University Daily Kansan Tuesday, May 26, 1953 Politics Puts Brakes on Student Role The recent action of the ASC disciplinary committee in the University vs FACTS party defamation suit, upholding the Student Court decision passed earlier in favor of the plaintiff, was another proof of the farcicality of our present campus political system. Pachacamac was not the victor in the contest, nor was FACTS the loser. The decision was based on the definition of defamation found in the ASC Constitution and not upon the rather sketchy and unconvincing testimony presented by both sides in the trial. FACTS could not prove its claim of corruption in the Pach party, nor could Pach prove from examining and cross-examining witnesses that the FACTS statement had been libelous. We think the losers in the case were the Student Court and other principals in the trial, who wasted nights for a good week and proved nothing. The trial was just another of the shenanigans indulged in by our two campus political parties which tend to put a brake on any benefit from student government. Political play often brings about better government, since both sides—through competition with each other—tend to put their best feet and platforms forward. The two party system also impedes progress—not just on the campus but at every governmental level—by becoming an end instead of the means to an end, better government. We think a two-party system on the University campus is little more than a joke. Are we two such distinct groups of students that we should be divided by petty squabbling, when in a united group we might work together for common goals of improvement? There just isn't that much difference among students. The whole aim of campus politics should be not just to win elections but to improve conditions for students, not to develop aspiring political palavers but to improve constructive conduct of campus affairs. —Mary Betz Korea Settlement May End Red Propaganda British pressure may bring about a quick settlement of the two-year long stalemate in the Korean truce talks. Great Britain, which recently issued stinging blasts against American reluctance to yield to Communist truce demands, has caused this government to prepare a drastic revision in its stand at the conference tables at Panmunjom. A new plan, calling for liberal concessions to the Reds, will be submitted by the UN this week. Under the plan, anti-Communist prisoners would be put under the trusteeship of a five-nation commission for a period of from two to four months. The Reds then will have a chance to send agents to talk to the POWs about their so-called "rights" and the conditions that will await them if they return home. When the prisoners finish their stint, they will be released to become civilians and will be allowed to travel anywhere they desire. This provision wipes out the previous UN proposal that all anti-Red prisoners held by the UN would be released as soon as a truce would be signed. The Reds probably will be confident that they can persuade most North Korean and Chinese prisoners to return by promising them good treatment or by making threats against their Red-dominated families. For this reason, Red officials may accept the plan. A final settlement in the three-year-old war won't signify a "glorious" UN victory. Far from it. Political turmoil and tensions will continue for years to come in the battered little nation that has served as a testing ground for Red aggression. The new UN plan might seem to the millions living throughout Asia that the Reds have, in reality, won the war since they have been granted their major concessions. On the other hand, the proposal serves as a put-up-or-shut-up demand. The Reds, who have unleashed a steady stream of propaganda attacking the United States for alleged lack of desire to end the fighting in Korea, will have to end this psychological warfare if the war is halted. For it will put them in an embarrassing position if it is continued, since it will knock the props out from under their favorite weapon—propaganda. —Chuck Morelock POGO McCarran-Walter Act Is U.S. Iron Curtain Aliens coming to the United States now are being screened under a new immigration law, the McCarran-Walter act. The United States is an impenetrable and hostile fortress in the eyes of much of the world because of this act. The U.S. must have an immigration law for economic reasons. But the McCarran act goes beyond what is necessary in an immigration act and has become one of the best sources of bad propaganda abroad. This act, when it was first written, contained 295 pages of tricky language which only the best of lawyers could understand, yet it was supposed to be a simplification of previous immigration laws. More changes are made in the McCarran act than in any previous immigration law. There are many restrictions on where a person country and who will be kept out. The McCarran act is based on the 1924 quota system. The 1924 quota was admittedly mostly from western and northern Europe with a small number coming from eastern and southern Europe, where the latter were excluded. The western and northern sections of Europe never use their full quota. Immigration laws unpopular in the past include the Chinese Exclusion act, during the 1880's, and the "Gentlemen's Agreement" in 1917, negotiated by Teddy Roosevelt, which almost entirely dried up Japanese immigration. The "Gentlemen's Agreement" still is in force. These acts are one reason Orientals are hostile toward the U.S. today. The McCarran act restricts undesirables because of crimes or political opposition. Relatives of United States citizens and of foreign-born residents of the U.S. in many cases will find it easier to be admitted. But these people would get admitted without the present act. It also is easier for skilled workers to be admitted. This is a very selfish clause on the part of the United States. Up to 50 per cent of a country's immigration quota can be reserved for these skilled workers. The McCarran act makes it easier to deport aliens. This is undemocratic. It is even possible for an alien to be deported for getting a traffic ticket. Making people wait for visas to come to the U.S. is harming our prestige. Renowned scientists, and internationally known scholars have been refused visas to visit the United