The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, February 24, 1950, Page 1

THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE “ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME” VOL. LXXIV., NO. 11,436 JUNEAU, ALASKA, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1950 D PRESS PRICE TEN CENTS MEMBER AS Labor Party Fkes Out Win In British Election SWEETBRIAR EXERCISES NOW ENDED War Game fi;—neuvers Be- tween Americans, Canad- ians Come fo Successful End NORTHWAY, Alaska, Feb. 24—® — A coordinated parachute-ground assault mopped up the last of ag- gressor forces yesterday and brought an end to the 1l-day-old Exercise Sweetbriar. The closing maneuver found 100 members of Princess Patricia’s Ca- nadian light infantry dropping from the skies to join forces with hun- dreds of Canadian and U.S. ground troops in the final attack. Canada’s Defense Minister, Brooke Claxton, and numerous Generals were on the sidelines as the para- troopers, camouflaged in white, surged toward the Northway air- strip after landing on an ice- covered lake less than a mile away. Later, Claxton told a press con- ference that “perhaps the greatest direct result is that 5,000 men m the U.S. and Canadian forces now have personal knowledge of how to op- erate in the Arctic.” Pre-Dawn Tragedy, | Four Men Are Killed CASTLE ROCK, Wash., Feb. 24 —®—Four workmen were injured fatally early today in'the crash of a logging railroad speeder at the site of a bridge washout. Three bodies were: brought here shortly before noon. A fourth man died enroute to Longview. The pre-dawn tragedy occurred on Weyerhauser logging railroad in the Toutle River region. The three victims brought here were. identified as Al Berg, Levi Orman and B. B. Grant. Don Stewart, about 45, a Weyer- haueser logging foreman, was the other man killed. Stewart was the father of Don | Stewart, Jr., substitute center on the University of Washington bask- etball team, Another son, Eddie, is attending Washington State Col- lege. The widow, Mrs. Martha Stewart, also survives. CALIFORNIAN HERE Ruth M. McElroy of La Mesa, Calif., was an overnight guest at the Baranof Hotel, planning to go to Anchorage today. The Washingion Merry - Go- Round ICopyrizht. 1950. by Bell Syndicate, Inc.) Bv DREW PEARSON ASHINGTON—Republicans will | probably wise-crack at this one, but since Russia’s discovery of H- bomb and A-bomb secrets, it’s likely that the President and Vice Presi- dent of the United States will not again attend a Jackson Day Din- ner under the same roof. Regardless of the political party In power, this is not a pleasant kind of internal secruity precau- tion to econtemplate. Nevertheless, after the Jackson- Jefferson Day Dinner, someone be- gan considering the grussome ques- tion as to what would have happen- ed if an enemy had sent a surprise plane over the Arctic Circle .on February 16 and dropped an A- bomb on Washington, Not only were the President and Vice President under the same roof, but also every member of the Cab- inet, the Democratic Governors of 10 states and a good part of the Senate and House of Representa- tives. The Speaker was also present, and if such a catastrophe had oc- curred, it would have been up to a Speaker pro-tem to convene the House, while Senator McKellar would have had the power to con- vene the Senate. Whether Congress would have then called for special elections, or whether the Republicans would | have had to take over for the time bein, since few Democratic deaders | would have been left, sisce three to six months would have been neces- sary to make nominations and con- duct the final balloting. There would also be the question (Continued on Page Four) Spring Trip ToNorthwest By President Tentative PIeTn; by Truman| fo Rescue “Fair Deal” | Is Reported By ERNEST B. VACCARO ‘WASHINGTON, Feb. 24—(®— President Truman may try to rescue his “fair deal” program by a pre- adjournment stumping tour aimed at bringing voter pressure on Con- gress. The President himself gave im- petus to such speculation by dis- closing that he is considering a spring trip to the northwest com- i plete with “whistle stops” going and coming back. The trip under consideration would have for its avowed purpose participation in the dedication of the Grand Coulee Dam in Washing- ton state. ‘The President told his news cun- ference yesterday that he had been invited and was considering making | the trip. If he went, he said, there probably would be some whistle stops going and coming. In view of his previously an- nounced decision to stay out of Democratic primaries except in his own state of Missouri, the Presi- dent likely would concentrate on op- | ponents