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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 16, 1938)
The Weather Forecast: partly cloudy to night and Saturday with morning tog, little change In temperature. Temperature Highest yesterday ,VI Lowest this morning 4S Time to Think - How quickly the weeks roll by.' -Today li Friday time to think about that Classified AdT. lor. tha Sunday morning edition.'. Ada In before 330 Saturday P.. M. will be properly classified. Closing time 8 P. M. . , Tp.tbun MEDFORD Full Associated Press 11 United Press Thirty-Third Tear MEDFORD, OREGON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1938. No. 230. HUM DM o)M rui E mi us The Capital Parade By Joseph Alsop and Robert Kintner Copyright, 1937, by The North American News paper Alliance, Inc. WALLACE SEEN REEKING HOPKINS, ICKES AMITY OVERT! KES MADE BY AIDES OF AGRICULTURE CHIEF BELIEVED PREPARATION FOR FARM PROGRAM HOW RIFT TRACED TO IOWA PRIMARY CAMPAIGN WASHINGTON, Dec. 16. Secretary of Agriculture Henry A. Wallace Js currently trying to woo back his ancient enemies within the New Deal. One or two of his confidential sub ordinates have already made frank overtures to the lieutenants of Works Progress Administrator Harry L. Hop kins and Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes. Harry Hopkins has even been asked to lunch at the agri culture department. If Wallace has his way, the battlea of Iowa and the soil conservation service will be for gotten, and almost universal peace will reign. The spectacle Is at once instructive and faintly comic. It Illustrate the strangely haphazard inter-relations of the president's chief aides. It underlines the ludicrous aspects of the bureaucracy. But, like so many Wallace moves, this one Is dictated by hard common sense. Soon an unholy row about the farm program will engulf Wallace and his department Wallace will need all the help he can get In con gress. No one Is better qualified to give it than the dispensers of public pap, Harry Hopkins with his projects, and Harold Ickes with his public works, Wallace will also need the full moral backing of the New Deal. No one can more certainly assure htm of It than Hopkins and Ickes, the most conspicuous leaders of the New Deal group. The Wallace agents take a soft and sensible tone. "The farm pro gram can't be divorced from the New Deal," they say. "The administration needs the farmers. Now that we're in trouble, let's all stand together." But the battles of Iowa and the soil con servation service are hard to forget. Since the famous Iowa primary, from which the secretary of agricul ture held so notably aloof, the New Dealers have been bitterly angry with Wallace. Wallace himself has cher ished some resentment, for the strongest pressure was put on him to back the White House man. Rep resentative Otha D. Wearin, against Senator Guy M. Gillette. Even the president himself was mobilized. Yet (Continued on Pago Eight ) 10 GET HEADS TOGETHER WASHINGTON. Dec. 18. f API President Roosevelt expects to con sider domestic problems In a talk with Vice-president Garner tomor row. The chief executive said at nls press conference Garner was coming to lunch tomorrow and would sit In on a meeting of a new executive com mittee In charge of arrangements for the preservatlan of President Roosevelt's papers. After the meeting. Mr. Roosevelt ald, he and Garner will have con ference. . SIDE GLANCES by TRIBUNE REPORTERS Roland Beach proudly decorating hia car with his new license plates, the number being 31, he being lucVy in the state drawing. Kalne Brophy looking very co-ed-Uh when arriving here from colUtch for a holiday visit with mama and pape. Bob Ottoman no sooner lilting town for ft nice rest from Oregon State stu dies: than papa Milt put him to work. May tin Coleman oing Into fits of laughter when Tecailitw a funny In cident about a friend having to do some Yulettde shopping. The Junior Fred Heath laughing about a Joke he orInated ft month o. h deciding he is awfully clever that way. F OF E Former Criminals Become Prime Movers in Vast Corporation Is Revelation Suicides in Mansion NEW YORK, Dec. 16. AP) Philip Musics, 