PAGE SIX
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
10.
WEDNESDAY, NOV.29, 1950
Thought For The Day —
"The man who has not anything to boast of but his illustrious ancestors is like a potato-the only good belonging to him is underground." --Sir Thomas Overbury
Superiority Limited
Americans are not invincible, nor superior, nor always right. In the past 50 years, we, as a nation, have gradually succumbed To the age-old myth of inherent superiority. We have come to think of ourselves as the rightful rulers, or at least advisers, of all humanity.
Let's wake up to reality!
We have attained our present impressive position through a series of fortunate coincidences, our tremendous reserve of natural resources (which American ingenuity had nothing to do with), a favorable geographic location, and the wealth of information which came as a cumulative result of the influx of various cultures.
various cultures. Our victories in the recent World Wars were not the product of our Democratic system, or of our inherent military genius, or of Mom's apple pie. They were the result of vast quantities of material, better supply services, and "unlimited" resources, both financial and natural.
In Korea, we've seen how American troops can retreat just as fast as any other troops when they are outnumbered and under-equipped. We can and have lost battles, and we can lose wars, cold and hot.
wars, cold and hot.
This attitude of superiority, or at best, patronizing generosity, has not gained for us any allies throughout the world, and has alienated many potential friends.
We would be much better off on the international scene if our attitude reflected our common bonds with humanity rather than our common bonds at six per cent interest.J.A.B.
Atomic Energy Commission Is Cautious About Industrial Proposal
Los Angeles一（U.P）-One of the country's foremost atomic experts disclosed recently that the nation has fewer than 350 nuclear physicists and even fewer capable of designing machines for putting atomic energy to work.
For that reason, Dr. Lawrence R. Hafstad said, the atomic energy commission is viewing cautiously proposals to hand private industry the job of developing reactors to turn atomic energy into electrical power for civilian use.
riastad is director of the Atomic Energy commission's division of reactor development. He defined an atomic reactor as "a slowed down and controlled atom bomb explosion"
"Nothing would cause more disruption in this program," Hafstad told the American Petroleum institute, "than an irresponsible uncontrolled proselyting of key personnel."
in a machine designed to convert atomic energy "into useful forms."
The commission is building four special reactors, including two for submarine propulsion, and "several of them. . are well along the road toward completion."
A big bottleneck in reactor development is personnel. Hafstad said a recent survey showed "only 350 names in the whole country of people who list themselves either as mathematical physicists or nuclear physicists."
Read the Daily Kansan Daily
Little Man On Campus
By Bibler
"Why can't you speak to him—He's been trying to attract your attention for weeks!"
The Public's Pulse
Dear Editor,
Semper Fidelis
Last night I said goodbye to a former K.U. student as he left to board ship for Korea with the third marine replacement draft. His name, Bob Bennett, is well-known on Mount Oread where he was both a good student and an outstanding leader in campus affairs. As he left, we exchanged some words about the school that have stayed with me—sufficiently strong to make me write this letter.
Briefly, Bob and I both wondered a trifle after reading some of the "Letters to the Editor" concerning the World in Crisis series and the last issue of the Dove. Somehow you know, neither of us nor several others hereabout, could quite concede that, as Democrats or Republicans we were ipso facto either "smug" or "fence-sitters". Nor do we believe that such a line as "the party that brought liquor to Kansas" entirely castigates a political group. There are many non-Republicans, here and in Lawrence, who believe "a drop of wine is good for the soul."
No, we two are not ready to concede that the American way is the wrong way. We are far from ready to advocate either socialism or its pinker by-products. To read the Dove proved to be a stern struggle, I'm afraid, though by nature I am a tolerant fellow. Far it be from me to attack their beliefs, but let this stand for us as an affirmation of our belief in the American political and economic system which though peaceable, is, in our estimation, the finest system in extant.
Jerry Lysaught Cpl. USMCR Camp Pendleton California
Editor's note: Hoorah!
Good Advice!
Permit me to suggest that Edward Chapin, J.A.B., Gene Hawk, the Sophomore Medics, and others interested read "The Doctors' Lobby," by James Howard Means, M.D., in the October Atlantic, and "Dollars and Doctors," by Leonard Engel, in The Nation for Oct. 14, 1950.
To the Editor
Without entering into the many difficult issues involved, we may ponder the fact that the insurance companies are lending their powerful voice to the campaign of the American Medical Association.
(Miss) Josephine M. Burnham Editor's Note: Thanks for the advice, Miss Burnham. We are reading and pondering.
Kleinberg Speaks At Northwestern U
Dr. Jacob Kleinberg, associate professor of chemistry, lectured Tuesday, Nov. 21, at a seminar at Northwestern university.
He is one of 11 outstanding inorganic chemists who are taking part in a series of lectures to summarize the past 50 years in inorganic chemistry. His subject was "Unfamiliar Oxidation States and Their Stabilization."
Petroleum production in Kansas exceeds that of 43 other states.
