Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 5, 1948)
Trampling Out the Vintage . . . Battalion EDITORIALS Page 2 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1948 "Soldier, Statesman, Knightly Gentleman” Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Founder of Aggie Traditions ‘Cold War’ of North and South... It looks as though the latest “cold war” is between the Northern and Southern sec tions of the U. S. A. reviving the old but not forgotten War Between the States. Oddly enough, it comes just as everyone thought that serious differences between the two sec tions had died out with most of the Con federate and Union veterans. At first glance, stories of the new North- South war seem amusing. They are not. There is nothing at all amusing in the fact that hooded night-riders of the Ku Klux Klan gathered at Swainsboro, Ga., this week to dedicate themselves to “protection of white women.” Their dedication is actually to preservation of segregation in the South, as admitted further down in their official statement. The Methodist Church, reunited only a few years ago after a Civil-War split, is threatened with a new withdrawal on the part of Southern Methodist churches. What has caused this uproar? What has brought Southern Democrats to the point -where they plan to bolt from the Truman ticket, and either vote Republican (amaz ing!) or run a separate Southern Democratic ticket, as was done in 1860? President Truman favors abolition of the poll tax, formation of a permanent FEPC, an anti-lynching law, and the end of racial segregation. The Supreme Court simultan eously has ruled that Negroes must be given education equivalent to whites. (It has not yet ruled on the question of segregation in state colleges.) One sad fact we cannot get away from: ' the United States is not an entity, but a federation of two or more cultures which have different ideas and goals. Though we ! give lip service to the Declaration of Inde pendence and the Constitution, we keep ! our fingers crossed as we read certain passages. We do the same thing when we read the Bible. What part of these docu- ; ments we reject depends on the part of ' the country in which we were raised. No ! section has clean hands, unfortunately. jDemocrats or Republicans?. • Politically, Southern Democrats are in something of a trap. Most Democrats do not trust the Republican party, traditionally a high-tariff-party. And they are definitely in disagreement with Northern Democrats, who are pushing President Truman’s Civil Liber ties program, aimed in part at Southern tra ditions of segregation. A Southern bolt should assure the elec tion of a Republican. Will that make South ern leaders any happier? We doubt it. Re publicans are historically bound to support just such a program as Truman is pushing. The New York Herald-Tribune, an im portant Republican mouth-piece, says on the matter of segregation in colleges: “The state of Oklahoma can, if it chooses, continue the costly farce on which it is embarked . . . the temper of the Supreme Court in the Fisher case suggests that an adverse ruling on the adequacy of graduate schools scrambled to gether over night would in due time be forth coming . . . defense of the absurd extreme in segregation may be a losing battle. Certain it is that the challengers are not going to drop the fight now. Nor should they.” The recent Democratic regimes have giv en the South much in such matters as re moving the railroad differential, which for years held down Southern industry, and in encouraging Southern manufacturing. The President’s recommendations, coming as a fiat to a sensitive section of the nation, may not have been tactful, but they do come from a friend. Such suggestions cannot be put into effect over night, as every Southerner knows. Few whites—North or South—desire com plete abolition of segregation, and it is doubt ful whether a majority of Negroes wish to end all segregation, either. Unfortunately, in operating on segregation principles, we have too often failed to make equal facilities avail able. There is the true rub. Had we been as zealous to preserve equality of opportunity within segregation as we have been to pre serve segregation itself, we might not now be in an embarrassing predicament. A strong Republican party in the South would be a good thing. Many a “Southern Democrat” is more a Republican than a Dem ocrat, anyhow. We wish they could vote their choice more effectively, something they can not do when elections are decided in the Dem ocratic primary. But a large Republican vote, given