Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, April 18, 1952, Image 1

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Medford mail tribune., April 18, 1952, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextT MIME W WIH n OT JMvL Medford mutes preis mil wm 47th Year 20 Pages Byrnes Says Truman Tried To Substitute Fiction for History Untruths Claimed - Made Following MoscowConference Attempt To Grab Glory Alleged Washington (U.R) James F. Byrnes has accused President Truman of trying to "substitute fiction for history" .to grab the glory of Byrnes' "get tough" pol icy toward Russia. However, one of his charges was contradicted by Sen. Clinton P. Anderson, D-N.M., who was secretary of agriculture when the alleged incident occurred. Untruths Charged The governor of South Caro lina, once Mr. Truman's secre tary of state and close friend, charged in Friday's issue of Col lier's magazine that the Presi dent had made "untrue" and "in accurate" statements about Byrnes' service. Byrnes was angered by a state ment in the book "Man of In dependence," by Jonathan Dan iels, editor of the Raleigh, N.C., News & Observer, and by publi cation of a presidential memo in William Hillman's new book, "Mr. President." Riot Act Alleged Daniels quoted Mr. Truman as saying that "Byrnes got the real riot act" after returning from the December, 1946, Moscow confer ence with Joseph Stalin. - "This positively is not true," Byrnes said. No riot act was spoken or read to me then, or any other time." However, Anderson, secretary of agriculture 'at the time of the Moscow conference, supported Daniels' quotation of Mr. Tru man. Thursday Anderson said Mr. Truman summoned Byrnes aboard the presidential yacht Williamsburg after the confer ence to read the "riot act" to him. President "Horrified" The president was "horrified," Anderson said, when he learned that Byrnes had planned to re port to the nation on the confer ence without first clearing his radio address with him. Anderson said Mr. Truman told Byrnes that, although Byrnes was a member of the cabinet, it was the president who shaped foreign policy. Mr. Truman gave Byrnes a "curt and stiff" reprimand, An derson said, and every Cabinet member "who knew the two men" was aware of what had happened. Said Not Summoned Byrnes said in his article that Mr. Truman did not summon 3him but that he sent word to the president aboard the Williams- burg "that I wished to report to him and to discuss with him the advisability of my making a speech on the radio about the Moscow conference." Byrnes said his relations with Mr. Truman were cordial after the conference. Fort Lewis, Wash. (U.R) Pfc. Garvin N. Williams, 23, of Buf ralo, N. Y., drowned in the Madi gan Army hospital swimming pool here Thursday. Medford PTT. Offices Still Being Picketed in Strike Picketing of the Medford of fices of the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph company contin ued today, but J. H. Creager. manager, said that traffic is "Just about normal." Some supervisory personnel are on switchboards today, he added, and in addition to regular workers reporting for work make a near-normal work force on duty. S There may be some few de lays. Creager said, but not many. .However, installation work is at standstill, he reported. BY UNITED PRESS I A general strike against the icific Telephone & Telegraph Vnpany spread throughout Ore n Friday while the heaviest Jketing thus far in the two- at A T Y MEDFORD, OREdON, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, HOVERING HELICOPTER looks down on Red Cross disaster workers using boats to evacuate fam ilies trapped at Blencoe, Iowa, in greatest flood in Missouri River history. Scores of thousands of refugees are fleeing to higher ground as mighty flood sweeps lowlands. (International Soundphato) Crash of Kills All Los Angeles (U.R) A trans continental airliner which van ished over the fog shrouded San Gabriel valley crashed into the slopes of grassy Puente Hills Fri day, killing "all aboard about 28 persons." The first Los Angeles sheriff's deputies to reach the scene, just above the dead end of La Belle street in North Whittier Heights, 14 miles east of here, reported "all aboard dead." Three Crew Members A North Continental Airlines official at nearby Lockheed air terminal, reported there were "three crew members and about 25 passengers" aboard the twin engine non-scheduled airliner. A sheriff's call for three am- Agent Suggests Route For Viewing Blossoms The height of the pear blos som season is upon the Rogue valley, according to County Hor ticultural Agent C. B. Cordy. In order that valley residents may follow the best route in viewing the trees, the county agent suggested the following trip around the valley: Beginning a t Jacksonville, motor south to Talent, making sure of staying west of the Southern Pacific railroad tracks until Talent is reached. Turn south on Highway 99 toward Ashland for 100 yards, then turn east on the gravel road which crosses