John Ise: 76 and Witty
By Arthur C. Miller
"I never was worth much, but I do think there is one way I was valuable — I have been here (at KU) and have been able to live and function as a radical."
SITTING HIGH on the east ridge of Oread valley, towering above Mississippi street, Prof. Ise's home overlooks part of what he calls "one of the prettiest campuses in the nation."
This self-evaluation is of John Ise, professor emeritus of economics, who was named in a recent poll of outstanding professors in the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, and in the 1950s. The selections were made by graduates during those years.
Prof Ise said·
"All the years I have been here I wouldn't have considered a job at
59th Year, No. 72
Daily hansan
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe appeared before the joint House and Senate Ways and Means Committee in Topeka yesterday to argue for restoration of items cut from the KU budget by Gov. John Anderson.
Wescoe Asks More Funds From State
THE SPECIFIC ITEMS CUT from the KU budget, but recommended earlier by the State Board of Regents;
- $30,000 from a special repairs and improvement fund. The original request was for $165,000.
- $30,000 for traffic control stations to eliminate traffic congestion on the campus.
- A SALARY INCREASE of 5 per cent, cut to 4 per cent.
- Twenty three classified staff,
cut to 16.
- Forty-one more instructors,
cut to 25.
- $15,000 eliminated for the resurfacing of Sunnyside Avenue.
- Denial of a 5 per cent increase in student help.
THE UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL reported Chancellor Wescoe did not "specifically ask for the extra 1 per cent" in salary increases. He said it would help KU if it got the necessary money for the raises, however.
According to press reports, the chancellor told the committee members the additional increase would be desirable but that he "understood the difficulty of financing state government and would not make the specific request."
Raymond Nichols, executive secretary of the University, who appeared with the chancellor at the hearing, explained that Chancellor Wescoe was the last of the several state school heads to appear before the joint committee.
"THE CHANCELLOR THINKS this is a good budget. He feels we can live with it, though he still thinks the 5 per cent pay increase is justified." Nichols said.
"Coming at the end of the line as he did." Nichols said, "the chancellor deliberately did not attempt to duplicate arguments that had
Cuban Refugees On Hunger Strike
Recent arrivals from Cuba said the refugees are protesting the Castro government's delay in granting them safe conducts, and the fact that armed Castroite guards are outside the embassies to prevent their families from bringing them clothing, medicines and various delicacies.
MIAMI—(UPI)—More than 200 Cuban refugees who have waited for as long as nine months in Latin American embassies in Havana for permission to leave the country have started their second hunger strike in little more than a month, it was reported today.
Harvard, Yale, or even Chicago (the University of Chicago).
already been presented by the other school heads."
"Some outsiders," he continued "can't understand how such a conservative state can have such a liberal university. I guess we've just been fortunate in that respect."
For this reason, Nichols said, the chancellor made his strongest pleas for items cut specifically from the KU budget.
EARLIER, DR. JAMES McCAIN president of Kansas State University, urged restoration by the committee of the 1 per cent cut from faculty pay increases.
He told the group KSU is falling further behind the national average for faculty pay.
NICHOLS SAID the chancellor's requests for restoration of other budget cuts were directly related to present and anticipated increases in enrollment.
In asking for restoration of the $30,000 for repairs and maintenance, Chancellor Wescoe pointed out that the cut would result in deferred maintenance that would only cost more in the future, Nichols said.
The executive secretary said he had no idea if the hearings will result in restoration of any budget cuts. Normally, he said, when the governor and control of the legislature are of the same party, the governor's budget is accepted.
Wednesday, Jan. 17, 1962
He was born on June 5, 1885, in Downs, Kansas, where he attended high school. At 76, Prof. Ise is still busy at self-education. He says he regularly tries to read several magazines from front-to-back. Among these are Progressive, Harper's, The New Republic and a small pamphlet, Between-the-Lines.
PROF. ISE taught over 12,000 KU students from 1916 until his retirement in 1955.
