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University Daily Kansan
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Controversial Organization Offers Political Information
By Thomas Turner
(Editor's note: This is the second in a series of articles concerning the political education of the American people. This article deals with COPE, sponsored by the AFL-CIO. Portions of the material is drawn from pamphlets distributed by the union.)
John Jones, of Lawrence, has found a job in a local union shop and has joined the AFL-CIO, America's largest labor union.
Jones is then contacted by COPE, the union-sponsored Committee on Political Education. He is asked to join. Of his $1 dues, 50 cents will remain with the local organization and 50 cents will go to the national headquarters. Jones now may attend meetings to hear both sides of election issues that involve laborers.
COPE IS A HIGHLY controversial organization, accused of being pro-Democrat. Charges of Communist infiltration have even been hurled.
During discussion of labor reforms in the last session of Congress, Senator Barry Goldwater (R-Ariz) accused COPE of "black-listing" candidates for "supporting labor reform that would cut down union power."
It is explained to Jones that, as the national charter states:
"We reaffirm organized labor's traditional policy of avoiding entangling with any other group..."
IN OTHER WORDS, COPE is not a political party but a special interest group that presents speakers and issues as a service to the local union members.
COPE does not directly endorse candidates. O. K. Hardy, past president of the Lawrence COPE group, puts it this way:
"We don't like to put an endorsement on a candidate. There is still something personal in a man's vote. Trying to tell a man how to vote would be stepping too far."
This is an election year, and Jones attends a meeting for all COPE members to be held at the Lawrence Police station. A member of each party's state committees has been invited to speak at the meeting.
COPE HAS GATHERED information on a number of pending issues. COPE national headquarters has supplied most of the information. The rest of it has been supplied through local COPE study of Congressional hearings.
Some of the issues include: New minimum wage legislation, boosting it to $1.25 an hour; unemployment compensation and legislation concerning health insurance for the aged.
"Why wasn't the Forand Bill satisfactory?" a man in the back of the room asks.
(The Forand Bill called for an increase in social security rates to supply 15 million aged people with surgical benefits, plus up to 120 days combined hospitalization and nursing care.he)
"THE FORAND BILL would have cost about 2 billion dollars a year," replies the Republican representative. "A plan of this kind would be paternalistic and discriminatory against younger people, and against those aged who are not covered by social security."
The Democrat favors the ballot He answers that young people would benefit in the long run. Health insurance for the aged must encompass all the provisions of the Forand Bill, he states, because it helps those who "need it most and can
SUA to Choose Chairmen For Activities Next Week
The Student Union Activities organization will hold interviews in the Kansas Union next week to choose chairmen of several activities. Some of the applications are due in the SUA office by 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The following interviews will be held:
Interview for SUA Carnival chairman and for Union Opening chairman Thursday, 6:30-9 p.m. in room 305B.
Interview for chairman of the Chancellor's Reception and for the Jayhawk Nibble — Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. in room 306C.
Interview for Activities Carnival Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. in the Browsing Room.
Interview for chairman of Traditions Dance — Thursday, 7:30 in the Oread Room.
Applications may be picked up in the SUA office in the Kansas Union. Applications for chairman of the
Chancellor's Reception and for the Jawhawk Nibble (these events are held during the orientation week in September) must be returned to the SUA office by 5 p.m. Tuesday. All other applications must be in by noon Wednesday.
Applications are due Wednesday for positions of chairman of the men's and women's bowling and billiards committees.
Application forms may be picked up at the Jaybowl office in the basement of the Kansas Union.
CAIRO — (UPI) — Police said Farrag Abdel Hamid decapitated Abdallah Ayyoub because his "friend" climbed the date tree in Hamid's backyard and ate some dates. Hamid was waiting for him with a razor when he came down.
He Dies for Dates
The discussion continues throughout the evening taking the measures one at a time. At the close of the meeting Jones is given printed copies of the stands taken on each measure by each party. It is up to him to decide.
afford it least."
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"COPE will assist any other group, party or otherwise, who supports platforms benefitting labor," says Mr. Hardy.
During the 1958 election, Kansas Democrats opposed the pending "right-to-work" amendment to the constitution. COPE offered assistance through open discussions and printed material.
THE "RIGHT - TO - WORK"
amendment proposed the "open shop" or "no-union-by-choice" system of labor-management. The amendment was carried in Kansas, the only state of the five considering the measure that year that passed it.
"However," Mr. Hardy empha-
"However," Mr. Hardy emphasizes, "COPE is dominated by neither political party.
"In fact," he continues, "I believe there are more Republicans than Democrats in organized labor in Lawrence.
COPE had its national birth in 1955 as the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations merged. The organizations of the CIO's Political Action Committee and the AFL's Labor League for Political education were pooled to form COPE.
Speech Potpourri Won by Freshman
Linda Trovillo, Wichita freshman, placed a small cardboard box on the speaker's rostrum. The inside was lined with satin—it was a miniature coffin.
Inside was the brown, perfectly preserved body of a baby. A baby whose age is estimated to be 100.
Miss Trovillo, one of the three winners of Wednesday's Speech I potpourri, used the baby as visual aid in her speech "The Mystery of Baby X." The mummified baby is a Trovillo family heirloom, found by her uncle as a small boy.
In the midst of another potpourri speech, the entire audience stood—their hands stretched before them, their eyes closed.
Vern Grimsley, Garden City freshman was using his audience to demonstrate the power of suggestion in his speech entitled "X Hypnotism." Grimsley was another potpourri winner.
The somberness of a Moslem, wending his way to the temple, was verbally created by Bruce Johnson, Salina senior, a third winner of the potpourri.
Five other Speech I speakers participated in the informal contest. Trophies were presented to the three winners.
Topics ranged from cosmetics, to cyclones, to Miss Trovillo's mum- mified baby.
Come on out to the Blue Hills. You'll have a riot of a good time.
Try our Barbecue Beef. Relax in the Blue Room.
Open Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m. — 12 p.m.
BLUE HILLS Drive-In
Open
Sun. — Thurs.
11 a.m. — 11 p.m.
Friday, May 6, 1960
Somaliland Will Become Independent of Britain on July 1
LONDON, May 6 — (UPI) — British Somali land will become independent July 1, the same day the necklobing Italian trust territory plans to form a new state.
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