The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, June 10, 1947, Image 2

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    Battalion
EDITORIALS
Page 2
TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 1947
Moore Fights A. & M.
W. T. Moore
There ap
pears to be a
group of busi-
nessmen in
Bryan who be
lieve that Tex
as A. & M. Col
lege should be
operated for
their person
al welfare and
benefit.
Although The
Battalion had
suspected this
for several
months, the
whole issue be
came clear
when, in the
Texas Legisla
ture, Represen
tative W. T.
Moore of Bra
zos County, an A. and M. graduate, opposed
the establishment of an A. and M. summer
school at Junction in Kimball County. He
based his fight on the feeble ground of not
wanting to scatter A. and M. all over the
state, saying further that ex-students were
against it.
Every man is entitled to his own opinion
on any subject, but when he would deny to
others the opportunity to receive an educa
tion, we say that it is time for the cold light
of truth to be cast upon him. We don’t
know what excuse Representative Moore has
to offer for his action. Basically there can
be no excuse, for he has placed his services
at the disposal of a small group of Bryan
businessmen who want the A. and M. Col
lege operated for their own personal aggran
dizement.
Representative Moore, on the floor of the
House of Representatives, admitted that he
was not representing the A. and M. College.
This fact is obvious now, even to the unin
formed.
Representative Moore further charged
that the A. and M. ex-students opposed the
school at Junction. The Battalion, in all hu
mility, would like to know who gave Repre
sentative Moore authority to speak for the
Former Students Association. We know that
the Junction school is being actively suppor
ted by many A. and M. men and their fam
ilies. Mind you, we didn’t say “all” A. and
M. men.
As we see it, this group of Bryan mer
chants has been unable to dictate to Presi
dent Gilchrist. Consequently they have de
cided that he must go. After seeing their
carefully laid plans go awry during the leg
islative investigation, this Bryan clique, in
a last desperate effort, tried to get the A.
and M. appropriation cut.
Yes, that’s right! They were will
ing to see your education and mine sac
rificed in an effort to have their way.
When their attempt at cutting Aggie ap
propriations failed in the main, they decided
to try to embarass the President by opposing
the Junction school. Not only would they
embarrass the President, but also they would
be sure that students of A. and M. College
spend their money in Brazos County.
This is truly clear thinking on the part
of the Bryan group, but very short-sighted.
Gentlemen, we want to ask you and Repre
sentative Moore just whether you think A.
and M. students are entitled to pleasant liv
ing conditions when they take geology and
civil engineering field trips during the sum
mer.
Is there any valid reason why A. and M.
College cannot have branches scattered over
the state, as long as the school provides edu
cational facilities that are needed ? Can you
oppose this on any sound basis?
We do not believe that this action re
flects the thinking of any large number of
Bryan businessmen. It is the work of a few,
who in the words of another Aggie Legisla
tor, “are in need of rehabilitation.”
‘No Basis for Charges 9 — Majority Report
Here’s What We Believe ...
We believe that freedom of the press,
about which we hear so much these days, is
a trust, an obligation. It is not a right or
privilege conferred on the man or group of
men who own or publish a newspaper. Free
dom of the press is a right qf the people,
their right to know what goes on as accur
ately as human intelligence can report it.
The Battalion is only the trustee of that
right for you.
In our news columns we try to be objec
tive. We endeavor to get both sides of every
story and give every person who has a case
the opportunity to state it. In our news col
umns we have but one purpose, and that is
to print all the facts that can be ascertained.
In our editorial column we strive to win
people to our way of thinking by marshalling
Science and Women
Whether they are large or small, trans
parent or opaque, or never satisfied, women
are all the same. However, everyone has
his own idea.
Farbeit for scientists to be outdone and
become too engrossed in Bunsen Burners,
formaldehyde-soaked frogs, or atomic bombs,
they too have their idea of woman. Since
summer school finds that feminine touch on
the campus, the Batt feels it advisable to re
print “the chemical nature of woman”, which
appeared in the Texas Academy of Science
Collegiate Academy official publication.
