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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 20, 1951)
Page 2 THE BATTALION Tuesday, November 20, 1951 Big Boom Frontier Closed Historian Asserts By FRANK DAVIS Battalion Staff Writer The world has been leading an abnormal existence since 1492, when Columbus and associates discovered the western hemisphere. Walter Prescott Webb, writer and historian, brought out this point in explaining his thesis concerning the devel opment of the great frontier in America Monday, at a joint meeting of the People’s Legislative Committee and the Wo men’s Committee for Educational Freedom. Conditions in Western Europe before 1500 were stable in the sense that land, population, and wealth measured in gold and silver were constant. Webb described the discovery of the western hemisphere as causing a boom which threw the set proportions of wealth and land out of normal. With the boom, new social and economic ideas took shape and eventually became the modern institutions of de mocracy and capitalism. The question Webb asked was whether the standards for a society in the boom period are adaptable to normal times, the return of which is marked by the diminishing frontier. Webb received nation-wide attention because of a series of articles which appeared in Harper’s Magazine explaining his thesis. The significance of the facts uncovered by Webb are interpretated differently by various men at A&M. W. H. Rothrock, associate professor in the department of mod ern languages* found hope in Webb’s thesis. “Although the frontier has been absorbed, man can now turn to the problem of lifting himself as an individual, rather than as an agent in the race for acquiring material possessions,” Rothrock stressed. Dr. T. F. Mayo, head of the department of English, felt that out of the conflict caused by the diminishing fron tier, a new social order might arise. Until now freedoms have been largely classified as the freedom to get and freedom to be, said Dr. Mayo. Before advancing his thesis that the world frontier was disappearing, Webb collected data on the relationship between land, population, and capital dating back to 1500. Using 1500 as the base year with the three elements equal to each other, Webb pointed out that the first unit to digress from the pormal was land which increased six times by 1600 with the discovery of hitherto unknown lands. While land area increased six times over 1500, the capital available increased eight times over the same year with population remaining about the same. By 1700 the population was twice the size of the popula tion in 1500, capital had increased 20 times, and land had remained constant. This trend continued until 1930 when the population per square mile reached the 1500 figure. Population per square mile in Western Europe in 1500 was 26.7, according to Webb’s figures. In 1930, there were 26.6 persons per square mile throughout the world. Around these figures, Webb based his thesis, reasoning that the standard of living is dependent upon commodities produced which are in turn dependent upon land available per person. Webb further reasoned that science destroys more than it creates. This means that science has speeded up the destruction of the world’s resources, now banked due to the loss of the frontier. “When fuel is exhausted, civilization will return to water and human power, unless the energy of the sun can be tapped. The world is expected to use up its supply of oil in 400 years, and its coal in around 1000 years,” Webb said. The problem which presents itself, according to Webb, is whether man will lose his individualism in a less dynamic, more stable society. THE 52 CLUB High Brow or Low Brow Students Have Chance to Pick Music for Houston Symphony By BERT WELLER Battalion Staff Writer Texas A&M, never before well- known for its activities in the fine arts, will be given a chance to prove that interest in classical music is not entirely missing from campus life. The Houston Symphony Orches tra, which will present two con certs on Dec. 11, has sent the school a tentative program for each of the two recitals. They have asked that the two programs be studied and suggestions sent in for any changes that the students might like. The afternoon concert is design- Mediators Agreement May ed specifically for children. An- dor Toth will conduct a program of light classics and music of par ticular interest to young people. Programs of this type feature coril- mentary by Alfred Urbach and are a regular feature of the Sympho ny’s Houston concert season. Scheduled for this matinee are the Prelude to Act III of Lo hengrin by Wagner, the Overture to the “Bartered Bride” by Stnet- na, and the Waltz from the “Nut cracker Suite” by Tchaikowsky. Also programmed are The En chanted Toy Shop by Rossini, Sleighride by Anderson, Sei'ehade of the Carols by Gould, and the Suite from “The King and I” by Rogers. The evening