PAGE 2
THE BATTALION
-THURSDAY, OCT. 12, 1939
The Battalion ° 1>K > foruivi
STUDENT TRI-WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF
TEXAS A. & M. COLLEGE
ity of College Station,
The Battalion, official newspaper of the Agricultural and
Mechanical College of Texas and the city '
published three times weekly froi
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
weekly from June through August.
» city of
September
mornings;
ge Station, is
to June, issued
and is published
Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office at College
Station, Texas, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879.
Subscription rate, $3 a school year. Advertising rates upon
request.
Represented nationally by National Advertising Service, Inc.,
at New York City, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, and San
Francisco.
Office, Room 122, Administration Building. Telephone
<-5444.
STAFF
BILL MURRAY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
LARRY WEHRLE ADVERTISING MANAGER
James Critz Associate Editor
E. C. (Jeep) Oates Sports Editor
H. G. Howard Circulation Manager
"Hub” Johnson Intramural Editor
Philip Golman ... Staff Photographer
John J. Moseley Staff Artist
THURSDAY STAFF
Ray Treadwell Managing Editor
Don Burk Asst. Advertising Manager
Don McChesney Asst. Circulation Manager
Phil Levine Editorial Assistant
Junior Editors
Bob Nisbet Billy Clarkson
Senior Sports Assistants
Mick Williams Louis J. Lippman
Reportorial Staff
Jack Aycock, H. D. Borgfeld, P. H. Brown, R. A. Doak, Jim
Dooley, Walter Goodman, Guy Kane, R. R. Mattox, R. B. Pearce,
R. G. Powell, Walter Sullivan, Delbert Whitaker.
School Spirit?
The other night when the Aggie football team
left here for the West Coast to play Santa Clara,
a huge crowd of Aggies assembled at the station
and gave them a big send-off.
That was well and good. The Battalion is a firm
believer in displays of real school spirit. So is
every thinking student, employee, and official of
A. & M. College. And as a display of school spirit,
the send-off for the team that night was the best
we’ve seen.
There was one event, however, that marred the
occasion:
Some miguided “fish” painted and splattered
up the train with not only whitewash but also red
paint.
As a result, it cost the railroad company $150
to repair the damage done. The car had to be en
tirely repainted.
At the request of college authorities and
through special dispensation of the officials of the
railroad, the Houston-Dallas non-stop Sunbean Spec
ial was allowed to make College Station a regularly
scheduled stop. This action makes it possible for
Aggies to ride four instead of two streamlined
trains out of College Station each day. The corps
as a whole appreciates this added service, but the
action of our poor misguided “fish” was certainly a
poor way to show this appreciation.
The railroad company knows who’s responsible
for the damage done. But it has refrained from
taking steps to see that proper punishment is
assessed the perpetrator. If that isn’t ‘white’ of the
company, we don’t know what is.
The Battalion wishes to emphasize definitely
that it is for anything that is a display of true
school spirit.
But we don’t think that damaging railroad
cars with paint that can’t be washed off should be
so considered, or is so considered by the majority of
the Aggie corps.
Propaganda From All Sides
With the United States in the neutral position
that it occupies at the present time, no one more
seriously realizes the need for an unbiased opinion
on the affairs on the European continent than the
college students of today who would form a large
part of an American war army if the need for one
suddenly arose.
A measure of the importance that the European
countries place on the American opinion can easily
be realized by tuning in on short-wave any time
of the day or night. Where formerly it was almost
impossible to pick up English-speaking foreign
stations, it is now possible to pick them up without
trouble on any of the short-wave bands on the
standard long-wave set.
Germany’s main station with the power and the
•directional antennae and beaming that the Ger
mans are aiming at the United States and South
America is DJD, which comes in at 11.77 megs, on
the 25-meter band broadcasts from 6 p. m. to 12
p. m. C. S. T. During that period the entire broad
cast is in either English or Spanish (for the bene
fit of South America). Its style follows the “soft-
soap” line in that it presents programs of German
music styled for America and includes in these pro
grams music by Brahms, Beethoven, and Bach as
well as American popular music. However, mixed in
with, the music are short propaganda speeches tell
ing just how Great Britain and France resemble
“the big bad wolf.”