Here it is, for better or worse:
CHEMICAL NATURE OF WOMAN
This element called woman is a member
of the human family and it has been assign
ed the chemical symbol Wo. The accepted
atomic weight is 120, although a number of
isotopes have been identified having weights
ranging from 95 to 400.
Occurrence: It is abundant in nature;
found in the free or combined states, usually
associated with men.
Physical properties: A number of allo-
tropic forms have been observed. Their den
sity, transparency, color, boiling and melting
points vary within wide limits The color
exhibited by many specimens is a surface
phenomenon and is usually due to more or
less closely adhering powder.
Chemical properties: Absorbs, without
dissolving in, a number of liquids, the activ
ity being greatly increased by alcohol. Ab
sorbs seemingly unlimited quantities of ex-
our facts and appealing tp their
through logic rather than by appealing to r Rt^^'
their prejudices, emotions, or hysteria.
We try to make honesty, sincerity, and
common sense the guiding principles of our
comment in editorials. The Battalion has
never tied itself to the fortunes of political
organizations nor to the fortunes of men. It
is interested only in principles.
In our editorial arguments we try to be
persuasive, not abusive. We want to con
vince our readers, not try to browbeat them.
Yet when indignation is called for, we pull
no punches.
We believe in life and assail those who
would deny or degrade it; we believe in truth
and combat those who would suppress
distort it.
«r
pensive foods. Some varieties catalyze this
food into fat in accordance with the formula:
PV equals RT. Many naturally occurring va
rieties of Wo are highly magnetic; in gen
eral, the magnetism varies inversely with
the density and size, directly with the square
of the valence, and inversely with the cube
of the age. Some varieties tend to form an-
ne-ions; others form cat-ions. Their ionic
migrations vary widely. All varieties ex
hibit great affinity for silver, gold, and plat
inum and for precious stones in both chain
and ring structures. The valence toward
these substances is high and its study is
complicated by the fact that the residual val
ence is never satisfied. Many stable and un
stable unions have been described—the latter
in the daily press. Some varieties, being
highly explosive, are exceedingly dangerous
in inexperienced hands. In general they tend
to explode spontaneously when left alone by
man temporarily. The application of pres
sure to different specimens of Wo produces
such a variety of results as to defy the Prin
ciple of LeChatelier.
Uses: Highly ornamental. Wide appli
cation in the arts and domestic sciences. Acts
as a positive or negative catalyst in the pro
duction of fever, as the case may be. Useful
as a tonic in the alleviation of sickness, low
spirits, etc. Efficient as a cleaning agent.
Equalizes the distribution of wealth. Prob
ably the best (income) reducing agent
known.”
Tip to the wise: Beware of those with
high boiling points!
The Battalion
The Battalion, official newspaper of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas and the City of
College Station, Texas, is published tri-weekly and circulated on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday after
noons, except during the summer when it is published semi-weekly. Subscription rate $4 per school year.
Advertising rates furnished on request.
Entered as second-class matter at Post
Office at College Station, Texas, under the
Act of Congress of March 3, 1870.
, Member ^
Pissocided Cblleftkie Press
Represented nationally by National Ad
vertising Service, Inc., at New York City,
Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
Charlie Murray Editor
David M. Seligman Associate Editor
Richard I. Alterman Managing Editor
Claude Buntyn, E. C. Hord Reporters
Don Bngelking Sports Editor
Bill Brown, Maurice Howell Advertising Managers
D. W. Springer Circulation Manager
Ivan Yantis .Roving Correspondent
(Continued from Page 1)
It was thought that by proper lead
ership and the personal popularity
of the person chosen to fill the of
fice that the violations of the pe
nal laws of Texas could be prevent
ed. This effort failed, thus neces
sitating the adoption of a different
method.
As to the cost of administering
the office of Dean of Men, 1946-
1947, as compared with the cost of
the Commandant’s office, 19 4 4-
1945, the evidence showed that the
Commandant’s office expended
$35,197.52 for an enrollment of
2,157 students, while the same
functions were performed by the
Dean of Men’s office in the 1946-
1947 year at a cost of $42,045.00
with an enrollment of 8,663 stu
dents. Additional duties, however,
were assigned the office of the
Dean of Men, and its enlarged ac
tivities necessarily resulted in in
creased expenditures for such ad
ditional services which amounted
to $67,594.66, as shown by the
official audit reports.
