The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 49, No. 19, Ed. 1, Friday, March 9, 1962 Page: 3 of 8
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MARCH 8. 1962
THE OPTIMIST
PAGE 9
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LETTERS TO
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Dear Editor:
I hesitate to odd anything more
to the discussion that has already
taken place In your college paper
about the John Birch Society. I
make no attempt to speak for the
John Birch Society; but only as
a member and the Leader of the
Chapter of which Robert Piatton
Is a member.
Of course what is printed in
your college paper is none of my
business but as I am solely re-
sponsible for James Batts' not
being allowed to attend our last
chapter meeting I feel obligated
to explain why his Invitation was
withdrawn.
Now Mr. Editor you challenged
Patton and all Optimist readers to
re-read Batts' article in the Feb.
9 issue. Taking sides with Batts
you deny that Batts himself call-
ed the Birch Society some un-
complimentary names and you
invite your readers to inspect the
first two paragraphs to dedde for
themsolvcs whether the words
KACC Staffers'
Get High Ratings
At Conference
Six members of the KACC staff
along with Darrcll Rlckard of the
speech department attended a
radio - television conference at
Oklahoma University March 1-3.
The group toured Oklahoma
City radio and television stations
and head an address by a com-
missioner of the Federal Coiri-
munlcations Commission. Three
students received awards.
Larry Vinthcr and Bobby Wood
received merit ratings on com-
mercials. Doug Ragland received
a merit rating on a commercial a
merit rating on his radio perfor-
mance and a merit certificate for
his overall television performance.
Others attending the confer-
ence were Jerry Bowers Vernon
Cross and Jim Rldgcway.
(books
(make
HOME
Roberts
By JAMES WOOD
Ronnie Roberts member of the
committee which Is rewriting the
Students Association constitution
will sincerely tell you:
"We are unconstitutionally re-
writing the constitution and wo
hope to make It unconstitutional
to rewrite our new one."
The committee is doing this
with the same spirit and serious
contemplation of our ancestors
who ridded themselves of the
cumbersome Articles of Confeder-
ation and founded our present
Constitution.
So far the committee has com-
pleted the rewriting of the con-
stitution of the Student Court.
One of the primary changes was
converting the name of this or-
ganization from the Student Court
to the Interpreter's Council.
"The Student Court was a dead
body." explains Roberts. "We
changed Us same because the
h
THE EDITOR
were used in a derogatory man-
ner. These first two paragraphs Mr.
Editor are the very ones which
disqualify Batts as an objective
reporter.
"Rabid in their course . . ." Who
said this? If these-were not Batt's
own words who was he quoting?
Who said them? The same goes
for his expression "peculiar phil-
osophy." Where did Batts got his
Information that wo of the John
Birch Society claim Robert Welch
for our "Great White Fathcr7"
Where did he get the idea of
"negative organization" or "run-
ning scared?"
Did he get this impression of
our organization from reading
some of our own publications
such as the Blue Book? Or did
he get It from The People's World
(Communist Publication on the
west coast) via Newsweek. As you
may recall Newsweek is the mag-
azine which laughed at Harding
Cojlege as a "backwater Blble-
belt'' college.
Our chapter meetings are for
the benefit of our members. How-
ever exceptions are made in the
cases of sincere inquirers. After
reading Batts' opening article of
his Birch series I was of the
opinion that his mind was made
up. So out of fairness to my fel-
low members I felt it was not
wise to have such a reporter at
our meeting.
I wish to commend your editor-
ial policy of presenting both sides
of all issues. .Free discussion is one
of the reasons for our country's
greatness.
However in this same Feb. 9
Issue of the Optimist in your
editorial headlined "Wrong Right-
ists Bomb Los Angeles Pastors?"
you have violated a scared Amer-
ican principal (sic) You have con-
victed a group without any evi-
dence as to their guilt.
Speaking as a local chapter
leader of the John Birch Society
I would like to leave this thought
with you Mr. Editor and with
ydur readers: Prospective mem-
bers of our organization must be
fairly well informed on the Com-
munist conspiracy and they must
be of sound character high in
ideals and sincere in purpose. The
Godless Communists cannot be
opposed effectively by any other
kind of people. And U is for this
reason the John Birch Society is
being so relentlessly and ruth-
lessly attacked.
