Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 6 December 1946 — Page 1

air

MAIL NOW

THE POST-DEMOCRAT The Only Democratic Paper In Delaware County Carrying the Union Label

VOL* 28—NO. 2.

MUNCIE, IND., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1946.

PRICE 5 CENTS

BULLETIN. SPEED UP UMW APPEAL. Washington, Dec. 6.— Chief Justice D. Lawrence Groner of the Circuit Court of Appeals today granted the government permission to take the contempt appeals of John L. Lewis and the United Mine Workers directly to the Supreme Court. o PLAN SYMPATHY STRIKE Detroit — The Detroit and Wayne County AFL today threatened a 24 - hour citywide work stoppage as a gesture of support to John L. Lewis and his striking United Mine Workers. Frank X. Martel, president of the Detroit Federation, said a committee composed of the presidents of 150 Wayne County AFL locals had been appointed to consider plans for a general strike call “if deemed necessary and advisable.”

Pertinent Facts Of The Present Coal Situation Writer Gives Account of Contentions of IS BIG BUSINESS Both Government and Lewis In This Lat- m nPVIklP DDflDC est Controversy — Cites the Actions of OLUuMNo r nUBC

Both Sides and Advocates That the Guilty Should Be Removed From Office—Future Cases Should Be Settled So That the General Public Is Not the Main Sufferer.

HAS 194 SURVIVORS. Brookville, Ind.—The 196 survivors of Mrs. Harriett Marcum, 76, mourned her death today. Besides her husband, Randolph, she left five children, 64 grandchildren, 113 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Marcum died yesterday. Funeral rites will be held Monday. FACES LIFE TERM. Fort Wayne, Ind.—r-James Daniel, 22, today faced probable life imprisonment for the stabbing murder of his 17-year-old wife last May 25 after a drinking party. A jury convicted Daniel last night of first degree murder after deliberating six hours. The panel recommended life imprisonment. Judge William H. Schannel set formal sentencing for Monday. o GIVE BUILDINGS TO STATE. Washington, Dec. 6.—The Army announced today that it is turning over 12 buildings at Fort Benjamin Harrison near Indianapolis to the State of Indiana. The Army said it had no plans at present for declaring the fort surplus. It is being used now as a disciplinary barracks. Sen. Homer Capehart, R., Ind., said it was his understanding, however, that the Army plans to inactivate Fort Harrison by June 30. Capehart and Gov. Ralph Gates of Indiana conierred this morning with Lt. Gen. Leroy Lutes, director of War Department Services, Supply and Procurement. o ATTACK ON CLUB WOMEN. South Bend, Ind., Dec. 6.—A prominent South Bend clubwoman, wife of the vice-president of an investment firm, recovered today from a beating administered by a Negro youth who forced her to drive to a deserted section and robber her. Mrs. Lew Fleming, 60, was in a “good” condition at a hospital She was approached by the youth as she entered her automobile in a downtown parking lot last night, police said. o LUMBER IN PROSPET. Chicago, Dec. 6.—The National Housing Agency said today it had arranged for the shipment of critcally needed lumber from West Coast ports to a score of cities by ship and barge through the Panama Canal and up the Mississippi river. The new system would seryee all cities on the Mississippi; those on the Missouri as far north as Omaha, Nebr.; Ohio river towns as far east as Pittsburgh, and the Peoria-Chicago area by means of the Illinois river and canal. o—— SLOW DOWN CAUSES SHUT DOWN. Chicago, Dec. 6.—About 250 employes of the Gunthorp Warren Printing Co. were made idle toay by a labor dispute with 75 printers, company officials said. The plant does much of the printing work for Cook county courts. Moran said that 75 printers conducted a “slowdown yesterday and that when he remonstrated with them today, they worked no faster. He said he then told them “no work, no pay,” and they put on their coats and left. Their action made about 175 other employes of the shop idle. ■ o ANOTHER PICKET FLARE. Oakland, Cal., Dec. 6.—American Federation of Labor pickets massed in front of Kahn’s departmenet store today, threatening to end the “truce” which yesterday brought peace to Alameda county after a paralyzing 54-hour general walkout. Police were cflled to the store. The threat of new trouble developed when union officials charged Kahn’s reopened its doors after agreeing to remain closed under terms of a peace pact between the AFL and City Manager John F. Hassler.

