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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (May 3, 1941)
Base 2- THE BATTALION -SATURDAY, MAY B, 1941 The Battalion STUDENT TRI-WEEKLY NEWSPAPER TEXAS A. & M. COLLEGE The Battalion, official newspaper of the Agricultural and Hechanical 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 Ration, Texas, under the Act of Congress of March 8, 1879. Subscription rate, $3 a school year. Advertising rates upon request. Bob Nisbet George Fuermann Keith Hubbard Tom Vannoy Circulation Department Tommy Henderson W. G. Hanger, E. D. Wilmeth Bterle A. Shields V. B. Harrison Will O. Brimberry SATURDAY’S EDITORIAL STAFF In Fine Shape “EVERYTHING IS IN FINE SHAPE.” That is what Col. E. A. Keyes, officer in charge of ROTC in the Eighth Corps Area, said about the condition of the A. & M. college as shown by the annual federal inspection, but from Col. Keyes, that means a great deal. The general tone of remarks made by the in spectors of the individual units was also compli mentary and only additional evidence of what has been known for a long time, that the A. & M. cadet corps is not only the largest but the best. And although the official reports of the results of the inspection will not be received here for another two weeks, it is believed that the rating of Excellent has been retained. But it will not be an accident if it happens. It will be the result of work on the part of instructors and a good meas ure of work on the part of the cadets. If every thing is in fine shape, it is because we have made it so. The military staff this year has stressed the practical side of military training in order that the corps might be shown to be in fine shape to any insnector and that Aggie graduates would be the same fine officers that they were shown to be in the last war. The value of everything being in fine shape is all the more important in view of the fact that active service is contemplated for the graduating officers, and could be of the greatest importance if the foreign situation does not clear up. Present indications are such that these officers may not only be on active duty but have better than average chances of being on combat duty with in a short time. In such an event the true meaning of fine shape would become clear. Nor is this effort on the part of military in structors or students a new thing at A. & M. The honor rating if later reports bear out the fact that it is retained, will not cause local merchants to or der new stocks of blue stars. A. & M. has received this highest rating every year since 1918, and that us as far back as records are obtainable. The fed eral inspections and ratings have been given to ROTC units only since their establishment under the National Defense Act of 1916. The meaning of receiving the rating Excel lent is shown by the fact that about 50 per cent of the schools in the Eighth Corps Area have that rating today. The efforts made by cadets and instructors have not been wasted in any sense. They have not only shown that A. & M. is still a top ranking school but that the school is fulfilling its duty as a vital element in the national defense program. A. & M. has shown similar results for its efforts for the past twenty-three years, and it must always be so, as traditional as the military training itself. On Race Prejudice THERE IS A PROBLEM existing throughout the world which, continuing slowly year after year, contributes much toward the spirit that forms blitzkriegs. In this country, democracy was suppos ed to abolish it; in the South, it is very much alive. Although it is usually ignored by people who are respectable, a few have had the courage to face it. The problem is race prejudice. Aversion to someone of another nationality or race is founded on the primitive superstition that a stranger, one with different customs, dress, or looks, is inferior to one’s own customs, dress, or looks. And everyone knows that what is one’s own is the best. Now, the absurd race theories that make one race superior to another clash directly with the findings of anthropology and are the products of rnrads interested in other things beside the good of humanity. A concrete move toward the abolition of such race prejudice here in San Antonio has been made by a group of students from white and negro colleges. The Interracial commission, although it may not accomplish world-wide reform, or even attain recognition, is doing constructive work just by the meetings themselves. When a group of white and negro students can meet and discuss their problems, the state of the nation is not so bad after all. —St. Mary’s Rattler To prevent spread of tuberculosis, New York city’s four municipal colleges now require X-ray ex aminations of the chests of all entering students. FRANK LOVING PRESENTS: Represented nationally by National Advertising Service, Inc., at New York City, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Office, Room 122, Administration Building. Telephone 4-6444. 