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University Daily Kansan Tuesday, March 4, 1958
2-Gun Paper Shoots 'Em Up
"Last Monday night most of the northwestern United States was treated to a display of the Aurora Borealis that was rare in its intensity and in Virginia City, situated as it is at a high altitude, the phenomenon was manifest to so marked a degree that the superstitious were afraid, heavy drinkers reviewed their pasts, dogs howled, cats crouched in their lairs and the local bird nation had a hell of a night as the Lights' brighter pulsations deluded its members into thinking that Tuesday had come and that it was time to get to work."
There, in a breathtaking 96-word sentence, is what the Feb. 14 issue of the Virginia City (Nev.) Territorial Enterprise had to say about a display of the northern lights. You can bet your last pair of cowboy boots that the account is accurate, too, for the Territorial Enterprise doesn't hesitate to call 'em as it sees 'em.
Watson Library subscribes to the Territorial Enterprise. You can find a copy in the undergraduate reading room, tucked away on a shelf near the magazine racks at the rear of the room.
As an example of scholarly literature, the newspaper is in a class by itself. In the tourist-tamed West, the Enterprise-after 100 years of publication-is still a wild and woolly weekly newspaper.
It's the newspaper where Mark Twain got his start as a professional writer. Virginia City's notions on how to publish a paper haven't changed much since Mark's time.
Headlines are still printed in flowery, gay-Nineties-style letters. An advertisement for a department store describes it as a "ladies' and misses' frock emporium."
Territorial Enterprise editors vary in tone only from indignant shouting to thundering outrage. A recent piece titled, "Methodists and Misery" roasted that denomination for advocating stricter national enforcement of liquor laws.
"In the light of Methodist hostility to everything that makes life endurable," the Enterprise roared, "the thought occurs that perhaps there is a flaw in this religious tolerance business we so sanctimoniously cherish in the United States. Maybe there are sects of bigots and crimes of the human race which would be better persecuted."
The paper's freewheeling style and old-West makeup attract subscribers from all parts of the country. As a result, advertisements appear for firms as far away as Reno and San Francisco. "Tell the firm you patronize you saw it in the Enterprise," the paper advises its readers.
Two wealthy bachelors, Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg, publish the Territorial Enterprise. When they aren't in Virginia City having fun putting out the paper, Beebe and Clegg roll around the United States in their own gold-trimmed, velvet-lined, railroad car.
It's a social event when the car visits a town. In Washington, D.C., for instance, the cream of the city's society tramps down to the railroad yards to visit the genial hosts, ensconced in their rolling palace.
Guests are treated to a look at the car's cut glass chandeliers and walls lined with valuable paintings; a seat in a velvet-backed chair and a stiff hooker of Virginia City bar whisky.
Back in Nevada, the Territorial Enterprise goes thundering on, amusing and shocking its readers. Is there any real "news" in the Enterprise? Yes, but you have to hunt for it. The Territorial Enterprise is a rip-rearing example of a newspaper of the old West, published mostly just for the heck of it.
Larry Boston
PARIS-U.S. trouble-shooter Robert Murphy, commenting on the French-Tunisian crisis before leaving Tunis for Paris and the third round of his efforts to settle the dispute:
Quotes From The News
"My personal opinion is that there are no problems in the present situation which able and farsighted states-manship could not resolve."
WASHINGTON—Agriculture secretary Ezra Taft Benson, denying that his farm policies will cost the Republican party many congressional seats in the November elections;
"The course we are following is right. It is sound economically and fair. We are on the right track and must move ahead."
ISTANBUL -Turkay Yongol, one of the survivors of the ferryboat sinking that claimed at least 260 lives, describing the terror-stricken moments before the vessel heeled over and went down:
"People fought for lifesavers, old people prayed, children cried."
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SCOTT BASE, ANTARCTICA Dr. Vivian Fuchs, after learning he would be knighted upon his return to England for his historic trek across the frozen wasteland of the Antarctic continent:
"Naturally I am delighted. At the same time, I am slightly embarrassed at being the only member of the party honored so far."
There is only one active volcano in continental United States—Lassen Peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Calif, the National Geographic Magazine says.
March Came In Like A Lamb
White As Snow
His Fleece Was
By the way— he
came on our gas
LEONARD'S
Standard Service
9th & Ind.—VI 3-9830
. . Letters To The Editor
Billings Blasts UDK
Editor:
I would like to correct an error which appeared in The Daily Kansan story headlined "3 ASC Committees Blasted." It stated that, "The Little Hoover committee finds only one recommendation necessary (referring to the Traditions Committee), Trudy Gier, McPherson sophomore, must be officially dropped from the committee and be replaced by a more reliable individual." This was not as the approved copy of the Little Hoover Committee's report stated. There is certainly no need to question the reliability of Miss Gier for she is a very capable and reliable person as all who know
. . .
her are aware. This is but one of the many examples of irresponsibility on the part of the Kansan reporter in reporting the facts found by the committee's investigation. It was necessary to clear up this particular injustice because of the approaching AWS elections in which Miss Gier is a candidate. This misrepresentation which she received in The Daily Kansan should not be detrimental to her in seeking an AWS position. It is certainly no fault of hers that an unthinking person, motivated by the desire for sensationalistic journalism, can be in such a position that allows him to write anything he wishes regardless of the accuracy or truth of the matter. There will be more to come of this
apparent abuse of the privilege of the press, but it was expedient because of the upcoming AWS elections to right the wrong done to Miss Gier at this time. This is something that I would try to do in any similar situation.
-Bob Billings
Editor's note: The Daily Kansan contacted the authors of the report and found that in their corrected copy of the report, the phrase concerning Miss Gier was not stricken as Billings says. The story came directly out of the commission report: a report prepared by an ASC committee appointed by Billings.
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Daily Hansan
University of Kansas student newspaper
Founded 1889, became biweekly 1904,
triweekly 1908, daily Jan. 16, 1912.
Telephone: K.K. 730-259-1200.
Telephone Viking 3-2100
Extension 251, news room
Extension 376, business office
Member Inland Daily Press Association,
Associated Collegiate Press. Represented
national Advertising press. Office 30
Madison, N.Y. N.Y.
service; United Press. Mail subscription
rates: $3 a semester or $4.50 a year. Pub-
hishing every eaternoon during the school.
Saturdays and Sundays. University holidays,
and examination periods. Entered
lawward. Post matter Sept. 17, 1910, at
Lawward. Post office under act of
March 3, 1879.
Diek Brown Managing Editor
Larry Boston, Bob Hartley, Mary Beth
Noyes, Malcolm Applegate, Assistant
Managing Editors; LeRoy Lord, City
Editor; Martha Crosier, Jack Harrison,
Aaron Reagan; Douglas Parker,
Telegraph Editor; George Assan,
Assistant Telegraph editor; George
Sports Editor; Bob Macy, Assistant
Sports Editor; Pat Swanson, Society
Editor; Ron Miller, Picture Editor.
NEWS DEPARTMENT
Dick Brown
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Del Hirey  ... Editorial Editor
Evelyn Hall, Martyn Mermis, Leroy
Zimmerman, Associate Editors
Ted Winkler Business Manager
John Clarke, Advertising Manager; Ann
Huston. National Advertising Manager;
Bil Prine, Classified Advertising Man-
ger; Norm McGarth. Circulation Man-
ager; Norman Beck, Promotion
Manager.
Bridge Lessons
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Student Union
7:30 Wednesday nights: March 5, 12, 19, 26 and April 2.
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Refreshments Are Served