of his legislative program, especially Republicans, but leave enough implications to whip some Democratic recalcitrants in line. ‘Republicans generally viewed the spring tour as part of a Truman campaign to get his sort of Demo- crat elected to. Congress: Presidents Wilson ‘and Franklin D. Roosevelt both made some efforts in that di- rection, and Sengtor Brewster (R- Me) said he didn’t believe Mr. Tru- man could succeed where those two failed. PROMOTIONS FOR TWO COAST GUARD OFFICERS Announcement of advancement for two 17th District Coast Guard officers was made today by Coast Guard headquarters here. Lt. Comdr. Edward P. Chester Jr., military aide to Governor Er- nest Gruening, has been promoted to the rank of commander. Lt. H. I, Allen, chief of the com- munications section of the 17th Coast Guard district, has been ad-| vanced to the rank of lieutenant | commander. Both promotions are as of Feb. 10. FREE RIDES FOR CROWD GOING TO DANCE TONIGHT Members of Taku Post 5559, Vet- erans of Foreign Wars, have a dif- ferent idea for their party tonight from that of other recent affairs. Lately, instructions like these have been frequent: “Formal for the women, optional for the men.” There is nothing optional about garb for the Old Time dance to- | night for the “March of Dimes” fund, according to Chairman Fred Dawley. “For one thing,” he 'said, “clothes must be worn. “Moreover, they must be very, very informal. Any man wearing a_tie probably will never see it again. Ties are absolutely taboo. Be comfortable. | Square dancing is fun, and it's more fup when you're dressed for it. “Our object is to have a good time and raise a substantial con- tribution for the fight against polio.” Dawley also called attention to the generosity of E. L. (Red) Hollo- way. Red has offered free trans- portation within the city to per- sons wishing to attend the benefit dance. That goes for both directions —to and from the party. The music will start at 9 o'clock for the VF.W. Old Time dance in| | the C.I.O. Hall, but the doors will be open at 8:30. Working on the committee with Chairman Dawley are Frank Shep- ard, co-chairman, and Harold Fen- nel, post commander. effective FROM HOOD BAY | parliamentary itary, Harry . Pollitt, was . defeated { America, at the January 18 meet- A. E. Owens of Hood Bay is stopping at the Baranof Hotel. louocaooo-c DIAMONDS STOLEN IN BRINK ROBBERY DISCLOSURE TODAY BOSTON, F(‘D 24—IM—An ad- vertisement in the Boston Ameri- can today offered $25,000 reward “for the return of three uncut dia- monds taken in the Brink’s, Ine., holdup of Jan. 17.” It was the first suggestion from any source that the Hallowe'en masked gunmen who invaded the armored car firm's stronghold five weeks ago made off with unythingl more than cash—$1,200,000 of it— and checks worth $500,000. | The American fixed the value of | the diamonds at $300,000 but gave | no source for its estimate. The advertisement said the dia- monds “were in a small purse-type | chamois bag.” 2COMMUNISTS LOSE SEATS IN | BRIT. COMMONS LONDON, Feb. 24—(®—The only two Communist members of Com- | mons lcst their seats in Britain's| elections. The gen- eral secretary of the party in Bri-| tain also was defeated in the gen- eral shellacking the Communists took, | The defeated Ccmmunist M.P.'s are veteran Willie Gallacher and Philip Piratin. Gallacher ran last in a three-man race in West Fife (Scotland). Piratin was counted out last night in the Stepney district of London. The Communist General Secre- by 22,000 votes. was defeated. The Communists, attempting to make a big splash, nominated 100 candidates, Before the count was half over| the Party’s treasury was £8,700 ($24,360) in the red. ALASKA TROLLERS GRANTED NATIONAL Mrs. Pollitt also Local 100, United Trollers of Alaska, has been granted a national | charter by the C.LO. | The certificate of affiliation with | the national C.LO. arrived at the office of Andy Barlow, executive| secretary of the Southeast Alaska trollers’ ynion, today. The trollers’ executive hoard voted to disaffiliate with its par- ent union, the C.1.O.’s International | Fishermen and Allied Workers ot ing of the board here. The action of the board was rati- fied by rank and file members of the trollers union throughout South- east Alaska shortly after the deci- sion was made. The break with IFAWA came at the time when it was considering merging with Harry Bridges' lnter- national Longshoremen’s and Ware- housemen’s Union. Representatives of the ‘trollers’ union said that they could see no good for them in being connected with an organization of shorework- ers. They said they had against the ILWU, The new certificate of affiliation for the United Trollers was dated February 21 and was signed by Philip Murray, president of the Cl1.0. Named as charter members of Local 100, United Trollers of Alaska, were Larry Clark, Ketchikan; B. H. Manery, Juneau; Oscar Davisson, Craig; Al Brookman, Sitka; Wil- liam Jordan, Wrangell; F. Wetche, Pelican; and Barlow. nothing LYONS HERE A. A. Lyons of Lytle and Green, Company, Anchorage, is registered at the Baranof Hotel. FROM SKAGWAY Mrs. Gail Budd and Mrs. Adele McGuane of Skagway are staying at the Baranof Hotel. TIDE TABLEFE FEBRUARY 25 Low tide 0:47 am. 64 ft. High tide 6:50 am., 13.0 ft./ Low tide 2:16 p.m.,, 38 ft. | Lowel, | been sent to Seward, Cordova, Ket- \CHARTER BY C. 1. 