Regional Edition
58th Year Price 10 Cents
Medford
Tribune
V
.4 -
16 Pages
MEDFORD, OREGON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1963
No. 238
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HEARING POSTPONED Jack Ruby, left,
and his lawyer, Melvin Belli of San Fran
cisco, are shown during Ruby's bond hear
ing in Dallas, Texas. Ruby's hearing was
New England Region Feels
Fury of Winter's Wrath
A massive storm churned up
the New England coast today,
spraying highways with ice and
dumping new snow inland
across New York Stale and
Pennsylvania.
The Southland, still shivering
at the thought of its first white
Christmas in years, struggled
to clear snow-clogged roads and
remove ice from airport run
ways. Temperatures fell to record
lows across Dixie. Tennessee
became the nation's ice box.
An all-time low of 13 degrees
below zero was recorded at
Memphis. December records
were set with a 1 below read
ing at Little Rock, Ark., and a
3 above mark at Fort Smith,
Ark.
Lush Farm Belt Chilled
Mobile, Ala., on the Gulf
Coast, recorded a 19-degree
reading and the hard freezer!j,
tended southward into tne lusn
farm belt of the Rio Grande in
Texas. ' '
The storm which dumped
heavy snow across the South
Monday churned up the North
Atlantic Coast today sideswip
ing the shore with gusty winds
and choppy seas.
Small craft warnings were
displayed from Eastport,
Maine, south to Florida.
Five inches of snow clogged
streets and roads in the Boston
area in six hours today and
lesser amounts spread inland.
The Weather Bureau said con
ditions would gradually improve
during the day as the storm
swings up into Newfoundland.
The bureau also said most of
the nation would have "fair and
seasonably cold weather" on
Christmas Day. Precipitation
will be limited to the northeast
cm and northwestern fringes of
the country and scattered snow
flurries are likely from the
Great Lakes area eastward into
the Appalachians.
Firemen Called lo
Scene of Blaze
Mcdford firemen were called
back to the BMI cabinet shop,
944 S. Central Ave., Monday
afternoon, but found no fire.
A passerby about 1 p.m. re
ported seeing smoke at the
building, which was gutted by
fire Saturday night.
When firemen arrived, how
ever, they found the "smoke"
was actually steam rising from
the wooden remains of the
building. The wood was drying
out in the sun, which had just
broken through a morning siege
of fog.
Cause of the Saturday night
fire, which virtually destroyed
the cabinet shop, is still not
known.
HEVSBRIEFS
ITIMI ftOM 7 AROUND THI MOM
KENNEDY AIRPORT BECOMES OFFICIAL
NEW YORK (UPI) Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass.,
the late President's youngest brother, leads a host of dignitaries
today In dedication ceremonies changing the name of New York
International Airport to (he John F. Kennedy International Airport-
CONN ALLY, JOHNSON SCHEDL. ,sit
AUSTIN. Tex. (UPI) Wounded Gov. John tonnally. who
has spent most of the past month in a hospital bed, looked for
ward today lo Christmas vlnlt with President Johnson at the
I.BJ Ranch, and a trip lo the Cotton Bowl New Year's Day lo see
the football battle between Texas and Navy.
CYPRIOTS OPEN
Mrnsi. Cvnrus (LTD
palace of the president. Archbishop Makarlos. and other fight-
ing w as reported in nearby areas
postponed until Jan. 10. He has been charged
with the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald, ac
cused assassin of President John F. Ken
nedy. (UP1)
The storm dumped up to 16
inches of snow in parts of Vir
ginia Monday. It left 6 to 8
inches of snow across south
eastern Pennsylvania and New
Jersey before changing to
freezing rain.
Driving was still hazardous
today through most of the snow
and ice belt spawned through
the Southland by the storm.
Roads were clogged from Ar
kansas to New York state.
Jordan, Israel
Remove Barriers
For Pilgrimage
JERUSALEM (UPI) - Israel
and Jordan today threw open
the barriers dividing this anci
ent Arab city between Arab
and Jew. More than 3,500 Is
raeli Christians crossed into the
old city for their annual Christ
mas reunions with relatives.
