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University Daily Kansan Tuesday, Nov. 24,1953
Farmers Flooded By Leaky Words
They are at it again. Recently in- Topeka representatives from ten Kaw valley cities met to talk again about the flood problem.
This time, however, there was some indication that proponents of the flowway control plan might compromise with those who advocate the big dams.
The meeting was to hear proposals from the three-man Kaw river basin survey commission appointed by Gov. Edward Arm.
Briefly, the board suggested "Reservoirs might follow flowways, but stress should be placed on flowways first and even with reservoirs you still should have flowways."
The committee had previously heard plans proposed by Army engineers. They will hear reports from Kansas State soil experts on the effects of flood on land in the Kaw valley. The three-man board has finally agreed that reservoirs are desirable in some parts of the state. By this they probably mean reservoirs on the Verdigris and Neosho rivers, such as the Fall River dam and reservoir near Fredonia.
This at least marks some concessions by opponents of big dams.
However, the board said the 34 reservoir system proposed by the Army engineers would not have protected the Kaw valley during the 1950 flood.
It would have protected land in some rural areas. They say this would have cost $400 million an acre, much more than the benefits obtained. The board estimates the proposal would cost $200 million. This, they claim, is far less expensive than the Army plan.
To observers not immediately concerned with the area involved, all this controversy seems a little silly. Two parties have been formed from the issue; neither is willing to compromise.
Granted the most effective protection should be gained for the amount of money invested in flood control. However, area farmers have been, since the flood of 1951, inundated by a flood of words from the politicians. While this goes on, the Kaw river basin is still a potential threat. It is time a remedy is found.
This summer Kansas was in the grip of a drouth. Let's hope heavy rains don't threaten Kaw valley residents again until some one has done something. —Ken Coy.
It was an interesting sight to see all of the Pershing Rifles pledges marching on the campus with their brooms and white helmets. We plan to wait till spring and see what the modern dance club has its pledges parading around the campus doing.
Saturday was Homecoming. That was the day the old grads come back to the campus to eat, drink, and be merry, and hope the wife or boss didn't see them.
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Next in line for a subpoena from the Un-American Activities committee will probably be Margaret Truman for singing off-key on "America the Beautiful."
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS by Dick Bibler
One Man's Opinion
Nothing will bring a newspaper more criticism than a misspelled name or a misquotation.
Although the public has many gripes against the press these two are probably the most common. If a newspaper dares make one mistake the phone rings off the copy desk when indignant readers start complaining.
"How stupid can you get! Every-one knows that the Shah of Punjab rode a black horse into the battle of Picadre and not a white one."
And so the story goes, ranging from student grips to irate church groups complaining about indecent stories printed.
It would do the public well to examine their position in the marriage of the modern press to society. Who makes the complaints? Do they ever make mistakes?
What person will claim his spelling is always correct, that his verbs always agree with the subject, that he never has a dangling modifier?
Most common is the individual who castigates the press when his quote appears in the paper with faulty grammar.
"Perhaps I did make a mistake when I said it," he screams, "but you should have corrected it before printing."
but was it his mistake? No, not in the least.
The press has never tried to hide its mistakes. To the contrary, they print retractions whenever they can justifiably do so.
Did you ever see an English instructor admit one of his mistakes? Did you ever see a dean admit he took the wrong side of an argument with a student? Did you ever see a history professor admit a mistaken date?
And yet the grumblers and phoneers stumble on, hiding their own imperfections by pointing fingers at the paper. This is a trick Joe McCarthy has instigated as an almost American institution in the past several years.
How many other classes in the University have 100 per cent perfect A work? How many instructors give their students straight A marks?
The Kansan finds itself in a peculiar position in this respect. It is a lab for journalism students. Yet they make mistakes.
But that is different you say. Why? Are journalism students so perfect, so infallible a source, that the rest of the University must fall into utter chaos if they make a mistake?
Remember, "Let him who is without sin . . ."
—Ken Coy
Short Ones
We can't think of anything nicer than Gov. Arn kissing our Home-coming queen between two tubas. What a blast!
The KU fieldhouse came a step nearer completion last week when two bright red trucks were added to the scene. Just in time for Christmas, too. And speaking of Christmas, the university might get the big arena for a present in 10 or 12 years.
Ike decided to pass up the Army-Navy game Saturday for a rousing game of golf. Must have felt that he had snubbed the Air Force enough and that it was time to even things up.
"I know you made an 'A' on the test—but you just LOOK like a 'C' student." u1
I was a "Sikes hater." I imagine that I along with quite a few other loyal University students, have helped to bring about Mr. Sikes resignation. I am ashamed of my part in this. We have greatly wronged a good man and a great coach.
