davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-01-02

superintendent Of the police tramc
and safety division. "Our investi-
gators 60 to the bottom Of every &C.
cident. We determine the reason.
It's an Intelligent program"
"The two biggest problems in the
year ahead are educating pedes-
trians-particularly elderly pedes-
trians-and reducing the driving
menace created by drinking. In II
of tho 80 fatalities liquor was in
volved.
"Twenty-four Of the fatalities were
pedestrians. Their average age was
54A years and 1t would have been
much higher were it not for two
children killed"
There's surprising lesson in Pc
destrian fatalities. Let George M.
Burns, director Of the Safety Coun-
Gil, describe 1t:
IAN elderly man stepped into q
street without q glance in either d.
rection. A passer-by snatched him
from the path Of q car: cautioned
him he should use care in crossing
streets.
"'Don't tell me how to walk he
retorted angrily. I've been walking
more than so years."
School children are the most eau
tious pedestrians-thanks in large
part to an intensive educational
campaign conducted from kinder
garten through high school. For 430
days, ending late in 1887, there was
Evening star., 1940-01-02
Kansas CiN's Safety
Program Cuts Auto
Toll From 100 10 3
u Of 1899 Fatalities
Were Pedestrians Whose
Average Age Was 81
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
KANSAS CITY, Jan. "A decade
ago Kansas Citians paid an average
of 100 lives year to operate their
automobiles.
Then an aroused citizenry learned
"tranlc deaths need not be the cost
of operating motor cars" and saved
166 lives in five years, 1885 through
1889
There were only 80 deaths in the
year Just ended. In 1881 autos killed
104 persons. In 1884 the toll was
81. That year the Kansas City
Safety Council adopted flve-year
program to stop the sacrifice to
speed, drunken driving and care
lessness:
"Cut traffic deaths 10 each year
and save $50 lives" It appealed to
newspapers, radio, civic clubs, school
children-to every one able to walk
or drive-to cooperate.
The program worked 100 per cent
in 1885, when there were 81 deaths,
and even better the next year with
drop to rs. But autos slaughtered
II persons in 1887 and SO in 1888.
A Real Crackdown.
Then the Safety Council appealed
to police to "crack down." The po-
lice-and police judges-did. Traf-
fic fines totaled only $4,000 in the
first II months Of 1888. They were
$l05 900 in the same 1899 period. on
approximately the same number OF
tickets issued. Tickets can't be fixed
any more
Personal injury accidents were cut
from 1901 in 1888 to 1888; prop
erty damage accidents from 1878
to 3,l36 and total accidents from
4,874 to 4,269 in this city OF 100000
population.
For this successful campaign the
multi-colored pin-studded charts,
newspaper, radio, literature, per-
sonal correspondence. sales talks
and other efficiency devices of big
business were recruited. Photo
electric cells and automatic speed
checks pinned evidence on the fast
driver. The drunkometer trapped
the drinking driver. Modern devices
to check brakes and lights kept
jallopies off the streets.
The City Council set a night speed
limit Of Is miles an hour-flrst city
in the country to differentiate be-
tween day and night speed. 1t per-
mitted IS miles an hour on through
streets between dawn and dusk.
enforcement is a steady grind and
will continue" said H. w. johnson,
Evening star., 1940-01-02
Keeps Annual New Year
Rendezvous With Law
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Jan. 2.-Otis Thomp-
son, colored, 80 years old, kept his
New Year Day rendezvous with the
law.
On January 1, 1888, he was ar
rested for assault.
On January !, 1899, he was ar
rested for felonious assault.
On January /, 1910, he was charged
again with felonious assault in the
stabbing of his wife, in serious con-
dition.
Each year, Thompson has been the
first arrested for a felony In New
York.
Evening star., 1940-01-02
Philadelphia Transit
Service Taken Over
By New Company
$85, 900, 900 Corporation
Plans Wide Program
Of Modernizution
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. "A new
$85 100000 corporation, outgrowth Of
repeated attempts at financial reor-
ganization of the Philadelphia Rapid
Transit Co., took over public trans
portation in the Quaker City today
with some of its predecessors prob
lens still unsolved.
But Ralph T. Senter, president of
the old company and director of
the new, was optimistic about pros
poets for the Philadelphia Trans
portation Co., set up with court ap-
proval last November to replace the
P. r. T.
"The new year marks the be-
ginning of new era in transit in
Philadelphia" he said in a state
ment.
"The new company is resolved to
give Philadelphia the best in urban
transit service. With a sound finan-
cial structure and excellent credit,
it is prepared to launch promptly
upon an extensive program of
modernization and betterment of
service"
S7,100,000 Annual Rents.
Demands for modernization were
voiced frequently throughout the
troubled career of the P. r. T., but
little was done. Much equipment
has been obsolete for years.
Dissolution of the old company
was made necessary by its inability
to meet s7,100,000 rents annually to
Misunderstanding underlying COM
panies which since 1902 collected
1928, ,138,378 from P. R. T. earnings.
These payments were classed as
rents for the franchise holders, but
actually were dividends on stocks in
the original transit companies which
came under control of the P. R. T.
Some of the smaller companies dated
back to horse-car days of 1858.
Setup Simplified.
The financial setup of the new
company is simplified, but it still
faces many hangover problems.
From the fares of trolley, subway,
elevator and bus riders, it must pro-
vide a guaranteed annual income
Of $959,207 to 25,OOO bondholders.
The new company also faces the
responsibility of meeting a weekly
pay roll of $327,OO0 for 10000 en-
ployes and paying S3,033,930 an
nually to the city for various services,
including the Broad street subway
and Frankford elevator rents.
A board of 81 directors, selected
from the ranks of law, banking, labor
and industry and five representing
the municipality, will guide the new
company.
Evening star., 1940-01-02
Lewis Skit Restored
To Musical Show
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, Jan. 2-John L. Lewis
and the G. I. o. are being mentioned
on the Chicago stage again.
They were removed from two
shows last week after James c.
Petrillo, head of the A. F. of L. Mu-
sicians' Union in Chicago, objected
to the use of theaters for c. I. o.
propaganda"
Last night George White restored
q brief skit on Mr.. Lewis to its for
mer place in the Scandals" The
musical comedy impresario said the
theater management, not he, agreed
to the censorship and added: After
all, it is my show"
Mr.. Petrillo was in Miami, Fla,
when Mr.. White lifted the censor
ship.
Monte Carlo gambling has re-
Evening star., 1940-01-02
CIorksburg Claims
Safest CITY, Title

