davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11
CHRISTMAS GREENS

One of the pretty sights of the
season, is to see the freight, cars
rolling over the roads, carrying loads
of Christmas trees. We may live in
some crowded street, our apartment
or dwelling may be tiny, it's furnish
ings may be old and shabby, but
somehow those commonplace or din
gy surroundings become snug and
homelike when frightened by the
Christmas greens. ,%
From some far off mountain side
came that tree. 1t was the COM
panion of birds and wild creatures,
it was fed by the nourishing soil and
the gentle rain. Now it gives up its
life amid that wild charm, and
comes to cheer our hearts, and to
put sparkle into the eyes of the
children, and its leafy arms support
our Christmas gifts. 1t is the mes
sage of nature, telling us that as
the evergreen of its foliage survives
the winter frosts, so love and beauty
are eternal. ..>.,.., 2.
Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11
THE NATION,S LAWMAKERS

What will the nations wise, men
do, now that they are assembled in
Washington? The c6untry's hopes
and fears center in this assemblage
of lawmakers. They all would like
to help business. But the PROPOSE
tion that to some seems like a
grand and marvellous stroke of
craftsmanship, is called just plain
foolishness by others. So the ora
tors will wake the echoes, the gal
laries will listen spellbound to the
golden eloquence, but that does not
prove that the legislation enacted
will speed up the wheels of industry
and make the farms smile again.
1t is one of the peculiar features
of our system, that much of the time
the head of the government and the
lawmakers are in conflict. In most
countries, such a condition is not
tolerated. If the premier, who is
ordinarily the head of the govern
ment, fines a majority of the parlia-
ment or congress against him, he
has to resign.
The American people would never
favor that plan, because we should
be changing president all the time,
and getting no continuous policy.
However, our own plan has weak
nesses, and the quarrels between
the presidents and congresses fire.
quently defeat all action. Consider
ing what mistakes lawmakers often
make, that is not always any great
loss.
The country appeals to it's law
makers to look at the needs of the
nation in a broad way. Those that
have gone down to Washington sim
ply to represent their own states,
and fight for the interests of those
states only, and who refuse to con-
slider the interests of other states,
are not doing the country and good.
Sectional conflictshave been the
curse of this country. A represen-
tative who can see only the needs |
of his own locality, does so much
harm to other sections that their de-
pressed state is drag on the whole
nation.
Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11
EIN&=
HOME ENTERPRISES

If the business and prosperity OF
a community are to develop, there
must be some willingness on the
part of the people who have money,
to invest some or much of it at
home. If they all send off their
money to distant parts of the coun-
try, where is the capital that can
develop their own town?
Many people who put money dur
ing the past few years into securi-
ties based on property located far
from home, and who have seen the
value of those securities shrink,
wish now that they had put them
into good banks, mortgages, and
business enterprises in their home
town. The home investment they
could watch, but the distant invest
ment they couldn't watch. If a town
is to grow, it needs capital, so peo-
pie can build homes and business
buildings and start new enterprises.
If the home folks don't furnish that
capital, who will?
Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11
FEDERAL AID

Shall Congress appropriate money
for unemployment relief 1t is
argued in favor of federal relief,
that it will come out of income taxes
on wealthy people, who are the ones
who should carry this burden, while
if the money is paid from local taxa
ton, it bears down on the strug-
Cling masses.
On the other hand, Uncle Sam is
having to strain and sweat just to
pay his ordinary bills and keep a
balanct at the bank. If. the money
for unemployment relief could be
raised by voluntary contributions
and by states and cities, it would
help. No one must go hungry in this
land where we worry because too
much food is raised, but it never
pays to levy a tax bill provided you
can collect the money by subscrip-
ton.
Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11

