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Cbe Battalion •
Page 2 College Station, Texas Tuesday, November 16, 1965 ® Features
Bonfire Show Rejection
Could Injure A&M Image
Texas A&M took a step it might long
regret when it canceled the Nov. 24 per
formance of Johnny Cash last week be
cause the country and western singer is
“an accused felon.”
Fearful that the university’s image
could suffer serious consequences, A&M
officials severed the contract last Satur
day — six days after Memorial Student
Center Council members had refused to
second a motion that the Cash perform
ance be squelched.
It is a flower in the administration’s
lapel that they hold the image of this uni
versity in such high esteem and are willing
to risk even legal action to protect it.
Certainly, Texas A&M did not intend
to prejudge nor to deprive a citizen of his
inalienable rights, but the move could
easily be interpreted as such a violation.
The question of jurisprudence should
not enter the debate, officials argue, but
how can it be omitted ?
Officials say, quite simply, they do not
desire an accused felon to be publicized as
a campus attraction. They say Cash’s
appearance on campus would suggest the
university approves of the act for which
the singer was charged Oct. 4 in El Paso.
However, to reject or ostracize a per
son because he has been charged with a
criminal act is in fact, a violation of the
“innocent until proven guilty” clause.
Johnny Cash, both theoretically and ac
cording to law, has committed no wrong
until proven in court.
Therefore, again according to law, Texas
A&M has repudiated a contract between an
innocent U. S. citizen and the university.
The question of whether or not the
school was guilty of prejudgement is indeed
linked to the question posed by the admini
stration: “Should an accused felon be al
lowed to appear at a university-sponsored
function such as Town Hall?”
Mortimer's Notes
FOR THE RECORD: The South Viet Nam
flick scheduled Wednesday night should be an
informative piece for persons planning to take
an active interest in SCON A this year
Others will find the film interesting, too . . . .
It’s the first of four World Around Us series
presentations and the only one this semester . . . .
Maximum security preparations have been
made for Bonfire week to prohibit incidents similar
to one that occurred two years ago when some
TU students burned BE VO on Kyle Field grass . . .
And remember how upset the TU folks were
because the ground was muddy ?
With all the grass gone, what could they
expect?
Town Hall replacement for Johnny Cash is
being sought, but nobody will say who
Rumor is, however, that the committee is after
a country and western star or group .......
The Aggie Players drew about 1,400 spectators
to “Death of a Salesman” during its six-night
stand last week
The group is now working up a Christmas
play to be staged at area churches in December . . .
It will open Dec. 5 at Allen Academy
You country and western fans don’t need to
look so forlorn
Word is out that Sigma Delta Chi is planning
another big Louisiana Hayride this spring
Last year’s performance practically jammed
<J. Rollie White Coliseum as George Jones and
Jerry Lee Lewis headlined the attraction
Only nine more days ’till Turkey Day
See Ya ’Round—MORTIMER.
THE BATTALION
Opinions expressed in The Battalion
are those of the student writers only. The
Battalion is a non tax-supported non
profit, self-supporting educational enter
prise edited and operated by students as
a university and community newspaper.
Members of the Student Publications Board are: Joe Buser,
chairman; Dr. David Bowers, College of Liberal Arts; Dr.
Robert A. Clark, College of Geosciences; Dr. Frank A. Mc
Donald, College of Science; Dr. J. G. McGuire, College of
Engineering; Dr. Robert S. Titus, College of Veterinary-
Medicine; and Dr. A. B. Wooten, College of Agriculture.
The Battalion, a student newspaper at Texas A&M is
published in College Station, Texas daily except Saturday,
Sunday, and Monday, and holiday periods, September through
May, and once a week during summer school.
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 republication of all other
matter herein are also reserved.
Second-Class postage paid at College Station, Texas.
MEMBER
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News contributions may be made by telephoning 846-6618
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The Battalion, Room 4, YMCA Building, College Station, Texas.
EDITOR GLENN DROMGOOLE
Managing Editor Gerald Garcia
Sports Editor Larry Jerden
News Editor Tommy DeFrank
Photographer Herky Killingsworth
Amusements Editor Lani Presswood
Anytime a rig-ht or privilege — such as
the one granted Cash by the A&M Town
Hall contract — is repudiated, it is in effect
a prejudgment that a wrongful act has
been committed.
