Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (June 3, 1943)
4 Heppner Gazette Times, June 3, 1943 Heppner Gazette Times THE HEPPNER GAZETTE Established March 30, 1883 THE HEPPNER TIMES Established November 18, 1897 CONSOLIDATED FEBRUARY 15, 1912 Published Every Thursday by CRAWFORD PUBLISHING COMPANY and entered at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon, as second-class matter. O. G. CRAWFORD, Editor SUBSCRIPTION RATES One Year $2.50 Two Years 4.50 Three Year? , 6.00 Six Months 1.25 Three Months t5 Single Copies 05 Time To Clean House We are a people at war, a terrible war, with national security and our very civilization at stake. And in the midst of the battle, so to speak, a segment of our population representing a ma jority of one type of labor union, walks off the job jeopardizing a large percentage of the indus trial plants turning out the sinews of war for this country and its allies. There is no satisfactory explanation why John L. Lewis is able to defy the president and all oth ers in authority, none except the fact that Lewis apparently had the upper hand in a political set up which puts the president "behind the eight ball." Labor has enjoyed unprecedented advantag es and privileges under the new deal and from the looks of things, Lewis in particular is seeking much greater recognition for himself, no doubt. Evidence that the country is becoming aroused over the labor union situation is seen in editorial comment, a sample of which is taken from an ex change and reads as follows: "Government seizure of the coal mines is the culmination of class legislation administered by class conscious political agencies. If present labor, laws are not amended and henceforth adminis tered with an eye to justice rather than social pre judice, government seizure of private activity will be neither temporary nor confined to the coal industry "One-sided legislation such as the Wagner act developed racketeers who, aided by politicians seeking the voting power of organized labor bor, threaten destruction to individual liberty and socialism of productive enterprise. No longer can the public afford to sit idly by while powerful ag encies of government favor one group over an other, merely because it is good political strategy to do so. We have seen the result of that kind of favoritism. "Hiding with in the framework of our govern ment are officials who will attempt to use the em ergency to make coal a permanently socialized in dustry. Just such "emergencies" have led to the de struction of free societies throughout the world. "The coal mine operators have become mere puppet managers of their own properties and the miners have lost their freedom of action. No wonder the people are rebelling against class legis lation such as the Wagner act and the Guffey coal act which grant special privileges to powerful groups." And this from a Florida newspaper way down in the deep south where the new deal is supposed to be supreme, shows what some of the people are thinking about. "The millennium has arrived. During the past few weeks we have seen the spectacle of a low browed labor leader, a bruiser and a rough and tumble fighter, defying the President of the Unit ed States by calling a strike during war time and the President, instead of legally controlling this obstreperous person, actually appealed to the men under him to stop being traitors to their country during a war time emergency. "Evidently votes speak speak louder than any thing else and as the President has probably been slipping in the eyes of organied labor during the past year or two because he hasn't given it the whole nation, something must be done to get on its good side once more to insure a fourth term." That is a more severe view than the writer's but we feel that a severe rebuke administered to Mr. Lewis by the administration at this time would prove that the President is more concerned about the boys out there than he is about his own politi cal fortunes. We believe he owes this to himself arid to the millions who have reposed complete confidence in him the past ten years. O Manpower Is Crying Need More and more experienced men are needed. That is the cry of the war manpower commission, of the war industries, the transportation compan ies, of the farmer, and of every line of business. The cry will grow louder in succeeding weeks, what with the war department drawing up some 300,000 men monthly and the harvest season go ing into high gear. It will mean that every able bodied man, woman and child will be taking a di rect part in the war effort and even, then there will be crops unharvested and other work left un done. It is the greatest all-out effort the world has ever experienced and none but those directly in contact with the war effort may fully realize the import of it. One of the most important services being per formed is that of transportation and of this the railroads are doing an outstanding job. Every ounce of energy and every piece of rolling stock has been diverted to the movement of men and supplies, if necessary, and at the same time civil ian needs have been taken care of with only the minimum of delay. Carrying on this burden has created increased demands for men and motive power. The Southern Pacific, through its president, A. T. Mercier, re ports a current shortage of 10,000 men, and Mr. Mercier advocates importation of Mexican track workers, as well as consideration by draft boards of the railroads' need for experienced men. South ern Pacific has employed 3,000 additional women who are performing work formerly done exclusive ly by men and in addition, the company is now receiving an average of 4,500 man-days of work each week-end from "white collar" track crews, made up of professional and business men and students. Mercier also points out that in spite of Southern Pacific's very large purchase of engines since 1939, locomotives comprise the . most im portant item in the list of equipment for which materials are needed. These- facts are not evident to those of us re siding back and away from main line activity, but an occasional visit to the north end of the county, where two transcontinental lines are visible, makes us aware of the job the rairoads are doing. Seeing the long