'the amazing schemer ai.d ex-convict who changed his name to P. Donald Coster and be came president of McKesson and Robblns, Inc., killed himself with a pistol shot In his Fairfield, Conn., home today only a few hours after his real Identity was disclosed. His suicide followed the sensa tional revelations that he and at least one other brother under the name of George Vernard, had hidden their past police records sufficiently well to become prime moving forces In the corporation which last year had listed assets of 87,000,000 and $140,000,000 in business. Third Man fn Doubt The actual identity of a third man, George T. Dietrich, assistant treasurer of the firm, was still In slight doubt, but federal authorities held It likely he, too, was a brother of Coster-Musica. Dietrich, Coster-Muslca and Ver-nard-Musica were charged with vio lation of the securities act of 1934 because they allegedly filed false Information on the firm with the New York stock exchange. Coster-Muslca shot himself through the head a short time after his re arrest and the arrest of Dietrich and Vernard were ordeied by the federal authorities here. A fourth man, Robert Dietrich, another employe of the firm, was being brought here from Connecti cut for questioning. He was reported to have told authorities In New Haven he was the fourth Muslca brother, and George Dietrich was a Muslca brother also. Costcr-MusJcn's suicide climaxed a week of dizzy developments, starting when It was discovered the crude drugs department of McKesson and Robblns, under his direct supervision, had apparently built up fictitious assets of $18,000,000. Bent Police The man who lived down a crimi nal past of 2ft years ago to become head of thrt great drug firm turned a pistol on himself as Chief of Police Arthur Bennett was arriving at the Costers' big country home to take htm into custody. "As nearly as I ran learn he put a revolver to his head and pulled the trigger." Bennett said. Developments today showed Ver nard was Mustca's younger brother, Arthur, and federal authorities held It likely Dietrich was ft second brother who dropped from sight after the crash of the Muslca finances years ago. They also were checking the possibility Mrs. Coster might also have had another name In her younger years. The Costers were childless. Bennett mid he first received a call from the Coster home that Cos ter had shot himself and an ambu lance was needed. He hurried away but had been gone hardly more than a few min utes before the telephone in Pair child police headquarters rang again. Stephen Lasko, an assistant, an swered. "It was Bennett," Lasko said. "He told me. 'Coster's dead. He put a revolver to his head and pulled the trigger',' Yacht Main Interest Acting U. S. Atty. Oregory F. Noo nan disclosed today there was a fourth brother, Robert, who will be arrested In the case. Robert, an em ploye of McKesson end Robblns, was on his way to New York from New Haven. Coster-Muslca had lived In Pair field for about 10 years, but had taken little part In the town's com munity affairs. His life, fellow res idents said, centered chiefly on his 123-foot yacht, Carol Ita. Classed as a palatial pleasure craft It had a crew of 10. At present It Is tied up In a Stratford, Conn., shipyard. Friends of the corporation head, who apparently had no Idea the man who was their host was one of the most amazing schemers the generation has produced, enjoy ed his expansive hospitality. The Coster-Muslca home was on 18-room, remodeled colonial house. finished in brown stucco. It has stables and kennela nearby on the four and a half acre tract. Coster Musto was no horseman and the stables were unoccupied, but he had ft few dogs. The house's assessed value was $30,000. Ill Grmrf Repute The people who knew Coster-Muslca In New York and In Fairfield said he waa a mm of Impeachable reputation, ft rather go'd-lnoklne Immaculately groomed man of mid dle age with white hair and white mustache. His manner was quiet; there was no hint he had come from Italy ftt the age of fl. the son of an immigrant neap:lltni barber of (Continued oo Pa rhree.) IN WHO'S WHO NEW YORK, Dec. 18. (AP)' Two lives: Philip Muslca Born Naples, Italy, 1877, son of barber; Emigrated to America, when 6; Reared on New York's squalid East Side; Convicted of fraud in 1000. then paidoned by President Taft: convicted of grand larceny In 1913 and received a suspended sentence; Charged with subornation of perjury In 1920 but dismissed. F. Donald Coster (As It appears In Who's Who) Born Washington. D. ft. May 12. 