■THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1940
PAGE 2
THE BATTALION
The Battalion
STUDENT TRI-WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OK
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 as 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
4-6444.
1939 Member 1940
Associated Gollebiate Press
BILL MURRAY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
LARRY WEHRLE ADVERTISING MANAGER
James Critz Associate Editor
E. C. (Jeep) Oates Sports Editor
H. G. Howard 1 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
THURSDAY STAFF
Ray Treadwell Managing Editor
J. W. Jenkins Asst. Advertising Manager
Don McChesney Asst. Circulation Manager
Phil Levine Editorial Assistant
R. V. (Red) Myers Jr. Sports Assistant
Senior Sports Assistants
Jimmie Cokinos Jimmy James
Junior Advertising Solicitors
L. J. Nelson A. J. Hendrick
Reportorial Staff
Jack Aycock, Jim Dooley, Walter Sullivan, D. C. Thurman,
Murray Evans, Joe Taylor, Thomas Gillis, Don Corley, Bill Amis.
BATTALION RADIO STAFF
George Fuermann Battalion Announcer
Charles A. Montgomery Associate
Ed Robnett, R. M. Shuffler Assistants
Praise To and From
The "Oomph Girl"
The last issue of The Battalion contained a story
telling of a telegram of congratulation received
here from Ann Sheridan, beautiful Warner Broth,
“oomph girl” and a former Texas girl, to the A. & M.
Rifle Team.
It seems that the news services Saturday even
ing carried stories about the Rifle Team’s chivalry
in arranging a handicap match with the T. S. C. W-
girls’ rifle team, which the girls won. Miss Sheridan
happened to read the story, and hastened to wire
the boys her congratulations on their chivalry,
gallantry, and hospitality in not letting the visiting
girls go home empty-handed.
We reprint the text of Miss Sheridan’s telegram:
“I rejoice that the spirit of gallantry still lives
in Texas.
“It was wonderful for the A. & M. Rifle Team
to shoulder an undue handicap in order that their
fair visitors would outshoot them.
“To the Rifle Team of A. & M. and to the cadet
corps of 6,000 gentlemen, I send affectionate con
gratulations and regards.
“Look for me in your yelling section when
A. & M. plays U. C. L. A. in October.
Cordially yours,
ANN SHERIDAN.”
®
We too congratulate the A. & M. Rifle Team, not
Tnerely for winning the regular, official match with
the T. S. C. W. team as expected, 784 to 725, but
for having the chivalry to arrange the special 40-
point-handicap match which the girls won 514 to 487.
It was a fine gesture.
Every newspaper reader will remember how a
few weeks back the editors of the Harvard Lampoon
had the audacity to nominate Miss Sheridan as “the
movie actress least likely to succeed”, and the re
sulting controversy in newspapers all over the na
tion. It seemed for a time that she had scarcely a
friend in the world.
But along came the Aggie marksmen and fur
nished her with the spark that might set off a
very friendly relationship with A. & M. College.
There’ll be quite an exodus of Aggies to Califor
nia, and it would be a fine thing if Miss Sheridan
(who in our eyes is quite a lovely and already a very
successful young lady—she makes $100,000 a year as
compared with a Harvard graduate’s average $5,000)
on deck when the Aggies arrive to take over Los
Angeles.
If at the invitation of the Aggie football team
(whom she has already promised to pay tribute to
by being in the Aggie yelling section) she should
consent to be official hostess out there, it would be
a great thing for the college in national publicity,
and would as well provide much pleasure for the
Aggies on the coast.
She might, very probably, be on hand with a few
dozen other beautiful young starlets who might
consent to be the Aggies’ dates during the whole
visit.
We think it’s a great idea. It’ll pay high divi
dends all around, and we appreciate Miss Sheridan’s
own generosity and thoughtfulness.
