Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 29 January 1937 — Page 1
~~ REPORTS CLAIM
ROOSEVELT AID
Sources Near to President
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The Indianapolis Times
VOLUME 48—NUMBER 278
FORECAST: Cloudy with occasional rain probable tonight and tomorrow; slowly rising temperature.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 1937
Fntered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis, Ind.
ime PAGE. 3. 1
HOME
FINAL
PRICE THREE CENTS
EVANSVILLE CREST DUE TOMORROW
PERKINS GETS
Say He Backs Her in Power Demand.
By United Press WASHINGTON—President reported supporting Secretary Perkins in her demand for subpena powers to force strike conferences. WASHINGTON—Strike of 25000 miners threatened in mines owned by steel companies. ANDERSON—La Follette Committee begins investigation of alleged mob violence. FLINT—Auto strikers await outcome of General Motors Corp. efforts to force ejection of sit-down strikers. . SAN FRANCISCO—Settlement predicted in 92-day-old maritime strike.
By United Press WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.—Sources close to President Roosevelt said today the Chief Executive support the request of Secretary of Labor Frances Peerkins for a law granting subpena powers to her department for use in strike conciliation work. Mr. Roosevelt declined public comment on the labor situation at his press conference today beyond saying that he is still discussing the subject of higher wage standards, shorter working hours and child labor abolition with Government experts and industrial leaders. However, it was learned that he definitely favors the powers asked by Miss Perkins as a result of the impasse in the General Motors strike situation. In this instance President Alfred P. Sloan Jr, of General Motors declined to attend a meeting proposed by Miss Perkins with John L. Lewis, strike leader.
Wants Crises Facts
Mr. Roosevelt was represented as feeling that the Government should have the subpena power to enable it to get at the facts of labor crises. The President was said to feel that the conciliation service of the Labor Department is in a position to become active in labor controversies sooner than the National Labor Relations Board which already has the power to subpena witnesses and records. Miss Perkinus has requested enactment by Congress of a law granting her these powers. However, despite her demand for speedy action—presumably in order to use | the power in the General Motors | strike—little indication of quick consideration has been evident. William Green, president of the $merican Federation of Labor, said (Turn to Page 17)
17 FEARED DEAD IN NORTH SEA STORM
By United Press PARIS, Jan. 29 —Floods from three rivers descended on the Rhone Valley today while Europe continued to be buffeted by hurricanes and blizzards. Three boat crews from the liner Europa battled raging seas for hours today in a vain effort to rescue the captain and 16 crew members of the German oil tanker Oliver, which was being pounded to pieces on Borkum Reef in the North Sea near the Island of Borkum. Messages from the Europa said they feared all hands had been drowned.
PROCTOR ASKS DATA ON WALLIS’ DIVORCE |
By United Press LONDON, Jan. 29.—Usually reliable sources disclosed today that the King’s Proctor two weeks ago called for a transcript of the evidence in the divorce obtained by Mrs. Ernest Simpson at Ipswich last Oct. 27. Mrs. Simpson was granted a decree nisi, which normally does not become absolute until six months have passed. It was pointed out that the Proctor asks for a transcript of the evidence only when the question of intervention has arisen—that is, when someone raises the question of the validity of the divorce and attempts to show collusion, thus preventing a final decree.
TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES
Movies 25 Mrs. Ferguson 21 Mrs. Roosevelt 21 Music oo 31 Obituaries ... 15 Pegler icccice 22 Pyle 21 Questions ....30 Radio ....... 31
Bob Burns... 23 BOOKS «cease 21 Bridge ....... 18 Broun s.se.oes 22 Comics «.eees 30 Crossword +... 30 Editorials .... 22 Fashions .... 18 Financial .... 24 Fishbein ..... 21 | Scherrer ..... 21 Flynn 24 | Serial Story.. 30 Forum 22 | Short Story .. 30 Grin, Bear It. 30 Society ...... 13 In Indpls..... 23| Sports ....... 26 Jane Jordan.. 18] State Deaths. 23 Johnson ..... 22 Sullivan ..... 21 Merry-Go-R'd Wiggam teen 31
One of the tiny flood victims bearing up bravely under an anti-typhoid injection in a Red
A Brave Little Refugee Gets Her Inoculation
: —Acme Photo, Cross station at Evansville.
NAVAL ARMADA S IN HONOLULU
‘Arrives There Less Than 22
Hours After Leaving San Diego.
