THE CITIZEN
1 k
S3
71th YEAR. NO. 10
HONESDALE, WAYNE 00., PA., FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 1913.
PRICE
Hi'
CORTRIGHT CASE WILL CLOSE
TO-DAY
Entlro Week Tnkcn Up on Practi
cally Ono Case One Moro Case
To Bo Tried.
Two cases were disposed of Mon
day 'afternoon without the Jury
drawn going out of tho box. The
first was that of P. B. Lawson
against Hyman Weltzer for -wages.
Air. Lawson was sworn and testified
that ho -worked at Braman for Mr.
'Weltzer from July 20th until Aug.
12th last, amounting to ?G6.30. As
no witness appeared In the behalf
of the defendant, the court Instruct
ed the jury to render a verdict In
favor of Mr. Lawson In the sum of
$72. 2G, which was the amount due,
together with Interest.
The second case which was ap
pealed from the justice's transcript
was that of Charles E. Knapp
against Fred E. Stlnnard. The de
fendant claimed that he paid the
judgment In full, but as the plaintiff
offered no evidence the court or
dered the judgment settled. The
jury so agreed.
C. A. Cortrlght and son, Eugene,
composing the firm of C. A. Cort
rlght & Son, are plaintiffs in the
case against F. W. Kreitner and W.
H. Kreitner, contractors and others,
defendants. Mr. Cortrlght was re
presented by Homer Greene, assisted
lay E. C. Mumford, while Messrs.
Kreltner's counsel was W. H. Lee,
assisted by M. E. Simons. Mr.
Greene opened the case.
Eugene H. Cortrlght was the first
witness sworn. He testified In his
behalf, telling of the conversation he
had with Kreitner Bros, previous to
the erection of tho building, its con
struction, of which material would
"be used and how he desired It built.
Mr. Cortrlght said he had the foun
dation wall laid by F. J. Varcoe and
that Jules Dunn helped in tho work.
These walls were separate and apart
from the main wall, which were of
two piece or double concrete blocks,
ono foot high and two feet long.
They were manufactured by the
Wayne Concrete Supply Company of
Honesdale. The 'blocks were laid by
Pierce & Baker.
Eberley Skinner sworn: Stated
that he had been around the barn
nearly every day during course of
erection with the exception of six
weeks spent in Brooklyn. Said lie
was on the barn the day it fell and
saw blocks around the sides of the
-wall. Was in the office when 'barn
collapsed.
Mr. Colvill, of Plttston, was sworn
and Bald he built warehouses and
other buildings for several years.
Told the construction of the string
ers, how they were placed, the loca
tion of the cross rods and the con
struction of tho!f oof Said 'he BQYs.
er saw a building erected like it Be
fore. B. L. Holbert, sworn. Said he
was standing on the step of his
store when the Cortrlght barn fell
on the evening of October 24th. He
said noise sounded like a crashing
or like the breaking of timbers.
Stated that he rushed over and help
ed carry Mr. Cortrlght, Eugene's
father, from the office to his home
after which he helped get out some
horses from the basement of tho
new barn.
Eugene Baker, sworn. Live In
Carbondale and am a member of the
firm of Pierce & Baker, the firm that
contracted with Mr. Cortrlght to
erect the brick blocks of the barn
Kaw tne plans which were In our
possession about two hours. Came
to Honesdalo when contract was
started and four or five times af
terward. Saw plans and front ele
vatlon of first floor of building show
lng the doorway and windows.
William D. Lane, Carbondale,
sworn. Said he was employed by
Pierce & Baker as foreman to lay
the concrete blocks on the barn.
Said he never saw a block like this
kind before and consequently never
laid a block like It. Had charge of
the work for Mr. Pierce.
H. F. Weaver, sworn. Am an ar
chitect. Have worked at this work
the last 17 years and prior to that
time was a contractor and builder
Worked under a number of best ar
chitects of the day. Witness men
tioned who they were and told some
of the large buildings ho built, also
mentioned structure which he de
signed and had the superlntendency
over in Honesciaie. went in de
scription of building. Exhibit was
shown illustrating bow building was
constructed, plan of girders, sup
porters, posts, etc. The sketch was
made by Mr. Weaver after the barn
fell. Mr. Weaver was upon tho
stand an hour and a half, which was
spent in direct and cross-examination.
