Kansas State Historical Society Topeka, Ks.
—Kansan photo by Rozanne Atkins
NOTHING HIDE—Someone is watching even in the dark, so the team discovered last night at the Colorado-KU game as the members sat on the court, taking things easy during the 22 minutes the lights were out because of a power shortage.
-Kansan photo by Rozanne Atkins
DANCING IN THE DARK—Cheerleaders form a chorus line to the strains of the KU band during the blackout in Hoch auditorium last night.
Where Were You When The Lights Went Out?
Bv TOM STEWART
A free throw floated through the air, swished neatly into the mesh of the basket, and then the lights went out.
That's how it happened, and that's how more than 3,000 basketball fans were "left in the dark" near the end of last night's game with the Univer-
In competition with the music of
ity of Colorado in Hoch auditorium.
Every eye had been on the trajectory of the free throw, and a fraction of a second later were all watching the dying orange glow of the filaments of the suspended lights above the court.
Then the noise began.
There was a delayed-action bellow from the students in the crowd, much like the good-natured roar which goes up when the arc lights fail in a movie theatre. Being on top in the ball game, the Jayhawkers were in just the right mood for a large scale letting-off of steam.
And so, for the next twenty minutes a carnival spirit prevailed. First to react, after the laughter had subsided, were those with lighters and matches. It was only an instant before hundreds of little lights shone in the hands of fans all through the crowd. The sight was at once beautiful and eerie, for it looked either like a necklace lying on black velvet or like the eyes of hundreds of animals lining a cavern.
"It was only seconds later that Prof. Russell Wiley began a marathon of music that ended only when the lights were restored. The band, under his direction played, and played, and played.
Tuesday, March 2, 1954
the band were the lungs of many students. They "composed" and executed a brand new string of crowd chants, ranging all the way from "We-want-a-fieldhouse" to "N-C, double A, go, go!"
Within minutes, the eyes of the crowd had compensated for the darkness, and they saw KU cheerleaders cavorting about the floor in an effort to dance to the band music. Here again, there was variety. One minute they were attempting the can-can, and the next minute the Bunny Hop.
An icy north wind with gusts to 45 miles an hour slashed at Kansas today where temperatures dropped
Weather
as low as eight degrees on the high plains and may sink to zero tonight. The sharp wind hurled spits of snow over a wide area. S t a t e weatherman Tom Arnold said t he snow was too light for measurement but will continue intermittently through the day. Skies should clear during the night and the wind should diminish, with still colder weather following.
Daily hansan
51st Year, No.98
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
House Shootings Stir Federal Agent Probe
Red Link Sought By Investigators
Washington — (U.P.)— Government agents searched for a possible Communist link today as they launched a sweeping investigation into yesterday's Puerto Rican nationalist attack in the House of Representatives.
Although the nationalists are not considered Communists, some officials speculated that the Reds may possibly have influenced the attack.
The FBI, Justice department subversive experts, and congressional investigators delved into the background of the nationalist movement which has erupted into shooting violence twice in this capital in less than four years.
Puerto Rican Gov. Luis Munoz Marin left San Juan for Washington today aboard a special plane, Pan American airlines officials said.
Lolita Lebron, the sneering brunette who set off the wild fusillade in the House, warned last night that Puerto Rican nationalists will never cease their fight for freedom.
Marin presumably is going to the nation's capital in connection with the shooting.
She said the latest attack by the small group of fanatics was timed to coincide with the opening of the Inter - American conference at Caracas, Venezuela, because "they are talking about colonialism there."
"We wanted to bring to the attention of the world, to all, that Puerto Rico must be free," she told reporters defiantly at police headquarters. Others, she added, will continue the struggle.
Questioning by reporters brought out the assailants had nothing personal against their victims. They did not even know whether they were shooting congressmen or senators.
Fernando Valenti, concert harpsichordist, will be heard in a free public concert in Strong auditorium at 8 p.m. Thursday.
One of her fellow conspirators, Rafael Cancel Miranda, 25, referred to the House chamber as the Senate. All are from New York City.
Miss Lebron, a 34-year-old divorcee, said she has dropped her married name of Mrs. Anderson Perez. She did most of the talking just as she appeared to take the lead in waving a flag to start the shooting.
He inaugurated his career as a harpsichordist with a tour of South America in 1946, playing for audiences that had never heard this instrument previously.
Mr. Valenti also will perform informally before a convocation of fine arts school students at 3 p.m. the same day, and will discuss early keyboard music with several classes in music history and literature on Thursday and Friday.
Harpsicord Concert Set
Beginning his career with a debut at the age of nine as a pianist, Mr. Valenti studied for a time under Jose Iturbi.
Murrill to Discuss Man-Apes
Mr. Valenti is no stranger to the campus, for he gave the first recital during the 1952 music festival, performing on a newly purchased Plevel concert grand harpsichord.
South African man-apres will be discussed by Rupert Murrill, instructor of sociology and western civilization at the Zoology club meeting at 7:30 p.m. today in 206 Snow.
