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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1947)
Page Two THE BATTALION, College Station (Aggieland), Texas Tuesday, April 1, 1947 Facts Are Solid Things ... The first “extra” edition ever issued by The Battalion was circulated on the campus Saturday afternoon, carrying President Gilchrist’s answers to charges made by the veter ans. The single page was mimeographed immediately after the data was released, and was passed out for the informa tion of those students still on the campus. The “journalistic initiative” shown by the Battalion in being the first to publish the story was praised by visiting professional journalists. However, much to the Batt’s sur prise many students criticized the extra on the grounds that it gave Gilchrist’s side of the question! Any time the minds of students on this campus are so closed that they will refuse to listen to facts, and prefer ru mors and wishful thinking, it will be about time to close up the college. Fortunately, we believe that the majority of Aggies are still in favor of fair play, still want to know and face the facts, and are not trying to use fakery or unthinking prejudice to achieve their aims. The Battalion will continue to print FACTS, regardless of who they hurt. The Battalion will continue to refuse to print rumors, whispers, and insinuations unsupported by facts. By all means, let us get at the FACTS behind the pres ent unhappy situation. From both sides, let us demand FACTS, FACTS, FACTS An Open Letter... To the House-Senate Investigating Committee: You are the doctor. We are the patient. We hope you can find out what disease has snapped away the strength of A. & M. College. But we don’t think you’ll have an easy time doing it. Recent disturbances among the student body have been attributed to these widely-varied factors: 1. Attempts by the president to change the nature of the college (Say vets, cadets). 2. Refusal of the cadet corps and ex-cadet veterans to accept the abolition of hazing. (Says President Gilchrist). 3. Post-war reaction among veterans, immaturity of cadets. (Say some newspaper editorial writers). U. Agitation by outsiders, including a former col lege functionary. (Testimony before the board of directors). All of which suggests that there must be some funda mental disagreement over what type of educational institu tion A. & M. should be. Maybe if you legislators ask the various warring parties exactly what they believe A. & M. should be, you will be able to get at the truth behind the re cent fusses. Fair Play? ... One of the things Col. Meloy has stressed with his offi cers has been the rigid adherence to a policy of “fair play” in all dealing with cadets. A disgusting example of an abridgment of this policy was heard in the board meeting Friday afternoon, when senior cadets were called before the board to testify. Major Wayne Long, tactical officer of Dormitory 6, had seniors Bob Sanders and Dick Long called before the board to answer for charges and accusations made against the administration in the course of interviews conducted with them. What ever his motives in doing so, these facts came to light. The remarks made by Sanders were strictly “off the record”, after securing a solemn promise from Maj. Long that his criticisms would neither be used against him or be repeated. Maj. Long offered the feeble excuse that, hearing parts of their conversation repeated the next day in a lab period, he felt discharged from his promise. However, Sanders made no promise he would not re peat parts of the conversation, or did he have reason to. It was gratifying when board members, particularly ex- Aggie Tyree Bell, disclaimed Maj. Long’s actions in attempt ing to make the board a court of trial. It is serious business when cadets discover that a prom ise made by officers dealing with them can be broken at will and without just cause. Happy Eostre ... Hoiv much do you know about Easter? Perhaps you might have wondered how Easter got its name, why the lily is an Easter lily, when and for what reason bright colored eggs and pink-eared bunnies came to symbolize this feast, and why the sunrise service came to be. The name of Easter comes from Eostre, a Teutonic goddess, whose festival was celebrated in the spring. According to the legend, it was Eostre who opened the portals of Valhalla to receive the White God Baldur, because of his purity, and also the Sun God, because his brow supplied light to mankind. As the festival of Eostre was in celebration of the renewal of life in the Spring, there is no doubt but that the Church in its early days adopted the old pagan customs and gave the Christian meaning to them. It was easy to make it a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It was during the Civil War that many churches began to observe Easter. So many boys had been killed and so many homes were