Bear creek. After cross ing the creek, turn left and travel north, always staying east of the creek. The tour will end at the Hillcrest orchards just east of Medford. The weather bureau at Med ford airport reported this morn ing that there will "defintely be no need for orchard heating to morrow morning, but there is a possibility on Sunday." week-old Western Electric in stallers dispute was reported in Washington state. PTT officials asserted that no breakdown in service had been reported anywhere over its ac tivities in the two states. All installations of the PT&T in Portland and all other Oregon exchanges, except those at The Dalles and Milton, had pickets and pickets were reported at 19 exchanges in Washington. It was pay day for plant and commercial employees in Port land and by 9 a m. strikers had picked up checks for a two-week period ending last Friday. Pick et captains accompanied strikers through the lines and then re mained to see that they left promptly. SBWTBIBUNE Airliner Aboard bulances was radioed 15 minutes after the first report was re ceived.; i ' The plane, a non-scheduled North Continent ' airliner en route from New York to Los Angeles, made its last radio con tact at 3:33 a.m. Pilot Lou Powell, Long Beach, reported at the time he was over Downey,. Calif.. 17 miles east of here and less than five miles from when, the twin-engine C-46 crashed. When the plane failed to land its estimated time of arrival, 3:45 a.m., the Los Angeles In ternational Airport tower listed it as "overdue." An immediate three-pronged ground-air search was ordered with the sheriff's Aero Squad ron and the March Air Force Base air rescue team taking over the land and air check of the Puente Hills area. A representative for the com pany, which has its headquar ters in Kansas City, said the flight originated at New York's LaGuardia field "early yester day or late Wednesday night." "There should have been about 25 passengers and a crew of three aboard," he added in confirming the plane was over due. He was unable to deter mine the exact number "because the only passenger manifests are either aboard the plane or in the mail to Kansas City." President Denounces Defense Spending Cut Washington (U.R) Presi dent Truman has denounced as "terribly dangerous" a recent $6,000,000,000 House cut in de fense spending. Accusing Congress of arbitrar ily slashing military appropria tions to get "headlines" and to "impress the voters back home" in an election year, Mr. Truman said: "Slashing appropriations is fine, until the day comes when we find we don't have the planes or the tanks or the guns we need. And then we have to pay for those headlines not in money but in lives in the lives of our soldiers." Weather Change Waited; Medford' $ 84 Hottest By UNITED PRESS There will be a change in the weather in the Pacific North west Saturday, Temperatures 10 to 15 degrees cooler and possibility of a few showers were forecast by the weather bureau because of a dis turbance moving into British Co lumbia from the Pacific. Temperatures remained warm Friday, but the weatber bureau said the westerly flow of cool air would break the warm spell Saturday. Medford was Oregon's hot spot Tnurtday with 84 degrees. United Pru Full Lcued Wl 1952 No. 24 Mighty Missouri River Leveling At Highest Point Omaha (U.R) The mighty Missouri river was leveling off at its highest, known point Fr-i day but Army engineers warned that the crisis for this area of 350,000 inhabitants would last for two or three more days. This was "C" Day, the day of reckoning for Omaha and Coun cil Bluffs, la., a virtual ghost town across the bank from which 35,000 residents had fled. Crest Hour Unknown "We have a long flat crest which will be with us all day, a government forecaster said. At what precise hour or level the river would crest, no one could say. It was the day the river itself would pass judgment on the frantic efforts of 15,000 levee workers who stood in mud up to their knees and watched the brown river surging past at a record 30.24 feet. For more than eight hours the river had held almost steady, just above 30.20 feet. The Weather Bureau, which earlier had predicted a crest of 31Vi feet, said it now might reach 30V4 feet. Little Danger Seen Lt. Gen. Lewis A. Pick, chief of Army engineers, said there was' little danger the angry floodwaters would top the sand bagged earthen levees. Pick said the danger from the long, flat floodcrest might last two or three days. No one could tell how long the dikes would hold against the river's enor mous pressure. (See Story on Page Nine) Indictments Expected By Grand Jury Today The newly-convened Jackson county grand Jury is expected to return a list of indictments some time this afternoon, according to District Attorney Paul W, Havi land. Meeting of the jury, set for 10 a.m. yesterday, was delayed until today so a complete panel could be obtained. Criminal cases being considered by the jury include, among others, the Valentine's lounge burglary charge against Voliner Albert Poole, a Camp Pendleton ma rine who was extradited, and the case of Mrs. Sarah Painter, Central Point, who is charged with the delinquency of two mi nor daughters. Weather fORKTAST: Partly Moudy to night and laturday with a lw widely frittered ihowers. Colder ftiturday. Low tonight 49. High Saturday 70-75. 