THE MICHIGAN DAILY .7 U1\LA. .' 1 1fY1 W VJi.I f 1. J The Willie McGee Some * * OmeQuesttons Raised A RECENT FLOCK of letters to the editor decrying the injustices in the trial of Willie McGee, followed by the formation of a local campus committee promising to save the Mississippi Negro, have prompted us to do some checking into the case. The committee and the letter writers have been ;indignant at what they call the case of an innocent man condemned to die, and have requested that this community act now to prevent his execution. The average-and most sensible-reaction to this has been a desire for more information, resulting from a belief that if the facts show that an in- justice ha sbeen committed, decent citizens should rise in protest. zl Without additional facts, however, the citizen is left wondering, and a bit suspi- cious, The only ready information sources sources on the case have been the Daily Worker and publicity releases of the Civil Rights Congress. Neither are reliable sources. However, with the help of The Daily's and the library's file of newspapers and. maga- zines, and the excellent assistance of several law students, notably Robert Portor, '52L, and a phone call to the Detroit National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, we ferreted out all the information we could. Most of this was printed in a story byBob Keith which appeared in yesterday's Daily. But although the issues involved in this case have been made somewhat clearer, the facts-as some other editorials on this page mention-are still insufficient for a finally satisfactory answer. Briefly, the questions raised by the case are: 1. Is Willie McGee guilty? The committee to save him says he is innocent, the courts ,have declared him guilty, and the NAACP says there is a "reasonable doubt" as to his Editorials published in The Michigan Daily are written by members of The Daily staff and represent the views of the writers only. NIGHT EDITOR: RICH THOMAS /Vrogram fl1, 3I (Editor's Notey Thisdweek's Program Notes were compiled by Ed Chudacoff, Bob Cogan, John Goodyear, Marianne Kull and Dan Waidron.) SNEAKING UNDER a closed gallery gate at Alumni Memorial Hall we came upon what will become an exhibit of the mu- seum's recent accessions. The room is scat- tered with pictures signed by well-known moderns, and we especially liked the two works by Ben Shahm and a drawing by Max Beckmann. Prints by Roualt, Riviera and Renoir add color to the collection, as does a very attractive abstraction by Osvura. The gate will open Wednesday. NOW AND THEN the Whitney Theatre comes up with some unusual fare. Oc- casionally disguised under names re-adjust- ed to the pulse of the times and often billed as desperately violent so as not to appear out of place among the East Side Kids, Roy Rogers, and Chapter 13 of The Lost Volcano, old pictures will appear which take us back to our earliest film-going days. For instance, there was a Martin Johnson film which we saw not long ago. Remem- bering the thrill of those slightly feverish afternoons with the World's Greatest Ex- plorers, we wondered if now they would seem so great or their itinerary so exotic. They didn't, but much of the photography was fine, and if we were somewhat disap- pointed there was an honest air about the whole thing which was missing from the technicolor improvements of King Solomon's Mines., The long-awaited opportunity to dis- cover whether Jean Harlow actually was a true femme fatale or just a press agent's dream came recently in The Platinum Blonde. She was a little of both. More interesting than Harlow, however was the glow of the Frank Capra fire which broke into real flame a few years later in- It Happened One Night. But if there have been some pictures which paled with a second view over the years, there has been one, at least, which remainshfresh,smasterful, and perpetually delightful. That is the Bret Harte-like le- gend of the old west, Destry Rides Again. Its excellent cast features Jimmy Stewart and Marlene Deitrich, whose incomparable rendition of "Little Joe" and "See What The Boys In The Back Room Will Have" draws us back again and again. IT SEEMS HARD to believe that so much first-rate music will be heard here in three days. This afternoon, Robert'Noehren presents organ works by Bach, and Bach's musical god-father, Buxtehude. Tonight, two of the greatest compositions for two pianos, Hindemith's Sonata, and Bartok's "Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion," will be performed by Ava Comin Case and Mary Fishburne. Tuesday evening, the Stanle vOuartet nlav the first of twr nrno- guilt. From the information available, the best answer seems to be the uncertain one of doubt. There is a legitimate question as to whether McGee really did commit the crime of which he is accused or whether the explosive situation of a southern Negro involved in a rape case has resulted in an unwarranted conviction. 