AGE EIGHT
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1951
Marvin Arth
the editorial page
Look At Senior Class Gifts -stronger. Some hard-hearted rationalists may say that survival of the fittest is the stern reality of life, that philanthropy is no good for human progress. Wait a moment!
There seems to be a perennial problem at the University on the lection of a suitable senior class gift, and the situation isn't improving. This problem would appear to be one of conflict for conct's sake. And there is no value in such action.
The purpose of class gifts is to provide the University with those things that aren't supplied under legislative appropriation. And they are traditional mementos of the host of students who have one before us. There is a definite need for them.
In past years the gifts have ranged from plaques to plots of ground from landscaping to finishing rooms in the Memorial Union. ind, inane as some of them would appear on the surface, they were 1 a definite addition to the culture of the University.
The 1951 senior class on March 23 decided to give money to be used in decorating a room in the Union addition. The room will be named from a class-sponsored contest at the junior-senior dance day 8. It will be similar to the Pine, English, and Kansas rooms of the Union which were furnished by the classes of '36, '38, and '39 respectively. All were sorely needed for University functions, yet there has been a sporadic bickering among class members over their value.
We may be old-hat in feeling that class gifts should have a practical educational value. We can't see that a sundial or an ink mountain does much for the students. Perhaps something on the order of a library room equipped for students to type required notes om reference works would best serve their interests. And perhaps is narrowing of the field to those gifts with a practical value would iminate bickering over the annual gift selection.-F. J. K.
two-Front Battle Of The Bulge -stronger. Some hard-hearted rationalists may say that survival of the fittest is the stern reality of life, that philanthropy is no good for human progress. Wait a moment!
A glance at newspaper headlines these days would indicate that history is repeating itself. "Americans Fight In Battle Of Bulge" is typical example. And war it is. Only this time it's a war of fat men against obesity.
In this latest offensive, calorie charts and temptation are the weapons employed in a raging see-saw battle. First, temptation meets success in an encircling movement and then calorie charts counter by reducing the enemy.
The current conflict, like any war, all started because of man's pride. This particular fellow was an over-plump publicity agent named Elmer Wheeler. Elmer became alarmed one day when he had to change shirt sizes and decided to instigate a naval withdrawal. He was so successful in pulling back to a solid base that he wrote his memoirs, "The Fat Boy's Diet."
A newspaper syndicate made Elmer's tune a familiar strain to a huge body of American readers. Now cream-puff sales are tipping and men are tightening their belts. That is, all but university professors.
University professors prefer streamlined minds to physical imness. But you can't really blame them. After all, an impressive background is necessary for the proper displayal of Phi Betaappa keys.-FJK
Francis Kelley
galley-west
In a recent editorial the student newspaper of the University of Colorado told the following anecdote:
"It seems that a member of the University faculty was speaking a luncheon somewhere in Colorado recently. At the conclusion his address a gentleman arose and said, 'Sir, I understand that ey teach Communism in the classes at the University. Is thatue?"
"The faculty member replied: 'Sir, that is quite true. We do ach Communism in our classes. And in our medical school we ach syphilis. But we don't advocate either."
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It is encouraging to note that K.U. has increased the size of its swimming pool. It is now large enough that any self-respecting arrow would willingly use it for a birdbath.
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A certain baseball player we know was kicked off the team recently after he was heard to remark that he was going out on a new weekend and "pitch a good one."
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From our puzzled public: "With the advent of No-Wash-No-Wipe creft we wonder if we could add a little No-Rinse Tide and just leave the dishes in the general direction of the sink."
☆ ☆ ★
The We're-Not-Stutteting Dept.: President Truman has appointed a New York lawyer to be governor of American Samoa. He Phelps Phelps. He will live in Pago Pago.
☆ ☆ ☆
It has been suggested that the Cornell—oops, the K.U.—"Alma later" be the first tune played on the campanile bells at the edication ceremony the end of this month.
Democracy With A Socialistic Tint
In regard to this freedom business, the following discussion from the Japanese Mainichi Press (American edition) of Jan. 8,1951 might be of interest.The definition is from a first prize essay, "Ideological Road for New Japan," and was called to my attention by Shigeru Oae, graduate student in chemistry from Japan.
Dear Editor:
"Now democracy is on everybody's lips. But is it understood in its true sense? It is a hard word to define. I have only a vague idea of it. In my haphazard interpretation, freedom is the father of democracy. The Anglo Saxons think that all men are equal and free. Each individual should value others' right as well as his own. In everyday life, one man's gain may cause another man's loss. In such a case, by compromise or mutual agreement, they make up their bargain.
But equality and freedom do not always go together. All men are equal in being men, but no two men are equal in ability, character, health and wealth. If unchecked freedom is allowed in competition, the weaker must perish, falling prey to the
"In a larger community the case is more complicated, but they reach general agreement by fair dealings. Public good may sometimes be incompatible with private interest. Priority is given to the former then. All this is done through parliamentary debate. Laws are made by the representatives of the people. Even in administration and jurisdiction, some officials must be elected. They are responsible to the people. They can appoint and dismiss their officials at their will. There is no doubt the fairness of this principle, especially when compared with totalitarianism in which state is all-powerful and individual is nothing.
