Texas A&M
The B
College
alion
ROOM 5, ADMINISTRATION BLDG.—2275
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS, SATURDAY MORNING, JUNE 19, 1943
VOLUME 43—NUMBER 10.
J. Frank Dobie to Speak on
Life Experiences Tuesday
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Scene from “We’ve Never Been Licked” showing how freshmen
“hump it” at yell practice. The world premier of this picture
about A. & M. will be held this summer on Kyle Field.
LAST FREE BATT
TODAY
This man, Dobie! Honored pro
fessor of English, top-notch cow
boy, outstanding author, adventur
er, treasure seeker, folk-lore hunt
er, holder of several scholarships
and grants for research—all of
these he is, but if you should ask
him to define himself, he would
reply, “I am a Texan.”
This reference is to J. Frank
Dobie who will be guest speaker
at the annual banquet of the Tex
as A. & M. Gollege Chapter of the
American Association of Univer
sity Professors, Tuesday evening,
June 22, 7:30 p. m., Sbisa Hall.
Perhaps no living person knows
more intimately the customs and
traditions given to America and
the world by Texas and the South
west than does Frank Dobie, its
foremost publicist. Both of his
grandfathers were Texas cattle
men, his father an old-time trail
driver, and several of his uncles
were both cattlemen and Texas
Rangers. Naturally enough, he be
came at an early age one deft in
range and cow camp technique.
From ranch school Frank Dobie
gained a B. A. degree at South
western University at Georgetown
and his Master’s degree at Colum
bia University, New York City.
For a while he was a newspaper
reporter, school teacher at Alpine,
and professor of English at the
University of Texas. In World
War I he was a lieutenant. From
the Armistice he returned to the
University, then bossed his Uncle
Jim Dobie’s 200,000-acre spread in
the Cotulla country, taught English
at Oklahoma A. & M. College, then
in 1924 again became a fixture at
the University of Texas as profes
sor of English and Southwestern
literature.
He is, perhaps, the most un-pro
fessor-like professor in and out of
classroom. When away from Aus
tin he forsakes that kind and
heads for the “back country.”
Painstakingly he has collected cow
boy lore and has made several ex
peditions into the wolds of North
ern Mexico in order to record at
first hand the legends and facts
of the Indians and the cattlemen
of the early days. He lived, work
ed, ate and slept with cowboys,
writing down at opportune mo
ments the gems of their never-
ending stories. In his works are
found the superstitions, legends,
religions, customs and modes of
thinking and living of the people
of the land into which he was
born.
Frank Dobie does not hesitate
to “feud” with those for whose
writings, thinking or expressions
he is in disagreement.
Taking one look at the present
towering main building at the Uni
versity of Texas, he pronounced
it “the most ridiculous thing I
ever saw,” and was the only man
in the English Department who
did not move his office to it. He
remains secluded in the oldest
building on the University campus
among steer horns hanging from
the walls, pictures of Longhorn
cattle, bottles which once contained
Judge Roy (The Law West of the
Pecos) Bean’s beer, chairs with
bottoms of rope and rawhide, and
other mementos of Southwestern
trivia. On his office door hangs a
pitted, weather beaten leg bone
of a cow, on which is written an
inscription designed to inform stu-
(See DOBIE, Page 4)
Applications For
“A” Gasoline Books
To Be Ready Soon
Automobile owners will begin
the job of applying for renewal of
basic A gasoline rations soon, Of
fice of Price Administration offi
cials have announced.
Forms will be available at all
gasoline stations and other con
venient locations next week.
The renewal application blank
has two parts, one section for gas
oline rationing information and
the other for tire inspection data.
The applicant must mail in his
current tire insection record and
the back cover of his present A
book with the renewal application,
to his local rationing board.
F. B. I. Regional
Conference Held In
Assembly Hall Thur
As part of its efforts to cement
the relationship of all law enforce
ment agencies in the country, rep
resentatives from the Federal. Bu
reau of Investigation held a re
gional conference Thursday in the
Assembly Hall of the Agricultural
and Mechanical College of Texas.
This was followed by a barbecue
in late afternoon at the Bryan
Country Club.
