Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, August 17, 1953, Image 1

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Medford mail tribune., August 17, 1953, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextTD17 aaaassssaiBaMsanai j Medford Dnit-1 Pr I-I 48th Yew 16 Pages L1DUUUUUI tang American Converts Purged by Chinese, Repatriate Reports Cartoonist Sentenced For Changing Belief Inchon, Korea U.R) Chinese Communists purged an Ameri can artist who had drawn cari catures of former President Tru man and Gen. Douglas MacAr- thur for Red leaflets and then renounced Communism, a Geor gia repatriate reported today. Another convert to Commu nism was shipped to a Red labor camp when he fell into disfavor. These purges of Americans who tried to change their poli tics were revealed by Pfc. Wil liam M. Balkcom, 24, Lindale, Ga. "One guy drew cartoons for propaganda leaflets," Balkcom said. "He drew John Foster Dul les with fangs and dollar signs for eyes. He drew the same kind of pictures of Truman and Mac- Arthur. Made Fatal Mistake Balkcom said the artist made the fatal mistake of seeing the error of his ways. "He changed his mind about Communism and tried to become a reactionary," Balkcom said. "The Chinese put him in a build ing with the windows and doors broken. It was December or Jan uary and below zero. "He must have gone crazy in there. He ripped off his padded uniform and lay there stark naked. "We didn't feel sorry for him, because we still held a lot of things against him. But one guy tried to slip him an overcoat, but the guard stopped him." Two days later the artist was sent to jail and never was seen again. "There was another guy, a reall progressive," Balkcom said. "He spent a lot of time in regi mental headquarters. He wrote a lot of peace appeals." But Balkcom said the Reds purged him. "He disappeared from camp in March or April, 1952," Balkcom said. "Last June some men com ing from the labor camp told us he was there serving out his time." City Opens Bids on Five Street Paving Projects Bids for city street paving were opened at 10 a.m. today in the council chambers of the city hall. Five streets are involved, J st. from 12th to Monroe sts.; West Jackson from McAndrews rd. to Columbus ave; Westerlin drive wrom Barneburg rd. to Grove land ave.; Elm st. from West Main to West 10th sts.. and West Eighth st. from Laurel to King sts. 'Element X' Just Table County's Cloud seeders Sodium Chloride common table salt is the "Element X" used by Jackson county's cloud-seeding pilots, it was re vealed this week end. The pilots. Harvey Brandau and Gene Kooser, in making known what their "goop" is, confirmed the conjectures of some and- surprised others who had suspected all sorts of virulent chemicals were used. Use Two Methods The salt is applied to the clouds by two methods, and in various combinations, accord ing to the fliers. One way is simply to pour the solid salt crystals into the air at various levels on the cumulus hail bearing clouds; the other is to transform it into minute crys tals which serve as nucleating agents for moisture in the clouds. This is done by putting a salt solution through hot ex haust gases. The fliers say that knowing when, where and how to apply their material is as important as the material itself. They have developed their tech niques over the five-year per iod when they have been fly ing foe tht Bogus River Val MEDFORD, OREGON, MONDAY, AUGUST 17, ts mm Air Fir(g Returning Americans Describe Airplanes Panmunjom, Korea U.R) Returning American war prisoners accused the Communists today of building a strong new air force in North Korea in violation of The information that the Reds en their aerial punch was offered through "Freedom Gate" as "Operation Big Switch" neared the halfway mark. The freed prisoners said they jet bombers put on a show over the irorth Korean capital of Pyongyang after the armistice Mrs. Porter tleff, Prominent Medford Civic Leader, Dies Mrs. Porter J. Neff, 227 North Berkeley way, one of the city's best known and most active civic and cultural leaders, died yes terday in a Medford hospital. Mrs. Neff, 82 years of age, had been in failing health for the past few years. Services Wednesday Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 19, in Conger - Morris Funeral home, with the Rev. George R. V. Bol ster of St. Mark's Episcopal church officiating. Cremation will follow. Survivors include her husband and two sisters, Mrs. Harry Humphrey of Mt View, Calif., and Mrs. Richard Horgan, Min neapolis, Minn., as well as a number of nieces and nephews. Mrs. Humphrey is expected in Medford for the services. A son, John, died at the age of 17. Born Isabel Mealey in Minne apolis, Minn., June 3, 1871, Mrs. Neff was married to Porter J. Neff Oct. 17, 1895. She had lived in Medford since 1908. In Many Organisations