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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
SUNDAY, APRIL 12, 1942
The KANSAN Comments... Post War Hemisphere Solidarity
W. W. Davis Professor of History
The future of nations cannot be predicted with any sense of certainty—and yet that future is as inescapable as time itself.
Therefore, plans relative to the post-war world are little more than the formulation of principles concerning what is quite unknown but what we know cannot be avoided.
Under the pressure of war and the impulse of the Good Neighbor policy, much has been accomplished in greater economic and even political cooperation. Much more will be accomplished when the Latin American republics evolve Good Neighbor policies of their own to include us.
Out of the present war there has come for the United States an increasing determination to achieve a stronger solidarity of the western republics. Twenty of twenty-one of these are included in Latin America.
When the war ends, what will become of this newer Western world?
For us in both North and South America, survival as nations depends now on success in battle. We expect to win.
What will become of western solidarity if and when the united nations win?
In the first place, it might be well to rule out as visionary any plans of successful global political and economic solidarity. The war will probably end with nationalism intact, with economic necessity pressing, and with cultural prejudices surviving.
I think it not unreasonable to say that we will wish it very much. If we do not—it will end.
Let us simply the question. Will the United States wish to maintain western solidarity?
What are some of the facts that we must face in efforts to keep strong, for a reasonable time, the international ties that bind?
It might be well to reply to such a question categorically—even at the expense of being opinionated.
1. We must know our neighbors to the south of us. Wishful thinking and blind belief in our ability as cultural, political, and economic missionaries won't do. Next to knowing thyself, wisdom begins with knowing thy neighbor. Our Southern neighbors differ from us in blood, in color, in language, in institutions, and in cultural concepts, including religion. Our prejudices are not theirs.
2. Latin America is composed of nations jealous of their nationality and none of them is likely to consent to become puppet or satellite economic or political. The United States, because of its greater power and wealth, can assume leadership in time of critical war—but peace is another matter.
3. Latin American republics, almost all of them, are politically very disorderly. In the working of their form of democracy they combine voting with military rebellion and revolution. This sort of thing has gone on for more than a century and will probably go on for many decades to come. We must understand it and learn to deal with it without becoming involved. This will not be easy.
4. In most Latin American republics today there are one or more influential and extremely radical groups or parties—including Communists, Syndicalists, National Socialists, and other totalitarian types. They show small regard for any good will or for what we consider our interests and our rights. Maybe with the war's end these imported theories will disappear—but such an eventuality is not likely
We are fighting for the survival here of the American way of life. The American way will have to find means of successful intercourse with ways as alien as Central Europe or Eastern Asia today. This, too, will not be easy.
5. While Latin America is still essentially agrarian, it is seeking to industrialize and to extend its transportation systems. It has little capital and quite limited technical industrial skill. Its political and financial record has been so bad that for an indefinite time the borrowing of private capital is out. Also, there is a decreasing amount of any sort of capital that can go there because the present war is rapidly burning it up. The loans of foreign governments will have political strings attached
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OFFICIAL BULLETIN UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Vol. 39 Sunday, April 12, 1942 No.118
Notices due at News Bureau. 8 Journalism, at 10 a.m. on day of publication during the week, and at 11 a.m. on Saturday for Sunday issue.
JAY ANES—The regular meeting of Jay James will be held Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in the Pine room of the Memorial Union building—Mary Kay Brown, president.
Girl Reserve Training Corps will meet Monday at 4:30 in the Pine Room. Dr. Raymond A. Schwegler will speak on "The Qualifications of a Girl Reserve Sponsor."—Letha Curtis.
PSYCHOLOGY CLUB—Will meet at 4:30 on Monday, April 13 in Room 21, Frank Strong. Miss Marjorie Whitney, head of the K. U. design department, will speak on the new course, "Occupational Therapy." Everyone interested is urged to attend—Barbara Reber, Program Committee.
The men's and women's Water Safety Instructors class will meet on Monday, April 13, at 7:30 for a non-swimming session. The class will be dismissed in time for the lecture course—Ruth Hoover.
Professor William A. Owens of Texas A. and M. College will lecture on American Ballads and Folksongs in Fraser Theater at 4:30 on Friday, April 17, under the auspices of the English Department. The public is invited.-J. W. Ashton, Chairman.
A. I.Ch.E. will meet April 15 in the Kansas Room of the Memorial Union building at 8:00 p.m. Professor E. E. Brush will speak on "Magnesium Alloys." Plans will be made for spring party. All chemical engineers attend.-Richard Mankin.
STUDENT DIRECTORY. All those interested in applying for the position of manager of the student directory for 1942-43 should do so before April 15. Applications should be filed with the secretary of the Men's or Women's advisor—Dave Watermulder, MSC President.
Applications for Y.W.C.A. and Y.M.C.A. cabinet positions are available at Henley House and in the Y.M. office in the sub-basement of the Memorial Union building. Everyone wishing to apply see the secretaries, Roberta Tucker and Harry O'Kane. Applications must be turned into the respective offices by Tuesday, April 14.-Margaret Learned, Pres., Y.W.C.A.
