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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (May 16, 1951)
A Battalion Old Editors Edition PUBLISHED DAILY IN THE INTEREST OF A GREATER A&M COLLEGE Number 155: Volume 51 COLLEGE STATION (Aggieland), TEXAS, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1951 Price Five Cents Old Editors Never Die; They Have Returned WTAW Founded, Thumbing Deplored in ‘Roaring Twenties’ W. D. Tiner became editor and C. M. Close associate editor of The Battalion in 1922. On Jan. 9, 1923 it was reported “WTAW Radio Station Officially Established At College.” The story said “The College has stretched out its arm in another direction and that is the establishment of a regular broadcasting station here.” 1923-24 T. A. McCarter, now deceased, was editor of the Battalion. His associate was Paul Cowan. Nov. G, 1923, “The College has been receiving a great deal of free, if unwholesome publicity recently because of the tales of hazing which are running wild throughout the State. ... We cannot fool ourselves any longer; the public is taking a decided stand against haz ing in this school, and we had bet ter realize it before it is too late. . . . The future of A&M is in the hands of the students.” Feb. 5, 1924,- the Battalion came out editorially for “Purifying Ath- letics.” On February 19, 1924 the Batt said “The Battalion wishes to go on record as highly appi’oving of the statement made by Col. Todd that ‘an attempt is being made to lecure sabres for all seniors.” Tiner—1923 Our hosts have asked us to delve into the memoirs of our days with , As every other class of ex-stu- “THE BATT.” In some ways that dents, we like to reminisce con- seems to us like yesterday, but in ceming what to us were the “good reality that year pre-dates the | old days.” What we really long birth of the average present day Senior by six or more years. THE BATTALION of those days was a weekly (also weakly) sheet put together by an editor and a staff of a few faithful asosciates all of whom were devoid of jour nalistic training and talent. The entire night on the eve of dead line was spent in writing so-called copy. Circulation was about 2500 (stu dent body about 2000), advertising revenue was scant, and we were lucky to make ends meet. We had one bright spot, reporting the Thanksgiving Day football game. We beat Texas, Yes we did, in Austin on old Clark Field, score 14-7. That was the day “Bull” Johnson, who had been moved from the backfield to a guard position, ran wild and moved himself into the Texas backfield. This called for a special edition in color and gave us plenty to wiite about for weeks. It all added up, however, to a feeble attempt at journalism. Yes, our paper was a far cry from THE BATTALION as it is published today, a real community daily newspaper with good report ing, well composed and with ex cellent reader appeal. Early Football Tilt Like Swim Meet The editor of The Battalion in 1894 was A. Miller Todd. In April The Batt carried a chart showing “Life in the TJ.S. Army (pay scale of officers).” This is the revealing chart given. Second lieutenant, not mounted $1500 per year Second lieutenant mounted $1500 per year First lieutenant, not mounted $1500 per year First lieutenant mounted $1600 per year Captain $1800 per year Major $2500 per year Lt. Colonel $3000 per year Colonel $3500 per year Brigadier General $5500 per year Major General $7500 per year The article continued “There are four kinds of discharges: excellent, very good, fair and bobtail—that is, the bottom part is cut off, which means no char acter. A man cannot reenlist on such a discharge as it is given only to those who are of no interest to the service and are not wanted back again.” 1896 Editor of the Battalion was H. C. Kyle. The President of Texas A&M College was L. S. Ross. From the valedictory delivered in 1896 by E. W. Kerr: “Of all the blessings that Provi dence has allowed us to cultivate, there is not one which breathes a purper fragrance than education. Though the golden cords are brok en today which have bound us for years in sweet companionship, they will be replaced by memories chain, the links of which are to be vivid recollections of victories and de feats in the conquest of true en lightenment at the A&M College.” 