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University Daily Kansan Monday. Jan. 16, 1961
For Better or Worse
For want of a better simile, the sit-in is like a land mine.
For those who use it, it is most effective. For those it is used against, its power is overwhelming to say the least.
By careless handling, however, the user can suffer a worse fate than would befall the enemy.
THE SIT-IN STAGED BY KU STUDENTS at Louise's Bar last Thursday night resulted in damage to both sides and created as many problems as it solved. The one question that those concerned had hoped would be answered went unresolved: "Does the Kansas anti-discrimination law pertain to taverns and bars?"
There was one big question answered though — "What would happen if a sit-in were to occur in Lawrence?"
Fortunately, the demonstration was an orderly one unmarked by violence. After service was firmly but quietly requested, and denied in the same fashion, the police arrived. They were patient, almost pedantic, in explaining why the group could not stay, and the consequences of remaining against the owner's wishes. The rights of every person were scrupulously protected. There was not a hint of violence or even disorder. The students were taken to the police station and detained there.
It was immediately made clear that the students could not be held by the city for they had violated no city regulation. The spokesmen were told they could leave anytime but were asked to stay to give their explanation. They did.
The meeting ended at 11:30 and the students left.
At the end of the evening's activities it was apparent that progress had been made in the matter of discrimination in Lawrence. But with the forward movement, the mines in the path towards integration were spotted which well could seriously damage the progress made thus far.
IN THE BATTLE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS currently being waged in every part of the country, the "sit-in" tactic is the most powerful weapon for direct action yet to be used. In some cases it has failed. In others it has crumbled the walls of segregation. The honor of the method is unquestionable; by quietly but determinedly requesting rights where there were none before, the Negro has shown those opposed to integration that it isn't quite as harmful or hard to take as imagined.
But what of the "rights" of the merchants marked for sit-ins? Is there a point when the procedure steps over the line of injustice for the minority and trods upon the owner's rights? He has always had the privilege of operating his establishment as he see fit, within the limits of the law.
Certainly it is a terrible thing when a person with black skin cannot purchase what he needs or wants merely because his skin is not the same as the merchant's or as that of the merchant's customers.
However, we are not speaking of the rights of the Negro alone but of the natural rights of man. And this is where the sit-in could become the liability of the battle rather than an asset. For when it is used, principles are at odds. And principles are the trigger of emotion.
HAD NOT ALL ACTED AND REACTED with the presence of mind exhibited Thursday night we might now be writing of the tragedy rather than the success of the demonstration. Integration in Lawrence could have been set back to the point where it started, and the great progress that has been made, lost. A lot was at stake.
The sit-in has achieved great gains. But only when thoughtfully and deliberately planned does it succeed and make gains. The odds of its failure and subsequent tragic consequences are too great when it is spontaneous. To tread cautiously and carefully through the mine-laden battlefield of integration will lower the odds on the possibility of a fatal trip. — Frank Morgan
... Letters ...
Editor:
ASC Member Asks for New Resolution
One member of the Civil Rights Council is quoted in the UDK on Jan. 12 as saying the ASC is not likely to circulate a petition because of the Council's recent tabling of the civil rights resolution. This is probably true, but some members of the Council are in favor of a referendum to give students a chance to voice their opinion. This referendum can be called by the ASC and I believe it should be. But, the importance of careful preparation before the referendum cannot be exaggerated.
I VOICED MY DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THE RESOLUTION was not considered in the Jan. 10 ASC meeting because I believe it should have been at least discussed. But, the resolution has several faults that should be corrected before a referendum is taken on the subject with which it deals. In its present form, it is too long, too complicated with the two amendments, and the wording has not been carefully enough considered and prepared. I feel the resolution is mostly the work of one man and does not reflect a cross-section of campus opinion.
Therefore, I propose to ask several campus leaders to join me in considering civil rights and formulating a resolution to present to the student body for referendum.
Fred Morrison, our Rhodes scholar; Chuck Menghini, of the NSA committee; John Erickson, ASC member from the fraternity district, and Tom Kurt, who formulated the original resolution, are those I have invited. I have asked Carol McMillen, our NSA coordinator, to set the subsidiary NSA committee, established last October for just such purposes, to the task of studying the ramifications of civil rights action by the students, the attitude of the University administration and the state administration, and any other factors they may consider pertinent. I have asked them to submit a report and recommendation to our committee on civil rights after this consideration. Further, members of the CRC and leaders of the sit-in demonstration will be asked to appear and present their viewpoints.
THUS, I THINK YOU CAN SEE THAT AFTER THESE DIFFERENT viewpoints are considered a resolution can be arrived at that will best express the majority will on civil rights; at least of those interested in the subject at all. We will try to formulate a short, direct, but complete resolution that will have the best chance of passage in the Council and careful consideration by the student body. It is hoped that the resolution can be passed and thus, a firm base established from which student action can progress in this time of dire need for action of some reasonable kind. The time has come when the students of the University of Kansas must make a statement of principle and join the crusade for equality of men in the United States. Alan Reed
Leavenworth junior
Our reason for approving the amendment was simple. The resolution contains some fine phrases in which everyone professes to believe; morally, at least. We have learned by a century of experience that words are not enough to grant the rights of the Constitution to all citizens. With this view in mind, a provision was included in the resolution which would change it from a statement of moral views to a statement of action. This action is to be effective through the use of boycots and selective buying at public establishments, which are practicing discrimination, by all interested students. And we encourage publication of names of merchants who discriminate against non-white students attending the University of Kansas.
NSA Motives
Mr. Kurt is not in favor of Amendment II because he doesn't believe it expresses the opinion of the majority of the students, and thus does not believe selective buying techniques and boycotts will work.