PREMEDICAL STUDENTS NOTICE: The premedical aptitude test will be given this spring on the afternoon of April 24. Those who plan to enter a medical school a year from this fall should register at once in Room 10, Frank Strong hall. For those who desire it and who pay the fee of one dollar at the time of registration a practice sheet will be available. All others will pay the fee at the time of taking the test. For any further information inquire of, Parke H. Woodard, Room 8C, Frank Strong Hall.
DANCE MANAGER. Anyone interested in applying for the position of Varsity dance manager for the year 1942-43 should make application before April 13. Applications should be filed at the office of the Men's or Women's advisor.-Dave Watermulder.
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Student Paper of THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Lawrence, Kansas
DEAN SIMS
Rock Chalk Talk
K. W. Davidson, chief of the information bureau and journalism instructor, needed a new pair of trousers and, desiring them with cuffs, he ordered them from a downtown clothing store a day or so before the new cuff-less law went into effect.
A day after the law took effect, the trousers were delivered to the Davidson home. K. W. rushed to examine his new pants—oh, ob, no cuffs! Feeling sort of disappointed, but still patriotic enough to sacrifice his pant cuffs without throwing a tantrum, K. W. decided to try on the trousers for size.
He paced before the mirror, viewing himself in many poses, deciding finally that he wouldn't look so bad without the cuffs on his pants.
Then he happened to slip his hand in one of the hip pockets. His fingers contacted some pieces of cloth. He pulled out his detached set of trouser-cuffs.
This was too much.
"My Gawd," cried K. W., "For my government to do a thing like this to me—cut off the bottoms of my britches and stick them in my pocket."
Harvey Haines, Phi Delt freshman, honored Pi Phi freshman Jo Ann Teed by asking her on his pledge class' coming steak-fry.
"Why, Harvey," Jo Ann cooed over the telephone, "I'd love to go with you. I know it'll be swell, all that wonderful food you'll have. I love steaks."
"Yeah—yeah, sure we'll have a little food," came the voice of Harvey, "I'd forgotten about that, though."
Jo Ann comments that she guesses she'll still keep the date—however ominous the outlook.
And again the Chi Omega pledges have car-trouble. (It's getting to the place where a Chi O freshman looks more at home pushing a car than riding in its interior.)
The most recent car-pushing came when the freshmen walked out Thursday night—took in a show and started home. They had borrowed before-hand the limousine, "Quantrill," from its owner, Bill McIntire, engineering junior. It worked fine going to the theater but coming home in it was a different matter—they pushed it.
Friday night the pledge class held a hay-ride. Prayers were said, rabbit's feet were bought, horse-shoes were tessed over shoulders, and four-leaf clovers were sought out—just so the party wouldn't end up with the freshmen pushing the wagon load of masculines home.
Of interest to radio fans in general should be the results of a study of the daytime radio serials made recently by a Manhattan physician in an attempt to determine the effect of the serials upon the listeners. This doctor took only a casual interest in these programs until some of his women patients suffered relapses after listening to them.
To make his study, the good doctor took samplings of serials
Frail Readers Beware--- Soap Operas Dangerous Says New York Doctor
To make his study, the good presented on the air, narrowed down the field to ten and then concentrated on two. The emotional content of these soap operas, as they are called, consisted, he discovered, of sexual jealousy, fear, rage, revulsion, frustration, and insecurity. The situations included domestic discord, separation, divorce, sickroom scenes, and courtroom scenes.
In order that our readers may observe and study for themselves at close range the emotional turmoil which abounds in the soap opera, a program which is regarded as typical of the field is studied below.
America's Typical Family
After days of exhaustive research during which dozens of leading soap operas were carefully examined and classified, one has finally been selected as typical, "The Clawhammers," the story of average American household and their normal, carefree day-to-day existence.
Also carefully considered in this study but finally rejected on the grounds that they failed to faithfully portray contemporary American life were "Mr. Third Assistant District Attorney," "Clementine Faces Life," and "Dr. Kildare in the Blackout or
Where the H--l are you, Dr. Kild-
dare?"
Now for the study of the soap operas and Amarica's typical family, the Clawhammers: The day's happenings in the Clawhammer household may be summarized after the program as follows by the announcer: "And today as we take leave of the Clawhammers, radio's most lovable family and America's typical family, a great fire is raging in the kitchen where Mr. Clawhammer's hotfoot got out of hand, Axis agents are breaking down the front door in their search for the vital military secrets that the Clawhammer's possess, Mr. Moto is coming down the chimney and the Gestape is planting a time bomb in the cellar. Jim Clawhammer has just gone to town to file suit for divorce and Grandpappy Clawhammer has just taken carbolic acid instead of castor oil.
Will She Make It?
"Meanwhile, Granny Clawhammer has gone to town for help on her roller skates and is now racing the express train to the crossing. However three more axis agents are pursuing her in a Messerschmitt. Will she make it? Will she beat the train to the crossing? What will happen
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