v- Art Appreciation I V ... Hundreds of sets of the famous paintings offered by the National Committee fop Art Appreciation are being purchased by Statesman readers. . Weather : lUin, somewhat warmer today and Monday souther iy wind; Max. Temp. Katnr day 42, Min. 31, moderate southerly wind, cloudy. POUNDBO 1651 EICUTY-SK V ENTH YEAR Salem, Oregon, Sunday Morning, December 26, 1937 Price 3c; Newsstands 5c No. 235 unite okvo I II II II I Y XV L I I I I I I I I I I I I I I - v 7 Seven Buffalo Aldermen Are Under Arrest Graft Extends Back for Years, Is Charge of Treasurer Hoban , Perjury, Forgery, Other Charges Are Faeed by 16; Probe Widens BUFFALO, N. Y., Dec. 2 5-(JP)-Adminlstrators of New York's second largest city today awaited fiovernor Lehman's decision on a plan to widen a municipal af fairs inquiry which already has placed nearly half the city coun cil under arrest.. After an eight-week investiga tion, a grand jury asked appoint ment of a special prosecutor and as extraordinary grand Jury to carry on the inquiry which they descr Cad as a "gigantic task." The jury's recommendation is be ing considered by the governor.: Before adjourning the grand jury showed its grim holiday mood- by presenting 16 indict ments resulting in the arrest of seven of the city's "15 council-. men, a former state senator, a councilman-elect, a city paymas ter and six former city employes on felony counts. The indict- ments included charges of per jury, forgery or obtaining city funds through fraudulent claims. The grand jury's indictments slashed through party lines by naming four democratic and three republican councilmen. Much of the jury's-invesliga-J tion was based on information brought out in public hearings by a city council committee under direction of the committee's vig orous counsel. Frank G. Raichle. By a paradox the jury almost destroyed the councilmanic com mittee by indicating two of Ua five members. CounciJmen George J. Youag-Aftd,. Anthony FV Proplk resigned from the- committee after- their arrest. i With only three members left the committee announced it would prepare a final report and, recess for the year. .leaving it jip to the incoming council on Jan uary 1 to appoint a new body to; carry on the work." j Ralchle's star witness before the committee was City Treasj James D. Hoban who testified, "The city audit system is rot-j ten ... Stealing has been going on for 57 years .... I could walk out of the city hall and take every cent of the city's $8- 000,000 in cash with me any time . . . . The temptation the present system affords employes should be removed." j Patriot Guard to j Boycott Japanese ' V I NEW YORK, Dec. 25-(!p)-Capi; Edward Page Gaston, national commander of the patriot guard, said today a move to embargo Japanese products would b launched at a conference of the national maritime union in San Francisco on January 17. j He said a "drastic policy" was expected to be adopted at the con? ference, declaring that "both Wil4 liam Green and John L.. Lewis are In favor of strong action by thelf powerful unions." , I As head of the non-political pat riot guard, which he said enlisted the support of more than 100 U. S. army officers, Captain Gas ton said his organization was "out to bankrupt Japan If it does not agree to early arbitration in China. j "We are pointing out to labor leaders that Japanese factory workers receive as low as two cents an hour.' Imported cooliei- made products keep many thour sands of American workers idle," he said. ., ! Daughter Queried In Shooting Case TOUNGSTOWN. O.. Dee. 25- (iip-Pros. Paul J. Regan Trum bull county said tonight that Miss Louise Campbell, 28, was being detained In Jail at ".Warren, 0 while his office Investigated the shooting of her mother, Mrs. Cor delta Campbell, , 5 5, at a Christ mas party last night. I Mrs. Campbell was in critical condition at a Youngstown hos pital with a bullet wound in the abdomen.. County Secret , Service Officer. Joseph Luarde said Mrs; Campbell . apparently was shot accidentally, when she attempted to take the gun, from her daugh ter. : i!v -vr-; - J- "Four guests at the Campbell home said the shooting was acci dental, but there are some things about it which need investiga tion," Regan said. I The prosecutor said Miss Camp bell produced a gun after some discussion with her mother about uu a har car to take a ride. :l Tragedies Weather Here To Moderate; Rain Forecast No Serious Accidents in Salem Region; Scores Occur in Portland Little Snow Here Though Hills Covered; East Oregon Blanketed Rain and warmer weather were forecast for today following a Christmas day which caused Sa lem residents to shiver although the official thermometer revealed that the freezing point was not reached at any time. A driving wind had much to do with the apparent frigidity. Minimum for the day was 34 degrees.; Warmer temperature had, in fact, already put lu its appear ance last night, with the thermo meter standing at 10 o'clock at 42, highest point for the day. Persons who were hoping for a "white Christmas" were