Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 February 1941 — Page 1

BOOKS ees. Fok 10 Clapper....... “Comics

FORECAST: Mostly doudy; occasional -light rain late tonight or tomorrow; warmer tonight with h taiperatures above freezing; colder tomorrow night.

VOLUME 52 NUMBER 290

PS Knox Opposes Crippling Fleet By Sa Britain Ships

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1941

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“ SPANISH LEADERS AND DUCE CON

Lincoln's Indiana Memorial

' “Lincolh in 1840,” a bust by E. H. Daniels, Indianapolis, sculptor, will be the central decoration in the mew Indiana Lincoln Union

auditorium under construction at Lincoln City.

The Union is a

‘memorial to Lincoln’s 14 years in Indiana. It includes an auditorium, . a museum of Lincoln lore and a landscaped plaza facing the present |

Nancy Hanks memorial and site of the old Lincoln home.

In State as 'Pinching Times'

' By JOE COLLIER

ABRAHAM LINCOLN, whose birthday anniversary is ‘being cele-| brated today, was, during his years as a Hoosier: 1. A hard-working, rail-splitting young man whose farm-hand| wages of 25 cents a day were paid to his father. 2. A giddy social number who excelled at barn dances and]

spelling schools, but who would have no part of rail splitting.

3. A studious young fellow who had searched out and borrowed and read cvery book within a 50-mile radius of his home, 4A flip - cracking youngster who ‘sassed his elders and then offered to throw them in a pond when “they took issue with his impudence. Without paying any money, you may take your choice of these impressions of the Great Emancipator, detailed through anecdotes related by friends-and

acquaintances about his formative .

years in Indiana. ‘The Lincoln farm was in Spéncer County a short distance from the Ohio River. Near there ‘now is the Nancy Hanks Lincoln Memorial. » ” ” LINCOLN HIMSELF said he got his schooling “by littles.” . He estimated that his classroom’ work altogether would total no more than a year. But- most

biographers believe that he was profoundly impressed by the oratory of ministers who found their wdy to the neighbrohood for a series of “preachings.” One biographer offers this in evidence to: support “his contention: “One of his chief delights was to get playmates about him, and preach and thump until he had his audience frightened or in tears.” Lincoln also described his first years in Indiana: as “pretty pinching times.” Biographers say that he was strong and hearty and hired out (Continued on Page Three)

GARGANTUA'S BRIDE.

GETS CAGY BOUDOIR

SARASOTA, Fla., Feb. 12 (U. P.). —An air conditioned, iron-barred boudoir for Toto, the bride-elect of Gargantua, - gigantic’ circus gorilla, has been shipped to Havana, Toto’s home, by officials of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey. The luxurious cage, said to cost $20,000, will arrive dn Havana Friday. No date has been set for Toto’s triumphal entry into circus winter quarters here. John Ringling North, circus head, recently bought Toto as a mate for Gargantua:

TIMES FEATURES 'ON INSIDE PAGES

Movies ......

Editorials. . Financial

We Honor—

INDIANAPOLIS paused to- | day to commemorate the 132d | birthday anniversary of a | hard-working rail-splitter, name of Abraham Lincoln. The City Hall, Courthouse, banks and stock markets were closed. State House offices had skeleton staffs. The Federal | Building was open “as usual.” |

REPUBLICANS RALLY IN. LINGOLI'S HONOR

Hold Dinners in All States; Willkie to Speak.

‘WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (U. P). —The Republican Party pays tribute today to: its first President— Abraham Lincoln, On the. 132d anniversary of his birth, members of the party will gather at dinners and rallies throughout the country. Patriotic organizations will hold special services and high Government officials will pay tribute to the Civil War President. Wendell L. Willkie, the Republican’s 1940: Presidential candidate, will be the principal speaker at the Lincoln Day. dinner of the National Republican Club in New York. His address, to be broadcast at 9 p. m. (Indianapolis: Time), will be the first since his return from Europe Sunday.