★
Business "If’s”
The business analysts are pursuing a cautious
course. Their forecasts are liberally qualified with
“ifs,” “ands,.” “buts,” and “on the other hand.” For
the trend of business activity generally is quite dif
ferent than was prophesied a few months back.
The spring slump was expected. What was not
expected was its severity—worst in our recent hist
ory. On top of that the expected signs of betterment
have not appeared in particular force. War buying
is an important bullish factor in only a limited numb
er of industries. The result is, according to experts,
that the guesses of even the government experts
“run on the pessimistic side.”
The Federal Reserve Board index of industrial
production, which came close to the 130 mark during
last winter’s sharp upward movement, fell to around
104 in March. And the forecast is that it will drop
to 100 and perhaps below by the time May ends.
Then, the forecast continues, a new upturn should
set in but few are willing now to gamble that it will
be as strong, as steep or as long-lived as was fore
cast two or three months ago.
4 4 4
We hear there are quite a few “business IF’S” in
the Bryan motion picture business these days, too.
"Two Percent"
In an “Open Fonim” in the last issue of The
Battalion, a number of juniors and seniors brought
to public attention a situation that has already oc
curred too many times this year—that is, the dis
regard of the proper observance of “Silver Taps”
by that certain ubiquitous “two percent” of the
student body.
They cited the case of a certain few students
who violated and disturbed the traditionally beautiful
solemnity of Silver Taps, played for a dead comrade
Sunday night, by keeping their lights on while Taps
was being played, by staying in their hall to play
dominos, and by their loud cursing and laughter;
and who then, when students investigated later,
challenged them to “try to do something about it!”
Several times this year The Battalion has edi
torialized for the proper observance of Silver Taps.
We. can hardly understand how any boy who calls
himself an Aggie could so rob a dead student of
his last heritage from Aggieland. To us it’s dese
cration and sacrilege.
We ask that the student body and the Com
mandant’s Office take no half-way steps in dealing
properly with any so-called Aggie who disturb the
observance of Silver Taps in the future. An example
should be made of them for other students NOT to
follow.
★
Offensive Conduct
Army, at the present time, with the Assembly
Hall receiving such great patronage from you, and
with its management doing everything in their
power to satisfy and to support you, here’s one thing
that’s been called to the attention of The Battalion,
that we’ve editorialized about often and that you
ought to act upon.
In the past, the offensive conduct on the part
of just a certain “two percent”—peanut throwing,
loud cursing and insulting, vulgar remarks—has
been the thing causing a large number of faculty
members and other citizens of College Station to re
frain from attending the Assembly Hall, and caus
ing them to attend shows elsewhere.
At a time when hundreds of these people have
expressed their desire and willingness to support us
in our drive to secure first-rate, date-to-date show
ings with Bryan, many of them complain that they
are now robbed of seeing any show at all—because
of the disgusting, childish behavior of the certain
“two percent” of our student body.
While we believe it is true that such behavior
has abated to a large extent this year, it is true
that a great deal still goes on. And it isn’t fair
either to ourselves, the citizens of this community,
or our many visitors here. Furthermore, it isn’t
helping out our movie campaign.
Don’t you think it time for such offensive con
duct to be stopped altogether?
We do—and we urge that measures be taken
immediately, no matter how drastic—by the Com
mandant’s Office and all other authorities—to put
a complete end to it, once and for all time.
★
A judge rules that having a wooden leg need not
bar a man from driving a car. He didn’t pass on
the matter of wooden heads.
★
A cynic says that when he sees two women
kissing it reminds him of two pugilists shaking hands
at the beginning of the first round.
As the World Turns...
By “COUNT” V. K. SUGAREFF
Hitler is putting the democracies to a severe
test. Many people look back to the “Munich Sur
render” as the greatest mistake of the allies. Mr.
Chamberlain then told the House of Commons, “It
would be horrible to go to war because of a far-away
little country (Czechoslovakia) of which we know
nothing.” England knew less of far
away Poland, but she is fighting
now to recreate independent Poland.
