The KANSAN Comments ...
PAGE SIX
Kansas Youth
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1041
About $20,000,000 worth of young men and women, born, raised and educated in Kansas, leave the state each year. What is the matter with Kansas?
One reason why the state loses each year, in economic value as well as in population, is that the young people of Kansas desire and look upon as desirable that which Kansas is not. They get the idea that agriculture is the poor man's living, not that scientific improvements plus industrious farming might make it the rich man's fortune. Kansas youth tends to look upon their families and all they have meant to Kansas as something of the past. For years, Kansans have sought to limit their families, train their children for industry, and head them, when they are grown, to the east. States east of the Mississippi river reap each year $20,000,000 worth of benefit from the greatest crop which Kansas raises—its young people.
How can we keep them in the state?
One way might be to teach Kansas youth to value Kansas. It is typical for a Kansan, when out of the state, to apologize for his state, mentioning dust storms and tornadoes. Where is the Kansan, outside the state Chamber of Commerce, who mentions the wheat, the minerals, and the oil of Kansas?
Though not popular with the intellectuals, there is a Kansas tradition of tenacious living which might well be taught to Kansas youth. How many Kansans know the story of Amos Lawrence and his band of pioneers who saw in Kansas all their hopes for the future? How many Kansans know the story of the first western settlers of Kansas who went by boat up the Kaw river to reach western lands?
Another Blow to Employers of Child Labor
The University now offers one course in Kansas History for two hours of credit. In economic value to the state this course is invaluable, if it teaches the Kansan to appreciate what he has at home. After all, what is the matter with Kansas?
Recently the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Federal Wage-Hour Act and its outlawing of child labor in interstate commerce. The question of the constitutionality of this restriction dates back to President Woodrow Wilson, who signed the Keating-Owen bill outlawing the products of child labor in interstate commerce.
The Keating-Owen bill was promoted by the National Child Labor Committee, founded in 1904. Its purpose was to protect children in industry from employment under conditions that were prejudicial to their health, education, and welfare; and to increase opportunities for vocational guidance. It urged labor legislation in various state legislatures.
The Keating-Owen bill was enacted in 1916 to become effective in 1917. It prohibited the shipment in foreign and interstate commerce of goods produced in factories which, within 30 days preceding the removal of those goods, had employed children under 14 years of age, or between 14-16 who had worked for more than eight hours a day, or six days a week, or after 7 p.m. or before 6 a.m. The same restrictions applied to mines employing children under 16 years of age. In 1918, the U.S. Supreme Court held the law unconstitutional. The court said
child labor was a local matter, that the law was an invasion of states rights.
Another act was passed in 1919 which included the same provisions except that it imposed a 10 per cent tax on net profits of employers who violated the provisions. This was also held unconstitutional in 1922.
In 1924 the Child Labor amendment was passed and submitted to the states for ratification. Twenty-eight states have ratified it; only six more states must approve to make it a part of the constitution.
OFFICIAL BULLETIN
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Vol. 38 Wednesday, Feb. 26, 1941 No. 94
Notices due at Chancellor's Office at 11 a.m. on the day of publication during the week, and at 11 a.m. on Saturday for the Sunday issue.
A. I.M.E. Dr. Stephenson will speak on "What Is the Matter With the A.I.M.E." at the next regular meeting of the local student chapter of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, on Thursday, February 27, at 4:30 p.m. in room 101, Haworth hall—Oren C. Baptist, president.
COSMOPOLITAN CLUB: The Cosmopolitan Club will meet on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Mercedes Cole's home, 1001 Indiana Street. One of the highlights of the meeting will be the discussion of "Union Now" by Clarence Streit, led by James Hamilton. Everybody welcome.—Emile Weiss, secretary.
DRAMATIC CLUB TRYOUTS: The first tryouts for the Dramatic Club play will be held at 4:30 on Thursday, February 27, in Green hall. Tryouts will continue at 7:30 Thursday evening, at 4:30 Friday afternoon, and at 7:30 Friday night—Shirley Jane Ruble.
EMPLOYMENT FOR K.U. WOMEN: Will all students who want part time work for the current semester please file class schedules in the Women's Employment Office, 220 Frank Strong Hall, at once! There are jobs, but we need class schedules—Marie Miller, director, Women's Employment Bureau.
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION: The third examination of the year will be given Saturday, March 1, at 8:30 a.m. Juniors who have not already passed the examination should take it at this time. Today is the last day to register.-J. B. Virtue.
GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIPS: Applications and supporting testimonials for Graduate Scholarships and Fellowships for 1941-42 are due at the Graduate Office not later than March 1.—E. B. Stouffer, Dean.
QUILL CLUB: Feoh rune of the American College Quill Club will meet at 7:30 tomorrow evening in the Kansas room.—Mary Elizabeth Evans, Chancellor.
SOCILOGY CLUB; The Sociology Club will have a social hour on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 4:30 in the Kansas room of the Union building. Everyone is welcome.
—Patty Riggs.
THETA SIGMA PHI: There will be a Theta Sigma Phi meeting Thursday at 4:30 in the sky parlor.—Mary Frances McAnaw, secretary.
TOWN MEETING: K.U. Town Meeting with Town Hall of the Air will be held in the main lounge of the Union building, Thursday evening, at 8:30. The topic of discussion is "How Should the Movies Aid National Defense?" Mr. Henry Haldemann-Julius will lead the discussion.-Keith Spalding, Union Activities Committee.