States pending an exhaustive study of their backgrounds. Sensitive diplomatic relations have resulted from the McCarran act. Friendly countries have been shocked by this American Iron Curtain. The United States says it is trying to make friends, influence people, and prevent war, yet it enforces this discriminatory act. The money spent by the U.S. to prove our government is the best is wasted and out-weighed by the McCarran act. —Velma Gaston By CHUCK MORELOCK The Eisenhower honeymoon is coming to a screeching halt. Although the ex-general still is a popular figure among the nation's voters, his administration is facing rough sliding. The Republican campaign promise that the budget would be balanced not been fulfilled. Heavy defense spending plus the normal large sums devoted to the Korean war and to rearmament in western Europe have made it virtually impossible for the GOP to come through immediately with this commitment. To thousands of disgruntled voters, this failure signifies a lack of efficient administration and political instability. Many of these thousands want the budget to be balanced just for the sake of a balanced budget—that is, they want the GOP promise to be fulfilled now, regardless of the consequences. Although much progress has been made, the fact remains that the fighting still is continuing in Korea. This was the No. 1 issue on the GOP election platform and still is the No. 1 Republican issue. The longer the stalemate drags on, the greater the increase will be in Democratic strength. The GOP asserted that it would clear up this biggest of all headaches left over from the Truman administration. They haven't done it, but they are coming closer to seeing this goal realized. Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Benson has been an administration hot potato. The former Utah farmer has blasted the use of farm price supports that are designed without thought of the general economic consequences. The farm block has been up in arms over this stand since they received liberal governmental price backing during the 20-year Democratic reign and are unwilling to see this policy terminated. This unhappy voting group could easily swing the 1954 elections back to the Democrats again. English Blasts at America Show Short-Lived Memories The British seem to have short-lived memories. At least that's the reaction one would obtain on the basis of the recent anti-American blasts issued in the English Parliament. It all adds up to the fact that the present administration can't afford to rest upon its election laurels or it will find itself out in the cold again in the 1954 and 1956 elections. On the other hand, if the Russian leaders definitely indicate that they are willing to accept certain Western demands, it is only logical that a four-power conference be held. If the Kremlin leaders realize that the West is not going to yield on every point which is in opposition to Russian policies, they may be in a mood to bring about a concrete settlement of international problems. Clement Atlee and other top British officials attacked President Eisenhower's stubborn refusal to enter into any kind of big power-Soviet Russia conference unless the Kremlin could prove it was acting in good faith. The British asserted that this country was hampering the possibilities for reducing world tension by refusing to accept at face value all Russian peace overtures. They appear to have forgotten the black days of Munich 15 years ago when the British policy of appeasement led to the start of World War II. The United States learned the results that follow from such a naive policy by the example set by Great Britain. And the President, knowing that appeasement will only fan the flames for war instead of blowing them out, is on the alert to prevent such a tragedy now. The only policy that the Kremlin will respect is a policy of toughness and unfinishing determination to stick to a clear-cut platform of international relationships. The Western powers can't afford to swallow every Russian "peace" plan or they will find themselves in the same situation that Britain found itself back in 1938. The West will not get anywhere if it readily accepts all Russian peace statements. The British should know by now how the Russian mind operates. Apparently they don't. —Chuck Morelock. Comments A bird's two eyes often weigh more than its brain. The ostrich's eyes often weigh more than twice the weight of its brain. Refrigerating units in a typical jet plane must be able to take a searing 600 degree blast of air from the engine and deliver it to destination in a split second, at 20 degrees. * * *** Tolerances of metal parts used in building a late-model jet bomber are so close that the entire factory must be kept at a constant temperature. Otherwise, slight expansion and contraction of metal parts would prevent perfect fits. There were 127,400 more persons injured in U.S. motor vehicle accidents last year than in 1951. Daily Hansan UNIVERSITY University of Kansas Student Newspaper News Room KU 251 Ad Room KU 376 Member of the Kansas Press Assn. National Editorial Assn. Inland Daily Press Assn. Associated Collegiate Press Assn. Service, 240 Madison Avenue, N.Y., City. EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-chief ___ Bob Stewart Editorial Assistants ___ Chuck Zuegner Don Nielsen Editorial Adviser ___ Caitlin Pincott NEWS STAFF Itor ... Bob Longstaff Editors ... Bob Noid, Ron Kull, Clarke Kyes, Jon Kull News Editor ... Mary Coadyn Society Editor ... Rozanne Atkins Asst. Soc. Editors ... Velma Gaston, Gladys Henry Sports Editor ... Chuck Morelack Asst. Sports Editor ... Dan Tica Wire Editor ... Maurice Prather Picture Editor ... Ken Cay News Advisor ... Victor J. Moore BUSINESS STAFF Business Manager ... Virginia Mackey Adv.-Promotion Mgr. ... Patty Vance Retail Adv. Mgr. .. Tom Breckenridge National .. Don Landes Don Landes Circulation Mgr. .. Umar Urbah Classified Adv. Mgr. .. Larryrine Goddin Business Advisor .. Dale Novatvin Mail Subscription rates $3 a semester or $4.50 a year (add 1$ a semester if in winter) published in Lawrence, Kan. every afternoon through university year except Saturdays and Sundays. University holidays and examination periods. Entered second class master Sept. 14. at Lawrence, Kan. Post Office, under act of March 3, 1879.