davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
ZOO AGED MEN
ASK FOR PENSION
AS OFFICE OPENS
Newly Created Welfare
Commission Receives
Numerous Applications
WILL STUDY THE LIST
Miss Helen Messersmith
Named AS Supervising
Investigator Of Body

Any doubts which the sceptical
may have entertained about the vol
ume of work in this state for the
newly created State Old Age We'll
fare Commission, were cleared away
at the first meeting of the Organiza-
ton on Monday, when it was reveal
ed that 200 applications for Old
Age Pensions have been received.
These are in addition to the 400
or 1900 names already on the old
age pension list of Alfred l. dupont
The combined list will be careful
ly studied by a staff of four investi-
gators, under the direction of Miss
Helen o. MesseTsmith, of 803 Wash
ingtOn street, Wilmington, who has
been connected with the Associated
Charities for some time. Miss Mes
sersmith was elected as supervising
investigator on Monday.
She is on leave of absence from
the Associated Charities and was
selected for the new work because
of her special qualifications and
services with the charities.
The pension system of Mr.. DUPONT
will go out of effect June 30 and
the work of the commission, ap-
pointed by Governor Buck, will
start July 1. 1t has 100000 a year
to work with during the next two
years.
The staff of investigators will be
appointed soon. The commission
discussed routine matters on Mon
day and within two weeks, applica-
Turn TO Page 6, PlrdScl
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
APPROVE MORE
SCHOOL ROOMS
FOR MILFORD
State Board Of Education
Passes Upon Building
Projects At Meeting
ROOM BADLY NEEDED

At an adjourned meeting at Dover
last Thursday of the State Board of
Education from Monday further dis
cussion was had over the school
building program project as author
ized for the next two years.
While it is difficult to allocate just
the exact amount to the several
school projects contemplated, the
State Board in scanning the list Sc
lected the following schools for i'm
provements, additions or new buill-
ings during the next school year:
New Castle County-Alexis 1. du
POnt School; Hockessin. YOrklyn.
Newark, Townsend and Blackbird if
consolidation takes place; Delaware
City, Stanton and possibly Richard
son Park.
Kent County-DOver High School,
six room addition to Milford High
School building.
Sussex county-Milton, MillsborO,
Selbyville.
If Frankford and DagsbOrO can
agree on a site. it is possible that
new school will be erected in one of
the two places Lewes- may. also. re-,
ceive some consideration for an adj
dition.
The Milford High School building
which was occupied last September
for the first time, is badly over
crowded. The six-room addition will
relieve the situation for a time. 1t
will be only question of a short
time before it will be necessary to
erect twenty-rOom primary school
in Milford.
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
MAN KILLED rs
TRUCKS Crash
1T CROSSING
Frederick Slater, Of Wilmington, But Formerly OF
Milford, Meets Instant Death In Early Morning
Accident Near Wilmington. Versions OF Crash
Differ As Milford OIOned Vehicle Is Wrecked.
Dead Man Is SmUiUed By 4 Widow And TUO Small
Children. He Was Well KnOUn In This Section OF
The State, Having Moved To Wilmington Since
The First Of Year. Served In National Guard

Frederick Slater, aged 81 years,
was instantly killed early Tuesday
morning, when the truck which he
was driving was wrecked at the out
skirts of Wilmington. The accident
happened shortly before 5 o'clock,
standard time, and was the result
of collision with another truck,
owned by the Huber Baking Com
pany, and a freight train which was
crossing the State Highway at the
southern entrance to Wilmington.
Reports of the accident do not seem
to agree as to the exact cause. The
first version received in Milford was
to the effect that the truck driven by
Slater, which was owned by Fred
erick Higman, of Milford, had been
brought to a stop to allow the
freight train to cross the highway.
The second truck was said to have
crashed into the rear of the Hig-
man truck, forcing it onto the rail
road track with the result that it
was wrecked and Slater killed. The
Wilmington Every Evening on Tues
day, however, stated that the Huber
truck was standing on the highway
and that the Higman truck had run
into it. The truck owned by the
baking company was driven by John
J. Jester, of Wilmington, who was
injured in the accident. Almost i'm
after the crash the Hig-
man truck caught fire, and it was
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
Greenwood Won
Track, Field Meet
SUSSEX Meet For Third Consecutive Year. George
tOWn Schools Take Second Place; Laurel Third

