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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 21, 1950)
0) SOUTH AMBOY BLAST CENTER American Agricultural Chnmical company plant in the dock area of South Amboy, N. J., where four barges loaded with anti-tank shells exploded, levelling docks and waterfront industrial plants killing 24 to 29 and injuring hundreds. (Acme Telephoto) Marine Reaches Home But Quiet on Spying Chicago, May 20 !U.R) Ma rine MSgt. Elmer C. Bender flew home to a reunion with his wife and family today and told newsmen there "is something to" reports that he signed a state ment about spying on the Chi nese communists who held him prisoner for 18 months He said at a news conference shortly after his arrival from the west coast that he would "straighten it out late r." At Long Beach, Cal., Friday he de- Portland Rejects Tax Measures and Okays Annexation Portland. Ore., May 20 (U.R) Late Multnomah county returns indicated today primary election voters had named Democrat In cumbent Terry Schrunk to face Republican John J. Kecgan in the November general election for the sheriff's office. In city returns, Portlanders gave overwhelming support to six annexation measures that would incorporate fringe areas to the city. All six propositions were favored by at leasi a 4-1 margin. However, city and c 0 u n t y wtrinnlc WOW nrtt SO 'kind tO tax measures. A S2.443.000 coun .,Ka and envernmcnt ser vine measure was beaten by nearly 3 to 2 according to in complete returns. Income Tax Beaten Two important city tax meas lirc; the so-called "income tax proposal and the special five year five-mill property levy were taking a 2 to 1 and a 3 to 1 beating, respectively, despite the city council's threat of boosting license fees on local businesses if the measures failed to pass. In other city propositions, vot ers were evenly divided on a 10 year levy for Portland's park program and a plan to bring civic auditorium employees under civ il service. A bond measure for auditorium rejuvenation held a slight lead. A 3 to 2 vote in favor of Port land school district's $2,600,000 levy was the only major city county tax measure on the way to approval. Armed Forces Sees Many Ma More than 20 marching units, representing military and vet erans' organizations,- youth groups and civic and patriotic organizations participated in the colorful parade up Main street yesterday in observance of Armed Forces day. Members of the unified armed services, parading their strength together instead of on three sep arate days as in past years, form ed the main body of Saturday's ptuade. There were several mo bilized units, including heavy artillery pieces and representa tives of army, navy and marine corps regulars and reserves. The national guard and civil air pa trol cadets also participated. Muiie Heard Martial music was furnished by the Kilty band of Ashland, nied that the statement he sign ed prior to his release by the Chinese was a "confession." Bender landed aboard a C-47 at Glenview naval air station and was given a returning hero's welcome. He alighted from the plane, rushed to his pretty wife, Shirley, and gathered her into his arms. . He huceed her so tightly he knocked the yellow rose she wore from her lapel. Later, the handsome', 27-year- old leatherneck told newsmen he plans to stay in the marines, despite the fact his hitch was up in January. 1949.' Asked what she thought about it, Mrs. Bender said: "I don't know, I'll have to think about it. We'll have to talk it over." At the news conference that followed, he said he was treat ed "very well" during his im prisonment "considering the low standard of living there." Asked about a broadcast by Peiping radio that he had "con fessed" spying on the Chinese communists, he said there was "something to" the report. But public relations officers nudged him and he said no more. He said he and Chief Petty Of ficer William C. Smith of the navy were captured by the com munists "because I'm ashamed to say I didn't know my position." He said the engine of his plane "conked out" over the beach at Shantung peninsula and that communist and nationalist lines were not definitely established 3l the time. Former Hood River Man's Plane Crashes Hood River. Ore., May 20 (U.R) Ferris McCoy, 40. former Hood River resident, was in a critical condition at Hood River hospital following a light plane crash about seven miles south of here late today. Sheriff R. L. Gillmouthe said McCoy was buzzing the area when the craft struck a utility pole and crashed into an orchard