THE MICHIGAN DAILY SUNDAY, AfltIL23 19 0 ... _ ,:,, .;... Xf 'ECENTLY an Army Chemical Corps gen- eral told a group of chemists in Detroit a revolutionary new nerve gas that prom- s to have a profound effect on the present ncept of modern warfare. The gas which is easily transported has lie ability to reduce the will of an enemy o resist. Its use would result in great ictories without enormous physical de- truction. When it has been thoroughly refined the s might easily prove to be the greatest dition to weapons of warfare since the omic bomb. Actually it has possibilities even overshadowing the atomic bomb. At the present we attempt to change man's .nd by physically beating him down and turn hoping, that his mind will be made thodox. The numerous wars of history ,ve proven this method quite inefficient:. gardless of how severely a man may be ysically beaten he may still carry in his nd the seeds of an idea that is alien to e victor. With the advent of total war in the last years the necessity of mentally defeating eapons every member of the enemy has risen 1b, paramount importance. If man's ideology could be changed without the use of phy- sical violence, much of the waste, suffering and heartbreak of modern war would be eliminated. Bursting bombs and chattering machine guns would be replaced by super- propaganda and fantastic communicative devices. Now may be the time to re-evaluate our concept of power weapons. We have car- ried physical destruction just about to the ultimate. If the millions of dollars and man-hours now spent on perfecting phy- sical destroying weapons were devoted to research on how best to bring man to our ideology the bloodless war might lie in the not-too-distant future. The cold war is an example of a conflict of ideas. But the prevailing ingredient is not conflicting ideas, it is the fear of guided missiles and atomic bombs. The image of a battle between opposing creeds and ideas is much more appealing than the conventional concept of modern warfare. -Ron Watts OMAS L. STOKES: Regulation Controversy WASHINGTON - The consuming public won a signal victory that it could see, out in the open, when President Truman recently vetoed the Harris-Kerr-Thomas bill designed to exempt "independent" natural gas producers from regulation by the Federal Power Commission. But the story is not ended. The public still might lose some effects of that victory and that takes us to a part of the govern- ment process often overlooked by the pub- lic. That is the commission that adminis- ters regulatory laws under commission form of government. Such commissions have wide discretion, and can make laws really effective or dilute them. Involved in this instance is the Federal Power Commission and the 1938 Natural Gas Act over which there has been constant friction within the FPC as to its scope. The Supreme Court held that under that act the FPC could regulate "independent" producers{ but the FPC has approached the issue divid- ed and warily. The purpose of the Harris- Kerr-Thomas bill was to make sure it did not exercise such power by a specific prohi- bitory statute, a familiar technique in recent years, and that measure squeaked through Congress by close margins under pressure from big oil interests that own the bulk of natural gas reserves. THWARTED BY THE Truman veto, spon- sors of that bill now have concentrated upon the FPC in an effort to recoup in the administrative agency. They include politi- cally powerful figures, notably Speaker Sam Rayburn, to whom the President is beholden for his legislature program and who took the floor i talfy a- n'fe iWthrougfi the House by two votes. Another is Senator Bob Kerr, who has considerable influence among oil men - of which he is one - who have been generous with campaign contributions to the Democratic Party. They want the President to reappoint to the FPC its current chairman, Nelson Lee Smith, a Republican, who is sympathetic with their position. His term expires June 22. Chairman Smith was not only for the Harris-Kerr-Thomas bill and wanted the President to sign it, but in the 80th Con- Editorials published in The Michigan Daily are written by members of The Daily staff and represent the views of the writers only. NIGHT EDITOR: NANCY BYLAN gress he was for amendments to the 1938 Natural Gas Act that went beyond exemp- tion from regulation of independent pro- ducers to include also a new rate-making formula. In that view he was supported by commissioner