THE DALLAS POST. FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 1939
“Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of
speech or of Press” — The Constitution of the United States.
The Dallas Post is a youthful, liberal, aggressive weekly, dedica-
ted to the highest ideals of the journalistic tradition and concerned
primarily with the development of the rich rural-suburban area about
Dallas. It strives constantly to be more than a newspaper, a com-
munity institution.
Subscription, $2.00 per Year, payable in advance. Subscrib-
ers who send us changes of address are requested to include both
new and old addresses with the notice of change. Advertising
rates on request.
HOWARD W. RISLEY
HOWELL E. REES
‘@
More Than A Newspaper—A Community Institution
Che Dallas Post
Established 1889
A Liberal, Independent Newspaper Published Every Friday
Morning At The Dallas Post Plant, Lehman Avenue,
Dallas, Penna., By The Dallas Post, Inc.
Entered as second class matter at the Post Office at Dallas, Pa.,
under Act of March 3, 1879.
General Manager
Managing Editor
THE POST'S CIVIC PROGRAM
1. A modern concrete highway
necting with the Sullivan Trail at Tunkhannock. Ca
2. A greater development of community consciousness among | i
residents of Dallas, Trucksville, Shavertown, and Fernbrook. ~~ £
3. Centralization of local fire protection.
4. Sanitary sewage systems for local towns.
5. A centralized police force.
6. A consolidated high school
ation between those that now exist.
7. Complete elimination of politics from local school «Fois,
8. Construction of more sidewalks.
leading from Dallas and con:
eventually, and better co-oper- :
EDITORIALS
A Newspaper Pledge
This newspaper has seldom covered a news story which
presented as many difficulties as the Martin murder case.
Offhand, we cannot recall a case which gave birth to so
many wild rumors, so many inaccurate radio and news-
paper stories.
It has been only by good luck and the most painstak-
ing analysis of each new angle that we have been able to
keep our reports on developments free from inaccuracies.
Only those who have been behind the scenes can appreciate
the responsibility for disposing of fantastic rumor and at
the same time preserving minute truths which may bear
later upon the the solution.
The Martin case will never echo through the history
of journalism as a model of accurate reporting. Some of
the wildest fantasies have been given serious attention on
the front pages of metropolitan newspapers. There has been
an irritating tendency on the part of newspapermen to fill
in the gaps in official information with their own “fiction-
izing.” The result has served only to confuse newspaper
readers and heap criticism on all newspapers.
; As do all newspapers, we live in dread of the day when
we shall “miss” an important story. During the last three
months, that feeling has been accentuated by the fact that,
with many readers, we have been pinch-hitting, in our own
limited way, for the suspended daily newspapers of Wyom-
ing Valley. But recent weeks have taught us, if we never
knew it, that there is something more important to a news-
paper than having “smash” headlines.
We shall always be interested in relaying news to
our readers as quickly as we can. That is a primary func-
tion of any newspaper. But when we are forced to make a
choice between ‘‘sensation” and ‘“‘accuracy”’ our vote will
be always for “accuracy.” We cannot promise that you
will get the hottest news in The Post, but we do pledge that
when you do read it here it will be true.
Giving Meaning To “Service”
-— The word “service” achieves its full significance in
such activities as the work of Mt. Greenwood Kiwanis Club
among underprivileged children.
Quietly, and without expecting praise, the Kiwanians
have for some years been doing an invaluable piece of work
among children in families which need assistance. The
distribution of about $200 worth of arctics, shoes and
gloves at Christmas was typical of the club’s public-spirited
program. :
Service clubs are often unjustly criticized because they
stress the ‘social’ phase more than the ‘“service.” Mt.
Greenwood Kiwanis Club is one group which gives over-
whelming evidence to the contrary. The men who make
up the club have the sincere admiration of the community.
