davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Milford chronicle., 1939-12-22
LOCK THE VAULTS
AGAINST POLITICS

| Addressing the recent convention
of the American Bankers Association
at Seattle. II Donald Campbell, pres
ident of the Chase National Bank of
:Iew York. said: May reiterate my
faith in the future of banking for
both small and large institutions? ?
There will be hardships and Difficult
ties TO overcome. There will be in
dictionary dangers ahead of us. The
way will not be easy. Yet have con-
iidencc i'll the present generation of
bankers 10 solve future problems.
The fact is that the American bank
er, more than ever before, fully ap-
preciates his responsibility to de-
positOrs and 10 the general public.
1t seems to me that the functions
performed by the American banking
system are of such paramount inn
pOrtance to the economic welfare of
the country that they have to be con-
tinued. If there are no banks to do
the work. someone else must do it.
And that someone else is obviously
the Government itself.
"IIcre is the alternative: either a
banking system with $4,000 outlets
through which commercial credit is
administered by the friends and
neighbors of the borrower. or a CEN
tralized banking system operated ac-
cording TO rules and regulations pre-
scribed IN Washington and interpret
ed by employees of the central au-
thority
Putting il very simply. the ques-
tiOn is whether the American people
want commercial credit administer
cd by themselves. their friends and
their ncighbOrs. or whether they
want it administered by political ap-
pointees."
Once the people give the pOliti-
clans the power to do what they like
with the public's money. they'll have
given them enough rope to hang the
country. Under our private banking
system. every conceivable safeguard
has been erected for protection of
depOsitor and borrower. The banker
is literally a public servant. And all |
you need to do 10 realize how well |
tho system has worked is to look at !
America. its homes. its businesses. |
its industries arc largely the pro-
duct of progressive private banking |
Politics must be kept out of bank
ing. The lustful hand of ofiicialism |
and bureaucracy must be prevented j
from gathering in the peoples mon |
cy. Government banking would be |
a long step down the road TO dicta-
lOrship and totalitarianism.
Milford chronicle., 1939-12-22
Valor at Santiago

1 laundering salvos echoed across
the harbor mouth of Santiago Bay
Cuba, from which Spanish squad
ron was trying TO make its escape
TO the Caribbean on July 3, 1898. In
their gallant but futile attempt, the
Spaniards fell prey to the deadly fire
OF American gunners.
Following soon after Dewey'S tri-
umph at Manila, the victory proved a
vital blow 10 Spanish prestige and
one of the greatest all-time victories
of the U. S. Navy. The American
losses were negligible. All six vessels
of the Spanish squadron were de-
strOyed.
Among the American var vessels
engaged in the sea battle was the U.
S. Flagship Brooklyn. whose gun
crews worked feverishly TO destroy
the enemy warships before they
could make good their escape. In the
heat of battle one of the Brooklyn's
6-pounder guns jammed.
To dislodge the projectile was a
problem filled with difficulties aud
dangers II was necessary to go for
ward on the no; gun and attempt to
emOve the she'll by a rammer in
serted in the muZzle. One after the
other. three men attempted the task.
Ciinging TO a Jacob ladder with
one hand and manipulating the ram
mer with the other. a corporal of
marines made the first attempt and
iailed through sheer exhaustion. A
naval gunner then made an unsuc-
cessful effort 10 remove the Obstruc-
liOn,
Despite these setbacks, Private |
Harry L. MacNeal, of the u. S. Ma
rines volunteered to make a final
effort The blasts from the Brook
lyn's turret guns overhead nearly
knocked him overheard. Shots from
enemy vessels fell all about him,
and one of them killed a yeoman
nearby.
With superhuman effort Mac
Neal inserted the rammer. dislodged
the shell, and the gun went back in
TO action. while the heroic marine
Coolly resumed his duties as if his
exploit had been a matter of every
day routine. For his courageous con-
duct he was awarded a Medal of
Honor.
Milford chronicle., 1939-12-22
RYG0NES

