Delaware County Daily Times from Chester, Pennsylvania • Page 6

tf Central Publishing, Inc. 1S-J6 E. ttti Chester, WILLIAM B. CONTINUING THE CHESTER TIMES FOUNDED Delaware County MONDAY, MAY 4, 1964 An Independent Newspaper More Than 45,000 Copies Daily EDITORIALS Delay Is Our Enemy SUBURBAN LIVING Do You Shirk Your Duty as Citizen? SEPTA the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority has almost collapsed (as far as Delaware County is concerned) before getting off the ground. It is fortunate for our area that our county commissioners and SEPTA representatives have managed to muster the patience needed to try a little longer.

But it is just as fortunate for SEPTA itself that someone is giving it a prod. For, as county commission Chairman Frank Snear Jr. expressed it, "We went into the authority because of the real need for mass transportation in Delaware County SEPTA was created to help, at least, meet this need. Certainly there are problems, massive problems. But this is all the more reason why SEPTA should roll up its sleeves and plunge into the task.

Simultaneously, we note elsewhere an item which approaches the height of silliness. A group of "never surrender" obstructionists have slated a "Blue Route protest walk," which of course will influence no one and affect nothing. Indeed, this futile gesture should remind us all that the federal government has had time aplenty to wind up its red tape and give the go-ahead to this job. What too few people seem to realize is that delay has been progress's greatest enemy in Delaware County. We needed our Blue Route 10 year ago.

Obstructionists didn't block it but they stalled it a decade. SEPTA likewise is a basically good idea. But it is taking so much time getting organized that it will have a problem grown much larger by the time it does come to grips with it. Today we should be deciding where our next mid-county expressway is going and buying a $1,000 strip of right of way before it has a $40,000 home built on it. The past shows we usually do come to the right conclusion but too late for it to be a happy solution for the harassed commuters of this county.

No, Junior Should you wander out Brookhaven way, happen to stop at the Cambridge Shopping Center, and enter a pharmacy there, you would see an unusual sign on the wall by the cash register. We quote: cigarettes sold to minors without written permission of their parents." The effects of this one-store crusade have yet to be assessed (nearby in the area are several cigarette machines, and we've yet to see a cigarette machine which asked any questions at all). Nevertheless this is an indication of growing concern over the effects of tobacco on the young. We note also that the major cigarette manufacturers have announced a cigarette advertising code. The code, which is subscribed to by the nine firms manufacturing 99 per cent of U.S.

cigarettes, prohibits the direction of cigarette advertising to the young. Specific provisions include: No testimonials from athletes or entertainers or other persons who might have special appeal to the young. No cigarette ads in school or university media, or in comic books or comic supplements to newspapers. No cigarette ads on TV or radio programs or publications which are directed primarily to persons under 21. (In our opinion this would include all TV, but that's only our opinion.) Persons depicted in cigarette ads must be at least 25 years of age and look that old.

Cigarette advertising shall not represent that "cigarette smoking is essential to social prominence, distinction, success or sexual attraction." An administrator will be named to enforce the code. We salute this effort and we especially commend the fact that it was taken voluntarily without (or before) government action. By C. L. JORDAN Daily Times Guest Columnist Benjamin Franklin once said that in a democracy the people could get almost any reasonable thing they wanted by banding together, and fighting for it.

Suburban Delaware County is a good example of the truth of this observation. We are extremely fortunate in the number and the quality of community activities, that have been supported by groups of public spirited people. NEARLY every township now Clean Up has near by swimming facilities, either cooperatively owned or supported by the people. Water sports have become one of the major competitive events in the area, and almost every child can learn to swim at an early age. Older residents can remember when the Media Swimming and Rowing Club set an excellent example for this important expansion.

It's continued success proves the value of well-managed cooperative efforts. Little League baseball and football and now Biddy League basketball (with Chester as World Chamions) have grown like wildfire. Parents, business and neighbors have combined to give nearly every youngster the opportunity to enjoy competitive sports. Many of our schools cooperated not only with their own sports but by permitting use of their grounds for community teams. Parents and neighbors police the fields.

IN ADDITION to sports, there have been highly success- We note from recent headlines: Media has entered the National Cleanest Town Achievement competition. Chester officials promise the "biggest" coordinated cleanup campaign in the city's history. Elsewhere through our county's 47 other municipalities the story is often the same. Spring, long the traditional time of "spring cleaning" for the housewife, has now become the time for a community sprucing up aa well. Many communities are sponsoring similar drives.

If yours is, accept our congratulations, But if yours isn't, we do have a question: Why not? NO RVDERS ful groups organized to make possible community concerts, opera, amateur theatricals, choruses, orchestra, studies and scientific discussions. A wide interesting variety of cultural activities is now near everyone's doorstep. Our business, patriotic and fraternal organizations are a powerful factor in suburban life. Their sponsorship of community activities is almost synonomous with success. FINE as all these organizations are, some serious gaps still remain in our suburban life.

