The Mid-Valley Extolls the Joyous Yuletide - - and a
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In Judea 20 centuries ago the
government furnished no birth
certificate?. No newspapers were
published in the little town rf
Bethlehem in which items of
births and deaths could be re
corded. So it was not for many
decades afterwards that written
record was made of the birth of
a son Jesus, to Mary and Joseph 1
in the Judean village.
Mark, the first reporter of the j
gospel story, and John, the last, do i
not relate the narrative of the
nativity. The intermediate writ
ers. Matthew and Luke, do. Ex-j
cept a to the facts of birth and j
Immediate parentage, the two ac- '
counts do not correspond; and
the genealogies are quite aiftei
ent. Matthew tells the story of
the coming of the wise men who
had seen a bright star in the east,
of the engeance of Herod, the'
flight into Egypt, and the family's!
later ettling in Nazareth of Gali
lee when Judea still appeared
unsafe.
Luke placet Joaeph and Mary j
In Nazareth before the birth, go
ing to Bethlehem in response to I
, the order of Caesar Augustus that
"all the world" be enrolled or ;
taxed. Luke tells how for iCclC i
of room in the inn the new-born
babe was placed in a manger, and
how angels appeared to shepherds .
In the fields at night. This nar
rator does not mention the flight I
Into Egypt but reports the return j
to Galilee after, observance of re
ligious rites in Jerusalem.
Yet this birth, of uncertain date,
occurring to a humble family in
an obscure village, is the most
famous in all the world and in all
history. Today is its accepted an
niversary and all over the world
the birth of the child Jesus is
celebrated. Even thewe who may
cot worship him as Son of God
observe the holy day; and the
spirit of the Christian's Christmas
permeates the world.
Though biographers may not
agree in details and though theo
logians may not agree in defining
the nature of Jesus Christ, his
life, his teachings and his sacri
fice have become the inspiration
of humankind. Fumbling, weak,
discordant humankind recognize
Him as the interpreter of Divinity
In the highest conception yet given
to mans intelligence. Though
they fall far short of the Ideal
they still cherish it.
And Christmas, covered though
It be with tinsel and goods, is a
significant holy festival, in which .
the miracle of birth and the purity j
of childhood looven the cords of:
adult heart; a'nd the mind gets
m fresh lew of the relation of
man to God.
There Wa a Santa!
Handing out presents to $ chil
dren at the Elks ledgs yesterday
were (left to right behind ta
ble) V. F. Fraham. Joe Krau
ger, committee chairman, E. G.
Burrell and Santa himself. At
the right are a part ef the group
as they entered the Elks temple
after a theatre party. (The tea
by Do. Dill. Statesman staff
photographer).
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Pageants Exemplify Season
The mid-valley is not lacking in pictorial proof of Its reverent
observance of the Yuletide.
At the upper left are students of Salem Heights school in the
manger scene of their three-act Christmas pageant. Front row left
to right are Dickie Bandy. Robert Bayae. Carol Marggi and Ruth
llarnsburger; (left second row) Franklin White. Jessie Krater.
Colleen Maxwell and Donna Zeh; (left third row) Fred Butler,
Buddy Andrews and Jackie Krater; (right front row) Billie Bart
lett. Elsie Sims. Karen Sims and James Shaw; (right second row)
Marilyn Riewald. Uoyd Gorlore. Sheila Tulare and Dick Ander
son; (right third row) Nancy Hageman. Robert Marggi and Don
nie Smith; (back row left to right) Marjorie Randolph. Gay
Blarkman. Clara Lou Miles. Marilyn Ferguson. Luclnda Cottmay.
Lela Krater (Mary), Emu Sims. Charles Hults (Joseph). Delilia
Smith, Carol Hagemore and Ann Butler.
At upper right are Bush school students singing of the Joyous
season at the school's annual tableau. Left to right Tom Hunt.
Donald Agrew. Dillon Miller. Roger Morehead and Fred Balton.
(Salem Heights photo by R. M. Evenden; Bush school photo
by Don Dill. Statesman staff photographer.)
Tough on Family
(Jar and I ouglier
On Santa Qaus
BUR BANK, Calif.. Dec. 24-P)-
Overcome by Christmas
curiosity, six-year-old Jimmy
Shepherd and his brother Mike,
four, chopped a hole in the top
of the family car today so they
could get at the wondrous, gaily
wrapped packages their father
had stored therein. The father.
Leslie Shepherd, appeared in
time to save the Christmas sec
ret but not the "car.