1mp. Hltheit VnOrdir ..... M LowMt thli Morning 41 A-f; -i. KW I Sj II SWf- Harriman Selected By N. Y. Democ To Be Candid. Truman Approval Of Choice Indicated New York (U.R) New York State Democratic party leaders chose W. Averell Harriman Fri day as the man they'll back for the party's presidential nomina tion.' In a joint press conference following a meeting of county Democratic chairmen, Sen. Her bert H. Lehman, D-N.Y., and State Democratic Chairman Paul E. Fitzgerald said they would urge Harriman's candidacy "throughout the country." Lehman, Who turned down a "favorite son" designation at the meeting, said: Support Hopeful "I want to make this clear in presenting the name of Mr. Har riman, We are not doing it as a gesture or as a holding opera tion . . . we are very hopeful that support will be sufficiently strong throughout the country to gain him the nomination and the election." Reports from Washington in dicated that such a choice would have the approval of President Truman. Mr. Truman's remarks at a press conference indicated he might support Harriman now that Gov. Adlai Stevenson of Illinois has said he does not want the nomination. Party's Kitty Gains The dinner at the Waldorf-As toria hotel, biggest Democratic get-together so far this year, at tracted 1,500 guests who put $150,000 litto the party's cam paign kitty. Harriman, former ambassador to Moscow and now head of the Mutual Security Administration, received the praises of such af ter-dinner speakers as Sen. Estes Kefauver of Tennessee and Rob ert S. Kerr of Oklahoma, both avowed candidates for the party nomination, and Stevenson, who removed himself as a possible standard bearer Wednesday. Steve-cn Apologises Stevenson,' who "smilingly apologized for coming to dinner as a "candidate for governor in stead of a "candidate for presl dent," warned that complex problems beset the nation. "No living American knows more about such problems than Harriman," Stevenson said. The Illinois governor said the Republican party is "bereft of common purposes, policy, prin ciples or program" and told guests thaf'omens are good" for a Democratic victory in Novem ber. Further Talks Slated In Telegraph Dispute Washington (U.R) Leaders of the AFL Commercial Telegra phers Union scheduled further talks with Western Union offi cials Friday but indicated that the telegraph strike will not end on the company's terms. Federal mediators also were to attend the meeting Friday after noon to push for settlement of the 18-day walkout of 30,000 clerks, telegraphers and messen gers. Still on the bargaining table was a company proposal for a 60-day strike truce to permit bar gaining by "calm judgment." The company said it would con tinue pre-strike wage rates and other contract terms during this period. Prisoner Exchange Talks Due Saturday Panmunjom, Korea (U.R) The United Nations agreed Fri day to resume secret talks with the Communists Saturday on an exchange of war prisoners. The U.N. truce delegation fi nally sent Its acceptance after the Reds had asked three times in the past week for resump tion of the discussions. Delegates will meet at 11 a.m. Saturday. .The talks had been recessed April 4 to give both sides a chance to seek a way out of the deadlock over the U N 's demand that prisoners be permitted to refuse repatriation. The Commu nists have Insisted that all pris oners must be exchanged forc ibly if necessary. Sfofe Prison Inmate Suicides by Hanging Salem (U.R) Warden Virgil J. O'Malley slid Eugene Phillips, serving life sentence In Oregon state prison for second degree murder in Crook county, com mitted suicide early Friday by hanging himself in the basement of the prison postoffice. The body was found by fellow convicts. oT Might Seize Press and Radio In Case of Emergency Washington (U.R) Presi dent Truman shocked some of the nation's top newspaper edi tors by suggesting that he might claim constitutional power to seize the press and radio if he thought it necessary in an emer gency. The question came up Thurs day at the biggest news confer ence Mr. Truman has ever held. More than 350 members of the American Society of Newspaper Editors joined 150 regular Wash ington correspondents for the session, held in the big auditori um of the Smithsonian Institute. Reply to Question The shocker, to some of the editors, was his cryptic reply to this question: "If it is proper under your inherent powers to seize the steel mills, can you tell us whether in your opinion it is proper' to seize the newspapers and radio stations." Mr, Truman replied sternly that under similar circumstances, the president has to do whatever he believes is best for the coun try. There