made desolate that the churches did their best to bring all consolation pos sible to the comfort of the bereaved. The Easter season was selected for reminding those widows, mothers, and orphans of the promise of resurrection in the story of the risen Christ. The custom of decorating the church with flowers for the Easter service has become general, and a Bermuda lily which blossoms in the Spring is used so largely that it has come to be known as the Easter hly. In ecclesiastical art the lion is a symbol of the resurrection. It was believed that the lioness brought forth her young dead, and that the lion brought them to life after three days by howling over them. The phoenix, a mythical Egyptian bird, is another symbol of the res urrection because it dies and lives again. ^VThe egg also came to be regarded as symbolic of the resurrection, as'it holds the seed of a new life. Originally eggs were associated with Easter because it was forbidden to eat them during Lent. Then on Easter they were served at the feast. Some say they were dyed red to suggest joyousness, but according to another theory the color was symbolic to the blood shed on Calvary. The egg as a symbol of new life is much older than Christianity, and the coloring of it at the spring festival is also of very ancient origin. The Egyptians, the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans ate them during the festival m early times. Today, children are told that the rabbit lays the Easter eggs which are sometimes hidden in meadows and gardens for the tots to find. This was adopted from the pagan custom of regarding the rabbit as an emblem of fertility, that is, of new life. Some people have a boiled ham for dinner on Easter without re alizing the origin of the custom. It is a survival of the ancient habit among the English of eating a gammon of bacon on that day to show empt for t ^ 10se w ho were not allowed to eat pork. It is said that this custom still survives in some parts of England. No doubt it was brought to this country by early settlers. . .. As for the origin of the Sunrise Service, there is a traditional belief that on Easter morning the sun dances and that those who rise in time can see it. HAPPY EASTER! Press Reactions . . . Let UN Rule Japan, Says MacArthur By A. D. Bruce, Jr. The MacArthur Doctrine of last week amounts to the flat declara tion that Japan is ready for a peace treaty; that delay would fur ther cripple the Japanese economy; that for some time after the treaty Japan would need both steering and protection — and that this might well be a job for U.N. Mac Arthur hinted at his guiding prin ciple when he said that the Jap anese, disarmed and with a new constitution renouncing war, “are relying upon the advanced spir ituality of the world to protect them. . .” Premier Yoshida cheered the statement that Japan was ready for a peace treaty, but deplored the idea of U.S. withdrawal after wards: “We are having battles with the Communists too, and we have a very dangerous enemy to the north. ... I am not acquainted with the strength of the United Nations.” ★ A majority of editorial com ment in the newspapers indicates a willingness to accept the judg ment of General McArthur. The most common reaction to his state ment as a whole is reflected in the comment of the Troy, N.Y., REC ORD, which says: “Until some one better qualified comes along. . . . General MacArthur will have to be accepted as the outstanding authority on Japan and the Jap anese people.” General MacArthur’s verdict is accepted by the Providence JOUR NAL although the paper adds that his statement about the “spiritual revolution” he says the Japanese have under-gone “may be overop- timistic.” In the Japanese people’s “amaz ing deference to the conqueror,” the ST. Louis GLOBE-DEMO CRAT finds justification for Gen eral MacArthurs “belief in Japan’s rfegenration.” His proposal to turn over control to the United Nations, it observes, “may seem curious at this time of dubious United Na tions prestige but it adds his en couraging affirmation that the world security organization can carry out an important assign ment.” ★ There are some editors who are skeptical over the General’s as sumption that Japan is ready for democracy. Some objection is raised to shifting Japan to the United Nations, for fear that this would open the way for Russian interference. The proposal is “interesting, and somewhat startling,” in the opin ion of the Lancaster, Pa, NEW ERA, but the paper questions “the wisdom of being in too much of a hurry to get out of Japan and let that nation open the red infil tration.” Although General MacArthur’s statement “serves notice that it is time to decide what is to be done about Japan,” the Williamsport, Pa., SUN notes “a skeptical re sponse” to his opinion and “some belief that MacArthur underesti mates the seriousness of Russian influence in Japan and overesti mates the