PAGE SIX
EDITORIAL
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1940
The Kansan Comments-- EDITORIALS ★ LETTERS ★ PATTER
Cool Off, Boys
New Deal Defenses
It is possibly, indeed it is entirely reasonable, that a "fifth column" does exist in the United States, for Hitler apparently does have some idea of planting the swastika over as much territory as is inhumanly possible. But certainly, particularly at this time, America must be calm. Harried, frightened people cannot accomplish; they can only bungle. A flagwaving populace with blood in its eye would only serve to root the column more firmly. If it exists, then it must be stamped out—but with less ballyhoo.
America does not need a sixth column to guard against the fifth. It needs only to keep its head clear, free of unreasonable fear. A gestapo or ogpu has no place here. America has maintained a working democracy for one hundred and sixty-four years; it must not lose it overnight.
America during the past few weeks has been on the verge of one of the greatest calamities that possibly could happen to a democratic nation: mass hysteria. Leaders of public opinion, assuming the role of pseudo-patriots, have succumbed to the popular notion that a "fifth column55 is now at work and within a short time, today, tomorrow or next week, will effect a Trojan horse act in this country similar to the prepaid selling out of Norway.
★ ★ ★
Just because the present administration has provided the United States with a military defense that a bunch of boy scouts armed with 22 rifles could crack is no reason why Congress should turn over the country—lock, stock, and barrel—to the president and the New Deal.
This country evidently needs defenses. Any defense plan, however, that is dependent upon industry's cooperation is bound to hit a snag with the impetuous Roosevelt and the New Deal in complete authority. The Brain Trust may have gone back to the classrooms but enough crack-pots remain in Washington who still think they know more about industry than the industrialists themselves. Roosevelt's distrust of the industrialists will prompt him to give these half-baked scholars the job of telling experienced businessmen what to do. The result will be an "impregnable" defense that will make Roosevelt's recovery program look like a huge success.
With military preparedness so dependent upon industry, it seems imperative that the government in Washington should get some men in authority who can turn out results instead of theories. Either Roosevelt should kick out a few of his power-hungry, new deal careerists and supplant them with men who have proved their ability or the United States might as well not start a defense program. Industry will cooperate but only so far as the government will cooperate with it.
It should, however, be proof enough for the American people. The present administration
Roosevelt, though, is seemingly satisfied with the present set-up. The fact that this country, after seven years of spending by the New Deal, couldn't defend itself from an invasion of seals from Alaska isn't proof enough for Roosevelt.
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Hendrik Willem Van Loon, journalist and historian, and Clarence Budington Kelland, novelist, are behaving like a couple of spoiled school boys these days over a tiff that arose when Kelland made a statement that the "fifth column" in this country was "headed by that fellow in the White house." The fight seems to take Kelland out of his usual "Scattergood" role.
* *
What Washington needs is more bombs and less bums.
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UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS OFFICIAL BULLETIN Vol.37 Tuesday, May 21, 1940 No.154
GRADUATE STUDENTS: Graduate Students expecting to receive advanced degrees at the coming commencement are reminded that the diploma fee is payable at the Business Office and the application card due at the Registrar's Office by May 25. The thesis must be on file at the Graduate Office by June 4—E. B. Stouffer, dean.
JAY JANE MEETING: There will be a meeting tomorrow at 4:30 in the Memorial Union.—Ruth Spencer, president.
SCABBARD AND BLADE: There will be an important meeting of Scabbard and Blade tomorrow immediately following the Barbecue at Fowler Shops.—Bob Stadler, captain, G 4.
RIFLE CLUBS: The annual picnic will be held Sunday.—Ann Rightmire, president.
SENIORS: Seniors expecting to enter the Graduate School this summer should come to the Graduate Office as soon as possible to make application for admission. E.B. Stouffer, dean.
W. S.G.A. TEA: There will not be a W.S.G.A. tea tomorrow.-Jean Klusman, social chairman.
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Official Student Paper of
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
University, Kansas.