Harrington Wimberly, a Democratic member from Oklahoma. THOSE WHO FOUGHT the broader Riz- ley-Moore bill of the 80th Congress and the Harris-Kerr-Thomas bill which Presi- dent Truman vetoed are hostile to Mr4 Smith's reappointment because of his atti- tude. In recent years the Commission has been sharply divided over the extent of natural gas regulation, with continual strife. When the Risley-Moore bill was before the 80th Congress, the FPC, on which there was then a vacancy, divided two and two, with Commissioners Claude L. Draper, Republi- can, and Leland Olds, Democrat, opposing it vigorously and Chairman Smith and Com- missioner Wimberly supporting the amend- ments which were regarded as of about the same effect as the Rizley-Moore bill. O THE VACANCY President Truman ap- pointed Burton N. Behling, head of the FPC's natural gas investigation staff. When it was revealed that he sided with Chairman Smith and Commissioner Wimberly on the proposed amendments and thus would break the tie in the commission in favor of the oil and gas industry position, such a protest arose that the President finally withdrew the nomination. Instead he appointed Thomas C. Buchanan of Pennsylvania, a Democrat, who had served for several years on Pennsylvania's Utility Regulating Com- mission. This gave the strict regulationist faction a temporary edge until the term of Leland Olds expired last year. He was reappointed by the President, but the oil and gas in- terests, ever watchful on the administra- tive as on the legislative front, succeeded in defeating his confirmation after a bit- ter fight. To that vacancy President Tru- man named his old friend, Mon C. Wall-, gren, ex-Senator and ex-Governor of Washington, who sided with strict regula- tionists in support of a veto by the Presi- dent, which seems again to give the ma- jority to that viewpoint. However, proponents of regulation are taking no chances and want to prevent Chairman Smith's reappointment and, if that happens, his confirmation by the Sen- ate. (Copyright, 1950, by United Feature Syndicate, Inc.) Peanuts ONE OF THE most fantastic features of the current red herring chase in Wash- ington is the spectacle of the battered old GOP elephant stumbling along in the wake of head mud-slinger Joe McCarthy, patheti- cally hoping that the nice man will unearth a red peanut which can be used to beef him up for the coming election. Fantastic not because the elephant is looking for a peanut but fantastic because this weary pachyderm has trod the same herring-scented path again and again without finding more than a few old shells and husks. It appears that with elephants, as is often the case with humans, experience is not the great teacher it is commonly thought to be. What prompted the elephant to start out on his ludicrous trek this time was a bulging brief case from which the nice man prom- ised to pull either 205 or 81 or 57 or just about any number of peanuts that an elec- tion-starved old elephant could want. To date, although the nice man has noisily opened his brief case and riffled through it vigorously, he has succeeded not only in discrediting himself, smearing a loyal American, and throwing a monkey wrench into the conduct of American for- eign policy (none of which seems to bother the elephant), but also he is further dam- aging the elephant's already-blighted re- putation. Instead of concerning himself with the haystacks of major issues which face the nation, our elephant grovels in the mud seeking small delicacies which never ma- terialize. How he can shamble on and on in pur- suit of this sort of meager ration when these inviting bales of worthy election fod- der abound on every side is something of a mystery. The explanation probably lies in the fact that our elephant's brain is remarkably small and his hide is remarkably thick and mice are sometimes known to inhabit haystacks. But one of the things which should be clear to the old fellow by now is that peanut husks, even those of the red variety, don't make a very satisfactory diet when in training for an election. -Dave Thomas Germany WHILE THE State Department's attention was turned towards the Baltic incident, and congressional and executive leaders squabbled over McCarthyism and natural gas, the focus of news moved away from the now occupied former enemy, Germany. A comfortable illusion current in the United States that the defeat of Hitler ended the Nazi political and military po- tential has shoved