BY C. L. ARRINGTON The miners went on strike April 1,1946 and were out of the pits for fifty-nine clays. Under the War Emergency act, the government took over and signed a contract with Lewis and the miners on May 28, 1946. The contract granted the miners a pay increase of 1.85 per day; allowed them five cents on each ton of coal mined for a security fund; increased their vacation pay, and improved the safety rules in the mines.

Since then the miners have been receiving an average weekly pay of about $62.37 .That is about eighteen dollars more per week than the average factory worker receives. However the miners work longer hours than the factory worker. The miners hourly rate is only $1,185, which is less than the hourly rate of the factory worker. On the other hand, the hourly rate of the miners do not always determine his weekly pay. This hourly rate is what he is paid from the time he enters the mine to the time he arrives at the actual place of work, and from the time he quits digging coal until he emerges from the mine. In most cases, his actual pay while at work is determined by the number of tons of coal he puts out and not by the hours he

works.

When the government signed the contract with Lewis it was hoped that Lewis and the mine owners would soon negotiate a contract of their own so that the government could release the mines and allow the owners to take them back. Lewis and the owners failed to reach any agreement. Consequently, the government had to continue the operation of the mines. Lewis signed the contract with the understanding that he was doing so under a National Wage and Price Stabilization program which would not permit the cost of living to increase. The Stabilization program has since been scrapped and the cost of living has increased by leaps and bounds. —Lewis was one of the ring leaders in having the program scrapped.—Lewis took the position that since the plan under which the contract had been signed was scrapped the contract was no longer adequate. He also accused the government with failure to live up to some of the provisions of the contract. Lewis asked Interior Secretary Krug to open the contract for further negotiations. Krug said the contract made no provision for opening it. Lewis argued that it did make such provision. Just a few days before the November

5th election Lewis announced that if the government did not open the contract for further negotiations he would terminate it. It is thought that Lewis’ announce-

ment was timed for political pur- j affairs would be endangered.

CITY WILL BUY RIGHT-OF-WAY

Council Passes Ordinance For A $20,000 Bond Issue

Majority On Investigating Committee Vote Against Inquiry By a majority vote, members of the Senate War Investigating Committee this week decided to abandon its proposed probe of what is going on in Germany. Democrats voted against the inquiry. Republicans voted for it and said they would reopen the issue when the new Congress meets. Bitter opposition to the investigation was expressed by spokesmen for the State Department, War Department, and Senators Connally and Vandenberg, who have been helping Secretary of State Byrnes shape and carry out the Administration’s foreign pol-

icies.

They told the committee that if its members went to Germany and lifted the lid. Uncle Sam’s prestige and influence in world

poses. He evidently wanted a Republican Congress. In particular did he want to defeat Senator Kilgore. He got his Republican Congress, but did not defeat Kil-

gore.

Lewis continued to argue that he had a right, under the terms of the contract, to have it opened. Attorney General Tom Clark appeared to agree with Lewis, but Krug said the contract contained no such provisions. The President took sides with Krug and demanded that he stand fast in his refusal to allow Lewis to open the contract. On the lt5h of November, Lewis announced that his contract with the government would be terminated at midnight, November 20th. Since the miners have a tradition “No contract, no work” that meant that no coal would be mined after midnight November 20th, until either the government or the mine owners

In the long run, however, the American people may suffer more

for lack of information than they could from any of its possible disclosures. That’s the argument of those who favor the probe. The Committee, headed by Senator Harley M. Kilgore (Dem., W. Va.), had planned to investigate

two subjects:

1. —Reports that U. S. Army officers are moving their families into the best hotels and dwellings left standing after the war, evicting the former inhabitants, and living in ostentatious luxury which arouses dangerous .resent-.; ment in the German people. Also that many officers and enlisted men are involved in black market

and sex scandals.