was considerable dis agreement among the editors as to just what Mr. Truman meant by that reply. Could Take Everything ASNE President Alexander F. Jones said he thought that "the President meant that he has the power to take over steel ... it would be putting words in his mouth to say anything else." Walter M. Harrison. Okla homa Ctiy, former president of the society, said, "I think he meant he could take over the papers, radio and everything else. If that isn't on the edge of totalitarianism, I don't know what is." Robert N. Hitt Jr., editor of the Charleston, S. C. Evening Post, brushed aside Mr. Tru man's statement as "just ab surd." R. H. Kirkpatrick,--editor -of New Street Lights Being Installed Installation of new street lights on Central and' Riverside avenues was under way here this morning, according to Call fornia Oregon Power company officials. They stated that about 160 new lights of various types will be installed as received on Medford streets during the next 60 to 90 days, Seventeen new mercury vapor lights will be installed on Cen tral and Riverside avenues and Front and Bartlctt streets, they said. Plans also call for new lights of other varieties on Cen tral and Riverside avenues and Court street and for improved lights on East and West Main street. County Blood Program Praised by State HQ The Jackson county blood bank section of the local Red Cross was commended this morning for its outstanding work in blood collections in a letter from the Portland branch, according to the local office. This week's drive, which ob tained one more than its quota of 500 donors, raised total coun ty collections from January 1951 to the present to a total of 4,365 pints, it was added. Steel Industry Sawyer's Recommendation Washington (U.R) Secre tary of Commerce Charles Sawyer said Friday the gov ernment 'ill give the CIO United Steelworkers a pay raise next week If the wage dispute Is not settled before then. Washington - (U.R) Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer met with steel industry leaders Friday morning and informed sources said he would inform the officials of the wage boost he will recommend for the CIO United Steelworkers. The big question in the bitter steel dispute was the size of the pay Increase to be recommended by Sawyer, nominal "boss" of the industry since the govern ment seizure last week. To Send Recommendation An aide to Sawyer said the secretary would send his recom mendation to President Truman Friday. Sawyer was scheduled to meet with CIO President Philip Murray after conferring with the management representatives. the Bethlehem, Pa., Globe-Democrat, said Mr. Truman declared that the president has "the re sponsibility and the authority to act in the best interest of the people and that would include seizing the newspapers." Theoretical Power White House sources said later Mr. Truman meant that he or any other president has the theoretical power, in a national emergency, to take over "any portion of the business commun ity acting to' jeopardize all of the people." When Jones, editor of the Syr acuse, N. Y Hcraia-Journai, asked Mr. Truman why he de cided not to run for reelection, the President permitted direct quotation of his reply: "I don't think that any man no matter how good he Is is in dispensable in any job, "When a man has been re sponsible for eight years, as I will have been by Jan. 20, he should have made by that time all the contribution to the wel fare of the nation that he can possibly give." County Employees OK'd (or Federal Social Security Most of the employees of Jack son county have been accepted for coverage under the federal social security retirement sys tem, it was learned today by the county court. More than the minimum of 75 per cent of the employees peti tioned lost year for inclusion un der social security, rather than the state retirement system. A few still remain under the state retirement plan. The Inclusion under the fed eral plan will be retroactive to Jan. 1, 1952, the court was In formed. Officials Resign It was to comply with require ments of the law regarding in clusion under social security that most county elected offi cials and employees resigned last December, and were reappoint ed. At the time it was thought necessary to have new appoint ments, and the resignations were submitted so that successors In office would be able to be in cluded under the system, accord ing to L. G. "Shy" Morthland, county commissioner. The resignations and reap pointments came to light on March 15, the last day on which candidates for political office could file, when Paul Rynning filed for reelection as county surveyor, although his original term did not expire until 1954. Under Criticism His resignation required a re: appointment "until his successor is elected."' Rynning has been under some criticism because of the fact that few people knew of his resignation and of the fact that he would have to seek re election. Morthland said today that the change will