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 !