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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 8, 1949)
Battalion EDITORIALS Page 2 TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1949 "Soldier, Statesman, 'Knightly Gentleman" Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Founder of Aggie Traditions The English Manners Course . . . Like underclassmen at A&M, the young diplomats in the British diplomatic corps are being instructed in the strict and for mal social etiquette of their profession. But unlike the Senior Class, the British Foreign Service has gone to the trouble of having one of their most expert diplo matic dandies, Marcus Cheke, to draw up a little manual of polite procedure. This manual contains several items of proper social advice that the senior could tell the underclassman. Whenever being visited by important officials (for exam ple, people like professors) Cheke advises the diplomatic freshmen to understand that these officials “would resent being received by a young man wearing ... a bright green pullover.” Whenever the new comer to polished diplomatic circles is called by his first name, he must contain himself and “after a day or two ... he may return this vulgar compliment” by addressing the offender with his first name. Never should the diplomat (and underclass Aggie) be a bore.' And toward bores he should “be affable.” Control of temper is a quality all good diplomats have mastered. Cheke cites the time Lord Halifax was speaking in De troit and several eggs were thrown at him. “How lucky you are to have eggs to throw” coolly remarked Halifax. However, we hardly expect the underclassman to col lectedly tell his senior overlord, “How lucky you are to have details (and so forth).” Whether Cheke’s advice on going to public funerals could apply to Aggie fish, sophs, and juniors is a question the Senior might decide. Observes Cheke, “In some countries (public funerals) are unrivaled as occasions in which to cultivate acquain tances. How many an interesting political connection was first conceived by a cer tain foreign head of a mission in a con vulsive handshake in a funeral cortege and cemented by giving him a lift home in his car from the ceremony.” Enterprising Aggies (of all classes) could (and probably have) used public funerals as places to meet pretty girls. What puzzles us is, do we have a Mar cus Cheke who could codify Aggie man ners? A New Political Approach . . . During the last quarter century, the governorship of Texas has lost a lot of prestige. After having been mishandled on occasions by a string of flour salesmen and special interest representatives, the chief executive position of our fair state no longer has its once enfiable reputation. But it remained for the State Super intendent of Public Instruction to add the final thrust. Superintendent Woods is us ing the governorship as a threat to retain his-job. Said Woods, upon hearing that his of fice will be made appointive by an elected state school board under the Gilmer-Aik- en plan, “I am not making any promises but if my office is abolished I may be a candidate for governor next year. I think I would make a good governor, at least as good as some we have had recently.” Superintendent, we can well see how you could make as good a governor as some of our past examples, but please, make a more definite statement. When a perennial office holder in a position concealed from the public view, objects so strenuously to his office being made appointive by a group of experts in his field, we tend to be suspicious of his interests. We don’t grow unduly offended when the state superintendent uses the old tax bogey to mislead our rural citizens on their educational position. We don’t really get irked when he works a dozen other angles to protect a position in which he feels himself firmly entrenched. But it is riling to have a man threaten to run for governor if the . legislature doesn’t bend to his will. The whole busi ness sounds like a small boy threatening to jump out the window if his parents take away a prized bauble. If you have such an aversion for ap pointive offices and such a love for elec tive offices, Superintendent, then consid er this angle. Why not direct your talents toward a campaign for dog catcher in Austin? Another Scandal in Russia . . . We think science is going too far. It was all right when they were fool ing around with calories and vitamins. And we had no objection to their vaccina tion work. We even believe that some of this atomic business is acceptable. But when they go besmirching