Wednesday, March 7. 1962 University Daily Kansan
Page 3
Editorial Page Material
Pringsheim's Reply to Bainum Editor:
Mr. Mike Bainum in a recent letter to the Kansan was so incensed by the Daily Kansan's version of my remarks at the Current Events Forum of February 23, that he felt called upon to compare me to "a rude sixth grader" and accuse me of bad taste and juvenile name-calling.
One can not really blame Mr. Bainum for his outburst for the Daily Kansan's report on my talk clearly seemed to indicate that I had spoken rashly and irresponsibly. Especially in quoting an off-the-cuff remark I made after the conclusion of my talk, and quoting it out of context, the Kansan story created an impression which was wolly at variance with both the content and the implications of my remarks. I think the Kansan's story was in extremely bad taste and was an example of the kind of irresponsible reporting against which I have spoken out repeatedly.
NEVERTHELESS I will not deny that I used the word "stupid" which according to the American College Dictionary means "lacking in keenness of mind." Would it make Mr. Bainum any happier if I had said: Mr. Eisenhower's decision to take responsibility for the U-2 flight was in my opinion lacking in keenness of mind? If so, I shall be glad to retract the ugly word, and substitute the euphemism.
The fact of the matter is that in the informal atmosphere of the question period I did not really expect that my remark would be preserved for posterity and used a word I would not normally resort to in a formal presentation. I must add, that in questioning the wisdom of a particular decision by our former President, I was not attacking his character but merely indicating that I questioned his judgment. Strangely enough I used the word in a sentence in which I defended President Eisenhower from the charge made by a questioner in the audience that he had acted on the basis of partisan political motives.
MY POINT WAS that he had not acted wickedly or schemingly, but had simply used bad judgment. I was asked for my opinion on this matter and I honestly answered according to my own convictions. I realize that many will disagree with my contentions and that is their good right. But my opinion is not based on a snap judgment or political or personal prejudice. I have studied the case quite thoroughly and my conclusion is that Eisenhower acted unwisely.
... Letters
I am sorry if this offends some people who hold our former President in high esteem. I too think very highly of him, but I don't believe that he acted wisely in this case. If this be slander, you may
make the most of it, but I hardly think the label applies. Let me also add that it is not my flair for publicity which is involved in this case but the uncanny ability of the Daily Kansan's Reporter to quote out of context in such a way that fairly conventional statements sound lurid and sensational.
In conclusion, I wish to state that I have no desire to discuss this matter any longer in the columns of the Kansan but will be glad to talk to individual complainants during my office hours.
Klaus H. Pringsheim instructor of political science
* *
A Reply To Payton
And now I would like to continue Mr. Payton's and my disagreement; realizing that as the "Faithful Reader" in the Sound and Fury column has said, "disagreements between newspapers generally make crummy reading." However, I cannot let Mr. Payton's remarks go by unchallenged. It appears to me as though you are the one, Mr. Payton, who is adverse to dealing with facts, for in the February 8th issue of the UDK you stated, "There is no really vocal conservative in the economics and political science departments." And also, in the February 7th issue, you stated, "I suspect that there are no conservatives (in the departments)."
MOVING ON, I must say that I HAVE read much of the propaganda put out by your organization and by the John Birch Society. I found of particular interest the plans to impeach Chief Justice Earl Warren and to repeal the federal income tax. I have in my own library The Blue Book and the pamphlet, The American Right Wing, both of which I am sure you have gleefully read. In summary here, I have found this literature reeks of ambiguities and generalizations attempting to tie its cause to religion and "Americanism." This reading almost reminds one of the fascist writings of the old German-American Bund of the late 30s and
early 40s. I most certainly was not "enlightened by these activities but was more on the borderline of being nauseated.
I feel that my praise of your organization's selection of Portugal was somewhat misinterpreted. I mean't it to mean that I felt it was most fitting that you should choose the most ruthless dictatorship and right-wing ruled nation in the world. Portugal's captive citizens live in conditions which are comparable to those in the Congo.
I ALSO HATE to belabor you with facts, Mr. P., but it would appear as though the fact is that your reply to the assertions I have previously made was rather incompetent in its fulfillment of the questions asserted. You go on to state that you have been on public record only once in a statement mentioning Communism. Well, come now, I think this indicates that you have been rather lagged in performing one of the objectives of a leader of your organization, to unveil subversive activities in this country, label them as Communism, and warn us all of the horrible danger from within facing the nation. (This I am quoting from a Birch pamphlet.) I attended your organization's meeting the night of Feb. 8, and became so "awed" by the group's naive approach to its problems that I was compelled by conscience to leave.
In closing, I must say that I was very gratified to see your statement, "Though one may spend one's life shooting myths, it is not a very profitable (a good American word) occupation, and I will do it no more." I was also glad to see that you do not believe me a Communist, but was rather disturbed that you used such an incompetent, vicious slanderer such as Whittaker Chambers (you misspelled his name) as a basis for an assertion that perhaps I was blind. Believe you me, I would rather be physically blind than blind as you are. Mr. Payton, to the facts of the world.
Alec Hamilton
P. S. The name given me at birth was Alec Maynard Hamilton, in case you're interested.
A Note to the YAF Chapter at KU
Last week Navy Judge Advocate General, Rear Admiral Mott, told the Senate dryly that "we have no need for space age witchhunters; amateur anti-Communists are as useful as amateur brain surgeons." Another official wrote, "Today far too many self-styled 'experts' on Communism are plying the highways giving erroneous and distorted information. This causes hysteria, false alarms and misplaced apprehension among our citizens." His name? J. Edgar Hoover, of all people.
(From the Feb. 26 issue of the New Republic)
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But aren't patience and forbearance in the face of student error and abuse essential qualities of educators? Surely they are if the teacher or administrator accepts as one of the basic tenets of a liberal education that the developing mind must be encouraged to test and stretch itself, to put its convictions and its critical judgments into words—even when they may be wrong.—John M. Harrison
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