Letters Give Sikes Support But Attack Campus Chest
To the Editor:
Friday night before the Oklahoma A&M game I was in a reasoning state of mind so I asked myself just what had Mr. Sikes done at KU as coach. Here is what I found out.
1. This was Mr. Sikes first head coaching job.
2. The pressure was on him from the start, because he was expected to fill the shoes of the experienced George Sauer.
3. Mr. Sikes did fine until last year. Then with the greatest or one of the greatest arrays of talent, he finished with a dismal 7-3 record.
The first loss was to Oklahoma. We battled them on even terms throughout the first half although we were short some players such as Bud Laughlin, rated by many as good a fullback as all-American Buck McPhail; Charlie Hoag, the one play all the way half-back who as a sophomore was even greater than all-American Billy Vessels.
Then came Nebraska. That was a great day for football. It was raining and snowing and many KU players were still on the injured list. Kansas was off that Bobby and they couldn't stop Bobby Reynolds (all-American) who many rated as the greatest broken field runner of all times. We lost this game by one point, but remember, Oklahoma had the same trouble with Notre Dame on a day like this.
Galen Fiss was injured early in the game, but played under handicap. Gil Reich, all-American defensive back, who had been forced into a fullback role, was also injured in the game, and Morris Kay was out with polio.
Yet this Kansas team, lacking five star players, battled Oklahoma, a team with five all-Americans on it, on even terms for three quarters of the game.
By the time the Missouri game rolled around, John Konek, Pat Patterson, and Bob Brandeberry were added to the mile long injury list. Hoag ran one play and had to be carried off, Reich received a broken finger, and yet KU lost by only one point.
This year we had an inexperience team. They looked good at the start of the season, but would we get behind them. Hell no! When they were winning everyone was with them, but when they lost, the "hate Sikes" movement began. Why should any football team go out and beat out their brains trying to win for us, when we wouldn't ever support them.
Perhaps you won't buy this, but look what the team did against Missouri when they had something to play for. I think it's plainly evident that the team wanted to win this one for Mr. Sikes and they showed me something. Mr. Sikes is improving, and fast. Although lacking the skill of last year, he teamed a whole looked better. Some of the offensive plays were masterpieces. The offensive play was immensely improved over last year, anyone trying could easily see this.
we of the "Hate Sikes" movement could be proud of a damned dirty job well done—Mr. Sikes has resigned under pressure from us. I only hope that someday he can find it in his heart to forgive us for the wrong we have done him. I won't wish Mr. Sikes good luck,
because he isn't going to need it.
I firmly believe that Mr. Sikes will go down as one of the greatest coaches and one of the nicest guys ever to be in college football.
Steve Jennings. College sophomore.
Steve Jennings College sophomore.
Instead of accepting our decision as the free choice of individuals who have a limited amount of funds with a wide variety of worthy organizations to contribute to, the officers of the Campus Chest fund made repeated efforts to pressure us into contributing.
To the editor:
The last low blow in this obnoxious campaign was a shocking injection of the rawest McCarthyism by Dick Smith telling us that these organizations were "subversive." That this charge stems from malicious and twisted ignorance is unimportant. That we permit such individuals to run our charity campaigns is shameful.
We, the members of Rock-Chalk Co-op, wish to protest the authoritarian, high-pressure tactics of the "salesmen" of the Campus Chest fund. Our Co-op, as a group, decided that, in view of the nationwide scope of the Community Chest campaigns, their high degree or organization, and their great popularity, they were not in as great need of our funds as other groups of equal importance but with fewer facilities for collecting money.
Contributions to worthy organizations have traditionally been voluntary, and we strongly feel that this gross attempt to pressure and even threaten us into contributing is the very reverse of the spirit in which such campaigns should be conducted.
We named specifically the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the American Civil Liberties union (ACLU). To these and other organizations, depending on our own individual leanings, we contribute at various times throughout the year.
Rock-Chalk Co-op
Short Ones
The student who flunked economics in college usually drives the biggest Cadillac to Homecoming.
Quentin Reynolds finds that he has written a novel because the man who wouldn't talk, talked.
This makes the second straight sport that the President has failed to meet the customs established by former chief executives. Oh well, they were only Democrats and not quite so self-centered.
Member of the Kansas Press Assn., National Editorial Assn. Inland Daily Press Represented by the National Advertising Service, 420 Madison Avenue, N.Y. City, or $4.50 a year (add $1 a semester if Lawrence). Published in Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University of Kansas Pride event, university holidays and examination periods. Entered second class matter Sept. 17, 1910 at Lawrence, Kan. Post Office
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editorial Editor  Clarke Keys
Assistants  Jerry Kudson,
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 Society Editor Letty Lamont
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