Passing, next, to the sp'ecific
queries posed by the Veteran
Students Association, they are
taken in the order presented.
The first relates to the $200,-
000.00 fund purportedly establish
ed in 1943 for the purpose of erect
ing a new Science Hall. The evi
dence showed that $200,000.00 was
set apart in September, 1940, for a
building of which $140,000.00 was
out of local funds and $60,000.00
from Pure Feed Funds. The ad
vent of war precluded the acquis
ition of building materials, and in
July 1945, some $70,000.00 was
transferred out of this fund by the
Board to pay current expenses
pending payment of fees by the
Veterans Administration, and three
months later the Board transferred
the remaining $70,000.00 of the lo
cal funds to the student recreation
account. In May 1946, the $60,-
000.00 was returned to the Pure
Feed Fund for operating and re
search purposes. At the same time
$275,000.00 was added to the Phy
sical Plant Fund and remains avail
able for the construction of the
proposed building when materials
are available in quantity.
The next concerned the purchase
of a farm in Brazos River Bottom
for about $78.00 per acre. The
purchase of the farm was author
ized by a divided Board, upon the
recommendation and insistence of
Dean E. J. Kyle on January 8,
1944, prior to the appointment of
Mr. Gilchrist as President. A ma
jority of the present Board were
not members at the time. How
ever, the 'evidence showed that the
price paid was the fair market
value at thi time and that it could
be sold now at a profit at prevail
ing prices. . . ; _
the Exchan^g
Store for ^146 was approximately
$54,000.00, for about 15%, on a
gross business of over $360,000.00
which is ndj. excessive. This was
accounted fory among other things,
by the magnitude of the operation,
the increased enrollment, the fast
turn-over of goods and merchan
dise, and the efficiency of opera
tion. The evidence was conflict
ing in a few minor instances as to
the prices of similar items in other
stores in the vicinity, although, in
the main, they were shown to be
from comparable to a little less in
instances.
It was also brought out in this
connection that it was necessary to
maintain a large reserve because
of the long wait for reimburse
ment from the Federal Government
for books and supplies furnished
free of charge to the veterans, most
of whom returned to school in late
1945 and early 1946, and to main
tain a safe operating margin in
accordance with approved business
practices. The disposition of the
profits, under the recommendation
of the aforesaid Council complete
ly accounted therefor. The Presi
dent and the Comptroller testified
that they thought with last year’s
experience the store could be op
erated on a smaller margin in the
future, since last year afforded the
first big scale operation and gener
al economic conditions might be
different.
Concerning the wind tunnel the
only credible evidence showed that
one Dr. Potter made a recommen
dation to the Board on October 10,
1942 suggesting an expenditure of
from $15,000.00 to $25,000.00 for
limited instructional purposes—not
for the construction and equipping
same. This, he suggested, should
be nearer a million dollars. The
former President, Mr. T. O. Wal
ton, disregarded the recommenda
tion entirely and obtained approv
al of an appropriation from the
Legislature in 1943 of $60,000.00
for a wind-tunnel. Unavailability
of electric motors has thus far
prevented its completion and use.
Incidentally, it also appeared that
Dr. Potter is a Mechanical Engi-
ner rather than an Aeronautical
Engineer, who might be better
qualified to discuss the subject.
The present administration had
very little, if anything at all, to do
with the obtaining of funds for the
wind tunnel, but is exerting every
effort to put it into operation for
the benefit of the boys of Texas.
The evidence is uncontradicted
that the Federal Government did
not and has not at any time, offer
ed or tendered Bryan Army Air
Field as a gift for the use of the
Aeronautical Engineering Depart
ment of A. & M. College.
A tenure system exists at the
College with full right of appeal
for aggrieved faculty members.
