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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 1950)
mmm. COMMUTER TRAINS COLLIDE HEADON-RaUroad wrecking crane to background helps clear the (racKs 01 tne Long Island Railroad at Rockville Center, N. Y where two commuter trains collided head on when one train sped through a red warning signal light onto a single track. At least 29 persons were killed and 116 injurei in the disaster. Motorman ol the one train has been charged with manslaughter. Engineman Dazed Alter Rail Wreck On New York Line Rockville Centre. N. Y., Feb. 20 (U.R) The engineman blamed for the Long Island rail road wreck which killed 29 per sons and injured 115 still was so dazed and "grief-stricken" today he could not tell how it hap pened. His son said Jacob Kiefer, 55, a veteran of 32 years of railroad ing, has had only rare "minutes of clear thinking" since the Fri day night disaster. He repeat edly lapses into a dazed stupor, his son said. Arraignment Delayed Because of Kicfer's condition, his arraignment on a manslaugh ter charge, originally scheduled for this morning, has been post poned until he recovers himself. The state public service com mission and the interstate com merce commission, and the Long Island railroad meanwhile start ed injuiries into the disaster. Au thorities began to interview all known passengers on the two electric tiins which smashed in a head-on collision on a gantlet stretch of track. Nassau District "Attorney Frank A. Gulotta accused Kiefer of running "through a red light." Liz Taylor To Wed Hotel Scion May 6 Hollywood, Feb. 20 (U.R) Luscious Liz Taylor, curvaceous 18-year-old screen star, win marry hotel heir Conrad Hilton May 6 in a "big church wed ding," her mother announced today, but the actress is disap pointed because her announce ment party has been spoiled. "Elizabeth wanted to surprise the girls, poor little thing," said Mrs. Francis Taylor. "We're having a tea tomorrow after noon and she wanted to surprise everybody, but Mr. Hilton in New York let it out to some columnists. He asked the col umnists to wait a couple of weeks, but they didn't." Miss Taylor broke her en gagement to William D. Pawley Jr., several months ago, and pre viously was reported engaged to army football star Glenn Da vis. Her name also was linked romantically with Howard Hughes, but her mother said there was nothing like that. WEATHER . FOttEt'AST: Partly cloudy to night with valley foic early Tuesday morning. Increasing cloudiness Tuesday with some light rain. Temp. Highest Yesterday 51 Lowest this Morning 33 Prec. to 4:30 A.M. Today 01 'Are You Happy?' Phrase Sparks Fast-Growing Club Are You Happy? was ceas ing to be an impertinent query and was becoming something of a catch-phrase in Medford to day, as the city's newest and fastest growing organization continued to collect new mem bers. More than 300 men have joined the group since it was formed Valentine's day, and President - organizer Joe Neil said this morning that the mem bership includes men in Los An geles. San Francisco, Sacramen to, Salem. Portland and Seattle. Slogan Given "The slogan of the club 'No women: no dues: no problems: no mail: you stay happy.' is catching on Mike wildfire." Neil said. "There is only one duty which club members must per form, and then only if it makes them happy. They simply say to another member once in awhile. 'Are you happy?' That's all The other member has the right to answer the question in anv way he wishes, taking all the time he wants. Thus he can get anv small gripe he mav have off his chest and be happier," Neil ex plained. All members of the club are vice-presidents. Even Neil, who is president, is also a vice-president He explained that there fAcm Telephoto) 29 DIE IN RAIL DISASTER Passengers struggle to get free from tangled seats minutes after two Long Island R. R. commuter trains collided headon at Rockville Center, suburban town 20 miles irom downtown New York City. At least 29 persons were killed. 78 criti cally Injured and scores of other passengers suffered less serious in juries In the disaster that Involved approximately 1000. Gasoline Rrice War Spreads Over Nation Los Angeles, Feb. 20 (U.R) A budding gasoline price war spread slowly across the nation today and gleeful motorists in the west and middle west were getting the benefit of savings up to five cents a gallon. A spokesman for one major oil company said competitive prioc cutting at California gasoline stations resulted from a local surplus. He predicted it was "part of a trend that gradually will affect the entire product." Four Months Old A United Press survey shows that price cutting began at some cities four months ago. In the Indianapolis area, one company has cut 5.4 cents from the price of regular grade. In most affected areas, reductions Suicide Reported By Coroner Early Today Herbert M. Hadley. 