1940 Member 1941 Associated Go!le6iate Press Editor-in-Chief Associate Editor Advertising Manager Editorial Assistant Pete Tumlinson Staff Artist J. B. Pierce, Phil Levine I Proof Readers Sports Department Hub Johnson Sports Editor Bob Myers Assistant Sports Editor Mike Haikin, Jack Hoilimon W. F. Oxford Junior Sports Editors Circulation Manager n. jjj. ±j. ,, uuksvu , Assistant Circulation Managers W. D. Asbury, E. S. Henard Circulation Assistants Photography Department 7U1 Golman Photographic Editor James Carpenter. Bob Crane, Jack Jones, Jack Siegal Assistant Photographers Managing Editor Assistant Advertising Manager Junior Editors W. C. Carter Don Gabriel Reportortal Staff Ohaudet Babcock, Herbert Haile, Paul Haines, Carl Van Hook, J. J. Keith, 2. A. McReynolds, Beverly Miller, Ehrhard Mittendorf, Jack Nelson, L. B. Tennison. / Heard the Preacher Say CHIVALRY IS A WORD which legend has filled for us with a rather romantic and ethereal meaning. It connotes a vision of galantry, bravery, courtesy, nobility, and sincerity which only legendary peo ple could possess. Nevertheless one of the finest compliments of our South is the reputation attri buted to us of southern hospitality and chivalry. Although the flower of this chivalry was supposed to have been nipped in the bud by the Civil War, I maintain that the South has held on to some of that old feeling of friendliness and good will that is said to have prevailed then. Any number of peo ple moving to the South from other parts of our country have commented on the difference in our atmosphere, and it makes me proud to be a south erner, accent and all. Every day now, however, the South is moving farther and farther away from her lot in the old days. Step by step we are ap proaching the mechanized and stereotyper model which the North and East is providing. With this “progress”, as the world calls it, we are simultan eously drifting away from the traditions which have made us unique. I do not question the fact that these changes which others have brought to us are for our betterment, but I do think that we should hold stoutly to the things which are of perinial value to happiness. Regardless of how fast the tempo of life around us accelerates, let us keep time on our schedules to give a friendly greeting to the passerby; regardless of how much we have to do for ourselves; let us manage to help our friends when they need it; regardless of how cold the world may become to those principles which our homes and friends hold dear, let us never lose sight of the happiness that can be ours by following a humble and simple doctrine of chivalry. Quotable Quotes “THE QUESTION is more symbolic of the mod ern mood. We are here as inquirers; we try to find answers to many problems, great and small; and there is hardly a more inspiring enterprise than this. Cultivate also that which is represented by the exclamation point, namely, your capacity to wonder and admire.” Pres. C. M. McClelland of MacMurray College for Women punctuates his com ments with apt similes. “I am much impressed by the need for provid ing a broader education for all our professional men, whether they receive their higher degree from the faculty of arts and sciences or from one of our professional schools. I think the reform should start in the college, but the movement should not stop there. It seems to me those most concerned with liberalizing our higher education today should re gard the college and the profesisonal school years as one unit. Only thus, I believe, can we effective ly broaden and improve the education of our pro fessional graduates.” Harvard’s Pres. James Bry ant Conant believes there’s something wrong with today’s artificial divisions in higher education. “The chief hopes for the future lies in the cul tivation of human qualities of sound dispassionate thinking, calm judicial judgment, a sense of jus tice, a devotion to wide loyalties, and the will to create a better social order. It is in the university, if anywhere that the qualities may find the best opportunity for development.” Dr. George E. Vin cent, former president of the Rockefeller Founda tion, tells University of Chicagoans the future mean ing of higher education. —Associated Collegiate Press As the World Turns.. BY DR. AL B. NELSON TWO MILLION TONS of merchant shipping are being brought together at the orders of the Presi dent in order to get materials to the British. This includes about fifty oil tankers. The only catch in the arrangement is that none of these ships may go into the war zones to get the supplies to the points where needed. The War Department, under the direct orders of the President, has refused to renew the commission of General Hugh Johnson in the reserve. General Johnson has been a most outspoken critic of the President’s political policies. A serious move by Japan in the far east is generally expected in the next few weeks. This move may be against the Dutch East Indies, or Singapore but whatever Nelson the object of the attack the United States will