Kansas State Historical Society Topeka, Ks.
Daily hansan
Thursday, February 10, 1955
LAWRENCE. KANSAS
52nd Year, No. 85
—Kansan photo by Nancy Collins
EDITOR INSPECTS NEWSROOM—Norman E. Isaacs, managing editor of The Louisville, Kentucky Times, inspects the work of journalism students in the University Daily Kansan newsroom today. Mr. Isaacs spoke today on "Conscience and the Editor" for the sixth annual William Allen White Lecture.
Press Politics Study Urged Ex-Holton Editor Honored
By BOB LYLE
A comprehensive nation-wide on-the-spot study of the political habits of American newspapers during the coming presidential campaign in 1956 was urged today by Norman E. Isaacs, Louisville, Ky., editor, William Allen White lecturer.
The proposed plan calls for an exhaustive study to determine to what extent newspapers will campaign openly for candidates by coloring news dispatches or suppressing news entirely. Mr. Isaacs said that much criticism had been raised in 1952 over newspaper coverage policies but that no accurate record could be made by digging into the past.
Mr. Isaacs, who delivered the sixth annual William White lecture, spoke on "Conscience and the Editor," in Strong auditorium at 3 p.m.
Laxity by editors and publishers, newspaper owners and employees has allowed the American press to stray from its intended task of honestly informing the public without regard for profit only or the incorporation of editorial policy in news columns, Mr. Isaacs said. Criticism on this point has come from both members of the press and laymen, he said.
The proposed comprehensive test study of the journalistic methods and ethics which will be used in newspaper coverage of the coming 1956 presidential campaign will clarify public criticism of the press and give an insight to newspaper-men themselves, he said.
"The press must not forget that it has been on trial both by its own members and the American public for a long time," he said. "Let us start answering some of the $64 questions." Mr. Isaac offered the plan as an alternative to rehashing the controversial 1952 campaign, a rehashing which he said would prove nothing now since accurate data could not be obtained.
According to the plan, members of the investigating committee would be selected from the Association for Education, the American
WILL T. BECK
Society of Journalism School Administrators, and the American Council on Education for Journalism from the field of journalism education, and the American Press institute and the Nieman foundation, professional training groups.
"Many publishers and editors whose consciences have become elastic have permitted editorial opinions to slop over into news columns," he said, "with the result that their minds have become all mixed up and permanently set."
Mr. Isaacs urged a policy of thoughtful appraisal by newspaper-men of the basic ills of the American press.
The results would be an accurate indicator of how far newspapers have actually gone in writing editorial policy in news stories and suppressing news, he said.
Mr. Isaacs listed as another fault, the operation of newspapers purely as profit venture by owners who have no conception of the moral implications involved in running a newspaper.
Will T. Beck, retired editor and publisher of the Holton Recorder, today received the William Allen White Foundation Award for Journalistic Merit.
The presentation address was delivered by Fred W. Brinkerhoff, editor and manager of the Pittsburgh Sun and Headlight, at a luncheon connected with the annual meeting of the White Foundation here.
Mr. Beck was cited as "a Kansas newspaperman who exemplifies the William Allen White ideals in journalism and in service to his profession and his community." He is the second to receive the White award, which was established in 1954. The first recipient was Charles M. Harger, publisher of the Abilene Reflector-Chronicle.
Mr. Beck, who will be 82 Monday, has spent his entire life in Holton. He attended the schools there and received the A.B. degree from Campbell university in Holton. He later studied at the University of Michigan.
"Let no one harbor the impression that the award for journalistic merit is based on years of service," Mr. Brinkerhoff said. "The length of service is important, of course, and highly interesting. But it is what has been done with the years that counts. A combination of long years and rich service is a basis for the award this year as it was last year."
After apprenticeship in the printing, news, and business aspects of the Holton Recorder, established two decades before by his father, Mr. Beck in 1896 became editor. He held that position until selling the Recorder to John Chandler, the present publisher, in 1950.
"The Holton Recorder was founded in what we refer to as the 'old days' in Kansas," Mr. Brinkerhoff said. "They were different, Newspapers spring from political antagonisms and ambitions. They were founded to expound the virtues of one party and expose the wickedness of the other."
