--PAG FOUR .. a ..a tai r I .1 iv I .,Wi 1 r 0tl1'.U'dlflY 1 U±WVYLR ~ ~~13, 19 L. of M. F oru N IMPORTATION from Oxford has pro- vided the answer to long standing stu- dent objections to the Political Speakers ban. Taking a leaf from the Oxford Union's book, students here can build an organi- zation which will allow them to discuss political issues and anything else of importance that, comes up. We are speaking of the Oxford Union plan, presented at a -special session of the Stu- dent Legislature by Rhodes Scholar Ralph M. Carson, Michigan graduate and the only American ever to become president of thatj Union. This is the first constructive solution ever to come out of the political speaker contro- versy. Previously, all student objections to the ban have been taken the form of protests and petitions but no alternatives have been offered to the Board of Regents. Although the defeat of the ban is de- sirable from a student point of view, repeal by the Regents has less chance than "a snowball in hell" of being achieved. Here is the answer. Under the Oxford system, which has flour- ished for 125 years, political issues are dis- cussed in open forums. The plan works like this: Editorials published in The Michigan Daily are written by members of The Daily staff and represent the views of the writers only. NIGHT EDITOR: CRAIG H. WILSON First, the president of the Union se- lects the motion to be debated. The mo- tion takes a definite stand on the issue under discussion. Then, two speakers lead off the debate on either side of the issue. The speakers may be students, but more often important polit- ical figures come to Oxford and present their side of the questions. The opening speeches are limited to fifteen minutes each. After this, the motion is thrown open to debate from the floor. A At the end of the evening, students file out through doors marked yea and, nay, in- dicating their decision on the debate. If adopted here, the students could de- bate any issues that comes up since the speakers ban only applies to individuals. The importance of the Oxford Union Plan, which would probably be called the Michigan Forum here, lies in the fact that it can be put into operation AT ONCE. If the Michigan Forum had been in oplera- tion before' the election, debates, such asp the one between the Young Republicans and Democrats, which was banned, could have been held. The Student Legislature hasetaken the first step toward reviving on the campus a real chance to freely express their views. It is up to SL, and to the rest of the campus to put into effect one of the finest ideas that has hit Michigan in a long time. -Al Blumrosen. Don McNeil. Craig Wilson. Responsible Press A LARGE NATIONAL magazine recently featured a survey conducted by Har- vard's Arthur Schlesinger on the perform- ances of U.S. presidents. Prof. Schlesinger contacted, 55 eminent authorities on U.S. history in making his, poll. These experts gave the rank of "Great" to six of our past chief executives. The six immortals are Lincoln, Washing- ton, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Wilson, Jeffer- son and Jackson, in that order. In interpreting these results Prof. Schles- inger points out that the press regularly threw their weight in election campaigns against the "great" Presidents with the ex- ception of the sacrosanct Washington. He notes that the fourth estate tried to defeat Jefferson and Lincoln when they ran for the first time, fought Jackson and Wil- son in both campaigns and lambasted F.D.R. in all four of his elections. Each of these men took the side of pro- gressivism and reform as measured by the standards of their times. Furthermore, all six are identified with some crucial point in our history. They pushed territorial ex- pansion, prevented secession, abolished slavery, cond'ucted financial reform and introduced vast social and economic changes in our government. That these policies were beneficial to the nation seems to be born out by their con- tinued existence and the acclaim that pos- terity has awarded them. Is it not fair to infer from this that the newspapers of the country have chronically opposed the will of the people? Where does this place U.S. journalism? To this writer, a newspaper that does not have the promotion of the common good as its chief aim is not worthy of the name. This trend has become more pronounced in modern times. National editorial opinion was almost universally opposed to the New Deal. Most of its legislation and philosophy, however, have received popular acclaim and seem to be here to stay. In the recent election campaign the American press almost exclusively sup- ported Gov. Dewey and his platform. Whether Mr. Truman's administration will receive the approbation of history re- mains to be seen. What is significant is the fact that the great majority of the newspapers opposed the will of a ma- jority of the voters. Possibly there is an element of truth in the frequently voiced liberal claim that the editorial pages are merely the propaganda medium of reac- tion. At one time newspapers occupied a place of