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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 25, 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 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 Fhsocided Golle&ide Press IJILL MURRAY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LARRY WEHRLE ADVERTISING MANAGER James Criti Associate Editor K. C. (Jeep) Oates Sports Editor H. G. Howard Circulation Manager Tommy Henderson .'. Asst. Circulation Manager ‘Hub' Johnson Asst. Sports Editor Philip Golman Staff Photographer James Carpenter Assistant 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 Watch for Fire Traps “For twenty years I have traveled 25,000 miles annually in fire prevention work. Each year I am astonished how frequently luck plays the major role in safeguarding against disaster buildings where people assemble in large numbers. In far too many oases, ignorance or wanton disregard of the funda mentals of fire safety places your life and mine in jeopard,” a national fire prevention worker recently wrote In Readers Digest. He continued, for example: “In New England I saw a new movie theater, seating 2,000. It had a secondary exit as required by law; but this exit op- «ned Into a 4 1 /2-foot areaway, which had no outlet. It could accommodate about twenty people. How would you like to be in a fire there on bank night? Equally startling was an auditorium seating five thousand, in which the secondary exit opened eight feet above the river—and not even a flight of steps leading down! “In Ohio I got to church late on Sunday and found one of the main doors locked. The usher ex plained that it was the minister’s idea—so he could get down to the door to greet everybody as they left. Meanwhile 750 people were dangerously con fined in a building with only one inadequate exit. I saw the same foolhardy procedure in a hotel, where a watchman padlocked all the fire escape doors at night ‘to keep burglars out.’ In both cases, conditions were remedied when local fire chiefs promised to chop down the doors if they were found locked again.” Many of us confronted with facts like these, think they affect only the other fellow—that they don’t exist where we live. The truth is that it’s a rare town where similar glaring hazards don’t exist. Those hazards are our problem. And it’s our duty to eliminate them before tragedy occurs. it Let's Get Acquainted There are many young people who attend col lege four years and never voluntarily engage in any sort of heart-to-heart talk with a single profes sor, the one free source that is available for the asking to acquaint, guide and initiate a young per son in the ways of his elders and the world into which he must eventually go. Most collegians don’t seem to realize that the dignified, seemingly hard-boiled instructors were once just as young, just as green and inexperienced, just as troubled with moral and religious problems, and just as in need of help as students today. Above all, they are prone to look upon their professors as more or less mechanical machines, who live in a world apart from the students and whose prime ob jective is work for the sake of work. Very few students try to see assigned work in the light that it is assigned them. On the other hand, the only way a professor can ascertain if an indi vidual’s inner spark is a mere reflection or a true fire is through testing his students. Ip reality, if the professor’s soul weren’t com passionate and understanding, his life would never have been dedicated to the painstaking task of teach ing our youth, which would be an intolerable exist ence if his character were otherwise. Furthermore, the majority of professors don’t want their teach ing to stop with classroom lectures and welcome nothing more than an office chat with a student. Ignoring college parasites, who fool no one but themselves in trying to soft soap their way into good grades, it seems that more of us should strive to know through intimate association those who teach ns. The road beyond college is arduous and long, and the counsel of our elders is necessary equipment. ★ “It’s Really Spring!” Following is an editorial entitled “It’s Really Spring”, which appeared in The Texas Aggie, news paper published for ex-Aggies by the Former Stu dents Association. This was in the April 15 issue, which also reprinted the complete, original story from The Battalion on the student body’s campaign to get movies for College Station on an equal basis with Bryan. IT’S REALLY SPRING One of the surest signs that spring has arrived on the campus is some form of unusual and some times disturbing student activity. The Aggie pre sents elsewhere in this issue the student Battalion’s account of a struggle between the cadet corps and the motion picture interests of Bryan. Many former students will recall activities of a similar general extracurricular nature developing at about this time of the year. For this reason the Aggie feels that former students will enjoy reading of this latest campus sensation. In mentioning the matter in this vein, the Aggie has no intention of belittling the present efforts of the student body. In all fairness it would seem that there is. something wrong with a business system whereby a community of approximately 9,000 people, over 6,000 of them students, can be denied first-run motion pictures. But regardless of this particular issue, it seems to the Aggie there is something quite healthy in the