Matters stand different in Japan. Here it is very hard to get a bare livelihood. There is no bright prospect for the young; poor children start life at an insurpassable disadvantage; only a few lucky ones get education fit for the full development of their faculties. Many careers are nipped in the bud.
At present, when financial strength overweighs other superiority the stronger are not necessarily the more desirable to survive. Geniuses may die young before they accomplish anything, because of poverty, while worthless fellows may be pampered on their hereditary fortunes.
In a country like the United States where even the poorest are free from the fear of starvation and chances for success are still abundant, free competition alone works well.
Unfeeling moralists will give a sermon that adversity strengthens men, that perseverance overcomes all obstacles. It is true. But competition should be fair as well as free. The door to success should be open to all equally. Scholarship system exists in our country, but it must be enlarged.
In short, more stress should be laid on equality than in America. If laissez-faire policy is persistently pursued, production will increase more rapidly, and more wealth will be accumulated, but the gulf between rich and poor and subsequently social unrest will become greater . . . I am for democracy tinted with socialism, if I can but touch politically in speaking on the idealogical road for Ne. Japan.
Luther H. Buchele, '48.
Yesteryears
The Men Do Bathe
Men's showers in Robinson gymnasium are not used much this fall, say those who loaf around the gym a large part of their time. It is not that men do not take baths, they say, but that they patronize other means of taking baths.
(From the UDK, Nov. 21, 1917)
Yesteryears
Approaching Doom
Missouri breweries are to close two days each week and effect a saving of twenty-five per cent in fuel. But it still is a question whether or not these breweries are, under the guise of patriotism, rehearsing for the tragedy of national prohibition.
(From the UDK, Feb. 6, 1918)
Daily Kansan
University
News Room K.U.251
Adv. Room K.U.376
Student Newspaper of the UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Member of the Kansas Press Assm.
National Press Assn., and the Associated Collegel Press. Represented by the National Ad-
servive Service, 420 Madison Ave., New York City.
Editor-in-chief
Marvin Arth
Managing Editor Business Manager Harold J. Benjamin James Murray
Asst. Managing Editors; Janet Ogan, Mona Millikan, Richard Tatum, John Corporation.
Chairman of Writer; Francis J. Kelley Assoc. editorial editor; Jack Zimmerman City Editor Lee Sheppeard Asst. City Editor Don Roberson Richard Marshall Society Editor Nancy Anderson Telegraph Editor Robert Sanford Asst. Telegraph Editor Faye Marion Kliewer Sports Editor Alan Marshall Asst. Sports Editors; Bob Nelson, Forrest Miller.
Advertising Mgr. James Lowther National Adv. Mgr. Dorothy Kolb Classified Ad. Mgr. Virginia Johnston Promotion Mgr. Robert Sidney
Campus Politics, '09-'51 Rumblings From Within
By LEE SHEPPEARD (University Daily Kansan City Editor)
(Third in a series of articles on campus politics through the years)
Pachacamac settled back and waited however, and events followed their eternal pattern. After its first year of glory, the Independent coalition lost the next four elections. In 1931 it was dissolved and a new party formed.
Actually, three new parties were organized. One, the Oread party, was made up of anti-Pachacamae fraternities. Another, the Kayhawk club, represented anti-Pachacamae independents.
A fourth party, the K.U. Progressives, was "pledged to the interests of the non-fraternity man," but the Oread party hinted darkly that it was just another Pachacamac trick to split the independent vote.
Pachacamac denied the accusation, of course, and replied haughtily, "It is a known fact that several of the former Oread supporters are acting as officers of the Kayhawks."
Naturally the Oreads were shocked, and they answered, "It is a known fact that at least one member of the Kayhawks has attended a Pachacamac meeting within the last six weeks."
The Kayhawk president merely smiled and said, "This is my first semester at K.U." At least he wasn't bursting with known facts.
And after all this pussy-footing the Oreads and Kayhawks formed a coalition right before the election. Which drew a wry comment from the president of Pachacamac: "It would have been news if the Kayhawk party had run alone."
Pachacamac's independent-splitter, the Progressive party, was a dud. Its candidate for M.S.C. president polled only 34 votes as Oread-Kayhawk won 15 of the 24 council seats and the presidency, Pachacamac was unhappy.
A story which appeared in the Kansan before the election read, "There are rumblings from within and without that certain candidates were nominated without their consent." Clinton Feeney, Kansan political reporter, did not make it clear who was rumbling or what point the rumblers were within or without, but then anything can happen in a campaign Pachacamac loses.
Another Kansan story described an Oread-Kayhawk rally: "There was a large scattering of Pachacamacs in the crowd, and from an undercurrent of conversation there was some racketeering expected. One prominent Pachacamaca was attended with a body-guard of ten men, but nothing happened."
Nothing happened. Oh, well, that was before Kefauver and network television.
Pachacamacs began the campaigning in 1932 with an advertisement in the Kansen asking why the (Oread-Kayhawk controlled) council allowed three inelegible men to serve.
(Continued on Page 9)