By United Press
PEARL HARBOR, Honolulu, Jan. 29. —Twelve huge U. S. Navy bombing planes roared over Honolulu at 4:20 a. m, (Indianapolis Time) today, completing the largest mass flight in American naval history from San Diego in less than 22 hours. The fliers were welcomed by a party consisting solely of the families of the Naval airmen, who assembled near the Pearl Harbor landing channel. The water was calm and the air unusually quiet when the planes roared in through the moonlight, circled over the harbor and then dropped in perfect formation at the end of their 2500-mile nonstop flight. L. E. True, aerologist, saig that the “wall” of bad weather through which the fliers came, was the worst reported in the area in years. Two patches of unsettled weather delayed the planes on the long hop. The first was encountered yesterday morning, soon after the takeoff from San Diego. The second was early today when the fleet was within 185 miles of Pearl Harbor. Driving rain and thunder showers
forced the planes to shift from their course.
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INDIANA SUMMARY
ALTON—Large numbers of cattle and livestock driven to hills,
BEDFORD—Request made for all taverns to be closed. BLOOMINGTON — Five hundred twenty-eight refugees housed here. WEST BADEN—Military headquarters report 15,000 evacuated from Jeffersonville-New Albany area.
BOONVILLE—Report 750 cases of influenza in Warrick County. Property damage estimated at $300,000. CANNELTON — Isolated, 1500 homeless City two-thirds under waer. CLIFTY—Road 62 open from here to Charlestown. CORYDON—Three hundred refugees in town; 250 more in vicinity. DALE—No police protection. EVANSVILLE—Evacuation stops. Rehabilitation begins. Estimates up to $1,000,000 made for repairing homes. Water supplies increased. Stricter military regulations imposed. FRANKLIN—Nearly 200 refugees being cared for in Armory. Red Cross collections $4500. Benefit basketball games swelling fund. FLORENCE—About half under water, GRAND VIEW—One hundred and fifty evacuated to Chrisney and Newtonville. GREENDALE—Morale strong among refugees from Lawrenceburg. Sanitary conditions satisfactory. Light and water service maintained. HAZLETON—Town escapes fire when blazing 2000-gallon gasoline tank washes away. Stand guard to
Times Picture Restores Flood Orphans to Mother
By PAUL BOXELL
“Oh, God be praised! My babies, my babies!” Flood-dazed refugees in the Columbus, Ind, Methodist Church center heard this ery of joy from the cot of a 48-year-old woman, a fellow sufferer, It was Mrs. Barbara Sullivan, a worn, distracted woman taken out of Jeffersonville in the final evacuation. She had just seen the picture of her two little girls on the front page of The Indianapolis Times. And so Indianapolis “orphans of the storm” were reunited with their mother here today. Between sobs, she had told other refugees at Columbus that the “orphans,” who have been in the Indianapolis City Hospital since Monday belonged to her. She hadn't known where they were for nearly a week. Ralph C. Warner, State refugee
No
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welfare director for the Red Cross, made immediate arrangements for her transportation to Indianapolis. Six other children of the family were with the mother in Columbus and were brought here with her this afternoon by automobile.
Fellow refugees had told Mrs. Sullivan that her babies were found tied to a tree near Clarksville, eight miles from Jeffersonville, where they were rescued. The mother was shocked. “I don’t knew what happened to them,” she said. “We were taken to the Colgate school in Jeffersonville when the water drove us from home—213 W. Riverside Drive.
then. I think he went to Louisville. I also have two older boys and an older girl. I don’t know where they are. I think they're in Louisville,
t in one room and the
to Page 17)
“I haven't seen my husband since | $1
prevent fire from gasoline spread on water.
| JEFFERSONVILLE—1000 more to | be evacuated. Little looting. Military {depot under four feet of water. | Sanitary conditions bad. Drinking | water situation acute.
LAWRENCEBURG—Only National Guardsmen and Red Cross workers remain. Four die in hosiptals. Telephone service with Indianapolis out.
LEAVENWORTH — Preliminary plan completed for new town on hill, 30 feet above present site.
MADISON—Crippled water supply augmented by Indianapolis fire department pumper. MARKLAND — Entirely under water. MAUCKPORT—Town wiped out except for five houses. 250 residents crowded into’ these houses. Refuse to leave. Sanitation fair.
