Battalion
EDITORIALS
Page 2 TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1949
"Soldier, Statesman, Knightly Gentleman"
Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Founder of Aggie Traditions
How Green is Our Drill Field . . .
Outside our window is a large bald spot
of ground that is surrounded by straggly,
weak little clumps of grass and weeds.
On this field two men are bent over
surveying instruments; several men are
lying on grassy spots, and about 25 are
playing baseball.
This field of many uses is the Main
Drill Field. The name hardly applies any
longer; it should be the A&M Utility
Field.
During football season, the field serves
as a parking lot of visitors’ cars. The an
nual bonfire is built out where the big
bare spot is. During the year surveying
teams measure its elevation, never agree
ing with the secret figures guarded in the
Civil Engineering Building. Springtime
sees the field used as three softball dia
monds.
And once in a while the Cadet Corps
uses the drill field for a review.
The drill field is like a man of 50 who
is losing his hair faster than it can grow.
The drill field, before long, will be bald.
The drill field could be made to look
better and still serve its many functions.
It could still be a parking lot, a bonfire
site, a surveying field, a baseball diamond
and a place to take a sunbath. With a little
expense the drill field could also be a
thing of beauty.
Grass could be sown. It could be wat
ered occasionally. Grass would thrive
everywhere except on the diamonds base
paths, and of course, on the bald area
where the bonfire is built.
Our little remaining grass is having a
tough time holding its own. The scrubby
bunches are calling for reinforcements.
Climax pf the Longoria Affair . . .
A legislative investigating committee
is now in Three Rivers, probing into the
circumstances surrounding the refusal
there to rebury Felix Longoria.
The committee was sent by our legis
lature at the outspoken insistance of the
people and newspapers of the state.
We are entirely in sympathy with the
feelings which motivated the investiga
tion. But with all due respect to both the
people and legislature, we do not think
the approach is right. We are trying to
kill a serpent by beating on its tail. We
are combating a condition by probing a
single incident.
Literally, there was only one Felix
Longoria. His humiliation, by a series of
happenstances, came into the spotlight of
national publicity. Many people came to
his aid.
But figuratively, there are thousands
of Felix Longorias. Every day of a life
time they suffer the humiliation and per
sonal denial that only the brand “inferior
race” can bring to a man. No one helps
them.
Our plea today, then should not be for
the Felix Longoria who lies in Arlington
Cemetery. Our concern must be the le
gions of Longorias who still live.
We can help them in only one way. By
sympathetic understanding of their prob
lems and by giving them the materials to
pull themselves out of their own unhappy
world.
The Passing Parade . . .
Along with the news text on our AP
wire, transmitter in Dallas sends numer
ous instruction phrases, words, and num
erals. Frequently, however, some of these
phrases fall into the text in such a way
as to give an entirely different meaning
to the story.
One of these stock instructions is “No
pickup,” which means “The story is end
ed, there will be no further additions.”
We can be considerate of them person
ally, to give them self respect. We can en
courage them in trades and businesses so
they can become proud, rather than asha
med, of their environment. Finally, and
most necessarily, we can give them fair
and equal schooling. We sincerely believe
that the only way a group of people can
be removed from filth, disease, and poor
living conditions is for them to be educa
ted out of their squalor.
So to the people of Texas we make
this statement. We are sure you were sin
cere in demanding an investigation of the
Longoria incident.
We are equally positive that very little
can be done for Felix Longoria in Three
Rivers. The place to help him, and all
those who will follow him, is in the legis
lative halls of Austin and Washington.
Felix Longoria’s people do not want
sympathy and empty expressions of our
sorrow at his rebuff. They want only a
decent chance to help themselves. The
only decent thing we can do for Felix
Longoria is to give them that chance.
If we apologize a thousand times for
our actions and ignore his people’s plight,
Felix Longoria will mock us from his
grave.
But if we give them our respect and
aid, Felix Longoria can sleep well in the
final resting place for our nation’s heroes.
Our debt is clearly defined. Felix Lon
goria will be watching to see how well it
is paid.
Last week this message came in:
“On the square at Matamoros, young
men and young women played walking
the bear. Boys walked around the square
in one direction and the girls in another
and frequently they meet and then walk
the same direction.”
Then the AP added thoughtfully, “No
Pickup!”
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 Co-Editors
Louis Morgan Associate Editor
Bill 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
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
“Hotcha, gotta get ready for that LIFE photographer, might
even make the cover, where’s my gold plated brass?”
And when the picture finally came out, where was our hero?
