THE DAILY NEBRASKAN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER If, 1937
Campus Cadets Qrieved By Armistice In 1918 A
PAGE TWO
V
GLOOM
PERVADES
CAMP AS
m
iCE
FOR OIC. FADES
Counter Reports indicating
Chance to Go Abroad
Cause Rejoicing.
Editor's note: The Nebraskan
reprints the following story
just as it appeared in this paper
on Friday, Nov. 8, 1918. The
incidents related in the story
were caused by the falsely re
ported Armistice which pre
ceded the valid cessation of
hostilities by three days. The
story is a reminder of the fever
pitch reached by hate and ex
citement in wartime, that prep
aration for war is in truth
preparation for war, and that
student soldiers are not es
pecially stirred against war by
training for it. It is impossible
to use the original headlines on
the story because of a change
in the type size in the Nebras
kan make-up. The headlines
read: "Armistice Causes Gloom;
Then Joy; Ceasing of Hostili
ties Disappoints Men Captain
Maclvor Revives Spirit; 0. T.
C. Men Feel That They Will
Never Get Coveted Gold Bars."
Inquiring Reporter
Recalls War Hysteria
That Hit 1917 Campus
win
Despair reigned supreme in the
barracks Thursday morning. In
the mess hall and about the
campus gloom pervaded oyer all.
The news that an armistice had
been effected and that hostilities
were to cease seemed to injure
rather than overjoy the feelings
of the men at the post. The thrust
was a sore one and a bit deep.
Studies were sorely neglected and
laxity filled each classroom where
meagre numbers had gathered.
In the barracks the men threw
their hats, books, suitcases and
clothing into obscure corners and
glared at laughing bunkies who
dared to become mirthful under
the circumstances. Men slumped
down on their cots in bitter anger
or kicked unoffensive chairs over
the room with woeful neglect as
to their personal sufferings.
Suggestions were made as to
future activities. One man merely
stated that it was "back to the
farm' for him. Another related
that since the fracas was over
and he was just in trim that he
was "going to Mexico and join
Villa, start a new revolution or
revive an old one." Still others
were ready to pack their grips
and start for Eerhn on their own
hook, join the Czecho-Slovak re
volt enter into the fray with the
er.eir.ies of the Bolshevikl, or go
bacic to the range, anything to get
action,
O. T. C. Men Sad.
But the saddest of all were those
who were destined for the O. T. C.
Sad smiles stole down the faces
of the future officers and with set
jaws they felt the axe drop. "Mar.y
suppea away 10 minK it over.
Others sat down and wrote home
will gladly give up my chance for
a comir.ii'sion." In fact they all
felt that way about it, but still it
hurt "way down."
Later in the evening, counter
reports were giver, out that the
armistice was not signed, and also
that in case it should have teen or
should be, the chances that the
members of this ur.it would be
nt abroad would be greater than
BY MERRILL ENGLAND.
AVe started out to review the war-time conditions on this
campus, as seen thru the eyes of its faculty members. "We
sought statements from professors as to the actual happenings
here during the tumultous years of 1917 and 1918. What we
received were not cut-and-dried personal statements; nor
pretty little speeches, well memorized; they were cold facts.
It couldn't happen here but it did. Mass hysteria,
driven to a frenzy by a controlled press could not pour thous
ands of this nation's finest younp men into the maw of death
but it did. Sixty billions of dollars could not be thrown
away in the wild gesture of a profligate madman, but they
were. That's our last war in retrospect.
Ashamed of Nebraskan Contents.
So few people know or bother to remember the events
! that took place on this campus in the years 1917 and 1918.
The files of the Nebraskan for that period compose a record
of which we are not proud, but of which we are ashamed. For
ithey reflect the attitudes and actions of a blood-maddened
j country working itself up to the point where it could take
jits best younjr men and deliberately murder them.
It may interest you to know that 12 of our university
I professors were actually tried on trumped-up charges. It
appears that, at that time, there was in existance a State
Council of Defense a clearing house for dealing with peo
I pie who had made pro-German announcements, or who were
"suspected." Thru this agency, definite charges were lodged
' against 12 instructors.
