Capital Journal
An Independent Newspaper Established 1888
GEORGE PUTNAM, Editor and Publisher
ROBERT LETTS JONES, Aiiiitont Publisher
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4 Salem, Oregon, Thursday, March 16, 1950
First Denfeld, Now Crommelin
Disciplining of Captain Crommelin is going to be no easy
job. The navy captain, who is the most severe critic within
the services of the top command, has a large, sympathetic
following on the outside. Navy Secretary Matthews will
find that out.
Crommelin has resigned himself to the role of a martyr.
Matthews has tried to do everything possible to prevent
the Pacific war hero from becoming a martyr, but the Navy
secretary has a fighter in Crommelin. Crommelin believes
that "Prussian Pentagon policies" are cutting the fleet
down to a secondary part of the defense forces and he would
rather lose bis service career than see that happen.
Matthews and Secretary of Defense Johnson have no
other people but themselves to blame for the Crommelin
affair. The disgraceful firing last fall of Admiral Denfeld,
the number one naval officer, busted wide open the efforts
of the general staff in the Pentagon to relegate the navy
to a secondary position. Last week Denfeld spoke out for
the first time on the matter and accused Matthews and
Johnson of firing him because his testimony, requested
by congress, offended the Pentagon command. Denfeld
sized up the battle as one of rigid control of national de
fense "by political appointees as distinguished from the
congress."
In the Crommelin case, Matthews refused to give the
naval captain a court martial, at which Crommelin could
be heard. Instead, Matthews pulled out an almost for
gotten military law that permits the secretary of navy to
furlough any officer on half-pay, without explaining his
reasons. It was the stiffest kind of punishment imposed
on a navy officer, short of a court martial, in 24 years.
Instead of quieting Crommelin down, Matthews will con
tinue to build Crommelin up. The resulting fight will be
one in which the armed forces political command will be
staked against an officer and his followers who believe in
the navy as an equal partner among the defense forces.
As Crommelin well knows, insubordination in the service
is not tolerated. And so his disregard of implied orders to
keep quiet about the top brass brought the present disci
plining. However, far more is at stake than merely the
disciplining of an officer. There was no reason for dis
ciplining Denfeld, but, nevertheless, he was fired. Crom
melin's exiling to an indefinite furlough is basically
prompted by the same reason Matthews and Johnson used
to get rid of Denfeld.
Truman's civilian heads of the services are going to try
to force through, in Missouri political style, their version
of unification of the armed forces regardless of congress,
Denfeld, Crommelin and the public
Knowing More About Oregon
Walter Meacham of Portland has gotten around the
state a lot. He is executive secretary of the Old Oregon
Trail, Inc., which is dedicated to saving Old America for
Young Americans. He has noted in his role as a booster
for the state that visitors don't know enough about the
scenic beauty, natural resources or historical background
of the country-side about.
So he has a suggestion to make.
He would tell travelers more about the state. He would
have busses and trains install loud speakers to give pass
engers interesting information on the country-side. He
would have informational leaflets for travelers. In other
words, he would elaborate on the campaign that Old Ore
gon Trail, Inc., has been conducting for a number of years
in homes, schools, clubs and churches. His suggestions
don't infer that existing organizations are not doing a
job. His suggestions are meant to implement existing
mediums of informing the public about Oregon.
The technicalities of a loud-speaker system for busses
or trains are a matter really not important to the basic
idea of giving a "feeling" of the background and resourc
es of Oregon to visitors. Walter Meacham has been doing
that for a long time so he should know from experience.
It can be taken for granted that not enough people
know about Oregon. That can be said to be true even of
the people of Oregon themselves. The more interesting
the country-side is made for travelers, the more travelers
are likely to come. And, with more travel, the more every
one benefits.
No Bluffing Bluff, No Delaying Delay
San Pedro, Calif., March 16 wn Bluff wasn't bluffing
and Delay wasn't delaying but Delay is out $50 today because
of an auto accident.
Norman G. Bluff accused Virgil C. Dcluy of causing dam
ages to his car, due to carelessness. He said he would sue.
