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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
SUNDAY. DECEMBER 7, 1941.
The KANSAN Comments...
HOME LINE DEFENSE
By MABEL A. ELLIOTT Associate Professor of Sociology
Modern warfare has made clear the importance of building defenses in the civilian population. In Britain, more civilians than soldiers have died from the German offensives. Anything which preserves civilian morale, health, and production today is therefore as important as military equipment. Our National Civilian Defense has been organized to promote health through better nutrition, to keep people emotionally fit through suitable recreation, to secure civilian co-operation in curtailment of nonessential manufactures, as well as in training citizens as air raid wardens. In this we can all concur.
We should take stock, however, of the more subtle dangers which war entails. At least we should be realistic about the non-military perils of war. The price in human suffering is in itself inestimable. The unfortunate impacts of war upon the family as an institution are many and varied. Populations are reduced, the relative proportion of the sex ratio is destroyed, low wartime morals threaten the very integrity of the home. The underpinnings of the whole world's economic structure are rocked by modern war. But we shall not discuss all these. Let us think rather of the risks to our political structure.
One of the major tragedies of war lies in the general failure to organize the forces of defense so that the values for which men fight can be kept alive at home. Even democratic nations become virtually totalitarian in time of war and resemble, in a measure, the very political structures which they oppose. This seems to be well nigh inevitable. Prosecution of a successful war becomes the only thing of immediate importance. Civil liberties may be among the notable achievements of the common man but in warfare civil liberties tend to be curtailed. Freedom of speech, both in the press and in seats of learning, becomes a limited freedom at best. At worst there is always a concentration camp—or Fort Leavenworth. History is replete with the cruel treatment of those who offend others by the objections of their own conscience. Jews have not been the only scapegoats of a national policy.
War not only puts an end to existing civil peace-time rights. It also tends to sidetrack their progressive extension. The movements to give the laboring man his due and to extend political franchise to women were diverted by the more immediate concern for saving the Union and freeing the Negro during our Civil War. The political chaps during the period of carpet-bagging did little to advance true civil rights for the ex-slave.
Similarly, the general exodus of the crowned heads of Europe following World War I was accompanied by little of the democracy for which men fought. Nor did the scandals of the Harding administration indicate much democracy in the "return to normalcy" at home.
Today we should all be aware of the danger which the Nazi war machine threatens to democratic institutions, but we should also face realistically the danger in mobilizing for our own defense. For if we fail to preserve some vestige of democracy during the military emergency we shall gain nothing and lose much. Only by an active aggressive participation of our civilian population in matters of national policy can we maintain anything resembling democracy "for the duration."
Any nation which does not do this while opposing Naziism must deny its avowed purpose and the values for which free men fight will become evanescent values to be lost in a disillusioned peace.
Modish French dames will experience something of a letdown when they attend style shows clad in the new textiles fashioned from weeds.
A senator, turned newsboy, disturbed numerous families early one morning in Washington by slamming papers against their doors. Doubtless he is not up for re-election.
OFFICIAL BULLETIN UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Vol. 39 Sunday, December 7,1941 No.56
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.
W. A.A. Board meeting Monday at 4:30 in the Physical Education office.
--pass Craftor enger Melani Perkin and E Kirby,
MEN'S STUDENT COUNCIL: The next regular meeting will be on Monday, Dec. 8, at 8:00 p.m. in the Pine Room.-Fred Lawson, secretary.
The Y.M.C.A.-Y.W.C.A. Membership assembly will meet next Tuesday afternoon, December 9, at 4:30 in the Kansas room of the Union.-Mary Helen Wilson, chairman.
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION: The second examination of the school year will be held on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 8:30 a.m. All who wish to take this examination must register at the College office, 229 Frank Strong hall, Dec. 8, 9, 10. Only juniors and seniors may register. Other examinations will be held on Feb. 28 and May 2. J. B. Virtue.
UNION TRAVEL BUREAU—All students or faculty members who want rides or have room for passengers for week-end or holiday trips, notify the Travel Bureau in the Student Union Activities office in the Memorial Union immediately. Phone K. U. 71.
FRANK ARNOLD, Manager.
ALL STUDENTS graduating at the end of the first semester who expect to teach should secure blankes and complete a registration in the Teachers' Appointment Bureau immediately. It is probable that a considerable number of vacancies will be received during the holiday season—H. E. CHANDLER, Secretary.