This bit of misinformation was
supplied to the Veteran Students
Association by one Dr. F. B.
Clark, whose incoherent state
ments and irrational assertions
only served to accentuate his ,
mental declination.
The testimony was uncontradic
ted to the effect that the School
of Veterinary Medicine had not
been removed from the list of
schools approved by the Associa
tion of American Veterinary
Schools. Neither had its work de
teriorated, although filled to its
capacity of 64 students and despite
the crowded conditions and the in
creased cost of maintenance of
clinical material.
The Department of Chemistry
was removed in December 1946
from the list approved by the
American Chemistry Society.
The circumstances of its re
moval are somewhat vague, but
steps have been and are being
taken to regain the recognition.
It is not believed, however, the
character or quality of the work
and courses taught have, in any
way, disintegrated.
The failure of the Cadet Corps
to earn the Blue Star rating for
military efficiency, while regret
table, was not altogether unexpec
ted. The Corps, which has always
had and enjoyed a most enviable
military history, was seriously af
fected during the recent armed
conflict by reason of depleted num
bers and unavailability of quali
fied instructors who were in the
service of their country. However,
the informal inspection report
made by officers of the 4th Army
Headquarters under the command
of General “Tex” Wainwright made
on February 4, 1947 indicated the
present excellent condition of Corps
equipment and personnel and it is
believed that an early restoration
of the award will be forthcoming,
because of recent fine showings of
the Cadets.
The personality of the Presi
dent has evoked much comment
although his integrity, his hon
or, his motives and his ability
and efficiency have not been suc
cessfully attacked. Some vague
rambling statements were made
to the effect that he was and is
inaccessible to faculty and to stu
dents; however, there is no evi
dence that any one was ever de
nied an audience or interview,
but on the contrary any person
who so desired was granted as
much time as required.
The record reflects the sworn
testimony of the eight members of
the Board to the effect that the
President is carrying out their in
structions and directions and that
the Board is backing him 100% in
his efforts. One or more of the
members of the Board recently ap
pointed testified that they accepted
the responsibility fully realizing
the existing conditions and that
they believed it to be their sworn
duty to stop hazing practices de
nounced by law. Their motives
cannot be successfully questioned.
In the final analysis of the
situation, the entire controversy
-peems to resolve itself into the
question whether the legally con
stituted authorities shall contin
ue to conduct the affairs of the
school or shall a small segement
of students, misguided, perhaps,
and misinformed, encouraged by
outside influences contributing to
their discontent, be permitted to
force a complete breakdown of
discipline and take over the run
ning of the institution.
The conclusion is inescapable,
from the overwhelming weight of
credible testimony, that the prin
cipal factor which precipitated the
student rebellion was the announced
determination of the Board of Dir
ectors on January 11, 1947 to com
ply with their constitutional oaths
and enforce the criminal laws of
this State prohibiting hazing prac
tices in the school. It is apparent
that this fact was seized upon by
disappointed, disgruntled and de
signing persons as the avenue, to
discredit the school administration.
Unfortunately, the officers of
the Veteran Students Association,
some of whom were former Cadets,
were in the forefront of the rebel
lion against constituted authority
which originated in the Cadet
Corps, in the name of the preserv
ation of “the spirit and traditions
of Aggieland” and to demand the
wholesale resignation of the Board
of Directors and the summary dis
charge of the President.
The exploitation of this small
minority of misguided youths is
all the more reprehensible because
of the peculiar positions occupied
by those non-students engaged in
abetting the unrest by maintaining
“secret or private files” purporting
to contain factual information. The
belittling, to immature minds, of
“constituted authority” by Mr. T.
O. Walton, was an extremely un
fortunate, not to say deplorable,
thing. Its effect on the future
conduct of those immature students
cannot be calculated at this time.
Defiance of duly constituted auth
ority in our schools will breed a
contempt for law and order in later
life.
It was definitely proved that
many of the practices indulged in
by the student body, charitably
termed “hazing”, were of an ex
tremely cruel and inhuman nature
and of comparatively recent origin
and were definitely never a part of
the finer and more cherished tra
ditions of the institution. In fact,
such practices and innovations were
unheard of as recently as the early
part of this decade and were, of
course, unknown a generation ago.