IF WILMINGTON merchants are
alive to the situation on the. Eas-
tern Shore of Maryland at the pres
ent time they will start Immediate
ly campaign to divert trade from
the City of Baltimore to Wilmington.
Happenings of the past several
weeks, in which Baltimore city
newspapers have condemned the
residents living east of the Chesa-
peake Bay, even condemning them
as uncivilized, owing to resentment
on the shore against agitators who
have retarded the speedy adminis-
tration of justice to those who have
committed vile crimes, have done
much to ALLEVIATE the eastern shore
men from Baltimore City. For the
past few years buying from this
side of the Chesapeake has been
gradually leaving Baltimore and
found its way up through Delaware,
to Wilmington and Philadelphia.
Very largely to Philadelphia. Thou
sands of permanent buyers may be
added to Wilmington's trading area
if the merchants and wholesalers
are awake to the present situation
and capitalize it to their advantage.
In the past those directing the des-
TIMES of Wilmington retail busi-
nesses have acted systematically and
half heartedly to secure and hold
down State trade in Delaware. We
wonder whether they will let this
priceless opportunity to win and
hold the business from the Mary
land counties escape them?
Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11
CHRISTMAS SEAL CAMPAIGN

The American people are again
asked to buy Christmas seals, to
support the anti-tuberculosis cam
paign. Here we have an effort that
is not to be looked upon as charity,
but as a matter Of insurance and
self protection. tuberculosis was
once called the greatest physical
peril that threatens the nation. 1t
is not so much so now, thanks to
a marvellous campaign of education,
carried on largely by sales of pretty
Christmas seals.
And yet thousands and thousands
of people are still getting this dread
disease. Plenty of ignorant persons,
and many who should know better,
expose themselves to this peril by
unsanitary habits. When one per-
son gets this contagion, there is
danger that it will spread. The cam
paign promoted through sale of these
seals is our protection here in Mil
ford against the inroads of this
plague.
Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11
Delaware leading Weekly NEWSPAPER
Milford, Friday, December Ii, 1881

1T IS TRUE, that the Lord helps
those who help themselves and it is
also true that a citizen of each dis
trict, town or county, has got re-
sponsibility as an individual, to de-
mand that needed public improve
ments be made for the welfare of
not only themselves, but for their
entire neighborhood and political di-
vision of rural section, town or
county. Act as if you regarded the
improvement to building roads, side
walks along the concrete highways
leading to schools, towns or sectors
where traffic is heavy and danger
Gus for those who walk along the
highways. The people of Milford
have no apparent realization of their
duty along this especial line. Its
all right for the Chronicle to advo-
cate such provisions for the people,
but action of the individuals, to
show to the State Highway Commits
sion the needs for Milford and sur
rounding rural districts is necessary.
Delegations must go before the
County Highway and State High
way boards, and there show the
needs of building concrete sidewalks
from the Milford High School to-
,,yo rdC CbourOao for of 1ooof < mn
feet. Then build along the State
Highway from Milford as far as
Millwood north, and also another
sidewalk along the Milford-H -Harring-
ton boulevard for at least 1000 feet.
It's simple matter for the men and
women of Milford to carry into eff
feet to safeguard the people who
constantly use these roads day. and
evening. Milford certainly has been
patient about her needs in receiving
attention from the State Highway
Commission; but it is the fault of
the men and women of the city who
fail to perform a public duty which
all are interested in. The past
week Ruby R. Vale, Esq, stopped
off at Dover and appeared before the
State Highway Commission, and
asked, that a former pledge to build
a concrete road connecting the Har-
rington road through Milford with
the concrete highway known as the
Rehoboth "cut-o6" be constructed.
That act has shown that the people
of Milford do have an interest in the
making of modern roads and side
walks. Men and women of Milford
take action, the Chronicle has and
will help, but you must do your
duty.
Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11
$50