He did. Trial was set for Feb. 14. Delay obtained a delay,
saying he wanted lo obtain more evidence.
Next time Delay failed to appear so the Judge awardde
Bluff $50 and costs. The following day Delay showed up, in
formed the court he was confused on the date, and filed a
motion to vacate the judgment and (or a new trial.
He got the new trial. The court gave Bluff Judgment of
$50 and Delay was told to pay without delay.
'A Man Gets Mad Sometimes
Martinez, Calif., March -6 (UP) Manuel Silva's cement
truck, which he wrecked last Sunday, was being yanked
up an embankment yesterday when it suddenly burst into
flames.
Sllva, apparently vexed by the misfortune, dashed lo his
1938 sedan and deliberately drove It over the edge, piling
Into the flaming wreckage of his truck. Sllva escaped with
out a scratch and was hustled off by authorities for obser
vation. "A man gels mad sometimes," was the only explanation
the sheriff's office could give.
Highway Cops to Tag Planes
Anchorage, Alaska, March 16 (UP) Highway patrolmen to
day were on the lookout for any stray airplanes landing
on the roads.
The highway commissioner warned bush pilots they could
land on the highways only In case of an emergency. Other
wise they would face charge of "operating a vehicle on the
highways without headlights or license plates."
BY H. T. WEBSTER
How to Torture Your Husband
f You say You HAvetj'r a cenr '
LETT Since PAYIMG SOUK I ' h
INCOME? TAX YCSTCKOAY? I I jJ
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ewouGH To leu. e vjhy I T JM" I
we didn't spcnd that I IN
MOVCV INSTEAD OP HATJ&- I II
V IN& OH To rruMTIL "ffZ. II
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Place four timcs , at
WASHINGTON MERRY-GO-ROUND
Congress Votes 29 Billion
Without a Rollcall Ballot
By DREW PEARSON
Washington With economy the watchward on Capitol Hill,
senators and congressmen might be better off criticizing the
bureaucrats less and paying more attention to how congress it
self -handles the tax-payers' money.
The power to tax and spend rests squarely on congressional
and
BY CARL ANDERSON
Henry
KRISS-KROSS
Happy Day! Income Tax
Troubles Over for a Year
By CHRIS KOWITZ.Jr.
Today is the day many folks around the valley begin con
valescing from the brain-racking brought upon by that pesky
little item of wholesale confusion more commonly referred to
as Form 1040.
All was quiet at the Salem post office Just prior to midnight
shoulders,
by juggling the
purse strings,
congress can
control the fed
eral govern
ment. Yet, believe it
or not, congress
appro priated
twenty-nine bil
lions last year
without so much
as a record vote.
In other words, the tax-payers
had no way of determining how
their representatives voted.
In many cases, the majority
of congressmen didn't even show
up to vote when expenditures
running into millions of dollars
were approved. This is clear
from the congressional record
which shows that a quorum
wasn't always present to vote
Drew FcsrlOB
Though no reporters were on
hand to witness it, members of
the United States senate and
Japanese Diet sat across the table
from each other and exchanged
political ideas.
If the same scene had taken
place 10 years sooner, Pearl Har
bor might never have happened.
It was a curious sight, these
American and Japanese legisla
tors taking a belated look at
each other. The Japanese had
come to watch democracy at
work and were keen-eyed with
interest. They rattled off ques
tions, and scribbled the answers
in notebooks.
One senator on the American
side of the table was a former
missionary to Japan high
minded Elbert Thomas of Utah.
Another had been a marine
wounded in battle against the
on appropriations though the Japanese scholarly Paul Doug
pnnstitutinn clearlv Drnvides that las of Illinois.
Wed n e s d a yfcij'f
nieht . . . onlvV
a handful oft
stragglers rush-t
ing up to get ft
their income tax,
forms in thef
mail before the.
12 o'clock post
mark deadline.
A certain
merchant in Al
bany is still in
state of utter
lyu
Chrli Eowlti, Jr.
vised to expect an annual salary
of $499 in 1950.
