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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, November 13, 1968
College should be 91st's first action
There's an archaic apparatus in our political system that shows the rust of antiquity. It should be eliminated before the rust clogs the machine of democracy.
The electoral college-survivor of more attacks than its educational namesakes- should be one of the first items of business taken up by the 91st congress.
As dissent grows and crisis proliferates, the electoral college, once thought of as a democratic safeguard, begins more and more to assume the ugly mask of democratic spoiler.
To many people late in the day of November 5 and-into the morning of the 6th, the electoral college looked as if it would be a rendezvous for all the conviving and backroom bargaining that has stigmatized American politics. It can only be hoped now that the impressions gathered that night will not quickly dissipate.
right will not quietly disappoint.
As discontent flourishes, so too will third parties. Although an election has not been thrown into the House of Representatives since 1824, the coming of George Wallace's third party and the
hints by Sen. Eugene McCarthy that yet another party could appear, enhance the possibility of a future election being thrown into the House.
Supporters of the electoral college will argue that it worked again this year. That, however, is small comfort for future presidential elections.
Congress, which has had an amazing propensity for ignoring a potential crisis until the crisis is at hand, has been amply warned. Early in 1967, the Senate Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments heard the pleadings of a series of constitutional authorities. The pleas were ignored. History since that time has reinforced the pleas.
But even if apathy should suddenly be replaced by action, there are some dangers involved. The American Bar Association, for example, under the guise of a direct presidential election by the people, has devised a plan which could further narrow the nation's political processes.
While the ABA has recommended the direct election of the President by the people, it also has recommended a significant qualification.
The ABA's plan would require a candidate to
obtain at least 40 per cent of the popular vote to be elected. If 40 per cent of the vote were not received by any candidate, the proposal allows for a national run-off between the top two candidates.
While the direct election of the President by the people is a desirable goal, there should be no restrictions placed on a new constitutional admendament that would stunt the possible growth of third parties.
The statutes in most states are enough of an obstacle to a fledging third party. One of the most remarkable feats of the Wallace third party was simply that it was able to get on the ballot in 50 states.
Federal limitations designed to preserve the two-party system are not desirable nor, in fact, are they really needed.
What is needed is a direct system of election whereby the people can have the assurance that the candidate receiving the majority of the popular vote will also occupy the White House.
Richard Lundquist
Assistant Editorial Editor
Paperbacks
THE WALL, by Mary Roberts Rinehart (Dell, 60 cents) Though it looks superficially like one of those Gothic romances being mass-produced today it's really an effective and well-written mystery from the 1930s. The people in this one are quite believable and there's little of that nonsense marking so many recent mysteries in the Gothic genre.
Letters to the editor
A SHORT GUIDE TO CLAUSEWITZ ON WAR, edited by Roger Ashley Leonard (Capricorn, $1.65)—The classic commentary on how to conduct war. And not likely to go over too big with University students these days. But maybe it should be read by those very people, the editor having singled out those portions that give the essentials of Clausewitz thought and having analyzed the significance of the strategies advocated.
Condolences, Watkins, new radicalism
To the Editor:
These past few weeks have been very long ones for many students. For some it was over Wednesday morning when Humphrey conceded to Nixon; but for many of us Thursday night was even longer, as we waited to hear the condition of Bruce Mallin.
It seemed inevitable that the reporters would come to ask questions—but was it necessary for more than one reporter from one paper to cover the story, and so quickly? The ambulance had not even left Naismith before reporters descended and began questioning close friends of the victim, demonstrating marked insensitivity to the sentiments of the situation; and if this was not bad enough, the questioning did not end until close to midnight Thursday. Shouldn't the paper show any
respect to those people so closely involved?
I suppose that this would be irritating alone, however, it goes one step farther. It seems that neither the University Daily Kansan, the Lawrence Journal, nor the Kansas City Star was able to carry the story correctly. Your reporter wrote that "one witness to the fight said a number of people had watched the fight but no one stepped in to help the victim until it ended." For clarification, there was no one close enough to get to Bruce in time. No one just stood around and watched.
Your article implies that no one really cared to get involved; well, if this is true, then explain to me why so many Naismith residents stayed up all Thursday
'I don't care how many times I've safely stuck my head in his mouth! He can still bite it off if he takes a notion! '
Sincerely,
night waiting to hear about Bruce's condition?
Peggy Budwig Naismith Hall resident
To the Editor:
I am disturbed to read of the hospital problems of KU students, especially in the light of Dr. Schwegler's comments (UDK, Nov. 7). I am especially disturbed at the intemperate outburst of Miss Boutross in the same edition of the paper.
Watkins Hospital has the equipment to cope with many emergencies, and it has some of the best staff members of any medical institution in the state. Some of its staff are among the best physicians in the country. Anyone who doubts this could very easily check with the hospital about the training and experience of these doctors. There are many and varied reasons why these people work at Watkins instead of in other institutions or in private practice. Those reasons usually stem from family responsibilities or physical disabilities, or simply personal preference. Certainly incompetence has nothing to do with it.
It is true that Watkins needs more space and a larger budget. Partly as a result of this, we have to wait quite a while sometimes to see a doctor about routine matters. But Watkins responds immediately to emergency cases. Dr. Schwegler would surely want to know about any specific exceptions to this and I am sure he would take steps to prevent repetition of such an exception.
You can't be sure with any doctor that his diagnosis is valid—and an honest, competent doctor would be the first to tell you. Why is Miss Boutross so vicious about the alleged errors at Watkins?
So in answer to Miss Boutross' question, where is a sick KU student to go for medical help, I think the answer is clearly to Watkins. It helps to have someone phone ahead in an emergency so they can be ready with whatever is needed, but in any case, go to Watkins first. And as for Watkins "shaping up"—sure, it needs improvement, but for that, it needs our help, not our attacks. Dr. Schwegler would be glad to make suggestions for action, if you really want to help.
Sincerely, Judith Kahane Lawrence graduate student
To the Editor:
I would like to comment upon a statement for the New Radicalism made by Tim Averill in the University Review. First let me say that it appeared to be comprehensive and representative, so far as that is possible, of what is meant by the new left. However, it also contained excellent examples of distortions of history and unwarranted generalizations that so often characterize True Believers.
An illustration of this is Averill's claim that elections are becoming more meaningless and popular opinion less effective, implying that a golden era once existed that now has become corrupted by big interests within the Establishment. It's amusing to note that Old Reactionaries also look back to some nonexistent period, where the common man controlled his own fate and all good things came to him who persevered. In all my readings of history I have never encountered a description of this most desirable segment of our country's past, except perhaps the Reader's Digest. Rabid rhetoric has an unfortunate component of silliness which detracts from important issues that might be contained within it.
A more accurate and meaningful declaration of the New Radicalism would be a denouncement of the failure of the United States to attain an ideal that has always been held before us, but never achieved. This issue is cause enough to be angry, frustrated and militant, and shouldn't be obscured by ranting at windmills.
Anthony M. Sorem
Graduate student, Psychology
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