davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-25
THE BILLBOARD NUISANCE

Because 1t is young, Highway II, the great
ocean-shore link between north and south, is
comparatively free from billboards through.
out its North Carolina stretch.
In this it is in striking contrast with other
main travel arteries where adjacent ground
has been defaced with great signs proclaiming
the virtues OF this and that. 1t should be
kept in this condition. Indeed, it would en-.
nance its attractiveness if such signs as have
crept into its zone were removed.
North Carolina has a law forbiddinp hill.
boards within a certain distance of highways
but it is not zealously enforced. Even If il
were, it would not materially improve matters
Billboards are a public nuisance, AND
should be legislated out of existence.
The effort to do this is made at successive
legislative sessions, but have thus far beer
defeated by efficient lobbying. If the mex
legislature, taking Highway II as an example
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-25
CRESSETTE GIVEN
POSITION At use
Ex-Grid Coach AT The Cit.
adel To Serve Game
cock President

COLUMBIA, S. c., Jan. 94-R
Gressette, former head
coach at The Citadel, was today
named assistant to the president OF
the University of South Carolina
Gressette will report February
for his work here with Dr.. j. RIoh
McKissick.
Gressette, 80 years of age, vino
resigned his Citadel position after
eight years of coaching, will have
no connection with the coaching
staff at the university. He Will WoEh
directly under Mckissick.
In taking the job, Gressette re-
turns to his alma mater. He played
two years of football at South Caro-
lima and was captain of the team
his senior year. Before that he pay
ed two years at Furman.
Gressette said he would move his
family to Columbia in the spTlAs
as soon as his two daughters arr
out of school in Charleston.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-25
Editorial Comments
From Other Angles
ECONOMIST OPTIMISTIC
Charlotte Observer

George W. Mathis, economist, writing in the
Magazine Of Wall Street, presents the optimis-
tic view that there is a sound basis for the
supposition that our current high rate of in
dustrial production should continue at least
through the first half Of 1940."
And then, provided the present trend is not
severely disturbed by IAN early end of the
war, a bad federal tax law, now unforeseen de-
flationary developments, or a major additional
decline in the pound sterling without offsetting
factors" Mr.. Mathis thinks we might look
forward to a continuance, even an enhance
ment, Of the recovery movement.
Other views expressed by Mr.. Mathis of in
terest to business and industrial men generally
are these:
"Of course, the recovery cycle will not last
forever, no matter how propitious the under
lying factors might be for 1910 but the
warnings that we hear relate to the internal
soundness or lack of soundness of the present
business s~ituation-most generally. rising IN
ventories' and production outrunning consump-
ton but no significant Embellishments of
inventories, prices or operating costs have de-
veloped and the situation is much sounoer
than skeptics imagine"
present capacity of our industrial plant-yet
quires an expansion of inventories and thus
far there is absolutely no reliable evidence tnat
inventories have increased by a degree dlspro-
portionate to increased consumer demand .
If sales are reduced, then almost any level OF
inventories becomes excessive, for the
six months ending December, 1898, output CT
durable goods increased from 43 per cent OF es'
timated long term trend to II per cent . .
The nearest similar performance stretched over
Is months in the period ending March, 1885"
Consumer demand for the products OF In
dustry has reached an all-time high in recent
weeks and we are operating not far from the
precent capacity of our Industrial plant-yet
no important volume of European orders mas
been received or is in sight The poten-
TALLY for economic expansion in this country
proven by the fact that a major recovery
cycle was clearly and firmly established here
many months before the war was anything but
a threat in the offing."
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-25
KIWANIS ANNIVERSARY

Twenty-Five years of existence and service
have proved Kiwanis a virile organization.
Not only in the United States but throughout
the world it is functioning for civic advance.
ment with such good effect that additional
units and larger membership are notable
every year. 1t draws to its colors great mum.
bers of aggressive, civic-minded men because
it is actually doing something worthwhile
not merely discussing programs and leaving
the job for GEORGE to do.
Its work among under-privileged children
has given it a high place in humanitarian
ranks. The Wilmington club long has been
engaged in lettering the lot of boys lacking
good home influence and the advantages found
only among the more favored families, and
while the work of the Boys Brigade has
outgrown it's separate resources and it has
been necessary to give other civic clubs op.
portuntiy to share in the project, with mu.
tual satisfaction, it is the Joy of local XII.
wanians to know that they started something
so great that others were glad to participate
in the burden and the rewards.
This week Kiwanis all over the world is
celebrating it's silver anniversary. Were it
possible to canvass the. world membership,
it would undoubtedly be found that every
among the most priced of his possessions.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-25
The Editors
BOX