2. —Reports, some of them by the committee’s own investigating staff, that American and German “big business” men are getting together again in “international cartels,” and that certain Amer-

At its regular meeting Monday night, the city council passed an ordinance to appropraite a $20,00 bond issue. This is the amount estimated by the city to be needed to meet the city's cost of right-: of-way in order that the rail road’s tracks between Charles and Wysor streets on Madison may be moved to a point east of the city. This project has been contemplated by officials of Muncie for many years since the present location of the tracks constitutes a hazard to motorists along the state highway. A petition for this improvement was presented to the council with the names of sixty-one property owners. By unanimous vote of the council the rules were suspended and the ordinance passed. The Indiana state highway Commission and the Nickel Plate Railroad authorities have agreed to take care of the costs of labor and the laying of the new tracks The state will meet the expense of a new bridge spanning White River. They will also remove the tracks from Madison St., and they have agreed to resurface the street from Charles to Wysor street. The railroad is to surrender its franchise along Madison where the tracks will be re-

moved.

Twenty thousand dollars seems a reasonable enough sum for the taxpayers of Muncie to pay for such needed improvement. Many are skeptical that it can be done at such a modest cost to citizens of Muncie and are apprehensive that before the job is completed the city of Muncie will be digging down much deeper to pay

the bill.

Patronage And Old GOP Guard Back In Headlines Recent Shake-Down In Indiana Department COLUMBIANS IN of Conservation Was a Battle of Patron- pi AQQ flC III AKI age Vs. So-Called Merit—Deemed a Case uL/iww Ur IVLnil

of Selfishness and Desire for Personal Power — H. Clark Springer Apparently Was the Winner When He Fought Milton Matter, Director of the Department Who

Put Duties Ahead of Patronage.

GOP COCKTAIL HARD TO TAKE

All Is Not Well Between Republican Wholesalers

' And Brewers

HOOSIER SHIP FACES STORM

signed a new contract with Lewis. j can Military Government offic

Apparently, Lewis made no specific demands, but it is rumored that he wants miner’s hourly rate increased by 58.5 cents; a shorter work week, and another five cents on each ton of coal for his

security fund.

On November 18th, Judge Goldsborough, of the District of Columbia Federal Court, issued an injunction requesting Lewis to call off his contract termination announcement. Lewis ignored the injunction. Came midnight November 20th and all the soft coal mines under contract with the UMW were closed down. The nation went on a dimout. Many factories have curtailed production and laid off thousands of men. Railroads have cut their scheduless and some families are getting short on coal. Government lawyers and Union lawyers are arguing while the people grope in the dark and shiver from cold, but no steps have been taken to (Continued On Page Three)

Idle Rich Rushing to Florida Clearly a lot of people in New York made a lot of money out of the war. At the rate of about 7,000 a day, they are going to Florida to loll in the sun, watch th£ races and otherwise pursue luxury. Trains are jammed and, with the exception of coach seats and a few upper births, they are sold out up to January 2. The Miami “Herald” estimates that considerably more money will be thrown around than was the case last year, when close to a billion dollars were harvested by the hotels, night clubs, horse and dog tracks, gambling casinos and other businesses catering to the free-spending visitors. Of course, there are no workers in this exodus and precious few farmers, except the corporation variety.

Another Iron Curtain? Those old-fashioned believers in a democracy that permits the people most concerned to have a voice in their government are doomed to a period of silence when the 85th session of the Indiana General Assembly convenes January 9. The announcement of the Republican legislative steering committee that no public hearings would be held on bills presented to the 1947 session precludes any opportunity for the citizens of Indiana to make known their views on such matters. In breaking a tradition of many years in legislative procedure the heavy Republican majority has served notice that the “Gatestapo” intends to ride rough shod over Hoosier citizenry, particularly in reference to controvei’sial legislation. The decision to deny the public the right to be heard at house and senate committee hearings obviously w'as induced by a fear of the consequences if the people were permitted to speak. Without doubbt, there will be the matter of a bonus for World War II veterans; local option; a direct primary and others. Governor Gates and his select few who are running the State of Indiana in a high-handed manner apparently will stop at nothing. They intend to give the people of Indiana laws which are acceptable to their own political group, regardless of the effect of such legislation on the State and its citizens. - Those laws will be passed on in “Star Chamber” sessions of the various committees and the public will be apprised of what went on in the committee meetings when it is too late to act. Democracy ic forced to bow to the “Gatestapo.”

