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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 7, 1950)
r Medford United Press Full Lease Wire 45th Year. Senators Clash Over FBI's Stand On Owen Laftimore McCarthy Doubts Tydings' Announcement Washington, Apr. 7 (U.R) Sens. Millard E. Tydings (D., Md.) and Joseph R. McCarthy (R., Wis.) clashed sharply today over the FBI's stand on Owen Lattimore. Tydings, chairman of a senate foreign relations sub-committee investigating communists in gov ernment, touched off the quarrel j by announcing publicly 4hat FBI T records "cleared" Lattimore of a McCarthy's charge that he is a communist and a Soviet spy. McCarthy, obviously irritat ed by the statement, promptly announced that Tydings "either hasn't seen the (FBI) files or he's lying." "'I stand on my reputation for accuracy," Tydings replied. He aid McCarthy's remark "is a completely self-serving state ment." "It is significant," he added, "that no members of the com mittee contradicted it (Tydings' statement) when I made it in the presence of the committee." Tydings told Lattimore that "the FBI put you completely, up to this moment, at least, in the clear." 'Nothing in File' He said he made the statement on the basis of a "complete sum mary" of Lattimore's record which was shown to four of the five sub-committee members by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. He said all four members agreed that "there was nothing in the file" to show that Lattimore was a spy or a communist. Sen. Bourke B. Hickenlooper (R., Ia.) was out of town when the others saw Hoover's sum mary. Tydings arranged for him to see it later and Hickenlooper said he would do so soon. McCarthy said that although he is not a member of the com mittee he knows "what's in the (FBI) files" on Lattimore. He said he wondered if Hoover had included in the summary results of telephone wire taps and other evidence that could not be used in prosecuting a "criminal case." The sub-committee's investiga tion is in recess. Members will meet in closed session Tuesday to learn if McCarthy can produce any witnesses to back up his charges against Lattimore. Scores Questioned in Kansas City Shooting Kansas City, Mo., Apr. 7 (U.R) Police questioned scores of hood lums and bigwig politicians to day, racing against time to find the expert assassins who killed Democratic Boss Charles Binag Cjo and his henchman. Charles Gargotta. Five state and local law en forcement agencies cooperated in a drive to learn the killers' iden tities. The investigators feared that unless the gunmen were found quickly, Kansas City might be in for a political and gang war in which many others would be killed. BUDGET HEARINGS SET Reservations are now being made at the county school sup erintendent's office for final hearing on rural school district budgets before the county-wide rural school board. C. R. Bow man's office is assigning hear ing times for next Wednesday and Thursday. After differences are resolved at the hearings, the budgets will be considered final and will undergo no fur ther change. TvyiiaiS' mmm Gen. Eaker Sums Up Threat of Russia San Francisco. Apr. 7 (U.R) Gen. Ira C. Eaker. one of Amer ica's top airmen during the last war. laid it on the line today in one-two-three order. With military precision. Eaker summed up the threat of Russia and what the United States can and must do to oppose it. Russia Declares War "Russia has declared war." he said in a speech prepared for delivery at a Commonwealth Club luncheon. "The diplomatic phase, the 'cold war,' is now in full swing. "What can Russia do?" the former deputy commander of the army air forces asked. "A, she can move westward, country by country, as Germany did. B. she can take over Asia. C. launch an attack on the U.S.A.'' Eaker said the Russians could mount an attack on the United States in three different ways by organizing a successful fifth column: by military assault, probably bombardment by guid ed missiles and atom bombers followed bv airborne Invasion: or by drawing the U. S. into re acting to her moves in Europe and Asia, as Hitler led England 22 Pages Nii(i 4 mm .