Death Near for Faithful Laddie

FT. ORD, Cal, Feb. 12 (U. P.). —Laddie, the faithful dog who was flown 2000 miles from Chanute, Kas., to be reunited with his soldier ‘master, appeared to be dying today from a weak heart and an infected blood stream. Laddie was given a second blood transfusion last night in -an attempt to revive him, The aire«dale, weak from hunger-striking ‘for his long absent master, suffered a near-fatal relapse last night, Pvt. Edward Scott, - Laddie’s master, was permitted to see the dog after the transfusion, but Mr. Scott was the only visitor.

GETS WARM SPRINGS BID

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (U. P.).— President Roosevelt has invited President Gen. Higinio Motinigo of Paraguay to send his 10-year-old

son to Warm Springs, Ga., for treatparalysis,

7 ment for infantile a»

[| Means Committee.

NEED FOR NEW TAXES FEARED

. Income T_evy Are 4to1,

Renee In tke Legislature

Senate Passes Health Bll. . Other Legislature News 3 and

By WILLIAM CRABB The chances are four-to-one that Indiana will have to adopt a sales or net income tax either at this session of the legislature or at a special session soen, in the opinion of Rep. Hobart Creighton (R. Warsaw). Rep. Creighton is the Republican House member of the State Budget Committee, having served in that capacity for several years. He also is a member of the important Ways and Means Committee. He is regarded by the majority members of the House z& one of their chief financial advisers,

e 3 3 9

1 Rep. Creighton made ‘his predic-

tion as the Ways and Means Committee prepared fo confer with Governor Henry PF. Schricker on the State’s financial dilemma and it followed the passage by the House of a bill to cut the gross income tax ‘rate to retailers from 1 per cent to 12-0of 1 per cent.

Sales Tax Bill Pending

A 3 per cent sales tax bill already /lis pending before the Ways and Rep. Creighton said it has been estimated that this measure, which would repeal the

This, ho sotnted out, ot not be sufficient revenue, and the plan would have to be revised to bring

more funds into the State’s es

| 1A net income tax already has been

introduced but no. estimates are available on the amount of revenue it would raise. When the House gave its final consideration to the gross income

| [tax reduction bill yesterday, at least

a dozen representatives “viewed

1| with alarm’ the loss to the State in

revenue but said they felt the retailers had the relief “coming to them.” Rep. Winfield K. Denton (D. Evansville), Democratic House member of the budget committee, criticized the House tor backing the rate reduction rather than a Democratic measure to raise the exemption to $10,000.

Sees Revenue Loss

“I'm going to vote for this bill, but I want to point out that the loss in revenue will be about $4,500,000 annually and that the State will have a deficit of between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000 in 1943,” Rep. Denton said. “The majority held themselves up as' budget balancers. And yet you favor a bill that will throw the budget out of balance. You are carrying the ball and the State’s finances are your responsibility.” Rep. Robert Heller (D. Decatur), askéd the Republicans if the State (Continued on’ Page Three)

Bills Show Up $1000 at Time

MIAMI BEACH, Fla, Feb. 12 (U. P,) ~The $775,000 in cash and jewelry reported missing by Roe Wells, New York doughnut millionaire, reportedly was being recovered $1000 bill by $1000 bill and piece by piece today by detectives searching his home - on exclusive Star Island. First reports said that 22 $1000 bills, several of smaller denominations and a portion of the missing jewelry had been found by noon. Detective Chief Earl Carpenter was directing investigation of what he called the. “screwiest thing I've ever run across.” = One report said that $20,000 had been found between the sheets of a bed which detectives had pulled apart late yesterday, only to find nothing.

ASKS U. S. DATA ON 2 PER CENT CLUB

Complying with a legislative resolution, Governor Henry F. Schricker has requested the U. S. Internal Revenue Department to permit the State Treasurer to examine Federal Income Tax returns of former “Two Per Cent Club” officials. The resolution asked that the Federal returns be compared . with State Gross Income Tax returns, and wis based on Republican demands for a thorough investigation into alleged corruption during the Democratic administrations in the last eight years. The Democratic minority in the Legislature branded the resolution a political move and demanded that the investigation cover State gov-

ernment, for the last 12 years, which would take in the last previous G o. FE. States