ials in Germany are helping in that dangerous game. The Kilgore committee’s own records show how, after the First World War. such cartels put Hitler in power, rearmed Germany, weakened the United States and led to the Second World War. If the cartels are re-established, many well-qualified observers believe, histox-y will repeat itself and a Third World War will be inevitable. A cartel is what Americans would call a “trust,” but is organized on an international scale. The monopolists of Germany, the United States, Britain and other countries got together in supermonopolies. They divided up world markets, limited production, abolished competition, and thus boosted prices and profits. Interested only in making more money, Standard Oil, the “Mellon Aluminum Trust” and other American members of the cartels signed agreements limiting production of war-vital materials in the United States, while production went ahead by leaps and bounds in Germany. Synthetic rubber was one example. Lack of rubber nearly lost us the war. During the war the cartels had to “suspend” their international agreements. Now the American Military Government, or “A. M. G.” is supposed to be breaking up I.G. Farben, Krupp and other giant German industrial combines which were members of the car-

tels.

This job was given to the A. M. G. “Economic Division.” Some disturbing information about that division was gathered by Kilgore committee staff members who made a preliminary investigation in Germany. They found that the economic division chiefs are wearing the uniforms of U. S. Army generals and colonels, but have not been wearing them long. For example, “General” W. H. Draper, Jr., who heads the division, was formerly a member of Dillon, Read & Company, a big Wall Street investment bank closely associated with American corporations which were members of the cartels. Other members of the economic division were found to have “big business” and “high finance” backgrounds similar to Draper’s. Can they forget their past associations? Can they be relied upon to do the job given them— smash the German combines, thus prevent re-establishment of the cartels, and protect the American people against the danger of another world war? (Continued On Face Three*

Legislative Majority Cause Of Headache To GOP High Command

Disadvantages of a top-heavy legislative majority already are causing plenty' of headches within the Republican high command in Indiana. Although the 1947 session of the Indiana General Assembly will not convene for well over a month yet, there are indications that Governor Gates and his “palace guard” are finding it difficult to “keep the boys in line.” That the Governor, and his small clique of political planners intend to exert every effort to control the actions of members of the House and Senate is clearly demonstrated by the number of members recently named as a steering committee. Anyone familiar with legislative matters is aware that a committee of the size named, is unwieldly and im-

practical.

A group of that size will be unable to agree uanimously on a legislative program and that’s where the Governor and Ris chosen few intend to step in. The forthcoming session, it appears, will become a streamlined replica of the notorious 1941 debacle when an obedient Republican majority blindly followed instructions of the now greatly ridiculed “seven best legal minds in Indiana,” in enacting a series of “ripper” acts, all of which were later held unconstitutional. The Governor likely will not trust these great Indiana Blackstons in 1947 but will attempt to take the helm himself, aided by the invisible “palace guard.” Numerous house and senate members who failed to get in on the beer-patronage set-up and other juicy and lucrative plums are known to be not too friendly to the Governor and his program. Some rough water ahead for the great ship of state! o SOUTH BEND ACTS. South Bend, Dec. 6.—Mayor F. Kenneth Dempstey totday proclaimed a state of emergency in this city and ordered rationing of present coal supplies and cancellation of all public gather-

ings.

Dempsey said the city had only eight days coal supply on hand. He said an effort would be made to keep the city operating as normally as possible but “we have just about reached the end of the rope.” Proclamations issued this morning called for rationing of all coak sold in the city beginning at 5 p. m. All public gatherings will be cancelled effective at midnight. Mayor Joseph Brady of nearby Mishawaka said he expected to issue similar proclamations for that city. Dempsey said the South Bend schools would remain open.

