Thursday, March 11, 1954
Qualities of Lincoln, Washington Needed by President Eisenhower
With Lincoln's and Washington's month—February—just behind us, it is perhaps time to ponder certain comparisons between the past and present.
In the last few years, the names of Washington and Lincoln have frequently been linked with that of President Eisenhower. "He will need the military genius of Washington and the political genius of Lincoln to straighten the mess this country is in," it has been said.
"Mary Todd," the story of Mrs. Lincoln, relates that one day Lincoln walked quietly and unannounced into the Congressional Committee to reassure them that Mrs. Lincoln was loyal to the Union cause, despite the fact that her brothers were fighting with the Rebel forces.
Benjamin P. Thomas, the latest and one of the best biographers of Lincoln, has said, "I should be much more critical of Eisenhower if I did not recall the first two years of Lincoln's administration."
It is true that Washington hated partisanship and dreamed of a country without political parties. But in his own cabinet he employed—and aided in their rise to power—Jefferson and Hamilton, each of whom founded political ideologies that have ever since dominated the American scene.
At the time, the capital city seethed with southern sympathizers, while Lincoln himself was under heavy attack from the "abolitionist" wing of his newly-formed Republican party.
Subversion today has been called child's play compared with the storms and suspicions raging in the Lincoln era.
Earlier, Washington had found himself in unfamiliar company when he came to Boston from his Virginia plantation. In this colonial city, the Revolution had brought sharp divisions. One hundred graduates of Harvard college, rather than be associated with the "rebels," had left Boston for Halifax.
And of course, Lincoln was heavily criticized by the conservative side at the start of his administration for fighting a war for three months before calling Congress into session.
It is interesting to note that Lincoln's manstay in Congress was his opponent, Stephen A. Douglas, who upheld the President's views during the ear'y months of the administration, exactly as Sen. Taft later supported President Eisenhower.
Members of Lincoln's cabinet were freely quoted as to their low estimate of his character and capacity.
As for epithets in political campaigns—certainly prevalent now—nothing matches the incredible abuse to which both Washington and Lincoln were subject in their lifetimes.
President Eisenhower has been happily spared the vituperation ordinarily incident to the Presidency in troublesome times.
More coincidental, both senators died before the first year of the new administration had run its course.
As Washington faced the British in war, he left at home the Continental Congress with all the problems it presented. Lincoln had the Committee on the Conduct of the War, which he sometimes suggested was more troublesome than the armies of Gen. Robert E. Lee. The Northern generals were, from time to time, summoned to discuss questions of strategy with their senatorial inquisitors—according to "Lincoln's Generals" — until Gen. Grant dispatched notice that he would report as early as convenient and "would bring along the Army of the Potomac."
It has been contended that the Truman committee in World War II avoided incursions into the grand strategy of war with the errors of 1863 in mind, and that this example has been largely followed by the other investigating committees of both the House and Senate.
-Lettv Lemon
Hot Air, Tirades Getting Hotter, Longer But Things Haven't Changed Very Much
The hot air is getting hotter, the tirades are getting longer, and the interparty accusations are getting louder but basically nothing has happened in that political playground called Washington.
And, as might be expected, the gentleman from Wisconsin is right in the midst of the verbal warfare. But he's not the only one involved in the present skirmishes, which seem 'to be rising in popularity among the wheels and cogs of the Democratic and Republican parties.
It all seemed to have started a few weeks back when the Dems, seeking a campaign issue, attempted to convince the public that a depression was just around the corner. For proof, they cited the present business slump. This was due, of course, to the administration.
Then Sen. Joe (I'll get rid of those lousy Reds) McCarthy took the spotlight with his public spanking of Army Secretary Robert Stevens. The Army, according to Joe, had engaged in the shocking practice of "coddling" Communists. Stevens didn't agree.
cape his probing eye. On the debit side, it gave the Democrats a beautiful weapon for the '54 elections.
The GOP struck back with a blast at "those who are trying to create fear and panic when actually there is no reason for alarm." Or words to that effect.
For President Eisenhower implied that McCarthy's latest investigation was strictly "bush league" since administration members were subjected to public humiliation. This rift, said the Democrats, indicated the GOP is "split wide open." Nonsense, said the Republicans, "you're making mountains out of mole-holes."
The only thing left to do, of course, was to engage in a verbal pier six brawl, a rumps that left bitterness, distrust, and angry feelings in its wake. Joe's fans roared their approval when they saw their hero wasn't letting any bigwigs es-
Round three. McCarthy denounces CBS and NBC as "immoral" and "completely dishonest" for refusing to grant him free and equal TV time to answer charges made by Adalie Stevenson in his "personal attack."