NOTICE TO MEN CLASSIFIED IIA for Selective Service—Every student classified IIA for Selective Service is requested to call at the Registrar's office to see Mr. Hitt.
R. Q. BREWSTER, Chairman University Deferment Committee.
Student Paper of THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Lawrence, Kansas
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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Rock Chalk Talk DEAN OSTRUM
It is about time the men on this Hill took the upper hand with their women—despite the supposed scarcity of same. What this University needs is more men like Phi Psi Max Kissell.
Last Wednesday night Max had a date scheduled with Theta pledge Nancy Neville. That afternoon he phoned her explaining how there seemed to be a mixup somewhere and that he half-way had another date.
"How late can you stay out, Neville?" he probed.
The answer was 8.80.
"Well, I'm sorry about the mixup, Nancy," Max hurriedly concluded, "the other girl doesn't have to be in until 10:30."
Amid splintered boards, cracked ice, and howls of laughter Sigma Nu freshmen last night staged their traditional Paddle Party. According to custom the girls present beat their dates following dinner. Meanest board fell from the hands of Kappa pledge Jo Johnson on her helpless victim, Bill Rolfe.
Intent on making guests feel at home, Don King, Bill Stone, and Hillis Kennard racked their brains for something different. They found it. As guests left the dining room, they literally "broke the ice" with real picks and a 50-pound cake.
While walking down the hall in Frank Strong Thursday morning, Jean Sellers very nearly stepped on the body of a man! Not a murder, just a new technique in cutting classes.
The student had come from Professor E.H. Hollands' 10:30 Introduction to Philosophy. Bored by the lecture, he got tired and decided to leave. Getting out of his seat, he crawled down between the rows, rolled into the hall, and was off.
Strenuous, but effective.
Seen yesterday in Kansas City's Hotel President at the Royal Canadian Air Force recruiting office were Sigma Chi pledges Al Reed and George Lind and active-affiliate George Hughes.
SUN
What's up, fellows, tired of it all?
Gullible Frances Ann Morrill sheepishly felt like the goat that she was the other night in the Kappa basement.
Placing a fresh egg in the hinge crack of the dining room door, pledge sisters inveigled Francie into holding the knob. For fifteen minutes (Francie estimates), she held a steady door.
And Francie cleaned it up.
W. H. Carruth Lives On In Annual Poetry Contest
A book of poems was published at the University in 1910. It was the work of the young poets of the campus, and was called "Songs from the Hill." Professor William Herbert Carruth sponsored the publication.
In Carruth's preface to the book he wrote: "How fine a service it would be to higher culture and, perchance, to the ideal interest of humanity for one who has the means, to establish here a permanent fellowship in poetry, $ ^{e} $ in order to continue and insure the pursuit of the aims which our group has cultivated."
Four years later his own most famous poem, "Each in His Own Tongue," was published. Professor Carruth continued his interest in poetry and the finer things in life, but during his lifetime no move was made to establish such a fellowship as he had suggested at the University.
He was a student at the University, a teacher here, later head of the department of German, and vice-chancellor. He then went to Stanford University, where he was professor of comparative literature and head of the department of English until his death in 1924.
The following year the idea of a Carruth memorial was introduced by John Shea, who was at that time president of the New York alumni chapter. A goal of $5,000 was set, and contributions began to come in. By 1926 the University was able to announce the first Carruth Poetry contest.
Manuscripts submitted have been judged by one person associated with the department of English, one distinguished alumnus of the University, and one notable man of letters who is in no way connected with K.U. Some of the better known of these judges include Vachel Lindsey, Rob-
Any undergraduate student in the University may submit his work to the judges. The poem may be of any length or classification. No preference is expressed for traditional or modern style. Each contestant may submit only one poem, it to be turned in under an assumed name, the real name of the author to be submitted in a sealed envelope.
"His greatest achievement was his work for the five thousand students who went through his classes in the University. Toilsome days and toilsome nights he devoted to his students—not collectively, but individually. He went into their problems himself—not that there was any glory in that. It was mere goodness His care and affection for his students was the mainspring in his life."
J. W. Gleed, life-long friend of Carruth,
summed him up as follows:
Because of their knowledge of these qualities of his nature, wise alumni decided against any material tribute to this great teacher. They knew that a poetry scholarship would keep alive his eager spirit and be a fitting tribute to his generous and helpful nature. More than that, it is the realization of his early dreams to "fulfill and insure" the aims of the group which he sponsors.
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