Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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1/6.A4Gcoci Member of South Carolina College Press Association Published Weekly by the Various Literary Societies Terms--$1.50 a Year Entered at the Columbia, South Carolina Postoffice on November 20, 1908, as Second-Class Mail Matter NEWS STAFF ISADORZ POLIER ................... ...Editor-in-Chief W. LEs CROCKER ..................Managing Editor W. 0. VARN .........................News Editor FRED MINSHALL .....................Sports Editor 'MIss ELLEN HOUGH ............... *...Co-Ed Editor Jimmy BALDWIN ...................Peature Editor REPOR'ERS Thomas Wofford, W. J. Thomas, James Hearon, Harold Hentz, A. W. Holler, Robert Ingram, E. R. king, j. L. Murden, W. A. Brunson, Elizabeth Hardy Catherine Phillips, Elizabeth Lindsaay, Ora Jackson. NEws ITEMS may be handed in to members of the staff, or phoned to editorial rooms at 907 South Main Street, Phone number 4109, between the hours of 3 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, and 10 to 11 a.m. or 2:30 to 5 p.m. on Thursdays. BUSINESS STAFF C. W. SCOTT ............................. M naycr J. R. PAT1 ...............................A ssistant R. B. HILDEBRAND ........................Assistant SAm READY ............................Circulation FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1925 Students in A merican Politics Student America today faces the greatest chal lenge that has been hurled to them in the history of the nation. Whether they will take up the gauntlet, or, move on in their customary lifeless manner, will tell the nation what influence college life has in molding future citizens. The movement is under way to secure student ,support for the proposed entry of the United States into the World Court. At present the idea prevalent among some of the leaders of this movement is to influence the debate in the Senate December 17th. But we believe, as we think the real influences behind this program believe, that this is intended only as the starting point. The great cause is not to secure the passage of a certain piece of legislation but to make college men and women a part of the brains of th! country. * America contrasts strangely to Europe in this lespect. There, the members of the higher institutions of leatning are, and are recognized as, an influential body of voters and prospective-voters. Here we are looked upon as a class of teahounds, flappers, and, at best, impractical students of books. The indict ment carries wvith it the bitter grain of truth. We are, preponderantly, just that. Our better side is hidden under a stifling blanket of indifference. This condition is due somewhat to the lethargy of Americans as a class in matters of consequence. Our platforms hold up the great American traditions of demagogery and assmninity. Barnums are supreme in 'politics as well as other fields. We kowtow to them, hold them up as examples of the democracy and its achievements; and when they die, we rush to erect universities to their glory. All of which is but more reason that college men and women are needed to bridge the gap. Our edu cation is aimed at nothing, if it does not prepare us to think above this hullabaloo of stump orators. Dis interested individuals are enough unto themselves but the nation nieeds men who love humanity enough to discard their pettiness and get into the fight. Evi dently the great minds believe that this is the time to usher in the American student as a force in politics not the old game of elections and legislation but the trial of clear, organized, and informed thinking. With all our boast of being first in everything, a sop that tickles the~ palates of the gullible, we must draw up sharply and take an inventory. Are we first in the ability to think, are American colleges only the stamping grounds for socially-minded and nim compoopery which can not see beyond the 'printed page. Education is on trial-and the decision will be favorable, only if teachers and students are more of men .and women than they have in the past shown themselves "Wash at the Capital City?" There seems to be in the minds of the majority of the students considerable doubt as to the wisdom of the slogan, "Send it to the laundry." . Perhaps, when one remembers that an exhorbitant sum must be paid out to regain the possession of the articles that have braved the - manglers, the doubt becomes outright objection. A few issues past, this page of the GAMECOCK carried a contribution to the FORUM lamenting the increase in laundry rates. At the time the editor of the GAMECOCK was heartily in -accord with the student's complaint. The time that has elapsed before we commented on the condition has been intended to allow student opinion to crystallize. Now, the time has come for action. Reviewing the introduction of the laundry system at Carolina, we remark that the faculty passed rules against allowing washerwomen to solicit on the cam pus. They were displaced by a modern, sanitary (so we are told) plant which allowed the students at the University a very favorable rate. Satisfaction was the result. Then after a two year's tryout, the laundries of Columbia arbitrarily, we believe, raised the laundry rate. No explanation was offered to us. As far as we have been able to observe wages in Columbia have been subjected to no sudden rise, and overhead charges have not mounted. This laundry business seems strangely different from other industries. But they have merely followed a common business trait of squeezing a good thing to death. Those students who were not at Carolina before -the adoption of the present plan may not realize all the unfairness of the laundries' position. By the action of the faculty practically all competition against the laundries of Columbia was stifled. With this advantage they have gradually absorbed the major Aortion of the business at the University. For tified in their mondp,oly position by the action of the faculty, they increase their charges. Now, as to this action which we recommend: First of all we believe that since the conditions are due to faculty actions, the remedy should be adminis tered by their hands. The laundries should be asked to submit reasons for their action. If these explanations are unsati.factory, a formal protest 'should be made. Should the barons of the laundry enterprises. take. no remedial steps, their unus:al privileges should be rescinded. "Special privileges to none," is an often used yhrase, sometimes to engineer the concealment of actual conditions. But in this instance we believe that no such industry that takes such a large part of the students' income should enjoy an unfair advantage. If they can not match open competition, they do not deserve special privilege.. Let's see some action. - U.S.c. - What Next ? Exactly what significance can be attached to the large-sized delegation that Carolina sent to the World Court conference in Atlanta will be shown by the results on the campus. If no interest is aroused in the question, the appointment of delegates was a waste of time and