THE DAILY NEBRASKAN
Editorials
Commentary
Thursday, February 29, 1968
Page 2
Mick Lowe ...
The SSS and Me
You don' know,
You don' know,
You don' know, ' and baby,
you never will.
Mose Allison
As a reporter for the Daily Nebraskan the past
three semesters I had on several occasions somo
contact with the hierarchy of the State Selective
Service.
UN
IS
a:
a
r
life''
t
Aii editor's
responsibility
Student Senate last semester approved several
recommendations concerning the structure and re.
sponsibilities of the Publications Board, the offi
cial overseer of such campus publications as the
Daily Nebraskan and the Cornhusker.
Most of the recommendations simply reiterate
and clarify the Board's present procedures
One recommendation, however, should be ques
tioned by the Faculty Senate when this group votes
upon the recommendations.
This recommendation suggests that the editor
of the Daily Nebraskan and other staff members
participate in an open meeting of the Board each
month to discuss the newspaper and receive stu
dents' reactions.
This is a ridiculous suggestion which demon
strates a lack of understanding of a newspaper's
operation, and no editor should have to consent
to this type of confrontation.
The Daily Nebraskan Is not subjected to any
type of censorship by the Publications Board. There
fore, after his appointment the editor is respon
sible to no one except himself and his sense of
values and journalistic ideals.
He should not have to defend his editorial stands
or business operations to anyone. When an editor
is" appointed by the Publications Board he auto
matically receives the freedom to operate his staff
and the entire operation in accordance with his own
convictions.
If any member of the University disagrees
with the editorial policies he may write a letter
to the paper for publication or speak to the editor
personally. If he feels the editor is incompetent
or irresponsible he may even begin proceedings
to have the Publication! Board remove him.
The University, however, does not have the right
to coerce a student editor or members of his staff .
to appear before students and faculty in a month
ly fun fest to explain why he opposed a certain
Senate action or to explain the rationale of the
news coverage.
That the Daily Nebraskan is a monopoly does
' not lend any strength to the argument that such
an open meeting is needed. A mass confronta
tion with his reading audience is simply not part
of an editor's job.
The Faculty Senate should not approve this
particular recommendation, which is an insult to any
newspaper's professionalism, whether it is a small
town weekly, a metropolitan daily or the Daily Ne
braskan. Cheryl Tritt
Al Spangler . . .
August outlook
The Democratic National Convention in late Au
gust will likely be the site of some of the largest
demonstrations in this country's recent history. And
of an overwhelming suppression of the black-liberation
and antiwar movements.
Strange
Day
' 1
it
It is certain that there will be demonstrations
they are already being planned. The question is:
will they prove to be catastrophic? Remember the
Haymarket "riots" of 1886 .. .
The protests of 1968 flow out of a background
of non-violent demonstrations that have recently
been criticized on the grounds that thev are ineffec
live and too costly.
The recent march on the Pentagon produced
little more than battered skulls for the protesters,
and occasioned an article in Ramparts entitled,
"How the Pentagon Stopped Worrying and Learned
to Love the Peace Marchers." Although the efforts
of the civil rights workers in the early sixties were
not without success, there was a tremendous cost
in human lives. There were 13 blacks killed dur
ing the Mississippi Summer Project of 1964, the four
young girls killed in the church bombing in Bir
mingham, Jimmy Lee Jackson and the many killed
in the urban rebellions of recent summers.
Even the Reverend Martin Luther King says
that his planned non-violent march on Washington
this Spring will be a last ditch effort. In fact, he
persuaded his colleagues to go along with the idea
by arguing that inspite of 'Jie danger that the
march itself would precipifate violence, violence
violence would come in any event.
Perhaps as many as 500,000 win participate In
Democratic convention demonstrations. Tbey will
come at the hottest part of the long hot summer
of '68. Senator McCarthy's campaign is crumbling,
and shows no prospect of improvement. Wallace may
have garnished enough votes in the primaries
to twist a few Democratic arms in a way unfavor
able to black Chicagoans. There is little hope that
tbe situation in Vietnam will improve. The Chi
cago police and National Guard are tooling up for
the confrontation. What is there to say?
