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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 1956)
ffl NjlrpA7 nW my M EDFORD DniUd Presi Full Leased Wire 50th Year 24 Pages Veteran M E. C. Ferguson Dies E. C. Ferguson, 64, managing editor of the Mail Tribune since 1923, died at Sacred Heart hos pital at about noon today. He had been there for several months, and had been ill since last spring. . t Mr. Ferguson was born in Ord, Neb., on Jan 9, 1891, the son of Frank and Clara Fergu- Ev C. FERGUSON Joined Staff in 1928 son, whose parents were pioneer merchants in Nebraska.! The family early moved to Oregon, and Mr. Ferguson was educated in public schools in Oregon. Was a Telegrapher He was married in September, 1910,. to Abbie McBride, of Sa lem, and started his career with Bodyof Meclford 9 Woman Recovered From Flood Area The body of Mrs. Vera, John son, 60, of 244 South Grape st., who drowned in the Yuba City, Calif., flood Saturday, Dec. 24, has been identified. The body was recovered Tuesday. , . Mrs. Johnson was visiting her sister, Mrs. Charles Bartlett, in Marysville when evacuation or ders were given Dec. 22. She and the Bartletts sought refuge in Yuba City with the Robert Bartlett family, but were caught in the flood.. Search Continues Robert Bartlett, a nephew of Mrs. Johnson and -of Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Harris, 330 O'Gara st., Medford, still is missing, and " the search for his body, contin ued, according to Mrs. Harris. Mrs. Johnson was the 32nd victim of the Yuba City flood, according to Coroner B. W. Ull rey of Yuba City. She was identi fied by her clothing and a ring. Mrs. Harris said funeral ar rangements for Mrs. Johnson are not complete, pending the out- ivcome of the search for Bartlett's body. She said the family would like to have a double funeral, but if Robert's body is not found today, funeral services will be held in Marysville, Calif., and interment will be in Roseburg either Friday or Saturday. Mrs. Johnson requested to be buried in Roseburg prior to her being reported missing, Mrs. Harris said. Sending Flowers Medford residents wishing to send flowers have been asked to send them to Roseburg. Mrs. Harris said her nephew, Robert, was wearing hip boots at the time of the flood, and rela tives feared the boots may have filled with mud and are anchor ing the body. . Besides Mrs. Jonnson's sister, Mrs. Charles Bartlett, and sev eral grand nephews, she is sur vived by her husband, Bruce Johnson, who went to Yuba City from his home in the Coos Bay Oregon Ships 4687 Cars Of Fruit, Vegetables Salem (U.R) Oregon shipped 4687 carloads of fruits and vege tables during November, the State Agriculture Department said today. The total was 1300 more than in November, 1954. Fifty-four per cent of the shipments were potatoes, 13 per cent onions and 6 per cent walnuts and filberts. its ' MEDFORD, OREGON, THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 1956 - T Editor Western Union as a telegrapher, maintaining ,an interest in code telegraphy all his life. He at tended a convention of "old- time" telegraphers shortly be fore being stricken with his final illness. "Ferg" was Western Union office manager in Salem in 1910, one of the youngest in the nation, and later joined the Associated Press as a telegra pher, holding similar positions in Aberdeen, Wash., and in Med ford, where he moved in 1914. During the first World War, he joined the Navy and was com missioned an ensign in commu nications work, serving overseas in France for part of his tour of duty. Joined Paper's Staff As an Associated Press telegra pher in Medford, he was assign ed to the Mail Tribune office, copying from the Morse wire the national and international news each day. In 1928, he left the Associated Press apd joined the staff of the newspaper as managing editor. During Ms early years of resi dence in Medford, Mr. Ferguson was active in- organizational work, as a member and officer of the local post of the American Legion, of the old Crater club, and other groups. He was long a member of the Jackson Coun ty Chamber of Commerce. " In recent years he was one of the leading members of the South ern Oregon Historical Society, Inc., and was instrumental in the move to have the old court house in Jacksonville 'made a county museum. As a Society director, he was one of those responsible for its proper'a'dmm-" istration. "E.C.F." Well-Known As managing editor of the newspaper, Mr. Ferguson : was responsible for the day-to-day administration of the news and editorial departments. His edi torials, signed with the initials "E.C.F.", were widely read and were frequently quoted or re printed in other newspapers. His editorial interests were wide, ranging from small amusing in cidents on the local scene to thoughtful essays on problems of local government. Long ago he ceased using his first names, Everett Carl, and to friends, was known as "Ferg" or "Fergie." Survivors include Mrs. Fergu son, who is remaining in the couple's apartment on North Ivy st. for the time being; a daugh ter, Mrs. Ford Knutsen, of As toria; two grandchildren, Mary and Barbara, and a sister, Mrs. Esther Newton, Los Angeles. The Knutsens visited