Weather
Increasing cloudiness this afternoon and tonight with occasional snow spreading over most of state tonight and continuing Thursday. A little colder west tonight and south Thursday. Low tonight zero to 10 below north to near 10 south. High Thursday 15 to 20.
Sometimes it doesn't pay to answer the telephone.
Randy Austin, Salina junior, ran out of gas this morning near the campanile. He called a Delta Upsilon fraternity brother, Charles Kramer, Mankato junior, to pick him up.
Brotherhood Brings Woes
Kramer than called another fraternity brother, Larry Gamble, Pittsburgh sophomore. Gamble and four other DU men climbed into Gamble's car, and went to rescue Kramer's car. They pushed the car on the street, and discovered it had a flat tire.
KRAMER STARTED OVER, but he could not quite make it up Eleventh street because of the snow. He slid backwards into a telephone pole.
Prof. Ise is known for his ability to provide an original viewpoint on nearly any subject.
A Sample:
GAMBLE GOT IN HIS CAR to return home, glad that he had been of service. He backed into Kramer's car.
ON GROWING OLD—"I think age is to some extent laziness. If a man continues working and learning he won't really grow old. There are three ways to keep from growing old. First, you've got to work like hell. You've got to be a liberal. The reason for this is that a liberal says there is a lot yet to be learned and thus he keeps seeking knowledge. A conservative, on the other hand, is dead; he says everything has been solved. Why hell. I knew three conservatives who died of insanity because there was nothing left for their minds to do.
"And finally, one ought to cultivate some sense of humor. I've seen fellas get old and stagnant because they thought they knew everything.
"Once in a while I look at myself and ask, how in hell has anyone who has pulled as many boners as I have, made a success of it."
He says that a person has to keep his health, both mental and physical. Although he says his eyes are failing and he has to use a walking cane, Prof. Ise says he is in "pretty good health." As for keeping ones' mental health, he advises:
"THE ONLY WAY to keep the mind healthy is to give it lots of exercise. A person ought to read a lot of liberal journals, because liberal journals pose problems that tax a man's mind."
Through the years, wit and humor have so characterized John Ise that whenever he appears for a public speech, students nearly always fill the room. Even those students who disagree with him politically, break into laughter when he begins his satirical display.
Standing or sitting behind the podium, his stock of iron-gray hair usually awry, he sets his pipe aside and begins to discuss the issues of the day.
On comparative Russian and American education systems, he
says: "The Russians seem to have respect for educators and education. A professor is something in Russia. Here, he's a damn fool."
ON POLITICAL parties — "Some people think that there are only two parties in the United States. One party consists of Republicans, and the other of Democrats, Socialists, and Communists."
On small towns — "In America, every little town looks like every other little town, and every little town looks like Hell."
On conservatives — "A dull person does not want to be bothered with improvement. Everything for him is just 'bully,' I think a rock in the field would be a perfect conservative. Sure is bully out here, the rock would say."
However, this usual light side of Prof. Ise can be misleading. On many subjects at many times he is serious and reflects the attitude of a man truly concerned with some problem.
If you visit Prof. Ise at his home you must climb a mountain of stairs before finally reaching the door with its welcome mat that proclaims, "The Ises."
ONCE INSIDE, there is a small hallway, to one side are the stairs leading to the main part of the house, to the other is a small room walled with books and rocking chairs. At the far end of that dimly lighted room is a large desk covered with books, magazines, pipes, Granger rough cut tobacco, and canned odds and ends.
To begin the conversation Prof. Ise might say something about the weather.
"When Roosevelt was at it why didn't he change this damn weather."
And then changing suddenly from his light, somewhat humorous attitude, he plunges into a serious discussion.
"I wonder if climate has something to do with peoples' incentive and sanity. I've been reading recently about..."
Or he might strike out at the educational system here, and across the country.
"IN GENERAL our institutions have too many side-shows. Franklin Murphy, (former chancellor), was all sold on the school of education. He poured lots of money into it, and I'm not sure it's worth it. Can they really teach a person how to teach.
