PAGE SIX EDITGRIAL
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
FRIDAY, MAY 3, 19
The Kansan Comments -- EDITORIALS ★ LETTERS ★ PATTERN
A Midas Or a White Elephant
The United States today owns two of the greatest accumulations of wealth ever amassed in the history of civilization. Buried in a "hole in the ground" at Fort Knox, Kentucky, are some $18,000,000,000 in gold bullion, more than 60 per cent of all known gold reserves in the world. And, not content, with the Midas touch, the government also has acquired nearly 3,000,-000,000 ounces of silver, one-seventh of the world's output since the discovery of America.
Pegging the price of gold at $35 an ounce instead of its former price of $20.67, had the effect of bringing to the Treasury four times as much gold as it had six years ago. Similarly, the government's $3,779,500,000 silver hoard, beginning with the Silver Purchase Act of 1934, was built up in much the same manner. The Treasury was directed to buy silver until the accumulation was equal to 25 per cent of its combined silver and gold reserve. In 1934 some 1,333,000,000 ounces of silver were needed to equal this 25 per cent gold-silver reserve; in 1939, 1,616,000,000 ounces were needed. And as time passes, the number of ounces required is becoming increasingly larger.
Most of this difficulty resulted from the short-sighted view taken of gold and silver purchases. The rise in price of the two metals made abandoned mines profitable once again, and low grade ores, valueless at former prices, brought in a nice margin of profit at the new price. Foreign governments seized or passed edicts requiring their citizens to turn over gold and silver articles, which, when smelted, found their way to the United States in exchange for oil, cotton, airplanes, and other commodities. Gold poured into the country at an alarming rate, as did silver. More and more silver was needed to equal the 25 per cent combined silver and gold reserve.
Several possibilities of pulling the government out of its self-imposed dilemma have been promulgated, including the loaning of gold to other countries to build up trade. Yet loans can only be repaid in trade or gold, and the United States already is exporting more than it imports, with the balance being paid in gold. So, with no satisfactory means of getting out of its difficulty, the government continues to buy —afraid to stop its purchases, equally afraid not to stop. The government's magic touch, it seems, has backfired into something resembling a white elephant.
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Praises Negro Mid-Weeks
Editor. Dailv Kansan:
Enthusiastic iconoclasts who spiel loud and long about education in democracy sometimes forget there is such a thing as democracy in education. Based on democratic principles, the process of education is a broad one. The students at our educational institutions are theoretically given a well-rounded program, one intended to develop them mentally, socially, morally and physically.
Apply this democratic theory to the Negro on our own campus. Mentally, he is given a fair chance. He sits in the same classrooms and is given access to the same amount of information as the white students. There are but very few of our instructors who make the slightest distinction as to the color of students who sit in their classes. The theory of democracy in education has actually become a practice insofar as it relates to the development of the intellectual capacities of our youth.
Morally, too, this great theory has absolved itself into practice at our University. The Negro students are welcomed into both the Y.W.C.A. and the Y.M.C.A., the two most liberal and the most character-building organizations existing on the campus.
But at this point, democracy in education fallsers as far as the Negro at K.U. is concerned. Socially, the great theory remains only theory. Our Negro students are offered very little of the social side of education. For the same activity fee as white students pay, they have put one varsity dance a year. This means that white students are allowed ten times as much on their activity tickets as Negro students. The former may go to at least thirty one-hour dances yearly, while the latter are given one three-hour dance for the same period of time. Democracy has indeed taken a decided turn here. This situation may easily be remedied. Negro students may be allowed to hold weekly dances in the Kansas Room of the Union building. At our Union fountain Negro students are shoved into two or three "cubby-holes" at the very rear of the room. Democracy would abolish discrimination as to seating at the fountain.
As regards physical development in education, democracy has again failed to hit its mark at the University. Capable and willing Negro athletes are not given the chance to display their prowess on our athletic fields. They are refused participation in track, football, basketball, baseball, and intramural sports. Democracy would show us that Negro youth are just as capable as white youth in athletics.
J. D. E.
It's really lamentable that such things exist. Needless to say something should be done about it—something must be done about it or democracy will mean more in America than a high-sounding word. Passing the varsity-dance bill is a splendid beginning at tackling this problem.
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS OFFICIAL BULLETIN
Vol. 37 Friday, May 3, 1940
A. S.C.E. A.S.C.E. will hold its last meeting this semester this evening at 7:30 in Room 210, Marvin Hall. Kansas City meeting will be discussed, amendment to National Constitution will be voted on, Mr. Matthews will speak, and money will be refunded for luncheon held in Kansas City — Leonard Schroeter, president.
BACTERIOLOGY CLUB: The Bacteriology Club will hold its annual spring picnic tomorrow afternoon at the State Lake at Tonganoxie. The group will leave Snow Hall at 3:00 p.m.-Virginia Christie, secretary.
DRAMATIC CLUB PICNIC: The Dramatic Club Picnic will be held tomorrow. Cars will leave Green Hall at 4:30. Please notify Elizabeth Kirsch if you plan on going, unless you did so at the last meeting—Gordon Brigham, president.
