1, 1940
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OFFICIAL STUDENT PAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
VOLUME XXXVII
NUMBER 96.
LAWRENCE, KANSAS, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1940.
Claflin Takes Back Arson Confession
Smoking Ban Petition Asks Student Vote
By Charles Skidmore, '41
The "No-Smoking" bill will be put up to popular vote by the men of the University within the next 30 days, it was indicated this afternoon, when it was reported that the 10 per cent of the qualified male voters necessary to make the petition legal would be secured before nightfall.
Andy Hibbard, formerly treasurer of the Pachacamac party, who resigned over a month ago, is the author of the petition and with a number of friends was getting signers for the paper today. Hibbard stated that the idea was solely his own and did not ask the support of his party, although he said he had consulted at least two people, one of whom was a college professor, before starting the move. He asserted that he really favored the present restrictions but wanted to see the issue put to popular test.
According to the Constitution of the Men's Student Council, if the paper gets the necessary signers, an election must be called within 30 days.
Concerning the possibility of an
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Grades Available From Registrar
The registrar's office will be open the remainder of the week for semester grades.
Next Jayhawker Issued Feb.29
The stages of final week with all its fears, laughs, and tears will be shown in successive stages by pictures. An article on University education by Harry Hill will show how to avoid the terrors of final week.
The new Jayhawker will be issued Feb. 29 from the W.S.G.A. Book exchange in the Union building. This number will feature the honorary organizations of the University.
Religion will also receive its bid in the Jayhawker. A feature article about religion exclusively on the Hill will be given prominent place.
Allen Crafton, professor of speech and dramatic art, has written a second story of the daring Quantrell's raid on Lawrence. Drawings illustrating the story will also be included.
Semester grades have been available in alphabetic order for the past three days at the registrar's office. Those students who have failed to obtain their grades during those days may call for them at the registrar's office anytime from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow or Saturday.
Other features include a description of the School of Fine Arts and pictures of some of the professors in the School.
Mrs. Palmer Worries Over Husband's Degree
Reclining in "her boudoir," which is bunk number 13 in the Douglas county jail, Mrs. Wilma Palmer, who was arrested for liquor possession in the absence of her husband, Bob Palmer, gr., was more concerned last night about her husband's future in the University than about her own conviction.
Mrs. Palmer was convicted of the liquor charge yesterday and
Mrs. Palmer was convicted or sentenced to 30 days and a $100 fine. A plea to Judge Hugh Means for parole was denied late yesterday.
Though similar charges against her husband were dropped for lack of evidence, University officials have as yet refused to re-instate Palmer after his arrest kept him out of classes for several days.
Deploring the University action,
Mrs. Palmer last night said that "a
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student should be judged on the merits of his own work, not on the misdemeanors of which the state may convict his wife, and not on the accompanying, unjust notoriety. The 'rap' is my own business. To get a master's degree is my husband."
She seemed unconcerned about the "rap" she is taking and declared that the matter of real importance was that her husband have a master's de-
Was 'Woozy After Fifteen Hour Grilling, Says Phi Delt
By Roscoe Born, c'41
★EXCLUSIVE★
Secluded in a near-Lawrence auto camp, John Claflin, c'40, who yesterday admitted setting the series of Phi Delt fires, today not only repudiated the confession but said everything about the question-answer document he signed was "very vague."
Claflin pointed out that he had been questioned for 15 hours before the confession was made. When questioned today about particulars in his confession, he had to look at a newspaper copy of the document to "know just what I did say here."
"I Was Quite Woozy"
"I was in the room from about 2:30 in the afternoon (Tuesday) until about 5 in the morning (Wednesday), the youth said. "I was not allowed to make any phone calls or get any legal advice. I couldn't even call my mother. I never left the room at any time except for dinner. As you can imagine I was quite wozy and had lost any presence of mind by 5 o'clock in the morning."
Claflin was dressing as he spoke, and said he just got out of bed. "I was pretty sleepy after that night," he said. "I came here (to the auto camp) at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon and went right to bed. I slept 'til about 8 last night and got up for about two hours. At 10:30 last night I went back to bed and just now got up." The 11:20 University whistle blew just as he finished speaking.
"Many Things Behind"
An indication that the confession did not end the matter was given by Claflin. "There are many more things behind the confession that I don't want to relate at this time," he said.
Claflin said that the subpoena which took him to the all-night questioning in Eldridge hotel came as a complete surprise. He was all set to leave for the basketball game at Manhattan, he said, when Robert Gray, deputy state fire marsh all, came to see him.
"I nev r once conihered that I would do if I should ever be singled out," he said. "Tha this would happen to me never oc- (Continued on page three)
Opera Ballet Dances Here Monday Night
Something entirely different in the way of concert course programs will be presented in Hoch auditorium Monday evening when the San Francisco Opera Ballet makes its first appearance in Lawrence.
Outstanding among the troupe of aesthetic dancers who will appear are William Christensen, young Danish-American artist, who, besides arranging ballets, also acts as artistic director, and Janet Reed, chief ballerina of the group.
The deadline on freshman applications for membership on the student committee in charge of the Kansas Relays, will be next Monday. E.R. Elbel, associate professor of physical education, stated today.
This attraction replaces the concert by Walter Gieseking, German pianist, which was originally planned for this time, but was cancelled because the British blockade prevented the musician from leaving his homeland. Season ticket holders may present their tickets to the Gieseking concert for admittance to the ballet program.
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Two elaborate ballets will be given on the same program. The first, "Coppelia," is a young people's ballet portraying the serious problem of choosing mates. The second, "In Vienna," depicts a series of light incidents in a Viennese day of the early 70's.
Will Close Relays Posts Monday
Several applications have already been received at the intramural office and none will be accepted after Monday. The applicant must state his qualifications in a written letter and later he will be interviewed by Elbel and Burr Sifers, student manager of the relays. The six freshmen chosen will work with four sophomores, two juniors, and the senior manager. The sophomore and junior committeemen, named last week, were selected from last yar's committee.
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