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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 6, 1940)
PAGE 2 The Battalion STUDENT TRI-WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF TEXAS A. & M. COLLEGE The Battalion, official newspaper of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas and the City of College Station, is published three times weekly from September to June, issued Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings; and is published weekly from June through August. Entered a* second-class matter at the Post Office at College Station, Texas, under the Act of Congress of March 8, 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 4-B444. 1939 Member 1940 Associated Golle&iate Press tfILL MURRAY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LARRY WEHRLE ADVERTISING MANAGER James Grit* — Associate Editor E. C. (Jeep) Oates Sports Editor H. G. Howard Circulation Manager “Hub’ Johnson Asst. Sports Editor Philip Golman Staff Photographer John J. Moseley Staff Artist Junior Editors Billy Clarkson George Fuermann Bob Nisbet A. J. Robinson Earle A. Shields SATURDAY STAFF James Critz Acting Managing Editor Don Burk Asst. Advertising Manager W. C. Carter Editorial Assistant R. V. (Red) Myers Jr. Sports Assistant Senior Sports Assistant Jimmie Cokinos Jimmy James Junior Advertising Solicitors J. M. Sedberry G. M. Woodman Reportorial Staff E. M. Rosenthal, Lee Rogers, Glenn Mattox, W. A. Moore, Bob Parker, L. B. Tennison “Farley Day” We believe congratulations are in order all the way around on the success of “Farley Day” Thurs day. First, A. & M. is indebted to Burris C. Jackson, ex-Aggie of the class of '27, now postmaster at Hillsboro, for bringing his friend, Postmaster-Gen eral James A. Farley, as a distinguished visitor to Aggieland. Mr. Jackson is one of the best known of A. & M. ex-students. It was he who brought Secre tary of Commerce Daniel Roper to A. & M. some time ago. Next, President Walton, Colonel Ike Ashburn, Colonel George F. Moore, supervisor of subsistence J. C. Hotard, and all others concerned with making arrangements for Mr. Farley’s visit, the review and banquet in his honor, deserve a word of praise for the success of the day’s events. Thirdly, J. J. Woolket and the Singing Cadets under his direction, and the musicians under the direction of Colonel Richard Dunn, are to be com mended on their program of entertainment at the banquet. And lastly, Cadet Colonel Woody Varner gets ■our special commendation for making the most highly original speech of the evening—in which he requested the Postmaster-General to see if he could do something about the situation whereby the Aggies write so frequently to the girls at our sister school of T. S. C. W., yet so often wait in vain for a reply! ★ Governor O’Daniel To Make 1940 Race On Reshuffled 1938 Platform After 15 months in office, Governor W. Lee O’Daniel still wants $50,000,000 per year in new revenue to meet the State’s social security obliga tions, to pay pensions and to begin retiring some $25,000,000 in hot checks issued by the State. He believes his original suggestion of a trans action tax, shaved down from 1.6 per cent to 1 per cent, will raise the money, although he is willing to accept any other tax which the Legislature will pass. All this is a rehash of his 1938 platform, gar nished, as it was then, with the charge that “pro fessional politicians” are responsible for an “ap palling situation” and spiced with frequent thrusts at unnamed subsidized newspapers, radio stations and poison pen editors. Add to this seVeral logical suggestions for modern izing the State’s fiscal machinery by installing better budgetary control and eliminating a multiplicity of special accounts, most of which originated with a legislative investigating committee several years ago, and you have the reelection platform of the governor, as he explained it in a 10,000 word ad dress that kept a State-wide radio network busy for an hour last Wednesday night. What the governor said boils down to this: He contends that it is not his fault that the Legislature did not pass a tax bill which would have enabled him to make good on his promise of $30 per month to the aged. He says the State must balance its budget, pay its obligations to the blind, needy aged and de pendent children and must match contributions of teachers to their retirement fund. To do this, $50,000,000 per year in new revenue is needed. He favors a one percent transaction tax, but is willing to leave to the Legislature the job of raising that much new tax money, or to submit the question to the people who, he contends, created the obligation in the first