here dur ing the Christmas holidays and the week following, and Mrs. Knutsen is still here. Funeral services are pending, and Perl funeral home will be in charge. " Flood Emergency Period Ends Here The end of emergency civil defense aid in the Rogue River area was discussed yesterday with the county court by L. H. Webb, civil defense director, and City Councilman Harold Sanders; both of Rogue River. Major Gen. Joseph Hicks, Jackson county civil defense di rector, said that because the emergency period had ended in both Shady Cove and Rogue River areas, further civil de fense expenditure is not neces sary. Webb and Sanders told the court ' that they felt the work remaining in the areas was now individually responsibility, or through assistance from other sources. It is expected that the $4,000 cost of emergency work carried on by civil defense will be paid from county emergency funds, with some reimbursement from the federal government possible. Sanders said an estimated $500 damage occurred within the Rogue River city limits. DOW-JONES AVERAGES New York (U.R) Dow-Jones final stock averages: 30 indus trials 484.02 up 0.02, rails r60. 55 off 0.36, 15 utilities, 63.64 up 0.12, 65 stocks 170.80 off 0.06. Sales today were about .2,110,000 compared with 2,290, 000 yesterday. ' 1 I . -JP ' -If CASUAL Returning to Paris from voting in his home district, French Premier Edgar Faure (left) and his wife, Lucie (in slacks), learn partial election results from aide Jacques Duhamel (center). Surprise strjenth of Far-right Poujadists and Communists rule out any chance that Faure or Mendes-France can rule alone. ; RY Memorial Hospital Funds Get Under Way The general money-raising campaign for the proposed Rogue Valley Memorial hospital started last night with a "school of instruction" dinner at the Six Persons Are Injured In Two Accidents in Area ' Five persons were injured in a four-car accident about a quar ter of a mile south of the Rogue River junction on Highway 99 about a 'quarter of a mile south of the Rogue . River junction on Highway 99 about 3:35 p.m. yes terday. Injured were Archie P. Boyd, 57, Illahe, Ore.; H. E. Boyd, Kennewick, Wash.; Ethel Boyd, 47, Roland Archie Boyd, 16, and Mary Ann Boyd, 6, all of Illahe, Ore. They were taken to Grants Pass hospital by a Grants Pass ambulance. Extent of their in juries were not known early to day, state police said. N Slides . 122 Feet Police said Archie P. Boyd was driving the car which slid 122 feet into a panel truck op erated by Robert John Albiecht, 25, of Portland. The impact pushed the Albiecht vehicle into cars operated by Arthur Gar land Leap, 40, of Ft. Lewis, Wash., and Lillian M. Finster, 45, Grants Pass. All three vehicles were stop ped on the highway by a flag man halting traffic where the state highway department was making repairs, police said. The only injuries were to pas sengers and the driver of the Boyd vehicle, police said. The Boyd vehicle was towed away. Wilma Joan Daras, 19, 249 South Riverside ave., suffered an injured ankle and other min or injuries last night in an acci dent on South Central ave. in Medford. ' Miss Dares was a passenger in a car driven by Arnold C. Thompson, 2550 Jo Jack rd., which collided with a pickup truck operated by Harold K. Trunnell, Eugene, according to Medford police. Thompson's car hit a power pole after the col lision and the pickup truck hit a neon sign, police said. Another passenger with Thompson, Sgt. Warren K. Lund quist, 220 Portland ave., was uninjured. OT"DTTAT"D United Press Full Leased Wire Price 5c No. 245 Medford Elks club. Eugene Thorndike, chairman of the advance gifts committee, reported that 615 subscriptions totaling $549,026 have been ob tained for memorials thus far by his committee. He added that the committee's "work is not half completed." , : The advance gifts committee will join the general organiza tion, which will conduct an all out campaign for funds. Goal for the overall campaign is $850,000, according to Otto J. Frohnmayer, general chairman. The proposed hospital at the "cor ner of Barnett and Murphy rds. will cost about $1,900,000. Of the total, about $600,000 was donated prior to the advance gifts campaign, and federal Hill Burton funds will Be available for about one-third the cost. A recent Ford Foundation grant added another $26,300. Frohnmayer pointed out that the campaign goal has been in creased because of revised plans for the building and special equipment necessary "to make Jackson county a great medical center," and to meet possible increases in building costs. The general organization will hold daily breakfast . meetings at 7 a.m. in the Elks temple base ment" to report progress and re ceive instructions. Walter Gar ner is chairman of the general organization, and James J. Dun levy is associate. Garner intro duced division chairmen Robert D. Dames, John Graff, Dwight Houghton and Victor Milnes. The general organization is composed of 10 groups of work ers of 12 men each. Frohnmayer, who presided at last night's meeting, praised the advance gifts committee, and ex pressed appreciation for the 192 volunteers who attended. A get acquainted period was included in the program. Talent Woman Dies Of Gunshot