The Editor does not necessar1-
" endorse any article appear.
Ing in this department. They
represent the views Of the in
diyidual readers. Correspondents
are warned that all communi-
cations must contain the correct
name and address for our rec
ords. though the letter may be
signed as the writer sees fit.
The Star-News reserves the
right to alter any text that for
anv reason is Objectionable.
Letters on controversial sub
iects will not be published.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-25
Icy Roads May Delay
Engineers Convention

RALEIGH, Jan. "a. Up Icy
roads and freezing temperatures
kept surveyors in North Carolina
at home today, or made travel so
slow that only two had arrived for
the annual session Of the Society
Of Surveyors more than an hour
after the meeting hour.
Prof. C. L. Mann of N. c. State
college, secretary-treasurer of the
society, said it might be decided
this afternoon to hold the session
in a couple of weeks unless more
members arrived.
The weather did not, however,
hinder preparations for the opening
tonight of the annual institute for
engineers.
One engineer negotiated the slip
perry roads this morning to COM
plete a trip from Detroit by car.
Speakers and others were coming
in by train and car, and no hitch
was anticipated for the first ses-
sion at which DR.. Roy V. Wright
of New York, a past president OF
the American Society of Mechani.
cal Engineers, will speak.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-25
TRAFFIC LAW REVISION
Dear Sir:

Dear Sir:
I have read this page for some
time with great interest, and l
heartily applaud your many efforts to
improve Wilmington and it's vicinity.
Especially was I attracted by several
recent articles in which was spirit
eddy exploited the genuine need Of
a revision in traffic law pertaining
to the custom of turning corners on
red lights.
This may seem a small reason for
excitement by the t~houghtless, but
1 believe that a moments hesitation
and consideration will undoubtedly
show that true danger does exist in
this situation and that it will re-
quire only a small amount of civic
cooperation to remove this hazard.
1t seems to me that no project
could be Of greater Importance than
that of making safe our city's
streets. and I would congratulate the
efforts of you, Mr.. Editor, as one
who eve among the many progress
sive steps he seeks on all sides "a
vet pause for so improbable an
object and, yet, so humane a one.
So with due thanks I close to re-
main your friend and reader:
H. B.
P. S. You note, perhaps, how
highly I treat the subject which is
our m interest. This is be-
cause I feel that it is also the COM
mon interest of all. Therefore, it
is hardly needful of my humble
effort.
Wilmington, N. C.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-25
CurtaiIment OF Steel
Production Is Likely

NEW YORK, Jan. 24.-P1-tW'
ther curtailment of steel llaNi"7
operations is inevitable un!eSs
new business increases, Iron A7e
said today in a weekly survey
1ngot production for the curIe".
week was estimated at 50 per CEN
of capacity, a decline OF ) polA'
from the preceding week.
shipments are still heavy an"
r far exceeding the volume OF III
coming orders, which range Hun
a probable low point of about "
per cent of shipments in one III,
portant instance to IS much d. +"
to 60 per cent with other colHP@"
ies," the review declared.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-25
BRIGHTER FUTURE

Dear Sir:
The "lovely city which has been
sleeping by the sea" for such a long
time seems to be stretching its arms
toward a brighter future.
Your contest for suggestions Of
civic improvements in Wilmington
is stimulating considerable interest
and is certainly one of the best
steps shown in many years to awake
this city and it's vicinity.
FLOYD cox, JR.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-25
Hitler Makes Speech
Before German Cadets

BERLIN. Jan. 24.-CP-Adot
Hitler praised Frederick the 'fe".
and his soldiers AS Examples "
soldierly virtue" to 1000 future u
ficers of the army and air force
in the sports palace today.
Hitler told the cadets about wv
"meaning and vital necessity
the battle the German people aIs
Waging."
Field Marshal Hermann NH,
Goering ended the meeting WIN
call for "sieg heil"' (hail, vlcIol!,
for the fuehrel, first soldier ="
the reich"
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-25
Chamberlain Quizzed
On Russian Relations

LONDON, Jan. 24-lP'- fi'"n
Minister Chamberlain, asF'" "a
commons today if Britain N'DN
break off relations with Russia y
piled that such a move "woult re-
quire most careful consideration ."
all it's aspects"
Major General Alfred WI''''a
F~ortescue Knox asked whether.
view of Russia's invasion Oh
land, Britain would break OIL Is'
lions with Moscow.
Such a decision, the prime INV
lister said, cts not to be psa
with satisfactorily in questions
answers
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-25
Man bout
Manhattan
By George Tucker

