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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 5, 1945)
PAGE 2- TRE BATTALION THURSDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 5, 1945 The Battalion STUDENT WEEKLY NEWSPAPER Office, Room 5, Administration Building. Telephone 4-5444 Texas A. & M. College The Battalion, official newspaper of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas and the City of College Station is published weekly, and circulated on Thursday afternoon. I BACKWASH Backwash: “An agitation resulting from some action or occurence.”—Webster. By Eli Barker In a bull session the other day, Entered as second class matter at the Post Office at College Station, Texas, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1870. Subscription rate $3.00 per school year. Advertising rates upon request. Represented nationally’ by National Advertising Service, Inc., at New York City, Chicago. Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Member Pbsociated Colie6iate Press Dick Goad Editor-in-Chief Ed Wendt Sport Editor L. H. Calahan Feature Editor Charlie Weinbaum Sports Writer Sam Nixon Sports Writer Allan Self Sports Writer R. F. Huston Sports Writer F. B. DeLafosse Sports Writer R. L. Bynes Intramural Editor Dick Dillingham N. ..N Intramural Writer J. B. Clark Staff Photographer Bill Withes Feature Writer Eli Barker Feature Writer G. K. Dugan Circulation Manager Reporters: J. L. Everett, Charles Kemp, R. E. Brafield. Well, old Army, did you get those Easter eggs this past week end? If you did, you bested me be cause I tried all Saturday, Sunday and Monday and didn’t get any thing at all. However, it seems that the girls at Tessie were doing their best and had teas, parties and egg hunts planned. Pretty good, don’t you think, Army? May be the wrong haunts were used this past holiday. It might be well to give Tessie a try a little more often. Let’s ask the “angels from heaven” what they think about it. * * * Easter is always the hardest holiday of the year to remember because it changes dates every year. Here are a few facts about it though that might be interest ing. The term Easter is derived from Ostara which is of Anglo- Saxon and Teutonic derivation and is the name of a divinity of spring of the ancient Normans. Today, it is an annual church celebration for the commemoration of Christ’s res urrection, and its date is deter mined in the following manner: “Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon that falls on or next after the vernal equinox (March 21 in the Gregorian calen dar); if the full moon happens on Sunday, Easter is celebrated one week later.” Now if we understood what the vernal equinox, the Gregorian calendar, and a few oth er terms were, we would really be educated. That’s why many of us don’t use an encyclopedia very often. We look up one term and we find it defined in five or six more terms which we don’t under stand. Learning seems to frighten someone mentioned various cruel personalities. Under this category comes the meanest man in the army, better known as the mess sergeant who breaks up ping pong balls in the powdered eggs so that the boys will think they have the real things. (Brother, is the read ing of this column going to take a nose dive after this issue). * * * Second year cadet: Fish Jones, it has been brought to my atten tion that you were seen pushing a wheelbarrow around at midnight in a very bad condition. What have you to say for yourself? Fish Jones: Nothing, sir. Second year cadet: Why was I not informed of this sooner? Fish Jones: You were in the wheelbarrow, sir. * * * April 21 is Aggie Muster day and again “The Aggie Muster Fol lows the Sun.” Wherever two Ag gies can get together, old times and the present times of the school will be discussed. At the present there is a record of the Muster held last year in the Student Ac tivities which everyone should see. As you read the letters about the Musters in the various parts of the world, you have a feeling of reverence for A. and M. and are proud that you are a part of the greatest fraternity in the world. * * * Many Musters were held last year in England, but the one held in London was reported in fine fashion by Colonel Norman A. Danges, ’27. He wrote that nearly 60 attended and “a keg of beer was opened and the discussions lasted from 5:30 to 11:30.” It sounds good to me. Well Done ... Mr. Chatham It has been