MITCHELL — Supplies running short for 650 refugees. Shipment of 650 mattresses and pillow covers coming. MOUNT VERNON — Backwash from Caveinrock, Ill, sends gauge reading to 57.6 feet. Crest expected Saturday. Town haven for 2000 refugees. Sixty-five hospital cases reported, mostly flu and pneumonia. Five engine pumpers working night and day to keep seepwater from boiler fires in city water plant. NEW ALBANY—Water, milk, latrine and sanitation supervision good. Thirteen persons, two of them women, arrested for looting. River falling .1 of a foot an hour. Dam-= age estimated at $10,000,000. NEW AMSTERDAM — Farmers take refuge in hills. Town half under water. No sickness reported. NEW HARMONY-—-Water rising
slowly due to back drop from Ohio River.
PRINCETON—Water turned on in city mains. Schools opened. Everything west of Princeton, Hazleton and Patoka to Illinois line under water. Food being delivered to residents of bottom lands.
PATRIOT—Only 23 of the town's 287 population remain in homes.
RICHLAND—Conducting business as usual. At first reported seriously damaged by water, SHOALS—250 houses under wat-
er, despite fall in level of White River here.
SPEED—Innoculations of refugees completed. TELL CITY —Trucks bringing water from Indianapolis. Some residents boiling snow. Entire business and industrial section under water. No lights. Damage estimated at TOBINSPORT—National Guard plane circles over town, unreported for days. Completely isolated, but untouched by floods. TROY — Loud speaker system warns citizens of typhoid danger; 225 reported without homes,
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LOOTING BEGINS AT LOUISVILLE
‘Building Sags; Death List Is Conceded by City Officials.
(Photos, Pages 3, 4)
By United Press LOUISVILLE, Ky., Jan. 29.—Looters roamed flooded Louisville today. Within 18 hours police rounded up 23 looters who were operating in boats on the edges of the flooded area. They raided food stores, a jewelry store, liquor stores and department stores. Police admitted many more than those caught were at work, but officers were handicapped by the lack of lights. Pedestrians’ flashlights and automobile headlights lighted the streets, Only in a section of Highlands, connected with power from Dix Dam last night, had street lights. : The death toll was mounting but officialdom concealed it carefully. Mayor Neville Miller ordered Dr. Hugh Rodman Leavell, Health commissioner, who two days ago estimated the dead at 200, to issue no more statements.
164 Are Known Dead
It was learned that at least 164 bodies had been found before morgues simultaneously stopped telling the Rin pe} they had emnd buried. bee dies minimized the danger of buildings collapsing in the business area, where backwater from sewers had weakened foundations, but extraordinary precaus were taken. Hehe building which seemed most in danger was the six-story Kauf-man-Strauss department store, second largest in the city. Military guards and later policemen patrolled the district. Hoosier Soldier Killed
otels, all crowded with hy were in the district, but danger to them seemed remote. An alley beside the Kentucky Hotel contained a hole eight feet deep and 12 gees long er and a policeman were added to the floods fatalities when a mechanized cavalry combat car swayed down the short, steep Peteison Hill, missed a turn at the bottom and plunged into 15 feet of water. The soldier, struck by the car, was First Cavalry Trooper Robert P. Mueller of Tell City, Ind. The policeman was Laurence W. Claycomb of Louisville. he Ohio River, ropping slowly, ied a stage of 56.6 for sever= | al hours, despite a full day of rain. The flood’s crest, 57.1 feet, 10 feet deeper than in the record flood of 1884, was reached at 2 a. m. yester-
day.
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Gen. Tyndall Takes Control; Military Zone Reduced.
By JOE COLLIER Relief agencies today defined their duties in stricken southern Indiana. The Ohio River was falling at most points and the disaster problem no longer was expanding. Order was being brought out
of chaos in the flood area.
The military reorganized in a contracted martial law area to prevent looting, to prevent refugees from returning to their wrecked homes, and to move supplies and maintain communication. The State public health activities were reorganized with authority and supply bases to prevent disease and to sterilize inundated towns. The Red Cross was reorganized on a field-base system to care for the ili, feed and clothe the victims.