NEW YORK, Jan. 24.-If a mar
in a grey double breasted suit and
a soft snap-brim felt hat points his
finger at you and says, What foul
business are you up to now, you
embarrassing Spaniard?" that mar
ting in a crowd or walking along a
street in New York and hear a deep
throated chuckle that rumbles out
of nowhere like a suddenly released
subterranean freshet, it will be Dick
Nancy. If YOU ever read a short
story by Ben Hecht called 1.-THE
Mystery Of the Fabulous Laundry
man" and wonder who the guy Rich
ard McCarey is patterned after, the
answer is Dick Nancy.
Of all the characters along that
fabulous street of the Irish and the
Jews, Broadway, Nancy is the most
unusual. He is a press-agent. He
makes and spends lots of money. AS
far back as 1892 Ben Hecht and
Charles Macarthur were building
around his personality a character
for their sulphurous, slangy, witty
comedy. twentieth Century" He
is the man who paved the way for
Billy Roses great success, and it was
Nancy who supplied the rhetoric
for many of the Rose sayings that
made so many people laugh and
earned so much priceless space in
the newspapers around the coun-
try. Example: After becoming IA
nous as a producer of gigantic spec
tacles Jumbo, Frontier Fiesta, etc.
Rose was asked, What are you 60
ing to do next?" Billy's answer, sup.
piled by Nancy, was, I'm gonna
take m of those small Balkan Wars
on tour"
Nobody in all the world talks like
Nancy and only one man looks like
him-George M. Cohan. Usually in
a good humor, he can become very
h~ard-bo1led and two-fisted. He can
cut o down by just looking at you.
He laughs a great deal, and his con.
| %versation invariably is a s~taccato of
epithets. For instance, if he finds
you having dinner in a restaurant.
he is apt to walk over to vo,,r table
and growl, What are you doing in
this foul fish trap?" althoueb the
restaurant may be the Ritz or one Of
the best in town. The word foul
is his favorite adjective,
I will never forget thes NIGHT
Nancy and I were sitting in the lob
by of the Texas Hotel, in Fort
Worth. 1t was about 2 a. M, and we
were waiting for a car to take us
to the airport. Suddenly Manev
swung around. Would you like to
see me roll around on this foul floor
awhile" he inquired, "and maybe
moan a little?"
I said. sure, never taking him GO.
riously. Without further delav this
47-year-old Irishman who was born
in Chinook, Montana, got down on
the lobby floor. He uttered a, wild
piteous moan. He began threshino
about after the manner of a hehead-
ed rooster, grooming and flappins
his arms. The night clerk was hor-
ritled. By a great Godsend the c.,
arrived at this moment and We were
able to get away, or else this stow
OF Klchar the Nancy might at this
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-25

point have to take on the episode
of an interlude in a Texas Jail.
A great many Of the nor inter
esting episodes in Maney's Broad
way career were detailed in a re-
cen article in Time, and if you
haven't read it, you should. All are
runny, but the one that explains
Nancy best perhaps has to do with
a play by Ben Hecht and Charles
macarthur that opened on Broad.
way and failed. After reading the
Death notices in the papers
which the critics wrote next MORN
ing, and at Maney's suggestion,
Hecht and Macarthur retired to an
undertakers, climbed into separate
collins, and lay in state.
Z, That is Dick Nancy
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-25

enacts a law prohibiting them along any
highway in the state, and approves an enabl'
ing act setting up a fund for enforcement, 1t
will confer a favor on the travelling public
and make a great addition to the beauty OF
our highways.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-25
TOP o. THE MORNING

"Oh, | aGish there Were some wonderful
place called the Land of Beginning Again.
January brings as to that enchanted country
1t sets our feet at the open gateway. In ODE
dience to the impulse created By the neu
calendar one may turn a1Oay from his former
self, and go and be another man.
JOHN MCBEATH
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-25

We all see clearly that, with the victory Of
the Allies, our own security will be guaran-
teed. Otherwise-which may God forbid-gen-
eral slavery will descend upon all of US and
VIII crush the poor world.-Ignazio Cardinal
Iappouni, patriarch Of Antioch
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-25
al E G II
B r E FS
Star. News Bureau
Sir Walter Hotel
By HENRY AVERILL

