Seventy-Third Year
EDITED AND MANAGED BY STUDENTS OF THE UNIvERSrrY OF MICHIGAN
T - UNDER AUTHORITY OF BOARD IN CONTROL OF STUDENT PUBLICATIONS
Where Opinions * STUDENT PUBLICATIONS BLDG., ANN ARBOR, MICH., PHONE NO 2-3241
Truth Will Prevail'
Editorials printed in The Michigan Daily express the individual opinions of staff writers
or the editors. This must be noted in all reprints.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1962 NIGHT EDITOR: DAVID MARCUS
'SOAPY' COMES HOME:
Former Governor
Tragic Figure
The Cuba Blockade:
.Too Little, Too Late
E OF the few encouragaing aspects of concede that it IS aggressio
President Kennedy's "quarantine - block- Why then should America al
ade" of the Cuban nation is that he is at last enemy to base its subterfuge 90
listening to the right political party.
For the most part, Republicans to a man IN THE light of this, the Amer
have demanded this action for months. Demo- as they have for the past y
crats have vociferously, in one degree or an- leave themselves open like si
other, opposed it. Yet their own President has they can, as they just have 6
handed them their com-uppance. to eliminate the menace.
Objectively speaking, however, the action is The only trouble with the s
too little, too late. Ever since President Kennedy which America is now engag
took office it has been apparent that American isn't a halfway proposition.
relations with the existing Cuban government praisals must be taken against
were not likely to improve. In fact, it would not ernment and its Russian cohori
be out of the realm of possibility to have ex- States should stay out of the a
pected thexi to deteriorate even further. first place.
President Kennedy has pla
BUT THE die was cast at the infamous Bay sibility for the safety and digi
of Pigs. When the United States did not for the preservation of the M
back up the so-called 'independent" invasion and observance of the Rio
of Cuba it rendered inevitable the events national pride above the whi
which have just occurred. arguments for "international p
Yet the question remains: What is this He has discovered, perhaps t
particular blockade and is it indeed enough? Communists have no intention
And of course the answer can only be that coexisting." Their goal is worl
this blockade is a fiction of belligerence and they've said it enough so we sho
-is, in the words of Senator John DStennis
of Mississippi, only a first step, PRESIDENT Kennedy is not
The United States cannot expect the Soviet the United States, he is de
Union to retreat without a fight. With a chance Americas, in the name of the R
to establish missile bases and supply lines 90 Monroe Doctrine - defending
miles from the continental borders of the and their liberty from the Com
American nation, Russia will not be ready to It has been argued that the 1
recede. Rather she will, some how, some way, seeking to block Russia from do
attemptato overcome the loose blockade which what America is doing in Tur
the Defense Department has erected. military installations. True en
The President is committed t
THE BLOCKADE itself is somewhat amusing, of Americans and not to fair
Even granting that all in-and-out-bound Russians, who do not subscril
ships will be stopped and searched, how does themselves. If the Russians int
President Kennedy propose to detain air American bases in Tirkey, n
traffic for the same purpose? There is of This fact must not deter Amer:
course only one way-shoot the planes down, in her own defense.
And even if this is what the President has in
mind, he ctetainly cannot expect the Soviets FIN FCntis5eabeanwa
to take it without retaliation, an event is a regretable nec
What's more, his action, in terms of cramp- United States cannot be asked
ing Cuba's style, will be totally useless. The herself any further. To do so w
Soviets may well be hampered in their military out to the Devil himself, for I
effort, but the Cubans themselves will not be bloc has shown it will graba
inconvenienced, except perhaps politically given (North Viet Nam, Laos, e
Their necessities of life will still be in full In & way, this crisis could
supply, and Russian technicians can come and America. In the course of it,e
go, lending professional assistance to the pro- the world would be forced to ci
duction of war materials from resources already neutrality in a struggle world d
available. The bloclkade will make this activity internal sovereignty is impossib
somewhat less convenient, but certainly not Here It will be that Americ
impossible. who are her true friends - sh
who values the principles of fr
THAT IN. fact the President should have concept of individual liberty e
HWv up and fight.
done was to place the Cuban nation underu
a state of complete siege-nothing goes in T WATERS off the Cuba
and nothing goes out. If President Kennedy N THE
truly believes thathis action was for the best is being put to the test. The
interests of both the American and the Cuban alone has consistently champ
people, then he should have been prepared to every nation must choose its
pull out all the stops. communism takes over, liberty
are dead. This is inherent in t
If we are to believe refugee reports, the d now er nation cos
Cuban people are down-trodden and quite dis-nd noweveran chri
satisfied with the totalitarian Castro govern- find that, like any cherisheda
.ent. According to intelligence reports, its willacomeneonants
citizens find many necessities in short supply quire a brave people ideed t
as it is. If all supply lines were cut, the nation It is far easier and healthier
would quickly be brought to its knees. This feudal subservience of a totali
would have the effect of hastening internal but it is better, though riskier,t
unrest against the existing regime. dom.
