PAGE 2
THE BATTALION
■THURSDAY, MAY 9, 1940
The Battalion
STUDENT TRI-WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF
TEXAS A. b M. COLLEGE
Th* 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-S444.
1939 Member 1940
Plssocicrfed Golle&ide Press
dILL MURRAY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
LARRY WEHRLE ADVERTISING MANAGER
James Grit* Associate Editor
B. 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 Earls 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
Juniors - Act NOW!
Once again The Battalion suggests and urges as
strongly as possible that the junior class—next
year’s seniors—take action now to insure better dor
mitory telephone service and earlier installation of
phones next term and in future years.
It is possible to achieve—if action is taken
HOW instead of being delayed till next winter—
many of the things we’ve been wanting, and
‘‘griping’ about not having, in connection with the
local phone service.
■.Our chief needs in this respect are permanent,
soundproof phone booths, and facilities for both
incoming and outgoing long-distance calls. As to
whether they may be practicable remains to be seen,
'but :perhaps they can be arranged.
Read the letter published in our last issue, writ
ten by M. C. Atkins, manager of the Southwest Tel
ephone Company’s headquarters in Bryan. In it he
•offers a number of constructive and worthwhile sug
gestions and announces various changes to be made
in the phone service in the coming months.
Among the changes are the substitution of the
new dial phones for all the remaining desk phones;
and the placement of all of them if desired (and it
is desirable) in permanent, suitable wall locations.
This should remedy much of the inconvenience of
.service and breakage of equipment now existent.
Mr. Atkins stated his eagerness to meet with a
committee representing the student body so as to
smooth out as many of the existing grievances as
possible and render the best possible service in the
future.
If that is done and if the juniors in the various
organizations will thereafter name men to order
their organization phones for next year before the
end of this term, the phones can be installed early
and connected immediately after the starting of
the new term.
Juniors—what do you think about it? IT’S UP
TO YOU NOW. WHY NOT TAKE ACTION?
★
Two On a Train
The two were riding a train.
One was a man in his sixties, the other apparent
ly one who had reached the age of fifty. The first
was a business man, engaged in manufacturing, the
latter an engineer. This they disclosed by their
conversation.
Their conversation was condemnation, condem
nation of everything from the Canadian border to
Brownsville, from the Golden Gate to the rock-bound
coast of Maine, including Kansas City, particularly
those functions of our civilization which our national
government is trying to execute. They were as sus
picious of Roosevelt and our federal union as a rat
is of a piece of cheese in a tight place.
Both were able to ride the cushions in pursuit
of their business, which evidently was profitable
enough, as they always answered the first call for
dinner in the dining car.
Their current lament was the taking of the cen
sus.
Both these two on a train were viewing with
alarm the lengthy catechism of the Census Bureau
and were wondering why they expected them to
answer all those questions which embarrassed their
wives and interfered with their private affairs
something awful.
The discussion of the census took something
over an hour by a cheap watch, discussion as to its
purpose, and as to why it has so many questions to
be answered. This discussion was made by men who
evidently had been exposed to educated influence.
The conclusion of that discussion was that the
government was asking them all those questions
about their private affa'-s so it could gather infor
mation on them so it could ascertain their ability
to pay more taxes.
It is hard to understand how two men, one in
middle age, and the other wi h senility over the hill,
could have no better idea of the purposes of all the
questions required by the census. It is hard to under
stand that such men cannot see that the census and
its sheaf of questions is beneficial to them and every
other citizen collectively in the United States.
The purpose of all the questions in the census
is—pure and simple—STATISTICS.
The government has all the information it
wants on who, what, when, where, and how to tax—
and certainly if it needs more, it doesn’t have to
go about getting the information by sub>’-fuge.
The government does not care at all about your in
dividual case in regard to these questions, but it
cares a lot about it as a fraction of the great whole
that makes the nation.
These questions are simply to provide statistics
to show a thousand and one trends, so that we may
know better our national condition as to housing,
finance, family conditions, shifts in population, et
cetera—and if some of these trends are bad, our
government may take suitable steps to combat them
for the good of our national society.
These questions, and the resulting statistics
that will be compiled, will operate to help these
two men on a train rather than injure them.
—Daily Texan
★
Local “Blue Law”?
In a community seemingly as thriving and up-to-
date as College Station, there is one little rule now
being enforced that to us seems both incongruous
and out-of-date.
That is, that the billiard clubs—of which Col"
lege Station is fortunate enough to have gained two
this year—must close play on their tables at mid
night each night of the week—and particularly
Saturdays. Neither may these clubs be open to play
at any time on Sundays.
No, we’re not “pool fiends”—but we are protest
ing this antediluvian attitude held by a certain few,
in behalf of many hundreds of students—and other
citizens—who like the game.
