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University Daily Kansar
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 1953 Letters:
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS
by Dick Bibler
“It’s me, Freda. I’m back with th’ refreshmente”
Writer Argues Merits OfCampus-levelPolitics
Campus political parties do have a reason to exist. This statement has been adequately shown in the recent freshman ASC-class officers petitioning.
Seven freshmen have filed for class office. One has filed for president, one for vice president, two for secretary, and three for treasurer. Class officer elections this year are non-partisan.
In contrast, 18 freshman women filed for two positions in the ASC House and Senate. Eleven filed for representative; seven for the latter position. This is on the Pach-FOR ticket.
The same people were involved in both instances, so the blame can't fall on the freshmen. When four girls petition for class office and 18 petition for ASC seats and all are freshmen living in Corbin and North College halls—what's the difference?
Some would say the importance of the respective offices was the deciding factor. But actually, it seems to this writer that being a class officer is more rewarding as far as winning honors is concerned.
Some might say, "This is the same as in past years. The new non-partisan policy hasn't changed anything." But a quick look at back issues of the Daily Kansan discloses that "it ain't so." This year's total of seven is the lowest number that have filed in many years.
And why is the small number bad? Because it reflects a lack of student interest that hasn't been evidenced before.
Even the reluctant ones must be forced to admit that the difference lies in the fact that political parties aren't sponsoring class officer candidates.
A political party exists to nominate candidates, formulate policy, create interest among the voters, and stand behind the nominee and the officer, guaranteeing he will do his job and not bring disrepute on the party.
Recent events have shown—at least to this writer—that this is reason enough to have campus political parties.
—Letty Lemon
Daily Hansam UNIVERSITY
University of Kansas *Student Newspaper*
News Room KU 251    Ad Room KU 378
Member of the Campus        Admission to North Lawn Press
Ass. Associated Collegiate Press Ass.
Represented by             Mail Subscriptions
Addison Avenue  N.Y. X.
Mail Subscription rates: $3 a semester or
$4.50 a year (add $1 a semester if in
lawrence). Published in Lawrence, Kan.
gery afternoon during the University
college year; served university
ruthery holidays and examination periods.
Entered second class matter Sept. 17,
1910, at Lawrence, Kan. Post Office
number 22248.
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editorial Editor...Mary Betz
Editorial Assistants...Jerry Knudson,
Tom Stewart
Pachacamac, Comanche, Editorials
To the Editor;
Pachacamac campus political party sank to a new low in its shameful attempt at character assassination directed toward ASC president Dick Sheldon in the Daily Kansan. Apparently perturbed because their appeal to "Greek solidarity" no longer holds water, the Pach leaders have stooped to this method in a vulgar attempt at revenge.
For example, they criticize Sheldon for taking up debate again this fall in addition to his Council duties. Are they jealous because Sheldon is so capable that he can adequately carry both activities simultaneously while making a straight A average in his studies? It has been a long time since a Pach ASC president turned in such a performance.
And this concern by Pach for what they call "better student government" is indeed touching. It is a wonder that after controlling student government 32 of the last 40 years Pach admits that is still needs bettering. If they are really so anxious to have better student government, why didn't they work toward it last year—or better yet, 40 years ago?
And just what is this "party policy" which is supposed to be so constructive and which Sheldon is accused of blocking? The only action I recall which Pach has supported this year is the ban on freshman queens. Is this part of their constructive policy?
When added up, Pach's charges total zero!
To the Editor:
Harry Rose College senior
As the author of the Spirit of Comanche letter published some time ago in the Daily Kansan, I would like to make reply to an Old Montana Stud who unfortunately has taken issue with the view of Comanche which I reported.
I would like first to point out that the horse in question is neither this stud nor Man of War but Comanche who has his own views on the subject which I put down on paper, he being incanable of doing so.
Also I would like to inform the Lewistown Kiwians that my family has been in Kansas since 1860, sometime before the influx of horse thieves and gamblers into the area later to be known as the State of Montana, and that my family like thousands of other Kiansus has always been very interested in Dyche
I was first taken to see the museum and Comaniche when I was only five years old and have been going back often ever since. I was a student at KU, graduated last year and am now absent from Kansas only long enough to get Seminary training in the East. While a student I was always interested in Comaniche and the museum as were a great number of other students.
museum and the welfare of Comanche.
Last summer I traveled through much of Montana, entering the state from the northeast, going over to Fort Peck Dam, then to Glendive via Circle and from there to the Yellowstone River to red Lodge. I found that there is little of either lushness or greenery about the state. With the exception of the extreme eastern parts irrigation is all that keeps it from being completely barren.
The tourist trade is the principle industry of Montana and this, of course, is why Comanche is wanted there.
