THE WEATHER HERE MOSTLY CLOUDY with few snow flurries tonight; cloudy Tuesday with mixed snow and rain in late afternoon. Slightly cooler. Lowest tonight, 22 de grees; highest Tuesday, 34. Maalmnm TMttrday, 41! BtinlmBm to day, 84. Total X4-honr precipitation! Traeal for month! l.Ml normal, I.S3. Bea ton preclpltaUon, 12.41; normal, 14.M. Rlrer belihl, 4.7 loot. (Icport T U.S. Weather Bttrean.) Capital rnal HOME EDITION l 61st Year, No. 301 SSSJTSiSS Salem, Oregon, Monday, December 19, 1949 (78 Pages) Price 5c Russia Adds to Naval Strength 3 Allies Agree To Standardize With Warships JL "TF -r-rn " , eb& ,?"',-''","Wi"' -'A it : m4 Wm Census to Show Phenomenal Salem Gain Growth Expected to Fall Short of the 23 1 Percent of 19 10 By STEPHEN A. STONE While the 1950 census will show a phenomenal growth for Salem in the last 10 years, it will fall far short of being the biggest 10-year jump for the first half of the century. Official figures show that Sa lem's population in 1900 was 4258. When the census of 1910 came along the figure had in vN creased to 14,097. That was a J gain of 231 per cent, doubtless the biggest in Salem's history. During the next 10 years Sa lem was solid but not spectac ular, and the 1920 census show ed 17,679 people, a gain of 25 per cent, which wasn't at all bad. 49 Per Cent in 1930 Good times were ahead, and by 1930 there was a sufficient influx of new population, be sides the normal increase, to show a census of 26,268 in 1930, or a gain of 49 per cent. Most of the next 10 years were depression years, dating from the fall of 1929, and there was an increase of only 4507. That brought the 1949 census up to 30,773, a gain of 17 per cent. But in the last decade, from 1940 to 1950, now lust around the corner, there has been an other surge in population. Sa lem has gained mainly by an influx of people that has been .. felt throughout the State, and also by several annexations. The 1950 census for Salem should show something like 58,000, which would be a gain of 88 per cent since 1940. Trading Area Jumps Similarly ' the population of the Salem trading area has grown. In 1920 it was placed at 35,000, and no higher in 1930. In 1940, however, it was esti- ) mated at 45,000, and the pre census estimate now is around 75,000. That is not to be con fused with the metropolitan area which will center at Salem; ac cording to official announce ment. Since the population now exceeds 50,000, Salem becomes a metropolitan center. The method of taking the census has changed greatly in 50 years, with a fairly larger office personnel and smaller dis trict areas to count In 1910 and 1920 the district had the boundaries of the first congresional district. It covered everything west of the summit of the Cascade mountains and north of the California line, except Multnomah county. (Concluded on Pare 5, Column 7) Von Manstein Gels 18 Years Hamburg, Germany, Dec. 19 VP) A British military court to day sentenced former Field Marshal Erich von Manstein to 18 years imprisonment for atrocities against Poles and Rus sians committed by German Troops during the war. Manstein, last of Hitler's gen erals to be tried by the victori ous allies, declined to plead for mercy. He was found guilty on nine .specific charges and was acquit ted on eight other counts. All grew out of alleged atrocities by German troops under his com mand during the nazi invasion of Poland and Russia. The president of the court said the sentence would date from to- day. The sentence is subject to confirmation by higher author ity. The decision to try the Ger- man field marshal after such a lengthy imprisonment had aroused much controversy in Britain. Wartime Prime Minis ter Winston Churchill was among the prominent people who subscribed to a fund to pro vide English counsel to defend him. Tomorrow Manstein will be taken to the prison at Werl, near ham, where he will join two other former German command- ers-in-chief, Field Marshals Al bert Kesselring and Nikolaus von Falkenhorst, who are serv ing war crimes sentences there. The field marshal's defense counsel had described him as "still the hero of the German people." The defense charged . the allies had committed acts during wartime similar to those alleged against von Manstein as crimes. Court Review Promised for Picketing Ban Three Way Attack on Curbing Non-Union Places of Business Washington, Dev. 19 VP) The supreme court today agreed to consider a three-way attack on a Washington state law which curbs union picketing activity. Three unions two of them or dered to pay a total of $750 dam ages appealed to the tribunal in an effort to upset the law's ban against picketing when there is no immediate