Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 31 December 1940 — Page 1

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~The Indianapolis

FORECAST: Cloudy with occasional rain tonight and tomorrow; slightly warmer tonight with lowest iempersiire about 38,

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Kscures “nowarpl] VOLUME 52—NUMBER 253

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31,1940

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis, Ind.

PRICE THREE CENTS |

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Ernie Pyle: ‘The Most Hateful, the Most Beautiful Scene | Have Ever Known’

By ERNIE PYLE

3 ohvos (By Wireless).—Some day when peace has returned to this odd world I want to come to London again and stand on a certain balcony on a moonlit night and look dawn upon the peaceful silver curve of the Thames with its dark bridges. And standing there, 1 want to tell somebody who has never seen it how London looked on a certain night in the holiday season of the year 1940. For on that night this old, old city—even though I must bite my tongue in shame for saying it—was the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. It was a night when London was ringed and stabbed with fire. They came just after dark, and somehow I could sense from the quick, bitter firing of the guns that there was to be no monkey husiness this night. Shortly after the sirens wailed I could hear the Germans grinding overhead. In my room, with its black curtains drawn across the - windows, you could feel the shake from the guns. You could hear the boom, crump, crump, crump, of heavy bombs at their work of tearing buildings apart. They were not too far away. Half an hour after the firing started I gathered a couple of friends and went to a high, darkened balcony that gave us a view of one-third

S we sfepped out onto the balcony a vast inner excitement came over all of us—an excitement that had neither fear nor horror in it, because it was too full of awe. : You have all seen big tires, but I doubt if you have ever seen the whole horizon of a city lined with great fires—scores of them, perhaps hundreds. d There was something inspiring in the savagery of it. The closest fires were near enough for us “to hear the crackling flames and the yells of firemen. Little fires grew into big ones even as we watched. Big ones died down under the firemen’s valor cnly to break out again later. About every two minutes a new wave of planes would be over. The motors seemed to grind rather than roar, and to have an angry pulsation like a bee buzzing in blind fury. The bombs did not make a constant overwhelming din as in those terrible days of last September. They were intermittent— sometimes a few seconds apart, sometimes a minute or more. Their sound was sharp, nearby, and soft and muffled, far away. They were everywhere over London. Into the dark, shadowed spaces below us, as we watched, whole

FE saw two dozen go off in two seconds. They flashed terrifically, then quickly simmered down to pinpoints of dazzling - white,

burning ferociously. These white pinpoints would go out one by one as the unseen heroes of the moment smothered them with sand. But also, as we watched, other pinpoints would burn on and pretty soon a yellow flame would leap up from the white center. They had done their work—another building was on fire. The greatest of all the fires was directly in front of us. Flames seemed to whip hundreds of feet into the air. Pinkish-white smoke ballooned upward in a great cloud, and out of this cloud there gradually took shape—so faintly ‘at first that we weren’t. sure we saw correctly— the gigantic dome and spires of St. Paul's Cathedral. . St. Paul's was surrounded by fire, but it came. through. It stood there in its enormous proportions—growing slqwly clearer and clearer, the way objects take shape at dawn. It was like a picture of some miraculous figure that appears before peace-hungry soldiers on a battlefield. The streets below us were semi-illuminated from the glow. _ Immediately above the fires the sky was red and angry, and overhead, making a ceiling in the vast heavens, there was a cloud of

of the entire circle of London.

batches of incendiary bombs fell,

smoke all in pink.

P in that pink shrouding there

were tiny, brilliant specks of flashe

ing light—anti-aircraft shells bursting. ‘After the flash you could

hear the sound.

Up there, too, the barrage balloons were standing out as clearly as if it were daytime, but now they were pink instead of silver. And now: and then through a hole in that pink shroud there twinkled ine congruously a permanent, genuine star—the old-fashioned kind that

has always been there.

Below us the Thames grew lighter, and all around below were the shadows—the dark shadows of buildings and bridges that formed the base of this dreadful masterpiece. i Later on I borrowed a tin hat and went out among the fires: That was exciting, too, but #he thing I shall always remember above all the other things in my life is the monstrous loveliness of that ‘ one single view of London on a holiday night—London stabbed with great fires, shaken by explosions, its dark regions along the Thames sparkling with the pinpoints of whijte-hot bombs, all of it roofed over with a ceiling ‘of pink that held bursting shells, balloons, flares

and the grind of vicious engines.

