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Thomas Urges Audience To Solve World Crises
By Joan McCabe
Norman Thomas, elder statesman of the American Socialist Party, challenged an audience of approximately 400 persons yesterday to seek the answers to the problems of our world.
University Daily Kansan
Thomas' appearance was sponsored by the KU chapter of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).
Thomas, who has been termed the 'conscience of America', said, "When I was in college I believed in progress with a capital 'p.' This belief was very strong in the first part of this century and was shocked and broken by the first World War. Life for many of us has not been the same since this time.
"It was followed by and paved the way for the second World War. We are the heirs of these shocks. Darwin, Marx and Einstein have been a legacy to us. We have seen some social progress. But we have seen much more in the realm of natural energy.
"What we can do today with our systems of communication is breathtaking," he continued. "We are in a sort of world with no balance. Progress is not shaping our institutions and we are not using it to control ourselves. We have made progress in communications but it is little in comparison to that which has been made in other fields.
"We must pull ourselves together for life or death." he challenged. "The question is how?"
ACCORDING TO Thomas there are three important areas in which we do not have the answers.
The first of these is civil rights.
The first of these is civil rights. "Here we have, I think, made commendable progress in very recent years in removing the stain of hypocrisy, which has been upon us for so many years." Thomas said.
"But I shudder when people repeat the pledge of allegiance to our flag. They speak of freedom and justice for all but they don't want it very hard. This is a stain upon us." Thomas stated.
"We have begun to do something about hypocrisy under the stimulus of a revolution which seeks to bring about a fraternity of men. Little of the violence which is usually inherent in this type of revolution against injustice has been seen.
tion, or we will have when the bill to protect the right to vote is passed," he said.
"We have come almost to the end of what we can do by legisla-
"THERE IS A field outside of law, that of personal relationships and fraternity, of proper opportunities which cannot be dictated by the state.
"You will not get much farther with civil rights until there is an attack on poverty." Thomas noted. "There is a shocking contrast in this country where wealth is so widespread. We must deal with our economy now because science and technology demand it. A welfare state can be an alternative to socialism," he continued.
(Photo by Don Black)
Norman Thomas
Unique Role Played By KU's Ugliest Man
Jon David Brown, Huntington Station, N.Y., sophomore, was elected by his fellow students as KU's Ugliest Man on Campus.
Danny Bishop, Lawrence junior and co-chairman and treasurer of Alpha Phi Omega national service fraternity which sponsored the event, said that the proceeds of the contest would go to the Campus Chest organization. Bishop said that over $100 would be donated to the charity drive.
BISHOP SAID THAT Brown, who was sponsored in the contest by his fraternity, Phi Kappa Sigma, had $55.08 worth of votes in the contest, which ran from Monday through Wednesday of this week.
The second place entry was sponsored by Delta Tau Delta fraternity, while the third place contestant was entered by Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. There were nine entrants in the contest.
Bishop said that Phi Kappa Sigma would be awarded a traveling trophy and that all of the top three entries would be awarded prizes through the courtesy of Lawrence merchants.
BROWN, WINNER of the contest, said that it was a most unique feeling being the ugliest man on campus. He added that it was quite a distinction.
Brown said, "My roommate was the original entry from the house but I did such a job of putting make-up
To assist in this war on poverty Thomas suggested that we consider the way in which industry has by-passed the unskilled and semi-skilled worker.
on him and making weird faces that they chose me instead."
He added that all of his fraternity brothers and their housemother had aided tremendously in the make-up process. Brown said that a concoction of things including eye shadow, lip-stick and face cream was used.
BROWN SAID that Phi Kappa Sigma had a general fund raising drive within their house and they also encouraged drives in various women's dorms and sorority houses to promote their entry.
"With the best will in the world to find jobs it can still be impossible," Thomas said. "Hence the importance of education and a total war against the slums is seen to provide the kind of cities, towns, homes, schools and hospitals which we need.
The club has been sponsoring similar rides for the past two months. Scheduled for the rest of the semester are a "break-o-day" breakfast ride, a midnight ride, and a prefinal week "happy hour."
