PAGE FOUR
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1953
k
Student
Legislature
the Ploy
T HE ART OF the ploy is a modern con-
cept. Even the most disreputable of the
Sophists of old apparently had little know-
ledge of its mechanics. In our generation
it has become perfected and gained wide-
spread usage.
The ploy may be defined as a delicate
duel between fencers complete with
thrusts and lunges where one of the par-
ticipants always has the advantage. Some-
how it is a work of art, witty,caustic, but
above all always brilliant.
The ploy is a bluff but not quite. a bluff.
It is an elusive term and so has not yet
been caught up in moral judgements of
good or evil. It remains neutral. It exists
merely to be used for good or bad designs.
Modern governments employ the ploy-
adequately. Student governments employ
the ploy-wonderfully. The student govern-
ment of the University of Michigan employs
the ploy-brilliantly, but always against it-
self.
A year ago the ploy was "send it to com-
mittee" when decision on an issue was un-
desirable. Now, when few want to take ac-
tion and clothe the issue in the rationaliza-
tion that no one knows what to do, the ploy
is to "put on a referendum."
In a flurry of nonsense called action,
SL saw jammed on a referendum ballot
the question of an anti-discrimination
sticker. Let the campus decide the ques-
tion, was the view.
But who among us knows what the ques-
tion is? How many of the worthies on SL
knew what the question was Wednesday
evening. Few. To be charitable-10 perhaps.
Well, when you are in doubt use the ploy.
It's a handy little device to have around.
It can do so many things for you. In this
case it gets you off the hook.
Since the bones of indecision have be-
gun to rattle in SL's closet of inaction (not
an infrequent occurance), perhaps a little
backbround on the sticker should be sket-
ched in. The legislature has not found it
necessary to inform even its own mem-
bers on. the issue at hand. One cannot
expect them to go out of their way to
inform their electorate.
Sometime last semester one of the more
notable campus artists was asked to design
a sticker around the words "Fair Play the
Wolverine Way." He was informed it was
to be used in attempting to rid the Ann Ar-
bor community of discrimination. Dutifully
the sticker was designed, the artist paid for
his labors and then the entire issue appar-
ently died.
Recently, the Human Relations commit-
tee of SL inadvertently let it be known it
was working on the sticker plan. The
idea was to have the sticker placed in
those local merchants' store windows who
could say with a clear conscience they
did not discriminate.
A Human Relations committee meeting
with Administration and city representa-
tives Wednesday met with a new objection
-that of antagonizing merchants-and for
a number of hours before the SL meeting
that evening the outcome of the conference
was kept in strict confidence.
However, through various devices of poll-
ticing the results of the m'eeting later came
to light and just before midnight SL watch-
'd the entire issue placed on a referendum.
Now the referendum is a fine thing if
it is not used too frequently and for minor
problems. This referendum was placed on
the ballot as a desperation move by a
small group outside SL who were dis-
satisfied with the general procrastina-
tion of the organization.
The entire question boils down to this:
should a sticker be placed in the anti-dis-
criminatory merchants' shop or should some
less "antagonistic" way of combating the
problem of discrimination be found.
A referendum on the question is totally
childish and once more helps show the in-
ability of SL to think, act or even attempt
to act for itself.
Had SL not tossed off bombastic phrases
and buried the issue for so long in commit-
tee the idea of a referendum would never
have occurred to any outside group. But
SL's inability to take a decisive step one
way or another has prompted the referen-
dum.
This alternative is again downright silly
because whatever the student body decides
will be meaningless.
But perhaps SL has finally managed to
solve the problem of having to act. Be-
tween sendng issues from committee to
referendum and back to committee, one
may safely say SL need never do anything
except record both committee and student
votes.
One does not call for SL to assume lead-
ership in anything nowadays. All one asks
is that the pretense that it provides leader-
ship be dropped immediately.
-Mark Reader
Point Five
DEAR friends and allies;overseas,
Relinquish animosity,
And never mere
Dare to deplore
Our lack of generosity.