The testimony is conclusive to
the effect that a large number of
students retired or withdrew from
the school as a result of the so-
called “traditions”. This can only
emphasize the severity and cruelty
thereof without mentioning spe
cific instances of such practices.
Many of these students became de
ficient in their academic work be
cause of the demands for the per
formance of menial acts of servi
tude and details made upon them
and the physical tortures to which
they were subjected, and which pre
vented their devoting sufficient
time to their studies. The matter
of “paddling” was not among the
more serious offenses. The with
drawal or retiring of a single stu
dent for hazing practices is alone
sufficient to warrant its condem
nation in this publicly-owned, dem
ocratic institution.
While a great and enthusiastic
school spirit is appreciated and is
to be encouraged, still it must not
be prostituted to the accomplish
ment of evil or to be nurtured to
such extent that it grows progres
sively worse and assumes a form
of fanticism for its retention.
The utter failure of a former
administration to prohibit these
vicious hazing practices, has, of
necessity, made the task more
onerous. The Board of Directors
and the President have not been
unmindful of the stupendous task
confronting them because of the
cancerous growth and the pro
portions to which it has expand
ed, thus requiring firm and dras
tic action.
In this connection, it is worthy of
note that the Board of Directors is
composed of some of the finest and
most highly respected and success
ful citizens of Texas. That they
possess a genuine love for and in
terest in the welfare of A.&M.
College, the Alma Mater of seven
of them, cannot be gainsaid. Each
has an abiding faith in its fuuture.
It is likewise coincidental that no
Sunday - Monday
and Tuesday
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President of A. & M. College has
ever been graduate thereof. Mr.
Gilchrist is no exception, but the
qualified and wholehearted support
of the Board bespeaks the confi
dence of that group in him to do
the job his predecessors failed to
do, and admittedly stated it could
not be done, to wit, stamp out
hazing.
It was testified, too, that when
the President signed the “Basic
Policy” that he “either signed his
own death warrant or will be known
as a great man because he chal
lenged a system.”
No fact is more important to be
borne in mind by the citizens—
the taxpayers of Texas—than that
A. & M. College is not a sectional
school and that it does not and
should not belong to any group. It
is a tax-supported, state operated
institution established for the pri-
m a r y purpose of disseminating
knowledge with a special emphasis
on the training of the youth of
Texas in agricultural and mechani
cal subjects. With due regard to
its lawful functions it has unlimi
ted possibilities. If, however, it
is allowed to become sectionalized
or “over-traditionalized”, its full
usefulness to its owners, the tax
payers of Texas, may become great
ly impaired and its future as a
great institution, instilling as it
does and should the fundamentals
of democracy and good citizenship
in the youth of Texas may be ser
iously hampered.
A. & M. College is a land grant
college and has earned and main
tained an outstanding military his
tory. However, it does not auger
well for its future in this respect
that members of its famed Cadet
Corps should openly defy orders
and rules and regulations issued
and published for its control and
guidance. -Being soldiers in the
making and potential officers of
(See ‘NO BASIS’ on Page 6)
+
National Guard
Officer to Address
ROA Wednesday j
Lt. Col. William C. Wilkes, Ad
jutant General’s Department, Tex
as National Guard, will be the prin
cipal speaker at the June meeting
of the Brazos County Reserve Of
ficers Association. The meeting
will be held Wednesday, June 11,
at 7:30 p.m. in the Petroleum En
gineering Lecture Room.
Topic of Lt. Col. Wilkes’ speech
will be “Organization and Func
tion of the National Guard”. Wilkes
will represent Lt. General Fred H.
Walker, Commanding General, Tex
as National Guard, who was unable
to deliver the address because of
prior committments.
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Opens 1:00 p.m. Ph. 4-1181
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DAVID O. SELZNICK’S
starring
JENNIFER JONES
GREGORY PECK
JOSEPH GOTTEN
with a Cast of 2500
Directed by KING VIDOR