- '5 J IhrJ TRUCK-TRAIN CRASH FATAL TO TWO Shown above is all that remains of the truck cab in which Mr. and Mrs. Amos Franklin Wyatt were riding when it was struck by a northbound Southern Pacific passenger train shortly after noon yesterday south of Medford. Wyatt was killed instantly. His body is shown covered with a blanket in the above picture. Mrs. Wyatt died two and a half hours later. Their four-year-old son, Frank Jr., survived. In the foreground of the above picture can be seen the engine of the big logging truck, and beyond Wyatt's body the smashed and splintered truck cab, which was torn from the rest of the truck by the impact. American For Refuge Prague, Czechoslovakia, Ap. 7(U.P.) George S Wheeler, 42, of Rolling Bay, Wash., asked the communist government today to allow him and his family to re main in Czechoslovakia as poli tical refugees. Wheeler did not make clear whether he intended to renounce his American citizenship, but he said he would not return to the U. S. as long as the Truman administration remained in pow er. Fostering Gestapo Revival He told a press conference that he and his wife, a former New York journalist, decided to ask for refuge here because the United States is fostering the re vival of "gestapo and nazi meth ods in Germany." Asked whether he intended to give up his citizenship, Wheeler said: "Of course I could return to the United States and someday I expect to, but at the moment Truman's administration would not receive me very favorably. "But I don't think the Tru man administration will be any more eternal than the Hoover administration was. In the mean time. I welcome Czechoslovak hospitality." Wheeler, a student and pro fessor of economics at Prague's Charles university, said he was an economist in the U. S. war to declare war against Germany. Estimate Needed "We need accurately to esti mate our foe," Eaker said. "Rus sian leadership is able, well trained. It is ruthless. It Li not communist, it is a dictatorship." Then he answered the ques tion "what should we do?" First we must realize our dan ger. Eaker said. We must oppose Russian expansion by the Mar shall plan: implement an ade quate defense: have a sound plan; have the best weapons first and concentrate on scientific re search and development; stock pile atomic bombs and the pow er to deliver them. Must Convince Russia The general said the U. S. must "convince the Russians we mean to fight." He advocated universal military training as an essential part of our defense plan and said we should "solve our labor problems and elimi nate strikes." "Fight the war our way. not theirs." Eaker advised. "Fight it in Russia with bombs, not in Turkey or Iran on the ground." He said we should destroy Russia's industrial capacity but not occupy the country. MEDFORD, OREGON, FRIDAY, APRIL 7, Citizen, Family Ask In Czechoslovakia department during the war. Later, he said, he was head of the denazification branch and policy chief for the labor office in the American zone of Ger many. . While in Germany, he said, he met constant interference from military government authorities who "never aimed at uprooting the remnants of gestapo and nazi methods in Germany." "On the contrary," he said, "I met with opposition from those officials who were sent into the administration with other pur poses than to carry out the policy agreed upon by the three pow ers at Potsdam." Passed Loyalty Tests The press conference was ar Walter Huston, Veteran Hollywood Actor, Succumbs Hollywood, Apr. 7 (U.R) Wal ter Huston, veteran actor, died today. He was 66 yesterday. Huston, who won an icademy award last year for his part in "The Treasure of Sierra Madre," died of an aneurism, a blood clot. He died at the Beverly Hills hotel. York Rite Masons To Gather Sunday More than 300 dignitaries of the Masonic lodge are expected to converge on Medford Sunday from all over Oregon for the annual state conclave of York Rite bodies that will be held here April 9 to 13. The three bodies meeting here are the Knights Templar commandery, Royal and Select Masters Coun cil of Oregon, and the state's Royal Arch Masons. Principal items of business will be formal legislation and election of officers, and the pro gram will include addresses by some of the nation's most prom inent Masons High Priest Earl E. Dusenberry of Iowa, General Grand Principal Sojourner Wal ter E. Stcffcy, Seattle; Grand High Priest Guy Rose of Wash ington; Carl R. Moore, deputy grand high priest of California, and Leslie M. Scntt. inspector general of the Scottish Rite bodies of Oregon. Top officials of Oregon York Rite Masons are Grand Com mander John Newbold, Port land: C. P. Davis, Salem, grand master of the council, and R. E. Dodge, Ashland, high priest of Royal Arch Masons. Registration for delegates to the five day of meetings will begin at 3 o.m. Sunday with the main sessions beginning