The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-11-20
HERE WE GO AGAIN

HEhk WE GO hGhIN
LAST YEAR. about this same
time we stuck our neck out by re-
vesling that the selection OF win
ner in the Miss Detroit" contest
was little bit smelly; that the win
ner was chosen by the judges long
before the contest entered its Anal
stages. Nobody denied the charges
but not a few people wrote in, tell
ing US that we are nothing but a
heel. We might mention. in pass
ing, that most Of our correspondence
on this then Insignificant matter
vas 10 the effect that although this
was the first time mention had been
made OF the fact, it is common
knowledge that winners OF this con-
test were always picked in ad-
vance. Far in advance.
WELL. HERE we 60 again, stick
ing our neck out for something that
means nothing TO us personally, but
there is something undemocratic
and discriminatory about this an
nual affair, and we feel it our duty,
inasmuch as we are against dis
elimination, 10 hammer away until
this Miss Detroit" contest is con-
Quoted along democratic lines. We
contend that the selection OF a Miss
Detroit" to reign as queen of local
young men at this annual classic
should NOT be a strictly collegiate
affair. open only TO co-eds. We
stick TO this belief because the foot
ball classic itself is not a strictly
affair (since neither of
the teams. are home teams) but is
straight commercial proposition. the
success Of which depends on lovers
Of the college sport.
BECAUSE THE football classic is
by the rank and file we
contend that the Miss Detroit"
contest should be open to ANY
young lady DESTROYS of participant
ing, and NOT open only to goods
or members Of mythical society
from which a winner is usually
chosen because she happens to be
a college student. a Pledge OF
sorority or sponsored BY a sorority
or fraternity. We believe this con-
test should be open to ALL GIRLS.
defense workers, mattresses, cab
drivers, conductorettes, stenograph-
ers, clerks and what have you.
BY LIMITING participation TO
goods, hundreds Of young women,
among them many who have sacri-
feed college career to get into de-
tense work, are denied the privi-
lege OF entering worthwhile con-
test, in this instance war stamp
and bond selling drive. The young
lady who won the dubious honor
Miss Detroit" sold $697.70 worth of
war stamps. This affair might have
resulted in the sale of thousands in
war stamps and bonds had it been
conducted Economically.
THIS is NO reflection on this
years winner or the sponsors Of
the football game, for the Miss
Detroit" contest is by-product Of
the football classic, in which the
sponsors have very little interest
other than its publicity value. The
fault is found where it is usually
found-with those conducting the
popularity contest, and we ask them
what right have they to conduct a
contest to determine who is the
most popular girl in Detroit, and
close the contest to all but college
students? What right have they to
assume that ALL DETROIT should
recognize as the most popular girl
in the city the winner from among
a group of hand-picked contestants?
PERHAPS 1T would be a good
idea for the sponsors Of the football
game TO get together with the spon-
sors Of the Miss Detroit" contest
and work out plans for opening the
contest to all girls, then maybe they
would not have to plead with GUS
toners TO conduct themselves as
ladies and gentlemen" AS it stands
now, the football game is COM
mercial affair open to all people
while the contest, though connect
ed with the game, is a social affair
from which all but the selected
few" are barred.