CLARKSBURG. w. Va, Jan.
R.-This proud Northern West Vir-
ginia city Of $4,000 inhabitants to-
day claimed the distinction Of being
the Nations safest city Of It's size
for motorists and pedestrians.
Factory whistles and sirens pro-
claimed the passing Of 81 months
without q trafflc fatality. Con-
gratulatory messages came from
National Safety Council leaders, who
are investigating Clarksburg's safest
city" claim.
Evening star., 1940-01-02
Ashburn Couple Marks
Golden Anniversary

Mr.. and Mrs. Arch S. Bell of Ash
burn, Va, celebrated their golden
wedding anniversary today.
Mr.. Bell, who is 78, and Mrs. Bell,
10, are native Virginians and have
lived at Ashburn for 20 years. They
have Is grandchildren.
Evening star., 1940-01-02
Peter J. McArdIe Dies;
REPRESENTATIVES. Father

BY the Associated Press.
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 2.-Peter J..
McCardle, a member Of City Council
since he resigned as president Of the
Amalgamated Association OF Iron,
Steel and Tin Workers in 1911, died
yesterday of a stroke and heart
trouble. He was 65.
Death came few hours before
McArdle would have started his
seventh 4-year term. A son, Joseph
A. McArdle, is a member Of Con-
greSs.
Evening star., 1940-01-02
{. W. Allen Dies

BALTIMORE, Jan. 2 R.-E. w
Allen, vice president of the General
Electric Corp, died yesterday at the
Johns Hopkins Hospital. Mr.. Allen
had been q patient at the hospital
for three months, suffering a brain
tumor, for which he had undergone
an operation.
Evening star., 1940-01-02
FoIIowup for Cos

A building in London formerly
occupied by a Fascist bookshop has
been occupied by firm specializing
In decentralization suits, and wags
say 1t is the right followup for
gas"
Evening star., 1940-01-02

Road safety courses have been
started In Orange Free State schools
Evening star., 1940-01-02

not . child fatality hsse. The city
received worldwide acclaim. And
now its been 400 days since the last
child fatality,
Evening star., 1940-01-02
JANUARY Z, 1910.

