79th Year, No.13
The University of Kansas—Lawrence, Kansas
Thursday, October 3, 1968
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
Tradition's aftermath
His glasses lost during a laking, this KU Greek and a companion stood by while a friend retrieved the spectacles from the muddy bottom of Potter lake. He would have retrieved the glasses himself, the man said, but his leg was injured when he was tossed into the water by fraternity brothers after becoming pinned.
Kansan photo by Mark Bernstein
Fortas recalled
WASHINGTON (UPI)—President Johnson, at Abe Fortas' request, withdrew his nomination for chief justice Wednesday and termed the Senate's refusal to confirm Fortas "historically and constitutionally tragic."
Fortas' request, delivered to the White House Wednesday morning, was written Tuesday afternoon shortly after the Senate refused to end a filibuster engineered by Republican and Southern Democratic opponents of the nomination.
Johnson complied "with deep regret," saying he still believed the associate justice, an old friend and confidant, was "the best qualified man for this high position."
Fortas told Johnson further efforts in his behalf, even if ultimately successful, "would result in a continuation of the attacks upon the court which have characterized the filibuster—attacks which have been sometimes extreme and entirely unrelated to responsible criticism."
In a two-paragraph statement, Johnson replied:
"With deep regret I have accepted and concur in the request of Mr. Justice Fortas and am withdrawing his nomination as chief justice of the
Mexico erupts in waves of violence
MEXICO CITY (UPI)—Mexican army troops surrounded about 10,000 marching students in a housing development square Wednesday and opened fire with machine guns. Snipers shot at soldiers from nearby rooftops in a three-hour bloody battle that covered 20 city blocks and endangered the 1968 Olympic Games.
At least nine persons were killed and 10 wounded in the battling that climaxed months of street warfare between government authorities and militant students demanding the freeing of imprisoned Communists.
UPI correspondents counted the bodies of eight civilians including two women killed in the fighting as the troops closed in on the demonstrators, firing as they advanced. The government said an army corporal was killed in the fighting as troops fought their way into apartment houses ringing the screaming thousands trying to flee the square.
Troops cordoned off the massive Tateloloco housing project alongside the "Three Cultures Square," 15 miles from the Olympic Village, and ordered its thousands of residents into the streets. Sniper fire blazed down at troops firing back from prone positions outside the project.
Olympic officials said the games set to open in less than two weeks are in danger of being canceled because of the fighting.
Other troops advanced with fixed bayonets and machine guns through a 20-square-block area around the project, attempting to cordon it off and setting the neighborhood under a state of siege.
Burn Trolleys
Student bands roved through neighborhoods adjoining the siege area, attacking and burning trolleys.
The students gathered in the square, next to the project which has been a hotspot in the recent student-police clashes, to pledge renewed militance in their demand for government reforms and then march on the troop-occupied Polytechnic Institute.
But the troops cordoned them into the square to stop the march and suddenly opened fire when a helicopter dropped a signal flare.
The presidential palace issued a statement saying the students opened fire first. This reporter, who was at the scene and splattered with blood from a bystander when the first shots were fired did not see any students firing.
Leftwing leaders have been promoting student demonstrations for the past two months. At least seven were killed and scores injured last week in gun battles between students, police and troops that followed the occupation of National University, site of most Olympic contests.
Continuing Battle
UPI correspondent Terrance McGarry reporting from Tlatelolco project said he saw police and army troops firing up a windows and flashes of return fire three hours after clearing the square.
Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci was hit, reportedly by two bullets, and taken to military hospital. There was no word on her condition.
WEATHER
Variable cloudiness and cool today. Chance of scattered sprinkles. Chance of local frost tonight. Light north to northwest winds today.
United States. I believed when I made this nomination, and I believe now, that he is the best qualified man for this high position. The action of the Senate, a body I revere and to which I devoted a dozen years of my life, is historically and constitutionally tragic."
"I urge all involved with and concerned about our constitution and its form of government to pledge now that this shall be no precedent and that the Senate hereafter will act by majority will and never fail to address itself to the issues which it has the constitutional duty to answer."
It was the first time in history the Senate had blocked the confirmation of a Supreme Court nominee by filibuster. And not since 1795, when it rejected George Washington's choice of John Rutledge of South Carolina, had the Senate refused to confirm a President's chief justice nominee.
(See page 12)
AAUP hears KU faculty is 'cowardly'
Two members of the Peoples Voice coordinating committee last night characterized the KU faculty as cowardly, racist and fascist.
Speaking during a panel discussion at a special meeting of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) in the Kansas Union Forum Room, Jay Barrish, Kansas City, Mo., graduate student, and Don Jenkins, Kansas City, Mo., junior, criticized the faculty for lack of positive action in the past.
"Professors are basically cowards," Barrish said. "They are not willing to risk their tenure."
"The sense of urgency demands
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(See page 12)
UDK News Roundup
by United Press International
LeMay picked
PITTSBURGH (UPI)—Gen. Curtis E. LeMay, retired Air Force chief of staff and advocate of a U.S. military victory in Vietnam, today was named by George C. Wallace as his vice presidential running mate on the American Independent Party ticket.
In a written statement given to newsmen minutes before a scheduled news conference, Wallace referred to LeMay as "a man of peace who has dedicated his career to defending his nation and the free world."
"The keystone of our campaign is courage," the former Alabama governor said.
Junta seizes Peru
LIMA, Peru (UPI)—A military junta overthrew the government of Peru today in a predawn coup. President Fernando Belaunde Terry was seized by army officers and taken away in a jeep, shoeless and pale with rage and indignation.
The coup began at 2:15 a.m. when army tanks, armored cars and troops surrounded the presidential palace, overpowered the palace guard and seized the sleeping president. As he was hustled to a waiting jeep wearing only a blue suit he shouted at his captors: "You are the traitors."
Rusk states U.S. policy
UNITED NATIONS—U.S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk Wednesday called on the Soviet Union to remove its troops from Czechoslovakia and said the United States would stop the bombing of North Vietnam when it was "confident that this would lead toward peace."
Rusk, making his first and probably last policy speech to the U.N. General Assembly, was interrupted by a band of nine hecklers seated in the gallery demanding an end to the Vietnam War.
Protestors question law
WASHINGTON—Leaders of Vietnam War protest groups Wednesday asked a federal court to declare a new anti-riot law unconstitutional because it suppresses legal dissent.
The law was included in the 1968 civil rights act and provides for a five year prison sentence or a $5,000 fine or both for anyone convicted of crossing state lines to promote, encourage or carry on a riot.
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