concert will be con ducted by the distinguished musi cal director of the orchestra, Efrem Kurtz. Kurtz has been acclaimed as being among the greatest living orchestral conductors. Under his direction the Houston aggregation has assumed a position of natural prominence among symphonic or ganizations. The night appearance is a part of the regular Town Hall series, although Town Hall tick ets will be honored at the matinee performance. Kurtz has scheduled the La Gaz- za Larde Overture by Rossini, The Scotch Symphony by Mendelssohn, the Suite for Flute and Strings by Teleman, Facades by Walton, and Die Fledermaus by Strauss. The program as planned by Kurtz would be of great in terest to the serious music en thusiast, but includes too many unfamiliar works for the type of audience encountered at A&M. Halt Blood Plasma Strike Student Life Meeting Washington, Nov. 20—GP)—Me diators early today reached an agreement which they hope will halt a strike threatening to pinch off the flow of lifegiving plasma to the armed forces. Terms of the greement still must be approved by members of the CIO- United Chemical Workers Union, who had threatened to quit work at the Sharp and Dohme Blood Processing Plant in West Point, Pa. A vote will be taken at a meet ing called for tonight in Philadel phia. Terms were not announced by exhausted mediators, who met for 16 straight hours trying to work out a solution. E. M. Sconyers, of the Federal Mediation Service, announced that the panel consisting of five com pany, 15 union and three govern ment members, arived at what they considered a satisfactory agree ment shortly before dawn. The threat to the already inad equate supply of plasma alarmed offiicals. Some said here that if the strike developed, it would shut off about one quarter of the flow of blood plasma to the armed forces. A mediation official in Philadel phia said, however, it would threat en the army’s entire plasma pro gram. Conditions were considered so serious that federal conciliators trying to stave off the strike by laboratory workers said if a settle ment had not been reached by noon today, they had planned to ask the White House to step in—presum ably with a fact finding board or other temporizing device. They still may take this step if the mediation agreement is not approved tonight. First indication that the strike might not develop came late yes terday from the American Red Cross. Collection Continues Richard P. Swigart, assistant to the director of the Red Cross blood collection program, told a reporter orders had gone out to local Red Cross units to continue collections for shipment going to the Sharp and Dohme plant, near Philadel phia. Previously, collection centers had been told to stop taking blood for shipment to the plant, because of the strike threat. Units would, however, have continued collection for whole fylood shipment to Korea or local use. Swigart said the defense de partment had asked the Red Cross to send out the go-ahead for col lection and shipment of the ur gently needed blood. Strike at 12 The chemical workers authorized a strike by midnight tonight, if no settlement is reached before then. 6 Considerable Evidence’ Say Military About Red Atrocity Tokyo, Nov. 20—UP)—A Hied headquarters said today there is “considerable evidence” that about 6,000 American soldiers died in Red atrocity killings although bod ies of only 365 have been recovered. The statement from Gen. Mat thew B. Ridgway’s headquarters made no mention of Communist countercharges of Allied atrocities. Each side accused the other of atrocities in Korea while the Pan- munjom circus tent truce talks were in a one-day recess asked by the Communists. The Reds wanted time to study a United Nations proposal for a tentative cease-fire. General headquartei’S of the U. N. Command made it clear the re port of wholesale Red atrocities is sued last week by Col. James M. Hanley did not involve an increase in the known American dead in the Korean war. “Of the 10,836 persons (Ameri cans) still carried as missing in The Battalion Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Founder of Aggie Traditions "Soldier, Statesman, Knightly Gentleman” The Battalion, official newspaper of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texes, 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 $.50 per month. Advertising rates furnished on request. 