owned by Don Nunamaker. Gill mouthe said he believed the plane was rented at Beavcrton. Hood River police received complaints earlier that the plane was flying dangerously low over the area. McCoy s parents and his wife's family live here. Day Parade rching Units the high school band, Eve Pren tice's accordion band. Bliss Heine's juniors, the Eagle Point high school band, and the Boy Scout drum and bugle corps. There were floats representing the Elks with the theme of "Wake Up America ' and the Central Labor council which had a float carrying the legend, "United for Peace." There were also large units in the parade from the.Medford Eagles and the Jackson County Sheriff's posse and La Hies' Mounted troop. Armed Forces day was climax ed with a military ball at the Medford armory last night. Air force participation includ ed several "fly-over?" by 11 F-Sl air national guard fighter planes from the Portland airbase short ly after noon. I "ft SPORTS BULLETINS Reno's underdog Silver Sox bounced up to smear ths Med ford Rogues 13 to 3 in a Far West League baseball game here last night. The Silver Sox tagged four Medford hurlers for 14 safe ties, including four by Diercks in five timii up, and were helped along by five Medford miscues. Don Williams and Russ Stuart hit twice each in four times up, Williami socked a triple. Llnescore: Reno ..102 510 040 13 14 1 Medf'd 000 200 001 3 7 5 Trestler and Borich; Bow man, Vargas (3), Herrmann (3). Taylor (8) and Gleeson. Billings, Mont., May 20 (U.R) Larry Shepard, former Medford. Ore., player-manager, hurled the Billings Mus tangs to' a 6 to 0 victory over Salt Lake City, in a Pioneer league baseball game here Sat urday night. Chuck Cheshire was the catcher. Redding, Cal., May 20 (U.R) The Redding Browns defeated the Marysville Braves 8-7 Saturday night to win both games of their current Far West League series here. Modesto, Cal., May 20 (U.R) Stanford University athlete overcame an old jinx Satur day night as they came from behind to upset the highly touted and previously unbeat en USC Trojan track and field squad in ths ninth annual California relays. Sacramento, May 20 (U.R) Sacramento used five pitchers in a vain effort to stop Seattle here Saturday night but lost to the Rainiers 9 to 2. Escaped Ohio Cons Found in Michigan Marquette, Mich., May 20 !U.R) Two escaped Ohio con victs, hunted for 10 days in the wild woods of Michigan s upper peninsula, were captured today after one of them was wounded in a running gun battle with stale police. One officer was shot in the arm and leg by the desperadoes. One trooper was winged in the arm and leg by the despera does. Haggard and bearded, broth ers Paul and Lloyd Russell threw away their rifles and sur rendered meekly when two state troopers spotted them in a clus ter of trees five miles south of Shinglcton. Paul, 24, weakened by a bul let wound in the hip. and his brother. Lloyd, 29, were taken 60 miles to the state police post here. Lt. Willard Wixom said they will be charged with at tempted murder for shooting a detective during a roadblock fight early this morning. Efforts Pushed to End Threatened New Strike On American Railroads Washington. May 20 U.R) The national mediation boBrd was counting today on last-minute peace talks to avert a second railrnad strike within a month. The board arranged for the Conferences Tuesday between spokesmen for the Switchmen's Union of North America (AFL) and 10 western and midwestern railroads. At the government' request, the union agreed yesterday to move up its strike deadline from Tuesday to June 1. 1 Medford 45th Year. 22 Pages Possible Sabotage Probed Back East In Munitions Blast $20,000,000 Damage To Nearby Property South Amboy, N. J., May 20 (U.R) Seeking the cause of an atom-like explosion of tons of munitions bound for the sub continent of India, authorities today investigated the possibility of sabotage. Fire Commissioner Wi 1 1 i a m O'Leary placed the death toll at 24 to 29. The injured, he sajd, totalled 352. Property damage, O'Leary added, may exceed ?20 million. Felt 22 Miles Away Four barges just loaded with anti-tank and anti-personnel mines went sky-high in a vast mushrooming roar that was felt in New York City, 22 miles away. An estimated two-thirds of the buildings in this town of 10,000 persons suffered some kind of damage. The munitions were bound for Pakistan which with India shares the sub-continent that re cently constituted the British Indian empire. It had been pur chased under license from an American munitions manufac turer in