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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 9, 1950)
i * Battalion Editorials Page 2 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1950 Welcome Mat for the New Dean . . . In a meeting last May, the Board of Directors of the A&M System announced the appointment of a new Dean of the College for A&M. Last week, the ap pointee arrived here with his wife and family. Dr. Charles Clement French, vice president of Virginia Polytechnic Insti tute at the time of his appointment, as sumed the duties of his office Monday. We wish to take this opportunity to wel come him as a member of the administra tive faculty and as chief coordinator of the various schools. In a position such as that filled by Dr. French, time to become familiarized with the functions of his jobs and the aspects of the different parts of the school is an important factor. Unfortunately for one in his position, he arrived here just before the beginning of one of the greatest years of A&M history. The beginning of the Fall semester is hardly more than a month off. The 75th Anniversary activities and the opening of the Memorial Student Center will also make next year, a year filled with much activity. These major and many other minor items will serve to make the Dean’s schedule one of the most crowded in many years. It will undoubtedly take some time for Dr. French to become familiar with the customs and traditions here at A&M, but with aid and consideration from any who may chance to come into contact with him, this condition should be easily rem edied. 1950 S > olitical ‘Quick Switches’ . . . The fight against Communism has be come a major campaign issue in the No vember congressional elections. Carefully mapped campaigns based on domestic is sues are being shelved, and new ones are based on the public reaction to the Korean affair. Senators of both parties agree that this issue and the growing domestic problems related to it will be the deciding factor. The Republicans are criticizing the ad ministration for lack of military prepared ness, and failure to prevent open war fare. Senator Capehart of Indiana thinks the people are going to vote Republican “because they are mad about what has happened in Korea and they don’t blame Congress for it.” Senator Magnuson of Washington said Republicans in his state are beginning to attack Secretary of State Acheson and Secretary of Defense Johnson for their inability to see what was coming and prepare the country for it. Most Democrats are going to pigeon- Day Dreamers on the UN There is a belief in United Nation’s circles that peace may yet be declared. Of course, certain assumed situations must exist first. Several members of the UN, and Secretary General Trygve Lie in particular, have personal ideas as to how the UN peace war against North Korea could be ended without a fight to-the fin ish. Yet these same men say that no set tlement is possible until the Red Koreans have withdrawn behind the 38th parallel. At the present time, the main idea of the UN troops, mostly American, fighting in Korea is to keep from losing any more ground that the overwhelming odds have already taken. We doubt if any or even a few of our military leaders have considered what to do when and if we are able to bring about conditions in which the Red Koreans will be forced behind the dividing line. They certainly will not withdraw without con siderable persuasion after already having overrun most of South Korea with their huge numbers and Russian made weapons. With the accepted agreement of UN members that peace is out of the question hole President Truman’s “Fair Deal” for the time being. Republican “isolationism” will be the object of an attack by Demo crats who contend that Republican mem bers failed to support measures designed to strengthen our anti-Communist allies. Senator Myers had planned to show how his state of Pennsylvania had benefited from various administration projects, but he now intends to show that those who opposed the military programs and de manded that they be reduced are the ones who are now most vigorous in criticising the present lack of preparedness. The school of thought that advocates an all-out effort now is required to pre vent war or win the war if it comes seems to be gaining ground. Even with a total effort we would not be ready for a diplo matic showdown with Russia for at least two years. We agree with Anthony Eden’s statement that “the danger to peace is very great indeed, and time is not on our side.” Board . . . until we reach the 38th parallel, their plans seem rather