the German news from the headlines to page nineteen in Ameri- can newspapers. , Current events in Germany seem to in- dicate that more careful scrutiny of German news dispatches is in order. The Nazi menace seems far dead. All over Germany today political splinter groups have formed-far to the right-which if ever combined could recreate the Nazi, party in full. The denazification program, the Allies re- cently conducted, has been called scandaloT in reports to the State Department. More than 87 per cent of the individuals tried were acquitted. Many of those acquitted have re- turned to political offices held in the days of Hitler. Meanwhile a supernationalism seems to be rapidly developing. A few days ago, Chan- cellor Adenauer of the Allied-controlled1 Bonn government called upon an audience to sing "Deutschland Ueber Alles," the German national war anthem that had gone unsung since the last days of Adolph Hitler. Aden auer insists the song is harmless. The Brit- ish government however thought differently, and sent a formal note of rebuke to the German chancellor. At the same time a Senatorial investi- gating committee reporting to Truman on the seamier side of German national poli- tics stated that "from Western Germany come intimations of political blackmailers who threaten to jump into the arms of Stalin each time a new demand is not met. These are elements seeking to sabotage the Allied policy and waiting for the occupa- tion withdrawal, to seize power at the firsty favorable moment.' Anti-semitism, the old platform of Nazism is slowly making its appearance again. In-' cidents of desecration of Jewish cemeteries, bombing of homes and veiled accusations in the press, bear witness to the failure of the "new German democracy." Five years after the war's end, the decar- telization of the Ruhr industries is still pro-, gressing at snails pace. In Duesseldorf the British had to force out the Krupp chief executive for foinenting anti-British feeling among the Germans. Senator Gillette stat-1 ed a few days ago in a report to the Presi- dent that a reindustrialized and rearmed Germany could be the deadliest menace in the world! Yet the Ruhr talks drag on, with the German cartel-war magnates still bid- ding for power. "Joe - Yoo Hoo - Joe" /ette'4 TO THE EDITOR The Daily welcomes communications from its readers on matters of generalinterest, and will publish all letters which are signed by the writer and in good taste. Letters exceeding 300 words in length, defamatory or libelous letters, and letters which for any reason are not in good taste will be condensed, edited, or withheld from publication at the discretion of the editors. DAILY OFFICIAL BULLETIN (Continued from Page 2) gram at 4:15 p.m., Tues., April 25, -Rackham Assembly Hall, in partial fulfillment of the require- ments for the Master of Music degree. A pupil of Benning Dexter, Mr. Jackson will play composi- tions by Bach, Haydn, Griffes and Beethoven. The public is invited. Student Recital: Julia Hamrick, student of French""Born with Ted Evans, will present a program .at 8:30 p.m., Tues., April 25, Archi- tecture Auditorium. She will be assisted by Anita Bassett at the piano, Wanda Pitman and Joan Patrick, playixig trumpets, and Charleen. Symmonds, trombone. Given in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Music degree, the recital will be open to the public. Events Today .a Student Religious Groups: Michigan Christian Fellowship: 4:30 p.m., Lane Hall (Fireside Room)."Dr. Leslie R. Marston, former Uniiversity of Michigan in- structor in psychology, and pre- sently Bishop of the Free Method- ist Church, will speak on the sub- ject: "Moral Reform or Regener- ation." Westminster Presbyterian Guild: 5:30 p.m., supper in Social Hall. 6:30 p.m., Dr. Lemon will speak on "What Do 'Orthodox' Chris- tians Believe?" Unitarian Student: 7 p.m., Meet at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Morris, 723 Lawrence. Weather permitting, the group will go out for a wiener roast. Congregational - Disciples - Ev- angelical and Reformed Guild: 6 p.m., supper at the Congregational Church. Program: "And So To- morrow," presented by members of the Guild. Lutheran Student Association: 5:30 p.m., program and supper. 7 p.m., speaker: graduate student, "Moral Implications of Journal- ism." Wesleyan Guild: 9:30 a.m., sem- inar in the Pine Room. Donuts and coffee. 