David Fisher sworn. Said he was
a junk dealer. Stated that Mr.
Cortrlght and Fred Kreitner visited
his place and selected the kind and
weight of iron that was Intended to
bo used In the barn. Only the iron
posts and 56-pound rails were se
elcted when tho two gentlemen
visited his place. Witness read list
of material purchased and also gave
dates of purchase. Said the first
load was delivered by his team and
tho balance was taken to the build
ing by Mr. Cortrlght's men. Said
Mr. Cortrlght selected what he want
ed after he and Mr. Kreitner visit
ed his yard. Was there several
times.
John Rldd sworn. Live In Ore
gon. Mr. Kreitner bought about 1,
800 feet of lumber of me for Cort
rlght's barn.
Horace Marsh sworn. Worked for
Mr. Kreitner on Cortrlght barn In
July. Think It was about two
weeks. Saw Mr. Kreitner there
nearly every day. On cross-examina
tlon Mr. Marsh was asked If ho was
sure that ho worked that length of
tlme to -which he said he thought
lt was. Mr. MaTsh was recalled
Wednesday morning and the defend
ant's attorney again asked Mr.
Marsh it it was not a fact that he
worked there about 2 days and he
said he thought It was two or three
days, that he couldn't remember
which.
Edward Pierce sworn. Said he
lived In Carbondale and that he
was a member of the firm of Pierce
& Baker, contractors who laid the ,
concrete blocks above the founda-,
ti6n for the Cortrlght barn. He said j
that he had done a general building!
business for the past ten years. Had '
built some brick buildings. This
was the first concrete building erect
ed where this kind of blocks werej
used. Visited the barn four or Ave I
times during course of erection, i
Staid about 15 minutes at each
time. Saw W. H. Kreitner on site. I
Didn't say anything to him about the
building, Just passed the time of day
with him.
Other witnesses were laborers of
the plaintiff, with the exception of
Charles E. Knapp, who stated that
he heard the crash in Schoell's bar
ber shop that evening. The wit
nesses testified in order given and
were as follows: Samuel Wadge,
June Decker, Jules Dunn, Edward
Hempstead, Albert Thomas, 'Ray
mond ' Ashby, Lloyd Campfleld,
Jules Dunn testified that he made
the window frames for the barn un
der measurements given him by Mr.
Kreitner.
The plaintiff rested Wednesday at
noon.
Attorney W. H. Lee opened the
defence and W. H. Kreitner was the
first witness sworn. He said he had
been a resident of Honesdale about
20 years and was a contractor and
builder. Stated that he erected
about 50 dwelling houses in Hones
dale besides numerous brick build
ings which witness mentioned. Told
of conversation he had with E. H.
Cortrlght regarding the erection of
the building, how he (Kreitner)
made a pencil sketch of the founda
tion, what lumber was selected, of
going to Fisher's junk yard for iron
posts. Denied having purchased or
negotiated with Mr. Fisher for any
rails or other iron. Said he was
'uru "1 ""'r1 b . " "V, ,
curing course oi construction, which
he charged for "with the exception of
when he measured the basement for
the foundation, the placing of the
posts and the surveying, which
amounted to $C. Witness said his
brother, W. H. Kreitner, was on
job longer than he was and that
there were from three to four of
their men working on the barn dur
ing the time of construction. Mr.
Kreitner stated that Mr. Cortrlght's
first plan was to construct a barn
with posts Tight through the build
ing from floor to floor. When wit
ness asked about the posts being in
the way on the first floor at the en
trance, Mr. Cortrlght said he didn't
think about that. Witness stated
that a few days afterward that In
stead of posts Mr. Cortrlght was go
lrigrto use atruss.' WltneBSsaid that
Mr. Cortrlght stated' that In Carbon
dale there was a building that had
a truss with an 80-foot span and If
that building held over there there
would appear to be no reason why
a GO-foot truss span would not hold
over here, that he (Cortrlght) was
going to risk It. Witness said he
did not approve of using a truss that
he did not have much experience
with them and would rather he not
use it. Witness said he ordered two
truss rods in Scranton of Finch &
Co. Did not give any dimensions
as to the thickness of the rods. Wit
ness testified that ihe visited the
building not many times while the
woodwork was being erected. Had
nothing whatever to do with the
rest of the building. Was on roof
the day before the barn collapsed.
