Sixty-Eighth Year
EDITED AND MANAGED BY STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
UNDER AUTHORITY OF BOARD IN CONTROL OF STUDENT PUBLICATIONS
STUDENT PUBLICATIONS BLDG. * ANN ARBOR, MICH. * Phone NO 2-3241

ns Are Free
Prevail"

"We Got Another Room Ready?"
l1s1.

ils printed in The Michigan Daily ex press the individual opinions of staff writers
or the editors. This mus t be noted in all reprints.

16, 1958,

NIGIjT EDITOR: RICHARD TAUB

Young Socialists
Are Destructive Nuisances

OST STUDENTS are probably aware
.ow, the campus was visited this week
eyors of The. Young Socialist, a month-
d publication purporting to be the
>f America's Future."
The Young Socialist is a voice is true
but that it 'has anything to say about
's future is doubtful, to say the least..
hose who haven't yet seen a copy of
er, The Young Socialist is a glorified
nda pamphlet published in New York
otley assortment of "independent. so-
who claim support from proponents
de variety of socialist opinions, includ-
nbers or former members of such organ-
as the now-defunct Labor Youth
the Young Socialist League, the So-
Worker's Party, the Fellowship of Re-
tion, and the Socialist Party.
e same time the paper disclaims any
on with any political party or any par-
socialist dogma. Just what this group
ivocate, other than the destruction of
sm is a little unclear. It's aims, as pro-
I in a front page editorial in the first
)ctober, 1957) of The Young Socialist
ollows:
hope that this paper can help advance
ht. of all radicals- and progressives for
r America, a better, more peaceful and
rld ... We do not claim to offer over-
ed, dogmatic answers to complicated
is.. . . We promise . .. a realistic ap-
to the modern world and to the social
at work in It. Our sole commitment is
he truth as we see it.,
also hope to present and discuss the
ng ideas of militant socialism as they
o the struggles and aspirations of the
peoples . .. It is our hope that out of
cussion will grow a broad and revital-
ilitant socialist youth movement that
in a progressive way on the campuses
the factories in bringing the ideas of
n to America's youth."
WAS.PRECEDED in the editorial by a
iction and advocation of the downfall
italistic imperialism."
statement- above promising to "tell the
s we see it" is somewhat misleading, in
implies some newspaper function, which,
implies objective news reporting and
ment of opinion to the editorial col-:
Young Socialist, however, makes no no-
attempt at objectivity 'in its "news"
s. It reports only selected news items,
ys them .up far out of proportion. The
is sharply slantet and highly editorial-
rpical articles deal primarily with econ-
id social problems (which we admit we
hat nation doesn't?) all over the United
A great deal of attention is also fo-
n the efforts of socialist groups around
ntry to further the movement, and con-
le space, devoted to violent attacks on
position aroused by these' efforts.
e letters in the center of this page at-
cal and visiting socialists on campus
ady upset by the feeble opposition -- if,
it could be called "opposition" at this
- they have so far encountered. They
secution because two unidentified men
ctures of them distributing copies of
>er in front of the Union on Thursday,
cause Dean Bingley pointed out that

they were acting in direct violation of Univer-
sity regulations, which specifically prohibit
distribution of "handbills or other printed
matter" on the campus, in University build-
ings, or in front of University buildings with-
out permission.
The mysterious photographers have various-
ly been accused oF being or rumored to be FBI
or other government agents (which the FBI
denies), members of the Detroit Police Depart-
ment's "Red Squad," (which ,the Detroit Po-
lice Department denies), or agents of some
other government or police agency.
THE QUESTION of whether or not a group
like the Young Socialists should be allowed
freedom to press its campaign on campus must
be considered from two sides - the practical
and the theoretical. The answer from both
sides is "No."
From the practical point of view, the social-
ists should be prevented from continuing their
propaganda efforts simply because there are
laws against their present methods. These rules
apply to any dissemination of literature - po-
litical or not-on campus. The socialists should
not be allowed to violate the law behind a mask
of "academic freedom" or "democratic rights."
They take advantage of our political and social
system in their efforts to undermine it, then
complain because there isn't enough freedom
to take advantage of.
From the theoretical or ethical standpoint,
we can oppose the socialists and what they
-stand for on the grounds 'that we will not be
a pai'ty to a campaign against the political.
and social principles in which we believe.
- Our capitalistic' democracy has its problems,
as does any system of government. In spite
of its weaknesses, however, it has been suc-
cessful. In its comparatively short life, it has.
made us the greatest nation kin the world, with
a standard of living unmatched anywhere in
the world, under any system of government.'
We justly place the utmost confidence in its
being fundamentally "right."
IN RECOGNITION of its shortcomings, Amer-
- ican democracy incorporates machinery for
dealing with them - free and open discussion
of our problems,,and enactment", via the elec-
torate, of the solutions deemed best by the ma-
jority.
This democratic machinery allows for ex-
pression of even widely deviant political opin-
lion, such as socialism is. This is as it should
be, providing the deviant view is at least con-
structive. The brand of socialism advocated by
those such as Normnan Thomas, who appeared
here last month, is at least worth considering,
for it does offer a constructive - if unaccept-
able to most of us-political and social scheme.
. The brand of deviance represented by the
Young Socialists, however, is merely rabble-
rousing. They largely confine themselves to at-
tacking existing institutions, playing up our
problemps while offering no concrete proposals
for their solution, and crying for destruction
of the status quo, to be replaced by some sort
of communal control of the "means of produc-
tion;" just what, they apparently don't know.
The Young Socialists are no real threat;
they have neither the power ndr the numbers
to be a significant danger. They're simply a
nuisance.
EDWARD GERULDSEN
Associate Editorial Director

