The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 27, Ed. 1 Saturday, January 8, 1949 Page: 2 of 8
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Two
THE THRESHER
Interest In Local Election
V ital T oGood Government
What makes democracy work? What factors
enable free men to govern themselves without cor-
ruption and tyrrany?
Probably the primary consideration is the in-
terest of the people in their local government.
Today our county will select a State Senator
and a State Representative from a horde of candi-
dates. Too many are prone to be indifferent in
local elections and to think that great national and
international issues relegate local government to a
position of unimportance.
These people fail to realize that the basis of
any good government is a virile and truly represen-
tative local government. The prophets of fear who
see the "tentacles of big government reaching out
into every state capitol, every county court house,
and every city hall" and who viciously attack every
proposal for federal action, too often fail to realize
that the demands for federal action are stimulated
by the failures of neglected local governments.
We dream of world peace and a world federa-
tion, but how can we hope for world government
when our local governments are inefficient as a
result of our lack of interest and participation.
The next state legislature will be faced with
problems of grave concern to each of us. It is thus
of vital importance that the people of Houston vote
in such numbers that Harris County's representatives
will be the choice of an informed and interested
plurality.
0
Here's A Definition of Race
That Needs No Explanation
In a recent edition of Collier's Magazine, Earn-
est Albert Hooton, professor of anthropology at
Harvard University was asked to define what con-
stitutes a race. Here is his definition:
"A race is a major physical grouping of man-
kind based upon the inhferitance of combinations of
anatomical features. Hence, members of the same
race look somewhat alike, but they do not necessarily
think alike and behave alike. Science knows no
psychological or behavioral pecularities certainly
attributable to race. Nor are there 'superior' or
'inferior' races ranked by scientific tests.
"All civilized nations consist of racially mixed
people. 'Pure' races are virtual abstractions. Aryans
are not a race, but a linguistic classification. Jews
are not a race, but a specially selected, inbred, cul-
tural and religious group. Racial prejudice and
racial discrimination arise from human competitive-
ness, selfishness and stupidity, not from real racial
differences in psychology and behavior.
"There are probably more differences in tem-
perament and behavior between fat men and thin
men of the same race than between Negroes and
Whites of similar body builds, or between Jews and
Gentiles."
o
Commendable Action
Thursday the Student Council took commendable
action in approving a motion by Tom Eubank to
hold the prof-rating polls immediately before mid-
term finals. A great deal of healthy discussion
came out of the results of last year's polls and
most faculty members expressed themselves pleased
with the students' opinions and co-operativeness.
Looking backward it is clear that the best time for
the poll is immediately before mid-term finals, and
that the poll should be given only once a year.
The method employed last year by the Council
was pleasing in its results and a better system prob-
ably could not be found; but since the whole plan
is based upon the co-operation and good-will of the
students, members of the faculty should be con-
sulted this year before the forms are printed.
. 0
SATURDAY EDITION
Managing Editor Finis Cowan
Assistants Ruey Boone, Georgia Hinks,
Jean Lewis, Nancy Markle.
m*/CE 7WXES#£X
Editor Brady Tyson
Business Manager Nancy Hood
Published every Wednesday and every Saturday of the
regular school year except during holiday and examination
periods by the students of the Rice Institute. Editorial and
advertising offices are in Lovett Hall on the campus.
Entered as second class mailing matter, October 17, 1916,
at the Post Office, Houston, under the act of March 8, 1879.
Represented by National Advertising Service, Inc., 420
Madisbn Ave., New York City
Another Letter From Alum
Mills, Five More Questions
2070 Dryden Road(
Houston, Texas
January 5, 1949
Mr. Brady Tyson, Editor
The Rice Thresher
Houston, Texas.
Dear Mr. Tyson,
In reply to my letter of Dec. 9th, an explanation of the
reasons for my letter was requested by your assistant editor.
While I had not intended to write you a second letter, it becomes
necessary because of the question directed to me and the vague
answer given to the third question in my letter of Dec. 9th.
