Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (May 25, 1940)
PAGE 2 THE BATTALION -SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1940 “Have Faith In America” News of the German gains in western Europe is disturbing to Americans, whose sympathies are all with the allies. Timid souls have been more than depressed, they have been frightened. They have been frightened at a shadow, the shadow of a Hitler who they fear may dominate the world and dictate their lives. Their timidity lacks a sound foundation, their rights are unwarranted. In the shadow, they lose sight of the great ness of America. They lose sight of the fact that we are a na tion of 130,000,000, vigorous and possessing great er resources than any other nation. They lose sight of the fact that the titanic struggle now in progress is dissipating rapidly the accumulated war reserves of Germany, while we begin a belated but not less sure accumulation for preparedness. Eight months of continuous warfare has not strengthened Germany, however much it may have seasoned her troops for campaigning, how ever much of area populated by German-haters she has brought under the domination of the reich. Not for one moment can we believe that the 33.000. 000 of Poland, the 14,000,000 of Czech oslovakia, 3,000,000 Norwegians, 4,000,000 Danes, 8.000. 000 Hollanders, plus 50,000,000 Englishmen and 40,000,000 Frenchmen can be made subservient tools of a conqueror. Rather, at the first opportun ity, they will be fighting against him again, even though they should now be forced to capitulate to his demands. Hitler cannot even adequately police the areas he has overrun. True it is that there are countries which may become the active allies of a nation which rides the crest of conquest, but rather in fear than in faith that their best interest lies that way. Count them, if you will, as their names come to mind, and compare them with the nations which would never participate in a world war on the side of tyranny. The balance is on the side of the free peoples. The timid question today the wisdom of busi ness investment and consider burying their dollars as the timid servant of the parable buried his tal ents. The courageous carry on their business ex pansion as opportunity offers. The timid sell their stocks and take their loss es, contributing to depression of values. The con fident avail themselves of this timidity and pur chase to profit thereby. What the timid will do with their dollars which they withdraw from business and commerce has not yet occurred to them. Were Hitler victor over there and bent on con quering America, he could not attack this year, or next year, hr the year after. It costs this country $400,000 to build a super-bomber, and it takes a long time. We don’t know how much it costs Hitler, but it is plenty. A billion dollars worth of bombers wouldn’t make a dent in the aerial attack on Amer ica, and each bomber must be convoyed by a fleet <of fighting planes to the point where it would dis gorge its deadly load. And the bombing range of these terrors of the air is 350 miles. Remember that the war in Europe, even when the Balkans are active battlegrounds, will involve an area only twice the size of Texas, plus the Scan dinavian peninsula, Turkey, and perhaps Italy. Germany’s navy is almost non-existent, her fleet of submarines has been greatly reduced. The Brit ish fleet still commands the lanes of the Atlantic •and never will it be turned over to German mastery. The timid souls who fear invasion have not weighed the situation. Certainly Germany has no desire to draw this country into participation in the war. She is not challenging this great neutral nation to join the fight against her. We do not believe that any common interest of Japan and Germany would induce Japan to bait us into war to cut off a flow of supplies to the allies. Japan will play her own game, but not as a part of any co-ordinated program with Germany. And she has no desire to face an American fleet in battle. The short range view: Industrial activity in this country will speed up as the allies draw upon us for supplies as the war continues. Should either side be victor soon, a period of stock-taking, an era of reconstruction must follow. Lost ships must be replaced. Somehow, somewhere, as in the era af ter the World War I, means will be found for re construction, even as now in Finland. We may contribute largely, as after the last war, but also shall profit, even as we profited then despite the The Battalion STUDENT TRI-WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF TEXAS A. & M. COLLEGE Tb« Battalion, official newspaper