Don’t think that Great Britain and France
aren’t both guilty of the same offense, however.
Both of these countries have several strong sta
tions directed at the United States and are piling
their mush on the angle of brotherly love for this
country.
Try turning your radio over on to short wave
any afternoon or night and form an opinion for
yourself. Short-wave requires slower tuning than
with the regular band, but many of the strong
foreign stations come in strong and without fading
during the afternoon and night. The four standard
short-wave bands are plainly marked on most sets
that have anything besides the broadcast band on
them, and on these bands the foreign stations are
intermingled.
It may not be quite as easy to tune in Berlin
or London as it is WBAP, but the ability to do so
can insure us of the right to hear both sides of
the present conflict and then to make up our minds
the way that we want to.
ROGER BABSON, ECONOMIST, SAYS CON-
gress could have been worse. He doesn’t specify
how, but perhaps he is thinking of the fact that at
least it did adjourn.
AGGIES’ ACTIONS GOVERN A. & M.’S
REPUTATION
At the Rice-Centenary game last weekend there
were several Aggies with their dates seated together
in the Rice section of the stadium. The referees of
the game were receiving the usual heckling from
both sides, but at one seemingly outrageous decision
in favor of Centenary, some Rice booster in the
stands immediately above the group of A. & M.
students threw a fair-sized piece of dry ice at one
of the referees and with good aim. Without any
consideration of the size of the crowd a^d the
unlikelihood of locating the marksman, one of the
attendant Houston policeman promptly ordered one
of the Aggies and his dates out of the stadium. No
amount of statements to the contrary by several
bystanders could convince this officer that his choice
was wrong, and the couple were sent out.
Such incidents as this happen every weekend.
Not because the present Texas Aggies are any
more adept at trouble-making than any other college
students, but because the uniform serves as tempting
bait for all branches of law-enforcement. To say
that such a condition is unfair is putting it mildly,
but it leaves only one course open to wearers of the
Aggie uniform. That is, to keep the fact constantly
in mind that, when in uniform off the campus, our
actions govern the opinion formed of not only the
individual, but also of every A. & M. man. In other
words, it should be remembered that every time you
throw a beer bottle at the bartender in “Flossie’s
Snap Inn” or “Joe’s Place,” etc., the bystanders
gain a bad impression of every other Aggie.
Probably such incidents as that at the Rice-
Centenary game will continue to occur for many
years, until that undesirable portion of our reputation
as “hell-raisers” is lived down.
C. C. Mills, ’40 Don Andrews, ’41
City Tax Situation
The board of aldermen of the city of College
Station are very glad that the inhabitants of this
city are accepting the taxes as set by the equaliza
tion board with their whole-hearted approval. It is
the general opinion that the taxes are equitable and
on the right level. When the residents of a locality
band themselves together and resolve to make of
theirs a better community in which to live, and accept
the burden of financing the movements to make it
such, then progress is being made. It is felt by the
board of aldermen that such is the case here at
College Station. By working together and co
operating with each other this city can become a
model after which others can pattern themselves. In
fact, the Texas League of Municipalities has a
special interest in this movement and would like to
see this goal realized.
The board wishes to express through The Bat
talion its appreciation to the equalization board,
composed of A. A. Blumberg, Guy Boyett, and V. M.
Faires, for the excellent job they did in setting the
taxes to the satisfaction of all concerned.
A PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR FINDS SIMI-
larity in prisons and universities, since many in
mates of each merely are doing time. Prisoners,
however, have to behave.
LACK OF CLOSE RELATIVES IN NEW
York is keeping many people away from the Fair.
A WISCONSIN MAN HAS BEEN BARBER-
ing for 51 years. Wonder if he’s given up trying
to sell the shampoo massage and tonic Combination?