And so it goes. As long as the game of politics is played the public can expect our "statesmen" (some of them really are that but not many) to say anything that might help the party pick up a couple of votes. Wrangling attacks, and fiery charges will be with us till the judgement day.
—Chuck Morelock
University of Kansas Student Newspaper News Room KU 251 Ad Room KU 376 Member of the Kansas Press Assn., National Editor Assn., Inland Daily Press Assn., University of Kansas Representation by the National Advertising Service, 420 Madison Avenue, N.Y. City. Mail Subscription rates: $3 a semester or less (non-refundable). Published in Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University of Kansas university holidays and examination periods. Entered second class matter Sept. 17, 1910 at Lawrence, Kan., Post Office under act
Daily Hansan
A Texas hunting license costs $2.15, but none is required for hunting in the county of residence.
Executive editor ... Shirley Platt
Managing editors ... Tom Stewart, Mary
Ellen, Zelia Gaston
News editor ... Tom Shannon
Assistant ... Lyle Lemton
Assistant editor ... Karen Hiller
Assistant ... Dana Leibengood
Society editor ... Elizabeth Wolghmith
Assistant ... Karen Hilmer
Society editor ... Stan Hamilton
News advisor ... Ridke
NEWS STAFF
BUSINESS STAFF
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editorial editor ... Chuck Morelock
Assistants ... Sam Teaford, Don Tice
Business mgr.
Jane Megafan
Admin. adv. mgr.
Susan Berry
Classified adv. mgr.
Wendell Sullivan
Admin. adv. mgr.
Ed Bartlett
Promotion mgr.
Informed sources say Co ach Mather's physical training program will be held down at the new fieldhouse. There players can keep in shape by lifting the steel beams.
Page 2 University Daily Kansan Thursday, March 11, 1954 LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS by Dick Bibler
"I don't know how they found out about your REAL financial status—but some of the 'brothers' were a little 'put out.'"
"TAKE IT EASY"
NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL
Short Ones
Some of the local basketball fans don't think Colorado will go very far in the NCAA playoffs. The reason: The Buffers won't have their mountain air advantage. They'll have to battle teams who won't be troubled with a lack of oxygen.
. . .
It was too bad the Jayhawkers naked to lose at Columbia Tuesday night. But you can't go on beating Missouri forever. After all, we've beaten them 15 out of 18 times since the Big Seven was organized in 1948. And until Tuesday's waterloo, the Tigers had been clawed eight straight times by the Kansans. Another KU victory might have made the Bengals so mad that they would have resumed border warfare again.
They've got a bridge but no river up in Nebraska. That's like building a skyscraper with no rooms. Or a stadium with no football field.
The Editor Sez
Chuck Morelock
Stealing an idea from the Kansas City Star, we would like to receive your comments on that famous comic strip, Pogo.
The Star took a survey a few weeks ago to see just how its readers felt about Pogo. Albert the alligator, pup dog, and company. The result seemed to be that one either is wild about Walt or swampland characters or thinks daily series is for the birds.
We've always felt that Kelly was a great satirical artist, one who could do a masterful job of poking fun at certain American institutions through the medium of the "funnies."
But some people think otherwise. Thus, if you have an opinion one way or the other, drop us a line.
False income tax statements are frowned upon by internal revenue officials. But who could blame one for judging a little here and there when he sees that he might have to give up his hard-earned dollars to finance the shift of a river so it can flow under a bridge?
This "important" and rather ridiculous project—had been defeated in Congress but the army engineers are back again seeking the taxpayers money.
It seems that that a $2 million toll bridge at Decatur, Neb. is in an odd situation; there isn't any river under it. So the engineers want to move the bridge into its proper situa-
tion. This will be entirely of that type of all evil, of course.
If they can do it, John Q. Public will be justified in exclaiming, "Ain't science wonderful?"
It would seem logical to assume the slide rule boys should have gotten the bridge and river together before work began. Oh well, guess thats the way the ball bounces—
We heard the other day that the Jayhawkers will be wearing leather, instead of plastic helmets next fall. This perhaps is a trivial irritation, but we always felt the leather jobs (still popular at Notre Dame) make a team look like a throwback from the flying wedge era. The plastic, suspension type headgear that most teams use have a streamlined air about them that dresses up a squad, even though it can't improve its playing ability.
Sen. McCarthy issued a blast against NBC and CBS the other day. It seems the Wisconsin senator was irritated because he couldn't chance to answer Adalai Stevenson's charges. We see no reason why Mac needs the radio to sound off; he's loud enough as it is.