5:30 p.m., Supper and fellowship, followed by a talk by UncleCy Baldwin in the World Religions Series. Canterbury Club: 9 a.m., Holy Communion followed by student breakfast and discussion. 5:30 p.m., supper and meeting; "Pub- lic Relations and the Church." Prof. Wooding, Journalism De- partment. World Cooperation Week: In- ternational Pageant. 2-5 p.m. Mu- sic and dances of different cultures represented by foreign and Amer- ican groups. Pattengill Auditorium, Ann Arbor High School. Tickets at International Center or door. 6:30 p.m., Arab dinner, featuring native Arab dishes. Grad Outing Club: Meeting, 2:15 p.m., Rackham Bldg. Final plans for overnight (April 29-30); reser- vations still available. U. of M. Hot Record Society: Record program on New. Orleans jazz, ABC room, League, 8 pJm., Study Group in Leaderhip Training: 102 Mason Hall (Con- ference Research Room),3 p.m. Work Shop Discussions, spon- sored by the Inter-,rts Union. The first in a series will take place this evening on the topic "Con- tempory Song." For further infor- mation call Joyce Edgar, 2-3119 between 12:15 and 2 p.m. League Record Concert: 3- 8:30 p.m., League Ballroom. Bee- thoven's Third Symphony ("Ero- ica") and Ravel's La Valse will be featured. Coming Events University Choral Union Mem- bers are reminded that the re- hearsal Tues., April 25, will be held on the stage of Hill Audi- torium promptly at 7 p.m. Enter through the rear doors. Sigma Rho Tau, Engineer's Stump Speakers Society: Meeting, 7 p m. Tues., April 25, 2084 E. Engineering. Program: Circles will carry on training and further dis- cussion of M.V.A. Prof. Shirley (Continued on Page 5) a is Debate - Pro... To the Editor: I FULLY AGREE with Professor Hobbs that the trouble with the modern Communists is not that they have an erroneous economic theory but that they are apologists for a totalitarian despotism. But I do not draw his conclusion that they should not be allowed to speak on the campus. On the con- trary, I want them to present their case, as fully and forcibly as pos- sible, so that they may the more easily be shown up. To gag one side of a discussion is, in effect, to gag both sides. Of course, one may still make a speech on behalf of capitalism, but half its effect is gone when opponents can sneer "They don't dare let us speak." I am of Milton's opinion that truth never loses out in a free and open battle. As for the Regents' ruling that speeches must not be made advo- cating the overthrow of the gov- ernment, there is no evidence at all that the, speaker was going to advocate anything of the sort in that speech. What he may have advocated, or his party may have: advocated, elsewhere is not rele- vant. Suppose there was a ban against advocating atheism or free love. Would that mean that Shel- ley (who advocated both) would not be allowed to speak on the theory of poetry? The forum stat- ed its question, not as democracy versus violent revolution, but as Capitalism versus Communism in the economic sphere. Originally the speaker had suggested as a topic the banning of Communists from colleges. Neither topic neces- sarily involves at all the question of violence or of revolution. (Per- sonally, I would not fear letting any student organization invite anyone to the campus to talk about anything; so great is my confidence in student sanity; but that is another matter). Even on the basis of the Regents' ruling there was no case for banning a purely economic debate from the campus. Let us hope that if it can- not be held on the campus, some church or other hall can be ar- ranged so that it can be held in Ann Arb'or, anyhow. A final word to the Communists and their sympathizers. We who believe in freedom are contending for your rights, but until some one of the many Communist govern- ments in the world is willing to permit open debates on Commun- ism versus Capitalism you only look ridiculous in pretending to be friends of freedom and civil rights, and everyone is laughing at your hypocrisy. y rs -Preston Slosson * * * Debate - Con ... To the Editor: YOU MAY OR MAY NOT care about the impression you make reference your issue of the 18th on Phillips being rejected for debate on Communism vs. our system. If you were writing for the Daily Worker or for Pravda you couldn't have made more ado over the mat- ter, which should have been dis- missed in a paragraph with cap- tion, "Who Cares but the Com- mies." You should realize you are being played for suckers by being propa- ganda tools and should know bet- ter than to get so far out on a rotten limb. Does it