uniform action of the entire student body in rallying behind its leaders for a cause it believes is fair and just. Further, so far as the Aggie has found, the entire student movement has been handled with care, and in such a way that no particular personal ities, or meanness of thought or action, have been involved. At any rate, rest assured that spring is here. Parade of Opinion By Associated Collegiate Press CENSUS The nation’s college press, always ready to choose up sides for a healthy editorial slugfest, is in virtually unanimous agreement this week on one topic that has stirred bitter debate in other quarters. The national census, those who guide the student publications believe, is not taking undue liberties by prying into private lives. Students in the nation’s colleges and universities are being advised to co operate fully in the decennial nose-count. And they’re being reminded that statistics available only through the census are citally needed in solution of the nation’s ills. The Census Bureau, it is pointed out by the Glenville, W. Va., Teachers College Mercury, “needs in two ways the help of students in the gigantic task of assembling facts about 132 million Amer icans: First, by making sure that their parents will report them to the census enumerator, and second, by supplying their parents with certain information they will need in order to report on them accurately. The University of Kansas Daily Kansan, while conceding that “the list of questions Uncle Sam has prepared for his Q-Men to ask for personal and intimate as well as multitudinous,” adds that “co operation with the 1940 census takers in every way, by every person in the country, will pay dividends in a number of ways.” Pointing out that revealing of financial secrets in income tax returns has stirred no storm of dis approval, The Daily Iowan at the University of Iowa observes that a more universal survey occuring only every ten years should not meet with any resentment. More important than the mere accumu lation of figures is the necessity for full data for use in a long-needed attack on the unemployment problem. “Two things,” believes the University of Min nesota Daily, “should keep the census above political taint. In the first place, the questions for the new census are not the product of a few bureaucrats, but have been prepared over a fairly long period with the aid of suggestions from private citizens and organizations. In the second place, if the government is to continue in the new social and economic era of public welfare, it must have fuller statistics to per form its task well.” Whatever thunderous political cries there may be “agin” the ten-year check-up, there can be little doubt that America’s collegians are distinctly “fur” the tabulation. \ As the World Turns... By “COUNT” V. K. SUGAREFF The meteoric invasion of Scandinavia has brought world-wide repercussions. The battle line has been drawn from Greenland to the Near East and no one can foresee where it may be extended tomorrow. Our neutrality has been seriously affected, both at home and abroad. Greenland has been brought within the orbit of the Mon roe Doctrine, and the President has instructed the Red Cross to aid the inhabitants of that region. Our eco nomic relations with Scandinavia have been disrupted. Far more im portant for us is the changed atti tude of the American citizens who trace their origins to the countries recently occupied by Hitler. Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, Austrians, and Scandanavians number nearly 10,000, V. K. Sugareff 000 people in the United States. They exert considerable influence on our present policy and will no doubt influence our future action. They are interested in an allied vic tory and will go far to help the allies win the war. As the war extends, we shall find it more difficult to maintain our neutrality. The probability of an attack by Hitler on Bel gium and Holland immediately brought the status of their colonial possessions into the limelight. The Dutch East Indies are of vital interest to us. We get $100,000,000 worth of crude rubber from the East Indies and $50,000,000 worth from the British Malay states. A large portion of our tin comes from that region, moreover. Japan has also expressed “deepest interest” in the status of the Dutch East Indies. Our reply to this expression of interest was a bill of approximately $1,000,000,000 for naval armaments. There is already some contention for a navy large enough to defend both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Mussolini hopes to profit from the latest war events, but it is doubtful that he will soon enter the war on the side of Hitler. The maneuvering of the Italian fleet in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea is hardly indicative of such a move. Italy needs her fleet in her home waters. Mussolini must be fully aware that no matter which side he joins in this war, he is bound to play a small role. Italy’s exposed boundaries are a constant warning to Mussolini of the great dangers to Italy, should he join Hitler. The Balkan states also are experiencing another case of jitters, but their independence is secured as long as the three dictators—Hitler, Stalin, and Mus solini—cannot agree among themselves on the divis ion of these regions. THE BATTALION -THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1940 BACKWASH By George fuermann “Backwash: An agitation resulting from some action or occurrence.”