THE UNIVERSITY KANSAN
The official paper of the University of Kansas
EDITORIAL STAFF
LOUIS I. CANNON
CARL L. CANNON
Managing Chef
BUSINESS STAFF:
BUSINESS STAFF
CLARK A. CLACK - Manager
IRE E. KLEE - Assst. Bus. Mgr
HENKY F. DRAPER - Treasurer
M. D. BARR - Circulation Manager
MEMBERS OF BOARD.
GEORGE MARSH L. F. MEISNER
Entered as second-class mail matter September 17, 1910, at the postoffice at Lawrence, Kansas, under the act of March 3, 1879.
Published every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of the school year, by the Kansas University Publishing Association.
Address all business communications to Clark A. Wallace, Business Manager, 1146% Tennessee street, Lawrence, Kansas; all other communications to Louis LaCoss, 1247% Kentucky street, Lawrence, Kansas.
Subscription price, $1.50 per year, in advance; one term, 75c; time subscriptions, $1.75 per year.
Office in basement of Fraser Hall.
Phone, Bell, K. U. 25.
SATURDAY, MAY 6, 1911.
COMING EVENTS.
May 11—Baseball game with Kico University.
May 12—May Fete.
May 13—Missouri-Kansas Dual Meet, Lawrence.
May 18-19—Senior Play.
May 19—Students' Day.
May 20—Fourth Annual Invitation Meet.
ARE STATE UNIVERSITIES POLITICAL OPPORTUNITIES?
The World Today: State Universities have of late been passing through a sort of second probation. We had thought them free from danger from the politicians of the partisan sort, but the newer generation of legislators seems in need of learning the same lesson taught their predecessors of a dozen years ago.
In one state all the institutions of higher learning—and they are noble institutions—have been placed in the hands of a small committee, whose chairman is a small politician and officeholder who had to be cared for. The committee discharged one president and voted that another retire on a Carnegie pension! In two other states magnificent universities have got entangled in the struggles between "insurgents" and "standpatters." And in a third, but very new, state, the entire faculty of the university from experience knows that it is liable to preemptory discharge by any new legislature which can not bring peace to its constituents by founding new normal schools in embryo cities.
The universities themselves must not make the mistake of mingling in party struggles in the hope of getting greater advantages. Every advantage gained by political alignment is a fatal gift. Party leaders, thought by university lobbyists to look upon educational institutions as wielders of political influence, will be quick to make teachers and institutions pawns in a political game. It is better for state universities to suffer the buffers of sporadic and partisan economy than to get appropriations through making themselves political issues.
A university without absolute freedom of teaching is a whited sepulchre. A university whose teaching is always liable to investigation by committees seeking
to make political capital by correction or discharge of alleged offenders, is a school of political hypocrisy. A state university where men may pursue truth, and may teach what they regard as truth, without fear of legislator of popular clamor, is the only sort of university worthy of democracy. And such a state institution is possible only where both citizens and university authorities regarde the university as utterly and finally outside of political futures of governor and legislators, to be judged only by its loyalty to the ends for which it exists.
The question might be asked, What are the Seniors doing about their reunion in 1916? There are only a few weeks of school left in which definite plans for a return can be made. The movement that had such an auspicious beginning ought not be allowed to lapse because of a lack of energy among its proposers. Arrangements ought to be made for another smoker and for a meeting with the girls. The plan for the reunion in 1916 ought to receive great impetus during the next few weeks.
The address of Fred M. Harris in chapel yesterday morning was a lively example of what a loyal alumnus ought to be. His speech reflected the true sentiments of every one who has had any association with the University with a number of men of the Mr. Harris type spreading their influence over the state in a few years we will have an alumni organization that will be dominant in all University affairs.
The class of 1913 is to be congratulated. The Sophomore Prom last evening was pleasing in every particular and the second year students proved themselves genial hosts. The Faree was exceedingly interesting and clever. There was no attempt to optdo the Juniors and the evening was delightful in its informality.
"SONGS FROM THE HILL."
The Book of Verses by University Students.
"Songs From the Hill," will be on sale next week at the check stand and at the city book stores. The edition is limited to five hundred copies which will be sold at fifty cents each. The book is cloth bound, attractively printed and contains thirty-seven poems. The preface is written by Prof. W. H. Carruth.
The profits, if there are any, will be given toward the foundation of an annual prize for the best poem written by a Kansas University student.
Roy Spear, who graduated from the School of Engineering this spring, is now employed by the Burns and MeDonnell Consulting Engineers of Kansas City, Mo., as draftsmaker.
Golf and Tennis Supplies
Leave your orders for calling cards at Boyles, 725 Mass. St.
Complete line. New shipment of Tennis Balls. . . . . . .
Smith's News Depot Hilliard & Carroll
Phones 608 709 Mass. St.
Students' downtown headquarters.
K. C. Engineer Will Tell About Detroit Tunnel.
ADDRESS BY KINNEAR
W. S. Kinnear, M. A. 1907, president of the Kansas City terminal station will deliver an address to the Engineers May 25, under the auspices of the Students Civil Engineering society on his work in constructing "The Detroit River Tunnel."
Mr. Kinnear is one of the best engineers in this country. He first held the position of chief engineer and afterwards became general manager of the Chicago Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Later he resigned to take charge of the work on the Kansas City terminal station.