result in consider able savings of money to the county, because employer con tributions under the federal plan are smaller than those required under the state system. Awaiting Mr. Truman emphasized at his news conference Thursday that a decision had not been made, and that he himself would de cide the hotly-contpstcd issue. The Industry claims Mr. Tru man not only did not have the right to seize the steel mills, but cannot legally order a wage boost. Informed sources said the gov ernment-imposed 1 n c r e a s e which Industry attorneys are prepared to challenge immedi ately In the courts will match management's "best offer" be fore direct negotiations collaps ed. This was a I2'4-cent hourly pay hlge plus 5',i cents in fringe benefits. Murray told a National Press Club luncheon Thursday that his 650.000 steel workers "ex pect and hope" that the govern ment will order the full 26 cent wage-fringe package plus a union shop, which were includ ed In the IB-month contract recommended by the Wage Sta bilizalion Board. Largest Landowner 01 Area Beginning Development Work Indications Seen In Officers' Hints Camp White, which has been slated for partial reactiviation as an Army stand-by training camp, may never be construct ed, it was hinted today. C. C. Hoover, owner of most of the property on which the re activated camp would be locat ed, said today he is going ahead with "extensive development" of the land on the basis of indica tions to him that the camp never will be reactivated Officials Give Hints He said it has been intimated to him by Lt. Gen. Joseph M. Swing, commanding general of the 6th Army, and by N. S. Green, project manager in the Army engineers office in Seat tle, that the camp either will not be built, or will be consider ably delayed. The Department of the Army has never given any clear-cut, definite and detailed public re port of- its intentions regarding the camp, but from time to time has issued statements, some of which were conflicting. As a result, those who for one reason or another are interested in the camp plans, including 'Hoover. have been unsure just what "the Army intends to do. Heard Nothing More Until recently, negotiations were under way between the Army and Hoover, and a few others, for land east of the high way where the camp had tenta tively been located, for purchase or exchange agreements. But Hoover said today he has heard nothing more from the Army re garding the acquisition of his land. Early in April he was told to go ahead and plant crops on the land, and subsequent indica tions of the Army's lack of in terest impelled him to go ahead with his development work, he reported. ' - " - - In another development, which added somewhat to the confusion surrounding the Army's plans, The Mail Tribune received a telephone call this morning from Congressman Har ris Ellsworth In which he quot ed a letter from the Army telling him that a railway spur to the proposed camp site has been de leted from the plans. Confirms Other Details Other than the deletion of the spur line, the letter generally confirmed previous information as to the size, location and ex tent of the proposed site. The letter to Ellsworth was in response to his request for a re port on the progress of the camp. It pointed out that the land east of the highway originally was acquired during World War II, and has utilities, footings and other basic necessities to support housing and utilities for 20,000 troops. The troop housing area west of the highway is now used by in dustry, and the Army letter said that to reacquire the land through condemnation would be expensive and would upset the local economy. Therefore, the letter added, the Army proposes to limit troop housing to the land east of the highway, although it will still need some facilities west of the highway where the land is al ready federally owned. No Other Land Unless the international situa tion changes so that reactivation of Camp White on a full scale becomes mandatory, additional land will not be acquired east of Crater Lake highway, the let ter said. All these are statements which have previously been re ported. On February 26 it was learned that the acreage of the proposed camp had been cut to some 1,- 300 acres, and the week follow ing Sen. Guy Cordon reported that contracts for construction Including utilities, roads, rail road spur and a telephone and telegraph building would be let April 15, with work to begin about May 1. However, early In April, land owners in the area were told that' it would be permissible to plant crops there, Indicating a delay in plans. No further word has been forthcoming on the dates contracts will be let. Cost Estimated The Information from Senator Cordon indicated that the cost df the Installation had been esti mated at about $629,000. The reason given for the deletion of the sour, In the letter to Ells worth, was because the Southern Pacific had recently completed construction of a spur track from Tolo to the Camp WhiU industrial area.