Now granted the Russians would not take It is tragic indeed that therc
that lying down either, but any course of action amogs o han thercyua
which the UnitedStates may pursue from now die for it. h
on will not satisfy the Soviets. Rather one act
will just goad them into their own action more
quickly than another. THEY WOULD rather fall bac
abyss of the Dark Ages to liv
T IS naive to assume that Russia does not wretchedness, believing always
s 1 capture freedom by peaceful meal
plan to attack the United States somehow. trorgedoywaretolgmi
to forget that it took war to gail
And it is equally naive to assume that they it may take war to preserve i
plan to use Cuba solely for defense purposes. Fo awhile P reseKen
Clearing Russia id planning at subvert the su r hile, Pesident eI pnea
yt" United States. The Communists have vowed to sNowcrhedhas seen thatrofit cn
do so over and over again. It would be far sim- wh ah th
pler for them to employ Cuba as a jumping off without a fight.
point, than to rely on communications from Thankfully he has the cour
Moscow half-way around the globe. America without compromising
Perhaps Russia's intent now is not physical -MICHAE
aggression against America, but everyone must City Edi
Demonstration Disgusting
n of sort kind.
low her mortal
miles away?
ican people can,
year-and-a-half,
tting ducks, or
lone, take steps
aber-rattling in
aing, is that it
Either full re-
the Cuban gov-
ts or the United
argument in the
ced his respon-
ity of America,
onroe Doctrine
Pact, and his
nning, cowering
eace."
o late, that the
of "peacefully
d conquest, and
uld all believe it.
only defending
fending all the
1o Pact and the
their freedom
munist front.
United States is
ing in Cuba just
key-setting up
ough. So what?
o the protection
play with the
be to fair play
end to tolerate
core fool they.
ica from acting
r, perhaps such
essity. But the
to compromise
would be to sell
the Communist
what it is not
te.).
i be good for
very nation in
hoose sides, for
omination and
le.
a will discover
ie will discover
eedom and the-
nough to stand
n coast, liberty
United States
ioned it. Now
course. Once
and freedom
he philosophy.
ng liberty will
commodity, it
It and will re-
o fight for it.
to live in the
tarian regime;
to live in free-
e are so many
age to fight for
and perhaps to
k in the feudal
e their lives in
they can re-
ins. They seem
n freedom, and
t.
sdy apparently
ce at all costs.
t be furthered
age to defend
her.
L HARRAH
tor
- ~ j
- - -
-- -
SIDELINE ON SGC:
Whatbo tSA?
By GLORIA BOWLES
A VERY TIRED undersecretary
of state came back to Michigan
last week. It was good to have him
home. Although he has been in
Washington since 1960, it is still
strange to hear G. Mennen Wil-
liams talk about African affairs
instead of Michigan's fiscal prob-
lems, and it was difficult to sup-
press the desire to call him "Gov-
ernor" when he should be ad-
dressed, "Mr. Secretary."
Williams addressed a gathering
of the Campus United Nations; his
speech lacked the spark and vi-
brance of therousing political
talks of crowded Democratic rallies
and picnics between 1948 and
1960. This was an older Williams,
schooled in the ways of Washing-
ton and of international diplo-
macy, who spoke so earnestly; a
smile lit his face only when he
mentioned trips to Africa, or the
people he met there.
Williams has been making these
periodic trips to the dark con-
tinent since 1961, when his ap-
pointment was the first announced
after the Inauguration.
This designation, just by virtue
of being the first, was excitedly
awaited by the public and widely
covered by the press. The early
announcement was perhaps a
Kennedy gesture to acknowledge
Michigan support which came at
a crucial moment in the campaign
for the Democratic presidential
nomination. More importantly, the
appointment was a recognition of
William's talent, and a tribute to
one of the most moral, and mis-
understood men, in American pol-
itics.
* * *
THE "STRANGE Williams per-
sonality" was analyzed by one of
Kennedy's lieutenants, and quoted
by Theodore H. White in "The
Making of the President":
"Everyonehseemsiagreed that
Williams is a man of strong con-
victions. He takes himself very ser-
iously and believesthat he is an
instrument of God's will in
furthering liberal, humanitarian
causes. He is a devout Episcopalian
and will show moving pictures of
his trip to the Holy Land at the
drop of a hat. Williams apparently
sees himself as having been tapped
to put the Sermon on the Mount
into governmental practice. This
is not a pose but reflects a sincere,
if unusual conviction. I go into
this in some detail because I think
any approach to him which over-
looks this strong religious drive-
which is completely intermeshed
with his personal ambition-will
miss the mark."
