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University Daily Kansan
Friday, Oct. 11, 1963
Valachi versus Boredom
Governments always seem to know when the public is becoming bored.
In Latin America, the thing to do is to have an exciting military coup, except this has become so commonplace, that the spectators have stopped buying programs to see who may be living in the presidential palace next.
Other governments try to confuse the people by pretending to make friends with governments who have been long-time enemies. This doesn't fool even the bystanders. Some governments go so far as to declare war on each other, but this just makes the people want to be bored again.
THE NEWEST REMEDY for public boredom today is for a government to produce and direct a question and answer show in which some previously unknown citizen pours his or her life right into the nation's lap. This will inevitably create a good, sordid scandal.
Great Britain had a great contestant recently in Christine Keeler. Now the United States has one who brought his own script. Joseph Valachi.
Valachi may lack Christine's finesse (for lack of a better word) and doesn't look as good on television, but he is making just as many people cringe as she did and he definitely remembers more faces to point at.
Valachi has been entertaining America and probably many other countries with his inside story of crime in the U.S. The show is sponsored by the Senate Investigating Subcommittee. The senators evidently had been bored, also.
VALACII IS a member of the Mafia, or Cosa Nostra, to use the organization's vernacular. He has agreed to tell the subcommittee, and everyone else listening, all about Cosa Nostra — who, what, when, where, why and how. These
questions are particularly interesting when they are concerned with murder, robbery and dope peddling, and that's what Cosa Nostra is all about.
But what is Joseph Valachi all about? He is many things — convicted killer, dope peddler and, of course, stool pigeon. He is also a "doomed man," he says, because of what he is doing. Why, then, is he doing it? Why is the Senate bothering with all this? Certainly not for want of something better to do. To be sure, Valachi is unique so far as an investigating committee is concerned, because he answers questions,
However, many anti-crime officials don't believe all of what Valachi says. Many say he wasn't high enough in the organization to really know enough important information. Others say he has yet to tell them anything they didn't already know. Even the subcommittee says Valachi isn't allowed to tell everything. Still, Joseph Valachi sits before the nation and tells his story of crime.
GRANTED, VALACHIS testimony will result in some important arrests, but most of them will be premature because Joe has let the cat out of the bag. Whatever Valachi's story accomplishes seems unnecessary because the arrests probably would have been done anyway.
As it is now, the story has become something to splash on the front page of a newspaper or on a television screen, and consequently, does nothing for the U.S. which already has enough play-by-play accounts of problems within its borders.
At least one thing may result from the Valachi affair. People now will know what "families" mean, how to spell Girolamo Santuccio and what to do if you get the "buckwheats."
TV Debates Useless
—Terry Ostmever
The Senate recently passed a bill to clear the way for television debates by the Democratic and Republican candidates.
The effect of the action is to permit broadcasters to give or sell time to the major party candidates without obligating themselves to provide it also for a possible host of minor candidates.
Some senators hailed the bill as a tremendous contribution to the welfare of the American system of government, pointing out the measure is a boon to the general understanding of the issues and personalities of those in the presidential race.
But look at the 1960 Kennedy-Nixon debate.
VOTERS FORGOT the issues of the election and concentrated on the appearance of the two political opponents for the presidency. Glued before their television sets, Americans saw a nervous, tongue-tied Nixon against a polished, verbose Kennedy.
The earlier discussions of Quemoy, the Chinese strait and Matsu were shoved down the drain. In their place, Nixon's fidgety behavior, washed-out facial color and Kennedy's confidence and neat appearance reigned.
Nixon was doomed. Kennedy was elected.
Similar appeals to the public have been just as successful.
The American people don't have to reach too far back into history to recall Franklin D. Roosevelt's chummy Fireside Chats on the radio.
Here was one of the greatest propaganda techniques in history. Our nation's leader was coming into millions of homes for a heart-toheart explanation of his policies and plans.
AND WHO CAN forget the barnstorming speeches former President Truman made from the back platforms of trains across the country. Dewey tried the same psychological technique of winning votes, but he was too late and failed miserably. Everyman's friend from Independence, Mo., had won the hearts and votes of too many.
Television debates among the two top contenders for President of the United States become a battle of wits. Who is the more clever? Which one is the good guy?
Actually there is no possible debate. Both platforms of the two candidates are what they and their supporting political parties think would benefit the United States. The voter, in most cases, chooses the man whose plans are most in line with his own.
And so the value of televised debates is reduced to almost a contest of beauty and poise.
Informed voters know the issues involved and much of the political and personal histories of both candidates.
They don't need the debates.
Uninformed voters don't know the issues or the political or personal pasts of the two presidential competitors.
They don't deserve the debates.
Memories, Memories
The People Say...