Many also went to worship at
Christian shrines in the old
city, normally cut off from them
by the Mandelbaum Gate. The
Jacksonville Notes
Increased Mailing
JACKSONVILLE - While
pre-Christmas mailing through
out this postal region has shown
a decrease of about 2 per cent
compared to last year, the Jack
sonville post office has experi
enced a 50 per cent increase,
Postmaster L. Houston Valen
tine reported Monday afternoon.
Monday was the Jackson
ville post office's biggest day
in history, Valentine said.
He based the report upon the
increase in the number of man
hours required to handle the
mail. Since he is using the same
crew as last year, he added, his
estimate may be low as the
crew is naturally more experi
enced and operating more ef
ficiently this year.
Mail has been on the increase
since Monday. Dec. 16, Valen
tine said. The extension of hours
open in the Medford post office
and its branches failed to cause
any decrease in the Jackson
ville mailing, he stated. Incom
ing as well as outgoing mail
has shown the increase.
ASSISTANT CHIEF
PORTLAND (UPI) - Robert
V. Thompson, Lake Oswego, has
been named assistant chief of
the real estate division of the
Portland U.S. Army Engineer
district.
FIRE ON PALACE
Cvpriols today oprnrd fire on the
of the capital.
Memphis, Tcnn., was para
lyzed with its heaviest snow
since 1892 and up to 214 feet
of snow slugged mountainous
areas of West Virginia. New
York City declared a snow
emergency when the storm
moved its way and government
employes in Washington were
sent home early. Airlines can
celed or rerouted flights from
New York to Memphis.
dividing line has bristled with
military guards of both nations
since fighting in Palestine end
ed in an uneasy truce 15 years
ago.
Reminders Present
Reminders of the armed truce
were everywhere. Pilgrims could
see Israeli and Jordanian sol
diers, checkpoint sandbags and
"dragons' teeth" tank traps
marking the border's no man's
land.
Most of the pilgrims will be
allowed to remain in Arab Jor
dan for 36 hours. Many carried
suitcases or bundles of gifts as
they were checked through the
gate in a long, slow moving
line first by Israeli guards
and then by Jordanian soldiers.
Most of the pilgrims are Arab
Catholics. Both governments
permit them to cross over for
visits twice a year at Christ
mas and Easter.
Pilgrimage Overshadowed
The pilgrimage was somewhat
overshadowed this year by the
forthcoming visit of Pope Paul
VI next week. More than 5,000
Christian pilgrims were in Je
rusalem but observers felt the
crowds were smaller than us
ual, apparently because many
delayed their visits to coincide
with the visit of the pontiff
Jan. 4-6.
Workers' Election
Petition Dropped
PORTLAND (UPI) -The Na
tional Labor Relations Board
announced today it has dis
missed a petition by Sutherlin
Machine Works, Inc., for a un
ion representation election
among its workers.
The company s petition grew
out of a labor dispute with the
Lane-Coos-Curry-Douglas Coun
ties Building and Construction
Trades Council and four union
locals last spring.
The council picketed construc
tion of fuel storage and dis
tribution facilities for Martin
Bros. Timber and Container
Corp. at Oakland, Ore., with
signs which said Sutherlin Ma
chine Works employes were
working under substandard con
ditions.
The pickets eventually were
withdrawn and locals of the
Iron Workers, Operating Engi
neers, Boilermakers and Car
penters Unions disclaimed any
interest in representing the com
pany's employes. They said the
pickets were set up solely to
call attention to working condi
tions. CRASH KIM-8 32
BUDAPEST, Hungary (UPI)
A passenger train crashed
into a standing freight train in
fog near Szolnok, Hungary,
early today, the Hungarian
news agency MTI reported
Thirty-two persons were report
I ed killed and 36 injured.
