PAGE FOUR T"HE MICHIG~AN n A TLY THURSDAY. APRIL 1l1946 j,.:.:.. ,a s.. sr ivs a t+ AI..lR 3. V L'jl 1 L 1'S 1 }J 1 r 4 a . I IT SO HAPPENS 0 True Confessions c ttepj tO the ,Iop In The Day's Work :HEPUBLICATIONS BUILDING has an at- nosphere all of its distinctive own, and we find an occasional stroll through the premises highly profitable. Yesterday, we dropped into the Gargoyle of- fice just long enough to overhear the General Manager and one of his cohorts deciding on next month's gags on the basis of seniority. And as we lolled over the coke machine the woman's page bulletin board caught our perpet- ually roving eye. A tough assignment sheet hit an errant reporter with this comment, "That Vfeatch wasn't too hot." We don't want to seem rdic, but ... * * * * From Haunts Of Coot WE WERE CERTAIN that accusing our fair coeds of all sorts of wrongdoing would bring a hail of protest and denial, but we never con- ceived that its rumblings would carry way over to the Law School. Last night,, a tired, unshaven former Daily editor, well on his way to a career groped into the Daily office and murmured, "What's all this we hear about there being coeds on cam- pus?" * * * * Indirect Slander Q VERHEARD in a class studying Voltaire: "Voltaire was, in shor.t, a cad, a beast, a speculator and a sneak." Evidently language left over from between- classes discussion of Free Press reporters. * * * * Wonderland of Publicity THE UBIQUITOUS GAG-MAN has turned up again, this time from Washington where he seems to have moved in on the Republican Na- tional Committee. A press service reporter, who apparently has nothing to do except dream these things up, has begun the task of humanizing the new Chairman of the Republican National Committee-never an easy job. Reports this desperate man, "Chairman B. Carroll Reese told me today they call him 'Stub' for stubborn." The possibilities are endless, but the one that appeals most to us is 'Fat' for fatigued. Unpleasant News Brief WE NOTE with dismay an Associated Press re- port that the Prohibition Party of Michigan has qualified for a place on the 1946 election bal- lot. It's not that the present handling of Michi- gan's alcoholic supply doesn't approximate pro- hibition; it's that outright illegality will bring back what was known on the Rhine as buzz bomb juice. Semantic Merry-Go-Round THIS may seem like a quibble, but there's a new organization in Washington that has us going in a semantic circle. It's called the Re- publican Open Forum, but after briefly perus- ing the literature involved, we can't make up our minds whether it's strictly for GOPsters or as open to diverse opinion as the Tower of Babel. NIGHT EDITOR: ANNETTE SHENKER Editorials published in The Michigan Daily are written by members of The Daily staff and represent the views of the writers only. At What Point is It Aggresston? SOONER OR LATER, the UN will have to de- cide what constitutes aggression and what will be done to prevent it from culminating in World War III. Recent events are forcing this conclusion. In February the State Department issued its sensational "'Blue Book," which charged that the Nazis have in Argentina a base to rebuild their aggressive power while the homeland is occupied. Last week, Poland charged that Spain is har- boring German atomic scientists and Nazi war criminals. It is not clear yet what the UN will do about the Polish charges, but the State Department's "Blue Book" has been all but forgotten since the Argentine people voted the alleged fascist Colonel Peron back into office. THE searing indictments which the State De- partment and Poland have seen fit to deliver should not be ignored. One is strongly reminded, on hearing of them, of the accusations which were hurled at Germany, Italy and Japan in the 1930's-accusations which proved to be justified. In the past, no action has been taken against an aggressor nation until its armies were over the borders of its neighbor. We have learned that to delay retaliation can be suicidal. What the UN needs is a test of "aggressive intent" and-what is more important-the determination to deal with such "intent" be- fore the peace has been violated. HE alleged aid which Argentina and Spain gave Nazi Germany during the war and are continuing to give now provides such a test. The The Hoover Mansion To The Editor: Last summer, at New port, Rhode Island, one of the large estates was given over to the manage- ment of a young service man's wife. This woman rented the rooms to Navy couples, preferably those with children, who were stationed at the base. The living room, dining room, and