UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN --- OFFICIAL STUDENT PAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS VOLUME XXXVII Z-229 LAWRENCE, KANSAS, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 1940. NUMBER 146. Great Britain Tightens War Government By Joe Alex Morris Great Britain's battered war government fought to remain in power today and inaugurated a drastic program for defense against attack—from within or without—against the British Isles. Pr Minister Neville Chamberlain, who won a technical majority of 81 votes in the House of Commons but suffered an actual political reverse, gave every indication that he would attempt to remain in office by later re-organization of his cabinet to replace unpopular ministers with energetic new figures. The outlook for a coalition government including labor leaders continued weak but there was wide speculation on the possibility that Chamberlain would resort to a "technical resignation" by offering his resignation to King George but accepting a commission to form a new cabinet. That would permit him to start anew and eliminate the most severely criticized members, including Air Minister Sir Samuel Hoare and possibly Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir John Simon. Meantime, Chamberlain took energetic measures in an effort both to repair his government's prestige - WILL OSBORNE, originator of "Slide" music. Sell 270 of 600 Available Tickets (Continued on page seven) Drive for Chinese Aid Expected to Reach $400 The Chinese student on the walk in front of the library has almost reached his new school, according to reports from John J. O. Moore, chairman of the University drive. Returns from the drive early this afternoon amounted to $382.50 and it was expected that the total would reach the $400 goal set for the drive when donations from organizations and team leaders come in this afternoon. The fund for the relief of Chinese students has been swelled by sizeable donations from faculty members, $50 from the men's Pan-Hellenic organization, and the $10 received from the benefit mid-week last night. In addition to the team workers (Continued on page five) Osborne To Play Tomorrow Osborne starts his patented slide performance at 10 o'clock tomorrow night in the Memorial Union ballroom. Closing hours have been set at 1:30 a.m., leaving only one-half hour for post-dance activities. With Will Osborne's appearance one day away, 270 of the 600 tickets had been sold for the Senior Cakewalk, a check-up at noon today showed. Not claiming to be one of the nation's tip-of-the-tongue bands, Osborne is one of the standard and consistent type. He has pioneered for moderate heat in music from the beginning. If you are a radio listener you probably know that Osborne and Rudy Vallee are almost indistinguishable when they sing. And if you have been a radio listener since 1929 you probably remember a bit of a scrap between Vallee and our man Osborne as to who was the first crooner. Osborne's slide style is obtained by a combination of three slide trumpets and three trombones. The style was first noticed when he was holding forth at the Blackhawk cafe in Chicago. Osborne's band reached its radio peak when it made 14 broadcasts a week. These weekly broadcast periods reached an all time high for any one band. Petitions Will Do No Good, Swarthout Petitions being circulated today in behalf of Miss Olga Eitner, violin instructor who will not be re-hired next year, will have no effect, Dean D. M. Swarthout of the School of Fine Arts said today. Said Dean Swarthout, "The administration regrets to have the happening of such a regrettable situation. Miss Eitner and I are on the best of terms and her work has been excellent, but she must be released from the faculty because a place must be made for another teacher in the piano department. There is not enough demand for the additional violin instructor." He further added that a well-known teacher would be rehired next year to specialize in theory of the piano, but would not disclose the man's identity. Winifred Hill, fa'41, president of Mu Phi Epsilon, music sorority, today denied that the petitions had the official sanction of that society. It was later denied by others that the petitions were being backed by either the band, orchestra, or Phi Mu Alpha, music fraternity. This morning Dean Swarthout said he believed that the petitions were the efforts of private individuals. Miss Eitner came to the University two years ago to serve while Prof. Waldemar Geltch took a year's leave to study violin in Europe. She has appeared in numerous recitals on the Hill and gained considerable popularity both in school and in musical circles. At the age of 20 President Denies Attempt At Peace Plan With Il Duce Washington, May 9—(UP)President Roosevelt's denial that he has offered Premier Benito Mussolini a mediation or peace plan which Mussolini has rejected increased the mystery here today about unconfirmed reports of diplomatic maneuvering by the United States. Whatever moves the President has made, if any, or plans to make as a result of increased war tension still remained hidden by official silence. The Rome report said that Mussolini had rejected an offer of Mr. Roosevelt to attempt another peace effort; that the offer had been submitted to Il Duce by U. S. Ambassador to Rome, William C. Phillips. The only official word relating to the international situation this week came last night in what the White House said was a "flat denial" of a newspaper dispatch from Rome. "The White House tonight flatly denied a press dispatch from Rome, saying in effect that President Roosevelt, acting through Ambassador Phillips, had offered Premier Mussolini a mediation or peace plan which the latter had rejected. The White House statement said: "The President authorized issuance by the White House of the following statement: "The report is completely erroneous. It has no basis in fact." The White House statement did not clarify completely the situation. The Rome report had said that the alleged overture to Mussolini did not contain a specific proposal for peace or mediation, but that only an (Continued on page five) An 11-man jury still had not reached a verdict this afternoon after two days deliberation in the Douglas County District Court in the trial of Robert Palmer, former graduate student of the University, on charges of illegal possession of intoxicating liquor. Jury Still Out In Palmer Case The jury heard the closing arguments about 11:30 yesterday morning. Palmer was arrested March 30. following a raid by two police of- (Continued on page seven) Nazis Say Secret Agents Killed U.P. Correspondent (Continued on page seven) Berlin, May 9—(UP)The German press, apparently on orders from above, charged today that Webb Miller, general European manager of the United Press, had been murdered by the British Secret Service. Miller's body was found alongside a railroad track in suburban London yesterday. Taking their cue from the official news agency, D.N.B., which had circulated the charge last night, today's newspapers featured it under sensational headlines. (In London, a spokesman for the foreign office commented on the DNB charge as follows: "Mr. Webb Miller, who was held in great respect and affection in both government and journalistic circles in London, met his death by accident. It is understood he was traveling home after debate in parliament, and, opening the wrong door on the railway carriage, was instantly killed by a train approaching on another line. His death is mourned in London where he had a host of friends and not the least in government circles who had reason over a number of years to appreciate him not only as a fine correspondent but as a warm friend.") (Continued on page three) Red Shirts and Ten Gallon Hats Hunt Club Rides to City Twenty-six equestrians, dressed in colorful habit, rode out of Lawrence early this morning on their cross-country excursion to the Sportsman's Horse Show and Exposition in Kansas City. Covering 21 miles this morning, they arrived in De Soto for luncheon. From there they proceeded to Bonner Springs, a distance of 10 miles, where they will be guests of the Bonner Springs Patron club for dinner. A sum- $ \textcircled{8} $ rotary club for amusemmer camp, property of the Bonner Springs board of education will be the overnight abode of the riders. Those riding both days are Betty Schulthet, c'40, Helen Pierce, b'40 James Robertson, c'40, Jean Hillix, fa'43, Dorothy Jewel, Jean Lee Aszman, fa'43, Joe Chesky, c'43, and Joe O'Neill, fa'43. Those riding today are Jean Norton, c'43, Al Muzenick, fa'40, Anne Nettels, c'42, Charles Bradley, c'41, and Frances Gray, c'42. Leaving tomorrow will be Bob Higgins, c'43, Marie Norton, c'40, Margaret E. Brown, c'40, Nadine Bitter, c'41, and Elizabeth Kirsch, c'40. In charge of the trip are E. B. DeGroot, instructor in physical education; Gayle Mott, proprietor of the Mott stables; and Mrs. E. B. DeGroot, chaperone.