BY CREIGHTON

Chances for Sale or Net

In Krivitsky Quiz

Mrs. Wolf Dobert . . . her theory is murder.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (U. P).— Police turned today to the last two friends believed to have seen Gen. Walter G. Krivitsky to supply the missing pieces in the puzzle created by his death. They were Wolf Dobert, said to be a former German Army officer, and Marguerite, his Grecian wife. Krivitsky, former Western European head of the Russian secret police, visited with them several days at Charlottesville, Va., before his body with a bullet through the head was found Monday morning in a Washington hotel. Washington police will question them today. But even the Doberts disagreed over how Krivitsky died. Mrs. DoLbert was convinced that he did not take his own life; her husband said he was a man who worried a lot about assassination but “probably” killed himself.

GITY. GETS NEW-

$30,000 PLANT:

Explosion - “Prook. Dextrine Factory to Be Built On Drover St.

By ROGER BUDROW A $50,000 “explosion-proof” factory will’ be built here by National Starch Products, Inc.,, to manufacture dextfine by a new process. The factory will be an addition to the Piel Bros. division of the corporation at 1515 Drover St., between White River and the Belt Railroad. Danger Eliminated :

Alfred L. Piel, plant superintendent, described the three-story steel, brick and glass factory as “explo-sion-proof” because of the € ve use, of glass which, in the event of spontaneous combustion in the fine flour dust, would give way .and reduce “or eliminate Samage to the structure. The: plant will have an annual capacity of -10 mililon pounds of dextrine, soluble gummy substance made from starch and used as adhesive on stamps, envelopes, labels and similar products. Mr. Piel said the new process is a trade secret,

Starts Operation May 1

The building is to be completed by May 1. Although improvements have been made in the existing plants, the dextrine plant is the first addition since Piel Bros. Starch Co., gstablished here in 1902, was taken over by National Starch Products, Inc, in September, 1939. The William P. Jungclaus Co. has contracted for construction. The foundation was being poured today. The company employs about 260. Because of the type of machinery and process to be used in the new plant, not more than 10 or 12 additional employees will be needed, Mr. Piel said.

FDR ASKS NAVY FUNDS

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (U. P.) — President. Roosevelt today asked Congress to pass emergency supplemental appropriations of approximately $830,000,000 to speed the haval rearpamen® program.

LONDON, Feb. 12 @. PJ When

the thick, wintry mist rolled back from the northwest Italian Coast into the Ligurian Alps last Sunday morning, disclosing strange warships off the port of Genoa, white and green signal lights from the shore defenses flashed a nervous challenge, “Who are you?” An instant later there was pandemonium. First details of the bombardment of Genoa by a British naval squadron were received today from an Exchange Telegraph correspondent aboard the battleship Malaya, which

inte. the. largest. Ttallan port. that

NAVY SUPPORT 1S LACKING FOR | WILLKIE PLEA

Senate Group Approves All House Amendments to Aid Measure. (Willkie Text, Page 11)

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12. (U. P.)). —Secretary of Navy Frank Knox asserted today that he “is against depleting the- United States fleet any further” by making additional warships available to Great Britain. Mr. Knox made the statement to a press conference, in response to questions as to whether he agreed with proposals yesterday by Wendell L.' Willkie that the‘ United States should send from five to 10 destroyers monthly to the British. “I am not’ going to express myself directly on Mr. Willkie’s statement,” Mr. Knox said. “My position, as Secretary of the Navy, is against depleting the United States fleet any further.”

Accept House Changes

Meanwhile, the Sentae Foreign Relations Committee today accepted all House amendments to the Administration’s British aid bill, including a $1,300,000,000 limitation on the amount of U. S. defense material ‘now on hand and on order which can be transferred to foreign powers. All of these amendments except one had been agreed to in the House by Administration leaders. : The exception was the provision sponsorec by Rep. Everett Dirksen (R, m WAIN J po for Congress to ihe President's ¢ time by may | be pass — vote and the President cannot veto it. The Senate ttee may revise the language S this House provision slightly,