Cirew
Criticized
Asked-for Ladders
Didn't Appear,
Passenger Claims
Lifeboats Said
Properly Equipped
FUNCHAL, Madeira (UPI)
Three rescue ships brought 533
survivors from the Lakonia dis
aster to Funchal today. Some
of the surviving passengers im
mediately criticized the actions
of the crew after fire broke out
aboard the Greek cruise liner
ISO miles to the northeast.
"The crew were no help at
all," one woman, who was not
immediately identified, said aft
er leaving one of the rescue
ships. "We had to look after
ourselves, getting into lifeboats.
There were no ladders, and we
had to get off as best we
could."
In London, the Greek line is
sued an official statement which
said no reports had yet been
received about the fire.
Say Lifeboats Checked
"We cannot comment on is
olated incidents," the statement
said, "and can only say that
the lifeboats were definitely
Drooerlv equipped and all had
been checked during the refit
period before sailing.
Other passengers said the
fire, which broke out Sunday
night aboard the 20,314-ton lin
er, turned everytning inio
"chaos."
"One of us had to jump into
the water," another passenger
said. "Everyone was yelling
and asking for ladders but the
ladders didn't appear.
The company also said it had
received reports that 921 pas
sengers and crew members had
been rescued. The vessel car
ried a total of 1,036 passengers
and crew.
The three vessels which ar
rived here this morning were
the P. & O. liner Strathcden
with three survivors, the Argen
tine vessel Salta with 455, and
the American vessel Rio Grande
with 75 for a total of 533.
Bringing More Survivors
Two other vessels, the Pakis
tani freighter Mehdi and the
British cargo ship Montclam,
were bringing in more survi
vors. The Mehdi was heading
for Funchal and the Montcalm
for Casablanca, Morocco.
The Greek line spokesman in
London said information had
been received that the 7,051-ton
American vessel Exporter had
picked up 76 survivors and the
1,029-ton French motor vessel
Barakat had picked up 22.
He said this brought the total
to 921, leaving 115 unaccounted
for.
A British plane today report
ed sighting 10 more bodies in
the waters around the burning
Lakonia, reducing the number
of passengers and crewmen
dead or unaccounted for to 105.
Hatfield Talks of
First Voter Plan
SALEM (UPI) -Robert Bell,
Oregon Young Republican chair
man who was named national
head of the "First Voter" cam
paign, met Monday with Gov.
Mark Hatield to discuss the na
tional drive to Interest young
oeoDle in voting.
The "first voter" campaign is
directed at people who will be
eligible next year to vote in
their first presidential election
Hatfield urged all Oregon
"first voters" to register with
the party of their choice, and
to take an active part in next
year's election campaigns.
WEATHER
FORfcCAST: Virliblf rloudl
ness nd mild temperatures,
with loutherly breeie tonight.
Moitly cloudy and a little rain
Hedneidav. Low tonight Jl-31-Hlfh
Wednesday 47-53.
Temp.
HUhfit Veiterdav ... . 44
Uwtit Tht Morninf . ... 23
Our Skies Tonight
Siirnft todav .. . 4:4S p.m.
Kunrlte tomorrow . . 1:19 a.m.
MoomM tomorrow 1:41 a.m.
Fiitt Mnon (and Total F.rllpie
of the Moon) . Oec. 30
PROMINKNT STAR
Prnron, low In east T.SI p.m.,
VISIBLE PLANLTK
Jupiter, to the right or the
Moon.
Venui. tu :ld p wt
Saturn, itta ...; p.m
of
'-."."."-" ""ftTffltr'ilfr'filllfr ttf IfllWMWMMHWlMIMBii Hf ! -m, i Ihim.i-h nte .,
SHIP ON FIRE Flames
liner "Lakonia" as the burning
Cambodia Rejects
Dean Acheson in
Role as Mediator
PNOMPENH, Cambodia
(UPI) Cambodia today flatly
rejected a United States pro
posal to send former Secretary
of State Dean Acheson to Cam
bodia as a mediator in the
strained relations between the
two countries.