Take our civic associations, for example. There are no more constructive or aggressive groups anywhere when there is a problem like the mid-county expressway, zoning or schools. But once the immediate problem is met, the group interest dies down. Many members don't attend regular meetings or even pay dues. They work hard only to pre- vent or to endorse a current activity.

This is wrong because the county's future depends upon round, long range planning. The advice and counsel of our civic associations are desperately needed to help program the future so well that emergencies will not arise. Clarence L. Jordan They cannot help if they meet only to fight an emergency. MOST of our libraries are not nearly as healthy as they would be if the communities united behind them.

Proof of this is the remarkable success of the Helen Kate Furness Library in Wallingford. Ten years ago, they were cir- culating only about 5000 books annually. Then, with community support and $5. volunteer dues, the circulation sky-rocketed to about 60,000 annually. More communities could do the same thing.

OUR HOSPITALS also are not as secure as they should be in view of their tremendous importance to the people. No neighborhood is truly safe today unless it is near a modern hospital. Yet too many people take it for granted that a comparatively small group of hospital will do all that is needed. These volunteers do accomplish an almost miraculous job. But it would be even better if everybody helped.

WORKING on community activities is a very rewarding job. It brings a warm feeling of belonging, of sharing in the progress, development and life of the neighborhood. It is, as Benjamin Frankln said, one of the triumphs of democracy. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Negro Questions To The Times: This is in response to a- letter by Mr. William McClain.

As a responsble Negro citizen of Chester I also have some important questions I need answered for my children. What will I tell my children when they ask me why was Herman Dawson beaten by so called enforcers of the law who are sworn to protect us as citizens and to uphold the law. What will I tell my children when they ask me "Why is there cardboard instead glass in the windows of my classroom?" What can I tell my children when they ask me why was a pregnant woman attacked, while standing in her neighbor's doorway, by law enforcing officers. We as Negroes have many, many unanswered questions from our children. We too as Negroes train our children to respect people of all race and creed, particularly Caucasians, even though they inflict more cruelties upon us because of our color.

If Mr. McClain can answer these questions intelligently for me, there is no need for Mr. Stanley Branche to answer questions. Citizens of both our communities have been at.fac.ked while exercising their right to protest. If Mr.

McClain is so concerned about the closing of the public schools, what steps has he taken as a concerned parent to see that all children receive equal educational opportunity. If he feels that there are some "wonderful colored people" in his neighborhood whom he feels are of the "highest caliber;" why hasn't he as a responsible citizen moved to cor- ROBERT SPIVACK Look at U.S. Morals WASHINGTON The tendency to deplore the younger generation, no matter what it does or says, goes back about as far as recorded history. There has always been talk Robert Spivack of a breakdown in morals and in the sexual standards of our youth. In the 20's it was the "lost generation." In the 30's it was free-thinking and free love.

In the 40's it was war and "let's live a little before we die." In the 50's and 60's there has been a concentration on juvenile delinquency. Now the matter has a been put up to President Johnson. A grandmotherly member of the Washintgon press corps noted at. a recent news conlerence that two national magazines had written about the "loosening of the morals" of our youth and "seem to condone it." What did the President "as a father" have to say about that? THE PRESIDENT did not seem to share his questioner's anxiety and once again he demonstrated the kind of common sense that may come to distinguish the LBJ era. "From my observation," he answered gently, "there has been an improvement in morals since my day.

It may be that I am seeing a little i type of youngster. He went on to recall some of his own youth and while details were not given the President pictured himself as something of a heller. He probably would have made his parents happier, the President said, if he had behaved as his daughters now behave. He did not deny that young people have problems, that there is great unemployment 13 or 14 per cent 8 among our you'h and that school "dropouts" constitute a i i i a problem. But in the anti-poverty programs he intends to "hit a body blow" at these problems, the President said.

THERE WAS some grumbling after the President said what he said because a few reporters, inckjjding the questioner, thought he had belittled the problem. There were also those riewr- men so annoyed with attending a Saturday afternoon press conference they could view the comments only in terms of politics. "Now he's got all the youngsters with him," was a typ cal comment "and there goes Bobby Kennedy's last appeal." ACTUALLY, though, I tlvnk this was not it at all. The President is a natural born opl- mist. When he says how intelligent and well educated many young people are now it simply reflects his view that with so much intelligence and education there will also be common sense.

So things are bound to be rosy. I am inclined to i the President is right. But there is something else in all this preoccupation with young people's mor- als that the questioner overlooked and the President preferred not to talk about, if he did not also overlook it. ARE yco.ng people more promiscuous now? Is there excessive love-making on the campus, as "Newsweek" mgazine makes it appear? I have beeen travelling and talking with many young people lately. I would say the only significant change I have noticed from my generation to the present generations is a they talk more freely among themselves about their problems and their needs.