Germany has now invaded Den
mark and Norway as a protection as
well as to provide herself with a
steady flow of raw materials from
the Scandinavian countries. Germany
does not have to fight (after the in
vasion is completed) unless forced
to, for the foodstuffs and minerals
which she was getting from them
V. K. Sugareff under normal conditions. They are
prepared to offer effective resistance
to Germany.
Belgium and Holland might be the next victims.
Unless the Allies rush troops to aid them, Germany
can easily occupy these two countries on the same
pretense—protection. Belgium and Holland are said
to be prepared for a defense and might put up great
er resistance than the Germans have hitherto en
countered from the other small nations. The Allies
too might occupy these two countries, entrench
themselves and use them as bases for operation,
should they decide to wage an aggressive war.
If Germany is pressed by the Allies in Belgium
and Holland, she might turn, in desperation, against
the Balkan countries. Here Hitler would have to
reconcile the interests of both Italy and Russia be
fore he attempts an invasion of these regions. More
over, the Allies together with Turkey have a large
number of troops to aid the Balkan states should
they, together or separately, decide to resist Ger
many. The Balkan countries possess the elements
of danger for Hitler more than either Scandinavia
or the Low Countries (Belgium and Holland). The
peoples of those regions have been subjected to*
foreign rule before, but they have never been ab
sorbed by their conquerors.
Gloomy, indeed, is the situation for the Allies,
but it is not desperate by any means. The more
Hitler expands, the less dangerous he should be. He
appears successful now, but the new regions present
problems of administration, military control, and
economic organization which in time might prove
damaging to the best interests of Germany. The
war is not over. England and France have pulled
through far more serious crises than the present
one. Napoleon often said: “England loses every
battle but the last one.”
Army Training Airplane
in Night Flight
: This remarkable night aerial photograph of one of the U. S.
i Army Air Corps training planes was made by a Randolph Field,
Texas, photographer while the plane was flying at an altitude of
several thousand feet above the main airdrome at the Army’s “West
Point of the Air.”
This is the type of basic training airplane used for the secondary
phase of training of Flying Cadets at the Army Air Corps Primary
Flying School.
Every six weeks a new class of Flying Cadets arrives at Ran
dolph Field for primary training in military aviation. As they
advance and become qualified, Flying Cadets then acquire additional
skill in aerial acrobatics, night flying, and “blind” flying.
These future pilots at Randolph Field are between 20 and 27
years of age and while in training as Flying Cadets receive $75 per
month together with maintenance, uniforms, and medical care.
BACKWASH
Du
George Fuermann
“Backwash: An agitation resulting from some action or occurrence.”—Webster.
Once over lightly . . . An unusual
fact brought to light by the va
rious orchestra leaders on the cam
pus this year is that none of them
have “Put Your
Little Foot” in
their repertoire.
More than that,
most of them have
never even heard
of the piece—and
it comes second on
the Aggie hit pa
rade . . . Quiet
please: A sign in a
vacant lot in not-
too-distant Hearne reads, “No
Camping Aloud.” Incidentally,
“oysters,” on a Bryan cafe menu,
is spelled “orsters.” . . . And by the
way, if you ever hear anyone kick
about the high cost of education
here at A. & M., remind them that
the Republican National Commit
tee paid tuition fees of a million
dollars apiece for eight students
in the Electoral College not so
many years ago—at least, that’s
according to figures released in a
Houston newspaper yesterday . . .
Optimist of the year is the senior
who is using his Personal Data
Leaflets to get dates with . . .
Cadets and escortees allergic to
dust have had a rough time in the
past two dances. Here’s hoping that
something can be done about this.