Seek to Reunite Families
Other major developments were: 1. A plan was being drafted that would permit relatives of refugees in concentration camps to go into the marital law territory and bring them out. 2. Governor Townsend said he will motor through the stricken area next week. 3. Red Cross subscription in Indianapolis reached $174,098.75 at 11 a. m. Previous Indianapolis high disaster contribution was $80,000 for Japanese earthquake victims. The Mile-of-Dimes reached $1308.60. 4. The river continued a slow rise at Evansville toward a predicted crest of 53.7 feet, expected tomorrow. 5. The number of Hoosier homeless was estimated at more than 75,000; the number still in concentration camps at more than 13,000,
Tyndall Takes Control
Maj. Gen. Robert H. Tyndall, who has been field marshal of the Indiana National Guard, today took over tactical command from Adjt. Gen. Elmer F. Straub, and was to move guard control to his West Baden headquarters. Gen. Straub is te continue in charge of the Guard's administration duties. He is to direct all orders for supplies.
morning in the National Guard Armory here, it was announced by Gen. Tyndall that storerooms in West Baden will be taken over for general headquarters, and that temporary hospitals will be set up along Road 56 near there. All communications will center there, too, he said. He left immediately to set up the camp. Representatives of the Red Cross and the WPA will become exofficio members of the General's staff, he said, and close co-operation thus will be established. Long-Range Objectives
Long-range objectives were: 1. To provide circulating pure drinking water supplies for the wrecked towns. 2. To educate refugees to destroy any drugs, foods, beverages that they might find in stricken towns when they are allowed to return to them. 3. To set up outside sanitary privies in the area. 4. To negotiate with the Federal Government for grants and loans which will be needed in reconstruc tion of the towns. Meanwhile, the Legislature recessed until Feb. 8 to give Governor Townsend and his executive staff full time for flood business. Yesterday it passed under suspension of rules a bill giving the Governor $250,000 emergency funds for National Guard salaries and medical supplies. The Senate passed a bill authorizing the Treasury to extend until as late as June 1 the grace period for gross income tax payments for distressed persons in 18 counties, and authorized the Treasury to waive penalties, Jeffersonville, ordered evacuated yesterday because of sanitation, was virtually deserted today. When the order was issued, there were fewer than 1000 of the 12,000 residents still there. Wayne Coy, state WPA director, announced that needy families who could qualify under WPA rules,
After a military conference this |
PREDICTION OF RAINS SPURS ON LEVEE BUILDING
Flood to Be Prolonged by Downpour, Says Weather Bureau Expert.
(Summary, Page 9)
By United Press Forecast of general rains over the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys spurred 100,000 weary levee builders to greater speed today as the zero hour approached in the struggle to hold back the rising Mississippi. W. J. Moxom of the Weather Bureau warned that the rains would “prolong the flood” and swell to some extent the waters pouring into the Mississippi from tributaig valleys. The forecast added significance to the admission of engineers in charge of the work to plug weak spots in the billion-dollar levee system that they were fighting a treacherous enemy-—the weather. “The weather will decide it. If it doesn’t rain,” they had said, “we've got the river licked.” President Roosevelt appointed a committee of relief and reconstruction experts to survey the area from Memphis through the Ohio Valley where floods already have claimed at least 278 lives, expelled 1,000,000 persons from their homes and wrought destruction which mounted hourly toward half a billion dollars. The Ohio River was falling in the upper valley except below Louis-~ ville. The Mississippi surged steadily nearer the tops of levees in the four-state region where it receives the waters of the Ohio, the St. (Turn to Page Five)
| Worth It
Times Special EVANSVILLE, Ind., Jan. 29. ~J. BE. Vessels, 58, secured a military permit to salvage “valuable” papers from his half—submerged home at 1604 South Evans St. yesterday. Rescued after he had fallen into the deep, ice-cold water in his home, Mr. Vessels emerged shivering and soaked with a cedar chest. He explained feebly to his rescuers he did it to please his wife. “She's been fretting three nights for the cedar chest and I'd rather risk the water than hear it another night,” he said. “What's in it?” asked a res« cuer, “Quilts,” he said.
ONE BANK SERVING 3 STATE COUNTIES
Times Special NEW ALBANY, Ind. Jan. 28, — One bank here today was serving a three-county area in Indiana and Kentucky, the result of a secret transfer by a heavily armed convoy of a large amount of cash from the Fletcher Trust Co. Indianapclis, With the flood loss in this city estimated by bank officials at more than $10,000,000, the fund transfer was made to the Floyd County Bank to forestall a possible financial tie-
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AIRPORT IS THREATENED; STATES AID REORGANIZED: MISSISSIPPI RIVER RISING
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Months to Be Needed To Rehabilitate Pocket Area.
(Editorial, Page 22; Photos, Page 3)
By ARCH STEINEL Times Staff Writer
EVANSVILLE, Ind. Jan.
|—A flood crest slightly high« ‘er than the earlier prediction of 53.5 feet is expected here
tomorrow.
