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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (March 7, 1945)
' Medford United Press Full Leased Wlra Thirty ninth Year. SENATE REJECTS WORK OR JAIL LABOR CONTRO Proposal For Manpower Amendment to Rule Men 18 to 23 Defeated 60-23. Washington, March 7 (U.R) The senate today overwhelming- ly rejected a "work-or-Jail" amendment to pending manpow er legislation. The vote, 60 to 23, came on proposal to require every man from 18 to 45 not qualified for military service to take an es sential war job under threat of $10,000 fine and five years im prisonment Like House Bill The amendment, . offered by Sen. Josiah W. Bailey (D., N. C.) would have written into the sen ate bill stringent manpower con trols comparable to the "work or else" measure already passed by the house. The amendment's one-sided defeat was believed to indicate that the senate ultimately will favor a measure stressing volun tary appeals to labor and con centrating on elimination of la bor hoarding. The manpower bill passed by the house contained compulsory provisions similar to those pro posed by Bailey for the senate measure. GOVERNOR SIGNS FORESTRY BILL - Salem, Ore., March 7 U.R) A bill allowing the Board of Forestry to establish a revolv ing fund for the acquisition of forest land and to manage cer tain classes of such land has been signed into law by Gov. Earl Snell. . The governor also signed 16 other bills, among which is one (HB266) which permits school districts to take out liability in surance and medicaland hospi tal benefits for students engaging-in athletics. Another school bill (HB206) signed allows a maximum of five days a year devoted to teach ers' institutes to count as actual school attendance days. Another (HB322) lowered the age at whlcji students must attend school from eight to seven years and raised the maximum amount of school attendance required. i RETURNING DAILY Washington, March 7 (U.R) Soldier casualties are arriving in the United States from over seas at the rate of 1,200 a day, the Army Surgeon General's of fice announced today. About 35,000 arrived last month and 40,000 more are ex pected next month. The number of natients In army hospitals in creased from around 87,000 last October to 140,000 at the end of January. Doctors Give Up Affiliation With Ashland Hospital Ashland, March 7 Drs. C. A Haines and R. E. Poston, who have operated the Community hosDital for the past eight months, have given the city of Ashland, owners of the instl tution, 30 days notice that they will relinquish their contract at that time. The present lease provides that either party may cancel the contract with 30 days notice, i and the physicians decided this arrangement was too uncertain. it was stated. George Smithy who has man aged the institution for the dura tion of the doctors' contract, has been called back as a civilian employe of the military hospital service, leaving the hospital without management, the doc tors said. City officials have an nounced no, plans for operation of the hospital. Charles Green, ' famous Eng lish balloonist, planned the first trans-Atlantic (light by balloon but gave it up as being too dan gerous. He retired in the early 1800s at the age of 67, after his sooth balloon ascent. City Buys Olds Park Tract; $20,000 Purchase Price Is Donated By Citizens. Firms First step towards realization! of a plan which has been the dream of certain civic, minded Medford ' residents for many years was taken by the city council at its regular meeting last night when the group pass ed an ordinance providing for the purchase of approximately 15 acres of land, known as the Olds tract, lying along the east banks of Bear Creek between the East Main and Jackson Boulevard bridges, for a munici pal park. Purchase price of the tract was $20,000 and this sum was contributed by 22 Medford resi dents and firms who paid the money into the city treasury be fore the negotiations were com pleted. "I've been waiting for this moment for 14 years" de clared Mayor Clarence A. Meek er as he signed the ordinance, the mayor having been a coun cilman 14 years ago when the city at first attempted to buy the tract for a park. "We are very glad to receive this gen erous gift towards a project for which we have looked forward to for so long. I am sure that it is the intent of the council to develop the park as quickly as possible." The mayor added that the municipal swimming pool, for which a special tax levy has already been passed, would probably be placed in the new park and that it would also contain a Softball court and oth er recreation facilities as soon as it was possible to develop the site. Many Contribute The list of contributors to the park fund are Timber Products company, C. A. Winetrout for the Crater Lake Garage, George A. Hunt - Theaters, M. M. De partment store, Neff & Frohn mayer, Robert W. Ruhl, Hubbard Brothers, Inc., Mann's Depart ment store, Gates & Lydiard, Crater' Lake Lumber company. Harry Holmes and David Holmes of the Bear Creek Orchards, Pinnacle Packing company. Kampfer's, Medford Ice & Stor age