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
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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