Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 7 April 1944 — Page 1
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VOLUME 21—NUMBER 45.
MUNCIE, INDIANA, FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1944.
PRICE: FIVE CENTS
DEA Banquet WiU Be Focal Point For '44 State Ticket
OCTANE GAS STOLEN. Los Angeles—Thousands of gallons of scarce high-octane aviation gasoline have been stolen from army and navy bases by truck drivers who withheld part of their deliveries for sale in the black market, Assistant U. S. Attorney Charles S. Veale said today. The hard-to-get fuel brings fancy prices from service station operators who use it to bring up the octane ratings of their inferior gasoline. Veale made his disclosure in revealing the secret indictment of Floyd Fiecher, an oil company i driver on a charge of retaining j 830 gallons of aviation fuel from a 4,500 gallon load and later peddling it to gas stations. o ROUT NAZI COLUMN. London — Jugoslav Partisans were reported today to have routed a German column in the Jajce sector, 70 miles northeast of Sarajevo, as the Nazis threw fresh reinforcements into western Bosnia where the most bitter fighting of the Jugoslav campaign has been raging. Marshal Josip (Tito) Brozovich’s headquarters said there were “considerable” casualties on both sides, but indicated that the Partisans were holding their positions. o OFFICIALS RETURNS. Milwaukee, Wis.—More than 50 per cent of the 260,468 Republican votes cast in the Wisconsin primary election Tuesday were for Gov. Thomas E. Dewey, of New York, unofficial returns from 2,845 of the state’s 3,075 precincts showed today. Total number of Dewey votes was 131,740, the number cast for Secretary of State Fred Zimmerman, the leading candidate for del-egate-at-large. Zimmerman’s total Was more than the combined number of votes cast for the leading candidates for delegate-at-large for Lt. Cmdr. Harold E. Stassen, former governor of iMmhesota; Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Wendell L. Willkie. o STETTINIUS IN LONDON. London—Edward R. Stettinius Jr., United States Undersecretary Df State, arrived today for a broad discussion of American and British affairs, probably including diplomatic problems concerned with the forthcoming invasion of Europe. Stettinius aws smalinq broadly when he alighted from the plane, but he declined comment on his visit. He and his party were expected to stay in Britain about two weeks, during which they will confer with Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden and other British leaders on common interests and relations.
Party Faithful Expect To See Formation of Party Ticket During Meeting—Hope To Get Answers To Much Discussed Questions—Schricker To Be Main Speaker In Riley Room—Many Party Bigwigs Will
Attend Annual Get-Together.
souri 2, New York 28, North Carolina 20, Oklahoma 2, and Wisconsin 3. Total 109. Grand total, 132. Pledged to Stassen—-jVTinnnesota 23, Wisconsin 3. Total 2G. None
claimed so far.
Pledged to MacArthur—Wiscon-
sin 3. None claimed.
Previously claimed for Willkie— New Hampshire 6, New Mexico 1,
New York 3. Total 10.
Unpledged and Unclaimed so far —Florida 15, Iowa 23, Kansas 19, Louisiana 13, Minnesota 2, Missouri 18, New Hampshire 3, New
Democratic i Mexi0 ° Carolina 5. Total
Indianapolis, April 7.—The 1944 , 105
state ticket is expected to take shape at the annual Total needed for nomination
spring banquet of the Indiana Democratic Editorial Association in the Claypool Hotel here Saturday, April 15, with a score of unannounced candidates planning to sound out sentiment at this gala state-
wide rally.
Whether many men and women now “thinking about ,, running for state offices actually get into the nomination races will depend largely on the encouragement they receive from county and district party leaders at this meeting. A number of county and dis-
trict organizations are already sponsoring certain in- 1940—nughY even support a fourth dividuals for state offices, and they will have-head- i^rence^ollmnV^Reprmcali quarters in the hotel from which to proclaim the jwho did not see eye to eye with
merits of their respective “boys”.
The party faithful hope, on April ° 15, to get answers to these much-
discussed questions:
1. Will Governor Schricker be a candidate for United States Sena-
tor?
2. Is the present Senator, Samuel D. Jackson, going to run for Governor? 3. Who is getting into the race
530.