EVENING STAR FEATURES TODAY
latest from everywhere; WMAl 4:45 pm
Review According to Coyle'; WMAL, 500 PM
THE EVENINGS HIGH LIGHTS
Gloria Stuart and Authorization
Carl Doren join the Information Please board OF
experts.
pmWNIAL the title role Amerigo
Vespucci the premiere of Parade of America.
pm-WJSV vocalist who made the
"Oh Johnny, Oh" popular, and Abe Oman who wrote
it 25 years ago, appear We the People.
Alfred Walenstein conducts the Mozart concert
series, Rosenberg piano soost. mo Is
in Flat" is programmed
Freedom Of the Press" story Uncle
Walters editor who got in wrong
with his wife
sHoRT-WAVE PROGRAM TODAY
700 pm-BUDAPEST Medley Hungarian Folklore" HAT4,
912 meg, 1878
pm-RONE News; Tuesday symphonies. 2RO 11S
254 m. IRF, s83 meg, 305 m.
pm-LONDON Talk, the Table" GSD Ills
255 M; Csc, 958 meg, 3l3 m
S25pm.-MADRID, News. EAQ, ss6 meg, 3o4 m
830pm.-TOKIO Music JZK, 1916 meg, 1877 m.
5pm-PARS, English. TPB11 1188 meg, 252
TPA4 I'LL meg, 256 m.
45pm.-LONDON News. GSC 958 meg, 313 m.
pm-BERLIN Talk. meg, 32 DUG, 602
pm-PARIS TPB11 11ss meg, 252 TPA4 I'LL
meg, 256 m.
1a:15am-PAR1s News. TPB11 meg, M; TPA4 I'LL
256
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-15

deliverance of France in some happier day.
At any rate, the Petain answer is no in both
cases.
What this bodies for France is not clear.
At least it will not make Frances lot easier.
There would be no excuse for surprise if it led
to the downfall of the Petain government
which, weak as it has been, is Frances best
bulwark, barring Hitler's defeat by the British
If it falls, unoccupied France will all too prob
ably find itself under the heel of a Nazl regime
similar to that now established in Rumanla.
But. despite the possibility of even worse
times ahead for France as a result Of Petain's
position, it is impossible to condemn him Tor
standing out to protect what little livestock
France possesses for the benefit of the French
people.
The fact that Hitler has demanded Frances
livestock to help feed the Germans at home
shows that the food supply in the Reich is
rapidly being exhausted. Obviously the British
blockade is doing its job well.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-15
Editorial Comment
CHURCHILL
Baltimore Sun

we believe it to be true that no good has
been won for the human race through war
which could not have been achieved more
nobly through peace. But individuals find their
souls in suffering.
Listening yesterday to Winston Churchill,
many must have felt that for him this war
has been a gift of the kindly fates. Not be-.
cause it has brought him to power and to a
position in history over which men will brood
as long as the life of England remains in the
records and the legends. Rather, this war
has been for Winston Churchill a gift of the
kindly fates because it has burned the dross
out OF his soul. All of us dream of the men
we might have been. Few, alas, in all the long
roll OF the generations become the men they
might have been. Churchill is now one of the
few. From youth, his brilliancy has been
granted. But, almost from youth, a certain
moral instability has been attributed 10 him.
Men argue whether he was capable OF self
less devotion to any cause. His defenders
found their best case in the theory that he
was never disloyal to himself, to his own
inner convictions, but in decades of debate
they could not convince the majority of his
countrymen. Today, all men, save those af.
fected by the irrational enmities of war, must
know that this unstable mar has become the
very rock of the moral stability of England it.
self.
His brilliancy brought him to the post of
power so long denied him and his brlll1ancy
in the thirties in judging Hitler's plans and
his brilliancy in this last year in measuring
means of defense. But it was not brilliancy
which spoke to England and the world yester-
day through Churchill's lips. 1t was character!
In an epic hour, self, ambition, love of place
and power have faded and disappeared. De-
votion rules this man, devotion to ''the ashes
of his fathers and the temples. of his gods"
He has been caught up and transported in a
great thought, a great emotion, a great pur-
pose. For long years, England was the in
strument with which to achieve glory for
Churchill. In this day, Churchill is the instru-
ment with which to preserve England's glory,
and all else is gone from that once-wayward
bosom. Fortunate man! He has won the prize
of which even he, in all his ~vaulting ambition,
did not dare to dream. ~rt. z
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-15
Petroleum Prices