38, took his own life by hanging early to day at his home on Beall lane, according to Coroner Carlos Morris, who said he was told Hadley had been despondent over ill health. According to Morris, the man s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert J. Hadley. left the home for town about 8:30 a.m. When they re turned about 9:30 a.m., the body was hanging in a closet. Conger-Morris funeral home has charge of funeral arrange ments. are no dues, and no women. When a man joins, he is pro vided with a membership card at a nominal cost to cover print ing and mailing. The card certi fies membership as long as the member remains happy, but Neil said if he becomes unhap py, he has to tear up the card and resign. Don't Have To Sign Applicants for membership do not have to sign their names, one of the 300 vice-presidents said today. They can print, type or code their names, or send it in Braille, in English. There are only two reasons for the existence of the club, it was explained: Haoov men sometimes forget they are hap py and need a reminder, and when they are asked "Are You Happy?" they can get rid of gripes and become happy again. Neil, who as president and vice-president claims to be the happiest man in the world, said that since there are no problems in the club, no meetings have been scheduled unless the mem bership feels later that it would make them happy to have a meeting. "You don't even have to read the president's mail if it would make you unhanpv to do so." ieu said. (Aemm Ttteahoto of one to two cents on both reg ular and premium grades pre vailed. The "price war" is confined in most instances to the big cities and surrounding areas, and oil company spokesman sa.y that even there it is on a "block-to-block" basis "to meet local com petitive conditions." Metropolitan areas reporting signs of the price war include Los Angeles, San Francisco Salt Lake City, San Diego, Milwau kee, Wis., Miami, Fla.; Phoenix, and Tucson, Ariz., Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.; Indianapolis and Seattle. "Very little" price cutting was reported in Chicago. Kansas City, Mo., New York, New Orleans, Portland, Ore.; Dallas, Tex.; Om aha, Neb.; and Atlanta, Ga. Oil company spokesman were hesitant to forecast a widespread war, and only one company would acknowledge officially that it has become directiy in volved. General Petroleum Corp., is sued a formal statement saying that It was granting "a day-today competitive allowance" to any of its retail dealers "suf fering extreme hardship due to price-cutting by competitors in their immediate vicinity. Other companies were refus ing such allowances, and dealers in many instances protested that they were forced to cut prices but were refused any assistance from the manufacturer. Alleged Illegal Practices Rapped Washington, . Feb. 20 (U.R) The federal trade commission called a halt today in allegedly illegal practices by a group of ladies' wear manufacturers and retail stores. The order applied to a num ber of nationally-known stores such as Arnold Constable & Co., new York; The Hecht company, Washington, and Best's Apparel, Inc.. Seattle, Wash. The FTC found that the manu facturers were paying the retail ers either directly or through two New York corporations for exclusive services the corpora tions gave to the retail stores. It said the stores were stock holders in the corporations which provided such services as devel oping, popularizing and advertis ing the "Carolyn" and "Jeanne Barrie" trade names. The stores paid the corporation for the services and got the money back from the manufacturers. FTC said this violated the Clayton act's prohibition against payment of "brokerage" fees. Fairfield, Calif., Feb. 20 (U.R) Alexander MacDonald, 71, of Seattle, was held for observation here today after he allegedly threatened the lives of workers on a ranch near Dixon, Calif. Medford 44th Year 10 Pages Hope Gone for 1950 Basin Action Prospects Dim For Heading Off Telephone Strike New Mediation Conferences Eyed Washington, Feb. 20 (U.R) Government officials said today the prospects for heading off a nationwide telephone strike this Friday "are not too good." They said spokesmen for the CIO communications workers and the telephone industry may be summoned to new mediation conferences tomorrow. Walkout Voted About 100,000 members of the union have voted to walk out Friday. Another 150,000, whose contracts expire soon, are ex pected to respect the picket lines. The strike originally was scheduled to start February 8, but was postponed at the request of Federal Mediator Cyrus S. Ching. During the "truce," negotia tions were held with Bell System companies across the country. Industry and union negotiators as well as federal mediators were to report to Ching today on (he status of bargaining efforts. China Silent Ching-was noitalking..about his next move. Bin oincr guveru ment officials said new meetings with some union and industry officials may be scheduled to morrow. The new mediation efforts probably would be directed es pecially toward the Western Electric company's dispute with installation and sales personnel. Cal-Ore Holdup Men Sought By Officers Klamath Falls, Feb. 20 (U.R) Police in two states today sought a pair of armed gunmen who robbed the Cal-Ore tavern of S3.000 Saturday and locked Proprietor Mike May in a re frigerator. May was released an hour later by an employee who was away when the robbery oc curred. The tavern, situated on the Oregon-California