Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 23 May 1940 — Page 1

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The Indianapolis

FORECAST: Partly cloudy tonight and tomorrow; moderate temperatures.

Time

FINAL HOME

VOLUME 52—NUMBER 63

THURSDAY, MAY 23, 1940

Entered as at Postoffice,

Second-Class Matter Indianapolis,

Ind.

PRICE THREE CENTS"

ERMANS 30 MILES FROM BRITAIN; THREATEN TO CUT OFF ALLIED EXIT

SHARP DIVISION IN (.0.P. CONVENTION VOTING FORECAST

County’s Delegates

Reported Split Four

Ways Over Governor Nominee; Lively

Demonstrations

Are Under Way.

By NOBLE REED Republicans converging upon Indianapolis by the thousands today were preparing their battle lines for a possible deadlock vote in the balloting for a Governor nomjnee at the Convention at the Fair Grounds tomorrow. The 1937 delegates congested downtown hotel lobbies long before noon although no formal caucus sessions were

scheduled until tonight.

Candidates began staging demonstrations early, indicating a furious, last-minute scramble for delegates.

Varied roll call strategies were being discussed by supporters of all six gubernatorial candidates. Some were driving to put their candidate over on the second or third ballot while others were ex\pecting the vote to swing in their favor on the fifth or

sixth ballot. Marion County's 236 delegates were reported split four ways for Governor on the first two or three ballots between Judge James A.

Emmert of Shelbyville, William E. Jenner of Shoals, Glen R. Hillis of Kokomo and George R., Jeffrey of Indianapolis.

Sentiment Is Shifting

Strong movements appeared evident for all four and leaders claimed they couldn’t determine the exact relative strength of either. The sentiment among all delegates appeared to be shifting constantly with “band wagon” delegations claiming they were “holding their fire” until they see which way the wind is blowing. Meanwhile, convention officials prepared to greet the arrival this afternoon of Governor John W, Bricker of Ohio who will be the keynote speaker tomorrow. Speaker James M. Knapp of the 13939 House of Representatives will be the permanent convention chairman. Forces backing Mr. Hillis claim they will have enough delegates to go over on the first ballot.

969 Votes a Majority

Political analysts still contend that is not likely since Mr. Jenner and Judge Emmert are expected to go into the convention with large blocs of votes on the first roll call. To be nominated, a candidate must receive at least 969 votes for a bare majority. if all candidates go to the Convention floor at 10 a. m. tomorrow with as much strength as they claim to have, the balloting will go into a deadlock that may. take 10 to 15 roll calls to break and then it might swing to a “dark horse” unless leaders can agree on one of the candidates. The only “dark horse” candidate mentioned was Lem Trotter of Speedway City, a real estate man and owner of a turkey farm. He advertised his candidacy widely downtown today for the first time. In the campaign for several months in addition to Mr. Hillis, Mr. Jenner, Mr. Jeffrey and Judge Emmert were David I. Hogg of Ft. Wayne ana Clarence Benadum of Muncie, who were expected to hold blocs of votes on the first two or three ballots. Unless a surprise “dark horse” candidate is brought to the Convention floor at the last minute, (Continued on Page 11)

WEATHER TO REMAIN MODERATE TONIGHT

LOCAL TEMPERATURES Afi «55 10a. m ... 67 wh «io 3 Ram... 00 Ah «60 18 (noon)... ¥1 « Mh oii: 05 1pm..T

Partly cloudy skies and moderate {emperatures were forecast for tonight and tomorrow by the Weather Bureau today.

TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES

18 17

‘Mrs. Ferguson 18 Music Obituaries ... 9; | Denny « 1B Pyle 17 Radio .. . 19] Mrs. Roosevelt 17 | Scherrer « 1% Serial Story 2

Books Clapper Comics Crossword ... Editorials ... Financial ... Flynn Forum In Indpls. .. Inside Indpls. Jane Jordan . Society Johnson ... 8 Sports 22, 2%! , Movies ... 12, 13 State Deaths. 6'

seen

csann

Side Glances. 18 14, 15 |

4 CONGRESSMEN STAY IN CAPITAL

At G. 0. P. Convention Here Tomorrow.