foolish and simple. These peace statements are being made by representatives of states and countries whose soldiers are attempting to keep from being obliterated by the peace loving aggressors. In one of his first press conferences in two weeks, Lie said that he believed Rus sia was interested in peace, but that he would not go further into details and so on. He also said that he had no evidence that Russia had sent arms to North Korea since the war began June 25. With com muniques from the battlefront telling of our losses caused by tanks of Russian de sign, we question the reliability of the secretary general’s informational sour ces. Even if Russia is interested in peace, that does not mean that she would even consider it. And what else would we have to sacrifice to realize these ends. It seems as if reliable and resourceful members of the United Nations board are star-gazing and dreaming instead of waking to the grim reality of the present situation. The Battalion Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Founder of Aggie Traditions "Soldier, Statesman. Knightly Gentleman” The Battalion, official newspaper of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, is published five times a week during the regular school year. During the summer terms, The Battalion is published four times a week, and during examination and vacation periods, twice a week. Days of publication are Monday through Friday for the regular school year, Tuesday through Friday during the summer terms, and Tuesday and Thursday during vacation and examination periods. Subscription rates $6.00 per year or $.50 per month. 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. 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 Stuudent Activities Office, Room 209, Goodwin Hall. Entered as second-class matter at Post Office at College Station, Texas, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1870. Member of Represented nationally by National Ad- The Associated Press vertising Service Inc., at New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. SID ABERNATHY, DEAN REED L. O. Tiedt Frank Manitzas Joel Austin Betty Ann Potter Society Editor Fred Walker Amusements Editor Bill Hites Photographer Bob Hancock, Bill Hites, John Hollingshead. James Lancaster Photo Engravers Co-Editors a Feature Editor Sports Editor City Editor Frank Davis, Bert Hardaway, Bob Hughson, Louise Jones, Bill Mebane, B. F. Roland, Dale W alston Staff Reporters Carter A. Phillips Editorial Assistant A TALE OF TWO CITIES Behind the Scenes ‘Winchester 73 ’-Misleading Title But Realistic ‘ Western ’ By FRED WALKER (Winchester 73; starring James Stewart, Shelley Winters, Dan Duryea, Stephen McNally, Millard Mitchell; Universal-In ternational; now showing at the Palace, Tues. through Sat.) The greed of man is symbolized by a repeating rifle, and conflict is revealed as the vengeance of a man upon his brother in Universal- International’s western “Winches ter 73”. Cowhand Jimmie Stewart, aided by side-kick Millard Mitchell, is pursuing Stephen McNally: object; murder. They meet in Dodge City, but are restrained from committing any violent action by the famous marshal, Wyatt Earp. There is a shooting match in Dodge City, the prize, one of 124 new Winches ter repeating rifles. Stewart wins the rifle after a strenuous and re markable contest against the vei y man he seeks to kill, but McNally and some ruffians assault the win ner and steal the gun. Series of Sub-Plots There follows a series of sub plots as the rifle passes from Mc Nally’s hands into those of a gun runner, during a crooked pokei game. The gun-runner is then killed by an Indian chief who would rather have the new Win chester than the old 30-30’s that were to be traded. The chief now goes on the warpath and traps a detachment of soldiers, to whose Interpreting the News . Letters To The Editor (All letters to the editor which are signed by a student or employee of the college and Which do not contain obscene or libelous material will be published. Per sons wishing to have their names withheld from publication may request such action and these names will not, without the consent of the writer, be divulged to any persons other than the editors.) ANOTHER VIEWPOINT (Ed. note—The following let ter was addressed “to the writer of the enclosed article.” The ar ticle attached was a portion of a column written by Battalion City Editor Joel Austin, commenting on recent developments of Col lege Station’s fire “situation.” That portion of the column is re printed at the close of the fol lowing letter.) Dear “Son”: It’s not the criticism of