They will even share their thoughts with older people who are i i to listen and are sympathetic. IF I were to make a comp a i about some young people today--and I do not know what percentage--it is a there ars too many "on the make" i ancially; that some of the better educated are too machine-like and "cool," that in politics there are some who are too ruthless and have too low an estimate of the importance of the offices they seek. DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN? Mill Closing Rumor Hits Trainer 75 YEARS AGO-The people of Trainer and vicinity are exercised over a rumor that the three i there are soon to be shut down for an indefinite period on account of a lack of orders. Bethuel T. Hall, cashier of the Delaware County National Bank, and Miss Jennie McCall, youngest daughter of Ex-Councilman George McCall, were united in marriage last evening.

The ceremony was performed at 6 o'clock at the bride's home, i Street, near Crosby, by Rev. T. D. Jester, pastor of Mlddletown Presbyterian Church. The parlor was a i decked for the occasion and the bridal couple stood beneath a canopy of palms as the minister read the ceremony and pronounced them husband and wife.

Will T. Buck and Frank H. Gilbert took a spin to Philadelphia yesterday afternoon. They returned by train on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Tusarora Tribe of Red Men, No.

29, will hold its 36th anniversary the 22nd of this month, at Star Hall, Central Exchange. Mrs. H. A. Robeno is an applicant for the Thurlow Postoffice.

A new order, the Bald Eagles of Chester, admits none but bald headed men. The barbers all belong to it. The a who owns a dog and lives in West Chester has to pay a dog tax. That comes from living in West Chester. The West Hill Water Company of Swarthmore will apply for a charter.

The company will supply water to the public in Springfield. 50 YEARS AGO Oliver B. Dickinson, of Chester, appointed by President Woodrow Wilson to a place as Federal Judge for the Pennsylvania Eastern District, took the oath of office this morning promptly rect these deplorable conditions in the schools. After all, that is what we as concerned and responsible parents are protesting. Unless he has something better to offer he should not criticize.

IF as he says Stanley Branche is a "Committee for the Advancement of Stanley Branche," then I say advance a Branche and continue to make the world aware of the humiliations suffered by the Negroes of Chester. MRS. RUBY E. HINSON 551 Norris Chester To The Times: I am writing concerning the demonstrations, protests against de facto segregation and boycott situation. I as a Negro am unquestionably 'for the NAACP and the CFFN.

I have heard quite a number of white people say what they don't like about the NAACP or the CFFN. If they would just stop for and think for a moment Let them just stop for a moment and let place themselves in our place. Then they can say, I know what the Negroes are going through. Some the us have been dominated, whipped and sold in slavery. You wonder why we are demonstrating, wonder why we are protesting, wonder why we are fighting? We have been in slavery, soma are still in slaverv.

That is why the Negroes are demonstrating and protesting for freedom. However, we as Negroes are demonstrating and protesting because we want our freedom. I think we deserve that much. We as Negroes don't need pity. What we need is: (1) We need less dominating and more understanding; (2) More self improvement and less brutality.

And last but not least, faith, prayer and a new hope that we can all live together in peace. MARGARET A. JOHNSON, 620 W. 7th Chester Some To The Times: I would personally like to congratulate you on last Monday's editorial, one of the best I have read, that is, to the issue. It was not of a flexible concept, but as things are under true democratic government and society (for I may disagree with everything you say I will defend the right for you to say it -if need be with my life -Voltaire).

I feel deeply that your paper is about the only paper that has the guts to stand for what is right and not to destroy the concept of true democracy like many commentators, newspapers and politicians are trying to do with or without knowledge of i i ori- a i Although I don't like to be classified as a radical by some circles, I do feel that if true democracy is to be protected it will probably have to be dona by the people that sit back as only observers not by a bunch of conscientious objectors or by people of communistic orientation. P. CHRISTENSON 1510 Blackrock Road Swarthmore To The Times: First of all I would i to commend you on your Page I editorial of Monday. I think it was the best eight cents I ever spent. But after reading Mr.

McCormick's column, I could stand a seven cents change. II this was a a i day column, why didn't you just show a rainy day. A E. DICKERSON 500 E. 24th St.

Chester at 10 o'clock in the Federal Building in Philadelphia. 25 YEARS AGO-The Borough of Upland will enjoy a public recreation area, provided for in the will of Mrs. Mary S. Crozcr more than 20 years ago, according to a decision of Judge John E. McDonough of Orphans Court.

Mrs. Crozer, who was the widow of the late J. Lewis Crozer, died in Upland September 15, 1918. Her will provided for $25,000 and a piece of property in excess of four acres "for the use of the public as a place of recreation." Police Group Lauded To The Times: We, members of the Senior Class of Chester High School, would like to take this opportunity to express our deepest appreciation to the Chester Police Association for the courtesies extended to us on our recent trip to the New York World's Fair on April 27. Besides escorting us from the high school to the Industrial Highway, they met us on our i and safely led us non-stop back to the high school.

Those concerned also waited In the rain i every student had departed from the school. DONNA I A i Honan St. I A A I 714 W. St. RYAN 1616 Upland St.

1964 Class Chester High Chester LETTERS TO THE EDITOR on mat- ton of public Interest art welcomed. Namos and addresses mutt be given laltors can bo considered for and namoi will be prlnlad. Write at briefly at possible; (In right lo condense or edit It reserved, Include number..