PAGE SIX
13
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1950
The Editorial Page一
Labor...Buckeye Bully?
Peculiar to a jigsaw puzzle is a key piece which seems to form the nucleus for putting together the whole picture. When this key piece is discovered, the outcome of the puzzle can be seen.
Such is the position of Ohio in the coming election. Ohio is that key piece in the puzzle of whether powerful groups can run an election as they wish. It is more than a question of whether Ferguson can beat Taft . . . but whether CIO-PAC can beat Taft. Can a certain faction be powerful enough to defeat a foe?
If the answer is yes, then free America had better beware of dictatorial tendencies in the form of powerful groups. The outcome of the election should answer the question, though it may not be a true one because of the circumstances of the Ohio senatorial battle.
The CIO-PAC, of course, is backing the Democratic candidate, Joseph T. Ferguson. They are campaigning with millions of dollars in a shrewd and hard hitting manner, but they are fighting a man who can easily match them dollar for dollar, and they are supporting a very weak candidate.
Ferguson is the chronic type of politician. . . a political nonentity who worked up through the ranks and then existed as state auditor for several years. The governor of Ohio, and undoubtedly the most outstanding Democrat in the state, Frank J. Lausche, refused to run against Taft for fear of ruining his political future. Other powerful Ohio Democrats also refused the candidacy, which brings us to Ferguson.
We don't wish to judge his competency, but the North American Newspaper Alliance reports that when a reporter asked him what he thought of Formosa, he replied, "I'll carry it easy . . . I always have." And the only issue on which Ferguson has taken a definite stand is that Robert Taft should be beaten. His comparatively few speeches have dealt wholly with attacking Taft. On the other hand, Taft has made a vigorous tour of all Ohio counties and has told the people just where he stands on every issue.
Many important Ohio Democrats—like Gov. Frank Lausche have talked for the Taft cause. And many of them resent labor running the show and might vote accordingly.
Lausche is from Cleveland, a Democratic stronghold, and his stand might influence Ohio's largest city. Cincinnatians—always conservative—will probably back local candidate Taft, and the Buckeye second city will remain as the only large city in the country to consistently vote Republican.
Spirit is high in the bellicose Buckeye ballyhoo, and the Taft-Hartley Act and the senator's foreign policy will probably hurt him, but after Nov. 7, the key piece of the puzzle will become apparent, and our puzzle will take form.
Will it be one in which powerful groups operate with wild abandon, and decide who is to run our government . . . and how? —Marvin Arth.
Candid Comments
ELDorado Wildcats are licking their wounds and assuming a ferocious air as they crawl from their long assumed position of underdogs to vie for top place in this year's football competition. Tied but not beaten in seven games, ELDorado was named Kansas' outstanding high school football team Monday by the Topeka Daily Capital in its weekly ratings. Next in the newspaper's top ten were: Topeka, Wichita East, Shawnee-Mission, Wichita North, Stafford, Clay Center, Coffeyville, Ottawa and Pittsburg.
After absorbing comments on the stadium seating situation for an entire week, we have decided upon the only sure fire scheme for assuring one's self of a vantage point from which to view Saturday's game is to join the crew of salesmen for cokes from the concession stands.
Dean Paul B. Lawson walked into his entomology class with a large brown sack under his arm. Before revealing its contents, he told the puzzled students, "When a dog bites a man, it's a little unusual, but when a teacher brings apples to his students—that's news."
An escape has been discovered for students suffering from what is commonly known as the mid-semester slump. They may, through a little expert maneuvering, join Antonio Ditardo, who turned down a parole from San Quentin prison for the seventh time Monday because he "never had it so good." Ditardo was sentenced to life imprisonment 30 years ago for shooting his wife in a quarrel. "Look at me," he said. "I'm wearing a white shirt. Every Sunday I get chicken. Would I do as well outside?"
Homecoming decoration judges at the University of Kansas and Kansas State college evidently agree on what constitutes a prize-winning display.
Delta Delta Delta sorority at Manhattan won first place with a tableau showing a miniature train chugging determinedly through a group of Iowa State Cyclones. Pi Beta Phi took top honors here with a similar train crossing Nebraska's goal line.
Sigma Phi Epsilon won first prize in the fraternity division at Manhattan, depicting a meek Wildcat who became strong enough to crush an invading Cyclone after drinking Hadacol. The same theme was used here by Alpha Epsilon Pi.
Students Express Political Opinions
This is election day. When the opportunity to express one's preferences for state and national officers comes but once in two years, it seems ligitimate to devote the entire editorial page to differing views expressed by students enrolled in The Editorial. The Kansan, of course, maintains its usual attitude of impartiality in politics. These articles are merely student opinions.
Reporter Chastised
Dear Editor:
On Oct. 30 the Kansan carried a short, purported review of my talk to the International Relations club. As I am unaccustomed to making speeches I read most of it and, fortunately, a copy is still here to which I can refer in pointing out the gross and possibly damaging errors made by your reporter.
The first paragraph of the review says, "Joseph F. Wilkins, professor of voice, described his visit to Europe the past summer—in the Hawk's Nest of the Union."
It had been made very clear that we were in Europe for an entire year, and the meeting was in the Kansan room.
The next paragraph reads, "Professor Wilkins said that his biggest difficulty was language. This problem made it hard to get along with people of various countries. An ideal solution to this would be a universal language, he said."
