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The Battalion
STUDENT TRI-WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
TEXAS A. & M. COLLEGE
The Battalion, official newspaper of the Agricultural and
Mechanical College of Texas and the eity of College Station, is
published three times weekly from September to June, issued
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings; also it 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-C444.
Bob Nisbet Editor-in-Chief
Keith Hubbard Advertising Manager
George F uermanc Associate Editor
Hub Johnson Sports Editor
Tommy Henderson Circulation Manager
Phil Golman Staff Photographer
Pete Tumlinson Staff Artist
J. B. Pierce Editorial Assistant
T. R. Vannoy Editorial Assistant
TUESDAY STAFF
Bill Clarkson Managing Editor
Jack Hendrick Assistant Advertising Manager
Junior Editors
Lee Rogers E. M. Rosenthal
Sports Staff
Bob Myers Assistant Sports Editor
Jack Hollimon Junior Sports Editor
Reportorial Staff
Jack Aycock, Don Corley, J. M. Huling, Ralph Inglefield,
Tom Leland, W. A. Moore, J. M. Speer, Jack Decker.
THE BATTALION
-TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1941
Interring the Ax
WEDNESDAY two editors from the newspaper of
the University of Texas will appear on the A. & M.
campus to edit one issue of The Battalion. Originally
the idea was conceived purely in the light of fun
and for a novel experience.
Since the issuance of the invitation the un
limited possibilities that can be derived from such
an event have slowly dawned into a shining sunrise.
Aside from the advantage of mutual criticism
and exchange of journalistic ideas, the visit can be
labeled a gesture of friendship between the schools.
Not that a spirit of rivalry should not exist—rival
ry and competition are the basic of all human im
provement—but the rivalry should be friendly riv
alry.
Immediately some of the more radical elements
will jump to name various outrages exhibited from
the opposite student body. But these outrages are
not the cause of the rivalry; they are effects. Elim
inate the hatred and the outrages will cease. Keen
competition should have its place, but its place
should be closely defined and kept in that place.
The Battalion extends to the editors of The
Daily Texan an invitation to edit an issue as a
gesture of “burying the hatchet of hatred”. Schools
of Texas and the Southwest are fighting an uphill
battle for national recognition in competition with
older and better known schools of the East and
North. In cutting each other’s throat, the schools of
the Southwest will die an ignoble death together!
Feed Europe?
BRITAIN’S RECENT thumbs-down on American
proposals to feed Europe’s hungry has checked, but
not stilled, the red-hot argument raging here.
A representative statement of the case is found
:ln the editorial columns of the Harvard Crimson.
The Crimson holds that outside relief is urgently
necessary. “The most promising proposal made so
iar,” continues the Crimson, “is that of Herbert
Hoover. His idea is to let the occupied countries buy
foodstuffs here with their liquid assets now in this
country, and carry it home in their own ships. Add
ed to this would be the food contributed by numer
ous charities. If at any time it appeared that the
food was going to Germany, the shipments could
be halted immediately. Negotiations would have to
be undertaken by the state department with British
and German representatives. Upon the shoulders of
the recalcitrant party would rest the responsibility
for whatever calamities may eventuate from a food
less Europe.”
A new and interesting slant is given by the
Princetonian, which believes it would be to the ad
vantage of this country to check famine in Europe.
The Princetonian reasons that “the revolution
against Naziism on the continent must be waged by
a powerful underground democratic movement or
ganized and equipped by Britain and provisioned by
America. Once the people of Europe who still cher
ish the ideals of freedom feel that behind them stand
not only the armed might of Britain but the moral
and material support of the United States, the
fierce indignation which they must feel against
their oppressors will be translated into positive ac
tion. They will refuse to be crushed to earth, and
united will resume the fight against uniformed
men.”
At the University of Wisconsin the Daily Card
inal adds its viewpoint, as follows: “Opponents of
Mr. Hoover’s plan claim that by not allowing food to
pass through the blockade, the danger of revolution
would be increased and the cause of freedom helped
that much more. However, the latter make two as
sumptions which may or may not be correct. They
assume first that the subject people CAN revolt.
The Nazi machine and Herr Hitler and his secret
police are something the world has* never seen be
fore. Secondly, the opponent of Mr. Hoover’s plan
has to assert that he, safe in a free country which
would definitely suffer from a Nazi victory, can
conscientiously require the innocent people in central
Europe to die of starvation so that the form of
government which he thinks best may survive.”
