Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 21 December 1940 — Page 1

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e Indianapolis Times

"FORECAST: Fair and slightly warmer tonight and tomorrow; Towest tSarerabize tonight, 35 to 10.

FINAL HOME

5 EAR RE gL N SCRIPPS = HOWARD §

.R.A.F

VOLUME 52—NUMBER 245

Skims

GERMAN

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1940

ntered as Second-Class a

Postoffice, Indianapolis,

Matter Ind.

PRICE THREE CENTS

Snowy Housetops in Longest Raid on Berlin

S DENOU

CE U. S. ‘INSULTS’

MHALE-ELDER CLIQUE TARGET INPARTY FIGHT

Democrat Leaders Purge to'Consolidate ‘New Alignment.

By NOB'.E REED Indiana Democratic leaders who rose to the front in the 1940 paign have started a major purge to consolidate a “new alignment” for 1942 and 1944, it was learned today. The purge activities are centering openly against cliques that dominated the spending of the Democratic Two Per Cent Club money, described by one Democratic leader this week as “odorous.” Information on some of the spending tactics bégan leaking out following the recent dissolution of the .club on orders of Governor-elect Henry F. Schricker.

Start of Purge At that time, the club’s dissolution

appeared to be a political coup on the part of the Schricker forces to

take the sting out of anticipated

Republican wrecking repealers in Legislature. But a Democratic leader now entrenched with the high command ciaims the dissolution was the start of a “major purge.” Among those identified promi-

nently with the Two Per Cent Club;

spending was Bowman Elder, often described as- the “financial wizard” of the McNutt-for-President campaign, and Frank M. McHale, manager of the McNutt forces, who was associated closely with Mr. Elder.

Open Fire on Bays

Although other forces in the party aren’t mentioning names, it is clear that the McHale-Elder clique is the target for an open showdown fight, if necessary. A few days after the Nov. 5 election, there was talk about replacing Fred F. Bays as state chairman on the ground that his leadership was responsible for Democratic losses. That movement was said to have been countered with the Two Per Cent Club dissolution order along with veiled threats that some spending tactics might be exposed. The threats apparently worked because all talk of dislodging Chairman Bays stopped suddenly.

Elder Is Target

One Democratic leader went so far as to remark, off the record recently, that Mr. Elder has been “read out” of party councils completely. Some party leaders have charged openly that thé rumors linked with the Two Per Cent Club spending was the major factor in the party’s election losses and are pretty bitter about what they described as “selfish politics.” A Democrat close to the State Committee claimed that of more than $100,000 collected by the club from State employees in the last six months of the campaign only $12,000 actually went to the Committee for campaign expenses.

Schricker Forces Lead

The new alignment for the 1942 and 1944 campaigns is expected to revolve around forces that backed Governor-elect Sechricker for the gubernatorial nomination at “the State convention last June. Prominent in the Schricker-for-Governor organization, besides Ed Wilken, his campaign manager, was Roger Philips, of New Albany, now the minority floor leader of the State Senate. State Chairmah Bays, who campaigned for an unbossed State Con-

vention, also is believed to be close!

to the Schricker forces.

LOCAL POSTOFFICE OPEN TOMORROW

To accommodate the Christmas rush, the main Postoffice and the Illinois St. sub-station will be open from 8 a. m. to 10 p. m. tomorrow for receipt of parcel post packages and sale of stamps, Postmaster Adolph Seidensticker said today. Other Postoffice sub-stations in the city will not be open, however, Mr. Seidensticker said. He urged that Christmas mailings be completed today and added that special delivery should be used for + mail to states beyond those bordering Indiana and special delivery air mail for extremely distant states.

TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES

Gollup Poll .. In Indpls. .... Inside Indpls. . Johnson Movies

«JI

1 8 Mrs. Roosevelt 7 9 | Serial Story ..13 3| Side Glances.. 8 7{ Society 8 | Sports .14/ tSate Deaths..11

Start ||

cams- | 2

Hal Kemp Dies

Hal Kemp . . fails to rally in oxygen tent.

BAND LEADER CRASH VICTIM

Punctured Lung Causes Death Three Days After Collision.

