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University Daily Kansan Tuesday, March 6. 1956
Answer On Segregation; Praise For Watkins
Editor:
Last Friday the Daily Kansan ran an editorial on segregation, which I wrote. On Monday I received a letter from Ed Abels, editor of The Lawrence Outlook, in reply to my editorial. The editorial had been clipped and notations were made in the margin about my statements.
Note No. 1: I said "In the South ignorance, prejudice, and a failure to see the handwriting on the wall is a stumbling block." Mr. Abels said, "Not true. The problem is real." I agree it is real, Mr. Abels, but I don't quite understand your comment. Aren't ignorance and prejudice real. They are in my book.
Note No. 2: I said, "Intelligent leaders in the South realize segregation is coming to an end. They would be fools not to realize it. They realize that basically it is morally wrong." Mr. Abel's comment was, "What do you mean. God made both races—was he immoral?"
Again, Mr. Abels, I don't quite follow your line of reasoning.
True, God made both races, but only man made segregation.
Note No. 3: I said "To be sure they (the Negroes) have been kept poor and ignorant (in the South) on purpose." Mr. Abels said, "Not true. For the most part they have better school houses and equipment than the whites."
All I can say to this is that I lived in the South two and one-half years and have been in every Southern state but two and unless I'm blind or subject to hallucinations this is undoubtedly a misunderstanding on Mr. Abels' part.
Note No. 4: I stated that nothing had been done for years to correct the situation in the South. Mr. Abels commented, "Not true! The situation is much better than a few years ago—say 25 or even 10."
All I can say is how much is much better. In some Southern states, to be sure, definite corrective steps have been taken. But in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi no signs of taking a healthy, forward attitude toward the Supreme Court's ruling has been shown.
Mr. Abels also had a question mark by a statement that the Emmett Till murder trial was a blot on the South's record. After all, Mr. Abels, even the judge in that case was unhappy with the way the testimony by officials was presented and handled.
Note No. 5: I stated, "Just what the Autherine Lucy episode is has not been determined as yet. If Miss Lucy is sincere in her desire to attend the University of Alabama she cannot be blamed for the trouble which has arisen. Also, if she is just a pawn for someone or some organization she cannot be blamed." Mr. Abels said the episode has been determined.
By whom, Mr. Abels? He also said, "To just attend school or get a college education? There is a difference. There are many colleges open to her." Granted, Mr. Abels. That is my point.
Was Miss Lucy sincere or was she just trying to make an issue of something? I am not condoning or condemning her, just raising the question.
Mr. Abels also said in regard to whether or not she can be blamed, "But she can—she consented to be used." If this is true she should be blamed.
Note No. 6: I closed the editorial by saying, "for the Communists a valuable propaganda weapon has been furnished." Mr. Abels said that "not one Communist in a million knows Miss Lucy exists. This is the ADA and do-gooder line of bunk."
Mr. Abels, neither you nor I know how many Communists know Miss Lucy exists. But you can bet one thing, the ones that are important know and will make full use of the issue.
Mr. Abels closed by saying, "Forgive me, John, for doing this to you. On the whole you are mainly right. Your mistake is in trying to be on both sides in the same article. Ed Abels."
No cause for forgiveness, Mr. Abels. You haven't done anything to me as yet. I don't think your arguments are valid. Also, maybe this whole_mess could be handled a little better if more people tried to be on both sides of the issue at once.
John McMillion, Coffeyville senior.
Editor:
I wish to sing a paean for that estimable institution, the Watkins Memorial Hospital.
My experience with hospitals is limited, but, I didn't expect anything so comfortable and inviting as the Watkins institution proved to be.
The food is appetizing and varied, the decor tasteful and the nurses—ah the nurses! They must have been chosen from a Ziegfeld chorus, and what "angels of mercy" they are, even when they reply shortly to an inopportune question, "It isn't medical ethics for nurses to give out information about the contents of medication."
To all prospective inmates of Watkins, I say, "Don't dread a stay in the hospital. It can be a very restful and comfortable experience."
G. Criss Simpson.
Associate professor of organ and theory
News In Review
Ike's Yes Brings Quick Democratic Moves
President Eisenhower said he was willing last week, and the news brought good cheer to Republicans whose hopes sank so low in the weeks last Fall following the President's heart attack.
The Eisenhower statement, made at a press conference Wednesday and elaborated on that night before a nationwide radio-television audience, brought jockeying among Democrats vying for the top spot this year. It also created new discussion of that controversial No. 2 man—Richard M. Nixon.