Patronage and the Governor’s “palace guard”— a combination that has plagued Indiana citizens since early in 1945 — is again back in the headlines.

The recent shake-up in the Indiana department of conservation, which even the state administration would have the public believe was a knock-down, drag-out battle of patronage vs. so-called merit, really is more than that. The situation has its parallels back through the ages of political history. It is a case of selfishness, egotism and a desire for personal power and personal gain. * The patronage-merit scrap was used by the principals as window dressing for Mr. Hoosier Citizen while two powerful figui'es in Republican state politics fought to determine which had the most influence with Governor Ralph F.

Gates.

The old “inner circle” of anonymous characters at work

again.

H. Clark Springer, Republican state chairman, who insisted that Milton Matter, director of the department, has “consistently refused” to accept the spoils system as an efficient method of administering the division, apparently was the winning suitor of Gates’ political infatuation. The loser, who much prefers political anonymity, obviously is James W. Carr, former member of the conservation commission and now guiding the editorial policy of a powerful Indianapolis news-

paper.

Regrettably, Carr is not the only loser. The great Hoosier public that has a stake and a deep interest in coxxservation and our state parks, must sit on the sidelines and watch the department deteriorate while self - appointed political giants continue their battle for power and gold. To again borrow a familiar campaign phrase: “Folks, aincha had enough?”

EXTRA SUGAR STAMP. Washington, Dec. 6.—Secretary of Agriculture Clinton P. Anderson announced today that “barring unpredictable disasters” consumers will get an extra fivepound sugar stamp per person by April 1. o PACKERS FEAR EMBARGO Cincinnati, O. — Meat packers’ fear that additional freight embargoes might leave them holding too much perishable stock may result in a new meat shortage, an industry spokesman said today.

That unpalatable Republican concoction, beer and politics, mixed thoroughly with patronage, is becoming hard to swallow, even by those who aided in the politi-

cal bartending.

Recent pi’oof of that fact is the resignation of Robert Kyle, executive secretary of the Republican Beer Wholesalers’ group, who took that position when the organization was formed after the 1945 Republican liquor control act, freely admitted to be a bad piece of legislation, became oper-

ative.

Had Mr. Kyle merely resigned

and declined to comment on his Wf 161 " 6 .

reasons, the Indiana public probably would have taken the action as just another case of a man quitting a job to enter another

field.

But that is not the case. Mr. Kyle, noted for his frankness, if not for his diplomacy, resigned with a flourish. In typical Kyle form he declared: “I won’t let the brewers’ 'big black horses run over me.” He did not elaboi'ate on the statement, but it wasn’t necessary. The statement is self-ex-planatory. It would appear that all is not well between the Republican organization appointed beer wholesalers and the various Indiana brewers. Republican county chairmen, reportedly ninety out of ninetytwo connected with the beer business, and the brewers must have been pushing Mr. Kyle around. And Mr. Kyle just isn’t the kind to take that treatment. Now, the politically-controlled beer boys in the Republican organization are faced with a problem. As executive secretary of the association, Mr. Kyle would have been called on to do an important bit of lobbying in the next legislative session. Now the wholesalers must hunY up a new shipping boy.

Why Most Women Work Three-fourths of the women who took jobs in munitions plants during the war still find it necessary to tvork to make ends meet, the Women’s Bureau of the Department of Labor reported this week. The bureau said its conclusions are based on a sample survey which included interviews with 43,000 women workers in all types of industries. Of those who intended to continue working, 84 per cent gave as the reason the need to support themselves and dependents, the bureau found. About 50 per cent “gave more than half their take-home pay to the family and 15 per cent were the only wage earners contributing to the family,” the report added. Of the 16 per cent who “didn’t need the money,” half wanted to keep on working because of interest in the job. and the other half, to do such things as pay otf debts, buy a home and give advanced education to children, the bureau declared.