For if we cannot give you aid,
Or any guarantees of trade,
At least as proof of our good will
And splendid product of our mill
of amity and chlorophyll
MAGAZINES
The Beginners
PAN%
e
s
GARGOYLE, Vol. XLVII, No. 1, out
Fridaymaybe.
To the Editors
Judge Magazine
New York, N.Y.
Dear Sirs:
IN THE FIRST ISSUE of your new heavily
bankrolled national humor magazine, you
used without permision at least two items
from previous issues of Gargoyle, including
a full-page original cartoon story by ex-Art
Editor Stuart Ross. Your second number
featured two more items stolen from old
Gargoyles. Since the other material in your
magazine, however, indicates a notable ab-
sence of taste on your part, it seemed as if
you might possibly appreciate somebody to
point out what is best in the current issue
of Gargoyle, publication of which has un-
fortunately been delayed two days after ori-
ginal plans. This, we hope, will not affect
any deadline of your own.
I think first of all that you will not be
disappointed with the overall competence
of the issue. It is a good, at times bril-
liant, issue with many things in it worth
taking. The selections printed represent
primarily the careful taste of managing
editor Janet Winn and art editor, Leila,
Deutsch. Do not take seriously the name
of Georgi Malenkov on the masthead for
the business, art, and literary staffs. Un-
like Judge, which we notice opposes Alger
Hiss and the United Nations, Gargoyle
has no editorial policy. If it did, no secur-
ity risks would be employed. Doubts about
anyone in the Malenkov family would be
resolved in favor of the government.
One warning, Judge, about the cover of
the magazine which features a reproduction
of Leonardo DaVinci's "Mona Lisa": no one
has really checked to see if any of DaVin-
ci's heirs may still care to prosecute existing
copyrights held on the Mona Lisa. You may,
of course, feel free to pirate anything of the
art editor's additions to the reproduction.
The cover rates as very clever.
The literary material is of high caliber.
By all means; steal "Bogafle," a story by
Larry Pike, that has as much sheer qual-
ity as anything ever printed in the maga-
zine. It gives the whole issue class-a story
with real style, originality, even sense. It
is the kind of sense out of nonsense that
has been creepng into Gargoyle with nice
frequency lately. Don Malcolm's "Olympic
Games," Pike's "I Remember Rodney" of
last year both observed fundamental lit-
erary standards. "Bogafle," touched with
infallible taste, now tops them both. It
is a professional job.
The satiric pieces are worth your close
attention. "Kon Tiki, No. Washee." squeezes
some good, some standard material into a
sharp, but traditional burlesque. 'This is
Your Strife," again by Pike, is a deftly barb-
ed take-off on a television show, replete
with Pike's special nonsense syllables that
are practically a trademark.
"Degeneration," in two pages, is a good,
mean joke on Garg's sister publication, ex-
cept the parody of Gertrude Stein is as good
as Gertrude herself. Just how she gets in
on this particular lampoon is a little obscure
anyway. Never mind it, Judge.
Less obscure things, a picture feature of
Pander Zhallinder's "My Summer Vacation"
and "Shame," a movie review, may be some-
what more awkward to pirate, but they are
probably worth the effort. E. Sterling Sa-
der's Hophead prize story, "The Reins
Came," on the other hand, you needn't bo-
ther with.. The Hophead judges and Sader
seem to think having a University race
track is a particular funny idea; why?
The one thing I would. recommend,
Judge, is that once in a while you steal a
few of the advertisements. They are scat-
ter-gunned through the issue with the
usual abandon; and if you happen to scoop
up two or three at once, the merchants in-
volved are not likely to take it amiss.
My personal preferences this issue are for
the full page ads by L. H. Scott for The
Arts Theater Club and by S. Ross for
Red's Rite Spot. Possibly your New York
readers might like to drop in at the Rite
Spot after the show some time.
Beyond this, Judge; you're on your own.
You seem to have a lot of China Lobby mon-
ey behind you, so all else it should take to
survive is a little careful culling from the
hinterlands where the free talent abounds.
Cheers, Judge. All the luck there is.