Amplification Department
By CARROLL TRAIL
Dear sir:
How many windows are there
across the back of the Civil Engi
neering building?
Sincerely,
P. R.
Answer: At the present, P. R.,
there are sixteen windows across
one floor of the back of the build
ing. I say at present, since there
were originally only twelve win
dows at the back. But as time has
passed the number of windows has
increased.
It seems that since its construc
tion the building has settled, leav
ing large cracks in the wall. And
the civil engineers, showing the
ingenuity that has made them fam
ous, have, instead of trying to
level up the building, made win
dows of the open spaces. And who
knows?. By the time this article
goes to press, there may be anoth-
Sneak Preview . .
er window installed.
★
Dear Sir:
I live in Legett Hall, and like
my buddies in the other dorms
close-by I am awakened daily by
the cadence-counting of the cadets
marching to chow.
. ; Can’t something be done so that
I might .sleep late?
Yours,
J. B.
Answer: Well, J. B., your and
your buddies’ attitude to the situa
tion is all wrong. I don’t know
about you, but I have found that
the cadence-counting has become
a definite asset.
Usually I am having all kinds of
trouble getting to sleep at 6:30
in the morning. However, when the
cadets go by counting, I pretend
that they are counting sheep. Hence
with someone else counting sheep
for me, I am immediately lulled to
sleep.
“Uncle Willie” Stages Return
Performance As Race Horse
By ANDY DAVIS
The Return of October (Co
lumbia) starring Glenn Ford,
and Terry Moore. (Campus)
Maybe you know of some one
who has returned to this world
in the form of an animal or rodent,
but I wouldn’t say too much about
it, or they might try to put you
away.
As the story goes, Terry Moore
discovers a racehdrse, October, to
be her deceased, “Uncle Willie,”
and decides to run him in the Der
by. Glenn Ford, a drip of a profes
sor, gets himself mixed up in the
situation, by spending University
money to buy the horse, that he
doesn’t own. He wanted the horse
for research purposes, but instead
writes an article on the delusion
of an eighteen year old girl, Terry
Moore.
When Terry’s wealthy aunt
passes away, she inherits a for
tune but her “poor” relations
contest the will, by declaring
Terry insane. Ford and Terry
find themselves in love, but when
his article is used as a basis to
prove her insanity, the picnic is
over.
To make a long story short,
“Uncle Willie” wins the race, Ter
ry wins her case, and Ford recov
ers his. first place. The film is a
little fantastic, but proves amus
ing. It does introduce a fresh and
sparkling personality in the form
of one Terry Moore.
★
Sitting Pretty (20th Century
Fox) starring Clifton Webb,
Maureen O’Hara, and Robert
Young. (Guion)
Selected as one of the outstand
ing comedies of 1948, “Sitting
Pretty” runs true to form, and is
hilarious from start to finish.
Answering a baby sitting ad,
Clifton Webb, as Mr. Belvedere,
invades Robert Young’s and Mau
reen O’Hara’s home, and soon has
all in hand, including the dog. I
wouldn’t say Belvedere suffers
from an inferiority complex, be
cause he can do anything, and
doesn’t hesitate to tell you so.
In the process Belvedere,
manages to break up the house
hold, gets Young fired, but saves ,
the day when his book, expos
ing the town notables, hits the
book stands. This is one film
you want to see.
SHIPS REPORTED
SENT TO ARGENTINA
WASHINGTON, March 15 —
The Times Herald said Monday in
a copy-righted story that the U.S.
is planning to turn over an air
craft carrier, two cruisers and two
or three destroyers to Argentina
for the defense of the western
hemisphere.
at PRUITT'S
VOGUE Pattern Service
PRUITT'S
* &auty SHOP
OPEN 8 A.M. TO 6 P.M.
0=3 Phone 4-1169 Es=0
SOUTH SIDE COLLEGE STATION
‘Quit Or Beware 7 Is Ominous
Warning Given By Editors
By FRANK CUSHING
Although it’s against the usual
desire of the Batt staff to wish
anyone bad luck, the general opin
ion in 201 Goodwin is that there
ought to be more Aggies depen
dent upon seeing-eye dogs and
white canes. This morbid wish
springs from the never ending
process of trying to eliminate the
contestants from the “So You
Know A&M?” contest.
For some unknown reason, some
20 individuals with the greatest
amount of perseverance imagin
able, are still seeking prizes from
this pictorial quiz.
The editors, who wanted the
prizes for themselves, thought that
surely no one would follow a silly
contest like this one. Maybe some
individual who had nothing better
to do might enter the first week.
