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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 city 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
Bequest.
Represented nationally by National Advertising Service, Inc.,
at New York City, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, and San
Office, Room 122, Administration Building. Telephone
4-6444.
1940 Member 1941
Associated Co!le6iate Press
Bob Nisbet
Editor-in-Chief
George Fuermann
Keith Hubbard
Tom Vannoy
Pete Tumlinson
J. B- Pierce, Phil Levine
Associate Editor
Advertising Manager
.... Editorial Assistant
Staff Artist
Proof Readers
Sports Department
Hub Johnson Sports Editor
Bob Myers Assistant Sports Editor
Mike Haikin, Jack Hollimon
W. F. Oxford Junior Sports Editors
Circulation Department
Tommy Henderson Circulation Manager
W. G. Hauger, E. D. Wilmeth Assistant Circulation Managers
V. D. Asbury, E. S. Henard Circulation Assistants
Photography Department
PhU Golman Photographic Editor
James Carpenter, Bob Crane, Jack Jones,
Jack Siegal
Assistant Photographers
THURSDAY’S EDITORIAL STAFF
George Fuermann Acting Managing Editor
George Woodman Assistant Advertising Manager
Junior Editors
Tom Gillis D. C. Thurman V. A. Yentzen
Reportorial Staff
Lamar Haines, John May, Z. A. McReynolds, J. D. Mehe-
gan, L. B. Tennison, Mike Speer, James F. Wright.
Let’s KILL an Aggie-
Murder’s a Better Word!
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS at its regular meet
ing Saturday passed, among others, two resolutions
relative to traffic control on the A. & M. campus.
One of these resolutions particularly concerns every
automobile-driving employee, faculty member and
cadet of the college. It reads:
“That the commandant be instructed to
continue the rigid enforcement of traffic regu
lations on the campus; that all employees of the
college be requested to cooperate with the com
mandant and the administrative officers of the
college in making the traffic regulations es
tablished by the board effective.”
“. . . continue the rigid, enforcement,” the reso
lution says. That is just what it means.
The commandant, through authority vested in
him by the president of the college, set a 20-mile
speed limit on the campus. Immediately thereafter,
criticism, principally from college employees and
faculty members, was heaped up the commandant’s
head.
Criticism of the principle behind the rule is
entirely unjust, and the board’s resolution supports
this contention. But what is behind the new speed
limit and the board resolution ? There are two well-
founded reasons for this regulation.
First of all, the board of directors and the
commandant are trying to protect cadets and other
pedestrians on the campus. More than 10,000 per
sons live in this community during the long session,
and in such a small area it is altogether feasible
to forsee serious accidents unless some traffic regu
lation is instituted.
Something To Read
BY DR. T. F. MAYO
WITH THE formidable exception of William Faulk
ner, every American novelist worth reading today is
deeply concerned in his stories with this question: To
what event and why does capitalism fail to make
a good life economically available to everybody in
this rich America?
To consider the exception first: Faulkner, finding
“a sickness at the roots of things,” doesn’t lay the
blame, apparently, on anything so superficial as an
economic set-up. Man to him is just a cursed animal
(see “The Hamlet”), and there is nothing to be done
about it.
The other three best novelists, however, and a
dozen or so of the second rank, agree in ascribing a
large proportion of the ills of humanity to faulty
economic arrangements, though they disagree as to
the way out. I assume, by the way, that these three
best are John Steinbeck (“In Dubious Battle,” “Of
Mice and Men,” “The Grapes of Wrath”); the late
Thomas Wolfe (“Look Homeward, Angel,” “Of Time
and the River,” “The Web and the Rock,” “You Can’t
Go Home Again”); Ernest Hemingway (“The Sun
Also Rises,” “A Farewell to Arms,” “For Whom the
Bell Tolls”).
Now it seems to me that this surprising agree
ment among novelists (that you can’t write an honest
story today without showing how the economic set
up affects your characters) is an encouraging sign
of the times. It’s true that most of their books are
exceedingly blue about the social system. But even
so, it is encouraging in itself to see popular novelists
concerning themselves about such matters. What the
novelists think about today, the great public will
think about tomorrow. And we have all thought for
a long time that a democracy will work only if its
great public do think earnestly and analytically about
its economic underpinnings. Heretofore, Americans
have on the whole been concerned about economic
matters only in the sense of trying to win a game.
