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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 17, 1951)
Letters to The Editor: Student Government and Foreign Policy Senate President Gives His Views To the Student Body: Many questions and criticisms have come to my attention since the proposal of a Student Body President came before the student body as a whole. The questions are good, but the criticism is unjust and unfair because the facts have not been brought to you. In this letter I will attempt to answer the questions and criticisms, and, at the same time, “air” a few of my convictions relative to stu dent government. In the first place, I feel that A&M as a military school, which, of necessity, is operated as a class system, cannot be democratic in all respects. Total democracy has no place here if we remain, as I am sui'e we will, a military school. I do think, however, that democracy to a certain extent is desirable and beneficial. That, it seems to me, is what we are arguing, “To what extent democracy?” The ideas behind the Senate are good. It establishes no aristocracy of senators. It allows many to be heard with out involving an uncontrollable group. It is the most practical and representative body that could be organize dfor a predominantly mil itary student body. It prepares others to take, in their future years, a senior’s place in helping to administer a large student body. These are important, but then, too, I feel that anyone who reads this knows full well that little or no business of either controversial or trivial nature can be thoroughly and rationally considered at any class meeting. The opinion ballots of last week were not counted and tabulated, not because, as many people seem to think, that from all indications it could not pass, and rve were try ing in every way to get the pro posal through. It was because few students knew what a referendum vote was, that many of them said that they had not had ample time to think the proposal out, and that neither side of the question had been thoroughly publicized. Battalion Editorials Page 2 TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 1951 A Tale of Today . r|NCE upon a time there was a big bomb- ^ er, and it was called the “Flying Fort ress.” This big bomber was heavily armed and able to range far and wide over enemy ter ritory at extremely high altitudes. The fact that it was a fortress implied that it could defeat with its own guns any other aircraft that sought to oppose its mission. Eventually the big ship was permitted to sally forth against the foe, but, oddly enough, some of these invincible fortresses failed to return. Obviously the enemy was unaware that the ship was invincible. As time went on it was found that the losses could be reduced by sending fighters along for protection. Existing fighters, however, had a very restricted range. While frantic designers perfected long range fighters known as Mustangs and • Eisenhower: Riding the Fence ITNLESS he makes a drastic in the way he has conducted himself so far, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower will never make the mistake of Gen. Douglas MacArthur—speak ing too freely on his own personal beliefs. But we don’t consider that such a recom mendation. There have been many fence-sitters in history who never amounted to anything. When Ike was informed of MacArthur’s dismissal on grounds of insubordination, he said, “When you put on a uniform, there are certain inhibitions you accept.” That is obvious. We can not have our government split into warring factions over foreign policy. But when a man reaches the rank of General of the Army, when he has gained’ national respect as Eisenhower has, he should at least let the American public know some of his aims and ideas—if he has any. And we don’t know of a single instance when General Eisenhower has committed himself on a single thing. We’d like to suggest again the old Greek ideal—balance. Neither so much talking that we are embarrassed in our foreign policy, nor so little talking that we don’t know what to expect from our representative to Eu rope. Thunderbolts, long range strategic opera tions became quite expensive in personnel and equipment. Within 100 days, the first Mustang had flown, having been designed and built in record time. Now long range bombing continued, and the enemy was eventually deprived of his major oil resources. This in turn became one of the decisive factors in later stages of the war. , The magic key, and major tactical blunder centered around the availability of long range high performance fighters. (Any similarity between the above al legory