Reminiscences.
(Excerpt from the University Courier of May 8, 1885).
Boat riding is all the rage.
Get a new girl or distinguish yourself in some way.
The Junior Laws are numbered with the things that were but are not. They wound up business and left for their homes Wednesday.
Alabama University is so crowded that the faculty refuse admission to any more students.
The editorial column of this issue contain a powerful appeal for the installation of a military department on the grounds that the students of the University should have some method of taking regular exercise.
The state legislature just appropriated $59,000 for the University Natural History building and the Courier's part in the campaign is said to have materially aided in obtaining that sum for the University.
The class in railroad field work, under Professor Marvin, have just completed the preliminary survey of Mt. Oread railroad, and are now figuring on the cost of the undertaking. It begins at the north end of the building and leads directly west, so the natural history student can ride out for his specimens in the future, if the plans are successfully carried out.
A new shipment of tooth and nail brushes just in, 10c each. "Kress."
A Communication
To the Editor of the Kansan:
I read with great interest Governor Stubbs's recent letter commenting upon the small number of hours per day class rooms are used in American universities. I believe the Governor has hit upon the secret of a great increase in efficiency in our educational system. My only fear is that he will not go far enough.
The Governor presumably would be satisfied if every class room in the University were used eight hours per day, as eight hours is the limit on state work in one day. But the University is confronted with the necessity of handling an increasing number of students without a corresponding increase in the size of the plant. What, now, does an industrial concern do when it has more business than it can turn out in its factory in the ordinary day? Does it forthwith build a new building equipped with new machinery to do the additional work? No, it puts an additional shift of workmen in the old building to use the old machinery a greater number of hours per day, and dividends are greatly increased.
To the Editor of the Kansan:
Why are not the people of the state entitled to the dividends that modern efficiency methods would produce if applied to the educational institutions? Why erect new buildings when the ones we have now are used less than a third of the time? The students and faculty should be divided into two shifts next fall and the buildings used sixteen hours a day. Under the present system the capacity of the University plant is 2,500 students a year. By adding the number of professors necessary to run two shifts the capacity could be raised to 5,000 students with no additional expense for buildings. That would provide for the increased attendance for a number of years to come, and when the enrolment passed the 5,000 mark, simply work the professors and students in three shifts instead of two, and the capacity is increased to 7,500 students. Then and not till then the people of Kansas will be getting the maximum efficiency out of their investment.
Honestly, now. doesn't the plea for new buildings sound rather foolish when it can be shown that by applying modern business methods the present University plant could educate 7,500 students a year? In the practical University of the future every microscope and every blackboard will be used, and every lathe and drill kept turning every hour of the day. The fires under the boilers will never be allowed to die down. The smoke from the stacks will be a pillar of cloud by day and the sparks arising there from a pillar of fire by night to show the people that modern efficiency is on the job every minute of the time.
Graduation is nearly here
We are always here, and there with the goods.
VISIONARY.
The
NOTE: Of course you are aware of the fact we have jewelry of quality only. Our watches and diamonds have no competition.
College Jeweler
Protsch Spring Suiting
CHAS. C. SEEWIR
Printing and Engraving
917 Mass. St.
INDIAN STORE
LAWRENCE Business College Lawrence, Kansas
Teaches Gregg Shorthand and touch Typewriting. Special classes for K, U. Students. School in session all Summer.
Frank Koch The Tailor 727 Mass. St.
Albert R. Kennedy
DENTIST
Bell 1515
Suite 5 Jackson Bldg
A. G. ALRICH.
744 Mass. St.
We have the largest stock of HURD's FINE STATIONERY in the city. The latest styles in envelopes and place cards. Engraved cards for Commencement. We have the only copy in the city for this class of work.
Ed W. Parsons
JEWELER
Watch, Clock and Jewelry Repairing. Engraving.
717 Mass. St.
Your Baggage handled Household Moving
W. J. FRANCISCO BOARDING
Auto and Hack Livery. Open day and night workshop painting and marriage
Phones 139. 808-812-814 Vt. St.
G. A. HAMMAN, M. D.
Specialist in Diseases of EYE, EAR, NOSE AND THROAT Glasses Fitted. Satisfaction Guaranteed.
Office over Dick's Drug Store
Take 'em down to
Those Shoes you want repaired
First-class work. Prompt delivery
First-class work. Prompt delivery
Lawrence Steam Laundry
MOON & JOSTE, K. U.
Agents
SPECIAL WORK
Bell Phone 455
At Oread Greenhouses
Cut Flowers and Designs
South Tennessee St.
Under New Management We want Student Trade
Eldridge House Barber Shop
HODGES & HODGES, Props.
Try Us. Everything New.
Mrs. J. W. Byers
is now prepared to do Artistic Dressmaking at low prices for a short time, in conjunction with Art and Work room over
**MATRIA** 847 Arts St.
HOME DAIRY, 847 Mass. St.
Auto, Hack and Livery
C. H. HUNSINGER, Prop.
920-922 Mass. St.
both Phones 12. Lawrence, Kansas
The Corner Grocery
in the Student District. WM, LA COSS.
Everything fresh that the market affords. Both phones 618. 1333 Ky.St
ED ANDERSON
Restaurant and Confectionery