Kansas State Historical Society
Topeka, Ks.
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Daily hansan
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
Friday, Sept. 24, 1954
52nd Year, No. 8
Lawrence Townspeople Relive Lawrence Past
By MARY BESS STEPHENS
. Some American people, 888 of them, stood up last night and told the history of their town, and of a part of this nation, in a celebration of something they are proud of—the birth of their town, Lawrence, Kansas.
Baker Phi Mus Escape As Fire Destroys House
Baldwin —(U,P)— Twenty-nine sorority members escaped a fire that destroyed the Phi Mu chan- house at Baker University shortly before midnight last night.
None was injured, but most salvaged only the clothes they wore as they fled. Damage to the house, formerly quarters for the University president, and to antique furnishings was expected to exceed $25,000.
Martha, Collingwood, Johnson, Kas., discovered the dining room afire when she went downstairs to the kitchen. She spread the alarm and, aided by sorority president Kay Norton, New Hartford, In., cleared the girls out of the house.
National Phi Mu finance officer Mrs. Robert M. Riley, said the loss was a "tremendous blow" to development plans.
A two-story wing was being constructed on the building, to have been completed by the Christmas holiday. Ground-breaking ceremonies were held only two weeks ago.
The pajama-clad Phi Mu sorority escaped only seconds before flames enveloped and destroyed their chapter house.
The university's 500 students joined firemen in pouring water on nearby sorority houses and the home of University President Nelson P. Horn, which was next door to the burning house.
Cause of the fire was unknown. It broke out shortly before midnight and burned to the ground within an hour. Firemen said it started in the dining room and rapidly engulfed the upper floor.
Mrs. David Johnson, soority house mother, said most of the girls carried $300 insurance, but the amount would probably not cover all of their belongings.
The girls moved into the Alpha Chi house temporarily today. No plans had been made yet for permanent quarters.
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KuKu's Pledge 29 In Smoker Ceremony
Members of KuKu, upperclass men's pep organization, selected 29 new pledges at a smoker last night.
The pledges are Don Lumpkin,
Don Barrett, Alan Leclinlither,
Vernon Shull, Karl Machinek,
Bruce Hackney, Robert Murray,
Don Ankerholz, Marshall Hendrickson,
Donald Roudebush, Bent Platter,
Clyde Galleghuch, John Hutcherson, Joe Glatz, Gene Kurtz, Westy Goodnow, Al Borenstine, Herb Prussack, Rafley Knapp, Donald Van Achen, Stanley Ausemus, Ronald Elder, B. H. Redding, Charles Sallanski, Jim Mahroney, Larry Schrauner, Bruce Patty, Russell Hayes, and Jim Ritzlaff.
Date Set for ASC Requests
The deadline for submitting requests for ASC appropriations has bee nset for Oct. 7. Applications may be obtained from Phil Petitt at the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house. The finance auditing committee will begin hearings Oct. 4.
◦ It happened at Haskell stadium, it's called "Trails West," and it's going to run six days. It's not a theatrical wonder—the people aren't actors. They're just everyday people.
The girls scouts, the boy scouts, the horse fanciers, anyone who wanted to be in the pageant was there on the field, marching, acting and dancing.
The history of their town isn't particularly distinguished. The Indians, the early settlers who came from New England because they wanted to get a foot-hold in the new frontier, and because they wanted to vote the territory free from slavery, the bums and wanders, all made up that history.
Quantrill came in and sacked Lawrence. The costumes weren't very good in this scene, and the cap guns sounded strange, but the people in the audience didn't care. They were back there in August 21, 1893, you could tell it in their
Polly Peppercorn Centennial Queen
Surrounded by dozens of flags and a guard, Chancellor Franklin D. Murphy introduced and crowned Polly Peppercorn, college freshman, queen of the Lawrence centennial celebration last night. The presentation took place at the opening night of the "Trails West" pageant held at Haskell stadium.
Runner-up in the queen contest, Judy Cotton, college sophomore, was named the Duchess of Douglas county.
Miss Peppercorn will reign over all the festivities to be held during the entire celebration week and will also receive a round trip to Hollywood with all expenses paid for two.
eyes, and the way they leaned forward-and watched, and didn't say a word.
The scenes down on the field went on, the happy early 1900's, the Spanish American war, World I, the conflicts, and then the second World War.
The audience was still. They were with the actors living in the past. Ne one said a word, and when the narrator read "In Flander's Field the poppies blow," tears could be on the faces of some spectators.
50,000 Expected at Parade
December 7, 1941. On the field the actors sat around their radios in a tableau of that Sunday afternoon. The spectators were at home, sitting around their radios, and remembering.
A simulated Atomic bomb was set off. The narrator counted off the minutes, like they do in the newsreels. Then the bomb went off with a hollow sound.
—Kansen photo by Larry Trethar
CENTENNIAL VISITOR—Mrs. Sarah Lawrence Slattery, Boston, is shown at the Museum of Art with the original portrait of her grandfather, Amos Lawrence, the man for whom Lawrence was named. Mrs. Slattery arrived here last night at the invitation of the Lawrence Centennial committee. She attended an Old Settlers' luncheon this noon at the Plymouth Congregational church, will attend the Trails
Highly Touted Frosh Top Debate Selections
Whistle Sound Different? It's A Different Whistle
West pageant tonight and ride in the parade tomorrow.
Kenneth Irby from Ft. Scott, who was chosen outstanding speech student at Ft. Scott High school; John Knightly of Hutchinson, a member of the third-place team in the 1953 and 1954 class AA debate tournaments.
