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EDITORIAL
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1940.
The Kansan Comments -- EDITORIALS ★ LETTERS ★ PATTER
The Liberal Lincoln Set the Trend
That democracy in the United States faces a crisis not paralleled since the Civil War brings up the query of how Abraham Lincoln's political philosophy would fit into the modern, streamlined system. Lincoln's ideology has been chosen from among others because he stands out as the greatest figure produced by that critical period in the growth of our government. Also, the present shakeup in American living has failed to give rise to an equal. Thus, historians have turned to Lincoln. From a survey of the war president's theory of rule, these reflectors have concluded that he would approve the outstanding trends toward centralization and nationalism.
Lincoln in the first place would condone the the synthesis of leadership which began under Theodore Roosevelt in 1901 and reached culmination in the depression. The emancipator, throughout his presidency, declared that democracy's quality should allow a convergence of all forces in order to meet turnovers. This convergence, he felt, could later relax when the crisis had passed. Too, he would be pleased with the change from the disorganized production and exchange of wealth to a directed economic ebb and flow. The Emancipator dreamed of rebuilding the nation in post-war days through government direction.
Again, the Lincoln theory sympathizes with the type of nationalism which has crept over the country in the past months. When he predicted that no nation divided against itself could stand, he intimated that provincial democracy must be cooperative through the centralization of expert leadership. Lincoln, however, would also understand the nearly paradoxical presence of the American Left in this nationalism. He could realize that we always have had this aspect in our political life and always shall. During the Revolutionary days, the committee of Correspondents held the left wing. Later, came the Jeffersonian and the Jacksonian liberals, to be followed during the Civil War period by the Abolitionists and the Knights of Labor. Then through the later decades came Mugwumps, Populists, Muckrakers, the Wilsonians, Marxists, and New Dealers, a procession that has left its stamp on American legislation. These, too, Lincoln would look upon tolerantly as a necessary part of democracy.
Although no sectionalist, the Civil War statesman could easily recognize the special-interest groups and still do "what is best for all the people in the whole nation." To this end, the American government, for the most part, has attempted to manipulate its rule. Thus, Hoover set up the R.F.C. to back up the credit
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A New York detective agency that specializes in tracing missing persons has been employed by more than 70,000 wives to find their husbands, but by only 5 husbands to find their wives.
One night in New York friends of Mark Twain, remembering that it was the author's birthday, (not the one he celebrated recently) decided to send him a letter of congratulations. No one knew where he was, so they addressed it: "Mark Twain, God knows where." Weeks later they received a note from Italy, consisting of two words: "He did."
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system of the country. In the next decade Roosevelt followed with the N.R.A., the New Deal.
Though Lincoln might be disappointed in a number of experiments which have failed, disturbed by apparent glut of economic problems, he still would see a great cause for satisfaction in this liberal aggresiveness. Could Lincoln return to the American scene, he would know that his faith in democracy has been justified. Yes, Abe Lincoln would be pleased.
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS OFFICIAL BULLETIN
Vol.37 Thursday,Feb.15,1940 No.91
FIRESIDE FORUM: There will be a meeting at 7 o'clock Sunday evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Sees, Eldridge Hotel. Transportation from the church to the hotel will be provided for those who wish it. All interested students are invited—Lorraine Polson, publicity chairman.
MUSIC ROOM: The Music room will be open this evening from 7:30 to 9:30 and again tomorrow from 3:30 to 5:30 and from 7:30 to 9:30. A special preview concert of numbers from the program of the Kansas City Philharmonic Orchestra will be played this evening from 8:30 to 9:30—Ernie Klema, chairman .
CHRISTIAN CHURCH ANNUAL DINNER: The young people of the First Christian Church will hold their annual dinner tomorrow at 6:30 at the church. Wm. T. Smith, Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court, will be the speaker. Tickets, which are 25 cents each, may be obtained from Clayton Phillipi or at Myers Hall.—Leroy Covey, forum president.
EMPLOYMENT FOR WOMEN STUDENTS: Will those who wish to be called about opportunities for employment during the semester please file schedules within the next week. There are openings available to women students who wish maintenance jobs; i.e. work for room and board, or work for meals—Marie Miller. Women's Employment Bureau, 220 Frank Strong hall.
NEWMAN CLUB: The Newman Club will receive Communion in a body at the 7:30 Mass Sunday, February 25. All Catholic students are invited. Reservations for the monthly breakfast, to be held in the parish hall after Mass, may be made after either Mass next Sunday or by calling 1027 before Saturday. Students of other denominations are welcome.-Joseph A. Zishka, vice president.
PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION: The make up psychological examination will be given Saturday morning, February 24, at 9 o'clock in room 115 Fraser. This will be the last opportunity to take the examination this year.-A. H. Turney.
NOITCE 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.
REINTERPRETATION OF RELIGION: COMMISSION: The Reinterpretation of Religion Commission of the Y.M. and W.Y. will meet Friday at 4:30 at Henley House. Eda Paddock and John Moore will lead the group in a discussion of "Values"—Corrine Martin, Gordon Brigham, co-chairmen.