of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas and the City of College Station, ia published three times weekly from September to June, issued Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings; and la published weekly from June through August. Subscription rata, $8 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 1X2, Administration Building. Telephone «-C4U. 1939 Member 1 1940 Associated CoUe&iate Press BILL MURRAY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LARRY WEHRLE ADVERTISING MANAGER James Criti : Associate Editor M O. (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 lohn J. Moseley Staff Artist Jnnier Editors Billy Clarkson George Fuermann Bob N is bet A. J. Robinson Earle A. Shields SATURDAY STAFF James Grits Acting Managing Editor Don Burk Asst. Advertising Manager W. C. Carter Editorial Assistant R. V. (Red) Myers Jr. Sports Assistant Junior Advertising Solicitors J. M. Sedberry —— G. M. Woodman Roportorial Staff E. M. Rosenthal, Lee Rogers, Glenn Mattox, W. A. Moore, Bob Parker, L. B. Tennison unpaid loans—if one can talk of profits today. If today we turn from public works to provide employment to building of guns and planes and bat tleships to strengthen our defense, we may re gret that nothing more than guns and battleships and planes will show for our investment, but we have the money and we will have provided the em ployment though we defer the useful and enduring construction of peaceful times. The long-range view: This nation is built to en dure. It has no far-flung, vulnerable colonial pos sessions essential to its existence. Its riches may make it the envy of others, but they are the foun dation of its defense. Its people look neither upon a dead past nor into a hopeless future. In 150 years we have become the strongest world power, not as Germany has been rebuilt in might through the dominance of a desire for revenge and reparation, but through the optimism and enterprise of a free people. Peaceful opportunity still lies before us. The will to do, the implements for achievement are ours. The courageous will go forward, the timid will be the losers by reason of their timidity. The British, in the darkest hours of 1914-18 had a slogan, “Business as Usual.” Our slogan shall be, HAVE FAITH IN AMERICA! —The Dallas Journal OPEN FORUM CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE Mr. F. A. (Bodie) Pierce, Chief Yell-Leader, A. & M., ’40. Dear Mr. Pierce: As the current school year draws to a close, I wish to convey to you my compliments and con gratulations upon your work as Chief Yell-Leader during the past school year. Without a doubt in my opinion, you have been the best in all phases of the work of any I have observed during my sixteen years’ tenure as bandmaster at A. & M. College. The contact between the band and the rest of the corps has been perfect. Your success has not been the result of having a winning team to sup port as, if you will recall, I congratulated you af ter the very first yell practice and before the team had played a game. I had observed from the beginning of the year that “YOU HAD WHAT IT TAKES.” Again congratulating you and wishing that your powers of leadership remain with you through out your career, I am, Sincerely yours, RICHARD J. DUNN, Bandmaster, A. & M. College. DIRECTOR COMMENDS In the last issue of The Battalion was reprint ed a letter sent us by Mr. F. M. Law, president of the college Board of Directors, commending the May 16th issue as “just about the best newspaper I have ever seen issued by A. & M. or by any other college in the entire country.” It should be stated that the May 15th issue referred to was the special edition, of which 16,000 copies were sent out by the college to more than 10,000 seniors graduating from the high schools of Texas as well as the normal 5,500 subscribers. Our appreciation of Mr. Law’s comment is greater than we can express. —THE STAFF ★ War-weary mothers, and their children . . . . those humanity calls to respect and protect, look to America today for hope from Europe’s tragic fields. The American Red Cross has been called upon once again, to help lessen their suffering. You can help the American Red Cross by sending your contribution to your local chapter now. The need is urgent. As the World Turns... By DR. AL B. NELSON This crisis in the world’s history finds the Pres ident of the United States anxious for a coalition of both parties to fight the crisis—by insuring his own reelection. He refused to promise not to run again as the pi-ice of cooperation. This recalls Mr. Roosevelt’s refusal to cooperate during the closing days of the Hoover administra tion. His refusal at that