As the World Turns...
By “COUNT” V. K. SUGAREFF
The diplomatic front seems far more active
than the military during the last several days. One
by one the little Baltic states, except Finland, have
come under Russia’s domination, retaining of course
nominal sovereign right. Finland
too has sent a negotiator to Mos
cow. Her strenuous objects to sim
ilar status as the other Baltic
states might cause Stalin to mod
ify his demands somewhat. Still,
Finland is in no position to chal
lenge Russia’s demands.
It is reported that Russia is
making two serious propositions to
Turkey: (1) Turkey must close the
Dardenelles to Brisish and French
ships but allow Russian supplies
to go to Germany; (2) Turkey
must abandon the reciprocal provisions of her
treaties with England and France. Should Turkey
yield to these propositions, she would be far on
the way to complete domination from Moscow.
Neither Turkey nor the rest of the Balkan states
relish the idea of receiving orders from Moscow.
These states are marshalling every effort to form
a solid neutrality block to counteract both the
German and Russian march to the Aegean Sea.
Last Friday Hitler made another “generous”
peace offer on his own terms. Two hours later after
he delivered his speech, Premier Deladier commented,
“An imposed peace cannot be a just peace.” Last
Tuesday he stated in his radio address that Hitler’s
peace terms are just the usual propaganda tactivs
and not to be taken seriously.
As we go to press, Chamberlain is replying to
Hitler’s peace proposals, but judging from advance
press and radio reports, England, too, would leave
the door open for genuine peace if Hitler really
wants it. The British labor party already has laid
down some essential peace terms: (1) restoration
of democratic life in Germany (Hitler’s government
must fall); (2) both Poland and Czechoslovakia to
be restored as independent states; (3) Austria to
be given a chance to choose between German an
nexation and restoration of her independence. These
terms would not appeal to Hitler. Moreover, Cham
berlain, like Deladier, can not put much faith in
“mere assurances”. However, the Allies can not
justify their stand by merely refusing to accept
Hitler’s offer for peace. They must formulate their
own constructive plans for peace if they expect
enthusiastic support by their own people and the
sympathy of the world for their own cause.
BACKWASH
Bu
George Puermann
“Backwash: An agitation resulting from some action or occurrence."—Webster.
Fuermann
“THE WOMEN” is showing at
the Palace Theater in Bryan the
rest of this week. One hundred and
thirty-five women make up the
cast—think what George Zukor,
the director, had to put up with.
I wouldn’t vouch for the rest, but
it shouldn’t have been so hard for
him to look at this main cast:
Mary (Mrs. Stephen Haines)
Norma Shearer
Crystal Allen....Joan Crawford
Sylvia (Mrs. Howard Fowler)
Rosalind Russell
Miriam Aarons Paulette
Goddard
Here is one picture that is all
women. Even the animal used, in
cluding three monkeys, are all of
the female sex. This is just a
direct contrast to “Dawn Patrol”,
which was an all-male picture. It
is supposed to be an answer to the
question of what women talk about
when alone.
The story involves Sylvia as the
perennial gossip, who through her
blundering, causes the separation
of Mary Haines from her husband
Stephen. According to Sylvia,
Stephen has been stepping out with
Crystal Allen, a perfume sales
girl. After an uneventful trip to
Reno, Mary decides that Sylvia’s
story is not true; so she returns
home to begin anew the happy mar
ried life she had left in such haste.
One comment, I think, is due.
There is no wonder that people in
Europe believe that Americans
have no regard for the marriage
vow. Their most vivid impression
of our country and its customs is
gained at the picture shows, and
shows like this one could only
strengthen that belief. It is just
a mess of scandal and divorce.
Rating for this show is one grade
point! Reason for the low rating is
that an all-female cast won’t go
over with a crowd of Aggies, that
is, not when the females are all a
bunch of “hens” around a bridge
table.
“ONLY ANGELS HAVE
WINGS” is the show at the As
sembly Hall today and tomorrow.
