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Show POLEMICS ALAMODE Editor's Note: The following is first in a series of pro-con articles on vital local and national problems sponsored jointly by the Weber college International Pelations club and Signpost. Any student may contribute to this seriec by arrangement with Harold Bateman, club adviser, or Lawrence C. Evans, Signpost editorial adviser. Next week's subject will be '"When strikes peril national economy, their instigators should be arrested and jailed pending resumption of work by union, members. This week's subject is: The U. S. Should Nationalize All Industries Basic to the national economy. This week's discussant are both International Relations club members. 1 By Lou Visintainer PRO Nationalization of Basic American industry could at the present time prove beneficial to the American system. As though our present laissez-faire capitalism must be given at least partial credit for the econo-m i c advancement of the United States, it is not to be considered either as perfect or the only possible workable theory. There are con ditions within our present syst em whch do more considerable thought. Capitalistic Control Capitalism leaves the way clear for economic control by big business. This control is apparent in the monopolistic tendencies of big business. The ogilopolies found within the oil, mining, and steel industries; in our transportation, communication, and public utilities, are capable of establishing market prices, setting up wage scales, and all in all creating conditions not entirely for the best. . What are the results of these practices? We find a direct correlation between these monopolistic tendencies of big business and many of the existing evils within our present system. Labor Unrest Strikes caused by wage issues (over 60 per cent of strikes are a result of wage disputes) unemployment, exploitation of natural resources, concentration of national wealth, and an unstable business cycle are all either partially or completely a result of big business. Basic Industry Control Since nationalization of basic industry is an economic theory as well as political, it can be assimilated into our American government without upsetting the processes of democracy. Were the government to assume control of basic industry and then set up a feasible plan which would consider the demands of labor, the interest of management, the welfare of the American people, and the flexibility of our economic structure, the undesireable conditions existing within our present system could be eradicated without creating further evils. v safes if. ' By Arden Coombs CON We are following the same road that Germany followed, that Italy followed, and that England is now following the road to socialism. If we were to nationalize basic indus tries we would be taking a tremendous step down that road; almost a road of no return for if such a project i s undertaken the men who control it will be reluctant to sur- rpnrtpr rtnwpr T The cry is that it would end the onf usion caused by over-supply and deflations. Yet in the federal government itself we find some of the greatest instances of confusion known, overlapping that could not be tolerated in private enterprise without that enterprise going broke. Federal Waste According to the Hoover report the federal government wastes $3 billion every year because of overlapping in various departments. With a $40 billion budget this would mean 7.5 is wasted. Under the present system, if there is too much waste in an industry, that industry must either improve or go out of business. Under the government the deficit would merely be passed on to the taxpayer in the form of more taxes. A case in point is the British Broadcasting Co., which went in debt $3 million in 1947; the British taxpayer footed the bill. In the same year the National Broadcasting Co., in our own country lost some $4 million but it was the investors who made up the difference in this case. Television Drama Writing Contest Offered Collegians A nationwide collegiate writing competition designed to encourage the emergence of new television writers began Feb. 3 and ends June 30. CBS Awards are open to students in American colleges and universities.,It will offer four prizes ,the first to be awarded March 31 and others at monthly intervals during the rest of the spring academic semester. If the prize-winning script is of one-hour performance length, $500 will be awarded or if it is a halfhour script, $250 will be awarded. AH entries must be original television dramas which have never been producted on the air or published. Adaptation of existing novels .short stories plays or other literary creations will be disqualified. Scripts will be judged for originality, freshenss and ingenuity in exploring television as a new visual-auditory medium . Contest rules and the required blank must be obtained by writing directly to Director CBS Award Headquarters, 15 East 47th Street, New York 17, New York. Initiative Pays The United States has only 6 per cent of the world's population, yet we have: 75 per cent of the automobiles, 50 per cent of the radios; and consume 33 per cent of the wool, 25 per cent of the cotton, 50 per cent of the rubber, 33 per cent of the soap and similar percentages which contribute to the enjoyment of life. Is it because of our natural resources? Not necessarily. Brazil has vast potential oil lands, rich deposits of iron ore and is the home of natural rubber, the materials necessary for automobiles, yet they have only one car for every 327 people, while the U. S. has one car for every five people. Individual Freedom The difference seems to lie in our special brand of competition where geographic regions, industries, corporations, new inventions and people all compete together with the most efficient being able to produce for the people at the lowest price. 800 Students Flex For W.C. Talk Joust Next Week Award Stimulates Campus Activities Leland H. Monossnon, head of the Division of Humanities Department and Debate coach at Weber college .announced that a trophy would be donated to the college each year for presentation to a club or unit most active in public speaking and publication activities during the year on the Weber cam pus. According to Mr. Monson the donor of the trophy wishes to remain unnamed. Qualifications set forth by Mr. Monson for the trophy are that the group must participate in the college publications and debate activities in a highly creditable fashion. The trophy will be presented to the social clubs or un- afihated group at the final award assembly at the end of the year by Mr. Monson on behalf of the donor. Groups interested in this award should contact Mr. Monson and make the fact known to him immediately.The purpose of the award according to Monson is to get organized units on the campus interested in participating in publications and speaking activities. It is hoped that