The trials were travesties on .instiec. (.oniluetod under the
m . It t i 1 1 . r T" a
auspices ot the council, tne six mouthers or mo ooaru ox ivegcins
sat as a judiciary body, much in the same fashion as do 1h
justices of the supreme court. A lawyer wjfs provided by the
university for the defense of the accused, and the state coun
cil was represented by an array of leral talent.
Hearsay Used as Evidence.
ITearsav. rumors, wild surmises almost anything passed as
evidence. In fact, one of the best known educators in this state
was summoned before the court on the grounds that someone
had told someone who had told someone who had repeated to
an official of the council that the instructor had made pro
German statements.
As one of the prominent instructors put it, "Everyone
who had a name which could be interpreted as being German
was more or less under suspicion, as likewise was everyone
who was known to have had any tendency to weigh both sides
of the question."
Spies in class, systematic and periodic rifline of their
records, opened letters, listeners outside their homes at night,
eavesdroppers at their faculty meetings, under constant pres
sure by the press, and over conscious of the fact that a single
statement micrht mean their dismissal that was the position
of the university professor during that period.
" Three Professors Discharged.
The Inquisition had nothing on this country three faculty
members lost their positions as a result of these trials.
In the ease of the trial of Prof. Caldwell, then head of the
History department it was said, "he had a passion for peace
vet there was rot a more patriotic person on ihe campus."
Yet, beeause that man had the audacity to attempt to go ho
insructors of this university to sign a petiiion o President Wil
son, askins him to use all his influence to avert the war. he
was brought to trial.
Suspicion ran riot professor named professor; students
submitted statements allegedly made by their instructors, and
saw them held for public trial as a result. Raging denuncia
tions blared on the headlines of our newspapers.
Conscientious Objector Tried.
A prominent graduate student was "suspected'' arid inves
titrated hv the serret service, because he wrote a letter to a
frind of his. ieiicarcended at Loavonworth fur being a con
Tin
who
Some smiled and said. ''It's all for
the best and if some Yank is saved , seientious objector, in which h mado the statement that '
v. v.. . i- - d . i1 . .....
,,-y u.r raiiy i;.-.:sn. i,,.()t s,, Mire ,ut voure better oil w fiOro von are than we
Armistice Day Call
(By tinted Student Feaee Committee).
Fellow Students:
Armistice Day on the American campus
must be a signal for renewed efforts on behalf
of peace this year. With a major war in , the
ar bast, with the fascist invasion continuing
iii Spain, American students must -not despair
of peace but increase their efforts to restrain
aggression and keep America out of war.
There are certain values and potentialities in
American hie that war would destroy; there
fore it is a matter of life and death to our
generation that the United States does not
go to war. At the same time we must bring into
play on the world scene the great power that
our country might exercise for peace in. co
operation with other nations.
The wars raging in the world today are di
rect results of the failure of nations to ob
serve their international obligations failure
that was inevitable as long as peace treaties
rested upon economic injustice. The immediate
task confronting the peace forces of our coun
try and ot the world is the pacification of the
world. But such pacification will be short lived
unless far reaching, long time measures of
economic and social justice become its foundations.
The nineteenth anniversary of the end of
the first world war see what may well be the
beginning of the second. In these emergency
circumstances, the United Student Fence Com
mittee urges students to support the following
points in such ways as they deem most ef
fective :
1. Keep America out of war by exercis
ing unceasing vigilance against those
groups that foster compulsory R. 0. T. C.
and large military budgets; that promote
fascism in the United States by the organ
ization of vigilantes and nazi groups;
that exploit for imperialist purposes the
genuine resentment of the common peo
ple of this country against the Japanese
military clique. In this connection we op
pose the extension of oumaval establish
ment in the Pacific.
Help the Chinese people in their strug
gle against Japanese aggression, even tho
we sympathize with the common people of
Japan in their suffering. To indicate our
sympathy with Chinese people who are
victimized by Japanese violation of inter,
national law, we should co-operate with
those agencies which are providing relief
aid for Chinese students.
3. Support the demand for the with
drawal of foreign troops in Spain, a de
mand which the loyalist government
heartily favors. If Germany, Italy, and
Portugal refuses this demand, urge our
government to extend its present embargo
to those countries.
