PAGE SIX
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1940
The Kansan Comments-- EDITORIALS ★ LETTERS ★ PATTER
A Lesson in Definitions
By Dr. Theodore Paulli Instructor in History
In his article in The Daily Kansan last Sunday, Professor R. H. Wheeler was attempting to perform an admirable task. He was calling the youth of America to a greater sense of responsibility in affairs of government. He correctly pointed out that without such a sense of individual responsibility democracy is impossible. But such a feeling of responsibility is of little value in preserving democratic institutions unless it is combined with intelligence and clear thinking. It is regretable that Professor Wheeler's article made so little contribution in this latter field. I fear that he has obscured rather than clarified the important issues he set out to discuss, by employing terms in such a way that it is obvious that he has made up new definitions of his own for them.
In his discussion of the popular concept of liberalism, for instance, he has set up a straw man to knock down. Liberalism does not now, nor never has meant "dictatorship of the proletarians." It is a term applied to the mode of thought which became prevalent in the nineteenth century. This theory was based upon the idea of the inherent value of the individual, and its objective was the preservation of individual liberties. It objected to interference by the state to limit freedom of action, thought or speech. In time it was extended to include mild reforms by the state to remove injustices, such as economic monopolies, which limited the freedom of a large number of people. These ideas are basic to the concept of democracy itself. All of our leading presidential candidates this year process to be liberals in this sense, and I feel sure that Mr. Willkie, at least, is not talking about dictatorship of the proletariat.
A Difference in Terms
Mr. Wheeler employs the terms socialism and communism in the same loose way. From his discussion it is obvious that he intends to use these terms to mean "despotism." It would be readily admitted that Hitler and Louis XIV are both desposs, but to call Louis a "socialist" is to change competely the usual meaning of that term. The word is usually used to designate one who believes in some economic system in which the people are banded together for the common welfare. Socialism can hardly be defined more definitely than that because there have been many types of socialism with many different programs. The mere existence of such terms as "Christian socialism," "guild socialism," "state socialism," and "national socialism" demonstrates the diversity of movements covered by this general term.
Communism is usually considered as a branch of socialism. The word, however, is used most widely today to mean the type of government existing in Russia. It is doubtful that Karl Marx or Lenin would recognize their original concepts of communism in that despotic state. It seems to have become a government of the few, rather than the dictatorship of the proletariat that these leaders considered necessary in the transitional stage while the state was moving in the direction of complete communism. When the older elements in society were finally removed, these men foresaw a community in which the state could not be allowed to wither away and in which the individual would once more become free.
Since there are so many kinds of socialism, it is necessary to find out what an individual socialist believes before he can be put in a neat intellectual pigeon hole, either for condemnation or praise. The American Socialist party, for instance, does not believe in revolution, nor the dictatorship of the proletariat. It insists upon the maintenance of civil rights and the democratic process in government.
Democracy of Recent Origin
term "democracy" Democracy usually implies a gov-
term democracy. Democracy usually implies a gov-
term democracy. Democracy usually implies a gov't term democracy. Democracy usually implies a gov't Professor Wheeler is vague also when he uses the erment in which every individual has a voice in determining policy or in selecting officials, and under which the minority is protected from persecution, and above all is completely free to criticize the decisions of the majority. Mr. Wheeler writes as though every period of individualism in the past had been a period of democracy. However, democracy is of recent origin, and the wide acceptance of the idea certainly goes no farther back than the American and French Revolutions.
The area under partially democratic governments was gradually extended until after the first World War. Since that time there seems to be a trend in the opposite direction. In the light of this recent reversal of the democratic trend, it is difficult to share Mr. Wheeler's optimism about this being the end of an era of despotism. It would seem to be rather the beginning, and that the failure of dictatorship is far off, if the world's history does move in cycles as he seems to believe.
But history teaches us that we need be neither as optimistic nor as pessimistic as Mr. Wheeler would make us. New situations do arise in history despite apparent cycles. Modern capitalism and industrialism, with the use of the machine, have never existed before. Mr. Wheeler's theory places too little emphasis upon their part in the creation of the modern world and its problems. Democracy is also a new form of government which has never been adequately tried under these novel conditions.
It will take vast intelligence and a deep sense of responsibility on the part of every citizen to solve the grave social problems which confront us in this great age of dissolution of old institutions and creation of new ones. Making derogatory remarks about "reform" and "idealistic youth" will hardly help in the elimination of these problems. "Reform" or even "socialism" need not involve the complete domination of the individual by the state which Mr. Wheeler envisages. A blind and confused acceptance of the status quo may well lead us to disaster. I am sure that this is not what Mr. Wheeler wants. I join him in a plea to Americans to accept the greater individual responsibility which is involved in more participation in the political, social, and, I might add, economic order.