Forty years ago the "best seller
among books was Jules Verne no
vel entitled Around the World in
80 days. The man who made the
trip on a wager finished the journey
a few minutes after the time that
he thought and the bet expired. With
in the following "a hours he discov-
cred that he gained day on the cal
endar in his trip around the World
and that gave him time 10 get in un-
der the wire.
Way back before that time the
sailing ships left Massachusetts
bound for China, and il took them a
year or TWO to so out, and return
home.
Only a little more than century
ago one of the first steam-drawn
passenger trains of the Baltimore
and Ohio engaged i'll a race with
horse. and the horse won.
A quarter of a century ago most
highway travel was still made with
horses and they rarely ever went
very far. so that If the average dis
tances Travelled by man in a year
could have been kept il would have
been a mere fraction OF the average
reached. 500 miles. i'm 1920. Since
that time, 1s years ago. the average
distance man travels has jumped to
$500 miles a year. This is wholly
due TO the fact that most people in
the United States now enjoy the fa-
cilities of family automobiles, or
public vehicles that cover every nook
and corner of the land. Today there
are perhaps as many automobiles as
there are clothes wringcrs or radios
in privately owned homes.
Milford chronicle., 1939-12-22
THEY LIVE AT HOME

II facts have potency, the old ar
gument to the effect that the chain
stores are creatures of Wall
Street" is doomed to ignominiOus ex-
tinction.
Some time ago a survey was made
concerning all the common stock
holders of a number of representa-
tive chain systems. II was found that
the great majority resided in the
areas served by the chains in which
they have an interest. Relatively few
of them lived in far-off big financial
centers. In other words, the indi-
cation was that the chains. like most
other businesses, were financed by
local people. even as most of their
workers and executives are local
people.
Now another survey has been made
of the 800 principal common stock
holders of these chain stores. More
than so per cent of these investors
lived in the states where the com
panies operated. In the words of the
survey. mot only were most of the
owners of the chains residents of
their operating territories. but those
most heavily interested were. to an
even greater degree. living where the
stores were located"
So absentee ownership" of the
chains is IL myth. And no one should
be surprised that it is. Most chains
started as one store. and grew be-
cause their practices met with pub
lie approval and patronage. Money
for expansion was raised locally.
And the owners still live at home.
And the same can be Sid for most
stores.
Milford chronicle., 1939-12-22
Art Society Buys Painting BY
State Artist

COincidental with the closing of the
twenty-siXth Delaware artists show
in the Delaware Art Center, Wood
lawn and Park drive, the accessions
committee of the Wilmington Society
of Fine Arts announced the purchase
of painting by Edward w. Redfield,
internationally known artist who
was born in Bridgeville
Mr.. Redfield. acclaimed through
out the nations art world for his
expansive landscapes. has been
member of the Wilmington Society
of Fine Arts for many years. His
achievements in receiving medals.
awards and other art hOnors. date
from the 1SSOs.
His art is not only represented in
almost every well known American
museum but also i'm the galleries of
France and England.
The painting bought by the COM
mittee was hung prominently in the
lobby of the art center during the
recent show. II was titled, Horse
and Sleigh Days"
Mr.. Redfield was born in Bridge
vile i'm 1869. the son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Bradley Redfeld.
The artists father lived on Il farm
about mile back from BridgeviIIe.
During the Civil War he operated a
canning factory.
The elder Redfield did not find
farming very profitable. so he moved
to Wilmington, where he went into
the grocery business.
Milford chronicle., 1939-12-22
Clippings
from "UNCLE NICK"
MILFORD DELAWARE
Involved Inheritance Finally Goes
TO Sister

Chancellor w. w. Harrington filed
an opinion in the Court of Chancery
Tuesday, December IL, holding that
Mrs. Jennie d. c. Marshall, sister of
the late Peter Foster Causey of Mil
ford, is entitled to accrued and I'M
distributed income due him under
his mothers will, with the exception
of the share of the income to which
he had been entitled during his life
time which must be paid among all
his brothers and sisters for life.
Their mothers will left her estate
to the Equitable Trust Co. in trust.
Peter, with the five other children,
was to receive one-sixth of the in
come of the estate, with power tO di-
rect payment of his share to such
as he might designate, and should
he fail to exercise that power, his
share should be paid to his surviv-
ing brothers and sisters.
The main point at issue was whe-
ther Peter, though he left will. ex-
ercised his appointment power given
in his mothers will. Peters will
left to Mrs. Marshall all the residue
of his property.
The court held it may have been
Peters intention to exercise the
power of appointment given by his
mothers will, but "if it were he was
unfortunate in the language used in
his will"
Milford chronicle., 1939-12-22
+. II. II. STOCKHOLDERS
RECEIVE DIVIDENDS

