Taxes May Hurt Art Sponsorship
Thomas Hart Benton, world famous muralist, said in a lecture here Friday that it will not be long before private people will be unable to sponsor art if the present tax situation in this country continues.
"When that happens we will no longer have good creative art," said Mr. Benton.
"I can't imagine any significant paintings in Russia today because the straight-forward look at life an artist must have to do creative work would go against the thinking of those in power in that country."
The same will happen in this country if our artists must depend upon public institutions to buy their work. They will have to paint what the public wants and not what is creative in the artist's soul. The artist will then be relegated to the position of a commercial artist who draws or paints only what can be sold, said the Missouri muralist.
Mr. Benton is outspoken about the political and social pressures he believes are destroying creative art. In speaking before the Associated Collegiate Schools of Architecture regional meeting he said:
"The political and social problems of mural painting are often more troublesome than the actual painting of the murals."
Bulletin
Two Jayhawker football players, Homer Foyer, senior halfback, and John Peppercorn, junior tackle, were named this afternoon to the United Press International All Big Eight conference football team.
Conference coach of the year was Dan Devine of the Missouri Tigers. Oklahoma center Bob Harrison was the only unanimous choice, and Dwight Nichols, Iowa State tailback, was named back of the year.
Mr. Benton is famous in this area for his mural paintings in the capitol dome at Jefferson City, Mo. He is now working on a second mural for a nearly completed New York building.
In speaking on the subject "Problems in Mural Painting" Mr. Benton emphasized the social and political problems a muralist has by relating the incident that led to his being commissioned to paint the murals in the Missouri capitol.
He returned to Kansas City in 1934 for a visit and attended a party at Jefferson City along with many prominent politicians.
At the party someone remarked if Mr. Benton could paint a 300 foot mural for Indiana why could he not paint one for Missouri. A bill was drafted that evening by the politicians.
Two weeks later Benton received a telegram in New York stating the bill had passed the legislature.
While he was working on the mural another political problem arose. He was picturing slaves being lashed as they worked in the lead mines of southern Missouri and several St. Louis politicians objected to this scene.
A prominent Negro politician was sent to Jefferson City to talk with Mr. Benton about excluding the scene.
Benton said, "I looked at the Negro politician for several minutes and realized he was just the type I needed for a certain figure in the mural.
"I asked him if he would sit for his portrait so I could use it in the mural. The politician agreed. The slave scene was included without any more complaints."
Mr. Benton, who spent 15 years in apprenticeship for his craft, said art is a risky business.
"There is no demand for art," he said. "The artist must take a chance. Few succeed. Most fail. However, today more young artists are becoming successful."
Gov. Docking Seeks Tight State Budget
TOPEKA—(UPI)—Gov. George Docking said today he thought voters were asking for a "hold-the-line" economy in state government when they elected him Nov. 4 to a second term.
The governor said he would follow a general budgetary policy of "figuring them tight." The governor's annual budget hearings opened today with nine minor state agencies appearing to justify their spending requests.
Docking said he would attempt to hold total state expenditures for the coming fiscal year to about the level of those of the current year.
"I think the voters want us to hold
the line on expenditures," he said.
The Kansas Board of Regents will ask for a total of $9,150,367 for KU.
This is an increase of about 10 per cent over the $$,246,497 received for the current year.
the line on expenditures" he
(The governor's office said this morning that the governor would have no comment on whether he would support or discourage the increase for the University until the Board of Regents discusses the proposed expenditures at a hearing.)
56th Year, No. 52
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
Daily Hansan
Monday, Nov. 24, 1958
Campus Chest Drive Nets Over $3,000
Light snow also is predicted for the high plains from the Oklahoma Panhandle into Montana, while rain is expected in the Pacific northwest.
Fair skies are forecast for the Southwest with partly cloudy to cloudy weather elsewhere.