major importance in the U.S. political scene. They still do to a lesser extent today. However, with the continuing crystallization of liberal opinion into stable political forces, publishers will have to change their tune if newspapers are going to continue to be an effective part of our political scene. Without a change in newspaper policy, leading to a more representative press, they must contemplate the day when their sup- port alone will constitute sufficient reason in the eyes of the public for the rejection of policy. -Dave Thomas. I'D RATHER BE RIGHT: Still Dazed By SAMTIUEL GRAFTON ED FELT THAT there had been something chastened about the political conserva- tions in the commuters' train ever since the election overturn. There were discussions, as always, but they seemed to lack bounce. The men with the brief cases spoke with a kind of reserve, and an unusual quietness, as if in the presence of a great marvel, Even so, Ed was not prepared for the change in Martin, his old opponent. Martin came along one evening, and as usual, sat beside Ed. He took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and with great care, selected one. Then he fished for matches, found a pad, considered it as if he were a little surprised at the way it looked, and very slowly lighted up. It was unlike Martin, whose gestures were us- ually quick and nervous; it was, Ed could not help thinking, as if Martin were find- ing something strange and unfamiliar about the most ordinary concerns of every- day life. "Well, Ed, what do you hear?" asked Mar- tin. "I don't hear much, Martin," said Ed. "What do you think he's goi~ng to do now?" asked Martin. He? Why that would be Truman, Ed realized. Martin had never referred to Truman as "he" in that understood, un- adorned way ever. before. "Why, I don't know what he'll do," said Ed. "We'll get some housing, maybe, and some price control." 'Um," said Martin. And then suddenly Ed recognized Mar- tin's, expression. It was the one he had used to wea during the Roosevelt years, a kind of patient look, as of one who is show- ing he can endure monstrous things. Ed was amused. "Well, we put it over on you," he couldn't help saying * * "Um," said Martin. Then in a quiet, al- most a reflective voice, he began to speak. "It's damn funny, Ed," he said. "Ever since Roosevelt died, I was sure we had you Democrats on the run. There was only once when I was scared. That was just before the Democratic convention, when there was a chance you might nominate Eisenhower. I had a sinking feeling then, I don't mind saying. I felt, that's life for you, you get the beggars on the run, and they pull a rabbit out of the hat. Then, when you nominated Truman, I was re- lieved. Until election day. And I still can't understand it. Ed reflected. Martin deserved a thought- ful answer. But maybe the answer was right in the question. Yes, it, was as if something new had been thrown into the pot. It really was as if there had been an Eisenhower. Only it was the people who had been him. They'd become their own Eisenhower. their own glamour. They had endowed themselves with that touch of faith and magic which, earlier in the summer, they had tried so anxiously to give to someone, anyone, who would lead. Yes, there had been al addition to the na- tional cast of characters; there was a new personality, a new entity to reckon with, high and exciting. It was the people. Only it would be hard to sa all this to Martin. "I guess you just missed the boat, Ma- tin," said Ed, as the train, seeming to scent the open country ahead, picked up speed for the long run. (Copyright, 1948, New ork Post Corporation) Prac tiCal Ide AS THE OUTLOOK for the United Nations' success becomes more discouraging, the concept of a world federation has become an increasingly practical idea. Admittedly, the UN's attempts as a group of individualistic nations have failed. That thing called patriotism has been an incessant and seemingly insur- mountable obstacle in its quest for world peace. Therefore, it would seem that our only hope lies in the possibility of establishing a world federation. Nationalistic tendencies must be submerged and replaced by inter- nationalism. But before we blindly accept such a pro- posal, we must consider what such an alli- ance would incur. First, Eie United States, indisputably the world's greatest power, would be compelled to surrender its sovereignty. For what chances of success could be hoped for un- less this country took the initial step? Without the U.S., we would be merely plott- ing another League of Nations. Secondly, a world federation is in direct violation to Great Britain's principles of socialism. Therefore, she is confronted with the same demands as the U.S.