time sac rificed the good of the people for the temporary advantage of his political party and his present ac tions indicate a willingness to sac rifice either people or party to his inordinate confidence in his own ability as being greater than any other man in the world.' If the German troops win the great battle which is now being fought in Belgium and northern France, look for an attempt to further isolate Eng land by a lightning attack on Ireland which is not only neutral in the struggle hut is practically un defended against attack from the air. A victory there would leave England surrounded on every side except the north and practically helpless against attack. The serious possibility of British defeat brings us up against the question as to what the United States will do if its first line of defense, the British navy, is captured or destroyed. We cannot help the allies now by land, as it would take us more than a year to train and equip an army, but the so-called neutrality legislation should be repealed immediately and Congress should frankly state to the world that we will help the allies with money and supplies to the limit of our ability. America is not and has never been neutral in word or thought and it is much better to help our friends with money and supplies than to be forced to sacrifice men in huge numbers later. Entered as second-class matter at the Rost Office at College Station. Texas, under the Act of Congr«qs of March 8. 1879. Nelson BACKWASH By George fuemifliin “Backwash: An agitation resulting from some action or occurrence.”—Webster. Dickerson Tells Group To r Do What You’re Told and More’ The Aggie way of doing things is the best way! The fellow who said that Aggie Spirit is “just another college tradition” is like the one who thinks that the sun won’t rise to morrow morning . . . He’s wrong! Bring him around, and if he spends the daylight half of twenty-four hours on the A. & M. campus, he’ll soon learn that Aggie Spirit is as much a part of a Texas Aggie as is his heart. The Aggie religion—whatever it is—is a pretty good one. So is any religion that preaches a doctrine similar to the Aggie way of doing things. Let a single Aggie be in distress and the whole cadet corps of the world’s largest men’s college is “on the money” to help him out. But that’s not all . . . There are 20,000-odd for mer students who stand just as ready to do their share and have their part in the Aggie way of doing things. O It all got started back in 1876 when a hundred and seven students became the first Texas Aggies. . . . The first to live according to the Aggie way . . . The ones who laid the founda tion for the now world-famous Aggie Spirit. Gathright to Walton, thirteen A. & M. presidents have watched the sixty-four years’ growth of an Aggie Spirit that is without parallel anywhere else in the world. • An Aggie needed help the other day . . . And he’s getting it in a way that has even taken the breath away from those who are used to the thoroughness of the Aggie way of doing things. Every college official who has been contacted has been more than just cooperative . . . They want to give too. The Y. M. C. A.—as usual—came through with whole-hearted coopera tion. College Station businessmen and A. & M. professors are anxious to help . . . This thing called Aggie Spirit is contagious . . . The Aggie way of doing things is as easy to catch as a common head cold . . . And it’s just as real! • George Stidham is an Aggie who has done something. George may well be said to be the cause of one of the college’s newest and most worthy causes. In a recent conversation your corres pondent had with Colonel Ike Ashburn, the fact was brought out that perhaps a permanent fund of this nature could be set up, and this is the ultimate aim. • “True to each other as Aggies can be” are words famous to any Aggie or anyone familiar with “The Spirit of Aggieland.” Those words have got a real kick in them. They’re the heart of the Aggie way of doing things. By TOM GILLIS “Do what you are told to do and then a little bit more”, A. F. Dick erson, manager, General Electric lighting department, and man re sponsible for the lighting effects at the San Francisco Fair, said at the annual English-Mathematics banquet at Texas A. & M. when winners of the contest in English and Mathematics were announced. Robert L. Gulley, Dallas sopho more, had apparently taken those words for his motto because he was announced as the winner of the William Morriss English contest for sophomores, after having won the F. Marion Law contest for freshmen last year. He was pre sented with a check for $20 by Dr. J. P. Abbott, acting in