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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 12, 1951)
Battalion Editorials Page 2 THURSDAY, APRIL 12 ,1951 Bull Session An Open Invitation i N opinion poll to determine whether A&M wants a Student Body President was call ed off last night at the request of a large group of students. The group asserted that they had not had time to think about the issue and that The Battalion had not publicized it fully enough. Out of the argument came a meeting of the Student Senate election committee today at noon. Senate President Bill Parse said last night that the election probably would be postponed until after a meeting of the Senate was held. The Battalion welcomes this postpone ment and herewith invites any and all stu dents who wish to express themselves on the Student Body President question to put their opinions into a “letter to the editor.” Sufficient space will be reserved to pub lish all arguments presented. This is a student body issue. We encour age ALL interested students to express themselves. The Battalion has, contrary to an accu sation by a student senator voiced at a meet ing of cadet officers in the Basic Division, last night, published a large front page news story, two page one “boxes” and three edi torials concerning the opinion poll that was called off. Take careful note of the terminology used here. A “poll” of student opinion was sched uled to be taken last night, not an “election.” Delivered to you last night was a “question naire,” not a “ballot.” A majority vote of “yes” by the student Mean ami Weary? That’s Mow Shaw? Mailer See War By THOMAS M. FONTAINE Battalion Staff Writer ever, it is likely that the Senate will act to carry out the will of a majority of the stu dent body. It was suggested last night that the qual- tions they favor and present them to the Student Life group for approval. The Battalion will, before the opinion poll is taken, discuss in detail the need for a Stu dent Body President. And again, we empha- The Naked and The Dead Unless he is an exceptionally sophisticated reader, nearly size, it is the responsibility of the student anyone will be disconcerted at first by the brutal, vulgar body to present their views. 'Who’s Going to Laugh-Except Stalin’ Political Loyalty Overrules Reason in MacArthur Issue By J. M. ROBERTS, JR. AP Foreign Affairs, Analyst TIE IS a great man. Yet it had always seemed that one day his pride, his cock sureness, or whatever you want to call it, would get him into trouble. Whether it was willingness to sacrifice himself or whether it was stubbornness of concept, MacArthur violated his orders and has been ousted. The method used by the President is open to very bitter debate. Since he had the odds of power on his side, the President might have done better to try for a resig nation. Sympathy for the cut-down hero may put him in a better position than ever to carry on his fight. The President is supposed to make for eign policy and the General is supposed to carry it out when war is involved. But if MacArthur thinks the President is imposing impossible conditions which cost American and allied lives, where is he supposed to stop in his protest? If he considers the is sue so great, should he have to resign to get freedom to speak? Who is best qualified to decide the value of a “second front” against China through use of Chiang Kai-Shek's Nationalists—Mac Arthur, or the politicians in Washington? Does MacArthur really think this is World War III, and that it can be won in Asia without fighting in Europe? He didn’t quite say that. And I can’t quite see it. dialogue in The Naked And The Dead. But as the story progresses it becomes evident that such language is nec essary to give the naturalistic effect for which Mailer is striving. Before you condemn the author for his excessive use of cursing, carefully analyze the everyday language of A&M students or a group of workingmen. The Naked And The Dead covers a period of only a few short weeks in the lives of the men of a reconnaisance platoon in the South Pacific. But through the skillful use of “flash backs” Mailer gives each of the men individuality and mean ing. Don’t be surprised if you feel physically tired after read ing some parts of Mailer’s novel. One of the most memorable themes of the story is the impression of weariness and meaness of war. For example: “Wyman was wondering why he did not collapse. His If you capture