Page 2 DAILY EMERALD Tuesday, December 2, 1941
Here to Stay...
TTHERE are instances, even in connection with such tradition
conscious occasions as Homecoming, that modern revolu
tionary changes produce more old-fashioned pep than the old
customs themselves.
Such is the case with the snowball rally which wound its
way through the campus Friday night on the eve of the
biggest game of the year. There were protests when the annual
noise parade, Oregon Homecoming feature for years, was
done away with this year in favor of the less difficult rally
parade and dance. The noise parade had been so much a part
of Homecoming that students and faculty alike, although none
pretended to enjoy the affair, hated to see it go. It was like
moving the senior bench or tearing down Deady hall.
# # # #
lyjT campus opinion of this year’s Homecoming weekend
indicates that the pajama-top rally which moved from one
living organization to another collecting enthusiastic Webfoots
and ended in a mass meeting in McArthur court was a success.
Spirits were relatively dampened by the prolonged length
of the radio program. As an air presentation for alum con
sumption the entertainment was good, but it lacked the fire
which puts over a student pre-game rally.
But that is the natural mistake of a “first attempt.” The idea
was good, the pep Avas there, and the Homecoming rally has
assured itself of a permanent place in the festivities honoring
returning alumni. It is by far a better expression of Oregon
spirit than the old noise parade.
Saber Rattling...
JpOR the first time in American history, war in the Pacific
seems inevitable. The past few weeks have seen an astound
ing maze of diplomatic conferences between the two nations
come to naught. At least, that is the only possible interpreta
tion of the information that is released to the American press.
It has-been almost impossible for Americans to believe that
Japan could lx* so foolhardy as to openly defy the United
States. It has been almost impossible for Americans to believe
that, as a certain faculty member expressed it. Japan would
“tell the United States to get out of the world.” And it has
been even more impossible for the Americans to conceive their
government failing to answer such insolence and open defiance
with actual hostilities.
JgUT now it appears that an outbreak of hostilities is likely
to come about within a few days—perhaps within a few
hours. Yesterday morning newspapers carried stories telling
of the shipment of American pilots and planes to Asia to
serve with the Chinese forces and under Chinese command.
Japanese troops are mtovinj^ into French Indo-China and
British battleships are massing at Singapore.
Perhaps the most ominous sign of all lay in a short paragraph
which appeared in the news last night stating that Admiral
Harold R. Stark, chief of naval operations, had been called in
for conferences with the president and Secretary Hull. When
diplomats call in the military heads it usually means trouble.
There is one bright ray. It is not difficult to glean from
the newspaper clippings and magazine articles of the past
couple of years the one fact that America has been preparing
for this war. Stories of increased fortifications in the Philip
pines and new fortifications at Wake island and the Aleutian
islands have not been uncommon.
If Japan insists on war. America is ready.—II.O.
The Oregon Daily Emerald, published daily during the college year except Sundays,
Mondays, holiday* and final examination periods by the Associated Students, University
of Oregon. Subscription rates: $1.25 per term and $3.00 per year. Entered as -second
class matter at the posttllce. Eugene, Oregon.
HELEN ANGELL, Editor FEED MAY, Business Manager
Associate Editors: Betty Jane Biggs, Hal Olney
Ray Schriok, Manaffinu Editor
Bob Krazirr, News Editor
Jim Thayer. Advertising Manager
Warren Roper, National Advertising Manager
UPPER BUSINESS STAFF
Helen Rayburn, l.ayout Manainr
Dave Holmes. Circulation Munnuer
liaryelieu Smith, Si>ecial Issue Manager
AI vara Master. Leota Whltelock,
Classified Managers
Helen Flynn, Office Manager
Peggy Magill, Promotional Director
UPPER NEWS STAKE
Jonathan Natiananul, Law t lather a,
Co-Sports Editors
Corrit'o Nelson, Mildred Wilson,
Co-Woman's Editors
Herb fenny, mu Hilton, Assistant
Managing Editors
Joanne Nichols, Assistant News Editer
Mary Wolf, Exchange Editor
WniteSi 'Wandete
Where's US's Optimism?