U. S. Weather officials today said the river would reach 53.7. At noon, the river stage was 53.41, and was reported rising at one one-hune dredth of an inch an hour. Meanwhile, officials predicted toe day it would take five to six months to rehabilitate Evansville and other Indiana river towns. Backwaters of little Pigeon Creek, northeast of here, overflowed Evans ville’s airport today, threatening to cut off air traffic. Workmen were rushed to the port. Eight cars of sand were ordered. Pumps were ree quested from Vincennes.
Seek WPA officials’ Aid
Coast Guard officers and other relief - groups with planes hers sought aid from WPA officials to clear the airport of water. It was es timated 2000 feet would have to be sandbagged and water pumped off ta keep the port open to travel, Capt. Leroy Reinburg, Coast Guard commandant, said some of his men were being moved to other areas. Some have been ordered to the Mississippi River Valley, he said, Others are expected to follow. Labor unions were to meet this afternoon to discuss reconstruction plans, It also was estimated that 4000 WPA workers would be used in the rehabilitation work.
Warns Against Looting
With the water expected to stark freeing residences and business places soon, military authorities tightened regulations by rigidily barring persons from restricted flood areas except for emergency purposes. Looting is to be dealt with se verely, Lieut. Col. Louis Roberts said. Many residents called at military headquarters for permission to go to their homes to rehabilitate them, Transfer companies and firms pledged trucks to aid those residents who sought to move belong= ings. Red Cross officials prepared to renovate and fumigate mud-ride den residences. Estimates for restor= ing homes ranged as high as $l,« 000,000. Water supplies were stepped up today with sufficient quantity fure nished for clealiness and cooking, Hospitals and restaurants were amply supplied with water. Two U. 8S. Army divers reported the water reservoir leak could be repaired and full water facilities ree stored by the first of the week. Evacuation of flooded homes has stopped. Health officials said scare let fever cases were declining, Red Cross to Move Free flow of water in mains again is expected to open factories, theaters and downtown business houses closed since declaration of martial law, John K. Jennings, civilian ade visor to military authorities, said there was no record of drownings in Evansville. Charles W. Carr, na« tional Red Cross flood supervisor, reported that only five deaths, ate tributed to drowning, were listed for the entire Ohio River area. He fixed Ohio Valley refugees and persons receiving flood assistance at between 500,000 and 600,000, He (Turn to Page Eight)
RAIN AND WARMER, °°
up when the waters recede. The bank also was serving as a postoffice. Federal Building offices were flooded. This is the only bank open in Clark and Floyd Counties, Indiana, and Jefferson County, Kentucky. The others are under water. The institution has served residents of the community while flood waters crept to within two blocks of its doors. Walter Greenough, Fletcher Trust Co., vice president; his son, Kimble; Willlam B. Schiltges, first vice president; L. A. Wiles, vice president, and Sylvester Kosbert, cash-
(Turn to Page Four)
ier, brought the money here.
that their homes are somewhere
generosity. Give to the Red Cross. Give to the Mile-of-Dimes. # 'H ”
$1308.60.
Refugees Still Need Aid
The crest of the Ohio moves on, but Jeffersonville, New Albany and Lawrenceburg and other communities still are under water, It will be days before the work of rehabilitation can begin. Meanwhile, Indiana's 75,000 homeless must be fed, housed and clothed. Even when reconstruction has begun in good earnest, it may be found that many of these homeless are truly homeless—
It is a gigantic task that Hoosiers face and it calls for gigantic
Mile-of-Dimes contributions for Red Cross ald today totaled
on or in the Ohio or Mississippi.
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WEATHER MAN SAYS
HOURLY TEMPERATURES
6am ,.. 30 a.m... 35 Tam... 3 Ram... 36 3am... 12 noon ... 36 9a. mm... 34 lpm. ... 33
Slowly rising temperature forecast today by the U. S. Weather Bureau may bring increased comfort to southern Indiana flood sufferers, bug a prediction of probable rains toe night and tomorrow may delay ree ceding flood water. Continued cloudy with the lowest temperature about 35 in this area is predicted for tonight.
MADRID BESIEGERS TRAPPED BY FLOODS
By United Press MADRID, Jan, 29.—Troops bee sieging Madrid were reported today to be caught between two flooding rivers which made their positions critical. Both rivers overflowed, trapping insurgent forces between them. Are tillery and tanks sank in the mud. Water filled Rebel trenches to a depth of three feet, forcing evacu= ation in freezing weather, Whole units, involving thousands of men,
were reported isolated.
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