Back To The Old System
We hope there is truth behind the rumor that Gover-
nor-elect James intends to do something about returning
the State Police and the Highway Patrol to the separate
status they enjoyed before Governor tiarle merged them
to form the new State Motor Police and put an Ex-admiral
in charge.
Governor Earle’s highway safety program was a
worth-while thing, and it has borne commendable results.
It is unfortunate that, in saving lives, the Governor has al-
most destroyed a crack police force which, since the turn
of the century, has held the highest respect throughout the
nation — the Pennsylvania State Police. °
Before Governor Earle’s ukase, the State Police force
had been traditionally an agency for only the most difficult
crimes and disorders. Since its inception, it had attracted
men of peculiar qualifications and trained them rigorously
for their exacting duties. Through thirty-some years, the
State Police had established a fine tradition of honesty, de-
termination, fearlessness and ability seldom matched in
olice history. On the face of such a record, the State Po-
ce should have been one agency to be protected religiously
against the fancies of amateur politicians. Instead, they
were combined with the younger Highway Patrol, measur-
ed for musical comedy-uniforms, and set to traffic duty.
- The merger has not been satisfactory in any way. On
the contrary, it has confused both the State Policemen and
the Highway Patrolmen in their work. It has been especi-
ally damaging to the morale of the troopers. It will be a
popular move when Governor-Elect James revises Gover-
nor Earle’s set-up and restores the State Police to their
former prestige.
When Bills Come Due
It is about this time of year that the head of the family
sits down and ponders over how much he owes. He collects
all his bills and budgets his income accordingly. It is just
a natural aftermath of Christmas giving.
It is not likely, though, that he will include in his debts
a little item of several hundred dollars which he probably
isn’t conscious that he owes. Yet that debt does actually
exist. It represents his share, and his family’s share, of the
I. O. U.’s that repose in the Federal Treasury. There is
nearly forty billion dollars in I. O. U’s there. They repre-
sent the Federal Government’s deficit (the public debt).
Right now the per capita share of that debt is about
$303, so if the head of a family of five is figuring up his
debts, he must add $1,515.
That would be quite an item to have to include in the
family budget. Yet, it is going to have to come out of every
family budget in the form of taxes for many years to come.
Well, how much do you owe?
RIVES
MATTHEWS
It is too bad there aren’t more out-
standing men like Robert Hutchins, |
president of Chicago University. Mr.
Hutchins, you may recall, recently
resigned from the Board of Govern-
ors of the Stock Exchange because his
fellow governors did not agree with
him. It was necessary to reopen the
Whitney Case and discipline those
members of the Stock Exchange who
knew that Whitney was a crook long
before he was exposed as one.
Obviously, the day has not yet ar-
rived when we can expect to see Wall
Street spanking any of the partners
of the sacrosanct firm of Morgan &
Co. And so Mr. Hutchins rightly
interpreting how the public has long!
felt about the Whitney scandal, pub-
licly resigned.
* *®
I was disappointed to learn that my
young cousin, William McChesney
Martin, Jr., did not stand with Mr.
Hutchins, and, if need be, fall with
for 1938 although no allowance was
made for owner’s salary, sales ex-
pense or depreciation on machinery.
Deducting these perfectly legitimate
expenses, actual profit is really
around $500.
It also showed that in 1937,
$103.75 was received for subscrip-
tions, and $566.75 from street sales,
and for 1938 subscriptions totaled
$38.30 and street sales $481.47. Any
way you figure it, these sums show
hardly more than 400 paid readers
of the paper.
* *
Furthermore the statement handed
me by the broker offered the follow-
ing terms: “Price of property is $12,
000, one half cash, and balance over
5 years. The business is being sold
free clear.” This last phrase was a
neat way of putting it.