-the surrender of sovereignty. Finally, would Russia accept such a plan? Everyone agrees that today's two great powers are Russia and the United States. And it is universally known too that their basic principles of government are in direct violation to each other. It would seem then that the only conceivable means of uniting these two is through world federalism. But whether or not the USSR would re- ject the proposal of the U.S. and Great _; .: . .. x ; ;=: k, : 1,111 Y ,:, .. News of the Week WORLD NEWS Although rumors were rampant in Paris and the United States that Truman and Stalin might meet soon to try and reach an agree- ment on East-West differences, action on the international scene did not bear out the mood. United Nations ... . The political committee of the United Nations Assembly formally condemned the Soviet satellites of Albania, Bulgaria, and Yugoslavia for interfering in Greece on the part of the guerrillas. To charges hurled by Vishinsky that Greece, with the knowledge of the U. S. and Britain was preparing to hurl poison gas at the guer- rillas, John Foster Dulles accused the Soviet bloc of trying to frus- trate UN action with a filibuster. r l -- ._ - :- « I ° a r. _ / - . ,; a a .. , 1 ....., : "Tell You What -= I'll Make You A Very Special Offer" WAS44,,wC~t.. Posfl Letters to the Editor... * * * * MATTER OF FACT: Manhattan District By JOSEPH and STEWART ALSOP WASHINGTON--Another Manhattan Dis- trict is needed. That is the only possible conclusion from the shocking results of the Navy's recent Newfoundland war exercises. For those who missed the all too brief stories from the scene, the Newfoundland results may be summarized as follows: The plan for the exercises was for a strong task force of 100 Naval vessels to establish a bridgehead on the Newfound- land coast. The defensive role was as- signed to eight Schnorkel-equipped sub- marines, modelled on the high-speed, long- range, radar-proof German Type 21. The eight defenders "sank" virtually the entire Naval task force, and of course theoret- ically prevented the landing. The significance of these results lies in a single bleak and simple set of facts, first reported in this space many months ago. The Soviet Navy is now primarily an undersea fleet. Under reparations the Soviets secured from Germany component parts, complete submarines and equipment for building the Type 21. The picture is not all black, to be sure. A small number of vessels in the Newfound- land task force were especially equipped with new submarine detecting and destroy- ing devices experimentally developed with the Type 21 in mind. While all but a small proportion of the total task force was "de- stroyed," all but 15 per cent of the specially equipped vessels escaped the wolf pack's attacks. Thus there is already hope that the American Navy can, regain the capability of defending itself and the ,sea supply lines that are its first responsibility. On the other hand, a crucial question of investment priorities is obviously raised. The Navy staff asserts that the capacities of the Navy are being strained to the utmost, both to modernize the anti-sub- is being done about this most urgent of all our defense problems. The funds being spent on anti-submarine research are invidiously compared with the funds allocated to certain other projects, such as the Navy's giant carrier, which will be utterly useless, of course, unless it can be defended against anti-submarine attack). But the real differences of viewpoint between Navy and J.R.D.B. apparently lies in the phrase above, "the capacities of the Navy." The Navy is undoubtedly doing all that any service can to counter the danger under- seas. Unfortunately, however, any purely naval effort of this sort must always suffer from the peculiarities of service budgeting, the rigidity of business done through chan- nels, and similar limitations. Money can be no object, since the whole huge annual appropriation of the Navy will have little value until this problem of sub- marine danger has been removed. The job must be done at all costs and with all ur- gency. Meanwhile, only one stop-gap ex- pedient is open. Immediate alliance with the Western European Union will permit im- mediate establishment of air and other bases overseas, and immediate stock-piling in Europe. In the present atmosphere, taking out this form of insurance is also urgent. Copyright, 1948, New York Herald Tribune, Inc. hb d Berlin ... The Russians threatened to force down American and British airlift planes that fly outside of the three air corridors in the supply route to Berlin and Gen. Lucius D. Clay replied quickly "that we will keep them flying." * * * * ' Palestine Charges .. . Israel charged that British troops. had entered Palestine to aid the Arab forces (who's position the UN truce Mission said was hope- less) and was arming both Iraq and Trans-Jordan. Brig. Gen. Wil- liam E. Riley of the UN Truce Mission advised the Arab governments to make peace with Israel. * .