The wheels of justice grind slowly—and while they
stutter slowly toward their goals the taxpayers pay, wit-
Gil nesses escape, and investigations start.
~ INNOCENT
~ UNTIL
~~ CONVICTED
or he may be guilty of bombing Judge
Valentine’s automobile. In either case he
deserves a prompt trial. The frequent
‘postponements in his case, following, as they do, such
things as the mysterious escape of the State's star witness,
reflect no credit upon the District Attorney’s office.
By his past actions, however well-intentioned, Mr. Jen-
nings has invited public suspicion. He and his lawyer, Ar-
thur Garfield Hays, have pleaded for a quick trial, on the
grounds that they have sensational evidence effecting their
case. We have no comprehensive knowledge of that evidence
but from sources which we have never doubted we have
learned that the information is of such importance that it
deserves to be made public—and quickly. :
A few weeks ago the case was postponed again. When
next it comes before the court we see no reason why addi-
tional concessions should be made to the District Attorney’s
¢.iice. Innocent or guilty, Jennings deserves a right to de-
fend himself in court.
; 3 * * *
Despite widespread educational campaigns, scientific
traffic surveys, mechanical safety devices, elaborate sig-
ER nals, strieter automobile laws and increas-
ed police vigilance, slaughter on the high-
FOR NEW ways continues without abatement.
MEASURES So common have these slayings be-
Ro : come that it is almost impossible to get a
+ grand jury that will indict the slayer. Our courts are clut-
tered up with all types of automobile cases.
in Not many months ago a young man was killed on the
streets of Dallas. The driver who figured in the killing had
previously been involved in two automobile killings. His
license had once been suspended. In the Dallas killing his
victim had been hurled eighty feet before the lifeless body
crushed down on the hard concrete pavement. Yet, months
later, a Luzerne county grand jury failed to indict that
driver.
Heavy fines or short terms of imprisonment will not
bring back life or prevent future Roots For the most
~ part the highway slayer gets more sympathy than the driv-
er who parks in a restricted area. There is one cure for the
highway killer. A cure that will remove him as a menace on
the highway and at the same time act as a deterrent for
other careless drivers. That cure is revocation of his driver’s
license for life, severe punishment which might be unjust in
some cases, but the problem is one that requires stern mea-
sures.
Barring death drivers from the highways for life will
do two things: Act as a deterrent to other wild drivers and
remove from the highways forever a driver who has proved
‘himself incompetent to handle an automobile in time of
emergency.
A NEED
* * *
Because we have a deep respect for The Wyoming Dem-
ocrat we are prompt to extend our felicitations to B. M.
Van Dyke as his highly interesting Tunk-
hannock weekly begins its seventy-fifth
year.
We have not always agreed with Mr.
i Van Dyke’s editorial arguments, and on
at least one occasion we were so angered by an item in his
paper that we considered challenging him to a duel, with
printers’ ink, at twenty paces.
On the whole, though, our feeling for our neighboring
weekly has been one of admiration. While many country
editors have been content to follow policies and traditions
laid down years ago and long since out-dated, Mr. Van
Dyke has been quick to incorporate the new ideas in jour-
nalism and has employed them in ways that might give
highly-efficient city newspapermen reasons for envy. Even
a casual glance at The Democrat gives evidence of the init-
iative, aggressiveness and news sense of its editor.
Tunkhannock is fortunate in having two such papers
as The Democrat and The Republican. From our mere forty-
odd years, we join with the Republican in congratulating
our contemporary and wish Mr. Van Dyke and his news-
paper many, many more years of high service to their com-
munity.
SEVENTY-
* * *
The expense of maintaining constant vigilance along a
line as little used as the Dallas-Luzerne spur of Wilkes-
Barre Railway Corp. would probably be prohibitive but
some arrangement should be made to protect passengers
from the danger of derailment from landslides during ex-
tended rains. Two landslides recently have caused near-ca-
‘tastrophes and should be taken by the street car company
as a warning to have watchmen along the right-of-way in
the future.
WEEKLY BOOST
Dr. G. K. Swartz |
~ for the noteworthy example of diplomacy and fairness
which he gave to the community during the conduct of
his first meeting as president of Dallas Borough School
Board.
Emerson Jennings may be innocent
The DallasPost
ESTABLISHED 1889 TELEPHONE DALLAS 300
A LIBERAL, INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER
PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY MORNING
At THE DALLAS Post PLANT
LEHMAN AVENUE, DALLAS, PA.