Saw a pile of blocks about 5 to 7
feet high, 14 feet long and about 8
feet across. Would judge there
were about 450 blocks in the pile.
They were located on the roof a
short distance from the elevator.
Some blocks were distributed
around tho sides of the building.
While returning home, passing over
the highworks tho next day about
5 o'clock In the afternoon, tho same
day that the barn collapsed between
6 and 7 in the evening, witness stat
ed that ho observed the pile of
blocks standing in the same place as
they were the previous day. Mr.
Kreitner estimated that the building
could bo rebuilt for ?640,
William H. Kreitner, brother of
Fred W. Kreitner, corroborated his
brother's testimony.
On account ot tne Illness of his
wire, E. A. Marshall, of Palmyra,
was excused on Wednesday and by
request W. B. Gulnnlp, of Atco, was
excused on Thursday.
Owing to the panel of jurors be
ing exhausted the court directed
Sheriff F. C. Kimble to snap three
jurors. To complete a jury to try
the case of Thomas vs. Norton, John
Shupper, Arthur Hager and Jacob F.
Baumann were chosen.
FORMER HONESDALE
WOMAN SEES BURGLAR,
Mrs. L. B. Landau was In the din
ing room of her home, 437 Taylor
avenue, Scranton, Tuesday evening
at 6 o'clock, when she saw a strange
man In the yard. Walking to the
kitchen door, she saw the man had
a bundle of colthes under his arm
that he had taken from a basket on
tho rear porch. She yelled after him
and the man jumped a fence In the
rear of the lot and disappeared. The
bundle of clothes 'was afterwards
found in tho back of -the yard, whore
tho thief threw them In his flight.
Death of Mrs. Kello LaBar.
Mrs. Belle LaBar, wife of John La
Bar, of 229 Tonth avenue, died at
the West Side hospital, Scranton,
Wednesday morning at about 4
o'clock, aged thirty-one years. Born
In Waymart, Mrs. LaBar had been a
. resident of Scranton for a few years,
Besides her husband, she Is survlv-
led by three sisters ana two urotti-
ers: Mrs. Tuttle, of Waymart; Mrs,
Slackhammer of Carbondale; Mrs.
Rutan of Dunmore; Bert and Franz
Weed, of Carbondale,
CELEBRATES 91st BIRTHDAY
AT HIS DESK
'Squire K. A. Smith Passes Another
of Life's Milestones Friends and
Court House Officials Present
Appropriate Present,
m.i
,d man of the cou;.t houge who has'
ha,., ihn nfflpn . TRHrn 0f tho pfinpo
ROBERT A. SMITH.
for over twenty years, celebrated his
ninety-first birthday to-day, and a
younger man at ninety-one is hard to
find.
Promptly at ten-thirty this morn
ing there gathered at 'Squire Smith's
office a number of court house
officials and friends. The committee
was headed by Charles P. Searle who
nreseuted Mr. Smith with an ap
propriate present and expressed the
regard of all those present. He said
the officials and ex-omcials that tnere
, ,n tVm ,,-,. hnllR for
whom a deeper veneration exists
than our old friend, 'Squire Smith.
Mr. Smith was born in Sullivan
county. New York, on Jan. 30, 1822.
The Citizen wishes to extend the
heartiest of congratulations.
WOLFE STUCKER.
Miss Lucy Pearl Stucker, daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stucker,
of Angels, and Charles H. Wolfe, of
Promise Land, Pike county, were
married Wednesday, January 22, at
noon at the bride's home near An
gels, by Rev. Edmund Schwarze,
pastor of the Moravian church, New
foundland. The 'bride was attended by Miss
Mae Heffley, of Newfoundland. Ira
-Lf-Heffley-bf-Netffoundland, acted'as
best man. ' The "bride was attired In
a gown of light blue batiste. The
bride's maid wore a dress of .blue
serge. The bridal party stood be
neath a beautiful arch of evergreen.
The other rooms were decorated In
green and white.