1884, son of Frank Donald and Marie (Olrard) C; . Degrees Ph.D., Unlveislty of Heidelberg, 1909, M. D., 1911; Married Carol Jenkins Schlef liin of Jamaica, L. I., N. Y, May, 1921; Professions and Businesses Practicing physician, New York City, 1912-14: Pres., Glrard & Co., Inc. (Successor to Glrard Chemi cal Co.), 1914-26; Pres. McKesson & Robblns, diug mfgrs., since 1926, also pres., McKesson & Rob blns, Ltd., Dir., Bridgeport City Trust Co., Fairfield (Conn.) Trust Co.; Religion Methodist; Clubs New York Yacht. Bank ers, Lotus, Advertising (New York I: University; Black Rock Yacht (Bridgeport); Brooklawn Countiy: Home Fairfield, Conn.; Office McKesson & Robblns. Inc.. Bridgeport. Conn. RECONSTRUCTION OF PACIFIC HIGHWAY IS URGED FOR OREGON EUGENE. Dec. 16. ( AP) A 20, 000,000 reconstructed Pacific high way through Oregon wes visualised last night at a reorganisation meet ing of the Oregvr, Tactile Highway association. The conference, called through the efforts of the Eugene Chamber of Commerce, elected Howard Merrlam, Goshen, president, end scheduled another conference here for Janu ary 18. A. C. Marsters. Roseourg, was elected vice-president: Paul B. Rynn lng. Medford, secretnry: O. H. De maray, Grants Pass, treasurer; H. B. Aakln, Cottage Grove, executive coun cilman. Delegates from most of the larper communities along Highway No. 99 attended. Marsters advocated funds to reconstruct main arterial roads through the state, north and south, on both sides of the Cascades. Harold Say. state highway com mission publicity manager, pledeed cooperation of his organisation. He said that during 1937 the average out-of-state cax left more than 102 In Oregon, making the tourist "take" around MO.OOO.OOO. He revealed that one-half the people that visit Ore gon had previously read of the state in national magaslnes and metro politan newspapers. The association sef Its year's bud get at 5000 and planned to obtain a salaried manager. Chambers of commerce of affected communities will be asked to raise the money. BAPTISE WOLF MOTHER IN BATHTUB AT JAIL SEATTLE. Dec. 16. (AP) Mrs. Mary Eleanor Smith. 73. facing life imnHuwm,n( for nartlciDatlOn In the slaying of James Eugene Bassett, An napolis, Mo., made ready twrny 10 return to the state prison at Walla Walla after her baptism yesterday In the Pentecostal Assembly of God. Mrs. Smith and two fellow prison Inmates who came here to testify as defense witnesses. Florence Snell and Ethel Wills, were baptised by lm merslon In the county Jail bathtub by the Rev. P. C. Crocker. 1 Radio Highlights By Associated Press Time is Eastern Standard) NEW YORK. Dec. 16. (API Two broadcasts are on the, schedule for Rep. Martin Dies Saturday. In addition to the talk previously announced for the National Orange program on WJZ-NBC at 12:30 p. m., the chairman of the congressional committee Investigating un-Amert-man activities has been listed for a half-hour talk on WABC-CBS at ft. Saturday, from Tunis, Africa, via WABC-CBS, at 8:18 p. m., A. L. East erman, British newspaperman. In a discussion of the French-Itallsn situation. A "mall early for Christmas' broadcast, with Postmaster Oeneral Farley participating, has been set for 11 a. m. Saturday via WJZ-NBC TonlKht: Heavyweight fight, WJZ NBC. 10. Tommy Farr vs. Lou Nova. WRAF-NBC 7:43, Rep. Oiler on "Business Revival Will Follow Tax Revision." WABC-CBS 10:45, J. Edgar Hoo ver on "Activities of O-Men. W,TZ VBC 11:05, Pan - American Congress. MEDFORD , IS PUT ON NATIONAL VIEW BY GIITjOX IDEA Courage of Rosenberg Broth ers in Pioneering Cornice Pear Christmas Packages Benefits Entire Valley American pioneers are not a thing of the past. They still live, blazing new trails, carving out new careers, developing new Ideas. In Medford live two pioneers, the