matter whether Phillips has personally advocated violent overthrow of our system? He sponsors a system that has over- thrown by militant minority action Russia itself, and many of its near neighbors and has others strain- ing to hold to denocratic process- es. Your mistake is in assuming Communism to be a political party in our accepted sense. Why tag them with such an innocent label whenthey actually constitute a conspiracy, the most dangerous one yet conceived. Of course they have trained their advocates in plausible argument and hot denial like Phillip's own denial cited above. Naturally, seeking admis- sion into the society they intend to destroy, they cannot be perfect- ly frank unless they believe us to be sub-morons. So they hope we will accept their words - for instance in the proposed debate. At. the same time they hope we will overlook their deeds. What deeds? To mention a few: 1-Overthrow of governments by violent minority action. 2-Crippling the economy, if possible, of those countries that they have not as yet been able to overthrow. 3-Propaganda of lies and hate against all countries and forces and history and thoughts not serv- ing their ends. World War II ended with us holding out the hand of friendship to our Russian ally, and we have been rebuffed, victimized and in- sulted until we belatedly realize we better prepare to defend our- selves if we hope to live any ex- cept a vassal's life. And The Michigan Daily wants to debate the subject. What has to hit you before you wake up to the role you are playing? -Anson H. Keeler, '16E Debate - Con.. .. To the Editor: THIS letter is written to those individuals who, in the past few days, have been vehemently denouncing the administrators of our state and University. The issue seems to have stem- med from some attempt on the part of an avowed Communist to come to Ann Arbor and expound to the student body his ideas on the advantages of Communism. Now, I don't want to take part in this affair one way or the other. I would, however, like to make a suggestion to those stu- dents on campus who believe their education is sady lacking without an opportunity to listen to Communist speakers on cam- pus. My suggestion, is that these students forsake our biased cam- pus and go someplace else where all of these advantages, of which they are deprived at Michigan, are available. There is one place where I am sure that they could not complain about lack of Com- munist environment and I'm sure the people there don't call the a i 4 l ON THE WashWington Merry-Go ROun WITH DREW PEARSON Communists subversives (cruel name), they don't dare. The place? Why, where else, but the university in Moscow. I'm sure that some of these people would be a lot happier if they were there, or so it seems by the way they talk, and, I might add that some of us contented "stay at homes" would be a lot happier too. If these people do have the cour- age of their convictions and do take this journey, (extremely doubtful)I am sure of one thing, this same trip will be a final re- buttal to all of their arguments and accusations about our filthyl capitalistic biased and juvenile legislature and University admin- istration. -John C. Tobin * * * Editorial Policy .. . To the Editor: WITH REFERENCE to Prof. Hobbs' indignant letter and The Daily's inevitable rebuttal; indeed, with reference to the whole tenor of The Daily's editorial poli- cy, the following remarks are of- fered: Unlike a commercial newspaper whose editors may make it an instrument for the dissemination of private opinion, a college news- paper has an obligation to the University which generates it (stu- dents, faculty, institution, etc.) to represent the cross-section of Uni- versity character in a balanced, undistorted manner. It is little wonder that Prof. Hobbs, who is one of the worth- while progenitors of the current stature of America, criticizes The Daily's crass dalliance with our hard-won American excellence, which the left compares so glibly with the virtues behind the Iron Curtain. The point of my remark does not deal with the merit of the Lecture Committee's judge- ment, but with the unethical man- ner in which The Daily allows only one side of an issue to prevail. The instant anyone speaks up in de- fense of an action which the edi- tors oppose, the last words (and of course the preponderance of words) are printed in defense of the individual editor's opinions. T'±is is not journalistic integrity. An unbiased