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University Daily Kansan Thursday, March 15, 1959
UMT Lists Numerous Benefits
Universal Military Training has been proposed for the United States time and time again, but it still remains just a proposal. It seems that one of the main reasons stopping the adoption of UMT is that many persons regard it as undemocratic.
How would it be more undemocratic than the present draft system? The only difference is that UMT would yank young men into the service a year or two earlier than now.
UMT for 18-year-olds or high school graduates could be beneficial in two ways. First, it would insure the security of our nation by building up the armed forces to a maximum level, and keep the country well defended in this era of atomic and hydrogen power.
It also would be extremely beneficial for the teen-agers' welfare. In other words, a person would be better off after serving 18 months or two years in the armed forces.
Only 26 per cent of high school male graduates go on to college. If they all went into the service after high school, it's quite likely more than 26 per cent would attend college upon discharge. Military service wouldn't change the minds of those who wanted to go to college.
On the other hand, many boys who disliked high school might change their attitude after being away from school for one and one-half or two years. They might well find out that "book learning" isn't the worst of all evils.
Of the small percentage of high school graduates attending college, not all of those go for honorable reasons. There are many students who enroll in college merely to keep from being drafted, while others go just because they are too lazy to
work. These lazy ones are usually children of wealthy parents and are in no hurry to free themselves from the financial convenience afforded them. UMT would take care of them.
The majority of those high school graduates not attending college are for the most part undecided about their future. Of course, a few may have their sights on a definite goal and do their best to reach it immediately upon graduation, but the few are greatly outnumbered by those who are undecided.
A large number of these undecided persons work from job to job, often doing work in which they have only a financial interest. Generally, such a person isn't inclined to do his most efficient work so isn't doing himself much good. Naturally, the employer wouldn't be benefited too much by this type of individual either.
Other undecided teen-agers join the armed forces, but only a small number join with the intention of making it their lifetime career. The majority join because of undecidedness. The service helps most of them. They have plenty of time to make up their minds, either about college or a particular occupation. UMT would have the same effect. It would help the teen-ager mature and think about settling down.
The government has lowered the draft age, but not enough. A young man still has one or two free years to do whatever he pleases. Often, the care-free individual assumes the attitude to just "get by" until he is drafted, which results in a waste of time and sometimes increased juvenile delinquency.
—Kent Thomas
The Lobbying Question Goes On
The current investigation into lobbying was brought up the old question "Is lobbying illegal or un-Constitutional?" No, it is perfectly legal and within the bounds of the Constitution.
What most persons dislike about lobbying is the way individuals or groups have used money to influence voting in Congress. If a lobbyist used factual material instead of money, most persons would not protest.
Are Congressmen wrong in accepting so-called "campaign contributions?" Some say yes, others say no. Most Congressmen accept the money because they need campaign funds. The question which bothers the public is, "How much influence does such a gift have?" This question is impossible to answer except to say that it depends on the individual. If a senator or representative is easily swayed, then money wouldn't be the only thing that could influence his vote. The blame in such a case should be placed on the public for electing such a person.
The extent of influence by lobbyists is questionable. Some agencies spend up to $100,000 a year to maintain representatives in Washington — and complain that they receive no visible results.
Then, if the majority of the lawmakers are not influenced by money gifts and do not feel obligated in any way, why shouldn't they accept the contributions?
Mainly because people are just naturally suspicious of such actions. Lobbying is a "dirty" word to most people and the practice of using money
suggests that something must be given in return
Senators are allowed $25,000 for campaign expenses and representatives $10,000. These amounts are definitely inadequate. To solve this problem of needed funds, many Congressmen accept "gifts." To make accepting such campaign contributions unnecessary, both Lyndon Johnson of Texas (majority leader in the Senate) and William F. Knowland of California (minority leader in the Senate) have proposed three items. They are:
(1) Increase the present limit on campaign funds.
(2) Make free radio and television time available to party candidates.
(3) Make individual campaign contributions up to $100 tax exempt.
These three possible solutions would provide adequate funds for campaign activities and would destroy any need for Congressmen to accept "gifts" from "friends."
It will be interesting to see if the recent investigation of lobbying in Washington will accomplish anything. Anti-lobbying laws could be strengthened, or the committee could fight among itself (it is made up of four members of each party).
Of the seven investigations into lobbying practices in the past 102 years, very little has been accomplished. Whether or not the present investigation accomplishes anything remains to be seen—it's off to a slow start. The answer depends on how bad Congress wants to investigate itself—especially in an election year.