Now, it would seem, we are beginning as a nation
to examine critically the rules of the game.
This is one reason why the popularity on our
campus of these novelists is a favorable sign. After
all, you who graduate from A. & M. will be, by virtue
of your technical skill, highly influential people. Only
if you have formed the habit of pondering over the
economic and social arrangements under which we
all live will your influences be exerted thoughtfully.
Quotable Quotes
“UNQUESTIONING obedience under all circum
stances is not the supreme virtue in a democracy.
On the other hand, obedience under appropriate con
ditions is essential to co-ordinated group activity,
without which civilization could not exist.” The
American Youth Commission of the American Coun
cil on Education declares that democracy demands
two types of citizenship—conforming and contribut
ing.
—Associated Collegiate Press
As the World Turns...
BY “COUNT” V. K. SUGAREFF
I
Sugareff
Second, the traffic regulation represents a form
of protection—even a sort of insurance—to the
motorists themselves. It is the type of insurance
that guards motorists against the tragedy of in
juring or killing someone. Those critics of the
principle behind the resolution might think of the
thing this way: that the resolution is as much pro
tection to them as to anyone else.
There have been, too, complaints about the
nature and manner of enforcing this measure. The
Battalion has this suggestion—that over-rigid en
forcement be limited to the more congested areas
of the campus and in between-class intervals. The
element of common sense must be used in the en
forcement of any rule; this one is no exception. To
avoid injuring pedestrians is the purpose of the
statute; therefore it would seem that the area in
which there are people walking to and from classes,
is the area that needs the protection of strict patrol
ling and rigid enforcement.
But any amount of reckless driving is too
much. No human life is worth the saving of five
minutes. It is right and just that every effort be
made and every step be taken to prevent the need
less usurping of human life.
It may be that all the features of the new reso
lution are not entirely desirable, but after all it has
been in effect only a week. The men enforcing the
measure must adapt themselves to their new task
as must local citizens adapt themselves to com
pliance with the new measure.
The commandant announces the resolution is
to be vigorously enforced. It is expedient to co
operate.
THE BATTALION
-THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 1941
BACKWASH
By
George fuermann
COVERING
“Backwash: An agitation resulting from some action or occurrence.”—Webster
Touch and Go ; . . An Aggie se
nior, about to cut a class, “What’s
the difference? I’d just as soon be
ignorant cannon fodder as the edu
cated kind!” . . . Two San Antonio
lovelies, Gloria Clements and Jane
Leascher, may soon be indicted by
the S.P.C.A. They
’ve named their cat
Cornwallis Pickle-
i
COLLEGE STUDENTS are interested in the cur
rent war. Many of them are of military age and
subject to the draft act. Some of them are sons of
veterans of the last World War and know the in
fluence that war had on their fathers. And some
are vitally concerned about their future. In the
classroom and out of it, our students
|| make many inquiries about the cur-
rent war. Such questions as these
indicate their interest in the war:
(1) “When will the United States
| declare war on Germany?”; (2)
“What are England’s war aims?”;
(3) “Will England pay to us the
debts of this war”; and (4) “Will
there be another depression after
this war?”. Here are some essential
points on each of the above ques
tions.
1. Many people still think in
terms of formal declaration of war—a time-honored
international practice. The Totalitarian states have
disregarded this convention. They make demands
on a country, if they are not satisfied with the reply,
they invade the country. Besides, before the invasion
takes place, they subsidize murder, sabotage, bribery,
arson and treason in the country which they take
over. We need not make a formal declaration of
war on Germany. There is not, as yet, a necessity
for us to send men to Europe. We can keep on
helping the democracies and still remain nominally
at peace with Germany. As public opinion against
Germany gathers momentum, the President might
break diplomatic relations with Germany and even
ask Congress for a declaration of war. The Lend-
Lease Bill brings us closer to war with Germany,
specially, if the Germans destroy our American
ships, acting as convoy of war materials for
England.