Present were peace officers from
Brazos and adjacent counties, the
police force of College Station and
Bryan, and law enforcement rep
resentatives from military units at
the College and Bryan Air Field.
These meetings are conducted in
different places by agents of the
FBI. While meetings have been
held in Bryan, the one Thursday
was the first to be held at A. &
M. College, according to R. J.
Abbaticcio, Jr., special FBI agent,
in charge of the Houston district,
who presided.
Each speaker stressed the neces
sity for the utmost cooperation be
tween all law enforcement groups.
Contrasts were drawn between the
correlation of activities of the
present and the “lone wolf” prac
tices of each agency a few years
back. It was pointed out that law
enforcement today is a profession
and that all peace officers must
be highly trained to keep up “with
the parade.”
E. A. Gormley, manager of Tex-^
as headquarters (Dallas) of the
National Automobile Theft Bu
reau, a former sheriff of a Colo
rado county, told of the organiza
tion in 1916 of that bureau to co
operate with and assist local offi
cers in apprehending automobile
thieves. As an introduction to a
film shown on “Automobile Fires,”
Mr. Gormley stated that an aver
age automobile weighed around
3,300 pounds, of which only 2.5%
were inflammable. The theme of
the film was “They Won’t Burn
Unless You Help Them.” This film
was made by the NATB in co
operation with the Texas Depart
ment of Public Safety. It showed
the actual efforts to burn two auto
mobiles, one of present-day metal
construction and the other an old
er model of more wood construc
tion.
“Safety Duties of Police in the
War Effort” were discussed by
Capt. J. O. Musick, in charge.
Safety Division, Texas Highway
Patrol. According to Capt. Musick,
there were 1,316 traffic deaths on
the highways and streets of Texas
last year. He told in detail how
much different war materials these
1,316 persons could have produced.
Other kinds of accidents also were
enumerated. In the interests of
public welfare, Capt. Music said,
the traffic rules and regulations
should be enforced by all peace
officers.
Frank Monroe, of the Houston
division of the FBI, explained
“Codes, Ciphers and Secret Writ
ings.” Handling these are parties
known as crytographers. At pres
ent there are three cryptographic
laboratories in the country, main
tained respectively by the Army,
Navy and FBI. Mr. Monroe told of
some activities of the FBI in
breaking up spy and sabotage rings
and showed actual pictures of com
munications intercepted and brok
en down.
Last on the program was a film,
“Keep ’em Sailing,” depicting the
methods used by a fictional sabo
tage ring in New York City and
the apprehension of the saboteurs
who were placing time incendiaries
in ships carrying war goods across
the seas.
WASN’T THERE A LOT?
RUNS THE OLD STORY
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — “Just
looking for a snake,” explained
two policemen when they dropped
in at a South Street tavern.
Patrons rush for the door.
The snake, lost from the arm of
a neighborhood herb salesman
whose pet it was, still is missing.
First Intramural
Games This Term
Played Wednesday
The Intramural program start
ed Wednesday with league com
petition in soft ball and tennis.
Rain halted all tennis matches
before they were completed, but
the soft ball games had pro
gressed far enough for a winner
to be named.
Although no tennis matches
were completed, several matches
were won on forfeits. Mr. Pen-
berthy urges that all teams be
on hand when they have a game
scheduled. He also ^sked that the
teams be at the playing field a
little before playing time in order
that the games could be started
promptly at 4:15.
In the near future dates will
be announced for the track and
swimming meets and the Aggie
Singaroo. Everyone should begin
to get ready for these events as
they are not too far off. One
event that should provide a lot
of entertainment for everyone is
the Singaroo. Last summer over
13 companies participated in it.
There will also be tourneyments
in badminton, golf, and handball.
The dates for these events will
be announced later.
The 4th Company has been dis
banded. Any teams having games
scheduled with this company are
advised that they are cancelled.
Some nine games were sched
uled last Wednesday and Thurs
day. Three of these were won on
forfeit. In the tennis matches F
Co. won on forfeit from D Co.
and 3rd Co. forfeited to A. Co.
The 2nd Co. forfeited their first
softball game to the 4th H. Q.
Co.