The secretarial, of the chief
of state here called a suggcs
tion by Undersecretary of State
Averell Harriman that Cambo
dia invite Acheson an unac
ceptable "imposition."
The announcement said that
if Cambodia officially invites
Acheson to Cambodia as pro
posed, it would negate the con
dition for reconciliation already
proposed by Cambodia, namely
the convocation of an interna
tional conference on Cambodi
an neutrality.
Would Give Impression
Inviting Acheson, the an
nouncement said, would give the
impression that Cambodia had
withdrawn its own conditions
and was at fault in the dispute
with the United States over
American aid.
An open invitation to Acheson
would do nothing but give
credulity to the American ac
cusations against Cambodia
and the Khmer people."
"The Khmer people and their
leader sincerely desire the re-
establishment of friendship be
tween Cambodia and the United
States, but would not be will
ing to permit themselves to be
charged with errors they have
not committed and would not
renounce all dignity in ex
change for (American) friend
ship," the statement added.
Cambodian chief of state
Prince Norodom Sihanouk ear
lier this month refused to ac
cept further American econom
ic and military aid, and
ordered all American advisers
out of his country.
Recreation Money
Willed to Salem
SALEM (UPI) - Oregon's
capital city Monday inherited a
$200,783 Christmas present.
The money was from a trust
fund set up by the late Mrs.
Lewis P. Aidrich, in memory of
her husband who died 30 years
ago today.
Mrs. Aidrich stipulated the
money be used for a public re
creation project in Salem for
wholesome recreation, espe
cially for the boys and girls of
the community."
Aidrich was an ollicer nl the
Ladd k Bush bank here for 27
years. Mrs. Aidrich provided for
the gift in her will before she
died in I95(i.
The gift was revealed Mon
day, after other details of the
estate had been settled.
If the city does not use the
money as outlined, the fund is
to be transferred lo the Salem
Foundation, a public charitable
trust established in 1!W0 by the
Ladd & Bush Trust Co.
thicken Limier
n
Iby S
engulf the bow of the Greek
vessel lists to starboard about
Mt. Ashland Skiing
Waiting for Snow;
Bare Spots
ASHLAND There may be
skiing on Mt. Ashland Thursday
but only if more snow falls
in the meantime.
Officials of the Mt. Ashland
Corporation wanted a dry De
cember in order to expedite
construction of the ski lodge
and access road. They cot one
but now the dry weather has
posed anotner problem, it
causing the snow to melt.
There is still plenty of snow
over most or tne ski area, ac
cording to Alex Murphy, cor
poration manager, but there are
a few bare spots which will
make it impossible to open the
slopes for skiing until more
snow falls.
Strong southerly winds and
55-degrcc temperatures atop the
mountain during the past sever
al days have been responsible
for the melting snow.
Chance of Rain
According lo the Medford
Weather Bureau, total precipi
tation for the month has been
2(1 inch, which is 2.28 inches
below normal. More mild tem
peratures and southerly breezes
are forecast for tonight. There
is a chance of rain Wednesday.
tne i -oar nit is now in opera
tion, Murphy said. Tests of the
equipment were completed
Monday. Installation of the Po
malift, on the beginning skiiers
slope, will start Thursday.
Change Planned in
Light lor Crossing
Medford City Manager Robert
Duff today approved the remov
al of a school crossing light on
East Main Street at Kecncway
Drive.
The light, which has been a
pedestrian operated push-button
light for several years is being
changed to a continuous flashing
amber signal, he said.
The signal was installed about
three years ago at the request
of Parent Teacher Association
groups. During recent months
a number of requests have been
made to eliminate the signal.
Because of its intermittent op
eration, many vehicles do not
observe the red light, Public
Works Director Vernon Thorpe
said.
School children using the
crosswalk have had a false sense
of security because there has
been a number of near acci
dents at the location, according
to the report.
Ashland Firemen Are
Called lo Grass Fire
ASHLAND It may be win
ter, hut Ashland firemen were
called out to extinguish a grass
fire this morning.