EVOIS-e-I f1A1IIOt, 5C

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
'Harassed' Socialists To Try A ain
Gh rassedf e fend their rights without at the At any rate, if Mr. Elsman were
same time sanctioning the group aware that Socialism means the
To the Editor: or supporting their activities.
TUDGING from reports in The -T. Robert Yamada, 149 social ownership of the means of
JDaily and the Ann Arbor Newsn production, motivation by the
of March 14, those of us respon-* principle oif production for use,
sible for the distribution of the Distressed . . and a. twentieth century Socialist
Young Socialist newspaper in front To the Editor: Industrial Government to admin-
of the' Michigan Union Thursday T AM DISTRESSED at the inci- ister production and distribution
caused the Ann Arbor Police and dents which occurred in front of efficiently and justly, it is doubt-
the University administration con- the Michigan Union o n last Thurs- ful that he would have argued cir-
siderable concern. Union cuiltously in defense of capitalism
As the article in The Daily through the front entrance with a while demonstrating some of cap-
pointed out, during and after the, friend from England \tho is in the italisms weaknesses.
time we passed out our papers, we 'United States for a tWo week visit. * *
were subjected to constant har- We had eaten our lunch in the THE LETTER by Jerry Man-
rassment by a number of uniden- Union and had coincidentally been' fning on "the. preservation of
tifwed cameramen. Identify them- discussing the fact that the U.S. rights" assumes that government
thesemen would r dentifyethem- State Department cautions stu- originated by mutual consent of
selves (they were all above student dents and other foreign visitors the governed since "individual
age) itis not absolutely certain against expressing their political freedom was ofteir lost to the
whothe weeand social opinions while in the strong by the weak." He further
Three of them, however, were United States, particularly among assumed that by a process of mu-
seen driving off in a car with De- American citizens. tual consent "each had' to agree t
troit license plates. I strongly su- the measures of government"
pect they are cops from the Detroit My friend Was also distressed at t eares of govrnment."
"Red Squad." Whoever they were, being asked by the Voice of Amer- I fear thatMr. Manning will be
it is clear that their purpose was ica, within four hours of his arri- very much, disillusioned when he
to intimidate. I am sure that Uni- val in this country, if he would becomes acquainted with the cor-
versity students feel as indignant answer questions for a broadcast rect origin, transformation and
as we do about this outrage, interview that same night about nature of governments. He will
* - life in the United States. Ind that the development of plu-
THE STORY in The Daily re- But the worst Impression he re- tatlm
ports Assistant Dean of Men John ceved, and it was rather a shock United States government the
Bingley as saying that the Uni- to me also, was being accosted by hand man s of the
versity and the city have regula- plain clothes policemen (evidently racitizenmajorityh whoeservan rights M
tions against distribution of pam- Federal Government agents) as we Manning says the Constitutior
phlets or literature without per- left the Union on Thursday noon. protects.
mission. oe *W s
The idea that anyone should THE REASON that the Federal When, as the Declaration of in.
nee "prmisio" i orer o ds- police were there was obvious dependence says, any form of gov.
need "permission" In order to dis- plc rehre as bvus emnent becomes destructive oi
tribute literature on a public side- to me, if not to my guest; we had. these ends It is the right of the
walk is a clear violation of our ba- been handed a socialist newspaper eople ito alter or abolish it and t
sic civil liberties. The rights of all only an hour earlier as we entered pestittewornmentan
to disseminate or to receive such the Union for our lunch. (The institute new government, laying
literature without molestation newspaper had rather impressed its foundation on such principle
should be uncontested in a de- my friend, who was under the im- and organizing its powers in suos
mocracy. pression that disentng opinion of form as to them shall seem mos
When Mr. Bingley implies that a socialistic nature was prohibited likely to effect their safety and
we might have been arrested or in this country!, nothing published happiness.
driven from the sidewalk if we had about socialized medicine, etc.) On this basis, through the me.
remained for a longer time, h . But when we asked why our pic- dium of the amendment principl
only compounds the crime. tures (three pictures by two dif- and provision of the U.S. Consti.
Because we feel that an impor- men) had been taken, we tution, Socialist Industrial Gov.
Beas efe hta mo-ferent mn adbe akn e ement will be established. The
tant principle is at stake we are were told most discourteously to the recurring nightmares The
planning another distribution of mind our own business. prei and warsto which cap.
the Young Socialist on Thursday, To be confronted by such a large Preitas hascommitted the Unite
March 20, at 11:45 a.m., in front number of un-uniformed and ag- States will be a thing of the pasit
of the Michigan Union. I hope that gressive police in a public place Is and economic justice nothbe e-s
all interested students will be on disconcerting enough, to be treated tablished But it must cme ques.
hand for that occasion. In the in such a degrading manner- by y because the war toward which
event that the past intimidation representatives of the U.S. Gov- capitalist imperialism and s
re-occurs they will have an oppor. erment is embarassing and hu-cigwl
tunity to see for themselves and milating, but the worst and most chevist imperialism are racing wil
draw their own conclusions on this inexcusable result is the very poor make jibbering derelicts of an
issue. impression it made on my English
-Bob Himmel, Chairman friend, an impression which was -Ralph W. Muncy
Wayne Young Socialist Club undoubtedly made on many other LItT MAN ON CAMPU
foreign visitors and students.
Trotskyit -James 3. Berkley
To the Editor Deanition
EVERAL POINTS of clarifica-
tion are necessary in regard to To the Editor: I'l
the activities of the Young Social- AN EDITORIAL and a letter in
ist Club of Wayne County, whose the March 11 issue of the Daily,
appearance on this campus last both of which deal with the social
Thursday seems to have caused economic question, are evidence of
some excitement.' the production of false conclusions
First of all, it should be emphat- from false or incomplete premises.
ically stated that this group is in In the editorial "A Time of Ex-
no way associated with the Social- amination for United States Cap-
ist Party of Norman Thomas, but italism," Mr. James Elsman as-
is under the leadership of members sumes, in the first paragraph, that
of the Socialist Workers' Party, the socialism means government own-
"orthodox" Trotskyite sect. ership. Though contradicting him-
At the present moment this self in another sentence, Mr. Els-
group is actively engaged in at- man assumes that "our system,"
tempting to create a broad radical whatever that may be, may reach
youth group by bringing together higher peaks of output than forms
the remnants of the now defunct of socialism.',t

