@ ¢
THE LISTENING POST
By THE VETERAN
Matters have been far from well with the bi-partisan control established
at the county courthouse when the Fine-Bird organization of the Repub-
lican party submitted to betrayal of the faithful in order that the Aponick-
Farrell threat of a court majority with Judge Harold Flannery could be
kept from the fulfillment.
Numerous Democratic appointments were
approved by the Republican lead-
ership.
In the office of Prothonotary
Henry Dietrich the result has been
one of complete confusion. There
the Democratic appointments made
by the Fine-Bird organization in-
cluded Writ Clerk Chester Krushef-
ski, brother-in-law of Judge Apon-
ick; Secretary Theresa Aponick, sis-
ter of the jurist; Democratic Com-
mitteewoman Sophie Lemanski and
Mrs. Emily Varhely, long prominent
as Polish New Dealers; and Miss
Helen Tomascik, of the New Deal's
Slovak units.
Twice, at the expense of the tax-
payers, it has been necessary of re-
cent days to call in special help to
clear the way for the business of
the office. Despite the fact that for
more than thirty years there has
been retained at the office the most
efficient of all executives there, As-
sistant Chief Clerk Ben Welsh, the
force appointed by Prothonotary
Dietrich was unable to handle either
the Naturalization Bureau or the
perfected index system installed for
time-saving and considered the most
notable improvement at the county
temple in almost two generations.
A long-time Republican expert in
Naturalization was fired in the per-
son of Philip Forte. His successors
became so bungled in their approach
to the new citizenship records that
it was necessary to look around for
experienced workers. Forte was ig-
nored. Called in and given the as-
signment, and with a pay rise of
thirty dollars above the figure paid
by the Democrats, was John Quinn,
a New Dealer from Plymouth Town-
ship.
Then another Democrat, John
Noonan of Plymouth Township, was
offered the job of supervising the
modern index system which had
bogged ‘down under Dietrich.
Noonan rejected the offer because of
indications that he might be called
to Washington in his role as educa-
tor. It was necessary for Prothono-
tary Dietrich to import from Pitts-
burgh, again at the expense of the
taxpayers, two experts in indexing,
both from the Russell Index Com-
pany which had installed the time-
saving system. It was apparent
that the adventure in deals with the
Democrats, at the expense of both
the people and the Republican
party, had proved a boomerang
which may deliver the first blow in
knocking over the Fine-Bird attempt
to bring back bi-partisanship.
In Democratic circles it is recog-
nized that either Senator Joseph F.
Guffey” or State Auditor-€eneral
Clair Ross is being double-crossed,
or both those gentlemen are only
pretending a rivalry for control of
the gubernatorial nomination. Guf-
fey is backing Judge Ralph Smith
for the Democratic campaign to
name a man to succeed Governor
Arthur James. Ross, himself, is a
candidate against Smith. On the
face of the’ political picture the
Luzerne County Democratic organiz-
ation, including State Treasurer
Harold Wagner, is allied with Smith.
In fact, both State Senator Leo
C. Mundy, nominal head of the
county Democrats, and Sinclair Oil-
man James Law, perennial chair-
man, have made public announce-
ment of new alliances with Guffey,
after several years of bitter criti-
cism of the whole Guffey character.
Yet, Mundy-Law appointments’ fill
every job that Candidate Ross has in
his Auditor-General’s offices in Lu-
zerne County.
John Riley, Mundy aide in Sugar
Notch, is Mercantile Appraiser un-
der Ross. One of his chief aides is
Joseph Jobey Bialogowicz, Mundy
chairman of the Fifth Legislative
District, recently featured in a deal
with Frank Chimezyk of Plymouth
in the hope of keeping the Fifth in
line with the Judge Smith ambi-
tions. In other offices bossed by
Candidate Ross are found Mundy
appointees by the dozen: County
Chairlady Mary Ryan Bell, Sixth
District Chairman Stephen Ferris,
Democratic Bagmen Barney Mec-
Cole and James Sheridan, Dorothy
Kennedy, Luke Sheridan, Anna
Fosko, Joseph Gillespie, and so on
“ad infinitum.”
In all their associations with the
present campaign it is noted that
these groups are sticking together
to premote the Mundy aspirations
to deliver the vote for Judge Ralph
Smith as candidate for Governor,
while drawing salaries approved by
Auditor-General Ross, the only can-
didate ' given a chance to defeat
Smith. Recently Auditor-General
Ross looked over the situation. He
called all his Luzerne County em-
ployees to Scranton. Nervous, un-
easy, the group rose and pledged
allegiance to the man who is their
boss but who they are doing their
utmost to defeat. Most nervous of
all was Felix Pawloski of the Sixth
Legislative District. But, Ross failed
to see through the thin tissue of
pledges and went back to Harris-
burg apparently convinced that the
Mundy workers for Judge Smith are
really Ross workers for the boss
they are pledged to help nominate.