Wound ' Mrs. Olive May Bray, 31, of 314 South First st., Talent, died at a local hospital about 6:20 p.m. yesterday of a gun shot wound in her head. State police and sheriff's officers said the wound was self-inflicted. Mrs. Bray apparently shot herself in the right side of her head about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, and was listed as in critical con dition at the hospital yesterday. Conger-Morris Funeral home is in charge of arrangements. Weather FORECAST: Cloudy with occas ional showers tonight and Fri day. Low tonight 34-36. High Friday 42. TEMPERATURE Highest Yesterday Si Lowest this Morning 32 PRECIPITATION To 4:30 a.m. Today ...25 Oregon Braces for Another Storm; Streams Watched Transportaion In Bottleneck Portland (U.R) Oregonians braced themselves for another storm today ; in the wake of heavy rains which caused dam aging slides, high water and transportation bottlenecks. The weather bureau warned' that more rain was expected,.be coming heavier tonight and Fri day. It was hoped that the rain would not be heavy enough to cause a repeat of flood condi tions of. two weeks ago. River Forecaster Elmer Fisher predict ed a slow fall in tributary streams which t surged upwards yesterday. Highway traffic on the main route between Portland and Se attle was being detoured around a bridge about six miles north of Vancouver which was under mined by swollen Salmon creek last night. Slide Hits Freight Union Pacific's main line to the east was blocked yesterday evening by a slide in the Co lumbia gorge near Multnomah Falls which caught ; a passing freight and derailed five cars. The slide was to be cleared to day. . Portland counted untold dam age to homes and businesses after numerous slides and high water. Some hillside homes were evacuated and five industrial plants in the northwest section were closed because of surface water yesterday. Johnson creek, which spilled over its banks, iwas going-down today:' ' ,c '-'-'"--' The Willamette river was'-still well below flood stage but one home at ' Jennings Lodge was evacuated because of rising water and four families in 'the Oregon City and West Lyn areas also left their homes yesterday. Fisher predicted a slight rise in the Willamette from Corvallis to the mouth followed by a slow fall after tomorrow morning. The Willamette was not, expect ed to reach last month's, level. Mrs. Jack Lewis To Head Mothers' March Mrs. Jack Lewis, 136 High land dr., today was named Med ford chairman of the Mothers' March, a March of Dimes fund raising effort, it was announced by Gerry Gastineau, city. drive chairman. The Mothers' March will be held on Jan. 31 from 7 to 8 p.m. when block workers in all sections of the city will call at houses displaying light ed porchlight as an invitation to the worker to call for a contri bution to the fight against polio. "I am glad to have been asked to have a part in such a worth while project as the March of Dimes," Mrs. Lewis told Gasti neau; "Although development of the Salk vaccine has raised our hopes that polio soon, may be wiped out, we must realize that the big fight has just begun," she added. , The new chairman said she plans to start the first of next week to lay out city maps and to appoint captains in the var ious sections of the city in an effort to make the Mothers' March the best ever held here. Mothers desiring to assist Mrs. Lewis may telephone " her at 2-8402. . . ' ? - Medford Area Records Its Wettest December Medford weather . last month was the wettest for any Decem ber and the second wettest for any month , on record, Bob Church, of the Medford Weather Bureau, said yesterday. Precipitation for the month totaled 8.77 inches, which is 5.64 inches above normal. Previous high precipitation for December was 7.94 inches in 1941. The all time high 'for any month was October, 1950, when 9.16 inches of rain fell. Records Since 1911 Records at the Weather Bureau office at Medford air port have been kept since 1911. Temperatures in December averaged three degrees above normal. Average temperature was 41.5 degrees with a high of 60 degrees Dec. 22 and a low of Topical Summary Of Eisenhower's Congress Message Tax Relief Deemed 'Not Justified' ' Washington (U.R) Topical er's State of the Union Message summary of President Eisenhow to Congress: TAXES No tax relief for the present. No tax cut can be "deemed jus tifiable" until the budget is bal anced and a "modest" start is made toward trimming the $280, 000,000 national debt. He ex pects the federal budget to be in balance by the time the cur rent fiscal year ends, next June 30. FARM " The special farm message he will send to Congress Monday will propose "a new attack on the surplus problem" including a "soil bank" plan under which the government would pay. far mers to divert lands from crops to a "conservation reserve." FOREIGN POLICY Communism still "poses a ser ious threat to the free world." Red tactics have shifted since the Geneva . summit meeting from "reliance on division, to enticement and duplicity." The United States must have a "dy namic, flexible" foreign policy to meet this "dangerous though less obvious threat." . FOREIGN . AID To assure America's friends abroad of "continuity" in