A contrasting view is expressed in the Washing
ton university Student Life: “It’s the old question
of ends and means. Does the end — the salvation
of British Democracy and thus the defeat of totali
tarian anti-democracy, of the new revolution—^justi
fy the means—the use of starvation as a part of
economic warfare, as a legitimate weapon of mod
ern war? Can we be callous and let children suffer
while keeping alive the principals we cherish? Or
should we be merciful, allowing Hitler to keep the
conquered nations in line, helping him in the race
with time, possibly destroying all chance of free
ing these same children from a lifetime of submis
sion to the new master-race, and subjecting even
more people (including ourselves) to the iron rule?”
It would appear from a survey of these and
other editorial opinions that the preponderance of
America’s serious-minded collegians believe there
is an obligation to provide food, IF it can be estab
lished that such a show of mercy will not be turned
to the military advantage of the Nazis.
—Associated Collegiate Press
BACKWASH h
George fueriMim
“Backwash: An agitation raanlting from some action or occurrence."—Webster.
The Collegiate Review
Hallie Harris, supervisor of janitors at the Uni
versity of Kansas, estimates that in 14 years he has
climbed 5,880 steps, or a total of 742 miles.
The new $30,000 henhouses at the University of
Connecticut are steamheated and termite-proof,
with electric lights, hot and cold running water and
automatic fountains.
Temple university has 559 NYA students.
Living alumni of Dartmouth totaled 19,500 at
the last count.
North Dakota university and North Dakota
Agricultural college have been football rivals since
1894.
—Associated Collegiate Press
Man, Your Manners
By I. SHERWOOD
Manners in Business
EMILY POST SAYS, “A business organization is,
or should be, like a military one.” In that case A.
& M. furnishes the best qualities in its graduates for
employers and employees.
Etiquette would not seem to be very important
in business and yet no man can tell when the know
ledge of it may be to his advantage or the lack of
it react seriously against him.
THE EMPLOYER: An employer who receives
his customers in shirt sleeves, remains seated when
he speaks to a lady, who does not take off his hat
or remove his cigar when talking to her, may never
know how bad an impression he has made.
In some of the most important business con
cerns we are apt to find the greatest courtesy shown
us by its executives. And it is very often noted
that in the same office several assistants have been
chosen for the same quality.
No one will do his best in an organization un
less he feels he is being shown courteous treatment
nor will he be courteous if courtesy is not extended
him.
It will preserve the dignity of an organization
if the employer does not call employees by their
first names or permit them to use his. (This is
not so important in a small organization.)
It is not necessary for an executive to rise for
a woman employee, but he should go forward to
greet anyone else who enters his office; he should
offer his hand to any man who comes to his of
fice whether he is a prospective customer, friend,
or stranger.
THE EMPLOYEE: It is wise to maintain an
attitude of friendly formality toward your boss.
If he is good-natured, don’t take advantage of him.
It is not necessary to rise for a superior if ^do
ing so will interrupt your work or seem excessively
polite.
Respect the value of time. Also be thrifty with
office supplies.
Avoid using the phone for personal calls, and
don’t let your family and friends interrupt your
work.
Tact, courtesy, and self-control are very im
portant qualities for employees to have.
Respect your employer’s confidences and pri
vacy. His home and business activities should not
be discussed with others. Likewise, keep your own
affairs to yourself.
If you are ambitious, call attention to yourself
only by doing your work well. Give suggestions
when they are requested.
As the World Turns...
By DR. R. W. STEEN
THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE meets today for its
bienniel session. It faces about the same problems
that the legislature faced two years ago, and for
the reason that the previous legislature failed to
find solutions to them. It is to be hoped that the pre
sent body will be more successful than its predeces
sor, and that it will not have to set a new length of
session record in order to achieve this success.
To begin with there is a little matter of a $25,-
000,000 deficit in the general fund. The deficit has
been the most regular occupant of the treasury since
1926, and during the fourteen years it has been with
the state it has grown with discouraging regularity.
It is difficult to rid the state of this unwelcome
guest because of new demands that are constantly
being made upon the treasury.
The old age pension question will again occu
py much of the time of both houses. Many legisla
tors campaigned on a program of more liberal pen
sions, while the governor’s attitude is well known.
There will be numerous efforts to liberalize the
pension law, and to increase the amount paid to
each person on the rolls. Many legislators will fa
vor both proposals, but they will first have to solve
the problem of finance. A well rounded pension pro
gram will cost far more than Texas is now spend
ing. A somewhat similar problem is presented by the
Teachers Retirement program. A retirement system
was set up several years ago, and many teachers
have made regular deposits since that time, but the
state has not yet matched the deposits as it is
supposed to do.
The legislature will also devote some time to the
matter of a state office building. State offices now
occupy the capitol building, the education building,
the land office building, and the highway office
building. In addition, state offices occupy space for
which the state pays rents of about $50,000 per
year. It is argued by many that the only proper
solution is a state office building.