If I had read carefully, some of the earlier editions of the
Thresher, perhaps it would not have been necessary for me
to write you in order to determine definitely what your policy
was in regard to the race question. I could not force myself
to believe, after reading the Thresher of Dec. 4th, that the
Editor of the Thresher was in favor of admitting Negroes to
Rice Institute. I decided, therefore, that the most logical pro-
cedure for securing immediate and correct information, would
be to write a letter to you.
I have four or five additicj|al questions to ask:
(1) In the Houston Post of Tuesday, Deer 21s't, you were
quoted as saying "The editorial represents the policy of the
paper and of about everybody I know on the campus." This
means, of course, that you admit that you know very few stu-
dents at Rice, or a majority of the students share your views
on the admission of Negroes to Rice. Would you agree to sub-
mit the issue to a vote of the student body, and if a majority of
the students do not favor the admission of Negroes to Rice,
then you and your entire staff resign?
(2) What method is used for selecting the Editor and
Assistant Editor of the Thresher?
(3) Since your answer to question number three in my
letter of Dec. 9th was rather vague, I will ask the question again
and request a direct answer of "yes" or "no." Would you be
opposed to a Negro student of Rice dating your best girl friend,
sister or other co-eds ?
(4) If Negroes are admitted to Rice (as you are advocat-
ing) all facilities must be made available for them. Would you
be opposed to a Negro being assigned as your roommate in the
dormitories. Please answer "yes" or "no."
(5) Do you think the President and Board of Trustees
capable of determining the policies of Rice Institute, or do
they need advice from the Thresher?
A reply to the above questions will be appreciated.
Yours very truly,
COY W. MILLS
Dooze—dooze everything
lie.
ALLEGRO: ^he Battle of Hymn of the Repub-
The Editor Replies
Mr. Coy W. Mills,
2070 Dryden Road
Houston, Texas
Dear Mr. Mills,
I am sorry that our editorial position dismayed you,' and we, of course,
stand ever ready to hear arguments as to why it should be changed
or amended. Our editorial policy represents what we think is right;
but we offer the Thresher as a forum to discuss any ideas that students
may feel need discussion.
Your letter offer? no refutation of our expressed editorial statements;
instead it offers your personal incredulity. Instead you ask questions
of a personal nature, and there is room for doubt as to whether we are
justified in answering you in this space in the paper. However, out of
due respect for your association with Rice, your obvious interest in affairs
concerning Rice, and your prestige in the city of Houston, I will endeavor
to answer as best as I can the questions pointed at me, personally, in
your letter. The editorial position of the Thresher is further stated in
our editorial columns. a
Question No. 1 (Would you agree to submit the issue to a vote of the
student body, and if a majority of the students do not favor the ad-
mission of Negroes to Rice, then you and your entire staff resign?)
I should personally be delighted to see the question put to a student
vote, provided, of course, that the students were given ample time and
opportunity to hear both sides fairly and dispassionately discussed. • I
don't think it would be too much hope that you, Mr. Mills, would consent
to debate the question bqjfpre a forum at. Rice.
I do not pretend to be able to speak for the whole staff, but personally
I see no reason why I should be expected to resign because my view did
not especially agree with the contemporary majority opinion on the campus,
on any particular issue. It would be impossible ,to represent the majority
opinion on every issue,^or the simple reason that it is not always possible
to ascertain the majority opinion. I feel that it is the job of an editor
(Continued on Page 3) •>
ANNOUNCER: Ladies, are you tired of using
soaps that wall? into the tub, turn on the water
and wash all by themselves: Use DOOZE (strong
emphasis). Dooze (strong emphasis), does nothing
but make suds, and not by itself either. You have
to work with it for utterly minutes. (Softly) In
hard vrater it perishes, in soft water it's flat. It
takes none of the work out of wash day. It gives
you all of the glorious satisfaction of scrubbing your
fingers to the bone. Now again, you can tell your
husband, (strongly) "I've stood all day over a hot
tub!" DOOZE (strong emphasis) is expensive.