Williams has seldom been treat-
ed so fairly. Unfortunately, a na-
tional image of a blundering, in-
effectual, union-and-Walter Reu-
ther coddled politician-an image
promoted by Detroit newspapers
and national large - circulation
news magazines-has not been af-
fected by mention in a book most
Americans have not read. The fact
remains that, in Michigan, Wil-
liams was the scapegoat for al-
most every state failure whether
or not it could fairly be traced to
the Governor's office; Williams
took the blame for many problems
rising from the inaction of a con-
servative state legislature.
Irresponsible reporting left, in
its wake, a "bad name" for the
state, a political career in semi-
ruin, and the blame that put an
end to the high political hopes of
a man who might have been nom-
inated for the vice-presidency or
even the presidency on the Demo-
cratic ticket.
* * *
THE WHOLE sad affair gives
us cause to reflect, not only on the
abuse of its power, and the viola-
tion of its public trust by news-
papers and magazines, but on the
shining example of moral courage
as shown by Williams. In the face
of adversity, he did not revert to
the unjust practices of his at-
tackers but, armed with religious
conviction, was a very refutation
of the theory that politics, to be
effective, must necessarily be dirty.
It is ironic and a sad commentary
on the American way, that these
honest motivations should be so
badly misinterpreted.
In the end, we can only be very
happy to have seen the Governor
and reminisce about those "good
old twelve years"; just the same,
the tall, straight man, still wear-
ing the polka dot tie, is a tragic
figure.
WEST SIDE STORY:
Enjoyable,
As .Expected
"WEST SIDE STORY", which
opened last night at the
State, is just what the audience
expects it to be - good dancing,
good music, and a tearful story.,
Drawing its action from the
gangs running the west side of
New York City, exploring from a
sympathetic yet realistic, point of
view the structure of an Ameri-
can subculture, "West Side Story"
will not only remain a favorite, but
promises to become a contempor-
ary American epic.
The Jets and the Sharks are
opposing gangs, warring for pos-
session of the same neighborhood.
Of course, the Jets are "Ameri-
can," and the Sharks "PR's"
(Puerto Ricans). A good excuse%
for a rumble arises when Maria,
sister of the Sharks, dances with
Tony, a former member of the
Jets, at a social gathering in the
school gym. The resulting .tangle
of fights and murders is tragic in
its setting of New York slums and
beautifully-staged dancing.
* * *
ONE WOULD have thought the
dancers were slinkies in costume
for all their fluidity and ease of
movement. They trod the scenes
with a feline grace alas not found
often in modern films.
The music, with which every
coed who lives in a dorm is prob-
ably familiar, is properly inspir-
film like an old friend.
ing and guides one through the
Natalie Wood, though somewhat
unconvincing as a Puerto Rican
immigrant, plays her role well.
Her singing is adequate, and she is
awfully pretty.
TONY AND Maria, the newest
Romeo and Julie combo, even in-
dulge in balcony scenes; but no-
body minds, and there's1rnot a dry
eye in the audience during the in-
evitable death scene.
But the best scene in the entire
picture is the "Officer Krupke"
sequence where the Jets imitate
all the bogeymen of their lives:
the social worker, the judge, and
the psychiatrist, all of whom have
different solutions for their "prob-
lems." Having discovered at last
with delight that their maladjust-
ment lies in the "social disease"
of juvenile delinquency, the Jets
collapse in laughter which comes
all too infrequently to them.
"I've just got to see "West Side
Story" when it comes," say many
hundreds. Here it is. It's good en-
tertainment - so go, already, and
get it out of your system. You'll
enjoy it.
--Ruth Hetmanski
By GAIL EVANS
SHOULD THE University remain
a member of USNSA?
What do you think.?
Oh, you don't know what the
letters stand for. Don't be too em-
barrassed if you don't know what
they mean the United States Na-
tional Student Association. Sure,
you could have learned by reading
The Daily editorials and news
stories on the NSA congress which
took place this summer, but that
was a long time ago. Student Gov-
ernment Council sent 13 of its
members to the congress, and has
a special NSA committee.
* *
COUNCIL was mandated last
February to give final considera-
tion to continued affiliation with
NSA before the November elec-
tions. But this does not mean
that the students, who are repre-
sented by Council members, have
been informed about what NSA did
at its congress or of the many edu-
cational services which NSA
makes available to student govern-
ments.