observed many times that institutions are but the lengthening- shadows of individuals and in the case of R. K. Chatham, who retired from the active management of the Exchange Store on April 1, this statement is re emphasized. After a third of a century of outstanding serv ice both to the College and the students this fine man has brought his activities with the store to an end. Beginning with only an idea and a willingness to work unceasingly, Mr. Chatham has done outstanding work in starting with a thou sand dollar debt and now leaving the college with a quarter million dollar institution. Not only the students but the en tire community is benefited by Mr. Chatham’s untiring ef forts with his work. Certain principles always underlie any success story. In the long career of Mr. Chatham not the least of these principles was his strict preference for the finest merchan dise from nationally known firms that he could secure for his patrons. He can always remember with deserving pride that his customers had the best available for them. Also included in his achievements is the magnificent, modern building in which the store now operates. The mod ern fixtures and the ever present supply of well known mer chandise—all these relate the success and efforts of the re tiring manager. For thirty-six years, quite a long time out of the life of any man, he has worked with only one goal in mind, better, more efficient Exchange Store for both the students and the entire community. And he can rightfully feel that he has richly contributed to the Texas A. & M. of the future, when he reflects on all that he is leaving his suc cessor in the form of a thriving concern well worth a quar ter million dollars. us. PENNY’S SERENADE You have worked unceasingly and unselfishly for the benefit of your patrons and your community and you have rendered outstanding service to the College, Mr. Chatham. You retire with our heartfelt thanks of your community and the many other friends who have come to know you and appreciate your work through the years. On the occasion of your retirement, The Battalion and its entire management and staff joins with many others in wishing you many happy years. Well done, Mr. Chatham. “A Harvard medical professor asserts a child as a rule should be six years old before his tonsils or adenoids are re moved.” That’s also a good age to operate on junior for the improvement of his disposition. “Pennsylvania State college is offering a correspondence course in rabbit care.” Wonder if the first requirement isn’t to be able to read and write rabbit scratchings ? Seldom does the one who really needs advise ask for it. Those who complain are pitied. Those who do not com plain are admired. m By W. L. Penberthy I always get a kick out of visiting other institutions to see what they are doing in my particular ' field and in other fields in which I am in terested. On these visits I always get several ideas that are very use ful to us in our work here and oc casionally I can pass along an idea that is work ing well with us at our institution. Penberthy It is thru this exchange of ideas that we grow and become better friends. One of the most encouraging statements I ever heard is: “That a man can accomplish just about anything he sets out to do if he is sufficiently interested and willing to work hard enough.” I have noticed that this is very true. The people who are doing a good job in their respective fields are those who are interested, enthu- suastic and hard working. I can think of nothing worse than the punishment of having to work day after day in a job that fails to command our interest. Very few jobs are done well without enthusiasm and I don’t know of any that are fulfilled effectively without hard work. Whenever I see any person or group of people hard at work at their job, I figure they are doing a fine piece of work and I can always learn plenty from that in dividual or group. Yes, I think there is still plenty of truth in the saying that “Success is one percent inspiration and ninety- nine per cent perspiration.” Complaining because you have no shoes? What if you had no feet? Nothing is belived more than what we know least. S£^f)GGIE9 IN ACTION.. f IGHTIN' TEXAS AGGIES' CLASS OF 1945 S/Sgt. Vernon G. Hunt is at McCloskey General Hospital re covering from wounds received in Italy last October. He holds the DFC for heroism in action there. 