MADERA, Cal., Dec. 21 (U. P.).— Orchestra Leader Hal Kemp, 36, died today as a result of injuries suffered in an automobile accident last Wednesday night. Mr. Kemp's car collided with one driven by Casimiro Azparren near here. Mr. Kemp, whe was en route to San Francisco to fill an engagement, suffered a punctured lung. He was taken to Dearborn Hospital here, where it at first was believed he was recovering. But last night Drs. Ray R. Dearborn and Coe Swift disclosed that he had developed pneumonia. He was placed in an oxygen tent, but failed to rally. Lung Collapses

Mr. Kemp, one of the nation’s leading dance band leaders, suffered a fractured left thigh and! several] broken ribs. The fractured ribs punctured his lungs and it was complications of this injury which brought his death at 8:30 a. m. (Indianapolis Time). Physicians said one tung collapsed and. pneumonia developed in the other. ; Mr. Kemp was born in Marion,! Ala, and spent his youth in the| South. He attended the University of North Carolina, and it was during his college days that he first began building his musical career. Created ‘Teletype Brass’ Kemp's famous staccato Style, known in the music trade as “teletype brass.” started a new trend in| dance orchestra music.

The orchestra leader married

twice. His first wife was the former |

Margaret Elizabeth Slaughter of Lake Charles, La. They were married in 1932 and divorced in Chicago about three years ago. Mr. Kemp was given custody of their two! children, Sally, 7, and James Hal, 5. Mr. Kemp's second wife, whom he wed in January, 1939, is the former Maj tha Stephenson. They have a child.

WHITE CHRISTMAS? BUREAU WON'T SAY

It’s Too Early to Tell if We'll Have Snow.

LOCAL TEMPERATURES 6a.m. ....34 10a. m.... 7a.m.....34 1l1la.m. ....34 8a.m..,.. 32 12 (noon) .. 9a.m .... 32 1p. m. . 34

, Camden,

‘CEASE WORRY’ ORDER GIVEN IN

Officials Conclude They're Following the Law in an Up-and-Up Manner.

By RICHARD LEWIS The order to cease worrying went the rounds of County political circles today as officials concluded that the Municipal Court judge pro tem “heat” was dissipating. Everything that has transpired in the Court Rooms, the officials com-

mented in off-record chats, has been strictly on the “up-and-up” the way the law is written. And that, said the officials with an air of finality, is that. There was, however, some comment to the effect that the pro tem situation has been “overdone.” From the standpoint of practical politics, officials agreed, the appointment of pro tems in the future should be handled with care.

Official Is ‘Surprised’

One Democratic official expressed his surprise that the situation where 32 different attorneys served as judges in the Municipal Courts within 11 months should draw public comment. “After all,” he remarked, “this sort of thing has been going on for years. In the background of the discussion, officials said, there are arguments for the pro tem system. They listed these: 1. It is the only way a Municipal judge can take relief from the bench. Unlike the higher County courts, the Municipal Courts are on a 12-month schedule. They close only on Sundays... .. . i

Only Way for Vacation

2. It is the only way a Municipal judge can take a vacation. Since there are no regular relief judges provided for, the appointment of a temporary judge is the only way the regular judge can get away from his court room for any length of time. One pro tem judge who declined to be quoted defended the heavy pro tem turnover in the courts this way: “As attorneys,” he said, “we have our own practices to think about. We can’t afford to take a great deal of time off to perform this service and we don’t always ask compensation for it.” Outside of the courts, other branches of county officialdom maintained a discreet, official silence about the situation, except for la few off-the-record remarks.

Want to Avoid Heat

Officials of these branches were anxious to avoid “being run in on {this heat.” But there was one opinion which [seemed to be unanimous among officials.

predicted, the whole thing will be forgotten. And things will be as before.

NAVY ORDERS STOLEN FROM N. J. ENGINEER

State Police Say.

DUANESBURG, N. Y. Dec: 21 (U. P.).—State Police searched today for a portfolio of naval equipment orders, stolen frecm the automobile of a shipbuilding official, but

insisted that it did nc contain plans for warships. : The portfolio, property cf Russell Keefer, engineering official of the New York Shipbuilding Corp, N. J, contained only copies of orders for naval equipment, State Police Inspector Edward Hageman announced today at Troy. The Camden company is building a battleship, several cruisers, and a number of U. S. Navy auxiliary craft.