President Eisenhower said that if nominated, his campaign would not be the whistle-stop variety he was forced to adopt in 1952, a type of campaigning he deplores. He has history on his side, of course. Most presidents have conducted dignified front-porch campaigns with the exception of Harry Truman, who took his case to the voters in a bristling campaign in 1948 and won over Thomas E Dewey.
With the question continuing of whether Nixon will receive the vice presidential nomination—President Eisenhower is quite properly leaving it up to the Republican convention that convenes at the San Francisco Cow Palace in late August.
In New Hampshire the first presidential primary will be held March 13. Still in the limelight, of course, are the defeated candidates of 1952, Adalie E. Stevenson, and his ambitious opponent, Sen. Estes Kefauver (D-Tenn.).
Still hot for the Democrats is the issue of integration of southern schools, an issue that some feel may tear the party apart this year. That story was marked last week by, first, a report from the University of Alabama that short-time Negro coed Autherine Lucy would be protected in her attempt to reenter the school, and, second, by her being expelled for charging "conspiracy" on the part of the university administration.
An influential Democrat died last week, the first senator from the 84th Congress to die. He was Harley Kilgore of West Virginia, usually placed in the party's liberal wing.
Kilgore was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and he was succeeded by James O. Eastland, the Mississippi Democrat who has been a vigorous foe of integration in southern schools.
Senator Eastland took the seat but not without opposition. Northern Democrats charged that his position on segregation prejudiced him for the key Judiciary Committee post.
Another senator moved into an important position, Kansas Republican Andrew Schoeppeel. He became chairman of the Republi can Senatorial Campaign Committee, succeeding Barry Goldwater of Arizona, who was named the week before to the special committee investigating lobbving.
Two controversial pieces of legislation were in the news. The House voted to approve the $760 million Upper Colorado water project by a vote of 253-136. Missing from the bill was a provision for the Echo Park Dam, roundly denounced by many because it would flood the Dinosaur National Monument in western Colorado. The other measure: debate begins Thursday on the farm bill.
It is not the first time that Washington politicians have vied for the Negro vote in such a way —Washington was honored previously in 1940 and George Washington Carver in 1948.
And the administration made a move to capture Negro votes this year. A postage stamp honoring the 100th anniversary of the birth of famed Negro Booker T. Washington will be issued April 5.
Foreign developments were marked by a new note from President Eisenhower to Soviet Premier Bulganin. The substance of the note was once again request
The kilts worn by the famous Evzones of Greece sometimes contain more than 40 yards of material. A tasseled cap, braided jacket, leggings and red shoes with black pompons complete the warrior's outfit.
A hot development in the Middle East came with Jordan's ouster of Lt. Gen. John Bagot Glubb. He was thrown out as army commander and escorted out of the country under order of King Hussein. Glubb, a Briton, was the leader of the Arab Legion in Jordan and fought against Israel in the 1948 war. A reason for his ouster was believed to be Jordan's fierce opposition to joining the Middle East Treaty Organization. Only one Arab nation—Iraq—is a member.
for Russian acceptance of the Eisenhower disarmament proposals first made at the Geneva conference last summer.
Also in the news last week:
A mob of thousands of teenagers rioted at Daytona Beach,
Fla., following stock car races.
The United States kicked former Argentine dictator Juan Peron out of a U.S.-operated hotel in Panama.
The Soviet Union re-elected all the members of its Presidium, and Communist boss Nikita K. Khrushchev was re-elected secretary.
Also in the news last week:
Harvard "film critics"—Ihe Lampoon editors—honored Kirk Douglas, Debbie Reynolds and "Not as a Stranger" as the year's worst.
Jack Webb pulled out of competition for the television "Emmy," protesting methods of selection for best awards.
The Interstate Commerce Commission gave railroads approval to raise freight rates 6 per cent effective March 7.
Adlai E. Stevenson, campaigning in Minneapolis, suggested the North take a close look at its own racial policies before throwing rocks at Alabama.
Duke Shoop of the Kansas City Star reported growing talk in Washington in favor of Missouri's Sen. Stuart Symington receiving the Democratic presidential nomination.
-C. M. Pickett
The other day, one student was heard to remark that after the first week of the semester he was already six weeks behind in assignments. His companion, who has assignments due May 15, couldn't seem to work up much sympathy.