By DON TREADGOLD
We get tired of having only bad news to comment on, aay aner
day, month after month. Yet usually we can get some relief from
the sports page. (We still read the comics, but with Raven Sherman
dead and Li’l Abner apparently beheaded, they don’t exactly clear
the air.) But when an event like Saturday’s gridiron defeat even
invades the sport page, we feel we must take time out to look over
the situation.
Let us first ask, how are we
as a people taking our steady
diet of bad news? With this
month’s Fortune comes an as
tonishing answer. Comments
Time on this report of the For
tune survey: “The evidence of na
tional pessimism, a trait entire
ly alien to the U.S., is excep
tionally well documented.”
Though 72 per cent of the peo
ple expect the Allies to win the
war, over 60 per cent expect that
after the war people will have to
work harder, pay will be lower,
and there will be much unem
ployment. Ever since 1776 Amer
icans have built their success
seeking lives on the hope they
can leave a better world for their
sons and daughters. Yet now only
37.3 per cent of the people think
their sons’ opportunities will be
better than their own. Half the
people think the war will last
from two to ten years longer.
The American character has
always borne many of the com
bined qualities of Jack-the-Giant
Killer, the Biblical David, and
Little Orphan Annie. That is,
Americans have faced desperate
situations before, but have al
ways had almost childlike confi
dence in their own ability to sur
mount all obstacles. If their arm
ies bogged down, they knit more
socks and bought less sugar.
Around the Corner
Throughout the terrible de
pression of 1929 and after, they
clung to the conviction that
“prosperity is just around the
corner.” America has never given
up and has seldom become dis
couraged. But evidently the bad
news of 1939-41 has done to us
what wars and panics of 150
years could not do.
Last week’s Time carried this
letter: “Sirs: On the cover of
your Nov. 10 issue you portray
Rita Hayworth. Our nation is
facing its gravest hour, and you
put Rita Hayworth on the cover.
Men, women, and children are
dying by the thousands of mar
tial violence, and you give your
Number One spot to Rita (in a
Petty drawing, at that). Half
the world is in flames, and you
go for glamor girls. Please renew
my subscription immediately.”
Maybe this is too flippant for
you, but it at least shows a mind
unwilling to be smothered by bad
news. We need to get a new slant
on things, and realize America’s
abilities for solving problems are
as great a9 ever. Let's not let it
all get us down.
*7node
• • •
By MARY WOLF
College Pro: (viewing a large
number of vacant seats): I don’t
know why so many should be ab
sent today; the weather’s some
what wet, but goodness only
knows the subject is dry enough.”
—McMinnvillan.
Harlem Harvest
One of the latest war gags.
Listen: ‘‘Two American volun
teers from Harlem enlisted with
the British land forces. Out on
the battlefield one day, rifles
were distributed to the men, and
the officer in command shouted
for a charge over the top.
But one of the Harlem lads re
fused his rifle. He said he pre
ferred to be armed with a
straight razor. So armed, he and
his colleague advanced with the
rest.
They heard an enemy machine
gun nest. Our lads from Harlem
chanced to overhear the two men
in charge of the lead typewriter
say that they would fire at the
backs of our friends after they
had passed by the nest.
But foiling the gunners, the
two Harlem boys sprang upon
the trap. The one armed with a
razor, unsheathed his weapon
and with it made a swift sweep
ing motion at the neck of a ma
chine gunner.
But the gunner did not stir. He
just grinned and said, “You
missed.”
“Oh yeah,” said the darky.
“Just nod your head, bo.”
—Northeastern News.
* * #
Stanford University — has
“hatched” an idea for a unique ra
dio station whose operation will
depend upon the use of “hot air.”
As the plan stands now, the sta
tion would broadcast over steam
heating lines that are distributed
throughout the campus. A regular
transmitter would be used with a
radio frequency output connected
to the steam pipes. All radios
within 250 feet of the steam pipes
would be able to pick up the Stan
ford station. Broadcasts of cam
pus meetings and activities are
planned as the main material for
the programs.
D<**n tf-osi Rn&akjjait
By TED HALLOCK
If you get as far as the Bowl
January first, then of interest
should be the news that Tom
Dorsey opens the Palladium New
Year’s eve. Till then Kenton’s on
the stand.
Cootie Williams left king
Goodman two weeks ago to form
his own crew. No sepia mem
bers in B.G.'s ork at present.