It is a benefit show for the Ento
mology Club.
Cary Grant and Jean Arthur
carry the lead in this screen play
of aviators in the little banana port
of Barranca. Another story of the
theme “the mail must go through”,
only this time it is to save a gov
ernment franchise for an American
airplane company.
By now this show is just a wee
bit old, but for those who haven’t
seen it it ought to be “top-hole”.
I would say it is a two-grade-point
show.
WHAT’S SHOWING
AT THE ASSEMBLY HALL
Thursday and Friday —
“Only Angels Have Wings”,
with Cary Grant and Jean
Arthur.
AT THE PALACE
Thursday, Friday, and Sat
urday—^“The Women”, with
Norma Shearer, Joan Craw
ford, Rosalind Russell, Pau
lette Goddard, and Virginia
Weidler.
Backwashin’ around . . . An M.
E. prof to one of his students yes
terday morning: “Come, come;
let’s be specific.” . . . The power
of advertising again
—Last Saturday
there was a sign on
the bulletin board of
the Academic Build
ing reading “SAC
RIFICE! One half
pint of Golden Wed
ding Rye. One dol
lar. Sign below and
I’ll call.” The sign
was gone within an
hour . . . By vote of the old mess
hall’s “Sbisa Volunteers’', the most
popular recording played during
meal time is not “The Jumpin’
Jive” or “Over The Rainbow,” but
is “The Bohemian Fantasy No. 2”
as played by the New York Phil
harmonic Orchestra . . . An In
fantry junior handed Backwash
the following quotation from a let
ter written by a Linden wood Col
lege girl: “I guess you knew that
the shortest way to a girl’s heart
was to send her a Battalion Mag
azine.”
•
A revival of the Band’s old tra
dition, a fake murder for the ben
efit of freshmen, was successfully
staged by “D” CAC last week.
The cast included Jack “Straw
berry” Keese, murdered; Rex Grey,
murdered; and Dave Britain,
“Chief of Court Matial.” The fic
titious enmity between “Straw
berry” and Rex was carefully built
up in the eyes of the fish over a
two-week period, Strawberry being
represented as a dope fiend. Chick
en blood and a split liver were used
to dummy-up a realistic murder
scene which so completely darn-
fooled the fish that $27 was col
lected to send the battery captain
to Mexico.
•
Cavalry’s Steve Rogers claims
that this really happened last year
in one of the classes of College
Station’s consolidated grade school.
A new teacher, anxious to have
everything done just right, was
calling the roll. She asked each boy
to give his first name. Si was the
first response.
“No, you should say Silas,” re
plied the fastidious young maid.
Next in line came Tom. “Say
Thomas,” was her insistent reply.
Looking up momentarily, she ask
ed, “and now what is the name of
the boy back of Thomas?”
The reply was sudden and curt
—“Jackass!”
Music in the new mess hall will
begin regularly within two weeks.
Announcements will come from
the new mess hall and will be heard
at both eating places. Music, how
ever, will be played at Sbisa and
relayed to the new section of the
campus.
•
One of the most intriguing signs
your columnist has ever seen was
passed a few weeks ago at cross
roads near Laredo. Together with
a number of other arrows pointing
to various towns was one of the
same shape, size, etc. telling the
traveler that not far in this di
rection was—Ssshh!!! Obviously
the sign offered two possibilities.
Either someone was having a baby
or else the place would turn out
to be one of those silent towns of
the old west.
•
Naomi Boutwell, T.S.C.W.’s ju
nior class president, was on the
campus Wednesday night to ad
dress Aggie juniors in respect to
the pre-corps dance a week from
next Friday night . . . Two Ag
gies who performed the near-im
possible are “Slick” Matthews and
Hal Pendleton, who attended the
executive meeting of the T.S.C.W.
junior class last Saturday to help
formulate plans for the joint func
tion.