. *
I was urged to make a trip up to
this property, which I did. I found
that its owner wasn’t interested in all
him, too. He would have been in ex-| cash and in any reduction for all
cellent company. But I suppose that | cash. As far as I was concerned my
a youngster in his early thirties, still | journey was time and money wasted.
not quite used to his high office and | Shortly thereafter I received a re-
a salary of $48,000 a year, would liable credit report on this property
not willingly kiss all that good-by just | which showed that its present owner
to give the Morgan crowd a much | still owes around $2,100 on the pro-
deserved boot. perty, which was bought in April,
1936 for a consideration of $7,000,
* *
That's just one of the troubles with |
this country. It’s too easy to buy|
men. For that reason there are too |
many people especially around New
York, who are ready to shrug their |
shoulders at the exposure of such |
crooks as Whitney. In fact, I've met]
plenty who admire Whitney for con
fessing his sins so brazenly, and for |
“taking his punishment like a man,”
a mere three years in Sing Sing,
though longer terms have been given}
to ignorant and uneducated holdup |
men who weren'table to go to Har-
vard and learn that guns went out
with the James Brothers and gave
place to fountain pens.
* -
For several months I've been try-
ing to find a newspaper I could buy
with reasonable assurance that I could
make myself a decent living from it.
To my horror I've discovered that
this same shrugging at strict truth
and honesty goes on among those who
have papers to sell and the brokers
who represent them.
* *
They lie about their circulation.
They say they are selling for health
reasons when it later turns out they
are up to their ears in debt. They
doctor up their books, if they keep
them at all, and they pay their men
with cash and checks so that checks
make it appear their overhead is low
and their net profits high.
- -
What's more, these sellers, or their
brokers, are allowed to advertise in
the various trade journals serving ed-
itors, publishers and prospective pur-
chasers of newspapers. It makes me
so mad I sat myself down the other
day and dashed off the following to
the owner of one such trade journal.
. ®
It seems to me that a publication
with as enviable a reputation to main-
tain as yours would not open its ad-
vertising columns to the dubious
wares of newspaper brokers without
| first investigating them, if only to
|save your subscribers the time and
expense.
® -
Several weeks ago, one of these
brokers advertised a weekly in Conn-
ecticut in terms glowing enough: to
capture my interest. So I got in
touch with him and was sent a mi-
meographed report which stated that
paid circulation was 650, that “in-
come of the business is approximately
$11,000 per year, and expenses $7,
000, making for the owner approxi
mately $4,000.” I asked for a more
detailed financial picture and was
sent one a few days later. It showed
what was described as a “net profit”
of 3,669.40 for 1937 and $3,581.35
$3,000 of which he paid cash.
Briefly, after not quite three years,
he is asking $5,000 more for the pa-
per than he agreed to pay for it. I
don’t blame him, if he can get it.
There are no laws against a hound
| baying at the moon. But is seems to
me that a broker who has the use of
your columns should consider the in-
terests of your subscribers a little
more than he has. Since pointing out
to him the absurdity of paying $12,
000, plus interest, for a business
which actually yields a mere $500
a year, I haven't even had the cour-
tesy of a reply from him, and I now
note that this same property, as far
as I can tell, is again being advertised
in your current issue.
Speaking generally, since I've been
trying to find a paper to buy, I've
come to the conclusion that almost
every seller is either a liar or an in-
competent bookkeeper. For example,
one states that he’s selling for health
reasons, but that he makes in the
neighborhood of $7,000 a year for
himself. Further investigation shows
that he has court judgments of several
years standing against him for $10,
000. What's he been doing with all
those profits?
» .
Why do trade journals let such
fellows advertise without first saving
their subscribers some of the prelim-
inary investigation work that will
show their claims to be unfounded?
In short, can’t you, as the publisher
of a well respected journal, do some-
thing to correct this game of blind
man’s bluff? Isn't there some hon-
est, upright ‘newspaper broker in the
business, or are they all gold-brick
salesmen?
The Mail Bag
Editor:
Why all this bellyaching about Mr.
James not resigning from the bench
when he ran for Governcr?
Now I'll ask one. Why did not
Earle and Wilson both resign from
their offices when they ran for U. S.
