Battalion Editorials
Page 2
THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 1951
Mac Has Say
On Far East
Some Things Considered
Think About It.. .
At Now. Today What is Battalion Opinion?
rpHE STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT issue
has received more than its share of at
tention in this newspaper these past few
days. And next Wednesday night the stu
dent body will express its opinion on the mat
ter.
The Student Senate has decided to dis
tribute a three-point questionnarre, asking
students to indicate which of the following
they favor:
• Student Body President elected by the
Near East Oil
Must be Protected
F'VERYONE knows why the Near East is
^important—oil! The fact that this oil
should ■ be denied to Russia is obvious, but
its importance to our operations is frequent
ly overlooked.
Should it be necessary for use to conduct
a major war in Europe, we could not be as
sured of uninterrupted transport by sea.
Russian subs could very easily make our
losses prohibitive.
Air travel, though it is fast, still de
mands that vast quantities of gasoline be
shipped by sea to fuel the planes on the re
turn trip. There is no assurance that even
this amount of shipping could get through,
even though men and material traveled by
air.
Near East petroleum, however, would
make round trip air travel to North Africa
very efficient since planes could have fuel
at each terminal. In addition, it would be
much easier to police a short sea route across
the Mediterranean than across the North
Atlantic.
This means that we must take every pre
caution, diplomatic and military, to deny this
oil to Russia, and protect it for our use in
the battle of logistics.
student body. (Will assume duties of Stu
dent Senate President.)
• Student Senate President elected by
the student body.
• No change.
You have had access to many opinions
on the question.
You know The Battalion has favored
electing a Student Body President, as a fur
ther move toward a democratic student gov
ernment in which every individual has a
voice.
uiir-# i Ml
You have heard the opposition assert
that no other system is more democratic
than A&M’s “class system.”
This issue which has stimulated such a
campus ferver now falls to you for solution.
We urge you to spend a little time be
tween now and next Wednesday thinking
carefully over the meaning of the whole
thing.
Take our argument apart and examine
it carefully.
Review the opposition argument. Tear
it down. Examine it. Think about it.
Put them side by side. Think some more.
This question is more important than it
may appear at first glance.
Think about A&M now. And think about
the A&M that will be next year and years
after.
Decide for yourself which coure of action
will be best for A&M.
The question is in your hands.
Your mind must tell one of those hands
how to mark your questionairre.
Don’t make a snap decision .
Think.
Washington, April 19—UP)
— Gen. Douglas MacArthur
mixed an old-fashioned dis
claimer of political ambitions
today with his call for all-out
efforts to defeat the Communists
who threaten world peace.
MacArthur, who winged his way
into Washington in the small hours
of the morning to a vociferous
welcome, outlines to Congress at
12:30 p.m., Eastern Standard Time,
his theory of how to win the war
in Korea and prevent the Reds
from grabbing all of Asia.
Maj. Gen. Courtney Whitney, the
general’s adviser, told newsmen
early today the speech will be “a
general review of the Far East
ern situation” which might go back
“half a century.”
Asked whether the State or De
fense Departments had asked to
clear the speech, Whitney replied:
“Quote no comment unquote.”
Despite the death last night of
Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg (R-
Mich), chief congressional archi
tect of the bipartisan foreign poli
cy, Senate and House leaders plan
ned to hear MacArthur on sched
ule.
There was little doubt in any
body’s mind the five-star general,
depose£h|rom his Pacific commands
by President Truman, would pause
in his formal address to pay trib
ute to the veteran Republican who
had insisted that there never was
any real two-party cooperation on
Far Eastern policies.
With the solemnity of a requiem,
MacArthur was privileged to say
that just as Vandenberg differed
with the poliices of Mr. Truman
and Secretary of State Acheson in
the Orient, so has he.
Nevertheless, Vandenberg’s death
in his home city of Grand Rapids,
Mich., put something of a damper
on what was billed as the greatest
homecoming that Washington ever
gave a war hero.
Aggie-Ex Wins
Bronze Star
“Alley Cat Takes Over”—Los An
geles (Calif.) Herald-Express over
short story of Air Force Reserve’s
enlistment campaign.
In Korean War
‘Might Cause Stalemate’
Bradley Supports Keeping
Asia War Limited to Korea
By DeWITT MacKENZIE
AP Foreign Affairs Analyst
/"’ENERAL Omar N. Bradley,
^chairman of the U. S. Joint
Chiefs of Staff, Tuesday came out
in support of the thesis that en
largement of the Korean war
Would jeopardize world peace and
so threaten American security.
The five star general took this
stand in an address before the
National Association of Radio and
Television Broadcasters in Chi
cago. Admitting that this “could
possibly result for a time in a
military stalemate,” he added:
“As long as we are able to
confine the battles to Korea and
continue to destroy the Commun
ist aggressors, we are making pro
gress toward - our international ob
jective of preventing world war
III. If at all possible, Korea should
be settled on the present battle
ground.