One might want to say that radicals ought not
to demonstrate this summer, that they win produce
a "backlash" that will destroy them and many
f the freedoms we cherish. But is it left-wing mili
tancy that ought to be blamed for the possibility
of right-wing militancy?
Look at the history, the recent history, of the,
latter-day leftists. Then take a lock at the middle-cf-the-roaders,
the Gene McCarthy, Robert Kennedy
types. What are they trying to save in the face
of this possible &iLructicm? Could it be the Demo
cratic party?
Joseph Alsop
Prospects for negotiations
Washington The chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
Gen, Earle G. Wheeler, has
returned from Saigon to re
commend a substantial addi
tion to Gen. William C. West
moreland's troop strength. As
Gen. De Gaulle would say, it
is "in. the nature of things"
that he would do so.
If President Johnson ac
cedes to Westmoreland's re
quest for more troops, he will
have no choice except to or
der a relatively complete call
up of the reserves. The ready
reserves would then provide
something like 40,000 men,
who would be almost im
mediately available. Much of
the remainder, who are in
varying stages of readiness,
would also have to be called
up, to provide backup.
The first thing to note about
this matter is that events have
struck down the arguments
Secretary Robert S. McN'a
mara has always used against
a general callup of the re
serves. These have been based
on the fact that men in the
reserves are only required to
serve for a year, unless there
is general mobilization or a
declaration of war.
Cater ChanibJee
Hence, McNamara has al-'
ways, until noe, opposed a
call up on the ground that the
reserves, once called immed
iately would become a wast
ing asset in a war of uncer
tain duration. The argument
was perfectly balid, too, as
long as the Hanoi war-planners
concluded ome time ago
that "protracted war" was not
a practical proposition for .
them. Hence, Hence, Gen. Vo
Nguyen Giap began to go for
broke with the Tet period at
tacks on the cities. The aim
was, and is, to d r a g the
United States to the negoti
ating tabic on Hanoi's terms.
The decision to go for broke
necessarily implies abandon
ment of the "protracted war"
option, for quite practical and
obvious reasons. With only
about 135.000 men in the Viet
Cong-North Vietnamese main
and local forces in South Viet
nam, the enemy has expended
in the short space of one
month no less than 40,000
men. either killed or cap
tured, plus an unknown num
ber of disablingly wounded.
The fighting now going on
is not taking the form of big,
dramatic engagements. Yet it
is much more intense than in
the past, and the enemy's cur
rent loss rate is close to 500
men a day. That means that
every six days the enemy is
losing the equivalent of one
month of Viet Cong recruit
ment in South Vietnam.
As the captured documents
continue to pour in, moreover,
it becomes clearer and
clearer that the Tet period at
tacks on the cities were a
major disaster for Gen. Giap,
if measured in terms of his
planned goals. Self -critical
documents are now being ob
tained, and these show beyond
doubt, that both a general up
rising of the urban populace
and the collapse of the South
Vietnamese army were confi
dently expected.
It may be that the costly
failure to attain these goals
explains the long delay at Ehe
Sanh, which was and per
haps still is) to be the scene
of the second stage of the
plan to force negotiations
terms desired by Hanoi. Both
sides are a bit froggy. Bat
the Hanoi war-planners have
committed themselves to go
ing for broke and have ex
perienced a grave setback in
the first round.
In these circumstances, the
time limit on the reserves'
service is of relatively little
importance. If all goes well
(pray God) in the next couple
of months, everything will
then depend on Westmore
land's ability to launch a de
cisive counterffensive there
after. And since the "pro
tracted war" option has been
so dramatically cast away by
Hanoi, a counteroffensive can
now be genuinely decisive.
In short, the betting has be
come very good, indeed, on
negotiations within six
months' time, wither on Ha
noi's terms or on our own.
Mr. Johnson will be reckless,
foolish and derelict in his duty
(and he will also be acting
against his own practical,
long-range interests) if he
fails to call up the reserves
in order to insure negoti
ations on our terms.
Patterns in American jazz
Recently, Dr. Narveson of
the English Department com
mmented upon the lamentable
cultural milieu of the Univers
ity and the WTetched job be
ing done about it. I have no
quarrel with his state
ment of the case nor do
I wish to understate the un
necessary defense of his po
sition against the attacks of
those wistful souls who hold
that the sound of a cold north
ern wind blowing through
dead grass is as noble as that
of the Brandenburg concerti.