Of course, there is still a chance
that Ross and Guffey are only fool-
ing, that there is no real rivalry be-
tween the Guffey choice of Smith
and the Ross injection of self into
the race.
Another repudiation of America’s
part in the fight to recover freedom
from the dictators and aggressors
was voiced by Republican Candidate
Puddler Jim Davis at Pittsburgh.
With Judge Fine speaking on the
same program as a candidate for |
the Supreme Court, U. S. Senator
Davis demanded that the voters of
Pennsylvania destroy the interests
that are arming the nation for war
against the Germans and Japs. He
demanded that the great industrial,
mining and agricultural combina- |
tions, thrown together in an all-
out effort to win the world conflict,
shall be eliminated from influence.
Senator Davis made all his wealth
as a Moose organizer. In addition to
his senatorial salary he receives a
life income of twenty-five thousands
dollars a year from the Loyal Order
of Moose. He has no part in the
building up of the industry in Penn-
sylvania that provides for the mil-
lions at all times and support of
the United Nations most particularly
at this crisis in world history. His
chief attack in Pittsburgh was amaz-
ing. He named General Edward C.
Martin, hero of the first World War
and with a son in the second con-
flict, as the tool of the business and
industry of this commonwealth. Im-
agine! Where is there dishonor in
a World War general being sup-
ported for Governor by the invest-
ors, businessmen and industrialists
who are doing all of Pennsylvania's
work in backing up the Army, Navy,
U. S. Marines and Air Corps ?
How utterly muddled is the war-
time organization of civilian work in
government bureaus at Washington
was demonstrated to Harry Magee
this week. Harry, who acknowl-
edged only the taxpayers as his
boss, was fired by the Fine-Bird
organization from Chief Clerk of
the County Commissioners to per-
mit appointment of Harry Williams,
Hanover Township New Dealer, who
long served as head of the WPA.
Friends, knowing the remarkable
capabilities of Harry Magee, urged
him to submit his qualifications to
the offices of supply at Washington.
Before going down to the capital
city Harry prepared a beautiful
graph of his various experiences. A
professional printer and draughts-
man, a known expert in the depart-
ments of allocation, Magee had what
appeared to be the neatest coverage
of an application ever taken out of
this bailiwick,
A director of personnel looked
over the graph and pronounced it
perfect. He said the government
needed a man like Magee and he
promptly assigned him to the de-
partment of supplies. When Harry
reported for detailed instructions he
was interviewed by a gentleman
who didn’t even understand what a
graph was. And the upshot of the
whole matter was that the personnel
director was fired next day for dar-
ing to recommend an expert without
first advising department heads of
his intended action.
Harry is back home, a wiser man,
but far from a believer in the New
Deal methods. It may mean that
Harry Magee will reject a proffer
made him by State Senator Mundy.
The proffer is one of support if
Harry Magee will run for County
Commissioner next year. It is likely
that the discharged expert, set
adrift by County Commissioners Bob
Lloyd and Herman Kersteen, will as-
pire to become County Commis-
sioner, but it is almost certain he
will seek better backing than either
the New Deal here or its counter-
part, found in the Fine-Bird organiz-
ation of Republicans.
Present indications are that Harry
Magee will be a candidate for
County Commissioner with the sup-
port of a vastly influential com-
bination of business, industrial and
community leaders, reasonably hop-
ing that with war costs at their peak
next year the people will appreciate
a man who can do something about
the waste in county government.
Wyoming Valley Chapter
D. A. R. To Dedicate
Historic Elm Tree
The public is invited to attend the
dedication of a George Washington
Elm tree, a great grandchild of the
elm at Cambridge, Mass., under
which Washington took command of
the Colonial troops back in 1775;
sponsored by the Wyoming Valley
Chapter D. A. R., Wednesday, April
29 at 11:30 on the upper river com-
mon below the green house near the
Mrs. Ellen W. Palmer statute. Mrs.
William Luckenbach is regent of the
Wyoming Valley Chapter D. A. R.
Mrs. Jane Hooper Dorsey, national
vice chairman of conservation, will
speak briefly on the history of these
famous elms at the exercises. His-
toric soil from 8 places intimately
associated with George Washington
during his lifetime will be placed
around the tree. The tree will be
accepted by Robert Rogers repre-
senting the Commissioner of Parks.
In connection with the dedicatory
exercises, Mrs. William Stark Tomp-
kins, Penna. state regent of D. A. R.,
will speak over station WBRE Wed-
nesday at 10:15 A. M.