Newark, O. Explore Possibilities O'Leary and state police were checking all possibilities in seek ing the cause of a disaster which sent shivers of fright through the industrial New Jersey coun tryside, but had no evidence that pointed conclusively to any one possibility. The shipment through" South Amboy had been authorized by the coast guard, like thousands of others through the Port of New York. All precautions as re gards packing and handling had been taken, Despite the virtual certainty that the death toll was 24 or more, only four bodies had been recovered. The bodies of other victims, O'Leary said, probably would never be recovered.' Ashland Voters Oust Councilman, Mayor in Recall Ashland, May 20 Mayor Thomas S. Williams and City Councilman Elmer Sheldon were recalled from office by Ashland voters during the pri mary election here Friday. The vote recalling Mayor Wil liams was slim 1,300 to 1,225 a margin of only 75 votes. Sheldon was removed from of fice by a bigger margin, 1,544 to 946. The recall election was the culmination of a bitter campaign which saw charges and counter charges hurled by both sides, with supporters of, the mayor and councilman on one side, and the Citizen's committee on the other. Second Recall The action was the second successful recall election held in Ashland in little more than a year. Three city councilmen were removed from office in March, 1949, and disturbances in the harmony of city affairs has continued since that date. Remaining members of the city council will now pick suc cessors for the two office holders. In a referendum election, the city's voters approved by a vote of 1,357 to B18 a proposed char ter amendment which will per mit the city to sell timber land on the Ashland watershed to the United States forest service for about S32.000. The sale has been pending for nearly a year, and was held up pending approv al of the charter change to clar ify the city right to make the sale. Columbia River Flood Prevails in Lowlands Portland. Ore., May 20 (U.R) A flood situation described by flood forecasters as "not seri ous prevailed today along the low-lying pasture lands border ing the Columbia river at Van couver, Wash. The mighty river reached a lloo I sta; e 5f I" teet todf anc Tuesday. A ilnow runoff from the Cas- rades and excess water released "om the Grand Coulee dam com bined to boost the stage .2 of a foot above its 15-foot flood stage Friday. A total or 40,01)1) acre lect or valer from the Grand Coulee nillway was expected to boost he stage at Wenatchee. Wash.. norne three feet. Grand Coulee officials said a total of 375,000 acre-feet of water has been re leased from the spillways to make room for a heavy runoff of snow water expected at any time in tan melting season. MEDFORD, ORE' V jUNDAY, MAY Jackson Coir ror Morse;. Gault and .ie Winners In County G.O.P. Contests By E. C. Ferguson Managing Editor, Mail Tribune Medford and Jackson county followed the state trend in Fri day's primary by giving Senator Wayne Iorse a rousing majority over his two opponents, Dave Hoover, homespun candidate from Lane county, and John McBride, government employee, in their three-cornered race for the republican nomination for United States senator. Medford's voters gave Morse. 1,661, Hoover K083, and McBride 153. Totals for the county increased the figures in about the same ratio: Morse 4,329, Hoover 3,059, and McBride 4B6. The primary campaign, a rather ho hum affair in all depart ments until the last few weeks, undoubtedly gained its greatest county interest from the Morse-Hoover GOP contest, and that be tween State Senator Austin Flegel, State Treasurer Walter Pear son and ex-State Sen. Lew Wallace for the democratic guberna torial nomination. Apprehension for Morse Groundless Local Morse supporters, it de veloped, had been needlessly ap prehensive in the final days of the campaign. One of the more pessimistic had admitted Thurs day that he "wouldn't give a nickel" for his candidate's chances. Jackson county deviated from the state vote in the demo gov ernorship contest, giving Wal lace 1,285. Pearson 1.184 and Flegel 1,100. Incomplete state returns put Flegel well in the lead with Wallace second and Pearson a poor third. The democratic aspirants had pulled no punches in their cam paign efforts and those in the up-state political know had giv en Pearson a slight edge up to he final bell. Court Race Interesting Another state race of consid erable interest in this end of the commonwealth was the three way non-partisan affair with the prize position three on