MOB LAW WITH ITS deplorable
aftermath is always abhored by
advocates of law and the orderly
process of trial and punishment;
and the lynching of negro murder
er in our nearby city of Salisbury,
Md, certainly brings the blush of
shame from all law abiding citizens.
Apparently the crime committed
was without warrant and it is GER
tain that eventually the murderer
would have found his way to the
gallows had the orderly process of
law been allowed to take its course.
While condemning the actions of the
mob which hung and burned the
negro murderer last Friday night,
the Chronicle cannot but believe
that the dilly-dalying methods fol-
lowed by the authorities in Mary
land, together with the entrance of
so-called communists into the cases
of two negroes charged with often
ses against whites on the Shore
counties of Maryland had much to
do with the mob action. Misrepre-
sentation of the eastern shoremen
on the part of Baltimore City daily
newspapers, together with infam-
matory stories to the effect that
mobs were laying in wait for Yuel
Lee, confessed murderer of four
persons, followed by an attack on
the wife of a prominent young far
mer near Chestertown, with subse-
quent delay, created a situation
which easily burst forth in fame
and wildly burned beyond the con-
troll of Salisbury officials when the
Williams crime became known.
We believe that Worcester county
officials would have handled the Lee
murder case with fairness and ex-
pedition had the radical element
from Baltimore stayed out of the
case and allowed the courts to han
die the matter. AS it is, delay has
cost the good name of
dearly, and the minds of
the Eastern shoremen in Maryland
Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11
WELL SELECTED GIFTS

Perhaps the most important thing
relating to the Christmas gift Gus
tom, is to have these presents we'll
selected. There was time when
an enormous quantity of useless and
semi-useless stuff was given away.
Over ornate bric-a-brac which peo-
pie discarded as soon as possible,
excessively. handsome books the
reading matter of which was hack
neyed and commonplace stuff, gaudy
pictures that would discredit and
home, such offerings were once
commonly made. Weary hours were
spent in writing letters of thanks
for such inappropriate presents.
After time, it began to dawn on
people that gifts should either have
some practical use or else some real
beauty. People became tired of
having to write effusive letters of
thanks for things they did not care
a particle for. Hence they stopped
giving that kind of things.
Some people will always lack
taste, and will not know the differ
ence between gaudy and grotesque
stuff on one hand, and articles that
suggest culture and refinement. But
the producers and sellers of gift ar
ticles have been forced to educate
themselves, so as to discriminat be-
tween the tawdry and the excellent,
consequently the things offered in
stores for Christmas chow an i'm
measurable improvement over such
offerings of period say 20 years
ago.
If you don't know just what to Sc
lect for a Christmas gift, tell your
problem to our good folks here in
the stores of Milford. They have
made a study of the gift question.
They can tell you what articles will
make the most substantial gifts, and
which ones conform to the princi-
pies of good taste.
You can trust their judgment if
you are in doubt. Much can be said
in favor of giving the most practical
kind of gifts this year. People will
some useful article for
which otherwise they would have to
spend tehir own money.
Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11
GAINS FROM ADVERTISING

A recent issue of Dun's CONNER
cial report remarks: "Retail trade
is maintaining the slow but gradual
upturn that has been in progress for
several weeks past. The gains that
have appeared are largely the result
of extensive advertising and special
sales"
Thus one of the most accurate au-
thorities attributes increased retail
business largely to advertising. Such
opinions ought to convince any con-
Germ that is ambitious to bigger bus
mess. 1t would be hard to find any
standard business authority today
which fails to recognize that adver-
tising is essential to commercial
gains.
Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11
ADVERTISING MONEY

1t is amusing to hear some business
people groan about some slight
amount of money they had spent on
advertising from which they think
they could see no returns. Mean
while they keep on spending money
freely for other things, such as clerk
hire, rent, etc.
If they would interview the man
ayers of successful businesses in
larger places, they would almost al
ways find that advertising is consid-
cred just as necessary an expense
as clerk hire or rent. Many con-
Germs would cut down on their rent
ed space, before they would slash
their advertising.
.ItEifgf.s.l f.-.Ft .,
Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11

take neither the wet nor the dry
side, and with the next he demands
that the Amendment be resubmitted
to the people. He desires that his
party should take neither the wet
nor the dry side, but does he imag-
inc that the drys would be asking
for resubmission of the Amendment?
The dTys have the Amendment now
and therefore there is nothing wha-
eyer for them to gain by Te-submis-
sion. The vets wish to get rid of
the Amendment and so they have
another vote. And yet the Chair
man seems to think that in asking
for this other vote he is taking an
impartial, dispassionate and wholly
neutral position. 1t certainly is to
laugh, respond the drys.
In his second statement Chairman
Raskob also challenges the publish
ed assertion that Governor Roose-
welt, of New York, opposed his Sc
lection by Alfred E. Smith in 1928
as head of the Committee. That
statement appeared in a just pub
lished campaign biography of Cover
nor Roosevelt, which presumably
Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11
OLD CLOTHES

