Daily Hansan
58th Year, No.21
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
Friday, Oct. 14, 1960
Young Demos Back Docking
Gov. George Docking conferred with officers of Young Democrats clubs of 13 Kansas universities and colleges yesterday in his office at Topeka. They unanimously declared their support of his higher education policies.
The governor, in cooperation with the Collegiate Democratic Council, arranged the meeting to explain his position on higher education in Kansas.
A DECLARATION of endorsement, signed by the presidents of the organizations, was read to the Governor by Paul Pendergast of Washburn University, state chairman of the Council.
"Maybe this group can be the instrument that will clear up these charges about education," Pendergast said.
Addressed to Gov. Docking, it said
"WE THE UNDERSIGNED, students at the colleges and universities of the State of Kansas, both tax-supported and non-tax-supported, make the following affirmations:
"I. We heartily praise the progress of tax-supported higher education in Kansas under your administration. The continued growth of the physical plants of our state institutions of learning along with an increase of over 30 per cent in the salaries of college teachers attest to this progress.
2. We wholeheartedly endorse your sane, sound and sensible approach to the financing of higher education in this state. Your insistence upon a dollar's worth of value for every tax dollar spent is indeed commendable.
3. With vigor, we condemn the political opportunists and professional trouble-makers who seek personal gain by distortion and false charges concerning your administration and tax-supported education.
"4. Lastly, we pledge our unqualified support to you in the present political campaign. We are convinced that your progressive and economical administration must be retained."
THE GOVERNOR smiled broadly from the big chair behind his desk when Pendergast finished and said he was highly pleased with the statement. He then commended the Young Democrats for their activity and growth.
Pamphlets titled "Governor Docking and Tax-Supported Education" were then passed out. They contained the text of his Johnson County address on Sept. 29, 1960, in which he
elaborated on his views of education in Kansas.
In the back of the pamphlet was a section entitled "Professor's Salaries."
JOHN ANDERSON, attorney general and candidate for governor, has accused Gov. Docking of misrepresenting these figures to the public since, Anderson said, almost all increases were passed by the legislature without Gov. Docking's recommendations.
The informal meeting then turned to a discussion of the Governor's educational program. Members were urged to ask questions if they wished.
wished. Gov. Docking answered them at length, defining what he means by the term "education," referring to the pamphlet for specific answers, and commenting on what one member called "the stereotyped idea that you (Gov. Docking) are opposed to education."
DURING THE course of the meeting, the Governor indicated that the emphasis in education was wrong. He cited several instances where teachers at KU were only able to devote a small part of their time to classroom work due to administrative duties.
The Governor felt emphasis was being placed on the researcher and administrator to the exclusion of the common classroom teacher.
Talking easily and occasionally drawing on his cigarette, he said that the most important purpose of higher education is "to train the next generation so that they do better than ours."
HE SAID education involves both instilling a moral responsibility and teaching technical skills to fit in the community.
"And what I mean by moral responsibility is not believing the end justifies the means," he said. "Look at the trouble it has led us to in international affairs—so much gobbledegook and propagandizing . . . the neutral countries don't know whom to believe."
Editor's note: See related editorial, page 2.
IF THE CHAIR FITS—Phillip Brooks, Independence, Mo., junior and president of the KU Young Democrats tried the governor's chair yesterday. Standing, left to right are Jim Lawing, Okmulgee, Okla., graduate student; Michael
Brodhead, Marion graduate student; Governor George Docking; Dorothy Hartbauer, St. Louis, Mo., junior; Bernard Bray, Lawrence graduate student, and Richard Wood, Kansas City, Mo., junior.
U.N. Is Forum Topic
The Current Events Forum will discuss U.N.: Red China and Neutrals at 4 p.m. today in the Music and Browsing Room of the Kansas Union.
Cold-Inflicted Thief Takes Kleenex, $24
A drippy-nosed thief took Kleenex and $24 from the purse of Marilyn Stokstad, assistant professor of art history.
Prof. Stokstad left her purse and a stack of books unattended between 10 and 11 a.m. on her desk in the office of the department of art history in Spooner Museum, and discovered the theft later Wednesday afternoon.
Weather
United Press International says tomorrow will be a "bright sunny day for football crowds."
The lows tonight are expected to be in the 30s and the highs tomorrow will be in the 70s.
Ferguson Predicts GOP Victory
William M. Ferguson, Republican candidate for Attorney General, forecast a Republican victory in Kansas last night at the Young Republicans meeting in the Kansas Union.
"Nixon will carry 60 per cent of the state vote and Sen. Andrew F. Schoeppel will be only slightly behind him," he said.
Mr. Ferguson said the governor's race is the big one.