. . . Edith Thomas, College Station
junior, is a nominee for the vice
presidency of the T.S.C.W. student
body . . . The Denton college’s gen
eral student body election will be
held today . . . Something of a
record was probably made for reg
imental balls when the Cavalry
committee sent out over three hun
dred invitations to their Friday
night hop. The bids were extended
to many college officials, faculty
members, and notables over the
state . . . Hollyhocks and red tu
lips to whoever was responsible for
having the trophies polished in the
Academic Building trophy case.
Student comment has been consid
erable since the recent polishing
and, with the Aggies having the
national championship football
team, the luster on the trophies is
still more appropriate . . . Mascot:
Most unusual on the campus is
WTAW’s—its a June bug with
paralyzed hind legs.
•
Two-to-one this wins:
An interesting sidelight on the
forthcoming Cotton Ball is the
contest to decide what girl will
come the longest distance to at
tend the function. Cavalryman
George Anderson is almost a sure
winner—his sister, attractive Bee
Anderson, will journey from New
Haven, Connecticut, to attend the
event.
•
What a shame:
Hitch-hiking—than which there
is none whicher at A. & M.—seems
Fuermann
to be beneath the astute dignity of
the Virginia Military Institute’s
cadets. A recent editorial in their
student publication reads, in part:
“The General Committee rules
clearly forbid the practice of hitch
hiking by cadets in uniform. It is
our firm belief that even if that
rule were not a part of the stand
ards by which we govern ourselves,
the personal pride of the members
of the corps in themselves and in
VMI would prevent anyone from
attempting to practice that par
asitic ai’t.”
•
Texas Ann:
It’s only the beginning—this con
troversy now raging between Har
vard and Texas A. & M. The school
voted “most likely to succeed on
the gridiron” is more than willing
—even anxious—to defend, with
true Southern chivalry, the honor
of Harvard-dubbed “actress least
likely to succeed”—the same which
is Miss Sheridan.
As one cadet said, “Who do these
Harvard guys think they are, talk
ing about our girl that way. Anoth
er crack like that and we’ll play
’em anything from football to
jacks.” Not especially an authority
on the subject but definitely an in
terested bystander, Backwash mak
es its own nomination in respect
to the situation—that the Sheridan
belle is the girl who has succeeded
in the hearts of Aggies everywhere.
Toothpicks to Harvard.
9
There’s more to come:
Incidentally, you can expect to
read a lot more about the Aggie-
Sheridan-Harvard controversy in
coming months. It’s already ru
mored that Ann will be host to Ag-
gieland’s footballers when they play
U. C. L. A. in Los Angeles October
12, and maybe La Sheridan will re
ciprocate with a visit to A. & M.
•
Anson Weeks on the air:
Not only the Cavalry, but the
entire corps can go “dancin’ with
Anson” tomorrow night as maestro
Weeks is presented via WTAW
from 9:30 to 10:30. Radio director
John Rosser—^furthering the sta
tion’s entertainment value to the
corps—filed with the Federal Com
munications Commission for per
mission to broadcast the orchestra
and the official okeh was received
yesterday afternoon.
•
Paul Haines chairmans:
With the Cavalry junior in
charge, Bob Alexander, Bob Lang
ford, and Eli Whitney are assist-
in, and the fiscal side of the af
fair is under the surveillance of
Graham Purcell, George Taylor,
Tom Power, Sid McDonald, Bob
Tonkin, and Keith Hubbard.
With an “ace-high” orchestra,
the ball bids fair to be one of the
best of the current social season,
and especially in view of some of
DYERS _ HATTERS
AMERICAN- STEAM
IAUNDRY
♦ SEND IT TO THE LAjJNDRV -
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PHONE 585 BRYAN
Patronize Your Agent in Your Organization
By Donald Crist
The age old tale of Indian ver
sus white and a slightly different
twist is vividly portrayed in the
coming attraction, GERONIMO ap
pearing at the Assembly Hall for
the benefit of the Petroleum En
gineering Society.
The plot of GERONIMO is pre
cisely that of LIVES OF THE
BENGAL LANCERS, a highly
rated cinema of a few seasons back.