And in yourself the excitement.

and anticipation and wonder in your soul that this could be happen=-

ing at all.

These things all went together to make the most hateful, most

beautiful Srgies scene I have ever known.

FEELING IS HIGH IN NOBLESVILLE, - DIESGROUP TOLD

Pelley Attempts to ~ Buy Newspaper Described.

By DANIEL M. KIDNEY Times Staff Writer 5 WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.—William Dudley Pelley and Carl Losey tried to buy the Noblesville Times, but their offer was refused when the owner, D. M. Hudler, learned of their background, the Dies Committee has been infermed. The information is contained in a

report made. from Noblesville by |

Wick Fowler, Dies investigator, who is en route here by plane to make verbal additions. Feeling is high at Noblesville over the advent of Mr. Losey. and Pelley in the printing business there, and .danger of violence is considered serious, it was reported here.

$10,000 in Cash

A summary of the Fowler report on the former Silver Shirts leader, Pelley, and former Klan member, and State Police Lieutenant Losey, follows: “Pelley and Carl Losey tried to buy the Noblesville Times from D. M. Hudler. They put down $10,000 in cash as a down payment. After Hudler investigated the organization, he backed out of the deal. Then they bought the box faetory from a financier by the name of Henry Gaeth in Noblesville and are now remodeling the plant. “They brought all of Pelley’s equipment from Asheville, including some of his former employees. A man by the name of L. A. Brown and A.°M. Henderson, both of 415 N. Euclid Ave. in Indianapolis, former associates of Pelley’s and Carl Losey, of 731 Olin Ave., Indianapolis, are the board of directors of the Fellowship Press, Inc.

Capital Stock Now $3500

“Losey states .confidentially that all of the money except $3500 was turned back in and that the capital stock is now $3500.. The only agreement he says he has with Pelley concerning the plant is that Pelley is writing books on esoterics and metaphysics, that the plant will publish his books, and that otherwise Pelley will have no word in the editorial policies of the publication. “When Pelley and Losey were trying to buy the Noblesville Times, Pelley introduced himself as Garrison and represented himself throughout the deal as Garrison. Losey said today that Pelley did that in order to keep the heat off of the proposition. “Losey, who is president of the Fellowship Press and who states he will direct the editorial policy, says he will have men in Washington obtaining copies of proposed legisla‘tion, writing interpretations, and has also selected a man in Indianapolis who he said never met Pelley until recently, that he was merely selected for his ability to write. Losey said he got one letter through the mail today threatening to blow the place up and attempts to kidnap ; his night wajchman were made.”

FIRE AT COMMUNITY HOUSE

~Pire started by an overheated furnace today caused damage estimated at $1000 to the New Augusta Commuriity House at New Augusta,

TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES

01{ board, and suppo:

Wick Fowler . . . Dies agent Jeoks into Silver Shirt activities ere.

DIES’ PERSONAL INQUIRY HINTED

Committee Chief May Use Trip Here to Probe Silver Shirts.

By LOWELL B. NUSSBAUM Rep. Martin Dies (D. Tex.), chairman of the Congressional committee investigating un-American activities, may make a personal investigation of Silver Shirt activities here and throughout Indiana when he comes

to Indianapolis for an address Jan. 15, it was reported today. Rep. Dies is scheduled to speak at Cadle Tabernacle on that date under auspices of the John H, Holliday Jr. Post, American Legion. It was hinted in Washington that while here he might personally conduct a hearing into the recent doings of William Dudley Pelley, leader of the Silver Shirts of America, a reported Fascistic organization. Wick Fowler, an agent : for the Dies- Committee has been here for several days investigating Pelley’s connections © with the Fellowship Press, Inc., a publishing company being established at Noblesville. Mr. Fowler mailed a report on his findings to the committee late yesterday, and left town today, but was expected to return soon for further investigation. Among those questioned by the agent during his visit here was Carl Losey president of the new publishing company. Mr. Losey was accompanied to the interview in a (Continued on Page Three)

COURT HOUSE LAWN PARKING LOT URGED

The conversion of the park-like Court House lawn into a parking lot to relieve downtown parking congestion was proposed by the Safety Board today. The a ios to utilize nearly a square block of space at the rear of the building’ was made by Donald Morris, Republican member of the by Police Chief Michael F. M . Mr. Morris said the area’s use a ‘a park is

“oselighlc ; decided fo confer rs on the

L Board members with: County Co

which has been ‘the subject

QUINN IS GIVEN FINE OF $200, BLUESTEIN $50

Sentences of 60 and 10 Days Suspended in Last Two Relief Cases.

