PAGE TEN
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1948
The Editorial Page-
One Solution
The vote of the people of Kansas on Nov. 2 made the repeal of the bone dry law a mandate to the legislature. But, the way in which the constitution is to be amended has not been set, so there are, at present, three ways in which the laws may be changed.
Some Kansans feel that the bone dry law should be stricken from the record and liquor bought and sold as in the days of unrestricted sale.
Others think the state should hold a monopoly at wholesale levels and thus curtail bootlegging.
A larger group feels that the state should maintain a complete monopoly on the sales of so-called hard liquors.
The last method is the best, if we take for example, the state of Washington. Washington maintains a monopoly on all liquor sales except beer and wines in restaurants or other eating establishments. Then, beer and wines may be bought only by the drink. Package sales are made in state owned stores.
State owned stores have a low overhead which permits liquor to be sold at prices to discourage bootleggers. And, the state can still realize enough profit to maintain its program of control.
Only persons who have registered and hold a ration card are allowed to purchase liquor in the state-owned stores. This reduces juvenile drinking.
The rations are liberal enough. The control is tight enough. The laws are comprehensive enough. Such a plan could be tried here if the present constitutional provision against Kansas entering private business were modified.
It works in the state of Washington. Why wouldn't it work in the state of Kansas? -Gerald Fetterolf.
What Will It Be?
The Kansas legislature must decide in the next session whether to vote the state wet, partially wet, or dry.
The popular vote demands a wet state by a majority of over 63.000 votes. However, only 45 counties voted wet and only 61 of the 125 members of the lower house of the legislature are from these counties voting wet. Also, approximately 22 of the 105 counties voted wet or dry by majorities of less than 1,000 votes. It is the representatives from these counties who will determine the kind of liquor control that Kansas will have.
The easy thing, for the representatives from counties deciding the issue by a small margin, would be to vote for local option. That would avoid sharp criticism by a majority of the voters as it would allow the statement, "I decided to let you home folks decide which you want."
That liquor stores will be privately owned seems certain. Section 9 or article 11 of the constitution has been interpreted by the Kansas Supreme court as prohibiting the state of Kansas from engaging in a purely private business enterprise.
The laws regulating liquor will be stiff—if there are enough officers for enforcement. The drys will want a tough law and one representative, from a wet county, has said he favors a small license fee and no limit on the number of liquor stores, such stores to sell nothing but liquor. He also went on record to favor suspension of driver's licenses and seizure of automobiles as a penalty for drunken driving.
-Gerald E. Edgar.
- Letters To The Editor -
Loaded Words
Dear Editor:
One could perhaps be a little more confident of the "realistic light" the editor calls for in his editorial of December 3 had he exposed his own deplorable thesis to it.
Realistically, it is impossible to believe that the Daily Kansan has "tried to exert its influence in an effort to end segregation in Lawrence theaters." To me it appeared quite neutral in the case but maybe that depends on which side you stand.
It is not realistic to use loaded words and term the C.O.R.E. sit-down a "near riot." 'The nearest thing to a riot I know of happened when a theater manager tried to throw a Negro friend of mine out of the "reserved" section because his skin was too light.'
It hardly seems realistic to cite the very laudable achievements at far-off New Haven or Amherst or Brooklyn as evidence of a trend and so assuage the schizophrenic soul yearning so for democracy. They can all be counted by reverse incidents in Georgia, Oklahoma, and, yes, in Kansas. Gains are not the inexorable results of a trend but struggles in
O certainly it would be better were all our problems faceless, neutral little tasks. But let's be realistic. It is time to nail the Big Lie: that to stay silent on the race problem is to exorcise it eventually.
their own right.
I. W. Elliott Graduate school
Editor's Note: For Mr. Elliott's edification, we would refer him to the July 25, 1947 issue of the Summer Session Kansan, and several issues previous and subsequent to this date. The files are in the news room of the journalism building and open to anyone who desires to study them. We did not refer in any manner to the sidown demonstration staged by C. O.R.E. as the "near riot."
It was our belief, and was so expressed, that to achieve an improvement in the situation, there are means more amicable than force. And, it should be pointed out that the New Haven, Amherst, and Brooklyn incidents mentioned were not brought on by force. We are not denying however that the action took a great deal of courage.
Call K. U. 251 With Your News
University
Daily Hansan
Student Newspaper of the UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Member of the Kansas Press Assn., National Editorial Assn., Inland Press Assn., and the Associated Colleges Press. Represented by the National Advertising Service, 420 Madison Ave., New York City.
Editor-In-Chief ... Maurice C. Lungen
Managing Editor ... Hal D. Nelson
Editor ... Anne Murphy
Asst. Man. Editor ... Bill H.
City Editor ... Robert Newman
City Editor ... Nora Temple
Editor ... Rory James
City Editor ... Richard D. James
el Editor ...
Asst. Tel. Editor ... Larry Funk
Editor ... Robert D. Snait
Sports Editor ... Oscar Wimmer
Asst. Sports Editor ... Marvin L. Rowlands
Society Editor ... Rosemary Rospaw
Business Manager ... Don L. Tennant
Advertising Mgr. ... Don Welch
Natl Adv. Mgr. ... Charles O'Connor
Antonion Mgr. ... Ruth Clayton
Asst. Crit. Mgr. ... Deena Knuth
Classified Mgr. ... Don Whelch
Asst. Class. Mgr. .. Yvonne Josserand
Asst. Class. Mgr. .. William E. Beck
Promotion Mgr. .. Richard Reed
Alumnus Reports For Overseas Duty
Paul A. Lamb, 23, has been recalled for three years active duty with the army and will report to Camp Stoneman, Calif., prior to his departure for Japan.
Colonel Lamb served five years in the Pacific during World War II. Since the war he has been active in the organized reserves as commander of the 522nd composite group. Colonel Lamb was commissioned at the University in 1923, and was graduated from the School of Law.
Mrs. Lamb will join her husband as soon as living quarters are available. Richard'Lamb, their son and a junior in journalism, will join his family in Japan next summer.
In 1946, Wisconsin led the nation in milk production, with 8,651,000,000 pounds.
FINE
SERVICE
GREAT
CARS
SQUARE
DEAL
"These maps are so confusing. Couldn't you kind of show me where it is—personally?"
Everyone likes our attendants. They're courteous and efficient. . . When you need SERVICE-drive in here or phone 4.
GENERAL
THE LINE FOR '49
Right Tire
Right Job
Right Price
FOR SAFETY ON WHEELS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS CHANGE TO GENERAL NON-SKID TIRES. COME IN TODAY FOR THE BEST SERVICE IN LAWRENCE ON ANY CAR TROUBLE.
MORGAN-MACK
MOTOR CO.
609 Mass.