First Troops Off Tachens
Taipei, Formosa—(U.P).The first regular troops to be evacuated from the Tachens under protection of the U.S. 7th Fleet arrived here today and Americans said the whole operation was miles ahead of schedule.
Original Navy estimates said the evacuation would take 10 to 14 days, but it appeared likely the mass movement would be completed by this week end. The removal of the Nationalist garrison was the final and most crucial phase of the pullback.
Vice Adm. Alfred M. Pride, 7th Fleet commander, denied rumors that $1 million worth of artillery ammunition would be left on Tachen and said his ships would stand by until everything of value was removed. The reports originated over a garbled message saying "cease operations" instead of the intended "complete operations."
Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, in a statement released today, denounced United Nations efforts for a cease-fire in the Formosa strait and again called for sanctions against Soviet and Red Chinese aggression.
He also denounced the idea of "two Chinas" and said Russia had urged Peiping to attack Formosa as part of Moscow's scheme to conquer the world.
The Generalissimo said Moscow and Peiping want to take Forosona and eliminate it as a key position in the world's anti-Communist defense line running from the Aleutians to Australia.
The first Tachen troops, numbering about 800, arrived aboard two Nationalist landing ships.
Chinese Communists, remarkably silent during the removal of civilians, were coming more and more into the open during the final phases of the operation. Observers speculated that if the Communists attacked at all they would do it now.
Nanchi island, about 150 miles north of Formosa, may become the Nationalists' northernmost outpost. A high government official said "in our understanding Nanchi is in the same status with Quemoy and Matsu."
Operetta Matinee Cancelled for Today
The high school matinee performance of "An American in Boston" which was scheduled today at 3 p.m. has been cancelled because of weather conditions.
Tomorrow evening's performance has been sold out. There are no more tickets available.
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March 1 Deadline For Senior Pictures
Seniors should call Estes Studio, telephone 151, before March 1 for appointments to have pictures taken for the Senior issue of the Jayhawker.
Winds and Snow Drop Mercury To 8 Degrees
In other parts of the state, the Kansas Highway department today reported difficulty in keeping three U.S. highways open in northeast Kansas because of blowing snow that drifted to depths of three feet. U.S. highways 36, 159, and 73 were the trouble spots. Snowplows cut through the drifts only to have the job repeated after snow drifted back on the road behind the plows. Considerable cloudiness is expected in Kansas today with occasional light snow in the west. Scattered snow is expected in other parts of the state, turning generally fair tonight and Friday. The expected high today is 10-15 in the northwest to 20 in the southeast. The low tonight will be 5 below in the extreme northeast and north central to near zero in the northwest and 10 above in the southeast.
North winds and snow which hit Lawrence last night sent the mercury to 8 degrees by 9 a.m. today. It was still dropping at press time. The temperature, reported at 56 degrees at 3 p.m. yesterday by the Kansas Public Service company, had dropped to 28 at midnight.
High Positions Open On K-Book Staff
Positions for editor, business manager, and two assistants are open on the K-book, student information publication, Anna Lu McFarlin, ASC Publications committee chairman, announced yesterday.
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New Men's Dormitories To Open in September
Room applications are now being invited for the 1955-56 term in the first complete men's residence hall service offered on the campus.
Carruth and O'Leary hall, nearing completion on West Campus road, will receive their first students in September. Each has a capacity of 100.
"These are KU's first real men's halls in that they combine room and food service and are open to any KU men," Joseph J. Wilson, director of dormitories, said.
Applications will be considered in order of receipt by the Dormitory office, 222 Strong, although up to one-third of the space may be allocated to freshmen. The room contract will cover two semesters.
Conciliation of the financial obligation will be permitted only for sickness and certain other unusual circumstances unless acceptable replacements are available.
Applications must be accompanied by a deposit of $25, which becomes a guarantee against room damage and assurance of contract fulfillment.
The board and room charges will be at the rate of $65 a month, with payments being made three times each semester. A leaflet explaining other regulations may be obtained at the Dormitory office.