Anderson Has Slight Edge
"It is still pretty close but John Anderson (the Republican gubernatorial candidate) has a slight edge and I feel he is gaining," he said. Mr. Ferguson said the Republican gain is a result of Republicans talking about being Republicans."
He referred to the split in the Republican Party which began in 1949, and continued through the Fred Hall administration. Mr. Ferguson, who said the party is now united, said there have been Hall Republicans, Shaw Republicans and Eisenhower Republicans in the State of Kansas recently.
Turning to the current campaign issue, Mr. Ferguson linked the death of the Clutter family in Garden City to the parole practices in the state. He said Gov. Docking delegates all the probation, paroles and commutations to one man. He was referring to Dale Spiegel, Ferguson's Democratic opponent and the present pardon attorney for the governor.
Mr. Ferguson quoted Gov. Docking as saying, "Whatever he (Spiegel) brings me I sign."
Experienced Judges
He also accused the highway department and Democratic campaigners of taking down Republican signs from utility poles on highways and putting up ones for Democratic candidates. Mr. Ferguson said the utility poles on state highways
He compared the Republican administration where judges on the parole board were experienced.
"Gov. Docking goes way out in left field to make appointments," he said. "There are now two Prohibitionists serving on the board."
are covered with Docking, Theis and Spiegel signs.
He said the pole cards do change votes and show activity on the part of the candidates.
Mr. Ferguson said the people of Kansas are beginning to wake up and a Republican tide is running because people are smelling a victory in the air.
"The Democrats are evidently sold on them because they have engaged the highway department to put them up." he charged.
Anderson Here Saturday
Charles McIlwaine, Young Republican president, said gubernatorial candidate John Anderson will be in Lawrence Saturday.
Following the KU - Oklahoma football game a reception for Anderson will be held in the south lounge of the Kansas Union.
Bob Ellsworth, candidate for Congressman from the second district, will speak to the Young Republicans at 7:30 p.m. next Thursday in the Jayhawk Room of the Kansas Union.
Political Debate Alters Few Ideas
The third Kennedy-Nixon debate drew a mixed reaction from some students and faculty members, but none of the persons interviewed so much as hinted that the debate had swayed his opinion of the candidates.
Some seemed to think that the debates are not solving any major campaign issues and are, instead, only determining the speaking ability of the two presidential hopefuls.
Here are the reactions of the people interviewed:
MARY LOU BEISECKER. Colby senior—"I really don't think the debates have accomplished much other than to show both men are able to think quickly in answering direct and pointed questions. No major controversies have been resolved, and the people haven't been able to make clear differentiations between the two candidate's stands."
ROY D. LAIRD, assistant professor of political science—"I feel that Kennedy has gained the edge on the international sphere, but perhaps Nixon has the edge on the national side. The debates have been most valuable in pointing the differences in the approaches of the two parties, particularly in attitudes toward the role of government."
SAM SHERMIS, Fresno, Calif. graduate student—"This debate more clearly than the first two showed up Nixon as a demagogue. He spoke in wishy-washy platitudes that said little or nothing. Kennedy has the edge over Nixon in speaking ability."
JO ANN NEGLEY, Durham graduate student—"Kennedy had more confidence in what he said and that Nixon tried to twist Kennedy's words.
RONALD HAERTEL, Hamburg Germany, president of International Relations club, and assistant instructor in English—"By only meeting the people on TV I have a feeling that the propaganda devices used by Nixon are a little on the cheap side. He spoke rather wishy-washy in reference to communism and the arms race. His references to children were sloppy."
DOROTHY HARTBAUER. Overland, Mo., junior—"I thought Kennedy exhibited the same intellectual superiority and firm grasp of the important issues he has demonstrated over his opponent in all the debates in the campaign so far."
DENNIS LEE BROWN, South Haven senior—"I watched the debates in the Kansas Union. The human interest sidelines were fascinating. Many people used the term wishy-washy in referring to Nixon. Personally I prefer Kennedy, but I'm not too impressed by either candidate. I don't feel the voters have a great choice. However, both can speak well as opposed to some of our former presidents."
EARL J. REEVES, assistant instructor of political science—"Nixon modified his stand on the Quemoy and Matsu situation considerably from an earlier stand. I think the debate itself was a draw."
RONALD AVERYT. assistant instructor of political science—"They are attempting to exaggerate Queoy and Matsu. I seriously doubt that any administration would commit the U.S. to defend two islands immediately off the coast of Red China. I'm also glad to see an appeal made to mothers of babies and young children."
Explosion Kills 3 at Leavenworth Prison
LEAVENWORTH — (UPI) — The bodies of three men, two inmates and a civilian supervisor, were pulled from the rubble of an explosion-shattered outbuilding at the federal prison here today.