—Webster. Down Military Walk . . . For the ninth consecutive week,, “Tuxedo Junction” leads the Aggie hit pa rade. Maestro Jack Littlejohn fur ther pointed out that “A 11 The Things You Are” is again in second place for the sec ond week and a newcomer, “John son Rag,” hit the number three spot at the Cotton Ball and the following corps dance . . . Cadets haven’t got a chance: A rea sonable attractive girl who is a reasonably good dancer will dance, on an average, five and a half music measures with a partner be fore she is cut-in on at A. & M. dances . . . Amongst other things, A. & M. is an engineering college: Thousands of cadets depend daily on the clock in the rotunda of the Academic Building in making class es on time, but, for the second time this year, the time-keeper is on a strike. How long this time? . . . Tuesday’s column pointed out that Harold “Frog” Duncan rated tops in the world of large-size shoes with 14%, but Werner Goh- mert takes Harold’s measure with size 15 . . . The Cadet Singers have a new Aggie “fight” song which will be publicly presented for the first time on their current spring tour. The corps will have an opportunity to hear it for the first time soon after the group returns next Sunday. The song, incidentally, should prove to be a winner with Aggies everywhere . . . The annual influx of F. F. A. boys earlier this week saw a tremendous drain on the supply of collar ornaments possess ed by local merchants. One “whole- hog-or-none” lad had a string al most a foot long, composed of ev ery insignia available, running down his shirt front. • California—here we come: Whether or not very many cadets will be able to follow the team to Los Angeles next October for the U. C. L. A. game is uncertain— and doubtful—but one thing ap pears to be certain . . . we’ll have a grade A, number-one yelling section in the stadium if we want it.' 1 Unless the corps says “No,” Warner Brothers will probably co operate in forming the first all female yelling section for the world’s largest all-male college. The deal being . . hundreds of Warner’s attractive extras could learn the Aggie yells and sound off in a body at the game, supplemented by what ever cadets and former students that are on hand. But the question involves a matter of principle . . . and Backwash would like to know what you—the corps—think about the idea, which originated with Warner Brothers publicity agent, Bill Lewis. One thing, incidentally, appears to be reasonably certain: The en tire Aggie Band will make the trip . . . and they deserve it. The show they will put on in California will be almost without precedent in that state of self-imposed superla tives. 9 A bartender’s point of view: A College Station woman, re cently visiting in New Orleans, struck up a conversation with one of that city’s more or less color ful bartenders (as if a colorless bar tender ever existed!) without let ting the whiskey-skeet know that she was a Texan. “I don’t suppose those Texans spent much money,” she said. “Oooh yes,” was the re ply, “they traded in their boots and spurs and came down with a hatful of money!” After recover ing from this one, the Texan con tinued her cross-examination with, “Were the Aggies a well-behaved bunch?” “Best-behaved group of collegians ever to visit New Or leans,” was the quick deply. “Tex ans are loud people,” he concluded, “but they’re not bad! They didn’t make any trouble at all for us.” • Dallas, the Sheridan football, and the Dallas A. & M. Club stag: Coach Norton, Walemon Price, John Kimbrough, Ernie Pannell, and the writer marched on Dallas last Friday with Warner Brothers representatives Henry Krumm and Bill Lewis. Texan Ann was abed with the flu, so the autographed football was given to the lovely air line hostess, Norma Fredrickson, who will, in her own turn, give the ball to the Sheridan belle. Highlight of the trip was the Dallas A. & M. Club’s annual stag party held atop that city’s Buick Company. With 850 ex-students in attendance, the brew and sand wiches were plentiful, and the best “bull session ’ of the writer’s ex perience were in full sway. If all former student clubs are like the Dallas organization, then being an “ex” is something to look forward to. ^ Musical Meanderings ^ By Murray Evans Here of late there have been vaT rious ratings in The Battalion of the “name” orchestras visiting our campus this semester. At the be ginning of the season Lawrence Welk and his crew were boosted as the “best yet”. Then Bemie Cummins replaced Welk as the favorite. But then Shep Fields mov ed in, and all the others were cast into the limbo of “so-so’s.” At this writing Anson Weeks ranks tops in the latest student survey. Why all this chronology, you ask? Well, it’s just groundwork for my contention that “out of sight, out of mind”,,is ruling the roost when students are asked their favorite band of the season. It goes to prove that he who laughs last, laughs—or something. Of course we all differ; that’s what makes a horse race. But while we’re about it, let me toss in my say on the run, and then you may roar and rant as you will. Lawrence Welk brought the best band here to date, ’tis the humble opinion of myself. His was an ex tremely smooth, well-rehearsed or ganization. His arrangements con tained a hatful of new ideas in the realm of sweet swing. The elec tric organ, presided over by the thoroughly capable Jerry Burk, gave the rhythmic section a depth and continuity that the