FAE~XT HE M ICIGAXN DI~LY
_ _ _

FRTDAY, mEnUAlY S, 1940

THOUGHT'S THE THING:
Democraey Needs Discussion Groups _

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the third in
a series of interviews with Prof. Maur-
er on the discussion group which he ,
conducts in Detroit. The writer will
attend a meeting of the group Tues-
day, in order to give a first-hand ac-.
count of the meeting.
By FRANCES PAINE
In any social order less than a de-
mocracy, the people are not prepared
with information and understanding
to deal with sudden emergencies in-
telligently, according to Prof. Wesley
H. Maurer of the journalism depart-
ment.
"In a democracy, however, where
the channels of information are free,
the people, because they are in-
formed, may prevent crises or deal
effectively with them as they arise. It
is here that discussion groups per-
form their function," says Prof.
Maurer, who has been for 15 years
moderator of such a group sponsored
by the University Exchange Service.
Results Of Meetings
"In meeting together," Prof. Maur-
er says, "citizens inform each other,
come to understand and appraise
the varying claims, and are prepared
to participate more cooperatively in
meeting their common problems.
Aside from the understanding and
tolerance that are created through
continuous group meetings, the citi-
g zen acquire thereby the compe-
tence to keep his institutions and

their representatives in their proper
place."
"The customary channels of radio,
newspapers and platforms as they are
being conducted today are inadequate,
since, in general, they are largely
committed to the past and to main-
taining things as they are," he con-
tinues.
Cofmopolitan Point Of View
The chief value of such discussion
groups, which Prof. Maurer admits
are rather unorthodox in their edu-
cational methods, is, in giving citizens
opportunity to sense the whole of so-
ciety. Provincial and specialized in-
terests are pooled and the result tends
to be a more "cosmopolitan point of
view."
At the discussion group in Flint,
in t h formation of which Prof.
Maurer has served as adviser, the
question "What is the object of a
discussion group?" was raised. Some
said that it was to arrive at the truth,
but the group soon decided that since
there are various truths and even the
congresses of men all over the world
cannot agree on whose truth is cor-
rect, the purpose of a discussion
group is certainly not to convert each
other. Still, changes of attitudes, if
not slways in idea, do come about in
free discussion groups, and it was
agreed that the change is in the qual-
ity of thinking.

The suggestion was made that the
pleasure of group association, despite
individual disagreements, is a prin-
ciple aim of a discussion meeting. In
a democracy, the members felt, "the
essential discipline was to learn how
to live at peace though in disagree-
ment."
The participant, Prof. Maurer ex-
plained, learns that cooperation
among people with different views is
no: so difficult as it seemed; he dis-
covers that there are grounds of unity
even where differences abound. Where
he may formerly have disliked peo-
ple with whom he disagrees, he finds
that ideas, however conservative or
radical, make the person.
Intellectual Repressions
It was also suggested at the Flint
discussion that release from various
repressive influences in our society is
Local Discussion Group
Prof. Maurer has had many re-
quests for information concerning
the Ann Arbor discussion group.
This group meets at noon every
Thursday at the First Methodist
Church. Co-chairman with Prof,
Maurer is Prof. Donald L. Katzs
of the Department of Chemical
Engineering.
Any citizen in the community--
business or professional men or
University male students-may
attend these meetings. T h e

Film T ruckers
Call Truce in
Wage Dispue
By The Associated Press
DETROIT, Feb. 7-Thirty AFL
film truckers whose strike theatened
to close Michigan's 600 motion pic-
ture theaters tonight called a 30-day
truce in their wage dispute with five
Detroit trucking firms.
State labor mediator Robert Lom-
asney said Frank Fitzsimmons, busi-
ness manager of AFL Teamsters Lo-
cal 99, told him the strike was called
off temporarily after two days pend-
ing further mediation.
The drivers, who haul all films to
Detroit and out-state theaters, are
demanding a 30 per cent wage in-
crease. Lomasney said the compan-
ies had prepared a counter-proposal,
but did not disclose what action, if
any, had been taken on it by the
teamster members.
The truce was declared as Frank
Downey, branch manager of Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer, announced that 20
neighborhood theaters already had
closed because films had been picked
up and no new ones had been deliv-
ered._
Union ~
(Continued from Page 1)
tion of water polo and mass murder.
Some of the JGP girls have prom-
ised to interrupt the dancing not
once but three times, coming on at
45-minute intervals just to make
sure they don't mis anybody. They're
going to present a dance of sorts,
and some singing and a reading. It
has something to do with a plpy
they're thinking of putting on soon.
Exhibits in North Lounge
There will also be some nifty ex-
hibits in the North Lounge concern-
ing landscape design, forestry, and
engineering ( presented by the re-
spective departments and schools.
As an added treat the Union Tower
will be open for those who enjoy
high living. Only the fact that there
are 148 steps to the top should keep
the whole crowd from making a mad
rush up to view the city. Oddly
enough, the Union staircase is pe-
culiar in that there are 151 steps
coming down. Depends on which
side of the staircase one uses.
During the mixer a drawing will
be held to determine lucky prize-
winners, the Union having donated
10 free milkshakes to the cause.
There has been a vicious rumor cir-
culating about campus that there
would be only nine milkshakes
awarded, but the Union stands firm
in its position. It has offered 10 milk-
shakes and, by gum, when the Union
offers 10 milkshakes it means 10
milkshakes. Its generosity, integrity,
and broad-mindedness remain in-
violate.