solely out of pique at the Northern group of Democrats would only rob South ern congressmen and senators of what na tional influence they now have. Three Ways in Texas ... There is raw material in Texas for a three way political division. Some ultra-conservatives may want to go along with the plan of holding a separate Southern Democratic Convention. Some Liberals have already made up their minds to vote for Henry Wallace. Middle-of-the-roaders would stick to the old party lines, but many of them are al ready mad about the national party’s appar ent stand on the tidelands question. Southern rebel yells have been echoed by Merritt Gibson of Longview, who was active in the 1944 fuss. He managed the anti-Roose velt campaign of the Texas Regulars, who split from the Democratic party when the state supreme court held the Roosevelt elec tors should be listed in the Democratic col umn. “Southern Democrats ought to call a Southern Democratic Convention,” he said from his home in Longview. “We can’t win in the national convention! This is not a matter for convention maneuvering. The peoplb should rise up and throw the presidential election into the House of Representatives.” Threat of Secession , . . The most pointed threat of political se cession came from South Carolina, which pre cipitated the war-between-the-states by fir ing on Fort Sumter. Nor was t South Carolina afraid it might have to stand alone. Even before the President’s recommenda tions on civil rights, Mississippi and Alaba ma had indicated dissatisfaction with the national party’s stand on such matters as segregation, the anti-lynch law proposals and the fair economic practices commission. All these points were covered in the presi dent’s program in addition to another issue dear to some southern states—payment of poll taxes as a prerequisite to voting. In South Carolina, the Democratic com mittee chairman of Jasper County, H. Klugh Purdy, called a meeting Monday to consider withdrawal from the national party. A state representative, Nathaniel Cabell, reported enthusiastic response to a letter to legisla tors urging review of relations with the national group. Over in Alabama, State Democratic Chair man Gessner T. McCorvey said the South was going to have segregation no matter what. Previously, McCorvey had warned the South might be forced to choose between party .loyalty and loyalty to tradition. Mississippi’s Governor Fielding L. Wright had already suggested a break with the na tional organization on the same issues. His stand was brought up to date by the speaker of the Mississippi House, Walter Sillers. The latter called for an independent southern convention to nominate a presidential candi date. Gov. Ben Laney of Arkansas said he might support such a proposal. “There is no question,” he said, “that the people of the South are fed-up.” In this connection, the South had a candi date for the presidency, Governor James E. Folsom of Alabama. Folsom said last week he would seek favorite son status in the state’s May 4 primary and attacked President Truman’s policies. Folsom , said Truman was “hogtied” by “Brass Hats” and Wall Street. Later, in an interview, Folsom declared the South should be left alone to solve its racial problems. The Battalion PUBLISHED IS THE INTEREST OF 4 GREATER A & M COLLEGE The Battalion, official newspaper of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas and the City of College Station, Texas, is published five times a week and circulated every Monday through Friday afternoon, except during holidays and examination periods. During the summer The Battalion is pub lished semi-weekly. Subscription rate $4 per school year. Advertising rates furnished on request. News contributions may be made by telephone (4-5444) or at the editorial office, Room 201, Good win Hall. Classified ads may be placed by telephone (4-5324) or at the Student Activities Office, Room j 209, Goodwin Hall. All-American Member of The Associated Press The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for republication of all news dispatches credit- 1 ed to it or not otherwise credited in the paper and local news of spontaneous origin published herein. Rightd of republication of all other matter herein are also reserved. Entered as second-class matter at Post Office at College Station, Texas, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1870. Associated Collegiate Press Member Represented nationally by National Ad vertising Service, Inc., at New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. CHARLIE MURRAY, JIMMIE NELSON ..Co-Editors Vick Lindley Wire Editor J. T. Miller, Kenneth Bond, Louis Morgan. . . .Managing Editors Mack T. Nolen Feature Editor R. L. Billingsley, Larry Goodwyn Feature Writers Tom Carter, Ted Copeland, Truman G. Martin, C. C. Mnnroe, C. C. Trail, James E. Nelson, Otto R. Eunse, J. C, Fails, John B. Singletary.,., .Reporters Maurice Howell Advertising Manager David M. Seligman Movie Columnist Sam Lanford, K. J. Marak, Larry Gray Cartoonists Art Howard Sports Editor James DeAnda, Andy Matula, Zero Hammond, Hershell Shelby Sports Writers Bob Kennelley Circulation Manager Balladeer Tom Scott Appears On Town Hall, Tuesday Night By OTTO R. KUNZE Tom Scott, popularly known by radio listeners and con cert audiences as “The American Troubadour” will perform in Guion Hall at 8 p. m. on February 10 as a regular Town Hall presentation. This Kentucky-born vocalist is recognized as a great authority of folk songs, having published more than a hun dred arrangements used by chorale- groups. Scott, who sings with un derstanding and skill, believes that songs express most vividly the spirit of the American people. Scott, who has a rich bass voice of unusual range, is particularly well equipped vocally to contribute to the simplest folk song the dignity of sound musicianship plus the sincere and natural interpre tation intended for his songs. Since he is well versed in the art of sing ing, he is not bound to the' songs of any locality. With a keen know ledge of the background of every song in his collection, Scott is able to convey the intended thought and feeling of each one. This gay young Kentuckian was born with a compelling desire to express himself in music. At an early age, he performed the unor-* thodox gesture of breaking into a schoolhouse at four o’clock in the vorning to practice on the piano. He studied voice in high school and college and sang popular songs and compositions which every young vocalist struggles to master. Later he embarked upon his career of singing folk songs which has oc cupied his interest until this day. Scott was first recognized as an outstanding entertainment person ality in 1938 whep he began to make appearances on Broadway and joined the Waring Glee Club. His performances in radio, theatre, concerts, and clubs have merited and won him national praise. Scott is heard regularly over What’s Cooking? BELL COUNTY A. & M. CLUB will meet in Room 103, Academic Building, 7:30 p. m. Thursday. BRAiiOS VALLEY KENNEL CLUB, Obedience Training Class, 2 p.m., every Sunday, front of Ad ministration Building. COLLEGE WOMANS SOCIAL CLUB, 3 p.m., Friday: YMCA. AIChE, 6 p.m., Saturday. Ban quet, Sbisa Hail. TYLER CLUB, 7:30 p. m. Thurs day, Room 104, Academic. LANDSCAPE ART CLUB, Tues day, 7:30 p. m., Room 310 Engi neering Building. Plans will be made for the student floral conces sions for the current semester. HEART OF TEXAS CLUB, 7:30 p. m., Thursday. ME Shops Lecture Room. Plans for dance at Denton to be sponsored by TSCW Club will be discussed. VETERANS’ WIVES BRIDGE CLUB, 7:15 p. m., Thursday. PANHANDLE CLUB, 7:30 p. m., Thursday, Room 428, Academic. UPSHUR COUNTY CLUB, 7:00 p. m., Thursday, Room 107, Aca demic Building. QUEEN TODAY & FRIDAY ‘CARNEGIE HALL’ most stations of the Columbia Broadcasting System each week day morning from 7:30 to 7:45 CST. - Admission to the event at Guion Hall for all those not hold ing Town Hall season tickets will be $1 for the general public and 60<‘ for students. The American Troubadour is touring the United States under the management of the National Concert and Artists Corporation of New York. He was previously scheduled to appear here on January 7. Letters NEW TYPE EXAMS Editor, The Battalion: Attached is an article worthy of mention which I took from The Dallas Morning News. It is satis fying to know that there are in structors who are continually try ing to improve our educational sys tem. Yours truly, BEN EVANS, ’48 Below is The Dallas News’ ar ticle: “Dr. Newton Gaines has de vised a new kind of examination. “Caines, head of the physics department at Texas Christian University, says its just as hard to think of a good exam question as to answer one. “So, here’s Gaines’ idea: “When a student doesn’t know DR. R. B. McNUTT DENTIST Office in Parker Building Over Canady’s Pharmacy Phone 2-1457 Bryan, Texas opens 1:00 p.m. 4-1181. -—Features Start—- 1:35 - 3:40 - 5:50 - 7:55 - 10:00 -—Also— Cartoon - Short - News Valentine Candies ARE NOW ON DISPLAY—ORDERS WILL BE GIFT WRAPPED FREE FOR MAILING New names for the College Confectioneries will be chosen by student