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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
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through Friday for the regular school year, Tuesday through Friday during the summer
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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