PAGE TWO UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS WEDNESDAY,APRIL 18,1951 Marvin Arth the editorial page \* \* \* American Hero Worship - - by Bibler Many Americans tend to idealize their heroes. They set their favorites up on an ivory tower and, utilizing a "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" philosophy, proceed to bow down in worship. Two legends grew out of World War II—Franklin D. Roosevelt and Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Roosevelt was a statesman, and a very good one. MacArthur was a soldier, also a very good one. Both men pursued their tasks with the utmost efficiency. In fact, they were so good that the American public began to believe they were perfect. Unfortunately, President Roosevelt died before his duties were completed. Not so unfortunately, General MacArthur lived through the war and carried out the Japanese occupation in excellent fashion. He had spent the big part of his life in the Far East—in fact, his own son had never seen America. MacArthur got to know the Orientals. He still knows them. He probably has the best practical knowledge of these people of any American living. But, overlooking your love for a hero, John Qo, you must not forget that MacArthur is a soldier. Theoretically, he has no part in policy formation. Actually, MacArthur did. He was dividing his time between the duties required of a soldier, a statesman, and a politician. And in so doing, he was wrong. You'll find it hard to admit, John Q., but he was. He failed to follow the directives from the White House. Attempts at appeasement repulsed the soldier in him. He thought he could defeat all of China and was ready to do it. Surely he knew that bombing Manchuria would lead to a full-scale war. So it was that the President, already under fire from many critics, swallowed the lump in his throat and fired Public Hero No. 1. We think it was a wise move. Peace is the hope of the free world and MacArthur was leading us directly away from our long-sought objective. Undoubtedly it was one of the gravest decisions Truman had to make. He knew the public attitude and he knew the Republicans. But even better did he know what was needed in the Far East. If the President had been able to keep MacArthur in hand, no doubt the general would still be there. As it stands now, though, we have a full-time soldier directing the United Nations troops in Korea. That is only as it should be—Alan Marshall. Evil Of The Nation - - by Bibler Gambling—the giant evil of the nation—seems to be reaching to the very base of American society. For years, it existed on upper levels only, with betting and fixing restricted to professional contests. In recent years, it has reached amateur levels and just this past winter rocked the collegiate world with the basketball scandals in New York City. That is why we are particularly alarmed at the most recent development. Betting on games always precedes the fixing of them (vice versa for the later stages) and if such turns out to be the case in this latest expose, not only are the morals of youngsters liable to be ruined, but also the whole language. Two 8-year olds recently bet three dollars—later reduced to one on which of them could spell the best. Betting has reached our nations youth; let's hope that fixing won't follow. Francis Kelley galley-west \* \* \* At the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house, University of Wisconsin, the long distance phone bill was staggering. It seemed that whenever the boys imbibed a little too much beer, they would call up some girl friends in distant cities. The phone bill was getting out of hand. To stem the tide, the fraternity asked the Bell Telephone company to fix the phone dial so no long distance calls could be made. The company said this was preposterous. Meanwhile the house manager is trying to run down long distance calls. The house was "stuck" last year with $275 in uncollected tolls. Members of the fraternity could not be reached for comment Their phone was busy. President Truman's removal of General MacArthur is said to have struck Tokyo headquarters like a thunder clap. Senator McCarthy was in fine voice, wasn't he? Students interested in public speaking should acquire a telephone on a party line. ★ ★ ★ Overheard in the statehouse elevator: "You can sure tell it's payday. So many strange faces show up." My wife is a sucker for those newfangled machines that "Will lo half your work!" She always buys two of each . . . The height of salesmanship is reached by the produce man who advertises, "If you get any bad eggs here, bring them back and I'll make them good." Letters— An Open Letter Dear General MacArthur: I wish to express my hearty thanks as a citizen of Japan to you as you are leaving Japan. Although I have never seen you except through newspaper pictures and movies, I am one of the many who were greatly influenced and actually helped by you. When you landed on the devastated country five years and half ago, we more or less expected a much darker destiny under the occupation. In those days we were busy reading your official directives which spelled out the fundamental changes in every field of Japanese life. However, we soon found out that your occupation policy was not to revenge us but to help. The emphasis was put on reconstructing the collapsing economy and giving freedom to the people. In the depth of despair the Japanese began to see the light of hope. Of course, we know that you were not the only policy-maker but a representative of a large organization. Nevertheless, we became to be aware of your sincerity and your strong sense of responsibility. Thus the Japanese co-operated with you fully, as you know well. I believe the wonderfully unique achievements of your occupation will be recorded in the history of mankind. Your task, however, was one of the most difficult and complicated in the history of the world. The occupation in its own had contradictory objectives: demilitarization, reconstruction and prevention of the threat of Communism. It was inevitable by the very course of events that criticism should arise both within and outside of Japan in the latter years of the occupation. Anyway, you are leaving Japan after the hard work there. Although you were a military man by career, I think of you as an idealist. You understood the problems of Japan and you were loved by the majority of the people. However, as I now look back, I feel the Japanese were more or less relying on you too much. We shall have to make greater efforts by ourselves hereafter. I hope we can turn this current misfortune into a blessing. As you yourself know well, Japan has so many and difficult problems to be solved. On this occasion, allow me to tell you in my humble way that I, as a Japanese citizen, will do my part in the task to make Japan a democratic, peace-loving and antitotalitarian country, as you prayed day and night. Eugene Laro Special Student Yuki-cho, Hiroshima-ken Japan Koji Sato Patronize Daily Kansan Advertisers Little Man On Campus "He's flunkin' th' course anyway." Thirty-three per cent of the automobiles in use today are eight to 12 years old and 23 per cent are 13 years old or older. News Room Adv. Room K.U. 251 K.U. 376 Student Newspaper of the UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Member of the Kansas Press Assm. National Press Assn. Press Assn., and the Associated Collegiate Press. Represented by the National Ad- vocacy Service, 240 Madison Ave, New New York City. 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 Corporation Clivitz Assistant Writer; Francis J. Kelley Assoc. editorial editor; Jack Zimmerman City Editor Lee Sheppeard Feature Editor Rebecca M. Riley Feature Editor Richard Marshall Society Editor Nancy Anderson Editor, Editorial Group Robert Smith Asst. Telegraph Editors Faye Marion Klewer Sports Editor Sports Editors: Bob Nelson Forest Mills Sports Editors: Bob Nelson Forrest Mills Advertising Mgr. James Lowther National Adv. Mgr. Dorothy Kolb Professional Mgr. Virginia Johnston Classified Ad. Mgr. Robert Sydney Promotion Mgr. University Daily Kansan Mall subscription; $3 a semester, $4.50 a year. (In Lawrence add $1.69 a semester every afternoon during the University holidays, and $2.25 every afternoon during the University holidays and examination periods Entered as second class matter Sept. 17, 1878. Under act of March 3, 1879. BOOKS FOR GIFTS And Your Own Library A King's Story—Duke of Windsor Proud New Flags—Van Wyck Mason The Disappearance—Philip Wylie From Here to Eternity-Jones Three Men on Third—H. Allen Smith World So Wide—Sinclair Lewis Out of This World—Lowell Thomas, Jr. My Six Convicts-Wilson Rommel, The Dessert Fox— Young Seven Decisions That Shaped History--Summer Welles Better Homes & Gardens Garden Book Guide to Easier Living—Russel Wright 1021 Mass. Ph. 666 Don't miss - the K.U. Relays DANCE 9-12 p.m., April 21 Student Union Ballroom Varsity Crew Orchestra