boundary, is 18 miles southwest of here. May said the two gunmen drove up in a 1938 sedan. One was about 5 feet 8 inches tall, heavv set. wore a mustache and thick-lensed glasses. His com panion was six feet tall and weighed about 180 pounds. Both men wore army clothes. Don Haynes Finishes Year Sealed In Car Ashland, Feb. 20 It was a vear ago yesterday that Don Havncs self-styled "Marvel Man" and "Seaman of the Sealed Car" allowed himself to be welded into an auiomoDiie iui a stay of more than a year. Since that time he has traveled many thousands of miles, from coast to coast, in pursuit of pub licity. This he has received, and today he is thought to be some where in West Virginia as part of a nation-wide tour which has included radio and television appearances, conferences with the governors of many of the states and publicity tie-ups with newspapers, magazines and film companies. Maybe He Should Have Sent Press Agent To Arrange Details Mexico City, Feb. 20 (U.R) Movie Star Van Johnson claimad ihi diltinction today of having seen what experts termed lht worst bullfight of tha season. The blond actor and his par ty of six watchad yesterday while three top-flight toreadors did everything they could to goad six sweet-tempered beasts into a light. Aftar lht fifth bull met his death with stole calm, John ion want impatiently down to tha ring to talk with Toreador Raul Ochoa. Movie fans wert as lacka daisical at lht bulls. None aikad Johnson for his autograph. MEDFORD, OREGON, MONDAY, FEBRUARY Death Penalty Asked For Robert Budapest. Hungary. Feb. 20 w.ki The state demanded today "the most severe punishment" death for Robert A. Vogeler, American business executive, who, in a last statement to the people's court, pleaded for a mild sentence. Vogeler, 39, assistant vice president of the International Auto Registration Building Location Told By Newbry Secretary of Slate Earl T. Newbry today announced that he has selected the location and the contractor for the new sec retary of state's building which is to be constructed in Medford. He said he hopes the building will be completed and open for business not later than May 15. The property selected by New bry is owned by the Schcffcl and Gilman Construction com pany and is on highway 09 south of Medford, adjoining the Bear Creek orchards property. Laased To State vfhe- builrimg will- be-- con structed bv Fred Scheffcll. New bry said, and will be leased to the state at $150 per month. The lot is 1,100 square feet in area, all of which will be paved and landscaped. The building will be constructed on the same plan used for other similar buildings now in use in other Oregon communities, Newbry added. "Out of this office the regis tration of motor vehicles will be handled," Newbry said. "Re newal tabs likewise will be is sued over the counter. Our driv er license examiner will work out of this office. It is antici pated that in the future all busi ness pertaining to motor ve hicles will be handled through these field offices. It is also my hope," Newbry continued, "that tourist information will be made available in these field of fices, and that is one of the rea sons for locations on the major highways throughout the state." Gets Cooperation The secretary of state also said that he had received "com plete cooperation" from the chamber of commerce in Med ford, as well as Ashland. Considerable discussion re garding the location of the building, and the contract to be selected to construct it, ever since announcement was first made that such a structure was planned here. The chamber of commerce here was requested by Newbry to provide a "screen ing" committee to interview those who wished to furnish the land or the construction. This committee, composed of Mavor Diamond Flynn, Walter Jones and Otto Bohnert, sub mitted the names of those thev felt were oualified. and Newbry made the final selection. Empire Man Missing In Boat Wreckage Coos Bay, Feb. 20 (U.R) Gor don Gage, 58, Empire, is missing and feared dead after the wreck ing of his 36-foot fishing boat Bertha last night on the outer end of the North Coos jetty. Danny McCoy, Charleston, who made his way ashore after nar rowly escaping being caught in the wreckage, said he last saw Gage in the water with an air mattress and that he feared Gage has been injured. McCoy said that a "sneaker" wave had over turned the boat as they neared the jetty. A coast guard lookout who saw the boat's light disappear suddenly at about 8 o'clock gave the alarm and a lifeboat was launched at Charleston and a jeep dispatched from the direc tion finder station on the north spit. The lifeboat crew found the wreckage but no sign of Gaec. They said the boat was a total loss. McCoy made his way to the direction finder station while the rescue crews were en route to the scene of the wreck. Salem, Ore., Feb. 20 (U.R) Articles of incorporation were on file here today for the Grants Pass American Legion conven tion commission of 1950. Vogeler Telephone and Telegraph com pany, spoke briefly after the prosecution demanded' the ex treme penalty for him and six co-defendants in a three-day spy trial. Sentence Tomorrow After hearing the last state ments of