NOTICE TO ALL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: Dr. E. T. Gibson is at the Watkins Memorial Hospital each Tuesday afternoon for discussion with students on problems of mental hygiene. Appointments may be made through the Watkins Memorial Hospital—Dr. R. I. Canuteson.
PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION: The last examination of the regular term will be held on Saturday, May 4, at 8:30 a.m. Juniors and Seniors who have not passed an earlier examination should take this one. None but Juniors and Seniors are eligible. Candidates must register in person at the College Office, Room 121 Frank Strong Hall.
QUILL CLUB: Quill Club will meet this evening at 7:30 in the Pine Room—Evelyn Longerbeam.
SENIORS: Seniors expecting to receive degrees this June or at the end of the summer session who have not filed cards in the Registrar's Office should do so immediately. George O. Foster, registrar.
SENIOR RED CROSS: Senior life saving certificates may be obtained by calling at Room 107 Robinson Gymnasium,-H. G. Allphin.
DRAMATICS CLUB: The Dramatics Club will hold a buffet dinner in the Sunflower Room of the Union building at 6:00 this evening. Following the dinner a dance will be held in the Kansas Room—Gordon Brigham, president.
FIRESIDE FORUM: Fireside Forum will meet next Sunday at 7 o'clock at the home of Mr. and Mrs. King at 1100 Ohio. Mr. King will continue the discussion of "A Modern View of Religion." Everyone is welcome. Lorraine Polson, publicity chairman.
EL ATENEO: The last regular meeting of El Ateneo before the spring picnic will be on Tuesday, May 7, in Room 113 F.S. at 3:30. Election of officers will be held.—Louise Bush, president.
Subscription rates, in advance, $3.00 per year, $1.75 per semester. Published at Lawrence, Kansas, daily during the school week; on Saturday, entered as second class matter September 17, 1918, post office at Lawrence, Kansas, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Noisy But Nice
With the Hill's cello-tuggers, me-me-me singers, and bato swingers just beginning to settle down after a week of concert recitals, banquets, and let-out classes, it's Grandfather's closetime for the rest of the Hill population to pay a tribute to themley and often exasperating School of Fine Arts.
Daily training in that school performs a function. True may be a headache to classes in Frank Strong hall and to passer by on University Drive. But it serves to provide the Hill wil future reflected light of famous alumni who will be pointed o as I-knew-him-whens.
Hats must come off to the School, too, for its concert serio Artists brought to Hoch auditorium attract seat-fillers from mil around and usually hold the hard-to-please student body in interest until well after intermission. Such performances provide the often over-looked aesthetic touch to college life.
These functions, together with the Swarthout-faculty training of necessary-for-any-University band and orchestra make no mistake to grant the School its Music Week and the applau such a program undoubtedly deserves.
Collegians to Conduct 'International' Experimen
Stillwater, Minn.—(UP)—An experiment in "international living" will be conducted here this summer by 30 American college students, 10 college instructors, and 15 European refugees.
The experiment, conceived by Donald Watt of Syracuse University years ago, is described as a study of the American way of life.
The students during an eight-week period in July and August will make a comprehensive survey of community needs, study group problems, develop a community project requiring physical labor, and provide entertainment programs for Stillwater residents. summer, the experimental series established
Directors of the experiment said selection of the 30 college students would be based on scholarship and personality. Regular classes will be conducted by instructors and several of the refugees who were educators in Europe.
Before the European war, students were sent to foreign countries in an effort to obtain a better understanding of living problems in various lands.
Because of the war tension last
But because the experiment that a college campus was not type of American life, arrangements we made to establish three camps the year—in the East, Middle West, or West.
Stillwater, located on the scen shores of the peaceful St. Croix river was selected as the site of the min west camp.
The project has been finance through a legacy administered Watt.
ROCK CHALK TALK
By Marilyn McBride
By Dale Heckendorn Guest Writer
In a beer tavern atmosphere, the audience at the K-Club melodrama, "Murder in the Old Red Barn or The Price She Paid," will be served drinks by several Campus coeds dressed as bar-maids.
*
George W. Minch, candidate for commissioner in Belmont county, Ohio, believes in frankness in his political advertisements. A recent newspaper ad read: "Less politics, more of the golden rule: throw the old rascals out, put us new rascals in."
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War notes—Mussolini is undecided as to which side of the Maginot line he wants his soldiers to see—Stalin is just Stalin for time before he begins Russian his soldiers into Rumania or Finland—Hungary is nothing Budapest and may be lapped up by the land Hungary Nazis.
A physician has examined Roof velt and pronounced him physic fit to stand a third term. One Ks sas editor now demands that son one examine the country.
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IDAY,
Several brass buttons have cently visited our campus, if signatures on the petition in the Wait Library entrance are genui Franklin D. Roosevelt, John Na Garner, Booth Tarkinton, Since Lewis, Mickey Mouse, and Pnochio were among the signers the extension of Mid-weeks until end of the semester.
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Offers of $1,010,000 are report available to the person or person who take Hitler alive before the league of nations. The president of the Carnegie Institute is the sai would-be-donor of the $1,000,0 share and Prof. John Ise is bound lose no sleep over his unofficial fer of $10,000.
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