The KANSAN Comments ...
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1941
PAGE SIX
PEACE TREND IN MUSIC WAR
An indictment charging violation of anti-trust laws was brought against A.S.C.A.F. six years ago and was revived last Dec. 19. Approval of a consent decree will prevent A.S.C. A.P. from continuing practices which are in violation of the anti-trust laws, mainly the actions which brought about the controversy between the society and the national broadcising chains. The approval will also allow the dropping of criminal proceedings against them, although court proceedings will continue for damages that resulted from these violations. Failure to carry out the terms of the decree would result in a charge of contempt of court against the society.
A step toward settlement of the current music war between the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers and the national broadcasting chains will have been taken if the directors of the society approve the consent decree proposed by the government in its anti-trust action against them.
To date, the directors of A.S.C.A.P. have approved only "in principle" a consent decree; that indicates the society is yet unwilling to admit guilt of all the points in the decree. When these points have been worked out with the department of justice, the initial step toward resumption of negotiations between A.S.C.A. P. and the broadcasting chains will have been taken.
The current battle, which has been going on for the past six years, was brought strikingly to the attention of the public on Jan. 1 when all A.S.C.A.P. music was banned from the national radio networks because their contract with A.S.C.A.P. had expired the day before. The controversy between the two resulted over fees to be paid for music used on the air.
As a defense measure, the broadcasting companies set up their own publishing society, the Broadcast Music Incorporated which secured rights for approximately 600,000 songs. A.S.C.A.P. has rights to some 1,270,000 songs.
As the controversy became more heated, the government charged the two warring factions on Dec. 19 with violations against the anti-trust laws. The charges were based on the contention that the two were trying to secure a monopoly on all music; seven other minor points were also alleged. Proceedings were started in Milwaukee shortly after the ban went into effect on Jan. 1. The charges against the broadcasting companies and the B.M.I. were later dropped on the ground that they were merely protecting themselves against the practices of A.S.C.A.P. Proceedings against A.S.C.A.P. were not pressed so as to allow for negotiations between the two factions. If A.S.C.A.P. now approves of the consent decree, criminal proceedings in the case will be dropped and the music war might soon be amiably ended.
To the radio listener, this controversy has brought nothing but a revival of old songs, those that are considered to be in the public domain, and a few overplayed new songs. If A. S.C.A.P. agrees to the consent decree, the public may soon again be treated to something beside diverse arrangements of "Jeannie With The Light Brown Hair," and "Frenesi."
FOR SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS IN KANSAS,
In these days of cynics, quacks, gripers, and believe-it-notters, University students seldom see beyond the everyday inconveniences about
which they complain. If it's not Saturday classes, it's the old professor whom no other school would have on its faculty, or it's the high wind that sweeps over the Hill or the undeserved poor grades, about which the student body complains its way through four years in the University.
The University of Kansas is the culmination of the dreams of the first Kansans. In 1856, ten years before the University opened and two years after the settlers of Lawrence arrived, Amos A. Lawrence wrote, "You shall have a college which shall be a school of learning and at the same time a monument to perpetuate the memory of those martyrs of liberty who fell during the recent struggle. Beneath it their dust shall rest. In it shall burn the light of liberty, which shall never be extinguished until it illuminates the whole continent."
Today, more than three quarters of a century later, the University of Kansas' educational crusade heads the list of its accomplishments. From a beginning with fifty-five students, the enrollment has grown to nearly five thousand. Famous scientists, lawyers, doctors, and journalists honor the University through their accomplishments. Kansas men and women, rich and poor, honor the University through their children who compose the second and third generations of K.U. students.
OFFICIAL BULLETIN UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Vol. 38 Friday, Feb. 14, 1941 No. 86
Notices due at Chancellor's office at 3 p.m. on day before publication during the week, and at 11 a.m. on Saturday for Sunday issue.
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CERAMICS EXHIBITION: An exhibition of ceramics by Miss Gladys Bate, guest instructor of the Design department, made while she was studying in Sweden is being shown in the halls of the third floor of West Frank Strong hall—Marjorie Whitney.
DRAMATIC CLUB: The Dramatic Club picture will be taken Tuesday afternoon at 5 o'clock at the Lawrence Studio.-Shirley Jane Ruble, president.
EDNA OSBORNE WHITCOMB SCHOLARSHIP:
Applications for the Edna Osborne Whitecomb Scholarship for the school year 1941-'42 should be made in Room 1, Frank Strong Hall, before March 15. The scholarship is open to women students majoring in English—Lela Ross, executive secretary, committee on Aids and Awards.
L. S.A. SKATING PARTY: The Lutheran students should meet at the church this evening at 8:00 for a Valentine party. Everyone is welcome—Lauraine Clark.