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 Represented nationally by National Advertising Service Inc., at New York City, Chicago, Los An geles, and San Francisco, The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for republication of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in the paper and local news of spontaneous origin published herein. Rights of republieation 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 Hall. Classified ads may be placed by telephone (4-5324) or at the Student Activities Office, Room 209, Goodwin Hall. JOHN WHITMORE : Editor Joel Austin Managing Editor Bill Streich News Editor Bob Selleck Sports News Editor Pat Morley Women’s Editor T. H. Baker, E. R. Briggs, Benny Holub. Bryan Spencer, Ide Trotter Edgar Watkins, Carl Posey, Gene Steed, Jerry Bennett, Bert Weller Staff Writers Bob Cullen, Jack Brandt Staff Cartoonist Frank Scott Quarterback Club Director Dick Zeek Staff Photographer Pat LeBlanc, Hugh Philippus, Gus Becker, Joe Blanchette Ed Holder Sports Staff Writers John Lancaster Chief Photo Engraver Russell Hagens Advertising Manager Robert Haynie... Advertising Representative Sam Beck Circulation Manager action,” the report said, “there is no conclusive proof as to the num ber of dead, though there is con siderable evidence to justify pre sumption of death by atrocity of a large number which may approxi mate 6,000.” Broadcasts from Red radios in Pyongyang and Peiping conceded some American prisoners of war had died in prison camps but de nied the report issued by Colonel Hanley of the Eighth Army’s legal section as an “absurd lie” and a “slander.” Red radios in turn accused the Allies of (1) killing 17,000 Chinese and Korean Red prisoners of war or allowing them tq starve to death, (2) killing or injuring 14,- 500 North Korean civilians in bomb raids, and (3) shipipng out 1,000 Korean and Indochinese Reds for use in atomic tests. A U. N. Command spokesman called the atom story “pure fabri cation.” Simultaneously top level Reds made an abrupt switch in their truce aims. Red radios gave no indication whether Communist armistice ne gotiators, would advance this new patern when truce talks I'esume at Panmunjom at 11 a.m. Wednesday (9 p.m. Tuesday EST). The new high level Red state ments could set truce talks back to where they were when they started four months ago. The North Korean foreign minister proposed injecting punishment for war crimes—against Koreans. Red China’s foreign minister endorsed the truce plan of Soviet foreign minister Andrei Vishinsky includ ing an immediate cease-fire, a buf fer zone along the 38th Parallel and immediate withdrawal of for eign troops from Korea. Truman Thinks Of Kennan For Russian Post Key West, Fla., Nov. 20— UP)—President Truman said today George F. Kennan is be ing considered for the post of ambassador to Russia. The President. said he had dis cussed the appointment with Sec retary Acheson, and that Kennan would “make a good ambassador.” Mr. Truman made this observa tion shortly before he took off in his personal plane, the “Indepen dence,” for Washington where ho will make a political speech to night. Ambassador Alan G. Kirk hag been anxious to give up the Moscow post and has expressed a desire not to spend another severe winter in the Russian capital. Kennan is a former head of the State Department’s policy planrting staff. He is now on leave and serving with the Institute of Ad vance Studies at Princeton Univer sity. Mr. Truman’s plane left the air port at 7:58 a.m. (EST) for the four-hour flight to Washington. Awards Total $650 For Dairy Students The annual Keep Awards, total ing $650, will be presented to sev en Dairy Husbandry students to night at 7:30 at a meeting of the Kream and Kow Klub. A freshman will receive a $200 scholarship based upon his record as a FFA or 4-H Club member in high school. One first place winner from each of the three upperclass- es will receive awards of $100 each based upon their scholastic records at A&M. Second place winners from each upperclass will get $50. The awards are given by Herman F. Hecp of Buda, Texas. Heep is a Jersey breeder and has made many contributions to the field of dairying. ^ Dr. C. N. Shepardson, dean of the school of Agriculture, will pre sent the awards at the meeting in room 2B of the MSC. Before today’s agreement was worked out a company official at Philadelphia said Sharp and Dohme had offered a new wage contract to the union including a 4.4 per cent wage increase, a wage reopen ing clause after six months, auto matic increases for promotions, and a maintenance-of-union member ship provision. Martin Wagner, president of the CIO chemical workers, said here the remaining issue was a union shop demand. This normally en tails a requirement that all em ployes join and keeup up member ship in the union. Wagner said the union had agreed on a modified version, un der which non-union workers would be allowed to retain present jobs, and the union shop would apply to future employes. Process Left-Overs He also said the union had agreed agreed to process any blood collected before the strike dead line. Plasma is the colorless, basic liquid of the blood. It is used mainly to combat shock-resulting from wounds, preventing death from shock seepage of the pa tient’s own blood plasma through his blood vessels. Plasma is considered so vital as an emergency wound treatment that it is carired by medical corps- men into the front lines, and ad ministered, where a man falls. It is