Yours truly,
Bill Wiegand
-E
ON TIlEi
WVASIIG~
WITh II ISW PEARIISONV
WASHINGTON-White House advisers say thoi when and if Char-
les E. Wilson steps out of the Defense Department his successor
will be Gen. Lucious Clay, former U. S. Commander in Germany, now
head of Continental Can and one of Ike's closest unofficial advisers.
"Clay can have any job he wants in the administration," one
White House adviser confided. "le can write his own ticket. I
think, also, he's ready any time Ike needs him."
Actually Wilson isn't expected to get out of the Defense Depart-
ment any time soon. Occasionally the President has got upset over
his Defense Secretary's sudden brusqueness and was extremely irked
when Wilson shot off about the innocuousness of the Russian H-bomb
at a time when other adminstration leaders were warning of its danger.
However, it's recognized that Wilson is performing a useful and
necessary function by knocking Pentagon heads together-one of the
toughest and most thankless jobs in Washington,
NOTE-When and if General Clay becomes Secretary of De-
fense, he would have to get a special dispensation from Congress. For
no military man can be appointed to that post unless he's been out
of the armed services for 10 years. General Marshall got such a dis-
pensation.
DULLES AND PRESS
JGuiN FOSTER DULLES doesn't have the best press in the world,
but he is sincerely dedicated to the idea that the American people
are entitled to know just as much as possible about the conduct of
their foreign affairs. At present he is engaged in opening up more
avenues of information to the public; also has brought Henry Suydam,
editor of the Newark, N.J., News and former press aide to Charles
Evans Hughes, to take over State Department public relations..
Compared with other Eisenhower officials, the State De-
partment today shines as a beacon of light when it comes to giv.
ing information to the public.
Most Deople don't realize how m h eh lintrlfh -.r~n snr k a
Xette/' 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
editors.
Riot Breakers , . . .though all parties concerned were
surprised by the outcome, the Bri-
A SO-CALLED student disturb- tish Govt. did nothing to exercise
ance is really nothing more ppp power. The party had out-
thea..
'4
INTERPRETING THE NEWS:
Atrocity Reports Will Not Bear
Directly on World Relations
By J. M. ROBERTS Jr.
Associated Press News Analyst
PREVIOUS reports had led America to ex-
pect the worst about a vast number of
Allied Soldiers who were captured by the en-
emy during the Korea War, and now the
atrocity reports have been confirmed and
codified.
}
1
The brutality revealed by the Army an-
nouncement, and b the report to the Unit-
ed Nations of Russian-directed torture in
the extraction of the big lie about germ war-
fare from captured airmen, has become a
normal part of. warfare as practiced by
Couumnist and Fascist regimes.
In one way, it is not directly a part of
international relations, except as it touches
the matter of world public opinion. For
what they do to captured war prisoners
is exactly what they do to political dis-
senters in their own countries, and on
a far larger scale. It is inherent in the
totalitarian nature.
It is quite likely that the Communists
do not even understand why the rest of the
world takes such a serious view of such ac-
tions, and that. they would not have been
the least surprised, although they would have
sought to make propaganda out of it, if their
prisoners had been treated the same way by
the Allies.
The United States apparently has no hope
or intention of trying to obtain punishment
of the perpetrators of these crimes. It can
AFTER BEING bombarded for five years
by a group of mediocre comedies claim-
ing to be lineal descendents in the Belvedre
line, it is interesting to observe the original.
It is certainly far better than any of its off-
spring despite a flair for the un-original and
the uninspired.
By taking well-worn cliches and stork
comedy situations and mixing them with
the sophistication of an H. P. Herbert
script and the deft acting of Clifton Webb,
the director of Sitting Pretty has formed a
rather Shavian conception of middle-class
life, in a middle-class suburb, in a middle-
class family. The repartee of old is still
telling and the result is genuine humor, a
rare commodity in today's fims.
Clifton Webb as Lynn Belvedre, self-ac-
claimed genius, answers an ad for a baby
only tell the story and show the pictures,
which shout at all the peoples who seek
neutrality in the East-West conflict, "These
are the people whose regimes you condone."