employer-employe dispute. The unions claim this violates the free speech guarantees of the federal constitution. Had No Union Members In one of the three cases which the court agreed to review for later decision, a Bremerton, Wash., local of the Building Service Employes International union was ordered to pay W. L. Gazzam, owner of the Enetai inn, $500. The state supreme court in up holding the damage award found that none of Gazzam's workers was a member of the picketing union and none had expressed a desire to join the union. The state court held that the organizing drive which prompt ed the picketing was a coercive effort to compel the hotel own er to ask his men to join the union. (Concluded on Page S, Column 5) $55 Million for Power Co-ops Washington, Dec. 19 VP) The rural electrification administra tion said today it has authorized loans of nearly $55,000,000 to 10 borrowers in the last 90 days for the formation of super power cooperatives. These cooperatives are combi nations of a number of small co ops. They are formed for the purpose of building their own generating plants. Before, most had their own transmission lines but bought power from private companies. These federations have ob tained more than 50 per cent of all re-loans this year, the agency's records show. Until just after the war, such loans accounted for only 10 per cent of REA's total. There are several reasons for this trend toward large fed e r a t e d systems," explained Clyde Ellis, executive manager National Rural Electric Cooper ative association. "Farmers are geared to elec tricity now," he said. "Much of their work is done by electrical appliances or machinery. They can lose a whole year's profit as a result of one day or night without electricity." The REA program started out primarily to set up power dis tributing systems to serve farm ers, with most of the power sup ply coming from private utilities. However, since 1935, REA has loaned more than $315,000,000 for generation and transmission. 20th Blast Victim Dies Sioux City, la., Dec. 19 VP) Mrs. Alice Hammond, 25-year- old Sioux City bookkeeper, died at a hospital today of injuries suffered in an explosion at the Swift & Co. packing plant here last Wednesday. Mrs. Hammond was the 20th person to die as a result of the blast. Thirty- eight of the Injured still remain ed hospitalized today. County Clash Looms Over Retirement Issue By DON UPJOHN Storm warning signals were between the Marion countv court and tht miriiir. mininvH re tirement system over retention of employes past retirement age on the county payroll. The court had asked retention of 12 emnloves. this, hpino 4h u; 1 i : , kiuiu vuiiaeuuuve annual request for such retention. The employes retirement system has granted the request in a letter received by the court Monday but in do ing so hinted that this may be the last time for the particular 12 employes. "Alhough the retirement board has seen' fit to approve this third retention request," write Jerry Saylor, executive secretary for the board, "it was tne consensus of opinion that thought should be given to se curing and training of replace ments, since obviously the time will coma when public interest jii Syrian Regime Ousted by Army Beirut, Lebanon, Dec. 19 (U.PJ The Syrian army moved in on the government today in the na tion's third political upheaval this year. The army arrested its chief of staff and foreign office head, oc cupied key government build ings, and surrounded the home of President Hashem El Atassy. Early reports indicated it was a bloodless coup. Official an nouncements on the Damascus radio left its aim and extent somewhat obscure. "The army does not intend to intervene in the affairs of the constituent assembly nor any le gally constituted bodies which will continue their functions as usual," an army spokesman said. Col. Adeeb Chickakli, key fi gure in two previous coups this year, announced on the radio that the army had arrested Gen. Sami El Hinnaoui, the chief of staff, and Hinnaoui's brother-in- law, Asaad Talass, secretary gen eral of the foreign office. Also arrested for treason, he said, were an unspecified num ber of "other political figures." 