the award will help to stimulate interest in these two highly important activities on the Weber campus.According to the wishes of the donor ,the trophy will be a permanent possession of the group wining it and a new trophy will be furnished by the donor each year. WEBER COLLEGE, OGDEN, UTAH Vol. 13 Friday, February 24, 1950 Sec. 562, P. L. & R. - Orators Receive Second Place At Tournament Returning with second place in the Intermountain Junior college speech tournament at the Branch Agricultural college Feb. 17 and 18, Weber students won several honors. First place went to the University of Utah who had four points more than Weber. Other schools competing were B. Y. U., Carbon, Snow .Dixie, and B. A. C. Winning first in afterldinner speaking was Russell Carruth. First in radio announcing, Warren All-red, who also won second in extemporaneous poetry. RaNae Glover tide for second in prepared poetry, while Rodger Moore took second in extemporaneous speaking. Weber also received first place in radio drama. Teachers instrumental in preparing these students were Leland H. Monson. Karl Green, Carl White, and John Kelly. Lost and Found Does anybody know where the lost and found department of Weber college is? It happens to be over to the treasurer's office and students are requested to take advantage of it. Dr. Foulger reports that many items have been found and turned in there, but no one ever (or few people, anyway) comes in to claim them. Many of these are valuable items such as books, costume jewelry, scarfs, gloves, many pairs of eyeglasses hich are undoubtedly expensive, pens and pencils, and many other miscellaneous items. If you have lost anything around the carnpus please come to the office to see if they have been found or turned in. Likewise, if anyone finds anything on the campus or nearby which they believe might belong to a Weber student, they are requested to turn it in at this office. Four-State Tourney Chiefs Dust Trophies for Debating, Oratory High schools in Utah, Idaho, Nevada and Wyoming have been invited to participate in the fourteenth annual high school debate tournament here at Weber March 3 and 4. . Expected response will be about "T".. ...u:,.u ...111 tne same as last year wmuu win mean over 800 students from 30 different high schools will vie for top honors in debate, extemporary speaking and oratory. Monson Directs Leland H. Monson, chairman of the division . of humanities who headed the tournament since its inception will direct the tournament again this year. Lawrence C. Evans is in charge of the B division, John G. Kelly will handle oragory and extemporaneous speaking; E. Carl Green will be in charge of women debators in the A division and C. M. Nilsson will supervise male debators in the A division. Cups, Medals The tournament is an invitational meet and offers individual medals to all first and second place winners. Cups will go to schools who have winners in each of the three divisions of the tournament. Last year's winners were Black-foot, Idaho high school in the Men's Division; Murray high in the B Division, and Jordan high in the Women's Division. Question for the debate is: "Resolved that the president of the United States should be elected by the direct vote of the people." Speech Limits Constructive speaches will be limited toeight minutes, rebuttals to four minutes. Orators will have seven to ten minutes in which to discuss subjects of general oratorical quality, the chairman said. In the extemporaeous speaking bracket, subject matter will be drawn from the January and February editions of Time and Newsweek news magazines. "Because of time limitations oratory and extemporaneous will run concurrently," Monson said. Program listed The program of events will begin on March 3, at 2 p. m. with debating and will continue throughout the day and also Saturday when the last event, oratory, is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Judges for the tournament will be hundreds of Ogden citizens. liiiiiiiii i i piii liliiisiiiiil J ; : ' 111 iliiiil LELAND H. MONSON No. 10 Commerce Workers Gain Higher Wages "Passage of the new minnimum' hourly wage law will affect many students gainfully employed in this area," states Edwards C. Larsen. On the Job Training director at Weber college. The new law, effective since Jan. 15, 1950 .states that a minimum hourly wage of 75 cents an hour and at least time and one-half his regular rate after 40 hours a week will be paid all hourly wage earners in interstate commerce. "All exempted employees must have a waver from State Dapart-ment of Labor," concludes Mr. Larsen. "Penalties will be imposed if this rule is not adhered to." Webster Troupe Feature Dramas March 6 At OHS Offering entertainment and education, the Margaret Webster's Shakesperian Company will present a matinee and evening performance March 6, at the Ogden High School auditorium. The matinee performance will feature "The Taming of the Shrew," and the evening attraction "Julius Ceaser." College students will be admitted on activity cards, as no seats will be reserved. , In 1948 Margaret Webster saw a dream materialize. A Broadway company .traveling by bus and trailer, was made available for the first time to the nation's colleges, This motorized touring company universities, and public audiences. This motorized touring company is barnstorming nearly 100 cultural centers, mostly colleges, during an eight months tour of 34 states and three Canadian Prividcnces. By the end of the tour it will have covered 30,000 miles and performed 211 times to audiences totaling 180,000. Margaret Websters Shakespeare Company is the only touring asso ciation of its kind in the United States, playing in schools rather than commercially. "They are highly praised for their clear interpretation of Shake speare," John Kelly reports, "and often play as many as six perform ances in a week." Their Utah agenda includes the program in Ogden, Brigham Young University, at Provo; and South 1 high school in Salt Lake City. Band Prepares Spring Concert Boasting an enlarged number. 64 in all, Weber college band di rected by Dclmar Dickson, has participated in all school activities this year. Among their activities, the annual trip to Los Angeles this fall with W. C. football team ranks high. While in L. A. the band participated in a radio show and presented a concert. Recently, hte band has played on assemblies at Ogden and Weber high schools. Tha.se schools reported the program was one of the best received they have had. Atranscribed radio show, featuring Weber's band, was presented over KLO February 18. Mr. Dickson reports that this year's dance band, composed of the college's own music students, is one of the finest we have ever had. The band, which has played for mat inee dances here, and at dances in neighboring high schools, has recently been hired for Junior Proms. Plans for the future include a spring concert to be presented at Weber college. |