Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 5 April 1946 — Page 1

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VOL. 26—NOt 41.

MUNCIE, INDIANA, FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 1946.

PRICE: FIVE CENTS

Complete Democrat Slate To Be Filed By Saturday

MAY DELAY PEACE PARLEY London — The British foreign office said today that the Paris peace conference scheduled to open May 1 in all probability would

have to be postponed.

The inability of the United i States. Great Britain, Russia and j France to agree on a date for the j opening of the conference makes ■ it virtually certain that it will i have to be delayed beyond May \ 1, a foreign office spokesman said, j

o i

MOSCOW ASSAILS PLAN Moscow — The Russian press [

charged today that American j forces in Iceland, seeking perm- [

anent military bases contrary to treaty obligations, are buying up large tracts of land advising sellers to keep quiet about the deals. Moscow newspapers launched a campaign against American policy in Iceland and “Anglo-Saxon” policy in general around the same editions reporting the United Nations security council postponement of the Soviet-Iran-

ian issue until May 6.

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TO RESUME COAL TALKS Washington. —Soft coal operators and the United Mine Workers today agreed to hold a Saturday negotiating session at the re-

quest of Secretary of Labor Lew- I place in'the county may also reg-

Saturday Also Deadline for Withdrawal of Candidates—Voters May Register Until Monday Evening April 8—Same Election Board That Served In Last General Election Will Be In Charge In May Primary and Include Victor M. Bruell, Park Gilles-

pie and Clerk Jesse E. Greene.

CARROLL REECE IS A TAFT MAN

I Oscar Shively made the statement, today, that there would be a complete Democrat ticket filed before the deadline, Saturday afternoon at four o’clock,

April 6.

This date is also the deadline for a candidate to file a withdrawal from the ticket. It is said there may be last minute withdrawals on both the Republican and Democratic tickets where several candidates have filed for

the same office.

Voters may continue to register at the clerk’s office through Monday, April 8th, up until four o’clock in the afternoon, the regular closing time. Voters from any

is B. Schwellenbach.

They held another fruitless meeting today in efforts to write a new contract to end the five-

day coal strike.

Paul W. Fullec, Federal Conciliator representing Schwellenbach, reported “no progress was made at all” at today’s session. He said that the parties agreed to meet again tomorrow when he requested them to do so, on instructions from Schwellenbach.

STOLEN MONEY FOUND Washintgon. — The Postoffice Department announced today that $153,150, of the $180,000 stolen from a Jacksonville postoffice two years ago was found buried in jars in the back yard of a postal employe who died after he was charged with the theft. Chief Postal Inspector James J. Doran revealed that the find, ending the mystery of the biggest money theft in postal history, was made last night by three inspectors digging in the backyard of the late Joseph D. Marshall of Jacksonville.

SHIPMENTS DECREASE Washington.—Secretary of Agriculture Clinton P. Anderson revealed today that this country is falling short of its goal in wheat and flour shipments to famine areas abroad. He appealed for new and more rigid conservation practices by housewives and others to step up the pace of U. S. shipments “and save lives.” Anderson said shipments of U. S. wheat and flour during the first three months of 1946 totaled 2,687,000 tons—more than 300,000 tons short of the goal of 1,000,000 tons a month. o TRUMAN MAY VETO Washington. —Senate Democratic Leader Alben W. Barkley said today he expects the Senate to pass the minimum wage bill despite an administration-opposed farm parity rider which seemed to doom the measure. President Truman already has served notice he will veto the measure if the farm parity rider is attached to it. The Senate last night accepted a compromise increase in the minimum wage to 60 cents an hour from the present 40-cent minimum. But then it again adopted an amendment to the bill requiring the government to compute farm labor costs in setting parity prices. o ESTATE PROBATED Edwardsville, III.—A will filed today showed Harry Murdock, who was generally believed to have amassed millions from gambling enterprises, left $178,400. Murdock was part owner of the Mounds Country Club, a gambling Casino near Fairmount Park, and owned the old Evergreen Club near Collinsville and the 8800 Club. He was also prominent in a slot machine syndicate and policy game.

ister on Saturday in Precinct 21 at the Five Points Drug Store or in Precinct 35 at the Muncie Electrical Appliance Company, 2101 N. Broadway. After next Monday no registrations are to be taken until May 15. Voters can register for the general election in November up to thirty days prior to election day, starting with May

15.

The election board who will have charge of the Primary is composed of the same men as served on the board in the last general election. They are Victor M. Bruell, Reoublican, president; Park Gillispie, Democrat, vice president, and Jesse E. Green, county clerk, secretary. Mr. Green is a member of the board by virtue of his office.