the tree and the flowers ax-ound the fire plug which gets me—it*s the sissy, flippant, half-baked word “dither” which I can’t take. I wish that you could have been my son the other night when the crackling fire awoke us. You would have gone with me into the yard to see flames leaping high into the air arid spax-ks flying through the sky toward vacant lots, dry and parched from lack of rain, toward house tops drier than the grass. You would not have felt any thing so trivial as the word “dither/’ You would have felt with me horror, fear, despair and said with me, “My G'od, with this wind the whole of College Hills will burn up.” Ride bjack to College Hills, son, and we will cut down the worm- eaten tree and pull the old dead zinnias around th^ fire plug and then we will walk across the road to where the Bogard’s home used to be. While you stand beside me and look into the charred ruins, I will tell you how I saw a mother standing in a little short nightie, clutching her baby in her arms as she watched, dry-eyed, and saw everything she owned in the world go up in flames. I’ll tell you about a father who had lost everything he had, too, who came hack the next morning and stood and looked, and looked and looked. I will tell you about a grand mother who came and cried and cried over the uniform of a lieu tenant colonel, her son’s which lay half-burned in an old rocking chair. Then with pity in your heart, maybe you will put your arm around my shoulder while I weep for them and silently pray “God, please don’t let this happen to me.” Official Notice OFFICIAL NOTICE—ALL OKADUATE STUDENTS Each graduate student is required to suggest the names of members of the Grad uate Faculty he wishes to serve on his Committee. They are to consult with the student and outline a complete course of study for his graduate degree early in the student’s first semester or summer term. This is designed to insure that the student may know what is to be required of him, and may follow a logical and well balanced program each time he registers thereafter. During this last six-weeks summer, term each graduate student is responsible for completing the proper forms and filing his suggestions for his Committee. The neces sary forms and any suggestions and help needed may be obtained by calling at the office of the Graduate School. The complete course of sutdy should be on file before the student leaves the cam pus this summer. Ide P. Trotter, Dean Graduate School Then with the old tree and the dead flowers gone and with char ity toward all and malice toward none in your heart, you will go back to your little desk and start that young brain of yours working. You will take your pen and write sympathetically an article headed “How Can We Help Solve the Fire Problem of College Station.” Sincerely Jane Wheeler Williams Here is the part of Austin’s column referred to in Mrs. Wil liams’ letter: “Mention the word fire these days and everyone in town seems, to get in a dither. We believe people are just about awake to the fact that fire is something that could spell the loss of homes and possessions at any time. Yet sometimes we wonder if they actually want to make proper use^ of the facilities which we have on hand. Take for instance a certain block in College Hills where a group of people are current cir culating a petition asking the city council for better fire protection. In driving down one of the streets in this area, we noticed a fire plug which the resident had planted shrubs and bushes around to keep from hindering the beauty of his lawn. Maybe there is some law or ordi nance restricting an act of this kind, but nevertheless, how can these people ask for better facil ities when they purposely place a handicap on the “little” protection they claim they have? Perhaps it would do good for someone to take a quick look into the law books and ordinances of this city and see if such a thing as hiding a fire hydrant is permis sible.” War in Korea May Be Awakening US By J. M. ROBERTS, JR. AP Foreign Affairs Analyst The Korean War may turn out to be a blessing for the United States. There is bitterness in watching Americans die in a far country; in contemplating fifty billion dollars spent in the last few years on a military establishment which was not prepared even for a small war; in finding America outclassed in tanks and firepower by a tiny oriental satellite of the most back ward nation in Eux-ope, however, tempoi'ary that situation may be. But prior to June 25, when the Communist tanks crossed the 38th parallel into South Korea, Amer ica and her western allies had merely been playing