Monday. mites quarrel ranged by the Czech ministry of information. Wheeler, short and brown-haired, said he had passed three loyalty tests in Ger many and yet was fired by the military government without cause. He then referred to the recent flight from Czechoslovakia of three planes carrying 85 persons, of whom 58 returned here. "First of all," he said, "I want to protest against the bru tal and unlawful treatment by the American occupation auth orities in western Germany of the 58 Czechoslovak citizens who had been kidnaped in a carefully planned and typically gangster plot and flown over the borders of their country " His son, John, who directed him in his Oscar-winning role, was at his side when he died. Huston's wife, Nan, is in New York but will return to Holly wood immediately. The body was taken to Pierce Brothers' mortuary in Beverly Hills and funeral arrangements will be announced later. ' Brother Guilty In Mercy Slaying Allentown, Pa., Apr. 7 (U.R) Harold A. Mohr, 36-year-old tan nery worker, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter today in the mercy killing of his blind, cancer-ridden brother. The Jury of eight men and four women recommended mercy. The verdict carries a possible six to 12 year term. By its verdict, the Jury heed ed the demand of the prosecu tion to halt "mercy killings." An acquittal, the state said, would set a "pattern for mercy mur ders" thrnuehout the nation. The iurv returned its verdict after deliberating a total of four hours and 55 minutes. The de fense immediately filed an oral motion for a new trial. Sentenc ing was referred automatically Mohr showed no emotion as Jury Foreman Walter Andrews announced the verdict in Lehigh county court. WEATHER FORECAST: Ihowrrs nd continued cool tonllht nd Saturday. Temp. Hichrit VtlritiT S Lowest tlil Mornlnt J Free, lo 1 11 A.M. ToSsr, Tract O JBUNE 1950 Typical Spring Weather Expected on Week-End; Showers and Sunshine Typical spring weather showers with intermittent sunshine were forecast for Saturday and Sunday by the Medford weather bureau sta tion today, A low pressure area was expected to continue hovering off the coast and sending precipitation inland. The forecaster said there probably would be about equal periods and amounts of sunshine and showers the next two days. File-and-Forget Seen for Truman's Jobless Pay Hike Washington, Apr. 7 (U.R) Congress today appeared likely to consign President Truman's proposal for expanding the un employment compensation pro gs m to its f ile-and-forgel basket. Although many of Mr. Tru man's supporters in congress voiced sympathy for his plan, they said that time and the pres sure of other business probably would prevent action at this session. But members who expressed these views believed a sudden slackening in business and em ployment, with a consequent in crease in unemployment, would bring much greater pressure for boosting unemployment benefits. Such conditions, they said, could result in quick action. In a special message to con gress yesterday, the president asked that unemployment com pensation coverage be extended to another 6 million workers. that benefits be increased, and that workers in all states be authorized to draw -uncmnloy- ment benefits for at least 26 weeks. Mr. Truman did not ask con gress to disturb the present federal-state relationship under which states are primarily re sponsible for their own pro grams. He recommended only that congress establish a floor below which the states could not go in distributing benefits. The present federal unemploy ment compensation program is part of the social security law. Revision of that act is under study by the senate finance committee. Ward's Employees Plead Guilty to Larceny Charges All four Montgomery Ward employees who were arrested at the store here yesterday morn ing on larceny charges, have pleaded guilty, the district at torney's office announced today. James R. Daniels, 35, pleaded guilty to petty larceny in Jus tice court yesterday afternoon and was given a 30-day suspend ed Jail sentence. He was released immediately. The other three were charged with grand larceny in circuit court. They pleaded guilty to a district attorney's information and all waived grand Jury in dictment. Deputy District Attor ney Paul Haviland said Iley E. Mavs, 37; Jack A. Rinn. 40. and Joseph P. Zash, 25. are all bring held in the county jail. Their cases have been continued for sentencing. Haviland said yesterday that Mays, head of the tire depart ment at