1897 C. C. Tood was editor of the Batt in 1897 and A. J. Kyle was business manager. The October issue carries the report of Lt. Col. W. H. Lawton’s inspection. It said: “Review—accurate in form and de tail. Arms . . . securely and care fully stores, ai’ms include 2 pieces of field artillery and 230 cadet rifles. The Band of this college deseiwes special notice. It is com posed of 15 good musicians sup plied with the best instruments, is thoroughly trained and efficient.” 1898 J. Kerr was editor of the Bat talion. The Batt was a 24-page maga zine. From the March issue came “The second class chose E. J. Kyle to deliver the response to the vale dictory.” “Professor and Mrs. R. H. Price entertained the Senior Class horticulture students Sunday before last at a handsomely ap pointed dinner. Six courses were served.” 1900 O. M. Simpson edited The Bat talion in 1899-1900. From October-November issue: “We are glad to say our College opened with something near 400 of the brightest boys in the state and we look forward to a year that shall add another crown of gold to A&M of Texas.” “At a meeting in the Assembly Hall on the night of Feb. 3 the Athletic Association was organized with a constitution and by-laws. Officers were named. 1903-04 T. P. Clonts edited the Battalion just after the turn of the century (1903-04). Early in the year the Batt printed a parody on a faculty meeting that started like this “with profuse apologies to the honorable members of the faculty—” But apparently the ‘honorable members of the faculty’ were not so quick to see the humour. The item cre ated a stir of protest printed in subsequent issues of the paper. The final paper for the year said: “Thirty-Six Men graduate and are scattered to the four winds.” 1906- 07 The Battalion was edited by T. E. Holloway, and B. Bean was his associate. On October 17 the Battalion was dramming for “Lighter Sports at College. . . football is not the only American game.” The Jan. 23, 1907 Batt told of “The Formation of A&M Clubs as a step in the development of the College,” and lauded the founding of hometown clubs. Back in 1907 the cry for “More Tennis Courts at College,” May 1, already were being heard. 1907- 08 C. W. Leggett was editor-in-chief of the 1907-08 Battalion. Cald well’s Jewelry Store was among the front-page advertisements. On Dec. 4, 1907 an editoi’ial said “The editor wishes to take this means of expressing his gratitude to Mr. T. E. Holloway for editing the Bat talion during the football season.” Mr. Leggett was playing football. Nov. 13, 1907 reported “A&M 32, TCU 5,” and said “The ath letic field was very sloppy Sat urday, owing to a hard rain in the morning. The two teams floundered around in the mud and water. The game was full of humorous incidents. “Come in boys, the water’s fine,” and “First down, next pool to go,” are some of the phrases heard. 1908- 09 In 1908-09 C. P. Brannin was editor of The Battalion. The pa per, published weekly, carried ad vertising on the front page. The Junior banquet, reported the April 22, 1908 Batt, had the fol lowing menu served: “Chicken a la marengo, thick green turtle a I’Anglaise, sweet pickles, celery, olives, salted al monds, stuffed crabs a la creole new potatoes, persillade, crout ades of sweetbread a la reine asparagus tips a la cream souffle of bananas a la mara schino, roman punch, stuffed tur key, currant jelly, oyster dress ing, waldorf salad, royal ice cream, strawberries and cream, assorted cakes, fruit nuts and coffee.” Sixty-six juniors sat down to this feast. 1918 J. W. Williams edited the Bat talion in 1918. A “sign of the times” was that on March 27, 1918 when the Bat talion reported “Due to trouble with the pump on the new well, there will be a. shortage of water for some time. Please, be as eco nomical as possible.” for is the hair and teeth and youth which are gone never to return. Truthfully, we are proud of the amazing expansion, progress and improvements of the College in all of its phases over the last three decades. 