A VISIT TO CITY COUNCIL IS DULL

GOP DINNER WAS COMPLETE ‘BUST’

Illinois Affair Was In , Tradition But Was

Uneatable

Well, it seems that the Grand Old Party can’t even go to dinner in honor of honest Abe Lincoln without a little family scandal.

Reactionaries Select New Chairman, Progressives Oppose Him What the OOP’s progressive 1 element thinks of the selection of ex-Southern Democrat Carroll Reece of Tennessee, a Taft man, as national GOP choirman, is eloquently stated by leaders of the Republicans’ very minor progres- ; sive minority: Senator Wayne Morse (R., RE.): “If the program, which its leaders announced at the banquet, is to constitute Republican policy during the next two years, the Republican committee will re-elect Harry Truman in spite of everything. ...” Harold E. Stassen, former governor of Minnesota, who would like to head his party’s ticket in 1948: “It is well known that I do not approve of Chairman Reece’s stand on many issues in the past.” Charles M. LaFollette of Indiana: “I wonder how many electoral college votes the Republican party expects to get out of the southern states.” He con-

DECISIVE YEAR BRINGS RESULTS

First, their fireside journal, The I tends that it was southern sup-

“Governor 1 "’Gree' ^ £ ^ !«- ^ihe ^ A R t pl : b i ,can) !as La Follette has always con-

nearonee oi ihi^ r inrJli d n: d a V ~ 1 tended that the Republican party Sr dS prLram of S Sepubu' must be the party °' “ the north ” ner day program ot the Kepubli- mugt be the party Qf (<the north

“This is the kind of leadership that I am fighting. Surely those Republicans of Indiana who think

In The Old Days Council Meetings Were Largely Attended By Citizens It used to be that city council meetings in Muncie were more or less interesting and crowds of spectators were attracted because the entertainment nearly equalled a good side-show at a circus. Now-a-days the official duties of a councilman in regular session must be somewhat boring and it is safe to say that such a feeling may easily be reached by any one attending the meetings. The $64 question might be, does such a condition make it good or bad for the community? After several months of having neglected to attend any sessions of the city council, the writer proposed to look in upon arid visit the council meet last Monday night at the city hall. Arriving a few minutes before time of the session to begin it was noted that six of the nine councilmen were present together with two newspaper reporters and a dozen or so persons for an audience. The roll call was called and official business began with public hearings being conducted on several re-zoning ordinances which had been approved by the city planning commission and up for final action by the council. A few of the audience were present because the zoning pleas had been formerly presented by them and naturally were interesfed in their final approval. The reading clerk read pages of legal description and since no objections were offered the public hearings were promptly closed. Committee reports followed with a member of the cemetery board being re-named by the council and another councilman making a brief report on the de(Continued On Page Three)

can State Central Committee in Chicago * * * * in protest against what he called ‘unauthorized solicitation’ of funds in connection

with the dinner.”

In a torrid letter to John F. Tyrrell, Republican State Committee chairman, the Governor proclaimed: “In plain terms what has been taking place amounts to a shakedown of business men for vague political purposes, through misrepresentations and intimidation ... I cannot express too strongly my indignation at these practices. I feel that my presence at the dinner * * * * would be construed as implying my approval of the unauthorized solicitations . . . Therefore I shall not be in attendance at the din-

ner.”

The Same Old Thing This carrying-on by tl)e Republicans in the State where Lincoln’s memory is perhaps most enshrined was highlighted further in the letter to the committee chairman. “Solicitors,” wrote the Governor, “have falsely represented themselves as directors of State departments * * * * and they have even gone so far as to make threats of reprisals by State agencies if contributions are not forthcoming.” It would all seem to have been in the old tradition: the central committee chairman coyly replied that the dinner was “the same in nearly every detail as in the past many years.” R. S. V. P. note: Colonel Robert R. McCormick said he wouldn’t go either. (Continued on Page Three) o Phone Company Names Officers At a meeting of the board of directors at Indianapolis, Frederick F. Marston and Foster L. Stanley were elected vice presidents of the Indiana Bell Telephone Company. Mr. Marston will have charge of public relations and Mr. Stanley will head the personnel department. William A. Hughes, formerly vice president and general manager, was named executive vice president. Harry S. Hanna, who had been serving as vice president in charge of public relations ( and personnel, was appointed vice president and general manager to succeed Mr. Hughes. The telephone company further announces the appointment of E. G. Plum to the position of general commercial manager formely held by Mr. Marston.