PRO TEM FUSS

When the “heat” subsides, they

‘Warship Plans Not in Loot,

Everyone Has His Own Secret in Speedway City

IT HAPPENS FAST IN NOBLESVILLE

Stephenson Development Is

Followed by Shift of Pelley

“Office to City.

Times Special NOBLESVILLE, Ind, Dec. 21.— This city was deeply stirred today by two news developments. No sooner had the Hamilton County Circuit Court freed itself of further litigation in the case of D. C. Stephenson, former Indiana Klan leader, than word came that a new

magazine was to be started here

with equipment from the head-| quarters of William Dudley Pelley, |

Asheville, N. C,, leader of the Fascist Silver Shirt organization. Plans for the magazine, to be published by the Friendship Press Publishing Co., which recently bought a box factory here with which to start operations, received a temporary setback, when the Pelley

equipment was reported‘ confiscat-| ed as it was being taken from Ashe- |

ville yesterday.

A wire report said the office furni- |

ture and equipment was seized be- | cause of alleged non-payment of a' debt by Pelley. Carl Losey, dent of the meanwhile reiterated to the townspeople there will be.no tieup be-| tween the magazine and the Silver, Shirts. Mr. Losey, one-time associate of Stephenson, said the new company will publish the magazine for businessmen. . He did not discloge. its name. Mr. Losey spends four or five days a week here, commuting from his Indianapolis home at, 731 Olin Ave. The Stephetison move, opens the way for a possible parole from his life sentence for the murder in 1925 of Madge Oberholtzer; State House stenographer. A State Clemency Board hearing will probably be held in a few days.

ACCUSED OF SPAN THEFT

COLUMBUS, Ind. Dec. 21 (U. P.). —Carl Freet today was charged with stealing a 50-foot iron bridge. Police say the span was dismantled and removed from a county road neéar here. He was charged with grand larceny.

LOUIS SIGNS WITH CONN NEW YORK, Dec. 21 (U. P.).— Joe Louis signed today to defend his heavyweight championship in June against Billy Conn of Pittsburgh, light heavyweight champion.

Indianapolis,

presi-| Friendship Press,

1. Harry (Hap) F. Bernhardt, town marshal, got a traffic headache when Speedway became a virtual parking lot for the Allison

plant .employees.

2. There was only room for about 3 per cent of Allison’s 9000 employees to live in Speedway homes, so others brought, bought and rent-

| ed trailers that are parked in nearby farmyards.

3. Speedway’s Main St. never looked like this before Allison started

expanding,

Now, three times every 24 hours, the thoroughfare is |

plugged solid with cars for almost an hour when the shifts change at

Allison's.

That's the Way Residents

Feel About Allison Plant

By SAM TYNDALL Nearly everyone in Speedway City is on the “in-and-in” at the

Allison plant.

Almost everyone has his own “secret” about what goes on inside

those massive windowless walls.

Occasionally these “secrets”

are cau-

| tiously traded among residents—but to “strangers” there is a strict

BOBBITT SUMMONS STEERING GROUPS

Drafts of 6 Bills Up for Party Ratification.

Members of the Republican Steering Committees of both houses of the Legislature have been called into special session by State G. O. P. Chairman Arch N. Bobbitt Monday afternoon to ratify drafts of six proposed hills. The bills, drafted by a committee of attorneys, embrace the Republican majority leaders’ proposals for reorganization of the State Government. . They are expected to provide for a network of bi-partisan boards for each State institution and some executive departments. Appointive powers are expected to be vested in various constitutional offices to which Republicans were elected, leaving Democratic Gover-nor-elect Henry F. Schricker little direct control over many departments of government.

self-imposed censorship. The “secrets” may be harmless fact or more often just rumor, but the censorship is real. way they feel in Speedway about the vital airplane engine plant. The Speedway Town Board and the Allison high command frequently put their heads together these days on plans which concern | them both. For instance, Allison stands ready to offer its entire police force of 60 men in case Speedway City should need it. In turn, Speedway stands ready |

to send its volunteer fire depart- |

ment to the aid of the engine plant, should the occasion arise. ! There is no matter at the Allison plant inconsequential to Speed-

way City. And perhaps this is one

reason why. Since General Motors began expansion of the Allison Division these things have happened to Speedway: 1. The property valuation increased by $2,240,000 bringing in $13,500 more in tax money without an increase in tax rate.