FOR A BETWEEN
CLASS SNACK
Visit
“Pop” Shaw’s
College Campus Sandwich
Shop
Behind the Exchange Store
Musical Meanderings
FOR
Eye Examination
And Glasses
Consult
J. W. PAYNE
DOCTOR OF OPTOMETRY
Masonic Bldg. Bryan, Tex.
Next to Palace Theater
Dine and Dance
YOU’RE ALWAYS
WELCOME
Latest Recordings
by the
Best Bands
HRDLICKA’S
Frank Simon, Mgr.
By Murray Evans
Have you ever noticed how near
ly alike most orchestras in “the
upper bracket” sound? Well, there
js a definite reason and it goes
under the heading of “commercial
ism”. The meaning is the same, es
sentially, to the musician as to the
layman. It simply means “busi
ness-like”. Commercial bands make
no secret of the fact that they are
out for the long green, and they
will do anything in their bag of
tricks to please Joe Customer.
After all, that is the purpose of
any kind of entertainment, wheth
er it happens to be music, dancing,
or barnyard imitations. So the
business-minded maestro drills his
particular band on novelties, spec
ialties, and even in the social
graces. Showmanship “sells” fine
to the public, so he lies awake
nights devising schemes to create
laughs, to draw attention to the
individual members of his band.
He knows that if the customers
who pay and pay call his men by
their first names, there is tremen
dous drawing power in their good
will. Conductors of such bands even
study the tempos (time, to you)
which are best suited to dancing,
and herein is found the reason why
most organizations sound so much
alike. Few bands can, as a matter
of fact, afford to be of the indep
endent variety, for if there ever
was a crowded field, it is the music
business. Paul Whiteman is one of
the privileged few who might be
able to name his own prices and
places to play without incurring
the wrath of the booking compan
ies. Some trusting Southern lady
was supposed to have written him
once and offered one thousand
dollars for his band to play an en
gagement for a private club dance.
Imagine her surprise when her
letter was answered stating that
he thought he might be able to
send his piccolo player the one
night for the thousand dollars!
So much for “commercialism”
There seems to be an unusual scar
city of hit tunes and good records
recently. Of course, the Hit Parade
must go on, so there are always
“ten of the most popular in the
nation” played every Saturday, but
we mean genuine “hit” tunes—the
kind that are sung, whistled, or
hummed by Crosby, Ella Fitz
gerald, ditch-diggers, and janitors
alike.
Wonder how many know that
Gene Austin is from Gainsville,
Texas? What, never heard of him!
Then you shall be told. He popular
ized such fine old tunes as “One
Sweet Letter from You”, “Blue
Heaven”, “Among My Souvenirs”,
“So Blue”, and “Meloncholy Baby”.
His recordings are almost as wide
ly used as those of Bing Crosby.
He plays piano himself, uses a
“blues” style guitar man (whom he
calls Kowomo) and a bass fiddle.
His voice is familiar to most radio
listeners; it has a plaintive wail
that puts one on the meloncholy
side while listening. His recording
of “One Sweet Letter from You”
should make a decided hit with the
Aggies.
When fire destroyed Centralia’s
ornate float prepared for a parade
in Longview, Wash., the town sent
a goat instead, carrying a banner
reading, “The fire got our float,
but it didn’t get our goat.”
About 2,000 marriage licenses
issued in New York each year are
never used. Indicating that many
take a second look.
B. V. D. BRIEFS
Here is underwear that gives you more in solid
comfort than you’ve ever enjoyed before. Tailored
fit that admits no binding or creeping. Soft, flexible
fabrics that are kind to your skin. Patented con
struction that provides perfect support. In either
trunks or jockey style.
The Shorts The Shirts
50^ 350
WE CARRY A COMPLETE LINE OF THE
FAMOUS B.V.D. UNDERWEAR IN FANCY
SHORTS, SHIRTS, ATHLETIC UNIONSUITS
AND KNITTED ONE OR TWO PIECE SUITS.
7 t T TX
WIMBERLEY • STONE DANSBY
CiOrhtERS