It seems to us that this is purely a matter of
local opinion—with the opinion based on false
premises.
Pool, in the first place, is no longer associated,
in most cases and certainly not here, with saloons
and gambling. Those evidences of a long-gone era
are gone with the wind too—but the outmoded at
titude of prejudice against them still sticks in a
few people’s minds.
Pool is now just a fine sport and pastime—just
as are bridge and dominos. Some people can carry
any game to an extreme—but the action of a tiny
minority doesn’t make a game as a whole wrong,
does it?
Then, there are many students and townspeople
who have no chance to play this game they like at
any time—unless they are granted the opportunity
of playing a few late nights or Sunday afternoon
games. Why should they be deprived of the privi
lege?
Religious opinion has broadened considerably
in many respects in the past decade. It used to be
against most religious opinion to play ball games
on Sunday—but they’re playing ball games on
Sunday all over the nation now, aren’t they?
In other sections of the country, there remain
no religious prejudice against billiards. In fact,
the larger churches are being built with recreation
rooms equipped with both billiard tables and bowling
alleys—and people who like these games may play
them not only Sunday but every other day in the
week.
Some contend that students if they had this
privilege would abuse it to the neglect of their
studies. But is that true?
Aren’t students of Texas A. & M. bound by
both individual and collective honor systems? They
can study or not; go to dances (including Saturday
night dances) or not; go to picture shows (including
Saturday midnight shows) or not; even frequent
beer joints all night, or not—just as they please—
and get by with any or all of it, if they’re lucky.
But in any case you might mention—don’t the
great majority live up to their honor system or code
of ethics ? Don’t most moderate their pastimes, keep
them within reason?
We know darn well the great majority do. Then
why in blue blazes should there be such an opinion
as a certain few still maintain restricting the billiard
clubs, simply because of a vestigial prejudice holding
over from a former era? Answer that!
Or, are we being irreligious, secrilegious, and
profane in daring to propound such a question ? For
the life of us, we can’t see why!
The point still remains that if it’s good enough
for the vast majority to play ball games, checkers,
dominos, bridge, and other games at nearly any
time, then why should pool be kept out of the same
category ?
The few people who believe in strict enforcement
of old-fashioned, narrow laws against such recrea
tion clubs are the same ones you couldn’t drag into
such an establishment no matter how decently con
ducted.
Sure, it used to be a law (one of the so-called
“blue laws”) that a man couldn’t even kiss his wife
on Sunday! And there’s still a law on the statute
books of Oklahoma that a person may not fish for
whales in that state! (Think of it). But as people
become more broadminded and better informed,
their laws should change to keep in step.
And you probably didn’t know it—but Texas is
the only state in the Union, the only large area in
the world, where there’s still a law (unenforced) on
the statute books prohibiting “the use of billiard
tables for hire”. (They’re okay in a home, however,
or in club rooms, as the local establishments are,
technically). But their operation remains a matter
of local opinion; and practically every locality by
now has accepted them without reservation.
Why are churches up North being furnished with
recreation rooms for billiards and bowling? Why?
Because they’re among the cleanest, most scientific
games known!
But, to conclude: Should a very few people of
old-fashioned ideas clamp the lid down on dozens of
students and townspeople who know the old idea
is wrong? We think the amusement clubs should
have as much right as cafes to cater to late night
customers or Sunday afternoon customers. (There
are precious few other pastimes available here Sun
day afternoons as it is). This regulation is just
another “blue law”, and as such ought to be elimi
nated.
★
A New York banker says he would like to run
a newspaper for a week. Well, we’ll swap jobs with
him that long.
+
The fact that one can fool some of the people all
the time explains why a lot of fellows stay in office
so long.
★
It is estimated that the “average American
golfer” walks 110 miles a year. Let’s see, that is
about three-tenths of a mile a day, isn’t it?
★
Holland’s Prime Minister says his country wants
no protection. Not the kind Norway and Denmark
are receiving, at any rate.
BACKWASH
By
George Fuermann
“Backwash: An agitation resulting from some action or occurrence.”—Webster.
“Mr. can you spare a first-run
picture show?” ... A reliable
source recently indicated that the
C. I. 0. is heartily opposed to A.
M. graduates. The
organization claims
that A. & M. grad
uates show too
much initiative and
too little interest
in shorter hours
and higher wages,
thus working hand-
and-glove with ex
ecutive interests.
The same source
also indicated that the C. I. 0.
blamed A. & M.’s faculty for the
non-cooperative spirit Aggie grad-
duates showed in respect to C. I. O.
activities. Tsk, tsk! . . . From a col
umn in the Fort Worth Tribune
comes the following quotation in
respect to the recent visit of the
Singing Cadets to that city: “Did
you ever see so many good-looking
boys?—and all in uniforms too!
Wednesday night was certainly a
night of fun for everyone with all
those Aggies floating around.
