i
Battalion Editorials
Page 2
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1950
‘The Government Taketh Away’ . . .
For years some of the best political minds
in the United States have been warning us
of our greatest threat to the American way
of life—a powerful, power-mad, federal bu-
reauracy.
This trend of American government,
started with the inauguration of Franklin
Roosevelt and continued for nearly twenty
years, is just as menacing and nearly as ter
rifying to our Constitutionally minded states
men as is the threat of Communism. As just
another step in that direction the Fair Deal
ers are now attempting to add a corollary to
their proved (by a very sympathetic Su
preme Court) theorem that the Gulf of
Mexico tidelands belong to the federal gov
ernment.
The Justice Department has asked the
U.S. Supreme Court to make Texas and
Louisiana account for all the money re
ceived from oil developments in the Gulf of
Mexico tidelands since June 23, 1947, the
date on which the Supreme Court decided
‘Failing Economy’-.in the
Have the economic standards of the Uni
ted States reached proportions near the col
lapsing point ?
A few months ago many people were fond
of their abilities of extolling the demerits of
our failing economy and seemed pleased with
themselves for being aware of the falsity.
Before the Korean war, defense spending
to exceed the $18 billion mark was viewed
with skepticism. We are now headed for
defense spending on the order of $45 or $50
billion. If the people were right before the
Korean conflict arose, our national economy
is not long for this world.
Defense spending will be high if we are
to maintain standing armies for national de
fense. Non-defense spending will rise cor
respondingly if we are to carry out a rearm
ament program. This will undoubtedly tax
the, national budget. But a nation with re
sources and quantity of national production
Which Sacrifice - An Ally
In this Uncle Sugar era, John Q. Pub
lic is coming to believe that out government
is using no discrimination whatever in giv
ing'jaway the precious American dollar. The
latest and loudest criticism has been leveled
at plans to “lend” to Franco Spain. Even
the most ostrich-like of our legislator^ rec
ognize that Spain is the last surviving mem
ber of the Fascist dictatorships that we spent
four years and millions of lives to destroy.
To aid Franco, Spain-aid opponents point
out, would completely destroy the illusion
that the North Atlantic Pact is a union of
free and democratic countries. What little
military help Spain could givd us would not
be worth the effect such help would have on
our allies, and on the neutral countries.
The opponents of U.S. aid to Spain have
lost sight of the original aims of our Europe-
na reconstruction program: (1) to stop the
spread of Communism in Europe, and there
by build a bulwark between Russia and the
U.S. and, (2) to save ourselves from an eco-
that the federal government has paramount
rights in the offshore tidelands of Califor
nia. ,
Not content with defeating Texas’ claim
to the tidelands, the Fair Dealers feel that
the Federal government has a retroactive
claim to anything Texas has already taken
from this area. With their seemingly un
limited capacity for spending money, the
Fair Dealers should realize that Texas’ share
of the tidelands oil has already been used.
The only way the millions which Texas
received from its tidelands oil can be repaid
to the Federal government is by taking it
from Texans through taxes. Perhaps then
the government will return a fraction of
these taxes to Texas through federal aid to
education or through some other federal
agency.
To paraphrase an old maxim: “The gov
ernment taketh away, and the government
giveth. Blessed be the name of the gov
ernment.”
United States? . . .
such as the United States should be able to
assume the extra amounts.
The President’s council of economic ad
visors too does not oelieve that economic
failure is inevitable, and have presented data
to prove their point. They reason that a na
tion’s ability to afford very high govern
ment spending depends on its ability to pro
duce goods. By using our present and other
comparative national production figures,
along with conservative estimations, econ
omists have concluded that this nation can
bear our economic load without fatal eco
nomic explosions.
Our economy is powerful! So powerful
that it can stand a heavy load for a long
time without any disasterous collapse in, the
standard of living. Therefore, why not con
clude all foolish talk about our “failing” eco
nomic status?
or An Ideal? . .
nomic depression by bolstering U]3 Europe’s
tottering finances.
Even in this day of atomic warfare, Spain
offers us an invaluable natural fortress in
Europe. . The French, as perhaps no other
people, realize the importance of Spain as an
ally. In June, 1940, thousands of French
soldiers fled over the Spanish border, laid
down their weapons, and “sat’ out” the rest
of the war.
If Spain had been an ally, these same
French soldiers could have dug into the Pyr
enees mountains and in all probability held
on until the United States and Great Britain
came to their aid. Unlike the Maginot Line
the t Pyrenees cannot be blasted down by
tanks and planes. ’In case of war the Pyr
enees would be our only logical line of de
fense between Russia and the Atlantic
Ocean.