Only the most (with emphasis) wealthy families
can afford it, so if you are poor'or average, do
not attempt to buy it. It will break your bank
balance as well as your back. If your clothes are
not dirty, DOOZE (strong emphasis) will make them
that way. It leaves pock marks in your fair skin
and eats holes in your dishes. Remember,women,
use DOOZE (strong emphasis). DOOZE (strong
emphasis) does nothing but make suds.
EVERY DAY LIFE
BARBER SHOP QUARTET: Use that soap!
(repeated 3 times). ANNOUNCER (with ascend-
ing infletion): And now we rejoin "Mother Corey's
Vultures." Our little drama of every day life in an
every day home. You will remember, last time,
Sister Bootsie was making a dress for her prom
date, Papa was out in the backyard digging a hole,
and sweet, old Mother Corey was recuperating from
a double hernia. Frank'and Jean's baby had turned
out to be two-headed and they were discussing the
problem of amputation. Now as we rejoin this
gallant family, Mother Corey is in the kitchen
(strong emphasis) DOOZING her dishes.
(Strains of "Auld Lang Syne.)
(Mother Corey humming an aira from "Tristan
und Isolte.")
(Clatter of dishes)
Enter Sister Bootsie, gasping. (Slam of door,
footsteps, gasps.) SISTER BOOTSIE: Mama"!
Mama! Mama! Eddie can't go to the dance.
MOTHER COREY (compassionately):
down child. Tell me all about it.
SISTER BOOTSIE: Well, mama, you know
how Eddie is always writing things for that nasty
old school paper. Well, mama, last week he showed
up some of those catty old girls, and this morning
he was attacked by fifty nasty old mothers. He is
in the hospital now with three broken ribs and a
mean old concussion. (Sobs).
MOTHER COREY (compassionately): Shush
your chatter child. We got trouble.
SISTER BOOTSIE: What, mama?
SUCCESS IN LIFE
MOTHER COREY (resignedly):' Your father
has been digging arohnd in the backyard for three
days now and at 9:00 he brought in a gusher. It
blew him through the Joneses' house and into the
kitchen where Mrs.. Jones was DOOZING (strong
emphasis) her weekly laundry. She DOOZED (strong
emphasis) Papa and now he is half in and half out of
the wringer, and the police have been pulling on him
for hotirs.
SISTER BOOTSIE (almost plaintively): But
you seem happy, mama.
MOTHER COREY (gaily): The sting of this
DOOZE (strong emphasis) eating my hands takes
my mind off my troubles.
SISTER BOOTSIE (sobbing again): Well,
don't worry ,Mama, dear, everything will turn out
all right.
(Strains of Auld Lang Syne.)
FINALE
ANNOUNCER (strongly): And so we leave our
happy family for another day. And until we* rejoin
them, remember, Use DOOZE (strong emphasis).
Carry a large family size box of DOOZE (strong
emphasis) in your purse wherever you go, to wed-
dings, dances, downtown, shopping and all the many
little activities which make a woman's life a full
and happy one. Because DOOZE (strong emphasis)
does nothing but make suds. DOOZE (strong em-
phasis) will not drive your automobile for you, it
doesn't * chew bubble gum and never talks back.
DOOZE (strong emphasis) does nothing but make
suds. Remember, if you can't afford a small pack-
age of Dooze, we have arranged easy credit terms
at all neighborhood groceries, only $5 down, $3 a
week will keep you constantly supplied with DOOZE
(strong emphasis). Remember, DOOZE (strong
emphasis) does nothing but make suds.
ALLEGRO: Battle Hymn of the Republic.
Script by: Rodgers, Hammerstein, and McGeever.
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The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 27, Ed. 1 Saturday, January 8, 1949, newspaper, January 8, 1949; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth230782/m1/2/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.