British Bride
May Yet Make
Christmas Date
Perhaps Harry Oehler, Silver
ton veteran, and Irene, the girl
he married in England may yet
be united on Christmas.
Oehler received word by wire
yesterday that his war-bride and
their 7-monlhs-oJd son Leslie,
whom his daddy has never seen,
were scheduled to arrive at La
Guardia field in New York from
London last night at midnight. If
all goes well, she expects to hop
a west-bound plane which should
brine her into Portland tonight.
The Associated Press reported
Late last night the plane is due in
New York- at 10 ajn (EST) to
day. Mrs. Oehler and little Leslie
were among 25 GI brides, one
bride-to-be and 23 children of
former American servicemen who
wele hastily recruited in London
Monday for a transatlantic plane
flight to the US. as "a Christmas
present." The plane took off from
London Monday night but was
forced to turn back over Ireland
because of ocean storms, the wire
said.
C W. Schmiedecke
Killed in Accident
On Fog-Filled Road
SILVERTON. Ore., Dec. 24P)
Charles Walter Schmiedecke, 33.
Rt. 7. Box 408. Salem, was killed
early today when his automobile
crashed while he was driving alone
from here to his home.
Police said the car apparently
failed to negotiate a curve -in the
dense fog where the road parallels
the Pudding river. The widow and
three children, ages 2 to 6. survive.
The body was taken to a Silverton
mortuary.
$neH j0 Offer
j Finance Plan
Sans New Tax
' Gov. Earl Snell said Tuesday
he would present to the legisla
ture next month a program for a
, balanced budget without levying
additional taxes.
This would be achieved, he said,
by capturing certain , surpluses In
spme state funds.
He did not elaborate.
The tax study commission re
cently made public its recommen
dations for new taxes totaling
1 some $19,500,000.
The governor said that although
' a reduction has been made in the
budget, there are adequate funds
to finance the state's activities in
cluding anticipated growth, sal
ary increases and placing in ef
fect the state employes' retire
ment program. The budget also
includes money to finance the
1 basic school support fund auth-
orized at the November election.
The total amount requested for
the next biennium is $50,000,000.
but the budget, by eliminating
, capital outlays and new buildings,
t was pared to $40,000,000.
j 75 Routed in
Hotel Blaze
j MACON. Ga , Dec. 25 (Wed-
nesday A general alarm fire
. which swept through the right
wing of the Lanier hotel here
I shortly before midnight routed 75
guests, some of whom were res
cued by firemen who elevated
ladders to the upper floors of the
six-story structure.
The blaze was brought under
I control about 1:13 a.m. (EST). Po-
lice officials said no one was seri
I ously injured.
The prompt teamwork of an
army lieutenant and the hotel's
switchboard operator was credit
ed with averting possible disaster.
I The right wing of the hotel
' has six floors in front and four in
I the rear. The roof of this wing
1 caved in.
POSTAL PAY SOUGHT
i CHICAGO, Dec. 24. - OP) - The
i CIO Textile Workers of America
today filed a portal to portal suit
'against Johnson & Johnson, Chi
cago manufacturers of surgical
dressings, asking $500,000 in back
pay and a like amount in dam
ages. Gt NMEN GET JEWELS
j SAN FRANCISCO. Dec 24 -OP)
j Two gunmen held up the Nicolls
jewelry store on Market street
i today and escaped with cash, dia
j monds and rings worth, the own
ers estimated, between $20,000 and
I $25,000.
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StfteCfS)
NINETY -SIXTH YEAR
Little Girl Offers
Sight of Right Eye
As Christmas Gift ,
GREENSBORO, N.C., Dec. 24
-Jf One of the most precious
Christmas gifts the ability to
see was in store for someone
on the Christmas eve, the pres
ent of six-year-old Margaret Lee
Turtle.
The little daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Porter A. Tuttle of nearby
Guilford college lost the sight
of her right eye last night when
a BB shot Occidents lly discharg
ed" by her two-year-old brother
rendered the eye useless but left
the cornea undamaged.
An operation was performed
this morning and tonight the
child's eye was in New York in
possession of the Eye Bank for
Sight Restoration, Inc.. where it
was rushed by airplane in a spe
cial iced container.
'Quake Death, .
Homeless Toll
Takes Jump
TOKYO, Wednesday. Dec. 25
' (A)- The officially reported toll
of Japan's disastrous earthquake
I and tidal waves rose to 2890 to
' day, including 1172 known dead.
The new figures, announced by
the home ministry this morning,
marked a jump of nearly 500
! ovtr previous reports.