Two Salem residents were
mildly surprised Tuesday when
they found Christmas cards
among the morning mail . . .
cards were from a woman liv
ing in Kingwood Heights . . .
woman had mailed them in West
balem last December . . . same
woman mailed Valentine's day
"a majority (of each house) shall
constitute a quorum to do busi
ness." Because this is a careless way
to handle the taxpayers' money,
conscientious congressman
Dwight Rogers of Florida is
urging a resolution to require a
rollcall vote on all appropria
tions. This would help remedy
the slipshod method in which
some appropriations are handled.
NOTE Here are some of the
appropriations approved last
year without a rollcall vote: S7,-
617,739,361 for
This battle scene was solemnly
recalled by Senator Douglas. He
told how the Japanese fought a
last-ditch stand though outnum
bered two to one by the Ameri
cans. "The Japanese fought bravely
and valiantly," declared Doug
las. Then, looking squarely at
the Japanese legislators across
the table, he added: "I am now
looking forward to the Japanese
fighting just as hard for democ
racy as (hey fought against it."
Throughout the visit, the Jap-
r ? ti f
4 r-, 7 r RECORD I
A-yVrgH Wk your I
i'K i i i i volcE . I
3-lit , Wit W I "
"
0 I a ANPgtJae
POOR MAN'S PHILOSOPHER j
Building Apartment Leads
Boy Wonder to Odd Hobby
bewilderment. The merchant's cards last month, and one still
lone employee is his own adoles- nasn,t been delivered yet. .
cent daughter. Last year, daugh- Moral: Mal1 vour greeting cards
ter earned just a wee bit more earlv i they're destined for a
than the crucial $500 mark, cross-town journey,
which meant the young lady had Ethan Grant and Don Madison
to pay income tax. challenged their wives to a men
The catch is this: Papa could- vs. women cribbage game a few
n't include daughter as a depend- weeks ago. Stipulation was that
ent, on account of she made losers were to provide dinner
enough moola in 1949 to sup- for winners . . . women won . . .
port herself . . . legally, anyhow, women went hungry . . . women
Papa finally has figured out finally decided to take it upon
he's being hit from three sides, themselves to get the meal due
(1) He's paying his own daugh- them . . . last night they cleverly
ter a salary; (2) He's feeding lured their respective husbands
and sheltering same daughter in into local restaurant . . . there,
his home; (3) And he still can't they had table all set up in ban
list her as a dependent. quet style, ate a royal feed, and
Had he been able to list her made sure that the hubbies paid
as a dependent, his taxes would the bill ... the banquet table,
have been several hundred dol- incidently, was decorated around
lars less. a center-piece . . . said center
Daughter has already been ad- piece was a model skunk,
MacKENZIE'S COLUMN
King Leopold Faces Bitter
Choice with Slim Vote Edge
By DeWITT MacKENZIE
liPI Foreign AHiln Aoftlnt)
One of the toughest decisions a man could face was that called
for from exiled King Leopold III of the Belgians in Switzerland
yesterday by Belgium Prime Minister Gaston Eyskens.
Sunday's plebiscite in Belgium showed 57.68 per cent of those
voting desired Leopold to return to his capital and resume his
throne. Now
tions which have made him also
the subject of controversy.
The first of these events was
his surrender of the Belgian
army to the invading Germans
at the outbreak of the World
War, he himself becoming a
prisoner. That was a terrific
blow to the allied cause, and
brought about the British dis
aster at Dunkerque.
Leopold was assailed not only
K iha nil:... K..4 I U:
,,rn th. linv malnritv Hnwn as ow"
.-..ii i people. Later the world took
anese askpri most nf thp riipc-
independent ;,, rki.n., tv, k;,i
agencies; S12.949.562.498 for the processes of democracy. But the house in thejy
military establishment; $3,090,- Americans wanted to know, in world." j-',
ozo,uj ior me treasury ana post return, how the Japanese public
office departments; S2,387,779,- eels about America.
885 for the labor department and "Perhaps I am in the best po
federal security agency; $715,- sition t0 answer tnat reDlied
Takizo Matsumoto slowly. "You
see I represent Hiroshima.