Any one knowing of a tree par-
ticularly outstanding because of
age, size or historic significance, is
asked to get in touch with Mrs. Mae
Townend, conservation chairman of
the local chapter, Pioneer avenue,
phone 357.
|
.THE POST, FRIDAY, APRIL 24,
1942
Atlantic Ordeal
SHIPS OF THE UNITED NATIONS are now bound together in one huge convoy system to get the implements
of war to the fighting fronts in Britain, Russia and the Far East. To get tanks, guns and food across thous-
ands of miles of sub-infested waters is no easy task, an d the men who sail the tankers and freighters have
countless tales to tell of heroism, endurance and courage.
GANDIA, Francis Lardinoy of Brussels, is being carried ashore at a Scottish port, after having manned the
tiller of a lifeboat for fifteen days somewhere in the North Atlantic.
while en route to England, and he and his comrades were rescued by an American destroyer.
Here the second officer of the Belgium vessel
His ship was torpedoed by a U-boat
A WEEK OF THE WAR
(“A Week of the War” sum-
marizes information on the im-
portant developments of the
week made available by official
sources through 5 P. M. EWT
Monday, April 20.)
War Production Chairman Nelson,
speaking in New York City,
said the United Nations have now
outstripped the Axis in war produc-
tion. Because of the accumulated
reserves of the enemy, however,
“we have not yet won the battle of
production,” he said. Vice Presi-
dent Wallace said by July of this
year the U. S. will be producing
more war material than any other
nation in the history of the world.
Chairman Nelson asked that
workers’ vacations be staggered and
overtime and employment of sub-
stitutes be increased so vacations
will not disrupt war production. The
Board listed the first 500 plants
to set up voluntarily labor-manage-
ment committees and launch pro-
duction drives.
Manpower Mobilization
Federal Security Administrator
McNutt was made Chairman of a
nine-man War Manpower Commis-
sion set up by the President to
“bring about the most effective
mobilization and the maximum use
of the nation’s manpower.” Mr. Mc-
Nutt said the Commission will es-
tablish a labor priorities system to
allocate manpower on a voluntary
basis. If this system fails, he said
he would ask for authority to assign
men and women to specific jobs. He
reported an additional 10 million
workers will be needed in war pro-
duction this year, many of whom
will have to be obtained through
recruiting of women, young people
and retired workers.
The President’s Committee on
Fair Employment practice ordered
10 companies holding large war con-
tracts to cease discriminating
against workers because of race or
religion.
The War Front
War Secretary Stimson told a
press conference the U. S. Army is
almost ready for the offensive.
Army Communiques reported 13
Australian-based American bombers,
in a 4,000 mile round-trip raid on
Japanese installations in the Philip-
aged four others and caused wide-
spread damage. The Army and
Navy withheld comment on re-
ports that American bombers had
raided Tokyo, Yokohamma, Kobe
and other Japanese cities and in-
flicted property damage.
Gen. MacArthur named the mem-
bers of his staff assisting him as
head of the United Nations South-
west Pacific Command. Gen. Wain-
wright said Corregidor Island could
and would hold out. He said an es-
timated 60,000 American and Fili-
pino combatant and non-combatant
troops on Bataan are now in the
hands of the enemy. Eight United
Nations ships were reported sunk
by enemy submarines in the Atlan-
tic.
Foreign Relations
The White House reported Lend-
Lease aid amounted to more than
three billion dollars by the end of
March. War supplies sent to Rus-
sia in March were two and a half
times as great as those sent in Feb-
ruary. President Roosevelt notified
Ambassador to Vichy Leahy to re-
turn to this country for instructions,
because of the domination of the
new government of France by the
pro-German Laval. The State De-
partment said three American ships
scheduled to carry food and cloth-
ing to France and North Africa are
being held there pending clarifica- |
tion of the Vichy situation.
Army and Selective Service
pines, sank four enemy ships, dam- U
is being carried out on schedule.
The Department said the Army
Medical Corps strength will be
doubled to meet demands of the
expanded Army. Physicians under
45 years and dentists under 35 will
be eligible for commissions as first
lieutenants. The Department also
announced formation of a new com-
bat force, the Tank Destroyer Com-
mand, which will begin training in
Texas early this summer.
The Department said it will grant
furloughs of 10 days to inductees
after their processing at reception
centers, if local boards recommend
such action for men who need the
time to clear up personal affairs.
Selective Service Director Hershey
said the supply of men classified
as 1-A probably will be exhausted
by the end of summer and the call-
ing of men of 1-B classification
probably will start in the fall.
Navy and Air
Two new destroyers were launch-
ed and a third was commissioned.
The President directed Navy Secre-
tary Knox to take over three plants
of the Brewster Aeronautical Corp.
in order to increase their produc-
tion.
President Roosevelt and Canadian
Prime Minister Mackenzie King
announced jointly that all United
Nations with air training programs
under way in the U. S. or Canada
will confer in Ottawa early in May
on “further united military efforts.”