“If we here at home can only
measure up to the achievements
of patience and courage (of the
men in Korea) there is every
reason to believe that the war in
Korea can ultimately be conclud
ed on honorable terms.”
This appraisal by General Brad-
The Battalion
Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Founder of Aggie Traditions
"Soldier, Statesman, Knightly Gentleman”
ley fits the declaration by Lt. Gen.
James A. Van Fleet, the new com
mander of U. N. ground forces in
Korea, that his “confident and ex
perienced army” can stop any of
fensive mounted by Chinese and
North Korean Communists.
“The men in the front line fox
holes, says General Van Fleet,
“welcome a Communist offensive
because that would give us our
best opportunity to kill a max
imum number of them.”
I return to the hotly debated
subject of whether we ^should ex
pand our military operations in
Asia, because this is the vital mili
tary issue of the moment. Britain,
France and our other western al
lies are dead against deliberately
such expansion in the Far East—
say by launching an attack against
Red China.
The Bronze Star has been
awarded to a former student
who refused to give up his
duties as platoon leader in
Korea in spite of serious
shoulder and back wounds.
John H. Miller, ’46, who was
graduated in 1949 with a degree in
Electrical Engineering, is now in
a hospital in Japan for treatment
of a third battle wound.
The Aggie-ex, who is now a
second lieutenant in the Marine
Corps, was wounded previously in
the right cheek and arm.
The medal was awarded for his
heroic achievement Nov. 30, 1950,
while serving with a Marine infan
try company during the withdraw
al from the Chosin Reservoir area.
The citation reads, “When his
company was attacked by an enemy
force estimated to be of regimental
strength, he was fearless and heed
less of his own personal safety,
had exposed himself to enemy fire
to supervise and co-ordinate the
evacuation of casulties.”
“Throughout the night he gain
ed and relayed valuable informa
tion concerning the enemy situation
to his battalion command post.
His actions and coolness under fire
were an inspiration to all who ob-
sehved,” the citation said.
Four Brahmans Loaned
To Ag Experimenters
Why? Well, one cogent reason
is, as General Bradley points out,
that this might precipitate World
War III.
Four Brahman bulls have been
loaned to the Texas Agricultural
Experiment Station and will be
placed on the Bluebonnent Farm at
McGregor.
News contributions may be made by telephone (4-5444) or at the editorial office,
Room 201, Goodwin Hall. Classified ads may be placed by telephone (4-6324) or at
the Student Activities Office, Room 209, Goodwin Hall.
The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for republication of all
news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in the paper and local news
of spontaneous origin published herein. Rights of republication of all other matter
herein are also reserved.
The Battalion, official newspaper of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of
Texas, is published by students five times a week during the regular school year.
During the summer terms, The Battalion is published four times a week, and during
examination and vacation periods, twice a week. Days of publication are Monday
through Friday for the regular school year, Tuesday through Friday during the summer
terms, and Tuesday and Thursday during vacation and examination periods. Subscrip
tion rates $6.00 per year or $.50 per month. Advertising rates furnished on request.
However, there is another
highly important point to which
this column has referred more
than once. This is that a con
flict with Communist China
would give Bolshevism a chance
to whittle the western powers
down militarily and economically
in preparation for a world war
which might find Russia and
some of her satellites virtually
untouched by the Asiatic con
flict.
LETTERS
All letters to the editor must be signed
by the writer and free from obscene
and libelous references. Letter writers
wanting their name withheld must make a
personal request to the co-editors. No
unsigned letters will be published.
What’s Happened
To Free Shows?
Entered as second-class
matter at Post Office at
College Staton, Texas,
tinder the Act of Con
gress of March 3, 1870.
Member of
The Associated Press
Represented nationally
by National Advertising
Service Inc., at New York
City, Chicago, Los An
geles, and San Francisco.