The ministry also said 150,375
were homeless an increase of
50,000 over previous estimates.
Belated reports from Kochi pre
fecture on hard-hit Shikoku
' island, and from Honshu's bat
tered Wakayama peninsula,
boosted the toll. The new report
listed 1172 dead, 1555 injured and
163 missing.
Japanese seismologists mean
while forecast continuing "after
shocks" for the next two to three
months, and said that scientists
in the Kochi area had counted
600 separate shocks within two
days after Saturday's disaster.
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But Production Rise1
PORTLAND. Dec. 24-P)-Ore-gon
flax plantings dropped from
8.000 to 7,600 acres this year, but
yield was up 17 per cent to an
approximate total of 14.000 tons,
the Oregon State college extension
service reported today.
I Governor Receives
2000 Yuletide Cards
I
I More than 200 Christmas cards.
: addressed to Gov. Earl Snell, had
! arrived at the executive deoart
i ment here Tuesday, with pros
! pects of another heavy mail Wed
i nesday.
Eight Hundred
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Salem.
Services,
Reunions
Are Set
Church services, family reun
ions, and the best choice of gifts
and toys in several years are pro
viding plenty of activity in Salem
on an otherwise quiet Christmas
day.
Merchants finished one of the
busiest Yuletide seasons on rec
ord last night, and for some of
them it was the busiest ever re
corded. Christmas trees and outdoor
lights were illuminated in several
sections of the city until early to
day, and it was a foregone conclu
sion that little Jane and Johnny
would have the family up well
before dawn in those homes which
delayed their traditional package
opening until the nocturnal visit of
the age-less Santa.
Wards Have Turkey
More than 3600 wards of the
state of Oregon will participate in
turkey dinner today, 2500 at the
state hospital and 1100 at the state
prison. All of the state buildings
are gayly decorated for the holi
day. Replica of the nativity scene in
Bethlehem more than 1900 years
ago, traditionally on display in
Catholic churches from the earli
est mass on the feast day, will be
the center of interest in Salem's
two Catholic churches where sol
emn high masses will be celebrat
ed at 6:30 this morning. Four later
masses are scheduled at St. Jos
eph's and three others at St. Vin
cents. Services Schedaled
Four Lutheran churches have
scheduled services during the
morning while St. Paul's Episcopal
church will have its usual Christ
mas communion service.
No mail deliveries will be made
today and the 200 members of the
Salem pos toff ice staff who have
handled the holiday business will
observe Christmas with their fam
ilies. Accident on 99E
Hospitalizes Man
Virgil Galloway of Salem was
confined to Salem General hos
pital lart night for treatment of
minor injuries incurred when his
car figured in a collision on high
way 99E at Lancaster drive at
about 10:10 p.m.
Investigating state police said
that Galloway turned off Lan
caster drive onto the highway
and swung too far toward the
middle of the road causing his car
to side? wipe that of Harry E.
Conklin. route 7, Salem. Conklin
was not injured jr
MRS. WILBUR DIES
PALO ALTO. Calif.. Dec. 24.
iP) - Mrs. Ray Lyman Wilbur,
wife of the chancellor of Stan
ford university, died at her cam
pus home today.
Youngsters Are Guiests of Salem Elks Lodge at
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Merry Christmas to
OUNDRD 1651
Orqon, Wednesday Morning. December 25. 1946
Airliner with 12
Aboard Missing,
Crask' Reported
LOS ANGKLES, Dec. 24-iP)
Western Airlines reported late
tonight hat a DC-3 two-engined
passenger plane due into
San Diego at 7:30 p.m. was un
reported at 11 p.m. (PST). The
plane was said to be carrying
nine passengers and a crew of
three.
Spokesmen said the plane
was last reported at shortly aft
er 7:30 p.m. over Mt. Laguna,
not otherwise identified. At
that time, headquarters said,
there was no indication the
flight was not going well.
Half an hour earlier, the Cal
ifornia highway patrol report
ed that ranchers in the Cam
eron valley 55 miles east of
San Diego had said a plane,
supposedly en route from Palm
Springs to San Diego on the
Western Airlines route, had
crashed and burned.
U. S. Decides
Red Ultimatum
Legal at Dairen
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 -UP
The United States tacitly recog
nized the! legality of continued
soviet military control of the
Chinese port of Dairen today.
Also, a state department spokes
man said the Russians acted leg
ally in ordering an American
naval vessel to leave Dairen after
its authorized 48-hour stay had
expired.
But while the Soviets were
held to be within their technical
rights, U.j S. senators in Wash
ington spoke out in blunt terms
against the Russian action.
