davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1954-06-21
ORGANIC ACT DAY

ANY OBSERVANCE Of Organic Day this year would be
either premature or anti-climactic. AS it is we are seeing the
end of one organic act and the beginning Of another, provid-
ed the Congress sees fit to pass one at this session.
ORGANIC G DAY should be an important day in
the life Of these Islands. 1t should represent, in fact, our In
dependence Day-our Fourth of July, and be celebrated with
like enthusiasm and completeness. But as Of this writing this
is not the case, and we must wait to see the outcome.
ANY OF H versions of the new organic act will be
considerably more complete than the old one, but this is no
reason why we should bindly jump at it. While we are in the
process Of having a new act why not have the best possible.
In a democracy, the governing Of the people is no simple,
passing matter, but a serious one to which only the fullest
consideration should be given.
AS IT STANDS the new act will not give the fullest
measure Of self government. We still cannot elect a governor,
end even the matter Of electng our representatives is not
without shortcomings. There is still no representative in
Washington whose principal concern is looking after the af-
fairs Of the Virgin Islands. Congress has felt that this is a
waste Of time and money but had there been such a represen-
tative the return Of the internal revenue taxes might have
received more favorable consideration, and even perhaps be-
c,ne a reality by now.
BUT THROUGH it all there is a sense Of qualification
that there will be an improvement in the new organic act;
that there will be a stab at creating the kind Of legislative
dy which will, by its very composition, tend to see and
csl with the total picture in legislating. The rest will have
to come later.
AS WE OBSERVE Organic Act Day let us look forward
and work hard to the day when self government will not be
distant dream, and when our efforts will convince many that
the right, the ability, and the deep desire for such surpasses
everything else, and becomes a reality.
, 1954-06-21
GOVERNING THE VIRGIN
ISLANDS
(Senator Buffers Letter
which appeared in the
Washington Post)

er was contributing six mil
lion dollars to the Virgin IS
lands, no citizen Of the Virgin
Islands was making any con-
tribution whatever to the Fed
eral treasury. All Federal in
come taxes collected from
from Virgin Islands residents
were covered into the insular
treasures and appropriated
by the local legislature, as
were all custom duties.
However one Of the great
est evils in the present system
is the fact that under the 1886
Organic Act the legislature
passes on each and every APP
,pointment regardless Of how
mental it may be on the one
hand, or how highly skilled.
and technical on the other.
Literally, the Governor of the
Virgin Islands cannot hire a
man to sweep the floor of his
office without getting the APP
proval of the local legislature.
This inevitably has led to pol
ticking in appointments in
occasion.
AS to the four specific OBJ
jections of Messrs. Hill and
Haywood, the Virgin Islands
are in precisely the same sta
tus as Guam with respect to-
the presidential veto. / do not
find any instance in which
the presidential veto power
has had to be exercised with
respect to an act of the Guam
legislature, whereas on nine
separate occasions since 1915
the Virgin Islands legislature
has overridden the Governors
veto, and on eight Of these
nine occasions the President
has sustained the Governor.
AS to the second objection,
either the Assembly delegates
do not understand the present
law, or / do not. Section 6 of
the 1886 Act provides that the
members of the Municipal
Council must be chosen by
electoral districts, with two
councilmen at large from st.
.Croix and two from st. Tho
mas. Voters can vote only for
the counciImen representing
the geographical district in
which they live, and for the
at large members. AS I read
, 1954-06-21

MONDAY, JUNE 81, 1854
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1954-03-12
Civil Service Group
Hears John R. Dixon

John r. Dixon, Of Cincinnati.
member of the staff of the Ohio
Civil Service EMPLOYEES Associa-
ton, addressed the Madison Chap
ter at a recent meeting at the
American Legion Home, East
High Street.
He discussed numerous general
association as well as individual
employee problems, with mem
bers participating before the So
cial hour and refreshments.
Committee on Grievances was
named as, follows: Claren c G
Adrian, London Prison Farm,
chairman; Alvin S. Kimball of the
Bureau of Identification and VOL
ford Jones of the Aid for the
Aged Department.
The Chapter will meet Friday
evening, March II at the Legion
Home with special entertainment.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1954-03-12
Campbell Pleads
Guilty Gets Life
Term Thursday