The question of aiding Spain will force
the United States to make a bitter sacrifice
—a very important ideal or a military ally.
@ #
One way to get more space in a cramp
ed department is to get rid of the slow
moving items and concentrate on the fast-
movers.
Necessity is the mother of invention—
Dissatisfaction, the father of success.—
Ed Hesse.
Some salesmen are £ired with ambition
others are fired for the lack of it.
There IS an ill wind that blows nobody
any good. It’s this blowing you do about
yourself.
Any job done reluctantly is a difficult
one.—-Martin Vanbee.
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
fiv§ times a week during the regular school year. Du ring 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 cred
ited to it or not otherwise credited in the paper and local news of spontaneous origin published 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
Hath Classified ads may be placed by telephone (4-5324) or at the Student 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.
DAVE COSLETT, CLAYTON L. SELPH Co-Editors
John Whitmore, Dean Reed, L. O. Tiedt Managing Editors
Sid Abernathy Campus News Editor
Frank N. Manitzas Sports Editor
Joel Austin City News Editor
Member of
The Associated Press
Represented nationally by National- Ad
vertising Service Inc., at New York City,
Chicago. Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
Restraint Bill
For Communist
AdivityComing
By G. MILTON KELLY
Senate-House conferees have ten
tatively agreed on the final terms
of a bill aimed at hobbling Com
munist activities in this country.
Among other things, the measure
calls for internment—without the
light of habeas corpus—of danger
ous Reds in time of invasion, in
surrection in the cause of a foreign
power, or rebellion. The conferees
reportedly turned down a Senate
proposal for internment power at
ahy time the country is at war.
Broadly, however, the compro
mise bill follows terms of a Senate-
approved Communist control bill
adopted earlier in the week. The
House had passed a sharply differ
ent anti-Communist measure ear
lier.
Terms Unannounced
Senator McCarran (D-Nev), con
ference chairman forbade official
announcement of the terms. He
said he won’t consider a real agree
ment has been reached until the
last “T” is crossed, and the last
conferee has signed the recommen
dations, probably Monday.
The measure then would go to
the House, which has agreed to
vote on nothing before Wednesday.
Informed senators said this is
what the measure’s internment
provisions will do:
• The attorney general, on com
plaint showing “reasonable cause”
for suspicion, could have dangerous
Reds or other subversive charac
ters thrown into jail to be held
indefinitely with or without trial.
® The President, under the same
conditions — invasion, insurrection
or rebellion — could suspend the
right of habaes corpus. That is
the legal device for forcing a court
heating on whether a jailed of im
prisoned person! is unlawfhlly held.
May Appeal Case
® The interhees would have re
course of appeal to examiners, and
next to a review or detention
board, the findings of which could
be reversed by either the attorney
general or the courts in due time.
© The internees could not be con
fined at “hard labor.”
Other provisions reportedly
agreed on would (a) require the
registratidn of Comintinist or Com
munist front groups, (b) bar such
persons from employment On na
tional defense projects', and (c)
stiffen penalties for conspiracy to
overthrow the government.
The measure rejects proposals
that mere membership in an or
ganization declared subversive
would be evidence of conspiracy
igainst the government.
The; Senate version of the meas
ure would have allowed internment
in event of war, but informants
said the conferees stuck to inva
sion, insurrection or rebellion “to
make sure it’s constitutional.”
They said the constitution has
similar language for suspension of
habeas corpus rights, and the pro
vision strengthens the President’s
hand.
The bill goes much farther than
President Truman had asked, in
proposing new legal weapons
against spies and Comunists.
Whether he will sign or veto
the measure in its present form is
a matter of much speculation. He
declined earlier in the week to
elaborate on a previous statement
that he’d veto any measure that he
feels might endanger American lib
erties.
Tooth Pulling
Malakal, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
—(yp)—a native of this upper Nile
province obtained a prized crocodile
tooth charm the hard way.
A crocodile bit him, leaving one
tooth behind in the process. The
tooth w r as discovered at the hospi
tal. The bite itself turned out not
to be serious.
THE MASKED MARVELS
from the City Desk
From Where I Sit . . .
A&M Film Society-
New Campus Club
By Herman C. Gollob
Greater Coverage
Of City Promised
By JOEL AUSTIN
Battalion City Editor
Today The Battalion begins regular publication of a
new and "enlarged paper which '""f.nd worii new^
greater coverage of campus, city, sports, and woil.t news.
Through the present plan of increased •,
coverage of local news, The Battalion wli
endeavor to include all the news m and about
College Station, as well as stories of mar
riages, parties, gatherings, etc., ot local
people. Not to be omitted is A&M Consoli
dated School, which will be furnished with a
reporter regularly to gather items of imej -
est there.
