La Grange Journal (La Grange, Tex.), Vol. 51, No. 47, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 20, 1930 Page: 1 of 8
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Opposite Masonic BaUding. Publi shed Every Thursday Morning and K ntered et the Poet Office as
By B F. Harigel
Democratic In Principle and a Worker For LaGrange and Fayette
12.00 Per Year
Volume 51
LaGrange, Fayette County, Texas, Thursday, November 20, 1930
Number 47
'' J
THINGS IN GENERAL
Remarks by a Journal Friend
There is a man in Houston who owffs three
movie shows in that city. He is a man that is
to be admired by the better class citizens of the
big town as well as by people everywhere who
believe in clean" and entertaining shows. But
from all appearances he is fighting lone-handed
so far as the other play houses are concerned.
Some people at first thought he was trying to
get the business through a new scheme, and
some of the picture producers paid little atten-
tion to him. However, the public has awakened
to the fact that the man means to have a decent
show house, regardless of what the movie trust
says or does. His attempt to make the movie of
today decent enough to have young boys and
girls see them without debasing their morals
should be made a success by the citizens aiding
him to the extent of having his show places
filled at every performance. It is high time that
some decent-minded man or woman take charge
of the cinemas sent to our play houses by the
so-called film trust, and censure them to the ex-
tent of decency. The writer has often wondered
what some of our good mothers would say if
they saw some of the “famous” screen stars as
they appear on the silver sheet this day and
time. It can not be disputed that many young
fellow has been given the wrong conception of
life by witnessing some of the modern pictures;
and it will surely not be disputed that the ex-
hibition of the so-called “art” (?) has turned
many young girls’ heads in their ideas of life.
Instead of us worrying so much over the liquor
question or perhaps about not having raised
enough money to send some young person to
far-away China or Africa as a missionary, let
us devote our time and talents to a better and
more decent presentation of plays—either movie
or "legitimate”—and while we are in the notion
of doing something good for the uneducated, let
us teach our young ones a# to the real meaning
of decency and self-respect. We can surely make
much improvement along these lines. The Hous-
ton movie man says he is in the fight to a finish
to have a state censorship, and it is hoped every
parent in grand old Texas will respond to his
call in this worthy cause.
/ • * * • *
Are the American people, ungrateful, or
are they forgetful—or both? This question
comes to mind after reading of the pitiful con-)
dition of a small tribe of Indians in Polk County,
in East Texas. They have endured hardships
that sfyow plainly the effects of red tape and
politics. They were recently visited by the chair-
man of the Indian affairs of the United States
Senate, Senator Frasier of North Dakota. After
an all-day inspection, the chairman is quoted as
having said: “My land, they deserve something
from us. They have been buncoed, cheated and
robbed blind for years and years. The least we
can do is to help them.” It is very much the
same story we hear in different parts of our
great country, where the Red Man has been
pushed back and back by our Christian civiliza-
tion until they are more or less of the pauper
class. The East Texas Indians were given a few
horses and cows last winter, but very little if
any feed. As a result, many good milk cows died
for want of feed. Houses have been built for
them, but no furnishings. The more one.reads
of the “investigation” the more one wonders
why does our government have so much “red
tape”—why not give authority to some proper-
bonded man or woman and let the affairs of
these poor folks be administered in a real busi-
ness-like manner? It certainly does not speak
well of the American people to neglect their
wards as the East Texas Indians have been done.
We honor the Red Man in history; we have his
likeness on our small coin; but for some reason
we forget his wants and needs. Let’s dispense
with about ninety-five percent of politics and
show the world we have not forgotten the race
from whom we white folks have taken the
greatest country on earth. A little considera-
tion shown them would be a great cause for
them to eat their Thanksgiving turkey in keep-
ing with the custom we of the Christian faith
exercise. So mote it be.
• • • • *
As a result of the election held in many
states last week, the) new congress will have
one more republican in the house than the demo-
crats, and one member—an "off brand” of poli-
tical faith—will in many cases have the decid-
ing vote. In the senate, the democrats have one
OUR WEEKLY POEM
Pi
SALMAGUNDI
Let’s go! ^
We’ll get no satisfaction
By looking sour and blue,
Let’s clear the decks for action,
Let’s see what we can do;
Instead of merely yearning
For trade ugain to grow,
Let’s start the wheels to turning.
Let’s go!
Things won’t get “back to normal”
Until we show some life,
Stop making gestures formal
And jump into the strife.
Come, can the wails unhappy,
Forget your tale of woe,
Buck up and make it snappy!
Let’s go!
What ails this well known nation?
It’s plain to one who reads;
There’s too much conversation
And not enough of deeds!
Proaperity’a arrival
WoVi’t be so blooming slow
If we start the revival;
Let’s go!