either disappointed or easily satisfied in Salem, for just barely enough snow to whiten the ground ap peared on the upper levels; snow fell but did not stay downtown. On hills near Salem snow fell in sufficient Quantities to remain all day, and it reached several inches in depth in some places a few miles east of the city. In contrast to other points i . the northwest which had numer ous accidents, none were reported for Christmas day eithejL to city or state police up to late Saturday night. PORTLAND, Dec. 25 - (P) -More than 200 automobile mis haps in less than 10 hours marked Christmas eve traffic on slippery, snow crusted streets. The most dangerous streets Turn to Page 2, Col. 5) Auckland Reached By Samoa Clipper Southern Terminus of new Air Line Is Attained on First Flight AUCKLAND, N. Z., Dec. 25.-(Sunday)-(;P)-The Samoan Clip per landed here today at 3:57 p. m. (11:27 p. m. EST), complet ing the last phase of its flight from Honolulu to the southern ter minus of a new ocean air line. . The giant Pan American Air ways flying boat left Pago Pago today at 4:50 a. m. (11:20 a. m. EST). Capt. Edwin C. Musick and the crew of seven logged 1,810 miles in 12 hours, seven minutes. PAGO PAGO, American Samoa, Dec. 25.-;p)-The Samoan Clipper sailed today through tropical Pa cific skies on the last phase of its flight from Honolulu to Auckland, N. Z., southern terminus of a new ocean air line. Leaving Pago Pago at dawn, the plane bearing Capt. Edwin C. Mu- slck and seven other Pan Ameri can Airways fliers had the pros pect of good weather for the 806-mile hop. j Next Wednesday the clipper will leave Ancklahd for Honolulu with mail and express to inaugu rate the new service between New Zealand and the United States. Soon thereafter - British Imperial Airways will establish a line be tween Auckland and Sydney, Aus tralia, 1,(00 miles. Big Navy Advocates Prepare For Battle in 1938 Session By KIRKE L. SIMPSON WASHINGTON, Dec. 25.-(P- E vents are shaping to put "bis navy" advocates, both in and out of congress,' In a . poaitlon they have not known since the end of the World .war. Indications are that navy- rebuilding -will be a major Item of debate In the reg ular session of congress. . - ' Administration reluctance to disclose In advance specific plans it may be contemplating for new naval construction can be explain ed la part by apprehension that protracted public debate of the matter would arouse peace organ izations to new activity. It might stimulate support of the Ludlow war-referendum resolution, vig orously opposed by President Roosevelt. The naval construction question probablywill come up as a move to meet the business recession. The Idea behind it la to divert re lief outlays to an undisclosed ex Mar Man Who Mobilized United Stated Greatest Army 7 V m" fv ; " . I: s 0 y NEWTON D. BAKER o Spanish Foes Are Locked in Combat Hand-to-Hahd Fighting Is Marked on Christmas Day Near Teruel HENDAYE, Franc o-Spanish Frontier, Dec. 25.-jT1)-Dawn of Christmas morning found insur gent and government troops in bloody hand-to-hand combat In the hills northwest of Teruel. Squadrons of airplanes fought indecisive duels above soldiers who clashed with bayonets and grenades in the heavy snow and stinging cold. Most government troops, who had participated in the swift drive through a blizzard to recapture Teruel, had left that city to meet the insurgent counter-offensive. Within Teruel, barricaded be hind thick walls Of medieval ma sonry in an old quarter, a few hun (Turn to Page 2, Col. 3) Quarter Million In Jewels Taken LUTON, England. Dec. 2o-(P)-Jewels valued at $250,000 were stolen from the home of Sir Felix Cassel while his guests danced at a Christmas eve party, it was learned tonight. The thieves entered the house through an upstairs window and ransacked the guests bedrooms. The robbery was the largest of Its kind in recent years and was regarded by police as the work of a well-organized gang thoroughly familiar with the layout of Sir Felix estates afld mansion. The missing gems included val uable pearl "necklaces and neck laces of rubies and diamonds. Some of the jewels were under stood to belong to Lady Helen Cassel, a sister of the Earl of Verulam. tent from other work-relief pro jects to naval construction either of combat or auxiliary craft be cause that course would give lag gins heavy Industry and f unem ployment a quick recovery sum Ulus. . V-r.... v; : v'; President Roosevelt's letter to Chairman Cartwright of the house roads committee over, congression al opposition to reducing highway appropriations in an' effort to ap proach a budget balance is sig nificant. It deals with job making "relativity."- , ; "If I have to get the budget down to a certain figure, obvious ly, I must eliminate the proposed expenditures which ; provide the least work and favor : those ex penditures which give the most work," the president said. Naval and other ship building, one group argues, falls within this rule. The aspect of any proposal to , (Turn to Page. 2. CoL 8) Christmas Day Called at Age 66 War Leader Dies Of Heart Attack Newton D. Baker Inactive in Public Affairs for Last Several Years CLEVELAND, Dec 25.