CLAYTON L. SELPH, DAVE COSLETT Co-Editors
John Whitmore, Dean Reed Managing Editors
Andy Anderson, Bob Hughson Campus Editors
TP C? v\ /-»x IP x 4-
Fred Walker ! Sports Editor
Joel Austin.... City Editor
Vivian Castleberry Women’s Editor
Today’s Issue
John Whitmore Managing Editor
Andy Anderson Campus News Editor
Fred Walker Sports News Editor
Joel Austin .City News Editor
T. M. Fontaine, Carter Phillips —Editorialists
Allen PengeJly Assistant City Editor
Leon McClellan, Jack Fontaine, Ed Holder, Bryan Spencer, Bob Venable, Dale
Walston, Bee Landrum, Frank Davis, Phil Snyder, Art Giese, Cristy Orth,
James Fuller, Leo Wallace, W. H. Dickens, Fig Newton, Joe Price, Pete
Hermann, Wesley Mason, B. F. Roland, Ivan Yantis, Sid Ragsdale, Bill
Aaberg, Ide Trotter, John Hildebrand, Chuck Neighbors, Bob Selleck, Bill
Streich, Curtis Edwards, Howard Heard Staff Writers
Jimmy Ashlock, Joe Blanchette, Ray Holbrook, Joe Hollis,
Pat LeBlanc Sports Staff Writers
Sam Molinary, Bob Alderdice..., Staff Photographers
Sid Abernathy Page Make-up
Dick Kelly - ..: — Club Publicity Co-ordinator
Joe Gray : —Photo Engraving Shop Manager
Tom Fontaine, Johnny Lancaster, Charles McCullough, R. R. Peeples,
R. D. Witter Photo Engravers
Autray Frederick..— Advertising Mar-sger
Russeii Hagens, Bob Haynw Advertising Representatives
On that basis we might be smart
not to play into the hands of Bol
shevism by launching a “preven
tive” war against China or any
body else. As a matter of fact
China is getting plenty of punish
ment through her aggression in
Korea.
Apropos of this general situa
tion it is interesting to note that
the Red Peiping radio reports the
opening of another campaign for
world peace on bolshevist terms.
This appeal calls for peace talks
by five powers—America, Russia,
Britain, France and Communist
China.
The Red program calls for with
drawal of foreign troops from Ko
rea, withdrawal of the U. S. Sev
enth Fleet from Formosan waters,
and admission of Communist China
to the United Nations. These pro
posals have been advanced before,
and western observers generally
regard the fresh move as a propa
ganda maneuver.
However that may be, our pre
sent program in Korea appears to
be the one most likely to result
in peace proposals in due course.
As General Bradley indicates, it’s
a case of keeping up the good work
in. Korea and pre\Antmg a spread
of the war if possible.
Who Forms 11, How, And Why?
By CLAYTON SELPH
Battalion Co-Editor
O UT OF ALL the letters written to The Battalion these
past few days there has emerged strong evidence that
much of our readership does not know how, why, and by
whom Battalion policies are formed.
Such a situation is serious because as long as it exists
there is little chance for you, our readers, to understand The
Battalion and to criticize it constructively.
First we shall make clear what Battalion opinion is and
where it may be found. That done, a discussion of how
Battalion opinion is formed, who forms it, and on what basis,
will be in order.
Battalion opinion is that opinion expressed in articles
which are labeled “editorial.” For the most part these are
found on page two under the heading “Battalion Editorials.”
Occasionally an editorial is printed on page one. When this
is done, it is so labeled.
These editorials, and they alone, are Battalion opinion.
They carry no by-line and are not signed. They represent
the opinion of the newspaper, not that of any particular
individual. Several students do research for these editorials
and write them. Each of them goes to The Battalion co
editors for approval, correction, or rejection.
The co-editors are responsible for this editorial opinion,
so it is they tvho must decide what it shall be.
Editors Express Batt Opinion
The editorial column, then, is that part of The Battalion
in which the editors express the opinion of the paper on
various questions and problems. Editorials present that side
of a question which the editors, after careful investigation
and consideration, decide is the right side. It is the opinion
of The Battalion as decided by the editors and is not adver
tised or branded as being any other.
Columns, on the other hand, are signed articles appear
ing on the editorial page or on the sports page which repre
sent not Battalion opinion, but the opinion of the individual
writer. Columnists gain the authority to express their opin
ion in this way by demonstrating an ability to think clearly,
showing a sincere interest in the problem to be discussed,
and by serving a long and strenuous apprenticeship in one of
the Battalion’s news departments. Such a piece of writing
is an expression of individual opinion, not a Battalion edi
torial.
Letters to The Editor
So that opposing opinion may be expressed, The Bat
talion, like other newspapers, opens to its readers a space
for letters.
One writer has charged that The Battalion does not
present both sides of every issue. To the contrary, it is you,
our readers, who have not preheflttd your side. ThFBatt&Tibh 1
considers an issue and then 'expresses an opinion of what it
thinks is right. If those whom the Battalion serves disagree,
it is their responsibility to communicate their views to The
Battalion in a letter.
The readership has, in this case, a decided advantage,
because the letters column is read by more people than is the
editorial column. It would be impossible for the Battalion
to present these opposition views, because it does not know
what they are. If Batt writers do not agree with the oppos
ing view, it is certain that they cannot present it accurately
and effectively.
The Battalion has always invited and welcomed such let
ters. And many of them are printed to the exclusion of
important news stories that should be published. Battalion
editors feel that letters from readers are as important as
Editor, The Battalion:
Since 1 have been here at this
institution (’51), it has always
been a standing tradition that the
show at Guion Hall was free after
9 ’clock. But now they make you
wait around ’till 9:30 before you
can get in.