0., FACT - FINDERS ARE NAMED BY TRUMAN, AVERT R. R. STRIII} WASHINGTON, Feb. 24— @ — President Truman today set up an emergency fact-finding board, au- tomatically heading off a nation- wide railroad strike scheduled for Monday. The action has the effect of de- laying the proposed strike for 60 days. Mr. Truman signed ‘an Executive order creating the board to inves- tigate a dispute between the carris ers and the Brotherhoods of Rail- way Conductors and Railroad trains men. The numes of the emergency | board members will be nnnounca‘ later. ‘The dispute is between the Brom- erhoods and Carriers represented by the Eastern, the Western an the Southeastern Carrier Confer: ence Committees. JUNEAU SKIERS PREP FOR INTER-CLUB MEET T0 BE HELD MARCH 5 Juneau skiers will be practicing this weekend in preparation for the Juneau Ski Club’s inter-club tournament to be held Sunday, March 5. The 1000-foot ski tow on the Douglas Island slalom slope will be running both Saturday and Suns day from 10 am. as Class B men, Class B women and girls, Class B juniors (from 12 to 18 years of age) and Class- C. juniors (undey 12) run through the gates of the practice slalom course on the majs hill, Applications will be taken for the inter-club tournament all next week at the Quilico Sports Center, John ski club tournament man- ager, said today. The competit®n will be limited to Class B and C races, and awards will be made only i for combined slalom-downhill races. The annual Southern Ski Tourn- ament will be run a week after the inter-club meet. It will draw skiers from as far away as Anchorage, and Fairbanks. Invitations have chikan, Fairbanks and Anchorage ski clubs, The big meet will be limited to Class A and Class A junior skiers, Lowell said. SPECIAL ELECTION FOR PROPERTY OWNERS ONLY Voters in the special electicn to be held Tuesday, March 7, must be owners of real estate, City Clerk C. L. Popejoy said today. The election will be held in the Christ Church in the Highlands and at the City Hall to consider the question: “Shall the Highlands Sub- division be annexed to the city?” The ordinance calling for the special election states that voters “shall be the owners of substantial property interests in land, buildings or improvements on land or tide- lands within the City of Junezu or within the Highlands Subdivision.” LEWIS' BROTHER KICLS SELF OVER LONG ILL HEALTH SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Feb. 24—#— Thomas A. Lewis, 67, brother of John L. Lewis, head of the United Mine Workers, was found shot to death today in his home here. Deputy Coroner Catherine Ruth- erford said he had shot himselt be- cause of ill health. The deputy coroner said that Lewis, a retired immigration service employee, had been in ill health for some time and suffered a severe heart attack yesterday. "ALASKA NIGHT" IS TONIGHT IN SEATILE SEATTLE, Feb. 24—»—Its the annual “Alaska night” at the Arctic |Club tonight. More than 500 Al- askans, former Alaskans and men associated with Alaskka industry will gather for the dinner party. Special guests of honor will be High tide 8:54 pm, 9.9 ft. Capt. A. J. Goddard and Nathan Kresge, veteran Alaskans. "Mercy Dodlor” Smiles Before Trial - Dr. Hermann N. Sander, 41, smiles as he escorts his wife, Alice, to the ‘\lanchesur. N. H, court where the physician is on trial on a charge of murder in the death of a cancer patient. Louis E. Wyman, chief defense counsel. 'I'VE BROKEN LAW BEFORE,' MERCY KILLER QUOTED MANCHESTER, N. H,, Feb. 24—‘ M—A hospital records keeper te: tified today that Dr. en a law in the “mercy Kkilling” death of a cancer patient. Miss Josephine Connor, librarian at Hillsboro County Ho: pital, calmly told a 13-man jury about a conversation she said she heard between a county medical referee and Sander. Dr. Sander is being tried on a first degree murder charge in con-| aection with the death of Mrs. Ab- bie Borroto, 59, Manchester house- | wife. Miss Connor, a buxom registered nurse, gave this account of the talk between Dr. Robert E. Biron, the medical referee, and Dr. Sander on the day of Sander’s arrest: “Dr. Biron asked if he (Sander) realized he had broken the law. Dr. Sander said ‘yes, he'd broken laws before—he’d been through stop | signs.’ “Dr. Biron said this serious, this was murder, er said he did realize I the law but the law changed. “Dr. Biron said change it this?" ” Miss Connor testified she did not remember Dr. Sander's reply to ‘hat last question. STOCK QUOTATIONS NEW YORK, Feb. 24—-Closing quotation of Alaska Juneau mine stock today is 3, American Can 111%, Anaconda 30%, (‘umss- Wright 9%, International Har' 28%, Kennecott 54%, New York Central 127%, Northern Pacific 16, U. 8. Steel 30%, Pound $2.80%. Sales today were: 1,710,000 shar Averages today are as follow was more Dr, nd- 'd broken should be didn’t you ‘Why first—before you did | industrials 204.15, rails 5548, util-| ities 42.81. LI » e e v o w e WEATHER REPORT In Juneau—Maximum 42; minimum 34 At Airport—Maximum 41; minimum 31. FORECAST (Junesu and Vielaity) Variable cloudiness to- night and Saturday with oc- casional light rain showers. Low temperature tonight about 32 and high’Saturday near 38. PRECIPITATION (Past 24 nours ending 7:30 & m. today City of Juneau—Trace; since Feb. 1--2.82 inches; since July 15793 inches; At Airport—Trace; since Feb. 1—191 inches; since July 13834 inches. o ® 0 0o 0000 0 0 0 reeccecceccccn . . > . K] ° . . . ° ° . . ° . . . 3 . . o ] . [} Hermann N.‘ Sander said he knew he had brok-| (P Wirephoto. (COURT OUSTS UMW PLEA T0 . DROP CHARGE Contempt Hfing on Mon- day-Union Says Lewis Is . Not at Fault in Strike medical | WASHINGTON, Feb. 24— P — Judge Richmond B. Keech refused today to' drop contempt charges ! against. the striking coal miners | unfon and ordered a trial on Mon- ' day. ‘Welly K. Hopkins, chief UMW at- torney, said he would consider over the weekend whether to ask for a | jury trial. Assistant Attorney General H. Graham Morison asked that the trial start tomorrow. He noted that since the original court back to work | order, issued Feb., 11, “There has been no increase in production of! the bituminous mines of this coun- try.” Urging the need for speed in the case, Morison said: | “At least 20 states have adopted emergency measures to L are of | the coal supply. “Virtually all of the nation’s cities | have the same problem. | “If this contempt is established; | in appropriate trial then it is the view of the government that the full} power and majesty of this court be used to get the miners back on the job.” Hupkins cbjected to having the| rial start tomerrow. | Judge Keech then set it for Mon- day. The judge denied Hopkins' formal motion that-the civil and criminal | contempt charges be dropped and | the proceeding be ended. Union attorneys had argued the | court had no right to issue back L0 | work orders to the miners. eplying to charges that union is in contempt of the court’s back to work order, the attorneys: 1. Denied the union called the walkout. 2. Denied the union was respon- | sible for continuing the idlene which has cut the nation’s coal supply to famine level. The UMW attorneys told Judge Richmond B. Keech that the strike was a result of individual action by the 370,000 soft coal diggers. “Refusal to work was and is en- tirely without suggestion, direction or uumonznuon of the respondent union and wholly in contravention of and contrary to the direciions iven aforesaid by the respondent ‘ through its officers,” said Welly K.| | Hopkins. i Hopkins is chief attorney for the union. Stripped of his legal phrases, the }Lems as president of the mine ] work in compliance with the court’s order, but the miners had not obeyed. In left background is COALHUNGER INCREASES AS PLEAS DENIED Hospital and Others Wire Lewis for Aid-Emergency | Measures, Going In | PITTSBURGH, Feb. 24— M— Striking soft coal miners are show- ing no inclination to dig coal on an | emergency basis despite pleas from fuel-hungry cities and hospitals. The trickle of coal mined by non- union diggers is being choked ot by roving bands of pickets who insist | production stand still. Unemployment in coal-allied in- dustries is rising by the hour. That's the picture in the nation | today as dohn L. Lewis, head of the| United Mine Workers, continues to | slug it out with soft coal operators in government-prodded talks to try and get a new contract. { The St. Louis hospital council said | it got a reply from Lewis to its urgent plea for him' to help provide coal. It quoted him as saying: } “Suggest you urge coal compnmes} heretofore supplying you coal to| sign contract with United Mine Workers of America, which