freight trains laden with war ma terials and the extra length passenger trains bear ing fighting men brings to our attention the ne cessity of cooperating with the railroads in every possible way that they may not be hindered in their herculean wartime task. One of the easiest ways to give aid is to remain at home, or if one has to go on urgent business, try first to find a mode of transportation that will not embarrass the public utility services. After all, there is a war going on and conditions are far from normal. O Stop Signs Save Lives There is little to worry about in this part of Morrow county over the matter of grade cross ings. The in-at-night- and out- in-the-morning rail service slow freight at that offers little hazard to the motorist unless one deliberately drives up on the track and waits for the train to smack him. The authorities did not have branch line railroads in mind when the order was given to place stop signs at certain crossings. Ont on the main line it is a different story. Rail traffic has been speeded up where strictly, muni tions shipments are concerned and it is well to "stop, look and listen" when approaching a crossing. It may seem unnecessary to stop unless a train is nearby, but if there were not a certain amount of danger invoved, stop signs would not be places in selected spots. Since the stop signs at railroad crossings have been erected, the highway department and sec retary of state's office have made a survey which discloses that during the period September 1, 1942 to March 31, 1943, there were no traffic accidents at 28 of the 35 grade crossings. At the remaining seven crossings there were eight ac cidents, compared to 14 for the same period a year ago. None of these resulted in fatalities. It is point ed out by the secretary of state that the three grade crossing fatalities reported during the first four months of the year occurred at grade crossings other than primary or secondary highways. These findings of the survey are cited to point out the necessity of properly signing grade crossings by showing improvement accomplished in a relatively short time. It must be remembered, however, that the signs in themselves are not a protection to the motorist. It is the heed the motor ist gives the sign thatv counts. The railroads, the highway deartment, and safety councils are do ing their part in protecting the motorist, but they cannot do his driving for him. It should be remembered that a grade crossing , accident is not merely local in its scope. With most rail traffic involved in handling munitions, and time a most important element, any delay as unnecessary as a grade crossing accident reflects directly upon the boys at the front, and besides, many of the freight cars carry ammunition which adds to the hazard. So, when traveling along the main line use discretion about rail crossings, or you, Mr. John Doe from the back country may figure in a national calamity. O Who can recail the days when we used to drive up to the gas pump and holler at the attendant, "Fill 'er up." MRS. GRIFFITH LAID TO REST IN EUGENE Funeral services for Mrs. Newt S. Griffith, whose death occurred at the family residence Wednesday night of last week, were held at 10 o'clock Saturday morning from the Christian church with the pastor, Martin B. Clark, officiating. The body was taken to Eugene for in terment. Born in Mexico City, Mo., May 21, 1874, Mrs. Griffith was just past 69 years of age at the time of her death. She came with her parents, John and Emmaline Willingham to Morrow county at the age of two years. Survivors include the husband, Newt S. Griffith of Heppner; a son, Guy, and a daughter, Evalina Mc Mahon, both of Eugene; a brother, Enoch (Nick) Willingham of Yaki ma, Wash., and one sister, Alice, in the east. She was a member of the Chris tian church and the Degree of Hon or lodge. ATTENDING CONVENTION County Supt. Mrs. Lucy E. Rod gers left Monday afternoon for Sa lem where she is attending the an nual convention of the county sup erintendents' association. Mrs. C. W. McNamer drove her to Arlington to catch a train for Portland VISIT IN NEWBERG Mr. and Mrs. Don Strait took advantage of the double holiday to visit relatives and friends in New berg. PRESSURE COOKERS Oregon will receive 3.768 of the new victory model pressure cook ers for rationing to home canners. The state USDA war board pressure cooker committee is now working out all allocations to counties. FOR SALE by private party, stor . age space for 5,000 bu. grain in Lexington new elevator. Inquire Morrow Co. Grain Growers Lex ington 10-llp You Can Eat Your Points and Have Them, Too! Just drop in occasionally and have one of our unexcelled Steak Dinners and use the points saved to buy need ed meats and fats for household use. Elkhorn Restaurant Professional Directory L O. Peterson La tost Jewelry and Gilt Goods Watches - Clocks - Diamond Expert Watch and Jewelry Repairing Heppner, Oregon Blaine E. Isom All Kinds of INSURANCE Phone 723 Heppner, Ore. A. D. McMurdo, M.D. Trained Nurse Assistant PUYSICIAN & SURGEON Office in Masonic Building HEPPNER, ORE. O. M. Y EAGER CONTRACTOR & BUILDER All kinds of carpenter work Country work especially Phone 1483 7 Dr. W. H. Rockwell Naturopathic Physician & Surgeon 227 North Main St. Office hours: 1 p. m. to 7:30 p. m. Exam free Ph. 522 Heppner, Or. NEW AUTO POLICY Bod. Inj. Pr. Dam. Class A 6.25 5.05 Class B 6.00 5.25 Class C 7.75 5.25 F. W. TURNER & CO. J. O. Turner ATTORNEY AT LAW Phone 17? Hotel Heppner Building Heppner, Oregon CLEANING Wednesday-Thursday-Friday SERVICE HEPPNER CLEANERS Morrow County Abstract Cr Title Co. INC. ABSTRACTS OP TITLE TITLE INSURANCE Office in New Peters Building Phelps Funeral Home Licensed Funeral Directors Phone 1332 Heppner, Ore. Dr. L. D. Tibbies OSTEOPATHIC Physician & Surgeon FIRST NATIONAL BANK BLDG. Rec. Phone 1162 Office Phone 492 HEPPNER. OREGON Heppner City Council Meets First Monday Each Month Citizens having matters for dis cussion, please bring before the Council J. O. TURNER, Mayor r Directors of Funerals M. L. CASE G. E. NIKANDER 862 Phones 262 Jos. J. Nys ATTORNEY AT LAW Peters Building, Willow Street Heppner, Oregon P. W. Mahoney ATTORNEY AT LAW GENERAL INSURANCE Heppner Hotel Building Willow St. Entrance