1st. Lieut. David Pat Hunt has received the DFC with one cluster and also has the Air Medal with eight clusters. He has received three Presidential citations. S 1/c Melvin Neil Pomerantz was top honor man of the recently grad uated Fire Control School class at the U. S. Naval Training Cen ter, San Diego, Calif., with an average of 94.7. He topped all his shipmates. He is now slated to attend the midshipman school at Columbia University. Lt. Eu gene F. Howard is in a Bomber Squadron somewhere in England. Lt. Harlan T. Flynn has been awarded the Combat Infantry man’s Medal and two Bronze Star Medals. Calvin Brumley, Battalion Editor last year, after receiving his degree in February, went to work for the Globe-News Publish ing Co., Amarillo. He writes that he is enjoying newspaper work immensely. Cadet Robert M. Low ry is at the U. S. military Academy, West Point, N. Y. Marine Pfc. Jay E. Fry has been awarded the Pur ple Heart for wounds received in the Guam campaign. CLASS OF 1946 Bernard W. Levy is employed as Test Engineer for the General Electric Co. at Schenectady, N. Y. Lt. Carter F. Newton has returned to the States after completing his missions as navigator of a B-17. Pfc. John M. Ryan has been missing in action since the early part of December. Lt. Troy Searcy, of the USAAF, has been missing in ac tion over Germany since January 21. Lt. W. E. Holmgreen recently graduated from the twin-engine advanced flying school at Marfa, Texas, and is now stationed at Las Vegas, Nevada. Sgt. Kenneth J. Higgins was recently awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achieve ment in aerial flight in sustained operational activities against the enemy. C/M Fred Hasdorff has returned to the United States af ter sea duty in the Pacific, Atlan tic, and Mediterranean-Middle East war zones, and is taking advanced training at the Merchant Marine Academy at King’s Point, L. I. CLASS OF 1947 Bernard Homer, who is in the Navy V-12 unit at Southwestern University, will soon leave there to enter the Navy R. O. T. C. at another college or university. Pfc. John Regan is somewhere in Italy with the American Ground Forces. M. A. O’Brien and Billy Wooldridge are with the Alaska communica tions system in Seattle, Washing ton. Robert Noble is with an En gineering outfit somewhere in the War Manpower legislation to draft civilian labor has been de cisively defeated in the Senate by a vote of 46 to 29. This action was taken after War Mobilization Di- rec tor “Jimmy” Byrnes practical ly admitted that the main effect of the bill would be felt after the war is over. Byrnes has re signed his post and his resigna tion has been ac cepted. Senate Nelson critics contended that it is wrong for Byrnes to quit his job and yet ask that others be drafted to hold them in their jobs. A group of combat veterans of the present war have been denied a paper quota in order to estab lish a paper of their own, accord ing to Commentator Upton Close, while the same W. P. B. officials gave a paper allotment to Nazi war prisoners in order that they may publish a German language paper of their own and under their European Theatre of Operations. Rene Rossi has recently been dis charged from tjie Marine Corps. Thomas R. Joseph, stationed at Bainbridge, Maryland, reports others at that station are Ed Set- tigrew, Dick Engdahl and L. B. Dollens, class of 1946. Charley L. (Jerry) Dobbs, Jr., is an A/S in the U. S. NN. R. Farrar B. Wit ten, Jr., S 3c, is at the United States Naval .Training Center at Great Lakes, Illinois. own editorship. If actions of this type are publicized widely enough they will bring down universal condemnation upon the heads of the W. P. B. officials. A recently revealed news item shows positively that the new “Polish Government” is mere cam ouflage for Russian control. This item shows that the Publicity Agent of the Polish Government takes his orders direct from Mos cow instead of Poland. Russia requested that the “Pol ish government” (the Russian con trolled Poles, of course) be given representation at the San Fran cisco conference later this month. This proposition was turned down immediately by both the United States and the British Government. The Russians have remained neutral in regard to our war with Japan but they are training ex perts in eastern affairs and are constantly interfering in the af fairs of China, the communists of China have interfered with Chinese prosecution of the war against Ja