Greenwood, for the third time i'm
as many years, carried off high hon
ors in the Eleventh Annual Sussex
County Track and Field meet held at
Harrington last week. Greenwood
compiled a total of 107 points.
Georgetown finished second with a
total of 84 points, while Laurel was
third with 781a points. About 5000
spectators attended the meet.
The badge tests were held in the
morning, with Robert Shilling in
charge of the boys, numbering 400,
and Albert Early in charge of the
girls, who numbered $40.
The summary:
50-yard dash, S0-pOund bOys-WOn
by Elbert, Delmar; second, Lock-
man, Delmar; third, Hession,
Greenwood. Time, 21O.
5O-yard dash, 80-pound girls
Won by Wraten, Greenwood; sec
ond, Phillips, Laurel; third, Dick
inson, Bridgeville. Time, $40.
5O-yard wash, 9O-pound boys-WOn
by Webb, Greenwood; second, Will
liams, Greenwood; third, Ellis, Del
mar. Time, 1-10.
5O-yard dash, 95-pound girls-WOn
by Smith, Milton; second, Dawson,
Georgetown; third, Powell, Green
wood. Time, 7-2-10.
4OO-yard relay, 8O-pound boys
Won by Laurel &c. Elliott, Lock-
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
JUDGE RICHARDS
NAMES OFFICIALS
IN SUSSEX COUNTY
Selected Under Terms Of
New School Law They Are
To Serve Four Years
BEGIN DUTIES JULY 1

Sussex county is the first county
in Delaware in which school COM
missiOners, appointed by the resi-
dent Judge for four year terms. be-
ginning July l, under the provisions
of law enacted at the recent ses-
sion of the Legislature have been
named.
The list was completed Tuesday
by Charles S. Richards, resident
Judge, and forwarded to Dr.. ii. v.
Holloway, State Superintendent of
Public instruction, special and col
ored school districts being included.
The appointments will abolish
school elections and those who are
already in Office will be replaced at
the expiration of their terms.
The terms of the following, the
district number and name of each
being also given, will expire June
80, 1885:
Cedar Neck, Horace 9. Potter,
Milford.
S-Lincoln. Harry G. Southland,
Lincoln.
5-Prime Hook Neck, Percy D.
Stevenson, Milford
Broadkiln, Raymond NJ. Lank,
Milton.
8-Milton. Joseph L. Black. Mil
ton.
1O-White's Chapel, Robert H.
White, Lewes.
16-YellOw Hill, Lawrence H.
Knapp. Lewes.
[THrn to Page 8, PleaseI
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
POULTRY
SHOW WILL Be
HELDM MILFORD
State Poultry Association
Decides To Stage Annual
Affair Here
BETTER THAN EYER

y Over twenty commercial poultry
men and Representatives of the Uni
versity of Delaware and of the State
Board of Agriculture attended the
joint meeting of the executive COM
mittee of the Delaware State Poultry
Association, the Record of Perform
ance Association and the Official
Breeders and Hatchers' Association
which was held at the home of
Charles Grove, near Milford on the
evening of April 20, for the purpose
of considering some matters of i'm
portance to the poultry industry of
our section of the country.
One of the chief items of business
that was discussed at this meeting,
which was presided over by Senator
w. V. Steen, included the selection
of the place for the next State poul-
Turn TO Page 8, Plcasel
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08