All right, let's admit that many
students don't know anything
about NSA except maybe that they
have heard vague rumors that it
is nothing but a sounding board
for extremist student political
groups.
If this assumption is made, what
would be the most illogical thing
for SGC to do? Obviously, to re-
fer the question of continued par-
ticipation in NSA to the students
at the Nov. 14 election.
* * *
THERE IS nothing basically
wrong with the idea that students
should have the right to determine
whether they want SGC to remain
active in "the United States Na-
tional Union of students," how-
ever, they should be adequately
prepared and informed before be-
ing asked to cast an intelligent
vote.
It does not seem reasonable that
Council should ask the students
to assimilate all the necessary in-
formation in a little more than
two weeks when a comprehensive
educational campaign could have
been conducted since at least last
February.
Yet, holding an all-campus ref-
erendum Nov. 14 is exactly the
provision eight of the 14 voting
Council members wanted to pass
at Wednesday night's meeting.
** *
FORTUNATELY, the eight con-
servative votes were not sufficient
to put the issue on the ballot, since
a referendum proposal requires a
two-thirds majority of Council.
Arguing in favor of the referen-
dum, Michigan Union president
Robert Finke said that by placing
the NSA question on the ballot,
SGC would demonstrate that the
body does care about the students
and their opinions. He asserted
that the up-coming election needs
an issue like NSA and that there
is time to inform the student body
during the campaign.
SGC member Robert Ross said
that participation in the associa-
tion should not be referred to the
campus. He cited several condi-
tions necessary before an issue
should be made a referendum. Pri-
marily, there must be time to in-
to "force people to say what NSA
does for our campus,"
Meyerholz's observation, though
not intended as a self-condemna-
tion, cannot be construed in any
other light. Meyerholz himself at-
tended the congress as an alter-
nate. He criticizes the lack of in-
formation available to students
about NSA yet he himself has done
little to correct this informational
void. Although he was at the con-
gress, he spent little time and ef-
fort to learn about and partici-
pate in NSA.
The other delegates to the NSA
congress have also been delinquent
in explaining the nature and func-
tions of the association. SGC's NSA
)committee has not at present
brought before Council any evalu-
ation of the assembly, nor has it
tried in any way to inform the
campus about the union of stu-
dents.
At the Council table there has
been no discussion of the congress
except SGC treasurer Thomas
Brown's persistent pleadings to get
the delegates to turn in a list of
their expenses.
THE DESIRE of some members
of SGC to place NSA participation
on a referendum is inconsistent
with the motion passed last Feb-
ruary which prompted the present
interest in the University's affilia-
tion with the association. That mo-
tion stated that "SGC believes
that a campus-wide referendum
presents the opportunity for ex-
tremist groups to exploit for their
own partisan purposes the positive
concern of the Council with
USNSA."
Certainly, this "positive concern
of Council with USNSA" is a myth,
when members don't take the time
to explain either the good or the
bad aspects of the association.
* * *
SINCE NSA will not be referred
to the campus on the Nov. 14 bal-
lot, Council has two alternatives:
to propose a later date for a refer-
endum when constituents will have
adequate time and opportunity to
inform themselves, or consider
participation in NSA at the Coun-
cil table itself. A majority vote is
necessary to maintain or reject
participation. Some Council mem-
bers would like to vote next
Wednesday.
However, this too would be an
irresponsible move. Council mem-
bers represent students. Their vote
should reflectthe opinions of their
constituency not the Council mem-
ber's individual views on the value
of NSA.
Therefore, until the members are
able to feel the pulse of an in-
formed student body on the pros
and cons of NSA, they themselves
cannot vote with a- clear con-
science. Any Council member who
served as a delegate, but would
vote against NSA because he feels
it does not represent students, is
merely publishing his own inabil-
ity to correct this situation.
A vote 'taken at the Council
table would in theory be just as
democratic as a referendum. Stu-
dent government is a representa-
tive system. The up-coming elec-
tion will go a long way to inform
the student body about NSA.
When Council members think
that they have accurately and
completely gauged the sentiments
of an informed constituency, then
and only then should this repre-
sentative body record its decision
on continued affiliation with NSA.
NOVEMBER ELECTIONS:
Implications of. Kennedy's Actions
THE PARTICIPANTS in the peace demon-
stration Wednesday were met with loud
and constant jeering. Typical of this was the
following, repeated over and over again: "If
you're anti-JFK, then go to Cuba!"
Demonstrators opposing the blockade were
labeled ,un-patriotic. A counter-demonstrator
charged that the students protesting President
Kennedy's action in Cuba did not even deserve
to call themselves Americans.
