about. However, some of my fraternity brothers say that the burden of proving I'm a student is up to me. Although I am enrolled as a full-time student, I would be rather hard-pressed to prove it. However, I will attempt to do so if you will send me explicit instructions.
A year ago I took a selective service academic exam to show that I had the smarts to stay away from the Army. Now, my girl friend tells me that the exam is no longer used as a guide for issuing deferments. I find this hard to believe, consider ing all the money you people spent to administer it. Another billion-dollar boo-boo, Mrs. LaHoud?
Well, at any rate, I am hoping to hear from you seen so we can end this confusion. I am.
Very truly yours,
Elon Jackson
Selective Service No. 30-56-8972
*    *    *
What is the meaning of this "report for physical" form? I just went to the doctor last year and he said I was in excellent condition. I appreciate the government's concern for my well-being, but I must decline your invitation, since I will be in San Francisco on that date for a peace march.
All I want is some information. Please, I'm counting on you, Mary.
Dear Mary:
Regards.
Elon Jackson, civilian
* * *
Why was I sent this I-A form? Is this some kind of a joke, or what? Is it because I made that remark about the government's selective service exam? We all make mistakes, don't we? I'm willing to forgive and forget if you are. With this in mind, I am returning my 1-A form, trusting you will straighten things out.
Now really, Mrs. LaHoud:
Confidently yours. Elon Jackson
$$
* * * * *
$$
Madam:
I am beginning to get mad. I definitely did not like the tone of your last letter. Do you think resorting to name-calling is going to help matters?
I was unable to appeal my classification within the 10-day period because I was visiting Washington, D.C., and the Pentagon (6,000 federal marshals will vouch for me).
Once again, I must tell you, you have made a mistake. I am a sophomore, majoring in music and education, and am currently taking 17 hours. Besides, I am rush chairman of Signa Phi Nothing fraternity, and we need pledges to fill our house. You might say I'm working in a critical skill area.
Would it help if I got a job in the Sunflower Ordnance Flant? Indignantly yours.
Indigantiy ,
Elon Jackson
* * *
Mary.
I must tell you that my father knows some very important congressmen, and if you don't stop harassing me, they will be forced to make a thorough investigation of your office.
How can you do this to me? Of course I know that draft-dodging is a serious offense, but, really, I'm innocent.
Ma y, I hate to see our friendship end like this. If you will take the proper steps to fix this mess up, I assure you that there will be no hard feelings from this end. O.K.?
Tl
On my knees,
Elon Jackson
*    *    *
Dear Sadist:
Arrived here last week after six weeks of basic training. Wish you were here.
Pvt. E. Jackson
Serial No. 18769087
With the troops, South Vietnam
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY kansan
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