1924- 25 Jack E. Finks (deceased) was editor of The Battalion. R. W. Colglazier was his assist ant. The Batt was a weekly. On Oct. 1, 1924 the schedule for the year’s football games were printed. It included games with John Tarle- ton, Trinity University, South western, Sewanee, Arkansas Ag gies, Baylor, TCU, Rice and Tex as.” On Oct. 15, 1924 an editorial came out called “Would You?” which deplored the “practice of begging a ride” from a complete stranger. “Considerable com plaint,” it said, “has been voiced by automobile owners on the cam pus against the px-actice of beg ging rides. It is getting to the point where there is no real pleas- ux-e in riding in one’s car with his family because every time the car slows down, an Aggie is there beg ging for a ride.” The Batt coun seled “Discontinue this degrading practice of ‘begging a xade’.” On Jan. 14, 1925, the first stu dent-faculty committee on student activities was x-epox-ted with “Each class will be represented on this Student Welfare Board serving as a medium between faculty and student.” Feb. 4, 1925 “Mid-Tenn dances Enjoyed by those attending. Miss Lily Bess Kyle and Professor Tom Hai'rington were chosen as prize winners, and, the report continues “the straggle (dance) lasted from 9 until 2.” 1925- 26 In 1925-26 Jack Williams edited the Battalion. From his typewriter comes the following: So many cherished events are in my memoirs of the days with The Battalion, that it is difficult to spotlight any one of them. Cei’- tainly one could not forget the members of the staff, who worked diligently from day to day and week to week. We went to Bryan each week to layout The Batt, and often had to walk back to the campus. That gave us lots of time to plan the general layout for the next issue. Our editoi’ial policy was aggres sive, to say the least, and appar ently met the appi’oval of ‘our public,’ but not the members of the secret frateraities, Swastikas and T T’s (Trae Texans). We oft en reserved a space in the paper for anyone who wished to defend them, but there were no defenders (the space was left blank in the column). To this day I am proud of our efforts to stamp out these unchi’istian organizations on the campus. Their very natui’e makes them full brothers to Communism, and the destx-oyers of all decency and order in our social and eco nomic system. Battalion Matures In Poor Thirties The 19.30-31 Battalion took sen- iors to task editorially for not be ing able to select and agree on a class ring. . . . “Would it not be an accomplishment ... if the class stood undivided for the first time in many years on a xing selection?” 1931- 32 Claude M. Evans was editor of the Batt in 1931-32. P. J. John was managing editor. In those yeai-s the depression was gripping the nation and inves tigations were, according to the Oct. 7 issue “the vogue.” In fact there have been so many commis sions detailed by the greater and lesser powers that they had no time to look into conditions and that is bad. . . . The bosses should concera themselves with things of impoi’- tance.” On Nov. 4, it was observed “This place is beginning to look more like a college every day. With the passing of the shacks comes the first step of 1’enovation.” A ballot printed in the March 23 Battalion asked students and professors to answer, among other things, these questions: “Do you favor the United States taking the lead in world disarmament? Do you favor compulsory ROTC? Do you favor repeal of the 18th amendment ? Do you favor the practice of biifh control?” On May 4, 1932 “Dean Fi’iley Accepts Position at Iowa- State College.” 1932- 33 In 1932-33 G. M. Dent was editor of The Battalion and Lewis Gross was managing editoi’. The Bat talion was a weekly publication with the subscription rate $1.75 per year. Qn November 2, 1932, the eni’ollment figures of A&M broke all previous records when 2,437 | students were in school here. On January 4, 1933, the Battalion reported in a headline that “Twen ty Get Degrees as Term Ends.” In an editorial entitled “Enroll ment” the Dec. 7, 1933 Battalion had this to say: A banner head on Febraai’y 1, 1933 read “Dr. Walton Urged as Roosevelt Aid,” and the story be gan “Resolutions recommending Px-esident T. O. Walton of Texas A&M for appointment as Seci-etai’y of Agnculture in the Cabinet of Pi’esident-elect Fx-anklin D. Roose velt were unanimously adopted by both houses of the State Legisla- tui-e Tuesday.” The outstanding campus person alities in 1932-33 included Penny Penberthy, director of intramural athletics; Mom Cleghorn, assist ant superintendent of the college hospital; T. F. Mayo, librax-ian, Ernest Langfoi’d, head of the de partment of architecture, and Dan iel Russell, head of the department of Rural Sociology.” 