In the one match that was
played in the tennis league C Co.
defeated 1st H. Q. Co. 2-1.
Soft ball scores were as fol
lows: 1st Co. 11, Band 3; B. Co.
8, A Co. 5; 7th Co. 10, E. Co. 0;
I Co. 5, F. Co. 3, and 8th Co. 3,
D Co. 2.
Since Aggies first started go
ing places on week-ends and other
wise, they have been depending on
tourists’ generosity to get them
there. This latter has usually run
pretty high and there were times
when the Aggie could stand there
and take his pick of the passing
cars for his ride. With Schickel-
gruber, Tojo, and II Duce raising
all the ruckus across the drink,
tire and gas rationing, and what
have you, this highwaying situa
tion has become pretty serious at
times. Where an Aggie used to
leave here in the morning and beat
the train to Dallas, now he’s lucky
if he even gets there in time for
a date Saturday night, sometimes.
Anyway, when Aggies first
started this highwaying business,
they trumped up what is known as
the “Aggie Line.” Since that time
this line ha's become famous all
over this part of the country and
other places where you’d never
think anyone had even heard of
an Aggie. The way the line works
is this: the first man who gets
on the highway, puts his bag (suit-
Today’s paper will be the
last one to be delivered to
every room. Starting Tuesday
morning, only those who have
paid their Student Activities
Fee and have their Battalion
cards, will get a paper.
L. D. Boone, head of Student
Activities, urges everyone who
has paid his fee, to come by
the Student Activities Office
and get their Battalion sub
scription cards as soon as pos
sible.
The Student Activities Office
is located in the basement of the
Administration Building.
Dr. Killough Tells
Cotton Production
History to Students
The history of cotton produc
tion was reviewed by Mr. Kil
lough. It was grown, he said, in
India, Egypt, the islands of the
West Indies, and in Central and
South America before the time
of Christ. In the old world it was
known as vegetable wool and
countless voyages were made by
traders from the early European
countries to secure cloth made
from the cotton of Egypt and
India.' Columbus mentioned the
cotton of the West Indies in his
voyage of discovery in 1492, and
Cabeza de Vaca’s report of his
journey across Texas told of the
cotton grown by Indian tribes
he contacted.
Primitive types of cotton are
known to have existed in Texas
and Louisiana before the coming
of the white man, but the great
er development of the cotton in
dustry in the cotton belt of this
country was due to later impor
tations of seed from Mexico and
the West Indies.
When the boll weevil came into
this country from Mexico, it was
stated, it almost destroyed the
industry and it was necessary to
(See KILLOUGH, Page 4)
case, I mean) down on the shoul
der of the road. The'next man com
ing up puts his down behind the
first one and so on. Only one man
at a time stands on the road and
flags the passing (?) cars. When
one stops, that man, and only that
man, goes up to the driver and
asks him where he is going and
how many he has room for. The
driver tells him and if he says he
can take three, the first three in
line get their bags (I still mean
suit cases) and get into the car.
The next man in line immediately
gets oiy the highway and starts
flagging the cars.
When an Aggie is picked up by
a male motorist, he introduces
himself as soon as he gets into
the car. If the motorist is a fe
male, the Aggie tells the lady,
“My name is John Aggie,” or
what ever it happens to be. If
something should go wrong with
the car while the Aggie is in it,
he does what he can to help his
benefactor fix it, and does not
leave him until the trouble is right
ed.
This business of ‘hip-streaming”
is strictly taboo down here with
Dr. HumbertSpeaks
Before Students of
1943 Cotton School
“We reap what we sow,” was
hammered home Thursday to stu
dents enrolled in the 34th Summer
Cotton School at the Agricultural
and Mechanical College of Texas
by Dr. E. P. Humbert, head of the
Department of Genetics.
The 1943 Summer Cotton School
began May 31 and will continue
through July 10. It is being con
ducted under the direction of Dr.
Ide P. Trotter, head of the De
partment of Agronomy.
Some 50 students, including for
the first time several women, are
enrolled in the present Summer
Cotton School. While the majority
are from Texas and the Republic
of Mexico, there are several in
attendance fro|m other cotton
states and Latin American coun
tries.