It was important, of course, to nail the
germ warfare charge as far as possible,
to clea rthe eyes of neutral Asiatic peo-
oples, lest they believe, as many of them
with to believe because of their ancient
anti-Western prejudices, that there is no
difference between the morals of the great
nations.
There were indications but no evidence
that the United States was wrapping up all
of its material of this type into one bundle
at one time for the purpose of crowding the
Communists on such matters as the Korean
peace conference. Since there seems no hope
of settlement, the game would seem to make
the Communists appear as bad as possible
while negotiations are falling through.
If there were any hope and since not
even a United Nations resolution is expect-
ed as any sort of practical result, there
would be no point in stirring up the anti-
mals at this time.
There may be no planned connection be-
tween the U.N. debate and the Army an-
nouncement. Certainly the germ warfare
matter has been on the U.N. agenda since
long before the Army even knew whether
it would have such a complete report on
atrocities.
nosey old neighbor in the guise of an iris
breeder who acts as clearing-house for
local gossip. Then there is the hypocritical
boss of Webb's employer who mixes a dash
of vice into his puritanical nature. And
finally there are the Kings themselves
whose middle-class life forms a sounding
board for Webb's jabs.
All of them arep rofoundly shocked by the
publication of the Belvadre book on their
secret lives. However fame and fortune do
not dim Mr. Belvedre's outlook on life, and
he remains as the unusual overseer of the
King household.
Webb, as stated before, is well cast, and
generally does an outstanding perform-
ance, especially in dealing with the three
rather primative King children. He is ably
supported by Maureen O'Hara and Robert
ian a narmiess andt often amus- lined a broad program which in- ***'-u c iLt\vL A.IiLu WX kucLsc w g
ing way of blowing off steam, as cluded the following points: (1) into the holding of a State Department press conference. Actually,
the non-technical psychologist recognition of Dominion status; the Secretary of State begins preparing for the conference one hour
would say. Usually, the less said (2) the legislation of a labor-man- in advance. At 10 a.m. his top officials come in to brief him on the
about the affair-afterwards-the agement law similar to our own latest news from Trieste, Israel, Korea, and other trouble spots. They
better. Still, I am always slightly Wagner Act. The first demand also bring him a written summary of developments around the world
disgusted by the sight of saints in was ignored by the London Govt., -information he may need to answer scores of questions fired by
civilian clothing trying to make while the second was considered 100 or so newsmen.
more secure their place in heaven fantastic. At 11 a.m. the conference opens, usually lasts 45 minutes,
by dashing about madly telling ev- The PPP Govt. was frustrated
eryone to go home lest they be at every point in its attempt to sometimes longer. Newsmen from all over the world can ask any
expelled in a mass upheaval by implement its program. The net question they want. Even the representatve of Tass, the Soviet
the Authorities. The mass riot result was a strike in the sugar News Agency, can put the Secretary of State on the griddle.
plays an important place in stu- industry. Then the British Govt. This is a system existing no place else in the world. Newsmen,
dent development. I have seen acted. It was rumored that Com- including the Tass representative, are given press quarters inside the
green, inexperienced freshmen ri- munist "conspirators" were about State Department including free typewriters, free stationery, free
oters pushed around by football to pull the inevitable coup. But telephone service-to be used, frequently, in criticism of the State
players and other salaried univer- such is not the case. Department.
sity employees, thrust back into It has been falsely stated in *pa *n*
their rooms with stern warnings of many newspapers that the entire MISTAKES REVERBERATE
possible punishment to come. But PPP leadership is oriented towards
I have seen these same freshmen Stalinism. On the contrary, the 1HOUGH MR. DULLES is a successful Wall Street attorney, he is a
develop into fearless seniors, ex- PPP leadership is made up of nu- slow, hesitating speaker, sometimes painfully so. Sometimes, des-
perienced organizers, mob leaders merous types of politicos, of whom pite great care, he makes a mistake. Such a slip can be costly, for his
who can hold their own against only three have been labeled as words reverberate around the world.