-p)-Newton- D. Baker, who as secre tary of war mobilized the greatest army in the history of his coun try, died today after a heart at tack. The short, eloquent statesman who served in the World war cab inet of President Wilson, had been confined to his bed since shortly after his 66th birthday De cember 3. He was first stricken several months ago in Syracuse, N. Y. He recovered from this attack and resumed some of his law prac tice here. As counsel for a num ber of utilities he recently appear ed in court at Chattanooga, Tenn., in a suit involving the utilities and the Tennessee valley authority. In the later years of his life he had withdrawn gradually from the multiplicity of interests which he cultivated after leaving public service, living quietly at his home here and visiting his law office frequently. Last year he resigned as chair man of the Cuyahoga county (Cleveland) democratic central committee, a position he had held for 26 years. He said then "it's up to us older men to give the young fellows their chance." Baker is survived by his widow; one son, Newton D. Baker, 3rd; two daughters, Mrs. Margaret Wright of St. Louis, and Mrs. Elizabeth McGean of Cleveland, and five grandchildren. Members of the family said he made his last visit.to his law of fice December 3, his birthday. Lumber Firm Tug Cut Loose; Labor Trouble Involved .TOLEDO, Dec. 2iPr-'rh9 C. D. Johnson Lumber company tug Go-Getter was floated from Ya quina bay Udeflats today, state police sergeant W. J. Mulkey said. The boat, with two lighters and 500,000 board feet of lum ber, was cut loose from moorage beside the steamer Anna Schafer Thursday night . - . ? R. P. Richardson, mill super intendent, said the lighters would be refloated at high tide Tues day. . The . vessels, Mulkey said he believed, were cut loose in con nection with a labor jurisdiction al struggle. General Motors Secretary Dies DETROIT, Dec. 25-(P)-Thomas S. Merrill, 59, secretary of Gen eral Motors corporation for - the last 21 years, died here today fol' lowing a five-day Illness. He was stricken with pneumo nia last Monday, Members of the family said a blood clot developed on his brain. Over 230 Are Day's Victims; Causes Varied Family of Five Snuffed out When Oil Heater in Home Explodes Late Shoppers, Children Enjoying new Toys, Traffic Victims (By the Associated Press) Violent death shackled tragedy onto the Christmas scene of scores of families across the nation to day. With more than 230 reported killed, the toll mounted hourly fatal crashes on streets and high ways, shootings, train wrecks; and flaming death in the. night came to five members of a family gath ering at Auburn, Me., when an oil heater exploded and destroyed a cottage. Two of the victims. trapped as they slept, were little girls. Frosted windshields cost the lives of three persons in a head-on auto crash at Fort Dodge, la., and a railroad crossing collision near Danville, 111., resulted In sudden death to? Fred Carter, 52, Gates, Ind., coal mine operator, whose car was hit by a Wabash railroad freight train. Illinois reported 25 Yuletide deaths, Pennsylvania 18, Califor nia 15, Maryland 14 and Ohio 16. A collision between a 10-car mail and express train and an 11- car passenger train at Hopkins ville, Ky., caused Injuries to 25 persons, u, ; Santa- laua . meant - death to Jimmie. Maloney, aged three, In Lancaster, S. C. Toddling across a street to display his Christmas gifts to neighbors, he was struck down by a car and instantly killed. In Winchester, Va., James Cor bin, 14, met violent death when struck down as he rode on a shiny new bicycle he had just received for Christmas. In Weston, Mo., a quarrel around the family Christmas tree ended in swift tragedy when a (Turn to Page 2, Col. 7) ) EVEN FLOODS CAN'T KEEP a. 'a '! I f V4 f-" s 1 i j , i K if?.:' ' V , I - Recent heavy rains and vrindstorma, which tmed Downievffle. CaL. Into m. erttaMe lake, failed to hhv der SanU Clans, who appeared to bring cheer to the children of the stricken Sierra cvrnnutj V. toshowsBantawith JohTsolus (left), George Solo and their sister, Betty.of PownleTOle. Note bow Betty herself looks like one of the Christmas dolls. UN photo. Navy lese Puts Blockade 300 Americans in City; US Will Soon Reopen Nanking Embassy Hangchow Fall Conceded by Chinese Who Say City Is in Ruins SHANGHAI, Dec. 26-(Sunday) -P)-The Japanese navy an nounced today that a blockade had been thrown around the in dustrial city of Tsingtao, where three United States warcraft were standing by to evacuate 300 Americans. Japanese land forces pushing forward into north China pre viously had cut "off communica tions between Tsinanfu, Shantung province capital, and Tsingtao, which is on the coast 390 miles north of Shanghai. With the Japanese widening their war fronts both in north and south China, there was little in the orient to mark the Christ mas message of peace on earth. The navy announcement said the