Twenty-three new members were selected for the debate squad following tryouts last night.
R. R. Ripen from Shawnee-Mission High school, a member of the team that won tournaments at Ft. Scott, Atchison, Emporia, and Olathe; Abraham Gorelick from Wyandotte High school, letterman in debate at Wyandotte high school; Robert Grabske from William Christman High school in Independence, Mo.; Menard Smith from Argentine High school; Don Turner of Newton, a member of the Ark Valley league championship debate team; Gordon Ryan from Russell, state champion extempire speaker in 1954; Herschel Bruner of Olathe who was selected as outstanding debater at Olathe High school in 1954.
Freshmen chosen to the squad are Benjamin Grant, North Kansas City High school, last year's Missouri state debate champion; Robert Murphy from North Kansas City High school, a member of the first place debate team in Missouri; Robert Ince of Wamego, who was chosen outstanding debater in the state Class A tournament; Jerry Hertzler, Newton High school debater who took second place in the 1953 state debate tournament and second place in the 1954 American Legion oratory contest.
Notice something different about the whistle? You should—it's a different whistle. The old whistle, which served the University for 32 years, became warped after it blew out about 22 years ago.
Hugh Grant from the Hutchinson team that won debate tournaments at Russell, Topeka, and Newton; Charles Shanklin, from the Wyandotte High school team that won the William Christman debate tournament in 1954; Joel Sterrett from Topeka, member of the state class AA debate team in 1954; Wanda Welliver from Decatur High school, Oberlin;
New sophomore members are Gary Skinner from Chanute; R. L. Brown from Wyandotte High school, winner of debate tournaments at Topeka, Russell, Salina, Hutchinson, and Shawnee-Mission; Mike Gibson, a transfer from Hutchinson Junior college, first place winner in the 1954 national junior college debate tournament;
W. C. Sanderson, chief engineer,
said that the danger of another
blowout made it necessary to buy
a new whistle.
Mr. Sanderson said it would probably be up to Chancellor Franklin D. Murphy, C. G. Bayles, supervisor of buildings and grounds, and Keith Lawton, administrative assistant, to make the final decision as to whether the new whistle will be satisfactory. That will depend chiefly on whether the whistle can be heard clearly on all parts of the campus.
merely getting temperamental. The tone of the new one is not as low-pitched or full-bodied as that of the old whistle.
Juniors chosen to the squad are Al Calloway, Overland Park, a transfer from St. John's Junior college in Winfield and second place winner in the Kansas anti-alcohol oration contest in 1954; Don Ihde, Hope, a transfer from Northwestern university and winner of the Bradley university debate tournament; Tom Phoenix from Ellinwood;
A first year law student chosen is Pete Martin, Olathe, a transfer from Kansas State, who was chosen Missouri Valley debate conference.
Students hearing the new whistle for the first time at 11:50 a.m. Thursday thought the old one was
Dr. Kim Giffin, director of debate, said of the new debate squad members, "My associates and I have great hopes for these beginners. They are one of the finest groups of young men we have ever taken onto the K.U. debate squad. We feel that both this year and in the future they will be a real contribution to the KU forensi? program."
The largest and most specaculair parade ever staged in Lawrence will be viewed by an estimated 50,000 persons at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Following the band the procession will round sixth st. and march down Massachusetts to 13th st., where it will proceed four blocks east to New York for dispersal.
The Kansas University band, directed by Prof. Russell L. Wiley, will head the Centennial parade. Accompanying the band will be a color guard from the National Guard unit at Valley Falls.
Composing the parade will be an army of approximately 57 high school bands, 70 vehicles, 350-400 horses, and 40 floats. About 3,000 persons will participate in the two hour parade spectacle, Jack Harris, parade marshal, estimated.
Bleachers have been built in South Park to accommodate 600-700 spectators. The seats which will cost 50 cents are primarily for older persons and women with small children. Spectators will not be allowed in the street in order to give paraders all the possible space.
The Lawrence Junior Chamber of Commerce has attempted to stage the parade in historical sequence with Spanish explorers leading, followed by Indians, trappers, prospectors, and pioneer settlers, coming up to the present day.
Officials have announced that there will be no prizes awarded floats since they feel the Centennial parade is sufficient attraction without them. Twenty pioneer groups, distinct from the floats, and two Lawrence Boy Scout troops may compete against an imminent from Lawrence but representatives will be sent from most of the surrounding towns.
The high school bands will be in Lawrence to participate in the annual KU Band Day. They will march in the stadium Saturday afternoon at the KU-UCLA game.
If You Use Pal's ID Card
The problem of using a friend's ID card for a guest arises every football game. The business office has set up certain procedures to be followed.
The information booth will exchange the borrowed card for a ticket allowing the guest to sit in the student section. Guests are restricted to high school pupils and friends of students. The information booth will be open from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to noon tomorrow.
A charge of $1 will be made for federal and state taxes. The purchaser's ID card number will be stamped on the back of the ticket, making him responsible for its proper use. Violators of the system will be turned over to the disciplinary committee.
Any organization can apply one week in advance to the athletic committee for group tickets for high school students. This will not be in effect for the Colorado game because of Parent's day.
Weather
The leading edge of a mass of cooler air pushed into Northwestern
K a n s a s this morning, and will cover m o s t of Kansas tomorrow. The front should drop temperatures around 15 degrees maybe up to 20 degrees. The reduction of nighttime readings will be less. A few showers, widely scattered and fairly light, are expected. The cool air mass replaced a fall heat wave in the West. The mercury rose to 98 degrees at Hill City. In Eastern Kansas the high at Olathe was only 82 degrees.