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University Daily Kansan
Friday, Sept. 25, 1964
Editorial Policy
This morning's mail brought a letter reprinted below from Kenneth Reeves who questions the editorial policy of the University Daily Kansan.
It must be explained that the Daily Kansan does not support either Senator Barry Goldwater or President Lyndon B. Johnson in this election. The University administration does not consider endorsement of political candidates, other than campus politics, a proper function of a student newspaper. For this reason the Daily Kansan cannot make a declaration of support for either candidate.
HOWEVER, THE EDITORIAL FUNCTION of a newspaper is a varied one. Chiefly, editorial pages should explain the news to its readers and supply background information so they can better understand and judge events and issues of the day.
It is, or so it seems to me, the duty and obligation of an editorial page to make judgments on issues and to exert moral influence on its readers.
COMPLETE OBJECTIVITY is the duty of the news pages. The editorial page, sensing its dedication to the best interest of society, must take sides on issues, where it clearly appears that such issues affect the readers of that paper. There are few issues of great importance that can or should command neutrality. Taken in this light it is both proper and desirable that a newspaper, on its editorial pages, crusade and work for that which it believes to be for the most good of the most people.
PERSONALLY, BOTH CO-EDITORS of the Daily Kansan editorial page are of an independent but liberal political persuasion. Guided by our beliefs, hopefully based on knowledge, and by our conceptions of what constitutes the better good for America and the world, we are inclined to support President Johnson. Consequently, articles of opinion, reflecting similar attitudes naturally will be given more emphasis. However, we feel the need to scrutinize clearly and judge fairly opinions contrary to our own. Be assured that other opinions are sought and carefully considered. We do believe, however, that attitudes expressed by others should try to maintain the same standards of accurate information and logical presentation that we strive to apply to our own work.
I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST to reader Reeves and other interested writers on any future issue that they purchase and read a copy of Stuart Chase's excellent book, Guide to Straight Thinking. Careful attention to Mr. Chase's book should alleviate the mental fog and the senseless jumble of half-baked truths, false accusations and flights of confused oratory that predominate thinking, talking and writing during our election year.
With this in mind, all readers' opinions, whatever their philosophy, will be valuable contributions to the editorial page, and will be welcome. Dick Menkott
The People Say.
Dear Sir:
Last semester we learned, much to our indignation, that the cost of a parking sticker was to be raised from $4.00 per year to $10.00 per year—an increase that such indigen students as ourselves could ill afford—for the purpose of increasing the campus police force allegedly necessitated by the growing number of automobiles on campus.
The last few evenings we have seen the results of this increase. There seems to be a plethora of policemen swarming over the hill. The situation is ludicrous. For example, on the corner of Jayhawk Blvd, and Sunflower Road Monday evening at about 5 p.m. there were no less than three officers: one was directing traffic; the others were watching him. Tuesday evening at the same corner there were four officers, three of which were spectators. We suppose that these tyopolicemen are learning the subtleties of the art of traffic direction so that they will someday be able to coordinate their arm-waving and whistle-blowing, yet we can but wonder how these officers amuse themselves during the rest of the day. Even after they become accomplished traffic directors and ticket writers, will they fulfill a useful and necessary function? Was it really necessary for the police force to increase its ranks?
Yours truly,
Jones M. Welsh
Graduate Student
D Heyward Brock
Graduate Student
Dear Sir:
As a transfer student, I don't know whether you print letters to the editor or not, but printed or
not, I cannot repress the urge to comment on your use of the Saturday Evening Post's endorsement of President Johnson's candidacy for President.
The article praises President Johnson's use of restraint in the Gulf of Tonkin incident. It did not mention various other instances of restraint during the Kennedy-Johnson administration. It was also restraint on the part of the President that allowed the neutralization of Laos without communist concessions, allowed the construction of a wall of shame in Berlin, betrayed young Cubans and Americans on the beaches of the Bay of Pigs, and continues to allow Americans to die daily in South Viet Nam where they are supposedly not fighting. It was this sort of forcefulness with restraint that allowed the U.S. to gain a commanding position in the October missile crises of 1962. Did these actions further the cause of freedom? They did not, nor did they help U.S. prestige!
The article criticizes Senator Goldwater for changing positions in some matters but ignores the fact that the President's positions on Public Accommodations, Fair Employment Practices, and Right to Work Laws are exactly opposite the way he stood when he represented the people of Texas in the Senate. He said that public accommodations were not constitutional when in the Senate, but now finds himself supporting and enforcing them. If he can do so when he previously felt that to do so was contrary to the constitution of the United States, Senator Goldwater would have no problem doing so—indeed he has vowed to so vigorously. He also has promised to use his personal influence to discourage violence in the streets. It is interesting to note that it was the same civil rights leaders who supported the civil rights proposals who, according to Time Magazine, harangued the people of Harlem until they took to the streets to try to solve their problems with Molotov cocktails, stones, and looting.