Stockholders numbering approx
mately 100000 received on Monday
of this week checks for the 20Sth
consecutive dividend paid by the
Pennsylvania Railroad since its in-
corporation % years ago.
The dividend, which was declared
on November s, payable to stock
holders of record November IS, is at
the rate of go, or S1OO per share. on
the 13,167,754 outstanding shares of
the par value of $4,000 each. 1t is
double the amount paid last year,
when ia was declared.
Checks for the present dividend
have been mailed to holders in every
state of the union, as well as in Can
ada, Mexico, the South American Re-
publics, the British Isles and the
principal countries of Europe. How
ever, less than 4l296 of the stock is
row held abroad. The largest pro-
/ Ortion. 36i.eo, is held in Pennsylva-
mia. New York is second with little
over 26fc while not quite l1Go is
owned in the New England states
and SO in New Jersey.
OF the total stockholders, 46A 60
are women who own approximately
3,SSU,0 900 shares, or nearly 500 of
the outstanding stock. The average
Folding among all classificatiOns of
owners is less than 621a shares.
Payment of the current dividend,
which amounts to $l3,167.754. will
bring the total dividend disbursc-
of the railroad to $1,12O.I2S.-
BAG. The Pennsylvania unbrOken
record of giving return to its
in every year since 1S47
is the longest of any railroad in the
world
Milford chronicle., 1939-12-22
SeafOrd To Get 195 Additional
Homes by One Company

The beginning of a $5O0,000 house
ing development at Seaford was an
nounced Friday with the breaking
of ground for the construction of the
first 125 or more single homes by
the Delaware Home Builders. Inc.
The project is expected to do much
to alleviate the housing shortage in
Seaford with the opening of the first
unit of the DUPONT Company nylon
plant.
FILA financing has been arranged
through the First Mortgage Corpora
tion of Philadelphia so that the
monthly payments of the home buyer
will be under $50. This amount will
include payment on principal. inter
est, taxes and insurance.
These lOw-price homes will not be
experimental, but will have been
tested in plan. design. and public
acceptance for they will be similar
to the house already built at Ridley
Farms, Delaware county, Pa.
The SeafOrd homes. which will be
two and three-bedrOom houses with
garages, will follow the same general
design as those being built at Ridley
Farms except that the sample houses
now to be built will be of frame
construction.
The Delaware Home Builders, Inc.
plans to obtain other sites there for
still further new-home construction
on the completion of the present pro-
ject.
Officials of the corporation point
out that this $5O0.OOO development
is merely the beginning of its work
to provide housing in Seaford, and
that all of the future homes will be
of as low price as possible, con-
sistent with sanitary specifications.
Milford chronicle., 1939-12-22
Commander DOwneS OF Dover
PrOmNfed

Commander Oliver Lee DOwncs of
Dover. is included in list of 81
commanders slated jIr promotion to
captains, selected by a navy board
and approved by President Roose-
welt.
Commander DOwnes is son of
Mrs. Mary Il. Downs of Dover, and
the late Samuel f.. Downes. He
was graduated from the Dover High
School and from the Naval Academy
at Annapolis about 26 years ago.
Milford chronicle., 1939-12-22
Georgetown Couple Mark Fiftieth
Anniversary ~.

Mr.. and Mrs. Hammond T. Rust,
living near Georgetown. Tuesday OBJ
served their fiftieth wedding anni-
versary. They were married in
Georgetown on Dec. 10, 1889. by the
Rev. X. d. Kemp. the pastor Of the
Georgetown Methodist Circuit. They
were attended by the brides sister,
Mrs. Amanda Parker Dodd, now liv-
ing OH Chestnut street, here, and the
late Mayor Elton r. Wood
They have two children, William
G. Rust and Mrs. Harriet Elizabeth
Pettyjohn. wife of Golda A. Petty
john, living near here, and three
grandchildren, William G. Rust, Jr.,
Ralston and Coda A. PettyiOhn, Jr.
Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas H.. Dorman
of Edge Moor, who celebrated their
fiftieth wedding anniversary with
dinner party at the Brick Hotel, in
Georgetown, on Sunday afternoon,
were married the same night and
both Mr.. and Mrs. Dorman and Mr..
and Mrs. Rust were serenaded at the
same house.
Milford chronicle., 1939-12-22
DETROIT ASKS WAGNER ACT
REPEAL