The Mount Oread Cycling Club will sponsor a ride to Eudora, which will leave at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, from 9 W.14th Street.
Mileage Bag Set Bv KU Cycle Club
"There has been much speculation concerning the war on poverty. Once we disposed of poverty by not mentioning it. Now we handle the problem by talking about it," Thomas quipped.
After the ride, known as the "Mileage Bag," members will gather in Eudora for coffee.
Thomas' third point dealt with war.
Students not owning bikes may rent them through club members. Acting officers are Lee M. Coburn, Carol M. Coburn, Colorado Springs, Colo., first year law student; and George Latham.
"WE MUST HAVE a war on war itself," Thomas declared. "War is one of the oldest of social institutions. Man is the most dangerous animal yet to develop on the face of the earth and he has proved this over and over.
"We claim to hate war and yet it is ridiculous to believe that nations can spend as much as we do on weapons and yet believe that there will not be a war of any magnitude in which the weapons will not be used.
"It is equally absurd to believe that wars can be carried on like a chess game. You are using people as pawns and forgetting that they are the pawns which bleed," Thomas emphasized.
"I urge you to believe that there are certain prerequisites for any type of stable peace which must be achieved fast. Few of you," he said, indicating the audience, "will live to my age if this is not done."
"THERE MUST BE a universal disarmament," Thomas said. "We cannot trust ourselves with these armaments. The mere act of disarmament contributes to peace. The armaments race in itself is often a cause of war. It is impossible to trust ourselves with them." he continued.
Turning to the Viet Nam crisis, Thomas said. "What will happen to America if we carry on a 10-year war in Viet Nam, I shudder to contemplate. It will become harder and harder. There will be a power action to prevent others from gaining control.
we must have international controls which are progressively capable of dealing with the situation." Thomas said. "In the end we shall stand or fall to the degree that we are able to get a fraternal light on this planet."
"WE MUST INSIST that the best chance for overcoming the evils of communism and totalitarianism is through evolutionary processes which depend upon peace and the winning of peace," he continued.
"We shall not find the answers to our problems in war. It is your generation who will have to fight this war. This must be avoided for the sake of the world," he concluded.
Friday, April 23, 1965
The first meeting for women interested in the new Pom-Pon Squad for football and basketball games next year will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Allen Field House.
Pom-Pon Squad Sets Try-out Date
The Pom-Pon Squad will be a precision dance team that will perform during timeouts when the band is playing.
THE SQUAD WILL consist of eight women and four alternates, whose primary purpose will be to add color and enthusiasm to Jayhawk athletic contests.
Eligibility requirements are enrollment in the current semester of at least 12 semester credit hours, and an overall grade average of one point.
Judging will be based on appearance personality and enthusiasm.
ATTENDANCE IS required at the initial meeting April 27, the practices April 28 and 29, and at the final selection meeting. Tuesday, May 4.
Further information may be obtained from Vince Bilotta, adviser, at UN 4-3821.
Opera Singer Ends Season Of 1965 KU Concert Course
The KU Concert Course will close its season with Mary Curtis-Verna at 3:30 p.m. Sunday in the University Theatre.
Mary Curtis-Verna, a native of Salem, Mass., has been with the Metropolitan Opera Association for eight seasons.
AS WITH MANY aspiring artists she lived, studied, and worked in Europe. In 1954 her debut at La Scala was a success as was her first appearance in London at Covent Garden a year later.
Another triumph was scored by Mme. Curtis-Verna when she became the first American to sing the title role in Puccini's Turandat at the Metropolitan. The critic of the New York Herald-Tribune wrote, "There never was a moment of
strain, in fact, the entire portrayal was never less than fluent and often charged with brilliance."
In addition to her operatic performances throughout Europe, the Metropolitan and with the San Francisco operas, she has appeared as guest artist with leading symphonies, and on television.
FOR HER LAWRENCE PROGRAM she has selected songs by Schubert, Wolf, Turina and Verdi.
Allen Rogers, the assisting pianist, is a piano graduate of the KU School of Fine Arts.
KU students are admitted free but must present their ID card for reserved seats prior to the concert.
Tickets are available at the Murphy Hall Box Office and at Bell Music Company.