Peiping, what have you? And even if the ultimate enemy, Russia, should be engaged in Asia eventually, how breath came in lon £ Parched shudders, his pack straps galled, rmild von ranturp Mnsrnw via Siberia? And hls feet were ablaze > and he could nob have spoken, for his y . P , * . throat and chest and mouth seemed covered with a woolly its Russia thats got to be licked to win f e i^ jj e was 110 longer conscious of the powerful and fetid World War III, if this is it. stench that rose from his clothes. Somewhere deep inside Where is the Kernel to this nut we are himself was a wonder at the exhaustion his body could endure. trying to crack? If we knew, we might get somewhere. If we lose Asia, will the whole The Young Lions war be lost or will it be just a non-decisive Irwin Shaw’s The Young Lions is concerned with the multiplication of what already has happened lives of three men—Christian, a German sergeant; Michael in China ? Will conquest of Asia permit an American playwright who never becomes reconciled to life Communism to mobilize for an attack on in the army; and Noah, an idealist American Jew. the United States? Not in anv short time at The Young'Ljons covers a much longer period than The the United States. Not in any short time, at Naked And The Dead> This allows the author to do a more least. But what if we get up to our necks in thorough investigation of the growth of his characters but the Asiatic morass and Russia then takes he losses some of the fine detail which Mailer used so success- Europe ? Europe’s highly developed indus- fully in describing the weariness of serving in the army, try can be quickly mobilized The U S ^ be mos ^ striking difference between the two writ- without either real or capable friends in ^ be f mes evident almost !r om the “ ai,er t ’ 3 n0 , val . . .. , . . yU , „ . . does not possess even one really sympathetic character—the Asia, would lose the help of the only friends au th 0 r seems to believe that the good man is merely an imagi- she has. Aside from all that, what’s going to happen to a country where govern mental leaders split along party lines instead of the line of reason on such questions? Who’s going to laugh—except Sta lin? Unselfish service is about the best contribution that a man can make to his day and generation. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Congratulations For Scholarship With the Student Senate’s Campus Chest drive beginning next Wednesday night, we be lieve it is appropriate that this letter be published. The major part of this year’s Campus Chest collection will be used for two scholarships— The Twelfth Man Scholarship and one for a Norwegian stu dent. This letter was address ed to Student Senate President Bill Parse.—The Editor. Dear Mr. Parse. Mr. R. Henderson Shuffler has written me in a letter of March 22nd that the A&M students have provided a scholarship for a Nor wegian student to attend A&M Col lege this year. Please accept my most hearty congratulations upon this splendid undertaking in international un derstanding. I am also very much pleased that the Student Senate has decided to channel the schol arship through The Nansen Fund. nary character. Shaw, on the other hand, while he does not white-wash his characters, obviously has a liking for Noah, Michael, and Christian. The higher ranking officers of the Army probably dislike some of Shaw’s opinions—they’re too realistic. The following lines will never be found in a field manual but they seem to give a pretty clear idea of army justice— “He would have to tell him what it was like to be under the command of a man who wanted to see you killed. Civil ians couldn’t really understand things like that. It was the big difference between civilian life and life in a military establishment. An American civilian always could feel that he could present his case to some authorities who were com mitted to the idea of justice. But a soldier . . . You lost any hope of appeal to anyone when you put on your first pair of army shoes. Tell it to the Chaplain, Bud, and get a TS slip.” (Bull Session is a regular Battalion column appearing on this page each Thursday. Students having ideas or opinions to express on books, politics, philosophy and “what have you” should address their correspondence to “Bull Session,” The Battalion, Campus. Communications deposited in the Faculty Exchange in the Academic Building do not require postage.