Watch Willkie Moves
While Dewey was on all counts top man in the party as of today, the question of what Willkie might do held the intense interest of Republican politicians, who speculated on these possible de-
velopments:
1. Willkie might stump for a Republican with liberal international views such as Stassen, thus giving that candidate’s chances a boost. 2. He might return to the Demo cratic party, which he quit before
KIDNAP PLOT NIPPED. Windsor, Ont.—Provincial police said today they had frustrated a plot to kidnan Harry F. McClean, 'whose ohilanthropy runs to giving $100 bills to charwomen and fluttering money out of hotel windows. Crown Attorney E. C. Awrey said that extra vigilance by Windsor police prevented execution of the plot during McLean’s one-day visit here last week. Awrey said he had‘received definite informa- ' tion that the wealthy contractor was to be abducted, and that extra police details had been assigned to protect him. o PRIVILEGES AWAIT VETS Washington—The War Department told honorably discharged soldiers today that “numerous privileges” await them in civilian life and that “you can always be proud you were once a members of America’s armed forces and that you help persons separted from the served with honor.” In a 40-page booklet designed to help persons separated from the army to find economic security, the department summarized information on getting jobs, converting national service insurance to standard policies, obtaining veterans’ benefits, and securing disability care.
AMERICA FIRSTERS WIN Washington. — R. J. Thomas, president of the United Automobile Workers (CIO) said today that the Republican primary election in Wisconsin “was won by America Firsters.” He told a conference of UAW war veterans that the Wisconsin results reflect “a very bad trend in this country.” “We can say, ‘Oh, well, this will make it easier for Roosevelt to be elected’—but that election,” he said, “was won by America Firsters, whether we like it or not. And that’s one thing labor has got to guard against.” -o INVALIDED SOLDIER FINED
for Lieutenant Governor? For Audi tor of State? ,For Secretary of State? While the editorial meetings are principally political get-togethers, the Democratic editors will hold a business meeting at noon. They will meet at luncheon in the Chateau room of the hotel to elect officers, adopt resolutions and discuss newspaper problems. The diner in the Riley room that night will be the big event of the day. Governor Schricker and Senator Jackson will share the speaking program. Lt. Gerry Kisters of Bloomington, two-medal hero of World War II, will be guest of honor and will say a few words. For heroism in Tunisia and Sicily, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by General Marsha]! and the Congressional Medal of Honor was pinned on him by President Roosevelt. Lt. Kisters is now in a government hospital at Louisville, Kentucky, recovering from seven bullet wounds. Among the party’s bigwigs at the banquet will be Judge Sherman Minton of the United States Circuit Court of. Appeals in Chicago and many celebrities from Washington who have notified Ray E. Smith, president of the Editors, that they will attend. Howard N. Greenlee of Vincennes is general chairman of the arrangements. He is being assisted by other editors and Fred Bays. Democratic state chairman; Mrs. Edna A. Bingham, state vice-chair-man, and Charles E. Skillen, secretary of the state committee. Hugh A. Barnhart, ticket committee chairman, has sent tickets to all county and district chairman and Democratic editors. He has announced that advanced ticket sales are beyond expectations, and predicted an attendance of 1,000 to 2,000. Tickets are $2.50
each.
Johnny Winn and His Orchestra, featuring the lovely Jeni Wynn as vocalist, will furnish music during the dinner. At the conclusion of Senator Jackson’s address at 9:30, the meeting will adjourn. Dancing, usually provided after the speaking program, has been discontinued this year. o UNDERTAKERS MUST STAY.
New York, April 7.—Undertakers were among the employment classes whose members were forbidden to leave the Hungarian capital of Budapest, the Hungarian MTI agency reported in a broadcast recorded by U. S. government monitors.
WILLKIE QUITS 1944 GOP RAGE
Aspirant Probably Realiz-
ed Futility of Fighting Dewey Group
j him on foreign affairs.
There was some conjecture that Iwillkie might be invited to share
[the ticket with the President,
j 3. He might head a new “Bull Moose” Liberal movement away from the old line Republican party. 4. Or, he might go along with the GOP nominee, whoever that may be, continuing his appeals for a “One World” program to preserve future peace, a peace he thus could hope to have some hand
in formulating.
Announces Decision
Willkie announced his exit from the race in the course of what had been billed as a presidential cam-
Because Wendell Willkie’s poor showing in last Tuesday’s election in Wisconsin for delegates to the National Convention, he has pulled out of the Presidential race. For many days he and his wife have been stumping the state of Wisconsin. Politicians have been publicising for weeks, the fact that the Wisconsin vote would be considered a real test of Willkie’s
strength.
Many are of the opinion that the result 6f last Tuesday’s vote in Wisconsin could not be considered a criterion of the Republican vote of the country. Willkie, himself, made mention of the fact that too many of the GOP leaders in that state were decidedly isolationists and did not hold to his own views
on world affairs.