Oil, Geography Add To Problems Of Iran
E. A. Bayne, American Universities Field Staff expert on the Middle East, is on the campus this week to speak on Iran one of the oldest countries in the world, next to China and Egypt.
Blocking the lower land gate to Asia and standing in the path of Russian access to the Indian Ocean, it has drawn much interest from Russia, Turkey, Great Britain, France, and the United States. Today Russia, especially, has its eye on the country for an addition to the Communist "clan," while at the same time obtaining valuable oil.
Iran has been a buffer state throughout its history, and has existed simply because of its interest to the great powers, principally Great Britain and Russia. And yet Iran is poor. Illiteracy, disease, and under-nourished people are its major problems. More than 19,140,000 people inhabit its 629,342-mile area.
More than 17 million Iranians live and work on farms. The vast oil industry, the principal source of income for the government when it was operated by the British, employed barely 60,000 persons. Rural areas have benefitted little from modernization programs designed to build roads, establish schools, and extend health facilities.
Recently, Iran has been in the headlines largely because of the oil dispute.
The Nationalists and Communists in 1951 started strikes in oil fields and Premier Hussein Afi declared martial law in the Khuzistan province. The Tudeh party (Communist) demanded expulsion of all military advisers as well. Unable to get a compromise the premier resigned and the Shah appointed Mohammed Mossadegh, the Nationalist Front leader, as premier.
Mr. Mossadgeh favored nationalization, and Parliament promptly passed a law to take over the properties of the Anglo-Iranian oil company. The refinery at Abadan was closed, which meant not even a 15 per cent profit for either Iran or Great Britain.
1.
When Mr. Mossaddeh rejected an arbitration in 1951, Great Britain asked the International Court of Justice for a temporary injunction that Iran and the company continue normal operations of the industry until further consideration. It was granted, and was cancelled the following year.
Iran broke relations with Great Britain in Oct. 22, 1952. Also civil unrest began marking Mr. Mossadegh's struggle with the Shah for power.
The settlement came to be centered on the question of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company damages arising from the loss of future profits because of Iran's cancellation of oil concessions. Iran was to run the Abadian refinery, deciding which foreign government should share in the management. Refined products were to be sold to a consortium including American and British companies. Until the consortium was formed the United States would give Iran $100 million against future deliveries of oil.
The United States under these conflicts either could break with
Britain and submit to Iran's terms, or turn away from Mr. Mossadegh and await a new regime in Iran. It chose the latter.
In 1953 the huge oil industry was operated at only 5 per cent of its capacity, with present production geared only to meet domestic needs. A little was being exported to Italy and Japan at cut rate prices.
The financial condition of the Iranian government, despite the grant-in-aid by the United States, was serious and baffling. The country has had no annual budget for years, appropriations being voted by Parliament on a monthly basis. The oil nationalization of 1951 had meant a serious loss of revenue from royalities, costing the treasury the wages of some 60,000 workers.
Last October an agreement was at last reached taking over the former monopoly of the Anglo-Iranian company. Only time will tell how satisfactory it will be. An international constorium of eight of the world's largest oil companies will operate the industry for 25 years, using Iranian techniques.
The tendency to think of the Iranian problem as settled, now that Iran is in funds again, is tempting, but it was only a year ago that a Communist coup d'état was bloodily stopped and Iran's long border with the Soviet Union remains an indisputable geographical fact.
Looking into the future, if the budget can be made stable Iran can become internally strong. She is a little country with a big pocketbook which will strengthen her economy provided she spends it wisely.
Ann Kellv
The island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean was the home of the extinct dodo bird.
Daily Hansan
University of Kansas student newspaper
Founded 1889, became bweekly 1904,
triweekly 1908, daily Jan. 16, 1912.
Telephone Vikhil 3-700
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Member Inland Daily Press Association,
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NEWS DEPARTMENT
Marlon McCoy ... Managing Editor
Larry Hell, John McMillon, Harry Elliott, Pae Necinvsky, Assistant Managing Editors; Barbara Bell, City Editor; Robert Kinsey, City Editor; David Webb, Telegraph Editor; Daryl Hall, Assistant Telegraph Editor; Ann Kelly, Society Editor; Fleece Fenberg, Assistant Society Editor; Kent Theist, Editor; Bob Lyle, Assistant Sports Editor; John Stephens, Picture Editor.
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
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Manager; Walt Battert Classified Ad-
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EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Sam Hill, Associate Editor
Dick Walt, Associate Editor
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