PAGE TWO
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1951
the editorial page
Civilization Breeding To Death?
Did you know—
That the world's population is now 2.4 billion persons?
That this represents an increase of over half a billion since 1920, or in less than one generation?
That India, in one ten-year period, has increased her population by about 50 million persons—an increase equal to the total population of the British Isles?
That Japan, at its present rate of growth, will double its 82- million population in approximately 33 years?
That Egypt, another densely populated and economically poor nation, will double its 20 millions in about 40 years?
That these and other rapid growth rates mean that the world's population will double in approximately 70 years, under present trends?
That the Asian continent, exclusive of the U.S.S.R., alone contains more than one-half of the world's people (principally in India, Japan, and China)? That non-Russian Asia, on a land area somewhat smaller in size than Europe's, contains more than twice as many people as Europe? That the greatest growth rate is Asia's, with an increase of 122 millions in the last 30 years?
That Europe's population in 1949 was 593 millions, an increase of 108 millions since 1920? That Europe increased by 20 million persons between 1939 and 1949 despite the war and post-war privations?
That 321 millions live in North and South America, accounting for only 13 per cent of the world's population? That sparsely-populated Latin America is also the fastest growing, with a rate of increase of about 2 per cent a year, due to high birth rates plus reduced mortality through improved living conditions?
That for the world as a whole, 36 births per 1,000 inhabitants now occur annually as against 24 deaths?
That Northwestern university's recent conference on world resources concluded, in the words of one botanist, that "the population of the world cannot go on increasing at the present rate unless some way is found to produce more food on land and in water"?
That despite these figures, mankind is steadily "depleting the fertility of land the world over," in some parts more and faster than in others? That Communism-or any tyranny-fattens on poor and bankrupt populations?
The figures in this editorial were gleaned from recent studies by the nonprofit Population Reference bureau and a survey published by United Nations researchers.
Do you not agree, knowing these indisputable facts, that some day pretty soon the world is going to have to find a reasonable way to begin some kind of judicious and principled control of population increases, especially as medical advances reduce mortality and increase life expectancy? That leadership in this basic matter could become an important United Nations function, since the willing co-operation of nations will be necessary? That if civilization doesn't bleed to death in war, it can breed to death in peace?—The Topeka State Journal.
Francis Kelley
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Sat in on a meeting of the Lawrence city commission Thursday afternoon and it wasn't half bad. Although the commission handles a good deal of serious city business, it also had its lighter moments. Fact of the matter is, an edited version of a commission meeting would set right well with a television audience. Especially, if the audience were a local one.
The head of the city water department reported Thursday that he was having trouble keeping workmen, but that it wasn't too bad yet. He said he was able to line up some summer help to work in the department. One man he said was happy to get back again this summer and who he claimed "is one of the best pipe-fitters and ditch diggers in the department" is "an English professor off the Hill."
The department head didn't mention the professor's name, but said he worked last summer "to build himself physically and to keep himself fit."
It was all rather amusing to me. I had never realized that English profs needed manual labor to keep themselves in trim. Rasslin with dangling particles has always been chore enough for me.
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Some people have a thin veneer that comes off easily with a little alcohol.
Marriage is something a woman tries when the wolf calls growier and farther apart.
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This is a good time for the colleges to try to work their way through some of the students.
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If you think fate has handed you a lemon, squeeze it and start a lemonade stand.
Those who sing their own praises seldom receive an encore.
(Because of space limitations, the editor reserves the right to condense letters of more than 100 words. Anonymous letters may not be published, but names will be withdrawn on request. Letters should be addressed to the editor of The Kansan.)
Letters—
Won't Someone Write?
To the editor:
We are two lonely marines who are fighting in this "war torn" land of Korea. Day after day mail comes in and still no letters from our old friends. It seems as though all of our female friends have forgotten us. We get a letter or two from our family and relatives once in a while, but they are few and far between
We hope you will print our letter and maybe the young ladies of your great college will drop us a line.
Pvt. 1st C. John Donovan, 661382
Pvt. 1st C. Frank Salinardi, 1074140
Our address is:
Anti-Tank Co.,1st Marines 1st Marine Division
Iran's Oil
c-o FPO, San Francisco, Calif.
To the editor:
I read an item in Wednesday's Kansasan that was very unexpected to me. I want to express my ideas as an Iranian citizen.
It was revealed from that article that the U.S. is going to support the imperialistic policy of England in Iran.
The nationalization of the oil industry was adapted according to the will of the Iranian people. Considering the position that Iran has in the world, as far as oil is concerned, I do not believe the U.S. or any other country has the right to interfere with my country's internal affairs.
It would seem that the possible ill-effects on the Iranian people were not considered when such action was taken.
Ahmad Ghaffari
Special student from
Tehran, Iran
Veterans from the following wars were drawing a pension or compensation on Dec. 31, 1950; Civil War, 12; Indian Wars, 432; Spanish American War, 8,820; World War I, 542,372; Regular Establishment, 56,300; and World War II, 1,673,441.
University
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Adv. Room K.U.376
Member of the Kansas Press Assn.
Press Assn., and the Associated College
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Student Newspaper of the UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Editor-in-chief Marvin Arth
Managing Editor Business Manager Harold A. Benjamin James W. Murray
Asst. Managing Editors: Janet Ogan, Mona Millikan, Richard Tatum, John "John" Perry
Chief Editorial Writer: Francis J. Kelley
Assoc. editorial writer: Jack Zimmerman
Assoc. writer: Mark Mearns
Asst. City Editor: Don Roberts
Feature Editor: Richard Marshall
Society Editor: Nancy Anderson
Ass't Society Editors: Cynthia McKeen
Telegraph Editor Robert Sanford
Asst. Telegraph Editors Fave
Wilkinson, Marion Klewer
Sports Editor...Alan Marshall
Asst. Sports Editors; Bob Nelson, Forrest
Miller.
Advertising Mgr. James Lowther
National Adv. Mgr. Dorothy Kolb
Circulated Ad. Mgr. George
Circulated Ad. Mgr. Virgil Johnston
Promotion Mgr. Robert Sydney
FACTS To Fancy—
University Dally Kansan
Mall subscription: $3 a semester, $4.50 a year, (in Lawrence add $1.00 a semester postage). Published in Lawrence, Kans. every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays. University mail address: 7260 N. Washington Street. Entered us second class matter Sept. 17, 1910, at the Post Office at Lawrence, Kans., under act of March 3, 1879.
The First Actually Constructive Ticket, better known as F.A.C.T.S., was voted into power in the recent A.S.C. elections. This party was empowered on the basis of their "constructive" platform, which supposedly would replace the lethargic Pachacamae regime. One of its battle cries was that student government meant something—that the difference between the two parties was that F.A.C.T.S. intended to demonstrate this fact.
A few weeks after the elections we find such a demonstration wanting. Instead we find the same type of quibbling over the Council's true powers as was evidenced in the last regime. What is even worse, we find the same inertia on the parts of the council members.
The failure to act on the restaurant discrimination motion at the last meeting is the most pointed example of faculty-rubber-stampism. Here is the "new" council's first opportunity to prove its mien under fire, we find the same attitude of the past years Indeed, we might well take a deep yawn and look sleepily—and sadly—to another "constructive"-party next spring—Ben Holman.
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