The situation in the petroleum industry con-
tinues unsettled. Says the New York Herald
Tribune:
adverse effects on the earnings of oil COM
panies which are primarily in the refining and
distributing end of the business are expected
to occur from the continued drop in gasoline
prices. The latest survey of the A. P. 1. shows
that on Sept. l the average retail price oil
motor fuel in fifty leading cities had fallen
to 1888 cents a gallon, a decline of IA cent
during the month, and the lowest level since
November of 1884. This price was LOS cent be.
low the 1889 comparative of 1888 cents a gal
lon.
A these prices are "ex taxes With all
Federal, state and local gasoline taxes includ
ed, the Sept. l average retail price was 49,
cents, against 1885, cents, on Aug. / and 18.84
on Sept. l, $780,"
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-15
Worth a Hundred Million

Colonel George Gillette, district engineer for
southeastern North Carolina, told. the picnick
ers at Wizards field day on Thursday that
federal drainage projects had practically erad-
icated the malaria mosquito in this section,
and that the U. S. engineer corps, in its work
on streams, had not only preserved the fish
and shellfish resources but by careful plan
ing had increased production, especially of
CLANS and oysters in inlets and coastal waters.
But obviously the job is not completed. Col
onel Gillette added: 'To my mind the ,expen-
diture of $4,000, 900 of somebody's money,
whether state or federal, to continue the drain
age effort. would be worth than $1OO, OOO, 900 to
the health. happiness and prosperity of the
entire state"
tTo appreciate the full value of this it is
necessary to remember that it is an expert
speaking. 1t is not the dreaming of a wishful
thinker but the definite, studied conclusion OF
one who knows whereof he speaks.
AS health, happiness and prosperity are es-
sential ingredients of successful defense, upon
which we are now concentrating, it is fitting
to take Colonel Gillette's testimony at face
value and do something to create the great
asset he points out. With his able support it
ought to be possible to organize this DRAIN
age work, with federal aid, on a grand scale
and complete the job he has carried so far
within his limited means.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-15
Physical Preparedness

President Roosevelt has asked John B. KEEL
ly, Democratic chairman of Philadelphia, to
draft in detail plans for remuscling soft men
through organized calisthenics. Mr.. Kelly had
presented to the President a tentative plan
under which this class of citizens could hard
Ell up under auspices of civilian agencies such
as community play centers and clubs. He
called it physical preparedness"
With the National Guard soon to entrain for
intensive military training and the veterans
of the last war designated to take over the
duties OF a home guard, such a plan appears
to offer a program in the adoption of which
middle-aged men otherwise fitted by exper-
fence for the duties ahead may gain the ply
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-15
TOP o. I'll

our Father, zoe thank Thee for all Thy grac-
ious care, mea0 every morning 60. May we spend
this day as in Thy sight. Keep us, we prau.
pure IN heart -. Make ~ strong in tempto-
ton, patient and courageous in trial, faithful
in every trust. . Guard our lips zoe man sneak
no unklmd or thought1ess aoord; our hearts, that
q0e may think u~msel5sh and generous thoughts !;
ana our hands, that ae may help one another.
IT 1t be best for us, keep us from sickness
and death, that in g7admess we may serve Thee :
out IT misfortune befaU us, drav us close to
Ihyset and comfort us, that our faith man
not fail.
Bless all homes. Have compassion on the
homeless Sc. and in mercy grant us a pzace at
length in Thy Heavenly Home, throuqh Jesus
Christ, our Lord. Amen.
FROM GODS MINUTE
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-15
Bruce Cations
In Washington
Washington Correspondent

WASHINGTON Behind the swap of those
so destroyers for naval and air base leases
on British islands there is a story of long
patient work by various private American citi'
ems who have felt all along that England is
to a great extent fighting Americas fight.
First impetus came a couple of months ago.
when some of these individuals who had &C
cess to official circles in England asked the
British government point-blank what sort Of
help from America was most vitality needed
Back came the answer: "Destroyers-as many
of them as possible"
This attitude was made known to the u. S
administration, and the campaign was on.
LETTER CAMPAIGN
STIMULATED MOVE
Most of the publicizing of the affair was
carried on by the William Allen White com.
mittee. After the project had been before the
public a while, the committee brought forth
a high-powered legal brief asserting that under
existing law the President had the power to
trade the destroyers without prior consent OF
Congress. This brief, signed by four promi.
nent lawyers-Charles C. Birmingham, Thomas
D. Thacher, George Rublee and Dean Acheson
was published on the editorial page of the
New York Times.
little later. the White House suggested the
cause might be helped. if. senators and con-
gressmen began to get letters urging the trans
fer. The committee saw 10 II mat some thou
sands of these were Sent
After that, it engaged a survey organization
tn study the protests against the projected
sale This group analysed the mail of various
congressmen and reported that the bulk If the
Mosaic letters were more or less directly rono-
munist-inspired
Meanwhile the White House Carefully so,,na
ed out sentiment on Capitol Hill. Oddly eno,1ah
it learned that quite a number of Republicans
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-15
They Can Take It-And How!

