PAGE SIX
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1947
The Editorial Page
Army's Military Injustice
The United States armed forces need a revision of their system of military justice.
During World War II, many military tribunals were composed of officers who were prejudiced and knew little about law or court procedure. Defense counsel was often incompetent. Enlisted personnel who stepped out of line were quickly court martialed while some officers who committed more serious offenses got nothing more than a serious reprimand.
G.I. Took Bum Rap
Only the prosecuting attorney had adequate knowledge of the law. The defense was inadequate and ill-prepared. The soldier was found guilty and received a long sentence. The members of the court-martial did not have the proper background to try a man on a murder charge. The soldier was guilty before he was brought to trial.
A general court-martial sitting in India during the war tried an American soldier for killing an Indian guard. Most of the officers appointed to the court listened inattentively. They had been chosen by roster and considered the job a necessary evil.
Should Have Caught Meyer Sooner Two of the most graphic examples of favoritism shown to officers have been before the public since the end of the war. Recently, the Air Force dishonored Maj. Gen. Bennett E. Meyers, who was involved in a wartime scandal. They stopped his pay, stripped him of his decorations, and prepared to court-martial him. These steps were taken only after Homer Ferguson's Senate war investigating sub-committee uncovered the facts in the case.
The hearing revealed facts that indicated a failure on the part of army brass to investigate one of their own kind. It was a case of army generals whitewashing army generals. Testimony given before the subcommittee pointed out that an investigation should have been made and appropriate action taken as long ago as 1943.
Hands Off By FBI
According to the testimony, the Federal Bureau of Investigation did not investigate the situation because of what the F.B.I. called "an understanding" with the armed forces that they, the armed forces, would investigate matters involving armed forces personnel.
The findings released by the army in connection with the recent investigation of Lt. Gen. John C. H. Lee in Italy are another example of the failure of military justice. The investigation showed that it was a case where one general investigated another general.
Many injustices and the obvious
Member of the Kansas Press Assn., National Advertising Association, and the Associated Collegiate Press. Represented by the National Advertising New York City. 420 Madison Ave., New York City.
Student Newspaper of the UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Editor-in-Chief ... Allan Cromley
Managing Editor ... Martha Jewett
Asst. Man. Editor... Alverta Niedens
           Alan J. Stewart
City Editors... John Wheeler,
           Gene Wignery
Sports Editor... Cooper Rollow
Assst. Sports Editors... Paul Zeh
Picture Editor... Bob Dellinger
Producer Manager... John Borgstrom
madequences of military justice could be prevented. An investigating committee should be appointed to make a study into the conditions of morale and military justice. Such an independent investigating branch would have brought General Meyer's activities to light years ago. Should Make JAG Separate
Business Manager ... John Bergstrom
Legislation should be enacted to establish the Judge Advocate General's division as independent of line of command. This division should have the power of selection of court-martial personnel, including enlisted personnel at the option of an accused enlisted man. The legislation should provide for the assignment of competent defense counsel in all cases.
In the armed services, as in civilian life, justice is impossible without an impartial and uncontrolled judiciary.—John Finch
Darned Competition
Dear Editor
Dear Editor,
So the "Little Man on Campus" is now off campus. So what! The only thing I can see in the whole darn story is advertising. In reporting I we are taught that puffs or boosts are not good journalism. The answer to that is, they are if they can bring in more revenue.
The lead on a Daily Kansan story told where Bibler books could be purchased. The story even ended by telling the public that another printing of the book will be made shortly to take care of the demand. More of the free stuff. Sure, it's to the Daily Kansan's benefit if some money is made on the book sales, but why tie it in with lots of free publicity and needed space?
The official K.U. calendar made definite arrangements with the
A. S.C. on the matter of sales and where they would be held. The Daily Kansan should have known about this, or did they? Contracts were signed with almost all the merchants handling the official K.U. Calendar. The contracts do not allow any other University or campus calendar to be sold by the merchants handling the official one.
Any debts incurred by the official K.U. calendar will have to be paid by the A.S.C. It is to the students' advantage not to have the K.U. calendar go in the hole. Many worthwhile organizations could use the money to a better purpose than paying debts for calendars. With direct competition there will not be any profit!
Apparently the Daily Kansan doesn't think the K.U. calendar a good idea—at least it doesn't rate the spread that the Bibler calendar gets.
Dale W. Fields
Advertising Manager
K.U. Calendar
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