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Kansas University Weekly.
IF ALL campaign speakers were as logical and clear and dispassionate in their utterances as Senator Scott it might with truth be said that this is a campaign of education.
It is very seldom that an opportunity is afforded to the people of Lawrence of hearing music of as high a grade as that furnished by the Chicago Festival Company. Chancellor Snow is to be congratulated on having been able to secure the entertainment.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE many geniuses who walk the halls of our classic institution; in spite of the marvelous scenery, the beautiful sunsets, the clear air and sky, and the sweetly melancholy days of Autumn, we have as yet received nothing, or very little, in the line of poetic composition. We shall be obliged to commence printing selections from Robert Browning or Stephen Crane in order to make good our pretensions of being a literary journal if some one does not come to our rescue.
THE SCHOLAR in politics honors politics and is a credit to himself. But not all students are scholars, and the student in politics sometimes presents a lamentable spectacle. This is certainly true of the Yale students who broke up Mr. Bryan's meeting in New Haven-if they did break it up. As a matter of fact, however, we believe that somebody else made the disturbance and the students got the credit of it. This has often happened on similar occasions. But if there were students who participated in the disgraceful proceeding we are sure that the great body of "old Nasua's" sons would emphatically disown them. We are also sure that there were no Kansas University men among them.
ALMOST EVERY week each of our illustrated magazines contains a picture of some great warship of the American navy. And as we look at the picture our imaginations are awakened. The great white hulk seems to be literally towering before us; we can hear the throb of the engines, the roar of the foaming water at bow
and stern, and we are lost in wonder and admiration. But it is much to be regretted if we stop here; if a more rational state of mind does not follow the first flash of the emotions; if we do not continue, and paint for ourselves a picture in which this mighty vessel shall be engaged in mortal combat with others no less terrible. And then let us call to mind the words of Professor Hodder, in his address at last commencement, in speaking of the six latest battleships: "Their total cost is twenty five million dollars. This amount exceeds by ten million dollars the total income of the four hundred and seventy-six colleges and universities in the United States to-day, and at the present rate would defray the expenses of the University of Kansas for a period of two hundred and fifty years."
NOT FOR some time have people been so bebuttoned as at present. Campaign buttons of every sort and "funny buttons" with such inscriptions as "if you love me grin" adorn the majority of the lapels which one sees on the street. In fact one can hardly meet or pass a person, whose mind is not wholly pre-occupied, who does not—involuntarily or by force of habit—glance inquiringly at that place on one's coat which, in accordance with the custom of the times, might reasonably be expected to hold some sign or symbol of one's belief. And should there be no such sign or symbol a careful observer may often notice a shade of disappointment in the inquirer's face as though he had asked a verbal question and been answered by silence. After all, what does a button mean? It may mean nothing or it may mean much. A campaign button may inspire its wearer to more active partisanship, it may influence some doubtful person to put on one like it, it may indeed serve an honest man as a means of expressing his heart-felt beliefs; but many times it is simply used to gain a sort of cheap distinction. A man has no opinions, only a few prejudices, he is practically a nonentity; he attaches himself to a campaign button and straightway thinks that he stands for something.