pan, and have been supported by the Russians. Without much doubt the Russian government intends to demand a big say in far eastern affairs after the United States and England have done all the work of the conquest of Japan. “Feather-Bedding” is strongly opposed by the American people, as shown by the latest Gallup Poll. “Feather-Bedding” is the very descriptive word used to indicate the Union Labor practice of com pelling an employer to employ more men than are needed for the work in hand. By Edna Woods Among other holidays celebrated in March and April are two, Texas Independence Day, March 2nd, and San Jecinto Day, April 21, which are celebrated only by Texans. In keeping with the season, faculty members from four departments were asked to comment on a book about Texas or on a Texas author. One of the easiest ways to start an argument among a group of Texas historians is to state that a particular book is the best book on Texas. This fact is easily under stood, for there are many good books on Texas. My choice for the best Texas book is Eugene C. Bar ker’s Life of Stephen F. Austin. This biography meets every re quirement of good scholarship. It is detailed, thoroughly accurate, and remarkably complete. The re search was so carefully done that no new fact of importance con cerning Austin’s life and work has come to light in the twenty years since the biography was pub lished. The style is dignified and considerably above the popular lev el, Austin was associated with al most every move of importance between 1821 and 1836, and all of the events which touched him are fully and carefully covered in this study. Austin is one of the great non-military characters of Amer ica, and is worthy of this excellent biography. The book has never been, and was not intended to be a best seller. This biography of the MEMORY LANE ONE YEAR AGO: General: Fernando Lopez named head of the Latin-American Club . . . Jolene Proctor and Bob Lay- ton attend T. U. Dound-Up i . . Kit Reid’s Orchestra plays for Freshman Ball, announces Robert Patton, class president. Sports: Tassos to throw disuess at T. U. Round-Up . . . Bill Elliott and Reed Stewart leave Aggie cagers for service with Uncle Sam. . . . H. H. Pringle, S. H. Rider and “Red” Hart to partici pate in Texas relays .. . . Turner and Fretz mounders for Aggie baseball squad.. Showing: “Find the Blackmail er” at Guion, and “Sun Valley Sere nade” with John Payne and Sonja Henie at the Campus. greatest Texan is also an excellent biography of American Texas from settlement to independence. —Dr. Ralph W. Steen, Department of History. At first glance there may seem to be two J. Frank (Pancho) Do- bies: the one, a vitriolic critic of the “Texas Regulars,” and the “fascist-minded regents, oil mil lionaires, corporation lawyers, lob byists, and medical politicians;” the other, a shrewdly humorous wri ter of Texiana ,a cowboy professor of English at the University. Dobie returned in late 1944 from a year at Cambridge as Lecturer on American History and Civiliza tion to find the University battling its regents over issued complicated by a split between liberal and con servative Democrats. He promptly erupted in print through inter views and his Sunday column reg ularly published in many Texas papers which, however they dis agree with Dobie, still recognize good copy when they have it thrust upon them. Since then he has broad ened the field to take on Weaver Moore and his “white man’s party bill” while continuing his attacks on the regents whose self-professed “era of tranquility” will be (see Dobie for details) “as tranquil as a henhouse full of setting hens” and will require a faculty of “belly- crawlers hired for two-bits a doz en, neat little Lavals, obliging Quislings, mush-mouthed bootlick ers to a lobbyist who palms off slickness as virtue.” The second Dobie—I judge from the record of library withdrawals— is more familiar to our students. Born in 1888 on a ranch in Live Oak County, Dobie knew intimately the people of the Longhorn and vaquero tradition. In publications of the Texas Folk-Lore Society and in many books he has recorded the legends of Texas—the stories of buried treasure and the treasure hunters (Coronado’s Children 1931, Apache Gold and Yaqui Silver 1939) of the brushriders of Southwest Texas (A Vaquero of the Brush Country 1929), of “cunning coyotes, Box Office Opens at 1 P.M. Closes at 8:30 Phone 4-1166 matchless