'AGE SIX
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1947
The Editorial Page
British Labor Party On Spot
On July 26, 1945, Winston Churchill, the greatest war leader Britain had ever known since Pitt, traveled to Buckingham palace and turned over to the king his office as prime minister. Churchill and his Conservatives had gone down in what the New York Times called "one of the most stunning election landslides in the history of Great Britain."
Labor Won 390 Out Of 640
Labor had won 390 seats in parliament out of a total of 640 against only 163 seats held in the previous parliament. The Conservatives, who had been in power with 358 seats, were cut down to 195. It was a complete surprise to experts, who up to the eve of ballot counting, had predicted a narrow Conservative margin.
Putting war behind them and looking ahead to the many and difficult tasks of peace, the people of Britain rejected the colorful war hero and turned to the mild, scholarly, 62 year old Socialist, Clement Attlee, almost unknown outside Britain. It was the beginning of a new era.
A Reversal of Ten Years Before
Ten years before, the Conservatives had come into power with about the same electoral ratio. So on July 27, 1945 it was up to the Laborites. Their program was to have four main points:
1. Immediate nationalization of coal and power.
3. Broadening of social security.
2. Nationalization of the Bank of England.
3. Broadening of social equity.
4. Development of housing employment, and agriculture.
Immediate Controls Applied
Although in the election campaign Churchill had charged that a Labor government would mean totalitarianism and a Gestapo, the Conservatives could not disagree too violently with the final aims of the Laborists. The Conservatives maintained that social improvements should come within the traditional framework of free enterprise rather than state control.
Controls were immediately applied to the British economy, shortages and rationing began to weigh heavily on the British people, and Attlee turned to Sir Stafford Cripps to be minister of economic affairs, the all-important post.
An Expression of Impatience
In Cripps he had what even Churchill termed "the ablest brain in the administration," but Cripps from his boyhood days had also been a champion of what he called "Christian social justice." He immediately put the screws on consumption. Rationing came back in more severity than during the war. His policies seemed to match the austerity of his personal life.
The first concrete expression of public impatience came Nov. 3, when in the municipal elections Laborites lost 652 council seats and the Conservatives gained 621. Such a sharp rightward turn can easily be considered a trend that could continue to put the Conservatives back in power.
Britain is producing more than ever before in peace time, yet consumer shortages are closing in. The reason is that Britain is exporting as much as possible.
The only way that Labor can stay in power, and it's a doubtful possibility, is for the people to become determined, in the words of Cripps, "put the interest of the country first and personal incentives a poor second."
Much Ado
A recent readership survey of a college daily revealed that only 6 per cent of the readers regularly pursue Hollywood news.
The result partially verifies a long-held opinion of ours that Hollywood news in both radio and press is about the most inane, nauseating, trivial, illiterate kind of pap ever mouthed by the human race.
It's enough to make one retch when the honeyed tones of a Hollywood professional gossip breathlessly confide to her eager listeners the world shaking news of the latest episode in an oh-so-exclusive Hollywood gin mill. When a half-witted Hollywood pretty boy and his even
less intellectual "canary" have a spat, the resulting turmoil would lead you to believe that the Battle of Armageddon was being fought in the vicinity of Hollywood and Vine.
A look at any large magazine counter reveals little but trash piled to the ceiling. There are af least 18 major movie magazines purveying nothing but saccharin build-ups of the press agents' little darlings. All this idiotic hullaballoo has even been defended as "Americana."
If that's "Americana," then send us back to the salt mines.
Those Promises
A year ago this month the Republican party, in a landslide victory, won control of both congressional chambers. The return of the Republicans to power was a slow process and came about only after 14 years of Democratic national administration.
Now, exactly 12 months after the 1946 elections, the G. O. P. finds that public feeling seems to be shifting to the major opposition party again.
The 1946 mid-term elections came at a psychologically opportune time for the Republicans. The American people were tired of war, of government controls, and of the high tax rate needed partially to finance the war. Construction was slow, the housing situation was bad, and many needed items were either scarce or unobtainable.
In the midst of all this the Republican saw the opportunity. They campaigned vigorously and made promises which would have been difficult to fulfill in normal times with a party man in the president's office. They did not anticipate world troubles which inevitably follow war
Consequently, most of the campaign pledges have been for nought. Taxes are no lower than before, increased production has not lowered prices, and government expenditures have not been cut appreciably. Senator Taft would have a difficult time convincing anyone that "for the first time in 14 years the United States is no longer in a state of emergency."