the fair names of people they never met, they go too far. We refer to the discoveries and as sumptions of Russian scientist (wouldn’t you know it?) S. Rudenko. He found a couple of tattooed mummies in a sub-zero burial mound and proceeded to declare that they had been interred there without benefit of clergy. He called the female mummy a “concubine.” Two thousand years would cloud any one’s memory. Those mummies just don’t remember. They can’t defend themselves. And because they have misplaced their wedding certificate, all this calumny is heaped on them. Shame, science, shame! Imagine in future ages when our own sepulchres are opened by prying archeo logists that they will accuse us of immoral acts with the corpse on the right, no mat ter who it may have been. This fact will cause many of us to think twice before dying. Some of us won’t care. The Battalion 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 Bat talion is published tri-weekly on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.. Subscription rate $4.30 per school year. Advertising rates furnished on request. The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for republication of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in the paper and local news of spontaneous origin publish ed herein. Rights 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. Member of The Associated Press Represented nationally by National Ad vertising Service Inc., at New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. News contributions may be made by telephone (4-5444) or at the editorial office, Room 201, Goodwin Hall. Classified ads may be placed by telephone (4-5324) or at the Student Activities Office, Room 209, Goodwin Hall. KENNETH BOND, TOM CARTER. Louis Morgan Associate Editor Bjll Billingsley Wire Editor Harvey Cherry, Art Howard, Otto Kunze, John Singletary Managing Editors Chuck Cabaniss, Charles Kirkham, Mack Nolen Editorial Assistants Emil Bunjes, H. C. Gollob, R. C. Kolbye, Henry Lacour, Carley Puckitt, Clayton Selph, Marvin Brown Staff Reporters Joe Trevino, Hardy Ross Photo Engravers Clark Munroe Feature Editor Carl Thrift Circulation Manager .Co-Editors Dave Coslett, Frank Cushing, George Charlton, Buddy Luce, Chuck Maisel, H. C. Michalak, Marvin Rice, Carroll Trail Feature Writers Bob “Sack” Spoede, Bill Potts Sports Editors Leon Somer, Frank Simmen, Andy Matula, Scotty Swinney, Travis Brock, Ben Lampkin, Frank Manitzas Sports Reporters Mrs. Nancy Lytle Women’s Page Editor Alfred Johnston Religious Editor Andy Davis Movie Editor Kenneth Marak, Sam Lanford, R. Morales, Frank Welch, C. W. Jennings Staff Cartoonists Amplification Department By CARROLL TRAIL Dear Sir: I noticed in the fifth column on the front page of last Friday’s Batt this story: “Bircham, England, March 4— (£>)_ George Ward, 12-year-old schoolboy, kicked for goal in a school soccer football game.” Also, the story was headed: “Gift to Schoolboy Comes from King”. I don’t understand the story, and besides, I can’t reconcile the head with the story. Can you elucidate? Sincerely, N. S. Answer: One must carefully scrutinize the story to get its full meaning, N. S., and you probably just roughly scanned through, pick ing out what you thought were the important points. In the first place, the story was written in journalistic jargon. Us- usually the managing editor blue- pencils these stories and puts them in English, according to Hoyle; however, this one must have slip ped through. You see, the story is not a com plete sentence. It merely says that Ward was mistaken for the goal in the game and some irate play er, having undoubtedly missed the point, blamed his error on the goal. In an effort to get even, the player kicked Ward, mistaking him for the goal. And who was the irate player? The king, of course. In England, everyone revers the king, and any acknowledgment he makes of one of the plebian, (whatever it may be), is taken as a personal tribute as a gift. Thus the reason for the head of the story. As a result of his kick, Ward will, in all probability, become a national hero, and people will come from miles around to touch the place the king kicked. Of course, you realize that this is just propaganda for the Marshal Plan. The story attempts to show the economic state of England. As you know, the king is probably the best-fed man in that country. By showing that his eyesight is bad, resulting from possible deficiency of vitamin C, the story intimates that England needs more vitamin C-producing food, such as carrots and citrus fruits. And who owns most