Nationalists Are Island Minority
Although Puerto Rico is a self-governing commonwealth of the U.S., the Nationalist party, of which the House of Representatives "assassins" are said to be associated, is noted for an almost fanatical hatred of this nation
The island's electorate voted overwhelmingly in 1852 to associate with the U. S. as a self-governing commonwealth. Gov. Luis Munoz Marin and the legislature in January declined an offer by Rep. A. L Miller (R-Neb.) to sponsor legislation giving them either independence or statehood.
Earlier President Eisenhower had offered White House support if the Puerto Rican people requested independence.
In addition to freedom to immigrate to the United States, Puerto Ricans pay no federal taxes, elect all their own officials, and participate in such federal aid programs as rural electrification, farm subsidies, schools, hospitals, and road construction.
Independence would end these economic privileges.
The Nationalist party, a fragmentary group of less than 1,000 members, represents a tiny minority of the 2,225 Puerto Ricans on the island and the 1 million on the mainland. They are noted for a fanatical hatred of the United States and gangster-like tactics.
Services of KU Officials To Be on Sale
Two University deans, the basketball coach, an assistant professor, and a campus policeman will auction their personal services at the Faculty Follies, to be held at 8 p.m. in Fraser theater.
Organized houses will bid for the services of the officials, who are available for such tasks as waiting tables, answering phones and doors, and being housemother for a night.
Dean of Women Martha Peterson; Dean or Students Laurence Woodruff; Forrest C. "Phog" Allen, head basketball coach; Ted Cox, campus policeman, and Charles Johnson, assistant professor of education, will offer their services.
Allen Crafton, professor of speech will be master of ceremonies at the follies.
Also on the program will be Shirley Hughes, instructor in physical education, Donald Stewart, assistant instructor in English; George Herman, instructor in English, and the Faculty band, directed by Carroll Clark, professor of sociology.
The Faculty quartet, consisting of Clayton Krehbiel, assistant professor of music education; Rheinhold Schmidt, professor of voice; Charles Oldfather, associate professor of law, and R. Keith Lawton, administrative assistant for operation, will sing.
Proceeds for the follies will go to
the scholarship
funded by the Association of Students.
Tickets may be purchased from AWS house representatives, at the information booth beginning tomorrow, and at the door Friday evening.
Speaker Cancels Admission Cards
Washington —(U.P.)— Government buildings bristled with extra guards today and federal agents moved swiftly against a band of Puero Rican assassins that has terrorized official Washington twice in less than four years.
Speaker Joseph W. Martin Jr. canceled all outstanding cards of admission to the House of Representatives today as federal officials
Here Are Names Of Injured Men
Washington —(U.P.)— The congressmen injured in yesterday's shooting;
Rep. Alvin M. Bentley (R-Mich.) condition "critical." Bentley is a millionaire freshman congressman from Owosso, Mich.
Rep. Kenneth A. Roberts (D.-Ala): condition "satisfactory." Robers is in his second House term, is a 41-year-old Piedmont, Ala., Navy veteran.
Rep. Ben. B. Jensen (R-Iowa): condition "good." He is a 61-year-old Exira, Iowa congressman, a World War I veteran serving his eighth congressional term.
Rev. Clifford Davis (D.-Tenn.) condition, "good." He is a 56-year-old congressional veteran in his eighth congressional term from Memphis.
Rep. George H. Fallon (D.-Md.) condition "satisfactory." He is a Baltimore congressman, a 51-year-old fifth termer.
agreed on a "temporary" security plan to guard against any new terroristic acts by a fanatical band of Puerto Rican assassins.
Gravely wounded in the rain of lead which sprayed the House chamber was Rep. Alvin M. Bentley (R-Mich.), whose fate was put by his physician "in the hands of the Lord" after emergency surgery. Doctors gave the 35-year-old millionaire a 50-50 chance to survive his wounds—a bullet-punctured lung, liver and stomach.
The FBI investigated a possible Communist link in the violence that erupted in the House of Representatives yesterday. United States and Puerto Rican government officials were outraged.
Five congressmen fell wounded in the fantastic fusillade. The shots that rocked the world were fired from a spectators' gallery by Puerto Rican nationalist hot-heads led by a petite, pistol-packing brunette who said defiantly: "I am not sorry what I did."
Bentley's condition was reported as "improved" by Dr. Joseph R. Young, chief of staff at Washington's Casualty hospital. Young said Bentley, who is in an oxygen tent, was "awake and talking and quite cheerful."
Locked up in the District of Columbia jail and charged with assault with intent to murder were Mrs. Lolita Lebron, 34, divorced mother of two children; Rafael Cancel Miranda, 25, Andres Figueroa Cordero, 29, and Irving Flores-Rodriguez, 27, all of New York. Each was held in $100,000 bond for a hearing March 10.
Police said they are members of the "same gang" of Puerto Rican nationalists that tried to assassinate former President Truman in 1950. They were overpowered and disarmed by congressmen, spectators and House employees.