company, Fluhrer's Bakery, R. H. Parsons, Medford coroora tion, Trowbridge and Flynn. El mer Childers, Huson's Confec tionary, Arthur M. Cannon. ., a citizens committee handled the matter of soliciting funds for purchase of the park site Under the chairmanship of Ar thur M. Cannon, the Rev. George K. Turney, E. E. Kofoed, Dr. E S. Phillips, C. C. Leonard, Eino Hemmila, Lester Harris and Dr. L, D. Inskeep made up the com mittee. According to Mayor Meeker, a master plan of the proposed pant is Deing drawn for the city by Ben Evans, director of re creation for Seattle, who came to Medford at the request of Mr. Parsons and surveyed the site and discussed proposed develop ment with various city officials. This was done without charge to the city. Best location of the swimming pool, game courts, buildings and the laying of drives and pathways was studied by Mr. Evans. . Underpass For Children It was stressed that an under pass between the present chil dren's playground and the new park would be built under the East Main street bridge as part' oi tne early development In or der that children need not cross the street. Included in the city's planning Jackson Co. Judge Pay Freeze Sought Salem, Ore., March 7 (U.R) The Senate County Affairs com mittee today amended house bill 406 and sent it to the floor with "do pass" recommendation to prevent the Jackson county judge from taking a salary cut A salary raise passed two years ago was renewed in HB406 but inadvertently the judge was omitted, so the new amendment kept him at $2,760 instead ef dropping back to $2,400. WATZEK REPLACES RUHL ON BOARD OF EDUCATION Salem, Ore., March 7 (U.R) Aubrey Watzek of Portland to day was confirmed as a member of the state board of higher education, succeeding Robert Ruhl, Medford publisher, who had asked to be relieved from duty when his term expired. Ruhl had served nine years. The appointment by Gov. Earl Snell, was given unanimous ap proval by the Oregon senate. MEDFORD, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, MAR' 1945 is the evenutal construction of a scenic drive the entire length of the east bank of Bear Creek be tween the Jackson bridge and the small Scout camp ground south of the city, the mayor states. Land has been acquired for this over a period of years and filling and other work has been done from time to time, the mayor states. Walter H. Leveretie (above) owner of the Leveretie Inter slate Theaters circuit, with mo tion picture houses in Ashland. Ore., and Yreka and Weed, Calif., has announced the pur chase by his concern of the George A. Hunt theater inter ests here. LEVERETTE BUYS T INTEREST It THEATERS HERE Purchase by Walter H. Lever- ette of the Medford theater in terests of .the George A. Hunt estate was 'announced today. The deal involves the - Craterian, Rial to, Roxy and Holly theaters, owned and operated by George A. Hunt Therters, Inc., in which Mr. Leverette had long been as sociated with the late George A. Hunt. With the linking of the Med ford motion picture houses, Mr Leverette, Increases to nine the number of theaters in his circuit. the Leverette Interstate Thea ters. Other holdings include the Llthia and Varsity theaters In Ashland; the Broadway and Shasta, in Yreka, Calif., and the New. Weed, in Weed, Calif, Headquarters for the Leverette circuit which has been main tained in Medford, will remain here and there will be few changes in personnel, according to Mr. Leverette. The Leverette circuit Is now believed to be one of the largest operating In comparable coast territory. CP. Interests Sold Coincidental with announce ment of the Medford theater transaction, it was revealed by William von der Hellen that Mrs. George A. Hunt, of Central Point, and Mr. and Mrs. von der Hellen, and A. Orin Schenck, of Medford. have purchased Mr Leverette's interest in the Grants Pass Amusement Co. Inc., which belonged to the George A. Hunt estate and Mr. Leverette. The amusement concern owns the Rogue, Rivoli and State theaters in the "Climate City." Mr. von der Hellen said the associate managership of the Grants Pass theaters would be taken over by Eino Hemmila who has long been manager of the Hunt theaters in Medford. Mr. Hemmila also has theater in terests In Roseburg. More Oregonians Freed From Japs Twelve additional residents of Oregon were listed today among the names of civilian internees released from Japanese prison camps in the Philippine islands. On the list were Alex J. Brock way, Lake Grove; Herbert Det rick, Dundee; Daisy F. Hendrlx Newberg; Stanley R. Kloder. Roseburg; Leila Boyce Nicholas. Portland, and Mrs. Esther R. Riffel, Rctta and Dorothy Rif fel, all of Portland; Clarence Beckman, Portland; Audray B. and Patricia Landis, both of Hood River, and John N. Butler, Oregon City. jT k 3 THOUSANDS i J AS OHIO WATERS Nine Known pead in Flooded Area; War. Plants, Schools Suspend Operations. Br United Press Flood waters of the Ohio riv er spilled over lowlands from Pittsburgh to Cairo, 111., today. Thousands of families fled from their homes along the twisting course of the river nearly 1.000 miles long. Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky were the hardest hit. Other flood waters rolled across the rlvei valleys of southern Indiana and Illinois, and Mississippi and Ar kansas. - Nina Known Dead Nine persons were known dead. High waters lapped around war plants, forcing them into idleness. Thousands of schools were closed. ''.' About 6,000 families were homeless between Pittsburgh and Louisville. Another 1,000 persons fled from their homes in Indiana, and 1,700 evacuated river bottom sections in Illinois The high water forced coai mines to close in some sections In other areas armories and pub lie buildings were used as dor' mitories for flood refugees. At Rosiclare, 111., grocery store em ploye's carried the stock from their flooded store and set up shop in a hilltop church. The weather bureau forecast colder weather for the Ohio riv er valley. The forecaster at Chi cago said the temperature drop probably would not be great enough to check the flood, how ever. , - The flood in the Ohio valley appeared to be the worst since 1937. V BURMA JAPS IN S By United Press Two big allied offensives were slowly crushing the Japa nese on Iwo and in Burma today and a third onslaught was being prepared for the enemy by American troops on Luzon. The Jaoanese forces in those three sectors possibly 125,000 to 150,000 men were cut off from supplies and faced almost certain annihilation. The American 6th army on Luzon was officially revealed to be regrouping for the "final phases" of a campaign to wipe out - the last Japanese invader from the island. U. S. troops al ready were closing in on Baguio, former Philippines summer cap ital and once headquarters for the Japanese forces. Tokyo claimed that a full-scale battle was Imminent in the Monta balan area, 12 miles northeast of Manila. A general offensive already was under way By three ma rine divisions on Iwo. Champ Meets Champ in Pacific (Armt TrUphoto) Comdr. Jack Dempsey, DSCO, and Captain James Braddock, USA, both one-time holders of the world's heavyweight title, meet again In tha Ha waiian Islands. Braddock Is stationed with the Army Transportation Corps, Dempeey Is on tour ot Pacific bases. Both are directors cf recrea tion aud PuywfAl education programs of their respective services. Coast RIBUNE United Pi Insurance. Reappointment Killed by State Salem, Ore., March 7 (U.R) "Three way" accident com pensation and Senate reappoint ment legislation were dead is sues in the Oregon legislature today. The bills were killed after long, bitter battles in both the House and the Senate yesterday. The "three way" bill would have provided that an employer must protect his employes in one of three wars by self in surance, by common insurance carried or through the state ac cident fund. The measure (HB- 232) came to the floor of the House on a divided committee report. Talk New District With ' the reappointment bill defeated, 18 to 12, talk continued that a joint resolution would be sought to amend the constitution by vote f the people to create a new 31st senatorial district Such a new district would give the Deschutes-Crook-Jefferson-Lake county area a senator, leav ing Klamath county by itself. Leaders it both factions on the bitter redlstricting fight said they favored the 31st district idea, which would also serve to avoid tie votes in the upper House. There was also opposi tion to any change. . Two liquor bills came out of the senate alcoholic traffic com mittee, apparently headed for defeat on the floor. One was the Nebry Scrip bill (SB212) to Dermit private clubs to pool member permits and issue drinks UDon receipt of scrip. It received "do not pass" recom mendation. Alcohol Fight Looms A House fight on a series of NOT SO HOT SAY With the 3rd Armored Divi sion. Germany. March 7- (U.R) Don't talk about the superiority of American tanks to men of this 3rd armored unit. "Our tanks are not worth a dron of water on a hot stove, said SSgt. Robert Jsaney.-oi Fountain, Minn., who command ed the 1st tank to enter Cologne. We wants tanks to fight with, not just to drive over the coun tryside." V "It makes us feel pretty Daa to have everyone at home talk ing about having. the best equip ment when we know our tanks lack a lot of being the best," chimed in Cpl. Charles Miller of Kansas City, Mo. In one field alone, this com pany lost half Its tanks. Alto gether, it has been assigned three times as many tanks as normal ly allotted a tank company. UNAMERICAN PROBERS FUND GIVEN APPROVAL Washington, March 7 (U.R) The house today approved, 314 to 64, a resolution giving the new committee 'on Un-American activities $50,000 to start its in vestigations. ' full Leased Wire NO. 293. Legislature Senate alcohol bills was slated as a special order of business late today. The bUb (SB's 117, 144 and 145) will come out on divided committee reports, each report recommending "do pass," each with different amendments. Minority report signers feel that the bills increase too dras tically the powers of the Liquor Control Commission, while the majority report is In line with the request of the commission that its powers be Increased to provide