2. Is execution warranted? Assuming that McGee is guilty, there is considerable justi- fication for thinking that a death penalty is overly harsh punishment. Since many Negroes in the past have been executed in Mississippi for rape, but never a white man, there are reasonable grounds to assume that McGee's ° race might have played a part in his sentencing. Moreover, the death penalty in general serves no constructive purpose, as some letter writers have been at great pains to prove recently. 3. Will the local committee save McGee? Obviously not. Militant action here will, despite arguments of committee members, have little effect on the fate of a man in Mississippi. The committee seems to be off- base in its initial assumption that McGee is, in fact, innocent and in its plan for a rally featuring Mrs. McGee. It has, however, served a purpose in focusing attention on a case which seems to need some clarification. 4. What should be done? The best answer to this question thus far comes from NAACP. They have written to Mississippi s governor,' Fielding L. Wright, requesting clemency for McGee. It might help if the people in Ann Arbor interested in seeing justice operative in this case do the same. -Roma Lipsky Case ** 'Monster Rally' ONE OF THE most regrettable features of the recent drive to save Willie McGee is the ad hoc committee's decision to bring Mrs. McGee to campus to speak as part of what has been aptly named a "monster rally." The various civil right's groups now are vehemently defending Willie on the grounds that his trial was conducted in an atmos- phere of emotional tension, that traditional prejudices were instruments in convicting the Mississippi Negro. And yet they are bas- ing their appeal to save him on the same kind of mob emotion, even if directed in an opposite direction. Obviously, Mrs. McGee's talk will be only designed to arouse pity. What she has to say could easily be said in more coherent, lo- gical form by someone else, but her tragic story told in person makes a far more pow- erful play upon the emotions. But far more important and deplorable is the exploitation of the individual in- volved in making this protest against so- cial injustice in the South. In this speak- ing tour, Mrs. McGee becomes merely Ex- hibit A in the case against the existing or- der made by the various Civil Righters, many very sincere in their efforts to im- prove conditions, others using the situa- tion to serve their own ends. It is grossly unfair to Mrs. McGee to be displayed this way, made to play the fool. No matter how just the case for Willie Mc- Gee (and his this is highly questionable), the shameless use of the individual as a decoy, an emotional lure, is inexcusable. -Crawford Young The Offending Critic ry r 1 S A k I I t 7 { 7 i i i l 7 1 editors. Student Draft . . . To the Editor: (ONGRATULATIONS to Messrs. Stegner and Pike for their un- selfish and patriotic stand on the drafting of college men. Our armed forces are looking for just such stalwart young Americans. Messrs. Stegner and Pike are ad- mittedly much more valuable to our country in the infantry than in law school. -Louis Zako '53 McGee Case . . To the Editor: H AVE YOU seen the front page of the Communist D a i I y Worker lately? It has started a crusade to save Willie McGee and has incorporated the whole case into their slanted party line which is trying to breed distrust into our democracy. Several students and student organizations have now let themselves become emotionally involved with the incident and have started a campaign to win Willie back . his freedom. I be- lieve that these students, in try- ing to be liberal, have let them- selves be duped into tools for the Russian Communists. Let's face it! Do you think for one minute that the Communists want Willie McGee to be pardoned and saved? They don't! It would be twice as advantageous to their propaganda machine if Willie dies. Then they can use him for a martyr. This whole affair has become now more than just