Wards, has also admit ted embezzling funds, but audit ors do not yet know the extent of the theft. Only the grand lar nenv charge was preferred yes terday. The arrests were made yester day morning by Medford police working in conjunction with a special investigator sent by Montgomery Ward after invento ry shortages first aroused the suspicion of store officials. County Road Crew Starts Repair Work Although Jackson county roads suffered heavy winter damage this year, County Engi neer Paul Rynning said a 140 man crew is busy putting roads and highways back into shape. Rock crushers have been sent to the Missouri Flats, Ashland and Applcgate areas so that roads in those vicinities can be graveled and Rynning said conditions of three more roads have improved to the point where wintertime load limits can now be removed. Restrictions have been lifted from the Wagner Creek, Modoc Creek and Sardine Creek roads. After stop-gap repairs are com pleted, permanent improvement orojects wil be started as funds permit. No paving projects are planned. United Press Full Lease Wire NO. 14 Contract To Sell KMED Signed Here This Afternoon Corporation Formed by Six Medford Residents A conditional contract was entered into this afternoon for the sale of radio station KMED, it was announced bv represen tatives ot tne prospective pur chaser. Radio Medford Inc. Mrs. w. J. Virgin Handle is the pres ent owner. itactio Medtord Inc. is a cor poration recently formed under ine laws pt tne state. Its otfice is in Medford, and owners are 11. B. Murphy, Dr. Dwight H. Findlcy, Vern J. Robinson. Dr. B. L. Lagcson. J. L. DeArmond and William M. McAllister. Officers include Robinson. president: DeArmond, vice-pres ident, and McAllister, secretary. According to the announce ment this afternoon, the sale of the radio station is contingent upon approval of the federal communications commission, and transfer of the license to the new corporation, which is expected to be granted in approximately 60 days. Until the transfer is comDlct- ed, the station will be operated by the present owner. No sales price was disclosed by the purchasing corporation. The announcement confirmed rumors current in recent weeks that the recently announced sale of the station to a partner ship comprised of Alfred S. V. Carpenter, Harlow Carpenter and Uarland Jones had not been completed. Amount of the sales price in that transaction was announced as $290,000. Corporation spokesmen said that no plans regarding the fu ture management of the station would be announced until the transfer has been completed The conditional sales contract was signed shortly after 2 p.m today. Accident Injuries Claim Mrs. Wyatt Mrs. Osie Helen Wyatt. 25, wife of Amos Franklin Wyatt who was killed instantly when a Southern Pacific train hit the logging truck he was driving yesterday noon, died at Com munity hospital at 2:30 p.m. yes terday. The couple's son, Frank Jr., four, was reported to be some what improved by hospital attaches today. Funeral arrangements for both Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt are in the care of Conger-Morris funeral home. No plans have yet been re vealed for the care of the Wyatt youngster, but It was believed that he would be cared for by relatives. Mrs. Wyatt was a native of Halscy, Neb., and came to the Rogue vallev in 1936. Surviving are the boy, and a daughter, Amanda Karene; Mrs. Wyatt's parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Mc Allister, Grants Pass, one broth er, Claud, Dallas, Ore., and five sisters, Mrs. R. L. Dixon, Mrs. Jess Spicer and Mrs. Edward Miiner, all Grants Pass; Mrs. Carl Knapp, Vale, Ore., and Mrs. Ben Vcncill, Sclo, Ore. Revofe Expected for School Consolidation The county school superin tendent's office said today it is expecting petitions to be filed within the next few days or two calling for a revote on the pro posed consolidation of the Little Applegatc school district with the Ruch-Stcrling district. The merger was turned down at a recent election while the districts of Unlontown, Forest Creek and Watkins approved the consolidation with Ruch Sterling. Little Applegate rest dents said they believed the ad verse vote in their district was the result of a misunderstanding and are now circulating petitions in an effort to get a new election. Key West, Fla.. Apr. 7 (U.R) President Truman today nomin ated Mrs. Nan Wood Honeyman for reappointment as customs collector at Portland, Ore. Aerial Dogfight Over San Francisco Brings New Order for Air