Following the ceremony 'there was
a sumptuous dinner awaiting tho
guests, served by girl friends of the
bride. The bride received many
beautiful presents.
Among those present were: Mr.
and Mrs. Francis Wolfe, Mr. and
Mrs. Fred E. Rose, Mr. and Mrs. F.
Frlebole, Mr. and Mrs. John H.
Schall, Grant W)llson, Cdrnellus
Friebole, Jennie Wilson, Miles
Sweeney and Charles H. Wolfe, all of
Promise Land: Mr. and Mrs. Henry
Stucker, Lucy Pearl Wolfe, Mr. and
Mrs. Wllmer Brundage, Mr. and
Mrs. A. Akers, Ethel Akers, Mary
C. House, Raymond House and Mau
rice Gilpin, of Angels; Mr. and Mrs.
F. Waltz, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Heffley,
Ira L. Heffley, Marvin J. Heffley,
Ernest A. Heffley, Mae Heffley, all
of Newfoundland; Mrs. Millie Am
merman, Mr. and Mrs. Charles E.
Leppert, Miss Madeline Leppert, of
Port Jervis; Mrs. Job Moore, Jr., and
A. K. Moore, of Gouldsboro; Miss
Silva Brink, of Greentown; Mr. and
Mrs. E. W. Weltham, of Cana
densis. STALKER AND BRAMAN.
A very excellent sermon was given
by Rev. F. Bowen In the Braman
church last Sunday evening.
Mrs. Henry Adams, whom we men
tioned In our last letter as being
quite seriously 111, Is able to be
about again.
Frank Lawson is attending court
at 'Honesdale this week.
Mrs. Charles Clauson and daugh
ter, Lena, visited her sister, Mrs.
R. J. Stalker Saturday and Sunday.
George Cargin, who is attending
school at Port Jervis, is having a
week's vacation at home while they
are holding examinations.
Edna Rauner returned home Mon
day fimayisItjtoSusquehaiina.
is here
To-day (Friday) he will look at you from
our window.
He's one of the best big wakers-up you ever saw
Where Is he, did you ask?
Why ! he's at
ROWLAND'S
The Jeweler and Optician of Honesdale.
One Block up from Postofilce.
GOLDEN WEDDING OF MR. AND
MRS, D. DANIELS
Former Wnyno Counteans The
Happy Couple Have Numerous
Relatives and Friends In Wayno
Now Residents of Scranton.
At the homo of Mr. and Mrs. Os
car a. Rldgway, 1032 Paul Avenue,
Scranton, Mr. and Mrs. Dighton Dan
iels of 942 Willow avenue, Scranton,
were tendered a delightful social
function in .honor of the fiftieth an
niversary of their marriage.
HSG3, by Rev. John Wilburn, of the '
i-IIUJ HblU UlM&AAbU CI UUUU1 J MU '
'Hawley
ley Methodist Episcopal church,
now deceased, and have lived a very
happy life together since. Both are
in the best of health. Mr. Daniels
had been employed by the Erie rail
road company for the last forty-nine
years, working most of the time in
the coal shipping department on the
Wyoming division. They have four
daughters, Mrs. Oscar S. Rldgway,
Mrs. J. J?1. Palmer, both of Scranton;
Mrs. M. Ball, of Allentown, and Mrs.
M'. J. Stratton, of Dalton, and eleven
grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Daniels has the fol
lowing brothers and sisters: -Mrs. S.
K. Dodge of Honesdale; Mrs. Helen
Gregg, of Hawley; Miss Mary Sny
der, Abraham and M, T. Snyder, all
of Hawley.
Mr. ana Mrs. 'Daniels were resi
dents of Wayne county for over for
ty years, the former being born near
Hawley while the latter's birth place
was Carbondale. They have lived in
Scranton for the past six years where
Mr. Daniels is still employed by the
Erie railroad, but owing to advanc
ed age patiently awaits a merited
and deserving place on the honor
roll of the company's pension list.
Guests gathered In the afternoon
at their daughter's residence where
congratulations were In order until
about G o'clock when they were
served with a sumptuous wedding
feast. The dining room and the
parlor of the home where the cele
bration was held were artistically
decorated with yellow daisies and
yellow ribbons and the chandeliers
of both rooms had smllax hanging
from the corners of each room and
on the table were placed cut flower
bouquets. Those In charge of the
supper were Mrs. M. 'Straton, Mrs.