place. As was the case in the summer of 1938, the governor is definite about where the $50,000,000 he needs to carry out his program is coming from. He is willing to approve “any tax” which will raise the money. It is fortunate the Legislature is not that agreeable, because there are dozens of taxes which would raise $50,000,000 per year, but many of them would wreck the State economically, kill its pros pects for future growth and saddle burdens on citizens least able to pay. But we have no quarrel with what the governor said about affairs of State. He is making a race in 1940 on his 1938 platform, apparently on the theory that what was good enough to win the governorship is good enough now, which may prove good politics. What impressed us most was what he said about the trials and tribulations of public office. We conclude that Mr. O’Daniel has learned what many other found out before him—that cheers of campaign crowds constitute the most perishable commodity on earth. —The Houston Post. The Singing Cadets A group on the A. & M. campus that The Bat talion believes deserves special praise, recognition, commendation, and cooperation in every respect is the “Singing Cadets” (formerly known as the A. & M. Glee Club) under the direction of Professor J. J. Woolket. If there is any advisor to any group on the campus any more untiring and persevering in his efforts to help that group than Mr. Woolket has been with the Singing Cadets, we have yet to see him. To a large extent Mr. Woolket has been re sponsible for the club’s progress. The Singing Cadets have certainly “whipped out” during this session, (to use the Aggie vernacu lar). That is the opinion, so far as we can tell, of every student, every faculty member, and every visitor to the college who has heard them this year. Distinguished speakers at many banquets have paid them high tribute. They have made steady improvement in their performances, through persistent and unified effort. They have sung at more banquets and other local functions,, and at more places away from the college, than ever before in the history of the organization. They are soon to start on a spring tour to sing at various cities. They have achieved more attention and publicity and have made the Aggies more music conscious, than ever before. And that is why we think the Singing Cadets of A. & M. are to be so highly commended. Of course, there is always more to be done. The Singing Cadets know that it takes constant practice, a pleasing variety of selections, and a lot of hard work to achieve the state of perfection and of state wide recognition that they desire. We think, with the big start made this year, that they’ll certainly attain it. ★ Haste,.. Cause of Tragedy Flowers fade but deeds endure. More than 32,000 persons were sent to their graves or to hospitals last year because of automobile accidents. Such a mass death toll represents a major death plague concerning which every American should be enlightened. Let us consider. The total of 32,000 represents about half the population of Austin or Waco. What if a new plague were to wipe out that number to morrow? A state of emergency would surely be declared. Theatres and schools would be closed and the various relief forces would marshal all their resources to cope with the tragic situation. Parents would be frantic; government officials would take drastic measures to get the plague under control. In a sense, America’s automobile accident ex perience of the past year might be likened to such a plague. Because the total casualties are stretched over a period of an entire year, because they are not confined to any particular season, to any par ticular age-group nor to any particular locality, the public remains apathetic. Two out of three automobile accidents in the United States last year involved mistakes by driv ers . . . mistakes that could have been avoided had the people been safety conscious. The primary case, as usual, is excessive speed. Because of undue haste, 7,990 persons were killed and 179,980 were injured. The figures represent 22.5 percent of the total casualties. Other figures are less imposing, but just as tragic. Reckless driving accounts for 14.7 percent of the fatalities; 13.5 were directly attributable to the failure of drivers to exercise caution when a question of right-of-way was involved, and 11.6 per cent were caused when drivers went off the roadway. The person who dislikes statistics cannot be expected to linger long over these tabulations, but he CAN learn and remember that nine out of every ten accidents for which the driver is to blame can be attributed to undue haste. —The Baylor Lariat ★ After becoming