The end came today to Marion County’s 1939 poor relief investigation. : Thomas M. Quinn Sr. principal flgure in the investigation as Center Township Trustee, was fined $200 and sentenced to 60 days in jail on a charge of official negligence, to which he pleaded guilty before Judge Pro Tem William E. Reiley. The days were suspended by Judge Reiley, “in view of Mr. Quinn’s

physical condition as testified to by his. physicians.”

-Bluestein Fined $50

Frank Bluestein, grocer, pleaded guilty to a charge of obtaining money under false pretense, was fined $50 and sentenced to 10 days in jail, the days being suspended. Both men paid their fines. Dan R. Anderson, grocer, another of théifive indicted as result of the inquiry, and who was convicted a year ago by a Criminal Court jury on a charge of false pretense, has an appeal pending in the State Supreme Court. He was fined $1000 and sentenced to six months to the State Penal Farm. In handing down his judgment, Judge Reiley said that the Prosecutor had stated that the State had no evidence of any intent on the part of Quinn of official neglect, but that proof of intent was not necessary in thic ase. He said that the la wis violated if the public official is negligent.

Case Termed Unlike Others * In reference to the Bluestein case,

“|Judge Reiley commented that the

Prosecutor said the State had ho evidence of intent to defraud and that the present case was not like some of the others, where claims were filed for orders alleged to have been delivered to fictitious persons. One of the two other defendants was J. Barton Griffin, milk route owner, who was sentenced to four months in jail upon his plea of guilty to a charge of false pretense. He has served his term. The fifth defendant was John Neenan, order writer in the trustee’s office, who pleaded guilty to false pretense and was sentenced to 30 Jays in jail. He, too, has served his erm.

Terms System Inadequate

All the indictments grew out of evidence presented to the Grand Jury that false claims were being made for relief orders. After passing judgment, Judge Reiley added that “a casual inquiry into the system that has been in use for So many years (in relief distribution), leads one to the certainty that it is inadequate to meet conditions in a metropolitan center like Indianapolis.”

SPECIAL ISSUES GAIN

NEW YORK, Dec. 31 (U. P.).— Most stocks changed little in price today but strong selective demand caused wide gains in some “special issues. Trading was below yesterday’s pace.

who

As Judge Handed Down Relief Judgment

The end of the 1939 relief investigation—Thomas M. Quinn Sr. and Frank Bluestein appear for sen-

tencing. Left to right: Judge Pro Tem William E. Reiley, Prosecutor David M. Lewis, Alvin Johnson, Quinn's attorney; Quinn, Frank Bluestein and Max Farb, Bluestein’s attorney.

HALF MILLIONDIP FOR RELIEF

Center Township’s Case Load and Cosis Are Shaved in 1940.

Center Township's 1940 relief costs will total nearly a half million

dollars less than last year, Trustee Henry Mueller reported today. In the first 11 months this year, total current expenditures were: $1,149,747. This represented a saving

last year, and figures for December will show another $50,000 saving, Mr. Mueller estimated. A part of the saving, he said, resulted from reduction in the relief rolls through purging the less worthy cases and the opening of jobs created by the defense program.

he said, from paring down food and clothing costs. His report showed there were 8083 cases on the relief rolls last January and only 5380 on Nov, 30—a reduction of 2700 cases. ; In breaking down relief costs, Mr. Mueller ' reported November expenditures last year were $138,885, and this year, $97,064. Food costs, $751,575 last year, have dropped to $575,005 this year. In addition, $109,803 was spent last year for bread. This year only $10,711 was spent for bread, since the trustee ceased furnishing bread after last January. One of the heavy savings has been in clothing both for school children and adults. Formerly, all clothing was purciased from stores. Under Mr. Mueller’s administration, clothing isumanufactured at a WPA sewing project. * Mr. Mueller also announced the appointment of Grover D. Gise, 116 S. Bancroft St., as chief deputy trustee Mr. Gise, ann employee of the office the last six years, has

been in charge of housing.

of $424,150 under the same period:

However, substantial saving resulted,

by G. O. P. majority leaders.