M. Ball, Mrs. M. R. Donachy and
Miss Irene Long, assisted by the
grandchildren as waitresses.
The septuagenarians received
many costly and beautiful remem
brances, Including a large number of
gold coins.
Those -present were: Mrs. Eliza
beth Snyder, Miss Sarah Decker,
Mr. and Mrs. John Decker, Mrs. W,
C. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Pal
mar. Mrs. Byron Snyder. Mr.
AJi Mrs. .O. St Rldgway, Mr. and
-.airs, itusseu itiugway, air. uuu mia.
E.. MoEnaney, Miss Mary Rldgway,
Wlllard Snyder, of Scranton, and the
out of town guests were: Mr. and
Mrs. M. J. Stratton, of Dalton ; Mr,
and Mrs. Charles Bassett, Mr. and
Mrs. S. K. Dodge, Miss Florence
Dodge, Miss Irene 'Long,, all of
Honesdale; Mrs. Helen Gregg, Miss
Mary Snyder, of Hawley; Mrs. Mor
timore Ball, of Allentown.
DEATH CLAIMS GEORGE H.
BIRDSALL
Brother of William S. nnd James
Blrdsnll of Seclyville.
George H. Blrdsall, one of the best
known and most highly respected
residents of Scranton, died Tuesday
night at his residence at Qulncy ave
nue and vine street, after a brief ill
ness although he had not been In
strong health for two years.
Mr. Blrdsall was the son of the
late James and Hannah Scott Bird
sail, and was born in Carbondale in
1868 and began his business career
In June, 1873, he married Miss
Amanda Van Keuren, of Honesdale
He Is survived by his wife and their
only child. Grace. Mrs. Frederick 1'
Stapf, of Philadelphia, also by two
brothers, William S. and James u
Blrdsall, of Seelyvllle, Pa.
Mr. Blrdsall had been Identified for
many years with general fire insur
ance. He had a very wide circle of
acquaintances. Gentle, unassuming
and kind, his cultivated tastes and
his courtly manner made and iheld
friends wherever ho went.
Interment was made in Honesdalo
Thursday morning, with Rev. W. H.
Swift of the Presbyterian church, of
ficiating. Miss Ida Coots of Cochecton
had the honor of being one of the
guests at tho Shopard-Gould wed
ding on last Wednesday. Miss Coots
has been Mrs. Shepard's private sec
retary for over 15 years.
DAMASCUS ITEMS INTERESTING
LY TOLD.
Trio of Township Young Men May
Receive Carnegie Medal For Their
Heroism Fred Price Has Tlirlll
ing Experience.
Damascus, Jan. 30.
Quarterly meeting services were
held In the M. E. church last Sunday.
Superintendent Murdock was pres
ent.
Quarterly conference on the ,
preceding afternoon. Rev. Murdock
preached at Calkins Sunday after
noon and Rev. Olver filled his regu
lar appointment at Galilee.
Mrs. Anderson, of Eighth avenue,
Brooklyn, (N. Y., who, with her two
1 1 . , . ,
"anaren, anu s sier recenuy spent
a coupie oi weeKs wiui meir -unc e,
K. P. Johnston, has undergone a dif
ficult surgical operation since her
return home. At last report she was
In a critical condition. While here,
Rev. A. C. Olver chlstened her two
months old son, Robert. ,
Fred S. Price recently haa a very
thrilling experience though of very
brief duration. He had a drop reap?
er which he wished to move from his
farm near hero to his blacksmith
shop In Tyler 'Hill to be broken up
for scrap. 'He .hitched a pair of
young horses to it to make the trans
fer. Ho was obliged to drive over
some large chunks of wood before
getting the old junk to the main
road. In passing over one of these
obstructions, he was partly unseated
and In attempting to save himself he
threw out his right foot which was
caught In a notch that had been
broken out of the side of the drive
wheel ,rlm and was being rapidly
carried with this wheel on its revolu
tion. To add to the complication
one of the horses stepped on a board
which snapped asunder with a loud
report. This frightened the animals
and they spurted ahead, the wheel
carrying Mr. Price's Imprisoned foot
down through about a four-inch
space between the wheel and the
frame of the machine. Mr. Price
said ho shut his eyes at this point
of the fracas, thinking his doom was
at hand, but maintained his usual
level headedness, guiding tho ani
mals as best ho could from his un
comfortable position. As soon as he
could 'find his voice he quieted the
animals and brought them to a halt.