1933- 34 Wade M. Watson was editor in 1933-34. Sept. 27, 1933 “Bryan-Heai’ne Girls Seek to Enter A&M By Court Action.” The Oct. 18 Battalion issue pic tured 11 A&M coeds. In an editorial, “Pictui'e Shows” in Novembex - , it was stated that “Aggies must no longer besiege Bryan, the Bxazos River bottom or neighboring coed schools in search of Sunday afternoon entei’- tainment. Beginning Sunday aft ernoon, Nov. 12, the Fornier Stu dents Association will sponsor a free picture show in the Assembly Hall.” On March 14, 1934 the Batt named its “bests and woi'sts” for the year. They were: Best orchestra Fred Waxing Best program Rudy Vallee Smoothest Music..Guy Lombardo Noisiest Music Cab Calloway Best Singer Bing Cx’osby Worst Singer A1 Jolson Best Comedian Eddie Cantor Worst Comedian Ed Wynn Editoiially the Batt said “The Roosevelt Administration is mak ing greater use of radio than any previous administration. In less than 10 months, President Roose velt has been heard 20 times, Mrs. Roosevelt 17 and the members of the Cabinet 120 times.” 1934-35 D. L. Tisinger was editor and M. F. Fincke, managing editor. On Sept. 19, 1934, the Batt said “Students will be requixcd to work off demerits after having re ceived more than their monthly al lowance.” Dec. 12, 1934 an editorial entitl ed “Hazax-d” took the local fire de partment to task for “inefficien cy.” The same issue (Dec. 12) show ed insight into the world situa tion with “As the new year ap proaches, anxiety in Eux’opean cii’des over the outcome of the Saar plebiscite scheduled for Jan. 13 increases daily. ... To be or not to be Nazi and to be or not to be Gexanan.” Reveille--- You Blow It The only blight on an othex’wise peifect job of editing The Bat talion came when I was just an innocent freshman on the staff. As you no doubt remember, I was sent to get a stox-y about “Reveille.” Thinking there' was only one kind of reveille, the kind one gets up by, I asked Dog Daw son for some material about when reveille was blown, who did it and why. It was only then that I became acquainted with one of the “Fa mous Fifty Facts.” —Kenneth Bond Guests Asked To Stow Guns In keeping with the old Wolf proverb—“If you go to the sparrow’s ball, take with you some ears of corn for them”— all guests are requested to leave any guns outside. Some of you may wonder why you are here tonight. Others of you will wonder after this occasion is over. We find it impossible to be very sympathetic. If you become fretful, remember this: “The rat enters the trap, and the trap catches him; if he did not go into the trap, the trap would not do so.” Please do not get the wrong Senior Privileges Are Backed in ’35 Battalion In 1935-36 J. M. Shepherd as editor headed The Battalion with Tom M. Bxnwn as managing editor. The newspaper was still a weekly and on Sept. 25, 1935 The Battal ion proclaimed in banner headlines “Enrollment Lax*gest in History of School as 3,400 Enroll.” 1935-36 The most outsta.nding thing about that year was the editorial policy, constant and pex\suasive taken by the editox’s. On Sept. 25, ’35, The Batt was demanding “We Want A Paved Enti’ance to Our Campus.” On October 30, 1935 it screamed “Senior Privileges Must be Up held.” “We Want A Student Union Cadet Leader Pulls Fast One in In September 1936 thx’ough 1937 Tom M. Brown edited The Battal ion. Through the Fall days on Sept. 30, 1936 an editorial brought sharply to attention “The Housing Px-oblem” and clamored for more and better housing facilities for students. On Oct. 21, 1936 it x'e- pox-ted “Todd Breaks Loose Fox- Vivid 76-Yax-d Run!” 1936-37 On October 21, 1936 it headed an editox-ial simply “Union Build ing, Again!” On November 4, 1936, the Bat talion said it wanted Scholarship Honor Fraternities.” On Feb. 24, 1937 it was plugging for “Dormi- tox-y Telephones.” From “The Aggie Sci’apbook” Maxch 10, 1937 in The Battalion, J. Wayne Staxk bylined a column in which he listed among the things he’d best like to do for A&M “Put a Union Building on the Campus for Aggieland.” On April 28, 1937 it was repoxt- ed that “Cadet colonel Pulls a F’ast One and Weds Evelyn Nox’ton, A&M Sweetheaxt.” The story said that “Ed Lee, cadet colonel, and Evelyn Norton, daughter of Coach and Mrs. Homer Norton were max- xied in Boerne on March 5.” One Night In Moronia A TRAGEDY IN ONE ACT By HENDERSON SHUFFLER 1929 emnly forward to address his fol- middle step to continue in a con- lowers. fidential