for more efficient en forcement of the Knox JLlquor Law. Y KILLS SON, SELF IN LONELY CABIN An apparent murder and sui cide Involving a mother and her son was uncovered yesterday on Savage Creek, one and one-half miles off north Pacific highway near the Jackson-Josephine county line. According to state police offi cers and Deputy Coroner Carlos Morri3, who investigated the tragedy, the dead are Mrs. Opal Wheeler Mooter, 39-year-old teacher at New Hope school near Grants Pass, and her son, Lionel, 15. According to Morris, the mother and son made their home in a cabin on Savage Creek. Located across the creek from the cabin is a house owned by Mr, and Mrs. Ralph DeLassle of Gold Hill. Yester day they went to make an in spection of their cabin and no ticed the Mooter dog frequently came to their cabin and then re turned to the Mooter cabin. In the afternoon Mrs. DeLassie de cided to investigate. -J.', Woman On Floor ' ' Loking in through a front room window, she saw Mrs. Mooter lying on the floor in a pool of blood. She immediately summoned her husband who en tered the house but was unable to locate the boy. He had not been seen by neighbors since March 1, police said. DeLassie called police officers, who in turn notified Morris and Walter Relnking, whose wife was a long-time friend of Mrs. Mooter. Relnking discovered the boy's body lying in bed with a 32 calibre bullet wound In the head, apparently killed in his sleep, A Winchester rifle was found across Mrs. Mooter's legs, Rein- kin said. Morris said Mrs. Mooter had evidently killed her son and then returned to the living room where she placed the gun in her mouth and pulled the trigger. A cartridge was found in her right hand which Morris said was evidently used to push the trigger. Autopsy Held ; An autopsy was held today on the body of Mrs. Mooter and In ternal organs were sent to Dr. Joseph Beeman, state criminol ogist, for routine investigation. District Attorney George Neil son.said today it Is possible an inquest will be held when state police and the sheriff's office complete their investigation. Mrs. Mooter, who is said to have been divorced from her husband for several years, la survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Irvine Wheeler, Can by, Ore., three brothers and two sisters. The bodies are at Conger Morris Chapel awaiting funeral arrangements. . MILITARY WEAPONS ARE FOUND IN CIVILIAN USE Los Angeles, March 7 (U.R) Hundreds of rapid-fire military guns, stolen from army or navy supplies, have found their way into civilian hands in the United States, Federal District Attorney Charles H. Carr disclosed today Carr said numerous" secret indictments had already been re turned against persons owning government weapons. Mere pos session of such guns is a felony, he pointed out. BAIT FOR ARGENTINA Mexico City, March 7 (U.R) A resolution which would offer Argentina three ways to return to the good graces of the Ameri can nations came before the steering committee ot the Inter American conference today for consideration. It expressed re gret that Argentina was not pres ent, ' Capture of Coblenz Threatened in Drive Of U. S. Third Army By UNITED The American 3rd army drove today In a sweep which threatened the early envelopment of Coblenz. The lightning thrust had carried In 48 hours. Vanguards of the army's 4th division were closing la on Mayen, 15 miles from Coblenz and about 10 west of the Rhlna city of Andernach. The air offensive against Germany was carried on by more than 1,150 American heavy bombers and railway targets in western Germany, Including the Dortmund, Bielefeld and Soest areas. COLOGNE REMNANTS PURSUED 1 Troops of the American 1st army pursued the remnants of the Cologne garrison toward the river south. The American 9th and Canadian 1st armies steadily squeezed in the enemy pocket around Wesel, 50 miles north of Cologne. The Germans there were pulling out across the Rhlna under heavy land and aerial bombardment. On the eastern front, the German radio reported that Marshal Gregory K. Zhukov had opened his frontab offensive against Berlin with a heavy artillery bombardment and an assault on the Oder river defenses east of the capital. were attacking on both sides of the miles from Berlin, trying to gain bank for the intended push. REDS GAIN CONTROL ODER ESTUARY The red army gained control of the Oder estuary and closed In from three sides on the Baltic port of Stettin. The capture of Cam mln to the northeast sealed off the port from the sea. The German positions west of the Rhine were dissolving rap idly under the hammer blows of the four allied armies sweeping the Nazis back across the river. Lt. Gen. George S. Patton's advance toward Coblenz left no doubt that a general retreat had been ordered from that city, at the junc tion of the Rhine and Mosel, to the Dutch border, 110 miles to the north. Patton's men had covered more than 37 miles since they Jumped off from their Kyll river bridgehead east of Bitburg on Monday morning. They drove through the hilly Eifel area against disor ganized resistance, flanking the traditional invasion route of tha Mosel