it would be drawing it mildly to say
that Mr. Price was frightened, for as
he himself said, he was scared
through and through. He came out
of the mishap with whole bones, 'but
wun some sore muscles and sprained
tendons. His shoe on that foot nlaln-
ly shows the Imprint of an Inch
square nut that was pressed against
it Dy tne wneel In Its circular mo
tion. Post card greeting from Hon.
Hanlel Clark Jackson and wife of
Harrisburg, where the former is now
in attendance at the session of the
'Legislature, state that both are well.
It -also stated that-during the re
cent Intermission taken by that au
gust body of law makers at the Statu
Capitol, they visited their son, Henry
urant. jacKson in Pittsburg. The
latter Is a manager for a large ice
cream establishment In that citv.
A project is on foot to secure a
uarnegie hero medal for Harry J,
Smith, Myron Lord and Cecil Abra.
ham who saved Oscar Smithers from
drowning In the old reservoir near
Tyler Hill village, where ho broke
through tho ice while skating on
Wednesday, Dec. 11, 1912. The
matter nas heen presented and Is un
der consideration.
LEIB IS ELECTED RESIDENT
CLERK
Man Whoso First Election Proved
illegal, Wins Out In Hard Con
test.
William S. Lelb, of Schuylkill, was
re-elected resident clerk of the house
Tuesday morning at 1:52 o'clock on
the fifteenth ballot. Eleven ballots
were taken, Lelb climbing from
ninety-six. Most of the Democrats
voted for Arthur McKean, Beaver,
and Progressives for W. P. Young,
Montgomery.
On the fourteenth ballot J. R. K.
Scott and Speaker Alter, who 'had
voted for Young, voted for Lelb, who
also received some Democratic votes.
On the next ballot Lelb climbed to
102, needing just one. McCUntock,
Philadelphia, then changed after
having voted for Young. This gave
Lelb the election. The final ballot
resulted: Lelb, 103; McKean, 75;
Young, 26. Necessary to elect 103,
G. A. Baldwin and Mr. Swift sec
onded the nomination of Arthur Mc
Kean, of Beaver, a Progressive Dem
ocrat, who had been endorsed by the
Democratic caucus and by some of
the Progressive Republicans and
Washington party men. Tho action
of W: P. Young, Progressive, of
Pottstown, In remaining in the race
for resident clerk aided In the dead
lock, for Mr. Young and Mr. McKean
together 'had more votes than were
required to elect a resident olerk.
On the first six ballots all of the
Republican-Washington members of
Lackawanna voted for Lelb, Mr.
Mannlon voted for McKean, and H.
C. Jackson, of Wayne, voted for Mc
Kean. E. E. Jones of Susquehanna,
was absent.
PROTECTION FOR
THE WORK HORSE.
A law is now being framed which
will place the work horse on the
same plane as the workman in a do-
J mand for shorter hours. The work-
ingman is demanding and receiving
shorter hours and more pay, but tho
proposed legislation does not ln
l elude a prevision for more feed for
Dobbin.
The humane measure in question
1 is being drafted by J. Clarence Funk
president of the Harrisburg Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ani
mals, at the Instance of th'e Penn
sylvania Society for tho Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals,
MR. ROCKEFELl I JR., ON
" SOCIAL HYGIENE
In a Statement Sent Out Recently
Ho Declares That Man, Not
Woman is Guilty of Com
mercializing Social Wrong.