observer would con- clude from The Daily's handling of the Mrs. Robeson affair, the Phil- lips affair, and in fact after not- ing the whole year's selection of editorials and manner of presenta- tion of news, that the University of Michigan is much pinker than it really is. In fact, some of the present editors of The Daily have proselyted the publication into a private organ of persuasion rather than making it a newspaper of integrity, truly reflecting the character of Michigan. As a correction for this situation, I suggest either of two possible solutions: 1. That editors recognize their responsibility to the University, and discharge this responsibility with self-effacing trust. 2. That all political, social, and other pertinent characteristics and intentions of the aspirants to edi- torial offices be stated at the time of appointments. -Taylor Drysdale ;fftr1 af 7 att 6 il -. WASHINGTON-A well-dressed, slightly pompous gentleman boarded a plane to Cincinnati during the middle of the last Presidential primaries, sat down beside a fellow passenger and immediately engaged in conversation. "My name is Goodwin," he introduced himself, "William J. Goodwin. I'm for Taft." And during the flight to Cincinnati, Good- win unfolded various interesting informa- tion about the Taft campaign. He said he had just been to Nebraska to round up dele- gates for Taft and was now going to Cin- cinnati to get the Archbishop to support Taft. Goodwin was sure the Archbishop's blessing would put a large part of the Catholic vote in Ohio behind Taft. In fact, there was almost nothing Goodwin didn't tell his fellow passenger except that he drew a salary of $25,000 a year as lobbyist for Chiang Kai-Shek. As the trip neared it's end, however, Good- win finally got around to asking the name of the gentleman to whom he had imparted all this valuable information. "My name is Kroll - Jack Kroll," said the fellow passenger. Goodwin's eyes bulged. Kroll did not need to add that he was the head of CIO-PAC, the labor group busily engaged in raising Topping the list is Rep. Charles A. Buck- ley of New York, whom this column once dubbed "the Phantom Congressman" be- cause he seldom shows his face in Washing- ton. "The Phantom" missed 241 of 368 aye- and-nay votes and quorum calls since the 81st Congress began in January, 1949. In other words, he was absent 66 per cent of the time. Two other members of New York's "I T and T" Club (In on Tuesday and out on Thursday) are close behind Buckley -- James Murphy of Staten Island and Adam Clayton Powell of Harlem were absent 235 and 227 times respectively. Fourth worst Democratic attendance re; cord is that of charming Thurmond Chat- ham of North Carolina, with 214 misses. MERRY- GO-ROUND INSURANCE COMPANIES are jubilant over the decision of U.S. Judge T. M. Ken- nerly for his ruling that the federal government, not the insurance companies, has to pay $200,000,000 damages for the Texas City fire. The insurance companies had underwritten the big chemical plants where the fire took place, but now, unless higher courts upset Kennerly's ruling, the Amria.rn a,,+vX.s.vP,.v r not+ke,. iymiir.nv,fr 1.yn - FiftpyNinth Year Edited and managed by students of the University of Michigan under the authority of the Board in Control of Student Publications. Editorial Staff Leon Jaroff.........Managing Editor Al Blumrosen...........City Editor Philip Dawsor .... Editorial Director Mary Stein .. .... Associate Editor Jo Misner ...... .. Associate Editor George Walker....... Associate Editor Don McNeil .. ......Associate Editor Wally Barth......Photography Editor Pres Holmes ........ Sports Co-Editor Merle Levin........ Sports Co-Editor Roger Goelz ..Associate Sports Editor Lee Kaltenbach....Women's Editor Barbara Smith.. Associate Women's Ed. Allan Clamage.......Librarian Joyce Clark....... Assistant Librarian Business Staff Roger Wellington .. Business Manager Dee Nelson Associate Business Manager Jim Dangi.......Advertising Manager Bernie Aidinoff......Finance Manager Bob Daniels .... Circulation Manager Telephone 23-24-1 Member of The Associated Press The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for republicatipp of all news dispatches credited to it Ar 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 regular school year by carrier, $5.00, by -mail, $6.00. Si A "+ BARNABY Look at the foreign situation, Baxter, It's- T' Tkea cr. r The point to bear in mind... As 1 was cln.. 4acKmor/y Y _.._-___ _ s. I