the su preme court. It had been fig ured here that Robert Maguire if Clackamas county would gain the Jackson county nod as he served his legal apprenticeship with the famous Medford law firm of Colvig and Reames. He loved from here to Portland many years ago when appointed assistant United Slates district attorney. Strangely enough, how ever, the county vote gave Wal ter Tooze the best of it with 3,438, Maguire 4,488 and Aus tin Dunn 2.435. Incomplete re ports from statewide show Tooze maintaining a lead which may sive him the position without the necessity of a run-off elec tion in the fall between the two fading candidates. For representative In congress the county democrats favored Dave Shaw over Walter A. Swan son 2,492 to 2,331 as their hopeful in the general election race with Harris Ellsworth. Shaw appears to have the edge in in complete district totals. Also on the democratic side. Louis A. Wood won the county favor for United States senator with 2.553 against 2,087 for Howard Latou retle. In this race Latourette is lolding a substantial margin in statewide compilations. Of Jackson county's 27,536 registered voters, only 12,872, less than half, went to the polls "riday. The county's democrats with ; registered strength of 12,748, appeared to lack interest in both their slate and county aspirants for only 5,018 showed up at the oils, a bit less than half, The republicans, with 14.068 rcgis- rrd, were not much better, only 7,854 exercising Iheir franchise ight. wo County Duels Of the strictly county contests the duels for nomination for sheriff between incumbent How ard Gault and Ray Marks on the republican side and Dclroy Al dershof and W. L. Taylor on the democratic ticket held equal in terest with the republican com petition for. county commis sioner. Sheriff Gault. who conduct ed a rather quiet campaign, came in ahead of his adversary with an impressive 5,670 com pared with Marks 2,016. Another incumbent county of ficial, Commissioner R. R. Ly (le, also swamped his opponent, L. G. Graves, In their race for the republican commi.siioner nom ination. The totals: Lytic 4,209, Graves 3,091. The primary was the first po- Nationalist Warships Blast Commie Forces Hong Kong, May 20 (U.R) The British navy escorted com mercial vessels past the Wanshan islands some 30 miles southwest of Hong Kong today as national ist warships bombarded commu nist landing forces. Nationalist navy headquarters announced that marines and naval units "completely wiped out" more than 200 communist troops who landed on Chlng chow ixland in the group. A communique said naval units "upon learning of the in vasion immediately made a counter landing. The communists were encircled in hilly regions on the island and all were killed except 22 taken prisoner during tour-hour encounter." litical effort for both Marks and Graves and each had stated they xpectcd to gain a lot of ex perience, if nothing else. Gault will oppose Taylor in the November election, the latter winning over Medford Police Of ficer Delroy Aldershof, 2,782 o 1,727. Lytle will battle it out with lbert L. Straus. Sams Valley armer, who although unopposed on the democratic ballot, re- eived a token vote of 4,040. lann High Man E. H. Mann and Robert W. Root, only candidates for the re publican nomination for Jackson ?ounty s two seats in the state muse of representatives, polled 5,030 and 4,854 votes respec ively, which figures may prove interesting as giving a key to possible voting strength when they oppose Robert Rucker and . O. Tollofson ,the democratic iair, this fall. The democratic totals were 3,028 and 2,796. Ben Day, unopposed repub lican senate seat seeker, received 6.703 votes while L. Peers Wil meth, unopposed on the demo cratic side, totaled up 3,971, in another set-to which will be jecided come autumn. Joe Cave, veteran Medford po lice officer, now retired, nosed put Andrew L. Unger for the ngnt to compete with W. P, Tucker, unopposed republican In. umbent for the Medford district lustice of the peace job. Looking at the county totals rom a strictly popularity test oint-of-view, Governor McKay opped the honors with 7,140 votes, United States Rep. Harris Cllsworth was second with 7,051 and Paul B. Rynning, long-time ounty surveyor, was third with 6.467. Complete County Election Returns Here are the complete, unof ficial returns from Jackson county's 84 precincts in the pri mary election Friday: Republican Partyi U. S. senator Hoover 3,059; McBride 466; Morse 4,329. Congressman, 4th district Ellsworth 7,051. Governor McKay 7,140. Labor