Exchange your setting from India
to the American prairies, swap a
power crazed Majaraha for a vin
dictive Chieftain, trade a hard-
boiled colonel in the British Lan
cers for one in the American Cav
alry, and a horde of beturbaned
Hindus for a tribe of coppery
aborigines and you have GER
ONIMO.
According to the story, Geroni-
mo’s family was wiped out by the
whites. Geronimo immediately
vowed to kill one thousand whites
to compensate the loss of each
member of his family. With the
aid of some white renegrades who
are selling him firearms and amu-
nitions his vow would have been
fulfilled had it not been for the
timely entrance of the U. S. Army.
Excellent performances are
turned out by Preston Foster as
a rough and tough captain, Ralph
Morgan and William Henry as the
ENGLISH PROFS TO
ATTEND GROUP MEET
Dr. Geo. Summey Jr., Dr. S. S.
Morgan, and J. P. Abbot of the
English Department will take part
in the annual meeting of the
Conference of College Teachers of
English to take place at George
town, April 27. Dr. Summey is
president of the conference for
1939-40, Dr. Morgan is chairman
of the program committee, and
Mr. Abbott will read a paper for
the conference meeting.
the feature highlights. “Put Your
Little Foot” will be dedicated to
Dean Gilchrist and “Just Any Old
Schottisch” will be played for Dean
Kyle with the genial Dean taking-
over Anson’s baton.
disciplinarian Colonel and the
Greenhorn son fresh from West
Point. Andy Devine adds a bit
of comedy in his role of scout,
Ellen Drew is a comely lassie as
William Henry’s betrothed and
Chief Thunder Cloud gives a good
exhibition of the Poker-faced
chief.
All in all GERONIMO is a very
good picture and should have a
place on your must see list.
Gene Barr, Edwin
Walker, Members
Aggie Band, Wed
C. E. (Gene) Barr, Field Artil
lery Band senior of Bonham, Tex
as, and a student of marketing and
finance, has become the first Band
graduate of ’40 to be wed.
Gene has just made public the
disclosure of his wedding on March
1st to Miss Mary Esther Carney
of Concan, formerly of Waco.
The bride, whose father, E. G.
Carney, was formerly a professor
of art at Baylor University, attend
ed Sul Ross State Teachers College
at Alpine until a serious automo
bile accident interrupted her col
lege career.
The wedding was performed by
Rev. James Carlin of the College
Station Methodist Church at his
home here, at the time of the an
nual Field Artillery Ball.
•
Edwin Walker, Band junior and
mechanical engineering student at
present enrolled as a student pilot
in the C. A. A. flight training
school here, became the first Band
member of the class of ’41 to be a
husband, March 26 when he wed
Miss Evelyn McCoy at Lake Charl
es, Louisiana, home town of both
the bride and groom.
Mrs. Walker is a graduate of
Port Neches High School and Port
Arthur Business College and is a
former T. C. U. coed. She is the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. P.
McCoy of Port Arthur.
The couple plan to make their
home at College Station until
Walker completes his course next
year.
TO THE
CLASS OF ’41
Proper Appearance—
Quality Workmanship—
Guaranteed Fit—
Lowest Price—
. . . are four reasons our
boot breeches stand fore
most at Ag-gieland.
Next Year’s
JUNIORS
... Let us show you what
we have to offer in your
Junior Uniforms. Save by
ordering now and avoid
rush later.
ALL MILITARY SUPPLIES
Agents Wanted in Every Organization
ZUBIK AND SONS
UNIFORM SPECIALISTS
1896— 44 Years Experience —1940
We oAre Moving
To
College Station
0=3]G]QG1E3*>
TRIPS TO NAVASOTA, HEARNE,
OR CALDWELL
Round Trip 50c — One Way 25c
Our new location is at the Sinclair Filling Station—
one block east of the North Gate.
CALL COL. 400
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