A&M stands to lose face in other areas
by the action.
Town Hall, undergoing financial hard
ships for several years, could suffer. The
Johnny Cash appearance almost guaranteed
a packed house and a huge payroll for the
declining Town Hall fund. While chair
man Mike Nabors and other committeemen
are actively seeking a popular replacement
for Bonfire night, it is likely that net
recipts will be reduced.
Powers of student organizations also are
questioned again. The MSC Council re
jected a plea to cancel the concert at its
Nov. 8 meeting after a member proposed
the idea. So strong was the student-facul
ty organization’s feeling that the motion
did not receive a second.
However, six days later the decision
came down that the performance had been
squelched.
In an issue dealing specifically with
student affairs, the council’s opinion was
overruled and action taken by higher auth
orities.
If student groups are to administrate
the affairs of the students, they should
have some authority to insure their deci
sions.
These questions merit extensive consid
eration by A&M officials who by their
positions can not and will not close their
eyes to criticism.
The image of this great university, the
entertainment afforded students in an
otherwise cultural and social vacuum, and
student control of student activities are all
of major concern to the administration,
faculty, staff and student body.
Actions that endanger these areas
should be very carefully considered.
A great university demands this much.
Just Humor
By HAL BOYLE
NEW YORK (A*) — Things we could do with
out:
Young men who look like they’re wearing a
nest of robbins in their hair.
Discotheque dancers who twitch like they
had the itch, or were trying to run a 100-yard
race on a pogo stick.
Any new kinds of dog foods, deodorants
or dandruff cures.
Christmas cards that depict pretty girls in
a Santa Claus suit, or Santa himself in a bathing
suit chasing a beach maid wearing a bikini.
Any more books by doctors or marriage coun
selors on what to do about sex. All the possibili
ties of sex have been pointed out by eminent
authorities many times already. What civilization
needs is more good cook books and fewer manuals
on sex, as no civilized person ever loses interest
in good cooking.
Motorists who say they only want half of the
road but decide their half is in the middle.
Teachers who give your kids homework that
would tax the mental powers of an Einstein.
The telephone company’s decision to give us
all numbers that only a computer can remember.
Power companies that can’t explain after a
blackout why all their electricity took a vacation
at the same time.
College boys who think it smart to light their
cigarettes with their draft cards.
Office wits who, when you’re taking up a
collection for a retiree, invariably when, “When
are you going to take up one for me?”
Lady shoppers in supermarkets who ram a
fellow’s shins with their carts and then glare
at him as if he should apologize for being alive.
Wiseacres who, when you tell them you’re
going to the dentist to get your teeth cleaned,
reply “Why bother to go yourself? Why not
just mail them in?”
Anybody who mails your wife another credit
plate.
Anybody who mails you another credit card.
Health nuts who think they can solve all your
problems by showing you a series of isomtric
exercises that cured him of eczema, rid then of 25
pounds of fat, and brought them new success in
their work.
From these and other pest deliver us, amen.
Ray Price Charged
In Drug Violation
CORPUS CHRISTI <A>> _ Authorities filed
complaints Monday charging Western singer Ray
Price and four members of his band with illegal
possession of 1,000 dangerous pills.
Police Lt. N. C. Baumann said officers seized
the tablets in the musicians’ bus and motel while
they were here to fill an engagement Friday.
James Day, one of the band, members, posted
$1,500 bond in the case earlier. Beaumann said
Day had been convicted on such a charge peri-
ously and the law makes a second offense a felony.
Misdemeanor charges are on file against Price
and the others — Pete Burke, Robert Fritz, Francis
Coleman and Charles Harris. Each went free under
$500 bond. All are from Nashville, Tenn.
CADET SLOUCH by Jim Eerie
“Three weeks ago this meant ‘we lost two’ at TU, but now
they’re running out of fingers!”
Gerald Garcia
Date That
Nearly Wasn’t
The fish got a pass from hi;
CO to skip CQ on Thursday nigk;
to go to the Memorial Student
Center to make the call.
He received his first setbacl
at the MSC phone booths. We|
exactly, he never did see tki
booths because he wasn’t the onl;
one planning on phoning.