The legislature will doubtless consider many
new tax proposals. The fact remains that the only
way to spend more money is to raise more. The
governor is doubtless still committed to the trans
action tax. An income tax will probably be pro
posed, and proposals for increased taxes on natur
al resources will doubtless make their appearance.
Advance option seems to be that the legislature
■will attempt to raise an additional $10,000,000 or
$15,000,000 annually by taxation. The problem is
how to do it.
....
The Way of Things . . . The corps’
famed mascot, Reveille, isn’t the
only dog on the campus who has
attained the mythical Who’s Who
of Dogdom. The rags-to-riches story
concerning the life of one Buck
skin is a tale which
could even make
a Horatio Alger
yarn blush with
envy. Latest of
Buckskin’s feats is
her ability to open
a package of break
fast food in record
time and consume
Fnermann the contents there
of in nothing-flat. One morning
last week, while paying her thrice-
daily visit to the A. & M. mess
hall system, Buckskin downed 11
packages of the morning food in
four minutes. Buckskin, however,
is living under an assumed flag.
At least three pictures of the can
ine usurper appeared in Dallas
newspapers previous to the Cotton
Bowl game in which she was labled
as the Aggie mascot. Rev’s indig
nation was boundless when she was
informed of the tyranny, and all
attempts at arbitration are as
fruitless as those of the current in
ternational muddlings. “It’ll have
to be a fight to the finish,” Rev
growled . . .Another near-tradi
tion where campus dogdom is con
cerned is a small, black Scottie
with a flare for swimming. Water
polo and swimming coaches Art
Adamson and Spike White are hard-
put to keep the persistant mam
mal out of the swimming pool but,
despite their combined efforts, the
animal occasionally gets in the
pool. . .For the first time in its
thus far two-year history, Backwash
receives a guest writer Thursday
when Boyd Sinclair, editor of the
Daily Texan, takes over for a day.
Watch for an excellent column. . .
A survey made by Dr. Raymond
Walter, president of the Univers
ity of Cincinnati, shows that Texas
A. & M. is one of the few ma
jor colleges whose enrollment has
been on the upgrade in recent years.
A. & M. needs only one more stu
dent to vie with Michigan State
for the distinction of being the
nation’s second largest agricultur
al college. Iowa State comes first
with an enrollment of 6488. Dr.
Walter’s survey credited A. & M.
with 6391 students. Actually, how
ever, the peak figure for the cur
rent session was 6548—even more
than Iowa State is credited with.
• • •
Backwashin’
A little known fact about A. &
M.’s popular Commandant, Lt. Col.
James A. Watson, concerns his ser
ious illness during the Noel holi
day period. An influenza victim—
which developed into pneumonia
—sulfanilamide was administered
at a time when it was thought that
his hours were numbered. Incident
ally, The Houston Post will soon
carry an exclusive story on the life
of Col. Watson, a life which has
been as full of adventure and ex
citement as a Dumas thriller . . .
The college’s former Commandant
and P. M. S. & T., Col. George
F. Moore, was recently promoted
to the rank of brigadier Gener
al. The now-General Moore, inci
dentally, is highly regarded in
military circles and many look for
still another promotion for him
in the near future. . . D. C. Thur
man, describing the flu-preven
tion qualities of onions: “Onions
have a number of ways of pre
venting flu. Perhaps chief among
these are their crowd-preventing
characteristics!” . . . Post office of
ficials point out that more than
200 letters and post cards have
been mailed since September with
out even being addressed . . . Ben
Duffie, a Houston sophomore, bow-
and-arrowed a jack rabbit on the
run at 35 paces Sunday. W. F.
Gibson, Sam H. Wheeler and fresh
man Howard Schepp were eye-wit
nesses to the unusual event . . .
The Battalion’s article on the cur
rent ASCAP-BMl feud will begin
in Thursday’s issue—first article
in a series of three . . . William
Lloyd Garrison had the following
to say about Texas in his Liber
ator in 1842: “Texans are a gang
of land speculators, horse thieves
and nasty desperadoes!” . . .Cul
ture—meaning the College Station
matron who recently walked into
a local eatery and asked, “Have
ya got anything f jt to eat in this
dump?” . . . Longhorn Managing
Editor Morton R 0 binson has pre
dicted that spectacle producer Billy
Rose will be ashed to select the
Vanity Fair beauties if Hollywood’s
Demille refuses.
• % •
Cantor
The ace American humorist, Ed
die Cantor, has a stock of ready
made stories which he uses in a
pinch “because they never fail
me.” Tops in the list is the one
which concerns a hillbilly who had
heard that the job of watchman at
a railroad crossing was open.