1T is the decision of this court
to sentence you to serve the rest
of your natural life in the Ohio
State Penitentiary" said Judge
James F. Bell Thursday morning
as he passed sentence on Robert
Campbell, 80, accused of rape.
Campbell had pleaded not guilty
TO the charges but changed his plea
in court Thursday morning to
guilty. He was represented in
court by an attorney appointed
by the court.
According to law, Campbell will
be eligible for a parole hearing in
IS years hence. Campbell heard
the sentence without any show of
emotion and was led away to be
sent to the Ohio Penitentiary pro-
badly Friday. The case was one
in which absolutely no defense
could be shown, court officials said.
So clear was the evidence that one
lawyer appointed by the court
asked to be relieved of the case
since no defense was possible un-
der a mot guilty" plea, it was said.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1954-03-12
GOOD SAMARITANS

1t looked pretty discOuraging
to Donald Lewis, Yankeetown
Pike farmer who is recovering
after a second operation, when
ne looked out his window last
week and thought about all the
things that must be done in pre-
paration for the spring work.
But he reckoncd without his
good ncighbOrs, who realized
his plight and set operations
in motion to sec that his needs
were we'll taken care of.
The Young Farmers of Madi-
son Local School with a number
of others i'm that community, de-
SCendcd on the farm Saturday,
March 6, with tractors. manure
Spreaders and leaders to haul
approximately IS loads of man.
ure. In addition to that they
bedded the feed lots and per-
formed other necessary work
before they departed for home.
All we'll and good, but be-
fore they left, the Good Sam
aritans" looked about to be sure
they had rendered all possible
service and decided that on
Tuesday, March 9 they would
return and ploW Mr.. Lewis so
acres that had to be turned
over, They did just that, work
ing until seven o'clock that ev-
ening in order to complete the
task.
Participating in operations
Lewis" were, r. G. Phillips, Vo-
ag instructor at Madison Local
School, Bill Miller, Jerry Beau
man, Ray Campbell, Orville
Jones, Chalmer Sargent, Pal
mer Snyder, Roger Mantle, Paul
Hammond, Robert Hunter Bob
Dorm, Howard Shumate, Char
les Reeves, Eldon Davis. Fred
McClaskic. Jr., Gene Clemons,
Thurman Crabtree and james
McAdam.
IF you've never been in 4
spot like. this, you've no idea
what such friendship means. My
family and | deeply appreciate
this extraordinary expression of
helpfulness, as well as the many
other kindnesseS shown us dur
ing my Illness" Mr.. Lewis re-
marked.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1954-03-12
Blood Donors On
Decrease Need
$50 PintS Here

Madison County's Blood Donor
program calls for a visit of the
Mobile unit Tuesday, March %, at
the Presbyterian Church in Lon
don, from 10 o'clock until four in
the afternoon
London Business and Profession
al Women, with Miss Ruth f.
Armstrong, as chairman, will con-
tinue recruitment of donors, which
has been one of its chief projects
for several years.
A systematic plan of recruit
ment has been mapped out for the
club members, but in addition to
this, the committee encourages vol
unteer recruitment and also walk
ms by those who wish to donate
but have not gotten around to reg
istering.
1t is sad, but true, say those who
1AL ( W VI ming iOl IN OlllOliOll VI IillS
great program, that numbers reg
istering are on the decrease, even
though the need for blood is just
as great as it ever was. At times,
they state, the stock pile in the
Blood Bank at area Center. Column
bus, is practically depleted.
Donors who wish to register for
the March % visit, may do so by
calling Mrs. John w. Stroupe,
1913; Madison County Red Cross
Headquarters Phone 90 or Mrs.
Blackmore, executive secretary at
SO.
The quota hoped for is 80 pints.
according to Judge Maurice +.
Beathard, program chairman for
Madison County. 1T will be a
great day, if those in this conmu-
nifty will help by phoning in to reg
ister and aid us in reaching the
quota needed said Judge Beath-
ard.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1954-03-12
Suicide Attempts
And Escapes Told
In Investigation