any administration-inspired plot definitely inclined in the Stalinist After the press conference, a conference digest is prepared
to overthrow the revolution. Even direction. Prof. R. J. Alexander from the stenographic notes, and a copy sent to Dulles for cor-
.nore to be despised than the pro- recently stated in the New York Iron t ten goeshto every top cer int ta Deparment
fessional riot-breakers and scabs Herald Tribune that "There are rection. It then goes to every top officer in the State Department
are the neurotic amateur psychol- generally considered to be three ! so they will know exactly what their chief has said and make no
ogists who sit back in their arm- people in the high command who counterstatements.
chairs and feebly attempt, on the are out-and-out Communists: the After lunch, newsreels and radio networks pick out a couple of
basis of Psychology 31, to analyze two Jagans, and Sidney King . . ." paragraphs from the stenographic record, and the Secretary of State
the complex forces at work in the Burnham, No. 2 man in the par- comes back to the press-conference auditorium, reads these para-
"student disturbance." ty, did not want Jagan to head graphs in front of the klieg lights, while the newsreels grind out the
It is unfortunate that the stu- the government. Jagan's wife, the picture for TV and movie trade.
dent leaders of the recent "raid" alleged ex-YCL'r, did not even ob-
acted in bad faith. Doubtless they tain a cabinet post. Furthermore, This takes up a good part of one day in the life of the Secretary
will be replaced by trained person-- states Alexander, "It is reported of State. He does this once a week. John Foster Dulles takes the view
nel in the future. I might add that that certain other members of the that he is not doing it as a favor to the press and the newsreels, howe
if any group of students should high command have expressed a ever, but as an obligation to the American people. A successful for.
desire competant leadership for willingness to throw over the Jag-- eign policy, he feels, must be based on an informed public.
any adventure in the near future, ans and take the party along in a**
my organization will provide such different direction." It would seem
leadership at moderate rates. that if the British were sincerely WASHINGTON PIPELINE
-Persse O'Reilly, interested in helping to implement EX-GOV. PAUL DEVER of Massachusetts lost 40 pounds at White
President, Young Mensheviks' a pol. democracy and in defeating Sulphur Springs, Va.-a sure sign, say his friends, that he's "get-
Stalinism (the two are certainly ting in shape" to run for governor again . . . Herbert Hoover, now
11 cuoS . . . , connected) they would accept and heading the new governmental reorganization commission, is hiring
WHEN I picked up Tuesday's work along with the PPP which purchasing expert Russell Forbes, deputy administrator of the General
Daily I noticed certain con'- draws is strength from the misery Services Administration. The ex-President wanted Forbes so much
ments on the Student Legislature of its own population. However, it that he made a special trip to talk to GS Administrator Mansure.
by Sam Davis, who was removed seems that this approach is not Forbes has had difficult ettin alon th s
from his seat for lack of atten- only unfeasible but unknown tod.anuj ogog ..EsDm oratic Cha
dance. He stated that the legisla- the reactionary'intellect which for done a bang-up job of government buying .. . Ex-Democratic Chair-
ture is so busy being "innocuous" obvious economic reasons find it man Bill Boyle now has a thriving legal and insurance combination
that it fails in fulfilling its duties. impossible to distinguish a mili- going in Miami. On the side, Boyle cultivates 100 acres of lime trees.
Yet Mr. Davis failed in his tenure tant political movement from the (Copyright, 1953, by the Bell syndicate)
on SL to even fulfill the basic and stereotyped Stalinist coup.
minimum duties of a member, that -John Leggett
of attending meetings and that
of giving his opinions on subjects Arab-Israeli Crisis . .
which he can intelligently debate. I InhAi
Now Mr. Davis is a person of in- °JIISS LISS' article on the Arab- OFFICIA
tellience and has much to' con- Israeli crisis showed good will,
tribute to the legislature. Yeta but I think some of her remarks BULLETIN
person who cannot even fulfill were very superficial.