"Being right is-no excuse for
being ill-mannered," said Senator
Johnson (D-Colo).
The American view was dis
closed at a news conference at
the state! department by Press
Officer Lincoln White.
William! H. Newton, an Ameri
can correspondent, in a dispatch
published in this country yester
day, declared that the naval ves
sel which had called at Dairen
with supplies and mail for the
American consul general had
left the ?ort after receiving a
verbal -ultimatum from Russian
military authorities that if it did
not get Out within 20 minutes
! "we will ! not be responsible for
the consequences.
Weather
Salem .
Portland i .
San Francisco ,
Chicago i
New York i
Max.
4
. 45
S3
33
Min. Precip.
32 M
29 M
49 1 03
23 .00
48
39 JD0
Willamette river 3 1 feet
FORECAST l from US weather bu
reau. McNary field. Salem): Partly
cloudy today and tonight. Highest tem
perature 45l Lowest 23.
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President Voices
Hope for Lasting
Peace Next Year
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24-(;p)-Preident Truman set aglow tonight
the lights of Christmas and sounded the hope that 1947 may brinf
a lasting peace.
At dusk the chief executive walked across the White House
lawn to a towering evergreen, turned on the lights of a national
Christmas tree and sent a holiday message to his countrymen by
radio. ,
"We have made a good start toward peace in the world," he
said. "Ahead of us lies the larger task of making the peace secure. ,
"The progress we have made gives h pe that in the coming year
we shall reach our goal. Muy 1947 entitle us to the benediction of
the Master. . . . Merry Christmas and may God bless you all."
Tomorrow the president flies to join his family at their home
in Independence, Mo.
Pilgrims Flock
BETHLEHEM, Wednesday. Dec. 25-;p)-Approxirnately 30.000
pilgrims saw Christmas day, 1946, ushered into this tiny birthplace
of Christendom today at a pontificial mass which climaxed the most
colorful Christmas eve in the memory of veteran Bethlehem
authorities. A picture of the pageant, radioed from Bethlehem, ap
pears on page 2 of today's State man.
The devout pageant is the traditional climax of Christmas eve
celebrations by Christians of the Holy Land. It includes a solemn
processional to the manger grotto, in the venerable stone Church of
Nativity, erected over the scene of the Saviour's birth.
In the manger is placed an eight-inch wax doll in the figure
of an infant boy. It will remain there until January 6, the feast of
the Epiphany, which commemorates the arrival of the wise men
from the east.
Early in the day great crowds began to assemble in the bright
sunlight, and despite the strife which has scourged the Holy Land
in recent months, a festive air pervaded the little town.
Pope Appeals for Stahle Peace
VATICAN CITY, Dec. 24-(iP)-Pope Pius XII, declaring Europe
even now was in danger of "the flames of new conflicts." appealed
today to the world's statesmen to conclude with all possible speed
a stable peace which could "save the woild- from incalculable shocks
and disorders J'
The pontiff, addressing resident members of the sacred college
of cardinals, said the Atlantic charter in some countries today
seemed only a counterfeit of what was intended.
But he saw hope for mankind in the development of weapons
of mass destruction. Without mentioning the atom bomb specific
ally, the pope said this new factor, "the might of new instrument
of destruction," had brought the need for international agreement
sharply into focus and "provides an incentive that was never felt
before."-He called upon statesman to remove "dangerous interna
tional tensions," to apply, "all the forces of your mind and will to
give to your work of peace the seal of the true justice," and to
guarantee more than a superficial stability in the peace by leaving
the way open for adjustments in the future.
He concluded with "a. fervent wish" that all listeners mighty
share "the peace of God which surpasteth all understanding."
Amnesty Speeds Denazification
FRANKFURT, Germany, Dec. 24--Gen. Joseph T. McNarney,
in a Christmas message to 3000 applauding Germans in historic
Roemberg square, announced today an' amnesty for 800,000 "little
nazis" in the U. S. occupation zone of Germany.
American officials estimated amnesty would enable the de
nazification program to be completed in 18 months in the U. S.
zone. Previously it had been officially estimated the process would
take eight years.
The amnesty, which will reduce the number of persons liable
to prosecution to about 2,000,000, will apply to all those not listed
as major offenders, whose yearly income during the calendar year
1943 and 1945 was less than 3000 marks, and whose taxable prop
erty in 1945 did not exceed 20,000 marks.
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Everyone!
Price 5c
No. 232
to Bethlehem
Annual Fete .
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