The fire was reported along
the Southern Pacific Railroad
tracks near Eighth and A
Streets about 9:35 o'clock this
morning. The cause was un
known. Some grass burned;
there was ni other damage.
yirvovors
180 miles from Us destination
Madeira. (UPI)
Noted
The parking lot near the ski
lodge has nearly been complex
ed.
Crews on the access road are
still working double shifts in
ami nui nuiK uuuuic oiima ill
hope of getting a packed dirt
surface ready for use by Jan.
10. It the ski area can be open-
ed before thai date, vehicles
will be routed up Tolman Creek
and Nell Creek Roads.
Mt. Ashland officials remind
ed residents that sledding and
tobogganing are prohibited in
the ski area, according lo forest
service regulations. A few per
sons have ignored the regula
tions during the past week and
several accidents have occurred
a result, it was noted.
Service Planned at
Intersection Tonight
The intersection of Main and
Bartlctt Streets in downtown
Medford will be the scene of an
unusual Christmas Eve service
starting at 7 o'clock tonight.
Vehicle traffic will be blocked
off from the area, starting at
6:45 p.m. I he portions of streets
set aside (or the service will be
so arranged as to form a giant
cross.
The Medford Ministerial Asso
ciation, City of Medford and
various local businesses have co
operated with the group spon
soring the event, which may be
come an annual one.
Speakers will include the Rev.
D. Kirkland West of the First
Presbyterian Church of Med
ford, Capt. Kenneth Angel of the
Salvation Army, the Rev. Rob
ert E. Cull of the Assembly of
God Church of Medford, Jack L.
Willculs, pastor of the Medford
Friends Church, and the Rev.
Katherine Bosworth of the Unity
Church of Medford. Friends of
Sacred Heart Hospital will serve
coffee.
Kennedy's Will
Filed for Probate
BOSTON (UPI) - The will of
the late President John F. Ken
nedy was filed for probate here
Monday, leaving the bulk of his
estate to his wife and children.
The total value of his estate
was not known since no bond
was filed. The 17-page will, dat
ed June IB, 1954, was filed one
month and a day after Kennedy
was assassinated in Dallas, Tex.
However, it was believed the
estate would total several mil
lion dollars.
The will was filed the first
day after the period of oflicial
mourning.
Indiana, Alaska
Enter Into Agreement
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (UPD
Indiana has entered into an un
usual contract with Alaska
whereby the Hoosicr State will
treat Alaskan mental patients
charged with crimes.
the Portuguese island of
$1 Million Mark
Passed by Post
Office in Medford
For the first time In its his
tory the Medford post office has
passed the $1 million mark in
year s business. Acting Post-
I " -
master Al Bradford reported
'"""uuy.
nc expects business to exceed
that figure by a - substantial
amount by year s end. Business
reached the fl million mark one
week ago today, Tuesday, Doc,
17, a survey of reports showed.
In 1962, which was a record
year, business totaled $915,000.
The strange thing about the
years heavy business is the
fact that it hasn't been helped
mucn Dy the pre - Christmas
mail. This continues to be l'A
per cent below last year, Brad
ford said.
Record Mailing Day
One record day of mailing
was realized Monday, Dec. 16.
Since then the mail has been
under last year's pre-Christmas
figures.
Mall throughout the Northwest
region has been below last vear.
Bradford said. Throughout the
United Slates it has showed
what officials believe is a de
pressed reaction to the assassi
nation of President Kennedy.
There seems to be no other
explanation as the year's busi
ness was up prior to the assas
sination. Longer hours and more davs
in operation have been arranged
to enable patrons of the post
office to do their Christmas
mailing here with less diffi
culty. But the response has not
developed as anticipated, Brad
ford said.
Johnson Pays Respects
To Late Congressman
PHILADELPHIA (UPI) -
President Johnson, enroute to a
Yulctide visit to his horn e.
came here today to pay his last
respects to Rep. William J.