By DANIEL M. KIDNEY Times Staff Writer WASHINGTON, May 23.--Four Indiana Republican congressmen remained here today and were seecretly pleased to have the war save them from that hot fight over the G, O. P. gubernatorial nomination scheduled for the state convention at Indianapolis tomorrow. All joined in wiring their regrets to Arch N. Bobbittt, Republican state chairman. Three members have gone to Indianapolis to take part in the fray. They are Reps. Forest A. Harness, Noble J. Johnson and Charles A. Halleck. The latter may face a personal fight at the Second District meeting tonight, unless differences can be patched up during the day.

Now at Loggerheads

Four years ago Rep. Halleck and the veteran G. O. P. boss of Tippecanoe County, Henry WwW. Marshail, Lafayette publisher, were chosen as district delegates to the Republican national convention. Now they are at loggerheads because of the district chairmanship fight in which Rep. Halleck’s forces triumphed. Both may stay home unless they can kiss and make up, it is predicted. Rep. Harness still is credited with senatorial ambitions, but everyone here concedes the likelihood of Raymond E. Willis, Angola editor, who lost last time, being renominated. Hoosier Republican congressmen remaining here are Reps. Robert A. Grant, George W. Gillie, Gerald W. Landis and Raymond S. Springer. They expect to join with their five Democratic colleagues in voting approval of the WPA Appropriation Bill today and likewise will Continued on Page 11

MIDNIGHT TRAFFIC CAMPAIGN NETS 31

10 Officers Patrol Northwest Area; 77 Nabbed in Day.

Opening a campaign against traffic violations during late night and early morning, 10 motorcycle officers patrolled the northwestern section of the city between 11 p. m. yesterday and 1 a. m. today and arrested 31 drivers. They swelled the total number of arrests during the 24 hours ending at 7 a. m, today to 77. As the new drive was launched, the Marion County traffic toll for the year stood at 40, of which 29 were in the city. The toll for the same 1939 period was 37, with 18 deaths in the city. Twenty-five of those arrested in (Continued on Page Three)

KEATON AND YOUNG ACTRESS TO MARRY

HOLLYWOOD, May 23 (U. PJ). —Buster Keaton, dead pan comedian, felt like smiling today | but his studio wouldn't allow it—

13| at least not in public. He has filed

be Bik jitiac's

marry

Fgad x

@ Bea RISO

They'll Escape the Hot Fight;

21-year-old

F.C. Fairbanks, Publisher, Dies

Frederick C. Fairbanks

President of News Had Been In San Diego Hospital For Two Weeks.

Frederick C. Fairbanks, president of the Indianapolis News Publishing Co., died last night in a hospital at San Diego, Cal, where he had been a patient for two weeks. Mr. Fairbanks, who was 59, became head of the company which publishes The Indianapolis News in July, 1938, after the death of his brother, Warren C. Fairbanks. In May, operation in Temple Hospital, Philadelphia, He then went to his orange ranch in La Jolla, Cal, in an effort to regain his strength, Two weeks ago he became seriously ill and was taken to the San Diego Hospital,

Born in Indianapolis Mr. Fairbanks was born in Indianapolis, the son of Charles W. Fairbanks, Vice President under President Theodore Roosevelt and United States Senator from Indiana. He attended Indianapolis schools, Lawrenceville School at Lawrenceville, N.J., and Phillips Exter Academy before entering Princeton University, He was graduated in 1903, returned to Indianapolis and engaged in the practice of law with his father for a short time. Subsequently he went to California and the operation of his orange ranch became his principal interest. He made frequent trips to Indianapolis and was here last during the Christmas holidays.

Funeral to Be Here He was a member of the Colume bia Club, the Indianapolis Athletic Club, the Indianapolis Country Club and other social and civic organizations here and in California. "He also was a member of the (Continued on Page 11)

ON OTHER PAGES

A new map of the latest war areas Page 17 Allies fly U, S.-made bomb=ers across Atlaatic ..Fage 3 Duce still uncertain on course—Simms .....Page 3 Lindbergh unqualified, says Senator Byrnes ...Page U. S. has only 863 combat planes now Morgenthau seeks to speed plane output Rickenbacker urges 150,000 pilots for U. S 2 F. D. R. unfairly criticized on defense—Clapper ..Page G. O. P. candidates balk at anti-isolationist policy—

Government-industry co-op-eration needed—Johnson Babs asttaravinasates Page Fifty thousand planes would cost billions—Flynn.Page “Right, Mr. Landon” and “It Could Happen Here” —Editorials ........Page 18

1939, he underwent an | University |

N.Y. DETECTIVE HINTS “10 PCT., CLUB IN STATE

Operates From ‘Kickbacks,’ He Tells Senate; Cites No Specific Cases.