tone)—I heal’d a new one “Ole army, ole arhmee! Less see the other day, gang—a traveling if you’ve got it tonight, ole army, salesman who stopped overnight at Setting: A clear, cold, moonlight We’ve gone a little way hole ax’mee, a farmex’s house—and in the mid night in Old Mox’onia, back in the in that little i’ed wagin of our’n die of the night—and she said— year Nineteen Hundred and Twen- old army, an’ tomori’ow, ole ax-my, and he replied—and in the morn- ty-Five. There is a lax-ge shapeless we set out again ole ax-mee, on ing the farmer asked him—and he pile of grey stones in the back- another—(here he is interrapted, said—(the holiday mood has re- gi’ound, from which a series of mud as if by prearx-anged signal, by the turned and the crowd hoots and and tobacco besplattex’ed stone shouts of the multitude. Fi’om this shouts wildly)—(the priest mounts steps extend toward the center of poixxt on to the end of the har- the steps again and drops back into the stage. Around the base of these rangue, the audience heax-s only his fox-mer tone)—but you got to steps, as the curtain rises, one snatches of the speech.)—ole armee get I’ight, army—everybody hates sees a small shivering group of the —thet old golden train, ole armee— you—(the crowd drops back into natives, huddled together as if ex- thra that old dax’k forest, ole army the trance and begins to weave)— pectantly waiting some happening —(the multitude begins to sway to you live right here together—army of importance. Shortly after the the rhythmic x-ise and fall of the —eat the same food—same clothes curtain is raised the stillness of speaker’s voice. The priest himself —that old spirit of brotherly love— the night is shattered by a terrible is staring straight to the front, fightin’ cryin’ mad, ole armee!— blare of ti’umpets and a crash of as if in a ti’ance, and his body put your ax-ms ax’ound the man cymbals, at which signal the na- sways to the movement of his next to you—bow your heads in tives leap up as one man, and go voice)—ole ax-rnee—see thet ole silent prayer — Farmers Fight — into ecstactic gyrations, moaning silver moon on high, ole armee— thinking about that old gang out and shouting in such a manner as an’ the Good Loi’d looked down, there—shedding blood—and sweat to give the whole scene the ap- army, an’ saw we warn’t doin’ —all for you, ax-my—victory will pearance of a madhouse holiday, right, ole armee—an’ ole armee, come in the end.” The noise is suddenly hushed and He reached down an’ took the fair- The meeting ends in the same the group is halted in its wierd per- est flower from our garden, ole barbaxic turmoil with which it be- formance, as on the topmost steps armee—(here the sound of falling gan. The px-iests retire to the sanc- appear the white-robed priests of rain is heax-d, but there are still tuary, the natives scatter-, and the the order, waving their arms and no clouds in sight)—put your arms scene is the same picture of beauty chanting in a monotone the mystic around the old Aggie brother next and serenity on which the cux-tain rites of the cx-eed. At a signal the to you—(the downpour increases x-ose. The moon is still on high, whole crowd joins in the chanting, to the proportions of a midsummer smilingly sailing through the few’ and the musicians take up the shower)—something to think about thin clouds that have gathered, weaving rhythm on their bax-baric ole army—(The speaker stops his The night is cold, and still, and instruments. Suddenly, all is hush- w-eaving, a smile replaces his seer’s beautiful, as— ed, and ths. High Priest steps sol- stare, and he comes dow-n to the THE CURTAIN FALLS. ’37 On May 5, 1937 the campus was girding itself for “Fx-anklin D. Roosevelt to Visit Campus May 10.” 1937- 38 C. W. Walker ascended to the high post in the Battalion staff. The paper was a weekly dramming for “Dormitory Telephones” and asking its students to “ . . . find time to talk up A&M to prospec tive graduates of high schools and anyone with whom they come in contact regarding the merits of this school and the opportunities to be found at A&M.” A&M, it says, “still receives adverse publi city from those that think they know all about this college.” (Nov. 24, 1937) The Battalion was running a con centrated campaign to outlaw se- cx-et fraternities on the campus. On May 11, 1938 it was reported that R. L. Doss won the runoff election from J. Wayne Stark by a count of only 40 votes. 