ordinary four-piece rhythm section can nev er touch. This instrument will pro vide plenty of competition for the piano, and may even supplant it in orchestras of the future. All of Welk’s men were pleasingly ver satile and commercial enough to register enjoyment while they worked. Nobody, and especially the Aggies out for a night of relaxa tion and merriment, wants to see a Sphinx-like aggregation of musi cians on the stand. Welk had an ear-to-ear smile that you just knew was genuine. His band sounds es pecially good on recordings; this is where defects, if present in any band, will stand out like sore thumbs. As to the No. 2 band, I think Shep Fields should take over that spot without any argument. (Well, not much.) He overcame the handi cap of a style designed for hotel dinner dancing and blossomed out with a brand that pleased (and surprised) all those skeptics who thought him incapable of satisfy ing college dance requirements. Claire Nunn his songstress, can teach Barbara Hutton a thing or two about the art (you question?) of jitterbug singing. And when she wasn’t singing, she was play ing a barrelful of piano. If you didn’t see the manner in which she attacked those ivories, it is your loss; it looked something like the typewriter touch system. Also par ticularly pleasing as male vocalist was Hal Derwin, guitarist de luxe, and with a soft baritone voice which topped by a few shades the efforts of all other gentleman chirpers on the bandstand thus far. In conclusion, I would put Ber- nie Cummins in show place and omit all reasons for same, except that every last one of his men was a veteran who played solidly, with MOTHERS’ DAY SPECIAL One 8x10 Picture Worth $2.50 FOR $1.50 Only one to each person at that Price Offer Expires May 11th AGGIELAND STUDIO JOE SOSOLIK, Proprietor By TOM GILLIS As thrilling a saga of the sea as has come out of Hollywood in a long time is being shown here today and tomorrow for the bene fit of the Rural Sociology Club. Not at all the least interesting part of RULERS OF THE SEA is the thick brogue and quaint syntax used by the English characters as they portray early nineteenth cen tury English seamen and sea people. Especially Will Fyffe, as the old engineer and dreamer of steam crossings of the Atlantic, gives sev eral magnificent moments as he speaks his soliloquies praising his dreams and his engines. The story is of one of the first Atlantic crossings made by a ship entirely under the power of steam. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. is an ambi tious first mate on a sailing vessel who quits his captain because of cruelty to his men. Will Fyffe meets Douglas and is happy to have found a young man who knows the sea and a little engineering to help him perfect his plans and mod els for his beloved engines. Old Fyffe’s daughter, and since her WOOD FIRST IN A.S.M.E. MEET John W. Wood, senior mechanical engineering student, won first place for A. & M. at the recent meeting of the American Association of Mechanical Engineering Student Conference. The conference was held at Lubbock last Friday. The conference is an annual feature of the A. S. M. E., and Texas Tech was host this year to the 150 stu dents who attended. Wood’s select ion on “Performance of Screen- filled Cooling Towers” won the first place prize of $35, the first time an Aggie has ever placed so high. Wood built a model of his cooling tower to help demonstrate his subject. Another Aggie, George W. Wheeler of F Engineers, placed tenth in the contest with a paper on “Metalock.” The contest and the conference are annual features sponsored by Group Seven student branches of the A. S. M. E. nary a bobble. Now none of these orchestras stand head and shoulders above the others. They are all “big-name” bands, top-notchers, and their rep utations were not dished to them on silver platters. Each has a style which is intended to please most of the people all of the time. Act ually their ideas of rhythm and phrasing are identical in most re spects. It is “style”, the individual mark of each band, in which they differ. And that, precisely, is what makes the ranks of Joe Public come to odds as to who is “best”. ’Tis a relative term. ’Tis a matter of opinion, pure and simple. All of which goes to show how differently we are geared when the subject of musical taste is con sidered! household and guardian to the old mother’s death, the mistress of the man, is Margaret Lockwood. After passing through all the trials and more than any struggling inventor « and visionary must go through, and meets the difficulties of legality, competition, getting a backer, etc., Douglas and Will take one of their steam-propelled coastwise vessels and start across the stormy north Atlantic. Margaret Lockwood com es along as stewardess to be near her father and Douglas, with whom she is now in love. More trials and storms beset them, but the faith and ability found only in true gen iuses finally carry them into New York harbor victorious, but with lovable old Will Fyffe, the chief engineer dying from scalds caus ed by a burst steam pipe. Douglas, in his hour of triumph, promises the dying father to take care of his daughter and build better steam engines for the worlds of seamen to follow their path with steam. The moving and gripping action of this show transmits to the audi ence somewhat of the faith of the old inventor as he pleads for his beloved models. 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