My script reads, "When people do not understand each other, that is, when they do not even speak a common language, they do not trust each other, they become suspicious and frightened and the result is what we have in Europe today. To me it is apparent that Europe is divided more by a language than by differences in race or any other thing. To make a United States of Europe—will be quasi-impossible without a common language.
Fortunately for us, Mrs. Wilkins speaks French fluently and I get along well enough with it—.
I wonder why your reporter thought we had language difficulties, especially since, some time later on, I explained that we not only speak French and Italian but understand the Milanese dialect as well. I stressed the point that on once occasion, at least, my knowledge of Milanese saved me from what might have been a serious situation.
We did not have the slightest difficulty in getting along with any people in Europe. Quite the contrary, we got along extremely well probably because we do speak the languages.
There are mistakes in the next paragraph also but I have spent enough time at this already.
Joseph F. Wilkins Professor of Voice
Strictly Business
Dear Editor:
In reply to Mr. Darlington's facetious editorial, I should like to inquire why he cannot understand that the hucksters are actually doing us a favor? By removing the student section to the hillside, they would uplift student morality. They would
Communist Challenge
An experiment is going on in California where Republicans are testing the effectiveness of the Communist issue as a vote getter.
"Mrs. Douglas is a Red!" That's the campaign theme song of Richard M. Nixon, Republican candidate for Senator. Repeatedly he has accused his opponent, Mrs. Helen Gahagan Douglas of aligning herself with Communist policies. He has charged the California Fair Dealer of voting approximately 354 times in Congress with the pro-Communist Vito Marcantonio. Furthermore, Representative Nixon has quoted her as saying that "Communism is no real threat to the democratic institutions of our country."
Although at first glance the Communist argument in California may have seemed to be merely a state issue, it has become a test of national importance. If Mrs. Douglas is defeated, the Republicans will read in her defeat the go ahead sign to use domestic Communism as the major issue in the 1952 presidential campaign. If she wins the senatorial seat, the Communist name calling technique will be dropped.
Representative Nixon realizes the importance of this off-year election in California and is using every device to make this experiment reach the proper conclusion. He has capitalized on the fact that he was a member of the Un-American Activities Committee and that he found the Pumpkin Papers that were so prominent in the Alger Hiss case. He has relentlessly hammered away at the argument that Mrs. Douglas has lined up on the side of Marcantonio more often than on his side. However, Nixon's own voting record shows that though he has represented the voters of a liberal state, on many issues he has voted to the right of Senator Knowland.
Of course Mrs. Douglas has emphatically denied Nixon's charge that she is a Red. Her major campaign argument has been that only through social legislation—social security, unemployment insurance, defeat of the Taft-Hartley act, and acquiring low cost housing—can Communism be fought at home and abroad.
Mrs. Douglas has not been alone in her struggle against the only important issue Representative Nixon has raised. Vicepresident Barkley, Attorney General J. Howard McGrath, and several cabinet members have defended the attractive brunette.
Communism is an issue in many states, but only in California has the argument become so important. The results in that state are not only important to Californians, but to the nation as well.
When the final counting is over the Republicans will know one state's reaction to the test of the Communist issue. From the results the Republics will be able to gauge the nation's reaction to this issue in the next presidential election.
protect us from any larcenous temptation to take seats rightly belonging to an alumnus. . . an alumnus, by the way, who has attained that economic Valhalla which permits him to quit work to travel hundreds of miles to sit in a three dollar seat. Further, any temptation for students to engage in unseemly, degrading controversy with a well-heeled booster would be thwarted.
A really sagacious business manager, moreover, would cents at once that the hillside could also be sold out at a profit. Two dollars and fifty cents would seem to be a fair price for such select seating. This would resound even more to the benefit of the student body by eliminating the five hours now required to get in to see the game. Who could controvert that these hours should be spent in study? Only half the people I know take books to the game to study while awaiting the boosters to oust them from their seats, and most of them do not even then actually study. This is an educational institution, and the administration most assuredly ought to take this step to keep the student's shoulder to the wheel, nose to the grindstone and ear to the ground.
In closing I should like to quote from my favorite poet:
Patricia Jansen.
Boola, Boola;
Moola, Moola;
Richard W. Stavely
First Year Student
Concise Comment
Bravo, "The Dove"!
Dear Editor:
Bravo, "The Dove" William J. Solner Graduate Student
Befuddled Voters
Dear Editor:
For nearly seven weeks I have been a freshman at K.U. I participated in all of the orientation week activities that were listed on my appointment card. I believed that I had been thoroughly indoctrinated into K.U. life.
Now, through roundabout sources I have learned that we have a student council. How students become members on this council. I do not know.
Today I overheard two other freshmen talking about a forthcoming freshman election. Why, in seven weeks, haven't I heard about any freshman election? When is this election, where are the polls, why officers are to be elected, who are the candidates, and why hasn't the affair been advertised?
Richard D. Coffelt College Freshman
The information you request has already appeared in the Kansan, but here are the answers to your questions. The freshmen election will be held Wednesday, and the polls will be in Marvin hall, Strong hall, and the Union building. The election is for the purpose of naming a president, vice-president, treasurer, and secretary of the freshman class. Also to be elected are one man and one woman representative for the All Student Council. The candidates—all Greeks—were announced in Monday's Kansan.
Editor's Note:
In the United States there were 1,815,000 marriages and 415,000 divorces in 1948.