kitchen were cooperative rooms and shared by all. Each couple had one bedroom and shared a bath with not more than two other couples. There was a general air of cooperation and everyone was very happy with the arrangement. A short while ago I was in Ann Arbor and not- iced a large home, formerly a fraternity house, located on Washtenaw Avenue near the edge of town. Since I was one of the Navy wives in the above situation, I immediately thought how suit- able this house was for such a project as de- scribed above. The first step was to contact the University, and there I found that they had contemplated buying the house but they thought it would en- tail too much expense in the remodeling to be satisfactory to them. I, meanwhile, had found a friend who would shoulder the financial aid necessary for the major repairs, and I was sure that there were many veterans who would coop- erate in the painting and other minor repairs for the privilege of having a place to live with their families. The city of Ann Arbor was then contacted by me and this is where the plan has failed. It seems that the city government does not wish to cooperate in making the place available for rent or sale to anyone who wishes to alleviate the housing shortage. I met with evasions and cold- ness when I simply inquired concerning the possi- bility of acquiring the house for the purpose men- tioned. One commissioner said he thought the zoning law would prohibit the use of the house for veterans' families, another commissioner re- marked that he did not believe it would pay- something I had not even mentioned and still another said that the deed did not allow the city to do anything .but hold the property for another few years. I am voicing my protest for the citizens and veterans who may not know that such is the case of a vacant home in Ann Arbor, Thank you for reading this case. -Mrs. Wimburn L. Wallace EDITOR'S NOTE: Mayor w. E. Brown, Jr., told The Daily yesterday that when the city took over the Hoo- ver property under provision of the State tax law, the city had no legal right to rent the house. In order to make the property available, by resolution of Com- mon Council, the city has deeded it back to the State Land Board which will make it available for sale im- mediately to be sold at auction open to anyone in the state. Sinister State St. To The Editor: "Jack be nimble, Jack be quick" seems to be a popular phrase these days when speaking about the State Street crossing in front of the Union. And if Jack isn't athletically inclined-he will lose "his beloved behind." Every self-respecting boy scout has deserted this crossing. Then again, it is not a case of try- ing to help someone else to cross State Street, it popular phrase these days when speaking about is all one can do to rhumba HIMSELF across to the other side. Ann Arbor drivers, on the other hand, are not TOO much to blame. They do slow down to aboUt 40 or 50 when the pass the Union!! It seems that everyone is trying to get his mother-in-law to the depot on time. To add to this, some of the town's lovely old ladies seem to think that they are female counterparts of Barney Oldfield. I have seen every type of char- acter in God's world push a car down that street. That is, everything but a poodle or a student un- der 26. And they all seem heavy in the feet and light in the head. I myself am a confirmed jay- walker, but the idea of trying to beat out those murderous cars is beyond me. Most of the fellows I know feel as though they should be served bracer-shots before they attempt the crossing. So far, we have been pretty lucky and everyone seems to be in one piece. But some morning someone is going to be dashing for an eight o'clock class, and before lie knows it, he is going to be giving the pavement a blood transfusion. Now certainly, no one wants to have a person injured or killed, so what's the remedy? The rem- edy can be any number of things; a stop light, a policeman, or what have you, would serve the purpose admirably. Forgive me if my attitude seems that of a jok- er. I don't intend it to be such, for this is a seri- ous matter-so serious that it must not be over- looked. I believe that it is the job of the Ann Ar- bor safety council to alleviate the situation at once or be held amenable for any accident occur- ring on State Street in front of the Union. --Freddie Laskow * * * * Plus ca+Ciuge To The Editor: As a matter of fact, anyone is just as free to establish a League of the Militant Godless (for all its Russian sound) in the United States as in the Soviet Union. He is protected by the free speech and