commissioner Kimsey 6,139. State senator Day 6,703. Stale representatives Mann 5,030; Root 4,854. County commissioner Graves 3,091; Lytle 4,290. Sheriff Gault 5,670; Marks 2,016. Surveyor Rynning 6,467. Justice of the peace, Medford district Tucker 2,137. Democratic partyi U. S. senator Latourette 2,087; Wood 2,553. Congressman, 4lh district Shaw 2,492; Swanson 2,331. Governor Flegel 1.533; Pear son 1,726; Wallace 1,759. Labor commissioner Morgan 3,677. State senator Wilmeth 3,971. Slate representatives Rucker 3,028; Tollcf.son 2,798. County commissioner Straus 4,040. Sheriff Aldershof 1,727; Tay lor 2.782. Justice of the peace, Medford d I s t r 1 c t Cave 1,569; Unger 1.529. Judiciary: For state supreme court, posi tion No. 3 (non-partisan) Dunn 2,435; Maguire 4,488; Tooze 5,438. Results of the voting on the three city financial measures on the city ballot, from Medford s 25 precincts, complete and un official: Water department $2,800,000 bond issue for new pipeline and other Improvements yet 3,934; no 552. Fire department $125,000 bond Issue for new ladder truck, fire stations, alarm system and hose yes 3.740; no 628. Fire department four-mill con tinuing tax levy for maintenance and personnel yes 3,198; no 1,005. WEATHER By United Prtu Northern California Fair Sunday and Monday except local fog along coast increasing Mon day. Cooler Monday. North to northwest winds 10 to 20 MPH along coast. Tribune 21, 1950 NO. 51 55 Dead, 41 Hurt In Explosion Deep In Ruhr Coal Mine Second Worst Since End World War II Rotthausen Dahlbusch. Ger many, May 20 (U.R) Fifty-five nine workers were killed and 41 were injured today in a coal lust explosion followed by a rag ing fire in a 3,508 foot deep Rohr ?oai mine near here. It was western Germany's sec ond worst mine disaster since the war. Rescue workers brought the "4th body from the shaft tonight. nother man died of injuries af ter he was removed. Most Bodies Charred The weary workers said ma:iv of the bodies were charred be- vond recognition. Thev believed many were killed outright by the nasi Dciore they were enveloped y the flames. The fire, which raged for hours ifter the explosion, was extin guished late tonight. Rescue workers continued to search for other possible victims, as hun dreds of men, women and chil- lien waited in the pouring rain mtside the colliery gates for news of the fate of relatives. The bodies were taken away 11 plain coffins. IS-Year-Old Din Rescue squads were at work vithin a half-hour of the explo ion. The known dead included a year-old boy, son of a miner, vho was working as an appren tice. Four of the dead came from single family. The explosion was believed caused by an accumulation of fire-damp. Top German mining officials, including Heinrich Kost, head of the west German coal administration, helped di ed rescue work. Overwhelming OK Given Three City Finance Measures All three city improvement measures in Friday's special elec tion tor the water and fire de partments passed by o v e r- whelming majorities, complete returns from Medford'i 25 pre cincts showed Saturday. I he water department $2,800, 000 bond issue, to provide a new pipeline from Big Butte springs to Medford, and for additional expansion and improvement, passed 3,934 to 552. The two fire department com panion measures passed by small er b u t still heavy majorities. First was a $125,000 bond issue to provide a new aerial ladder truck, two new fire substations, fire alarm system and new hose. This passed by a vote of 3,740 yes, 628 no. Levy Passes Second was a four-mill con tinuing tax levy on city property to provide funds for maintenance of the department, and for addi tional personnel for the three sta tions. The vote was 3,198 yes, 1,005 no. City officials expressed grati fication at the results of the elec tion on the measures Saturday, While no outspoken opposition had developed during the cam paign for their passage, It was feared that the three might be defeated by apathy or default. Reservoir Near Bend Draining This Summer Bend, Ore., May 20 (U.R) The Crane prairie reservoir will be drained this summer for a study of zones of leakage in its bottom, bureau of reclamation officials said today. Engineers slated that levees will be constructed at points where stored water 's escaping into the earth from the upper Deschutes reservoir. The bureau said losses in ex cess of 30,000 acre-feet have been recorded, especially In times of high storage. Engineers are also studying water losses in t h e Deschutes channel in the Bonham falls area. They said