Shipping
The War Shipping Administration
requisitioned all the remaining
American-owned ocean-going ves-
sels which had not been taken over
by the Government previpusly.
Every detail of operation—cargoes,
routes of travel and time of de-
parture—for ocean-going vessels
can now be specified by the WSA.
The President authorized the Mari-
time Commission ‘“to acquire, use
and dispose of’ any real or personal
property needed for the building of
merchant ships. He also authorized
the Commission to award medals to
members of the nation’s merchant
marine for distinguished conduct.
War Bonds and Stamps
The Treasury said a campaign will
be opened May 1 to secure volun-
tary pledges from all persons in the
S. to purchase War Savings
Bonds and Stamps with at least 10
percent of their incomes. The cam-
paign will include the establishment
of war savings committees in every
county of the nation. It will at-
tempt to double the monthly vol-
ume of bond and stamp purchases.
The WPB said War Bond sales total-
April 1.
Rationing
The Office of Price Administration
reported the first sugar ration will
week period. The Office said ration-
ing books will not be issued to per-
sons who already have more than
six pounds of sugar. Persons with
two pounds on hand but not more
than six will have stamps removed
at registeration time, at the rate of
one stamp for each pound over the
first two. Each sugar ration book
holder will be permitted to receive a
special allotment of not more than
five pounds of sugar a year for home
canning or preserving of fresh fruits
and vegetables.
Civilian Supply
The WPB ordered production of
medium and heavy trucks for
civilian use discontinued after ex-
isting quotas have been completed.
The Board froze all stocks of new
| plumbing and heating = equipment,
| with the exception of retail of $5
lor less and orders bearing a prefer-
{ence rating of A-10 or higher. The
{Board also prohibited manufacture
The War Department said organ- | of oil burners and coal stokers for
ization of 32 new divisions this year | residential use.
Amounts of shellac
be one pound per person for a two- |
' used in the manufacture of phono-
graph records were restricted to 30
| percent of 1941 consumption.
Housing and Construction
National Housing Administrator
Blandford said he will establish reg-
ional offices, tentatively set at 10,
to shift more responsibility for
planning the billion-dollar war
housing program to the communities
it will benefit. Responsibility for
building the projects will remain
in Washington. The WPB reported
military and other essential con-
struction in 1942 will give the in-
dustry its greatest program in his-
tory, 20 per cent above the 1941
MEEKER
Lawrence Drabick of Baltimore
spent the week end with his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. William Drabick.
Esther Decker, student at
Stroudsburg State Teachers’ College,
was called home this week to at-
tend the funeral of her grand-
mother, Mrs. Charlotte Swire of
Loyalville.
Rev. and Mrs. George Snyder and
family of Skinner’s Eddy spent Fri-
day at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Russell Steele.
Mrs. James Davenport spent
Thursday visiting Mrs. Elmer Dav-
enport of New Jersey who was a
guest in Parsons.
Rev. and Mrs. Lyons of New York
spent Wednesday with Mr. and Mrs.
John Hildebrant.
Mrs. Edna Karschner, Mrs. Lloyd
Rogers, Mrs. George Weintz and
Mrs. John Hildebrant attended con-
ference in Wilkes-Barre yesterday.
Mrs, Hiram Varner, who has been
a patient at Moses Taylor Hospital
in Scranton, has returned to her
home much improved.
W. S. C. S. Meeting
W. S. C. S. met at the home of
Mrs. Russell Steele Wednesday aft-
ernoon. Present were: Mesdames
Mae King, Elma Robinson, Marie B.
Wolfe, Edith King, Dorothy Steels,
Edna Karschner, Helen VanBuskirk,
Ruth Rogers, Janice Evans, Elva
Drabick, Elizabeth Ide, Francis Ide,
Ruth’ Johnson, Edith Weintz, Flor-
ence Davenport, Alberta Foss, Mat-
tie Sites, Glendora Bryant, Minnie
Rebennack, Edna Rebennack, Lillian
Hildebrant, Viola Hoover, Mary
Scovell; Misses Maude Wolfe, Letha
Wolfe, and Grace Ide; Edward King,
Judith Steele, Russell Jr., Patsy Ide,
Junior Ide, Margo Davenport, Gladys
Foss, Bryant Mesick, Dale Hoover,
Ann Scovell, Mrs. Barney Laskow-
ski and Rev. and Mrs. Lyons.
At the Naval Academy the curb-
stones are red, green and yellow de-
noting no parking, officers cars and
ed almost five billion dollars as of | commercial vehicles respectively.
Foreign uniforms can not be worn
in Switzerland without permission,
so U. S. Naval officers usually wear
civilian clothes when on duty there,
FV VU VV VV VU Cee vv eevee
ALL MAKES - ALL TYPES
RUDOLPHS’
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83-35 E. Jackson Street
Phone 25868 @ Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
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PAGE THREE
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