Sports news from A&M Consolidated
School will be handled by the sports depart
ment of the paper. Pictures and stories Austin
about sports activities in season at Consoh-
dated will appear regularly m the nearly 50
per cent increased sports section.
Most readers have found the bulk of city news on the
back page heretofore, but under the new arrangement, all
important stories will be placed on the front page, while
those of lesser importance may be found on page three.
Under the present setup, we can promise complete cov
erage of all city council, chamber of commerce, and civic club
activities
A society editor has been employed and is expected to
take over her duties very soon. Through her, we will be able
to present feature articles on recipes, gardening, fashions,
and many stories of interest to women readers.
Our Purpose—A Running Commentary
Stop us if we’re wrong, but we’ll be mummified with
printer’s ink and swathed in the reels of a Margaret O’Brien
classic if we can think of any forms of creative endeavor oth
er than the motion picture and the novel that enjoy the para
doxical, two-fold status of industry and art.
Since its inception in 1889 with the appearance of Edi
son’s Kinetoscope, movie-making has been alternately con
demned as an art) form which prostitutes itself to the base
aspects of commercialism, and as “mass production” indus
try which provides moviegoers with a snobbish, arty and
esoteric piece of goods in direct clash with public taste.
Tbe novel, too, is simultaneously immersed in big busi
ness and art. For every Steinbeck with his eye on life,, re
flecting a heartfelt and sincere response to life, there are
ten Winsors with their eyes on the pocketbook, manufactur
ing succulent pornographic cliches in the name of history,
raw realism, etc.
Through the study of only the most refined and note
worthy literature in high schools and colleges, however, the
novel emerges in the public mind as an impeccable, purified
art form.
•
Unfortunately, a course in the limited seating capacity of the
motion picture as a significant YMCA Assembly Hall, where the
method of portraying universal films will be shown, only 300 tick-
truths is not, to our knowledge, olj- ets will'he sold,
fered at any educational institu- Included in the year’s schedule
tiori, or is offered at so few as to are . thefse films which best ilfus-
do little good. The general ten- trate the history and development
dency is to judge the movies on 0 f the motion picture as a whole,
the basis of the bad films, not the p ro g ram w iH begin Monday,
superior. October 16, with the screening of
For this reason, the Museum of five one-reelers, including “The
Modern Art Film Library has col- Great Train Robbery.” In addi-
lected and preserved representative tion, a two-reel short, “The Movies
motion pictures of all types. These March On,” will be shown,
are available . for rental, making Thomas Ince’s “The Last of the
possible a critical appreciation and Line” and “Civilization” will fea-
analysis of the history and func- ture the next meeting of the So-
tion of this relatively new art. ciety) November 20. “Intolerance,”
Nationwide grohps have taken a D. W. Griffith silent classic, was
advantage of the opportunity offer- to follow on December 18. This
ed by the Library and formed Film date falls during the Christmas
Societies. Such an organization holidays, however, necessitating a
now exists at A&M, and is open revision in the schedule which will
to anyone who can manage the $1 be announced at a later date,
membership fee. Because of the
©
What many critics consider the trich will appear March 19.
finest war picture on record—“All MGM’s “The Good Earth” with
Quiet on the Western Front,” with Paul Muni and Luise Rainer is
This column may be found on
the editorial page of The Battalion
every Wednesday and Friday, com
mencing that schedule in the Fri
day edition this week.
The purpose of this column, as
it has been through the summer,
will be to offer our readers a run
ning commentary of important
happenings at the city hall and
around the city proper in order
that citizens of College Station
may keep up to date on the many
little things necessary for a
smooth running, efficiently man
aged city such as College Station.
Through this space we hope to
gain readers who wish to read the
news of local events presented in
an impartial way, yet written to
pull no punches, nor hurt any indi
vidual or group. Various things
will be pointed out from time- to
time which would, in our opinion
be necessary for a better city.
News About The City
Lew Ayres, and Louis Wolheim-
will appear on the January 15 pro
gram.
The German influence will be
shown on February 19 with the
screening of “Hands” and “Sun-
scheduled for April 16. The same
company’s “The Thin Man” will
conclude the series on May 21.
If you desire further information
concerning the Film Society, drop
up to our office on the second
rise." Joseph Von Sternberg’s floor of Goodwin Hall. We’ve got
“Morocco” starring Marlene Die- k great spiel on the deal.
For those students and faculty
members who were not here dur
ing the summer, we might offer a
brief summary of important events
that came about in the vacation
period.