Senator? If one man should have
to resign from his job to run for an
office, then all of them should with-
out exception — but according to
some people Democratic candidates
can’t do anything that is not ethical
(Oh! yeah!)
What is wrong for one political
crowd is just as wrong for the other
side.
Ww. C.
"READY FOR
HIGH GLCAR'!
City Symphony
By Edna Blez Ee
The new young lady in our house
is keeping a diary. It hasnt been
until very recently that keeping a
diary was considered very important.
Many times diaries have been pres
ented to fair daughter for birthdays
and Christmas with the hope that
she might become interested in writ
ing the story of her life. The time
seems to have arrived when she needs
no urging and keeping a dairy has
become a major issue in our new
young lady’s varied career. Keeping
a diary has become so important we
aren’t permitted in the same room
when the daily chronicle is in the
process of creation.
* =
We have thought several times
that we would steal glance at the
closely written pages of our new
young lady's diary but after due con-
sideration we have decided against it.
Of course we realize such a procedure
would be in very bad taste and we
do know that our daughter’s daily
chronicle is not being written for our
curious eyes and we have thought,
too, we might be sorry if we were
ever tempted to read what has been!
put in that small book with such great
secrecy.
* *
We might be surprised to learn
that our fair daughter has been hav-
ing difficulties which we seem to
know little about. We might not
altogether enjoy her small heartaches.
There is always the possibility that
the things she tells her diary might
shock us! We might be shocked to
know that our daughter has really
grown up and we are not as import-
ant in her scheme of things as we
thought we were. We might discover
that she has very definite ideas and
that she has quite a mind of her own
and, there is always the possibility
that our daughter disapproves of
some of the things we do.
* #
It might not be the pleasantest
thing in the world to discover we
make very large mistakes. We might
be surprised to find out that we
aren’t half the Mother we thought
we were. Things we might find in
our daughter’s diary might be good
for us but we are very much afraid
we couldn't stand up under the know-
ledge of what our daughter really
thinks of us. We might not like see-
ing ourself from her viewpoint. We
might find we are doing many bad
things and we might find out things
about our daughter of which we
wouldn’t quite approve.
We think we have our daughter’s
confidence and we have always felt
she trusts our judgment but the diary
might tell a very different story, and
it wouldnt be exactly comforting to
discover in our fair daughters hand-
writing that we have failed her when
she thought she needed us the most.
There are so many things we might
find out in the story of our daugh-
ter’s life that we are more than con-
vinced that we should not even take z
a very small peek. er
*®
Fourteen-year-olds can many times
see very clearly. They aren’t very far
away from the innocence of childhood
and they aren't burdened with the
indifference and intolerance of adults,
consequently they are very apt to tell
the truth — particularly if they keep
a diary. So I am very much afraid
I should not read the story of m
daughter’s trials and tribulations bi
cause I would rather go right on be:
lieving that I have been a fairly good
Mother and if I have made too many
very bad mistakes I would rather not
see them in my daughter’s handwrit-
ing! ri
THE LOW DOWN
from a
HICKORY GROVE 3 ;
Looks kinda odd to see the =
boys with the fancy jobs, down
yonder at our Nation's Capital,
gettin’ up and leaving. 2
When a feller ups and leaves,
when’ he is on the pay-roll at 10
thousand, you commence to
squint an eye and wonder if
there is maybe a leak in the old
boat, or what is up.
But there is an old saying,
that it pays to go when the go-
ing is good, so I reckon the boys
down there, must sniff some-
thing in the wind. And if a per-
son can get himself a new soft
job elsewhere, like being mayor
in some big city or get into the
movies, or go back to practicing
law or something, it is using
your head.
After just about so long folks
get tired of anybody's tricks—
even if you are extra geod—and
want to see a new show.
I guess the boys there, who
are pulling up stakes, they must
hear Old Jumbo out there,
crackling through the brush;
Yours, with the low a