Page 10
University Daily Kansan Fridav. April 19. 1957
The Pig With Most Corn Runs Campus Politics
By RAY WINGERSON
(Of The Daily Kansas Staff)
If pig A has 10 ears of corn and pig B has five, pig B will try to get some of pig A's corn.
Such is the recurring picture of power politics at KU, as well as on the national and international scene.
Since the Men's Student Council, the old All Student Council, was formed in 1909, political parties have constantly worked toward a leveling of the number of cars of corn—or seats on the council.
For the most part, in KU's 48 years of politics, the organized houses have held the election reins, and of these houses the Greeks have most often guided campus leaders to council seats. The Greeks have had organized independent constituents down through the years, but they always retained power.
Long Greek Reign
The shuffling for more ears of corn usually featured a predominately non-Greek organization trying to wrest council control from the powerful Greeks.
The party of the Greeks was called Pachacamac and reigned from 1942 to 1947 except for a few crown-tumblings by new parties. Between 1926 and 1947, it lost only 5 of 25 elections.
In these 5 elections the aims of the new parties were to bring Pachacamac back into line. Over the years, the incumbent had become complacent.
Independent Coalition
In 1926 the old but fruitless Black Mask Party, nine years a loser, formed a coalition with an upstart party, Dollars and Cents, which campaigned for a higher price for Bull Durham and cheaper Camel cigarettes. The students liked the "money" party.
Together, these two parties, as the Independent coalition, shouldered their way into control of the council, but the Greeks mobilized for a comeback that brought them success for four years straight and brought about the Independent's extinction in 1931.
A second coalition challenged the
Greeks the same year the Indies pendents fell. This group also brought Fachacamac to its knees but for one term only.
Composed of anti-Pach fraternities and independents, this coalition had a third party to contend with, the Progressives, which was Pach-fostered to split the independents, thereby leaving the delinquent fraternities in the cold.
This device fell through, but it illustrates one of the many professional political moves Pachacamac used.
Insufficient Evidence
Other moves which were charged to Pach but, which got an "insufficient evidence" reply from the Pach-packed council, included line blocking and ballot box stuffing, as well as others.
A favorite Pach trick was to somehow win a promising opposition leader, depleting the independents much-needed strength.
Path lack of primary elections undoubtedly bolstered their central control,keeping factionalism to a minimum.Their leaders chose their successors.
In 1952 Pach was forced to use primaries by a ruling from the All Student Council, dominated by the new FACTS (First Actually Constructive Ticket Society).
Pach, though, held an open primary, contrary to ASC Rrules which required membership cards to be presented at the voting booths in a closed primary.
Because Pach failed to comply, all Pach candidates were struck from the general election ballot by ASC order, leaving only FACTS candidates on the ballot.
FACTS Still Loses
Despite all these precautions and maneuverings, HACTS lost. Just prior to the general election, Pach candidates were allowed to file and run for office as individuals and not as Pacchacamacs. They won by a slim margin.
Within two years both the traditional Pachacamac and the infant FACTS were to die out. In 1953 they bumped heads again but neither proved itself the stronger in an election that gave each an equal number of ears of corn.
Pach was replaced in 1954, by POGO (Party of Greek Organizations) when Pach elements desiring a Greek-Independent party broke off to form the AGI (Allied Greek-Independents).
FACTS threw its support behind the new AGI and dissolved. FOGO,
rising to claim Pach's heritage, pledged itself to "save the Greek system."
AGI Into Power
Following the shuffle in 1954 AGI members found themselves with the most ears of corn after a second election. The first was thrown out by the ASC after election "inconsistencies."
Again in 1955 AGI won out over the Fach successors, but this time by a slim margin, and it did it again in 1956, perhaps signaling Greek decadence in campus politics.
Should a few more years of strength in the independent and Greek-Independent quarters prove the rule, the Greeks may find themselves unable to stand alone and still have a hand in the trough for their ears of corn.
Good Luck Kansas
Dial VI 3-7204 for the BEST
in Delicious Dairy Products
2016 Learnard St.
- Golden Crest Dairy
FOOT LONG HOT DOG!
SANDWICHES
- Chili Burger
- Jumbo Burger
- Steakburger
- Cheeseburger
- Bar-B-Q Burger
DINNERS
- Jumbo Shrimp
- Sirloin Tip Steak
- $ \frac{1}{2} $ Fried Chicken
DRINKS
Cokes
- Root Beer
- Lemonade
Open Sun. thru Thurs.
11 a.m.- 11 p.m.
- Coffee
- Malts, Shakes
- Sundae, Sodas
Just Head East on 23rd St.
THE BLUE HILLS DRIVE-IN
1601 E.23rd
Open
Fri & Sat.
11 a.m.-
12 p.m.
20 A F O