Dr. Humbert’s lecture was one
of a series by authorities on dif
ferent phases of cotton produc
tion and manufacturing. His
full address was on “The Pure
Seed Grower and Quality ^Cotton
Production.” It was announced
that Dr. Humbert would meet with
the 1943 School group on other
occasions to go more in detail on
this subject.
In the address Thursday, Dr.
Humbert gave a general picture of
the factors involved in assuring
•cotton growers of obtaining the
best grade of seed possible for
planting, the difficulties encount
ered in the program, and he told
what Texas authorities have done-
and are doing to overcome them
insofar as is possible.
Prior to 1924 seed improvement
and promotion was a matter of
individual activity, Dr. Humbert
stated. In that year a law passed
by the Texas Legislature became
effective and remains in force to
day with only few amendments.
Under this law a State Seed and
Plant Board was created. The
purpose of the law and the pro
gram it set up is to establish
sources of purebred planting seed
true to varietal name for the bene
fit of the purchaser. Operation un
der the rules and regulations of
the Board is voluntary, inspections
of plants in the fields are mad
by authorized inspectors and tags
of certification are issued only
those growers who qualify. Con
siderable improvement in the gen
eral quality of cotton grown in
Texas has been under this pro
gram, according to Dr. Humbert,
and great impetus has been given
community production, the grow
ing of only one variety of cotton
in each community or district.
For too many years it has been
the custom of mills to buy cotton
on appearance, on grade and
staple, Dr. Humbert said. To buy
on a real basis of quality and not
at “hog-round” prices, considera
tion should be given to spinning
utility, or strength. Further adop
tion of the practice of community
cotton production will facilitate
(See COTTON SCHOOL, Page 4)
the Aggies. In some places it’s
every man for himself, but down
here, everyone considers the right
of his fellow thumber. There are
definite Aggie corners in all the
towns around here and any bus
driver can tell you where to find
them. In many places, some firm
in the city has set up an Aggie
bench on this Aggie corner. After
the Aggie gets around a little bit
he will get to know these places.
Until then, to you who don’t know
them, ask someone where they are
and when you hit the road, go to
the corner where the rest of the
real Aggies are and wait your turn
in line.
Most of the Marines, Sailors,
and other trainees stationed at A.
& M. have been cooperating with
the Aggies and have found that
it is easier to catch a ride anyway
if they get in line with the rest
and wait their turn. This is ap
preciated and we hope that be
fore very long everyone will be
standing in the Aggie Line.
(P.S.: There are other kinds of
“Aggie Lines” besides the hitch
hiking ones . . . the kind mothers
warn their daughters about.)
About this hitch-hiking...
By Ben Fortson
Kadet Kapers to Have Best
Show Ever Tonight at 6:15
Soph Elections
To Be Held At 6:30
Wednesday Night
The election of officers for the
first and second semester sopho-
omores will be held Wednesday
night at 6:30.
The second semester sopho
mores, of whom there is a ma
jority, will hold their election in
the Assembly Hall. The first se
mester sophomores will meet in
the Y.M.C.A. Chapel. Both meet
ings will begin immediately after
supper at 6:30 and be over by
7:00 or soon after.
It is urgent that everyone con
cerned attend these meetings.
After the presidents of both soph
omore classes are determined,
they will appoint a committee to
set the date for the sophomore
ball to be held later this sum
mer.
Other officers to be elected are
the vice-presidents, secretary-
treasurers, and historians.
Thursday night at 7:00, the
second semester freshmen will
hold their elections also, but in
the Assembly Hall due to their
large number.
First Yell Practice
This Semester Was
Held Thursday Nite
The first Yell Practice of this
semester was held Thursday night
on the grass between Walton Hall
and the hospital.
The Practice started right after
supper at 6:30 and broke up at
approximately 7:00. The band, un
der the direction of Colonel R.
J. Dunn, U. S. A. retired, was
present.
After the election of class of
ficers takes place, at the first
opportunity, the permanent Yell
Leaders will be elected. They will
consist of one second semester
sophomore, who will act as Head
Yell Leader; one first semester
sophomore, as assistant Head Yell
Leader; one second semester
freshman and one first semester
freshman.