"I was educated in the United
States. I have many American
friends and American ties," he
continued. "This is well known
by the people of Hiroshima. Yet
Bv HAL BOYLE
New York m There are two unusual things about Herbert
Fischbach.
He is one of the few men in America who collects silver cor-nerstone-laying
uvels. And he is the only man In America
who is building what he calls "the largest single unit apartment
601,607 for the agriculture de
partment; $584,098,797 for the
interior department; $100,000,
000 for Palestine refugees.
ft
SOVIET VS. PEARSON
The Soviet-controlled press re-
c e n 1 1 y launched a diatribe they have always elected me by
against yours truly, calling him overwhelming majorities.
Eyskens wanted
to know h i s
majesty's desire.
There were two
alternatives:
1. The king
could signify a
wish to accept
this vote as a
mandate from
the people for
him to return.
2. He c o u 1 d
among other things, "the chained
dog of the monopolists of Wall
Street." The attack was publish
ed in Ogonek, the Life magazine
of Russia, and , in order to give
everyone a break in the popular
pastime of throwing bricks at
this writer, here are the high
lights of what they say in Mos
cow: "In his newspaper column,"
says Ogonek, "Pearson resorts to
complicated sleight-of-hand. He
is an acknowledged master of
the art of lying and slandering,
and other columnists and com
mentators envy him . . .
"Pearson's connections are
widespread. He doesn't have to
hunt for sensations. Ministers,
generals, admirals, high-placed
government officials and gang
sters supply him with sensation
al rumors, gossip, and, in parti
cular, slanderous fabrications
about the Soviet Union. With
Pearson's help, dark intrigues
are frequently consummated"...
"On one occasion Pearson
concocted a radio discussion on
the question of 'democracy.' As
'experts," he invited such arch
reactionaries as the then attorney-general
Tom Clark; Clare
Booth Luce (wife of the owner of
the reactionary magazines 'Life'
and 'Time') and the notorious
warmonger James Byrnes (for
mer secretary of state).
"I think that is your answer."
(Copyright 1990)
of the late Charles Schwab, the
steel titan.
The new building will replace
the elegant 75-room stone cha
teau built by Schwab at the peak
of his wealth and once known
as "the finest home in the United.
States." Schwab poured from
$6,000,000 to $10,000,000 in it,
and died insolvent. An odd fact
about the chateau: Its refrigera
tors could hold 25 tons of meat,
but Schwab in his last years ate
only a boiled egg for dinner.
"Steel started eoine ud for
But the family was that the building last week, and It'll
be finished by Nov. 1, said
Fischbach. "But already it li 70
per cent rented."
At 31 Fisch
bach is the cur
rent boy wonder
real esiaie.
He is super rjj"
vising the erec- p,. fig,
tion oi a si- -1 r)
000,000 massive, fesy I
luxury - ty p ey
apartment
building for 651
families on a Riverside drive site
where only one family used to
live.
Hi! Borl
Which Mary Was His Bride?
Williamson, W. Va., March 16 UP) "Please send me a
copy of my marriage certificate. I have been separated for
so long that I can't remember my wife's name. But her first
name was Mary and we were married in Williamson."
When Mingo County Clerk Elmer Fcrrcll received that
letter from a man In Roanoke, Va., yesterday, he leafed
through the records.
He found that two men with the same name as the letter
writer had been married here. Both brides were named Alary.
Ferrell said he would send the information along to the
Virginian and let him figure it out.
Spunky Little Locomotive
Leads Fight With Town
Sevlerville, Tenn., 'March 16 iP) The locomotive grunted, the
crew perspired and the little Smoky Mountain R. R. had a new
obstacle to delivering its' cargo.
Tired of half the main drag the middle half beine taken
up by tracks of a little-used railroad, the townspeople had Bruce ward more gracious living.'
The apartments have about
everything the wife of a city
slicker might ask: Automatic
waste - disposal units, electric
dishwashers, fireproof paint, big
closets with built-in drawer
space, and maid, valet, catering
and shopping services.