his basic obligations is truly being 1. "Undoubtedly Israel's action
supremely "innocuous." in the Kibya massacre cannot be (Continued from Page 2)
Mr. Davis further states that condoned . .C
the members of SL are primarily When we A-bombed Hiroshima Homecoming Dinner will be spon-
concerned with impressing other and Nagasaki, we slaughtered ci- sored by the Newman Club, Oct. 31,
legislators with their oratory and vilian men, women, and children, at 6:30 p.m. in the Father Richard
forensics. I believe he is here guil- hoping to avoid the casualties we Center. Spaghetti will be served as the
ty of a gross generalization. Every would suffer in an invasion. Re- maincourse. Tickets may be obtained
organization is burdened with "sil- member, America was in no slight- attend. Cnxry-vryrth Yecret
ver tongues" to some degree. A est danger: Germany had surrend- Edited and managed by students of
parliamentary group like SL is ered, and Japan's striking power CANDIDATES OPEN HOUSES the University of Michigan under the
particularly susceptible to this ac- was already destroyed . . . The FALL, 1953 authority of the Board in Control of
cusation; because one of its basic same remarks apply almost as well M5:00-6:00-AlphaDdttlcPn
5:006 :0-AphaDelta Pi
functions is thoughtful and en- to our previous blanket-bombing. 6:30-7:15-Williams House, Robert Raz Editorial Staf
lightened debate in expressing stu- of Germany and Japan: although Huber House, Jerry Gray
dent opinion. However, Mr. Davis the threat to ourselves was remote, 7:30-8:15-Kappa Delta, Betty Ann Harry Lunn..........Managing Editor
fails to differentiate between the we murdered civilians in the name , Nov. 3 virginia Voss........ditorial Director
aimless oratory designed to- ii- of the war effort. : -i ooia ietor
aimes ortoy dsinedt0inl jof heWarffrt.5:0-604Sgma Phi. Jack Bo ice Mike Wolff ........Associate City Editor
I
I
f
}
r
r
r
r
press, and the pointed debate de-
signed to inform, enlighten, com-;
promise, and produce ideas and<
motions.a
It is a well known adage that
the best way to improve an or-
ganization is to vork from within#
and to constructively and NOT
destructively criticize. I wish Mr.
Davis had done this rather than
give up and "cry" through the,
columns of The Daily:j
-Fred Hicks I
Dave Gross
British Guiana ... j
The threat to Israel was immed-
iate, with invasions and murders a
daily affair. Repeated efforts to
negotiate peace on the border had
failed. The necessity for reprisal
seemed impossible to avoid.
2. "Where the guilt lies seems
uncertain."
Lacking space to introduce a de-
tailed record, let me point out a
couple of landmarks for the dis-
oriented:
Since their armed coup against
Israel and the UN failed in 1948, it
is the Arabs, by their own admis-
sion, who have maintained the
,3w-. -0r ia rn Jcx n yce
Yost League House, Betty
Smith
6:30-7:15-Psi Upsilon, Doug Robinson
Wed., Nov. 4-
5:00-6:00-Prescott, Donna Winster
Henderson, Priscilla Wass
6:30-7:15-Delta Delta Delta, Jane Ellet
Sigma Alpha Ep., Jim Hut-
tenlocher
6:45-7:15-Lester Coop
'Thurs., Nov. 5-
5:00-6:00-Alpha Xi Delta, Janet Brad-
shaw
5:00-6:30-Betsey Barbour, Ruth Ross-
ner.
6:30-7:15-Zeta Beta, Lou Slavin
7:30-8:30-Jordan Hall, Winnie Saar,
Pres.
Mon., Nov. 9-
Alice B. Silver... Assoc. Editorial Director
Diane Decker.........Associate Editor
Helene Simon. ...... Associate Editor
Ivan Kaye ................Sports Editor
Paul Greenberg.... Assoc. Sports Editor
Marilyn Campbell....... Women's Editor
Kathy Zeisler....Assoc, Women's Editor
Don Campbell.......Head Photographer
Business Staff
Thomas Treeger......Business Manager
William Kaufman Advertising Manager
Harlean Hankin. . .. Assoc. Business Mgr.
William Seiden.,......Finance Manager
James Sharp......Circulation Manager
Telephone 23-24-1
I