and the present concept of airpower and its applications is purely coincidental). At the present time, many people enter tain the belief that we can at any time send a fleet of B-36’s into Russia with atom bombs, and literally destroy their war poten tial at one stroke. The quality of Russian production jet fighters such as the MIG-15, however, has been a surprise to the pilots of U. S. Sabre jets. B-29’s can have jet escort to the Yalu river, but it is doubtful that deep penetra tions could be made with jet escort. We firmly believe that unescorted B-36’s could not operate against Russian jet qp- position. This fact may have a great deal to do with our appeasement of Red China. Misunderstanding npHE BATTALION has remained silent on local questions these past two issues. We said Thursday that we were anxious to hear student opinions on the Student Body President question and we invited letters. We got them. While some correspondents have side stepped the issue and spent their time “cus sing” The Batt, others have had some con- constructive suggestions, thoughts, and crit icisms. And then there were some who made fools of themselves. Many side issues have been raised either directly or indirectly. Some are fundamen tal, having to do with Battalion policy, how it is formulated, and where it is expressed. We feel such a misunderstanding is ser ious and should be cleared up. Your attention is invited to a discussion of Battalion policies which will appear on this page tomorrow. It was meant merely to give the Senate, for its consideration, a cross-section of how the student body feels relative to the propo sal. If the cross-section is not a true one, then it is of no value to the Senate as was the case last Wednesday. These are the facts from one who was instrumental in not having the votes counted. Personally, I do not favor A&M having a Student Body President. I do want the student body to elect the president of the Senate, but only under the following or similar conditions: (1) That the Senior Class nar row the field of aspirants to three. (2) That the candidates have had some experience in the Senate either as a Senator, a Senate “sit ter” or as a visitor who has indi cated an interest in student govern ment by attending at least one half of the Senate meetings. These lat ter two would have to be deter mined by an accurate roll call. These are my ideas and I firmly believe in them. I do not believe that I am as narrow minded as some and I believe that my opinion might conceivably be changed, nor am I so prone to criticize when I don’t know what I’m talking about. Bill Parse President Student Senate Opposed to Student Government Change Editor, The Battalion: The idea that student govern ment at A&M should be enhanced by the addition of a Student Body President is being supported by the following reasons: • A student body popular vote is needed for true democracy in government. • A definite spokesman for A&M students is desirable in deal ings with other schools. I would like to say why I think these statements show no cause for a change in our present set-up. The words “democratic vote of the entire student body” are very appealing, and at first glance op position to such a move would seem unthinkable. But as with other Noble Experiments, I believe that the spirit of a direct election of a president by the students would be honored in name only. Its idea is democratic in theory, but in practice it becomes made-to- order for heavy-handed student politics. The freshman and sopho more vote would be the result of shrewd guessing at best, or more likely the result of careful “guid ance” if upperclassmen decide the younger students need help in see ing the relative merits of each sen ior candidate. We have right now the closest practical approach to democracy we could hope to attain—its only fault is its lack of publicity. (And by “publicity,” I mean public at tention from all sources; not only from printed matter but also from discussion between students and their senators.) Representatives are chosen by the residents in each dorm—a divi sion small enough for every group. These senators are capable of elect ing a nominal head of the student government, with the title of Stu dent Senate President, and with the power if you please to speak for the student body in dealings with other schools. Why do wc need to change? Jim B. Russell NIW1 WHENEVER THIS HAPPENS TO YOU . . . The Battalion Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Founder of Aggie Traditions "Soldier, Statesman, Knightly Gentleman” DON’T BE UNHAPPY . . LOOK AT YOUR . . . 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. 