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University Daily Kansan Friday, March 28,1952
Editorials
Old Man Winter, It's Time To Go- You've Been With Us Long Enough!
Ol Man Winter has been with us long enough. It is time that he is told to get out and that Gay Young Spring is allowed to come in.
Already Mr. Winter has overstayed his time. He was supposed to have packed his bags and left a week ago. Instead he has hung around causing trouble for everyone.
Couples all over the campus planned picnies last week end which had to be called off because of the trouble caused by Mr. Winter. Girls in every dormitory and house at KU have been planning new spring outfits for months. Fellows have been practicing lowering the tops on their convertibles. Favorite spots for the proper observation of the beauty of spring have been picked by almost everybody.
But what does Old Man Winter do? He gives us more snow, rain, wind, sleet, and cold! He acts as if we hadn't already received more than we need for one year.
Also he intentionally plotted to do this, thereby increasing the seriousness of his crime. He knew the old rule that if March comes in like a lion it
is supposed to go out like a lamb. However, this year he violated that rule. He brought March in like a lion and now is trying to take her out like a whole pack of lions.
More serious than this, though, is what he did the day before spring was supposed to take over. Like a real gentleman he stepped aside and gave us a glorious day. Everyone felt so wonderful that professors and students exchanged smiles and cheery greetings as they met on the campus.
Then that night after everyone had gone to bed confident that spring was here, Old Man Winter sneaked across the campus spreading snow. As if this weren't enough, he followed it up with a drizzling combination of sleet and rain. He had nerve enough to keep it going that afternoon and evening while loyal Jayhawkers were driving into Kansas City to see the NCAA playoffs.
It's time for action. If we hesitate much longer Mr. Winter will think that he has become a permanent resident. It is time that an aroused citizenry demands that he get out of town.
Down with Old Man Winter. Let's let Gay Young Spring come visit us! —J.T.
Book Review
The Peron Era' Should Alert Readers To Argentine Danger
The average American is not aware of the critical significance of the present Peron ero in Argentina, mainly because the facts have never been available to him in an overall picture.
This situation is now altered, for "The Peron Era," by Robert Jackson Alexander, clearly and authentically offers the step-by-step account of how slowly but surely all phases of Argentine life are being made to conform to the Peronisto model of totalitarian administration.
Alexander, in an almost purely factual style, traces the career of Juan Domingo Peron, army colonel who bribed, cheated, and dictated his way to become the idol of the workers of Argentina. Very little personal slant is offered on Peron's life, and it is not until the final chapter of the book that the author explodes with his own interpretation of the Peronista administration. The reader nevertheless will have drawn his own conclusions long before the final chapter is reached.
The events that followed from there were swift and fatal—the press was gagged, a statute providing for the granting of dictatorial powers to the President in case of a "national emergency" was passed, all phases of economic life were brought into a single strait-jacket, communication became a mere mouthpiece for the regime and militarism began to enter every phase of the country's public life.
The book will appeal to all those who defend the American way of life, and especially to those who are rabid anti-Fescist or anti-Socialists. The author's approach to the situation is not dynamic enough, however, to appeal to anyone who is absolutely indifferent to political situations, as it is not written in the light, impersonal vein necessary for reader popularity. It is factual, statistical and without the literary touch.
The emphasis is placed upon the important role that labor has played in Peron's rise to power. The regime continues to picture itself as a "labor government." It is to be admitted that Peron has done much for the worker—increased pay, social benefits and trade unionism; but he also has attempted to convert the labor movement into a docile tool of the government.
It appears that as long as Peron dominates labor, he will remain at the top. But should this support be seriously weakened, Peron's fate hangs by a meager thread. The author's continued emphasis on labor's position seems to indicate that this was his underlying purpose in writing the book—to arouse labor to the dangers of the situation at hand.
Alexander has presented the case objectively. Anyone reading the book should be thoroughly informed and slightly aroused after struggling through all the facts. It could have been presented in a more appealing manner. But it did not appear to be the author's objective to produce a great literary work, but rather to present a clear, accurate and uncomplicated account of what he considers a really significant development in world affairs during the last decade.
If, upon finishing the book, the reader runs down to Argentina armed with a pistol and a violent indignation, he is a very extraordinary person, but the book definitely is food for thought, and Alexander has followed a very digestible recipe. "The Peron Era" is a definite asset to free-thinking people of the Western Hemisphere. —Dianne Stonebraker.
fall subscription rates: $3 a semester or $4.50 a year (add $1 a semester if in Law). Published in Lawrence, Kan, every afternoon during the University year except at holidays and Sundays. University holidays and examination periods. Entered as second less matter Sept. 17, 1910, at Lawrence, Kan, Post Office under act of March 3, 1879.
Are Hollywood Awards Really A 'Farce'?
Letters:
Dear Editor:
In this reader's opinion, the Academy Awards editorial in Tuesday's Kansan by Roger Yarrington didn't offer much in the way of substantiation that the annual awards are a "furce."
The "judges" who showed "only slightly better judgment than had been expected" are not an arbitrary panel as suggested, but comprise the majority of the personnel of the entire motion picture industry.
Representing the tops in production and acting quality to the industry, the awards are actively strived for both by individual stars and studios. This incentive which provides for higher dramatic standards should not be ridiculed.
Academy Awards are naturally not going to agree with each moviegoer's choices of the "best" of the year. They aren't intended to. As a democratic vote of members, they represent the majority decisions of the industry in granting praise for jobs well done.
Constructive criticism can and should be applied to the criteria used in making any citation or award, of course. In the academy's case, this might include its reluctance to grant many awards to foreign films and its tendency to slight pictures which were released earlier in the year.
Again in my opinion, neither Miss Leigh's performance in "Streetcar" nor the picture itself should be labeled hashed-over stage fare.
Perhaps the writer was inspired by Mr. Bogart's comment about the awards not meaning a thing. Still, it will be noticed that Mr. Bogart carried an Oscar with him from the presentation platform.
Jerry Knudson College sophomore.
ESAR'S Comic Dictionary
GLOVES - They are seldom worn by a man when calling on a girl because he feels better without them.
On Sale at
ROWLANDS BOOK STORE
Congratulations
ON A GREAT JOB IN SEATTLE. GOOD LUCK SATURDAY NIGHT from JIM
College Inn
14th and Tenn.
Phone 2005
Students are cordially invited to participate in activities of all Lawrence churches. In addition to the regular order of service, ther eare many classes and functions planned especially for university groups.
Plymouth Congregational Church
925 Vermont St.
Dale E. Turner, Minister
SUNDAY SERVICES
9 a.m. and 11 a.m.- Identical Worship Services
6 p.m.- College Age Discussion Group
First Methodist Church
Vermont at 10th Oscar E. Allison, Minister
Edwin F. Price, Minister to Students
9:45 University Student Class
10:50 Morning Worship. Sermon; "Dead Ends in Modern Life."
5:30 - 7:30 Wesley Foundation Fellowship, Dr. Mary Clark will speak on "The Way of Schweitzer."
Friday, 7 p.m. Kappa Phi, Danforth Chapel.
Trinity Episcopal Church
9 a.m. Holy Communion for collegians.
9 a.m. Holy Communion for collegians Breakfast and Canterbury meeting follow in Rectory
11 a.m. Confirmation and Sermon by the Bishop of the Diocese,
Holy Communion Daily in Danforth Chapel at 7:00 a.m.