• After many weeks of negotia
tions and private meetings, gov
erning bodies of College Station
and Bryan reached an agreement
with the Southwest States Tele
phone Company on increased rates
to be paid the organization from
subscribers of the two-city ex
change. 1
Bryan and College Station^ coun-
cilmen got together shortly after
the company served its proposed
rate increase to the two groups
and outlined what they thought the
increased rates should be. The
phone company responded with a
compromise issue which was still
unsatisfactory to the College Sta
tion council and the Bryan com
mission.
After a second altering of the
telephone company’s compromise,
the settlement was made which
provided for a $36,000 a year in
crease rather than the $56,000 orig
inally asked.
® The home of John Bogard, 218
Harrington Drive, was completely
destroyed in a near midnight blaze
which was estimated to be a
$7,000 loss.
Much controversy concerning the
adequacy of the local fire depart
ment arose because of this fire and
many steps have been taken since
the July 27 blaze to correct or ex
plain reasons for these inadequa
cies.
A special citizens committee was
appointed by Mayor Ernest. Lang
ford of College Station in answer
to a petition submitted to the city
council with a list of 100 names
of local residents asking for better
fire protection. The committee
has not met yet, but chairman
L. P. Gabbard plans to call the
group together to study conditions
of College Station fire protection in
the very near future.
® Although promised an abun
dance of water for the dry sum
mer months, Bryan’s water reser
voirs became dangerously low sev
eral times early in August. The
situation made it necessary for city
officials of Bryan and Qollege Sta
tion to request people not to water
their lawns and gardenp except at
certain times fluring the latb eve
ning when the regular consumption
was low.
® The city council extended its
limits on the south side to include a
large area there, while some con
sideration was made by the group
to install parking meters at the
North Gate so shoppers could be
asured ample parking space. No
definite action was taken on this
matter.
Selfishness Will Prove Red Theories
By JAMES MARLOW
Washington, Sept. 19 — (dP) —
Americans have a good chance to
prove the Communists are right.
It will be ironic if they do.
The Russian Communist leaders
take a pretty dim view of the in
stincts in mankind. For instance,
selfishness.
They don’t trust people' to curb
their own selfishness and, by rea
sonable and fair conduct with one
another, keep the economy intact.
So the Communist leadership im
poses iron controls on all phases
of living, including prices, wages,
ownership of property, and so on.
By their control of prices and
wages, for example, they can limit
the ability of the people to buy or
hoard goods or food.
Our Theory
The theory behind the American
government is that people by them
selves can act reasonably and fair
ly, curbing their greed without
government interference and, in
this reasonable way, keep the econ
omy intact.
Since this government represents
all the people—and is really all the
people—when it does interfere, it’s
supposed to do so for the general
welfare and to protect the majority
against some minority unfairness.
This American hatred for gov
ernment interference is the basis
of the people’s freedom. And this
country now is involved in a strug
gle with Communism to keep it
from winning and swallowing pp
the freedom.
The struggle grows more intense
and may wind up in a world war
in which Communism or freedom
will win, but not both. To be
ready for the showdown if it
comes, this country it re-arfnifig.
Which means, as President Tru
man saiid, things will be different.
Less for Luxuries
As more materials go into arm
ament, there’ll be less left for the
luxuries and gadgets which people
could buy so freely until now.
Meanwhile, getting ready for the
worst in human nature, the gov
ernment has. created a new OPA,
called the Economic Stabilization
Agency.
This agency will have the job
of controlling prices and wages
and rationing, too—if such controls
become necessary.
It is too soon to say — unless
there is a great emergency—wheth
er any goods will become scarce
ebough to pinch anyone. They
majn And therein lies the chal
lenge to the people of this country:
What Will They Do?
Will they let greed and selfish
ness get the better of them? Will
they start hoarding and buying
more than they need? Will busi
nessmen take advantages of short
ages to hike prices unnecessarily or
try to hoard scarce materials ?
If they do, the government will
slap on controls, and the greater
the greed, the wider the controls,
getting tougher. It will mean wide
controls to prevent the people from
wrecking their own economy.
Wrecked Economy
If the American economy was
wrecked, the Communists would
have it that much easier to take
over. It would prove what they’ve
long proclaimed:
That a capitalist society carries
within it the seeds of its own de
struction and, sooner or later, must
wreck itself.
It certainly would be ironic if
Ameiicans, prizing freedom and
struggling to preserve it, mean
while let their greed produce a vic
tory for the thing they’re fighting.
It also would be ironic if, hating
government controls, they brought
those controls on themselves bv
failing to act reasonably.
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