Search Continues For The Perfect Human
-Louis Stroup
What is the most perfect human creature that has ever appeared on the earth? Is it the Appollo of Belvedere? The Venus in the Louvre? Marilyn Monroe?
According to J. Dulli, sculptor in South Africa, the perfect human creature has never existed. His ideas of the perfect human figure appeared in a Greek newspaper lately, by a correspondent in South Africa.
Don't you think that the combination of several characteristics of people from all over the world might give us the perfect human figure? The pensive eyes of an Italian which keep inside them the shadows of another world, won't be a factor of perfectness? Oh no, the sculptor doesn't agree at all since he has in his perfect creature the eyes of an Englishman. What about the forehead? It is the wide forehead of an ancient Greek fighter? No, No. It is the forehead of a Scot.
Will there be the temples of a Parisian, which
The African sculptor believes the Zulu is the best-looking race all over South Africa. What's wrong with them, he said, is that their temperament has changed since they left their villages and settled in big cities, where there are a lot of temptations.
add faseination? No, the temples of a German are perfect, Dulli said. And he is sure that the perfect human being must have the mouth and neck of an Indian, the shoulders and back of a Zulu, eye cavity of a Japanese, and as everybody now agrees, the heart of the Irish.
J. Dulli is about 44 years old, and he has eight children. He has been awarded many first prizes for exhibitions of his works in Capetown, Pretoria, and Johannesburg. Although he is one of the best sculptors in his country, he has never been in a school of fine arts.
One can see the change of character in their eyes.
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS by Dick Bibler
—Margarita Pipinopoulov
2 Problems Face Republicans In 1956 Election Campaign
With President Eisenhower a confirmed candidate for the Presidency next November, the Republican party, amid its rejoicing, has two stumbling blocks to overcome if it is to win at the polls. It first must convince the public that Mr. Eisenhower is physically capable of another term and then must choose a well-qualified vice presidential nominee.
The President has stated that he is "fully recovered" from the heart attack he suffered last fall. But with the added strain of the Presidency, his possibility of suffering another heart seizure is somewhat greater than that of the average man.
Limited Duties
President Eisenhower, due to his recent illness, must take time off for rest, exercise, and recreation, and must give up all but the most essential duties of the office. The question is: Is President Eisenhower physically capable of another term in the White House?
With the United States in the midst of a cold war with Russia, the country needs a President who is physically capable of heading the government. To many people, who do not wish a part-time president, there is some doubt as to the fullness of Eisenhower's recovery
Along with the question of the President's health, and the possibility of a second heart attack, comes the question of a running mate. If the Republicans are to score the overwhelming victory they expect to achieve over their capable opponents, they must assemble an effective one-two punch. And with the President's health a major issue, the Republicans must choose a vice presidential nominee with full qualifications for the Presidency.
Is Nixon The Man?
The Republicans must decide whether Vice President Richard M. Nixon is the man for the job and if he would be a liability or an asset in the election. The Republicans contend that the President's popularity is such that he could afford to lose any votes Mr. Nixon might cost the ticket. But to many people, Mr. Nixon lacks the qualifications for the job.
The most distasteful thing about Nixon, in the opinion of many people, is the private financing of some of his friends during the 1952 presidential race. Nixon, also, is shooting off his mouth. He has often ruined the opposition with oratory lacking concrete justification.
In the event of President Eisenhower's death during the campaign or after the election, if the President is elected, the vice president must be able to step into the Presidency fully prepared and able to perform the duties effectively. Mr. Nixon lacks the support of the American public, since he does many things too hardily to be the head of
one of the most important nations on the globe.
Mr. Nixon, besides being opposed by the political opposition, lacks the entire support of his own party. President Eisenhower hinted that he realized Mr. Nixon's lack of qualifications and public support when he recently suggested to the Vice President that he consider withdrawing as a candidate for re-election. The President, instead, offered Mr. Nixon a place in the Cabinet.
Although personally fond of Mr. Nixon, and not wanting to force him to withdraw, the President indicated that he wanted a free hand in choosing his running mate, Nixon or someone else, later on, when the political situation clarified.
So, if the Republican party wishes to achieve its goal of re-electing the recently recovered President, it will have to find a replacement for the unpopular Mr. Nixon.
The United States has a beautiful new songbird, the flame-orange and black spotted-breasted oriole from southern Mexico and Central America. A colony of the orioles nest near Miami, Fla. The birds apparently are here to stay, says the National Geographic Society.
—Daryl Hall
There are about 4,500,000 tractors on farms in the U.S., a million more than there were in 1950.
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NEWS DEPARTMENT
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BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
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