Rosenberg brothers. Hnrry and David, owners of the Boar Creek orchards. Five years ago they conceived what has since been called the west coast's most outstanding merchandising Idea. They pioneered In Christmas gift boxes of rore, flavorful, luscious Camlet pears, the fruit that for cen turies had graced the royal tables of France but was virtually unknown In the United States outside tho up per register homes In New York City. Through their pioneering. David and Hnrry have taken the Rogue River vnllcy Cornice pear out of the dog house nnd placed It In the drawing room. Today Christmas gift boxes of Cornice pears are rolling out of Med ford In carload lots. They are going to every state In the union, to Can ada, to Honolulu. They are conveying news of the Rogue River vaJley to every part of the country, providing employment here for hundreds of local men and women and, what is probably most Important, bringing fair returns to growers who but a few years ago were almost hopelessly submerged In despair over repeated production losses. TTndauntert by Depression Harry and David conceived the Christmas gift package idea five years agee That, the render may re call, was 1933, the year the depres sion reached Its terrifying bottom. Pears then, as Harry expresses it, were figuratively and almost literally In tho dog house. Growers were wringing their hands In despair. But the Rosenberg Brothers did not de spair. Instead they rolled up their sleevea, took a long-pull gamble and went to work. They appealed to lending business and Industrial executives to give Cornice pears as a novel, an exotic Christmas present. There was some response but the country was In the doldrums and It was difficult to build up a volume business. Un daunted, Harry and David perse vered. The next year they began ad vertising In a small way on a na tional scale. The response Increased and what was mora encouraging those who had ordered gift packages the previous year repeated and In some instances Increased their orders. Still faced with the possibility of ultimate failure. Harry and David stuck to their Idea. "We knew that the fruit was Incomparably good, that the merchandising Idea was sound; so we went ahead and' sank a smnll fortune In our idea before profits started trickling bock.' Harry says now. The brothers worked out (Continued on Page Nine ) . 4. G. GRANTS PASS. Dec. 16. (AP) Mrs. O. Larry Manuel, wife of the Orants Pass Chamber of Commerce secretary, was rescued from a second-story window ledge shortly after mldnJght aa a fire entirely consumed their home. Lon Duggan, a neighbor, roused by barking of the Manuel dog, res cued Mrs, Manuel with the aid of a ladder. Mr. Manuel returned from a Pa cific Highway association meeting In Eugene a few minutes later to find the house destroyed. Insurance totaled 0,500. EXTRA POSTOFFICE The public was reminded today that the Medford postofflce will ob serve regular week-day hours tomor row instead of closing at noon as is usual on Saturday. The office vtll be open from 8 a. m. to 8 p. m to expedlate mailing of Christmas par cels and correspondence. City carriers will make two corn plat deliveries tomorrow Instead of one as la customary on Satuiday, Postmaster Prank DcDouc said. All Christmas mall for the east r.'juld be dlp't-.'-ftd not litr than tomorrow, the public was counsel-d- Son 37 Years Old Sees His Father For First Time FAIRBANKS, Alaska. Dec. 16. (AP) A father and son, tho latter 37 years old, were together here today, meeting the first time. They are Herbert F. Murton, a pioneer who came north during the gold rush and remained, and the Rev. E. Thomas Murton, Cres cent City, Calif., an evangelist of the Church of the Nnzarene. The father, known familiarly here by friends as "Tangle." re called he was married at Portland, Ore., nnd after he came north to the Klondike his wife moved to Arizona and their son, was born. He kept In touch with them by correspondence through the years and his recent serious Illness was an occasion for the son to come north . LAST OF 5 CONVICTS PAYS WITH LIFE FOR OF SAN QUENTIN, Cftl., Doc! 16. ( AP ) The sta te's new fumes of death today enveloped the Inst of five convicts condemned for the mur der of Warden Clarence Larkln of Folsom prison. Gasping out his final brent h In the lethal gas chamber was Ed Dnvls. 