Strictly Routine
Page 2
University Daily Kansan
Tuesday, March 9. 1954
Puerto Rican Attacks Becoming Common
Twice within four years members of the Puerto Rican nationalist party have attempted to assassinate 100 officials in our government.
The most recent attempt, of course, occurred last Monday when four of the Puerto Rican extremists wounded five congressmen when they fired a hail of bullets into the House of Representatives.
Not quite four years ago, on Nov. 1, 1950, two Puerto Ricans tried to kill former President Truman.
Mr. Truman, living with his family in Blair-house while the White House was being repaired, was taking an afternoon nap when Oscar Collazo and Grieslio Torresola began shooting.
Police guarding Mr. Truman immediately fired back, killing Torresola and seriously wounding Collazo. The assailants never got inside the Blair house. Mr. Truman awakened by the shooting, watched the last of the battle from an upstairs window.
Three policemen were wounded defending the President, including Leslie Coffelt, who died a short time later from bullet wounds.
Collaso, the surviving attacker, was brought to trial in federal district court and convicted on a murder charge following the death of policeman Coffelt. The bullet that actually killed the officer had been fired from Torresola's gun, but the court decided Collazo was equally responsible.
The decision in the Collazo case may set a precedent for prosecution of the case against the men who shot five congressmen, if Rep. Alvin M. Bentley (R-Mich.), most seriously wounded, happens to die. Rep. Bentley has been taken off the critical list, however.
All of the Puerto Rican fanatics who participated in last Monday's shooting have been indicted on charges of assault with intent to murder.
Collazo was sentenced to die in the electric chair for his part in the attack on the Blair house, but Mr. Truman later changed the sentence to life imprisonment.
A petition for clemency signed by 3,000 Puerto Ricans had been filed with the Justice department after the Supreme Court refused to review the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals calling for the death penalty for Collazo.
A revolt in San Juan, Puerto Rico, was linked to the attempted assassination of Mr. Truman in 1950. In the uprising, inspired by Nationalist leader Pedro Albizu Campos, 33 persons were killed.
Two days after the revolt in Puerto Rico, Torresola and Collazo arrived in Washington from New York to attack Blair house.
After the shooting, secret service officers found letters in the pockets of the two men written by Campos, the nationalist leader who later was
sentenced to prison for attempted murder in the San Juan revolt.
Although Puerto Ricans twice have shot their way into the headlines trying to murder government officials, there also have been other suspected plots.
Last fall there were rumors that a 24-hour police guard had been placed over Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. The American delegation to the UN had refused to allow a member of the Puerto Rican Nationalists to appear before the UN to ask for independence for Puerto Rico, and it was thought Mr. Lodge was in danger of attack from extremists.
Before the attack on Congress, there were rumors in Washington that President Dwight D. Eisenhower and J. Edgar Hoover, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, might prove to be targets for Puerto Rican fanatics.
U.S. May be Split From its Western Allies At the Big Four-Red China Conferences
Sam Teaford
The U.S. may find itself in the unpleasant situation of being split from its Western allies at the April 25, Geneva, Switzerland, Big Four-Fed China conference.
Regardless of Korea, the war in Eudochina, of U.S. attempts to limit the conference to what it specifically is for—For Eastern problems—the main issue is likely to be the proposed recognition of Red China, including its entry into the United Nations.
This may well turn into the big hassle at the conference, which is limited to actual participants in the two Asian wars—Korea and Indochina. What Secretary of State John Foster Dulles will be watched keenly throughout the world.
Fighting the entrance of the Reds to the last at the Berlin session, Mr. Dulles said that because the Reds killed and wounded more than 130-000 Americans in Korea, they would not be welcomed by the U.S. as favored guests.
At the recent Big Four Berlin parley, Mr. Dulles only reluctantly agreed to let Communist China sit in on the forthcoming talks. Since his return to America he has emphasized that this action in no way means we will recognize Red China on a diplomatic level.
But the Chinese Reds, supposedly eager to end the war in Indochina
may have gotten French Secretary of War Pierre deChevigne to muddle up the coming conference, at least from the U.S. standpoint.
That French official, while touring the war zone, recently said he thought an "honorable end" could be brought to the conflict and said that France could help Red China's "entry into the concert of nations and resume economic relations."
Adding to the possibility that Mr. Dulles may find himself deserted by the stronger allies in Geneva is the simple fact that Great Britain now recognizes the Feiping regime, and, like France, would like to expand its trade with the Reds.
Here the problem lies. Just what Mr. deChivigne considers an "honorable end" to the war is unknown. Britain, low on resources, may push to let the Reds into the world organization. Then she could trade legitimately with the Communists.
Red China knows that the only way it can obtain many needed materials from the West is to cease fighting the French. Maybe by offering to retreat from Indochina, Red China can weaken some of our present allies. They might even go so far as to try to let this enemy into the United Nations.