* * * France for DeGaulle ... Political tension in France heightened as Gen. Charles DeGaulle's anti-Communist forces won a sweeping victory in the Upper house of French Parliament. * * * * NATIONAL The Cabinet-. James Forrestal, himself, indicated that he would not be in the next cabinet, as speculations rose as to who would replace Forrestal and Marshall come January. The President had no comment. Un-American .. While sentiment in the House was being raised for the elimina- tion of the Un-American Activities Committee and substitution of a "Civil Right Committee, ex-Committee head J. Parnell Thomas was having troubles of his own. He was indicted by a grand jury for defrauding the government in his Washington office. Gerhiard. Again . Gerhardt Eisler, one time campus visitor, was to go before the Su- preme Court soon on the charges of Contempt for Congress. He had been jailed for refusinrg to answer questions about his Communist affiliations. NLRB Rules.. . The UEW was threatened with ouster from several private plants as a result of a NLRB ruling calling for plant election-without the UEW on the ballot because of its refusing to comply with Taft-Hart- ley requirements. LOCAL Aftermath. John Kephart '49 E nosed a peanut across the sidewalk in front of Angell Hall and the election was over. Band.. . An article in Life and the fact that the University Marching Band had used up its travel budget for the year prompted gave rise to a spontaneous drive by students to chip in enough to get the band to Ohio State. The Life article said in effect that OSU's band was the best in the country. At weeks end, over $1,700 had been collected from individuals, stu- dent organizations and merchants by The Daily, which was acting as clearing house for the pledges of money. Bandsmen were packing mit- tens and getting ready to show USO what a real band looked like. Facts of Life... It looked like the high cost of living was going to stop the annual Marriage Lecture arranged for Seniors. The cost of the lectures this year had made them impossible and other fund raising plans were not forthcoming. Politics ... Over a hundred students were preparing for a fight to the finish election in two weeks. With Student Legislature, J-hop committee, and Senior Class offices at stake, it looked like one of the busiest two weeks in campus history was just beginning. The Daily accords its readers the privilege of submitting letters for publication in this column. Subject to space limitations, the general pol- icy Is to publish in the order in which they are received all letters bearing the writer's signature and address. Letters exceeding 300 words, repeti- tious letters and letters of a defama- tory character or such letters which for any other reason are not in good taste will not be published. The editors reserve the privilege of con- densing letters. . " s Whose Fate? To the Editor: ON MONDAY, Nov. 15, I go on trial by proxy. I'm one of the "divers other persons to the Grand Jury unknown" who conspired with the twelve Communist lead- ers. Am I worried? You bet. The indictment says that the twelve Communists conspired among themselves and with guys like me to knowingly and willfully organize the Communist Party, "and knowingly and willfully to advocate and teach the duty and necessity of overthrowing and de- stroying the government of the United States by force and vio- lence" in violation of the Smith Act. This vicious lie and monstrous distortion is the government's case, and they intend to prove it by selected quotations from Marx and Lenin. That's more of a job for one of Luce's bright young men than a serious Federal attorney. And when you realize that, you see the real nature of this farcical trial . . . it is not to be a sober presentation of evidence against criminals caught red-handed in the act, but rather a dramatic at- tempt to convict by demagogy with all the force of the nation's press to spread the lie and mo- bilize public opinion. For the real jury in this trial will be the peo- ple of the country-and only the degree of their protest will meas- ure the outcome. The fate of the twelve Commu- nists will be my fate. A conviction will mean the outlawing of the Communist Party and jailing of the twelve. Will that satisfy reac- tion? No, they'll round up me and every other known party member. I've asked for it, but what about you? They'll extend the dragnet to every progressive who ever ex- pressed his convictions and acted on them-the cigarette and coffee radicals will be considered dan- gerous, too, and every person who in any way resists the sweep to fascism. That's what Communists predict on the basis of history-the his- tory of every nation where out- lawing of Communists was the in- itial step in fascist oppression. We Communists are proud of our role in the history of our country. We will use the trial as a forum to challenge those who would distort that history. We will challenge them to produce evi- dence of any act of treason or se- dition. We will declare ourselves as opponents of American reac- tion at home and imperialism abroad. We will declare our con- viction that only socialism, freely determined by the majority of the people, can end the conflict in our society and the mad joy-ride to economic disaster and atomic war. And from that forum we call on all Americans to defend their heritage and defeat fascism at its birth by asserting the right of all men to their convictions. Our day in court will determine your fu- ture. -Bill Carter. * * * Let Them Stay Home To the Editor: