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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 195
The Editors Report —
Could You Call It Isolationism?
The Democratic candidate for governor, John A. Potueek, was up on the Hill the past week. He spoke at a meeting of the K.U. Young Democrats. At the meeting Mr. Potueck made several statements we feel need clarifying. Since you can't expect a political candidate to be explicit, we thought we'd take a crack at filling the gaps in Mr. Potueck's talk.
ye Ed
First, let's take a look at Mr. Potucek's desire to return sales, income, and liquor taxes to the communities from which they are derived. The gubernatorial candidate says this should be done "to relieve the burden on our homes, offices and shops." No doubt this sounds good to the "folks back home." But what better benefits would it actually give them?
This would be much the same as two little boys playing marbles for all they're worth, but not of course, for keeps. So if taxes are to stay in the communities where they are levied, the state may as well stay out of the tax collecting business altogether.
If you stop and think about it, it's evident there is no point in the state collecting taxes if those taxes must be returned only to the communities "from which they are derived."
What would happen if the state did not collect taxes from the various Kansas communities? Most obvious result would be that the state would immediately have to cease all services to the various Kansas communities. Without taxes to finance research of industrial or agricultural problems, all further research would end. Without funds to make up deficits in school appropriations wherever such deficits may appear, the state's educational system would soon become a farce.
Suppose Lawrence and Douglas county could not support the University? Under Mr. Potucek's plan, the University would have to close. Under Mr. Potucek's plan, the state could not transfer tax revenues from Wyandotte or Saline counties to help out Douglas.
Even more disastrous, if the Democratic candidate's tax plan were ever put into operation, would be the effect on the state's police force. Without funds to hire and pay patrolmen, there would be no statewide law enforcement agency. Instead of the excellent crime prevention now offered by the Kansas Highway Patrol, it would be up to 105 local law bodies to protect Kansas citizens.
What would happen if the Lawrence First National Bank were burglarized and the burglaries escaped across the county line into Johnson county—or any other county—Douglas county law officers would be stymied. By the time things were arranged with Johnson county to pursue the culpits, they might be speeding half-way across Leavenworth county. Most likely, the burglaries would long since have vanished.
Mr. Potucek is also alarmed that the number of persons on the state payroll has increased from 4,490 in 1938 to the present 14,958. Possibly there is ample reason for alarm on this count. Yet we fail to see how the state would be any better off if 105 counties had to duplicate each others work.
What would Garden City do each winter, when the wind howls down from the Rockies and snow is four foot deep, to clear highways? The entire burden of removing the snowfall would be on Finney county.
On the whole, we fail to see how Kansas would be better off if each community was "sufficient unto itself." We're more inclined to feel the state acting as an entity can do more good than 105 isolated communities acting alone. We're more inclined to think 105 men pushing together can roll more stones uphill than each man stepping up to "try his luck."
Not least of the statements made by Mr. Potucek, when talking to the Young Democrats, concerns the governorship itself. The Democratic aspirant to the governorship feels a governor should serve only one term.
"Then," he says. "the governor will be concerned with administrative functions instead of running around dedicating things and pinning on medals. He won't be preoccupied with perpetuating himself or his party in office."
This view seems to us somewhat unrealistic. Because you limit a governor to only one term, it does not necessarily follow that he will "keep his nose always to the grindstone." More-likely his reaction would be much the same as a soldier's on his last leave before heading overseas. A man with limited time seldom spends it on grindstones. He is more inclined to want to get a last few kicks out of life.
As far as a governor being preoccupied with perpetuating himself or his party in office, we fail to see how he can do otherwise. No hot potato is dropped faster than a politician who doesn't try to keep his party in power.
Exactly what is wrong with a governor "dedicating things and pinning on medals?" Would a Congressional Medal of Honor winner—or any other man who has risked his life for his country—feel the same about it is "some horse-faced old babe" instead of the President of the United States pinned on his medal? We frankly doubt it.
We don't say Mr. Potucek is wrong in saying what he does. We merely say his arguments seem to have a few gaps. And speaking frankly, we'd like to see Mr. Potucek fill in these gaps. Perhaps it might herald the return of the two-party system to Kansas. That might be a healthy thing for the state.
Today's Mail We Wonder
Sir:
A number of us are wondering on what basis the amendment which would have allowed two days for voting with a minimum of 10 polling places was defeated. We feel that it is only fair that adequate provision be made for all students to vote. Then if they shouldn't avail themselves of the opportunity, whatever might come of elections would be their own responsibility.
By Bible
We realize additional polls would involve a large number of poll workers (extra work for ASC), but perhaps having more people take an active part in elections would create more interest in student government. Perhaps, that increased interest would result in some useful changes.
Certainly, the pat conservative argument that we should cling to that which is good can't be used with reference to our voting situation. There is hardly enough good in the present system to warrant its being salvaged. It's time that something were done to rectify the situation. Possibly, this amendment wasn't the proper approach. If not, let's see ASC come up with a better substitute.
We would also be interested in an explanation of the fact that districts are to be set up on the basis of last year's school population instead of on this year's as they should be according to the constitution.
Maxine Holsinger, education junior.
This problem merits serious consideration, not only by those on the Council, but by the student body as a whole. For that reason, we would suggest that Mr. Friesen give us a recapitulation of the discussion on this particular issue.
Beverly Jennings. College sophomore.
Donna Hull, College junior.
Dolina Hunt, College junior. Jeannine Prichard, sophomore in College and nursing.
Melva Lutz, College junior.
Norma Prettyman, fine arts junior.
Georgia Story, College freshman.
The Weaker Sex? Sir:
Sir:
Since Stella Gabrielson is registering protests for the women, and seems to think that women are being robbed of something or other, we would like to register a protest. If the men are fit to give women the luxury of serenades, we believe that men should at least be allowed some small space on the sidewalks.
A male walking on the sidewalks of this day and age is in danger of losing both life and limb. When he faces a group of females charging down on him four abreast, he must either head for the weeds or be trampled. We know we are expected to be gentlemen, but there is a limit.
Panicky People Don't Think During Theater Fire Scare
Jack G. Lee, Engineering Sophomore.
Eddie V. Bales, College Junior.
Columbus, Ga. — (U.P.) — Panicky people don't stop to think, firemen here reported after a fire scare in a theater.
All the patrons tried to get out in a hurry and not one headed for one of the clearly marked side exits. The stamped for the main entrance.
Little Man On Campus
Luckily, no one was hurt, and the "fire" turned out to be the flash from a light bulb that had been shorted out.
"Why, you idiot—This 'clothes chest' is big enough to bury a man in."
'Small Things' by Keith Leslie
This came over the wire one day when the United Press wasn't too busy.
Jackson, Miss., March 24 - (U.R.)-An "emergency relief bill" requiring all beer-selling places to provide readily accessible rest rooms was studied today by the state house committee on drainage.
(Ed. Note: with return plumbing and pink tile no doubt!)
A three-column headline in the Kansan proclaims, "Help Seen for Lighthouse Women," and we presume all the feminist lighthouse keepers on the tide-washed silores of the Kaw will start a 24-hour watch, so that after all these long, bleak years, they'll be sure to get theirs.
WATCH ON THE KAW
Another headline informs, "Women Abuse Watches More Than Many Men Do," which led Matt Rimony, married senior, to mutter something about it's nothing to the way they treat husbands.
Dean Marvin and Chancellor Malott recently debated on the scholarly subject, "Resolved: That an open-faced sandwich is a true sandwich." Webster sided with Dean Marvin, of the negative, by saying it must be a substance between two slices of bread. Sophocles Mulligan, former editor-in-chief, who ought to know, added it might be better defined as a student between a dean and a chancellor.
By ARTHUR D. McINTIRE
Dr. Kollmorgen Predicts Future Dust Storms
Those who have studied history of the plains and have lived through the dust storms of the '30's are prepared to see more them. Dr. Walter M. Kollmorgen, chairman of the geography department said today.
"The climate in the plains area is peculiar because wet and dry cycles do not alternate in single years but come in short series of a few years," he explained.
"Plains dwellers have just gone through the longest wet cycle since white men discovered the plains. They are probably due for a series of dry years."
"Dust storms cannot be blamed solely on the plow," he said. "Contrary to popular opinion, dust storms of the 30's were no new phenomenon in the plains region. Geologists have found numerous horizons of wind blown soil, which make it clear that dust storms started before the soil was broken by the plow. Plowing does tend to intensity the blowing, however."
If there should be a series of dry years, the rain makers will be back with their new fromulas and methods. The prospects of arresting the storms is poor, the geographer said.
"Seeding deals with clouds which are scarce during drought periods, and are strictly local in nature. Seeding would make a small impression over a wide area," he pointed out.
A few dry years could break the plains wheat farmer, Dr. Kollmorgen said. Land must be cultivated even in drought periods. When there are no returns, such operation can quickly dry up a large bank account, he said.
"A drought could bring on worse dust storms than those experienced in the '30's. "Rather high profits from wheat farming have attracted outside capital. These persons who didn't go through the storms have overplowed. Areas that were unfit to be plowed are now bare. There is more area which would be affected by drought no than in the '30's." Kollmorgen emphasized.