Six Wars-Three Hot And Three Cold Mark World Struggle Over Communism
The struggle between the Communist and non-Communist nations has developed into three hot wars and three cold ones. In only one of the six to the non-Communist nations hold a decided advantage today, although the issue still is in the balance on the five other fronts.
The biggest victory for the noncommunist nations in the cold war has been the break between Yugoslavia and Moscow and her satellites. There no longer is any doubt that Marshal Tito has cast his lot with the Western world, and the chief value of his action is that he has proved to nations sitting on the fence that you can defy the Stalin lightning and still survive.
The hot wars are in Korea, Indo-China, and Tibet. All indications are that Tibet, a small peace-loving nation of 3,000,000 persons, has been swallowed up by communist China or is about to be. There isn't much that the Anglo-American-French bloc can do about it. Tibet is inaccessible, it has almost no army and the communications into the country are so uncertain that it is difficult even to lend moral support.
The communists are on the offensive in Indo-China, and probably will continue to hold the initiative until the United States can get adequate weapons to the French defenders. If the red victories continue the U.N. is going to have to face the problem shortly of whether intervention will be needed to save the country from being over-run.
The two other arenas where cold wars are being waged are Germany and the United Nations. Most military men, while watching the Far East carefully, will keep a nervous smile from Germany. They realize that if Russia ever decides the time has come to risk the big throw of the dice Germany is where she will strike. That is where she could best employ her massive armies and air force.
Non-communist commanders in Germany daily are beset by the worst of all fears—the fear of the unknown. They never know when, where or how the Russians will strike or whether they are planning to strike at all.
Lame Duck's Origin
The phrase is applied to a member of congress who gets a slap-down at the polls, but still has a chance to come back to Capitol Hill for a brief session before his term runs out.
Washington—(U.P.)—Where did the phrase "Lame Duck" come from?
A "Lame Duck" congress is in session now. Several score members are lame ducks.
All of this sent me to the library of congress to learn the origin of the lame ducks. I didn't learn very much. One book said that "Lame Duck" was picked up from an old London stock exchange name for an outfit that went bankrupt.
I thought the thing to do then was to consult H. L. Mencken, the grand-pappy of history of the American language.
In the U.N. the anti-communist bloc scored a big success with its prompt intervention in Korea. But now it is confronted by the problem of Red China and how to keep her from setting off the spark that would start an atomic war. Within a week a Chinese communists delegation will arrive in New York. History is going to be made at Lake Success—the kind of history that affects the lives of everybody in the world.
But Mr. M. makes only a passing reference to a lame duck in one of his books and doesn't give the origin. I found another definition of a lame duck in a volume called a "Dictionary of American English."
It said: "lame duck (1761)—an office holder who has not been reelected after November . . . and who might also be termed a dead duck." In 1863, the Congressional Globe, which now is the Congressional Record, said " . . . in no event . . . could it (the court of claims) . . . be justly obovous to the charge of being a respectable of 'Lame Duck' or broken down politicians."
Actually, there is hardly any such thing as a lame duck congress any more In 1932, Sen. George W. Norris of Nebraska introduced an amendment, which passed the congress and in 1933 was adopted by the necessary states. It held that, thereafter, the new congress, instead of meeting 13 months after election, should buckle down to work on Jan. 3.
The library of congress has some dandies on record about lame ducks. One is a speech made on the house floor by Rep. Emanuel Celler, of New York.
Said Celler: "Mr Speaker . . . a lame duck is usually a wild bird that has been wounded and brought down to earth by the hunter.
"In the old days when travel was by horse and stage coach, the gentlemen needed more time to get to Washington. Sometimes it took months to get to the capital . . . there were harvests."
Help Fight TB
Buy Christmas Seals
Daily Hansan
University
News Room Adv. Room
K.U. 251 K.U. 376
Student Newspaper of the
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Member of the Kansas Press Assn.
National Press Assn, and the Associated Collegiate Press. Represented by the National Advertising Service, 420 Madison Ave, New York City.
Editor-in-chief John A. Bannigan
Managing Editor Business Manager Emily C. Stewart Gerald Mosley
Asst. Managing Editors: Edward Chapin,
Marcch, Patricia Jansen,
Michael McGhie,
Merrill. City Editors...John Corporon
Assistant City Editors: Dewayne Ogle-
bee, Charles Price, Rod Rodgers, Dean
Exans, Marion Kliewer.
Evans, Marlon Klewer.
Photograph Editor ... Harold Benjamin
Society Editors: Janet Ogan, Melva Lutz
Asts. Soc. Editor ... Virginia Johnston
Telegraph Editor ... John Hill
Asst. Txt. Holders: Bill White, Shep-
ard, Holly Holdall, Stone Story
Sparky Holbeck, Stuart Tropper, Edith Moore, Steven Aster, Sports Editors: Bob Nelson, Marvin P
Artist, John McMillan.
Editorial Asst. ... Pete North
Advertising Mgr Joseph Ward
National Adv. Mgr Charlotte Gessy
Joseph Lewis
Classiebek Ad. Mgr Virgil Vignola
Promotion Mgr James Murray