in short supply. (Continued from Page 1) letic equipment. This money will he spent for athletic equipment is sued to the dormitories. A request by the department of music activities was turned down by the group with the recommenda tion that the request for money for heaters be forwarded to the president of the college. Bill Tur ner, music director, made a request for the money saying the heating in the Music Hall was not enough. Spike White, assistant dean of men for student activities made a request for $500 for benches for the Grove and the drill field. He asked the committee to buy 50 benches for the Grove, which dur ing reviews could be used on the drill field. At the request of the YMCA the committee decided to approve the purchase of 55 folding chairs to be used in the building. YMCA Di rector, Cashion said there were not enough seats in the building to seat all of the crowds using the facilities. The committee turned down,a re quest by the YMCA for the repair of furniture. Basis for this refusal was on the grounds it was out of the scope of the Student Life Committee. i The final petition for money was by the band. They asked that the committee allow them the same grant they received last year, which was $3,500. After a discus sion over the expenses of the band, the committee allowed them a bal ance of $3,500 after the expense of of the freshman, band trip to Aus tin for the Fish-Shorthorn game. At present, before tne action of the committee, the band had a bal ance of approximately $2,500. The Exchange Store Advisory Committee at their last meeting voted the Student Life Committee $10,000 for use during the year. This past fiscal year the Exchange Store showed a profit of $47,457.68, which is smaller than it has been during the past several years. Out of the profits the store re tained $12,457.68 for remodeling and addition to stocks. The advis ory committee also gave the MSC a grant of $25,000 to cover the Deficit of the year. The remain ing $10,000 went to Student Life. During the later portion of the meeting J. W. Doggie Dalston made a report on the Ross Volun teer’s firing a salute during Sil ver Taps. The concensus was that it added to the already impressive tribute to the dead. Before adjourning J. H. Sorrels made-th'e'irtbtion’that the commit tee thank Lt. Col. M. P. Bowden for his work done with the group. This motion was passed unanim ously. The Scotch Symphony, the Wal ton work and the Suite for Flute and Strings are each worthy of performance on any concert stage but we believe that works that are familiar to the local audience would provide as re warding an evening. While many of the Town Hall group might enjoy the original program as set up by Kurtz, ev eryone would be more nearly sat isfied with a program of the more popular classics. As a possible alternate, the fol lowing program has been suggest ed: Rossini’s La Gaza Ladre Over ture, either the Fourth or Fifth Symphony of Tchaikowsky, the Don Juan Tone Poem of Richard Strauss, and Khachaturian’s Mas- quarade Suite. This program includes works that are both familiar and worthy of performance on a college cam pus. The music for an orchestral appearance must be chosen for its variety and its worth as a portion of our musical heritage. The latter program fulfills these obligations as well as the original Kurtz pro gram, while Having more popular appeal to an A&M audience. Other works that might be in cluded are the Military and the Surprise Symphonies of Haydn, the Third and Fifth Symphonies of Beethoven, the Le Cid Bal let Suite by Massenet, and the two tone poems of Debussy. The repertoire of a major orchestra is large enough to include any of these selections; any of which would prove interesting to a stu dent-faculty audience. Anyone who would like to sug gest an alternate program for the Houston Symphony’s Town Hall appearance is urged by G. C. “Spike” White, assistant dean of men for student activities to sub mit his choices to the Student Activities Office. The local Town Hall subscribers have an unusual opportunity in being able to choose the music that they would like to hear, White said. “Most artists are not so lib eral in their ideas on program composition; there should be na cause for complaint if the selec* tions played do not Satisfy the Guion Hall audience,” he said. LEGAL HOLIDAY Thursday, November 22, 1951 being a Legal Holiday, in observance of Thanksgiving Day, the undersigned will observe that date as a Legal Holiday and not be open for business. First National Bank City National Bank First State Bank & Trust Co. College Station State Bank Bryan Building and Loan Ass’n. ALL-AMERICAN Ed Salem U. of Alabama picks SOLO Novelty jportshirt of fine rayon gabardine. Fully washable. 4 exciting color* with contrasting knit wgistband. See this and other Puritan Shirts Today! The Exchange Store “Serving Texas Aggies” POGO By Walt Kelly LIT ABNER A Voice Crying In the Wilderness A1 Capp