blockade was directed at Chi nese ships only and that foreign shipping would not be affected. The steamer ShJiking, which left Tsingtao before the blockade was established, arrived in Shang hai with a number of foreign refugees, including 15 Americans. Half of Chinese Population Gone They said approximately -one-half the Chinese population had fled and that many foreigners were preparing to leave as soon as they could. Preparing to defend the city, the Chinese sank numerous ves sels, including a large Japanese owned dredger, In the inner har bor to prevent entrance of Japa nese warships. News from the Hangchow area, south of Shanghai, was meager because of disrupted com munications, but foreign sources reported stiff fighting was going on In the suburbs northwest of the captured city and the Chinese still were resisting to the north east. The Chinese Premier-Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek and Mme Chiang, both Christians, (Turn to Page 2, Col. 4) f 4 V Tt- ' - m . japan Upon Tsingtao -' 111 - k - i ?Vi f V"' t i - , Pan ay Considered Ended; MuWs Reply Sent Amount of Indemnification Still to Be Settled; Promise to Avoid Infringement Slain Point US Government Relies Upon Reports of Navy; Steps Taken by Japan to Avoid Trouble Are Cited WASHINGTON, Dec. 25. (AP) The United States accepted today Japan's guarantees "against infringement of, or unwarranted interference with, the rights and interests of the United States" in China. The Panay incident, which threatened to create serious diplomatic trouble, if not worse, between the two countries, was considered closed as to its general lines. Some techni cal points, chiefly the amount of the indemnification, remain to be worked out. Secretary- Hull, in a formal reply to the Japanese note of yesterday, said: "The government of the United States regards the Jap anese government's account, as set forth in the Japanese government's note of December 24, of action taken by it, as Freighter Sends Call of Distress Small Vessel Off Canada Coast Breaks or Loses Its Steering Gear SEATTLE, Dec. 25 -(&)- The small freighter Beulah of Panama sent out distress calls late today from off the gale-swept Vancouver Island coast, and the coast guard cutter Redwing left Port Angeles to aid the vessel. Coast guard headquarters here said they were informed the Beu lah had either broken or lost its steering gear, and that it was keeping from beaching by use of Its own engines. While the cutter Redwing al ready had departed, the speedier cutter Samuel D. Ingham had steam up at Port Angeles and was (Turn to Page 2, Col. 2) SANTA AWAY 4 f i'J Incident Is 0 responsive to the request made by the government of the United States in this government's Bote of December 14." Secretary Hull conferred" with President Roosevelt, Undersecy. Sumner Welles and Asst. Secy. Hugh Wilson before inditing his reply. The United States continues to rely, however, on the facts con tained in the findings of the navy court of inquiry. This may be tak en to mean that this government does not admit the version of "mistake," as contained in the Japanese note, but does not Intend to pursue the argument further. Hope Efforts of ; Japan Effective f ' ' After accepting Japan's note, Hull said in his reply: "It is the earnest hope of the government of the United State that the steps which the Japan (Turn to Page 2, Col. 1) Holy Land Bloody On Christmas Day 43 Arabs Killed, Tiberias tfegion; Christians Pay Visit to Birthplace JERUSALEM, Dec. 25. V Christian faithful knelt at th birthplace of the Christ Child to day in prayer for peace In the holy land, but even as they prayed British troops moved to quell new violence. Forty-three Arabs were killed and more than 20 wounded in bat tle the past two days in the Tib erias region. Three among the British troops were reported wounded. Ten Arabs, were killed in battle with military police in the village of Yacoub, southeast of Nazareth, this afternoon when a wandering Arab band encountered three British regiments. Fearful that hostilities might break out elsewhere, 4000 British troops guarded Christians wbo trekked to Bethlehem for potyiri cial mass In the Church of the Na tivity. . Pealing bells summoned wor (Turn to Page 2, CoL 1) Memorial Chapel Of College Burns PARKVILLE, Mo., Dec. 25-) -Fire destroyed the JlOCeoo Park college , memorial chapel here tonight,- . . . Other buildings oa the campus '. were reported saved. Fire ap-v, paratus from Kansas City was rushed here to aid in fightinr'the ' flames. ' . .. ' -; .-' . : .There were no reports of In-: : Jured. - :v , '; ' . The blaze broke out about 8:30 p.m. and was still burning more than an. hour later. - The building was of stone con struction and was erected " la 1IS2. Cause of the fire was not' known. y B ALL AD E of TODAy r By ' R. C ; Twas the day after Christ mas , and all through the land -people nodded ' their heads at the headlines they scanned; for. the row. with Japan was ap parently o'er and there seemed to be vastly less . prospect of (mustn't say the naughty