2.England’s war aims are in the realm of spec
ulation. English officials have discreetly refused
to commit themselves on the subject. The war was
forced on England. At least, that is the way
English put it. Obviously, then, England’s chief
interest is a victory over Germany. Some English
intellectuals are advocating a much stronger League
of Nations with the United States as one of its
leading members. Many Englishmen want to re
store the occupied countries to full independence
with territories, where possible, annexed from Ger
many. They aim to weaken Germany so that she
will not bring about another war. Another sugges
tion is that there should be a world-wide agree
ment as to trade, finance, and other vital interna
tional problems.
3.So far England has not borrowed money from
the United States. She has spent nearly two and a
half billion dollars on war materials here. As the
war continues, England might find it necessary to
borrow from us. Sir Edward Peacock, a director of
the Bank of England, and Sir Frederick Phillips,
under Secretary of British Treasury, are in the
United States to handle war financing matters. The
British plan to sell some of their industries here
and buy war materials. British Government holds
large blocks of securities (stocks and bonds) in
American enterprises. These might be used as col
lateral for debts. Benjiman Cohen, a “New Deal
Thinker” is in London to arrange and supervise
whatever financial agreements might be necessary.
Of course, whether we want to drive hard bargains
or not on the English, it remains to be seen.
4. Depressions are frequent epidemics in the
United States. The present administration is making
a study of possible post war problems. Large scale
layoffs from factories after the war are being con
sidered. A nation-wide dismissal wage, made up by
contributions from the employer and the employee,
is planned. Plans are under way for “Socially useful
public works,” and the expansion of the Social Se
curity program as well as the Food Stamp agencies.
The farmer is of special concern of the New Deal
planners. The government is watching closely the
commodity and financial exchanges and would not
allow a stampede for a get-rich-quick. A super
New Deal is in the making. And we might be
able to steer away from a post war depression.
sniper . . . Bernie
Cummins’ weekend
on the campus saw
“Frenesi” go into
the No. 1 spot on
the Aggie Hit Pa
rade. “P e r f i d a”
came in second and
Fuermann l^t Week’s first-
place song, “Star Dust,” dropped
to third as the mythical rating en
tered its second week . . . Behind
the scenes on a recent Backwash
item which quoted a letter alleged
ly received by a cadet from Linda
Darnell asking him to escort her
to the forthcoming Ross Volunteer
dances, the facts are these: Charles
Haggard is the cadet who received
the valid-appearing letter which
was “arranged” by a classmate
through a California-residing uncle.
Quoth Chas.—“I was wizened-up
about the joke in advance, but pre
tended to go under by faking a
telegram of acceptance and wir
ing flowers.” . . . Russ Morgan,
who maestroed the Field Artillery
Ball not so many weekends ago, is
currently airing his music via NBC
at 11:30 each night from Holly
wood’s Paladium where he took
Glen Gray’s spot ... A little-
noticed fact in last weekend’s news
was the fact that the board of di
rectors, at its regular meeting Sat
urday, made no change in the free-
guest ruling it passed for an ex
perimental period at its December
meeting. Although 3000 guests fil
ed through the mess hall portals
last month, the board made no
move—and possibly will not make
one—to change the cadet-desired
status quo.
• • •
Aggies compared Jeri’s work with
the job Connie did last year, and
Connie, be it remembered, was one
of the best in the business. “Was”
is the word, because Connie left
Bernie last fall to get married to
a wealthy Florida airplane man
ufacturer. Jeri works for $70 a
week—a figure only $5 less than
Russ Morgan’s Phyllis Lynn re
ceives, but Bernie may have
stretched the ante a little as he
seemed reluctant to say anything
about his vocalist’s wage-earning.
• • •
CAPStDIS
wi+h
'TOM Gins
Between the Halves
Bernie’s intermission stage show
is unusual with dance bands on the
road, but it’s still another reason
for the orchestra’s popularity at
A. & M. Similar to the show he
used last year, many cadets point
ed out that the 30-minute stage
show was the principal reason they
attended the Saturday night corps
dance.