State Auditor, James A. Rhodes,
charged Wednesday that "other
escapes, riots and incidents far
worse" than Tuesdays escape of
four girls from the Girls InduSt-
rial School and the subsequent
damage at the Madison County
jail have been 'white-washed and
covered up by the State Depart
ment of Welfare"
IN A STATEMENT deploring
'the destruction of property un-
der any circumstances" Rhodes
said:
at has been my contention all
along that if something is not
done Immediately to set up a
decent, humane and profes-
sionaI rehabilitation program at
Girls Industrial School, the escape
Tuesday night . . and the subse-
quent destruction of property will
seem commonplace when compared
to what has happened and what
is likely to happen"
The auditor, who recently de-
plored conditions at the school
after a personal inspection, said
the Delaware County sheriff had
received reports that more than
300 girls escaped from the school
in a recent year.
RHODES CHARGED little, or
nothing, was heard of these ef-
forts on the part of the girls to
flee from the miSmanagement,
brutality and sadisr1 cxtant" at
the school. He maintained these
incidents have been deliberately
kept from the public in a planned
effort to cover UP an ineDt admin
istratiOn.'
He charged the foGr girls es-
cape and obstruction atsthe Lon
don jaia "again illustrates the in
ability of the administrative heads
of the school to properly provide
guidance and rehabilitation for
"HISi oSiHHiIG Pdi oOSC q tSSH~aSS
child is committed to their care"
He said the Welfare Department
has not revealed the number o.
girls who have jumped out of Win
dowS at the school sustaining bro
ken legs, broken hacks, nor tn :
number of girls who sustained fro
zen feet in leaving the school in
mid-winter, nor the number of at
tempted suicides at the school in
the past few years"
He said the facts disclosed by
his investigation should empna-
size the immediate need of an
honest, impartial investigation by
disinterested persons"
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1954-03-12
Judge Sentences
Five In Recent
Court Hearings

Cases last disposed Of i'm Mad
ison County Common Pleas Court,
by Judge James F. Bell were those
of Charles Doty, Homer Evans and
Robert Williams.
Charles Doty indicted by the
grand jury for forgery had his
probationary period extended for
one year from February 19, 1854
for violation of probation
In the case of Homer Evans,
indicted for failure TO provide,
Evans was ordered confined in the
Madison County Jail for 90 days
and to pay costs of prosecution.
Williams. on an indictment for
assault and battery was found
guilty of violation of probation,
was given 80 days in Madison Co
unity Jail in addition to a fine of
S1OO and costs.
Sentences of ! to 20 years in
the Ohio Penitentiary have been
started by Dan Ledford and Frank
COvey.
Ledford was sentenced by Judge
James F. Bell after he changed
his plea of not guilty to guilty
on an indictment of stealing a
motor vehicle
Covey also changed his plea to
guilty on an indictment of shoot
ing with intent to wound, and
was given one to 20 years in the
Ohio Pen. Three other indictments
against him for larceny, pointing
firearms and discharging firearms,
yKyprn yopllind
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1954-03-12
Four Teen-Age Escapes
Stage Riot At County Jail

hands full with the kicking, scrat-
ching, biting teen-agcrs, but num-
bers soon triumphcd and the girls
We're loaded into cars and taken to
the sheriff's office here. 1t was
then that the girls staged their
own riot in the Jail
If was brought out that the
county viii be reimbursed for the
damage to the Jail since the girls
are charges of the GIS which is
responsible for their actions. Ac-
cording to Mrs. Evelyn r. Ethel,
GIS director, two Of the girls had
escaped a total of five times each
and a third had escaped three
times 1t was the first escape for
the 15-year-old, the youngest of
the four, Mrs. Ethel said.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1954-03-12
Connie CutIip Is
OSU Senior Class
Representative

COLUMBUS, O.. March 10 -
The 16 women students who will
serve as class representatives on
the Women'S Self Government AS
sociation of Ohio State Univer-
sity were announced today by
Dean of Women Christine Y. Con-
away. They will be among Of
ficers of the association to be in
stalled at a banquet at $50 p. m.
Wednesday, March 10, in the Fran
kiln Room of the Ohio Union.
WSGA is the top women's govern
ing body on the campus. Connie
Cutlip, London, is one of five sem
iOr REPRESENTATIVES
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1954-03-12
Alice Ross Dies
In Columbus