a rape case-now it's a national question. McGee was tried and found guilty by a jury of his peers in a United The Week's News . IN RETROSPECT . .tettei' TO THE EDITOR The Daily welcomes communications from its readers on matters of general interest, 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 States Court. He has appealed the case several times. Would anyone receive so much considera- tion under the Moscow Judicial system. I hope all people will have the common sense to look into this matter a little deeper before they condemn our judges and juries. If the names of the persons who are leaders of the crusade both in New York and on campus were revealed, one should not be sur- prised to find it would include most of the agitators, rabbel- b rousers, and plain Communists who are trying to destroy our precious heritage of freedom. This is no "red herring" accusa- tion but merely an appeal to the readers of The Michigan Daily to do a little thinking for themselves. Men have died and are dying to protect our form of government. We cannot afford to be used as tools by the Communists whether in Russia or on campus. So just think before you readily agree that Willie McGee is completely innocent. And hold tight to Am- erican democracy-it's well worth it. --Mark Sandground '52 Success To strive is to suceed; for true success lies not in the fruition of every cherished ambition but rather is embodied in the earnest effort expended in that direction. True success is the ceaseless search for one's El Dorado rather than its actual discovery, the never-ending push upwards to one's chosen star. Thomas J. Holmes. -Daily-Bill Hampton "But you can't call that awful thing awful! Our readers will never stand for it!" Democracy and the Law IT IS A sad commentary to realize that if it were"not for the diligence of Commun- ists and their fellow travelers in exploiting his case, Willie McGee would probably have been legally lynched five years ago. That the Civil Rights Congress has been able to stay McGee's execution as long as they have by legal weapons, is a tribute to their attorneys. Their purpose in hand- ling the case has been to demonstrate to the world that America is not the demo- cratic, casteless nation it claims to be. Their appeal is for a change from the pre- sent system to one that would not permit double standards on the basis of color. In view of the sentences imposed on Negroes in this and similar cases their denunciations of our system are gaining validity. My appeal is for a change of attitude among those who have helped to make a farce out of our basically democratic system when the element of race comes upon the scene. The white supremacist must be made to see that his attitude which is dominated by illusions that the white race must be kept on the highest level in all aspects of life is not only vicious, but completely un- realistic. Federal action aiming at this end by means of educational projects is as neces- sary right now as anything that is being or will be undertaken by government. However, in the present situation when a man is going to be executed within 10 days because of these attitudes federal authori- ties should be called upon to act, whether or not they legally have the power, to guar- antee equality before the law. There is no sense in preserving a theor- etically democratic legal system if in prac- tice it can be used to render the most un- democratic of decisions irreversible. The sentencing of McGee to death, although no white man has ever received such a pen- alty for the same crime certainly falls with- in this category. For the sake of the preservation of democratic principles, which after all are more sacred than any legal system as such, federal officials should be called upon to intervene in the McGee case, if Mississippi officials refuse to do so. Legal system or no legal system federal Latecomners L ATE COMERS should come later or not at all. Anyone who arrived before the 8 p.m. curtain time to see the excellent pro- duction of "The Magic Flute" at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theater this weekend will un- qualifiedly attest to this truism. As the overture to Mozart the opera be- gan, no more than half the seats in the auditorium were filled. For .those in the audience who enjoy overtures and think them an integral part to a work, the filling of the empty seats during the next ten min- utes was agony. A scuffle by cough descrip- tion is