The fact that he lost the delegates in Wisconsin was probably not the reason he gave up the fight. He realized, there in his contest for delegates, the utter futility
of his campaign against the all LIBRARY CITES
powerful, well oiled and over financed machine that was already
set no for Dewey.
Willkie still has the party worried however, because it recognizes the fact that he has great influence and the statement he made following his defeat of last Tuesday would certainly give no indication that he is through with politics. His statement follows: “I earnestly hope , that the Republican convention will nominate a candidate and write a platform which really represents the views which I have advocated and which I believe are shared by millions of Americans. I shall continue to work for these principles and policies for which I have fought during the past five years.” Many are wondering if this does not mean a third party in the fall
election.
The Herald American has this to say about the political situa-
tion:
The Republicans were left with this political picture: Principal Prospects — Governor Dewey (N. Y), Governor Bricker (O.), Cmdr. Stassen (Minn.), Gen. MacArthur. Nominating convention delegates selected thus far, 276. Pledged to Dewey—Missouri 6, New Hampshire 2, Wisconsin 15. Total 23. Claimed for Dewey—Mis-
to his prepared speech a statement
which said, in part:
“It has been my conviction no Republican could be nominated for President unless he received at the convention the votes of some of the major midwestern states, for it is in this section of the country that the Republican party has had its greatest resur-
gence..
“Therefore, I quite deliberately entered the Wisconsin primary to test whether the Republican voters of the state would support me and in the advocacy of every sacrifice and cost necessary to winning and shortening the war and in the advocacy of tangible, effective economic and, political co-o|lfer-ation among the nations of the world for the preservation of the peace and the rebuilding of
humanity. o
CIRCULATION.
• ;
Tulsa, Okla.—On the 31st anniversary of the founding of the Tulsa public library, Acting Librarian Helen Ware observed the day, March 3, by reporting that the library had circulated 14,178,092 books during that period.
London, April 7—An 18-year-old invalided British soldier was fined $12 in a London court today for driving his wheel chair in the blackout without a light.
Soldiers Lost Arms, Legs and Votes The most damning indictment of congressional treachery in its handling of soldier vote legislation came last month from, believe it or not—H. V. Kaltenborn. Kaltenborn told of visiting the amputation ward of a large military hospital, filled with maimed veterans of the Italian campaign. To sound out their political sentiments, he asked: “How many of you men have made up your minds to vote for Willkie”? Not a man stirred or spoke. “How many have made up their minds to vote for Dewey,” Kaltenborn then asked. The same stony silence. “How many have decided to vote for President Roosevelt,the radio commentator then inquired. And the air was filled with hands and the stumps of arms. Kaltenborn then pointed out that by its political maneuvering, Congress has denied most of these men a vote. They have lost their arms and legs and now—thanks to Congress—they have lost their votes.—International Teamster.
A “can opener” is now made for
metal drums.
NAZIS TRAPPED IN ODESSA AREA
Soviets Continue Attack On Black Sea Port From Air, Sea, Land ; London, April 7.— Soviet forces Ibid siege by land, sea and air today to the Black Sea port of Odessa and the battered German sixth army tiapped within a 50-mile arc curving northeastward to the coast from the marshy banks of the lower
Dniester.
To the northwest on the long Ukrainian front the Russians proceeded with the annihilation of Germans caught in the Skala and Tarnapol pockets east of the river. Elsewhere in Europe, patrol and artillery fighting increased against Germany with attacks by swarms of Mosquito bombers on Hamburg and objectives in the industrial Rhineland and Ruhr. Hope of greater unity among the Italian people in the struggle against the invader was held out at Naples. Count Carlo Sforza, former Italian foreign minister, told Eleanor Packard of the United ‘Press he believed King Victor Emmanuel would retire temporarily in favor of Crown Pirnce Humbert to placate the six-party poliical coalition and permit the formation of new government. In the battle for Odessa the Germans, estimated at perhaps 100,000, were jammed against the Black Sea and the Dniester with only two inadequate,escape routes. One was the single-track railway 4rhich runs from Akkerman into Bessarabia but has to be reached from Odessa by a five-mile jerry jump over the Dniester lagoon. The speed of the Russian advance made it improbable that the bulk of the enemy could withdraw (by
that means.
The alternative was by sea but the Red air force was patrolling that route and units of the Red fleet such as destroyers, patrol boats and submarines may be on hand to intercept transports. On the Italian front increased activity was reported in most sectors but especially at the Anzio
paign speech, in Omaha. He added Uaachhead, where a heavy artillery
bombardment of enemy positions and fierce patrol fighting suggested another major test of strength
might be at hand.