The sign one girl carried was forcibly taken
from her by a counter-demonstrator. At one
point, the students supporting Kennedy block-
ed the sidewalk and refused to allow the others
to continue their protest.
THEIMPLICATION of these angry students'
actlons, being made more apparent as the
crisis continues, is that there is strong feeling
supporting the idea that in a national emer-
freedom of their fellow Americans for the cheap
price of national unity. Hitler's Germany was
unified in opinion; the people of the Soviet
Union can also be made to display a unified
front to the world.
THE ESSENCE of the "American" patriotism
being flaunted in the faces of the dissentors,
being shoved down their throats now in the
time of a national crisis, is a misdirected
patriotism. For when students who protest the
policies of the government have to "go to,
Cuba," then the garrison distatorship-a com-
plete antithesis of true American patriotism-
,will have been effected.
The determination of American citizens to
assemble peacefully and express their ideas
AND the willingness to allow others to do so
cannot be construed as un-patriotic. It is the
By H. NEIL BERKSON
ONE VERY important aspect of
President Kennedy's Cuban
blockade has yet to be considered.
As international tensions remain
on the rise the United States gu-
bernatorial and congressional elec-
tions 10 days hence have been all
but forgotten.
Undeniably, however, the block-
ade has already left its mark on
the campaign by removing Cuba as
a partisan issue. Moreover, any
future analysis of who won where
and why will be incomplete with-
out a judgment of the impact of
the Cuban crisis.
Another developing story, so far
crowded out of the headlines by
the events of this week, which may
affect the elections is the India-
China border war. The situation
is deteriorating daily. As of yes-
terday, Chinese troops were 17
miles inside the Indian border.
They give no indication that they
will stop their offensive. Nehru, in
a vast reversal of his long-time
pacifism, has declared that India
will not quit fighting until every
Chinese soldier has been pushed
back over the border.
critical at any time. The Presi-
dent's pointed reference to that
area in his speech Monday night is
an obvious hint that we are gird-
ing for retaliatory measures by
Russia in response to the Cuba
blockade.
FOR BETTER or worse, it seems
certain that concern over the
world situation - concern, in oth-
er words, over survival - is des-
tined to overshadow the domestic
issues facing the country.
One is immediately reminded of
the 1956 election when two foreign
crises far less salient than those
at present destroyed the closeness'
of the presidential race between
Stevenson and Eisenhower, sweep-
ing the latter back into office.
On October 23 of that year, two
weeks before the election. Hun-
garian freedom fighters took to
the streets in defiance of the re-
gime of Premier Andrus Hegedus.
American public opinion debated
whether or not to aid the rebels.
Eventually, of course, the revolt
was put down.
Six days later Israeli troops in-
vaded Egypt; two days after that
-and five days before the elec-
tion-British and French troops
Foster Dulles, privately encour-
aged the British and French to go
into Egypt, then publically turned
on them. As for Hungary, it put to
rest Dulles' vain-glorious pledge
to "free the captive nations of
Europe."
While the Hungary and Suez
crises did help Eisenhower, they
did not get him a Republican Con-
gress. However, foreign policy is
playing a much bigger role this
year than it did in 1956. Cuba
was a major Republican issue un-
til Monday. Now the tables are
turned.
* * *
MUCH OF the nation strongly
likes Kennedy's action, and could
very easily translate its approval
into votes for Democratic Con-
gressmen and governors. The
President has striven to label his
Republican opposition obstruction-
ist. If he has gotten this image
across, the country may be afraid
to elect men who will block his
moves.
The Republican party is now at-
tempting to associate itself with
the Cuban decision - Sen. Hugh
Scott of Pennsylvania has said, for
instance, that Republican criticsm
Dakota, Abraham Ribicoff in Con-
necticut, and Gaylord Nelson in
Wisconsin are possible beneficiar-
ies. Democratic incumbents in
trouble such as John Carroll of
Colorado and Ernest Gruening of
Alaska may also be helped.
In Michigan, Governor Swain-
son, in serious trouble in his cam-
paign against Romney, is attempt-
ing to gain votes from the block-
ade by announcing all sorts of
civil defense measures. This may
or may not give him a boost.
THE MORE critical the world
situation becomes in the next 10
ten days, the more likely it will
help the Democrats.
In his speech the President said
the Cuban missile bases would be
assembled within two weeks. He
said the blockade would only be
our first step unless they were
dismantled. It is conceivable that
we would be pouring troops onto
the island the day before our own
elections.
At the same time, if the tensions
lessen considerably within the
next ten days, President Kenne-
dy's action will have been vindi-
cated and he will still be the win-
ner on the domestic political front.
I