Alice Ross, native of Range
township, Madison County, died
Thursday morning in a Columbus
Hospital.
A retired school teacher of Mad
ison County, Miss Ross was 98
years of age. She was a member of
the Danville Methodist Church.
Miss Ross, who had never mar
ried, left no immediate relatives;
two ncphews and a niece being
the only survivors. She was a
sister of the late w. w Billy
Ross, former we'll known school
teacher in Madison County, who
died several years ago.
Funeral services Saturday at 2
o'clock at the Lukens Funeral
Home. Reverend A. NJ. Shenefelt,
officiating minister. Interment in
Range Township Cemetery. ~~e-a
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1954-03-12
Bob butcher Wins
Spot On Ted Mack
Show In New York

Bob butcher, 1O4 North Main
Street, London, is on his way! Bob
came through with flying feet as
well as flying colors, after his
third addition, Wednesday in Day
ton, and was one of nine finalists,
chosen from IA to appear with
Ted Mack and His Amateurs on
Parade at the Field House at Day
ton University.
He repeated on the program that
night and now comes a chance for
London's "Bojangles" to get i'm the
Big Time.
Saturday morning ne will be
flown to New York to appear on
the real Ted Mack Amateur Hour
when it is televised oyer Station
WLW-C, Channel 4 at eight-thirty
o'clock.
In order to make the top grade
now that he has his chance, Bob
must be a three time winner on
these Saturday night shows. If
he is successful, he will then land
in the spotlight of the Amateur
Hours Big Show, Madison Square
Garden, New York City, this sum-
mer (the dream of every amateur
who ever gets a chance to appear
on the ShoWl.
Bob's local friends, who will be
watching with great interest Satur-
day night, can help him get there
by paying strictest attention to Ted
Mack's. instructions on how to vote,
when he gives them during the
show.
Bob butcher, 16 years old, is
the son of Mr.. and Mrs. G. w.
butcher, and a junior in London
High School. He is associated with
Mrs. Helen Marx in her Studio of
the Dance, after school hours.
Since he was a very small lad he
has been interested in modern
dancing and spends practically all
the time he docs not devote 10
his studies, working on and devel-
oping new routines.
The Talent Scouts were in Day
ton Wednesday and sought out the
butcher family to inquire as to
Bob's age, where he had gotten
his start and asked many other
leading questions, which seemed to
mean to them that others noticed
his great ability and were interest
ed in his career. ..
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1954-03-12
Jessie Cummins
Dies In Florida

Mrs. Jessie Cummins, So, of
210 South Main Street, London,
died in Jackson Memorial Hospital,
Miami, Florida, Tuesday, where
she had been a patient for treat
ment for heart ailment and other
illness for the past two weeks.
Mrs. CumminS had been in ill
health for some time and had
gone in August for an extended
stay with her daughter, Mrs.
Violet Cummins Fisher and her
family in Miami
For many years Mrs. CumminS
was employed in hotel work being
associated with prominent hotels
in Columbus, Springfield and
Dayton. For the last three years
she had been employed at Fct-
troW's.
Surviving are the daughter,
Mrs. Fisher; two sons, Robert of
Columbus and William of Arm
strong Road; four grandchildren;
two brothers, Carl, London r. d.
No 4 and W. J. Cummins, Rag
land, West Virginia; one sister,
Mrs. Russell Rowe and her step
mother, Mrs. Fannie Cummins,
both of MarySville.
Funeral services Saturday at
two o'clock at the Apostolic
Church, Shady Avenue. the Rev
erend George Chambers of Co
lumbus, officiating minister. In
terment in Paint Township Ce-
metery.
Friends may call at the
Schlechty-Fichner Funeral Homo
after noon FRIDAY.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1954-03-12
Legion To Honor
Korean Veterans
At Special Meet

Madison Post 105, The Ameri-
can Legion will hold an open meet
ing Sunday March 14th at the
Legion Home, Ill E. High St, at
800 P. NJ.
This meeting is to honor all
veterans in the London area who
have served since June 25, 1850.
Joseph w. Couture, commander of
the Post will present Certificates
of Honor to the Korean veterans
attending this meeting.
The public is invited to attend
this meeting.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1954-03-12
Windows Broken,
Mattress Burned
In Jail FiaSCo