By THE Darras Post, INC:
*
HowaRrp RISLEY General Manager
HowEeLL REES Managing Editor
TRUMAN STEWART Mechanical Superintendent
The Dallas Post is on sale at the local news stands. Subscription
price by mail $2.00 payable in advance. Single copies five cents each.
Entered as second-class matter ‘at the Dallas Post Office.
THE DALLAS POST is a youthful ‘weekly rural-suburban news-
paper, owned, edited and operated by young men interested in the de-
velopment of the great rural-suburban region of Luzerne County and in
the attainment of the highest ideals of journalism. THE POST is truly
“more than a newspaper, it is a community institution.”
Congress shall make no law * * abridging the freedom of speech, or
of Press.—From the first amendment to the Constitution of the United
States. ~
: Subscription, $2.00 Per Year (Payable in Advance),
Subscribers who send us changes of address are requested to include
both new and old addresses when they submit their notice of change.
THE DALLAS POST PROGRAM
THE DALLAS POST will lend its support and offers the use of its
columns to all projects which will help this community and the great
rural suburban territory which it serves to attain the following major
improvements: \
1. Construction of more sidewalks for the protection of pedestrians in
Kingston township and Dallas. 3
2. A free library located in the Dallas region.
3. Better and adequate street lighting in Trucksville, Shavertown,
Fernbrook and Dallas.
4, Sanitary sewage disposal system for Dallas.
5. Closer co-operation between Dallas borough and surrounding
townships. f
6. Consolidated high schools and better co-operation between those
that now exist.
7. Adequate water supply for fire protection.
8. The formation of a Back Mountain Club made up of business men
and home owners interested in the development of a community con-
sciousness in Dallas, Trucksville, Shavertown and Fernbrook.
9. A modern concrete highway leading from Dallas and connecting
with the Sullivan Trail at Tunkhannock.
THE MAIL-BAG
In this department, The Post presents letters from its readers on cur-
rent problems—suggestions, criticisms, bouquets. The Post need not indorse
any sentiment or criticisms expressed here, neither can it vouch for the ac-
curacy of any statements made. It recognizes only that in this country
people have, within reason, the right the express themselves.
The Dallas Post,
Dallas, Pa.,
Gentlemen:
The official Body of our church
wishes to go on record as expressing, gort.
our sincere appreciation to your paper
for the very excellent publicity given
us during our re-opening services. We
are very grateful for the special page
giving the history and outstanding
events concerning our church.
The Official Board
Dallas M. E. Church
The Dallas Post,
Dallas, Pa.,
Gentlemen:
I, personally, wish to second the
above statement by our Board. I am
deeply conscious of the value accru-
ing to us as a result of your write-ups.
I am cognizant of the fact that your
splendid co-operation has been of ma-
terial assistance to us.
Further, I wish to commend your
paper for the excellent advertisements
and editorials concerning World Peace.
In these days of perplexity we need
sturdy voices which dare to speak out
for the principles of Christian Brother-
hood.
Sincerely yours,
Francis Freeman.
ee
Dallas, Pa.,
Gentlemen:
As Colonel of the Non-Soliciting Di-
vision, I personally want to express to
you the sincere thanks of the Non-Soli-
citing Division for the splendid co-op-
eration which we received from you
and your newspaper during this cam-
paign. Naturally enough, we feel that
newspaper publicity is of tremendous
value in a community effort of this
Again thanking you, I am
Very sincerely yours,
Bernard F. Burgunder, Colonel,
Non-Soliciting Division
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Editor,
The splendid way you have used
the peace material we sent you In
your campaign for peace has made a
great impression upon us here. I have
displayed your issue of November 8th
with your splendid ad “For Thirty
Pieces of Silver”. All of our executives
and many important people outside of
our organization have been very en-
thusiastic about it.
"I have been asked if it would be
possible to secure about fifty mats of
this page for distribution to other
newspapers in various parts of the
country. Such a contribution to World
Peaceways and the cause of peace
would be highly appreciated and very
effective. We are so completely pleased
with this page that we are making this
rather unusual request of you.
I am looking forward to hearing
from you soon, in the hope that you
may find it possible to aid further in
the cause of peace as suggested herein.