In the 1946 elections the Republicans gained 51 senatorial seats, 249 seats in the house, or 31 more than necessary for a majority; 25 Republican governors were elected. An estimated 36 million persons voted and thus broke a record for ballots cast in a mid-term election.
In the off-year local elections held this month there was not a sweeping victory by either party. The congressional races, though, indicated rising dissatisfaction with the majority group. Republican losses varied from 4 to 9 per cent in the four states which had congressional candidates.
Speaking of the past 12 months, Dorothy Thompson said, "Apparently, the G. O. P. intends to cross bridges after they have been swept away. Also it intends to sit and await events in vacuous expectation that Providence will perform another miracle."
Hypocrisy Train?
Dear Editor
Dear Editor,
"Arrangements have been made for racial segregation of visitors who will see the Freedom Train in Hattiesburg, Miss. Jan. 9."
When I read the above statement in a recent newspaper the thought that immediately went through my mind was, "But if they aren't going to practice freedom, why call it a 'Freedom' train?" After I had calmed down a bit I began thinking of the Lawrence situation.
We must not blame a southern town for prejudices which we ourselves display in almost all restaurants, theaters, and amusement centers.
We graduate Negroes from the University each year, many with high honors, but do we hire any as teachers? We allow colored students to mingle with others on the campus, but just a few yards off the campus these same students are not allowed to enter any cafe, except as dishwashers!
If we give only lip service to democracy, we will have a shallow form of government. We can make democracy in Lawrence work as we would like to see it in the South. It will not come about without a lot of effort on the part of every person.
Should the Freedom Train come to Lawrence, we might well expect several speeches on the American way of life, but these same speeches will mean nothing if we continue to allow some people more freedom than others.
Let us prepare the way for the South by making a firm stand for freedom here.
Dale W. Fields College sophomore
Politics doesn't seem to be included in the "best-seller" formula. Of the 22 books that have sold two million or more copies, only one, Wendell Willkie's "One World," is concerned with political affairs.
Russia's latest charge is that France and Italy will be imprisoned by the Marshall plan. The Europeans would probably welcome any sentence that includes food and clothing.
The term "another miracle" refers to the 1948 presidential election. The Republican party has 12 more months in which to restore the confidence of American voters to its 1946 level.-Lyle A. Young
Student Newspaper of the UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Member of the Kansas Press Assn, Nati-
ron Assn., and the Associated Collegiate
Press. Represented by the National Adver-
sor's Service, 420 Madison Ave,
Chicago, IL 60617.
Editor-in-Chief ... Allan Cromley
Managing Editor ... Martha Jewett
Asst. Man. Editor ... Alan J. Stewart
Asst. Man. Editor ... Alverta Niedens
Asst. Man. Editor ... William M. Glisson
Asst. City Editor ... John Wheeler
Asst. City Editor ... Gene Vignery
Sports Editor ... Cooper Rollow
Asst. Sports Editors, Paul Zeh, James O.
Jones, Bob Dellinger
Picture Editor ... Hal Nelson
Telegraph Editor ... John Stauer
Business Manager ... John Bergstrom
Advertising Manager ... Betty Bacon
Classified Adv. Man ... Sally Rowe
National Adv. Man ... Willingham
Civilian Adv. Mgr ... Dave Clynder
Tel. Tel. Mgr ... Lois Lauer
Tel. Tel. Editor ... Casper Brochmann
Society Editor ... Barbara Felt
ROSE'S RANCHO
THERE'S FUN FOR ALL
AT "ROSE'S"
● Sandwiches
● Drinks
You Can Dance Anytime
Open Noon To Closing Hours North of Intersection Hi-way 24 Phone 3074
No, I'm not out here Too Early!
Now is the time to shop for Christmas. Get your gifts at
Bracelets Lockets Chokers
Cigarette Lighters
Cigarette Cases
Table Lighters
710 $ \frac{1}{2} $ Mass.Tel.368
Rings
Watches
Watch Bands
Read the University Daily Kansan—Patronize Its Advertisers.
WEAVER'S
Special Clearance 100 Wool and Crepe Dresses
Values From $15.00 To $59.75
- Special -
Now
$8.00 - 14.00 - 18.00
24.00 - 28.00
Ready - To - Wear 2nd Floor