SIGMA XI. Professor G. B. Price, of the Mathematics department, will speak on "Some Famous Problems of Modern Mathematics," at the meeting this evening at 7:30 in Blake hall.-W. H. Schoewe.
Y. W.C.A. MEMBERSHIP ASSEMBLY: There will be an assembly at 4:30 on Tuesday, Feb. 20, in the Kansas room of the Union building. A nominating committee will be elected, and Mrs. Le Seur will talk.—Marjorie Cook, membership chairman.
YOUNG REPUBLICAN CLUB: There will be an important meeting at 7:30 this evening in the men's lounge of the Union building—Bill Douce, president.
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Published at Lawrence, Kansas, daily during the school year except Monday and Saturday. Entered as second class on May 24, 1879, at the post office at Lawrence, Kansas, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
RHADAMANTHI: Rhadamanthi, poetry society, will meet at 7:30 this evening in the Kansas room of the Bling. Ela Shilling will discuss poetry of Dorothy Parker. All are invited—Gordon Brigham, president.
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Official Student Paper of
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Lawrence, Kansas
ROCK CHALK TALK
By HARRY HILL
Today's fairy story.
The Kansas City "League of Admirers of Redheaded Women" does not exist. Neither, then does "1940's Most Fascinating Redhead," the honor it conferred on Betty Jane Boddington.
But Miss Boddington does exist. And she is red-haired. Most people, however, would have disagreed with the choice on grounds that 1940 isn't far enough along to have elevated any one pink-curled lass to a position of distinct superiority.
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Although the Kansan news story failed to give such information we presume the movie magnate who is dickering with the Johnson sisters also saw the pictures in Life.
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Police department.
When a last minute checkup disclosed that the regular facilities for broadcasting campus news flashes from the K.U. New Bureau were out of order, Prof. Ray Heady jumped in his car and sped to the KFKU studio to give his daily program. He arrived just in time to go on the air, left just at the conclusion of his three-minute broadcast. Upon reaching his automobile, he discovered that he had been ticketed for improper parking—in the five minutes he was gone.
The long arm of the law, it would seem, now also is the fast one.
--member that the editor-in-chief (the wolf) has to get his lovin', too, even if it's while he's writing editors.
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If you think the editorial page is not what it should be today, just remember that the editor-in-chief (the wolf) has to get his lovin', too, even if it's while he's writing editors.
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Despite the Kanans's version, it appears that there will be little or no friction between Dance Manager Fred Littioy and the Men's Student Council on the issue of "political" passes to the Junior Prom. The W. S.G.A., on the other hand, is raising more stink than a chemistry experiment. And F. Y. suggests that such a situation is paradoxical since men not women, usually lay cash on the line for tickets.
The answer appears to be either:
1. The women legislators already have dates:
2. They are afraid they can't get dates unless they have passes;
3. Leap year.
Dear Sir; Before he makes up his mind, we should suggest that President Roosevelt consult Hoyle for the odds against drawing for three of a kind. -F. Y.
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The American Youth Congress claims five million sympathizers. The estimate is one short. For we sympathize with them. But we go farther; we pity them.
A Harvard professor is going to lecture here on "Canyons and Valley Systems Under the Ocean." All British naval officers are respectfully invited to attend.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The editors are not responsible for opinions or facts given in the letters published in this column. Letters more than 300 words are subject to cutting, and all letters must be signed, although the name will be withheld if the writer desires.
YOU SAID IT
It makes my blood boil the way the members of the Men's Student Council can not be satisfied. It is now several months since, by their own vote, they invalidated their passes for use at Hill class parties. Now they want to make them good again, to use them for the Junior Prom.
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Don't they realize that their invalidation move in the first place was ostensibly, and intelligently, directed at the limitation of free admissions, so that the particular class treasury could be bolstered as much as possible?
I'm for Mr. Littooy all the way, and if he can't enforce the rule, perhaps a little strong arm stuff would help to show the Council members the way to thrift.
To the editor:
If they turn about face now, and use their passes at the Dorsey dance, they are defeating their own ends, and placing a possible loss on the junior class.
PAY YOUR OWN WAY
IPAY.
To the Editor:
TAKE IT WITH SALT To the Editor
The sudden midnight raids by Federal agents of J. Edgar Hoover upon
the homes of two physicians and ten citizens in Detroit on the astounding charge that they aided the Spanish Loyalists against fascism must startle the entire nation.
It is almost incredible—except that the brutal facts stare the country in the face—that the Roosevelt government should consider aid to Spanish democracy a matter for criminal indictment.
The nation had been given soothing-syrup reassurances by Frank Murphy and administration circles generally that there would be no repetition of the brutal madness of the Palmer raids of 1919.
To stifle every voice in America which dares to raise a protest against the present war—this is the real aim of the midnight raids in Detroit. To spread the atmosphere of Gestapo dread, to wipe out civil liberties and gag every American who refuses to be stamped into war hysteria—that is what looms behind Mr. Hoover's revival of the Palmer raids in Detroit.
The conscience of every truly democratic American must voice immediate protest to President Roosevelt. PROGRESSIVE