EMBEZZLER SENTENCED Indianapolis. — James Milford Cline, 52, former cashier at the Boone County State Bank at Lebanon, today was sentenced to a three-year prison term for embezzling $13,000 from the bank. Cline pleaded guilty and was sentenced by Federal Judge Robert Baltzell. He admitted embezzling from bank trust funds over a period extending from September 1942. He was sentenced for 'violation of the National Banking Act.

Two Parties At Crossroads Last February 14 The Philadelphia Record said that the resignation of Harold L. Ickes as Secretary of the Interior put the Democratic party at the crossroads. The question is still to be answered whether the Democrats will continue as the party of Roosevelt that championed the people, or become just another political party. Election of Reece put the GOP at the crossroads, too. If the party follows Reece, it will turn toward reaction and privilege. For the good of the country, everyone hopes the people will be able to choose in 1948 between two liberal candidates and platforms. Where there is only standpatism, as there was in the dreary days after the Civil War and after World War 1, the people suffer.

Many Achievements Have Been Made Under Truman’s Leadership i Partisan politics being what i they are in our democracy and the i press and radio of the country f being largely anti-administration,! it is perhaps not surprising that) too often the positive achievements of this “decisive first year of Truman” are ignored or over-

looked.

Some fourteen points of the President’s 31-point program have been stalled on committees or on the floor by a Congress which was largely on strike; but summing up what he call’s Truman’s troubled year,” in the current Collier’s magazine, Frank Gervashi says President Trumap can “point to a record of positive achievement.

The Democratic Party Is Party Of True Progress

GOP RECONVERTS TO 1900 MODEL

Isolationists And Standpatters Still Control Republican Party

Outlining some of these things achieved, Gervash says: “In the domestic field the economic high command was shaken up and a campaign laid down to fight the nation’s worst enemy; inflation. Unlimited production, the President knew, could forestall disaster. The danger would be past only when the supply of goods met the demand generated by 154,000,000,000 war-ac-cumulated dollars burning in people’s pockets. To stimulati: production he removed all possible restrictions on raw materials for washing machines, automobiles, radios and countless

other items.

“As a further incentive to industry he reduced corporate taxes and abolished the excess profits tax. Then to help both industry and labor, he worked out a new wage-price formula. Priceincreases were granted to manufacturers where these were required to maintain pre-war profits. Labor received higher wages to help make up for the loss of

Two weeks ago Senator Robert M. LaFollette, of Wisconsin led the Progressive party back into the Republican fold. He explained: “I have no illusions about the Republican party. I have fought j reaction in it for years. But I do discern a rising liberal movement within that party.” LaFollette needn’t worry about his illusions. There is a rising liberal movement in the GOP. But it’s a long way to rise before it reaches the

surface.

Election of Rep. Brazilla Carroll Reece—conservative and isolationist — as chairman of the Republican National Committee shows that the standpatters are now in control, that the banner of reaction still leads the GOP. It’s easy to understand what the GOP leaders were thinking when they picked Reece, of Tennessee, on Monday. They were playing it safe, they

thought.

They sniffed a back-to-nor-malcy aroma, an isolationst taint, in the spring air of Washington.

they want to elect a President lovertime pay and to absorb a rise had better look over the program li n the cost of living.

^'■‘The government was committed to a policy of full employment and to the retention of price controls whenever required. A two-year plan to fill immedate shortage of houses for returning veterans was drawn up, and needed—like other administration measures—only a green

light from Congress.”

(Incidentally the full employment bill was passed—a watereddown version, thanks to Mr. Taft and some of his fellows, but neverless a long and definite step in

the right direction.)

(Continued On Page Three)

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Easter Seal Sale

Intra-Party Fight Devel- ' Fof Lame Children ops In 10th Congression-

al District

I advocate pretty carefuly before rejecting it for the reactionary program which is implicit by the party’s national committee-

men and vice-committeemen.” He added, “This coalition with

southern Democrats produces nothing in Congress and has defeated the party in four elections. The same kind of think-