man, Middletong and II. ElliOtU ;
second, Greenwood; third, Bridge
vile. Time, l 4-10.
44O-yard relay, 95-pound boys
Won by Greenwood (Webb, Williams,
Banning and Hill; second, Delmar.
Time, IA.
22O-yard relay, 8O-pound girls
Won by Bridgeville Dickinson,
Corey, Short and ROe); second,
Greenwood; third, Laurel. Time,
80.
22O-yard relay, 95-pound goys-
Won by Greenwood q. Powell, N.
Powell, Dickinson and Smith, sec
ond, Georgetown; third, Laurel.
Time, .93 4-1O.
44O-yard relay, 110-pound boys
Won by Georgetown (Fleetman,
O'Brien, Landen and Jones; second,
Greenwood; third, Laurel. Time,
55 40
5O-yard dash. 11O-pound boys
Won by w. O'Brien. Georgetown;
second, Wiley, Greenwood; third,
Landen, Georgetown. Time, 6 $40.
Standing broad jump, SO-pound
boys-Won by Isaacs, Greenwood;
second, Montague, Georgetown;
third, Southard, Lewes. Distance, Z
feet, 2 inches.
Standing broad jump, SO-pound
by Dickinson, Bridge
Turn to Page 6, Please
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
NEXT TUESDAY IS
HOSPITAL DAY
Donations viii Be Received AT Mil.
ford Hospitals AZ That Time.

Next Tuesday, May 12, is National
Hospital Day, This means that you
are to have the opportunity of car
rying some gift to the hospital.
Fruit, vegetables, linens, any canned
goods or. money.
Do not let the day pass without
doing your bit toward helping Mil
ford's two wonderful institutions in
their work for humanity. Just at
present the Milford Emergency Hos
pital is in state, of renovation. It
is being painted inside and out; new
private rooms are being added;
very modern and up-to-date delivery
room is being furnished, and new
electric signal system is to be in
stalled. These things are absolute
ly necessary for the comfort of the
patients and it takes money with
which to do it. How much are you
going to help?
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
SOUTH MAY BOLT,
METHODIST DIR US
WARN DEMOCRATS
Prohibition Board In New
Attack Upon RaskOb Plan
For Local Option
TABLES TELL STORY
Delaware Among Border
States Showing Consist
ent Republican Gains
TABLES TELL STORY

A warning for the Democratic
Party" as to dire effects if it adopts
the home rule" prohibition plan OF
John J. Raskob, its national chair
man, was issued this week by the
Methodist Board of Temperance,
Prohibition and Public Morals.
The fresh attack on Chairman
Raskob's prohibition views was is
sued in the weekly "Clip Sheet" of
the board, which is maintained by
the Northern Methodist Episcopal
Church. It's warning to the Demo-
Gratis was based on its analysis of
Alfred E. Smiths campaign results
in the South and southern Border
States, which have 141 votes in the
Electoral College.
"Mr. RaskOb's insistence upon the
writing of the so-called home rule
plan into the platform of the Demo-
cratic Party might well be consider
ed in the light of few facts con-
cerning the Democratic South's
stand on the dry question" the
board said.
"In the 1928 campaign, the South
clearly expressed itself. In five
Southern States, Florida, North Car
Olina. Tennessee, Texas and Virginia
having 81 electoral votes, which had
all been given to the Democratic
candidate since 1896 with the ex-
ceptio nof Tennessee in 1920 the
Democratic Party suffered terrific
losses in the popular vote as we'll as
the loss of the entire electoral vote.
'In each of eight Southern and
Border States, having 70 electoral
votes, the Democratic Party suffered
the greatest scaling-down in this
century. In each State there was
marked loss in the percentage of the
popular vote.
The Southern and Border States
have always been large contributors
to the Democratic vote of the nation.
In 1924 this group contributed 3O.8
per cent of the total Democratic
vote; yet in 1928. with a wet candi-
Turn 10 Page 6, PieaScl,
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
NEW OFFICES FOR
KENT co. W. C. 7. U.
Mrs. Elizabeth Bringhurst OF FELTON,
Reelected President OF Organization