Prior to today’s communique, Robert Vermillion, United Press correspondent at the beachhead, reported that both sides have heavy artillery and armored concentrations ready to spearhead an attack. In the Pacific, American air power was smashing hard at the Japanese hold on northern New Guinea in the direction of the Dutch East Indies. The blazing supply and air base of Hollandia, where the enemy’s air force was wiped out on Sunday, was blasted again by* more than 250 bombers. Further two-way. attacks from the central and south Pacific were mqde on the bastion of Truk in the Carolines. Ponape, to the east, also was bombed, as were the four remaining enemy bases in the Mar-
shalls.
LOOK FOR THE WORST
Kansas City, Mo.—Kansas City police have been looking for the start of a new crime career here since the operator of a gunsmith’s shop reported that someone stole a 45-caliber revolver, 30 rounds of ammunition and three blackjacks from his store recently.
rimary Candidates Bid For Party Nominations
Hull To Speak Secretary of State Hull will make a radio talk over the Columbia Broadcasting System Sunday at 5:30 C.W.T. This talk to the nation on International affairs is expected to last from 30 to 40 minutes. Every citizen should arrange to hear it.
MUST REGISTER 3 MILLION VOTERS
CIO Political Action Groun Has Tough Job In Next 6 Months The CTO Political Action Committees have a tough job to do in the
next six months.
Unless the local committees all over the country can perform three vital tasks, chances are that the country may go Republican
Total of Fifty-One File Declarations From Both Parties for Eleven Local Offices; Sheriff’s Office Attracts Ten G.O.P. and Four Democrats While Ten Have Entered Names for State Representative; County Election Board Prepare Long List of Candidates for Voting Machines Following Deadline of Last Saturday for Fil-
ing.
A total of fifty-one candidates have filed their declarations for major county offices from which twenty-two will be selected as party nominees at the primary election on May 2nd. The Republicans of Delaware county have twenty-nine primary candidates for the eleven offices to be filled while the Democrats have twenty-two seeking the nominations. The sheriff’s race has the greater number of candidates with ten in the G. O. P. contest and four wanting the Democratic nomination. The last date for filing de-
for the first time in twelve years, clarations ended last Saturday at midnight.
The Three Tasks.
What has to be done: 1. Create mass feeling so that our eleven million men and women in the armed services will have a chance to vote. Somehow or other the majority of service men and women must cast ballots in time to have their votes counted. At this point ‘Congress has practically disenfranchised the
soldier and sailor.
2. Get workers who have moved to new cities to register in time and vote. There are from five to ten million votes involved here
The county ticket is headed by candidates for Congressman of the Tenth District. Raymond Springer, present incumbent, aiub* Randall Harman of Muncie have entered the primary as Republicans and Sidney Baker, mayor of Newcastle, is unopposed for the Democratic choice. The office of prosecuting attorney is also sought by two Republicans and one Democrat with Ralph Rector, present prosecutor, and Burnell Mitchell opposed and Guy Ogle as the lone Democrat. For state senator, each party
and a big job can be done if the , has two entries in the primary.
political action organizations begin
functioning immediately.
3. Induce people who never voted before to register and vote. In 1940, from 10 to 20 million eligible voters stayed away from the
Joseph Meredith and W. W. Wingate, former state representatives, are seeking the GOP nomination while Marker Sunderland, present Democratic senator, is opposed by Charles Chambers for this office.
polls. If half of either of these The Democrats, after waiting unfigures cald be induced to voteitn final moments without candiright, the election of a progressive dates for state representatives, candidate would be assured. I came up with six contestants By one means or another, CIO (while the Republicans have four
Political Action Committee must round up a minimum of 2 to 3 million votes to assure a close but
certain margin of victory.
The Arithmetic.
Here's why:
The President had 27 mililon votes in 1940 as against about 23 million for Willkie. Roughly 7 million men in the armed services might vote for the President or a progressive democrat, according to Gallup poll estimates. The deduction of the soldier vote would have the following effect: Democratic, 20 million as against Republican 20 million. If only a few of the workers who’ve moved to new communities and states for war jobs vote, the Democratic vote would be still further reduced. The vote totals might then be Democratic 18 millions as against Republican 19 1-2 million. That’s why an additional two or three million new votes must he found to guarantee election of a progressive can(Continued on Page Three)
CHURCH
•••: • :• • y: •>:
: U: ' •
from which to select two candidates. The Democrats who filed for state % representative include Claude Becktell, J. Erwin Walsh. Lionel Harmison, J. Wesley Evans, Carl Viles, and Cecil Stafford. The Republicans seeking this nomination are Earl Randolph, J. Walter Claspell, Wilbur VanArsdol and
Harold B. Cowley.