unnecessary, sufficeth to say that, by the time this little ritual of Ann Arbor theater-going was completed, no one seated past the first two rows had the vaguest idea of how the overture had sounded. As one who likes to arrive at the theater on time and is regularly jostled and whis- pered out of the first ten minutes of the evening's production; as one who seldom has the capital to finance a front row ticket, let me enter a plea on behalf of the "Paup- ers-Who-Enjoy-Overtures Society of Ann officials should at least attempt to get the case tried by a jury and a judge who are free of probable intimidation or white su- premist attitudes. The case should be taken out of the South and have a retrial in an area and by people where belief in the equa- lity of all is not in question. Federal offi- cials should at least voice there disfavor with what has happened in Mississippi to show that they despise such flagrantly un- democratic action. IT IS THE JOB of the people in a demo- cracy to constantly be on the alert and to call attention to undemocratic practices that pass in our society. There should be no opportunity for rejoicing among groups whose primary aim is to put our undemo- cratic acts before the world and point ou 'America as an imperialistic, racist nation. When an act is committed that is obvi- ously contrary to the doctrines that are supposed to govern this nation, it re- mains for the believers in democracy not to slacken their protests until justice is done. If the correction of such an injustice has to be done at the expense of the legal sys- tem, it must be remembered that law is man's creation to serve man and not a bar- rier that allows Willie McGee to be legally lynched. -Paul Marx Lack of Proof THE AD HOC Committee to Save Willie McGee has launched its drive to aid the Laurel, Mississippi Negro, who is at present awaiting execution on March 20 for the alleged rape of a white woman. A basic premise of this inchoate com- mittee is that Willie McGee is innocent of the crime. This premise we cannot accept. On the basis of the available facts, we cannot understand how anyone could infer that Willie McGee is either inocent -or guilty. No one has sufficient proof of McGee's innocence. And certainly no one has suffi- cient evidence of his guilt. We sincerely believethat all evidence so far obtained is inconclusive. On this basis, it seems that the Committee is emphasizing what hardly needs em- phasis. On the other hand, in the information that was received on the trials - trials loaded with KKK passion, unbending bias, blud- geoned officials, jittery juries-a discrep- ancy in criminal procedure was evident. Certainly, a preponderance of whites on the grand jury and on the separate trial juries contributed to the final decisions. The mystery, the ambiguity, and the insuf- ficiency of facts in the case are in them- selves bases for a new trial. Willie McGee deserves a new trial. Yet the question as to whether he is guilty or innocent is not nearly as important as the right of every citizen to a due process of law. And even if, after a new trial, Willie McGee is convicted, it remains extremely unjust that he receive the death penalty.j No white man has ever been sent to death for this crime, but since the turn of the century, 51 Negroes have been executed. This is clearly a violation of democratic procedure. These two simple but rational pointsj * * * * Around the World . . KOREA-The long dormant western Korean front erupted thisI week into a major United Nations offensive. At 6:15 a.m. Wednesdayt the U.S. 25th division moved across the Han River east of Red-heldr Seoul and fanned out over the sandy flatlands. By week's end the1 allies were pressing within 15 miles of the ancient Korean capital. So far the new drive has netted more than 25,000 enemy casualties. The going was rougher in the snow-flecked hills at the eastern end of the front, where North Korean Reds have been unloosing fierce attacks si.pce midweek. CABINET CONFUSION-Eleven days ago, for the sixteenth time since the liberation, a French cabinet fell. Immediately, ministerial candidates jumped into the breach, in an effort to establish a new one. Former Premiers Georges Bidault and Henri Queuille both tried once and failed. This week, after Guy Mollet had also failed to show that all is not confusion in France, Queuille tried again. This time, the former country doctor made it, by 48 votes. He is a Radical So-' cialist, which is more