"A woman could live here
forever and never even have to
leave the building," said Fisch
bach, who has learned consid
erable about feminine psychol
ogy. Most apartments have ei
ther two or three television out
lets. "Many families today find one
television set isn't enough for
their needs," he explained.
"There is a growing trend tc-
street resurfaced for three
blocks railroad tracks and all.
But the Smoky Mountain rail
road thrives on trouble. Bank
rupt, 42 years old, and forbid
den by the interstate commerce
commission to quit operating, it
finds a way.
DelVUI Hackenil
The spunky little mountain
locomotive just backed into its
newest problem. Three hours la
ter, two carloads of potash and
cement were delivered, about
1,800 feet across this town of
population in the
the great Smoky
arch-reactionaries. In the house mountains.
of representatives, he enjoys the As the train crew dug away
favor of the speaker, Sam Ray- the tar pavement from the
"A s American newspapers
have frequently disclosed, Pear
son has powerful friends in the
U.S. Senate, including Senators some 2,000
O'Mahoney, Bridges and other foothills of
ployes pour oil on the tracks in
an impeding effort that back
fired. "Actually, it helped out,"
chuckled J. E. Temple, the
court-appointed operator for the
line which is in receivership.
"The oil softened the tar. and
we used plenty of sand and got
through."
Normally the three-car train
finishes its 30-mile run from
Knoxville, at the other end ni
the line, without crossing Se
vierville. But the potash and
cement were consigned across
town.
There must be, as the apart
ments rent from $1,200 a year
for a two-room unit to $3,600
for a super-duper penthouse.
But Fischbach feels the market
for suites in this price range is
far from glutted. He hopes to
build more. How he got the as
signment to build the new
"Schwab house" project is quite
a business success story in itself.
Fischbach quit college at 20
to learn the building business
from his father, an electrical con
tractor. He and a partner started
their own real estate firm ten
years ago on a $500 investment.
The partner dropped out in 1941,
Understand, nobody is really but Fischbach, gambling on
too small, and abdicate in favor
of Crown Prince Baudouin.
more kindly view, it being wide-
1.. a.ntflj U4 Ui , . :
Many observers held that the ' .v -i i, . .
no .i.rr,.i., wc frnm to save little Belgium from an
nihilation by the Germans.
second alternative was, from
almost any angle one viewed it,
the logical one to choose. In
deed, the Prime Minister was re
Another thing which some
ported so to have advised the nioi:in. Hr,nr t
king at the outset of their fateful pold,s second marriage. Xnis was
meetlng- while he was a prisoner of the
' Germans in his castle, Laeken,
Whv this harsh second alterna- near Brussels. He married a
tive, which meant that Leopold commoner, Mile. Mary Lillian
must sacrifice his birthright? A Bacls. daughter of a former cab
majority had voted for him. inet minister, in 1941. She re
Well, the true answer lies in n"nced the rank of queen and
that tiny majority. ,ook tne ti41e of Princess de
In these days of democracy "etny-
there is only one reason for the Leopold's first wife was the
existence of a king. He is the beautiful Princess Astrld of
emblem of unity high above Sweden, who was widely beloved
politics binding together all by the people. She was killed
classes and parties and creeds, while motoring with the king
A king must have the love and in Switzerland when the car,
support of all his people not with the king at the wheel,
half, or three-quarters but all swerved from the road into a
of them. Approval of 57.68 per 'rce. The ruler was grief strick-
ccnt of the voters isn't good en and remained in comparative
enough by a long shot, or of 75 seclusion for years,
percent or of any number much Sunday's referendum, instead
less than the absolute maximum. 0f deciding the issue, served to
There are strong divisions in accentuate differences among the
the Belgian population politi- Belgian population regarding the
cal, racial, religious. If the coun- ruler. Leopold was pushed into
try's constitutional monarchy is a position where the wise deci-
to be a success the king must be sion seemed abdication in favor
above these differences, in truth of his son. In any event, he was
an emblem of unity. Unhappily forbidden to return to Belgium
for all concerned, destiny has pending permission by parlia-
pushed Leopold into some situa- menu
burn, and the republican leader,
Joe Martin. Pearson also has
ties with the FBI (the American
gestapo) ....