Mrs. Neff's widespread civic and cultural activities included many of the valley's organiza tions, institutions - and move ments. She was a charter mem ber of the board of Girls Com munity club and for 20 years did all the club's buying. For many years Mrs. Neff was a member of the board of Commu nity hospital, and upon her ac tive retirement was made an honorary member. Her interests included the Oregon Shakespearean festival association. She was a member of the first board of directors of the association, and continued her support throughout the years. Mrs. Neff was also an early-day member of the Med ford Library board, and is cred ited with mulh work for the ad vancement of the library's inter ests throughout the years. She had served on boards and com mittees for the Girl Scout move ment, and had been made a life ley Traffic association. Objective Hail Prevention Their sole objective in the Traffic association project, as they have stated many times, is to prevent the formation of hail which in the past has caused heavy damage to the valley's pear crop. They make no claims that they either in crease or decrease the amount . of rainfall, and weather bu reau figures over a period of years, compared to the time they have been working here, appear to bear out their state ments. Their operations, neverthe less, have been the subject of heated controversy in the rain-conscious valley, and probably will continue to be. Many "dry land" farmers still believe they decrease rainfall, and some pear growers con tend their operations do not always stop hail and in some cases could actually cause it to form. However, the fliers' em ployers, the pear packers who have the most to lose, are con vinced that the pilots' work has saved the valley many millions of dollars, and they United 8d -of the armistice agreement. were using the truce to strength after 73 more Americans went saw new, twin-engine, swept wing DDtl had been signed. Increase of Military Prohibited by Armistice Terms of the armistice stipu lated that neither side was to in crease its military potential dur ing the truce. When the armistice was signed last July 26, the Communists did not have jet bombers in North Korea. Cpl. Charles W. Jewell, 23, Wilmington, Del., and Pfc. Leo- poldo, L. Howard, 23, Mancos Colo-, said they saw the twin engine jets when they passed through Pyongyang on their way to freedom. "They were flying in groups of three," Howard said. "There were some YAKs there too. It was some kind of a demonstra tion. I think they were preparing a welcome for the prisoners they were getting back." Accurate Description Far East Air Force headquart ers in Tokyo said the soldiers' description of the planes fitted that of the Russian IL-28, a twin jet light bomber. However, FEAF refused o comment on the report until it has received official information from Korea. The Reds promised to release 75 more Americans tomorrow. Altogether 1,032 of the 3,313 Americans listed by the Com munists for repatriation have been released. Baseball NATIONAL Philadelphia S 10 0 New York 2 9 0 Miller, Konsta ry and Lo pata; Koslo, Wilhelm, Ken nedy and Westrum. member of that organization. Mrs. Neff also had been a Red Cross worker, and in recent years served as chairman of Junior Red Cross for Jackson county. She supported Jackson County Civic Music association, as well as little theater groups, and together with Mr. Neff at tended almost every program, play or concert given in the city. In addition to her public ac tivities, Mrs. Neff was known also for the many private chari ties in which she was interested. She was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal church, work ing actively in the women's or ganizations, and of the Colony club. Salt, Reveal cited hail-damage figures dur ing the past five years, as com pared to previously, to uphold their contention. May End Claims Revelation of the fact that salt is used will, it is thought, bring to an end claims that the cloud-seeding "goop" is re sponsible for all sorts of dam age to a variety of crops. The relatively small amounts used, the fact that it is dispersed over a huge area, and the gen erally harmless nature of the chemical make it certain that it, of itself, could not cause damage, Brandau and Kooser say. The operations have drawn nation-wide attention from time to time, and last week the Portland Oregonian sent its aviation editor, Leverett Richards, to the valley to re view the project He has written a series of articles for the Portland paper in which he tells of the controversy, de scribes the methods used, and concludes that the evidence appears to show the fliers can take credit for a lessening of the hail threat for the valley's orchards. Tribune 1953 No. 127 iuildtag HftrUi Korea Knowland Cites 'Moral Climate' In Government GOP Achievements Recalled