The freshman decided to try
the YMCA phones. Here he was
luckier. But, by the time he go:
an operator his dailing finge:
was worn out.
Then his troubles really start
ed. The operator was handling
so many calls that the fish W
to wait about five minutes bo-
fore she got the party and nur-
ber he was calling.
Now it was a hopeless cast
The operator dialed the number
and the fish heard a familiar ex
pression:
“I am sorry sir but all tin
circuit to Denton are closed"
Would you like to replace your
call or should I keep trying!"
the operator said.
Upperclassmen had described
past jaunts to North Texas.
And he had a Tessie lined up.
On Wednesday, before the trip,
the A&M first year student re
ceived a letter—which had taken
18 hours to be delivered—from
his Texas Woman’s University
date. She made one request.
The Tessie wanted him to call
Thursday night to determine
where they were to meet before
the Maroon and White A-Go-Go
in Tessieland. The fish should
have never tried to follow this
order.
At the Movies
with Lani Presswood
Did you hear about the Texas
A&M freshman who almost didn’t
have a date to the TCU Corps
Trip because he was not able
to call Denton ?
The week prior to Corps Trip
the fish was very excited be
cause :
It was going to be his first
Corps Trip.
“Agent 8%” has only one re
deeming virtue, and you spell
it S-y-l-v-i-a K-o-s-c-i-n-a.
One suspects that this movie
was produced to satirize the cur
rent spy craze in entertainment—
not exactly an original idea but
still a potentially very funny one.
Unfortunately though, some
thing happened between the
drawing boards and the project
or. At least I hope the drawing
boards envisioned something bet
ter than what eventually came
out, because the final product
is sure nothing to write home
about.
It’s a mildly engaging picture
all right, but if it weren’t for
Miss Koscina’s presence the
whole thing would fall about as
flat as a Czechoslovakian flap-
jack.
Why Czechoslovakian ? Be
cause the city of Prague serves
as a setting for the show’s action,
what there is of it.
The plot slowly revolves around
Dick Bogarde, who completely
miscast as Nicholas Whistler, a
spy who doesn’t know he’s a spy.
Bogarde is more pathetic than
comic and with the skimpy
script he’s faced with, it’s no
wonder.
It seems that Nicholas, a writ
er living rather happily off his
unemployment check, is asked by
a glass manufacturer to journey
from his home base of England
to bring back a secret message
from Prague.
Now you know and I know that
it’s not really industrial intrigue
but international espionage that
he’s jumping into. But natural
ly Nicholas doesn’t learn this un
til the show is two-thrids over.
In the course of his mission
Nicholas stumbles his way
through several escapades with
the Czech state police, some fair
ly amusing and some not.
The only bright spot in his
adventure, and it is a bright one,
is meeting a luscious comrade
whose movie name I won’t even
attempt to reproduce but whose
real name you’ve already guessed
—Sylvia Koscina. Put her name
down as one of the more promis
ing young actresses around.
Actually, the jury’s still out
on her acting ability but in ra
diance and plain old good looks
she’s already arrived, and in fine
style.
To the picture’s credit, there
were also a couple of imaginative
wrinkles in the action to go along
with Sylvia. The one which comes
quickest to mind is a scene fea
turing a bevy of waiters in tails
advancing in unison on the Brit
ish Embassy.
And more than likely there is
even a dab of drama present,
in a scene between Sylvia and
Nicholas played in a loft above
a cafe. I can’t say for sure be
cause something misfired in the
Rubber
LOS ANGELES — House mi
nority leader Gerald Ford (R-
Mich.) told students here last
week that the recently-adjourned
89th Congress was “long on
quantity, short on quality.”
The 17-year veteran of the
House of Representatives and
chief spokesman for House Re
publicans called the legislative
body “a rubber stamp Congress,
hip pocket Congress.”
Being quizzed by student mem
bers of Sigma Delta Chi, profes
sional journalistic society, at the
group’s national convention, Ford
claimed Senate majority leader
Mike Mansfield (D-Mont.) also
was displeased with some Con
gressional action.
“It is a very bad record for
Congress when the majority lead
er says we passed bills too hasti
ly, with too many loopholes and
oversights,” Ford said.
“Too frequently Congress did
exactly what the executive branch
of the government demanded,”
Ford said. “This is contrary to
our principle of separation of
powers.”
