THE MICHIGAN DAILY

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THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Mcial Publication of the Summer Session

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secretly by certain interests of England and the
United States.
United States walked upon the stage with vast
deposits of oil within her own country. England
sidled in crab-wise; she had no oil fields except
in her comparatively infertile territories. Then,
with the stage set, the entire plot soon centered
about the question of who was to be greater master
of the world's supply of oil.
England's fir't acquisition of important oil de-
posits came about, briefly, in the following man-
ner. About 20 years before the World War a Cana-
dian engineer by the name of William Knot D'Arcy
obtained permission from the Shah of Persia to

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Published every morning except Monday during the
University year and Summer Session by the Board in
Control of Student Publications.
Member of the Western Conference Editorial Association
a d the Big Ten News Service.
2 soeieted eo601h iat
E 1933 NATN ' -cox 1934
MEM E OF TIEASSOCIATED PRESS
The Asociated Press is exclusively entitled to the use
for republication of 9.ll news dispatches credited to it
or not otherwise credited in this paper and the local
news published herein. All rights of republication of
special dispatches are reserved.
Entered at the Post Office at Ann Arbor, Michigan, as
second class matter. Special rate of postage granted by
Third Assistapnt Postmaster-General.
Subscription during summer by carrier, $1.25; by mail,
$1. iji f uring regular school year by carrier, $3.75; by
B, 44.25.
Offices: Student Publications Building, Maynard Street,
Ann Arbor, Michigan. Phone: 2-1214.
Ippreentatives: College Publications Representatives.
Inc.,. 4O East Thirty-Fourth Street, New York City; 80
B ylton Stret, Boson; $12 North Michigan Avenue,
Ch1cago. " .
EDITORIAL STAFF
Phone 4925
MANAGING EDITOR ................E. JEROME PETTIT
ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR .... BRACKLEY SHAW
WOMEN'S EDITOR .................ELEANOR JOHNSON
ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Charles A. Baird, Clinton B. Con-
gr, Paul J. Elliott, Thomas E. Groehn, Thomas H.
I leene, William R. Reed, Robert S. Ruwitch.
REPO RTE4S: Barbara Bat es, C. I. Beukema, Frances
English, Elsie Pierce, Virginia Scott, Edgar H. Eckert,
BrArd H. Fried.
BUSINESS STAFF
Office Hours: 9-12, 1-5 Phone 2-1214
BUSINESS , NAGER ........BERNARD E. SCHNACKE
A SIT, V;INESS MANAGER ......W. GRAFTON SHARP
CLTJULATION MANAGER ........CLINTON B. CONGER.
Dr. Blakernan -
Religious Counseor.
L AST DECEMBER a grant was re-
ceived from the Earhart Founda-
tion enabling the University to innovate an im-
portant experiment in religious education. The
need for some sort of improvement in the facilities
for religious development, had long been felt, and
the action which was taken has proved extremely
sucessful.
Dr. Edward W. Blakeman, well-known campu
religious figure, was appointed Counselor in Re-
ligiouIs Education and his offices established in
Room 9, University Hall. He has set aside the
hours of 11 to 12 a.m., and 3 to 5 p.m. daily for
intimate and beneficial conferences with students
in an attempt to help solve any religious problems
which they may be confronted with.
The duties of this office come under four
mein heads:
(1) The University seeks to understand the
problems of religion and to improve facilities for
religious development of students.
(2) Dr. Blakeman is available to the students as
a counselor in the religious field. To this end he
does much personal interview work. This is per-
haps the most important purpose of all.
(3) This counselor also functions as a contact.
officer between religious bodies and the Uni-
versity. He serves as advisor to the University
in all matters having to do with the relation of
religious organizations to the University.
(4) Dr. Blakeman is trying to correlate the ef-
forts of campus ministers and thus bring religious
agencies and the University closer together in the
educational field.
This is the first time in the history of the
Summer Session that such an opportunity has
been available. The success of the experiment
depends entirely upon how the students react to,
and make use of, it. We wish to urge all members
of the University to make the acquaintance of
Dr. Blakeman as soon as possible. Even if you don't
feel that you have problems to be solved, the
contact, we promise, will prove helpful and inter-
esting.
The Drama Of
Lquid Gold...
THE STORY of liquid gold is essen-
tially one of intrigue - call it ro-
mance only if fierce competition, hate, plunder,
thievery, cleverness, ruthlessness, and despoil are
the elements of romance. It is a story of Macha-