2. Approximately 450 new homes.

were constructed. 3. Residential population increased (Continued on Page Three)

It's not official, understand, but there may be some precipitation— rain or snow—Monday or Tuesday, but it should be over by Wednesday, which jis Christmas. Meteorologist J. H. Armington said this is a far as he’d go in predicting a white or non-white Christmas. It’s too early, ‘he said, to tell if the snow—if it is snow and if it does come—will be heavy enough to accommodate boys on sleds. As for tonight and tomorrow, he forecast fair and slightly warmer, with the lowest temperature tonight 35 to 40. Mr. Armington also issued the following data: 1. Today is the shortest of the year, a few seconds less than 9.3 hours. 2. The sun sets today at 4:23 p. m. and rises tomorrow at 7:04. a. m. 3. Winter officially arrives at 5:55 p. m. today,

(Donors’ List, Page Three)

WINTER OFFICIALLY comes to Indianapolis today. Exactly at 5:85 p. m. the sun will be the farthest south that it

will get and that makes it winter, astronomically. But to a child with threadbare clothing and few of them, winter comes when it gets cold. When the winds whip a shiver of misery into their bodies, it doesn’t make

starts, officially. For thousands of children in Indianapolis, winter has been here for a long, long time. For these little victims of misfortune—and cold—The Times created Clothe-A-Child and since its creation thousands have Ls

much difference when the season °

given of their time and money to’ the end that the good cheer of Christmas not be the exclusive right of a few.

Thousands of children have been saved from ill health and injured pride. Many a little girl has felt more like going to school when clothed in a dress she knows the other girls won’t point at and then laugh. The tears from a scene like this can’t be wiped away in a day. But now the time has slipped away until only a few hours are left in which Clothe-A-Child will operate. After the stores close this evening, just two davs will be lett. For days now, the Clothe-A-Child office has had the names of many more children than it can hope to clothe.

i ;

The Herff-Jones Guild was put on a nation-wide radio hookup last night, thanks to Fred Waring, orchestra leader. In the final part of his radio show, he reads “today’s good news.” And for the good news last night he mentioned an act of mercy by the Herff-Jones employees, noting that they had clothed 151 children for Christmas.

Yesterday in one of the city's courts a young, sick mother stood before the judge and her head was bowed. Nearby were three of her children who heard the court accuse their own mother of stealing $4.32 worth of clothing

from a downtown store. The judge, however, had a hu-

[Time Flies But You Still Can Help Clothe-A-Child

man heart, and he sent the children from ‘the courtroom before he fined the humble little woman $1 and costs.’ Then he suspended the sentence. . “I know that because a husband doesn’t make much money isn’t any excuse for someone to take things that don’t belong to them, but I can’t send a mother who is sick and has four children to jail for a theft of $4.32 worth of ;merchandise,” the judge said. 1 the warmth of your home, you too are a judge, deciding whether the cheer of Christmas is going to be a universal sort of happiness. If you decide you want to help, call Riley 5551 and ask for Clothe-A-Child. Or if youre on Washington St. be-

_ tween Illinois and Meridian Sts.,

put a dime on the Mile-of-Dimes! id

BOMB BURSTS IN “BERLIN STATION

100 Point-Blank Blank Rounds Fired at Crews of Anti-Aircraft Guns.

(Joe Alex Morris, Page Three)

By H. L. PERCY United Fress Staff Correspondent

LONDON, Dec. 21 (U.P.).—Snow-

covered Berlin last night suffered 1 the. longest and. one of

He most destructive of 37 raids by British Royal Air Force bombers, the Air Ministry said today, and smashing attacks were delivered from plangs flying no higher than the housetops of the Reich capital. “Some of our bombers came right over the! house-tops, sometimes flying at little more than 100 feet,” said a communique.

In Bright Moonlight One bomber roared over the main

That's the |

railway station at only 1000 feet jand the pilot saw a bomb burst in ithe station’s center while the rear gunner, looking back, | flying in the air. This plane swooped on a group of |searchlights and a battery of guns

chine guns| at point-blank range. | “In brilliant moonlight, searchlight and | anti-aircraft gun crews were seen to stagger and fall,” ' said the Ministry.

