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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1943
Story Of FDR's Historic Flight Misused As Propaganda Stunt
A few days ago a propaganda campaign began—a campaign that was planned and carried out on such a large scale as to include the length and breadth of a continent and to spread all over the battling world. Every newspaper in the nation picked it up; each fanned the flame into a whiter heat. Something big, momentous, and world-shaking, was to be released to the American people over all radio networks at 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Rumors ran riotously through the columns of our daily newspapers: General Marshall was to be made supreme commander of all United Nations forces. . . . Second fronts would be opened. . . De Gaulle and Giraud. . . Messersmith. But there was no official indication as to the nature of the announcement
such as to the nature of the announcement. And then it came.
At 9 p.m. Tuesday, January 26, the waiting world received the news that the President of the United States had been in Africa for ten days conferring with United Nations leaders in particular and cheering up the troops in general. It was somewhat with a shock of disappointment that the people realized that nothing further was forthcommig. That was the news—and all the news.
Thinking people all over the United States, remembering the tremendous propagandic announcements which had preceded the news, were disappointed. When they should have been applauding an important meeting comparable to that between Roosevelt and Churchill in mid-Atlantic in August, 1941—as they would have done had they not been led to expect something greater—they were criticizing the effort of the publicity experts in Washington to stimulate artificial interest in the event.
Obviously those publicists made a mistake. Instead of increasing the effectiveness of the announcement, they perverted it into an anticlimax.
The news in itself is the most important of the last few months, in conjunction with the successes of the Soviet drives in Russia, but the manner of presenting the news was unprecedented and unjustified. There was no such preparation for the news of the Allied invasion of North Africa, and this was of more consequential importance than the President's conferences in Casablanca. Had the news come as a complete surprise—as a news break—it would have been accepted unquestioningly by everyone.
What, constructively, was done at the African conference—at least as far as we are able to ascertain from the information given out in the news release? United Nations "strategy" for 1943 is outlined in vague, general terms, as perhaps is necessary from the subject's very nature, but such vagueness is not conducive to a better understanding of our position in the war and is not a suitable basis for a big news story.
We do not wish to minimize the importance of this meeting. Perhaps it will lead to great things. We hope it will. But unless this conference is followed very soon with something coincrete in the way of successes on the field of diplomacy or battle, the effect of the stimulant our Washington publicity agents have shot in the arm of the American people will disappear and the country will face a drop in civilian morale.—J.G.
Just Wondering
Why University women are allowed—even requested—to attend down town dances for sailors, but are still forbidden to use Lawrence facilities for their own dances.
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U.S. Should Heed Beveridge Plan for Universal Insurance
One of the most encouraging reports to be brought to the warring Allies in recent months, strangely enough, has nothing to do with battles or bombings or blitzes. Instead it deals with peace and postwar living. It is a blueprint for a better world—the Beveridge Report.
The plan is simple and comprehensive; a compulsory system of social insurance for every man, woman, and child, regardless of age, income, or class, with premiums to be paid by the individual, his employer, and the state.
The Beveridge report, while written by an Englishman for adoption by the British, is a challenge to the United States. With its greater wealth and resources, this country probably could go even farther than the British in extending security to all society
Opposition to such a plan will be set up by private insurance companies fearful for their continued existence, by states antagonistic to federalized unemployment compensation, and by the American Medical Association bitterly opposed to socialized medicine.
If the United States government adopts an American Beveridge plan it will not only be giving the people what they want and need stabilized social security but it will prove false the Axis charge that the democracies lack the will and the ability to take proper care of their citizens.