around with prepax-edness. Security played sec ond fiddle to business as usual. Economy First Not that anyone is particularly to blame. Economic recovery seem ed to be, and was, the first oi’der of business in a world where there might be many forms of trouble, but where general war hardly seemed a likelihood. It may have been whistling in the daxk to say that war was not inevitable in a world where war al ways had been inevitable. But sometimes whistling in the dark can prevent a fellow from giving way to the very things he fears. But now the “war is not inevit able” idea is being subjected to considerable qualification. The thought is growing that, unless WTAW Radio Program 1150 Kilocycles Wednesday afternoon 12:15—Big League Baseball 2:55—Scoreboard 3:00—Musical Scoreboard 3:30—Bingo 5:00—United Nations 5:15—Requestfully Yours 5:45—Tommy Dorsey 6:00—Family Worship Hour 6:15—Supper Club 7:30—Sign Off Thursday 6:00—Texas Farm & Home 6:15—W-TAW Roundup 7:00—Coffee Club 7:15—Rotary Club 7:30—News of Aggieland 7:45—Hebrew Christian Hour 8:00—Morning Special 9:00—Ray Bloch 9:30—Homemaker Harmonies 9:45—Carmen Cavallaro 10:00—Church Women 10:15—Music for Thursday 10:30—Morning Matinee 11:00—Bryan News 11:10—Chuckwagon 12:00—Texas Farm and Home 12:15—Big League Baseball 2:55—Scoreboard 3:00—Musicai Scoreboard 3:30—Bingo 5:00—^Request fully Yours 5:45—Navy Band 6:00—Guest Star 6:15—Supper Club .— v 7:30—Sign Off A&M Represented At Poultry Meet A&M is being represented at the 27th annual Texas Poultry Im provement Association convention, according to T. A. Hensarling, Stephenville, association executive secretary. The convention, being held at the Texas Hotel, Ft. Worth, ends today. Four college officials assisting with the program are; Dr. J. H. Quisenberry, head of the Poultry Department, Prof. D. H. Reid, and W. J. Moore, of the poultry divi sions, and Dr. W. A. Boney, of the veterinary school. Keims to Return Home September 1 Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Thomas Keim Jr. will return to College Station September 1, according to reports from friends. Mr. Kiem was formerly a professor in the Business Department at A&M. He has been working on his Ph. D. degree at the University of California in Berkley, Califor nia. Mr. and Mrs. Keim and their new daughter, Kathy, are in the process of getting a residence in College Station. Bible Verse “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”—Rom. 8:14. Cabinet Heads To Remain In Office-Truman Washington, Aug. 9—(A 5 )—Pres ident Truman has put Korean pol icy critics emphatically on notice that as long as he is Pres ident, Secretary of State Dean Ach eson and Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson will stay in the cab inet. His stern comment came in reply to a news conference question. A reporter stated that Rep. Priest of Tennessee, house democratic whip, had said Acheson and Johnson should resign. The reporter asked presidential reaction. Asked for comment at Nashville where he was watching the results of the state elections, Priest said: “My Commander-in-Chief has spoken. I have no further com ment except to say that irregard- less of my personal opinion in this matter, he can be assured of my full support in the administration of the nation’s affairs and the pros ecution of the war.” Mr. Truman, who weeks ago had tartly rejected Republican demands for Acheson’s scalp, said he was surprised that the House whip of his own party had made such a statement.' He said Priest had no business doing that. Then, raising his voice he said he wanted to make it plain that Acheson and Johnson are not going to resign as long as he is in the White House. Priest commented last week in Tennessee that the two cabinet officers should be replaced and said he is using his influence toward the end. He said the change should be made “in the interest of a com pletely unified effort in the task ahead of us.” there is a voluntary end to the policies of Communist imperialism, a general war is inevitable, al though perhaps it is still not im minent. If that be true, America may one day thank its lucky stars for Korea. School’s Out! Korea has just about closed the be-all and end-all school of atomic worshippers. It is now ob vious that there are ways to lose a war, to lost a whole position, in the world, without being able to use the bomb. The story of Korea is the story of the G. I., and a new awareness of his importance. As he dies today in small numbers his experience may save lives in vast numbers on another day and another field. The awakening brought about through the Korean incident may