How many people in Milford and
other places have old clothes hoard
ed away in closets and attics, which
they could just as well give to needy
folks and charity societies? Form
erly it was customary for people to
keep many accumulations of such
old stuff The garrets of the old
time house were loaded with them.
People would have boxes and trunks
by the dozen, in which they saved
such things, most of which they
would never use again.
Old time thrift was a fine thing,
but these dusty accretions did few
people any good. Today the young
er folks move around so much that
they do not acquire these boards.
Still, there are many left of the old
er type, who hate to part with any
thing that by any possibility they
could use again. Such ones should
look over their belongings, and see
if there is anything they could give
away.
Many people discard clothes long
before they give out, because they
get tired of them or feel they are out
style. 1t is a fine thing to hand
such stuff over to some family that
is struggling to sustain life on
tiny income, or to those not able to
find work.
A we'll worn mems suit may look
so shiny and threadbare that man
who has to meet the public would
be foolish to wear it. But tailor
or needlewoman will take that suit
and by skilful repairs and pressing
make it look almost as good as new.
Generous gifts of old clothes help
many a family to make a present
able appearance.
If people have clothes they are
not wearing and will not wear an
other summer, they should never al
low them to lie idle in their closets.
Resting there in the dark, the moths
will get them. Taken out and put
to work, they will keep folks warm
and respectable. Let us all look
over our old clothes and see what
we can do with them.
Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11
JOHN NJ. CLAYTON SCHOOL
Editorial. Every Evening"

editorial Every Evening"
There is especial fitness in nam
ing the prospective Dagsboro-
Frankford school in honor of the
distinguished Delawarean, John M.
Clayton. The village of Dagsboro
is the birthplace of the great states
man; from there he went to Yale
College, where he won the highest
honor of his class. The old house,
or it's replica, in which he was born
stands as one of the few monu-
ments to the author of the treaty
with England which takes his name
for its first link.
We should not miss the opportun-
ity to erect or retain memorials of
those Delawareans who have occu-
pied seats of the mighty. The hotel
here that once bore his name has
disappeared and we believe there
are. few such memorials remaining.
A portrait of Mr.. Clayton is hung
in the Capitol which, with the stone
marking his grave at Dover, are the
only memorials -of the man and his
Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11
r-N&=

WITH CHRISTMAS just two
weeks away all trimmings of
streets, buildings and especially the
fronts of stores, should be COM
pleted and brightly illuminated un-
til late hours each day. This is part
of the happiness of Christmas for all
the people. 1t presents a picture to
visitors both day and night, which
tells the story that each and all are
doing a part to make the holidays a
happy picture as well as joy to
those who come among us. Every
home can and should have some
form of Christmas decoration. Ev-
cry store worthy of patronizing will
have trimmings, of evergreens, or
rooted cedars in tubs in convenient
places for showing, that there is a
really worth while desire of those
who occupy the home, store or
yards to cheer those who caunot af-
ford elaborate decorations. The cost
of colored electric lighting of trees,
windows and out-of-door yards, is
a very small item, and even they
are a carry-over for future use in.
decorations all during the year. An
illuminated tree in a tub at a store
front shows fine. The trimming of
windows inside and out of the
stores and homes, when carried into
effect by the folks generally. Gre
ates a charm that will live and
make life better for all Of us. Try
it out. It's not half the work you
think it is to make that kind of
Christmas trimming. 1t advertises
the town and attracts business for
everybody. When the curtain of
life is pulled down on your person.
al life, there will not be even tiny
electric light to illuminate the way
you go; so why not look happy,
make some one else happy in some
way, and at the same time gather. a
warm feeling of satisfaction for
having made your home and your
entire community brighter and hap
pier for just one Christmas holiday
Do it now and you will be
happy. Then the children will have
had an example set for them by you
for the beautiful, and be turned
away from the invitations to join in
the secret habits which grow un-
consciously and make sorrow and
regret. Trim every home and busi-,
ness place for a pleasant and beau
tiful holiday season.
Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11
NEWS AND COMMENT
BY Charles e. Scott