"All our departments give courses hat aren't worth a damn. The history department once had a course called 'Generals of the Civil War.' That was a worthless one.
To do good work the University
(Continued on page 4)
Interest Shown in City Renewal
Mayor Ted Kennedy of Lawrence said today that several Lawrence groups are interested in a program of urban renewal for this city.
He predicted during an interview with Daily Kansas reporters that Lawrence voters would support such a program—which is barely in the planning stage now—if it were put before them.
HE OUTLINED three major city improvements which could be gained by adopting such a program:
- The downtown business section could be revitalized so that it could better compete with outlying shopping districts.
- Areas might be set aside within the city to attract new industry.
- New public buildings could be constructed.
ABOUT FIVE GROUPS in Lawrence have asked me about an urban renewal program in the last month," he said.
In addition, he said, the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce will discuss ways of initiating such a program when they meet with the director of the Topeka urban renewal pregram this week.
He named two of the groups: the Lawrence Business Association and the Cosmopolitan Club.
EXPRESSING CONFIDENCE that the majority of Lawrence voters want such a program, he said:
"In Atchison a program of urban renewal passed by a 4-1 vote. I think the same thing would happen here.
"Such a program," he added, "could be implemented in Lawrence without voting, but in my opinion it will not be.
"If I were an owner of downtown property," he said, "I would be one of the greatest proponents of urban renewal imaginable. By driving around the periphery of Lawrence, anyone can see the new shopping districts which will draw trade from the downtown area unless something is done."
IT IS IMPORTANT that the downtown business district remain prosperous, he said, because this area carries the major tax load of the community.
He singled out the county courthouse while commenting on the need for new public buildings in Lawrence.
"The courthouse was built in 1803, and has settled a little every year since then," he laughed. "Last year I think it settled four inches."
If a program of urban renewal were adopted, he said, certain areas within the city might be razed and set aside for future industrial sites.
PARTS OF NORTH Lawrenci might be reserved for this purpose
he said, because of the nearness of this area to the river and the railroad tracks.
"Lawrence today has less downtown theaters and less restaurants than it had a few years ago," he said. "Additional recreational space, including new park developments, should be a part of any urban renewal program for Lawrence."
An additional benefit that might be gained from a program of urban renewal, he said, is more city recreational space.
At present only two through streets—9th and 19th—exist for eastwest traffic in Lawrence, he said.
HAROLD E. HORN, city manager,
added that the city street system
would probably also be revamped
under any redevelopment program.
Under a plan already drawn up by the city, he continued, 15th Street would be linked to Sunnyside Avenue to provide a third route for east-west travel.
THIS COULD BE DONE, he explained, by first connecting 15th Street with Tennessee Street. Then Tennessee Street would be connected to Sunnyside Avenue by means of an extension of Sunnyside Avenue through city-owned right-of-way behind the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house and between the Sigma Chi fraternity house and the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority house.
Under the plan, Tennessee Street would be used for four away traffic.
WHILE STRESSING that both the urban renewal program and the street program are far from being initiated, both Mayor Kennedy and City Manager Horn agreed today that steps will have to be taken in the future to repair blighted areas within the city and to relieve city traffic problems.
would be used for two-way traffic. (KU officials, who plan to close KU Airport 500 between this year have reportedly objected to this plan. They are afraid, it is reported, that Sunnyside Avenue would become as hazardous to pedestrians as Jayhawk Boulevard is now if the plan is put into effect.)
"Once a particular area of town becomes blighted the blight spreads like cancer," Mr. Horn said. "There isn't any easy way of stopping this, because everyone in the area just seems to give up.
"LAWRENCE IS AN old town for the Midwest," Mayor Kennedy said, "and it's a town that 'just grown.'
"I think we would have much to gain from a program of urban renewal, but I wouldn't want to single out any one area in the city as being blighted. There are areas in every single part of town that are imperfect in some way."