4. Co-operate with the campaign for
world economic co-operation of the Na
tional Peace Conference since economics
is the basis of world politics and the clue
to lasting peace.
5. Urge that the United States make
good her obligations assumed under the
Kellogg-Briand peace pact outlawing war
and act with other signatories of the pact
to implement it as a means of preventing
and halting war. At the same time we
urge that the United States also make
good her commitments in the Nine Power
treaty which pledged her to consult with
other nations in respecting and maintain
ing1 the territorial integrity of China.
In the present troubled moment there is
no easy, simple road. Above all wc must re
main united because we, the students of this
country, have no interests which are separate
from those of peace.
Would the People
Vote to Go to Hell?
"To us who were in the last war it all
seems so futile now," said Dr. Harry Kurz
chairman of the Romance language depart
ment, on the eve of Armistice Day, 1937.
There is no more appropriate thought for to
day. Our idealism 19 years ago brought us
9 million dead, lost us billions in supplies, and
made the world ready for fascism. It was
futile.
The question to be asked fiercely on
the anniversary of the cessation of hostili
ties is, "How can we stay out of the next
war?"
There are many thoughtful answers to the
question. One of the most significant ones
concerns the referendum amendment proposed
in the last two congresses by Representative
Louis Ludlow of Indiana. The amendment
would make the Constitution read: "The
congress shall have power to declare war,
after it has obtained the approval of the peo
ple by means of a national vote."
Only 33 votes were needed in the last
session of congress to introduce the bill. In
Dr. George Gallup's Institute of Public
Opinion of a month ago 73 percent of the peo
pie voted in favor of the amendment. With
a more audible public opinion in favor of the
amendment it would become effective.
The people didn't want to go into the
last war. They elected Wilson on the plat
form that he would keep us out of war. One
month later we were in.
The people never want war. If ours is
truly a democracy, why do we have war!
Tassels Parade Today
In Full Dress Uniform
Tassels wilt participate in
the Armistice day parade this
afternoon In full dress uniform,
Martha Morrow, president, said
last night.
All members of the girls' pep
club, both actives and pledges,
are to meet at 1:15 o'clock on
the mall between Andrews hall
and Teachers college.
lay with the university, because it
failed to Inform the citizens of the
state as to the things the univer
sity was doing to support the war.
"Should another war come
along," the attorney stated the uni
versity should appoint a public
relations man who would feed out
to the people of the state, reams
of propaganda about the wonder
ful things the university faculty
and students are doing to support
the war."
"The soldiers don't hate the
enemy nearly as much as the home
folks. The soldiers have an oppor
tunity to let out their pent up
emotions; the home folks haven't.
You must contribute to their hys
teria; you dare not let them get
down on you. Everything is pushed
off the stage for war. Nothing
else matters, not even education.
When war comes you have to eat
lies and like it:"
HOME EC CLUB INITIATES
SIX AT JOINT CEREMONY
Omicron Nu Active, Alumnae
Meet to Induct New
Student Members.
Omicron Nu, honorary home
economics organization, initiated
five senior and one graduate stu
dents at a recent joint meeting
or active ana alumnae members.
The seniors were Aeries Artrmrwl
Genevieve Hammar, ilaxine John
son, ilarjone Tye, Sarah Ann
White, and the graduate student,
Virginia Steuffer. Two other piila
who were elected, Doris Gray and
Jlanan Gushing, are in Merrill
Palmer school in Detroit, and will
be initiated when they return.
Initiation was followed by a
program presided over by Mis.
Aldricr president of the alumnae
chapter. Mrs. H. J. Gramlich snokp
on "Meaning of Omicron Nu." and
Kachel Peterson, president of the
active chapter, gave a report of
the national conclave held in
Kansas City in June.
American soldiers to
are on the out side."
Seems almost asinine, doesn't it? he French revolution,
with all its mass trials based on malicious gossip, long-standing
grudges, and personal enmity finds such a parallel in our
own history.