RALEIGH, Jan. 24.-State Sena-
tor John D. Larkins closed up his
Jackson Day campaign headquarters
here Tuesday, with a vow that he
will not be back in charge of them
next year. But that's what he said
after the 1899 dinner, so it "a be
taken with at least a grain of salt.
He reported that the gross re-
ceipts of the campaign amounted to
$11, 152.50, which will net the demo-
cratic campaign funds something
like $4,000 after all expenses are
paid.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-25

The only barrier between Russia and the
Scandinavian countries is the wall of MANHOOD
of Finland today.-Mayor Fiorello LaGuarola
of New York,
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-25

po1us
Among community managers from
eleven farm projects who were in
Raleigh to confer with regional Of
ficials of the Farm Security admin
istration concerning plans for this
year were w. H. Robbins, Burgaw;
L. L. McLendon, Roanoke Farms,
Halifax; H. C. Green, Wolf Pit
Farms, Pembroke; and T. W. Arm
strong, Scuppernong Farm, Colum-
bia.
The other managers were from
Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia
and Tennessee.
Talking about state senators who
might be repeaters in 1911 from
the 1899 legislature, your Raleigh
reporter mentioned cousin Willie
Clark of Edgecombe and Doctor
Tom" Long of Halifax as among
those who are not barred by rota-
ton agreements.
"They can come back as often as
they want to-" he said.
Hold on! You're wrong" crack
ed, Lynn Nisbet, sometime associate
in this bureau. Cousin Willie can
come as often as he wants to, and
Doctor Tom can come as often as
he can beat Julian A~llsbrook."
There is a difference, at that.
The Willie Smith announcement
for governor, delayed for psyche
logical reasons as well as to give
more time for platform preparation
and editing, will likely hit the press
before this weeks end. There exists
some possibility Of further delay only
in the possibility Mr.. Smith may find
himself tied up with business mat
tiers so imperative they must be
attended to forthwith.
The Greensboro News editorially
suggests a number Of sacred or semi
sacred songs which Tom Cooper
should get his male quartet to sing
during progress of the gubernato-
rial campaign.
Length of the list vas surprising
to the conductor of this column as
the only hymn with which the News
has ever shown familiarity in a
Hymn Of Hate against President
Roosevelt,
Today's ho-hum: Headline pro-
claims that randolph Republicans
Plan For Lincoln Day Program"
Add Whacky News Item: Chapel
Hills Water Truck Catches Fire.
The political gossips are saying
that Davidson's Lister Martin will
try his best to inject a few issues
into the race for lieutenant gov
If he succeeds, it will be some.
thing new under the North Caro-
lima sun.
And if Gregg Cherry and the gov.
ernor have their way they'll soon
be having next years democratic
last year.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-25
Star-News Program

L. bHVPguf"o'
9. Increase OF Port Facilities.
5. Adequate Hospital Facilities.
j. Annexation OF Suburbs.
5. Development OF Fort CasweH as
Health Resort.
6. Promotion Of Canning Industry.
7. city Enpansion Commission.
8. Junior College.
ACHIEVEMENTS WE HAVE
FAVORED
Stun Clearance.
Free bridge across the Cape Fear
river orer High1Ddy 20.
Free ccuseway to Wrightsville Beach
Recreation Centers.
Municipal Auditorium.
Preservation OF Old City and Thai
ian Hail.
Civic Centre.
Organised industrial services for VIII
mington.
Adequate school facilities for VIII
mington md New Hanover county.
1ruttic signals on streets OF Whining
ton.
Thirtytoot channel from Wilmington
to Southport bar.
Construction OF third lock and dom
between Wilmington and Fayetteville
on the upper Cape Fear river.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-25
hurley PRICES
DROP SLIGHTLY
Heavy Snowstorm flinders
Movement To Ware
house Floors

LEXINGTON, KY, JAM. 24.-Of'-
Burley tobacco dropped four cents a
hundredweight in yesterdays auc-
tons.
The statewide average, calculated
by the Louisville Courier-Journal,
was $19.46 as compared to $3.50 for
Monday.
Growers received $1,460, 95S.42 on
sale of 7,5O7,117 pounds. 1t was the
first time this season the turnover
was less than 100000 pounds.
Deep snow curtailed activities on
east Tennessee's hurley markets.
Greenville, the sections largest,
closed at noon after handling 34S,-
500 pounds at an average of $16.16
a hundred. Growers sold 403,056
pounds at Morristown for $780,
604.82, an average of $17.52.
RICHMOND, Va, Jan. 24.-P-
A heavy snowstorm interferred
with movement of tobacco to Vir-
ginia markets today. The volume of
sales on both f%lue-cpred and dark
fired floors probably will be light
the remainder of this week.
Reports Of Tuesdays sales
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-25