velians, but not of heroes. It is a story without
a happy ending - because it has had no ending,
and dare not have one.
The story takes place in the United States, in
Persia, Mexico, Russia, Argentine, Venezuela, Spain
- in any of those countries which have sporadic
beds of oil.
"John D. Rockefeller, president of Standard
Oil and leader of the North American oil interests;
Sir Henry Deterding. Dutch director general of
Royal Dutch and leading organizer of the English
petroleum interests, Marcus Samuel, later Vis-
count Bearsted, founder of Shell and organizer
With Deterding of the same interests; Harry Sin-
clair who was ruined- three times and each time
became a millionaire again"-these four men,
says an article translated in Living Age from a
Vjadrid newspaper, are the dings of Midas of liquid
gold, the chief characters of a mirthless drama.
Take the word of the Spanish newspaper that
these four characters, each working toward his own
end and in his own gigantic and international
setting, furnish such fast, though secret, action
that for excitement "one does not have to seek

visit that country and search for rumored oil de-t
posits. At .last he found oil gushing north of thec
Persian gulf, and received a permit from the Shahr
for himself, friends, and descendants to bore andt
extract petroleum from Persian soil for 77 years.
But, curiously, this engineer had come to love
this country of his search, and decided that hei
would have no English exploiters sinking theirc
shafts in that land. He refused an English offer3
of six million pounds for the document, and finally1
decided to destroy it. Soon, however, an Englishi
"clergyman" persuaded him to turn the document
over to him as a step toward getting Christian
missionaries into Persia. The document soon came
into the hands of the British admiralty. The
"clergyman" was a special English agent.
During the war the oil fields of Persia came to
be shared with Russia, through the efforts of a
Soviet secret service man.
Oil agents do not customarily twirl the tips of
long black mustachios with a practised finger,
nor do they leer and hiss at cowering victims -
but their more subtle indications of villainy put
to shame the most black-hearted scoundrel of the
nineteenth century melodrama. In Mexico it is no
uncommon thing for the peon to find an oil com-
pany, backed by governmental intrigue, descend
upon his little ranch or farm and evict him forcibly.
True, he is paid for his land - but in no fair
proportion. He becomes a man without a home,
ready to,join roving bands. It has been said of the
situation that "since the English came to Mexico
there has been nothing but revolutions."
In the South American oil fields no different
situation exists. Venezuela, one of the richest oil
countries in the world, is said to be a "colony con-
trolled by Deterding and Juan Vincente Gomez
whom the oil magnate placed in power." And
Gomez, to maintain his power, has developed,a
gigantic spy system which extends throughout the
country, maintains listening posts in the larger
hotels, rules by instilling fear in the hearts of docile
natives - "a multitude of people in Venezuela ha' e
lost their ears by having tourniquets applied to
the backs of their heads." Deterding needs roads
to transport oil; Gomez finds it no difficult task
to provide prisoners to build the roads. Natives
are enslaved; the harvest of the labor is reaped
by foreignes.. }
It is impossible to give more than a glimpse of
"The Drama of Liquid Gold." But it is important
to get this one glimpse. Just where the demand
for oil in a mechanized age may lead is seldom
seen by the average person. Oil is seldom thought
to be one of the most possible factors of war.
Living Age says :
"Spengler and the Fascists talk of a struggle
between the white and colored races, between
Occidental and Orient. This coincides with the
obvious fact that as oil deposits become exhausted
the powers will try to conquer areas where de-
posits are known to exist -in Asia. Russia blocks
the way. She herself needs oil for her machines,
which are becoming more numerous every day,
and is watching the moves of England. The United
States is trying to increase its fleet and become
queen of the seas. The Standard Oil is trying to
drive down the dollar in order to sell at lower
prices, and Deterding is answering by trying to
devaluate the Dutch guilder. The present ,struggle
for markets depends largely upon transportation,
tankers, and pipe lines. The struggle to come
may be called a war of races, classes, or some other
name. But it will be fought over oil. And oil will
reign like King Macbeth."
The Theatre
THE CHARACTER'S
THlE THING
By POWERS MOULTON
Next week's production of "Grumpy," under the
direction of Francis Compton, should easily be
the highest point reached so far in a fine season
of plays.
Mr. Compton will be shown in one of the most
lovable and amusing parts the stage has to offer,
a role so big that the remainder of the play seems
of no importance, and as traditional as lemonade
at the circus or snow at Christmas.
One of the delightful happenstances of the the-
atre is the character who lifts the actor out of his
proper place as part of a play and throws him into