‘There’s something about a soldier
—’ and even more about an Aggie.
Everyone was spellbound by their
singing and their uniforms.” . . .
WTAW will broadcast tomorrow
night’s Senior Ring Dance from 11
until 12 midnight. . . And maestro
Russ Morgan and associates, who
will be in charge of music-making,
made a tremendous hit at T. S. C.
W. last weekend when the orches
tra played for the Denton school’s
Senior Formal—which was attend
ed by half a hundred cadets. Twice
as many more attended the Sopho
more Ball also in session last Sat
urday night.
•
What’s next:
“What do you think about the
European situation?” is almost as
common a question these days as
the proverbial weather quiz, and
with very little more point. With
England’s recent failure in Nor
way, however, and the impending
British cabinet upheaval, the ques
tion has taken on a new import
ance in the minds of Aggies—es
pecially in view of the fact that
we may have a second opportunity
to furnish a world war with more
officers than any other American
College or University. As a result,
Backwash has done a little investi
gating on its own, and here’s what
a few members of the corps think
about the situation:
Roy Roberts, Band junior: “We’re
a cinch to be in it within another
year.” . . . Field Artillery captain
Mac Oliver: “England boasts that
she has never lost a war—this will
be the exception!” . . . C. V. Mil-
burn, Odessa junior: “England and
the allies won’t win until the U. S.
‘suckers’ into financing their vic
tory.” . . . Infantry freshman Jim
Scott: “The way things look now
we’ll all have jobs this summer.”
. . . Junior yell-leader-elect Bill
Beck: “It looks like a good way
to bring back the jazz age and
strip-tease.” . . . Maurice Dunklin,
Economics Club executive: “Some
one had better stop Hitler, but I
hope they don’t wait for me to do
it.” . . Economics Club board mem
ber Charles Donnelly: “I can’t go—
I’m married.” . . . Liberal arts
junior Tom Houston: “I don’t know
what size he wears, but I’d hate
to be in Chamberlain’s shoes.” . . .
George Bingham, Coast Artillery
man: “I just got out of the hos
pital, and if the U. S. gets into
this war I’m going back again.” . . .
F. O. Cantini, Field Artillery se
nior: “Hitler may be a maniac, but
he seems to be whipping hell out
of the Allies and victory is what
counts. If II Duce sides with Hit
ler, God help everyone!” ,
•
Don’t believe it:
The aggie non-patronization
agreement has naturally failed to
meet eye-to-eye with the ideas of
some of the nearby Bryan-ites and,
■as a result, a few of that city’s
citizenry have originated more
than a few unfounded rumors.
Heading the list is the rumor that
large corporations and other em
ployers will no longer offer jobs
to Aggies in general in seniors of
the class of ’40 in particular. The
rumor is BUNK, pure and simple,
and conversations with two large
corporation executives proves the
point. An executive of a major oil
corporation declared: “We’re glad
to learn that college students have
enough initiative to fight for a de
sired and rightful end—and I feel
that what the Aggies are fighting
for is a very rightful end.”
•
Going strong:
The corps is pitching in whole
heartedly and giving number-one
cooperation in the drive for the
erection of Aggie Hitch-Hiking
Benches. Latest addition to the
donor-list is Wilbur Crawford,
president of the Crawford Manu
facturing Company in Waco. Raw
lins Colquitt succeeded in interest
ing Mr. Crawford in the movement
and a definite statement from Mr.
Crawford is expected within a few
days.
George McCulloch has announced
that he will erect the first of his
benches within the next two weeks
and that they will be painted ma
roon and white.
•
$675.84 every week:
That’s the average weekly sum
that cadets spend for postage on
letters and postcards alone. Using
the Post Office Substation as an
example, it is found that cadets
in the new area average 8,448 let
ters a week, and approximately the
same number are mailed by cadets
in the older area. These figures
are based, as nearly as possible,
on cadet mailing, and do not in
clude departmental, Experiment
Station, or Extension Service mail
ing. This figure shows that each
student averages about ten cents
a week for postage—How does
your average compare with it?
Fuermann
By TOM GILLIS
James Cagney comes to the As
sembly Hall screen twice in as
many days when the Architecture
Club brings “OKLAHOMA KID”
os its benefit show. And there’s
plenty of shooting in both of them,
but this time it’s with a six-shooter
in the bad lands of Oklahoma. The
gun-totin’ son of the West is in
a new role for Cagney, but with
his love for action and plenty of
it, he puts up a pretty convincing
performance. His Brooklyn accent
strikes a somewhat discordant note
in the tune of the frontier, but his
strong acting style nonetheless puts
him over well.