by Senator Washington OI.R) Senate Republican leader William F. Knowland said today an im proved "moral climate" in gov ernment was perhaps the great est achievement of the GOP dur ing its first seven months in power. He reviewed and defended the GOP record in a lengthy state ment published today in the Con gressional Record. Achievements Told "In a little more than seven months," he said, "the Republi can administration ended the fighting in Korea, reversed the 20 year trend toward centraliza tion of power in the federal gov ernment, abolished unnecessary economic controls, cut nearly $13,000,000,000 from the Tru man 1954 budget estimates and justified the people's confidence by restoring honesty in govern ment. Then Knowland added that perhaps the greatest change in seven months of Republican con trol lies in the moral climate of government." Integrity Being Restored "There is no room in the Re publican administration for in fluence peddling, secrecy or cor ruption," he said. "The integrity of the career civil service is being restored ... . " "Security is now better safe guarded. Tax loopholes are closed. Law enforcement is firm and impartial- Influence and favoritism no longer tip the scales of justice for poker play ing cronies." Knowland said the GOP has provided "honest government, better government and cheaper government than the nation has had in many years." Of Korea, Knowland said the administration "moved vigorous ly" to end a war which had cost many lives and caused a heavy drain on the resources of this country. Entries Coming In For 4-H, FFA Fair More than 50 entries have been received for the home ec onomics division of the Jack son County 4-H and FFA club fair, which opens August 19, it was announced today by the county agent's office. The fair is scheduled to con tinue through August 22 at the Jackson County fairgrounds, with an auction sale scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday. The deadline for livestock en tries is 9 p.m. Tuesday at the county agent's office in the coun ty courthouse. A style revue and special awards program is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday, August 22. Girl Loses Arm, Leg In Molorboat Mishap Lake Arrowhead, Calif. OJ.FD A pretty airline stewardess lay near death today after los ing her left arm and left leg when she fell from a motorboat that was towing water skier Geary Steffan. Steffan is the former husband of screen star Jane Powell. Boni Buehler, 25- year- old Western Airline hostess, was hit by the speedboat's propellor yes terday. Her left arm was severed by the whirling blades. Her mangled left leg was amputated at the hip later at Santa Anita hospital here. Dr. Jack Hill, who performed the operation, said her condition was "extremely critical. ' Steffan helped keep the girl alive by breathing into her mouth while she was rushed to the hospital. - i i ...... i it 11 k. - . j TEN DEAD IN BRITISH RAIL CRASH Railroad coach Goes in the Irk River in Manchester, Eng land, following collision of two speeding trains on a high viaduct (background). At least 10 persons were killed and 50 injured when the coach crashed through a two-foot-thick wall and plunged 90 feet into the river. RUSSIA TO TO FAR EAST POLITICAL CONFAB United Nations, N.Y. (U.R) The Western powers go before the United Nations General As sembly today with an invitation to Russia to attend the forth coming Far Eastern political con ference. The wording of the proposed invitations satisfied U.S Am bassador Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. that the Russions would agree to si1 at the political conference on the "side" of the Communist aggressors in Korea. The General Assembly was to meet today to set up the high level Far Eastern "peace" con ference called for in the truce agreement signed at Panmunjom. British Hope Realised The 16 U.N. Allies whose troops fought in Korea agreed on the wording of the Russian invitation at a meeting yester day. Lodge said afterwards the compromise met United States demands that Russia sit on the Communist side and "share re sponsibility and accountability for peace." A British spokesman, how- Yreka Man Admits More Burglaries William Henry Robinson, 40, of Yreka, Calif., now in the city jail on three burglary charges, has admitted 14 burglaries and attempted burglaries one as long ago as Dec. 12, 1951, city police said today. The first in the series of rob beries which Robinson admitted being involved in was the burg lary of Short's East Side Phar macy, Ashland, on Dec. 12, 1951. Following this was a succes sion of burglaries, all in 1953, including Doctors Clinic, Med ford; Medford high school; Sav ago Motors, Ashland; Selby Chevrolet, Ashland; Valley Cleaners, Medford; Larson May company, Medford; Busch Motor company, Ashland; Doctors Clin ic a second time; Cal-Ore Mach