PAGE SIX
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1948
The Great Drouth
Our Conscience Is Our Guide
The Editorial Page
For the past few months American citizens and newspapers have been squirming like sheepish boys caught tying tin cans to a tomcat's tail. A wee small voice that has been whispering to us for a long, long time has finally come right out and shouted at us. That voice is our social conscience. The man who is making all the noise is Henry A. Wallace.
The cause of the disturbance is Mr. Wallace's attacks on racial discrimination and political neglect of America's minorities. In the past the subject has been treated like an illegitimate child at a family reunion. Everyone knew the little beggar was there, but it was much easier to pat him on the head and send him out to the kitchen than to have him standing around making everyone uncomfortable. What Mr. Wallace has done is to drag him out and announce, "Look who's here."
The problem of minorities has become more and more acute in America for the past 30 years. After World War I a great rush of liberalism broke over Europe and spread to America. Social equality and the brotherhood of man were preached by every Utopian-bent socialist. The public could not help listen. It was developing a social conscience.
Advent of World War I
The 20 odd years of peace after World War I were interrupted by World War II, and racial discrimination presented itself as a contributing factor in our choice between war and peace. The Nazi atrocities against the Jews and other so-called inferior races made the human race blush for its kind, and our social conscience hurt more sharply than ever.
Maybe Mr. Wallace has forced the issue into the limelight as a political expedient. What is important is that our sensitive national conscience is going to keep it there until something is done about it.
Some New Jersey women are going to be compelled to sit down to do their drinking, a township ordinance states. Nothing is said about their conduct when they get up.
Among such issues as those of Palestine, Russia, and the commodity price drops, the problem of James C. Petrillo's ban on the photograph recording industry might seem of minor importance. Yet, many jobs involved, and an industry that earned $243,750,000 the past year is not one to be considered laughingly.
Petrillo's Tune
Actually Petrillo slapped a triple ban on the entertainment world which included the use of recorded music in both television and frequency modulation radio, but it was the swat at "canned music" and the persons who manufacture it that caused the greatest furor. Protection For Musicians
There are many direct underlying causes for the move by Petrillo, but they all simmer down to "protection for the live talent musician." Petrillo is out to do "something for the boys," in other words, union musicians. He says that the "dise jockey is making money without having to make an investment." He sets up a good show with records that don't cost him a cent. After that the "between-platter-patter" comes easily from the continuity writer. In that way, Petrillo says, the jockey gets a good show and the musicians who made the recordings are left out in the rain.
The chubby labor leader's moves seem sincere. He wants to help the small-time musician who is lucky to get a "tavern job" twice a week. And, although they are against his latest move to destroy them, the big boys of the music industry respect and, in many cases, admire Petrillo.
On the other hand, recording companies are struggling to have the ban lifted, but not too soon. If the lid popped off tomorrow they would lose—and hard! Before Jan. 1, when Petrillo's order took effect, these companies had artists working day and night, making records to "beat the ban." Many of these records aren't too shiny, either commercially or musically, and the firms that made them know it. If the ban were lifted now, they would be left with a lot of unsalable merchandise, records that could not compare to those musicians might cut if the pressure were off.
Cautious Companies
The latest international incident involves a small group of desolate islands at the end of the earth—the Falkland Island dependencies. The British have long considered these islands their property. But now both Chile and Argentina have put in claims and backed them up with action and a show of force.
Falkland Islands
The reason for this sudden interest in these islands is not known. The British say uranium may be the bait. The Argentinians and Chileans say they are merely renewing long-standing claims. Their position is that they don't "recognize the existence of colonies or possessions of European nations."
A look at the history of these islands reveals that in spite of their apparent insignificance, they have been the center of many controversies. They were "discovered" and claimed by nationals of no less than 10 countries. A British sea captain named Davis was the first to view the islands in 1592.
Center of Controversies
It wasn't until the 18th century that any attempt at actual settlement was made. Then both Spain and Great Britain established settlements on different islands, supposedly in ignorance of the other's move. The diplomatic war which followed almost ended in a naval war. The dispute was settle in 1771 when Spain yielded the islands to Britain by convention.