Mr. Dulles, to Congress and in his radio talk to the nation, has said this will not happen.
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS
"Frankly you didn't do too well on your tests, but I see your committee has reached a decision."
Congress wants the secretary to make no concessions or compromises with the Reds. But what position will Mr. Dulles find himself in if Britain and France, our two best allies in the cold war, continue to push for Red recognition?
The Geneva conference will be played for high stakes. Let's hope Mr. Dulles can win out and make the two prodigals realize the danger of their views.
-Stan Hamilton
Sign in the Daily Kansan newscom. "Do an evil deed every day, it's evil emphasis week."
Daily Hansan
University of Kansas Student Newspaper News Room KU 251    Ad Room KU 376
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Assm., Associated Collegiate Mail Subscription rates: $3 a semester or $4.50 a year (add $1 a semester if in Lawrence). Published in Lawrence, Kan.
Annual, March 1981, year except Saturdays and Sundays. University holidays and examination periods.
Entered second class matter Sept. 17, 1910,
at Lawrence College. Under act of
March 2, 1879.
NEWS STAFF
Executive editor ... Shirley Platt
Managing editors ... Tom Stewart, Mary
Jenkins, Veltel, Velma Gaskell
News editor ... Tom Shannon
Assistant ... Lettle Lemon
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Dana Beilengood
Society editor ... Elizabeth Wolhomgth
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Business mgr.          Jane Megafan
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BUSINESS STAFF
CAR TUNES
Short Ones
The Puerto Ricans who took pot shots at U.S. congressmen the other day should receive the toughest possible punishment. They could have done us a lot of good if they had been considerate enough to brush up on their shooting accuracy.
It might be hard to arrange, but it would be a good idea if somebody invited them to the next ASC confab. The most logical sponsor, of course, would be the YMCA.
After observing AFROTC drill, one can't help but realize that the boys in the helmet and goggles society are the only obstacle between the U.S. homeland and a Russian attack. It is also heart-warming to know the flight leaders are 1. Molding character. 2. Injecting a spirit of patriotism into the ranks. 3. Convincing freshmen that the only way to properly defend the country is to be able to execute a smart "column right."
The popular hit song "Rags to Riches" might have been named after the Colorado basketball team, an outfit that lost its first seven then ended the season with 10-2 Big Seven record. But the Buff players probably sang "We're Strangers in Hell" after invading Hoch auditorium last Monday. (Case you hadn't heard, they were drubbed, shelled, mauled, or however you want to say it, 83-62.
Schlitz is called "The beer that made Milwaukee famous." Wonder what kind of slogan the Juarez Chamber of Commerce has.
Letters
5
Editor
Editor
The Daily Kansan
Dear Sir:
I should like to bring to your attention a matter that I presume, with a certain degree of confidence, is of concern to many students besides myself. Maybe I had better ask first whether anybody who reads this letter and who owns an auto, has had occasion to drive into the University via route 10, which takes him into the parking lots in back of the engineering buildings and gym.
So you can imagine what happens when I decrease my speed to 5 mph and go over those gullies and dites that make up the path to the parking lot. Why do I go 5 mph? Don't ask! If I went 5 more miles an hour I would probably soon be without a car, but with a neat pile of steel.
I can anticipate the reaction of any who have made the trip as being one of exasperation, disgust, and downright anger. For the road leading up into the parking areas is (if you call it a road) surely the worst one on University property.
If there are more than a few inches of paved asphalt or macadam in any cubic foot of "road," I shall be surprised to hear it. As bad enough as this would be for any car, it is a shattering experience for my buggy, which shakes worse than any St. Vitus dancer as soon as my tires come in contact with a tiny pebble.
If this state of affairs were a temporary thing, even my buggy could put up with it, but this has been the situation for over a year now. And believe me, if something isn't done soon, those gullies will become NO MAN'S CANYON or something of the sort. I am sure that if the condition is remedied immediately, fame will not come to KU, and that if it goes unheeded, fame may come in the form of a reputation for KU as being the only university in the country with a testing ground for automobiles.
But, for the sake of those who have to commute to KU, and for anybody who has to travel on this godforsaken ditch, can't the engineers start putting in a little filling in the gullies, if not a lot at least a little!
Sineerely yours.
Saul Lassoff
student
Could Be
Hartford, Conn. —(U.P.)—When William Hemmerly was giving a talk to his Cub Scouts on the role parents play in shaping the lives of children, one of the youngsters interrupted with: "The only trouble with kids is grown-ups."
Only 50 years ago, all the hard-surfaced roads in the United States would reach not much farther than from New York to Boston.
FINE! THAT'S ALL, POGO!
I ACCEPTS, P.T., GET OUT THE
CONTRACK AN' POGO, PLOT ON
MORE COFFEE AN' SEB KIN YOU
BAKE UP A CAKE