1938- 39 In September 1939 R. L. Doss became editor iix chief of the Bat talion. J. Wayne Stark was listed as an associate editor. The paper was a semi-weekly. Aggies were taken to task on September 23 in an editorial “About Aggie Man- nei's,” w’ith the statement that “The Aggies aro absolutely un couth.” A letter to the Battalion, Nov. 22, 1938: I have just been reading an edi torial published in The Battalion, titled “A Letter to Hitler.” Now I am not living under the illusion that all that Herr Hitler does can be justified by us in the light of our own convictions, but I do ques tion the advisability of the recent widespread campaign in Amexica to create a negative feeling in re gal'd to Mr. Hitler. It seems to me that the editorial defeats its own purpose by the manner in w’hich it was written. Of course I am aware of the fact that the editox-s probably regard it as a very ex cellent piece of satire, but it seems to me that if the goal of most thinking people is a peaceful rela tionship among the nations of the woi'ld, this particular piece of wx-it- ing has missed that goal.” On April 11, 1939 “Angell Nam ed Activities Head New Office Merged with Student Publications.” “Twelve New Doxmitox-ies To Be Available for Use Next Year,” said the May 12, 1939 Batt. “Cadets will be placed two to a room all over the campus. . . . Dormitoxy No. 3, west of the mess hall, is being constructed especially for ath letes.” May 12, 1939 a stox-y by Bill Murray said “World’s Biggest Din ing Hall Is Gigantic Enterpiise— Feeds 3,000 Boys in Recox-d Time. . . . Truly Sbisa Hall ... is a gi gantic enterp x-ise.” Building,” loudly clamored the Batt on May 20, 1935. And on November 6, 1935 The Battalion ran an editorial en titled “Don’t Carry It Too Fax-.” Nov. 6, 1935 (Part of an editor ial) DON’T CARRY IT TOO FAR! At present the boil of American Student opinion concerning war is popping open to produce its core, the National Student Peace Mobilization. Instrumental in the mobilization-to-be are the col lege national news sex-vices, such as the NCFA. Joining them in the fight to persuade all American youth to lay down arms are the YMCA, the American Youth Con gress, Intercollegiate Council, and many other youth and student movements. Theirs is a worthy project, and one which even a war college such as A&M will sanction and aid. BUT! Don’t carry it too fax-. Don’t turn the youthful stomachs of America against war in the de fensive sense. That they, or rather we, should attempt to curtail the possibilities of war is most logical, but means must be devised to ob tain the end without turning against our arms kept in readi ness for defense. As it is, our de fense is pitifully inadequate. If some monstrous student upheaval tuxned young men from the very thoughts of caiTying a rifle and a country waiting at our throats learned of it, as it surely would, it would strike quickly, and Amer ica would be a “has been.” all be cause of the student’s lack of foresight. In time of war an army depends largely upon the civic population for its recraits. The Mobilization for Peace is a good thing, but a dangerous one. Cx - y not against guns, which are the tools of a nation fighting for its life . . . but carry your bat tle against those using guns and the young boys behind them to make themselves a dollar or two. J. M. Shepherd—1935-36 I find that 15 years are, after all, a rather long time, and my x'ecol- lection of the “Battalion” work is lai'gely one of scrambling between Sunday night and Wednesday morning to put out the usual 4- page weekly newspaper. There were no journalism courses (I won der if them am now), and all work on the newspaper and monthly magazine was done by the engi neering and “Ag” students in their “spare time.” Naturally, the above conditions required much use of scissors and paste in obtaining material, partic ularly for the monthly magazine. I recall on at least two occasions our work in that mspect was par ticularly successful since Mr. Tom Brown, the managing editoi - , and I were warned by Dr. Walton that the jokes and cartoons were “far below the desirable standards for the young men of the college.” Our “Tca-sipper” magazine issue in the Spring of ’36 resulted in Aggies being temporaiily banned from calling on Texas coeds at the