A vivid picture of the way Londoners arr
living these days is given in an article by
Tania Long, of the New York Herald Tribune
London staff. g.
One of the biggest problems, writes Mis-
Long, which faces Londoners, poor or rich, il
sleep. This was during the heavy night raids
'After going around heavy-lidded and tiree
for the first few days of aerial bombing, Johr
Citizen and his family have . . . changed
their sleeping quarters from the bedroom t.
the cellar or bomb shelter"
About 8 or $3.50 o'clock it is conventional fol
families to get into their shelter clothes ant
retire as far below ground as possible. There
they sleep in huddles, too dead tired to know
what is going on above-how great the dam
age, how heavy the toll. Curiosity, even in
terest, is submerged in WEAKNESS.
Miss Longs description of the situation is
too interesting to paraphrase. Note this:
The children are put to sleep in a dark
ened corner of the shelter, and the grown
ups gather in small groups and whisper
or play bridge until about II p. m. Then
it is good night" as people climb into
LQelT DuukS, hoping Tie UOlIlUS dlu IedVy
SHORES will not prevent sleep.
There are similar scenes in the base
ment rooms of the finest hotels of London
today. After two bombs on consecutive
nights fell within a few yards of my apart
ment, smashing IN the panes, tearing down
the doors and lifting up the framework of
one window, 1 found, after some difficulty
a room in one of the larger hotels, with
a large, solid flooring. Hotels, incidentally
are doing a fine business these days.
When the siren blows, the residents start
downstairs with their pillows and sleeping
bags under their arms. Those who want
to get an early start 60 to the regular
hotel shelters. Those who don't mind wait
ins until about l a. M, when the SUBJ
basement grill is closed, sit around on the
stairs or in the halls and talk. Then there
is a helter-skelter dash for the best cor
ner of the grill room. In a half hour there
are people lying around everywhere, some
with their heads under the tables to keep
the light out, others curled on the benches
along the walls, others s%prawling in the
middle of the small dance floor.
When the gray light of dawn begins to
show and the "all clear" siren announces
the Nazis' departure, a porter brings the
news to the people below. About half get
up and return to their hotel rooms, some
to snatch an other hour or so of sleep
before going to work. The remainder are
too sound asleep, and no one bothers them
until it is time for them to be called.
We seem to see here the reason why Nazi
airmen, for all the destruction they have been
causing, have utterly failed to COW the British
people. This was all to be expected. They
were warned of it in advance and made them
selves ready to endure it and anything else
the Germans can devise.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-15
BUT HAT
ABOUT JACK

Mary Livingstone (Mrs. Jack
Benny has the only sure system
of beating the races. When she
loses, Benny pays the deficit. when
she wins, she keeps the money
when he wins, she gets halt, 49,,
Clark Gable has turned down an
invitation from some Of the studio
bigwigs to go on a deer hunt. He
says their idea of r%oughing it IN
the mountains is to drink cham.
payne from tin cups and gooble
caviar right out Of the jars,
Out at Walt DiSney's factory.
they're putting the last Of the sight
and sound together for "Fantasia'
and the illustrated symphony con-
cert will be ready for release ear?
in November. There are a few
minor innovations III animation.
but the newest thing will be II
reproduction of the music-tAea'
tres showing the picture will have
to have extra equipment.
y = s.
What s-in-a-name Departments;
The new Preston Sturgis picture.
first called "A Cup Of Coffee
then The New Workers and laa
Something to Shout About, non
has been retitled christmas ID
July" and will be released II VI.
tober.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-15
Foamite Demonstration
Staged By City Firemen

A gasoline fire was extinguished
in one and a half minutes in a dem
onstration of the foamite generator
by firemen at 18th and Marstel-
lar streets, Fire Chief J. Ludie
Groom reported.
Preparations for the demonstfa-
ton included the placing of $50
gallons of burnt oil in a 20-foot
square pit, the oil then being COW
cred with so gallons of gasoline.
James E. L. Wade, commits
sloner of public works, tossed q
flare into the pit and after one and
a half minutes during which the
flames roared a hundred feet in
the air, the firemen went to work
with the foam generator.
The foamite generator is used in
the combating of gasoline or oil
fires.
Mayor Thomas E. Cooper was
present for the demonstration.