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Page 2 University Daily Kansan Tuesday, March 3.1953
ASC's Vote Plan Branded Illegal
The special four-choice referendum election which is to take place soon as a result of last Tuesday's action by the All Student Council has no constitutional basis.
by Dick Bibler
(Note: This action provides for submitting to the "associated students" in a specially called referendum election four alternatives, for which they are to vote preferentially.)
The four choices are to be either of two political reorganization plans, or leaving the ASC as it now is, or abolishing of the ASC and transferring of its powers to the chancellor.
We don't know whether the ASC prefers to proceed in the dark on issues of vital concern to the student body or not, but we feel they should know if the things they do are legal.
If the Council members were to check their constitutions, they would find that on at least two counts the proposed referendum election would be considered invalid by the Student court, or, for that matter, any literate person who might consult the constitution.
In the first place, the constitution, as strictly interpreted, makes no provision for special elections, whether for referendum questions except by student initiative.
Secondly, the constitution is quite definite in saying referendum questions are to ask voter approval or non-approval of single issues. No mention is made of asking the students to mull over four alternatives and select the most pleasing.
These are not wild charges. We checked every page of the constitution and have concluded that the Council has embarked on a thoroughly illegal measure.
We invite ASC members and others interested to examine the constitution, and we think such examination will substantiate our statement. —Tom Stewart.
Many Factions Watch Future of 49th State
This year is Hawaii's best chance to become the 49th state since she began trying in 1903.
President Eisenhower has asked Congress for Hawaii's admittance to the Union, and both houses have promised to bring the matter to a vote.
The fact that such a move probably would give the Republicans two more Senators and two more Congressmen in the closely divided Senate and House of Representatives is an added incentive for favorable action on Hawaii.
This political advantage is not the only reason for such action. Sugar and pineapple interests are pushing hard. They feel that if Hawaii was a state, they would have better and more protection from the federal government.
If the Hawaiian islands were to become the 49th state, they would be able to take part in presidential elections. Also, they would be able to send four representatives to Washington, instead of the one delegate which territories are allowed.
If Hawaii should make it this time, after 17 tries, Texas would lose her rank as the biggest state in the Union. Hawaii would also be the first off-shore state and the first state where white residents were in a minority. Mary Cooper
POGO
Gen. James A. Van Fleet, former UN commander in Korea, said recently that if Korea is lost, Japan and the rest of Asia will follow suit with the result that the Pacific ocean will become a Communistic highway.
Rv CHUCK MORELOCK
The general's statement is not to be disputed, since the loss of Korea obviously would cripple the prestige of the UN and of the United States in particular. If the Reds should gain control of the country, they will have not gained a region rich in terms of economy. But a victory in Korea would enable the Reds to make tremendous political strides toward their goal of Asiatic domination.
The Korean war has dragged on since June, 1950. Since 1951, no significant changes have occurred on the battle front. The stalemate that is now in effect has resulted in UN and U.S. casualties, but these losses have not been accompanied by a strengthening of the UN position—just a steady drain of men and resources.
The idea that the United States, the most powerful nation on earth, should be tied down in a worthless, barren nation by a second-rate force of Chinese and North Korean troops is repulsive to the average American. But unless Washington gives the go-ahead signal for a stepped-up offensive calling for bombing raids on the Chinese mainland, the United States shall continue to remain in its frustrated position.
However, a United States-led offensive is not the only answer to settlement of the Korean situation. The UN has another potential striking force—millions of non-Communistic Asian people.
This force, if effectively united and organized, could siem the tide of communism in Asia. Most of these non-Reds have the same goal—to defeat communism in Asia—but their efforts in accomplishing this goal have not been unified.
It is generally realized that the Communistic appeal to the Asian masses has suffered severe setbacks in recent months. The people are restless. They are growing weary of their Red "liberators."
Thousands of former Chinese Nationalists are living for the day that they can fight the Reds again. Thousands more who did not engage in battle are itching to do so now. If the United States were to bear the burden of changing these restless peoples into a first class, well-equipped military force, the cost would be enormous.
But it would seem quite possible that the United States, as well as other Western nations, could encourage these Asians with armament gifts without spending tremendous sums of money. The Reds in Korea have effectively tied down UN forces without the aid of modern technological equipment. The average Red soldier is ill-trained, ill-fed, and ill-clothed, but with a rifle in his hands and aided by the Korean geography, he has been a match for the better-equipped UN soldier.
If the non-communistic force in Asia could be supplied with small arms, it could stir up trouble for the Reds by small, irritating hit-and-run raids and by guerrilla movements. Multiplied by thousands, these campaigns could divert Red troops from Korean duty in order to put out the flames of thousands of little fires.
Solid backing by the millions of non-Communists in Asia could produce a UN victory in Korea and eventually in all Asia. A closely knit tie between the West and the non-Communistic force in Asia would produce a staggering blow to the Red prestige and power. Perhaps this day will come about. If it does, the free world will have taken a huge step toward producing a world where communism does not exist.
Little Man on Campus
"First let me say that I appreciate the fact that most of you mangae to make this 8 o'clock class."
Don Moser Random Thoughts
Publishers of newspapers still view radio's stepson, television, as a money-staling evil. They claim that television viewers spend precious time watching the infernal set when they could be spending that time on their newspapers.
We must disagree. We think that the newspapers are a great boon to television. The backbone of television today seems to be the quiz show. From the way we see it, these programs all have the same formula. The quizmaster will ask about six questions any idiot could answer, then when it comes to getting some real money, the question is close to impossible.
Any reader of the newspaper should know how to beat this. It is a custom of newspaper make-up to place at the bottom of a short column a one or two line filler that will fill up the unused space.
Who writes these, we have no idea. But whoever he is, he has a vast world of knowledge at hand. This knowledge should be handy to TV-quiz contestants.
Here are a few I thought might be of use to future contestants. According to Chinese legend, the virtues of tea were discovered by the Emperor Shennung in 2737 B.C.
The Taj Mahal has had a leaky roof since the 17th century. Apr. McKay was the name of the first clipper ship.
Swallows capture and eat their food on the wing and even drink while flying.
One more bit of information no one could live without is that British and Norwegian whalers frighten whales with supersonic signals in order to capture them.
Tammany hall derives its name from the American Indian chief called Tamanmanend.
An interesting story comes from Akron, Ohio. A new fad has started there. Girls with a love interest wear a dog collar around their left ankle. Those without a boy friend wear them around their right ankle. You can guess where it goes when a man wears it after he has been hooked.
More men than women commit suicide.
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KU has a red sucker sale, and that cloud of dust you see is a certain Wisconsin Senator charging towards Kansas.
English girls in bathing suits picketed No. 10 Downing st., because the boys at Reading university tried to import French girls for their carnival. Oh to be in England now that carnival's there.
After a tour through the new Union, many a senior is wondering if he shouldn't flunk a course or two so he can stay over to enjoy it.
Se
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For everyone who has asked us today, we answer, "Yes, it sure came in like a lion."
A budding young journalist wrote a glowing biographical feature about a University professor in which he expounded the love life of his subject. In 1935, the journalist wrote, the professor married his wife, Miss Jane Smith, then a nurse in Carver's hospital, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Smith.
And he accomplished it all in one year, too.
In a book-lined room in the library we see a shelf labeled "Great Books." We wonder what the rest are.