U.S. economic aid, he asked "limited authority" to make long-term aid commitments for projects that will take several years to com plete. Present foreign aid is doled out on a year-to-year basis and the administration has no auth ority to promise any nation help beyond the current year. DEFENSE The United States, will "per severe in seeking a general re duction of armaments under ef fective inspections, and. control." "But' - until Russia" agrees "to a workable program we have no alternative but to maintain pow erful armed forces to deter ag gression. SCHOOL AID He will send Congress de tailed Tecommendations for a five-year program of federal aid to the states for school construc tion. ' HIGHWAYS The need for a big highway building program, which he pro posed last year, is "even more urgent this year." In an appar ent bid for compromise, he did not repeat last year's controver sial proposal for a special bond issue to pay- for the roads, but said only that "there must be an adequate plan for financing." FLOOD AID i . The government should un dertake "an experimental pro gram of flood -damage indem nities" and otherwise overhaul its programs for aid to disaster victims. He'll make detailed recommendations later. HOUSING. ,.. . Congress, should j authorize construction of 5,000 new public housing units a year for the next two years, and "liberalize" other existing federal housing pro grams,, including FHA loans for permanent home improvement. OTHER PROPOSALS . He requested, or renewed pre vious requests for, amendment of the Taft-Hartley labor man agement law; extended cover age of the minimum wage act; further expansion of social se? curity coverage; . higher mail rates and new post office build ings; a "substantial increase", in funds or the U. S. Liformatibn Agency to tell America's story abroad; authorization ' of "an atomic powered -exhibit vessel" to demonstrate peacetime use of nuclear energy for ship propul sion. - ' " ; . 21 degrees Dec. 31. - There was only one clear day during the month, 7 days partly cloudy and 23 cloudy days. Grants Pass Welter December weather in Grants Pass was even wetter and warm er than in Medford. Precipita tion totaled 12.85 inches, 7.35 inches above normal there. The average temperature was 43 de grees, 3.5 degrees above normal, with a high of 61 degrees Dec. 21 and a low of 22 degrees Dec. 29 and 30. Precipitation in Ashland totaled 6.48 inches during December, 3.35 inches above normal. The monthly average temperature was 41.5 degrees,. 2.8 above nor mal with a high of 62 degrees Dec. 22 and a low of 17 degrees Dec. 29. G0H6RESS CUM UfJIOPJM Washington U.R) President Eisenhower today declared against. any tax cut now. . . - ' He said in his State of the Union Message to Congress that he expects a balanced budget this year and next. He acknowledged that present taxes are "very burdensome" and should be reduced "when we prudently can." . But he saicf there should be some reduction of the $280,000,000 national debt before, taxes are cut : Mr;' Eisenhower was even more emphatic on the subject of taxes'in summarizing his message for newsreel and TV cameras at his Key West, Fla., vacation retreat. Asks New Spending at Home, Abroad ; "We will not talk about reductions of .any other kind until we have begun to make some modest payments" on the national debt. But some members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats alike, thought the President left the door open to a possible con sideration of a tax cut later in this election year. ' Mr.-Eisenhower not only rejected a tax cut now but laid down a series of recommendations that added up to more spending at home and abroad. . Mr. Eisenhower's views and recommendations were set forth in a comprehensive message which glowed with promise of even greater prosperity than the present "unparalleled level." But it also carried a sober warning that the cold war has takena turn for the worse since the Geneva summit conference; that Russia and Red China still pose "a serious threat to the world." He said all excise taxes must ; . be continued at their present rates. And the corporation in come tax must be continued at the present rate of 52 per cent for another year. Unless Con gress acts, these taxes are sched uled for reductions April 1. As for the personal income tax, and taxes in general he said: "Under conditions of high peacetime prosperity, . such as now exist, we can never justify going further into debt to give ourselves a tax cut at ; the ex pense of our children. Fiscal Integrity "So, in the present state of our financial affairs, I earnestly believe that a tax cut can be deemed justifiable only when it will not unbalance the budget, a budget which makes provision for some reduction, even though modest, in our national debt. In this way we can best maintain fiscal integrity." The President said "the out look is bright with promise" but warned, that .Russia as ".demon strated conclusively" '-.it- is not yet willing to create the indis pensible conditions for a secure and lasting peace. This country, therefore, he said, must remain . strong at home and . abroad although he promised that, "We shall perse vere in seeking a general reduc tion of armaments under effec tive inspection and control . . ." Outlines Legislation This was Mr. Eisenhower's fourth State of the Union Mes sage, but his first to be read to Congress rather than deliver ed in person. In it he outlined a broad pro-, gram of legislation in both do mestic and foreign fields. , , If approved, he said, his pro gram would contribute to build ing an "ever-stronger, ever-better America." The President ask ed for continued, cooperation with our allies, and recommend ed a new program of economic aid. He said we must "sustain and fortify" our existing mutual security program. ' " " " On the home front, the Presi dent called for: '.