be the only power in a position to act against the Japanese. Observers are generally agreed that Hitler is bringing pressure to bear on the Japanese to strike now in order to prevent Australia and New Zealand from sending additional aid for the defense of the Suez Canal and British possessions in North Africa and the Near East. Attorney General Gerald Mann is setting a splendid example for other office seekers. While campaigning for the United States Senate he is refusing to accept his salary from the State of Texas. It will be interesting to note whether other office holders follow his example. U. S. News Correspondents in Mexico state that Lindbergh’s speeches are widely quoted by Nazi agents there as proof that Germany is sure to win the war. A statement was made in the British House of Commons that Lindbergh’s speeches are a direct aid to Germany. The boasted German air power, with complete control of the air over the Greek ports, was un able to prevent the evacuation of the British Ex peditionary force and of thousands of Greek sol diers and civilian refugees. Film actress Gale Sondergaard is a daughter of a former University of Minnesota professor. Eighty-five per cent of June graduates at University of Texas plan to go to work, 10 per cent plan to marry, 5 per cent plan to return home. “Sis says she bets you wear Jong, red flannel underwear. Do va?" BACKWASH Bu George Fuermann "Backwash: An agitation resulting from some actien or occurrence.”—Webster The Way of Things . . . One of the best gags of the year was born early last week when a West ern Union messenger boy walked into Sbisa Hall, located a particu lar cadet and rendered a singing birthday telegram to the astonish ment of hundreds of eating students and to the dismay of the Aggie con cerned. Sung in the best W. U. manner to the tune of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” the mes senger prefixed his choral effort Fuermann with . “ rm sorr y I have to do this, but it’s what the message calls for.” . . . The sing ing birthday messages, incidentally, are quite a thing. As a general rule they are telephoned to the receiv er who is warned what is coming before the message is vocalized. For $1 extra, however, the mes senger calls in person to perform what is usually a thoroughly un appreciated act . . . Agriculture Dean E. J. Kyle has recently re ceived many requests from prom inent Texans to run for the last Senator Morris Sheppard’s post. Says the dean: “Fm no more inter ested in public office than I am in flying kites!” . Jack Shelton Jr., Aggie-ex who is now a flying ca det at Ontario, California, has more than a little to say concerning his experiences as an Air Corps fledg ling. “Most of the men here,” he writes, “are Texans and the first thing we are taught on arrival is that the capitol of Texas is not located at Austin—it’s at Ontario, California! There’s plenty of ex- Aggies here, too,” he adds . . . Although publicity on John Kim brough’s afier-graduation plans has been scarce of late, plans are be ing quietly pushed to book him coast-to-coast after July 15 as a master of ceremonies, a radio per sonality and an after-dinner speak er. Under the management of New York’s wealthy sportsman, Douglas Hertz, watch for Big Jawn to do a good job in every one of the fields. He’ll play football, too, of course. • • • Converted It was last Tuesday night that the incident occured as the Dallas- to-Houston bus arrived on the cam pus at 10 o’clock. From within an accordion could be heard playing Texas University’s alma mater, song, “The Eyes of Texas.” As the bus neared its stopping place at Aggieland Inn, the driver turned to the player and pointed out, “Now look, bud, if you want to get killed you’ve picked an easy way. My advice to you is to stop playing THAT song in a hurry.” An all-American optimist, the lad continued the song and, as the bus stopped, got off with an at tractive girl and circled the bus, still playing the Aggie-unpopular T. U. song. As he circled the bus he called- out to neai’by cadets, “Come on, follow me.” No one moved until a minute later when he stopped both the walking and playing. Woosh!—as if from nowhere more than a hundred Aggies sur rounded the radical. “Aren’t you on the wrong cam pus?” Senior Charles Duncan quiz zed. “And furthermore, don’t you know how to play the ‘Aggie War Hymn’?” “Like this?” the now thoroughly scared rebel asked as he nervously swung into the famed Aggie hymn. In an instant a roar went up from the cadets and the formerly tense bus-audience clapped in re lief. A few minutes later, as the bus left the campus, the “War Hymn” could still be heard as the now- converted musician became a Chris tian. Quizitis The college hospital’s nurses will tell you that “acute quizitis” is easily the most prevalent dis ease on the campus. The dread disease takes some queer turns, but queerest of the lot was the case of a Cavalry ju nior not so long ago. Entering the hospital shortly after 11 o’clock one night, the Ag gie told the nurse