Mrs. Elizabeth Bringhurst, of Eel
ton, was reelected president of the
Kent County w. c. T. IT,, at the re-
cent fOrtieth annual convention held
in CheswOld.
Other officers elected are: Mrs.
Bessie Brown, of Rising Sun. vice
president; Mrs. Ella d. COrdray, of
Harrington, corresponding secre-
tary; Mrs. Josephine NJ Hutchens,
Wyoming. recording secretary; Mrs.
Sallie Spencer, Rising Sun, treasur-
er.
w. Elmer Benson gave a talk on
citizenship and legislature. Another
speaker was Mrs. A. w. Karnell, of
Philadelphia, who at both the after
noon and night sessions urged the
members to greater activity, stress
ing the fact that each one was per-
sonally responsible for the future
welfare of the nation.
Mrs. Bringhurst presided.
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
DELAWARE MUSIC
CLUBS GIVE RECITAL
JuniRr Division Will EnteEtaiB, On.
Sunday-MilfOrd Boys 10 Take Part

National Music Week will be
brought to a close when the Della
ware Federation of Music Clubs,
junior division, will give it's initial
Music Festival, Sunday, May 10, at
the Wilmington high school. Jun
ior clubs representing various parts
of the state will contribute to the
program. Those from Milford who
will play are Charles Breme and
John Hudson, appearing i'm a clari-
net duet. They are pupils of Arthur
Hudson.
The Delaware Federation, while
recently organized, is being recOg-
nized by the outstanding musicians
of the state. 1t has for its first
president Mrs. Glenn Gildersleeve,
Dover, a very efficient and capable
leader, who has demonstrated her
ability i'm club work many times.
Mrs. Gildersleeve formerly had
studies for piano and voice in New
York City and has done considerable
work in the public schools, coming
to Delaware from Columbia Univer-
sity. The junior division is under
the direction of Mrs. Florence Hast
ings, Wilmington, State Junior
Counselor, a pioneer worker in jun
Turn to Page 6, Pledsel
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08

impossible to remove Slater's body.
A Wilmington fire company was
summoned, but by the time the fire.
men arrived the flames were raging
so fiercely that the mans body
could be reached only by the use of
ceiling hooks. The body was drag
ged from the blazing cab and taken
in the police ambulance to the Del
aware Hospital, where it was pro-
nounced dead. 1t was later taken
to the morgue.
A few minutes after Slater's body
was removed from the scene, the re-
port spread that another body was
in the truck. and the firemen, ex-
tinguished the flames, removed the
trucks cargo of nursery stock, gro
ceries, sides of beef and butter. No
other person was with Slater, how
ever.
Walter Gonce, of New Castle, in
charge of the gates, said that it was
quite foggy at the time of the acci-
dent, but was just about dawn. He
said that he could easily see the
train approaching from a distance
by the lights. The locomotives
was blown several times, he
said.
Following the accident the baking
truck and the truck driven
by Slater were removed by the
crane of the railroad COM
Turn 10 Page 3. PieGSel
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
LAWYER DESCRIBES
DAYS OF SALOON
Horace G. EaStburn Declares Work.
men Could Not Escape Influence

Horace G. Eastburn, who served
for number of years as counsel for
the Law and Order Society, speaking
last Friday at the meeting of the
Wilmington Fact Finding and Law
Supporting Committee, said the
statement that people drink today
because of the Eighteenth Amend
ment being in effect, is illogical and
absurd and hardly needs answering.
Mr.. Eastburn was introduced by
Miss Alice P Smyth. Miss Smyth
said that as one who has been ac-
lively associated with social service
agencies, that she could see no facts
confronting the people today that
are comparable to the letialized LID
uor days.
Mr. Eastburn said he was glad of
the opportunity to give a deserved
boost to Frank E. Haley, for many
years the special agent of the Law
and Order Society. He said Mr..
Haley's work prior to the adoption
of the Eighteenth Amendment was
tremendous uphill fight. He said it
was dOubly difficult because so many
of the city's good citizens were in
different to the devastating evils of
the liquor traffic. Many of these, he
said, are now the most outspOken in
their condemnation of conditions
under prohibition.
Mr. Eastburn told of conditions
which existed along Front street in
Wilmington and in the vicinity of
various manufacturing establish
ments He declared that conditions
in this section were deplorable, that
men were met by solicitors on pay
day and enticed into saloons and in
Turn to Page 6, PieaSel
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
DISPLAY PICTURES
OF MILFORD MOTHERS
Three Windows At Pierce Hardware
Store Honor "MOther"

