THE BATTILION
Published every Wednesday night by
Students of the Agricultural and
Mechanical College of Texas
Subscription price $1.25 per year.
Advertising rates on application.
Member of Texas Collegiate Press
Association.
A. E. BURGES, ’15 Editor-in-Chief
J. F. HA’DEN Business Manager
P. A. HOMANN, ’15. .Associate Editor
W. L,. RUTAN, ’15 Asso. Bus. Mgr.
E. McR. CLAYTOR, ’15...Ex. Editor
MISS LOUISE PROCTOR..So. Editor
M. T. GARRETT, ’16 Agr. Editor
UEL STEPHENS, T6 Eng. Editor
S. P. McPADDEN, T6... Sport. Editor
G. C. MOPPET, T6. .Y. M. C. A. Editor
D. H. KIBER, ’17 ’Frisco Editor
Cartoonists
P. T. CROWN, T5, J. M. BURKETT, ’16
Assistant Business Managers
S. B. HAYNES, ’16, J. B. ROBERT, ’16,
Reporters
J. R. BARNES, J. B. JOYCE, T. W.
TEMPLE, P. W. HALSEY.
All material for publiication should
be signed and turned in not later than
Monday night.
Entered as second-class matter at
College Station, Texas, February 17,
1905.
College Station, Tex., Jan. 20, 1915.
CHOOSING A VALEDICTORIAN.
We are aware that this is a delicate
subject and that we will be accused
by some of trying to play politics,
whatever we may say, more especial
ly since the Senior election is ap
proaching, but we hardly think that
there are any who would advise us
to wait until after the election to ad
vance our ideas on the subject of
choosing a valedictorian on the
grounds that after the valedictorian
has been elected is a more appro
priate time to discuss the qualifica
tions which he should possess than
before. We have no idea at this early
date who the candidates will be, and,
moreover, this discourse is meant for
the underclassmen as well as Seniors,
hence we beg to be excused from the
charge of playing politics.
It seems to us that one of the least
considered and yet most important
qualifications which a valedictorian
should possess is that of high scholar
ship. The only proper objects in at
tending college are the acquiring of
knowledge and training, and no class
should confer the great honor of the
office of valedictorian upon a man
who has been unsuccessful in this en
deavor as compared with his fellows.
It must be admitted that the brilliant
student does not always possess the
other necessary qualifications to the
proper degree, and the choice should
not by any means rest on this point
alone, but the good student will
usually measure up to the standard in
other ways.
A second qualification no less im
portant is that of eloquence or ease
and beauty of expression with clear
ness of thought. While it may be
pleasant to listen for a time to one
who is solely a word painter, such
soon becomes monotonous unless he
has something to say as well.
A third qualification is reasonable
dignity. We all enjoy listening to the
witty speaker, especially if he can
act his jokes as he tells them, but
unless he is capable of other styles
of speech as well, he is not a suitable
candidate for valedictorian. The day
on which the valedictory address
must be delivered is always a formal
occasion, and the Seniors, realizing
that they must leave the college
where they have spent the four best
years of their existence and go out
into the world to take a man’s part
in life, are in a serious mood.
A fourth qualification of no small
importance is that the valedictorian
be popular with his fellows, in order
that he may more truly represent his
class. This does not mean simply
that he shall secure the most votes,
but it means that in the honest and
unbiased judgment of the major por
tion of his classmates he is the man
for the place. The Senior who votes
to make one candidate valedictorian
when, deep down in his heart, he be
lieves another to deserve the place,
is disloyal to his class.
CHEATING ON EXAMINATION.
On the front page will be found the
welcome news that the discipline
committee and the student council
have agreed to put absolute faith in
the students of this college in the
coming examinations. We students
have long maintained, with consider
able justice, that the honor system on
examination could never be an honcv
system so long as the instructors re
mained in the classroom and kept
watch over us. The system was a
farce in some departments because,
the instructors made it so, not realiz-
: ng that the dishonest would manage
to cheat anyhow, despite their pres
ence, and that the honest did not and
could not consider themselves on their
honor while being watched.
Why is it wrong to cheat on exami
nations? We shall give two reasons.
First, it is a breach of honor, and no
gentleman will violate his word or
pledge of honor. Even a criminal will
seldom break his honor when he
voluntarily promises to do a thing.
Judge Ben Lindsey has proved that.
Surely none of us care to be in a
class lower than criminals.
A second reason is that in cheating
our way thru college we lower the
value of our diploma, not only for our
selves but for other graduates, and
gain by fraud a thing which money
could not buy.
The faculty and the student council
have now put us on trial; surely we
cannot afford to show ourselves un
worthy of their trust.
TO CLUB REPORTERS.