Tops in the stage show was
drummer Fred Benson whose “Twi
light in Turkey” arrangement
brought the house down. When
Fred gets going strong, even the
rest of the orchestra members start
watching the performer.
Equally as good was comedian
Chet James, 35- years old, a native
of Denvier, Colorado, and a reg
ular fellow on, as well as off, the
stage. The average age of the
men in Bernie’s orchestra, inci
dentally, is about 35, most of them
are married and, as mentioned be
fore, many of them have been
with the band over a long per
iod of time; pianist Karl Radlach,
14 years and violinist Paul Miller,
13 years are two good examples.
• • •
The rifle team has picked a very
militaristic feature for their ben
efit show. It is “THE LION HAS
WINGS,” in which the British lion
tries to roar like an airplane en
gine. The show was produced in
Britain by private capital and re
leased after having been censored
by the Ministry of Information.
Anything that is released by
the Ministry of Information for
American showing is sure to be
excellent propaganda, and this is.
The idea seems to be to show
American audiences that England
has now built up air defenses
which can take care of the situa
tion. It does this by showing in
greater than ordinary detail the
workings of their defense system
and even a couple of good attacks
made by the RAF.
The actors and thread of plot
used to explain this system in
clude Merle Oberon and three act
ors who are actually in the armed
forces of Britain. Ralph Richard
son is in the Fleet Air Arm, Rob
ert Douglas is in the Air Force,
and Anthony Bushell in the Welch
Guards. The real excitment how
ever is played up by the tech
niques of air fighting, droning air
plane engines, and tense moments
(Continued on Page 4)
LET US CLEAN and
REPAIR Your WATCH
^
Crystals While You Wait
CHARM BRACELETS
HEARTS
(with or without
Aggie Seal)
The word “neuter” entered the
conversation. Quoth Bernie: “He
neuter because he told me he did.”
. . . . One Coast Artilleryman
seemed to hit the keynote of stu
dent opinion when he said that,
“What I like about Cummins is
the way his band goes from one
number to another without inter
ruption.”
See us and place your
orders now for Company
Commander Watches
and Best Drilled Medals.
L
C. W. Varner
JEWELER
North Gate
Backwashin’
Still Excellent
How excellent will not be shown
definitely until the committee adds
up the results of the Backwash poll
at the end of the social season, but
by any measuring stick, Bernie
Cummins and orchestra represents
a grade ‘A’ music-making outfit.
Like most name band musicians,
his men average $90 a week and
unlike most top-notch bands, many
of his men have been with him 13
and 14 years—a fact, incidentally,
which accounts for a large part of
his organization’s excellence.
Not nearly go good, however, as
his vocalist of last year (Connie
Barleau), Jeri Sullivan was only
average as a singer and otherwise.
The principal trouble was that most
Some cadets were chagrined be
cause Jeri couldn’t dance with them
as could Russ Morgan’s singer,
Phyliss Lynne. “The reason for
that,” Bernie pointed out, “is that
I don’t believe such a policy is a
good one; such a thing occasionally
leads to trouble, and that is some
thing an orchestra is always out to
avoid.” . . . Beginning March 28
the orchestra begins a six-week
run at Chicago’s Edgewater Beach
Hotel, one of the nation’s top
dance spots. . . . Saturday night
March 22, the orchestra will appear
on the national network Lucky
Strike program. . . Bernie’s only
hobby, outside of sports, which is
an all-the-way affair with him,
seems to be punning. Example:
BEFORE THE DANCE
AFTER THE DANCE - - ANY TIME
It’s The
DELUXE CAFE
“Always Open”
—BRYAN—
A little minute is long enough
for a big rest when you drink
an ice-cold bottle of Coca-Cola.
It brings a feeling of complete
refreshment...completely satis
fying. So when you pause
throughout the day, make it
the pause that refreshes with
ice-cold Coca-Cola.
5 <
YOU TASTE ITS QUALITY
Bottled under authoritv of The Coca-Cola Comoany by
Bryan Coca-Cola Bottling Company
GEORGE STEPHAN, President
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