Blaming the National Labor Re-
/ latiOns Act for the current wave Oi
/ labor strife. which threatens the
economic security of Detroit and
, other Industrial cities throughout tho
country. Detroit business men under
the leadership of the Board Of Com
mcrcc have instituted nation wide
campaign for its repeal.
! Following unanimous resolution
of the directors of the Detroit Board
OF Commerce urging the repeal Of
the Act. The Detroit group will ell
! list the aid of other commercial and
industrial groups. AS well as lcgis-
latorS. publishers, conservative labor
leaders and other influential factors
throughout the nation, in an effort TO
secure repeal.
Citizens are being urged to either
individually, or through their Cham
bers of commerce. to communicate
at once with their Congressman urg-
ing repeal of the Wagner Act for the
sake of .he workers themselves.
The determined stand against the
Act has been taken. the Detroit
Board says. because professional
labor agitat0rs, operating under its
protection. have caused more un-
rest and enforced idleness during the
past three years than during the pre-
vious twenty. with conditions stead
lily becoming worse"
The DCtrOiter. official organ of the
Detroit Board of Commerce. in re-
porting the resolution OF its dircc-
~. OF. f..Ip aslITsNE ,rff,
lent disputes between labor leaders
and manufacturers, with thousands
of men idle as the result Of slow
down tactics and strikes. with manu-
iaCturers seeking escape from De
troit conditions TO communities free
from domination by radical labor ag-
itators-the situation is so grave
that il challenges the serious atten-
ton of every citizen.
THE very prosperity Of Detroit
workers have made it the target for
the vicious labor agitalOr. operating
under the protection of the Wagner
Act. Detroit employees. the highest
paid in the world, have actually ex-
perienccd more strikes. Industrial
strife, unrest, lost wages and EN-
ployment during the past three years
than during the previous twenty
During the 1O-year period from 1927
through 1896. the idle man days in
Michigan because of strikes tOtalled
t,iS5.55J with 97.605 workers in
volved. I'm the single year of 1887, in
Michigan. the total Of idle man days.
due to strikes. reached the stagger-
ing figure of 1924, 4,752-with 3J4.499
workers involved, These are official
figures from the United States de-
partment of Labor.
Under the protection of The Wag-
ner Act. professional labor union
nave forced themselves
upon the workmen in various plants.
these workers to accept
their leadership and pay tribute in
the form of dues. The next step was
to meet with the employer and de-
mand an outrageous increase in |
wages for the workmen regardless /
Of whether IL was practical or I'M
The alternative offered /
to kidnapping the plant
and holding il for ransom. The de-
nand for higher wages, however, it |
has now become clear, has simply |
been sop to the workers while the !
agitators have been working for the |
so-called closed shop or union shop
with the check-off which will make
i impossible for a man to keep his
Job unless he pays tribute to the
Inion.'
Milford chronicle., 1939-12-22
Salisbury Team Fined

The Salisbury club of the Eastern
Shore League was fined $1,000 for
players rules violations in decisions
handed down by Judge Kelesaw NJ.
Lands. commissioner of baseball.
The Judge fined the Salisbury
,Pam $500 for use of blank contract
in the case of player William j..
Donovan. and assessed another fine
of $500 for filing contract fictitious
~ dated fifteen days after its execll-
ton by the player.
When the clubs begin To play the
game fair baseball will get a firmer
footing with the fans and insure its
permancncy. All kinds of rumors
were heard last year about this club
and that club violating the rules,
but TO date this is the first club to
lie punished. Rumors amount to little
OF nothing unless they can he backed
up with facts. .A
Milford chronicle., 1939-12-22
Robbers 5th visit Nets Only $50

The Dclaware-New Jersey Ferry
Company's 1899 income tax return
will probably list as a dependent
Cne hOldup man.
For the fifth time since last
March. the robber, armed with a
nickel-plated revolver and wearing
the same black mask. held up the
company's office last Friday and got
away with 500.
The 500 however marked ebb tide
i'm the robbers fortunes as far as the
ferry company is cOncerned--it was
the lowest amount lie has received,
but it brought his total for the year
up to $i20.
The ticket sellers first brush with
the man was on March rs. when
there was $50 in the till. The next
visit was i'm July, when the man got
800. Then followed $3.50 in August.
end $40 on November IA.
Milford chronicle., 1939-12-22
MILFORD HIGH SCHOOL
BASKETBALL SCHEDULE (194O)

January 5-Felton at Milford (Boys)
January 9-Harrington at Harrington (BOys)
January 12-Lewes at Milford boys and Girls)
January 16-Laurel at Milford (Boys and Girls)
January 9Georgeown at Georgetown (Boys and Grls)
January 23-Caesar Rodney Wyoming (Boys and Girls
January 26-Laurel at Laurel boys and Grls)
February 2-Georgetown at Milford (Boys and Grls)
February 6-Dover at Milford (Boys)
February 9-Fclton at FELTON, (BOys)
February 13-Harrington at Milford (BOysl
February 16-Lewes at Lewes boys and Girls)
February 2O-Dover at Dover-AfternOon (Boys)
February 26-Caesar Rodney Milford boys and GirsD
Milford chronicle., 1939-12-22
HALF A BILLION IN RENT