inery company, Medford; Gen eral Petroleum company, Med ford; Mason . Ehrman company and Crater Lake Motors, both Medford, and Savago Motors a second time. Jackson and Siskiyou county sheriffs, Yreka city police and Oregon state police cooperated with Medford city police in Rob inson's arrest. Festival Attendance Record Reaches 902 Another attendance record fell Saturday night at the Oregon Shakespearean festival. A total of 902( persons saw Saturday's performance of "The Merchant of Venice," according to William Dawkins, executive secretary- This broke the attendance rec ord of 869 for the previous Sat urday's showing of "Taming of the Shrew." The previous at tendance record was 852 for the last performance of "Twelfth Night" in the 1951 season, Dew kins said. "Henry VI" drew a good-sized and appreciative audience Sun day night, traditionally a poor theater night. Tonight's play is Taming of the Shrew." Los Altos, Calif.U.PJ Capt. Frank A. Johnson, master of the Matson liner Lurline, died today of a heart attack at his home belt. Ho wis 62. , RECEIVE ever, said the invitation, which must be approved by the U.N. General Assembly, actually would produce what Britain had hoped for in the first place, a political conference of the "round table" variety without opposing "sides." The significant wording in the conference resolution was that Russia should be invited "pro vided the other side desires it Some observers felt Russia might reject the invitation because of its connotation that the Soviet Union shared the guilt of the Communist aggression. Yesterday's 16 nation meeting, Russia Advocates Big Four Meeting On Germany Treaty Moscow (U.R) Soviet Rus sia advocated today formation of a provisional united German government and a Big Four con ference on the ' German Peace treaty within six months. The Soviet Union also called for free German elections with out foreign supervision and re duction of Germany's World War II debts. Revealed in Notes These Russian desires were made known yesterday when the Soviet government handed notes to ambassadors of West ern nations. The note argued that Four Power preliminary talks should begin immediately with the Germans sitting in on the con versations. It also proposed that the East and West German parliaments should get together and organize a unified provisional govern ment which would participate in preparation of the peace treaty and draft an election law. Would Cease Payments The Big Four conference on the treaty should be held with in six months, the note said. It proposed that Germany cease making reparations pay ments on Jan. 1, 1954, and that all of Germany's post war debts except those made in trade agreements be cancelled. Washington (U.R) Offic ials here believed today Russia was trying for a double barrel led propaganda coup in propos ing an early Big Four confer ence on a German peace treaty. No formal reply to the Rus sian note, made public yester day, was expected for several days at least, while" the State department examines all its facets for "gimmicks." Suspicion Aroused The timing and phrasing of the Red note were such that sus picion developed immediately that it had two instant goals: 1. To ease the pressure of the Soviet resulting from recent riots in the Russian controlled East German zone. 2. To supply political ammu nition for use by his opponents against Premier Konrad Aden auer in the Sept. 6 elections in Allied occupied West Germany. Consultations with Great Brit ain and France presumably will precede any answer to the Rus sian note. Bandon (U.R) Cranberry farmers in the Bandon area ex pect to harvest the largest crop in the history of the area this year. . igirjiT y w m :-..-. r- r i v :- -. - INVITATION the fourth in recent days, pro duced the following three part formula for setting up the con ference, which is aimed at set tling the Korean dispute by peaceful negotiation rather than bombs and bullets. 1. All 17 countries which fought the Communists in Korea, including 16 U.N. members and South Korea, would be invited to attend the political parley If they so desire. 2. Russia also will be invited to attend the conference "pro vided the other side desires it" Proposal for India 3. The Commonwealth mem bers of the U.N. Allies, Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, will propose that India be invited- While , the United States opposes an invitation to India, Lodge would not say whether the VS. delegation would vote against this resolu tion or abstain. If the United States does not vote against it, there is stronger chance it will be adopted. Farm Labor Offices Open Wednesday Farm labor offices for late summer and fall employment of field workers will open Wed nesday, August 19 at 902 South Central ave., an Oregon Em ployment service release an nounced today. The offices were used last for farm