WASHINGTON, May 23 (U, PJ). —Frank Bielaski, head of a New York private detective agency, told a Senate committee investigating wire tapping today that there is a “10 Per Cent Club” in Indiana and that he had on his own initiative

investigated evidence of graft being paid in Pennsylvania. Mr. Bielaski, who explained that he formerly was employed by the Republican National Committee in 1936 as an assistant public relations counsel, digressed from his testimony involving alleged wire tapping in Rhode Island to mention Indiana and Pennsylvania. The “10 Per Cent Club” in Indiana, he explained, exists by virtue of “kickbacks” to contractors,

Fails to Explain

Senator Sherman Minton (D. Ind.) , a member of the special committee, interrupted with a heated denial of the allegation and Mr. Bielaski did not explain how such a system operated, who benefited from such a “club” or whether it was a slush fund for political purposes. Mr. Minton asked Mr, Bielaski whether he ever had done any investigating in Indiana. The witness replied that he had made “preliminary investigation” of the *2 {Per Cent Club.” which he said was started by Paul V, McNutt, when the Federal Security Administrator was Governor of Indiana. He said that he reported his findings to a Senate committee but that no action ‘was taken. “Do the Republicans have a 2 per cent club?” Mr. Minton asked. “Do they have a 2 per cent club in Ft. Wayne, Ind.?” “I don't know,” Mr, Bielaski replied. “But I know there's a 10 per cent club in Indiana. It is in the form of ‘kickbacks’ to contractors who e..™ Minton Demands Names

The remainder of his sentence was lost as Mr. Minton demanded that the witness name contractors who received the “kickbacks.” “You are under oath and you've made a charge,” Mr. Minton shouted. “You've put something in the record that’s utterly false.” Mr. Bielaski said he was unable to name specific instances at present, adding: “It is true and I'll do the best I can to produce. I'm sure it exists.” Mr. Bielaski testified that he sent a man to Philadelphia to investigate a man whom he identified as being in charge of Pennsylvania operations of a distillery. Mr. Bielaski said he “wanted to know the man’s experience in paying graft in Pennsylvania.” Mr. Bielaski said this inquiry was “voluntary” on his part, that he paid the expenses himself, and that he did it because he “always has an interest” in corrupt activities and thought his “motives were high.”

STOCKS LOWER ON TALK BY CHURCHILL

Fall Follows Rally Earlier in Session.

The ‘remarks on the European situation by Winston Churchill today were interpreted in Wall Street as bearish and stocks closed lower. Earlier the list had rallied fractions to more than two points. Volume was light on the decline. Steel shares were hard hit, aircraft issues broke sharply from their highs and copper issues and other war stocks which were strong in early trading slipped to small losses late in the day. Grain prices eased fractionally at Chicago under the influence of the stock market.

Zand ‘4

Germans.

Limit of

Times-Telephoto.

Battle lines for the main armies of Germany and the Allies are shown above. Nazi gains beyond those shown were admitted by Prime Minister Churchill in London today when he said enemy forces had penetrated to Boulogne, a French port north of Abbeville and in the direction of the arrows toward Calais, which is the next goal of the The French claim a foothold again today in Cambrai (center of map) in a battle which may develop into decisive importance,

FIRESIDE CHAT SET FOR SUNDAY

Roosevelt to Talk at 8:30 On Defense; Hoover on Air Earlier.

BULLETIN WASHINGTON, May 23 (U.P.). —The Senate, voting billions for national defense at a break-neck pace, today approved 78 to 0, a $1,473,756,728 Navy Appropriation Bill to hasten warship construction and expand the Naval Air Force,

WASHINGTON, May 23 (U. P). —President Roosevelt will outline his national defense policies in all phases in a fireside chat on the radio Sunday night at 8:30 p. m. (Indianapolis Time). White House Secretary Stephen T. Early, announcing the talk today, said it will be in a “nature of a report to the American pecple” and will touch on points previously outlined—such as prevention of excessive war profits and labor disputes, and maintenence of social gains of the past seven years.

inclusive,” Mr, Early said, “relating to commodities, agricultural products, prices and wages.” The Fireside Chat will be the first the President has made since Sept. 3, just after the outbreak of the war. Mr. Roosevelt's address will follow by two and a half hours another national defense speech by former President Herbert Hoover, who already has called for the mobilization of industry in the present situation. He will speak from 5:30 to 6 p. m. (Indianapolis Time) Sunday. The White House announcement came as Congress and other branches of the Government maintained a high-speed schedule on the preparedness program. Federal Loan Administrator Jesse Jones asked Congressional authority for the Reconstruction Finance Corp. to organize and finance corporations to aid the defense pro-

(Continued on Page 11)

dent Roosevelt and former

glove.