Dirt freaks of this sort are
a fortunate lot inasmuch as
their senses are titillated each
time they have a chance to
gaze at a few acres of flat
lands. Here in Nebraska they
spend quite a lot of time gaz
ing and good for them. For
the rest of us, Dr. Narveson's
position is a valid one.
I do question, however, tbe
inclusion of jazz on his prerog
ative list of tbat-wblcb-is-done
while that which
should - be - done - is - not
done. I believe that such an in
clusion can be reached only
by arguing that the tradi
tional cultural forms are the
only ones available for the
transmissions of - excellence,
of art-and this argument
seems untenable for many
reasons.
Certainly it is difficult to
see how this form can be
dismissed out of hand after
such men as Berstein, Cope
land, Milbaurd, and Stravin
sky have hailed jazz as the
most significant new musical
expression of the twentieth
century and when its influ
ence upon their music has
been a noticeable one.
This is not to say, of course,
that their positions mean no
argument is possible. Only
that their music can not be
dismissed cavalierly.
Theolonious Monk is a jazz
pianist and composer who for
twenty-five years has been
working out certain problems
involving the relationship be
tween time and harmony.
That is, his music explores
how it is that certain jazzed
rhythms affect the way har
monic patterns are expressed
and how certain chord pro
gressions shape those same
rhythms.
Often his music lives in the
tension between those
rhythms, those harmonies.
Which is a dry way of talk
ing about a music as rich,
and alive as Monk's. But why
is such an exploration not
worth an undents nding? And
why is such an understand
ing unworthy of our atten
tion? Charles Lloyd plays tenor
saxaphone and is a prolific
composer as well. His music
is strongly influenced by east
ern modal forms and rhythms
go listen to Ravi Shankar
awhile), and in his playing be
pushes jazz improvisation in
the atonal, "free" direction
first pointed to by the late
John Coltrane. In "Memphis
Ones Again," he follows a
free solo improvisation with
a bard driving blues in which
he incorporates virtually ev
ery style of tenor of the past
fatly years, including, God
help us, that fruity horror
from the Guy Lombardo.
That is to say in this piece
he deals with the problems of
tbe subject of music by de
ciding that it is music and
consciously and satirically
usee the musical expression
Daily Nebraskan
re. a. im
Vet. M. So. 7
Second -rli WMiwe Ml at Uneata.
TELEPHONES Editor 472 -r. New 4TO-ISM. f)Hnae 4H-JM.
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ITTiU., Sfj rlr yo". i'a l-n., auuuy mvub, Manama
1 i ena we
of the past to construct the
music of today. Much as
Jorge Bores or John Barth
nse fast styles of literature
to construct a literature of the
present. And if Sot-weed Fac
tor is worth reading, whv
is not Charles Lloyd worth
listening to
That most jazz is a waste
of time, I would argue. As
are most symphonies, concer
ti, string quartets. And most
novels, plays, nd poems.
Most art, indeed, is dull, is
poorly done. Which does not
mean that one should not lis
ten to classical music. Or
read books. Or listen to jazz.
My own feeling is that jazz
is an important art form, tbe
only American art form, and
one which is sadly neglected
by the most of us. Indeed one
wonders how many students,
have ever listened either to
Monk or Lloyd? Or how many
music majors here have ever
even heard of Charlie Parker?
And this last is as significant
as would be the case of an
English major who had never
heard of James Joyce.
For those who would like
to grant Monk and Lloyd a
hearing, I should suggest lor
Monk, Theolonious Monk
Plays Duke Ellington, River
cida 12-201; Brilliant Corners,
Riverside 12-228; or The Theo
lonious Monk Orchestra at
Town HalL Riverside 12-300.
For Lloyd, Mat From Two
Worlds Impulse 59; Dream
Weaver, Atlantic 1459; or
Charles Lloyd at Monteray,
Atlantic K73.
Letters
to
Thomasina
't '' V
4 v-
Consequently I was provided a unique oppor
tunity to observe the more internal workings of tho
SSS. Here for the benefit of graduating seniors and
ex-graduate students are my observations. May you
rest in peace.