money, for those who made the trip would probably secured their information elsewhere. What, then, is -to be expected of the students at the University of South Carolina. There should be an immediate recognition of the importance of the question. and a wholesome discussion of its many angles. --This work shovid be undertaken at once by the organizations on the tampus if they have any excuse for existence. Their efforts, however, should eventually focus upon action by the student body. In it is this last proposition-discussion and action by the student body-that we fear for ourselves. Within the smaller organizatioris there is reason to believe that the World Court proposition will be taken seriously, But we doubt seriously whether the men and woriien on the campus will see enough in a~ world problem ti forsake the opportunity of buying a hot chocolate. Perhaps, we shall be surprised. Perhaps,' the jackasses and numbskulls who degenerate every meet ing of the student body into a shameful bull session will become serious. By some lucky turn of fate, they may be victims of sore throat, and consider international peace too trivial a matter to call for notice. Still, we have enough faith in dentocracy, an:l our campus is a little world, to believe that some intelli gent action will be forthcoming. We may be disap pointed; we hope not. - U.S.c. -- On to Greenville ! Since we have been granted a holiday tomorrow the question is how many students are going to see the game in Greenville. The only purp.ose, that we can see, in granting a holiday is to enable the student body to go to the Textile Center to cheer on the Gamecocks in their annual set-to with the Purple Hurricane. If we do not respond by making the trip, the day is a total loss from the University's viewpoint. This is an opportunity to show the people of the state our stand behind our team. Every student who has or can borrow the necessary fare and ticket is expected to be on hand. The subduing of the breezes of the Huricane is a task that calls for whole-hearted sl:pport. So, shall we say, in the manner of some slogan artist, "Be at Fur.a., .a Bea F..-._ " Deplorable Library Conditions Instructions to beginners in the art of public .4p.eaking are often summarized "when you have finished saying something, sit down." To this we add, "When you are wrong, admit it." And, to show that we practice what we advocate, we admit that we have wrongly judged the greatest need of the University of South Carolina. Our greatest need is not a student activities build ing, important as it is. More important that the immediate steps to obtain a student center, is the question of establishing reasonable library conditions. Maintaining the student body spirit is, after all, secondary to providing adequate room for the library, around which the real University revolves. This is not a complaint against the administration of the library; they are making the best of an im possible task. One night last week, taken by chance, on the nain floor of the library, approximately seventy-five students were Irying to study. A large fortion of the number were reading books that were available only from the reserved shelves. Some were looking over the papers and periodicals that are on the tables. Imagine, if you can, an atmosphere that makes study 'possible; we can not. Add to the concoction half a hundred coming in and going out after looking for books, leather heels clattering on a floor that amplifies each sound. Mix in, if you please, one or two who must talk. The mixture is bitter to anyone who wants to work. What is the trouble. First, the reading, room is inadequate and poorly equipped. Secondly, no read ing room will be satisfactory until it is separated from the shelves with books. The reading process has no natural relation to the hunting. We know that the librarian is heartily in favor of placing the books where they can be obtained only through the library officials, This method would provide a check against petty thieves and reduce the annual "casualty list" of volumes stolen from the shelves. As long as the student body was small, the old system was workable; today it is obsolete, and has all the inconveniences and inefficiencies of an antique. We realize thy this criticism will not remove the defects, nor, will it enable those in charge to make the needed changes. This thing can only be done when money is furnished by the legislature. But this article can focus the eyes of the administrators on the biggest defect on the campus. We can build dormitories and class rooms to accommodate our students, and, if we fail to provide an adequate library system for the "other half" of intelligent study, we fail in our purpose. With the idea of bring this view to attention the editor contributes this as the first of a series of editorials on the library. - U.s.c. - The Forum THE FORUM welcomes all signed communications (your name need not appear in THE GAMECOCK) expressing opinion on student affairs. A department established as a clearing house for ideas. Address your letters to the EDITOR-IN-CHIEF. THE GAMECOCK Honor System Indicted Editor, The Gamecock: The honor system is a dismal failure. And the time has come when all thinking students of the University of South Carolina may as well recog nize the fact. 'After thorough observation and serious discus sion this conclusion has been reached. We indict the honor system on two counts: 1. Students absolutely refuse to report cheat ing. 2. 'The Honor Committee, almost without ex ception, ab)solutely refuses to convict those re ported. Since these are the fundamental bases of any honor system, it necessarily follows that our honor system no longer functions. The remedy rests in the hands of the student body.' Sincerely, H. B. Bull 0. L. Warr - u.s.c. - Gamecock Spurs There seems to be considerable monkey business in getting the Bryan~ University under way. * * * What happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable body. Well, Pennsylvania licked Yale. * * * No my dear, the Gold Dust twins are no relat ions of the Smith Brothers. * * * Strange, too, that none of the newspapers have reported just what has become of Sally. * * * Matters have come to the point now where Henry Ford has half the world cranking, and the other half dodging. Mrs. Emily Post's famous volume forbids yawn ing in company. That's the insiduous thing about innsils. Y.M.C.A BARBER SHOP EXCELLENT WORK REASONABLE PRICES I,. M. MCCARTY, Prop. Your Patronage Appreciated CAROINA STUDENTS I A Good Place to Eat MRS. F. F. BELL 1012 Marion Street One-Half Block From Campus This Is To Invite You to The Rose Mary 1218 Washington Street Breakfast-Seven-thirty to Ten Lunch-Twelve to Four Dinner and Supper-Five to Eight-thirty Every Delicacy of the Season A Warm Welcome Always SANITARY CAFE 1345 Main Street SAVO 0Y CA FEF KNOWN FOR QUALITY Open Day and Night Polite Attention 1327 Main St. Columbia, S. C. SYLVAN BROS. Jewelers and Diamond Merchants Class Rings and Pins Always i Stock or Gladly Made Up 1500 Main St. Columbia, S. C. Wingfield's Drug Store 1443 Main Street