a tremendous highlight. Grumpy, that rascally old
curmudgeon, is the worst of them. Certainly it isn't
artistic; the playwright muit groan audibly when
he finds one of these too-important people elbow-
ing into his play. Or maybe he is secretly pleased.
Here is a real living, breathing, talking, gesticulat-
ing person finding his way into the script, de-
manding more and more attention. So to hell with
unity; the character, not the play, is the thing.
That is what Grumpy has done; the rest of the
play is of slight importance. There are supporting
characters of some worth and a sufficiently strong
plot, but you won't notice them. Grumpy is every-
thing. In looking for his equal, the only character
we can recall is his fellow Englishman, fellow
schemer, and fellow rascal, Disraeli. "Grumpy" did
for Cyril Maude what Dizzy did for George Arliss;
it finished him. No matter what else he did, no
matter how good it was, people always wished it
was "Grumpy."
Because of the importance of the leading char-
acter and the traditions that have arisen around
it, Frances Compton has undertaken a truly diffi-

dfficially the pronouncement that he is, as we
see it, the ideal critic's-actor. We have liked his
brilliant high-comedy manner in Coward and
Shaw, his stirring creation of the part of the
father in "The Brontes," and his thoughtful and
thoroughly authentic Shakespeare. He appeals to
the student of the drama because he is above
mere exhibitionism. He is interested in the play
as a whole, beyond his own performance, and is
willing to change himself completely to play a
part, rather than thrusting his own personality
into it, as almost all modern actprs do.
Thus we have a modest classical actor in an
outrageously romantic role; but the result should
be agreeable. Mr. Compton, as a splendid techni-
cian, will be able to portray a crochety man of 80;
moreover, as a personality, he will make the por-
trayal warm and living.
The Repertory Players are decidedly to be con-
gratulated on securing Mr. Compton as guest di-
rector. He knows more about the sheer technique
of acting, that is, of pretending to be someone that
you are not, than almost any actor we have seen.
He is of the Old School. Would that there were
more.
Screen Re'flections
Four stars means extraordinary; three stars very
good; two stars good; one star just another picture;
no stars keep away from it.

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AT THE MAJESTIC
"THE MERRY FRINKS"-

DAILY OFFICIAL BULLETIN
Publicatiorn in the Pulictin is cnstructve notice to all members of the
Univerity. Copy recei'ed at the ununer Session 0111cc until 3:30; 11:30
Saturday.