38, a "lifer" under habitual criminal statute, formerly "the fox" of ban ditry In southwestern states, and de fiant to the last. Shortly before being led Into tho glaascd-ln octagonal, with spectators but a few feet away from the fntnl sulphuric acid and cyanide "eggs," Davis laboriously scrawled out a note handed to guards, saying "No regrets for old Ed. , . , All considered, my conscience Is now resting easy." "I certainly knew on the 19th of .September last t year (when Warden Larkln, a guard and two convicts were killed in an abortive escape at tempt) that I was going to where I could do something for my wife and son. or to hell one, nnd todny I am sure glnd I felt that way," Da via wrote. "I myself am well paid for; many times more than will ever show and I do know there are dam few peo ple all bad and no good. For myself I never have and not now ask mercy either from God or man . . E FOR THREE DEATHS IN LOS ANGELES LOS ANOETLE8, Dee. .(API Blinding rain was blamed today for the deaths of three men. bringing southern California's toll during the storm to five. Three men were killed In electric train and traffic accidents last night. The first death attributed to the storm was that of Y. Hlgashl. who was swept off the deck of a purse seiner. Another fisherman, T. Fura yakl, was killed when the mast of a sardine boat struck him. Traffic victims were William Belk nap 69. Durate, hit by a Pacific Electric train; George O, Richardson, 69. Wlllowbrook, killed when an other electric train hit a car In which he was riding, and a man tentatively identified as Ware Cald well. 64. Memphis, Tenn., struck by a hit-run driver. The storm, which brought great benefits to crops as well as much demage In brush flro denuded areas, has given Los Angeles 3 23 inelu-B of rain and larger amounts, up to more than five Inches, In other areas. SAN DIEOO. Cal Dec. 16. (AP) A total of 2.43 Inches of rain fell here In the 34 hours ending at 8 p. m., today. No flood damage waa reported, CAR SffllRE IS FOUND IN LONG BEACH " State police received Information from Long Beach, Cal., authorities this afternoon that the 1937 Chevro let sedan owned by Jack Clark of 703 Shermnn street, stolen from here December 8, had been recovered In that, city. Two men were In poaaesslon of the machine when It was recovered, stnte police said the Long Beach report asserted. The men were stopped upon Information from here describing the vehicle, OREELEY. Colot Dec. 10. (AP) A demand Secretary of Agriculture Wallace tako immediate steps "to give domestic sugar beet farmers re lief from Intolerable conditions" was rr.-le by tho National Bret Ovwr association In resolution today. U. S. ASKS CUTTING OF E Quick Acceptance Expected at Lima Conference Hull Expects Agreement On Defense Declaration By ANDRl'E HERDING LIMA. Peru, Dec. 16. (AP) The United States, after obtaining the unanimous consent of the other 20 American Republics, todny presented to the Pan-American conference a sweeping resolution calling Tor re duction of barriers to international trade. The resolution is expected to receive speedy formnl conference ac ceptance. The United States obtained this show of unnnlmity at a time when Argentine suspicion of Washington's future foreign policy appeared likely to become a strong factor In confer ence 'developments. The trade resolution declared against "excessive barriers . . . whether In the form of unreason ably high tariffs; quotas, licenses, exchango contiols and other types of quantitative restriction; methods of administering commercial, ex chnngo and monetary policies which impair tho maintenance of commer cial opportunity between all foreign suppliers," Hull Sees Agreement Secretary of State Cordell Hull, head of the United States delega tion, was repoited to be convinced nil delegntlons can agree on a "dy namic draft of a declaration" on continental solidarity and defense. He was said to feel the delegations would have no trouble In writing such a statement merely by putting