-' . "Constant improvement" of our defense structure. ' - A new program to help farm ers, including a double-barreled "soil bank" plan to reduce acre age and cut big government sur pluses. He urged that farm legis lation be kept out of politics. A- broad new -highway pro gram. - A new system of .federal as sistance in natural disasters, in cluding an experimental plan to pay for flood losses. Schools and Medicine A new five-year program of federal aid in building schools. He said he would recommend later "further expansion" of social security coverage. He asked for a stepped up pro gram of federal aid for medical research and said he would recommend later a new plan for assistance to medical schdols. He said the government should take steps to cushion the heavy and rising costs of illness and hospitalization. He said this should be done either by federal reinsurance of voluntary health insurance policies or by some other method. The President asked, again, for expanded coverage of the wage-hour laws. He disclosed that the administration will ask later for legislation to require public disclosure of the financial affairs of union pension and wel fare funds.' The President said the nation has made great progress in the past three years and has reason to be grateful to providence for its many many bounties. "Our country is at peace. Our security posture commands re spect. A spiritual vigor marks our national life. Our economy, approaching the $400,000,000,- 000 mark, is at an unparalleled level of prosperity. Tne national income is more widely and fairly distributed than ever before. The number of Americans at work has reached an all-time high. As a people, we are achieving ever higher standards of living ' earning more, producing more. building more and investing more than ever before." The President said "virtually all" segments of the economy are sharing in the good times. Farm families, if we act wise ly, imaginatively and promptly,," can also look forward to shar ing equality in the general pros perity.' "Our farm people are not shar ing as they should in the general prosperity," the President said. "They alone of all major groups have seen their incomes decline rather than rise." : He said he will send Congress later, Monday, according to Key West reports, a special message on his farni nronosals. .. - i vi -. O ni.AMMa JhASmm. .... The President also made the following recommendations: Statehood: "I urgently request this Congress to grant statehood for Hawaii. I trust that progress toward statehood for Alaska can be made in this session ", Postal ratfs: Recommenda tions for new post office facil ities and a boost in postal rates will be submitted later. Immigration: "I again point out to the Congress the urgent need for revision of the immigra tion and nationality laws..:. I recommend that the number of persons admitted to this country annually be based not oh the 1920 census but on the latest, the 1950 census," he said. He recommended greater flexibility to the use of quotas so-that if one country does not use its share, another country can use it. " -: -, -,- . " Civil rights: The President called for a bipartisan commis sion to be created by Congress to investigate charges that Ne- groes are being deprived of their ' right to vote and subjected to "unwarranted economic pres sures" in some localities. He said the administration will rec- ' ommend soon to Congress a pro gram to advance the efforts of the government in the civil rights field.' , . Pay raise: A pay raise for gov ernment executives, including adjustments of pay in top career positions, is "essential to effic ient governmental management. Monopoly: The Government must try to keep open "the door of opportunity to new and small enterprises," , check monopoly and preserve a competitive en vironment. (See Stories on Pages S and 10) , Ashland Girl Suffers Burns On Body Today Ashland Glenda Nelson, five-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Nelson, 1551 Webster st., Ashland, suffered second and third degree burns over most of her body about 8 a.m. today. She was taken to Ashland' General hospital, where her condition was report ed as good this noon. .The girl's attending physician said she apparently was play ing with matches when her dress caught fire. She suffered burns on about 70 per cent of her body. Facial burns were reported as second degree. Portland x (U.R) M and M Wood Working Co. announced here that earnings had increas ed 55 per cent and sales more than 17 per cent during the first nine months of 1955. .