the defendants, court recessed until 1 p. m. (3 a. m. PST) tomorrow, when sentence will be pronounced. With the evidence in pleas by the defendants and testimony by nine witnesses, seven of them under arrest Prosecutor Gyula Alapai summed up. He asked the court to give all seven the "se verest penalty," which for es pionage is death m Hungary, A little later Vogeler went to the stand for the customary last statement and said: Confession Made Freely "I wish to refer to my state ment Saturday (in which he pleaded guilty) and repeat that I regret sincerely my undermin ing activities. "I do especially as I was sent by a big country, America, to a small one, Hungary, to under mine the work of reconstruction. I wish to use the right of last words to state that I made my confession freely without any pressure or insult. "I wpuld like also to state (hat 1 was "well treated during the investigation, and also in the court, and I hope that my con fession proved I regretted what I did. I know I have to suffer punishment, but I hope that the court will consider my request for a mild sentence and also the arguments of my lawyer." Doctor Cheered As 'Mercy Killing' Trial Takes Place Manchester, N. H., Feb. 20 !U.R) Townsmen cheered Dr. Hermann N. Sander today when he entered the court house and went on trial for his life on a charge of murdering out of "mercy" a patient on the verge of death from cancer. His loyal wife, Alice, though ill with a cold, was at his side in a little yellow court room when his case was called to trial at 10:12 a.m. The first juror was picked In seven minutes. He was Harry Wright, the first venireman ex amined. Names Read In a 14-minute opening cere mony before Superior udge Har old E. Wescotl, the clerk droned off the names of 145 Hillsbor ough county veniremen includ ing seven women. Many oi me names were of French extrac tion in a city where French Catholics predominate. Judge Wescott told the venire men they were "entering upon a most important public duty." "Each of you when examined will keen in mind the import ance of your duty as an Ameri can citizen," the Judge said. "Under our American system of trial by jury, we do not de termine the guilt or innocence of a defendant on hearsay from persons outside the court or from radio or newspaper stories, whose authors are not under oath." High Court Refuses Occupation Tax Review Washington. D. C. Feb 20 :U.R) The supreme court today refused to review a ruling that Washington state's wholesalers' occupation tax is unconstitu tional when annlicd against re ceipts from orders filled direct ly from out-of-state stocks. The previous ruling, made py the state supreme court on Sep tember 3, 1949, is now final. The business and occupation tax is levied on everyone doing business in Washington. For wholesalers it is one-fourth of one per cent of gross sales. ACCEPTS NEW POST Bend. Ore., Feb. 20 'U.R) George Simerville, Bend city re corder and treasurer for the past 10 years and prior to then a member of the Bend lugn school commercial department, has an nounced his resigna'.ion to ac cept the position of re-irricr- treasurcr for the city of Cor-vallis. Tribune 20, 1950 No. 280 Next Congress May Take Action, Official Reports Detailed Steps Taken By Reports Revealed Hope of approval for the Rogue basin report at this ses sion of congress was completely dispelled today with the public release of a letter addressed to Congressman Harris Ellsworth by C. Girard Davidson, assistant secretary of the department of the interior. After a recital of all the steps which ,the project will have to go through, Davidson told Ells worth that "it is possible, how ever, that the over-all basin re port and one or more project re ports would be ready for trans mittal to the next congress." Steps Dotailed First step in authorization of the project is the completion of the so-called Information re port, Davidson said. A "task force" working on various as pects of this ronort "has promis ed to transmit its report and rccommcndntions early this month, he continued. "... It is hard to anticipate how long it will take us to review the mat ter here In the department,' Davidson's - letter continued, al though he said that should be completed "within a matter of a few weeks" after the commit tee report is received. Following department appro val, and any changes which might be made, the report goes to the commissioner of reclama tion, who would then send it to the secretary of the interior be fore It is transmitted to the states and interested federal agencies for review, Davidson explained. These agencies have 90 days in which to make com ments and recommendations. After these comments have been "coordinated," the reclamation bureau again sends It to the sec retary, and then to the presi dent through the budget bureau. "Naturally review by the bureau of the budget takes a reasonable amount of time," Davidson said. "If the rcnort is found to be in accord with the program of the president, it is transmitted to congress," the letter stated. But Davidson pointed out that this report is "an over-all infor mation report . . . and it is not anticipated that it will request authorization of any