Campus Highlights

di _ ,


NOW IN STOCK
Y ALE GLEE CLUB
ALBUM
Including the W/i.fenpoof Song, tVake Freshman
XVahe, Shenandoah, and other College Songs,
Sirituals, Sea Chanties,, etc.
at the
Operated by Musicians for Music-Lovers

 lunches are cooperative and there
are no fees of any kind attached
to membership.
afforded in discussion groups. There
are more intellectual repressions,
even today, than we realize. The
home, the office, factory, and even
classroom, do not give, as they should,
opportunity to the individual to speak
his mind: By group discussion the
person's own thinking process is
sharpened. One member of the De-
troit group has said, "I have to get
my idea out of myself so I can look
at it."
Numerous other benefits come to
the individual through participating
in the "group thinking process." He
learns to understand the reasons for
his own beliefs and to become more
agreeable in sharing his beliefs with
others. He learns to recognize the
categories of current thinking; that
is, how does the radical, or the con-
servative, or the liberal, look on pub-
lic affairs.
Fact And Opinion
The participant learns to examine
the validity of information, to distin-
guish between fact and opinion, emo-
tional and reasoned considerations,
inductive and deductive reasoning.
He learns to be critical of fallacies in
thinking. But at the same time he
becomes more tolerant, that it, more
confident, of the reasoning process in
himself and his fellows.

Brown To Leuere . . .
Robert B. Brown, graduate student
in Americana, will lecture on "Col-
lecting Under Arms" at 8 p.m. today
in the William L. Clements Library.
Mr. Brown graduated from the
University in 1937 and served with
the Armed Forces in North Africa and
Italy. His lecture will deal with his
collecting experiences in those areas
and will be accomnpanied by an ex-
hibition of his collections. The lecture
is sponsored by the Wastenaw County
Historial Society and is open to the
public.
SKA Luncheon ...
The Student Religious Association
will hold their weekly Saturday
luncheon-discussion at 12:15 p.m. to-
morrow in Lane Hall.
Dr. Samuel Moffett, Director of the
Presbyterian Board of Foreign Mis-
sions and graduate of Princeton The-
ological Seminary will speak on
"Young People in China."
Those wishing to attend the lunch-
eon-discussion should call Lane Hall
before 10 a.m. tomorrow.
Fisher To Make Tour . . .
Dr. Charles A. Fisher, director of
the University Extension Service, will
leave tomorrow for an extended trip
through the middle and far West.
Dr. Fisher will visit the university
extension centers of Indiana Univer-
sity at Fort Wayne and Indianapolis,
the University of Texas, the Univer-
sity of Southern California, UCLA,
and the University of California at
Berkeley, as well as various other
centers of extension work.
Vets Will Discuss
Plan1s at VO Smoker
The Veterans Organization will
sponsor a smoker at 7:30 p.m. today
in the Labor Hall, 12 W. Liberty, for
all student veterans.
Plans will be discussed for the so-
cial activities scheduled by the VO
for the spring semesters.
All veterans on campus are urged
to attend.
B uy Victory Bonds!

Lane Hall Coffee Hour.. .
The Student Religious Association
will hold their usual Coffee Hour at
4:30 p.m. 'today in Lane Hall.
All students are invited to attend.
: ; :
N ewmxua Club Social ,..
An open house will be held from
7:30 to midnight today at St. Mary's
Student Chapel by the Newman
Club.
All Catholic students have been in-
vited to attend.
Hillel Discussion .,.
Sabbath eve services to be followed
by a fireside discussion and social
hour are planned for 7:45 p.m. today
at B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation.
Prof. Theodore Newcomb of the so-
ciology department will lead the dis-
cussion on the topic "German
Morale."

VA LENT IN E'S
DAY
2 203 East Liberty Phone 2-5616
i..

1946, And Still
Caugit Nappiing
"At the beginning of this war, Ger-
many had the best-equipped, best-
trained army in the world," the his-
tory professor was saying, "Except
for one country."
"And the best example of that best
military force in the world is in the
back of this room-sleeping," he said
as he pointed to a husky Marine,
caught napping.
House Proposal
Opposes Loan
LANSING, Feb. 7-1P)-A resolu-
tion submitted to the House of Rep-
resentatives today by Reps. George A.
Gillespie, Gaines, and A. 0. Decker,
Deckerville, both Republicans, op-
posed a suggested United States loan
to Great Britain on the grounds Brit-
ain had not repaid a World War I
loan or World War II lend-lease from
this nation.
Buy Victory Bonds.

205 East Liberty Street

Phone 3675

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