In the wake of State Auditor
James A. Rhodes investigation of
alleged inhumane conditions at the
Girls Industrial School at Della
ware recently, Sheriff Harold Bid
we'll of Madison county was given
a taste Of the pcnt-up anger of
four escapes Of the Delaware in
stitution Tuesday night. The girls
staged their own riot in the wO-
mems section of the county Jail
and it took several hours 10 sub
due them. They broke out win
dOWs, set fire to mattresses, hurled
broken glass at officers, plugged
drains and allowed water to run
into the cells. One girl purposely
cut herself with broken glass, the
sheriff said.
The girls, lodged in two cells
after having been captured at the
weighing station near Lafayette
about five hours after making
their escape, kicked, bit. swore and
caused general havoc in the norm
ally peaceful Jail confines. Off
cials were held at bay on the stairs
leading to the cells when the girls
threw pieces of broken glass each
time the officers tried to get to
them. Finally. the four girls. aged
from Is to II, were handCuffed to
the cell doors and the mattress fire
eXtinguished The girls were re-
turned to the Delaware institution
by state patrOlmen who had been
summoned when the situation got
out Of hand. The girls had hitch
hiked their way to the cloverleaf
intersection where patrolmen ar
rested them after an alert had
been sent out via patrol radio that
they had escaped.
The girls were said to have worn
blue jeans and sweaters at the
time of the escape from Delaware
and officials were pondering the
possibilities as to where such cloth
ing may have been obtained. Blue
jeans and sweaters are not official
garb at the Girls Industrial School
and some speculation was express
ed as to where the girls may have
obtained them.
Sheriff Bidwell said that he had
never experienced such foul and
abusive language as that used by
the four girls Il wouldn't have the
dob as superintendent of GIS for
S50,00O," said the sheriff. He add
ed, Il wish Mr.. Rhodes had been
here to see just what some Of these
girls can do"
A scene of general confusion oc-
Cured earlier at the weighing sta
ton when patrOlmcn with the help
Of WcighmasterS attempted to
round up the fugitivcs. A truck
driver reported that he had pick
cd up the girls and had let them
out near the station. Patrolmen
and patrol cars converged on the
scene from all directions when il
was made known that the girls
had been located. The girls ran
from the officers and had to be
forcibly subducd one at a time
The mud-spattered men had their
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1954-03-12
Rhodes Charges Officials
With White Wash At G.I.S.
Speasmaker Gets
Union Township
J. P. Appointment

A certificate Of appointment was
received by County Clerk, James
Littler, Thursday morning which
specifies that Ned J. Speasmaker,
son of Mayor Z. p. Speasmaker,
has officially been appointed as
Justice of the Peace in Union
Township. The document was sign
ed by Governor Frank J. Lausche
and Ted w. Brown, Secretary Of
State.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1954-03-12
Rogenrife Chosen
On I.N.S. AIl-Ohio
Basketball Team

Dick Bogcnrife, Six-foot-two
Midway basketball phenomenon,
was picked on the International
News Service Class B All Ohio
first team. "Bogey", along with
Harry Fitzpatrick, Lancaster St.
Mary's; Ralph Elwcr. Delphos ST.
Johns; Rex Leach, Vienna; and
Wynn Hawkins, Waterford. out
classed mighty Lockland Wayne
who bad TO settle for two posit-
ions on the second team.
Bogenrife was the only two-year
choice of the sportswriters and
coaches to gain the coveted hon
or
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1954-03-12
Jim Conway Pledged
To Delta Tau Delta

GAMBLER, OHIO ~ A Kenyon
freshman from London, James r..
Conway, Jr., has just been pledged
to Delta Tau Delta fraternity at
the College. Conway, who is Is, is
graduate of London High School,
where he was active on the foot
ball and basketball teams, and
with the Hi-Y. His parents are Mr.,
and Mrs. J. r. Conway of 142 n.
Main st.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1954-03-12
Moose Lodge To
Raise Funds For
Moose Orphans

The members of London Moose
Lodge are sponsoring a show in
their hall over the London Appli-
ancc Company on South Main St,
which will be to secure funds for
MoOSchart Orphans Home.
The show will feature trained
animals, clowns, magic, Indian
songs and dances, marionettes,
vcntriloquist etc. Two performance
cS will be presented TO accommo-
date the crowds.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1954-03-12
$50, 900 Damages
Sought BY South
Charleston Man

Samuel w. Rehm of South Char
lesion, has filed suit i'm Madison
County Common Pleas court, seek
ing to collect $4,000 damages
from Howard c. West of Washing
ton c. H
The petitioner alleges he was
injured in an automobile accident
by plaintiff, May 10, 1853 on State
Route 232 about two miles south
east Of South Solon.