Col. Francis Drath, former deputy director of
the Nebraska Selective Service, provided me with
my first look at what I call the "drafty mentality"
in October of 1966.
I had at that time just turned 19 and Drath was
one of my first story assignments. Inexperienced as
I was, and still am, Drath was singularly unim
pressive. His office resembled a typical businessman's
office complete with wood paneling, a massivo
wooden desk, and a box of cigars.
Drath chewed constantly on a cigar, a prac
tice that had evidently turned his
teeth a brownish-yellow.'
His complexion was ruddy, his speech slow and
somewhat inarticulate. He was slightly overweight.
The flesh many American men in their forties carry
around their middles sees to reflect a mental stato
not unlike a steer contentedly cheming his end in
the Omaha stockyards. Yon don' know, and baby . . .
That he was not exactly a mental heavy weight
was reflected at a sudden turn in the interview
when he remarked that "the draft could help relievo
overcrowding in American colleges."
The following mini-conversation went spinning
quickly through my mind:
"Hello, Cliff? This is Frank Draft at the daft
uh, draft
Listen Cliff, I hear you've got more boys over
there in school than you can handle. Well, tell yon
what I'm agonna' do. We can pot 300 In Ord, 200
in Riley, 400 in Leonard Wood and 150 in Arlington.'
"It is a shame, isn't it, but that's war Y'know.
Well, see ya at Rotary Wednesday."
Draft was suggesting, in effect, that the best
wajto partially empty the nation's colleges was
to fill national cemetaries. A good story, but ill
considered. Instead of quickly changing the subject, (ho
seemed quite ready to let the statement stand),
I questioned him about it, and he then decided he'd
"better not say that, exactly." I printed bis recon
sidered statement
A year later I paid a visit to CoL Edwin Scott
the director of the state SS Manpower division.
He, too, w as ruddy complected with slow speech,
and my visit happened to occur in the heat of tho
Steve Abbott controversy.
I was sure that Scott had been beseiged by re
porters and outraged ALCU members all day, (his
superior was out of town), but he seemed relative
ly unconcerned.
He thought Abbot was stupid, be said, because
he could have remained a teacher for another year,
remained deferred, turned 26, and been under the
wire.
But he had Instead quit teaching, lost his de
ferment, and refused induction. I gathered that had
Abbott pursued tbe former course it would have
been a great relief to everyone, but be was Instead
stubbornly and inconveniently refusing to be ground
into the machine.
Scott's desk-top was empty except for a dog
eared copy tf the Selective Service Act of 1967, from
which he read me frequent quotes. It was all by
the book.
What might have heppened to Scott without that
book I hate to think. But I had the impression that
his self-assurance would melt away instantly.
My next encounter with the draft took place
several months later when I called tbe state Direo
tor Lt. Gen. Guy . Henninger to ask him about a
story quoting him in tbe Daily Nebraskan.
To my surprise he was put immediately on the
phone. I asked him about the story which had ap
peared only a few days before. No, no he had never
heard of it.
I read the quotes attributed to him and he re
plied "it couldn't have been me. I was out of town
all week. Must have been my secretary." Un-huh.
I proceeded to ask him about a deferment to
go into the Peace Corps.
lie made the brilliant suggestion that I "get my
military obligation out of the way, and tba go
into the Peace Corps."
The way they always say "get your obliga
tion out of the way" kills me. They never make
it sound like an evening with Vanessa Redgrave,
no sir. It's something to get out of the way. like
going to the bathroom, or cutting off a toe.
I politely intimated that I was more interested
in helping people than killing them. Maybe later
though.
Henniger finally recommended that I "just go
ahead and go, and don't tell your dxaft board."
That would put me right in prison, do not pass
Go, de not collect . . .
It was a classic instance of the bureaucratic
right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing.
My draft board secretary had told me minutes be
fore that I would not be deferred for the Peace
Corps. Bewildered,! thanked him and hung up.
And all of this points right to Hue, where an
embattled American GI bitterly told an NBC cor
respondent last week he thought the whole thing was
a "rotten mess."
.M"riV-