y '«LOOKING UP:
ampus United"Nations
By JAMES ELSMAN JRI.

fHATEVER ELSE may be said of the Cam-
pus United Nations it was a profitable edu-
ional experience in the complexities of in- 
national relations.
though the delegates labored three hours In'
morning and three hours in the afternoon
shape a resolution'of the Cyprus issue that
Auld be acceptable to the Assembly, they
led, leaving the situation as they had found
-critical and unsolved. While their failure
>m the outside might convey the impression
At there was considerable sentiment in the
ly to approve the British position on the
and, such was not the case. Such a situation
inaction arose essentially because of the
realism of the Campus United Nations situ-
on. It was unreal because the delegates at-
apted to solve a real problem of the day
th non-existant tools.
rhe first unreality was that the procedural
chinery, because of the limited time, was
.ch different than that of the United Nations.
e Campus UN was given but one resolution
I one amendment which the delegates could
cuss and vote upon. No substitute resolutions
re allowed from the floor. The main resolu-
n was drafted by a committee which tried so
rd to accommodate the interests of the
ee principal parties in the resolution that the
olution pleased no majority.
t'he second unreality was that the student
egates who represented their native countries

passed, no -matter what, just to indicate that
the British were jolly fellows.
AMPUS UNITED NATIONS, then, can be
fairly criticized only as to its educational
accomplishments. And no doubt the Union in-
tended that its main value be in the educational
functions it performed.
Its more obvious educational contributions
were many. Almost 60 nations had an opportu-
nity to express their positions on the Cyprus
issue. The staggering complexity of the problem
prompted many different expressions of opinion
Consider the decision confronting leaders of
these countries when they hear logical argu-
ments from Britishers who likely feign a pa-
ternal concern over the Turkish minority to
protect their strategic interests, from the Turks
who overstate the danger to the Turkish ma-
jority and hide a desire not to see Greece at-
tain a position so-near to the land of Turkey,
and from 'the Greeks who idealistically plead
for a plebescite while taking 'subversive action
to influence enosis with Greece. And further,
should a nation vote for what the calculating
national interest dictates or should it support
the ideal of self-determination ,which it pays
lip service to? The student delegates had to
puzzle these questions just as our diplomats
today must,
The more subtle educational contributions
are hard to estimate. If we may judge by the