Green Jr., It-Pa., long time
friend and veteran Democratic
politician who died last Satur
day.
2,775 Trees
Rogue National Forest
Christmas trees from the
Rogue River National Forest
await Santa Claus tonight in
2,775 homes.
That is the number of tress
checked out in the family cut
ting on the forest this season,
D. F. Kaiser, timber sales of
ficer for the forest, reported to
day.
The greatest number came
from the Union Creek Ranger
District. Family trees cut to
talled 1,606. Each year Union
Creek is the most popular cut
ting ground and the fir the most
popular tree, Kclser said.
There were 428 trees cut on
the Ashland Ranger District,
375 on the Prospect, and 366 on
the Butte Falls District.
Just one family was reported
lost in the woods during the
annual Christmas tree cutting,
Johnson Scores
Major Victory
After Wrangling
Members Adjourn
Until Monday
WASHINGTON (UPI)-Presl-dent
Johnson today won his
first major battle with Congress
when the House voted in an un
precedented dawn session to
abandon its attempt to curb
wheat sales to Communist coun
Ures. President Johnson, who lair!
his relationship with Congress
on me une to get the victory,
said "I am sure that the na
tion is grateful" to the lawmak
ers. Longest Session Over
Immediately after the bitterlv
contested vote, the weary House
members agreed to adjourn
next Monday. This meant that
tor all practical purposes the
longest session In more than 20
years was over.
But the Senate then staged ils
own pre - Christmas rebellion
when a handful of senators
balked at postponing follow-up
Senate action until Monday.
forced 'temporary Recess
The unexpected Senate flare-
up obviously aimed at absent
sen. Wayne L. Morse, D - Ore.
forced a temporary recess in
a supposedly routine Senate ses
sion to let senate officials con
tact out-of-town leaders for fur
ther instructions.
The roll call vote on t h e
wheat credit amendment to the
$3 billion foreign aid bill was
189 lo 158. Voting in support
of Johnson's stand were 187
DemocaU and Republicans.
Voting against it were 133 Re
publicans and 25 Democrats.
Wore Down Opponents
The administration victory
took 10 days, three tries and a
lot of bruised feelings that all
but destroyed the honeymoon
with the White House. The
House twice before had voted
or the controversial amend
ment to the foreign aid bill but
administration forces finally .
wore down oononents with tac-
tics (hat included an all-night
session Friday night.
The Senate still must eiva
routine approval to the foreign
aid bill but this is scheduled
for Friday. Only the pending
Senate vote prevented Congress
from adjourning finally until
Jan. 7 when the second session
begins.
As a result, some House mem
bers will have to stick around
through the Christmas holidays.
Most congressmen, however.
headed straight for the high
ways and airports.
Howard Prairie Not
o Open Dec. 26
Howard Prairie recreation
area will not be open as origi
nally planned Dec. 26, Jackson
County Parks and Recreation
Director Neil Lcdward said to
day, because of unseasonably
warm wcatner at tne nigncr ele
vations. There is no ice on the lake
safe for skating now and only
a little snow on the ground, '
Ledward said.
Ledward said the resort area
will be open as soon as condi
tions change. The water temper
ature has lowered to the point
where only two or three days of
cold weather with no wind will
freeze enough ice for skating.
Hyatt lake has ice, and tliera
will be skating there. The resort
will be open with skate rental
available, he said. Road condi
tions to Hyatt are fair from
either direction.
Taken From
Kciscr said. This happened in
a snow storm on the Butlo Falls
District. The family decided lo
wait out the storm after losing
direction in the thick brush.
When the car failed to check
by the ranger station and dark
descended, Ranger Bob Lewis
started in search. He found tho
car on the road up in the Blue
Rock country and found the
members of tho family huddled
under the brush about one
fourth mile from the road. Wise
ly, they had decided to wait un
til assistance came instead of
battling the brush in search ot
the trail, Kciscr said.
The Butte Falls ranger
brought the family out to tha
car, lighting the way through
the snow. No ill effects wero re
ported from the experience.
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