that he had sprained his ankle and wanted to go to bed, pointing to his left foot, which he was favoring with a limp. The nurse looked at the alleged injury, quickly saw that the cadet’s most serious grievance was quizitis, but decided to play ball with him. Taking him to one of the wards, she told him to undress and get in bed. He ditf so and was much put-out when he learned that his foot would have to be raised above his head throughout the night. “But that’s uncomfortable,” he protested. “1 know,” the nurse replied, “but it will make your foot get well much quicker.” Then came the pay-off. Not re membering which foot he had ori ginally favored, he held up his right limb as the one to be sus pended from the ceiling. “What’s this?” the nurse asked. “It was your left foot a few min utes ago.” “Oh,” the confused Aggie replied, “You see, I really sprained both ankles!” By Tom Vannoy Besides the extraordinarily good cinematic distractions on schedule for this weekend is the corps dance tonight from 9 till 12 in Sbisa Hall, with music by the Aggieland or chestra. With memories of the Cot ton Ball still fresh on our minds, we can say that the corps dance should rank among the season’s finest, and is well worth the price of admission. Appearing at the Assembly Hall three times today is LAND OF LIBERTY, a composite film of all the outstanding pictures concern ing our historical past. It is made up of 112 features and short sub jects. If you want to see a motion picture version of a glorified American history book, then this picture should be of interest to you. Incidentally, all profits made from this picture will be turned over to war emergency welfare work. “The Son of Monte Cristo” with Louis Hayward and Joan Bennett in the starring roles is to be shown at the Assembly Hall Monday and Tuesday at the customary hours. It’s a sequel to “The Count of Monte Cristo,” and concerns the freeing of a mythical country from the yoke of its dictator. A bit mushy in places, and displaying remarkable swordplay by the Count of Monte Cristo, Louis Hayward, when he rescues Joan Bennett from execution, the show is filled with romance and excitement. Of course, it has the usual happy ending when the villain is defeated in duel and Joan is rescued by her hero, the Count. A cleaned-up version of the long est-running play in theatrical his tory, “Tobacco Road” is showing for the last time today at the Campus. Bringing reminiscences of “The Grapes of Wrath,” it pre sents the earthy drama of dirt, malnutrition and moral decay among the Georgia backwoods people. Since the Hays office had to be satisfied, the film script was cleaned up considerably in com parison to that of the original play, and a few substitutions made for incidents in the plot. Charles Grapewin as “Jeeter Lester” plays a remarkably good character per formance. “Kitty Foyle,” the story of the American working-girl will be at the Campus for the midnight show . (Continued on Page 4) ASKEAVliLY HALL TODAY ONLY 6:45 & 8:30 P. M. 139 STARS! 1000 THRILLS! 15*f to 5 P. M. — 20^ After LAST DAY p cnnrru. THE MOTION PICTURE IND OF THE UNITE0 STATE LANE^ LIBERTY Cdited tut CECIL B. DeMILLE Five A. & M. Horses Are Sold to Mexicans A Percheron stallion and four Percheron fillies, all A. & M. stock, left College Station enroute to Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Monday night. The animals were bought from the college by R. B. Sada and Fidel Martinz of Monterrey, Mexico, who have private ranches at Nuevo Leon. The animals will be used in cross-breeding work with thorough breds. Also RUSS MORGAN’S ORCHESTRA - NEWS SPORTS Shows at 1:30 - 3:37 - 5:26 7:33 - 9:41 PREVUE SATURDAY SUNDAY - MONDAY Christopher Morley's Best-Seller! Ginger ROGERS ( KITTY FOYLE DENNIS MORGAN JAMES CRAIG RKO RADIO SUNDAY - MONDAY DOUBLE FEATURE No. 1 “Kitty Foyle” Shows at 1:00 - 4:18 - 7:36 No. 2 “Oh Johnny How You Can Love” Shows at 2:48 - 6:06 - 9:24 Presented by Motion Picture Industry of the United States Also SELECTED SHORTS MONDAY and TUESDAY 3:30 & 6:45 P. M. Edward Small present* t^SON °f MONTE CRISTO starring LOUIS HAYWARD JOAN BENNETT And SELECTED SHORTS WHATS SHOWING AT THE ASSEMBLY HALL Saturday 12:45, 6:45 & 8:30 —“LAND OF LIBERTY” with 139 stars and edited by Cecil B. DeMille. Monday, Tuesday 3:30 & 6:45—“THE SON OF MON TE CRISTO,” starring Louis Hayward, Joan Bennett, with George Sanders. AT THE CAMPUS Saturday — “TOBACCO ROAD,” with Charles Grape- win, Marjorie Rambeau, Gene Tierney, and William Tracy. Saturday night preview — “KITTY FOYLE,” starring Ginger Rogers, Dennis Mor gan, and James Craig. Sunday and Monday — “KITTY FOYLE.” Also “OH JOHNNY, HOW YOU CAN LOVE,” featuring Tom Brown, Peggy Moran, Allen Jenkins and Donald Meek. TIME FOR SPRING WEAR— Quality made slack suits will be worn by more this season. . . Matching- and Contrasting Patterns Excellent for summer school and off-duty wear —Let us help you dress for the warm weather ahead. THE EXCHANGE STORE CAMPUS 4 * r y t A A i » > 1 r | k ft V f » t f * I • k