free press clauses of the federal and' state constitutions. But I hope our Militant friend will pardon a smile. He reminds me so irresistibly of a character invented by H. G. Wells in 1915: "Dodd is a leading Imember of the Rational- 1 1 ist Press Association, a militant agnostic, and a dear, compact man, one of those Middle Vic- torians who go about with a preoccupied, caulking air, as tho, after having been at great cost and pains to banish God from the universe not to permit Him back on any terms what- soever , . . Boon used to declare that every night Dodd looked under his bed for the Deity, and slept with a large revolver under his pil- low for fear of a Revelation." -Preston Slosson * * * * Haven For Magillem To The Editor: DICK MAGILLEM, '46 Lit, spokesman for all campus freethinkers, atheists and agnostics, certainly has much to learn before graduating this June. In my opoinion, Dick, the social-con- scious freethinkers and atheists are well repre- sented in the Student Religious Association. As an imparital observer, and agnostic myself, I have found many atheists and agnostics to be very active supporters of SRA. I have heard very heated but friendly arguments between "believ- ers" and "non-believers" over their respective views on religion take place right in Lane Hall. I know of at least three agnostics who are mem- bers of the Executive Committee of SRA. No, Dick, the social conscious atheists are represent- ed on campus-and I might say contribute much to the intellectual attitude of SRA. I agree that certain religious groups don't want freethinkers, but that's not true of SRA. Lane Hall stands for one thing, in my opin- ion-fellowship. If the many freethinkers, ag- nostics, and atheists whom you represent want an organization, you have one at SRA. In fact, I'll bet the Association will even give you an office and help you get started. Let me say, however, that if your type of ag- nostic represents a selfish, anti-social brand of atheism, not only SRA will say to hell with you but any socially responsible group will. But if you are a sincere, democratic group and don't think you know all there is to know, SRA and you will get along fine. Let me know when you get organized, Dick, and I'll be your first subscriber. -Homer Underwood, '46 * * * * Meaningless Phrases To the Editor: TGTHE LETTER written by the Rev. David Blake, Jr., published in The Daily April 13 may I add a loud and hearty Amen. It is a strange and confusing fact that Americans are so adept at talking about freedom, justice and equality for all when attempting to paint Amer- ica to the world, and yet are so inept'at prac- ticing their sermons and living up to their glow- ing adjectives when it comes down to common everyday experience. The fact that Negroes are prevented from volunteering for the Michigan State Troops is just one of many forms of unjust racial discrim- ination practiced widely all over this "land of the 'free' ' I had thought before coming to Michigan that here I would find, within the walls of a university, an atmosphere of fair- mindedness superior to that prevailing in the average American community. In general this has been true. College students in general are more interested in world- affairs and more open- minded in their discussions of controversial sub- jects than the average American. And yet, even on the campus of so large a university as this, racial discrimination in personal relations is practiced. Restaurants refuse to serve Negroes, employment of Negroes is subject to personal prejudice on every hand. It is easy to talk of large world-significant problems. The very size of the subjects make much loud talking' easy and reduce criticism to a minimum if nothing tangible is accomplished. But when it comes down to unprejudiced rela- tions between people of different races, it is an- other matter. Let the MYDA, SRA, the sororities and fraternities, and the student populace as a whole sponsor a campaign to promote non-preju- diced relations, and then let us as individuals practice them. Then perhaps we can honestly lay claim to being citizens of a democracy. -George R. Crossman St. Lawrence Project The mystery about the St. Lawrence project is not why it ought to be built, but why it was not built long ago. Who is against it, and why? This idea was recommended before the First World War. The basic survey was made in 1921 by Colonel Hugh L. Cooper, America's greatest authority on river development, who designed the Dnieperstroy Dam in Russia, The plan was backed in succession by Presidents Coolidge, Hoo- ver, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Truman. It