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"The Merry Frinks," paradoxical as it may1

sound, is one of the saddest shows we've seen
in a long time. Maybe we have a perverted sense
of humor. Maybe we don't know what we're talking
about -- but we'll stick to our guns. It's quite de-
pressing.
Not that the producers had any such purpose
in mind when they put this show on the screen.
They attempted, evidently, to make it the laugh
riot of the year. Sure, a little pathos, perhaps,
to heighten the comic effect - but not the sort
to be taken seriously. And there's where they
erred - or we did. The recipe didn't call for such
a large dose. They slipped a bit - not a lot,
mind you - just enough to almost spoil the in-
tended effect.
If you come from a normal family, you've no
doubt been introduced to the grand art of squab-
bling. The petty quarrels, the minor tragedies-
they're all part of family life. They irk you per-
haps, when they go too far, but you don't really
mind them. You accept them philosophically.
But the Frinks! Imagine a family in which the
father is an acute alcoholic, the grandmother a
nagging sobber, the young son criminally inclined,
the older one the worst type of Red, the daughter
a silly idiot, and the uncle a confirmed liar.
Imagine them living in the same house. All of
them spoiled, wrapped up in their petty selfish-
nesses. And think what a time a peace-loving
mother would have thereabouts.
Mom Frink tries her best to keep things in
order, but they go from bad to worse. She humors
them all, works in a canning factory to keep them
in food, slaves, sacrifices - but to no end. It's a
thankless task. They take her for granted. They
come whining to her with their make-believe
troubles. She pampers them.
Finally she gets fed up. She leaves them. They
go all to pot. So she comes back. That's the
story. Isn't it killing?
But we're not doing justice to it, I'm afraid.
Hugh Herbert as the drunken husband can't help
being amusing. Guy Kibbee as Uncle Newt does
credit to the part with a great bit of acting. Allen
Jenkins makes a convincing radical, and the rest
of the cast isn't bad.
But Aline MacMahon as Mom Frink really steals
the show. We'll give the girl a lot of credit. She's
not a "type" actress - just show her a script and
she'll do the part to order. We've seen her play
every kind of part imaginable - and play it well.
In "The Merry Frinks" she reaches a new peak.
The part calls for the subtlest comedy talent -
and she gives it just the right touch to make it
convincing.
The "shorts" are awful.
-C.A.B.
THE MICHIGAN TODAY
"THE THIN MAN"
If this show isn't good, after all the nice things
we've heard about it, we're going to be awfully
disappointed. William Powell, Myrna Loy and "The
Thin Man" spell excellent entertainment to us.
Our hopes are up.
Of course, aside from our liking of Mr. Powell
and Miss Loy (only recently have we cultivated
a taste for her), we have other reasons for antici-
pating its showing here. Alexander Wolcott called
it "The best detective story yet written in Amer-
ica," and Sinclair Lewis stated: "Dashiell Ham-
mett (the author) is undoubtedly the best of
American detective story writers and his last novel
is certainly the most breathless of all his stories."
We don't know how much Messrs. Wolcott and
Lewis were paid to make such complimentary
statements, and being an S. S. Van Dine fan we
don't quite agree with Mr. Lewis, but very seldom
do two such illustrious citizens go around mouth-
ing much praise over second-rate articles.
"The Thin Man" tells the story of Nick Charles,
ex-detective, and of the three murders which in-
volved him with the eccentric Wynant family - a
half-mad father, a lying lecherous mother, a be-
wildered daughter and a neurotic son.
Powell plays the role of the detective who is
dragged into the triple-murder investigation
against his will.
Miss Loy, in the co-starring role, appears as his
wife, Nora. Maureen O'Sullivan portrays "The Thin
Man's daughter and supplies a romance with
Henry Wadsworth, a new MGM player. Nat Pen-
dleton varies from his usual gangster and dumb
underworld character roles to play the part of a
detective lieutenant.