The Pierce Hardware Company
has taken a unique and appropriate
method of presenting to Milford res
idents the fact that next Sunday is
Mothers Day." The management
of the store has secured pictures of
a large number of mothers of Mil
ford older living generation. Since
they were put on display on We'd
nesday hundreds of residents have
stopped to view the pictures and to-
recall many friends who have de-
parted this life years ago. The win
dows are probably creating more
attention and favorable comment
than any window display shown in
Milford in recent years.
From the homes of forty citizens
a portrait, or an old ivory type has
been borrowed, which is now hal
Turn to Page 6, Pleasel
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
GOVERNOR SIGNS
MORE LEGISLATION
Approves Measure For The Chair
OF Physical Education

Governor Buck has approved the
following additional bills passed by
the recent Delaware Legislature:
Senate Bill 35 - Appropriating
S150000 to the State College for
Colored Students north of Dover for
erection of necessary buildings. The
original bill asked $3G0,O0O. An
amendment cut it down to 100000
and the last amendment made it
$150,000.
Senate Bill Embarrassing the
salaries of two county probation Of
ficers of New Castle county from
800 to $4,000 a year.
Turn TO Page 6, Piedsel
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
EIGHTEEN
HASTINGS TO ADDRESS
PITTSBURGH WOMEN

Senator Daniel o. Hastings.
of Delaware, is scheduled to
address a gathering of 500 Re-
publican women of Pennsyl-
vania at a luncheon meeting
in the William Penn Hotel,
Pittsburgh, today.
Senator Hastings had an
other engagement for that
date but Senator Reed of
Pennsylvania so urgently in
sisted that he present the Re-
publican view of national af-
fairs to Pennsylvania women
that he cancelled the con-
flicting engagement.
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
CHINESE IN LEGAL
BATTLE AT MILFORD
Justice Thaw Reserves Decision In
Case Where Interpreters We're Used

Magistrate H. B. Thaw, of Milford,
had a problem in Chinese when Joe
Chung, of Milford, was evolved in
a law suit before the Justice with
Harry Sang, of Dover. The case en-
volved the question of a debt.
Both were quoted in evidence by
interpreters, each Chinaman having
his own interpreter. During the evil
dence transmitted to Justice Thaw
by the interpreters one of the trans
latOrs accused the other of not quot
ing correctly. There followed a ver-
bal battle in Chinese and the Justice
did not know what it was all about
The account in question was all
kept in Chinese script but the JUS
tice would not admit it as evidence,
as he could not read it. Joe Chung
secured the services of James M.
Tunnel, attorney of Georgetown and
Sang retained J. L. WOlcott and
Howard Lynch.
Justice Thaw reserved decision.
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
Is Value
Of Delaware Farms

The value of farm property includ-
ing land and buildings, farm imple-
ments and machinery, domestic ami
mails, chickens and bees was $685.
271,797 in 1880, compared with $780,
1854 in 1920, according to report
issued recently by the Bureau of the
Census in Washington.
On April 1, 1880, there were in the
State $3.50 farms operated by farm
ers who owned all or a part of the
land in the farms, which they OPP
Grated; of these $40 were free
from mortgage debt on land and
buildings, 2,407 were mortgaged, and
for 1888 the report did not state whe-
ther or not there was a mortgage
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08

debt. The farms operated by farm
ers who owned all of the land in the
farms which they operated number
ed 5,S16; of which 2,199 were re-
ported as mortgaged and the amount
of the mortgage was reported. These
farms comprised 1884 acres, with
value in land and buildings of
$14.137099, and mortgage indebted
ness of $5.617,231 or 1877 per cent
of their value. The corresponding
figure in 1925 was 43.S per cent, in
1920 it was 800 and in 1910 it was
34.9. The amounts of mortgage debt
at former censuses, on farms oper-
ated by farmers who owned all the
Turn to Page 6, PleaSel
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
OUT AS WARDEN,
NAMED TO NEW JOB