considerable water flows Into lava fissures in this area and is lost for irriga tion purposes. Sixth Graders To Meet At Junior High Monday Sixth graders of the Medford ihlic school svstcm will all re port to the junior high school ymnasium at 1 p. m. on Mon lay for an afternoon orientation lesigned tn acquaint them with inior high facilities and pro TBm and prepare them for en trance next fall. Elliott Becken, assistant city school superintendent, said that sixth graders will pair off with seventh graders for the afternoon activity. A refreshment treat will conclude the afternoon. Morse Easily Tops Hoover in Senator Nomination Race Shaw Has Slight Lead In Demo Congress Race Portland, Or'.. May 20 U.R State Senator Austin Flegel to night apparently was nominat ed as democratic candidate for governor of Oregon after a nio- and-tuck, fluctuating battle of ballots against Lew Wallace. the race was close but Flegel maintained his lead desnite continuing upsurge of Wallace votes in late Multnomah county CI ill lis. Sen. Wavne Morse ranlttroA he republican nomination for U. S. senator with a two to one primary election victory over hii conservative opponent, Farmer "I bow to the will of Ihe npnnlo and accept the result without ...n.ic mm wuuuui any regret for having made the fight," Hoo ver said. Morse said: "I nouoi. count an election until all the jallots are in." Heturns from 1,959 out of ,017 precincts gave for U. S. senator H o o v e r 61,635- Mc- mine morse 116,544, Democrat Latourette 7n 77a. Wood 69,084. ' ' governor (1,972 out of 2.017 precincts) Republican: McKay (unopposed) 132.670- dpmnri-atir. Flegel 57,538; Pearson 45,668; iimiHte ao.uuo. Supreme court (1.807 out nf 2.017 precincts) Dunn 46.084; Maguire 110.608; Tooze 159.595. Morse said he will "continue to vote independently on issues as I sec them." He had frequent ly sinen witn senate democrats. He believed the Oregon returns showed the same trend as in Pennsylvania where Gov. Jim Duff won Thursday. In congressional vote by dis trict, incomplete, showed: First district, 498 of 567 pre cincts Norblad 10,151; Hewitt, 4i, vvara, li.qju. Second district, 345 of 424 precincts Stockman, 14,459; Bowman. 8.008: Bull. 8.270? Garske, 4,005. Third district, 541 of 553 pre cincts Anbell. 43.617; Jensen, 18,015; Walker, 15,683; Donaugh, 24,881; Dreyer, 21,102; Stallard, 7,932. Fourth district, 462 of 473 pre cincts Ellsworth, 22.617; Shaw, 14,026; Swanson, 12,631. Six Believed Dead In Sinking of Boat Melville, La.l May 20 U.R) A new $350,000 tug sank within two minutes in the swift Atcha falaya river late last night, and one of the six presumed vtctime was found alive today by a fish erman. . The tug. the Jane Smith out of Pittsburgh, Pa., was on her maid en voyage to the Gulf of Mexico with two empty oil barges when she was swept into a bridge pil ini and went down. Eleven men were on board. Five were rescued. Five othera were asleep below deck when she sank. Marine Supt. L. C. Jones of the Oil Transport com pany of N e w Orleans, which owned the tug, has assumed that these five and Capt. Lennis Ver- ret of New Orleans, a pilot, were drowned. Visconsin Governor Blasts College Boys Madison, Wis., May 20 (U.R) Gov. Oscar Rennebohm tonight blasted a handful of Wisconsin students who picketed a federal inspection of ROTC students. His attack came in a speech to the Reserve Officers associ ation convention following an armed forces parade. you reserve officers nere to night are ready to sacrifice your all in the defense of our country. And 20 people have the guts to go out with signs," he said. Rennebohm referred to a demonstration of students who paraded with anti-ROTC, anti war signs before amazed federal officials at the annual nun Inspection two weeks ago. Jef Plane Sets Mark San Francisco to L. A. Los Angeles, May 20--(U.R Capt Richard D. Crcighton, 26, hurtled his jet plane from San Francisco to Los Angeles today ,i 32 minutes 56 seconds to es tablish a new speed record be tween the two cities. Averaging 640 miles per hour. he shaved almost two minutes off the former unofficial record et Jan. 22, 1050, bv Lt. Cmdr. John L. Butts, who flew the 341 miles in a navy F9F Panther in 1 minutes 54 seconds. Escaped Convict Found After 14 Hours 'Free' Walla Walla, Wash., May 20 1,'utinnrl Pnnvii'l EVliv Krt. lakowski was captured by two laic prison guards in a pool nail I milna .irirtli nf here InHav nf. ter 14 hours of freedom. WEATHER FOHKL-AST Fair 'unUy ind Monday. Conllnutd warm. 1 Temp. II Ik tint Yesterday S4 Low tit Yraterday ....... 41