extent to which the Jap anese have been converted to prac tical democracy.” It finds “more general acceptance of the conten tion that the economic blockade should be eased so that Japan can do more toward rehabilitating it self.” PENNY’S SERENADE W. L. Penberthy Easter is about here and to many of us it means a little vaca tion so we are looking forward to it with a lot of pleasure. The churches will be full on Eas ter Sunday be cause that is one of the Sundays in the year when many of the non - ch u r c h goers don their new Easter clothes and try to do a little catching up on their worship. There are special days set aside on the cal endar when honor is paid to dif- Penny : Letters to the Editor : War, Bosh! Dear Editor: To R. E. Scruggs, ’47, whose let ter to the editor appeared in the March 27 Batt: “Your views and opinions are asinine and shortsighed as were Chamberlain’s in 1938-39. That despicable group, the Communistic Underground, is certainly missing a pip of a potential disciple in ov erlooking you. You’re young, too; one might even say ‘infantile’.” FRED W. NELSON, ’44 Chief Clerk, Records Sec tion, Military Department. ★ Flunking Out! Dear Editor: I was delegate to the state con vention of the PTA held in Amar illo in November. Several npted educators spoke. It was brought to our attention the alarming fact that nine thousand of our Texas teachers are sub-standard. We were reminded that these teachers could not give our children the foundations they need for a col lege education. We were also reminded that the classes in a large number of our schools have many more students in them than the teachers can pos sibly do justice by. Many rural schools couldn’t even open this past year because of the teacher shortage. I have every reason to believe that this is the reason for so many freshmen in EVERY COLLEGE FAILING to make the grade and dropping out. I sincerely believe this was the real reason for the failure of many FISH to drop out at mid-term and not the over-publicized “hazing.” I, for one, hope the newspapers will stop playing up the A. & M. situation before they wreck the faith of our high school students who plan on enrolling in the great est school in the state. I have al ready heard several boys say they don’t know what to do now, since A. & M. is in such an uproar. They can’t decide where they should en roll for their college education. Wishing A. & M. the best al ways. Your sincerely, Mrs. V. M. Chandler, Fairbanks, Texas (Editor’s Note: The author, Mrs. V. M. Chandler, recently wrote the Houston Post “defend ing A. & M. Seniors”. Since that time she had many requests to send her letter to the Battalion. Instead, she shortened the Post letter, as printed above. Many thanks.) ★ Dear Editor: Here’s a suggestion to stop all the talk about the number of fresh men who flunk out here because of hazing— Get a report of the percentages of freshmen who flunk out of other colleges—land grant, private, co ed, or all male. The percentages of freshman failure in colleges that do not permit hazing will be as high as the percentage of failures of freshmen here at A. & M. Some schools are probably suffering a greater loss of frosh than we will ever experience—including the haz ing here. Report the facts as the other schools send in their figures, and watch the cry of “hazing-made- me-leave” die out. L. B. Tennison, Jr., ’43. ferent individuals or accasions. On Christmas we commemorate the birth of Christ, on Easter his res urrection. A day is set aside when we honor our mothers and another for the purpose of honoring our fathers. We have Thanksgiving and Independence Day just to name a few. When such a day arrives we give the honored one some very special attention and get a big thrill from doing it. However, an occasion such as this never passes that I do not think how fine it would be to spread a little atten tion out over ever day in the year instead of concentrating it in one day or a small period of time. I feel that the people who get the most out of life are those who put the most into life—each and every day. They live a fuller and richer life because they make it a point to pay honor to and show appreciation for the fine people and things in life and so when a spe cial day comes along they do not have to prepare for it—they just continue to do what they have been in the habit of doing each and ev ery day. In my book that is the ticket on which to travel. The Battalion The Battalion, official newspaper of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas and the City of College Station, is published tri-weekly and circulated on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons. Member Fbsocioted Gr>lle6iate Press Entered as second-class matter at Post Office at College Station, (Aggieland), Texas, nnder the Act of Congress of March 3, 1870. Subscription rate 4.00 per school year. Advertising rates on