NOTICE TO ALL STUDENTS: Dr. E. T. Gibson will be available for personal conferences at Watkins Memorial Hospital on Tuesday afternoons from 2 to 5. Appointments should be made at the Watkins Memorial hospital.—Dr. R. I. Canuteson.
SIAMESE ART EXHIBITION: There will be an exhibition of Siamese art in room 320 West Frank Strong Hall from Feb.10 through Feb.23. This exhibition includes hand-woven textiles and craft work of Siam from a collection belonging to Mr. Wallace Lee, Federal geologist—Marjorie Whitney.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE ORGANIZATION: Christian Science Organization will hold a regular meeting Tuesday afternoon at 4:30 in the Pine Room of the Union Building. All students, graduates, and faculty members are welcome—Patricia Neil, secretary.
PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION; A make-up psychological examination will be given at 9 o'clock Saturday morning, Feb. 22 in 112 Fraser.-A. H. Turney.*
SQUARE DANCING: There will be square dancing tonight at 8 o'clock instead of at 7:30.-Ruth Hoover.
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 week, except Monday and Saturday, the interest as second matter is exempt from tax. The contact office at Lawrence, Kansas, under the act of March 3, 1879.
You Said It
Editor, Daily Kansan:
It is general knowledge that our student governing bodies lack student and faculty support and confidence. Why is this? And what must a government do to demand and voluntarily gain support and confidence? A government must (1) have a definite set of written objectives and (2) must work in fields which intimately influence the people participating in the government. Not until a government does these two things can it expect people to support it actively in fair or foul weather.
The student governing bodies should meet to evaluate past action and present organizational setup, and, second, they should draw up and establish a plan for future action and organization; any large changes should be submitted to the student body for approval or disapproval. Third, the organizations should determine what attitudes and techniques would be necessary in order to attain their objectives in time.
The techniques and attitudes should show a realization of two fundamental things: (1) Any democratic government demands more responsibilities than it grant privileges. (2) The faculty and administration are not against the students, instead, they are the students' strongest supporters and most capable advisers. Only too often student government means asking for more privileges—but these come later after ability to assume responsibilities has been demonstrated. Mutual trust and understanding is absolutely essential between students and faculty; any attempt at student government must realize this and do all possible to bring better understanding about. The administration is for democracy; the administration is for students; why not use the knowledge and experience of these trained men as much as possible?
Already mentioned but not emphasized is the time factor. Democracy depends on education; education is a growth process and consequently slow. Any attempt to gain student government would take several years to complete; nevertheless the councils should plot and definitely make out a tentative course right at the start.
Students who are now being conscripted upon graduation to defend democracy should be interested enough in democratic government to put it to the test on this campus. An administration which on the whole supports this conscription should be more than willing to help students to become more experienced in the use of the democratic processes which these students must, as a consequence of conscription, be ready to defend at all cost.—Respectfully, ED PRICE.
ROCK CHALK TALK
By HEIDI VIETS
At the Rock Chalk Coop election the other night one ballot came in decorated with a large pair of feet. Knowing friends marked up one more vote for John Conard, who was elected.
Jean Trekell, Watkins hall, is having trouble rationing her time between Dale Leuhring and Ellin Sandt, across-the-halls at Battenfeld.
The other day, Leuhring's parents came up, and Jean was meeting them in front of her hall. Not to be defeated, Sandell walked by in the midst of formalities, went inside to keep a date with Jean. She followed, but stormily.
This semester Bert Dickerson, Bill Reynolds, Gilbert Sollenberger, Phil Robertson, and John Kline are housekeeping in an apartment at 1211 Oread. All from Hutchinson, they make happy quintuplets.
There's a new organized house on the campus—the A.P.T. house. If you insist on realism, A.P.T. means "apartment."
But refer to their dwelling as the A.P.T. house, please.
"At 3:30 I'd pick up my date. Then we would have a quick coke until four, when I'd drop her off at some meeting required for pledges. At 5:15 I would meet her again, and if we were lucky we dashed to a fountian again before I had to be home at 5:45."
Ray Davis says that leaving an afternoon date at a party or tea always reminds him of his freshman days, during which a typical afternoon was as follows.
It goes to show that Father Time and the freshmen have been batting back and forth many long years.
In entomology class Mary Ruth Fogel is a prisy prude. She absolutely refuses to pick up a grasshopper with her hands. While other students use fingers, she uses tweezers and pins. Classmates quote her as saying, "My ambition in this course is to get up enough nerve to touch one of those things."
Since Vincent Tharp, trombonist in Clyde Bysom's band, became a Phi Gam, the Fijis are ardent Bysom boosters. At the midweek, one pledge was comparing him to Tommy Dorsey. But then, pledges will be pledges.