800 Gel Clothes From the Elks Salem's Elks lodge in the two and a half days that it has been distributing clothing to the needy has already given cloth ing to between 750 and 800 per sons. The distribution of clothing, an annual Christmas project of the Salem Elks, was begun Fri day and will be ended this Mon day night. In the clothing distribution, as with the Christmas party-- for the children, the Salem lodge covers a much larger area than Salem. The area extends from Hubbard to Jefferson, north and south, and from Mill City to Falls City, east and west. Saturday the Elks will have their annual party for the chil dren with tickets for those at tending the party to be distrib uted through the schools. The children, all of them from needy families, will go first to the Capitol theater for a picture show at 10:30 a.m. From the theater they will be escorted to the Elks club for treats and pres ents. Children from 49 schools will be in attendance and those outside of Salem will be brought here for the party by the Elks' community chairman in each community. ud Monrlav w ni ice ! Kin 1 oeVi , - ' o can no longer be shown in fur ther retentions. As a matter of fact the board feels that very proDaoiy satisfactory replace ments are presently available." This suggestion on part of the retirement board elicited the sharp statement from County Judge Grant Murphy that he thinks "the county court is in better position to determine whether it is to the public in terest that these employes be retained, any statement by the public retirement board to the contrary notwithstanding." (Concluded on Pan g. Column 6) Snowfall Approaches Salem Snowfall to a depth of several inches covered the Silver Creek falls area Sunday afternoon and made roads hazardous or impassible for those seeking Christmas trees and greens in this locality. Chains were es sential to travel icy roads approaching and in the park. Coldest Spell of Season Brings Ice and Snow The lowest temperature of the season to date, icy streets and a few snow flurries gave Salem ter chill is really here although Christmas time weather. Monday morning's minimum temperature dropped to 24 degrees. Most Highways In State Slippery Ice and snow made driving dangerous today on most Oregon highways, the state highway commission re p o r t e d in its 9 a.m. road report today. The commission said chains are necessary in, all mountain passes, in the Klamath Falls dis trict, -and in other snow areas. The road report: Government Camp Packed snow, plowing, carry chains, 6 inches new snow, 50 inches road side snow. Wapinitia Junction Packed snow, plowing, carry chains, J inches new snow, 30 inches road side snow. Portland Heavy frost, spots of ice throughout district. Wilson River highway Pack ed snow at summit. Salem Spots of ice. Corvallis Ground fog. Santiam Pass Snowing light ly, packed snow, plowing, car ry chains. 8 inches new snow, 69 inches roadside snow. McKenzie Pass Closed by snow, probably for the winter. Willamette Pass Snowing lightly, packed snow, well sand ed. 22 inches new snow, 48 inches roadside snow. Truman Starts Back on Tuesday Key West, Fla., Dec. 19 VP) President Truman took a last dip in the warm waters of the Gulf today before heading back to Washington for a hot fight for the "fair deal." He flies to the capital at 8:45 a.m. (EST) Tuesday to make a quick survey of the legislative outlook and meet with his cabi net at 10 a.m. Thursday. He'll talk over with the cabi net the all-important "state of the union" message to be deliv ered personally to a joint sen ate-house session Jan. 4 or 5, a: well as the budget and economic messages. Final decisions are yet to be made on whether to recommend repeal of war-time excise taxes and the levying of new taxes on corporation profits to offset an anticipated deficit. Mr. Truman plans on a brief stay in Washington scheduling takeoff from there Friday for Independence, Mo., to spend the Christmas holidays with his fa mily. The chief executive, looking plumper to most observers than when he flew here Nov. 28, also appeared tanned, healthy and cheerful. If he weighed only 177 pounds which the White House claim ed it was 10 more than he weighed when he entered the White House. Vatican Stamps Due Vatican City, Dec. 19 VP) L'Osservatore Romano announc ed today the Vatican State will issue a series of efght stamps commemorating Holy year. The issue will go on sale Dec. 21, notice Monday morning that win some quaintly referred to it as othe lowest mark since last Feb ruary 13 when it was 21 de- grees. Even colder temperatures are predicted for Tuesday, the low tonight forecast to go around 22 degrees, the maximum for Tues day at 34. Some snow flurries are fore cast for tonight with mixed rain and snow late Tuesday. Snow was in evidence on higher eleva tions around the city, Monday, but down town only a few flakes fell. Following heavy Tainsduring the late week the Willamette river came up considerably, be ing measured at 4.7 feet here Monday morning, but the weath er bureau said the river was to recede during the next few days, the cold wave moving in to check the rains. Portland, Dec. 19 VP) Most of the nation has temperatures within normal