Due to the interest aroused by Amendment II of the Racial Justice Resolution, I deem it necessary to explain my motives and the motives of the NSA Committee members who voted for it. We must remember, at the same time, that some members of the committee voted against the amendment.
Editor:
Tom, you certainly have the right to be skeptical. To you and other skeptics I say the following:
You may be right, but you may be wrong. If you are wrong we shall have won a small battle in the fight against prejudice. And on this battlefield, no victory is of little significance. Pass the Racial Justice Resolution and Amendment II. Discover how effective students can be when they decide to act in a rational and mature manner.
Charles Menghini
Pittsburg Junior
Daily Hansan
University of Kansas student newspaper
Founded 1889, became biweekly 1904, triweekly 1908, daily Jan. 16, 1912.
Telephone Viking 3-2700
Extension 711, news room
Fax 855-345-1234
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$3 a semester or $5 a year. Published in Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon
during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays, University
holidays and examination periods. Entered as second-class matter Sept.
17, 1910, at Lawrence, Kan., post office under act of March 3, 1879.
NEWS DEPARTMENT
Managing Editor
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
John Peterson and Bill Blundell ... Co-Editorial Editors
...The cause or disturbing element that is so important, according to the student newspaper (Daily Kansan) that appears to be supporting the campaign, is discrimination on the part of two Lawrence Tavern owners who refused to sell beer to Negro students.
How terrible it must be for anyone to be denied the right to buy beer in two places. There must be at least a hundred places in Lawrence where anyone can buy a lot of the stuff if he wants it. It is truly a great crusade in which the student newspaper is engaged. If the boys and girls, immature as they are in their thinking, succeed in breaking the barrier that has been set up against these thirsty beer drinkers. I am sure those crusading young journalists will be called to some paper of worldwide influence to further demonstrate their ability. The young man who is writing the articles has a by-line. In other words he wants credit for his work and I am glad to give him all the recognition due for the faithful discharge of his assignment. His name is Byron D. Klapper. The student directory says that he is a sophomore in the College and his home address is given as 735 Mace Avenue, Bronx, N. Y.
Mr. Abels and Integration
I have been in the Bronx in New York which makes it much easier to understand why this youngster reacts as he does to this momentum and world shaking problem of colored students being denied the right to buy beer in two places even tho it is available to them by the can or ton in dozens of others. . . .
All of this would not be worthy of mention except for this fact which can be substantiated by checking the files of the Kansan for the present school year. There have been numerous stories and communications that undoubtedly have been written to stir up bitterness and hatred. I am sure that the majority of the boys and girls on the Kansan staff are not aware of the facts about what is happening to them. I have been surprised and not a little disturbed to see these stories and communications. They indicate that there must be a woeful lack of information on the part of the students. They fail to recognize the fact that they are being used in what appears to be a highly organized and carefully directed scheme to stir up trouble in the university and in our community.
The community is being hurt and the University is certainly being placed in a most embarrassing position at this time. . .
The series of articles written by an out of state student with the Bronx, N. Y., background simply cannot reflect the ideals and aspirations of the thousands of Kansas boys and girls who are mature in their thinking and are interested in getting an education. In a recent broadcast I gave facts about one of the Civil Rights organizations at the University attempting to integrate the fraternities. They gave up on that effort. It is much too close to the everyday life of the students. The Civil Rights agitators and peddlers of hate and violence haven't accomplished any thing worthy of
note and their objective has dwindled from integration of the fraternities and sororites down to gaining admittance to two places where beer is sold. It isn't much for the leadership to brag about.
I am sure that a Sophomore from the Bronx in New York knows all the facts about "the segregation situation in this community." I only hope we can reward him someday by decorating the campus with bronze statue of him holding a beer bottle in one hand and a copy of the Daily Kansan in the other.
Now, let's look at the entire situation for just a moment. Throughout the more than 30 years we have been in the business section of Lawrence there has always been the best of cooperation between all the people of the community. Lawrence has been fortunate in having some outstanding colored people who helped work out the problems as they came along. I am proud of the fact that many of them have been my friends. . .
What I am trying to say is there are opportunities, plenty of them, for everyone who is qualified and makes the successful effort to find his place in this great world. Those opportunities are of more value than the drinking of beer in a tavern. Opportunities are not made available by agitators who preach nate and talk about the use of force and the violation of law. The boys from the Bronx and the professors who are encouraging him in his hate campaign, should be told some of the facts of life by school authorities. Through the many years of personal observation I have seen a great deal of change in our community. The Negroes have won their way into better jobs and have done it by being ready and prepared for the opportunities when they came along. That is the only way anyone, regardless of who he is, gets ahead in this land of freedom in which we live. I have many friends in University circles in various jobs. I resent having them forced to defend themselves against the type of programs that are being carried on under the somewhat meaningless name of Civil Rights. It is unfair to the school to have publicity that gives the wrong impression given prominence in the official school paper. It is injurious to the school, it hurts the community and it simply cannot do any good whatsoever among the students. Freedom of speech and the press does not carry with it a license—to tear down or hinder the progress of the nation that makes it possible.
In a great University where is available all of the marvelous accomplishments of man as he struggled to the present level of culture and where the people expect effort on the part of all who teach to hold high the finest and truest standards and ideals we find a sophomore from the Bronx, N. Y. filling the student paper with abuse and bitterness because a few negro students are denied beer in two taverns. Obviously he has the approval and help of one or more persons in some places of authority. Let's keep our school worthy of the sacrifices necessary to support it.
(Excerpted from the Lawrence Outlook, Jan. 12, 1961. Mr. Ed Abels, the author, is the well-known editor and publisher of this Douglas County weekly newspaper and has a weekly broadcast of editorial material on Sunday afternoons over the Lawrence radio Station KLWN.)