labor employment Hours this week, beginning Wednesday, will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday. Begin ning Monday, August 24, hours will be 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily except Saturday when offices will be open from 6 a.m. to 12 noon. Packing house employees will be hired out of the regular Ore gon Employment offices in the Holland hotel building. Though picking and packing of Bartlett variety pears is be ginning this week by some pack ing houses, the operation will not get into full swing 'until about September 1, according to today's release. Weather FORECAST: Fair tonlfhL Part ly cloudy Tuetday. Low to olfht Si. Bifh Tuesday SS. -Temp. Hithett Tettrrday Lowest this Morning SS Eight K. Falls Houses Gutted by Flames Klamath Falls (U.R) Fire! The fire started shortly after of undetermined origin gutted midnight Saturday at 9th and a square block of towntown buildings here early yesterday, causing damage estimated by Fire Chief Roy Crowe at $75, 000. Eight business houses in the old frame structure area were reported total losses. Truck Driver Injured A truck driver, Harmon Cress, 21, was injured when he fell 25 feet from the roof of one of the flaming buildings. Wit nesses said the accident occur red while he was manning a high pressure hose. He was treated for possible internal in juries and multiple cuts and bruises. Shah Flees Nation After Followers Fail in Overthrow Communists Support Mohammed Mossadegh Tehran, Iran (U.R) Pre mier Mohammed Mossadegh took firm control of the nation today with the support of th Communists after smashing an attempt by followers of the Shah to overthrow him. Police and troops fired in the air to disperse angry mobs dem onstrating in Tehran against Shah Mohammed Reza PahlevL who fled the country, and against the United States for playing a behind the scenes role in the monarch's unsuccessful attempt to seize power. Monarchy May Fall The 33-year-old Shah and his beautiful wife. Empress Soraya, fled to neighboring Iraq yester day in his personal plane after the Mossadegh government nut down the revolt by the mon arch's imperial guards Satur day night The Shah did not abdicate. But Mossadegh met with his cab inet to decide whether to pro claim Iran a republic or retain the monarchy under a regency council. Mossadegh, nearly 80, was ex pected to tell the nation the shah was incompetent to reign and demand a verdict from the people. Observers said it is certain Mossadegh would be the public's choice lor. first president of Iran. U.S. Offices Closed American Point Four estab lishments were closed in fear of possible attacks on them by demonstrators. Mossadegh was reported con sidering an order to put an end to all U.S. activities in Iran short of severing diplomatic re lations. The general belief was at least all Point Four aid ac tivities would be closed down permanently. Copco Rate Hearing To Open Tomorrow Hearings will, open at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow in the Jackson county courthouse auditorium on a California Oreeon Power company proposal that the firm's electric rates be increased. Copco has applied for increas es raising its rates an average of about 20 per cent in Oregon to bring in an estimated $2,349,000 a year." David Don, Public Utili ties Commission chief engineer. will preside at the hearing. Charles H. HeltzeL Publie Utilities commissioner, has pre dicted that Copco probably will conclude its case in chief in one day. Then the hearings would be recessed "in the pub lic interest" to give PUC offic ials and others time to study all the company's evidence. The Southern Oregon Conser vation and Tree Farm associa tion and the Rogue Viver Valley Traffic association have joined move spearheaded by the Roseburg Chamber of Commerce to employ Attorney Walter Evans to act as intervenor for thenr in the hearings. Medford Schools Set To Open September 14 Medford's four elementary schools and junior high school will open Sept. 14, it was an nounced today. . Senior high school will open one week later on Sept 21 be cause of the need for student workers in local orchards. This year's crop is about two weeks later than usual. Arrangements are being com pleted for registration of stu dents new to the Medford dis trict and will be announced later. Business Pine streets and burned shops in the block to the north. Fire Started in Loft The fire chief said the blaze started in a storage loft which extends a half block over all the eight business houses. He said defective wiring may have been responsible. " Businesses in the burned buil dings were the Mars barber shop, Brinkley fountain lunch, Jeff's barber shop, Jennie's lunch, Louis' barber shop, Kla math bakery. Gift and Book Nook and Princess dress shop. The extent of insurance cover age could not be learned im mediately.