Some poor fellow might even fill
in the second week’s blank. But
certainly, they reasoned, no soul
—regardless how hardy—could last
three weeks.
“So You Know A&M?” has
been featured in The Battalion
for a period of four weeks now.
Not only is one contestant still
faithfully writing in, but 20 more
are doing the same. Yes ,21 sea
soned battlers all eager for win
ning top honors are still compet
ing.
tive blanks seem to have a prom
ise of many more to follow. All
this to the disgust of the prize-
desiring editors.
Therefore The Batt has decided
to make an appeal to reason. To
the too-observant Aggies still in
the contest this must be said, quit.
Look at the situation in an intel
ligent light; after all the campus
exam is nothing. The prizes are
insignificant when compared to
those offered by others. Think of
the rewards you can get simply by
installing a telephone and listening
to your radio.
Why don’t you “21” be decent
about the whole thing and set
your sights higher. If you want
to win a contest—win a big one.
Instead of dashing about the
campus looking eagerly for torn
down buildings and non-existent
decorations, why don’t you fig
ure out the name of the “Mys
tery Tune.”
However if you insist on stay
ing with the “So You Know
A&M?” affair, and stand on your
rights as a contestant, then be
ware. You have yet to see a
“clinker.” The worst is yet to
come.
The editors have changed the
tactics used in getting the pic
tures. While trying to understand
how everyone knew where the pic
tures were taken, the staff decid
ed there must be an information
leak. The suspicion eventually nar
rowed to the photographer who
had taken all the featured shots.
To ascertain that he would no
longer divulge secrets, a new tech
nique was employed. The camera
man was blindfolded and led out
side of Goodwin. There he was *
spun a number of times to lose '
his sense of direction and then ■
sent on his way. He was instruct^
ed to snap the camera every 5,000^ .
steps and continue the process un
til his film was exhausted.
The resulting pictures are, of
course, entirely confusing to
anyone seeing them. Often noth
ing is pictured but grass or
patches of sky. All photos were
out of focus. Not only will the
photographer be unable to tell
the locale of the pictures, but
no one else will either.
The final series will be run in
the event any contestant lasts : :
through the blindfolded group.
They will be the last word in elim
inations. All those photos were
taken at night. The theory behind ,
those shots is that if you can’t see
it, you darned sure can’t recog
nize it.
We repeat then to you “21”—
either quit or beware. The editors
like the prizes too much to give
them up without a fight.
if
IMl
Of course the field has been cut,
but the holders-on seem discour- ■
agingly persistent. Their respec-
ELECTRIC COMPANY
ANNOUNCES REDUCTION
NEW YORK, March 15 —(A>)_
Immediate price reductions in many
of the General Electric Company’s
major lines of home appliances—
including several refrigerator mo
dels, home freezers and electric
ranges—were announced yester
day.
Think Of This
“Thus saith the Lord God of
Israel: Let my people go!”
Many times we are inclined to
accept defeat in trying to overcome
some temptation ^and say within
ourselves that it has such a heavy
grip upon us that there is no path
of escape. The above scripture
quotation is the climax and final
success of Moses after facing
many difficulties in fighting for
the freedom of his people.’
4 As Mo§es,was rewarded for his,
faith in fighting’, oh, so win the,
iLqr.d reward us. today if wd 1 seek
for' his help in, overcoming the
temptations that face us along the
daily pathway of life. •
*
ATTEND TONITE AND SIGN
ABSENTEE BOOK FOR—
FREE CASH
LUCKY LICENSE
S275
(Less Tax) BE HERE
Tuesday & Wednesday
mummmkx
"“KOIG
“‘"“Tim
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'8k
"MID HAYDN
LOUISE ALLBRITTON
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1
Randy Stuart • Ed Begley • Olsen %
John Russell • Betty AM Lynn
m Willard Robeson
'nr
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LAST DAY
FIRST RUN
—Features Start—
1:25 - 3:05 - 4:50 - 6:35 - 8:15
10:00
WED. - THURS. - FRI.
FIRST RUN
—Features Start—
1:50 - 3:25 - 5:05 - 6:40 - 8:20
10:00
A KING BROS. Production starring
Barry Marjorie Broderick
SULLIVAN * REYNOLDS * CRAWFORD
Fortunio Bcnanova • Guinn “Big Boy” Williams
-~ a r—-
PLUS THE ACADEMY AWARD
WINNING SHORT SUBJECT—
“CLIMBING THE
MATTERHORN”