Sincerely,
J. H. Winans,
Advertising Manager.
World Peaceways
NEARING THE CAPACITY LIMIT
10057
GT TOMY
VAND OR SOMETHIN
PRETTY 400N /
Reports from within the Administration that President
Roosevelt has instructed the budget bureau and govern-
ment agencies to cut overhead during the coming year will
probably bring the most unanimous appreval of any move
he has made during the past year, if carried through. With
business steadily improving. and unemployment decreasing
since the NRA decision, many economists believe that a de-
finite move to halt unnecessary spending would add a fresh
stimulus for recovery. Particularly would this be true, it is
pointed out, if the “breathing spell” decreed during the
summer by President Roosevelt is carried through the com-
ing session of Congress without new business control legis-
lation enacted. : :
Whether this course will be followed has the closest
political observers guessing. The Supreme Court is expect-
ed to overturn some of the New Deal legislation during the
winter, and the attitude of officials in this event will be an
important factor in recovery. If the decrees of the high
court are accepted and any new measures are written with-
in the bounds of the Constitution, it will be an incentive t
industry to speed re-employment with new confidence.
* * *
That the “breathing spell” is to be lasting and that the
Administration has realized that too much legislation al-
ready has blocked recovery is indicated by the speech which
Secretary Roper made before the Associated Grocery Manu
facturers recently. At the same time the Secretary of Com
merce’s speech was widely interpreted as being a direct
challenge to young members of the Brain Trust who have
lashed out at business. Whether the Secretary was speak-
ing with the blessing of the President, as many inferred, is
not known. But he said: Bes
“Business profits cannot be penalized, or the profit-and-
liss system will suffer with a bad case of angina pectoris.
Businesses making profits during the depression have been
held up to censure because it was pointed out that millions
were unemployed, while companies were actually paying di-
vidends. This contrast is unfair. Lge
“As long as we maintain our present capatilistic sys-
tem—and it will be maintained—no obstructions or deter-
rents must be permanently set up to prevent fair and rea-
sonable profits.” ; ; Tyke
+ + + fi
‘Secretary Roper, referring to the President’s breathing
spell letter, said “this declaration of the President is clea
‘cut and concrete. It means that business no longer needs to
feel any uncertainty as to what may come in the future wit
respect to governmental measures.” hes
Undoubtedly this statement by the Cabinet officer has
had wide repercussions, and official Washington is watch-
ing to see the extent to which it will be followed. Probably
the first actual yardstick will be provided when President
Roosevelt sends his message to Congress in January.
- * *
Before that, however, the observers are keeping their A
eye on the conference called for early in December to con-
sider new NRA legislation. These conferences to which sev-
eral thousand business men have been invited will be used
as a sounding board for sentiment upon the question. Meet-
ing four days earlier on December 4, the Congress of Ameri-
can Industry, in conjunction with the annual convention of
the National Association of Manufacturers, will speak in
dustry’s mind on the question. LE
* * *
The Federal Government, as the biggest banker and
spender in the country, was disclosed today to be in a fair
way of becoming the nation’s largest real estate owner and
operator. Through the 21 agencies that it wholly finances,
and the ten others that it helps to finance, it has written
down on the Treasury books $94,582,194 of ‘real estate and
other property held for sale.” Most of this came from loans
that were not repaid. ER %
* + * s :
“The semicolon boys are simply a boil on the neck of
this administration. They are the fellows, you know, who,
after they have graduated from some law school, get jobs
here, and then sit down and look for semicolons and hold up
the works. They have not contributed a single thing and yet
they are one of the causes of the delay in a great deal of the
important work in the relief program’—Mayor Fiorello La-
Guardia of New York City, at a Washington conference of
mayors called to discuss problems of relief administration.
* *& *% \
Living costs of wage earners in the United States con-
tinued upward, rising 0.5 per cent from September to Oct-
ober, according to studies of the National Industrial Con-
ference Board. Advances were noted in food prices, rents,
clothing, coal, and sundries. : i
“I am convinced that if we are to be motivated primari-
ly by the assumption that bigness must be penalized and re-
stricted merely because of its, size broad and penetrating
recovery will be impossible”’—Secretary of Commerce Rop-
er. But, asks the Washington Post, how it is possible to de-
fend a graduated tax upon corporate incomes, levied in ac-
cordance with size, except as a discriminatory tax upon big-
ness as such? :
%