Student Paper of THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Lawrence, Kansas
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor-in-chief ... Bob Coleman
Editorial Associates ... Dean Sims, Joy Miller,
Jim Gunn, Matt Heuertz
Feature Editor ... Betty Lou Perkins
NEWS STAFF
Managing Editor ... Virginia Tieman
Sunday Editor ... Joy Miller
Campus Editors ... Alan Houghton
Clara Lee Oxley, Milo Farneti
Sports Editor ... Milo Farneti
News Editor ... Florence Brown
Notes from the Zilch Dinner: Sly and not-so-sly digs were taken by the students at the professors, and the professors did as much for the students. You should have seen Prof. Elmer F. Beth, acting chairman of the department of journalism, imitating Joy Miller, and Dean Sims, imitating Professor Beth. Prof. L. N. Flint gave an excellent imitation of Bill Feeney, and was in his turn imitated by Maurice Barker. Prof. George R. Rinehart impersonated Milo Farneti and Ralph Coldren, while Milo stuck a big black cigar in his mouth to do his bit for K.W. Davidson. "minister of propaganda."
Zilch, the great Zilch, finally arrived, panting and disheveled, with the tale of his long and arduous journey to reach the scene of the banquet. He told, in his own inimitable way, of his recent visit to the "Shack" and of the personages he found there.
Your columnist's "poetry" received its share of criticism and satirization, and who can blame them?
Ah, those rumors: Lavon Peters, Westminster hall, went to Manhattan recently to attend a wedding. The news spread around, however, that she was going to get married, and half a dozen boys threatened to commit suicide.
The Influence of Alcohol
Oh, Grant was a drunkard,
And Poe was worse than he.
I wonder, if I took to drink,
Would it do as much for me?
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Society item (misplaced): Don Chadsey, Sigma Nu, has been initiated into the K.U. chapter of Wolves Unlimited.
... it is rumored that the Kansas City chapter is going to give a line party for the Lawrence branch at the Folly theater. The Kansas City chapter, bigger and burlier, is known as the Timber Wolves.
Well, come to think about it: Catherine Fruin, our student from Holland, was discussing her troubles in the study of Spanish the other day.
"It wouldn't be so hard," she said, "if I didn't have to learn it in English!"
It's Not All Vanity, Girls Whiskers Sprout
Be patient, girls, if your boy friend has suddenly started looking in every plate window or mirror and admiring his face. His actions aren't caused by vanity entirely.
If you look closely, or, perhaps, discover it in another way, you'll find that he is growing a beard. The man's not just saving
"Goodbye, KU! Hello, Guadalcanall!" will also be a theme of the party which will be a farewell for University service men. So, girls, endure the beards and do your bit for the men who will leave you behind. Remember: "The country's goin' to the dogs, They shouted loud and long—And that is why we celebrate This blessed February date. Abraham, Abraham, Abraham."
"Abraham" To Be Featured
If you look closely, or, perh you'll find that he is growing a b his razor blades, he's planning to take the prize at the Abe Lincoln Open House next Friday night at the Memorial Union building, to be held from 9-12 p.m. in the men's lounge.
Bachmann and Pope's band will furnish music for dancing in the main lounge. (Even the men in the band are letting their whiskers grow.) The new music room will be
"Abraham" To Be Featured
The song "Abraham," in an arrangement by the Bachmann and Pope band and the Modern Choir directed by Harlan Cope, will be a feature of the evening. In keeping with the atmosphere of log cabins and rail splitting, there will be a fire in the fire place. Weiners and apples will refresh the bearded one and his date. Everything in the Union building will be open and there will be no admission charge.
open, and there will be checkers and card games for those who do not wish to dance.
So, girls, make a few flattering remarks about a certain few sprouting whiskers, and perhaps you'll have an Abraham to take you to the party.
Alumnus Commander Awarded Navy Cross For Heroic Action
Commander R. G. Deewall, United States Navy, was recently awarded the Navy Cross for "heroism in combat with the enemy during the period of December 23, 1941, to January 4, 1942, at Corregidor."
The presentation of the cross and the citation for heroism were made by Commander S. G. Mayfield at the drydock in Mobile, Ala.
Commander Deewall, a student at the University in 1911-1913, was the first person to be awarded this cross in World War II.
Providence College Honors Quezon Providence, R. L. College recently conferred the honorary degree of doctor of laws on President Quezon of the Philippines.