EDITORIAL STAFF
Publisher ___ Walt Meininger
Editor-in-Chief Reginald Buxton
Associate Editors
Betty Coulson ... Jim Benton ... Curtis Burton
Kim Killen ... Jim Benton
Feature Editor ... Virginia Gray
Managing Editor Jay Simon
Campus Editor George Sitterley
Campus Editor Elizabeta Kinch
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Society Editor Kay Bozarth
Sunday Editor Richard Boyce
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Wire Editor Bob Trump
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Subscription rates, in advance, $3.00 per year, $1.75 per semester. Published at Lawrence, Kansas, daily during the school year except August and September; entered as second class class on September 17, 1910; to the post office at Lawrence, Kansas, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Sprawling Sub-Basement Under Frank Strong
Ghosts of the composers whose music has been murdered by Fine Arts students have a right handy spot in Frank Strong hall to do their "hanting." Beneath the great building is a sub-basement that has not been visited by more than 10 or 15 students. Extending under the entire sprawling building, the subbasement is divided into 3 divisions. The 8-foot ceiling and the walls are unfinished; the floor is rock. Dust covers everything. Even the bright, unshaded lights fail to take away the look of gloom.
Because the building was erected in 3 parts and over a period of several years, each of the divisions was separated from the others by a solid wall.
Now, during the school year, workmen are disturbing classes by pounding and drilling through the brick and mortar to join the divisions and possibly to make them usable. At present the only use made of it is that of the west end used as a storage space by the department of physiology.
Several doors in the basement of Frank Strong lead into the sub-basement which is reached by means of rickety stairs and ladders. Students who sleep in class and then walk in their sleep might easily stumble their way into this vast place. That is, if one of the doors was left open.
By Jim Bell
ROCK CHALK TALK
One Minute Interview: "We don't know what we'll do with our German department next year. There will either be no enrollment at all, or it will be a required course" — Chancellor Malott, speaking on the problems of the University in light of the European war.
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John Randolph Tye (Topeka State Journal) says that the recent shuffling of the French cabinet reminds him of a football game where the coach sends in all of the bench warmers late in the contest so they can win their varsity letters.
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We wonder whether the British will make the same efficient type of doormen and taxi drivers as the Russian nobility did following World War I.
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It seems to this department that William Allen White, famed editor of the Emporia Gazette, over-stepped himself twice last week. First he sent out letters requesting moral and financial aid for the allies and then he rendered "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" on the piano, at the Sigma Delta Chi banquet.
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Why Rub It In item: F.D.R.'s offer of cabinet posts to prominent Republicanis is just about the same thing as the Nebraska football coach asking K.U. players if they wouldn't like to play on the Husker team in a Kansas-Nebraska game and be on the winning side for a change.
★ ★ ★
Said a Phi Psi freshman last night,
"As long as we're donating to the
dormitory campaign, why don't we
give 'em that so called bed I sleep on.
I'll give it up—but gladly."
★ ★ ★
Success Story: Pi Phi Prexy Betty Burch now knows how young Alexander the Great felt when he found
★ ★ ★
no more worlds to conquer. Yesterday the Arrow pledges elected her to their "highest" office during Turn-about Day festivities when neophiles played actives and vice-versa.
Thoughts while waiting for someone to put a slug in the nickelodeon at Wiedemann's: Bewildered was Gatekeeper Floyd Kelley the other day when a bevy of lovely lasses forgot their identification cards but sought to prove that they were students and worthy of admission into a baseball game by singing all verses to the Alma Mater. . . We are sure that springtime is here because Beta Earl Radford is rolling his trousers a notch higher and letting his shirt tail blow freely in the gentle breezes. . . We had a fine bit of scandal about a Theta and a Sigma Chi, but we lost our Little Black Notebook. . . And we have it on good authority that the administration is not planning to plant poison ivy in Marryn Grove. . . Marynell Dyatt, one of the more eligible independent coeds, will be pledged to a West Campus sorority soon. . . If you want to see something funnier than a woman's hair have a peep at the wide brimmed straw bonnets currently being sported by J. R. Jones and Larry Hensley. . . Douglas county reports that it costs plenty to keep up the country roads around Lawrence. . . especially in the early spring. . . Cheerful thought for the day: the first final exams come one week from tomorrow.
Grad Gets Job With U.S. Steel
Gordon Hoffman, gr, has just received notice of a position with the United States Steel Corp. in Cleveland, Ohio. The position is effective in June.
IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE!!
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