was advocated by Secretaries of State Hughes, Kel- logg, Stimson, Hull and Byrnes, by New York Governors Smith, Roosevelt, Lehman and Dewey, Secretaries of the Navy Edison and Knox. It is recommended by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the War Department. It has had wide support by business, agriculture and labor, by conserva- tives and progressives, by the Midwest, New York and the New England States. It is favored by Ca- nada. It awaits only action by the Congress of the United States. -George Soule, in the New Republic Consensus: Coeds OK Pure Fantasy To The Edito: This letter may be regarded as a bitter protest submitted with refer- ence to a certain article which ap- peared in the April 17, 1946 issue of the Detroit Free Press. This article, appearing under the title "Co-eds Atsailed by U. of M. Vets," is far more shocking to the undersigned veterans than is the alleged condi- tion which is so luridly depicted by Mr. Kenyon in his article. We vigor- ously criticize such derogatory mis- informaicn as being totally un- founded and decidedly unjust. We' consider this article to be a flagrant insult to the University of Michigan. co-eds as well as to student veterans enrolled here at the University. No community can be socially pure, but the situation depicted by Mr. Ken- yon is pure fantasy. On the basis of such meager information, the slan- derous nature of this article cannot be denied. Forty-four signatures -Thomas A. Wright EDITOR'S NOTE: These comments and those appearing in the rest of the column are only selections and excerpts from the steady stream of protest which has fol- lowed the Detroit Free Press's publica- tion of various charges concerning the average Michigan coed and the average' veteran's opinion of her. Unless further letters add point or sharpness to the al- most unanimous reaction, no more will be published.) di e Vets Like 'U' The impression has been given' that, collectively the vets are sup- porting the views of a few prudes. Naturally the veterans do not con- done promiscuity and other turpi- tudes. They do not condemn, for evidence of loose morals at the Uni- versity is nearly non-existent. The few instances that there may be are not confined to Michigan; every col- lege in the country has its prob- lem-children. The veterans refute Norman Ken- yn's column and all others which attempt to represent them as dissat- isfied, maladjusted people. We are normal, just like everybody else. We enjoy the same things the majority of other people do. We are students, not problems, and resent being made to appear as such. We came here be- cause we wanted to. We are here be- cause we like it. These are the sentiments on the subject reflected by the inhabitants of 2nd floor, Tyler House-and no doubt, the whole E Quad. -Marvin A. Cassell Post-War Coed I was agreeably surprised to find upon my return after three years service that Michigan coeds had improved both physically and in- tellectually from their predeces- sors. They arerbetter-groomed, more tastefully dressed, and have acquired from the recent exper- ience of war a more acute under- standing of the social and econom- ic problemns that arise in the com- plicated world we live in. Aside from the natural exhuberance of people just released from four years of war, I have noticed no traces of moral disintegration on the part of our coeds. To get down to the fundamental issue would bare the contributors of the Free Press article as the ultimate in hypocrisy. Should their statements be true in even the most limited sense; that is, that they have en- countered some coed with moral standards as low as theirs, they still reveal themselves as adherents to the "double standard"--a left-over from the "superior male intellect" theory. -Philip HL. McLean Coeds Slandered What can college men and wo- men do in retaliation against these attacks? Every Michigan woman stands slandered . . . her morals rudely discredited in headlines. If we ignore this attack, we endanger the campuses of the nation which will also be used by the local slan- der sheets for similar news sensa- tions. -Nan'ey Helm ick O- Quaified .THE girls today, in the maiority, ,are trying to 'beat each others time'! They pile up dates as fast as they possibly can-enjoyment and sincere, simple thoughts and words are not part of their talk during a date. All we ask is a fair deal, we admit there are men of the wolf caliber but you must remember there are women in the same category. -D. Leber By Crockett Johnson DAILY OFFICIAL BULLETIN Continued fromr 1'.ge'2 fsin, will spea