The county treasurer’s office has attracted four Republican candidates while Hubert L. Parkinson, former city controller and city councilman, is unopposed for the Democratic nomination. The Re publicans who seek to be treasurer of Delaware county are Herbert Blake of the Merchants Trust Co., L. B. Garrett of the Merchants National Bank, Vaughn Cunningham, and John W. Allen, present city councilman. Gailon Stephens, former coroner, is unopposed fdr the ' jj'jgg'
SCHRICKER SAYS “JOBS FOR ALL”
Governor Is Proud Of Indiana’s Achievements In War
Pointing out that there is an opportunity for service by everyone at' this time, Governor Henry F. Schricker stated March 22 that the presentation of the National Security Award of the Office of Civilian Defense to the Indianapolis Power & Light Company is “adding another illustrious page to the war history of Indiana.” The Governor was principal speaker at the pres-
entation ceremonies.
“God pity the American citizen who has not found his place,” the Governor said. “This is everybody’s war. There are no two fronts or three fronts. There is, only one front—the American front.” Citing the fact that there are more than 300,000 men and women from Indiana in the armed services —more than 200 of them from the Indianapolis Power & Light Company—the Governor declared: ‘‘That, if nothing else, should spur us on to continue\ our work until victgry finally is Achieved ... I stand here tonight,” he continued, “with exhorbitant pride in the knowledge that Indiana has not
failed in her duty.”
Pays Tribute to Farmers
Governor Schricker also paid tribute to the outstanding achievement of the farmers and farm fam-
mer coroner, is unopposeu ror ine jjj eg 0 f Indiana whose production Democratic nomination for coroner record is “the greatest in the his-
while Earl Parsons and Harry F. Potter seek the GOP coroner
berth.
Fred DeElliott, Sam Gray, former sheriff, Ray Babbitt, and Kenneth L. Tracy are the Democrats who have filed for the sheriff nomination and the ten Republicans include, Charles Snodgrass, present incumbent, Verlin E. Brower, Daniel Watkins, Roy L. Jor(Continued On Page Three)
lory of our state.
ian Soldier.
-Hoosier Civil-
WHEAT TAKES PRIORITY. Chicago— R. L. Williams, chief executive officer of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Co., reported that because of a grain car shortage 400 waterproof hoppc\rs formerly used to ship cement are now carrying wheat and corn.
The Dilemma of Liberal Republicans The ghost of 1920 stalking the Republican party presents to liberal Republican voters—and there are many such—an inescapable dilemma. It presents a dilemma to Wendell L. Willkie, whose hope to revitalize the G.O.P. as an instrument of progressive democracy was buried by the Old Guard. The campaign of 1944 differs from that of 1920 in the fact that Warren G. Harding entered his nominating convention as a daxdc horse, whereas Gov. Dewey today has a lead that looks overwhelming. But the pattern is Already set for another campaign exploiting emotional resentments arising from war while deliberately confusing the public on issues of high principle. The plight of liberal Republicans is all the more dangerous because Mr. Dewey, built up by the party overlords to stop Willkie, may now be nominated without opening his mouth before the convention. Nothing in Mr. Dewey’s record makes him objectionable to the Old Guard plotting to duplicate 1920. Gerald L. K. Smith, of th,e Jew-baiting, rabble-rousing American Firsters, publicly gave his splinter suoport to Dewey in Washington—and the governor did not repudiate it until after the ballot boxes had closed. He is a shrewd calculator, coldly analyzing popular sentiment so as to swing with the tide. But for tens of thousands of liberal and internationalist Republicans, this can scarcely be enoueh. They must either rescue the G.O.P. from the McCormicks and the Pews—-the professional politicians and torv-isolationists—or face a tremendous question of principle in November. The overwhelming issue of 1944 has nothing to do with “bureaucracy” or “reerimentation.” It is whether we go forward as a liberal democracy, in war and peace, toward responsible membersbio in a rational new world order. Neither Mr. Willkie nor his fol’owers can with good conscience tolerate a RepubTican platform and candidates conjured un to trick the people. If the country is to be saved this year, citizens who place principle above partisanship should prepare to play their part in saving it.—Chicago Sun.