ing will defeat it in 1948.” FARMLANDMAN TO SEEK OFFICE

Indianapolis, April 5 — Democratic slates were completed today with the filing of Frank C. Unger, Farmland farmer, in the 10th district. Actually, the Democrats still lack a candidate officially in the fourth district. However, Walter E. Frederick, Fort Wayne attorney and recently discharged war veteran, has announced that he will file with Secretary of State Rue J. Alexander before the deadline at midnight tomorrow. Frederick was expected to have the state central committee support. Filing today were Albert J. Beveridge, Jr., Indianapolis Republican, in the 11th district; Guy R. Coffin, R., Monticello, in the second district, and Paul E. Tomdaugh, R., Indianapolis, 11th district. Beveridge, a newspaperman, was state senator in 1940. His father. Albert J. Beveridge, Sr., was a former U. S. Senator from Indiana. The younger Beverdige withdrew his declaration for the state senate when he filed for congress. So far, 24 Republicans and 21 Democrats have filed in the congressional races. One of the hottest intra-party fights developed late yesterday when William T. Schulte, Hammond, filed for the Democratic nomination in the first district. Schulte lost his seat in the house in the 1942 primary to the incumbent, Ray J. Madden, who also seeks the nomination this time. The other congressional candidates filing yesterday were Ben F. Garland, D., Huntingburg, eighth district; and William J. Powell, D., Sullivan, seventh district. Primary congressional contests now have developed in 15 out of a possible 22 contests in the May 7 elections. Still unopposed are three incumbent Republican representatives — George W. Gillie, Fort Wayne, fourth district; Noble J. Johnson, Terre Haute, sixth district and Gerald W. Landis, Linton, seventh district. State representative — Martin J. Downey, D., Hammond; Elbert V. Etchinson, D., Arcadia; Homer Froman, D., Marengo (Harri(Continued On Page Three)

Mrs. Robert F. Shank Mrs. Robert F. Shank, State President of the Parent-Teachers Association, and member of the Seal Sale Sponsoring Committee of the Indiana Society for Crippled Children, in appealing to the citizens of the state to support the annual sale of Easter seals to aid crippled children, today gave this activity her warm personal approval and support. “What we do to help the crippled youth to a useful life today will help us tomorrow, ’yvhen they become active in the productive life of the community,” Mrs. Shank poin-tttd out. rt The contribution the Indiana Society for Crippled Children has made to the betterment of our community in this way, both in war and peace, is deserving of high praise. “In having the pleasure of serving the Parent-Teachers Association, I realize more and more that in these times the work of this organization must be extended, and it is our duty as publicspirited citizens to see to it that such work is properly financed. Its value and justification on humanitarian, social, and economic grounds is unquestioned, and should have the support of us all. I whole-heartedly endorse the Easter Seal Sale, and appeal to the people of this community to give it their complete support.”

— <=> «n\a Having lUUUiy

Their nostrils quivered for the vocal Republican spokesmen and

o vr o /~v-P TV/Tr»T^' tT «"»■*»/-!-5 v* rtf i • _

New Chairman of Republican Party Was At One Time a So-Called Democrat Who Walked Out On His Party—Southerner’s Demand for Apology for Statement Should Have Gone Unanswered — The Truth Needs To Be Said — Democratic Principles Must Be Upheld. When President Truman and Secretary of Commerce Henry A. Wallace recently called upon Democratic party members to “show party responsibility” in backing the President’s — and the party’s — program, based upon the platform upon which they were elected, there was no great resentment shown by Democratic party members in Congress, but a great hullabaloo went up from the Republican side of the aisle. Most outspoken were such dyed-in-the-wool reactionaries as Indiana’s Senators Capehart and

Willis.

Since then, the coalition which has successfully blocked the passage of mucn of President Trumans p'opo-sed legislation for reconversion, and for the betterment of the common man, and is now fighting the 65c minimum wage law, Price Control and the Health and Social Security Bill sponsored by Senator Murray (D. Mon.), has been welded into a campact committee headed by a Republican, and having loudly

days of McKinley, Harding and

Hoover.

They were trying to secondguess the people’s whims instead of trying to furnish a leadership to rally the people. They were thinking of their party, not their

country.

So they picked Reece — a man who voted against revision of the neutrality act in 1939, against conscription in 1940, against lendlease in 1941, against the price control act of 1942, against extension of price control in 1944, who has in 1946 fought the veterans’ housing program. In the spring of 1946 the GOP, party of Lincoln, of Theodore Roosevelt, of Wendell Willkie, has reconverted to an early 1900 McKinley model. They have picked a man backed by the champions of reaction, Ohio’s Gov. Bricker and Sen.

Taft.

They ignored the rising voice of GOP liberalism by Harold E. Stassen. It was probably too much to expect at this stage of the game (Continued on Page Three.) FARMER TErLS OF AAA BENEFITS

He Can Remember The Days Before The Agricultural Program

sponsorship.