projects . . . It is apparent from tho chain of events noted above that it is hardly likely that the informa tion report on the Rogue River basin would be presented to the congress during this session." In addition, separate project reports, which would carry with them authorization for the work but not appropriations, to pass through the same channels as the information report. Appropriations would require additional action by congress, after the project reports arc approved. Bonneville Employees Fail In Rescue Try Bonneville Dam, Ore., Feb. 20 U.R) Off-duty employees of Bonneville dam spent several hours yesterday rescuing a young deer from a cake of ice float ing down the Columbia river. The deer was finally roped and hauled ashore when but 30 feet from the dam. But attempts to save the animal, weakened by hunger and exposure, failed. The deer died this morning. Congressman For Slapping Upper Marlboro, Md., Feb. 20 (U.R) Rep. Fred L. Crawford. (R., Mich.), ended a two-day sit- down strike in the county jail to day by paying a $25 fine for slap ping a former fighter who work ed for him. The 62-year-old congressmen pleaded guilty to assault, paid his fine and went home. Crawford also paid S3. 50 for court costs. Crawford readilv admitted he struck Ray Hanburg, 23-ycar-old ex-boxer who works for the con gressman, in an argument "of a personal nature. Hanbury said Crawford struck him while he (Hanbury) had both hands on a ladder during an argument Saturday on the Workers Beaten By Pickets In Violence Renewal UMW Sits Tight In Contract Dispute Pittsburgh, Feb. 20 (U.R) Striking United Mine workers. defying John L. Lewis "official" order and a government injunc tion, kept the soft coal mines closed today. Violent picketing was reported. At Barbourville, Ky., a band of 100 men. carrvine arms, raid ed a processing plant of the Rich land coal company, beating five workers and wrecking machin ery and office property. Dynamite Used Pickets also were reported active in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. A mine engine room was dynamited in Mineral coun ty, W. Va., Sunday and in Nicho las county, pickets closed a mina where the UMW local favored ending the two-week ecneral strike, All maior soft coal mine. were closed except a few whose oper ators have met the union's de mands and some manned by the progressive miners union. The nation's stockpile dropped to less than a week's sunnlv with a cold wave aggravating short ages in the east. The miners were determined not to work until they get a con tract from the operators. noma l,oi tvaryihing "We'll lose evervthinsr. If we go back now," a miner in Penn sylvania's Allegheny valley dist rict said. "We're going to stay out and we're going to win." in oi a aarn soul showed up here," a watchman at the Kyle mine of U. S. Steel Corp. in southwestern Pennsylvania said. "I didn't see anybody around when I came down to the mine this morning," a maintenance man at a crucible steel mine at Ricos-' Landing, Pa., reported. Miners met in the local union halls throughout the week-end to hear Lewis' telegram read. It told them the UMW president "requested and expected" them back to work. No big locals voted io comply, one 125-man group at Victoria, III., decided Saturday to work, then changed their minds yesterday. Wallace Plans To Seek Governorship Portland, Ore., Feb. 20 (U.R) Democratic gubernatorial candi dates were beginning to square on in Oregon today tor the com ing May 19 primary election. Lew Wallace, twice-defeated candidate, announced at Bend that he would run again and that set off a report in the Ore gon Journal that State Treas urer Walter J. Pearson "Will get into the race." Voters can be prepared for another (Pearson's) announce ment at any moment." the Journal said. Other Candidates Two other possible candidates have been mentioned in party circles, including State Sen. Aus tin Flegel and State Party Chair man William L. Josslin, who has asked leading democrats wheth er they will order him "into battle." Josslin said he had re ceived many affirmative replies to his query. Wallace announced his can didacy at the end of a two-day meeting of the state democratic central committee in the Pilot Butte inn. The committee voted 2-1 to ask National Committeeman Monroe Sweetland to run against Republican Senator Wayne Morse, who will be up for re election. GETS DIVORCE Hollywood, Feb. 20 (U.R) Film Actress Marguerite Chap man, 29, got a divorce today from Attorney G. Bentley Ryan on her testimony that he con tinually criticized her during their year of marriage. Pays $25 Fine of Employee congressman's Maryland farm. Hanbury, who lives and works on the farm and also works in Crawford's office, said the argu ment concerned a matter "of office routine." He told a reporter that Craw ford's stenographer, Ruth Peters, told a "distorted" story about him. When Crawford took it up with him, Hanbury said, Craw ford told him "You or any other sob Is not going to talk about that girl that way." The con gressman then struck Hanbury in the face. Crawford made no comment during the court hearing. Crawford was arrested Satur day on an assault warrant . I sworn out by Hanbury.