will per- mit immediate resumption of pro- duction.” The board of’ Allegheny county commissioners in the coal capital | of Pittsburgh also wired Lewis, ask- ing him to permit a few mines to operate near here. ‘The. commissioners said only 3,000 | tons of coal are available and that | from 7,000 to 10,000 tons is needed | daily. Lewis didn’t reply. The situation in Pittsburgh is no| worse and no better than in many other cities. | Stringent emergency measures | are going into effect across the na- | Officials have ordered dimouts | and industrial layoffs, forced schools | to close and put other cunservauol” measures into effect. The situation in New York state | is so bad that coal administrator Bertram D. Tallamy says no one | will ‘get any soft coal except hos pitals, food processing plants, muni- cipal water works and other esben- tial consumers. STEAMER MOVEMENIS Denali .\rh(‘dulc\l to sail from Se- e | his argument meant that John L.'attle Saturday. Princess Norah scheduled to sall ® | workers, had ordered them back to from Vancouver Saturday. Baranof scheduled southbound NEW VOTE EXPECTED BE TAKEN Laborites (m Have 318 Seats Against Churchill’s 288 in House LONDON, Feb, 24—(—The Labor party retained bare control of the House of Commons today in Brit- 2in’s national election. But the mar- gin was so small there may have to be a new vote soon, or within a matter of months. With 17 of 625 districts still to report, Labor had won 313 seats to 288 for Winston Churchill's Con- servatives and their allies. The Liberals had only seven seats. In the old House of Commons Labor had a majority of 148 seats over the combined opposition. Labor leaders held a hurried strategy con- ference tonight, but when it was over, they declared no statement would be made until the results are complete. All Votes Not In Four isolated districts in Secot- land will not report until Monday and in another, in Manchester, a bye-election will have to be held because a candidate fell dead just before yesterday's election. Labor needs a majority of at least 30 seats to function effectively, its leaders said. Conservative party experts said at 6 p.n., that prospects of their win- ning a clear-cut victory looked “quite hopelm % But oln analyst will not stay in power long.” ‘This posed the possibility of new elections if the Labor party emerged with a final victory but met defeat in the House of Commons on a vote of confidence. Winston Churchill, who spear- headed the Conservatives along the come-back trail after their landslide defeat in 1945, said: “It is obvious Parliament is going to be in a very unstable condition.” The total vote in the elections, held yesterday, broke all records. In the first 550 districts 25216,425 votes were counted, compared with the previous high for all districts ot 25,018,393 in 1945. Eighty-five per- i cent of the eligible voters went to the polls in the 550. districts The national average in 1945, was 73 percent, EARLY REPORT LONDON, Feb. 24—®—The total of seats won by the Labor party was exactly equal late today to the com- bined total run up by the Conser- vative and Liberal parties. Only 92 of the 625 districts remained to be accounted for. Thus it was doubtful !that the Labor party, even 1f it emerged with the most seats, would have a workable majority in the House of Commons. The Attlee government and its opponents each had won 266 seats. The Conservatives had 260 seats and the Liberal six. Speaker of the House Douglas Clifton Brown was reelected on the | Conservative ticket but is regarded as a non-partisan. The number of party seats in the new House of Commons therefore is 624 instead of the 625 total. Deadlock The deadlock continued as the | next two districts were reported. This made the standing: Labor 267, Conservative 261, Liberals 6. At the overnight recess in count- ing, the Labor party led Winston Churchill's Conservatives by 61 seats. Steadily the lead diminished. Late in the day returns from 506 con- stituencies gave the Laborites 256 seats, the Conservatives all allied candidates 245 and the Liberals five. There were 625 House of Commons seats at stake. In the old House of Commons, consisting of 640 seats the Laborites outnumbered the Con- servatives 381 to 202. Labor Strongholds Many of the districts still to be heard from were in tudmonuly Labor strongholds. The race was so close, however. that many leaders on both sides speculated on the possibility that neither party would be able to muster a working majority in the new Parliament. That would force a new election in the near future. late Sunday or early Monday, may- i be. | Morgan Phillips, general secretary (Continued on Page Two)