Thanksgiving Weather
Colder today and tomorrow throughout Kansas. Light snow or rain in northwestern Kansas and western Nebraska. Temperatures for the rest of the week in most of Kansas should range between the low 30's and low 50's.
Light snow has fallen over the weekend in the northern high plains into Minnesota and through the southern Great Lakes region.
Bukaty Is Mr. Campus Chest; Contributions Still Coming In
The Campus Chest contest has collected $2,343 so far from solicitations alone, including $20 from TNE, outlawed drinking fraternity.
Kansan, Classes Resume on Dec. 1
This is the last issue of the University Daily Kansan to be published before vacation.
Thanksgiving vacation begins tomorrow at 6 g.m. After a full five day vacation the student body will be expected to return soberly by 8 a.m. Monday, Dec. 1, when classes resume.
Look for the next issue of the Daily Kansan Dec. 1; until then, have a Happy Thanksgiving!
3 Rules for Vacation
Thanksgiving time is here, and like a flock of ducks going south, KU students will begin migrating homeward.
Joe Skillman, chief of Campus Police, stressed some safety rules that students driving home should keep in mind. The rules are:
Ducks flying south are often targets for hunters. Students traveling the roads also face dangers. They are often the targets of each other.
1. Have cars checked to see that they are safe for driving.
This includes lights, brakes, and windshield wipers.
3. If you feel yourself becoming tired at the wheel, make frequent stops. An hour's sleep or a cup of coffee can sometimes prevent an accident.
2. Obey traffic signs.
"Don't end up a holiday traffic statistic," Chief Skillman warned. "When the speedometer creeps up to 70, think about that Thanksgiving dinner and home. A hospital bed may take their place."
KU 5th in Cross-Country
total was 79 points, followed by Western Michigan with 104.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - (UPI) -- Michigan State, led by Forddy Kennedy with a 40-yard winning margin, won the NCAA cross-country race today for a clean sweep of major barrier events this season.
Army finished third with 111 points, followed by Notre Dame with 114, Iowa State 126, Kansas 144, Indiana 173, Iowa 202, Arkansas 239, Central Michigan 240, Drake 254.
Michigan State's winning point
Solicitations from organized houses have not been completed. The Campus Chest will collect solicitations from 11 a.m. to noon tomorrow in the All Student Council office in the Kansas Union
Hughes Bukaty
A total of $548 was collected from the Mr. Campus Chest contest. About $500 was cleared by the drive on the Kingston Trio concert.
Mr. Campus Chest is Hughes (Bucky) Bukaty, Ft. Scott senior, sponsored by Chi Omega. Runners up in the contest were Paul DeBauge, Emporia junior, sponsored by Kappa Kappa Gamma, and Kelly Deeter, Topeka senior, sponsored by Delta Gamma.
Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity will receive a trophy for winning the solicitation contest with $204. The average collected per man was $6.58.
Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, which collected $177, had the second highest average. This was an average of $3.68 per man.
The Campus Chest steering committee set no specific goal for the drive. The committee will accept donations until noon tomorrow.
Kingston Trio Calls Itself 'Commercial'
The Kingston Trio, a group that eschews both rock 'n' roll and the "profound" approach to folk music, was warmly received last night in the Campus Chest concert.
Dave Guard, considered the group's leader, called its style "commercial folk music."
"We try to kid the music a little," he said.
Bob Shane, another trio member, said the hit record. "Tom Dooley," is popular because disc jockeys are tired of rock and roll and were happy to push something else in good taste.
The three singers and their bass player, Dave (Buck) Wheat, left Lawrence for three weeks' vacation in Juarez, Mexico. In January or February they plan a tour of Big Ten universities.
The Kingston Trio was organized when the group began entertaining for fraternity parties. They chose the name Kingston Trio because it fitted into the current calypso craze and they believed it would also fit an Ivy League pattern.
Another Kingston Trio album will be released January 10. It is called "From the Hungry Eye with the Kingston Trio." Two single records will be released at the end of December.
The men work about 14 hours a day, Reynolds said.