together sentences out of speeches by himself and others before the conference. ... Hull seemed pleased unanimous consent could be gained . for the economics resolution, which he waa said to consider of great Import nnce In view of current conditions, He was said to regard the resolution as a step that might have a ten dency to halt what he considered an Increasingly chaotic movement in Europe. Discussing the Argentine deelara tion, members of the Argentine dele gation Insist the United States should be considered a potential aggressor, nnd they want a resolution to pro vide for defense against Incursion by any nation. Attack Possibility Eyed Consideration of a cooperative de fense plan so far has been concern ed mainly with the possibility of attack from nations outside the Americas, and delegates have said they had In mind the dictator, authoritarian regimes of Europe-. The Argentines said they fearad a chango of administration In Wash ington might bring an end to or alteration of the present good neigh bor policy- There waa little indica tion of suport for thta thesis by other delegations. One among their delegation said tho United States was 'opposing a Mexican-Argentine resolution against collection of government debts by force, and contended this waa an Indication the United States might one day decide to take forceful ac tlon against a Latln-Amertcnn na tion. Tho Argentine delegation also was firmly resolved no formal defense pact should be adopted by the con vention. The United States has shown a willingness to forego Its own wishes for a pact. Secretary Hull's delegation Indi cated It would be content with a strong resolution, If It Included a frank declaration against aggression from nations outside the Americas. SENTENCE M'DONALD LOS ANGELES, Dec. 16. MP) Charles E. McDonald was sentenced to San Quentln prison for from one to ten yean today for the shoot lng of Mrs. Emlta Krueger, wife of the noted symphony conductor, Karl Krueger. A new trial was denied. By court order, McDonald will be allowed to see his 26 months old daughter, Emlta, before he goes to prison. North Pole Flier Killed In Smashup MOSCOW. USR Dee. 16. (API Valerl Chekaloff, a member of tho Soviet Russian erew of three who flew over the North Polo from Moaeow to Vancouver. Want)., In 19J7, died in the eraah of a plane he waa teaiing yesterday, A radio bruedraat which did not give detalia announced the death. Chekaloff, 34, waa chief pilot of the trana-polar flight which ended at Vancouver, July 13, 1037. The avla tor, covered MOO mllei In 83 hour. People in the t : v; jjfc i luff 1b l P. Donald Cosier (left) .Indicted . president of the MrKeaeon and ' Unhhliu Urns corporation, who committed aulcldc today following raw- , latlnmt of a farmer criminal career under the name of Philip Mnatoa. :i I'osImr with Coster In the latlcr'a Fulrfleid, Conn., home, are Oeorga J. nletrlch (rlRht) aMlttunt treasurer of the drug concern, and Sanmel Ketch, nltorney for the two accused (A. P. Photo.) , , rs( 'wv - s '4 1 v. V "'lv C V v;i 7) i . if" " In the middle of the trial of her cx-husband, Martin Snyder, f of th attemp,trfl murder or her accompanist, Myrl Alderman. Singer Rutj. W ting nnd Alilernmn eloped by chartered plane from Lot Angeles te La , Vegas, Nov., nnrt were married. The at Los Angelea airport. (AP Photo.) 7 Ufa, X J "1 r V X : . Mikhail florin (left), and HnfH Hallch (right), native Russian, art hnwn handcuffed together nfler their arraignment before the V. S. Coajr mlsslnner In l.os Angelea on ehnrgea of transmitting naval aocamenta t Hotlct Russia. Hall waa net at iMW0 each. (AP photo.) y,: Fire In Tenement NEW YORK, Deo. If). ( AP) Fire men carried a aeore of panlcalrlcken women nnd children Jo safety from a burning flve-stoiy tenement on East lath street today, using ex tension ladders. The prairie dog Is a rodent. Day's News pair are shown n they armed,! No "anotage ; ' ; OKANOGAN, Wash., Wee. ttHM! A auperlor court Jury acquit James Trimmer and Herbert IU today on charges of sabotaaa Itl con nection with a strike at th Bit Coleman Lumber company In WW 1037. The men were accused of plac ing dynamite In lofc .., f:
