PAGE SIX
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1948
The Editorial Page-
Pumpkinhead-Lines
For quite some time the reading public has been fed a diet of headlines concerning charges by the House of Representatives un-American Activities committee that certain departments of the federal government are riddled with spies of a foreign power. In particular, they have spent much time on the case of Whittaker Chambers and Alger Hiss. More recently, the case has hit the headlines again with information concerning micro-film reproductions of State department documents secreted away in a pumpkin on a Maryland farm.
Chambers admits of being a former Communist and spy but who has, since 1938, seen the error of his ways. Hiss, on the other hand, has had an enviable career as a government attorney and vehemently denies the charges made by Chambers that he was an accomplice in the State department to obtain secret and confidential information.
Hiss has filed a libel suit against Chambers for his allegations made on a nation-wide radio program. It is in connection with this trial that the microfilm reproductions have been presented as evidence. Almost by chance, it seems, has this evidence been brought to light, although it is perhaps the most important so far presented in the Hiss-Chambers affair. Hiss has now been indicted on two counts of perjury by a New York federal grand jury.
The idea of the un-American Activities committee may be good but the manner in which so many of the hearings have been conducted is not to its recommendation. On numerous occasions, it has conducted hearings in a spectacular and high-handed fashion, with headlines seemingly the important thing in mind. The committee has seen fit to smear persons, as in the case of Dr. Condon of the bureau of standards, before they have had a chance to be heard.
Also, we cannot condone the kind of thinking that continuously reiterates "red herring." During the recent campaign, the spy scare was perhaps purely political since nothing of concrete evidence had been presented to support charges. But with the recent discovery that documents have been filched from government files, documents the very nature of which would be "prejudicial to our national security if released" ten years later, it is time for action and not phrases.
It would seem that it is a time for a little frank and straight-from-the-shoulder talk on the part of a few government officials to let the people know just what is the score. If there are spies in the government, as evidence seems to support, it is time they are ferreted out, but by the proper and fair legal processes; not by the high-handed, and so far rather ineffectual method of the un-American Activities committee. Also, the "red herring" line is getting a little thin.
-M.C.L.
It's rumored that Mr. Gallup has slowed down to a walk.
Certain pollsters have been saying the title of the "Missouri Waltz" should be changed to "It's Magic."
What's Your Hurry?
The modern automobile is an engineering masterpiece from the standpoint of comfort and performance. It is too bad the engineer hasn't been able to design something to eliminate the hazard of the slow thinking, take-a-chance, and impolite driver.
On the whole, American people have a good sense of fair play and sportsmanship. This is demonstrated by our many athletic contests with frequent rooting for the underdog. However, too many times when these same people get behind the wheel of an automobile their sense of fair play seems to vanish. They jump traffic lights, use the horn excessively, cut in and out of traffic—just to get some place in a hurry. They may not be going anywhere, but they still want to get there fast.
The saving that results from excessive speed is in many ways a loss. A recent test in Kansas produced the following results: An automobile driven over a 295-mile course at a top speed of 65 miles an hour, maintained an average speed of 46 miles an hour. The same car driven over the same stretch of road with a top speed of 50 miles an hour maintained an average speed of 43 miles an hour.
By traveling at the faster speed, the driver saved 18 minutes. For this 18 minutes, he increased his chances of a serious accident substantially and lost 11 per cent in gasoline and 50 per cent on oil consumption.
National Safety council figures correlate with speed, the deaths per 1000 injury accidents as follows: 30 to 40 m.p.h, 27; 40 to 50 m.p.h., 33; and over 50 m.p.h., 77.
From the facts here presented, it seems that everyone driving home for the Christmas holidays should remember two things and repeat them over and over to himself: If I take it slow, I will save money. If I take it slow, I will increase my chances of getting home safely.
-M.C.L.
The public is wondering to whom the recently well-exchanged government buck will be passed now that we have a president and congress of the same political complexion.
Now that Liz has had her offspring, the world can turn back to its old hobby, international crises.
Science has invented a machine that talks. Needed worse is something to shut off the machine that's been talking since Eve.
There is nothing like a first class cold wave to make Kansans forget about a thawing cold war.
The landlord who welcomes couples with children has replaced the Indian as the Vanishing American.
Dear Editor-
Meaningless?
In your recent editorial regarding fatal traffic accidents, you are guilty of making a faulty analysis.
Dear Editor:
It is interesting to know that persons in the 18-24 age group were involved in 27 percent of all fatal accidents; and that persons in the 25-44 age group were involved in 49 per cent of all fatal accidents.
We can make no generalizations, however, until we know how many drivers there are in each age group. As presented, the facts are interesting but meaningless.
Ted Joyce Business senior
University
Daily Hansan
Student Newspaper of the UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Member of the Kansas Press Assn, National Exhibition, and the Associated College Press. Represented by the National Ad-Service Service, 420 Madison Ave., New York, NY.
Editor-In-Chief ... Maurice C. Lungen
Managing Editor ... Hal D. Nelson
Asst. Man. Editor ... Anne Murphy
Asst. Man. Editor ... Bill F. Mayer
Asst. Manager ... Rosemary Rowland
Asst. City Editor ... Nora Temple
Asst. City Editor ... Patricia James
Business Manager . Don L. Tennant
Advertising Mgr. Don Welch
Charles Chatterjee Charles Chatterjee
Circulation Mgr. Ruth Clyton
Asst Circ. Mgr. Dean Knuth
Asst. Class. Mgr. Willie Walters
Asst. Class. Mgr. Yvonne Jossenrand
Asst. Class. Mgr. William E. Beck
TODAY'S SAFETY SLOGAN
Courtesy of the National Safety Council
Drive as if your life depended upon it. It does.
Naval Science Class Visits
Olathe Supply Department
Members of the freshman naval science class recently visited the supply department of the Olathe Naval Air base. The purpose of the trip was to learn how the supply station operates.
Davidson Joins ROTC As Infantry Instructor
Sgt. Leslie V. Davidson recently assumed duties as an instructor of infantry tactics in the University R.O.T.C. He is a Lawrence resident and a graduate of Liberty Memorial High school.
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Goddard, Kans.—(UP)—A traffic accident turned the old phrase "hog wild" into reality. Gene Plankhorn, truck driver, and sheriff's deputies spent the day hunting 58 hogs released from Plankhorn's truck when it slipped into a ditch.
Accident Turns Hogs Loose
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