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. CLAYTON L. SELPH, DAVE COSLETT Co-Editors John Whitmore, Dean Reed Managing Editors Andy Anderson, Bob Hughson Campus Editors Free Walker Sports Editor Joel Austin City Editor Vivian Castleberry.......... Women’s Editor Today’s Issue Joel Austin Bob Hughson Fred Walker Allen Pengelly Managing Editor Campus News Editor Sports News Editor City News Editor AND RUSH RIGHT OVER TO THE AGGIE CLEANERS T. M. Fontaine, Carter Phillips Editorialists Leon McClellan, Jack Fontaine, Ed Holder, Bryan Spencer. Bob Venable, Dale Walston, Bee Landrum, Frank Davis, Phil Snyder, Art Giesc, Cristy Orth, James Fuller, Leo Wallace, W. H. Dickens, Fig Newton, Joe Price. Pete Hermann, Wesley Mason, E. F. Roland, Ivan Yantis, Sid Ragsdale, Bill Aaberg, Ido Trotter, John Hildebrand. Chuck Neigh bors. Bob Sclleck, Bill Stretch, Curtis Edwards. Howard Heard ..Staff Wsitsra tnek Kelly .Club Publicity Co-ordinator Allen Pengelly... Assistant City Editor Jimmy Ashlock, Joe Blanchette, Ray Holbrook, Joe Hollis, Pat EeBlanc .....Sports Staff Writers Sam Molinary, Bob Alderdice Staff Photographer Sid Abernathy Page Make-up Joe-Gray Photo Engraving Shop Manager Tom Fontaine, Johnny Lancaster, Charles McCullough, R. R. Peeples, R. D. Witter Photo Engravers Autrey Frederick ............Advising' Manager Rues ell Hagens, Bob Huy me,......Advertising. Representatives North Gate College For First Class Cleaning Service to Your Clothes! Western Diplomacy In the Near East Editor, The Battalion: Although the Near East is of vital importance to the security of America and the Western world, it was one of the areas most politi cally neglected by the democracies. There are compelling reasohs why the U. S. should interest it self in the Near East. The area comprises about two million square miles and has a total population of nearly two hundred million people. It is rich in natural resources and has one of the world’s largest oil pools and the richest deposits in phosphates, magnesium and pot ash. Centrally located where Asia, Europe, and Africa meet, its ports are highly prized and its airports strategically situated. Naturally fortified by two seas and extensive desert tracts, it is the only solid line for the defense of Europe. Threat of Communism The Communists, who have al ways recognized the importance of the area and always aspired to control it, have been dextrously ex ploiting its economic and political weakness. They are cleverly using the deadly weapons furnished grat uitously by the Western powers: the Palestinian refugee problem and the European imperialist poli cy. Day in and day out the people in the Near East are being sub jected to a vicious propaganda extravagantly financed. Failing to understand the Near Eastern mentality in spite of their long association with Near Eastern people, the Western powers are trying to appease them by prof fered loans and technical assist ance. What the people of the Near East need most is not dollars or EGA money. They need something more essential and more life-giv ing. They need justice; they need freedom, and they need a straight forward, mutually-beneficial for eign policy. Recent public declarations of leaders in Near Eastern countries and the introduction of many a resolution in their parliaments in dicate a re-orientation of foreign policy and better relations with the Communist world. Valuable strategic products, for example, were exchanged for Russian wheat because the Western powers in sisted on selling their wheat for har'd dollars. All who were wejll-acquainted with the Near East [viewed with COFFEE Made the SUNBEAM Way.. IS COFFEE SURE TO BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY . . . But Don’t Take Our Word for It . . . DUNCAN COFFEE The Sunbeam Way and DONUTS will be just sittin’ and waitin’ for you Wednesday Thursday Friday 9:30 - 11:00 2:30 - 4:00 Serve Yourself a Cup and Taste the Magic in SUNBEAM COFFEE No obligation . . . Just to please you C. E. GRIESSER Electric Co. South Side College Station concern the clouds that are gath ering, for in every Near Eastern country from Iran to North Africa there are feelings of frustration, resentment and disappointment and —what is even more dangerous— a feeling of impending trouble. Are we waiting for a similar tragedy such as that of Nationalist China or Korea to. pay some at tention to this troubled area? Isn’t it wiser that immediate steps be taken by Western powers to remedy this danger before it takes the form of a tragedy? Surely you Americans cannot sit on the fence and watch the Near East, the cradle of your religion and the