Editor:
I am moved, Mr. Coffman. Deeply moved, And I am sure your sentimental plea ("Watching Farms Die Like Looking in Coffin", Kansan, Oct. 8, 1963) stirred the hearts of many. As for me, I broke down completely in the paragraph that told of the Bryson's farm going under water: "My aunt called them Grandma and Grandpa Bryson because of their extreme old age." Touching.
Yes, progress is an evil thing.
I suppose I may have been gripped somewhat more than others, because I, too, have felt the terrible emptiness one experiences when the "crush of man's machines" destroys an edifice one loves. In my
case, it was my grandfather's outhouse — completely destroyed, every hand-hewn shingle and board, by an inane highway project. When I think of the many pleasant hours of meditation, I—Oh. I am moved to tears!
What good is the conservation of soil; what good is the fortification of our economy; what good is the construction of better flood-control systems; what good is the expansion of industry; what good is the creation of recreational areas, when to achieve these things we must destroy something as dear to us all as frightened Mr. Neill's "well-kept barnyard."
Yes, Mr. Goldwate . . . ah, Mr.
Coffman, an progress is evil!
Larry Shawhan Belton, Mo., senior
111 Flint Hall
Daily Hansan
Founded 1889, became biweekly 1904,
triweekly 1908, daily Jan. 16, 1912.
University of Kansas student newspaper
UNiversity 4-3646, newsroom
UNiversity 4-1198, business office
Member Inland Daily Press Association, Associated Collegiate Press. Represented by National Advertising Service. 18 East 50 Street, United States International. Mail subscription rates: $3 a semester or $5 a year. Published in Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University's executive excursion to Lawrence, University's holidays, and examination periods. Second class postage paid at Lawrence, Kansas
NEWS DEPARTMENT Mike Miller Managing Editor
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Blaine King Editorial Editor
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
Bob Brooks          Business Manager
HERBLOCK
© 1973 THE WASHINGTON POST
"Harry, I Don't Think You're Going To Like This One Any Better"
best wishes
Football Forecast, Or What to do at the Game
Jack Mitchell has done his little bit now. He has released to the press a long list of injured players who won't be in top form for the Iowa State game tomorrow.
This way, if we lose, everyone has an alibi. If we win, wonderful.
The automatic alibi bit is a standard game play by all the major football coaches in the country, and you can't really blame them.
HERE AT KU WE have an opportunity to watch one of the alltime greats at the alibi game. It comes from Coach Mitchell having such a good teacher. You see, Jack played his collegiate football under Bud Wilkinson of the professional team to the south, and Bud never says anything which could be called optimistic even if he were misquoted.
Now don't get me wrong. I had some dealings with Coach Mitchell three years ago and he and I got along fine. Still do, as a matter of fact. I don't know enough about football to second guess even the K-State coach, and Coach Mitchell lets me write editorials any way I want.
That wav. everybody is happy except SUA.
But all the maneuverings before the game are just part of the show anyway.
Speaking of shows, we ought to make some plans for tomorrow's game. Tomorrow is Parent's Day, and the students of the University of Kansas have a duty to make this game, in particular, a stand-out example of the typical college game.
In the first quarter, two freshmen seated down about the oneyard line must start fighting, and everybody else stand up and cheer. Remember to boo the cops.
THEREFORE, here is the schedule for tomorrow.
In the third quarter, two seniors should finish getting drunk and throw the cops out.
If KU scores, someone in the stands must remember to throw a cup of Coke into the air. But be careful which way the wind is blowing. Don't get yourself wet.
To help the parents understand how the seating plan works, nobody may sit in their own seats tomorrow. Move at least one section, and preferably two. Under no circumstances sit in the same row.
AS FOR PROVISIONS:
Dormitories—you bring the "bathroom tissue" to throw when KU scores. Bring about six rolls apiece from the janitor's closets. Even if we don't officially need any we can always shell the Coke vendors or a parent or two or maybe a wheel-chaired fan. A good man might even be able to drop a roll into one of the tubas.
Fraternities—Somehow, sneak in a machine gun and a couple of belts of ammo. Meet me at the KU flag on the horseshoe during halftime, and we'll get to that damn airplane which flies over every now and again. Unless it is trailing the TNE banner. I've always wanted to be a member of the Club, and if we shoot down the plane they might black-ball me again.
Sororities—you bring the booze. You have plenty of places to hide it, and the Pinkertons are as chicken about frisking women as they are about frisking alumni. If you don't want to buy the stuff, just go to the west side of the stadium and start making eyes at some of these alums. Don't pick one with a wife, though.
at some of these authors.
The only other thing we might need would be a victory. But what with the team all bunged up nobody knows about that. So bring an extra bottle just in case.—Blaine King