Finally, the article which the UDK has reprinted resorts to methods which do nothing for the name of journalism. The statement that "Goldwater is a grotesque burlesque of the conservative he pretends to be. He is a wild man, a stray, an unprincipled and ruthless political jujitsu artist like Joe McCarthy . . ." does little to speak for honesty or justice in this campaign. It does not argue issues nor does it attack the philosophy of the opposition candidate. It merely attacks him as a man. It is strange that this is all right when dealing with Senator Goldwater, but it is dirty politics to question the President's strange accumulation of wealth or his association with his Senate protege, Bobby Baker.
Senate protege, Dobby Beecher I hope that if the University Daily Kansan must continue to support this man, that they will at least do so on a higher plain. No one can question the UDK's right to endorse him for personal or philosophical reasons, but those of us who share the Senator's view would at least appreciate seeing our side aired. It is certainly the duty of the press to air both sides. You have only aired one.
Thank you.
Sincerelv.
Party Quotes
Kenneth W. Reeves III Templin (613)
"If the Republicans stop telling lies about us, we will stop telling the truth about them."—Adlai E. Stevenson
Editor's Note: The following quotes are taken from the 196' Guide to Conventions and Elections. This handbook, published by Dell, was prepared by the Columbia Broadcasting System's news staff.
"Republicans are for both the man and the dollar, but in the case of conflict the man before the dollar."—Abraham Lincoln
"I am a Republican, because I share our Party's deep-lying trust in what free men can do—a fundamental trust in the nature and capability of individual human beings."—Dwight D. Eisenhower
"If you shoot a Republican out of season, the fine will be ten dollars and costs."—Oldtime saying in Mississippi
Sen. Kenneth B. Keating, New York Republican, charging that his opponent Robert Kennedy is affiliated with Bronx Democratic leader, Charles Buckley and other party "bossess": "This is the biggest act to hit our state since the Beatles, I call it 'Bobby, Buckley and the Bosses.'"
Rep. Otis G. Pike, New York Democrat, nominating Rep. Samuel S. Stratton for U.S. senator at the New York State Democratic Convention: "Time after time we have managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of almost certain victory. Our party in this state has been, is and will be sick, sick, sick until we make some changes."
"This Latest Recruit A Man In The Mainswamp Of American Thinking "
BOOK REVIEWS
When "The Crisis of the Old Order" appeared almost eight years ago, it was greeted with cheers from most critics but some rather decided boos from others. Without question it was as critical a view of the American scene that led to the depression and the emergence of Franklin D. Roosevelt as had appeared.
THE AGE OF ROOSEVELT: THE CRISIS OF THE OLD ORDER, 1919-1933, by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. (Sentry, $2.65).
But the scholarship, as well as the narrative and style, seem today above reproach. It is an expert, fascinating tale, and though Schlesinger is an FDR partisan the book is likely to offend only the rabid right.
It is not a biography of Roosevelt, though Schlesinger does offer a detailed biographical sketch. It is much more than that. The entire political scene of America in the twenties and early thirties is examined.
Hoover and the other Republican presidents do not come off easily, but they are not unfairly treated. Best for many readers will be the absorbing examination of the roaring twenties and the business civilization of the United States that helped to make the depression era possible.
K F
In The New Yorker he was for years one of the most discerning and cutting viewers of our society. Many recall his best-known parody, the expert take-off of Henry Luce written in the style of Time magazine. He parodied others, too: Hemingway, Marquand, Sinclair Lewis, Aldous Huxley.
The title could convey the feelings of some readers that Wolcott Gibbs is no longer around to stick pins in things and entertain us with his acid observations about the American theater. "More in Sorrow" is a compilation of Gibbs' writing: short stories, sketches, and parodies.
He wrote, as well, some of the most delightful fiction to appear in The New Yorker. This is the substance of "More in Sorrow," which has a tribute by Gibbs' friend, the veteran New Yorker editor, E.B. White.
MORE IN SORROW, by Wolcott Gibbs (Sentry, $1.95).
Dailij Yfänsan
111 Flint Hall
UNiversity 4-3646, newsroom UNiversity 4-3198, business office
University of Kansas student newspaper
Founded 1889, became biweekly 1904, triweekly 1908, daily Jan. 16. 1912
Founded 1889, became biweekly 1904, triweekly 1908, daily Jan. 16. 1912
Member Inland Daily Press Association, Associated Collegiate Press.
Represented by National Advertising Service, 18 East 50 St., New York
22, N.Y. News service: United Press International, Mail subscription rates:
$3 a semester or $5 a year. Published in Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays, University holidays, and examination periods. Second class postage paid at Lawrence, Kansas
NEWS DEPARTMENT
Roy Miller ... Managing Editor
Don Black, Leta Cathcart, Bob Jones, Greg Swartz. Assistant Managing Editors; Linda Ellis, Feature-Society Editor; Russ Corbitt, Sports Editor;
Steve Williams, Photo Editor.
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Jim Langford and Rick Mabbutt ... Co-Editorial Editors
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
Bob Phinney...Business Manager
John Pepper, Advertising Manager; Dick Flood, National Advertising Manager; John Suhler, Classified Advertising Manager; Tom Fisher,
Promotion Manager; Nancy Holland, Circulation Manager; Gary Grazda,
Merchandising Manager.