The theme of this Western thrill
er is woven around the opening of
the Oklahoma territory in 1893
and the era of lawlessness and
gambling that immediately follow
ed. Humphrey Bogart is the head
of the gambling crowd that runs
the town, opposed by the nicer el
ement composed of Donald Crisp,
his daughter Rosemary Lane, and
Cagney. As is usual, lawlessness
triumphs until some strongman
committee of one, in this case
James Cagney, cleans out the town.
Humphrey Bogart makes a good
leader of the outlaws, a part which
he played so many times before
that he is nearly “typed” as an
actor. The Western atmosphere
and pioneering spirit has been
pretty well-handled in this movie
of the days when a gun in the
hand would beat four aces.
•
Because of spring fever and
the number of activities in which
the Aggies may participate as
school’s end draws near, the 12:45
show on Saturday has been dis
continued. This extra show each
week gave the Aggies some fine
chances for entertainment, but
summer is pretty hot and there are
so many other things to do that
discontinuance was the best policy.
“American Civilization” is the
title of a new major field for study
at Wheaton College, Nox-ton, Mass.
:
Mothers’ Day - Sunday, May 12th
Beautiful Selection . . .
Mothers’ Day Cards
Price - 50 - 100 - 150 & 250
SELECT YOURS NOW
CAMPUS VARIETY STORE
Jack Benny Ranks
Tops in Student
Radio Opinions
With 10 pei'eent of the country’s
college radio fans branded with
his “big red letters,” Jack (Buck)
Benny rode through the Student
Opinion Surveys of America poll
with the largest single herd of
collegiate fans in the nation.
From its University of Texas
headquarters the surveys announc
ed Thursday that Bob Hope’s pro
gram and Infoi'mation Please, both
with 7 percent listing them as fa
vorites, had the second largest fol
lowings among the nation’s colle
gians.
Benny dominates East Central,
West Central, and Far Western
United States, while New Eng
landers prefer Information Please
and the Hit Parade. In the South
Kay Kyser is on top. Middle At
lantic students want Information
Please.
Asked, “Which is your favorite
radio program?” college students
dialed:
Jack Benny 10.0
Bob Hope 7.1
Information Please 7.0
Glenn Miller 6.6
Kay Kyser „... 5.8
Charlie McCarthy 4.4
Hit Parade 4.0
One Man’s Family 3.7
Ford Hour 3.0
Kraft Music Hall 2.6
Philharmonic 2.1
Lux Radio Theater 1.9
Fred Waring 1.8
Metropolitan Opera 1.5
Fred Allen 1.3
N.B.C. Symphony 1.2
Others (less than 1%) 25.9
No favorite 10.1
There are 7,083 Philippine Is
lands, of which only 2,441 have
names. If placed across the Unit
ed States, the Philippines would
reach from Boston, Massachusetts,
to Jacksonville, Florida.
WHATS SHOWING
AT THE ASSEMBLY HALL
Thursday and Friday, 3:30
fc 6:45—“OKLAHOMA KID”,
with James Cagney, Hum
phrey Bogart, Rosemary
Lane, Donald Crisp.
AT THE CAMPUS
THEATER
Thursday—“THANKS FOR
EVERYTHING,” starring
Adolphe Menjou, Jack Oak-
ie, Arleen Whelan, Jack Ha
ley.
Friday, Saturday—“THE
AMAZING MR. WIL
LIAMS,” featuring Melvyn
Douglas and Joan Bondell.
For us a century begins with the
first day of its first year and ends
with the last day of its hundredth
year. Thus December 31, 1900,
was the last day of the last cen
tury, and January 1, 1901, the
first day of the twentieth.
YOU’RE
RIGHT!
Every day, more and
more of you A. & M. Col
lege students come to us
for gas, lubrication,
washing and many other
auto services we give.
You must have found our
service to be excellent,
our products the best,
and our prices fair. Right
you are, too! It’s our
constant striving to give
you the very best of ev
erything which has made
us so many campus
friends.
GRANT’S
Service Station
Gulflex Service
Mothers’ Day
Specials
When your Mother comes
to see you on Mothers'
Day, treat her as she
should be treated by
bringing her here for
good food.
TEXAS A. & M.
GRILL
North Gate
PULL OVER
to AGGIELAND’S
Summerized
Service
for “Your Summer Auto Service”
WASHING - GREASING
- WHEELS RE-PACKED
OIL DRAINED - RADIATOR FLUSHED
AGGIELAND SERVICE STATION
j General Repairing
—Phone 123 - East Gate
Next Sunday, May 12, is Mothers’ Day!
TIME LIMITED — BUY NOW!
Remember your mother with a gift that she will
be pleased with ....
Whitman’s - King’s - Pangburn’s
Come in today and select Her choice candies packed
for HER DAY
We mail for you—postage paid.
AGGIELAND PHARMACY
“Keep to your right at the North Gate and
You can’t go wrong”
Id J
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