source of world spiritual inspiration and the backbone of your defense threatened with un told disaster. Sheer self-interest demands a different attitude. What is ur gently needed is a just and dem ocratic foreign policy in this area, and who other than the USA could rightfully claim such leadership. Right Policy Needed I do not want to add to your already heavy burden. You do not have to send your boys to fight in the Near East. Nor do you have to invest billions there as you have been investing elsewhere. What is needed there is a just and vigorous policy under your leadership. Your world prestige and the high principles for which you stand are enough to wield enormous influence in support of such a policy. I believe that, to insure peace and the cooperation of Near East ern countries, a policy consisting of two stages should be followed. The first stage should have for its objective the final settlement of the problems causing friction and the bridging of the wide gulf that separates the Near Eastern countries and the Western World. This gulf could be only bridged by: • Enforcing a final solution of the Palestinian refugee problem by returning the people to their country and the resettlement of those who cannot in other neigh boring countries with ample com pensation. to enable them to start life anew. • Evacuating British troops from Egypt, Iraq and Jordan. • Establishing the unity of Egypt and the Sudan. • Putting an end to the colonial system in North Africa. If left to European colonial pow ers, these problems will never be solved. Without American leader ship and active intervention these problems will remain a festering and sore point endangering the se curity of the area and the peace of the world. Organization Next Once these vexing problems are liquidated and the house put in order, the next phase will be the immediate formation of a Near Eastern bloc. Regional organization of the Near Eastern countries with 200 million inhabitants, great deposits of essential strategic resources, and important air and sea communica tions, was of the greatest impor tance and urgent necessity. Any delay in framing a strong foreign policy under the active leadership of the United States with a view to solving the burning problems of the Near Eastern coun tries and forming one healthy co operating union of these countries, would be to the detriment of the Western World. Only in this way, can the Near East be saved from disasters of Communism. Only in this way can it contribute effectively to the material balance of the Western powers with its huge potentialities which arc now. neglected and allowed to disinteg rate for want of a positive policy. Only in this way can the Near East rally around a flag of liberty and democracy. I do not claim this policy in the Near East will bring peace, but I can claim it will be one of the most effective deterrents from war. It is my sincere hope and the hope of 200 million inhabitants of the Near East that America will awaken to the gravity of this situation in this all important area. A. M. Lasheen (Some readers will remember Lasheen for his informative se ries on Mohammedanism publish ed in The Battalion dnring Re ligion* Emphasis Week. From Cairo, Egypt, Lasheen is a grad uate horticulture student.—The Editor.) 6 MONTHS OF LIGHTS-WITHOUT RE-FUELING! NO FOOLING WITH RE-FUELING • NO FIDDLING WITH WICK5 • NO FUSSING WITH FLINTS New PARKERqFLAMINAIRE MADE IT THE #A»I|I MK CO., U.I.A. light* dear, clean and hot with cold bvtane got Get Your PARKER FLAMINAIRE at . . . THE EXCHANGE STORE “Serving Texas Aggies” CONDENSED STATEMENT of Condition First State Bank k Trust Company Bryan, Texas At the Close of Business April 9,1951 ASSETS Cash and Due from Banks $1,331,898.51 U. S. Government Obligations 2,962,200.00 Municipal Bonds 69,500.00 Loans and Discounts 1,439,642.53 Banking House and Fixtures 64,407,74 Stock of Federal Reserve Bank : 6,000.00 Other Real Estate 2.00 Other Assets 8,578.12 TOTAL ASSETS $5,882,228.90 LIABILITIES Capital Stock - - $ 100,000.00 Surplus — 100,000.00 Undivided Profits I 148,966.51 Reserve for Taxes 26,116.93 DEPOSITS' Individual ; $4,735,286.45 U. S. Government 71,433.81 Banks 81,557.14 Other Public Funds •• 618,868.06 TOTAL DEPOSITS - $5,507,145.46 TOTAL LIABILITIES * - - $5,882,228.90 Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation OFFICERS W*J. Coulter, President W. S. Higgs, Vice President J. N. Dulaney, Vice President Pat Newton, Cashier O. W. Kelley, Assistant Cashier Curtis Mathis, Assistant Cashier L. E. Nedbalek, Assistant Cashier Willard E. Williams, Assistant Cashier LI’L ABNER 3*^ The Unwanted By AI Caop