have its greatest and most far reaching result in lessening that gravest danger to which democra cies are prone—too little and too late. Hitler planned his war for 1943; didn’t think he could ,be ready for it until then. But as his actions in Europe began to mobilize the ill- will of the world against him, he realized, so he said, that never again would conditions be 1 better than they were in 1939. As long as there are dictatorships, unhamper ed by the necessity of mobilizing the opinion of their own publics, that can continue to happen. Sooner Than 1953 With one communist-initiated war already going, the allies have abandoned their estimate of 1953 as Stalin’s “der tag,” and are now moving to be prepared to the limit of each day’s ability. If it had not been for French, British and Russian war orders be fore Pearl Harbor, United States industry would have been in piti ful condition to meet the demands ultimately made upon it. There may be a day when we will won der what would have happened had not Korea come qlong at this time. May Be Blessing Yes, if Korea is properly used for the proving ground of men, weapons and ideas, it may yet be a blessing. For the United States faces not just a “limited operation.” She is taking the place of peacekeeper of the world, of the bulwark against barbarism, which Rome and Brit ish held in other centuries. It is a job which requires actual strength and “know how” beyond mere willingness. TODAY & WEDNESDAY FIRST RUN —Features Start— 1:28 - 3:36 - 5:44 - 7:52 - 10:00 IMttSTER iUiliS | Virginia MAYO ll|l|fW I dor by T£CHNICC»R ffl | Virginia Color by TECHNICC^R NEWS & CARTOON company is added the wandering Stewart and a cowardly Charles Drake and financee, ex-dancehall belle, Shelly Winters. The Indians are routed and Stewart and Mitch ell ride on, overlooking the rifle which is passed to Drake. Seeking refuge, Drake is re lieved of life and gun by a half wit, trigger-happy Dan Duryea. Winters goes with the gun. These two join McNally at his hideout where the gang plans a bank hold up. The Winchester goes back to McNally. At the scene of the pros pective crime, Stewart makes his appearance; he shoots Duryea, who does a primitive adagio on the way to the ground. The true story is then revealed by Mitchell; Mc Nally is Stewart’s brother, and had long ago killed their father. A pursuit is made of the fleeing McNally and a grim gun-battle en sues before the villian is ultimately killed. Title Misleading The title of the picture is- mis leading, for the picture is not the story of the Winchester, “The gun that won the West”, but that of two men who would kill one anoth er. The Winchester serves only to bring out the characters of the men. A sponge cake could have been the prize at the shooting match and it still would have gone over, for in those days, any oppor tunity was taken to display marks manship. All of the extraordinary shooting in the picture was ac complished, not with the miraculous Winchester, but with its younger brother, the 30-30. Director Anthony Mann strove for realism, and did well enough. The actors were never pushed into overacting, and a true picture of their worth was brought out. Photographer Aaron Rosenberg should be congratulated* for a fine job. Comment: Much better than the average western. NOW SHOWING QUEEN WED. - THURS. Dick Powell June Allyson m LI’L ABNER On Burroed Time By A1 Capp WHAT KIND / S>EHOLD/. r ] B-5L£SS MAI FOOLISH TALK N COMES DON l SOUL.T-HE EES THATP-YOO J \ FUJMBERTO, “T LOOKS LIKE NO WEESH TO / ~\THE JUSTICE ) MAftftVIKf SAM MARRY WEETH HER? > OF THE ^SOUTH AMERICAN BUT YOU GOTTA//' A PIZZA/.''JLSTYLE ■A Air Force NCO’s To Aid Reservists Two Air Force Reserve Liaison NCO’s have been assigned to the 9807th VART Squadron in Bryan to help College Station reservists with their reserve affairs, accord ing to an announcement by 14th AF Reserve officials at Bergstrom Air Force Base this week. Included in this new assignment are M/Sgt. Luther Jeffers and T/Sgt. Raymond E. Smith who have set up their office in Room 410 of the Varisco Building in Bryan and will be available to answer any inquiries or assist local reservists with any problems in reserve affairs. In the near future they expect to make a personal visit to the campus to talk over reserve program with College Sta tion air reservists. ^ Flight “A” of the 9807th VART Squadron, commanded by Lt. Col. James B. Hervey, Former Students Association, is located here at Col lege Station. Anyone interested in joining is urged to contact to Col onel Hervey or the Liaison Office downtown. * L/* 'f “The Reformer And The Redhead” t i a