The remainder of the cast includes Minna Gom-

Stalker Hall (formerly Wesley Hall)
today at 6:30 p.m.: Dr. Stuart A.
Courtis of the School of Education
will be the first speaker in a series
of seven meetings on the theme "The
Function of Religion in An Age of
Power." He will view it as seen by an
Educational Leader. A forum will
be held after the address. Light re-
freshments and a brief fellowship
period will precede the meeting. All
welcome.
Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.: Outing
and picnic supper.
Saturday, July 7: Saline Valley
Farm, a new co-operative venture.
First Methodist Church: Today
at 10:45, Dr. Frederick B. Fisher will
preach on "Mysteries to be Explored,"
the first of a series of four sermons
on "The Challenge of Modern Life,"
at the First Methodist Episcopal
church, State and Washington streets.
Unitarian Church: 10:45 a.m. Rev.
Walton E.. Cole, of Toledo, will §peak
on "After Religion, What?" A chal-
lenging reply to Hinton's article in
Harper's Magazine.
Episcopal Student Group: During
the summer months there will be
regular Sunday evening meetings at"
7 o'clock. This Sunday evening the
group will meet in the lobby of the
League, from which point an outdoor
meeting will be arranged. All stu-
dents interested are cordially invited
to come to these informal group
meetings.
Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church:
Services of worship Sunday are: 8:00
a.m. Holy Communion, 11:00 a.m.
Kindergarten, 11:00 a.m. Holy Com-
munion and Sermon by the Reverend
Henry Lewis.
Student Classes on Sunday morning
at 9:30 at the Church House, 1432
Washtenaw Ave.
Morning Worship Service at the
Church, corner Huron and Division.
Norman E. Richardson from McCor-
mick Seminary, Chicago, will talk
on: "Liberty a Condition of Life."
Student Vesper Service and picnic
supper on the lawn of the Church
House at 5:30 p.m. Professor Howard
McClusky will talk on "The Paralysis
of Neutrality."
First Baptist Church: 512 East
Huron. Rev. R. Edward Sayles, min-
ister, will speak at 10:45 on the topic
"The Increasing Challenge of Jesus.'
The Roger Williams Guild (Baptist
student organization) will meet in the
Church parlors at 7:00 p.m. Rev
Howard R. Chapman, Guild Director
will speak and lead the discussion.
'Congregational Church: Dr. Her-
man Swartz, President of the Pacific

School of Religion, Berkeley, Calif.,
will be the guest speaker at the Con-
gregational Church Sunday morning
at the service which begins at 10:45.
He will be introduced by Dr. Edward
W. Blakeman, Religious Counsellor of
the University.
Men's Education Club Golf Match:
The first match will be held Tuesday,
July 3, 4:00 p.m., University Golf
Course, because of the holiday on

July 4. Beginning the following week
matches will be held every Wednes-
day afternoon.
Men's Education Club: Monday
evening at 7:30 p.m. Dr. Preston W.
Slosson will speak on "Hitler's Situa-
tion in Germany" at the Michigan
Union.
Michigan Dames: There will be a
Garden Tea to welcome new-comers
on Monday afternoon from 3:00 to
5:00 p.m. in the League Garden.
Please come and do your share in
creating a friendly atmosphere.
(ContInued on Page 3)

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COOL MATiNEES' . . .II N . . .COOLMATNNEES
Dashiell Hammett's Great Mystery Play
"THE".THIN MAN!"
with WILLIAM POWELL and MYRNA LOY
Alexander Wolcott's favorite story made into a splendid
mixture of laughs and thrills - you'll think it joyous.
...........MAJESTIC...........
NOW THE MADDEST PICTURE EVER MADE
"The Mevrry Frinks"
ALINE MAC MAHON GUY KBBEE
HUGH HERBERT ALLEN J ENKINS
Matinees 15c . . . . . W.U ERTH.... .Nights 25c
Norma Sea-rer . "RIP

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- Enjoy Sunday Dinner
At T-his Modern Cafe-
teria Where The Food
Is Extra, Good And The
Price, Very Reasonable

Sunday Hours:

12 00 to 2-00 - 5;15 to 7:30

T'H E

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TAVERN
CLEAN LI NESS

Terrace Garden
Dancing Studio
Instructions I n a 11
forms. Classical, social,
dancing. Ph'. 9695.
uu: i Wuerth Theatre Bldg.

CAF ET E R-IA
338 maynard street fingerle operated

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