behalf of the donor, Mr. Morris. Second prize of $5 was won by Altom W. Sis- som, Alvarado. First place and $20 in the Law contest for freshmen went to M. P. Ellzey, Cuero, and second place and FROM BLACKOUT TO BLITZ! AGGIES—all the year we have kept a BLACKOUT on High Prices. NOW! A BLITZ SALE . . . $3.00 CHAMPIONSHIP BANNERS For Only $1.49 You will have to HURRY . . . stock limited. LAST CHANCE — PRICE NEVER LOWER Buy here for Graduation—Best Stock in Brazos County — Fairest Prices in Texas AGGIELAND PHARMACY The Rexall Store — $5 was awarded to Kenneth C. Bresnen, Dallas. Like Gulley, Rufus Pearce, Dallas, did a little more and took first prize of a gold watch in the mathe matics contest for sophomores aft er winning the second place watch last year as a freshman. E. G. Doughty, Marysville, was second, and Robert A. Doak, San Antonio, was third. The first place watch was given by Mrs. Anna Smith, (Continued on page 4) OnWTAW RADIO STATION WTAW 1120 kc. — 267.7 meters Sunday, May 26, 1940 8:30 a. m.—Sign-On; Musical moments. 8:45 a. m.—Roans Chapel Singers. 9:00 a. m.—Organ Moods. 9:30 a. m.—Signoff. The show coming to the Assem bly Hall Saturday afternoon is one that every Aggie will want to see for many reasons other than the merit of the show itself. The film is being shown for one of the most worthwhile purposes that any of us Aggies will ever have a chance to contribute to—for the aid of one of our fellow Aggies who now needs our help. Through editorials and articles we are all familiar with the story of George Stidham and his present unfortunate situa tion. Surely every Aggie is willing to do his part to help such a deserv ing brother Aggie. Every cent tak en in at the showing of “YOU CAN’T CHEAT AN HONEST MAN” is to be sent by the Y. M. C. A. to help George Stidham. Even if you don’t have time to go to the show and enjoy it, let me urge that you go by and purchase a ticklet regardless. Every 25^ will help a lot. The stars of “You Can’t Cheat An Honest Man” are none other than Charlie McCarthy, Edgar Ber gen, Mortimer Snerd, and W. C. Fields. Fields’ slurring gags and boastful mannerisms are too well known to everyone to make any further comment necessary. This time, as manager of a circus, he has a pretty good chance for some horseplay and monkeyshines. The McCarthy-Fields feud gives both a chance to display their most sar castic cracks about each other un til peacemaker Edgar Bergen steps I SSSSSV: mm. m fc: FREE!! Your hat will be stored absolutely free during the Summer months if you have it cleaned and blocked. So why go to the trouble of carrying it around in your trunk when you can store it where it will be free from dust and moths. Cleaning & Blocking $1.00 Pay Next Fall • STANDARD HAT WORKS North Gate in. Fields barely manages to keep his circus one town ahead of the sheriff, but he put up a brave, bold, bombastic front to keep his daughter from knowing. This of fensive front also angers the so ciety snob parents of the boy his daughter is about to marry, and some of the most hilarious scenes take place when they meet. The show will be very pleasant enter tainment for all who can see it, but if you haven’t time to stay and enjoy it, drop by the ticket-booth after lunch and buy your ticket to help another Aggie, anyway. Coming Saturday night to the Assembly Hall is “BALALAIKA,” a singing story of wartime Russia. Nelson Eddy is the singing Cossack officer who must fight for the Czar. Ilona Massey is the voluptu ous foreign beauty, daughter of a revolutionist, who hates all army officers. The war separates them, but they meet again later as Rus sian exiles in Paris. A Paris cafe is transformed into the old Rus sian Balalaika Cafe, and the two lovers have a grand reunion put ting on night club shows. Ilona Massey is still a little strained in acting American parts, but her beauty has a rather attractive for eign quality. HOW TO START YOUR SUMMER VAC. Just phone Railway Express. Well call for your trunks, bags, boxes and bundles. Well deliver them quickly and economically direct to your home, without extra charge in all cities and principal towns. Off your mind... out of your way...and you can sink into your train seat with peace of mind. If you i are returning to school, merely repeat. Rates are low. ^Confidential: You can send your baggage home "collect” by convenient Railway Express...and the same with your weekly laundry. Just as fast, just as sure. SOUTHERN PACIFIC DEPOT Phone 9 College Station, Texas Rai lwaiAExpre s s AGENCY INC. NATION-WIDE RAIL-AIR SERVICE! IIP CHECK! These Gifts For The Graduate -,r. Shirts Sox Slack Suits ! THE EXCHANGE STORE ! j An Aggie Institution !
