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University Daily Kansan Tuesday, November 30.1954
How Can We Justify Use Of Wire-tapping Evidence?
How can wire-tapping be justified? That is a question persons are now asking since the problem of using wire-tapping as evidence in trying Communists has become so important.
Wire-tapping has existed in a legal way for about 50 years. The only period in which it was outlawed was during World War I, when the government took control of the telephone service. However, when private ownership again took over, it was resumed.
However, even though wire-tapping is legal, it cannot be used as evidence, because it would violate Section 605 of the Federal Communications act, which states: "No person, not being authorized by the sender, shall intercept any communication and divulge or publish the existence, contents, substance, or meaning of such intercepted communication to any person."
In 1928 a precedent was set. In that year the Supreme Court ruled by a verdict of five to four, that wire-tapping did not violate the fourth amendment restrictions on search and seizure.
When these precedents were set the cases did not involve Communists. Now since the situation is entirely different many persons believe that the laws should be changed.
Since the Nardone v. United States case in 1938, when evidence obtained from wire tapping was thrown out, that kind of evidence has not been allowed in a federal case.
Whether or not the act was made to regulate wire tapping is in dispute, but the Supreme Court ruled that it was.
One of the most important cases that has come up is that of Judith Coplon. In this case the Justice department wanted to use evidence obtained from the tapping method. Miss Coplon was convicted of espionage and conspiracy to commit treason. Yet she was set free.
Attorney Gen. Herbert Brownell has asked for
the power to use material obtained from wire-tapping in espionage, treason, and kidnaping cases. He isn't the first attorney general to ask for this power.
The Justice department feels it is dangerous to the nation's security to leave "cut and dried" cases in its files which allow persons to go free when they have committed a serious crime only because wire-tapping evidence cannot be used.
The wire-tapping evidence which the Justice department wishes to have entered in the cases was collected only by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and would be used only in cases involving national security.
"Certainly there is as great a need to utilize this technique to protect our country from those who would enslave us and are engaged in subversion and who, if successful, would destroy our institutions and democracy."
We think that wire-tapping is all right. The persons who have their rights infringed upon should have no complaint, for by attempting to commit a crime they have infringed upon the rights of American citizens.
Sen. Morse believes wire-tapping is a poor substitute for a thorough investigating police force. He believes if the FBI is on its toes such practices would be unnecessary to gain convictions.
The special Senate committee on organized crime in interstate commerce has recommended legalizing wire-tapping.
In this case the safety of the majority is being risked for the convenience of the minority. We believe that this privilege is unjustified and that wire-tapping evidence should be used in cases dealing with treason, espionage, sabotage, and kidnapping.
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS by Dick Bibler
Self-Confidence May Be Clue to Success, Happiness
—Dana Leibengood
"Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy."
This is the opening paragraph of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale's best-seller, "The Power of Positive Thinking." And here is stated an idea that could be included in everyone's philosophy of life. For a person can do almost anything if he thinks he can and wants to badly enough.
A person needs to believe in himself. The student who thinks he's going to fail a test or the businessman who gets up thinking that it's going to be a bad day has one strike against him before he even gets started.
Of course there are hardships in life, but don't let them dominate your mind. Accept them. Don't let them destroy your happiness and well being. The famous psychiatrist, Dr. Karl Menninger has said, "Attitudes are more important than facts." Be confident and optimistic, whether you're making a speech, or taking an hour exam.
When you get discouraged, sit down with a paper and pencil and just start listing all of the advantages you have in life. To start out you might put down your family, your health, the fact that you live in the U.S. . . . and when you get through you'll find you're much better off than you thought you were.
Once the manufacturer of a large company decided that he wanted to make an unbreakable type of glass. He called in his older engineers and told them what he wanted. They said it couldn't be done and when they tried they failed. But the president didn't give up so easily. He called in a group of young men and told them what he wanted. Not knowing "that it couldn't be done" these men proceeded to produce the unbreakable glass we have today.
Build your self confidence by thinking positive thoughts. Believe in yourself!
—Georgia Wallace
Baptist Growth
Baptist Group
Chicago—U.P.)—The U.S. National Baptist Convention, largest Negro organization in the world, gained 148,457 new members during 1953-54. Dr.J.H.Jackson, national president, announced here. The total is now 4,557,416 members.
UNIVERSITY DAILY BANSAN
University of Kansas Student Newspaper
News Room, KU 251 Ad Room, KU 276
Member of the Inland Daily Press association. Associated Collegiate Press association. Represented by the National Air Mail and YM Mail subscription rates: $3 a semester or $4.50 a year (add $1 a semester if in New York). Visit www.ymmail.org. Kan every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays University holidays and examination periods. Entered as second class student from 1787 to 1879, post office under act of March 3, 1879.
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editorial Editor  Letty Lemon
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Dot Taylor, Amy DeYong
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Business Mgr. Bill Taggart
Management Mgr. David Conley
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NEWS STAFF
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Iedellie Dana Society Editor Laverie Yates
Society Editor Mary Bess Stephens
Feature Karen Hilmer
News-Editorial Adviser
Calder M. Pickett
"They play an 'unbalanced line'—I heard none of 'em have an I.Q. over 40."
Dr. Adenauer Builds Strong West Germany
Germany's "Old Fox"—Dr. Konrad Adenauer—has done more and gained more fame in six short years than most men do, in a lifetime. For in these years since 1948—hectic years for Germany—the strong man of the new Reich has brought a new power to West Germany.
It wasn't until he was in his 70s that Dr. Adenauer began to find his place in history. He was 73 when West Germans called on him to head the republic. He was elected chancellor in 1949.
Staunchly pro-American, Chancellor Adenauer is one of the West's strongest friends.
"The great majority of the West German people today already regards the American troops on German soil, not as an occupation army, but as allies," he said in a recent interview.
As the new chancellor, Dr. Adenauer's first pledge to the West German people after he took office on Sept. 15, 1949, was to "conduct German affairs so the rest of the world will begin to trust this country again."
Chancellor Adenauer left politics when Adolph Hitler brought into being the "second German army."
In 1933, when the Nazis came to power, Dr. Adenauer stepped down from his post as mayor of the city of Cologne, Germany. He retired to his garden and his roses at Rhoendorf near the Rhine and waited. He waited for 12 years.
Then, in 1945, the British reinstated him as mayor of Cologne.
Today at 78, Chancellor Adenauer faces trouble at home because of concessions to France in the gaining of a settlement of the years-long dispute between Germany and France over the coal-rich Saar.
Chancellor Adenauer says that by early in 1957 West Germany can have 500,000 men under arms and ready to stand by the Western powers against any aggressor.
In 1950 the chancellor was very grave when he spoke of what he believed to be Russia's aims for European conquests. Today he says that "the West German population is absolutely immune to the Communist danger" from within.
"After the agreements concluded at Paris go into effect the prospects will improve because it has been proved that Russia will only make concessions if the West is united and strong."
And with Germany back in the family of nations for the first time since the Hitler armies began to march toward their own destruction in 1939 the West is united and strong—strong enough for Russia to really, perhaps for the first time, take notice.
John Herrington
Two Drivers
West Hartford, Conn.—U.P.) Two motorists were charged with drunk- en driving, even though only one automobile was involved. Police said each man claimed to have been driving.
Colorado's highway department is expert in locating avalanche danger areas near mountain passes where wind builds up masses of snow on deep slopes. By analyzing snow depth and density and keeping an eye on local weather conditions, it predicts potential slides, usually within eight hours. Then traffic is blocked off, the slides are blasted loose, and waiting snow plows clear the roads.