Will history repeat itself! Will ve of this eenonition b:ive
our war and our depression, as has had nearlv every other
treneration of Americans? Will w fit-H war to "end ail
wars'" Or will tho w-xt one be a "holv eruvide'' against the
ever before. The gTeat work of re- heat hen of .Tartan? Will we fceaiti travel hundred of miles
the relief o fthe hardened veterans
of the front, would necessitate a
large consignment of troops being
ent over.
Captain Maclvor's Word.
- The taal word from Captain
Marlvor. delivered at retreat
Thursday evening. ws received by
the men of the detachment, with
great sigh of reln-f. Ca&taui
across the ocean to protect our homes in Nebraska ?
That is up to you.
heanrg continued for more than a uf-ej as evidence. Annis Chaiktn,
month. There were accusations. siumrj secretary', was called up
counter actuation, we.ghir.g of,f th dg h
evidence. Students were called In
to testify as to remarks which h"1 onc dat"d mitn who
their professors had made in ptiRod sympathy for the I. W. W.
clasps which might have given ; professor Tavlor was called before
hich vere un-, ., , ,. v. K
w.riv ; ";r..v . r:: to thought, w
. ' -a": " lm.rir.fi Prr,fnr. tfrt,f'.rt fr.r
good, or even a better chance. to ! , ..,., h,nr overheard on a street-car making
w v ? T , y7l Samuel Avery was called bad, ,0 "uncomplimentary remark, about
a ? T l1?,81'! Lincoln from h.s war work In W ' ' N'tra.ka na
tire had bn i declared After the j wkhinfrlon to uke chirge of the tional guard. Prof. L. K. Ayle.-
ing of
France."
Prof. Joseplf E. A. Alexis, Miss
Margaret McPhee. Prof. John P.
Sennir.g, and Prof. E. L. Hinman
were likewise summoned to appear
before the regent, but their cases
were dismissed for lack of evi
dence. Common Sense not Common.
Prof. Louis B. Tuckerman went
to court se&sions for two week, to
prove that a remark he had made
was not un-American. In answer
to a query by J. S. Fwart as to
why don't you come out and ex
press yourself?'" Tuckerman had
replies "Because the common
people don't have common sense.
Nineteen years U a long time.
The war is over and the motives
of the n.en who were accused of
not being "aggressively American"
are no longer questioned. But feel
ing over the trial still runs high.
Most of the professors who were
on the campus at the time believe
that raw deals were perpetrated
against the men who were con
v.ted. Many of them didn't want
to talk aoout the trial, and pre
ferred to let the matter rest.
This opinion was shared by
Prof. Nela Ber.gston who .aid:
"There is nothing to be gained by
any group thru opening up the de
tails of rhe court trials. The war
wounds were grievous; you can
only make them worse by talking
about them. Many of us have our
doubts as to whether or not jus
tice was done. A decision was
rendered, however, and we must
abide by that decision, just as we
are forced to accept the verdict
of a regular court when we some
times doubt whether justice has
been done.
Prostitution of Mentality.
"The things that were per
petrated during the war were a
result of high emotions and tense
feelings. You can't fight a war
without emotion. It can all hap
pen again, and will happen again
if this country get. into another
war."
The attorney who defended
Prof. Clark Persinger, one of the
men dismissed from the univer
sity because of alleged un-Amer-icaniim,
has this to say about
the trial: "You youngsters of to
day can't appreciate the asinine
things that were pulled off.
Here we were, attorneys, re
gents, professors, and students
all sitting around and trying to
judge a man for making un
American remarks, when that
man was the only one of the
whole bunch of us who had at
tempted to enlist In the army.
The prostitution of one's men
tality was the worst side of the
war, not the slaughter and the
expense."
Persinger'. attorney wouldn't
permit hi. name to be published.
but went on to say that the blame
for the trial of faculty members
cof",n9 Fn., Nov. 12
TURNPIKE ;
Lincoln t Finejf Ballroom
Pretend
A Fanfare et Mu.ic, Dancing
ft,vW()M GENTRY
and Hi Famoui Orchtttra
BURNS TWINS
Tnt Topt in Tapt
THE GREAT MARLOW
You'll Enjoy This Novel Act
EVELYN PRICE
A Trim Bundlt oi Beauty
-
Remember Thit Floor Show
la presented in Addition to
4 Hourt of Dancing
Men bK Ladiea 40c
SATURDAY!