He cited the anti-poverty bill
as an example of hasty legisla
tion.
“It was lacking in actually
solving the problem,” he
claimed,” and had too much ad
ministrative involvement and ex
pense.”
Looking ahead to upcoming
gubernatorial and congressional
elections next year, Ford said
the Republican Party’s presiden
tial nomination hinged on the
1966 campaigns.
projection room at the Campus
Theater just as Nick was enter
ing the lift.
Ten minutes later the film was
running again but the couple was
saying tender farewells by then,
thus leaving the loft scene to the
audience’s imagination.
The rest of the movie wasn’t
left to the imagination though,
and the result is a shallow, wit
less superficiality which suc
ceeds only in satirizing spy movie
satires.
“The Republican Party of 1966
has a major responsibility to
right the imbalance that exists
2-1 in the Senate, 2-1 in the
House, 2-1 in the number of
governors.”
“We have to make a good
showing in 1966 or we will have
a hard time finding a good can
didate in 1968.”
Ford said newly-elected New
York mayor John Lindsay “has
the most difficult political job
in the United States. If he does
a good job, he won’t have to wor
ry about his political future.”
Ford pointed out three signifi
cant meanings of Lindsay’s may-
oral victory over Abe Beame, the
Democratic nominee:
1. Republican candidates with
ideas can win even in areas with
large Democratic majorities. New
York voters register Democrat
by a 7-2 margin.
2. Voters will oust political
machines if candidates appear
corrupt or ineffective.
3. President Johnson and Hu
bert Humphrey backed Beame
in his bid for the position. Ford
said this could mean the political
pendulum has begun a reverse
swing.
The Republican leader said the
GOP will follow a “conservative,
but moderate progressive” domes
tic program and a “broad global
viewpoint' in international af-
Ford said fiscal responsibility
and less centralization of powers
are the basic aims of Republi
cans and will be top campaign
issues in 1966. Republican sup
port in all states will be sought
“Please keep trying,” the fisl
requested.
The next day the fish’s buddies
picked him up at the YMCA
where he was still waiting foi
the circuit to clear. The fishdil
find the girl at the dance.
She wanted an explanation an:
claimed things like that were
ruining the relationship betweet
the schools.
Maybe when the phone system
improves, the A&M-TWU re
lationship will improve.
next year, the GOP Congress
man said.
“The Republicans will accept
members from any state if they
subscribe to basic philosophies oi
the Republican party. We are
going to get a Republican Party
in every state and we are going
to have people that believe in
our principles,” Ford asserted.
Ford also told student writere
the party would not repudiate
John Birch Society members only
for affiliation with that organi
zation.
“If we are called on to re
pudiate the John Birch Society,
the Democrats should be called
on to repudiate the radical left,"
he said.
Folk Song Fest
Set Wednesday
A Folk Song Fest by the John
Avery Lomax Folklore Society is
set for 8 p.m. Wednesday in
the Fallout Theater Workshop at
Texas A&M.
Bill Koock, president of the
society, said the presentation will
feature the Wayfarers, Selma
Clack, George Clark, Mr. and Mrs-
Roger Williams, Dr. and Mrs-
Grant Thomas, Jon Sharon, Jim
Newett and Carl “Doc” Sprague-
Clarence “Bud” Franks, vice-
president of the Folklore Society,
will emcee the program.
Admission is 50 cents. Koock
said proceeds will be used to help
purchase J. Frank Dobie’s Pai-
sano Ranch near Austin as a re
treat for writers.
Glenn Dromgoole:
Stamp Congress?
PEANUTS
By Charles M. Schufe
PEANUTS
HE U)AS SUPPOSED TO MAKE A
SPEECH AT THE CAlSV HILL PUPPY
FARM LAST SATURDAY NI6HT, BUT
THEY CALLED AND SAID THAT HE
NEVER SHOWED UP...
<X
I KNEW HE'D NEVER MAKE
THAT SPEECH 11 KNEW HE'D
PANIC! I JUST KNEW IT!
m
f/o\
l LL BET HE'S OFF SOMEPLACE
HIDING...HE'S JUSTN0TTHE
KIND YOU CAN DEPEND ON!
I'LL BET AT THE LAST
Minute he got cold paius]
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