Raid Drills Oakland, Cal Apr. 7 (U.R)- The 61st fighter wing of the Cali fornia air national guard was under orders today to let every body know about its next air raid drill in advance. The order resulted from a "dogfight" over San Francisco Wednesday. The unannounced raid began when two "enemy" bombers roared In from the Pacific to be "Intercepted'' over Golden Gate park by a squadron of P-Sl fight er from the 61st. Policing Methods, Slot Machines in Medford Attacked Vigorous criticism of Med-i ford's police force methods and attacks on lack of enforcement of the state laws prohibiting the operation of slot machines, were voiced at a meeting of the Jack son County Property Owners as sociation last night. George Goodman, parking lot operator and recently-appointed member of the city budget com mittee, assailed what he called the "open operation of illegal slot machines" in the city. "Will Have No Part" "The old excuse is that revenue from the machines is needed for city purposes," Goodman said, "but this actually is a very small proportion of the city's budget. As a member of the budget com mittee, I am going to have no part of passing a budget of which illegal funds are a part. "I've made a few word-of- mouth statements about this re cently," Goodman said, "and as a result most of the slot ma chines in the city have signs on them saying 'out of order,' or 'for amusement only.' But the operation goes on Just the same," he said. Cita "Front Street Mess" Goodman's remarks about slot machines met with general ap proval from the 19 members and observers attending. The dis cussion also covered what was termed the "Front street mess," with arguments being heard as to the best method of "cleaning up" the "wineos and bums" who are habitues of the street s estab lishments. Goodman maintained that It is a matter for police supervision and authority, saying the solu tion to the problem is to "move em along get em out of Med ford." Training Challenged rne police could clean tne whole situation up," Goodman said, "if they really wanted to. They could clean out the slots. and stop tne nouses oi prostitu tion which are again operating here." He challenged the type and amount of training given po lice officers, and suggested that trained, qualified young man with scientific and academic background be brought in as chief to "give us a decent police department." "we ve nad two unsolved murders and 20 unsolved rob beries off of Front street, Good man charsed. Only opposition to Goodman's areumenls were voiced by W. M. Dawes, who said that the best method of dealing with the situa tion is to keep the "drunks, pros titutes and psychopaths" in an area (Front street) where they can be supervised, and not "drive them into the residential areas, Soot Control Prooress Other discussion centered around problems of soot, smoke and sawdust control, and Acting Chairman E. E. Gore said that progress is being made with mill owners, reporting that Timber Products corooration has agreed to install burner controls similar to those used successfully at Elk Lumber company. "We have the authority to demand an abatement of the soot and sawdust nuisance," Gore said, "but we have found that a 'request' is best at first. Later, if the situation is not improved, we can move in on the violat ors." he said. Methods of enforcing their de mands mentioned at the meeting included a suit for abatement of nuisance, and suits for damages, which one orchardist said had been used successfully. He did not specify the case he men tioned. No PTA Report A scheduled report from a rep resentative of the Medford Coun cil of Parents and Teachers re eardimr alleged inefficiencies in the District 49 school system iun nnt heard, and Gore report ed that a PTA representative had told him the group had no authority to make reports before Water Supply To Be 'Good' in This Area Klamath Falls. Apr. 7 W. T. "Jack" Frost. Medford, hydraulic engineer with the federal-state cooneratlvc snow survey, said today that the water supply out look for the summer of 1950 in the Klamath, Rogue and Ump- qua basins is "good or "very good. A meeting of 14 snow forecast ers and others interested in sum mer water supplies held their 15th annual meeting here today The prediction was the result of their pooled information. In the Medford and Rogue River areas water supplies will he ample for irrigation tiiea, Frost said, and in the Talent area there will be enough for all purposes unless this summer is as dry as tne summer oi