Victory In Defeat

Now that the 1947 election results have been fully analyzed, both in the state and in the nation, Indiana Democrats are proud of their position, even in defeat. Hoosier Democracy led the way. Indiana became the banner Democratic state in the Union “holding the line” in x’e-electing Ray Madden, First District and Louis Ludlow, Eleventh district, to Congress. Likewise, in solid Republican counties where pluralities formerly ran into thousands, the Democrats showed gains and, in the Seventh, Eighth and Second congressional districts, the results left Republicans in a most unhappy mood. That the Democratic party in Indiana has become even more militant in defeat is shown by the plans that are being made right now for an aggressive, close-knit organization for the municipal elections of next year and the general election in 1948. Organization Democrats throughout the state have taken a “chins up” attitude and getting ready to give battle in forthcoming campaigns. Their hopes are based on two principal factors. First, the never-say-die feeling that exists among party workers and second, the knowledge that in future elections, the party is in splendid position to capitalize on the bungling of the px*esent Republican state administration at the most tremendous state government cost the state has ever seen.

Public Opinion Analyst Turns Spotlight On New

Organisation

Elmo Roper, public opinion analyist, once said that his experience had taught him that facts are the deadliest weapon against prejudice. Assuming this to be correct, perhaps a few facts about The Columbians, a new organiztion with fascist principles may

be in order.

Presently working in the South they have plans for expanding their operations to cover the whole country. They are as fascist an organization as anything could be. The organizer of the group told the United Press what his objectives are: “First to control the United States by making Columbians politically dominant in all 48 states.” Second, “to make the United States into an ‘American Nationalist State.” ’ Third, “to deport all Negi’oes to Africa.” Foui’th, “to make Am- S erica ‘a one-race nation.’ ” There is a Nazi creed for you—mai’ked “made in Nazi Germany” in

every article of it.

The Columbians cannot accept

the American creed. They cannot conscientiously pledge alliance to the flag which is an expression of the American creed, and which promised “liberty and jusitce for all”—For Jews and Negroes as well as others. For the Columbians are anti-Semitic and anti-Negro and they are on record to that effect. To make their claims good they would have to be as ruthless as the Nazis were, as fascists are every-

in suppressing everyone

who rose in opposition to them. Ali-eady four of them have been arrested in Georgia for attempting to prevent Negi’oes from moving into a house which, unler the law, they wexe entitled

to possess.

And these Columbians want political power. “We want political control,” they said, “and as our power increases . . we plan to expand through Georgia, then the South, then the nation.” How do they expect to get political power? By using the rights guaranteed by the Constftution—of course. But having attained power, they make no secret of the fact that equal rights for all Americans would be a thing of the past. If they were presented from exercising their rights they would shriek that an injustice was being done to them. They insi&t that we respect their rights now in order that, as they (Continued On Page Three) O

Rates On Express

To Get Boost

New express x-ates will become effective on December 13. Based on a recent decision of the Interstate Commex’ce Commission, the new rates represent increases which, it is hoped, will permit the agency to meet higher wage scales which have been in effect since January 1, 1946, increased taxes and to help meet the higher costs of materials, equipment and rents. New rates will repi’esent an increase of 20 cents per 100 pounds of first-class traffic axid 15 cents per 100 pounds at second class rates; with increases in minimum and graduated chax-ges for packages weighing less than 100 pounds. No increase is proposed on rates for daily newspaper, milk and related products. Air express rates have not been changed.

o

Muncie Youth On

Theatre Staff

Iowa City, Iowa, Dec. 6.—Virgil Gray, son of Mr. and Mx*s. Virgil Gx*ay, 309 W. Jackson street, has been appointed assistant stage manager of the university theatre staff for the 1946-47 season at the State University of Iowa, Iowa City. Gray received his bachelor of science degree in education from Iowa State Teacher’s college, Cedar Falls, Iowa, in 1945. He is now studying for a masters degree in dramatic arts at the university.

Saving Our Rare Birds. What Is Being Done to Save Them From Extinction Is Described, With Beautiful Four-Color Illustrations, in The American Weekly, the Magazine Distributed With Next Week’s CHICAGO SUNDAY HERALD-AMERICAN.