Sincerely
Elvin Allen
Tells of
word court suggests the Imposing
of displinary action. Interpreter's
Council a name suggested by the
dean of women of an Eastern
school more nearly tells the true
purpose lo interpret but not
lo punish."
Roberts hopes that the now con-
stitution will strengthen the pow-
er of the Council and add more
prestige to the Council positions.
This Robert feels will attract
more qualified persons to run for
the council. i
Also the committee wishes to
provide for a better balance of
power because as Roberts feels
"A better student government
will be formed when the Senate
and Interpreter's Council learn to
work side by side."
Another Important difference
in the Interpreter's Council is that
it will consist of three seniors
two juniors and two sophomore
associate council members. The
rf WjKH.
Bobby Kennedy Does Country
Great Service in World Trip
Last week I was rather pressed
for time because of a speech
tournament held on our campus
and one that was coming up at
Durant Okla. I therefore did not
get this column written. To any
of you who are Interested In poll-
itlcs and enjoy reading about such
things i apologize. I also apolo-
gize to my conservative friends
for not giving them something to
write to the editor about. To an
extent I offer an apology for this
-week; for fortunately or un-
fortunately for you another speech
tournament is coming this week
Zeta 'Rho Defeats
McKinzie 22-14
Zota Rho hit 22 points to Mc-
Kinzle's 14 for the top score in
women's intramural basketball
competition Monday night. Delta
Thetas ran a close second by net-
ting 21 points against Pandora's
3 points.
Also on top in the weekly fem-
inine competition were W.R.A. as
it defeated Nelson 15 to 8 and
Ko Jo Kal as it ended with a 15
to 2 victory over Zellner. GATA
cased by the Cadettes with a
meek 0-5.
Selective Service
Test Given at ACC
Abilene Christian his registered
as a lest center for the selective
Service College Qualification Test
to be administered April 17.
Students who intend to lake
the test should apply to the near-
est Selective Service local board
before March 27 in order to take
the lest on lho April 17 dale.
According to Educational Test-
ing Service which prepares and
administers the Collego Qualifi-
cation Test for the Selective Ser-
vice System it will be greatly lo
lho student's advantage lo filo his
application at once.
Tost results will be reported lo
the student's Soleclive Service
local board of Jurisdiction for use
In considering his deferment as a
student.
New Constitution
Student Court consisted of one
more senior and one less sopho-
more. "The experience gained by
the sophomors will aid them as
seniors" says Roberts.
Also the Council will meet
more often because (1) this will
make a more functional body
and (2) nothing of importance will
be overlooked. The Interpreter's
Council will meet twice a month
or upon petition of three associ-
ate council members.
The next step in setting the
new constitution into force is to
obtain the indorsement of the col-
lege president. Without his au-
thorization the powers on paper
are not true powers. In the past
the administration has often over-
ruled the decisions of the Student
Court.
But before the student body is
asked to vote on whether or not
to accept the new constitution of
the Interpreter's Council the
Bob Coleman Says
end and therefore this column
may not fulfill your expectations.
Over the last three wcck3 the
United States has been reading of
the travels of one of its top Gov-
ment officials. Robert Francis
Kennedy accompanied by his
wife Ethel traveled around the
globe from Japan to Rome to Ber-
lin. In this tour he saw many
people of many different lands.
He was cheered and jeered. Most-
ly he was received with open
minds and wild ethusiam. Who is
R. F. Kennedy? Why was he
going on a world tour? With your
permission I would like to fur-
nish the answers to these ques-
tions and others about this 'man
from Time Feb. 16 1962.
The article begins by calling
Robert Kennedy "an emerging
force In U.S. foreign affairs. "It
goes on to say: "During his five-
day sHay in Japan he displayed
all the qualities that have mado
him beyond th big fact of being
John Kennedy's brother a major
power in U.S. Government. His
youthful energies were explosive;
his capacity for listening looking
learning was enormous; his charm
(when he felt like turning It on)
was electric.
"When a delegation of Socialist
legislators spoko somo storotyped
criticisms of th U.S. Bobby de-
manded to know why they never
seemed lo say anything against
the Soviet Union or Hod China.
'Just how many limes' ho asked
"have you criticised them in pub-
Senate
(Continued from Page 1)
with him on a central steering
committee.