W(iat’s wrong is the school going
broke ?
Charlie Hodge
(The Battalion obtained the fol-
1 o w i n g statement yesterday
afternoon from Tom Buddy, man
ager of Guion Hall:
(“The Guion Hall box office
traditionally closes 10 to 20 min
utes after the start of the last fea
ture. Depending on the varying
length of different features this
box office closing time changes
from one picture to the next.
(Guion Hall, like Student Publi
cations, Athletic Department, and
many other agencies of the college,
is a self-supporting auxiliary enter
prise and must make both ends
meet financially.)
Bible Verse
r |' , HIS is my commandmant, That
~ ys love one another, as I have
loved you.—John 15:12.
ENTRY BLANK
The Battalion Fishing Contest
On April , 1951, I caught a (kind
of fish) that measured inches in length.
I caught the fish in
(nanie and location of lake, river, stream or pond),
which is in (or near) (name of
town.)
I caught the fish on (type
and make of rod), using
(type and brand of bait),
(test of line, in pounds), and a
(make of reel).
Mail entry to:
The Battalion (Name)
FISHING (Address)
College Station, Tex. (Phone)
RULES:
Contest is open to A&M students and ; all other persons re
siding in Bryan or College Station.
Fish must be caught between April 10 and April 24. Entries
must be postmarked by midnight, April 24.
Fish caught on trot lines, throw lines and by any method other
than fly fishing, spinning, bait casting, trolling or still fish
ing, are not eligible for entry, in the contest. Salt water en
tries are not eligible.
This contest will be conducted on an honor basis. Your word
is good.
Pictures of you and your catch are not necessary, but we
would like to have one for possible use in The Battalion.
Prizes will be awarded.
news, editorials, or any other sections of the paper, provided
such letters are honest and intelligent views. But in order
to stick to our policy we are forced to publish many commu
nications which are a waste of both our space and your time,
‘Batt Should Express No Opinion’
A letter writer has asserted that The Battalion should
express no opinions. We should like to point out here that
there are few students who would sacrifice the sleep, grade-
points, leisure, and standing in the cadet corps and oth^
organizations, to work on The Batt if there was no editorial
opinion.
The Battalion editorial columns are its heart and mini
Without them it would be dead and uninteresting to its staff
and its readers. ,
Many letters have implied that the readers must accept
Battalion editorial opinion. An opinion is expressed on a
particular issue not primarily to swing your views from side
to side, but to encourage your interest and investigatm,
It is for this reason, and so that it can serve you, that The
Batt investigates and strives to locate the side of right on
every issue.
If you think through a problem carefully and find that
you still disagree, fine. We have done our job and you have
done yours.
How Is Batt Opinion Decided?
Now, just what do we take into consideration when de
ciding what stand the Batt shall take on a particular issue?
For the key to this we will go to the slogan found just under
our nameplate at the top of page one. It reads, “Published
in the Interest of A Greater A&M College.” We do not take
that slogan lightly. When we take a stand on any issue, our
decision is weighed in the light of those words.
Just what does A&M College mean, as used in our slogan,
To us, first and foremost, it stands for an educational insti
tution owned and administered by the people of the State
of Texas.
That means you and I, your parents and mine, and many
other citizens who have no sons in college. It also includes
the elected, appointed and employed officials of this State
and those include the employees, faculty, and administration
of this college.
The opinions and will of many people besides the stu
dents now attending A&M must be considered. Today’s
student body is only a small part of a much larger, mucl
greater group that means “A&M College.”
What Is Best for A&M College?
So it is that we ask ourselves, “What is best for A&M
College?” And, as you know, what we decide is best is not
always what the college administration or the student body
thinks; is. bqst.
" $6e BATTALION POLICY, Page 6)
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CALL 4 - 5 3 2 4
LI’L ABNER
A Capp Has Nine Lives
By A1 Capp
SO YOU'RE AL CAPP.V-WELL, WHEW
I WAS AT COLLEGE, I CAUGHT A
BOY IN ONE OF THOSE “SADIE:
HAWKINS DAY" RACES. WE GOT
MARRIED, AND HE TURNED OUT
TO BE A BUM.V’ WHAT
ARE YOU GOING TO DOy
SAY THE WORD, AND I'LL
LET DAYLIGHT THROUGH
HIM, SISTER.''.''
ABOUT JT?
f-7 DON'T CARD ATOM MUCH "
IT COSTS TO GET TO DOG PATCH
3V TAX/^-J
??—5AV/V-WHY
I'VE BEEN READING
“LI'L ABNER" SINCE I
WAS A KID—AN' MY
FATHER BEFORE ME.7'
I KNEW THAT SOME
DAY, OUR PATHS
> WOULD CROSS . r . r .
STEP OUT
^capp/t