members of the Student Life Committee at their next meet ing. COLLEGE CONFECTIONERIES Wrestled With Tornadoes and Politicians, Feboldson Was First White Man in Nebraska By LARRY GOODWYN Latest addition to the galaxy of legendary American heroes like Paul Bunyan is Febold Feboldson. He has just been enshrined by Paul R. Beath in a book issued by the University of Nebraska Pfess and illustrated by Lynn Frank, mother Nebraskan. Here is Frank’s conception of the Big Swede: Febold is credited with being the first white man to settle the prairie state. He gouged out the Platte River channel from the Rockies to the Missouri by hitch ing buffalo to a snow plow. Be fore he retired to the California Valhalla of good midwesterners, he wrestled successfully with tornadoes and drought, politicans and blizzards. Had there been trees in Nebraska his exploits probably would just have been added to the Paul Bun yan legend, but pioneer Nebraska had no trees to speak of. i 1 Feboldson broke into print twen ty years ago in the Gothenburg,- Neb., Times, whose editor had spotted the character in a lumber- , man’s journal. He “caught on” quickly and readers sent in their versions of his deeds to add to the growing legend. As one commen tator notes: “Mr. Beath’s spirited account throws light on the making of legendary heroes and confirms the belief that such heroes are made rather than born.” 014, FUDGE! Seventy-year-old Thurman Craven learned yes terday in Park Avenue Hospital in Rochester why that piece of fudge he swallowed two weeks ago was so tarnation hard to chew. It’s core was a half- dollar around which the fudge had melted in his pocket. WHAT IS AN ITCH? A definition of an itch which strikes us as probably incorrect and wholly inadequate has been made by Dr. George N. Bishop, of the department of neuropsychiatry at the Washington University School of Medicine. It is, says Dr. Bishop, a con tinuous weak prickle, deriving from pain spots on the skin. If it becomes a continuous strong prickle it is pain, and if the prickle temporarily accumulates it is an aching pain. This is what an itch is to Dr. Bishop, but it is not what an itch is to us. An itch is what you get the minute both arms are full of packages— usually an itching of the nose. It is what occurs to timid people introducing prominent people, usual ly, in these cases, a violent itching in the small of the back. It is what plagues you every time you get into a barber chair and the sheet is tied firmly under your chin for a hair-cut. A snippet of hair is dropped on your nose, where it becomes some thing half-way between an itch and a desire to sneeze. Another is dropped down your collar. An itch is all these things to us and more, and heaven FEBOLD FEBOLDSON, a hero who was made—not born. only knows what proportions it would assume if we took up, say, trapeze performing. Under all the circumstances we have mentioned, an itch becomes a continuous strong accumulated nuisance, and we challenge Dr. Bishop to pick up a double-armful of packages and say'otherwise. TODAY’S QUOTE The government’s chief economist says prices may drop this year. And if not the prices, those who pay them. THE DIRTY BUM An annoyed housewife in Honolulu, has com plained to police that a prowler repeatedly removes dresses and slips from her clothesline and returns them a few days later—soiled. i “HOT” FOOD If you’re having a hard time getting anything to eat nowadays, don’t bleed, pal—just check this yarn from Copenhagen, Denmark. A stranger in the Danish town of Aarhus was asked to leave a restau rant because he needed a shave. All the barber shops had closed and he had no razor with him. Hungry and desperate he turned in a fire alarm. The firemen overlooked his false alarm when he explaind his predicament, took him back to the station with them and gave him a shave. Then, and only then was the hungry individual admitted to the restaurant. the answer to an examination question. I give him the privilege of omitting it if he can write a better, or at least as good, ques tion in its stead.” “Serious students like the sys tem,” said Gaines. “Poor stu dents like nothing about exams— no matter what the system.” FOR GOOD . . . X Home Cooked Food Eat at A.&M. GRILL Open 5:30 a.m. ’till 11:00 p.m. TODAY — THRU SATURDAY THE STORY OF A 0UY WOMEN GO FOR! wih ANNE REVERE TL DYERS'FUR STORAGE HATTERS American /z-ISSS'tt LAST DAY EEUt USE! . ..Tauntingly ...Jauntily Ajjp Directed by IOSEPHI.IM Produced by FRED KOHUAR ZO CENTURY-FO* TRIUMPH!, F RID A Y & SATURDAY —Bis Double Feature— S U N D A Y and M O N. DAY