Claim By Buenos Aires
As the islands had not actually been colonized by Great Britain, the Republic of Buenos Aires withdrew, and the British flag was hoisted at Port Louis in 1833. Since that time the Falklands have been a British crown colony.
When you ask yourself why these
In the meantime, recording firms are getting ready in case the ban overstays its welcome. Some of them have set up branches in Mexico, out of range of Petrillo's jurisdiction, and are turning out recordings of a better quality. Naturally the firms will hold these until they've disposed of all the discs they cut before Jan. 1.
Petricko has a legitimate beef when he says that his boys are getting cut out of a lot of cash that it rightfully theirs. But then, recording companies are just as right when they point out how recordings have aided in the advance of music, and how music has been brought down to a level where even the commonest man can enjoy it.
What the matter needs is a lot of arbitration.—Bill Mayer.
Children at Sunnyside need playground equipment, a group of Sunnyside mothers have decided. They will meet March 2 to discuss specific requirements.
Sunnyside Mothers Study Children's Recreation Need
The mothers expect to form a committee to ask University officials for their cooperation and assistance, and invite the director of the University nursery school.
Irvin Youngberg, director of dormitories, said today that efforts are being made to bring play-ground equipment to children at Sunnyside, and that he will be glad to listen to suggestions from the committee as to specific needs.
islands have been so sought after, a look at a geography certainly doesn't throw any light on the situation. The islands lie about 250 miles east of the nearest point on the South American mainland (Chile). There are 100 islands covering a total area of 6,500 square miles. Only two, East and West Falkland, are of any considerable size. Until the recent British mention of uranium, there were no known valuable minerals. There are a number of bays and inlets which form well-protected harbors. But that's about the sum total of the geographic assets.
In 1771 Dr. Samuel Johnson in speaking of the British acquisition of the islands, concluded that their only value would be their geographical position in time of war. They controlled the then important route around Cape Horn or through the Straits of Magellan. The wise old doctor made a prediction at that time which has certainly been borne out. He said, "Conduct which betrays designs of future hostility, if it does not excite violence, will always generate malignity." There's no denying that the Falklands are world sore spots today.Anna Mary Murphy.
Dr. Johnson
Call KU 376 with your Want Ads
at
You Are Always Welcome
SNAPPY LUNCH
Hot Chili
for
Sandwiches
Soup
Malts
1010 Massachusetts
Phone 1000 632-34 Mass. St.
FINE
SERVICE
GREAT
CARS
SQUARE
DEAL
DEAL
LINDLEY'S KANSAS CLEANERS
12 East Eighth
Quality Cleaning at Reasonable Prices Men's Suits, Cleaned and Pressed...65c Ladies' Plain Dresses, Cl. and Pressed...69c CASH AND CARRY ONLY
CASH AND CARRY ONLY
Student Newspaper of the UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Member of the Kansas Press Assm. Na-
ward Press Assm. and the Associated Collegiate
Press. Represented by the National Ad-
miss. Association 420 Madison Ave.
New York City.
Editor-In-Chief .. William C. von Maurer
Managing Editor .. Alan J. Stewart
Asst Man. Editor .. Cooper Rollow
Asst Man. Editor .. Ian Ranah
City Editor .. Gene Vignery
Asst City Editor .. James Robinson
telegraph Editor .. Wendy Bebey
Telegram Editor .. Clarke Tucker
Asst. Tel. Editor .. William Barger
Sports Editor .. Robert E. Dellinger
Asst. Sports Editor .. Paul Zeh
Editor Editors .. James Jones
Women's Sports Editor
Anna Mary Murphy
Feature Editor John Winn
Picture Editor Hail Nelson
Society Editor Dorothy James
Business Manager Betty Bacon
Advertising Manager Robert Anderson
Classified Adv. Man. Daniel
Classified Adv. Man. David
National Advt. Mgr. David Clymer
Promotion Manager Wister Shreve
Read the Daily Kansan daily.
Launderette Service
9 lbs. of wash, 25c
21 Bendix Washers
813 Vt. Phone 3368
As perfectly matched as the happy bride and bridegroom this diamond engagement ring and harmonizing man's and woman's wedding bands. In 14 kt. gold smartly designed for the modern "tailored" effect. From our assortment of triple ensembles.
ROBERTS
Jewelry Gifts
833 Mass. Ph. 827