Washington, D. C.-The HONORABLE
John j. RaskOb, chairman of the
Democratic National Committee, who
holds mortgage on the Democratic
party to the amount of some $780,
000, and who staged a near-riot at
the meeting of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee last March by sug-
gesting that it recommend to the
national convention a plank to re-
peal the 18th Amendment and remit
the control of liquor traffic to the
various states, has again broken on
to the front pages of the newspa-
pers. This time it is with a ques-
tiOnnaire addressed to the 10000
men and women who contributed to
the 1928 Democratic campaign fund
requesting them to write to him say
ing whether they did not think it
would be a good idea to have the
next Democratic platform declare in
favor of submitting the question of
the prohibition amendment to the
people of the states at next general
election so that they might have an
opportunity to express their approx
al or disapproval. Immediately trou-
BILE broke out and protests were nu-
merOus. Senator Connally, of Tex
as, allowed the papers to quote him
as declaring the course Mr.. Raskob
was following was one Calculated
to disrupt and divide the party
strength instead of promoting its
success" Senator Robinson, of Ar
kansas, the Democratic leader, also
entered his protest declaring that
the next campaign should be fought
on economic issues and not on the
18th Amendment. There were 9TH
ers.
Mr.. RaskOb felt the criticism so
keenly that he came back immsdi-
ately with declaration that he had
been misunderstood 81 strongly
feel" he declared, "the party should
take neither the wet nor the dry side
of this highly controversial question,
but that its platform should definite
ly commit the Democratic members
of Congress to vote in favor of some
resolution which will give the peo-
pie themselves the opportunity to
vote on the question as to whether
they wish the 18th Amendment re-
tanned, repealed or modified"
+ y
Therupon there were innumerable
chuckles, not to say outright laugh
ter, on the part of those who thought |
It amusing the Democratic Chairman
should not be able to perceive how
FAR the latter part of the sentence
lust quoted was in disagreement |
with the preceding portion. In one
breath he declares the party should |
Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11

services to state and nation that we
recall, unless we include the town
of Clayton.
The new school, which is to pro-
vide the most modern educational
facilities for the descendants of his
Sussex county neighbors, could bear
no more worthy name, and this in
deed should be an inspiration to the
pupils and impel them to study Mr..
Clayton and his contributions to the
mid-century history of our country,
for he was one of the ablest of the
great men Delaware gave to the
natio nand one of the most erudite
and accomplished scholars of hia
time,
Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11

was submitted to his scrutiny before
it was sent to press. But Mr.. Ras
kob says that Former Governor
Smith advises that Governor ROose-
velt never opposed my selection as
National Chairman and / am very
sure that this is a fact" The net
result of the conflicting statements
would seem to mean that Roosevelt
Smith relations, apparently none the
best in a political sense for some
time, appear further aggravated.
And so the Democratic Merry-go-
Round goes merrily round.
Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11

have been greatly infiammed on the
race problem. Reports of commun-
lists activities in Wicomico county
should be investigated, and the agi-
tators promptly jailed for the good
of the community. Unfortunate in
deed it is that the counties of the
eastern shore of Maryland must
bear the stigma of mob action, for
which they were very largely not to
blame.
Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11
5N&E

THE 18th century said that a man
who paid his debts and minded his
own business was a good citizen.
The Goth century says that man
who does only that, and who neg
lects public welfare, is a dead
weight on the community.
Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11
Farm Notes

Late December or early January
is the best time of year to give
horses medicinal treatment for bot
fly larvae and also certain stomach
worms and large intestinal round
worms. The U. S. Department OF
Agriculture has found that carbon
disulphide is very effective against
these pests. A veterinarian should
give the treatment with this drug.
Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11
[.s-lN sl=ssI9ls':s::.l

1T is a half grown patriotism
that shouts for ones country, but
neglects the interests of ones home
town.