mustangs, gigantic bears, phantom stampedes, and daring riders” (On the Open Range 1931, Tales of the Mustangs 1936). More recently he has com memorated the fabulous animal that generated the cowboys, the animal whose bones littered the Chisholm Trail, whose hide, tallow, and meat supported the once-thriv ing harbors and salt packeries of the Gulf Coast (The Longhorns 1941). How may we reconcile the two Dobies—the political critic and the professor whose cowboy boots and ten-gallon hat must have startled the Englishman he found so con genial ? In the current issue of The American Mercury Dobie com plains that the business man’s government has made sour and bar ren our national life “instead of adding sweetness and warmth and grace—making it more fluid.” Man’s greatest possible happiness, he says, is “to become civilized, to know the pageant of the past, to love the beautiful, to have just ideas of values and proportions, and then—to live in a wilderness of good grass, timber, water, and wild life.” The wilderness to which Dobie’s books so nostalgically turn is one forever, but Dobie himself remains to challenge our machine civilization to create a culture more completely satisfying to the descendents of free men. —Dr. N. A. Varvel, Department of Psycholo gy- (These reviews of Texas books and notes about Texas authors will continue in next week’s column.) Mrs. Paul W. Switzer of Dodge City, Kansas, was a campus visitor for the Easter holidays. * * * Dan McGurk, president of the Senior Class, will leave today for Austin to attend the annual Tex as Round-Up. He wil act as official escort to Miss Vicki Moran, TSCW co-ed, who was selected as the Sweetheart of A. & M. S s r.9c & 20c Tax Included FRIDAY & SATURDAY ... Double Feature •»»«»<■• ••»«£>■• ••>».<»<- GUION HALL FIVE YEARS AGO: General: R. E. Nisbet named head of Battalion, Ernest Keeton elected head yell leader, and Tom Gillis named junior representative on Student Publications board .. . . . James A. Farley arrives on campus. . . . Shep Fields’ Orches tra visits A. & M. . . . Hal Mose ley wins award in Architectural sketching. Sports: Charlie Stevenson pitch es for Aggies in T. C. U. game . . “Bama” Smith leads Aggie track- sters Warren Pendleton and Jimmie Cozinos meet University of Texas Boxing Club soon. Showing: Bette Davis in “Dark Victory” at Assembly Hall, and “The Grapes of Wrath” at the Palace. TEN YEARS AGO: General: G. E. Wyse and T. K. Erwin win debates with Florida students .... W. A. Moseley named king of Cotton Pageant. . . Sam Cooper weds Houston girl. . . . Bruno Hockmuth represents A. & M. at T. U. Round-Up. . . . D. L. Tisinger heads Battalion for semes ter. Sports: Jack Mooty named cap tain of Aggie baseballers . . . Bill Alexander ties with Rice for first place in pole vault at T. U. . . W. S. Sinclair leads Aggie tankmen in T. U. event. . . T. H. Guerdrum high point man on Aggie rifle team. Showing: “Life Begins at 40” playing at the Palace, and “Kid Millions” at the Assembly Hall. FIFTEEN YEARS AGO: General: Day McNeel named Captain of Ross Volunteers. . . J. E. Gaston and W. O. Alexander make up Aggie debate team. . . E. E. Roberts wins medal in Architec ture contest. . . Tommy Marlin nomed head of Sophomore class. Sports: Haws will pitch and Gar vey will do the catching when Ag gies open baseball conference with Baylor. . . . W. H. Meyers named head of Rifle Team. . . Rufus Em mons heads Aggie track team at T. U. Meet. . . . Dan Humason leads Aggies in swim meet. Showing: Victor McLaglen and Marlene Dietrich in “Dishonord” at the Palace. They’re Hula-Happy! They’re Conga-Cuckoo! They’re Rhumba-Riotous! sim LAUREL iuvei HARD! \fH gancmo Vbsfeh with [RUDY MARSHALL if 1 Robert Bailey •Matt Briggs pi Margaret Dumont‘Allan Lane /Ji Directed by WILLIS GOLDBECK Saturday 9:30 Prevue, Also Tuesday - Wednesday Sunday and Monday Thursday No Greater Love! starring IRENE DUNNE A CLARENCE BROWN Production tit ALAN MARSHAL Roddy McDOWALL* Frank MORGAN VAN JOHNSON . C. AUBREY SMITH, DAME MAY WHITTY GLADYS COOPER Also Passing Parade ‘IMMORTAL BLACKSMITH’ WALTER WANGER’S SPECTACULAR TRIUMPH , inspimi ir me mr;ne mwnmiLtii. j "ith £ RICHARD QUINE I ANNEGWYNNE | NOAH BEERY, JR. Martha O’DRISCOLL HARRY DAVtNPORT WILLIAM FRAWLIY M EDGAR BARRIER BOB MITCHUM j BILL STERN 0f RADIOS THRILLING ARMY HOUR ^ Reilly R-e-Nick Grind. Screen Play, Norman Ke,ny ^WvlRSAI. PICTURf Also Cartoon and Latest News