Frost is conducting a series of similar meetings throughout the state this week and next. At the same time, more than 900 guard officers an men left their Jobs in the bay area and rushed to previously assigned posts without a word of explana tion to their employers. The 61st ordered the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph com pany to "clear the wires." The phone company got in touch with guard headquarters in Sacra mento. Officials there knew nothing of an "emergency." Meanwhile, the fourth air force radar network nicked up the flights of planes on radar and other organizations. The func tion of the PTA, Gore said he had been told, is to aid and as sist teachers and administratori in their work, and that many im provements have already been noted in regard to matters which have been criticized in PTA meetings. Most of the meeting was do voted to discussion of these prob lems, and the only action taken was to approve appointment of a committee to attend all city council meetings and report back on matters of interest to the group. Named to the committee were Goodman, G. L. Robinson and Ed' Gould. Petitions Seeking Ashland Officials' Recall Filed Here Petitions asking the recall of Ashland's Mayor Thomas Will iams and City Councilman Elmer Sheldon were filed at the office of County Clerk George Carter this morning. John B. Austin, city recorder, at Ashland, had been handed the petition by the citizens' group which had circulated them, and brought them to the clerk's of fice today where they will be checked to see that there are suf ficient valid signatures to place the recall on the election ballot May IS. A total of 493 valid signa tures are required. The petition asking the mayor's recall had 588, Austin said, and there were 595 signatures on the petition attacking Sheldon. Charges Cited Basis of the petitions were al legations that the two officials were "dictatorial" in their meth ods and "incompetent" in their performance of duties. The may or was also assailed at a meet ing which originated the recall campaign for "lack of accom plishment" during his adminis tration. If sufficient signatures are val idated, it .will be the second re call election In Ashland city politics within little more than a year Three councilmen were re called in March, 1949. Addition al petitions are still being cir culated to increase the total of signatures, according to Harry Morris, citizens recall committee chairman. Mayor Williams' term has an other two years to run, and Shel don was appointed for a term expiring December 31 this year. 15-Person Family Guests of Police There was din in the boiler room at the city police station last night, where police played host to a needy family of II persons. Mr. and Mrs. F. . Good enough and their 13 children, ranging from 18 years to three months, were en route from Cal ifornia to Salem, continued to ward their destination this morning in the family car after receiving donations of food and money. The Gnodenoughs reportedly had left their home in Salem for California where the father had promise of work, but the job did not materalize. Goodenough re portedly has work on a farm in the Salem area where he wis employed a number of years. Police saw that the youngsters got haircuts and took up a col lection for the family. There were three sets of twin In the group, and the Good enoughs reportedly have two other children. Voters in the Shady Cove school district Monday approv ed a $20,000 bond issue for the , construction of a combination assembly hall and classroom building, It was learned here to day. It was the second vote on the issue. Ski Conditions If present conditions hold, skiing at Crater Lake national , park should be excellent over . the week-end, rangers said today. There have been three Inches of new snow in the put 24 hours and there Is now a dry. powdery surface over a firm crust. Total snow pack on the ground in the park ( 154 inches. All roads are opea but chains are required for ( travel from park headquarters" lo the rim of the lake. planes were rouea our. on me line, ready for action. All army, navy and marine bases In north ern California were also alerted Scores of S.in Francisco resi dents telephoned police and the mayor's office, asking about the aerial "battle" over the park. The excitement subsided when all concerned learned it was a drill. But state guard headquar ters called the 61st on the carpet ordering It to tell somebody ahead of time when they stage another drill. , .
