THE KANSAN.
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
LAWRENCE, KANSAS, APRIL 29, 1908.
NUMBER 59
VOLUME IV.
STUDENTS DEMAND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
As the University students are more vitally interested in the enforcement of the prohibitory law in Lawrence than anyone else the Kansan feels justified in encouraging the campaign of purification that was started last Saturday by the exposure made in the students' edition of the Lawrence Journal.
The people of Kansas should be interested in the enforcement of the law in Lawrence above all other places. It is here that the most baneful influences of the violation of the law will be felt, not only now but in future years.
A duty is imposed upon the people of Lawrence and Douglas county which they can not shirk-a duty which demands that they force the officers of the law whom they have elected to do their whole duty.
Has the law been enforced? Facts speak plainer than the warped assertions of blind officials and newspapers corrupted by petty personal motives. In the students' edition there was a list of almost a dozen places where the law was, or is, being flagrantly, openly violated. Since the issue the police have raided four or five joints other than those named. These facts show conclusively that there has been almost a score of places in the city regularly conducted for the sale of liquor. In a wide-open town the size of Lawrence the number would not greatly exceed this.
Yet two Lawrence papers, whose sense of moral and civic righteousness is blinded by silly jealousies, servile personal obligations, and harlequin politics have heaped all kinds of vituperation upon the students who had the fearlessness to expose the rotten condition of affairs. These papers have alleged that facts were distorted, figures misprinted and the whole article a string of falsehoods. But of course the people of Lawrence and of the University know that this yell of "you lie" is itself false and is not believed by the papers which print it. Both the Lawrence Journal and the Gazette know that conditions are even worse than they were painted by the student paper. The Kansan is reliably informed, further, that those who edited the paper Saturday are prepared and will be only too glad to furnish proof at any time the "guardians" of law want it. The issue has been put squarely before the people of Lawrence. It is up to the officials either to enforce the law or acknowledge by their action that they are either incompetent or violators of their official oaths. All the rantings of Lawrence papers about the "misjudgment of amatuers" and "sensational journalism" can not obscure the real issue. The motives behind both these attacks are too apparent for anyone to be deceived therebv.
The articles that have appeared in both the papers are so brazen and crude in their arguments that they are humorous.
The editor of the Journal, in his desperate scramble to get back in the collar of his masters, after he had been so abruptly jerked out Saturday, printed on the front page of his Monday's edition an editorial in which he stated that the students shouldn't expose the city officials because the officials have always been kind to students in hiding from the public the names of those arrested. What, has it come to such a pass as that? Is it a case of criminal protect criminal? Is that what the Journal means? It is certainly a candid admission that there is something wrong with the officers of the law. But the Kansan does not believe the students are under obligations to protect anybody—it knows those who edited the paper are not. It is almost criminal to suggest such a thing.
Then in the same article he asserts that the University will be greatly injured by the exposure. This babble about hurting the University over the state is all nonsense. Does the editor of the Journal or anyone else think he can forever deceive the people of Kansas? Has the University such an abscess that it dares not apply the surgeon's knife lest the operation prove fatal? No, the University of Kansas has grown large enough to stand by the truth. No civic reform was ever accomplished in the dark. If the truth is so awful to relate it is time to change conditions so Lawrence and the University will not be ashamed of them.
The other Lawrence defender of law breakers came out in an article last evening in which it branded the exposure story as false. Outside of this willful falsehood the only argument it advanced was that the "joint story" had caused hard feelings between several citizens of the town. But those who edited the paper will plead guilty to this indictment. The Kansan has no idea that the Scoop Club or Journalism School cares an iota how many politicians get "sore." The unvarnished truth always makes someone sore. The editorial staff was not, however, aware that officials and certain newspaper men would jump at each other's throats as they have. But there is an old, old saying to the effect that "It is the hit dog that always yells." Let the merry war go on until it results in the enforcement of law in Lawrence, for as sure as thieves fall out honest men will get their dues.