Th woman you
mil nrr f-,r-
1 . . . (' O M
MON. TAWt-RV,
MAGNIFICENT.
STANWYCK
"STELLA
DALLAS"
i'h
John Y
Anne Miirtry
Plua.'
(haHw MKanhr
"Brine On The
.!
More'.
SWXy rjrmftinjr
Hili 13 mor
gton to take charge
situation.
Three of th professors
convicted and dismissed from the
againrt the
dropped for
worth was called on the arr-t
trt j when someone heard hirn remark
j alter a war speech in th Temple
'by Prof. M. it Kogg: "The Pa
triots around here seem to be
address by the captain friends
shook hand, warmly, and wj.hed
or.e another the bert of lurk, in
whatever the future might bring, i f caMf
Joy came again to the barracks j ,h ' .i1h
In the evening, lt-asor.a were at- ... ...-i ... . 'dolne mort of the Ulkir.E
tacked with renewed v.gor, and vo,v(.4 were exonerated. Five f; Dr. G. W. A. Lurkey a con
greatr enthusiasm asserted itlf. !the VTr,iffWlT la quite generally victed of beir.g un-American and
in every line of work. The boj's drrntted died from the dif grace of : was dismiss'! from the university
were again talkir.g of -when we jiving appear In such a trial ' largely on the basis of the follow
get over there." and "after we lr)d to 0ef,nd their actions and ir.g remarks: 1. -How tan I agree
finish the fight." Kumors a. a i statements. 1 and .upport President Wilson when
Mile have little effect on the so. Rome of wn0 vrTt ,.1,50 not know what he is going
diers. but the word of the captain trial, and a member of the wit-! to do next?" 2. "I am not In fsvor
that prospects were br:ght for j r.esses stilt teach tn the University of .n offensive war." 3. "I can
hiq
What Do Petting farti
Lead To
H SCHOOL GIRL"
with Cecilia Parker
Llbortv
Sundsy
mm
overseas rvi-e. gave flights
the last doubt of the rren.
to,
REGENTS SAT AS
COTJET TO JUDGE
FACULTY ACTION
(Continued from Page 1 I
knfore the board of regents for
alleged unpatriotic remarks, se
dition, and Juke warm Acierjcan
tsm bear mute testimony to the
fart.
Starting on My 2?, UH, the
of Nebraski
Nothing was
too small to be
se no justification for the send-,
Today!
Smith Ballew
In ZANE GREY S
"Roll Along Cowboy"
piua
"A Tale of Two Cities"
m:w heal
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Haircut 50c
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Funnier Every Night
Don't Mitt the Comedy Hit
"SQUARING THE CIRCLE"
Fare Comedy
TrurmUi & lAis bf th Vnhrrtltf 0 JVeeat.
University Players
j NOW! I j 1 1 1 1
Tfc Corner ih - &BWtt
I mtMinf lAimdr in the -
J Srn!i- Uipt thrm Mi HOWL!
en awi
"iSrZift J
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Com early
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tnCt Tomtal C"l I
I sn nv m itr I
I "an. Doun Taar- um ail" I
I STARTS FRIDAY I
eer Thrill
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aaw (M I
Hum !
Hnd trlitar
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and hi band
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JY,.? STUART
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15c Any Seat 15c
f rirx In tValan. fcpr.fMI.
MI-IK lit! tft'M.HS.
AM-
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HIAO...IY
THOSE WHO
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I .. JjjOllK
-f - VV 0 TWILVSTBttt
T rHL' '3 6vnHftS
"I 3 v -
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a Ma4
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ra art
Hit No. 2
Veier It. liyne'H
tnlr of .1.1, trara
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am . . . MI aa.a aa alua.
id ana a
FRANKIE
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u
"Young
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THE LOONIEST LOVERS
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it?.
IRENE DUNNE
ot her melodiovt
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CIRY GRANT
molting the ttor
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Run. Through Saturday, Nov. 1
7:30 Evening
at Matinee 2:3?