“You’ll have to undergo a strict
examination,” the man in charge
said.
“Ask me anything,” bragged the
hillbilly.
“All right,” spoke up the exam
iner. “Suppose you are at the
crossing and two trains are com
ing along 60 miles an hour—head
on. What would you do?”
“Waall, I’d blow m’ whistle.”
“Yes, but supposing your whis
tle was out of order.”
“I’d always wear a red shirt
and I’d take it off and flag the
train.”
“Let’s say this happened at
night.”
“Then I’d swing m’ lantern.”
“But suppose you had no oil in
your lantern.”
“In that case,” said the hill
billy, “I’d call m’ sister.”
“Your sister? What for?”
“I’d just say to her, ‘Come on
down, sis, and see the goldurndest
wreck you ever saw in all your
life!’ ”
• • •
The Butlers
They’re Bill and O. D., both Ag
gie-exes, both stewards in the larg
est dining hall system in the world,
and both are doing an excellent
job if you want to believe their
boss, J. C. Hotard.
The MOVIE REVIEW column is
no more. But this does not mean
that the shows currently playing
at the local theaters aren’t going
to be reviewed in The Battalion; it
is just the fact that the scope of
the column is to be enlarged.
This new column, under the head
as shown above, has received its
title on the theory that students
came to school here primarily for
an education and things that di
vert the student from that aim are
CAMPUS DISTRACTIONS. This
includes about any form of or
ganized entertainment which at
tracts general attention and which
anyone is allowed to attend. So
this new column will still mainly
cover the local shows because they
are the most important and most
common form of entertainment for
people on the campus. Also includ
ed however will be Town Hall
programs when they appear, in
teresting lectures, musical pro
grams, minor sports events, or
anything which distracts a stu
dent’s mind from what the profes
sors think he ought to be studying.
Unfortunately, some of the most
attractive campus distractions can
not be covered such as giving the
latest news from Uncle Ed’s or
that the records on the nickelo
deon at the Avalon have been
changed, or they have started sell
ing a new brand of brew at Frank
lin’s. This information will still be
up to the student to find out for
himself, but any form of organiz
ed entertainment on the campus
will be revued and an opinion ren
dered for what it is worth.
The idea in reviewing an event
will be to give the general type of
entertainment offered, how well
it is presented, the atmosphere, and
prominent points of interest in the
opinion of the columnist. Naturally
(Continued on Page 4)
J 1
<
They Will Note
Your Neatness
Wise men keep their
hair well groomed. Our
work will do the same
for you.
Y. M. C. A.
and
VARSITY
BARBER SHOP
* /
EXPERT
REPAIRS
Let Us Fix
Your Radio
EXPERT RADIO
REPAIR WORK
STUDENT
CO-OP
North Gate
Phone 4-4114
r
That’s O. D. on the left swing
ing the ax and Bill is doing the
holding. Sbisa Hall claims Bill
and Duncan gets O. D. As stew
ards, in case you aren’t informed
in these matters, Bill and O. D.
act as general managers of their
respective mess halls.
WHATS SHOWING
AT THE ASSEMBLY HALL
Tuesday 3:30 & 6:45—
“HAUNTED HONEY
MOON,” featuring Robert
Montgomery, Constance
Cummings and Leslie Banks.
Wednesday 3:30 & 6:45—
“MOON OVER BURMA,”
with Dorothy Lamour, Rob
ert Preston and Preston Fos
ter.
AT THE CAMPUS
Tuesday — “GAMBLING
ON THE HIGH SEAS,”
with Wayne Morris, Jane
Wyman, Roger Pyron and
Gilbert Roland.
Wednesday—“DOWN AR
GENTINE WAY,” starring
Don Ameche, Betty Grable,
Carmen Miranda and Char
lotte Greenwood.
MID-TERM IS JUST AROUND
THE CORNER
14 Complete Course Outlines
All important data clearly presented for
your convenience. Covers all material
that you will have on those letter quizes.
Students have found these outlines help
ful in the past.
LOUPOTS TRADING POST
NORTH GATE
CAMPUS
15£ to 5 p.m.—20c after
Today Only
Wed. - Thurs.
Assembly Hall
LAST DAY — 3:30 & 6:45
“HAUNTED HONEYMOON”
with
Robt. Montgomery - Constance Cummings
Selected Shorts — News
WED. - THURS. — 3:30 & 6:45
JU tOVE AFFAIR 1
Dorothy Lamour
Robert Preston
Preston Foster
MOON
OVER
BURMA
A »
-A •
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