According to those present, the
Yell Practice turned out good,
the only objection being the large
number of new and old freshmen
who did not know the yells and
songs.
After the election of the perm
anent Yell Leaders, there will be
more Yell Practices later on this
semester.
Ford Advocates
Factories Moving
Close To Farms
In one of his rare interviews, re
leased in the July issue of the
Woman’s Home Companion, Henry
Ford, who will celebrate his
eightieth birthday on July 30, scans
the future of America and pro
nounces his opinion on a variety
of topics including the industrial
outlook and the decentralization
of industry.
To anxious mothers and wives
who wonder how we are going to
find jobs for all the boys when
they come back from the war, Mr.
Ford, 'who has just resumed the
active presidency of his company,
offers the comforting assurance
that “unless we are much more
foolish than I think we are, this
country will find a way to swing
back into productive employment
after the war without much of a
break.” And he believes that “if
we handle our postwar affairs
properly $nd heed the voice of
experience, there need be no un
manageable postwar depression.”
Along with the predicted up
surge of postwar industry, Mr.
Ford hopes to see the process of
industrial decentralization get un
der way. “There is little reason
any more,” he maintains, “for‘in
dustries to be crowded in cities.
(See FORD, Page 4)
Kadet Kapers will feature a
better-than-ever program Satur
day night when they put on a
home-styled skit showing “how
movies are made.” The skit which
was written by Marvin Brown of
the Singing Cadets and entitled
“We’ve Never Been Kissed” is a
take-off for “We’ve Never Been
Licked.” It is by popular request
that the Kapers is presenting this
skit which went over so well last
semester. The “drammer” was put
on by a group of Aggies in April,
and it should go over well again
this time when the freshmen get
to see it.
“Pinky” Hull, a top-knotch piano
artist from Houston, will be on
hand to show what a real artist
at the piano should do and it will
be worth any Aggie’s time to at
tend the program put on by Jen
kins. Hull is really an artist, and
those who have heard him say
that he knows his stuff.
The Singing Cadets will fea
ture songs of the service again
as an added bit to the program.
A special arrangement of “The
Spirit of Aggieland” will be ren
dered also.
The program begins at 6:15 to
night and the Assembly Hall
should be packed to see this well-
rounded show which is free to
all. Every one is invited and
urged to come. You will enjoy it
and it will be a relaxation from
a week of study. This will be one
of the best Kadet Kapers pro
gram ever put on so don’t miss it.
WAAC Will Be At
Bryan Recruiting
Office Until July 5
Third Officer Myrta D. Jakkula,
of the W. A. A. C., is in Bryan at
the Army Recruiting Office until
July 5th. She will be glad to inter
view all women betweeh the ages
of 21 and 45. Any questions in the
minds of those eligible women in
terested in the Corps will be an
swered by Third Officer Jakkula.
There is a great need for more
women to join in this all-important
work of setting free more men of
the Army to go into combat. It is
hoped that anyone interested will
go at once to the recruiting office
and learn more of the absorbing
work and attractive pay offered
by the WAAC. Office hours are
from 8:30 till noon.
Meat Shortages Are
Cause of Riots In
Mexican Capital
MEXICO CITY—More than 1,000
butchers rioted Thursday at the
city slaughter-house when they
were told the supply of meat would
satisfy only one third of their
needs.
Police dispersed the mob with
tear gas.
The rioters stoned the slaughter
house and the market where meat
is sold. They tried to smash a bar
ricaded door, attacking twice be
fore they were dispersed.
Engineer Students
To Meet Monday
In Lecture Room
All engineering first-semester
freshmen in the following sections
will meet Monday afternoon, June
21, at the time indicated. The sec
tions listed will meet in the M.E.
Lecture room, third floor of the
M.E. Building.
Sections 55, 56, and 57 meet at
one o’clock.
Sections 69, 70, and 71 meet at
two o’clock.
Sections 61, 62, 63, 64, 73, and
74 meet at three o’clock.
Students who have classes at
the hour indicated need not report
to the meeting but should report
to the office of the Dean of Engi
neering without fail at their earli
est convenience.