WON A GAME AND LOST ONE
Beat Haskell 7 to 8; Lost to St. Mary's 3 to 2.—Track Meet of High School Saturday
High Schools Saturday.
Monday afternoon, on the Haskell ball lot, Harlan pitched a wonderful no-hit game, defeating the red men by the score of 7 to 0. He had the braves completely at his mercy during the contest. Angney made a great catch of a hot liner. Score:
R H
K. U. -2 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 2-7-11
Haskell-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0
Defeated by St. Mary's.
Saturday afternoon Captain Young's bunch of ball players met their first defeat of the season at the hands of St. Mary's on the enemy's ground. The Jayhawkers made twice the hits and only half the errors of their opponents, but the Catholics had all the luck and won 3 to2.
Hoffman pitched his usual steady game.
The score:
R.H.E.
K. U. -0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0-2-8-3
St.Mary's-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2-3-8-3
Track Meet Saturday.
Next Saturday the annual track and field meet for accredited high schools in Kansas will take place on McCook Field. Besides the regular meet there will be tournaments in basket ball and tennis, to be held in Robinson gymnasium and McCook field respectively. Saturday morning the Freshmen play base ball with the Dickinson County high school. The big meet begins at 1:30 in the afternoon. Thirty high schools and over 200 athletes will participate. The entries number over 600.
Washburn Here Saturday.
The May day ball game will be with Ottawa at Ottawa this year. Saturday the Washburn team plays here. After that game the team leaves on its eastern trip which includes two games each with Washington, Christian Brothers College and Missouri University.
French Play Coming.
The French Department will present its eighth annual play, "Les Vivacités du Capitaine Tic" at F. A. A. Hall May 12. The plot is laid during the second Napoleonic empire and centres around "Le Capitaine," a courageous soldier of Crimean War fame.
Banquet for Debaters.
The Debating Council entertained the visiting team from Missouri at dinner last evening at the city Y. M. C. A. Plates were laid for forty people. The four visitors from the Ozarks, the three judges, the Debating Council and the K. U. debating squad were those present. Sam Bartlett was toastmaster.
MISSOURI WINS
TYLER AND BRINKERHOFF MAKE BRILLIANT SPEECHES
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Judges Were Unaffected by Intellectual Broadside of Kansas Men—Missouri Did Well.
After making a most brilliant defense, refuting every argument of the opposition and with the opinion of the audience in their favor Tyler and Brinkerhoff, representatives of the University of Kansas in the debate with Missouri went down to defeat last evening in Fraser Hall.
The question, Resolved,"That all district, state, county and municipal officers should be nominated by direct primaries held under state regulation," was ably discussed by both sides. Kansas upheld the affirmative, and Missouri, represented by R. A. Smifh and Henry Elliot, defended the negative.
Brinkerhoff made an earnest opening speech in which he outlined the question and paved the way for his colleague. He was followed by Elliot who gave a memorized talk in a general discussion of the question.
The Tiger debaters came armed with set speeches,which gave evidence of much drill in delivery, and did good work in handling their question.
By agreement R. A. Smith, last speaker for Missouri, continued his talk making the rebuttal for the negative. In a brilliant speech in which the points of argument were clearly outlined, Tyler closed the discussion.
The judges were: J. S. West of Topeka, J. G. Park of Kansas City, Prof. Winslow of Kansas City.
Fire at Sigma Chi House.
A live wire in the second floor of the Sigma Chi house set fire to the woodwork which ignited with gas escaping from a leaking pipe and caused a lively blaze Sunday morning. The fire was put out before much damage was done.
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Prof. W. E. Higgins delivered the commcement address for the Eudora high school last Monday evening.
Notice to Juniors, Seniors and Faculty.
All Seniors and PSB's who are entitled to tickets to the Junior promenade, should see the invitation committee immediately. All Juniors, who have not yet purchased their tickets, should do so at once. Postively no tickets will be sold at the door on the night of the Prom. The farce will begin promptly at 8:45 o'clock, and everyone should be in the building by 8:30. Tickets are not transferable.