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UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS OFFICIAL BULLETIN
Vol. 38 Sunday, Oct. 6, 1940 No. 16
Notices due at Chancellor's office at 3 p.m. on day before publication during the week, and at 11 a.m. on Saturday yfor Sunday issue.
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.
--vice-president, Dale Goodrich, secretary-treasurer, Ben Bagrowsk c'42; chapter editor, James Clark, gr; faculty adviser, Dr. K. K. Landes, professor of geology and state geologist
DRAMATIC CLUB: The first meeting of the year will be held 4:30 Tuesday afternoon in the Little Theater, Green hall. An important business meeting will follow a get-acquainted social hour. Refreshments will be served. Members who cannot attend should notify the secretary, and apprentices are required to attend.-David Watermulder, secretary.
NEWMAN CLUB: The regular discussion meeting of the Newman Club will be held Tuesday night at 7:30 in St. John's Church hall. Everyone is welcome—Albert Protiva, vice-president.
N. Y.A. WORKERS: There will be a required meeting of all N.Y.A. workers at 3:30 Tuesday, October 8, in Fraser Theater- Velma Wilson, executive secretary.
W. S.G.A. COUNCIL: The W.S.G.A. Council will meet at 7:00 in the Pine room on Tuesday.-Doris Twente, secretary.
Y. M.C.A. BANQUET: Judge Hugo T, Wedell will speak to members of the Y.M.C.A. and facult yat the dinner Tuesday evening, in the Union ballroom at 6:00 p.m.-Keith Martin, membership chairman.
The Golden Bough, by Sir James Frazer, reissued as one in the series of Imperial Editions, the Macmillan company, N.Y. $1.49.
When the "Golden Bough" first reflected the light of reading lamps in 1922, it was a pretentious 12-volume work, scholarly, and for scholars. Since its first publication, this veritable well of information has been reprinted nearly every year. And now, in 1940 the once voluminous and costly edition has been condensed into one volume at a price within everyone's means.
Every student should have this book in his library. Here is unsurpassed wealth in reference material, compiled by one of the world's foremost authorities on anthrofology. The material contained herein has been gathered, as you may well imagine, only after many years of research and actual observation at its origin. The book contains and adequately covers a multitude of subjects—from the myth of Adonis and the fire festivals of Europe to the origins of religion and the history of why people are burned in effigy.
It is to be noted that three distinguished men of letters unanimously chose the "Golden Bough" as one of the most important books of this century, a book which they feel is destined to become a classic for all times. John Dewey, professor emeritus at Columbia University; Charles A. Beard, eminent historian; and Edward Weeks, well-known editor of Atlantic Monthly, collaborated in choosing the list of books. Naturally, there section. Only four books were agreed upon by all three men, "The Golden Bough" being one.
This is no dull treatis on anthropology, even though it was large in scope, written after years of research, by a fellow of the British Academy, and a commander of the French Legion of Honor. This abridgement of the original has been made with an eye to the lay reader.
ROCK CHALK TALK
If you aren't acquainted with this book, best to get on a sound footing with it soon. Its pages are filled to overflowing with fascinating stories, interestingly told, with great heaping basketful of information. The value of the volume so far exceeds its current price as to make it a library "must" to everyone.—G.W.F.
HEIDI VIETS
Germany and Italy are putting Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania through an eventful rush week. But if the Balkan rushees aren't already "spiked," we're all wrong about that European Pan-Hell. Adolph and Benito are past masters of the "hotbox."
Now that France is slashed and beaten, it is striking to note the confident we-double-dare-you attitude taken by a Parisian born friend of ours at the outset of World War II.
Last May she vowed, "France will never sumit to a German peace. Every loyal Frenchman will fight to the death for 'la patricie.'" Loyally she declared, "If anyone had told us in the summer of 1939 that 'les Bosches' could invade France, we would not have believed him!"
"Les Bosches," meaning, "the pigs," is a violent French term to use in calling a nation a bunch of ornery skunks.
If only name-calling had been the order of combat in Europe, "la patrie" might have come out of the struggle in better shape.
When during the newsreel pictures of F.D.R. and W.W. flashed on the local movie screen, members of the audience one and all filled their lungs to boo and to cheer.
Many Americans may take their politics sitting down, but certainly they don't take it shutting up.
New in fashion are huge metal pins in the shape of question marks. Isn't this world enough of a puzzle without the feminine population wearing bewilderment on their shoulders
Every Saturday Edith and Bob Mallott take riding lessons. Maybe "getting on the high horse" runs in the family.
Becker Takes Presidential Reins of Geo. Fraternity
Officers elected at a meeting of Sigma Gamma Epsilon, professional geology fraternity Thursday evening, were: President, Karl Becker, gr;