or less conservative. , BEVIN-Despite piles, heart disease, asthma and a recent bout with pneumonia, Britain's Ernest Bevin had managed for five years to hold on to his post as director of foreign affairs. This Friday, on his 80th birthday, the ailing Foreign Secretary finally resigned. He was replaced by Commons floor leader Herbert Morrison. It was the most important switch in the British Cabinet since the Labor Gov- ernment took office in 1945. * * * * National.. DRAFT-The eighteen-year-old draft bill began the week in the Senate in a hopeful fashion, and ended in a somewhat overwhelming ac'ceptance. On Monday, the Senators refused to okay the Morse Amendment, calling for a draft of 18 and one-half year-olds. They did, however, tack three months on the length of service regulation, making it two years even. Next came debate on the size of the armed forces. Sen. Morse had asked for a 3,500,000 man limit; Secretary of Defense Marshall protested; the Senate passed on the figure 4,000,000 as a compromise. On Friday, the big bill went tirough. It provided for Universal Military Training to fill in after the present crisis, for draft of eighteen year olds as soon as needed, for the four million man limit, and for the extension of service period. The whole works now goes to the House. TROOPS FOR EUROPE-The issue of whether we are to send troops to Europe, and if so, who has the right to do it, went through another week of debate and resolutions. Aside from complicating things, little was achieved. Two major Senate committees-the For- eign Relations and Armed Services Committees-sitting jointly, ap- proved part of an Administration resolution asking that troops be sent to Europe after Senate sanction alone. The first provision, that troops be sent, was okayed. But the second, that Senate sanction would be sufficient, was downed by a 16 to eight vote, after a coalition of Southern Democrats and Republicans seized control of the meeting. The new coalition resolution asked joint Senate-House sanction, snarl- ing the actual sending of troops considerably. LABOR COMES BACK-Labor hesitantly moved toward a re- conciliation with mobilization this week, as Economic Stabilizer Eric Johnston chipped away at wage controls. On Friday, Johnston met with three members of the United Labor Policy committee, which re- cently withdrew from all mobilization agencies in protest to wage and price controls. They were reported to be considering the for- mation of a new Wage Stabilization Board, after exchanging heated and generally fruitless words on the subject earlier in the week. Also earlier in the week, Johnston announced another relaxation in wage controls. This time, about a quarter of a million unorganized workers were expectd to benefit. * * * * Local ... SAC AND DISCRIMINATION-The Student Affairs Committee met in an atmosphere of tension and heated feelings Tuesday after- noon. Before it was a plan to rid campus fraternities of all constitu- tional clauses that compel discrimination in the selection of new members. The plan, drawn up by the Student Legislature, gives fra- ternities six years to eliminate the clauses or face expulsion from campus. After several hours of debate, the SAC accepted the pro- posal by a close seven to six vote. Unless vetoed by President Ruth- ven-an action now being sought by the Inter-Fraternity Council- the plan will soon become official University policy. ATHLETIC POOL-Director of Athletics H. O. Crisler this week revealed plans for construction of a new $2,500,000 women's building at the corner of Forest and North University. The edifice will be built gradually, with a much needed women's swimming pool sched- uled to be constructed first. -Chuck Elliott and Bob Keith I DAILY OFFICIAL BULLETIN (Continued from Page 2)F per and meeting. Our Chaplain will1 continue his series on "The Faith and Practice of the Episcopal Church." Wesleyan Guild: 9:30 a.m., Breakfasts Seminar in Pine Roon. 5:30 p.m., Sup- per. 6:45 Worship and Program. Mr. De-1 Witt C. Baldwin, Director of Lane Hall,1 will speak on: "The Social-Religious Preblems on campus. - Graduate Outing Club: Out-of-town hike. Meet in Outing Club Room, north- west corner of Rackham, 2:15 p.m. sharp. Bring cars. All grads welcome. Inter-Arts Union: Meeting, 2 p.m., League. Anyone interested is invited to attend. U. of M. Hot Record society: On Rec- ords Part 2, "The Great Dixie Jazz bands"-Armstrong, Bechet, Spanier, etc. 8 p.m., League. Everyone invited. Hillcl-IZFA: Study groupnmeeting, 2:30 p.m., League. Ruth Pincus will discuss "The Ghetto" by Louis Wirth. Coming Events Religion in Life Week: 7-8 a.m., Monday thru Thursday, Re- ligion-in-Life Week Inter-Religious Breakfast, First Methodist Church. Any interested students, faculty or guests are invited. Mon., March 12: 4:10 p.m., Religion- in-Life Week Seminars: "Is Religion Relevant to the Educa- tional Process?" University Elementary School Cafeteria, Speakers: Mr. Smith, Mr. Jaarsma, Mr. Robertson. "Family Life?" Michigan League, Speakers: Mrs. Elliott, Mr. Walters, Mr. McKeachie. "Industrial Relations? 