Mr.

with a third person acknowledge-

Governor Alf M. Landon, the comparatively friendly enemies of 1936, are swinging their Sunday punches today with brass knuckles in every

They were luncheon companions at mid-day yesterday and conferees for 110 minutes over the White House tray. Half a dozen hours later Landon had called for Mr. Roosevelt to renounce a third term and the President had countered

ment that had a fjarh in every line.

Republicans are ready to enter a national defense coalition in exchange for Mr. Roosevelt's renunciation of renomination and a voice in Administration policies, Mr. Landon informed a press conference some time after his White House luncheon. “The President regrets that he has no time just now, to give to the preparation of political statements,” the White House replied some three hours later, Mr. Landon explained at his press conference that he had not been offered a Cabinet position and that the third-term issue had not come up at the White House Tuscheon

except casually.

Landon, Roosevelt Swing Sunday Punches

After Off-Again, On-Again Luncheon Talk

By LYLE C. WILSON United Press Staff Correspondent

WASHINGTON, May 23.—Presi-

The meeting of the two men had all the form and none of the substance of a conference between leaders of two great political parties. Nothing at all is expected to come of it in the way of guns or airplanes. But the third-term issue has landed back in the midst of the national defense emergency. “He is too busily engaged with problems of far greater national importance,” the White House statement in behalf of Mr. Roosevelt continued in response to Mr. Landon’s statement. “He is, however, very grateful to the ex-Governor of Kansas, who was his luncheon guest today, for (Continued on Page Three) J

«It will be all embracing and all|

War Bulletins

DISCUSS ALLISON ENGINE WASHINGTON, May 23 (U. P.).—Alfred P. Sloan, chairman of General Motors Corp, which manufactures the Allison liquidcooled airplane engine, conferred today with Treasury Secretary Morgénthau on aviation engine problems. Dr. George J. Mead, new special assistant to Mr. Morgenthau in charge of aviation engine work, sat in on the conference.

BOMB NAZIS AT CHANNEL

LONDON, May 23 (U. P.).—The Air Ministry announced tenight that a special force of Blenheim bombers had attacked the headquarters of a German armored division advancing on the Channel ports and that “close on to 100 explosive bombs” were dropped “well within the target area.”

BRITISH HEAR RAID WARNING LONDON, May 23 (U. P.).—An air raid warning was sounded at a southeast coast town tonight.

FRENCH CLAIM NEW HOLD IN CAMBRAI

Seek to Break Nazi Lines Before Defense Firms.

PARIS, May 23 (U. P.).—French armies, reinforced by shock troops under direction of Gen. Maxime Weygand, slashed at the flanks of the German offensive through Flanders today, regained a foothold in the town of Cambrai and battled to break off the Nazi mechanized spearhead stabbing at the English Channel ports. The “Battle of Flanders” was described in military dispatches as a wild and violent conflict in which lines on both sides were broken by plunging tank and armored car assaults, but with the French strategy apparently aimed at breaking through the extended German lines before they can be fully consolidated. On the basis of messages received in Paris the German “corridor” through Flanders still was only 30 to 35 miles wide where the Allied forces appeared to be attempting to pinch through it in the Cambrai sector, but nearer the Channel coast the Nazi mechanized units and bombing planes continued to fan out in interlocking and irregular (Continued on Page Three)

FOG GROUNDS PLANES BARKSDALE FIELD, Shreveport, La., May 23 (U. P.).—A fog bank rolling in from the Red River flats kept the Army's air armada grounded today while ‘“doughboys” battled to hold ground in a hilly section of west-central Louisiana. The air force—232 bombers and fast pursuit planes—had been ordered to the maneuvers at Camp Beauregard for a test of Europe's

newest methods of warfsye.

The gravest news of the

“probable.”

probably soon would become

gium in grave peril.

he German air force.

blows on the home fronts and

London denied it.

Flanders,” skirts of Cambrai.