ranges today. The coldest spot is in Montana, where tne mercury dipped to 12 below zero at Cut Bank, and to 8 below at Lewiston. (Concluded on Page 5, Column 6) Nationalists Retake Kunming Hong Kong, Dec. 19 OJ.R) Re ports from Yunnan province said today that the Chinese national ists had captured the provincial city of Kunming, key city of west China and U.S. military base in wartime. The reported recapture of Kunming came a week after turncoats had handed it over to the communists. The provincial governor, Lu Han, announced that Kunming had joined the communist camp after a political coup. Now, the reports said, Lu had been forced to flee after the na tionalists again assumed control of the city. They said Gen. Li Mi, garrison commander who had been imprisoned by Lu, was freed. The nationalist government announced that all ports on the China coast would be mined ef fective Wednesday to prevent Eritish and American ships from trading with the Chinese com munists. CIO Leftist Union Ignoring Ouster Washington, Dec. 19 VP) Of ficers of the California state CIO council and the United Of fice and Professional workers, accused of adhering to commun ist programs rather than CIO policy, failed to appear today for hearings on their ouster from the union. Two special committees met any way to take the charges and consider the recommendations they would make. The office workers union, headed by James Durkin of New York, faces ex pulsion if the charges are up held. The California state industrial council leadership is under fire of locals seeking reorganization and a new charter. Ultra-Modern Rocket Firing Battleship Being Constructed London, Dec. 19 (P) While Britain and the United States are scrapping or mothballing many of their warships, Soviet Russia is reported to be building up her naval strength with rocket-f i r i n g battleships and long-range submarines. Jane s Fighting Ships, the au thoritative naval publication, said today the Russians are be lieved building three ultra-modern, 35,000-ton b a 1 1 1 eships, equipped with radio-controlled aerial torpedoes and rockets. Two others were said to be in the blueprint stage, and possibly in the shipyard stocks. Russia already is known to possess two battleships. Fleet of Long-Range Subs The Soviet union also envis ages, as part of its five-year na val building program, a fleet of from 7 5 0 to 1000 long-range submarines by 1951, Jane's said. Shipyard? throug h o u t the USSR and in the Soviet zone of Germany were reported work ing day and night in three shifts turning out smaller war vessels such as motor torpedo boats and mine sweepers. Jane s, regarded as the last word on the world's navies, emphasized that its in formation on Russia was pre sented "with all due reserve.' Moscow does not publish de tails of its defense program. The new figures were includ ed in Jane's 1949-50 edition which appeared today. The pub lication is unofficial but author itative. (Concluded on Page 5, Column 7) Ask Amnesty For Conscies Philadelphia, Dec. 19 (IP) President Truman has been ask ed to grant Christmas amnesty to thousands of conscientious objectors. The central committee for conscientious objectors said yes terday that 70 eminent Ameri cans had written the president asking Christmas amnesty for the objectors. The request, the committee said, was made in behalf of those whose convictions as objectors not only resulted in their im prisonment but classed them permanently as felons deprived of civil rights. "Men who already paid heav ily for their beliefs with long prison terms still suffer the dis abilities which follow the loss of civil rights," the signers wrote. "Surely men who have en deavored literally to follow the teachings of the sermon on the mount should not therefore be permanently relegated to sec ond class citizens." Oregon Still Beaver State That Oregon Is still the Beaver state is indicated by the trapping of a 55-pound beaver within four blocks of capitol. For some time property owners along Mill Creek have been annoyed by the presence of at least two beavers. Saturday one was caught. Here are State Game Commission Trapper Olscn and Gardner Knapp holding one of the fur-bearers. He was trapped on Mill Creek at the rear of the Knapp residence, 1525 Chcmeketa. One more beaver, I and possibly others, are being sought. Long Awaited Shave An gus Ward, U. S. consul general at Mukden, China., trims his famous beard for the first time in 13 months, while en route to Japan aboard the S.S. Lake land Victory. Ward and his staff were held captive by the Chinese Red government for 13 months. (Acme Radio Tel ephoto) Ward Returns From Mukden Yokohama, Dec. 19 VP) Con sul General and