BLUE APPOINTS 21 PROSECUTOR AIDS

None Is Designated as Chief; All Get Same Pay.

Marion County Prosecutor-elect Sherwood Blwe today announced the appointment of 21 deputies who will take office with him tomorrow. Heading ' the appointments was Albert Ward, former. U. S. District Attorney, who was listed by Mr. Blue as one of nine Criminal Court deputies. The new Prosecutor did not name any of the 21 appointees as the chief deputy, merely giving them all the same rating in salary and rank. “Other attorneys appointed were B. Nelson Deranian, prominent in the Republican County Committee, as Grand Jury deputy; James B. Battey, Leo T. Brown, Edwin Hsaerle, Cale J. Holder, Erle A. Kightlinger, Edwin McClure, Saul Rabb and Ralph Tacoma, all Criminal Court deputies. Juvenile Court and Civil Court deputies named were Frank T. Sisson, Henry Perry, Wesley T. Wilson, Albert Fox, Harry J. Harman, Forman D. McCurdy, Marylou Patterson, John E. Scott, James J. Stewart, John G. Tinder and James

H. Woolford.

" NEW YORK, Dec. 31 (U. P).— The radio music war starts tonight at the stroke .of the new year. From that moment, some 40,000 song hits of the past 56 years will be barred from 648 radio stations throughout the country, “Auld Lang Syne,” “For. He's a Jolly Good Fellow,” and “Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here,” traditional salutes to the new year, are not included, having gone info public domain from copyright expirations, but one immediate effect will be a switching in theme songs by practicaily all bands and programs. Irving Berlin's “God Bless America,” a patriotic favorite, and all the rest .of the compositions by

for shout 10

Radio War to Tune Out 40,000 ASCAP Hits, So Songs Grandma Sang Will Come Back

Kern, Rodgers and Hart and the other modern American favorites are on the banned list. Restrictions will be so severe that the radio networks will broadcast tomorrow’s . football games from soundproof booths lest they broadcast any of the songs played by college bands. The songs will be broadcast, but not: by stations of the National Broadcasting Co., Columbia Broadcasting System or independents which have refused to negotiate a new license with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, popularly known asl ASCAP. Instead, Wese stations

will use the. songs '

2

Inc., an ASCA the

fight ASCAP and which hastily ‘has acquired a sizeable catalogue. BMI claims to have 600,000 arrangements, including such new hits as “Practice Makes Perfect,” “I Give You My Word,” ‘There I Go,” and “So You're the One.” The networks also expect to draw heavily on songs in public domain, and in preparation for the war, many | a; tunes of the early 20's, and older| pin ones that grandma played on te, "2 organ have been dragged from the attics and embellished with mod‘ern. rhythms, The dispute is over fees charged Sy’ ascar. founded in. 014 by Vicbert and eight: others to

it » | proposals. The Same Old Story, Meanwhile, State Republican,

Insurgent G.O.P. Proposes Rival Reorganization Bill

By NOBLE REED

An Snsiraett bloc of Republican legislators is planning to sponsor a rival state reorganization bill, opposing the executive setup proposed

The insurgents would be led by Rep. H. H. Evans, (R. New Castle) who announced teday that he has drafted a rival bill providing for! eight divisions of State Government.

The Republican majority leaders’ reorganization bill proposes five

| executive divisions, with Republican

elected officials controlling: four of them, ‘thus stripping ‘Democratic Governor-elect . Henry F. Schricker of most powers now vested in the Governor's office.

Would Divide Powers

Rep. Evans’ tentative bill would divide the executive powers more equally among the Republican elected officials, he said. The insurgents will claim, they said, that the five-division executive control plan of the majority leaders would be unconstitutional, presumably because it gives too much power to Lieut. Gov.-elect Charles M. Dawson, “The five divisions proposed by the majority leaders are Department of State, Department of Audit and Control, Department of Treasury, Department of Commerce and Industry, all controlled by Republican officials and the Executive Department controlled by the Governor.

Proposes Three New Divisions

Most of the State functions would be placed under the first four divisions, leaving Mr. Schricker with few patronage powers. Rep. Evans’ proposal would add three more executive divisions to the majority leaders’ bill—Department of Public Works, ent of Law and Department of Public Welfare. His bill also would vest most executive powers in the Republican officials. Mr. Evans said he expects to have the support of about 30 Republican legislators for his bill.