Finally I might say that I hope this will be my final letter on the subject and I would advise the gentlemen from Montana to give up too and take up some more profitable form of activity, since the State of Kansas isn't going to give up Comanche anyway.
Thomas Regnary College alumnus.
To the Editor:
I am enrolled in a class known as The Editorial. The other day we had an in-class assignment in which we were required to write, without any preparation, editorials from a list of subjects read off by the instructor. I took the subject of Bishop G. Bromley Oxnam's having been refused the use of the Philharmonic auditorium in Los Angeles because he is considered a "controversial figure."
I knew very little about the subject. However, I knew even less about the other subjects.
It happen that I am one of three persons responsible for the Daily
Kansan editorial page. Therefore, I was horrified when I found that the editorials written that day in class were recounted in to the editorial desk by the instructor. I knew that none of them had been written with the needed research—that they were stabs in the dark.
status in the table.
When I found the editorials, I stapped a note to them, telling the editorial page editor and the other editorial assistant the circumstances under which they were written, and advising these persons not to use any of them, particularly mine.
I hope the readers of the Kansan will realize that my editorial "Bishop Being Fired at Again," which appeared last Tuesday was inserted without my knowledge and in opposition to my written advice.
Tom Stewart Journalism senior
Short Ones
Time marches backward again, as we read jokes in the latest issue of the Sour Owl.
A library book-lifter has been caught. Claimed he only wanted a few of the biggest ones to press autumn leaves.
Once, only 10 to 20 per cent of each barrel of crude oil could be converted to gasoline. Now, as a result of technology and scientific research in the oil industry, almost half of every barrel can be turned to gasoline, and that amount can be increased if the need arises.
The Ford Motor company paid approximately $10,000,000 in wages and salaries in the first 50 years of its operations from 1903 to 1952. More than $722,000,000 of this was paid in 1952.
The largest glacier in Colorado, the mile-square Arapaho ice sheet, is the water reservoir for the city of Boulder, which owns exclusive rights to the ice.
State Department's RIF Shows Lack of Thought
Tomorrow freshmen will go to the polls to elect class officers. Much campaigning has been done by the candidates. Posters and cards have been distributed. The election is important to them and the candidates are trying hard to be elected.
After they are elected, then what? What will they do? What are the purposes and duties of class officers?
In previous years the election has merely been an honor. The officers usually meet once after their election and then no nothing.
It is doubtful that being elected is even an honor, for most freshmen don't know many people in their class yet. They know the people they live with and the people they went to high school with. Probably they will vote for these people because they know them and not because of their qualifications.
If they don't know the candidate they may vote for the one with the
Kill It or Cure It! Do-Nothing Fever Grips Class Officers
The long arm of the Republican hatchet man has finally reached overseas to chop away at State department personnel in Japan.
nicest sounding name or the ones whose picture they have seen most on campaign posters.
As to the duties of class officers, they have never been defined. Officers are figureheads.
Freshman and sophomore class officers have not done much in the past and it's doubtful they will start doing anything now. What is there for them to do?
What is the purpose of electing someone if he isn't going to do something? And why spend all the time, trouble and money to be elected if the winner does nothing and is forgotten by the rest of his class within a week?
Junior and senior class officers plan coffee hours and make plans for graduation. This isn't much, but at least it's something. Let's either find something for freshman and sophomore class officers to do or forget it all as an ancient and outworn carry-over from high school days.
Elizabeth Wohlgemuth
With their usual effective methods John Foster Dulles's men have rambled through the records hiring and firing at random. At times, quite by accident, they have made reductions in the right places and saved the taxpayers some money.
On the other hand, some of the people hardly hit the streets seeking new jobs when they are re-hired by the department. This seems to be a good example of "Republican efficiency."
Cuts in the State department are very necessary, not only in Japan but in other parts of the world. It is estimated that the cuts in Japan alone should show a 35 to 40 per cent saving in their office.
Mr. Dulles calls his program "reduction in force" or simply "RIF." Presumably he is just now getting around to weeding out the "egg-heads" and "egghead sympathizers."
Ambassador John M. Allison dis-
closed that the embassy costs last
year were $2,365,337. The costs for
the United States Information
agency in Japan were $3,100,000.
However, the present method of hiring and firing is completely ridiculous!
Perhaps in the future the standard for hiring will be whether one shoots 100 or below 100 on the golf course.
The transportation of embassy officials has suffered most from the cuts. Imagine-officials now have to make a five-minute walk from their quarters to the Tokyo embassy annex.
The ambassador, naturally, still enjoys the service of a private state car.
So far about 23 Americans (with average salaries of $6,000) and 84 Japanese have been fired. The important thing is that they are really just shifted or even re-hired.
People are still waiting for that "change" that it was time for last year. -Ken Coy