Mrs. Angus Ward came back to fellow Ame ricans today from a year's vir tual imprisonment by the Chi nese Reds and got a rousing wel come for their 30th wedding an niversary. The Wards and members of the consulate staff at Mukden Manchuria, arrived here aboard the Lakeland victory to com plete the first leg of their jour ney back to the United States. The consul general, who was kicked out by the Chinese com munists, said he was overwhelm ed by the greetings of some 200 Americans waiting at Yokoha ma's South pier when the ship docked. Mrs. Ward said she was, too so much that "its hard to speak." Behind them but fresh in memory was what Ward called the "hellish" treatment at the hands of the Reds in Mukden, months of bickering to try to leave the country, and finally his arrest and a month in jail before a "peoples court order ed him expelled. The commun ists accused him of beating two Chinese employes in a wage dis pute. The U.S. state department said the charge was "trumped up." The consul general related it all again today at the pier for Japanese newsmen. He said his group was treated "very, very poorly most inhumanely." Arms, Armies Britain, United States, Canada to Perfect Military Machine London, Dec. 19 VP) Britain, the United States and Canada announced today a plan for standardizing their arms and military training. The program is aimed at cor recting and eliminating technical differences which interfered with easy cooperation of the three powers in two world wars. Its purpose is to permit swift integration of their men and arms into a smoothly-function ing military machine in event of another international conflict. (A similar announcement was made in Washington.) Leftist forces in Britain op posed their cooperation, and in parliamentary debates called the move toward arms standardiza tion an aggressive weapon aimed at Soviet Russia. Cooperation Practical In connection with the stan dardization studies there have been frequent exchanges of mili tary personnel between the two nations on operational levels. American pilots have been as signed to fly and study Britain's jet bombers. At the same time British and Canadian , officers have worked in- developing and flying many American planes. Similar exchanges have been made in the other branches of the armed services. These arrangements will in sure that m time of necessity there will be no material or tech nical obstacles to full coopera tion among the armed forces con cerned and the greatest possible economy in the use of combined resources and effort will be ob tained," the ministry of defense said. (Concluded on Page S, Column 8) Anti-Socialists Rule Australia Canberra, Australia, Dec. 19 VP) The anti-socialist coalition today took control of Australia's government with a cabinet in cluding a woman member for the first time in the common wealth's history. Premier Robert Gordon Men- zies, Dame Enid Lyons and 17 other cabinet ministers were sworn in by Governor-General William J. McKell, represent ing King George VI. Dame Enid, widow of former Prime Minister Joseph A. Lyons and first woman member of the house of representatives, became vice president of the executive council. Known throughout Australia as a public speaker, broadcaster and champion of women's rights, she will preside at council meet ings when Menzies is absent. Sworn in Willi Menzies were 13 members of his own liberal party and five members of the country party. They had cam paigned successfully on the same anti-socialist platform against the labor party which had controlled the government since 1941. Arthur William Fadden, lead er of the country party and a former prime minister, was sworn in as deputy prime minis ter and treasurer, next to Men zies in rank. Faddcn's party won 20, perhaps 21, seats in the house of representatives; Men zies' liberals captured 53, per haps 54 seats, to labor's 47. Final returns are still incomplete. Berserk Elephant Wrecks Freight Car Blackpool, England, Dec. 19 (U.PJ A three and a half ton ele phant named Punchy went ber serk in a railway freight car Saturday. He wrecked the car and held up main-line traffic for five hours before soldiers killed him with rifles and machine-guns. The 50-ycar-old Punchy went mad abroad a circus train taking him from Blackpool to Birming ham. He splintered the sides of his freight car "Cage" and hurl ed a keeper from the train with his trunk, then snapped three of the four chains holding him. Circus officials summoned an army firing squad from nearby barracks. The soldiers boarded another ireight car which was pushed along a parallel track un til it was opposed Punchy's car. The squad fired one volley, and Punchy fell dead. "l