Steering Committee Called

If he actually receives the. support of that many Republican Legislators, he eould easily block passage of the majority leaders’ bill with the aid of ‘the Democratic members. However, regular G. O. P. organization men claim that not more than half a dozen Republican Legislators would support Rep. Evans’

Chairman N. Bobbitt has

called the Republican majority Steering Committees of both houses

day and Friday to complete the forial, ats of their Teorganization

FIVE MINERS TRAPPED.

Rescue “workers today save Hd miners

INDIANA, Pa. Dec. 31 (U. PY. ‘worked to|

forces of the Middle East.

QUIETS FEAR OF F. D. R. CRITICS

Early Says Talk of Air or Naval Aid for British ‘Misinterprets Speech.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (U. P). —Presidential Secretary Stephen T. Early told reporters today that persons who have expressed fear that the United States might send a naval force to aid Britain are ‘“confusing” President Roosevelt’s Sunday night speech. Mr. Roosevelt's speech, pledging all-out material assistance to Britain, contained a promies that there is no intention to send “an American expeditionary force” to Europe. Some critics of the President’s policy had expressed doubt whether this covered possible dispatch of a naval or air force.

Asked about this, Mr. Early said sharply: “They're not confused; confusing the speech.” He said that Mr. Roosevelt has in his bedroom a “stack of telegrams about two feet high” about the speech. “It surpasses anything else we have had,” he added. President Roosevelt's call for “more of everything” for Britain focused attention on proposals to make some Army airplanes and more destroyers available to the British. Administration officials have been preparing such a plan for the President’s study. They contend that it is the only way of effectively increasing aid to Great Britain in time to meet the anticipated spring offensive. Planes and destroyers now in American service presumably could (Continued on Page Three)

U.S. AT WAR BRINK,

they're

Ridicules ‘Mass Hysteria.’

WHEELER DECIR Gives 8-Point Peace Plan, |pren

. WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (U. PD. Wheeler (D.

into special executive session Thurs- | ing

By JOE ALEX MORRIS

United Press Foreign Adolf Hitler proclaimed today as a Nazi war aim the destruction of “democratic individuals” upon whom he blamed this and past wars while a spokesman for Italian Fascism bluntly named the United States as one of the ¢ ‘coms +mon enemies” of the Axis. . If war comes, suggested the Italian Press, oJ apan—third partner in the Berlin-Rome-Tokyo military alliance—will take the lend agains the United States. A

News Editor

et ha

Hitler’s declaration, made in a New Year’s Day proclas mation to his Nazi Party, ase serted that he spoke not in empty phrases but “in bloody

earnestness.” He declared Germany would fight to the end—which he predicted would-be a 1941 victory—and. would destroy “every power that feeds ot these democracies.” . Editor Aims at U. S. - “Because we are fighting for the happiness of peoples,” Hitler con= cluded, “we believe we have firs earned the blessing of Providence, The Lord God thus far has given His support to our struggle. If we faithfully and bravely fulfil our duty He will'not in the future desert. us: The Fascist criticism of the. United States was led by Roberto extremist editor of the Regime Fase cista. ‘He said: “The United States must be ‘cons sidered the enemy of Germany Ita:y and therefore the proletarian

nations (the Axis and allies) musé

create a front to destroy their cori= mon enemy.” The sharp Axis attack upon the United States coincided with grows ing indications that in the Fag East and elsewhere

Germany was racing against time to preparernent 3

blows against ' Britain before

creased aid can tip the Seaiesiag i

itary . superiority. ; ‘Russia Uncertain. Fuca

Russia remained ts man factor in these pre; day it was learned in v Japan, which had sought a p nent treaty to end the long=st Russo-Japanese fisheries would have fo et along for being with temporary agreement, at midnight night. The Fuehrer new y

Rh

AXIS INCLUDES U.S. AS ‘COMMON FOE’ ITALY SUGGESTS

JAPAN TO HOLD AMERICA AT BAY

BULLETIN LONDON, Dec. 31 (Ui-P.).—A British Army stokes man claimed today that “the greater part” of Marshal Rodolfo Graziani’s army of Libya has now been “either captured, killed or immobilized” by the British imperial

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