The American property-owner--
like the American producer and con-
sumer-haS a tremendous stake in
retail distribution.
According to recent survey. the
chain stores of the country alone
pay some S426. 100000 a year in rem
tails in the As states and the District
of COlumbia-a sum which also in
cludes the rental value of local prop
critics owned by the systems. Statis-
tics are not available for the indie
pendent stcres-but. inasmuch as
they do about twO-thirds of all retail
business. the grand total must be
stratOspheric.
Furthermore. the worth of a good
chain store, like that of good in
dependent. 10 real estate. cannot be
measured entirely by the rent paid
The National Association of Real Es-
tate Boards, in a formal resolution,
pointed 10 another phase of this when
il said: skilled management of
chain store organizations has tended
10 improve the character of retail
districts, to stabilize land value and
thus has contributed directly to the
stability of real estate and local gov
ernmental revenue. And the Nation
al Association of Building Owners
and Managers has observed that the
economies of mass merchandising
have ''immeasurably raised the stan
dard of living and increased the pur-
power of the rank and file
in America thereby assuring
many thousands of local property
owners of reliable, well paying ten
ants
Progressive retailers. large and
small, chain and Independent. occu-
py a far more important niche in
American life than most of us real
ize.
Milford chronicle., 1939-12-22
william +. Phillips Dead

William Fisher Phillips. SIS years
old. who was in the express and
hauling business in Philadelphia
early in life and later bought and
operated farm in Tuckahoe Neck,
Caroline county. Md. until he re-
tired. died at his home in Denton.
Nd. Tuesday, December 6. of heart
attack.
A native of Sussex county. he was
the son of the late James f. and
Sarah Carpenter Phillips of Milton.
He is survived by several nephews
and nieces. among whom is Mrs.
Thomas o. Grouse. who has lived in
her uncle's home since childhood.
Burial was made in the family
plot in Denton cemetery.
Milford chronicle., 1939-12-22
II. w. Hickman, Lewes, Naval
Reserve Ensign

Harold w. Hickman of Lewes,
graduate of the University of Della
ware, has successfully completed the
ground school course and flight
training at the Naval Air Station,
Pensacola, Fla, and has been COM
missioned a naval reserve ensign,
the War Department announced
Thursday.
Hickman has been ordered to duty
with Patrol Plane Squadron 81 at
Charleston, S. c. He lived at 425
King street. Lewes, and was gradu-
ated from Delaware with an A. B.
degree.
Milford chronicle., 1939-12-22
PURGING AMERICA

Some days we miss the Washing
ton reports of the purge of un-Am-
erican activities by the Dies Com
mittee. Then word comes in from
New Orleans, or some other place.
relating how Congressman Dies
dropped into the town and started
cleaning it up. He apparently fol-
lows the same methods as those
travellers IN Scotland hunting down
the Abbeys. mo Abbey shall escape
us" is their slogan. and also their
determination.
Milford chronicle., 1939-12-22
HoIcOmb Census Bureau AID

Bankson T. Holcomb, of Frederica,
has been appointed assistant area
manager of the Bureau of Census for
Delaware, William l.. Austin. direc-
tor of the Bureau of Census in Wash
ington, announces. AS assistant area
manager, Mr.. Holcomb will work
under F. Allyn Cooch, general man
ager of the bureau for Delaware. Mr..
Holcomb was born and reared in
New Castle and is former mayor Of
that town. He moved to Frederica
eight years ago.
Milford chronicle., 1939-12-22
Married Sc Years

Former Mayor and Mrs. George II.
Otwell, of Laurel. were married De-
cember 10. 1888, and observed their
seth wedding anniversary at their
home Sunday. Mrs. Otwell was the
former Adella Culver. daughter of
Charles and Mary Culver. Mr.. OtwelI
is 81 years old. He spent most of his
life farming and in the fruit broker
age business in and near Laurel,
having entered the wholesale fruit
and produce business in 1888.
Milford chronicle., 1939-12-22
Delaware Sons Honor CraIlam

John l.. Graham. a native of Kent
county but for many years in bust
ness in Philadelphia. and one of the
founders of the Sons of Delaware,
was honored December : at the 4Sth
annual banquet of the organization
in the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in
Philadelphia. Mr.. Graham was pre-
sented with a gift in recognition of
his faithful service and i'm view of
the fact he has attended &c of the
IS annual meetings. The banquets
are held every December in cele-
bration of the anniversary of Della
wares ratification of the federal
Constitution. Tho annual business
meeting was held before the dinner.
President Martin was reelected. as
were also other officers.