valley. At least eight divisions of the 3rd army were rolling toward the Rhine on a 35 mile front. ISOLATED POCKETS CLEANED OUT In the north, Isolated pockets of German resistance were being cleaned out In the southeastern oorner of Cologne and along tha river to the north and south, but the city Itself was firmly held by the Americans. The greater part of it was in ruins, the ancient cathedral being the principal building left intact. Around Wesel the Germans held a dwindling are extending about five miles to the west, southwest, and south. British mosqui toes and heavy bombers blasted the crowded pocket all during tha night. On the Italian front, an allied communique reported new suc cesses by the 5th army inthe Bologna area. American troops :i lzed three more strategic heights in the mountains west of Bologna Pistoia highway. The Brazilians on their right captured the key town of Castelnuovo, 13 miles southwest of Bologna. The communique disclosed that heavy casualties were inflicted on the Germans and 1,200 prisoners taken in the last three days. IN 22 TOWNS IS UP TO GOVERNOR Salem, Ore., March T (U.R) Levying of a tax for post-war construction of armories In 22 Oregon cities was given final passage and sent to the governor today by the Oregon legislature. Only three senators voted against the bill (HB362) which would levy a tax of .45 mill each year for 10 years, estimated to raise about $450,000 annually. The revenue would be used for armories as funds became avail able. The general order of armories to be constructed was Baker. Bend) Portland, LaGrande, Ore gon City, Pendleton, Ontario, Roseburg, The Dalles, Hlllsboro, Corvallls, Grants Pass, Forest Grove, Hood River, St. Helens Lebanon, Lakeview, Gresham Prlnevllle, Hermlston, Newport and Seaside. Other cities could be added if necessary. A series of Senate-approved bills giving the Liquor Control Commission more enforcement power was a special order of business In the House later to day. Most other measures han dled were of secondary nature as members fretted over delay with the goal of adjournment only a week away. WODEHOUSE RELEASED Paris, March 7 (U.R) French nolice have released P. G. Wode- house, English novelist, from de tention in a Paris hospital, lt was learned today. He had been held at the hospital since Decem ber following Investigation of his broadcasts from Berlin. "White Elephant,, Shipping Base In Alaska Never Used, Is Revelation Headquarters, Alaskan De partment, March 7 (U.R) Mili tary authorities today lifted the blanket of secrecy which for more than two years has pre vented mention In the press of a giant 17,300,000 "white ele phant" shipping base at Excur sion inlet, 65 mites southwest of Juneau. The base, which was never used and now has been abandon ed, was constructed by order of Lt. Gen. John DeWltt, dated July 31, 1042. It was to serve as a transshipment point for Aleu tian war supplies to be brought by barge from Seattle and re PRESS to within 10 miles of the Rhlnst the Americans almost 40 mile fighters which attacked oil and . crossing at Bonn, 12 miles to the The broadcast said soviet forcei Oder stronghold of Kuestrin, 38 "broad positions" on the west Field dispatches said the speed of Slot Machines In Churches Favored By Idaho Senator, Boise, Ida., March 7 (U.R) Idaho State Senator George Brunt believes the suggestion of putting slot machines in churchea isn't such a bad idea after all. The opinion was expressed during debate for a bill legaliz ing operation of slot machine! In non-profit clubs. Brunt said that as long as the slot machine profits were used for charity a person should not be denied the right to play them. "Would you put one of thosa machines in your church?" quer ied a colleague. Retorted Brunt: "I'd just as leave, because there are some people from whom you can't pry a dime out of with a crow-bar, but they will play slot machines." Elephant Boy Is Given Air Award V. S. Thirteenth Air Force Hq., Somewhere In Pacific, March 7 (U.R) Sabu, the for mer elephant boy of the movies, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross today. His award was for taking part as the tail gunner in an attack by a single Liberator on a Jap anese convoy off Borneo. Tha bomber flew through heavy an tiaircraft fire. WILLIAM DAVIS NAMED VINSON'S SUCCESSOR Washington, March 7 (U.R) Chairman William H. Davis of the War Labor Board will succeed Frtd M. Vinson as Di rector oi Economic Stabilisa tion, the White House an nounced today. Vinson was confirmed by tha Senate yesterday as tha new Federal Loan Administra tor, He will take over his new duties tomorrow. loaded into vessels shuttling be tween Excursion Inlet and tha Aleutians. DeWltt then was head of the western defense command and in command of land and air operations against the Japs on Klska and Attu. The installation was construct ed on a cost plus fixed fee basLi by the Guy F. Atkinson com pany of San Francisco. It was completed In 14 months but by the time It was ready for use on August 25, 1043, the last Jap Invaders in the Aleutians had been killed or had fled back to their homeland. A