—The Editor.) Levant Defies Jinx (Continued from Page 1) The Battalion The tickets, which will be good for the Andre Segovia concert on April 23, as well, may be purchased in Student Activities office in Goodwin Hall. and I have proposed “death?’ The number 13 makes'hi?! erf^adSi’n' 4 ^^ SttuS that we select eral aamission, w ioi sumem. From an articles in the Satur- „ T , „ , , day Evening Post, it is revealed We shall be very happy to coop- that Levant is “turned white with erate with you m selecting a good f e ar at the sound of the word student ter Mr. Shuffler that we select tremble butVeurot? Levant’makes The Battalion, official newspaper of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, is published by students 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. Subscrip tion rates $6.00 per year or $.60 per month. Advertising rates furnished on request. from the completed applications al ready at hand at the Institute of International Education. Entered as second-class matter at Post Office at College Staton, Texas, under the Act of Con gress of March 3, 1870. Member of The Associated Press I have looked through these ap plications for other purposes of the Nansen Fund and I know that there are outstanding candidates Represented nationally among them. A further advantage by National Advertising is that all these applicants are also Service Inc., at New York eligible for a Fulbright Travel Grant. City, Chicago, Los An geles, and San Francisco. CLAYTON L. SELPH, DAVE COSLETT Co-Editors John Whitmore, Dean Reed Managing Editors Andy Anderson, Bob Hughson Campus Editors Fred Walker Sports Editor Today’s Issue John Whitmore Andy Anderson Fred Walker Joel Austin Managing Editor Campus News Editor Sports News Editor City News Editor We would like tq^ive some pub licity to your efforts and I hope that we can use the information contained in Mr. Shuffler's letter to me. Namely, that you expect to pro vide a $600 scholarship to be chan neled through The Nansen Fund for a Norwegian student to study at A&M during the next school year. Erling Christophersen Adviser to the- Board 'The Nansen Fund, Inc. pets of money out of behaving un pleasantly and playing a little piano on the side.” He seems to have broken from his shell as far as the “13 jinx” is concerned because he is sche duled for Friday, the 13th which makes it even worse as far as he is concerned. “Student and non-student re served and general admission tick ets for the Town Hall program are still available,” C. G. “Spike” White, assistant dean of men for activities said this morning. reserved; $2.20 for non-student general admission and $3,00 for non-student reserved. Some Things Considered Little Man Fires Big Man: What Will the Result Be? T HIS is about two books. If, unfortunately, you are one of those not uncommon college educated illiterates—go on to Li’l Abner. Signet Books, a series of two-bit paper-backed reprint editions, have again come to the aid of the person who wants body will indicate that they favor electing to read the better books but hasn’t the cash to pay for the a Student Body President. But such a vote higher priced editions. One dollar will buy you 1226 pages will not decide that they will have one. How- of some ot the best writing to come from World War II. The Young Lions by Irwin Shaw and The Naked And The Dead by Norman Mailer, (Fifty cents apiece at most local news stands), give a terrifyingly vivid picture of life in the Army during wartime. Let’s understand this at first —these two books are definitely not recommended for the ifications for this office be decided before weak-stomached, the escapist, nor the prudish, the opinion poll is taken. These qualifica- These two books should appeal to many different and tions may be established if the matter is in- vaned types of readers. Like sex stories? Each novel has its traduced in Student Senate or Student Life ful1 share - Enjoy reading sharp, realistic dialogue? Mailers troduced in student benate or student Life « Chorus » episodes ra t e with the best. Although each of the Committee sessions before the poll is taken, bcxfkg is over 600 pages, the authors have woven such a Qualifications for all student body posts skillful mixture of suspense, drama, humor, and tragedy that are approved by the Student Life Committee interest never lags. before they are official or legal. However, . If you have no deeper interest in reading than just the the Senate will probably draft the qualifica- enjoyment of racy stories, war adventure, or suspenseful plots, the two novels are still recommended. You’ll find those things, but unless you are abnormally thick-witted, you’ll find much more besides. By CLAYTON SELPH Battalion Co-Editor A GREAT and very successful military com mander was “shown the gate” yesterday by a not so wise, not so great, not so success ful president. That he has a more brilliant record and is probably respected by more persons than the man who fired him is a tribute that both MacArthur and his admirers can boast. The act of firing MacAr thur was done in typical Tru man style. His note to the General was blunt. It offer ed shallow praise to the Gen eral in one sentence and con demned him in the next. It was a surprise move and in conflict with previous state ments from official sources that MacArthur would not be fired. And it was for warded to the General through the joint chiefs of staff, an agency which this writer considers below MacArthur’s rank of U. N. commander and Supreme Allied Commander. MacArthur’s Job Different MacArthur’s job was bigger and com pletely different from any other American general’s excepting Eisenhower’s assignment in Europe. As such, it seems hardly fitting that he should have received reprimands through the joint chiefs of staff and that his “pink slip” should go through that group. It was an insult to the five-star comman der who vras a General when some of the joint chiefs were company or field grade of- Selph ficers, who was himself once chief of staff, and was entrusted with the command of fighting men from many countries. General Marshall is his only military senior, since he is considered the “first” general of the Army. MacArthur had snubbed the joint chiefs, from time to time. He probably felt, and rightly so, that his job as Supreme comman der of UN forces in Korea and Supreme Al lied Commander in Japan came more directly' under the President, Joint Chiefs’ Opinion? His views on what should be done in Ko rea and Asia have differed greatly with those of the joint chiefs. It would be interesting, to know what personal opinions Generals Marshall, Bradley, and Collins hold of Mac Arthur and how they influenced Truman’s decision. They have been sniping at him for a long time. Truman was the gun that shot MacArthur, but who aimed it? There is no argument, of course, but that MacArthur paved the way for his dismissal. His opinions on the Korean situation were completely out of bounds of his authority. He contradicted the foreign policy of this country. He caused certain of our allies to quake in their boots and demand that he be stilled. He voiced his opinions without con sulting the president. Which Was Greatest? But was the damage done by the Gener al’s policy opinions as great as the loss suf fered by this country in snuffing out Mac Arthur’s prestige in Asia, his influence with, (See SOME THINGS CONSIDERED, Page 5) W GROCERIES Crisco 3 pounds 99c 2—NO. 2 CANS KIM,JELL’S WHOLE New Potatoes .... 25c .2—303 CANS LINDY SMALL Tender Peas . . , 33 c 2—NO. 2 CANS MOON ROSE Whole Beans .... 2 CANS NIBLET’S MEXI Whole Kernel Corn 37e 2—NO. 2 CANS DIAMOND Spinach 27c 2—300 CANS LOVELADY Cream Peas 25c 2—16-OZ. CANS HERSHEY’S Chocolate Syrup 33c 46-OZ. CAN TEA GARDEN Apple Juice 31c 2—303 CANS MUSSELMAN’S Apple Sauce 35c 12-OZ. CAN ARMOUR’S Treet .... 53c LARGE PACKAGE Duz or Dr eft 29c • MARKET 2 POUND CARTON—SWIFT’S American Cheese . DECKER’S TALL KORN Sliced Bacon . 39c lb. 4hc ARMOUR’S SMOKED Picnics lb. 45c PEN FED BABY BEEF Loin Steak lb. 39c PEN FED BABY BEEF • Porter House Steak . lb. 69c © PRODUCE CALIFORNIA PASCAL Celery 2 stalks 25c New Potatoes lb. 5c FIRM GREEN Cabbage lb. 5e 490 SIZE SUNK 1ST Lemons . . doz. 19c 80 SIZE FANCY RED DELICIOUS Apples doz. 59c ‘ WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT ALL SALES Specials for Friday & Saturday - April 13th & 14th Charlie's Food Market North Gate WE DELIVER — College Station Bible Verse 1JEHOLD the fowls of the air: 9 for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them, , Are ye not nnieh better than they ?—Matthew 6:26. LI’L ABNER Waives’ Paradise By A\ Capp The TWO MOST TERRIFYING LOVERS IN ALL THE HILLS— SLOBBERLIPS M C JAIB AND ROMEO M c HAYSTACK, HAVE FALLEN UPON LEAN TIMES. CtGH/ZL-THAR HAN'T A GAL LEFT IN ALL THESE. HILLS 7 WHO'LL GIVE US A DATE.V' l WISH'T WE KNEW SOME A OJJTA TOWN GALS —WHO DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT US-