“Trojan Horse” activities. headquarters of Sir Oswald

going on,

22 miles from Dover. It was said here that loss of Boulogne would be a terrific blow to the Allies and probably would quickly make Calais untenable, thus endangering any attempt to evacuate the Allied army in northern France. German armored columns, Churchill revealed, have cut around behind the Allied Army in Belgium and are seeking to interrupt communications lines. Meanwhile, on the home front, Great Britain was mobilized for total war, having acted to conscript its man power and wealth. Churchill confirmed that the Germans hold Abbeville and have thrust north to Boulogne, one of the

reported today,

Commons.) Authorized German sources, however, said that the fall of Boulogne is possible and “even probable.” DNB said that attacks along the flanks of the German corridor across France had been repulsed with heavy losses. to the Allies but warned that the Allied army in northern France and Belgium still is powerful and will not be broken wthout heavy battles. The strongest Allied force, the agency indicated, is in the neighborhood of Valenciennes along the Belgian-French border. DNB said that attempts by strong

Allied forces to break through the German ring between Cambrai apd

SMASH WAY TO BOULOGNE; LONDON GRAVE OVER NEW

England Feverishly Prepares for Invasion; French Strike Savagely at German Flanks In ‘Battle of Flanders.’

By JOE ALEX MORRIS United Press Foreign News Editor

German armies crashed through Allied defenses im France today and, according to the British, reached the English Channel port of Boulogne as England prepared feverishly against the imminent threat of invasion.

war was given to the British

House of Commons by Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who said that the British, French and Belgians were fight ing desperately along the Channel coast and in Boulogne ite self—a port only 30 miles from England and 18 miles from Calais—and that the outcome was in doubt.

The Germans said merely that the fall of Boulogne was

British troops were fighting desperately to drive ae the Germans who arrived at Boulogne with a powerful arme ored column. London warned that loss of the channel port would be a terrible blow and that if Boulogne fell, Calais

untenable.

Loss of these Channel ports would place the Allied army of approximately 1,000,000 men in north France and Bels

Fear Devastating Bomb Attack Unless-it could fight its way through the German core ridor, it would be forced to attempt evacuation with inade« quate port facilities under the shattering bomb attack of

Churchill's statement climaxed a series of trip-hammer

the war fronts:

1. The German High Command reported that encircle« ment of Allied forces was squeezing the British back from the Scheldt River, that German troops were smashing all Allied counter blows and driving northward from the Somme Valley toward Calais, which is 22 miles from Dover. Germans said they bombed the Dover harbor works but

The

Mosley Headquarters Raided

2. The British admitted that the French Channel ports were under such severe bombardment that they could be used only part of the time-and that the main lines of Allied communication were in gravest danger. 3. Paris reported savage fighting in “the Battle of stating that Allied forces were clawing at the German flanks and had fought their way back to the out-

4. Britain acted to stiffen the home front against It also was announced that the

Mosley’s Fascist Union was

(Continued on Page Three)

Ring Tightens on British

LONDON, May 23 (U. P.).—Prime Minister Winston Churchill told Commons today that German forces have reached the important Channel port of Boulogne and heavy fighting in and around the city is now

Boulogne is only about 30 miles from the British Coast and is but 18 miles from Calais, the nearest French Channel port to England-<only

principal ports through which the Allied Army of the north must evacuate if it can not fight its way through the German ring. Gen. Maxime Weygand, Churchill revealed, is in full command -of Allied operations both. north. and south of the German corridor across France and is now conducting operations in the hope of restoring a common front for the divided forces. If the Germans can hold Boulogne, it was noted here, they can utilize long-range artillery for the bombardment of British Channel ports such as Dover, Folkestone and Deal. It would also give the Ger(Continued on Page Three)

Germans Aim for Calais

BERLIN, May 23 (U. P.) .—German troops are driving for Calais and carrying the battle ever closer to England, the official DNB news agency

(The official German agency made no mention of the battle now raging at Boulogne revealed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill in

Valencinnes “scored slight local suee cesses which, however, were nulli= fied by the bloody enemy losses.” “The enemy’s fruitless attacks will weaken his resistance in the long run,” DNB asserted, “since after certain preliminary successes he has suffered heavy setbacks.” The High Command . earlier claimed that the German air fleet had “effectively bombed” the Chan« nel ports, including harbor instaliations at the English harbor of Dover. (The bombing of Dover was denied in London.) . A communique issued (Continued on Page