—Author Unknown.
vote less than their opponents. When congress
is divided in such a manner, one can not expect
to hear of any “'pet” measure of either party
being passed into law. We can expect to see
more real business legislation than ever before.
The election plainly shows one thing: The old
boss system is rapidly going to pieces; citizens
are beginning to wake up, and instead of listen-
ing to some of the “professionals” as they have
done in the past, they are using their own think
tanks. It i'Shat they are doing so. We all
know how hard the democrats tried to elect one
of their party as representative from the dis-
trict now held by the lone republican from Tex-
as. ^And how many of us would have expected
the democrats to “capture” Ohio, which has al-
ways been known as a republican hotbed? And
from Kansas comes the news of a democratic
victory. Who would have thought such a thing
possible?'There are several ideas advanced as
to the cause of the many changes; but the
writer knows of only one: The people are be-
ginning to wake up so far as politics are con-
cerned—and ’tis well.
' A friend tells us of a joke on two preach-
ers that will stand re-telling. As most of you
readers know there are two church papers pub-
lished by the Presbyterians, one being the
“Christian Observer” and the other being the
young folks’ periodical known as “The Earnest
Worker.” One of the pastors in a larger Texas
town was passing the home of the other one in
the southern part of the city, and noticed that
the clergyman was a very busy man, “making
things look pi*etty” in his front yard. The passer-
by, being an elderly and friendly man, offered
the suggestion that the worker place certain
articles, in the front yard near the walk. His
suggestion was accepted, and feeling encour-
aged in his free advice-giving, he took it upon
himself to tell the youinger of the two just what
and when Jto do certain work. It went well for
a little while; then the younger one thought he
was the man doing the work, and after scratch-
ing a few stray hairs from his sweaty ivory,
he remarked: “You know, we have too many
Observers and not enough Earnest Workers.”
And then the elderly advice-giver meandered,
on his way. '
We read of a queer religious sect in the
state of Ohio who call themselves “Amish.”
They have their homes on the farm, and are
careful to stay away from the cities. It is said
they are a queer people, wear old-fashioned
clothing; the women use the long black dresses,
while the men folks have long coats and square
hats. And ’tis said they do not use buttons, nor
have they any use for autoes, radios, movies
or any of the modern things we are enjoying.
Yes, “queer” is the word used, and such they
are. When they heard of the unemployed thous-
ands in the big cities of Ohio, and of the food
shortage of the unfortunates, these queer folks
(Continued on page five)
TEXAS AND TEXANS
By Will H. Mayes, Austin, Texas
Signs Of The Times.
The best indication of the real cpndition of
a (country or a community is the advertising
that is done. Measured by that standard most
of this part of the world is fairly prosperous.
An unusually large per cent of the advertising
carried in publications of all kinds is of mer-
chandise generally regarded as luxuries, such
as automobiles and car supplies, radios, cigar-
ettes, and what were once called “fancy gro-
ceries.” Evidently the advertisers find that it
pays to advertise these goods or they wouldn’t
keep it up. The people must have the money
with which to buy them and must be buying
them. All reports of statistical bureaus show
this. Where local papers are not carrying a fair
share of this “luxury” advertising for local
merchants, there is something wrong with eith-
er the merchants, the town, or the local paper,
and it is easy to make comparisons with other
towns and locate the trouble. In 99 out of 100
cases it will be found that the local merchants
have been put to aleep by the hard-time-talk
anaesthetic.
RADIO DEVELOPMENT
From The Galveston News
Spending Big Money.
The Texas Highway Department, for the
fiscal year ending August 31, spent $47,331,977,
of which $32,950,357 was for construction, $12,-
158,553 for maintenance, the rest being for
equipment and administration. This is a goodly
sum of money to be administered by three men
devoting only part time to their official labors.
That it has been so well done at so light over-
head expense is a credit to the Board. Texas is
making wonderful progress in road building and
maintenance—about as much as should be ex-
pected of any State.
Texas Turkey Money.
EM*? bi'mth<
tu
in the “San Antonio territory,” whatever that
is, will reach a total valuation of $3,000,000. If
the Express is correct, and too much territory
is not claimed for San Antonio, the total Texas
turkey crop will be not less than $10,000,000,
possibly $15,000,000. Marketing the turkeys is
a great help toward solving the unemployment
situation.
* * * • *
How Much Unemployment?
Those who should know claim that Texas
is able, with all the work under way, to handle
its oWn unemployment situation, provided the
unemployed from other States do not come here
to spend the winter. The winter months always
b$ng thousands of hoboes and hitch-hikers to
Tdxas seeking a warm climate but not wanting
woA. They are listed among the “unemployed,”
but no power short of the law can make them
work.