141 Business Administration Bldg., Speakers: Mr. McPeek, Mr. Carr. "The Social Sciences: Sociology and Social Work?" Lane Hall Library, Speakers: Mr. Boulding, Mr. Henley, Mr. Schiatter, Mr. Dunham. 7:15 p.m., Religion-in-Life Week Da- ily Chapel Service, Congregational Church. A series on "Is Religion Rele- vant to My Life?" "What Difference Does Faith in God Make?" Rev. Sey- mour Smith. 8:30 p.m., Religion-in-Life Week Uni- versity Lecture, Raskham Assembly Hall, "The Relevance of Religion To- day" Dr. Reuben G. Gustavson, Chan- cellor, University of Nebraska. 10 p.m., Reception honoring Guest Leaders of Religion-in-Life Week, Lane Hall. Economics Club: Mon., March 12 7:45 p.m., Rackham Amphitheater. Dr. Mar- shall M. Knappen, Professor of Political Science. "Economic Interests, Pressure Groups, and Foreign Policy." All staffamembers and advanced stu- dents in Economics and Business Ad- ministration areturged to attend. Others who are interested are invited. American Pharmaceutical Society, Student Branch: Business meeting 7:3Q p.m., Room 1300 Chemistry Bldg., foI lowed at 8:15 by a guest speaker, Dr. W. Meinke, Department of Chemistry. "Atomic Explosions and Your Health." All persons interested are invited. Mathematics Club: Tues., Mar. 13, 8 p.m., West Conference Room, Rackham Bldg. Dr. J. L. Ullman will speak on "Hadamard's Multiplication Theorem." All Marching Band Members: At the February 27th meeting it was agreed that the members would be present Mon., March 12 and also March 13 for a recording session for Rose Bowl Band movies. Be at Hill Auditorium, Mon., March 12, 7:30 p.m. Electrical Engineering Department Re- search Discussion Group: Open Meet- ing; 4 p.m., Mon., March 12, Room 2084, E. Engineering Bldg. Mr. Richard K. Brown, Department of Electrical En- gineering, will present: "Measurement at the Velocity of Sound in the Ocean." Russky Kruzhok: Mon., March 12, 8 p.m., International Center. Mr. Dewey of the Russian department will speak on some interesting aspects of Russian law. Le Cercle Francais: Meeting, Tues., March 13, 8 p.m., Grand Rapids Room, League. Two films : "Famille Bretonne," and "France, background of its litera- ture." La P'tite Causette: Mon., March 12, 3:30 p.m., League. Hillel Graduate Mixer at the A E Phi House, 407 N. Ingalls, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. C.E.D. Meeting, Mon., March 12, 4:15 p.m., Union. It is necessary that all delegates attend. 481 1 , fi hl Sixty-First Year Edited and managed by students of the University of Michigan under the authority of the Board In Control CC Student Publications. Editorial Staff Jim Brown..........Managing Editor Paul Brentinger........City Editor Roma Lipsky ......... Editorial Director Dave Thomas ..........Feature Editor Janet Watts...........Associat Editor Nancy Bylan. *........Associate Editor° James Gregory........Associate Editor Bill Connolly............Sports Editor Bob Sandell....Associate Sports Editor Bill Brenton....Associate Sports Editor Barbara lans..........Women's Editor Pat Brownson Associate Women's Editor Business Staff Bob Daniels........Business Manager Walter Shapero Assoc. Business Manager Paul Schaible....Advertising Manager'. Bob Mersereau....... Finance Manager Bob Miller.......Circulation Manage? Telephone 23-24-1 Member of The Associated Press The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news dispatches creditea 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 regular school year: by carrier. $6.00; by mail, $7.00. BARNABY Now. that I think of it, Gus the Ghost has been looking unusually threadbare recently, Could it be calculated? To Ask your mother for a few good sheets from her linen closet. It will help our defense if the plaintiff looks opulent- And Pop said if I have a Fairy Godfather with a magic wand why didn't I ask him?