Today's ho'hum: Headline pro-
claims that randolph Republicans
Plan For Lincoln Day Program"
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-19
Movie Revues
"CALL A MESSENGER"
SCHEDULED AT ROYAL

Billy Halop and Huntz Hall, two
of the popular Dead End Kids, are
united with their traditional rivals,
the Little Tough Guys" in Uni
versal's new dramatic comedy. Call
A Messenger which comes today to
the Royal theatre.
Described as entertainment which
blends laughter, action and suspense,
the story deals with the adventures
Of a band Of street kids who go to
work as messenger boys and make
good in spite of themselves. Fea-
tured in the supporting cast are Rob
ert Armstrong, Mary Carlisle, Anne
Nagel, Victor Jory, Larry Crabbe
and the veteran Swedish comic, Ell
Brendel.
Armstrong is the kindly manager
Of a telegraph company who offers
the boys jobs so that one of their
number, Halop, may escape going to
reform school. But it is Miss Nagel.
as the pretty girl clerk, whose pres
ence and charm prompts the boys to
make good. Little Tough Guys WHO
don brass-buttoned uniforms and
wash their faces along with the Dead
Enders include Ha!ly Chester, Viii
liam Benedict, David Corey and
Harris Berger.
And, in addition to another thrill
packed chapter of Dick Tracy's G.
Men," the Royal has an Edgar Ken
nedy comedy and the latest News.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-19

big Hollywood film company to
make a picture with Kyser and his
band, and in so doing it offers gay
and laughter-packed entertainment.
kyser and his musicians portray
themselves throughout and Menjou
has the role of the luckless producer
assigned to the task of bringing
Kyser to the screen.
That's Right-You're Wrong
crowds an immense amount of snap
by icy music, Hollywood satire and
uprOarious novelty entertainment in
to its footage. AS part of its plot
action, the film presents The College
Of Musical Knowledge" the radio au-
dience-participation show which has
earned Kyser renown over the all
lanes.
The Monroe Doctrine" a dramati'
cation of the famous document, heads
the short program. This is a most
praise-worthy offering.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-19
WEST OF CARSON CITY"
IS FEATURED AT BIJOJ

Riding and shooting his way to
the top among western Green stars,
Johnny Mack Brown again proves
his right to stardom with q capable
and entertaining performance in the
new Universal action-thriller, yves
Of Carson City" which opens today
at the Bijou theatre.
Directed by Ray Taylor, the
screenplay gives Brown a fast nov.
ing vehicle which is well suited to
the cowboy actors talents.
Not a little of the success of
Browns portrayal of Rarcher Jim
Bannister, scourge of outlaws, is due
to the eX-athlete's outstanding ply
sique and his ability to handle him
self in q~uarrelsome company.
A musical comedy and the current
chapter Of "The Phantom Creeps,'
are also on the program.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-19
WPA First Aid Course
To Start Here Jan. 20

A standard first aid course for
wPA officials and employees in the
Wilmington section will be started
at the county wPA offices in the
basement of the courthouse on Mon
o'clock.
irwin Rourk will be the instruc'
tor for all project foremen' time,
keepers, clerks, and truck drivers OF
the WPA, Mrs. Ida B. Speloen' eS-
ec7,tive secretary, Wilmington chap
fer of the American Red Cross, an
nounced.
G T. studdert, WPA project SUI
nerintendent, issued the following
statement: "You + requested to
attend these classes because first
aid work is valuable to you on the
ioh as we'll as in your everyday life.
ANY men of other classificatlons
than above mentioned may attend"
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-19

The Nazi navy's technique OF
"scuttling'' ships to prevent them
from falling into enemy hands
vas extended to the air service
when the surviving pilot of a Ger
plane set fire to his ship
after it was shot down behind the
French lines. Above, flames de-
stroy the plane. At right, the pilot
Tin fur collared jacket) is see be-
ing taken prisoner.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-19
KAY KYSER PICTURE
FEATURED AT CAROLINA

Something delightfully."- new under
the screen u is the tuneful come
dy, THAT'S Right-You're Wrong
which opened yesterday at the Caro-
lima theatre.
Starring Kay Kyser with his or.
chestra the picture breaks sharply
away from the conventional boy
meets-2irl success-story theme on
which most band leader films have
been based. With engaging candor,
the producers admit that such a
theme is threadbare - and develop
their plot around the ingenious the.
sis that it is impossible to find n
other theme.
Consequently, the story deals with
the hilarious but futile efforts of a