How much the Republicans intend to make of this spiritual and practical alliance at the next election — and the one to follow, is shown by their appointment as Chairman of the Republican National Committee of Carroll Reece, a southerner, a onetime so-called Democrat who “walked out” on his party because he had nothing in common with the New Deal but everything in common with New Deal haters and Isolationists-Reactionaries. Yet when a National Women’s Democratic publication publishes a statement to the effect that “a vote for the Case Bill was a vote against the American people,” a group of eight southern representatives organizes to protest against the statement and to “demand an apology.” These eight who have consistently voted against the party, and against labor, which is the party’s close friend and associate, not only on the Case Bill, but also on all other bills which have been introduced as part of the party’s liberal program — these eight have the gall to demand an apology — and a frightened woman editor mumbles one, and tries to indicate that the statement was “an unfortunate mistake, a bad choice of words —< an associate editor without full experience was responsible, but it should never have been printed.” She added that Mr. Hannegan had had nothing to do with

the article.

We are glad to add that appar- ^ ently he had nothing to do with

the attempted retraction,

j From where we stand — and we stand there, immovably —

remain, the party of progress. It should not be judged as a whole, by the rotten spot which shows up in one of its parts. But some action for the removal of the rotten spot should be indicated. Franklin Delano Roosevelt never said a truer thing, than — “Less than half of the voters of America are Democrats. Less than one half are Republicans. But more than half of the voters are for the Democratic party whenever the Democratic party is for the majority of the people.” The only apology we should ever need to make, for our party, would be, if or when, it should cease to be the party of tne

people.

That day, we believe and pray, will ne\ er come.”

HEALTH PLAN NEEDS TESTED

Result Proves Need For Compulsory Health Insurance Plans

“I can remember the days

when we had as many poor , farms as good farms in the com- 1 the only mistake made, was the

munity. Now we can look over the whole township and find most of the farms productive. This, I believe, has been mostly due to farmers following AAA

practices.”

That statement by Bob Lohr of northern Somerset County, Pennsylvania, indicates the way many Pennsylvania farmers feel about the AAA and other agricultural programs which help the nation’s farmers. Bob Lohr, former high school teacher, recently purchased the old home farm. Besides raisitffe turkeys and growing potatoes, he plans to take advantage of the AAA conservation program to build a farm pond, plant cover crops, and use plenty of lime and phosphate. Realizing the value of conservation farming, Mr. Lohr commented, “Farmers were able ’So do a war job because the government helped them put fertility in-

to the soil.”

Another Pennsylvania case that testifies to the value of federal farm programs involves a group of farmers who farmed a local cooperative to cut the cost of spraying potatoes. The Farm Security Administration made a loan to the co-operative, which has since been repaid in full. Result has been lower spraying costs, more and better potatoes, and more income to every farmer in the cooperative. Government pricesupport operations also helped increase the cash return for these enterprising Pennsylvania farm-

ers.

apology.

The truth needs to be said. Our principles need to be upheld — and fought for. The overwhelming majority of the Democratic party are, and must remain, irrevocably committed to a program of progress. The Democratic party is, and must

The Department of Agriculture has sponsored voluntary health associations of farmers in six representative counties in the United States, and the test proved the need for compulsory health insurance plans. In each of the six counties, located in Texas, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Nebraska, special medical care organizations were established. All farm families in the county were able to join the organization by paying a small fee, averaging $20 (Continued On Page Threei

NOTICE A meeting- of all Democratic candidates and members of the Democratic Central Committee will be held in the Circuit Court Room, Courthouse at two o’clock Sunday afternoon. Full attendance is desired.

Are You Registered? The time is growing very short. April 8th is the last date for registering or transferring your registration to be eligible to vote in the primary election. Anyone who did not vote in the preceding primary or general election must re-register; anyone who has changed his address since the last election must transfer his registration. And bear this in mind: The new election laws, which may not even be constitutional, turn over the election machinery to the Republicans, who are making the most of their power. It is known that over 100,000 otherwise qualified voters in Indianapolis are no longer on the books as registered voters. The save is no doubt true, elsewhere over the state. If you haven’t registered, do so. If you are—check your registration, and make sui’e. And get your friends and neighbors to check all their friends and neighbors, to make sure they are registered. Check your precinct committeeman, too, and see that he is working and has plenty of help to finish the job. The Republicans are working, you can bet. Maybe you don’t put too much importance on the primary election. Maybe you say, “Oh, I’ll vote in the fall”—and just skip this oile. The great importance of this election, is to select the best men possible to run for office in the fall. Get out and help pick the best man for each place on the ticket. That’s the kind of representation the people need and want—and the kind of candidates we must offer them.