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
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