The Battalion is always glad to pub
lish accounts of club meetings when
anything of interest takes place at
these meetings, but, of course, we do
not care for the simple statement that
the club held its regular meeting, car
ried out the regular order of business,
and adjourned. Whenever your club
pulls off a banquet, is addrest by a
speaker from a distance, or in any
way has a session of more than ordi
nary interest, we want to know it.
DR. KNAPP AND MR. OUSLEY
TO ADDRESS LEGISLATURE
Dr. Bradford Knapp and Hon. Clar
ence Ousley have accepted an invita
tion to address the lower house of the
legislature Thursday evening on mat
ters pertaining to Southern agriculture
so our industrious college publicity
agent, Ike Ashburn, informs us.
Be sure you see The Dixie and
Queen ads in every issue of the Bat.
be. His great capacity for doing work
and his other sterling qualities will
surely made him successful at what
ever he undertakes.
ON TO ’FRISCO.
There is one man in our midst who
is great and famous, not of his own
volition, but merely because his great
ness was thrust upon him. He is very
timid, unassuming and retiring of na
ture. Reputation was never sought
by him, but came unsought. He is al
ways willing and anxious to return
good for evil and is always afraid
that he is not doing enough good.
This man has achieved much in a
military way, not through fondness
for military, but because he has al
ways tried his best to do what was
right. Entering “I” Company as a
“Pish” when hazing was thought to
be legal, he, by his humbleness and
willingness, gained the good will of
his mates and consequently was re
warded with a corporalship in “I”
Company. While a corporal he was
always careful to perform all duties
J. S. BUGBEE
Editor Student Farmer.
Ever since the Frisco trip was pro
posed many cadets have been trying
to settle the perplexing question of
finances.
The usual form of the question is,
“Can I afford to attend?’’ but a better
form of the question would be “Can
I afford to miss the exposition?”
In the face of such arguments as,
the trip will be worth a year in col
lege, and it will perhaps be the best
opportunity that a cadet will ever
have to see the West and the only one
to see it in such splendor as it will
be in this year, it seems that the lat
ter question is the practical one.
Let us all pull together and make
the trip come to a realization of the
original idea.
Manager Davis publishes the fol
lowing statement of the finances of
the three post-season football games.
After the expenses have been deduct
ed the remainder is given to Charlie
Davis to help finance the basketball
team;
Receipts.
Company championship game..$ 28.65
All-company game .. . 31.65
All-company—T-AMC game . . . 84.30
Total $144.60
Expenditures.
Company championship ball..$ 5.00
All-company footballs 37.05
All-company—T-AMC banquet. 19.50
Lining off field.. - 1.00
Total $ 62.55
Gross receipts $144.60
Expenses , 62.55
Net proceeds $ 82.05
FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS CON
CERNING SENIOR WRITE-UPS
and still kept the good will of the
company. His straightforwardness,
promptness and academic standing
won a first sergeantship for him in
“E” Company. Now, as captain and
commissary, his efforts have been
fully rewarded and he is fully satisfied
in that he can pursue his one hobby—
studies.
He has been a distinguished student
every year of his college career and
all indications point to a crowning of
this success, as it seems he will again
be distinguished this year, his Senior
year. He strives not only to get all
out of his course, but he also hopes
to gain all the knowledge that will in
anyway benefit him in his future busi
ness.
And who is this man? Why, no
other than our best representative,
John Sherman Bugbee, a native of
Kansas City, but now a citizen of
Clarendon, Texas. “Jawn,” as he is
known by his fellow classmates, has
accomplished much in other lines than
military and academic work. For his
abilities as a student he was unani
mously chosen for the position of
editor-in-chief of the Student Farmer,
which position he is filling admirably
as the good issues of the Student
Farmer demonstrate. For his good
will and cheer to all mankind he was
considered as a valuable asset to the
Y. M. C. A. and consequently was
made a cabinet member of that honor
able organization.
“Jawn” is an earnest worker at
whatever he undertakes. He is de
termined to accomplish the end of
whatever problems may be set before
him, no matter how difficult they may
Every Senior is expected to write
his own “pedigree’ on a sheet of paper,
following out instructions previously
given, and to hand this sheet to his
biographer. His biographer will then
write the write-up proper and hand
the whole to W. C. Gillespie, he being
in charge of that part of the Long
horn.
Watch the great Paramount in the
Queen ad this paper every week.
We do Kodak Finishing and
Developing every day. Come in
to see us before you have your
next work done
Carter’s Studio
Bryan, Texas
LODGE AND SOCIETY EMBLEMS
WEDDING FLOWERS
FUNERAL DESIGNS
CUT FLOWERS PLANTS
Phone Direct
SCOTT FLORAL 00.,
Navasota, Texas
FOR SALE.
Stove wood, $5 per cord, delivered.
Good, cut kindling, $5 per cord, de
livered. Phone T. M. Reddell, Feed
ing and Breeding Station, 87-3 rings.