of the car rots and fruit orchards of this country? I’ll tell you who: the Wall Street tycoons, the wheels of NAM—the big businessmen of this country who are trying to get a stranglehold on the nation’s eco nomy. Possibly you think that the Batt should never have printed the story. However, we of the Batt like to believe that we give equal news coverage to all factions of the country. However, I guess we let our political beliefs influence us in our make-up: we did, as you say, put the story in the fifth column of the front page. Sneak Preview . . . Dissension in the Ranks Causes Riot in “Command Decision” By ANDY DAVIS Command Decision (MGM) starring Clark Gable, Walter Pidgeon, Van Johnson, and Brian Donlevy. (Campus). Command Decision generously fulfills the promise of its impres sive all male cast. Different from most war dramas of the Army Air Corps, there isn’t a single foot of air combat film. The film deals with the work of the general officers who directed aerial operations in the European theater before VJ day. No punch es are pulled in exposing some of the mistakes made, and the polit ical entanglements that had to be coped with in such high echelon. “Iron Butt’ General Dennis, Clark Gable, sends his B-17 Group on missions over Germany, days in succession, suffering tremendous losses of both nien and planes. By accomplishing these missions thousands of men’s lives will be saved at a later date, when Ger many’s air power is crippled. Wal ter Pidgeon, his C.'O. is hard pressed from all angles, but most ly by political “Big Wigs,” who finally force him to remove Gable from his command. With Gable’s theory proven cor rect, he is given command of B-29 Group in the Pacific, and the film is brought to a close. “Com mand Decision” is unusually auth entic as to technical details, and has an excellent cast, that turn in top performances. Letters To The Editor GULP! Editor, The Battalion: Sunday evening I went down to Sbisa to enjoy a quiet meal, but to my surprise they were playing a lively boogie. Now that’s alright with me; I like fast music, but it was a lead as to what the evening meal was to be like. My second surprise came when I poured my milk. It was curd- free and aparently fresh. This was most upsetting because during the past weeks I have been cultivating a taste for aged and curdled milk. Some people actually develop a taste for beverages that have been Official Notice OFFICIAL NOTICE All students are invited to participate in the All College Day Open House pro gram to be put on by the Physics Depart ment. Those interested kindly attend an organizational meeting Tuesday, March 8, at 5 p.m. in Room 36 of the Physics building. J. G. Potter Head, Physics Department aged in the wood. . Then as I was enjoying my de licious “roast beef,” Sbisa style, I dented a filling on something in the meat. Was it a horse shoe nail? No such luck, it was a clip ping from a thumb nail. Now there is not a thing in the world that pleases me more than a clean, well manicured cook. If the cooks put in such long hours that they must manicure their nails while cooking roast beef, it is all right with me, but next time how about turning them over? If I must eat these nail clippings, I would like mine well done. W. S. Dalby, ’48 CASADESUS TO APPEAR ON ARTISTS SERIES Jean Casadesus, pianist, will ap pear on the Bryan Artists Series in Stephen F. Austin High School Auditorium at 8 p. m. Wednesday. HEY AGGIES!! The Cadet Cafeteria OFFERS YOU GOOD FOOD ANYTIME YOU WANT IT! Formerly NISBET’S CAFETERIA NORTH GATE HOW MUCH ONE AMERICAN EATS 400 300 200 100 Boyle’s Column . . . Florida Threatens To Become A Second L. A. By HAL BOYLE MIAMI, Fla. —GP)— America might just as well start consider ing now whether it should secede from Florida. If it doesn’t it may end up with another Los Angeles in its bord ers. For that is what some natives here fear—and I use the word ad visedly—that South South Floridas gold coast is turning into, yes, a second Los Angeles. The whole area is still riding high in the saddle of the post war boom. You have to know the mayor to get a hotel room. The beaches are so packed with bare backed ladies seeking a tan that the sand is becoming pale and anemic. It isn’t getting enough sunshine itself. “The way things are going now the whole 70-mile stretch from Palm Beach to Miami will be one continuous city,” complained one resident. “In ten years the gold coast will be another Los Angeles.” Alarming as that possibility is to them, it is of even more poten tial concern to the rest of the So the Magazine Said . . . For Explosive Times We Need Explosive Tempers, or Else By MACK T. NOLEN I’m going to be awfully hard to live with now. I just read a maga zine article which said that we don’t get angry out loud enough for our nervous systems. And the repression causes our interminable sinus troubles, stomach disorders, and headaches. So I’m turning over a new leaf. Anyone who piques me henceforth will have to suffer the withering effects of a vocabulary I have spent the better part of twenty years accumulating. I have gleaned words from Old and Middle English, from French Spanish, and German, from Tag- alog and Visayan, from Polish and Russian, and I have concoc ted not a few out of whole cloth. I will be a verbal flame-thrower. I will make sailors blush. I will sear the countryside for miles a- round. I need but slight provoca tion. I wondered what brought about my migraines. I foolishly and un scientifically thought it was late Local FFA Chapt er Has First Meeting The A&M chapter of Future farmers of America held the first meeting of this semester last Mon day. Presided over by John Bradford, newly elected president, the meet ing re-organized the standing com mittees, increasing the number from 12 to 24. “Under the new sys tem, more men will get training,” said Bradford. The meeting accepted the invi tation of Murray Cox, farm direc tor for radio station WFAA, Dal las, for graduating Seniore to ap pear on his program. They will be on a program to be given later this spring. Plans were made for the selec tion of a Duchess to represent the chapter at the forthcoming C tton Ball and Pageant. hours, unbalanced diet, and over work. Now I know, and the pro fane remedy is forthcoming. I do not advocate that every Tom, Dick, and Harry let off steam. Such a course would com plicate things immeasurably. I merely advocate top-blowing for myself. I must ask the kindly under standing and gentle forebear- ance of all who know me and associate with me. Please realize that my ire is nothing personal. It’s a medical balm necessary to my survival. The most trivial opposition to my will now elicits an arch to my beetling brows, a sulfurdtis vapor to my breath, and two inches to my height from whence I shall look down and consign to everlasting hell all the brainless, stupid, dis-' senting forces of mankind. No letter in my mailbox, gum on the sole of my shoe, a pop- quiz, coffee too cold, no ink in my fountain pen, or any dis turbance whatever of my tran quility will set me off in such a railing invective as to curl hair. Come to think of it, I will then be jus.t like everyone else, won’t I? United States. Is any country large enough for two Los Angeles —both squeezing Texas like it was an overripe grapefruit? There are two seasons in Flori da each year marked by high winds and some excitement. One is the hurricane season, which hits its peak in September and October. The other is the annual anti-gam bling crusade season, which usual- fy is launched just as the well- pocketed tourists start to follow the robins north. When the new governor, Fuller Warren, launched a state-wide an ti-bookie campaign this year, one man called up a bookie and said: “Aren’t you worried?” “Naw,” said the bookie, and he quipped: “They’re three days late in starting this year.” There are indications, however, that the current crusade may hurt more than usual. Gov. Warren or dered the arrest of every bookie in Florida, charging that the state lost $8 in racing taxes on every $100 bet with bookies. He also or dered a crackdown on the numbers racket, and slot machines have been banned. Today & Wednesday EAGLE HON FILMS proenti JOHN SYLVIA ANN ’ HOIK INEY RICHARDS TODAY thru WEDNESDAY TODAY thru WED. FIRST RIJN —Features Start— 1:25 - 3:35 - 5:45 - 7:55 - 10:00 The management of the Campus Theatre urges you to see ‘COM MAND DECISION;” This is the second time in the history of the Campus Theatre that the man agement personally recommends a motion picture. The first pic- t u r e we recommended was “Johnny Belinda” which is at this time nominated for 12 Acad emy Awards. £ * 1 Sroad^s/s Smash Stage Tty j | j$ nou/ on tha Screen • ^ | ! llflRK GABLE S I WALTER PIDGEON ! r VAN JOHNSON t BRIAN DONLEVY I CHARLES BICKFORD JOHN HODIAK EDWARD ARNOLD A SAM WOOD PRODUCTION Produced by In Association with GOTTFRIED REINHARDT THURS. — FRI. ROARING DRAMA OF AIRMEN ...AND THEIR WOMEN! TODAY thru WEDNESDAY “JUNGLE JIM” —with— JOHNNY WEISMULLER A COLUMBIA RE-RELEASE Produced by B P. SCHLHBERG Scrctn pity by Michael Blankfcrt • Directed by SIDNEY SAIR A Re-release PLUS CARTOON — NEWS