YOUNG REPUBLICAN CLUB: There will be an extremely important meeting Wednesday evening at 7:30 in the men's lounge of the Union building. Delegates will be selected and plans made for the state convention March 1 to be held in Topeka.-Bill Douce, chairman.
Y. M.-Y.W. NEWS: The Y.M.-Y.W. discussion group who met last week to explore the modern implications of Jesus' teachings are continuing their discussion this Wednesday at 4:30 at Henley House. All students who are interested are invited to join in this discussion—Mary Helen Wilson.
Y. M.-Y.W. MEMBERS: Mr. Claude Nelson, head of the Y.M.C.A. in Rome, Italy, and world-wide traveler and lecturer, will speak at the assembly on Friday at 4:30 in the Kansas room. His subject will be "College Students Behind Barbed Wire."-Keith Martin.
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Student Paper of THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Lawrence, Kansas
Subscription rates, in advance, $3.00 per year, $1.75 per semester. Published at Lawrence, Kansas, daily during the school year except Monday and Saturday. Entered as second edition, for publication only. Available at Lawrence, Kansas, under the记 of March 6, 1879.
20,000 Jews Gain Refuge In Shanghai
By WALTER BRIGGS
United Press Staff Correspondent
Shanghai, Feb. 26—(UP)—Shanghai, which for nearly a century has been a frequent city of refuge, again has assumed that role, and for two years now, has been the chief haven for Jews from Central Europe.
Repeatedly, this city of the East absorbed countless thousands of refugees who were escaping from China's troubles, and for many years after 1917, Shanghai was the haven for thousands of Russians fleeing from the new regime in their homeland.
Since the anti-Semitic outburst in Europe reached the present intensity, nearly 20,000 Jews, chiefly German and Austrian, have landed in Shanghai's Bund, and have made their homes here.
Historical records show that China once before-1900 years ago—was a refuge for Jews. These ancient records indicate that Jewish refugees came to China probably soon after A.D. 34 as a result of Babylonian persecutions.
Since Shanghai probably was the only place in the world where Jews were able to come without visas, this city soon became known to Jewish circles throughout the world as the mecca where freedom could be obtained.
However, when Jewish immigrants began to stream into Shanghai, they started to settle in Hongkew, Shanghai's Japanese-controlled "Little Tokyo," where freedom was presumably least guaranteed. Thus Hongkew, home of some 20,000 Jews, now has its own section with Jewish shops, cafes and industries.
The reason the Jews settled in
Hongkew is simple to explain: There, food, rent and clothing are far cheaper than in other parts of Shanghai where foreigners live. Some Jews estimate expenses there at 50 per cent less than in the International Settlement and the French concession. Moreover, Jews found little infringement of their activities by the Japanese.
However, as the stream of Jewish immigration swelled into torrent—there were 15,000 by August 1939—the Japanese decided it was time to raise the bars. An immigration regulation adopted on Aug. 11, 1939, with the agreement of the municipal council and the French concession council, provided that all German Jews, who were distinguished by the letter "J" on their passport, would be prohibited entry into Shanghai unless they possessed $400 or had relatives with jobs there.
That barrier was too great for many to surmount, but still the stream continues. An estimated 30 to 60 arrive on every vessel from Dairen after having crossed Asia on the TransSiberian railway.
Shanghai is not considered an ideal site for a Jewish colony. Since China is a land where the white man ordinarily does not do manual labor, many unskilled Jews lacked the possibility of going to work. Meanwhile, Shanghai's business, curtailed by the Chinese-Japanese war, offered little possibility of employment.
Japan Raises Bars
And the fact the Jews are virtually forced by circumstances to live in Hongkew under some apprehension of Japan, Germany's tripartite ally, also is of no help to their happy living conditions.
ROCK CHALK TALK
The Delta Chi's have a new label for the week pledges have nightmaries about. They call it "National Defense Week." To be consistent, they have dubbed required pledge antics "maneuvers" and pledge punishment "artillery." Every freshman in the house is automatically called in the draft.
Bv HEIDI VIETS
The other night C. H. Mullen and Bob Colman, Templin hall, were caught in an embarrassing predicament. The other boys de-trousered them and locked them outside just for the heck of it. Outside Battenfeld were several girls, who were amused at the goings-in. For Mullen and Colman it was not amusing.
Charles Wright spent the day after the Jayhawkers came out convincing friends that having his picture put in that publication cost him $17.50, which, assuredly, it did not. Or he would not look so pleasant in the picture.
Some time ago this column stated that two R.O.T.C. boys unknowingly presented the petition for a non-profit W.S.G.A. book exchange to O'Thene Huff, president of W.S.G.A.
Jay Gunnels, who was one of the boys referred to, objects. He maintains that he and his buddy not only knew who O'Thene was, but planned their campaign with her position in mind. He declares that they almost persuaded her to sign it, too.
Last night Irene Elliott, sister-in-law of Sig Ep Glenn Elliott, used a fraternity phone to call Howard Johnson and say that she was "Eleanor." Johnson was a little perturbed at having his girl friend call up after closing hours and ask him to go for a coke. But he caught on when one of the other phones rang and a freshman answered the wrong trunk, "Sigma Phi Epsilon."
As if there were not loud noises enough at a basketball game, Wayne Russ caused people to hold their ears by coming to Hoch last night in a red tie, bright green shirt, and pastel blue pants.
Buzz Crain received a long distance call from Lindenwood, a girls' school at St. Charles, Mo., the other night. Naturally, he was pleased. But he still can't figure out why they had to call collect.
Bill Gray is not only Phi Psi president but also official shoe shiner for the boys.