Alonzo Jones. who was
dropped last week as super
visor of State game wardens,
by the Game and Fish CONF
mission, was appointed sealer
of weights and measures for
Kent county by Governor
Buck.
The office of sealer of
weights and measures for
Kent county was created by
act of the recent Legislature.
The Office pays $1,000 a year.
A similar office for Sussex
county was created, but no
appointment to it has been
made.
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
TO CONSOLIDATE
MORE SCHOOLS
Milford And Slaughter Neck Dis
tricts Vote 10 Consolidate

Beginning with the fall term of
school next September the Slaugh-
ter Neck school will be abandoned
and the children brought to Milford
for their education. This action was
assured when the voters of both dis
tricts voted to consolidate at a spe-
cial election last Friday. Only nine
votes were cast in Milford, all of
which were favorable to consolida-
tion. In Slaughter Neck, however,
Turn to Page 6. Pieasel
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
WEEKLY WEATHER
REPORT FOR MILFORD
From Wednesday, April 20, To Tues.
day, May 5, Inclusive

Charles J. Holzmueller, local wea-
ther recorder, reports the following
weather conditions in Milford from
Wednesday. April 20, to Tuesday,
May 5, inclusive:
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
SUSSEX TAX RATE
80 CENTS ON S1OO
Figure Is The Same Levied BY
County Levy Court Last Year

The Levy Court Commissioners of
Sussex County have levied a tax
rate of 80 cents on the $100 of asses
sed valuation in order to meet the
running expenses of the county for
the fiscal year. Tax collections will
start June /, but if tax is not paid
before September 1, penalty will
be added. The apportionment of the
money to be raised by taxation will
be distributed to the different funds
at a meeting of the Commissioners
this week.
The rate levied is the same as last
year.
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
Temperature Rain

Total rainfall .... "a
The following winds and condi-
tions prevailed during the same
period:
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
TAX DEP PARTMENT
MAKING REFUNDS
OF INCOME TAXES
Checks For $1O1,17O.42 Is
Sent Out By The Tax
Commissioner
WILL CREDIT SOME

The task of mailing out checks
amounting to $1O1,17O.42 to 12,103
persons in Delaware, representing
refunds of State income tax, pro-
vided for under the so per cent re-
fund law, signed last week by Gov
ernorBuck, was begun May l by
State Income Tax Commissioner
Pierre S. DUPONT, Those who are
paying in installments will receive
credit.
The total amount of reduction re-
sulting from the enactment of the
law is $6O8,S9S.59, representing so
per cent of the taxes due from A.,
691 persons. In addition to the
amount of the cash refund, credit
of $507 ,728.17 will be applied to ac-
counts of those persons who are
making payments of their tax on the
installment basis. Two thousand,
six hundred and ninety-fve persons
availed themselves of this privilege
and, although they will not receive
cash refunds, they will receive cred
it against the amount still due.
Mr.. DUPONT said that taxables
whose accounts are credited will re-
ceive notice of such credit instead
of the regular June quarterly bill
The OVerpayment in March will pay
the June installment, one half of the
balance will he due in September
and the other half in December.
The reduction provided by the
law is distributed as follows:
.......... $32O.771.6O
New Castle ........ 263, ,957.3 SO
hent ................... ll,098.37
sussex .......,......... l3,Oll.26
The refund checks mailed are dis
as follows:
........... $62,012.97
New Castle ........ 24,497.80
NenJ ................. 1,Z4l.09 |
SUSSEX ................. 1,4ll.1b
The refund checks bear serial
numbers and are drawn on the Far
ners Bank at Dover. This bank has /
been furnished with the list of ser
al numbers used by the State Tax |
Department in the preparation of
he checks to eliminate the possible /
of unauthorized checks. /
Every safeguard has been placed
lrOund the issuance of the checks |
o avoid misuse or fraud.
Persons receiving checks are ask
ID to cash them promptly. as hold |
nR them prevents the State from
losing its accounts.