The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 49, No. 23, Ed. 1 Friday, March 30, 1962 Page: 4 of 10
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-THE THRESHER EDITORIAL PAGE
Hot % TOfaf
When ex-general and gubernatorial candi-
date Edwin A. Walker visited the campus two
weeks ago, Rice students who expected a hell-
raising demagogue were more than somewhat
disappointed. Instead, they were faced with that
strange combination of unsupported assertion,
semi-fact and obvious sincerity that is plausible
to those prepared in advance to accept it but
highly dubious and rather disconcerting to those
who enter any discussion prepared to question
premises and demand proof.
What was perhaps most readily apparent
was the fact that Walker is a candidate for gov-
ernor in name only. He is certainly no politician,
which is not in itself necessarily bad.
But Walker's lack of political know-how ex-
tends far beyond his unwillingness or inability
to run a public-relations minded campaign, the
kind of campaign it takes to win elections, to a
disturbing refusal to translate general principles
into concrete proposals.
Walker rarely replies to specific questions with
specific answers. One gets the impression that
this refusal to be pinned down is not based on
the normal politician's fear of being explicitly
committed to a given stand which might appease
one audience but alienate another. On the con-
trary, it appears that this candidate refuses to
offer constructive proposals because he has none
to offer.
It is apparent that Walker's political thoughts
are made up of a set of isolated facts and gen-
eral catch phrases. Since this body of thought
is neither comprehensive nor inter-related, Wal-
ker is incapable of extrapolating beyond it.
When asked a question for which he has no
ready-made answer, he quickly* searches his
mental card file for some other area of discus-
sion which might be introduced. This fact, com-
bined with his lack of experience in domestic
affairs, accounts for the startling inappropriate-
ness of many of his answers.
His lack of domestic experience also helps to
account for his almost total preoccupation with
question of foreign policy and the Communist
threat, despite the fact that he is running for
governor of Texas.
(One suspects that he is, in fact, running
against his better judgment and ofily at the
insistence of those who share his political views
and who need a well-known candidate.)
Perhaps the most perceptive question raised
during the evening was posed by the student
who inquired, "What would you do, as governor
of Texas, if Chiang Kai-Shek were to die?"
Walker answered at length with a defense of
Chiang as a "patriarch" of democracy and ex-
pressed his hope that someone equal to the task
would be found to replace him when he is gone.
What he fails to answer, what he is apparently
unable to answer, was the explicit question of
the relevency of these matters*to his candidacy
for governor.
Walker is apparently incapable of appreciat-
ing or making use of subtlety. Decisions for him
are clear cut. The enemy, he says, is over there.
But where, in this world of complex social,
political, economic and military forces, is "there,"
and what do we do with the enemy when we
find him?
He calls for "a unification of America in a
cause that's right and just." But what is such
a cause and where is the constructive program
to carry it out ? "We have been betrayed by many
people in many areas," he claims. But who are
the people and how can we establish their guilt
while still preserving a unity of justice and the
right ?
"The world," he says, "isn't built on material
things; it's built on spiritual things . . . there's
nothing wrong with people with incomes of $800
a year if they're happy." But what are the
spiritual things and how can we defend them
and how many people really are happy on $800
a year?
These are questions which candidate Walker
does not answer, and one doubts that he can.
He is unquestionably sincere, freed from most
of the special interests which distort the think-
ing of many who agree with his basic philosophy.
He is afraid. He senses that this country is in
the gravest battle in its history and he senses as
well that we are probably losing and certainly
doing no better than holding our own.
He concludes that the "main problem of Texas
is to get on our horses and attack," he wants to
provide leadership, and he is confident that he
has the majority behind him. Do not ask him
what he will do "if elected;" he will reply, "I am
going to be governor of Texas," the same way
MacArthur must have said "I shall return."
But objectives in war are reasonably clear-
cut; in politics they are blurred. Walker does not
have any plans for achieving his objectives be-
cause he has not yet been able to give explicit
definition to those objectives themselves. He
does not connect the words he uses with reality,,
and it is thus a reality he is hardly able to
understand and even less able to deal with.
FACULTY SOUND-OFF
Dr. Bernard Atkinson, Assistant Pro-
fessor of Chemical Engineering, re-
ceived his Ph.D. from the University
of Manchester in England. Although
he is new to the faculty this year,
Dr. Atkinson studied at Rice last year
as a post-doctoral fellow.—Ed.
By BERNARD ATKINSON
Chemical Engineering Dept.
Much has been said and writ-
ten and much has been done to
provide the undergraduate with
facilities for broadening his out-
look and developing his person-
ality during the years in col-
lege.
However, once a man grad-
uates he becomes, as far as the
life of the university is con-
cerned, something of an outcast,
to be filed away in the depart-
ment of his choosing and al-
lowed to come up for air only
when his degree is awarded.
The problem of the new grad-
uate student is more complex
than that of his undergraduate
counterpart.
IF THE CURRENT, and I be-
lieve healthy, trend continues,
he will be encouraged to do
graduate work at some school
other than his alma mater. This,
m
GOINqc*J
I *
,llS...lT...TRUE....\NHAI..HM...W? YOU...DO...
...N0T...SPEhK... ENGLISH?"
THRESHING-IT-OUT
Williams 'Compelled'
To Present His Facts
What Is Grad Student's Role?
The
.Thresher
The Rico Thresher, the official student newspaper of Rice University,
is published weekly from September to June, except during holiday recesses
and examination periods,, and when unusual circumstances warrant a special
issue. "The opinions expressed, are those of the student staff and do not
necessarily reflect the views of the Rice University administration.
