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Seventy-Fifth
Anniversary
Edition
The Battalion
PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF A GREATER A&M COLLEGE
Seventy-Fi fth
Anniversary
Edition
Number 42: Volume 51
COLLEGE STATION (Aggieland), TEXAS, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1950
Price Five Cents
arrington
Inaugurated Today
v-V-
Gen. “Ike” Eisenhower
Dr. M. T. Harrington
Ross Statue
Unveiled In
Ceremonies
May S, 1S19—prominent Speakers
Take Part in Beautiful Ceremony.
Promptly at 2:30 Sunday after
noon the flags hiding the statue of
the late Governor Ross were drawn
aside. Before. a gathering’ of ap
proximately fifteen hundred loyal
Texans perhaps one of the most
impressive and solemn ceremonies
was held in honor of a true and
loyal Southern gentleman.
A selection following the invo-
ration by the Rev. Jamison of Bryan
was given by the band, the colors
accompanied by the Ross Volun
teers, were presented. President
Bizzell in a few brief remarks
stated the object of the occasion
and presented Miss Betsy Ross,
granddaughter of the late Law-
(See ROSS, Pag 8)
Only Transportation
joint Traditions
Bind Aggie- Tessie
By HENRI BOB RUSSELL
and DAVE COSLETT
Time’s drawing nigh for the an
nual get-together with the little sis
ter—Tessie, that is. So while we
are in the process of digging into
our own past, let’s pause for a
look at hers, too.
You’ll notice avc said “little sis
ter.” Seems we Aggies are some
27 years her elder, for it was not
until 1903 that a school in Denton
—then known as the College of In
dustrial Arts—opened its doors.
A brother-sister relationship
between the two schools has ex
isted at least since modern means
of transportation made such a
relationship possible. Aggie uni
forms Averev well-known on the
Tessie campus as far back as
the late ’20’s^
’Cooperation and association be
tween the two student bodies has
grown in many forms. The most
official of these, the annual joint
Corps Trip, is probably the most
recent.
It Avas first officially sanctioned
during the fall of 1938 for the
SMU game in Dallas and dretv
2,000 Tessies and 5,000 Aggies on
the first go round. The precedent
had been set the year before at the
(See MCDONALD, Page 2)
Girls Petition
A&M Leaders
For Acceptance
“Bryan and Heame Girls
Seek Entrance to College By
Court Action,” a headline
from The Battalion, screamed <' uss
September 27,1933. | competent professionals.
Eisenhower Gives
Principal Address
BY CLAYTON SELPH
Amid formal finery and a colorful display of academic
robes, Ur. Marion T. Harrington was this afternoon formally
inaugurated as A&M’s twelfth president.
First former student to hold the presidential office,
Harrington is a graduate of the Class of ’22. His formal in
auguration makes complete his climb to the top of the exec
utive ladder at A&M. He has held the offices of dean of the
college, dean of arts and sciences, and dean of the A&M
Annex in the past four years.
Gibb Gilchrist, Chancellor of the A&M System, installed
the new executive, who has been exercising the duties of
his office since June of this year.
General Dwight 1). Eisenhower, president of Columbia
University, honor guest, and main inaugural speaker, dis
cussed in his address the challenge to institutions of higher
learning in this country.
Stressing the need for unity and understanding among
free peoples of the world, Eisenhower said that it was diffi
cult for men concerned with earning their daily livelihood
to realize the danger of present day trends toward giving
up our identity as free, independent individuals.
Vote Right Abused
Warning against the ever-present threat of power-mad
men trying to gain control of the people, he said that only
half of our people exercise the right to vote, a right which
Hitler of Mussolini did not tolerate.
In our fight for freedom against regimentation, he said,
Awe must be doubly careful againstA
j giving up our OAvn responsibilities [
i and making the state caretaker of
our lives.
Our schools, he said, must prod
us into vigilant awareness and fit
us for the crises of the times, or
the freedom and opportunities of
the times Avill disappear in the
ruin of all free institutions.
Non-Partisan Atmosphere
These schools can provide an at
mosphere free from partisan de
bate and confusion, and make Avay
for the average lay group to dis-
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Dr. John A. Hannah
College
Democracy
Place to Start
—Hannah
By ANDY ANDERSON
Those Avho decry citizenship ener-
Y'es, ifi 1938, and prior years, I tia, and are indifferent to political
girls did go to school here. It problems and trends, he said, too
seems that permission had been ; often forget that they cannot fully
granted to daughters of college [ discharge their responsibilities un
employees residing in Brazos Coun
ty to attend A&M. When this per
mission was granted, a petition
was draAvn up and signed by tAvelve
girls from Bryan and tAA'o lasses
from Heame, demanding the same
privilege.
On January 10, 1914, Judge W.
(See GIRLS, Page 2)
less they are clearly knoAvn and
understood.
Our schools must lead the way
, Those who work in the field of
Avith J higher education have reason to be
greatly encouraged by the evidence
of ever-mounting public interest
in college and university training.
Dr. John A. Hannah, president
of Michigan State College told the
delegates at the inaugural luncheon
at noon today.
The luncheon, held in the Sbisa
in this effort. If they are success-; H a h Annex, Avas in honor of Dr.
ful, the rest may be left to the | J • ^ ari '' n 8'l 0n > w h° was inaugu-
spirit and patriotism of the Ameri- i rated as president of the college at
can people. Under God, they Avill j 8 p.m. today,
never fail, he said. | Dr. Hanah, immediate past pres-
(See NEIED, Page 2) ident of the Association of Land
Grant Colleges, expressed the
vieAvs of national leaders, place
ment offices of business and in
dustry and public interest when he
said these concerns are becoming
aware of the fact college trained
graduates are needed.
He said it is disconcerting to
find all Is not harmony and coop
eration Avithin higher education it
self, even though the general situa
tion is encouraging.
, Machine Like Education
There has been much sniping at
publicly-supported higher educa
tion, such as charges of political
control of public schools, robot
like quality to education because
of lack of attention to ethical and
spiritual values and charges that
“mass education” is education of
poor quality.
“There is ample authority” the
Michigan educator said, “for the
claim that the land-grant college
and the modern Slate University
are more characteristic Avhen think
ing of the American Avay.”
The program began Avith Rever
end Grin G. Helvey, Vicar, St.
Thomas Episcopal Chapel, giving
the invocation.
H. L. Heaton, registrar of the
college, welcomed the delegates and
introduced to them, Dr. M. T. Har-
(Se HANNAH, Page 2)
A&M Military Preparedness Has Been Proven In Two Wars
By DAVE COSLETT
You’ll have to excuse the folks
that mistakenly call us the Ath
letic and Military College of Texas
—they’ve got pretty just cause.
A look at the athletic accom
plishments of the school lends cre
dence to the first belief. A mere
glance at the history and present
Uature of the school easily justifies
£he second error.
The simple truth is that this
place has been military from the
word “go.”
Official origin of the situation
is the Morrill Act under Avhich the
college Avas sanctioned. That Ieav
provided for the establishment of
a college dedicated to the teach
ing of agriculture and the mechan
ic arts in each state of the Union.
The government was to aid these
colleges through grants of land—
thus Land Qrant Colleges.
The laAv further stipulated that
military training be given at each
college thus established. Accord
ingly, provision was made for such
training when the college Avas first
opened. The fact that the military
aspect has been so prominent at
A&M, though, must be accounted
for in other ways.
Reasons offered are as numerous
as they are varied. Probably the
most popular with Texans is the
idea that natwes of the state ai’e
natural-born fighters in the first
place; hence, it’s only normal that
more than adequate provision he
made to develop a natural talent.
Oddly enough, exact information
concerning the military history of
the college is not readily available.
The early years of that history are
retold only in a few relatively un-
knoAvn and often unsubstantiated
stories plus dry statistics from col
lege catalogues.
College Opened Twice
Since any attempt to trace that
history leads to Oct. 4, 1876, the
story must logically begin there.
That date is officially listed as the
day the college opened. Actually a
previous attempt had been made to
open on Sept. 17. The appearance
of only six students, hoAvever,
rather discouraged the faculty,
composed of an equal number, and
prompted the later date.
When an estimated 30 or 40 stu
dents did finally get the s(?hool off
to a rather inauspicious start they
found that one of the faculty mem
bers, R. P. W. Morris, had the
three-fold job of. teaching them ap
plied mathematics, mechanics and
military tactics. A major, Moms
J
Strong in number, steeped in fighting tradition
Avas also designated commandant of
cadets.
The spirited Virginian was a de
voted militarist Avho firmly be-
lieA r ed in military discipline. He is
generally accredited Avith having
laid the foundations for the “espirit
de corps” so outstanding- at A&M.
Marches and Exercises
His course of military training
consisted of setting-up exercises,
bayonet and artillery drills and
single-file marches. The original
military organization of the col
lege formed one battalion of In
fantry.
Major Morris, Avho actually car
ried out the functions of today’s
corps commander, had a staff of
24 cadet officers and NCO’s by the
time the second session of col
lege arrived.
Students, incidentally, were re
quired to study military tactics,
though it Avas not stressed as a
leading subject. The course was
aimed at establishing discipline and
affording “gymnastic exercise”
rather than at producing profes
sional soldiers.
Discipline Strict
The discinline it established Avas
unmistakeably military—so much
so that it led to friction between
Maj. Morris and anti-military Tho
mas Gathright, first president of
A&M.’
C'uard details, in the strictest
sense of the phrase, were standard
routine. And no student Avas al-
loAvcd to leave college during ses
sion Avithout, permission of the
president. Students were prohibited,
under penalty of dismissal, from
having ammunitions, Aveapons or
arms not issued.
This latter restriction, compar
able to one of today, Avas espec
ially applicable in view of the cam
pus of that time. Deer ran unmo
lested over the college prairies and
the scream of puma often Startled
sentries on cold Avinter nights.
Strength Doubled
By the third session of college,
Captain George T. Olmstead had
been appointed by the War Depart
ment as commandant of the corps
of cadets. The military staff had
increased to 53 members; the num
ber of companies from an original
tAvo to four.
As the years passed, the mili
tary instruction continued in the
aim of a disciplining factor uni'e-
lated to and non-conflicting with
academic activities. This flavor of
strict discipline soon proved to be
a drawing card for a beloAV aver
age type of student whose parents
were anxious to have him disciplin
ed by more capable hands.
Haven for Delinquents
Roughnecks and wayward sons
came to constitute a large part of
the corps and disputes betAveen of
ficers and cadets frequently arose.
Fist fights were officially sanc
tioned to settle such differences.
Reports indicate they did so ef
fectively.
By 1882, military instruction con
sisted of Artillery and Infantry
drills, target practice and the duties
of a sentinel
•
A schedule of calls at this time
Avas as follows:
6:00 Reveille; roll call
6:30 Inspection of rooms
7:00 Breakfast
8:00 Guard mounting; language
recitations
9:00 Recitations; shop work
1:00 Dinner
2:00 Recitations. Shop, field and
lab work.
.'>:00 Drill. 3 times a week
6:00 Retreat
7:00 Supper
8:00 Study Call
9:00 'latoo
•
The size of the corps that year
was diminished by epidemics of
measles ami pneumonia. And cadets
met these epidemics by doing nur-
simr duty. Cadets were also tried
as janitors that year with unsat
isfactory results.
Full-Back Marches
Other pleansantries of the era
included compulsory Chapel ser
vices, before-breakfast guard-
mounts, Sunday morning inspec
tions and yearly, full-nack marches
to the Brazos “to relieve the mon
otony of school life.”
Cadet dismissals for breaches of
discipline had reached a high in
1883 when a recommendation was
studied making the telling of a
deliberate lie punishable by dis
missal and nothing less.
The caliber of incoming students
Avas still Ioav in 1890 when Com
mandant B. C. Morse, Lt. USA,
remarked in his report “It is not
thoroughly understood by parents
that this is not a reformatory.”
The handling of the students,
however, Avas apparently effective
for good discipline Avas reported
throughout the period beginning
in 1885. Reports of the military de
partment Avere requesting more
authority be given the command
ant.
Period of Crisis
Though things Avere running
rather smoothly A\ithin the college
and the corps, the citizens of Texas
Avere beginning to A r oice discontent
with the isolated Brazos Bottom
school as the nineteenth century
moved into its final decade.
Faculties and administrative pol
icies of the college had been any
thing but static in recent years and
an agriculture minded Texas avhs
a bit leary of this “noAv fangled”
scientific aarieulturc bcinc taught
at the Land-Grant School.
Besides, the University of Texas
had come into operation and cap
tured the eyes of the state. Some
people advocated that everything
but farm and shop work be turned
over to the neAv state school. The
latter Iavo undertakings they Avould
leave to the College Station insti
tution.
Then, too, A&M military features
met Avith disfavor in some circles.
Continued enrollment of “problem
boys” did not ease the situation.
Lawrence Sullivan Ross
The college, faced Avith a decid
edly uncertain future, called for
help to a proven leader, Lawrence
Sullivan Ross. The former Confed
erate general, then governor of
Texas, took the reigns of the
school and led it to a new era.
Military reports during the ad
ministration of “Sully” were feAv—
an indication, perhaps, of a trans
ition Avithin that department of
the college. The president himself
relieved the military department of
its primary job as disciplinarian.
His ability to handle boys ap
proached the miraculous. Parents
Avere actually sending their sons
to Sul Ross rather than to A&M.
The eyes of the state Avere once
move drawn to its oldest college.
Enrollment increased overnight.
But the military Avas not being
left in the background. In fact,
the first reported federal inspec
tions came during the Ross admin-
istration. The first of these was
in May, 1895, by Gen. Guy V.
Henry. The second, a year lathr,
Avas conducted by Col. H. W. Law-
ton, Inspector General at the time.
Reports Favorable
General Henry reported, “The
general appearance as a battalion
avhs most creditable. Condition of
the Military Department AA r as good
with' its discipline, order, military
appearance and manner of perform
ing duty at all times.”
Colonel Lawton Avas also favor
able in his comments. “This instil
lution, unlike the others under my
inspection, has a thorough military’
organization, is much stronger in
numbers, and fewer young boys:
All the details of instmetion ai’e
conducted on military principles,
and, as has been stated in pre
vious reports, is modeled as far
as practicable on the plan of the
USMA at West Point.”
The hand, “composed of 15 good
(Sec “SULLY,” Race 3)
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. . . Enjoying the wisdom of years, a foundation of strength