partially civilized, an African tribe got heavily in debt and took to the jungle again. We can understand that impulse. As the World Turns... By DR. AL B. NELSON The Texas Political Pot will really boil from now on. Governor O’Daniel has either learned noth ing from the past, or thinks he has learned a great deal about how to put things over on the public. Everyone will concede that he has learned how to put things over in real form if he persuades the people of Texas to vote a trans actions tax upon themselves. * * * Winston Churchill, who has been the head of England’s navy since shortly after the war began, has now been given general control over all of Britain’s armed forces. This has given the allies a much better chance to win if Germany does be gin her much-vaunted general at tack this spring. Churchill is also known for his belief that England should attack through the Balkans or the Near East. Nelson Canada has a new Governor-General. The Earl of Athone, uncle of the King of England, is the successor to the late Lord Tweedsmuir (better known to the American public as John Buchan, the novelist). The new governor-general is a capable and experienced administrator and army officer and the appointment has won great favor in Canada. It is thought that his appointment was made with the idea of his cultivating the United States and winning over public opinion here to a closer bond of friendship. * * * England is thought to be ready now to put the pressure on Italy (economic pressure) in order to force that nation to take a definite stand for Ger many or for the allies. England and France are re ported to have come to the belief that it would be better to have Italy definitely in the struggle on the side of Germany than to have them remain as a channel by which world supplies may reach that nation. THE BATTALION -SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 1940 BACKWASH By George Fuermann “Backwash: An agitation resulting from some action or occurrence.”—Webster. Fuermann Between the lines . . . Woody Vamer’s address at Thursday night’s Farley banquet was the highlight of a night of many high lights. “Varner’s adddress,” said WTAW’s director John Rosser, “was one of the best I have ever heard de livered by a stu dent of any col lege.” So it’s sweet peas to Woody for the single touch of levity at one of A. & M.’s most im portant functions this year . . And while the sweet peas are going around, here’s a column full to the Glee Club—or Singing Cadets, for technicality’s sake. Under the tire less and more-than-capable direct ion of Joe Woolket, presidented by Maynard Curts, and business-man aged by its energetic Charles Zahn, the organization has made a smash hit on the campus this year and is fast gaining a statewide reputation for excellence . . . Eco prof P. A. Nutter, to taxation class: “The day isn’t long gone when the only piece of mail that went into the average farm house was & Sears-Roebuck catalog.” . . . George Mueller, ar riving on T.S.C.W. campus: “If you see any girls running after me, let me know so I can put it in re verse.” . . . It’s history now, but many cadets wondered why Bill Stern, who broadcasted the Aggie- S. M. U. game last November and later “adopted” A. & M. as his alma mater, didn’t officiate at the Sugar Bowl game. As a matter of fact, he was originally booked to do the game, but broadcasting com mercial rights were sold to Gillette Razor who decided to advertise their shaving cream. Bill, however, already had a regular Sunday night commercial with Colgate Shaving Cream and couldn’t afford to change creams in mid-stream. Thus he play-by-played the Rose Bowl game. • November 25, 1920: The first play-by-play broadcast of a football game ever transmitted was broadcast by station WTAW on Thanksgiving Day, 1920, from College Station when the Aggies played their traditional Turkey Day game with the Texas U. At that time the station was operating un der an experimental license and had the call letters 5XB—thus one more Texas Aggie claim to football distinction. • In the world of boners: Boners from freshman and soph omore classes aren’t so rare that they need to be advertised, but here’s a few that are definitely out of the usual groove. Writing a paragraph on Florence Nightin gale, a freshman in 1932 pointed out, “Miss Nightingale was the mistress of Louis XIV and was the first woman in Europe to submit to childbirth.” Answering an identifi cation question on Ruth Suckow’s character essay, “A German Grand father,” a freshman declared, “ ‘Grandpa’ was the male partner in a marriage of the woman called by everyone as ‘Grandma.’ ” The same cadet spelled “conscientious,” “conchincous.” BACKWASH BALLOT OOMPH OR GLAMOUR? About this time of the year it seems to be in line for colleges and universities throughout the nation to take stock on collegiate opinion in respect to the boy vs. girl situation. Not to be outdone, Backwash sticks in an oar for Aggieland, but, if it’s to be successful, every cadet will have to vote and express his opinions and choices on the ballot beneath. After fill ing in the ballot, either send it to the writer, Box 4479; bring it to room 417, dormitory three; or send it to The Battalion Office. 1. Do you prefer blondes brunnetes redheads (check one) 2. Do you like jitterbugging 3. Do you like swing 4. What is your favorite dance orchestra 5. Has Leap Year paid dividends for you 6. Would you be in favor of a national Sadie Hawkins Day 7. How many dates a month do you average 8. Do you smoke drink neck 9. Do you neck on the first date—if possible 10 Do you believe that most girls will neck on the first date 11. Are you in love at the present time 12. Do you believe students should marry while still in college 13. Do you believe in blind dates 14. Do you think there are enough coeds on the A. & M. campus 15. Would you favor legislative enactment whereby T.S.C.W. would be moved to College Station 16. What is your favorite magazine 17. What qualities would you look for in picking a wife 18. Do you think T.S.C.W. is adequate as our sister school 19. Do you approve of the “bird-dog” system at A. & M. 20. Have you ever “bird-doged” 21. Have you ever been “bird-doged” 22. Have you ever had a date on the A. & M. campus 23. How many years have you been attending A. & M 24. Have you ever been to T. S. C. W 25. Do you lose weight when you fall in love Name Classification Organization . ^ ^ Bob Nisbel Editor’s note: Beginning with hopes they will come to blows over this issue, various students will her. The law finally takes a hand try out for the position of movie in the decision of which husband editor on next year’s Battalion i s to get the wife, but not until staff. the show has presented plenty of By Tom Gillis laughs. The paradoxical and almost legal Some Aggies might be inter situation of having “TOO MANY ested in seeing the film to learn HUSBANDS” is the plight of pret- the techni ^ e of warding off the . advances of one s secretary, be- ty Jean Arthur m the show com- cause at the return of the first ing to the Palace Sunday. Such husband, Douglas’ secretary tries a plot could be and is easily used to persuade him to leave Jean for as the basis for a first rate comedy. Fred- and to marry her. Alto- Miss Arthur is the wife of a pub- gether, this hilarious comedy and lishing firm partner, Fred Mac- Murray, who is reported lost at sea on a lone cruise. Thereupon, the other partner, Melvyn Douglas, consoles the grieving widow by marrying her. When the supposed dead husband returns, Melvyn Douglas faints and it takes con siderable courage to explain to Fred that the marital status of his wife is changed. Miss Arthur is quite thrilled at the squabbles of the two husbands and thinks the sit uation is thrilling. That night she puts them in the twin beds in the guest room where she even first-grade farce grade points. deserves three WHATS SHOWING AT THE ASSEMBLY HALL Saturday, 12:45—“COAST GUARD,” with Randolph Scott and Francis Dee. Saturday, 6:45 and 8:30— “EVERYTHING HAPPENS AT NIGHT,” with Sonja Henie, Ray Milland, and Rob ert Cummings. AT THE PALACE Sunday, Monday, Tuesday — “TOO MANY HUS BANDS,” with Jean Arthur, Fred MacMurray, and Mel vyn Douglas. AT THE QUEEN Saturday — “SHOOTING HIGH,” with Jane Withers and Gene Autry. Sunday, Monday—“BLACK FRIDAY,” with Boris Kar loff and Bela Lugosi. Lehigh University’s library has received a gift of 1,077 books, many of which are volumes dating back to the 16th century. i® Al-TUEi \mLVVKLY HALL ANSWERING THE CALL OF DANGER ... bom the ipsa?. Equator t® the Arctic! 9-12 Script $1.00 Shep mift and His Orchestra Jh'R&UOK Introducing His Original Rippling Rhythms CORPS DANCE Sat. Night April 6 SPORI $11 Dfly$ There is nothing like a cool and comfortable sport shirt when there are hot days. Is there? Be sides being cool and comfortable they are also at tractive. We have some new styles and colors to show you. You will like the short knit shirts with tight sleeves and the mesh blazes that GLOVER has made for you. Drop in between classes and see our large as sortment of sport shirts. osaaoGiEso i mmi sid AN AGGIE INSTITUTION mm i Randolph Frances Ralph SSOTT-DEE-BELLAMY CONNOLLY Directed by EDWARD LUDWIG A COLUMBIA PICTURE Saturday, 12:45 April 6 Y Card Good Sat., April 6 6:45 - 8:30 Also Mickey Mouse in “OFFICER DUCK” i A. < if