Babe Rusin into Glenn Miller’s
mob on take-off tenor with Tex
Beneke shoved up to the lead alto
slot. Chu Berry colored “Chicago
Style” tenor man, killed tw’o
weeks ago in an auto accident
near Evanston.
Duke Here
Biggest hews to arrive by pony
express for days is the info that
the Duke will play at the armory
in Eugene next Sunday eve. Loud
of ex-Willamette Park will spon
sor the affair and let’s hope El
lington doesn’t get the same bap
tism by fire as was accorded our
mutual friend Holman. The Duke
is also slated for a week at the
Mayfair theater in the big city
upstairs which makes me very
happy.
Long-Hair Dope
Further big news for this cam
pus comes the announcement
that Bela Bartok will speak here.
Now, as you know, I am not wont
to flipping my lid over longhairs,
but in this case I make the grand
exception. Bartok is a noted pi
anist and composer. So what, you
ask ? Is he groovy ?
And then I make with the larg
er bombshell. Yes, I say, Bartok
is a cat. And I am telling strictly
the truth. Two years ago Bela
(Please turn to page seven)
At
Becntul
Qlcuice.
By TED HARMON
It’s all over except the study
ing, last weekend, we mean. By
Sunday night the campus had
once more returned to normal
and most students were in bad
by midnight.
Here’s some belated weekend
data that might prove interest
ing: After the swell rally pro
gram Friday night, and with'^p
air of the big event still hovering
around the fog-wrapped students,
we found one couple walking
slowly up University street. As a
direct contrast to the cheering of
other students, he held her hand
tenderly, and whispered into her
ear-muffs: “Just think! In Ger
many they can’t do this any
mere. . .
With more alums than usual
back for the Homecoming fes
tivities, one was telling about the
overcrowded fraternity house.
“By the time that I got irt,” he
said, “all the beds, couches and
chairs were taken.” Being pojjj^
we asked where he finally did
sleep. “Well, the next best place
was the bathtub in the guest
room, but the house mascot was
in that,” he laughed. We laughed
again and asked, “What did you
do?” “Let out the water,” was
the answer.
And on the porch of one so
rority, a couple had just said
goodnight. “Thanks for the hug,”
she said, opening the door. He
waved his hand in farewell. “Not
at all; the pressure was all
mine.” ... At the dance, during
intermission and Friar tapping,
one campus gigolo murmured,
“everything seems brighter aft&P
I’ve been out with you.” She
smiled, looked up into his eyes.
“It should! You never go home
until morning.”
And by this time Chairman
Russ Hudson is probably turning
back to his neglected books after
a job well done, even though
Monday morning on Johnson hall
steps there were two signs. One
read, “Yehudi Menuhin”; the oth
er belatedly announced “Home to
Honor Oregon.” The two together,
however, made a strange combin
ation.
SHORT REVIEW: At last
night’s concert, Yehudi MenulrftTs
bow artistically touched the
strings of the campus’ heart. The
100-minute concert was one of
perfection.
PIN PRICKINGS this weekend
were in order for Pifi Mary Jane
Rabbe, who now wears Bunny
Potts’ Thetaki brass; Pifi Leone
Spaulding made Jim Bennison
happy by taking his Fidelt pin.
AFTER THE GAME last Sat
urday, and being resolved that if
Oregon couldn’t whip OSC, then
we were glad that an Oregon
team could play in the Rose
Bowl, we found ourselves ardent
ly gabbing with two OSC stu
dents. One of them, declaring
himself in the know, said he
knew why Tommy Roblin was in
jured on his second play.
Accordingly, Stiner drilled his
players, particularly the ends and
tackles, with the sole purpose of
hampering Roblin as much as
possible. In closed drills during
the week, Stiner ran off Oregon
plays, using a man as Roblin for
bait. The stand-in was unable to
play in Saturday’s classic as a
result; what happened during the
actual game is obvious, as far as
Roblin is concerned.
MEMO JOTTINGS for the
week include a reasonable facsim
ile of Custer’s last stand at the
Side Friday night after the dance.
We’ve never seen so many people
grouped together in booths . . ,
the chagrined alums staying at
sorority houses, having to abide
by the dean’s 12:15 rules . . . Pat
(Please turn to page seven)