requeet. Represented nationally by National Advertising Service, Inc., at New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Allen Self Vick Lindley Charles E. Murray J. K. B. Nelson Corps Editor Veteran Editor Tuesda, Associate Editor Thursday Associate Editor Saturday Associate Editor Sports Editor David M. Seligman Paul Martin Larry Goodwyn, Andy Matula, Jack Goodloe, Dick Baker! Earl Grantl..Sports Writers WendeH McClure Advertising Manager Martin E. Crossly Circulation Manager Ferd B. English, Franklin Cleland, William Miller, Doyle Duncan Ben Schrader, Wm. K. Colville, Walter Lowe, Jr., Lester B. Gray, Jr., Carl C. Krueger, Jr., Mack T. Nolen ...Reporters THANKS, BILL As a student of the college an nex I would like to take this op portunity to express thanks to Mr. Bill Turner and the Singing Cadets for their delightful program pre sented last Tuesday evening at the Annex theater. The building was filled to capacity and every mem ber of the audience enjoyed the excellent selections. I think, and I am sure that the other students agree with my opinion, that Mr. Turner is doing a wonderful job of training his choir. It is a great asset to A. and M.; so, keep up the good work! A cordial invitation for a return visit is hereby extended. Here’s hoping that we will se you again soon. Sincerely, CLYDE E. ALY Y0«J,t r i f Ss 1 ■ • iliiMl ‘College Speaks’ Program for Week The College Speaks, radio pro gram heard over WTAW every week-day afternoon at 5:15 p.m., will present the following speakers fVn Q YUPP K * Wednesday, J. T. Hiirt, Light ning Calculators. Thursday, H. C. Mohr, Plant Dis eases. Friday, Paul Ballance, Library Review. Positions Abroad Numerous American and Foreign Firms are seeking College Men and Women to accept positions of Re sponsibility in the USA and in many Foreign countries. There are Administrative, Sales, Profes sional, Technical, Promotional, Ex ecutive, Aeronautical and other op portunities available. Starting salaries and Chances for Advance ment are especially encouraging. Our 1947 Copyrighted Listing shows clearly how and where to apply for the most profitable re sults. Student Price: One Dollar. Dept. J, BOSTON RESEARCH BUREAU 49 Walker Street Newton 60, Massachusetts QUEEN WED. and THURS. GENE TIERNEY in “LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN” Attention! A. & M. STUDENTS BRYAN College Avenue Baptist Church BRYAN — ON — Easter Sunday, April 6th One bus will leave a point two miles south of the college on Highway 6 at 9:00 a. m. Another bus will leave A. & M. Annex at 9:00 a. m. Both buses will arrive at the church in time for you to be 1 of 1,0(10 in attendance at Sunday School. Buses will be easily distinguished by signs bearing the name, “College Avenue Baptist Church” This Service is for Your Convenience! USE IT! WILBUR J. McDANIEL, Pastor DAVID F. BOSTON, Evangelist ^hish-sh-SH-SH If Ch Itis Moisturized"/ v \ >«. TV 7?!&r£ ££7729Z/ A v tv &MV/V£/n/a>&e/ 2 New Blend! New Taste! New Freshness! Made by the revolutionary new “903” moisturizing process. Beneficial moisture penetrates every tobacco leaf—gives you a smoother, milder, better t . smoke 1 Get new Raleigh “903” j Cigarettes today. Thr^ i ' C ° tine e 9'Ves nt ont S f fc*****- f NEW SHAVER GIVES “SIMPLEST SHAVES OF YOUR LIFE!" Special Offer Introduces New Enders Speed Shaver Now at Your Campus Store SAFER... SMOOTHER ...SWIFTER Mystic, Conn, pi* It’s here at last! | ' Today the Durham- IflP Enders Corp., an nounced the sim plest of all razors— the new Enders— the world’s most modern razor. It’s new in every way—but its big fea ture is its extreme simplicity. You simply click the blade in and shave. Only one piece, no moving parts, no extra “gadgets.” And it’s light in your hand, and swift and keen on your face. You get an extra smooth shave, an extra-safe shave, an extra-swift shave. Already chosen as “the razor of the airlines.” And here’s the offer: don’t risk a penny’ : Get the new Enders at your campus store —introduction price only 49^ with 5 double-thick deluxe speed blades. Your money back if Enders Shaving isn’t the swiftest and easiest in your life! Look for the special Enders offer next visit to your campus store. PALACE WT P K O M £ 2 • ft 8 7 Q BRYAN, TEXAS WED., THURS., FRL, and SATURDAY BOB HOPE in “MY FAVORITE BRUNETTE” Opens 1:00 p.m. Ph. 4-1181 TUESDAY ONLY! ‘RAIN” (A Re-issue) Starring JOAN CRAWFORD WED., and THURS. JOAN LESLIE “THE SKY’S THE LIMIT” — Also — A Pete Smith Specialty and “Goofy” FRIDAY and SATURDAY “To EACH HIS OWN” OPENS 1 p. m. DAILY TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY evuLoVTUwh ■}:i; ■ stoning Dorothy : Guy JlcGuire and Madison THURSDAY ONLY CHARUS R ROGERS *».»•«<. PAUL MUNI j ANNE ; BAXTER : * 1 ClAUDI a < RAINS m (M 6 Re!eat*d thru United Artists FRIDAY - SATURDAY Directed by FRED M. WILCOX Produced by ROBERT SISK SUNDAY-MONDAY DANNY KAYE in “THE KID FROM BROOKLYN”