Service Concessions Not All Bad
One good thing that has been a direct result of the Army-McCarthy hearings—a thing that will probably last for some time—is that no longer will it be easy for an individual to use the proverbial "pull" to get a good deal in the service.
Since the big stink that has been raised over the pull, one way or another, by Pvt. David Schine in his inglorious Army career, the big boys are afraid to stick out their necks and help their friends and relatives.
Of course, a certain amount of this will continue to occur, but not nearly in the same proportion as it has occurred previously. We found this out first hand recently when we attempted to pull a few strings in the military, and were politely told it "wasn't being done."
This can be a good thing for the services. The promotion and placing of men on relative merits instead of on relative's pull will undoubtedly do much to improve the calibre of the men in the better positions in the service.
However, there is one danger that we would like to point out if this policy is carried too far. There has been a reaction against the practice of giving so-called "soft jobs" of any kind to celebrities entering the service. Instances that have been cited are the codling of athletes and allowing professional entertainers to continue in the entertainment field.
In some instances this practice may have been carried too far. However, we would like to point out a few things.
The services supposedly try to make the most
of any special abilities individuals possess when they enter the service. By doing this the individuals are kept happier, the service gets better performance out of them, and the taxpayer gets more mileage on his dollar.
Tuesday, May 18. 1954
Take the popular singer Eddie Fisher, for example. He undoubtedly would have made a reasonably good file clerk or truck driver, had the Army chosen to make him such, but he did his country much more good by continuing with his singing.
By continuing his singing career under the auspices of the Army, he gave many soldiers the opportunity to see a top-flight star that they normally would not have had. In addition, he undoubtedly did much for the Army recruiting program by being featured on service-sponsored programs.
Much the same thing can be said for allowing big-name professional athletes to spend a lot of their time participating in athletic contests in the service. Not only are they kept happier, but the boys in the ranks are afforded the opportunity to see some really good contests—a thing that can be very important in maintaining high morale.
Of course this can be carried too far, as can most things, but as long as common sense is used, it can be a great thing for the services and for our country as a whole.
The whole thing boils down to the fact that our services, as well as our government, should use moderation and reason in their decisions rather than emotional thinking and snap decisions.
—Don Tice
California City Helps Youths Gain Driving Responsibility
Much has been said about teen-age crime on the West Coast, especially of the speeding "hot-rod" drivers and their utter disregard for the rights of others.
A young airman from Forbes Air Base at Topeka tells a different story of his home town of Chula Vista, Calif., where a teen-age group have a "hot-rod" club sponsored by the police.
And much has been said on the KU campus regarding the hilltop speedsters who keep pedestrians on the jump and howl when hailed to the police court.
Chula Vista citizens do everything possible for their young people, he said, and are quick to cooperate with any worthwhile endeavor they may undertake.
When a group of teen-age boys instigated and organized the "Road Runners" club, and explained its purpose to the local citizens, they received whole-hearted cooperation.
Club members negotiated with the town curfew authorities, and succeeded in changing curfew hours from 10 p.m. to 12 midnight with no curfew for those over 18. This concession holds good as long as teen-agers prove they can stay out of trouble.
By promising all their business to a certain garage and filling station, the club members received lower rates for all purchaser and repair work. When they purchased club jackets from a local store, they received bargain rates for the entire lot.
The club is self-governed and self-disciplined, and its rules are strict. Monthly meetings are held and business conducted in a serious and orderly manner. Rules are instigated and voted upon by members. If a rule proves impracticable or unworkable—as a few have—it can be voted out.
New members are carefully chosen. They must be recommended by a member, and receive favorable votes from the entire club. Ages of the members usually range from 16-20, although exceptions are sometimes made if agreeable to all members.
The club is sponsored by a policeman, who is chosen by unanimous vote of the members. If by chance he should prove incompatible with the group, he can be voted out.
Club members keep each other in line so as to maintain good standing of the club, and each member tries hard not to let them down. Thus, the "Road Runners" not only learn, but practice good citizenship, cooperation, law enforcement, and how to deal with the problems of society. They make their own laws, punish delinquents in their own way, and cooperate with adult members of society in a dignified and admirable manner. —Valera Tebben
Short Ones
Sen. McCarthy keeps saying "the people won't stand for this," and "the people won't stand for that." It is beginning to look like one of the things the people won't stand for is McCarthy, Careful, Joe!
Probably some of the closest watchers for the results of the Western Civilization test are the people that conducted the cram course. They stand to lose some money and prestige if things don't go well, because they gave a "money back" guarantee with their review.
On the other hand, maybe their confidence is well founded. We didn't see the University giving any kind of guarantee with its review session.
We see where the mathematics club held a picnic at Potter lake. Wonder if the boys spent most of the time studying figures on the grass?
UNIVERSITY Dailu Hansan
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LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS by Dick Bible
"Let's get in this long one—They're either lined up for a 'snap' course or a good teacher."
Coyle Book A Good Review Of U.S. Political Traditions
THE UNITED STATES POLITICAL SYSTEM AND HOW IT WORKS. By David Cushman Coyle. Copyright 1954 by Mr. Coyle and the New American Library of World Literature, Inc.
David Cushman Coyle has taken a brief but penetrating look at the political system and traditions in the United States in his book "The United States Political System and How It Works."
Many attempts have been made in the past to explain the functioning of our democracy to the non-politician, but Mr. Cushman's book avoids the main fault with most of the others in that it is easy, comprehensible reading, and is written in a style that anyone can enjoy, and what is more important, understand.
Mr. Coyle begins by taking a look at the origin of the unique two-party system in America. He expounds on the opposing political theories of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton at the time when the constitution went into effect, and explains how the two basic alternatives at that time made a two-party system the most logical kind for the new nation.
In tracing the history of parties in the United States, Mr. Coyle concludes that the desire for a true two-party system has always been inherent in the desires of the people. He proves his point by showing how, from the time of Washington to the present, when we have found ourselves with only one party, one faction has split from the party to furnish opposition.
One of the most interesting chapters of the book examines the organization of our two major parties, and describes the processes by which platforms are drawn, presidential and vice presidential candidates are chosen, and members of
each party raise funds for the party and rise in the party's hierarchy.
Mr. Coyle illustrates how the relationship between business and government has been dependent on what history demanded. When the U. S. was primarily an agricultural nation, the function of government and political attitudes were geared to this economy. As business became a dominant factor and with the growth of large corporations early in this century, laws were enacted to punish monopolies which were unfair, and to insure a healthy atmosphere of business competition. Later as the labor vote became important, legislation was enacted setting up principles and guides for the inter-relationship between management and labor.
The bicameral system of the legislature in our government is another of its unique features. Other countries have had two-house legislative bodies, but in most other instances, one of the two houses has been, for practical purposes, devoid of any real power. Our system was set up with the idea of having two houses equal in power.
Editorial editor Dont Tice
Assistants Letty Lemon
Mr. Coyle also illustrates the progress of civil rights and individual liberties in our nation. He traces also the turns and changes our foreign policy has taken throughout our history in our dealings with other nations.
E Y F
The author concludes that the political history of the United States has been dominated by a strong desire to stay on a path about mid-way between anarchy at one extreme and socialism or communism at the other.
Mr. Coyle's book gives no great new insight into our political system, nor does it come up with any startling or surprising discoveries. However, it does a good job of giving a basically accurate picture of our political inheritance and philosophy. For the citizen who wants to learn as much as possible in as little time as possible about the present-day functioning of our politics, this book would be an invaluable method of gaining this knowledge and grasping the basic concepts and theories which have shaped our political destiny.
Court Ernst