Entered as second class matter, October 17, 1917, at the post office
in Houston, Texas, under the act of March 8, 1870.
' EDITORIAL STAFF
EDITOR MARJORIE TRULAN
ASSOCIATE EDITOR GRIFFIN SMITH
Managing Editor Eugene Keilin Engineering and Science
News Editor Fryar Calhoun
Feature Editor Harvey Pollard
Sports Editors Dick Park,
Milton Nirken, Ronnie Kline
Senate Larry Moore
Colleges Charles Kippls
Politics Kenn Carr,
Syd Nathans, Pat McGowan
Steve McCleary
Religion Phil Strange
Fine Arts Robert Zelenka,
Stefan Offenbach
Photography Scott Morris,
Bob Warren, John Reavis
Cartoons Charles Dent
Faculty Advisor Dr. Donald Mackensie
BUSINESS STAFP
BUSINESS MANAGER CHARLES WILLIAMS
Assistant Business Manager Danny Tompkins
Local Advertising and Circulation Manager Burton Silverman
National Advertising Manager Disk Visbig
however, creates problems and
places a special responsibility
on the university.
The position of the new grad-
uate student is difficult. He ar-
rives on a new campus where he
is a stranger; he is unfamiliar
with the techniques, procedures
and philosophy of his new de-
partment, and this in itself
presents a problem.
In all probability he is bored
with undergraduate campus ac-
tivity and is looking for pas-
tures new. He will probably take
a cheap apartment close to cam-
pus in the strange city and pass
his days and evenings working
and trotting back and forth.
HIS ACQUAINTANCES will
be from his own department
and will probably remain so,
apart from occasional contacts
as a result of his course work.
There are those who will ac-
cept and claim all the students'
time, and testify that this is the
way to dedication.
The question here is: dedica-
tion to science or the dollar?
Since a post-graduate degree
now opens the door to a higher
earnings bracket, who can be
sure? If the latter is the an-
swer, the dedication is super-
fluous.
IT IS THE responsibility of
any educational establishment
that wishes to be honored by the
name "University" to come to
terms with this matter. The re-
Continued on Page 6)
To the Editor:
Last week The Thresher print-
ed a letter from one of the
"small people" who have per-
petrated a fraud upon the stu-
dent body. In essence, that letter
denies that there was a fraud.
Therefore, I ,feel compelled to
present the facts that I have in
this manner so that the alledged
victim, the student body, can
judge for itself if a fraud has
been committed.
MY ACCUSATION of fraud is
based upon my interpretation of
the duties and responsibilities of
an elected representative of the
student body.
I believe that such a represent-
ative should be aware that his of-
fice is one of trust, and that the
powers and authority vested with-
in the office are for the expressed
purpose of performing the duties
of that office.
In addition, these powers carry
with them a corresponding re-
sponsibility to see that they are
not used in a manner that is in-
consistent with the interests of
the student body.
A minor deviation of this trust
might be called negligence, but a
gross violation definitely consti-
tutes fraud.
DUE TO THE proximity of
my office to the Campanile's of-
fice, I had the occasion to wit-
ness something which was grossly
inconsistent with my interpreta-
tion of the responsibilities of an
elective office.
The event was the election of
the Favorites, which was accomp-
lished by an all-school election
last year. The method used this
year could best be called "an
abortion of the democratic pro-
cess."
Being in a position to observe
this "crime," I realized that I
had an obligation to bring this
to the attention of the student
body, since they were the ones
who were being defrauded. There-
fore, I submit the following
f&cts *
(1) THE "ABORTION" occur-
red in the outer office of the
Campanile.
(2) Approximately twelve or
thirteen "fcmall people" were
present, of which a simple major-
ity were Campanile staff mem-
bers. The minority was composed
of various "campus leaders."
(3) Written ballots were used,
but nothing resembling .a secret
ballot was observed. Many of
those present were comparing
their selections, and such com-
ments as "you vote for this girl
and I'll vote for that girl" were
not uncommon.
(4) The most votes received by
anyone was twelve, and the least
received by one of the ten "Fa-
vorites" was eight votes.
(5) THE RESULTS of the
"election" were not announced
until approximately ten days af-
ter the "crime." No explanation
was given for this unusual de-
lay, but the reason was the em-
barrassing fact that seven of the
ten "favorites" were members of
the same literary society.
Since Rush was in its final
stages, it was felt that this par-
ticular society would have an un-
due advantage in recruiting if
the results were announced im-
mediately. •
(6) After the results had been
tabulated, the ballots were de-
stroyed before a public announce-
ment was made.
(7) The pictures of these "fa-
vorites" will apear in full color,
to the exclusion of color pictures
of more representative items else-
where in the Campanile.
IN VIEW OF the above facts,
the only possible interpretation is
that there has been a gross vio-
lation of trust. The only defense
that has been offered for this
"crime" is that it has always
been the option of the Editor to
handle this election in the man-
ner that1 ''he saw fit" to use.
Although this may be true, it
does not justify the "crime."
There would be a reasonable
presumption in the mind of any-
one who happens to see ten full
page pictures of "Favorites" that
these favorites are representative
of the entire student body.
TO PRECEDE THE section
with a statement that these "Fa-
vorites" were chosen by "staff
members and campus leaders"
would be to admit the fraud, since
there is an implied responsibility
for both Campanile "staff mem-
bers," as representatives of an
(Continued on Page 6)
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The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 49, No. 23, Ed. 1 Friday, March 30, 1962, newspaper, March 30, 1962; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth231205/m1/4/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.