Scot- tish-Rite donnitory. On the constructive side, I do x-e- member that the 1935 Thanksgiv ing issue of the newspaper was the hugest up until that time, being all of 10 pages. In addition to the usual “crusades” generally con ducted by college newspapers, the one concerning lighting facilities conducted in the Spring of 1936, I believe, was particularly fruitful. After a survey of Leggett Hall, in which the Signal Corps was housed at the time, revealed that lighting facilities were entirely inadequate for study conditions, freshmen wei’e required to provide proper indirect reading lamps on their en trance to school. In retrospect, the “Battalion” ex perience was one of the most en joyable of my college days; al though, thex-e were many occasions when the “midnight oil” necessax-y to meet deadlines for both the newspaper and study burned rather thin. idea; we don’t want to call any of our guests “rats.” Perhaps the term mice would be better-. MENU FOR TONIGHT Beans en Casserole Cookies This menu differs greatly from those served on past occasions. In turning to the philosophers, we found that Seneca said, “Frugality makes a poor man rich.” And we want all our guests to be million aires. Our program tonight is a hap hazard arrangement of mediocrity.- and trivia—in keeping with the ca pabilities of our members and the tastes of our guests. If, by chance, you fit outside the categories men tioned above, just remember this: “According to differing emergencies, There is a science of stretching The limitations of our consciexxce, And of compensating the evil of our acts By the purity of our motives.” Apology in Order We apologize for the appeax-ance of the banquet room tonight. For occasions like this, we usually hix-e extra janitors. We had engaged Mr. Gibb Gilchrist and Mr. Tom Harrington, well-known carpet-bag men. They wei'e supposed to sweep the room for 50<; an hour, but no tified us only a few hours ago they had been hired by a Mr. Loupot to sell old Cadences in the donnitories for 60c hourly wages. We are re ferring this matter to the State Auditor. Our music will be provided by the freshman version of the Aggie land Ox-chestra. Our main speaker will be Mr. Houston Harte, publisher of the San Angelo Standaid-Times. In troduction of Mr. Hax-te will be by Mr. Gilchrist, another newspaper man—copyboy for the A&M Sys tem News. The San Angelo paper is unique in that it pays its em ployees with copies of “In Our Image” rather than in money. Harte is Honored Mx-. Harte has been runner-up for the past thi'ee yeax-s for best- dressed man in San Angelo. He has gained many other honoi-s, of which not the least was the hiring of one Rex L. Billingsley, fonner campus scholar and an outstanding engineer. Many of our foraier Battalion editors are in attendance hex-e to night. We have returned them to prove that all old editors don’t fade away. Some of them have achieved quite a bit of success working fox- various newspapers and other bus iness concerns—three are janitors, four messenger boys, and still two others have become excellent roust abouts. We Want to Eat Tonight our main purpose is to eat, make nasty remarks about our guests, arid finally to present the annual publications awards. Our retiring editors will receive Mickey Mouse watches while our other staff members get keys. They are not, as alleged, the “keys” to the Military Science true-false quizzes. Our workers still flip coins. Presentation of the awards will be made by Dr. M. T. Hai*rington, famed chemist. (He discovered that if you fail three freshmen in Chemistry 101, thx-ee less will enroll for 102.) One Serious Note Only one serious note may be found in our program tonight. It’s actually not in the program, but all around you. We have been very fortunate in s'ecuring for our banquet copies of the 1950 prize winning photographs as chosen by the White House Press Photo graphers Association of Washing ton. Never before has such an excellent display of news pictures been presented on the campus, and we feel certain you will enjoy them. During your meal, members of our various publications staffs will entertain you. Since too many of the perfoxmances may be impromp tu, we dax-e not list them hex-e. If you feel personal pain from any of our escapades here tonight, just think of the torture we must endui’e by wo iking with these char- actei-s each day.