Appointed 'to be in charge of
compiling and printing of bro-
chures was Bob Robertson. Miss
Taylor was appointed to get let-
ters to student body presidents
and deans of the colleges Invited.
The program committee chair-
men appointed by Wright are Mc-
Greggor Oauthen and Carl Adams.
Ronnie Roberts Is in charge of
getting letters to speakers invited
rto the conference.
Bob Bcakley Is in charge of
physical qrrangements while
Jimmy Fllbeck heads the regis-
tration committee.
committee plans to finish rewrit-
ing the constitution of the Senate
also a weak functioning body. At
present the Senate primarily con-
cerns itself with bringing cultural
programs (Charles Laughton) to
the campus and bringing about
a better atmosphere to the Col-
lege. Although most agree a now con-
stitution is necessary each change
must be thoroughly examined.
Debate on such points as "Should
the Senate be allowed lo make its
own attendance rules" and
"should the Senate be allowed lo
grant permanent absence excuses
for lis members" greatly slow
down the proceedings.
The committee plans to have
the now constitution ready for a
student vote In about three weeks.
If they accept the new constitu-
tion. "Then" Roberts says "the
Council will be strong because Its
powers will have been vested in
it by the student body"
lie statements? Givo me three
cases." Tho five socialists huddled.
Finally ono said lamely: 'Well
onco. About Soviet tests.'
"Of all President Kennedy'a
Cabinet appointments Bobby's
was by far the worst received.
Many lawyers were shocked.
Democrats groaned at the 'kid
brother's' liability and Republi-
cans turned it into a political
battle cry. Today It Is a measure
of Bobby Kennedy's energy guts
brains and Increasingly mature
judgement that the bar generally
rates him a good Attorney Gen-
eral and politicans of both parties
rank him among the strongest and
ablest members of the Kennedy
Cabinet
"Republican Richard Nixon
gave Bobby a surprising plug: 'In
lookln at Robert Kennedy you
have here a man who except for
the lack of experience which he
is now gaining has many of tho
qualifications that would make
him a very effective leader In tho
field of foreign policy. He's tough-
minded he's quick he's intelli-
gent. He is one who has a tre-
mendous will to win.'
"When the going gels rough it
is Bobby that the President calls
for. When lho Berlin Wall was
raised one Sunday morning last
summer. President Konnedy cut
short a cruiso aboard the presi-
dential yacht and raced back lo
shoro. He quickly digested dis-
patches then gave his first order.
'Gel Rusk on the phono. Go get
my brother.' When it became ap-
parent thai lho U.S. backed in-
vasion of Cuba was falling Presi-
dent Kennedy's word was: 'Get
General Lemnilzer. Gel the At-
torney Genoral.'
"When the Dominican Republic's
Dictator Trujlllo was assassinated
and anarchy threatened to sweep
the island President Kennedy was
away on a ritate visit to France.
Bobby moved into a command
post on the seventh floor of the
State Department to oversee tho
implementation of a plan for U.S.
Support of antl-Trujillo anti-Communist
Dominicans. He okayed a
move to station U.S. Navy ships
near the island in a show of force.
Recalling that period President
Kennedy today acts as If it had
been the most natural thing in the
world for Bobby to take over. 'Oh
yes' he says That's because I was
out of the country.'
"As President John Kennedy of
the U.S. had long known as the
U.S. has come to realize as tho
peoples of the nations he visited
were discovering Bobby Kennedy
is a power in his own right."
All I can add lo this article is
congratulations on a job well
done. Bobby Kennedy has done
this country a service by gaining
new facts meeting new people
expressing now American policy
and showing the world what kind
of leaders this country really hasv
One added note. It seems to me
that the Attorney General has re-
ceived much undue criticism for
his statement about the Mexican
War. It sees that If a person looks
at the whole picture this war was
a black mark on our record. We
probably did not have a complete-
ly legitimate right to invade Mex-
ico. However this is not the main
point If I have read the criticism
correctly people are talking two
different things. Many are talking
of the war of 1836 while Kennedy
was talking of the war of 1844.
Another thing somewhal more
important is the fact that under
the circumstances of question
Kennedy could have answered In
no other way.
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The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 49, No. 19, Ed. 1, Friday, March 9, 1962, newspaper, March 9, 1962; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth99285/m1/3/: accessed July 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.