Laborers, like most other human beings,
are inclined to think the opportunities for good
wages are better elsewhere than at home, and
flock in numbers to places where public work
of any kind is under way, only to And prefer-
ence given to local workers. This hasgiven rise
to much talk about unemployment. Most Texas
communities are 4ble to employ all home la-
borers, but they should not be expected to care
for the drifters, whose numbers are constantly
increasing. .w
Vagrancy A Menace.
Most of the burglaries and hi-jacking is
done by ex-convicts or vagrants, who prefer to
take long chances rather than work. Every
Texas town has its quota, some of them drifters
from other states. They have become a menace.
A traveling salesman recently reported that he
was held up three times one night while making
a trip of 60 miles on a well-traveled highway.
Abilene is using a good policy that could
be made widely effective if adopted by all other
Texas towns. It puts all vagrants to work and
keeps them at hard labor until they are glad
to agree to leave the 4own and stay away.
* • * • • V*
Let Railroads Build. N
If only the authorities at Washington would
loosen up in the matter of railroad building and
allow all the roadsln Texas to construct lines
they are anxious to build, employment would be
given at once to thousands of day laborers and
hundreds of skilled -laborers. It is a shameful
condition that the development of a State like
Texas is retarded by a board of any kind sitting
Turning from the political aspect of elec-
tion day, the New York World reminds us that
it synchronized with an anniversary of far more
enduring significance to the American people.
For it was on the evening of election day in
November, 1920, that the flrst radio program
was put on the air by station KDKA in Pitts-
burg. Election returns were broadcast, with
phonograph recordings to fill the intervals be-
tween bulletins. About 100 persons listened with
ear phones to that first broadcast. Looking back-
ward over the decade, the World thus describes
the progress of radio:
“Ten years are but a brief span, but what
sweeping changes they have brought in radio
transmission and reception! By 1922 the broad-
casting stations, still in their infancy, were con-
gratulating themselves on being able to send
their programs into 100,000 American homes.
Today they are able to reach nearly 14,000,000
homes and very nearly half the people in the
United States. And the quality of'the service
has improved as the scope of broadcasting has
increased. The continents of the world have
been linked together. King George’s speech at
the opening of the naval conference, a symphony
concert in Berlin, a speech of Premier Hama-
guchi in Tokio, an inaugural ceremony at Wash-
ington, are all made audible in a farmhouse in
Iowa and in a trapper’s cabin on Hudson Bay.”
Probably no other mechanical invention has
established itself so rapidly in the lives of the
people. Assuredly the automobile, a machine of
far greater utilitarian value, came much more
slowly into universal use. Of course the element
of cost had something to do with that. But the
first ten years after the phonograph was placed
cn the market saw no such development either
mechanically or commercially. The radio made
its debut at a most propitious time—at a time
things scientific and
indulge their taste.
had plenty of mo
in Washington and that capital is not allowed
to invest in competitive public utilities of a
kind to bring better and cheaper transportation.
Government owes a duty to the masses that is
stronger than any obligation to protect mono-
polistic capital. “Turn Texas Loose” might be
a good slogan for Texas to take up again.
Too Much Energy.
Beavers have become too industrious in
Presidio county. They have destroyed cotton-
wood trees, built a dam on the Rio Grande and
have stopped irrigation ditches with fallen
trees. The Department of Agriculture will have
trapping done to stop damages by these ener-
getic dam builders.
In Guadhlupe county much complaint is
made that the deer are coming down from the
country and destroying green vegetation, in
some cases ruining overnight a farmer's labor
of many weeks.
• • • • »
Use Texas Material.
Much indignation has been expressed by
various organizations because of the action of
the Texas bar association in contracting for
marble from out of Texas w(th which to erect
a monument on the State Capitol grounds as a
memorial to the early judges of the supreme
court. There is now talk of legislation prohibit-
ing erection of monuments or memorials on
public grounds in Texas that are not built of
Texas material on the theory that Texas mar-
ble and stone are as beautiful and as permanent
as any to be found in the world and that the
Use of any other is a reflection on the resources
of the State.
High-Powered Drives.
The World War created a new profession
—high-powered money drives. It has about got-
ten so that every time money is to be raised
for any purpose professional drivers are en-
gaged either at a high fee or a big commission.
These driving professors are mostly from the
North or East and have a mighty poor opinion
of the ability of Texans to do anything without
outside help. Bond elections, legislation, cham-
ber of cagimerce subscriptions, comm
chest funds, chureh budgets, charities of
kinds—all things conceivable—are within —
of their activities for a fancy fee or a
range
(Continued on page four)
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La Grange Journal (La Grange, Tex.), Vol. 51, No. 47, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 20, 1930, newspaper, November 20, 1930; La Grange, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth998548/m1/1/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fayette Public Library, Museum and Archives.