Tho Tlurpnn nf Rnrlnl HvErlfinn
came int0 existence about two yearri
ago, as a result or tne worK or tno
Special Grand Jury appointed to In
vestigate the white slave traffic in
Now York City, which served during
the first half of the year 1910. Ono
of the recommendations made by
it in the presentment handed up at
tho termination of Its labors was
that a public commission be appoint
ed to study tho social evil. The
foreman of that body subsequently
gave careful consideration to the
character of tho work which might
properly be done by such a commis
sion and the limitations under which
it would operate. In this connection
separate, personal conferences were
held with over a hundred leading
men and women in the city, among
whom were lawyers, physicians, busi
ness men, bank presidents, presi
dents of commercial organizations,
clergymen, settlement workers, so
cial workers, labor leaders and re
formers. These conferences devel
oped the feeling that a public com
mission would labor under a num
ber of disadvantages, such as the
fact that It would be short lived;
that the work would be done publicly
that at best it could hardly do more
than present recommendations. The
conviction also grew that the main
reason why more permanent results
had not been obtained by the various
organizations which had dealt with
the subject of the social evil during
the past ten or fifteen years was
that most of them wero temporary
While active, they materially im
proved the situation, but as their ef
forts were relaxed, there came the
inevitable return to much the same
conditions as before. The forces of
evil are never greatly alarmed at the
organization of investigating or re
form bodies, for they know that they
are generally composed of busy peo
ple, who cannot turn aside from
their own affairs for any great
length of time to carry on reforms,
and that sooner or later their efforts
will cease, and the patient denizens
of the underworld and their ex
ploiters can then reappear and con
tinue tho traffic as formerly.
Therefore, as the initial step, In
the winter of 1911 The Bureau of
Social Hygiene was formed. Its
present members are Miss Katharine
Bement Davis, Superintendent of the
New York State Reformatory for
Women at Bedford Hills, New York;
Paul M. Warburg, of tho firm of
Ku'hn, Loeb & Company; Starr J.
Murphy, of tho New York Bar; and
John D Rockefeller, Jr. As the
work develops, new members may be
added.
One of the first things undertak
en by the Bureau was the establish
ment at Bedford Hills, adjacent to
the Reformatory, of a Laboratory of
Social Hygiene, under Miss Davis'
direction. In this 'Laboratory, It is
proposed to study from the physical,
mental, social and moral side each
person committed to the Reforma
tory. This study will be carried on
by experts and each case will be kept
under observation for from three
weeks to -three months, as may be re
quired. When the diagnosis is com
pleted, It is hoped that the Labora
tory -will be in position to recom
mend the treatment most likely to
reform tho individual, or, if reform
ation is impossible, to recommend
permanent custodial care. Further
more, reaching out beyond the indi
viduals involved, it is believed that
thus important contributions may be
made to a fuller knowledge of the
conditions ultimately responsible for
vice. If this experiment Is success
ful, the principle may prove applica
ble to all classes of criminals and the
conditions precedent to crime, and
lead to lines of action not only more
scientific and humane but also less
wasteful than those at present fol
lowed. At the same time, the Bureau was
fortunate In securing the services of
Abraham Flexner, whose reports on
the medical schools In this country
and in Europe are so well known,
to study tho social evil and the vari
ous methods of dealing with It in the
leading cities of Europe. Mr. Flex
ner spent the greater part of a year
abroad, making a searching and ex
haustive inquiry Into the subject,
and is now working on 'his report,
which will be ready for publication
this winter.
These studies are to be followed
by others, In those cities In tho
United States whero different condi
tions exist or where special methods
of dealing with the social evil have
been introduced, the object being to
become familiar with all phases of
the subject and all methods of
handling It which have been tried
In this country and in Europe.
HAWLEY.
Hawley, Jan. 29.
Gottlieb Matter left Tuesday for
Philadelphia, where ho will attend
the automobile show. Before re
turning he will visit friends in New
York. MIsb Mary O'Connor, of aoshen,
N. Y is spending a few days In town!
at tho home of J. S. O'Connor.
Mrs, Thomas Mangan is visiting
friends In New York.
John Grant and daughter, Miss
'Helen, wero visiting friends In
Scranton on Saturday.
Mrs. George Simons Is visiting in
Mllford.
Miss Harriet McAndrew spent
I Tuesday In Scranton.
Mr. and Mrs. David Davles, of
Wyoming, are guests of their daugh
ter, Mrs. A, C. Volgt.
"The Girl of My Dreams" at the
Lyrlo next Wednesday night.