SIS-BOOM-BAH! Hooray! Let's' send the band to Ohio State! It's great to have that much school spirit-$2,000 worth. But is this the greatest expression of true school spirit that Michigan can muster? Two thousand dollars would be a welcome and worth-while addition to the fund being raised to sup- port DP students here on campus. After all, which is more creative for our reputation and- a greater laurel around our collective brow: (a> -an announcement over the p.a. at the Ohio State game to the effect that students have decided to give the money to the DP stu- dent-fund, or (b) a three-minute appearance on the field of a weary band forced away from some much-needed study to answer a non-existent challenge set forth in a jaded and stereotyped Life magazine article. If Michigan students are indeed the rah-rah, thoughtless crew which would take up an empty rivalry as therein invited to do, then DP students had better look Naug Fifty-Ninth Year 1 to some other campus for ac- ademic and intellectual life. It's up to the student body. Ho can we best lead the Big Nine- in academic and humanitarian en- deavor, or in having a better ban than Ohio State? -Lucille Waldorf, Phyllis Mer- ritt, Pat Merritt, Sue Siris, Dorianne Zipperstein, Mary- lin Klafer, Ruth Cohen, Lynn Gutenberg and others. To the Editor: [T WAS WITH feelings of sur- prise that we read this morn- ing that several organizations o this campus. The Michigan Daily included among them, were solic iting funds to send the Universit Marching Band to Columbus for next week's football game. Suc a show of spirit is commendable to be sure, but rather wastefu when considered in the light o other, more urgent, ways of ex pressing enthusiasm. Certainly it is noble to con tribute our extra pennies to up- holding the honor of our Alma Mater, but in these days of uni, versal woe, sickness and starva- tion, it appears to be an extrava- gant luxury. There is certainly no need for us to re-emphasize th~ dire straits in which several mil lion of our fellow-human being find themselves this winter. Th' front-page of the same issue oi The Daily reported famine strik ing in starved China, cold, hungry, wintersahead in Europe. Let us heed the outstretched hands, the pleading eyes, the haunting faces of our less fortu- nate brethren and contribute our spare pennies, dimes, dollars tq their aid; surely we all know our band and team need no vindi- cation. Various groups on campus are sponsoring several DP stu- dents; help them. CARE still is sending food to Europe; contrib- ute. Meals for Millions is sendingo food all over the world to, famine areas; contribute. Ask yourself: Which is more im- portant, the assuaging of the hurt1 pride of the band we know is good, or the granting of life and hope to men and women to build the world of today and tomorrow? If you want more information about where to send your contrib- utions, please feel free to contact any of us. y-Leo Lutwak, George Miroff, Kenneth Yoss. COMMUNISTS, having complet- the the conquest of all Man- churia, have control of a big chunk of North China, are driving to- ward the Yangtze River and Nan- king. There seems to be very little to stop them. And, once they reach Yangtze, they'll have solid 'control of the food, coal, industrial and transport resources without which Nationalist China will be helpless. -U.S. News and World Report. Edited and managed by students of the University of Michigan under the authority of the Board in Control of Student Publications. Editorial Staff Harriett Friedman ...Managing Editor Dick Maloy ................City Editor Naomi Stern .........Editorial Director Allegra Pasqualetti ....Associate Editor Arthur Higbee ........Associate Editor Murray Grant...........Sports Editor Bud Weidenthal ..Associate Sports Ed. Bev Bussey ......Sports Feature Writer Audrey Buttery......Women's Editor Bess Hayes ................Librarian Business Staff Richard Hait .......Business Manager Jean Leonard ....Advertising Manager William Culman..Finance Manager Cole Christian .... .Circulation Manager Telephone 23-24-1 Member of The Associated Press The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news dispatches credited to it or otherwise credited to this newspaper. All rights of republication of all other matters herein are also reserved. Entered at the Post Office at Ann Arbor, Michigan, as second-class mail matter. Subscription during the regular school year by carrier, $5.00, by mail, $6.00. Looking Back 50 YEARS AGO TODAY: The Junior Class held their annual elec- tion of officers with the president-elect running on a platform to eliminate the J- Hop. He claimed that as it was not exclu- sively a class affair it should not be called for that class. His plan was rejected. BARNABY~ After the dog talked to Mr. Merrie my Fairy Godfather dropped a brick down the chimney on his head and r No, what really happened is that these/ two fine little kids from Kindergarten. appealed to Mr. Merrie's better nature. As your attorney I advise you not to try to break the agreement to sell the lots for the school. You CAN'T claim duress! 11