"Pearson frequently comes out
with provocative announcements.
In the general howl of the war
mongers his voice also is heard,
the husky voice of the mongrel
true to his master. Pearson is
an unwavering adherent of the
manical plans for the establish
ment of world domination by
American monoply. He has cyn
ically declared that the U.S. has
enough atom bombs to throw
a few on every one of the coun
tries that are members of the
U.N.
"Some time ago the interna
tional organization of journal
ists, at the proposal of the Polish
tracks, citizens chewed and
whittled, and watched city em-
angry about all this. Temple
added. Its almost a family af
fair. .Mayor Robert Howard is
his brother-in-law.
insurance company we were in
vestors not speculators and
they financed the mortgage for
An 80-Year Wait Ends
Los Angeles, March 16 W) Eighty years ago Irwin S.
Pierce's mother gave him a jar of blackberry jam.
He opened the jam yesterday and said it tasted fine. "I
couldn't resist the temptation any longer," said the 90-ycar-old
Vineland, N. J man.
'Free' Meals for Red Cross
Donations Turn Up Phonies
Portland. Ore.. March 16 (U.PJ A Portland rst-,ni
prietor with a novel plan for aiding the Red Cross drive todav and nobody could top it," he re
surveyed the result with skepticism toward certain members ?aIled- "That convinced the life
ui ine numan race.
Eric Ellis, manager of the Mister Jones restaurant at N E
riptppaffl HnntpH a rpenlntinn ...'....
..0.-, velusea tna Qe woula ieea an tons, campaign badees and tratV,
condemning malicious instigators comers free of cnarge. But G'een paper cufrntnesze
and propagandists for war. It stead of a cash register, Ellis and shape of dollar b ill and
called upon the national assoc.a- placed a barrel marked with a placed in semi-transparent en-
t.on of Journalists to expel from red cross at the door. A sign said velopes. "Pent en-
their ranks persons blackening tnat contributions would be wel-
themselves with war Propagan- come all proceeds going to Ellis said 1186 persons took
da. race and national hatreds, the Red Cross. advantage of his Red Cross din-
misinformation and slander. In ... ner uln
ine aisgraceiui hsi oi mese At thp rnH nf th rtav rili. "t .u ' ... .. . ,
ionrnalil anniar thp namo nf j . u , , , , ,7 j " ",u'c Dne well- suver iroweis were lasmoned IOr
journalists appears the name of emptied the barrel and took the dressed man with his wife eat the cornerstone layings of fa
Pearson a gangster of the press, contents to the Red Cross head- dinner and then walk out with mous buHdYngs a custom that
sutorWantreete"m0nOP" T' he "Z ,CT Ut drPPinE a"'-ng in the now has preUy much did out
lists from all Street. vinced h.m there were still plenty barrel." Ellis said. "Some waved He has about 20 of these fancy
J4PS WATCH DEMOCRACY PP Po'fland' ,but .eir uhan!s over " barrel as old trowels-they cost from $25
Another steo In he nohUcal 1" m0r" tha" 8 thUgh u'hey Were dropPinS ,0 -bul he has to keep them
Another step in the political fourflushers. money, but no cash fell out of in his office
re-education of Japan took place A "total of $571 was taken their hands." . "I rio that to Veen th.m aw.v
rom'omrn'l were- """ " '-'--'"ed there were from mVwife'" ItVnZ. ?5K
Washing" ZJtme assorted collection of but- te h " .
growing America kept expand
ing his firm rapidly.
When the Prudential Life In
surance comnanv hnuirht 4h
Schwab home site for a mam-
inuiii apanmeni nouse, riscn
bach did some preliminary sur
veys for it.
"For reasons of their own,
however, the Prudential people
decided to abandon the project
and to sell," he said. "Every
big builder and investor in town
then tried to acquire the site."
Young Fischbach and the syn
dicate he operates with won by a
simple gesture.
'We put up $1,650,000 cash
During the planning of the
project Fischbach learned that
tlie corner - stone for the old
Schwab chateau had been laid
with a silver trowel. He located
and bought it. Then he found
out that in the old days special
i