“Satisfactory Fires”

Chief objectives of the RAF last night were. factories, goods yards land railway stations in Berlin, the Ministry said. It asserted that an aircraft factory was set afire early in the raid. Pilots flying over the targets for “well over an hour” caused “al very satisfactory ‘list of fires and explosions,” they reported. Despite a particularly heavy anti‘aircraft barrage the British achieved their missions over Berlin. In a gonds yard adjoining one station there was an enormous fire with {continuous explosions in its middle. In other goods yards debris was thrown high into the air and incendiary hombs caused a conflagration half a mile long which was visible 50 miles away. ‘One huge coniflagration raged in what a British pilot beliefed was a timber yard.

EXPANSION OF U.S, SHIPYARDS ORDERED

Knudsen Heads New Board; 0il Export Limited (John Love, Page Nine)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 (U. PJ). —On the heels of President Roosevelt’s announcement setting up a supreme national defense agency, Navy Secretary Frank Knox to(day announced contracts totaling $6,600,000 for’ shipyard expansion, most needed item in aid to Great Britain. . At the same time—while the fourmember board of the new Office of Production Management for National Defense held its first meeting —Mr. Roosevelt himself placed plans and equipment for the production of aviation lubricating oil

{under the export licensing system.

The new defense-agency will be headed by Production Chief William S. Knudsen with Labor Leader Sidney Hillman second in command. Mr. Roosevelt has scheduled the new office to become effective within (Continued on Page Three)

PLANES COLLIDE IN AIR

TORONTO, Ontario, P.) —Two Royal Canadian Air Force planes collided in mid-air over Malton Airport today. First r said one girman had been killed

j and | another seriously wounded. ’ Th

saw debris

and fired 100 rounds from its ma-|.

Dec. 21 (U.|

AIDTOBRITAN

WARLIKE ACT, AMERICA TOLD

‘Pettifogging’ Washington " Policy ‘Unsupportable,’ Spokesman Says.

BULLETIN LONDON, Dec. 21 (U. P.)— Germany’s warning to the United States today shows that Adolf Hitler finally has realized the growing effectiveness of Ameri-

can aid to Britain and hopes to embroil the United States in war in order to bring Japan into the conflict, the Press Association said today. :

BERLIN, Dec. 21 (U. P.). —Germany . today denounced the United States policy of “pin-pricks, challenges, ine sults and moral aggression” against the Reich and warne that British suggestions f American shipping aid mean “nothing else than a demand upon America to engage in a war-like act.”

The statement as issued officially by the Foreign Office spokesman after reports that Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop had been scheduled to: clarify relations with the United States. It included a demand for recall of three members of the American Embassy staff at Paris on grounds that they aided British soldiers and spies. (The United States; later agreed to the recall demand.) The Nazi spokesman centered his remarks on the recent talk by British Shipping Minister Ronald Cross, who asked for more American ships to replace tonnage lost in the war and suggested a possible deal for

ports. “This Brazen Demand” “This Cross allegation, which was directed to American press’ repre= sentatives, means nothing else than a demand upon America to engage in a warlike act, a warlike act which one naturally can only call Spend, of England,” the spokes man s “We' ih most tense as to how America will answer this brazen demand for a warlike act.” The Nazi statement said that it was considered “impossible” in the long run to continue a situation in which one nation (the United States) treats one belligerent (Britain) with -restraint that involves self-sacrifice and permits a policy toward another belligerent (Ger= many) of repeated pin-pricks and moral aggression.

“Irritated” by Roosevelts

The spokesman added that Gere mans had recently been accustomed to actions in certain American cir~ cles which he described as “petti= fogging” and he emphasized that the United States policy had reached the point of “insupportability”—thus raising the whole question of future German relations . with the United States. There was no definite elaboration in the official statement, Dee regarding the possibility of a break in peaceable relations with the United States, but the spokesman emphasized that “in the long run it is impossible” for Germany to pon Une the present relg p on he basis of the present American attitude toward Britain. ES

ances by President Roosevelt Mrs. Roosevelt as other “irritan to severely strained relations the United States.

Hull Agrees to Recall Attaches,

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 (U —Germany’s denunciation of ican short-of-war efforts Great Britain was regarded by persons here today as both an tempt to acquaint American. opinion with Berlin’s moun dignation and also to conditi German public to the si of the situation. In discussing one phase of German bill of complaint, |

lin had a perfect right to recall of three members American Embassy in PF that the three would be

Nazis "also viewed recent utters

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Axis shipping tied up in American =

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