Taft Proposal Loses

New amendments proposed by the opposition were voted down in rapidfire order by the Administration majority on the Senate Committee. | A proposal by Senator Robert A. Taft (R.. Q) for a substitute bill authorizing credits of $1,500,000,000 to the United Kingdom, $500,000,000 to Canada, and $50,000,000 to Greece was defeated. : The House amendments accepted by the Senate Committee are: 1. A requirement that the President “consult” with the Army Chief of Staff and the Chief of Naval Operations before disposing of U. S. Army or Navy equipment. An aitempt by Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg (R. Mich.) to require the services chiefs’ approval was rejected, 13 to 10. 2. A limitation of $1,300,000,000 on the amount of defense articles procured or ordered under current appropriations which may be disposed of. : 3. Establishment of a (Continued on Page Tw

PREVIEW OF SPRING NEARING A CLOSE

Mercury, Like HumptyDumpty, to Have Fall.

LOCAL TEMPERATURES m...38 10 a. m.... 48 «39 11 a. m..., 52 . 4 12 (noon) .. 55 . 42 1p m...56

oie 30,

a. a. m.. a m.. a. m.. This preview of spring is about to end—tomorrow night—when temperatures will take a tumble, according to the Weather Bureau. Tonight or tomorrow there may be light rains, and it’s quite probable that the skies will cloud up today. Whatever the forecast, it holds no angry promise of what-has been happening to the land of sunshine and mild temperatures—California. There a storm that brought heavy rains and floods and high winds that

but another was brewing out over the Pacific. ;

Mr. Mason capitals.

peace. Italy might welcome a way out of the war, but I1 Duce’s power may not have been sufficiently broken to make a separate Italian peace an immediate and pressing issue. There always is the possibility that Italy may collapse internally as quickly and unexpectedly as Marshal Graziani’s Army collapsed in North Africa. The cracks would be apparent to those inside Italy before they became known to outside observers .and some fissures doubtless are. discernible. But if Signor Mussolini raises the question of an armistice at his |b, interview with General Franco, it

‘Under these

But neither Germany nor Great Britain is prepared to consider

is more likely to concern future possibilities than the immediate pres: ent. A sudden situation might be anticipated by Il Duce that “would require an armistice to prevent revolution breaking out in Italy; and it would be advantageous for General Franco to have advance information so that he might act in Italy’s interest. General Franco owes a debt tp Italy for the help given in the Spanish civil war. Undoubtedly he would like to make some repayment if Spanish interests were not there-

by jeopardized. Spain would be (Continued on Page Two)

Plane With Allison Engine ~ Bests British Hurricane)

Sera Craft Faster and Better Climber in Sham Battle Arranged for Correspondents. AN AIRPORT SOMEWHERE IN ENGLAND, Feb. 12 u; P.).—The

question of whether American-built airplanes are up to European stand-

ards has been answered.

‘ Curtiss P-36's and P-40’s swere, the stars of the show. The’ British call the older P-36’s, Mohawks; the P-40's, Tomahawks. The Mohawk has a Wright radial air-cooled engine, while the Tomahawk has the newer Allison liquid-cooled engine.

Outclimbs Hurricane

Becausee of "its liquid-cooled engine, the Tomahawk outclimbed |, and outmaneuvered British Spitfires and Hurricanes. Whether the Mohawk, with its radial engine, could out-maneuver a Hurricane is questionable, A crack squadron leader who wd served in a Hurricane squadron in France took off in a Hurricane followed by -a 3 Wing commander who had seen the Tomahawk for the first time that morning. . ‘The Hurricane chased the Tomahawk from dizzy - heights, and seemed-to be able to make tighter turns. But, as. the pilot became more familiar with his machine, the Tomahawk improved. It is definitely faster than the Hurricane on a level flight, and rapidly outclimbed it. Soon it began making tighter turns and perched on the Hurricane’s tail roaring across the airfield more than 300 miles an hour.

Diverted From France

A high Royal Air Force officer who witnessed the exhibition said the Tomahawk had given the better all-around performance. The Mohawk is credited with a speed of 325 miles per hour, the Tomahawk with over 330.- At the outbreak of the war, a Hurricane did 327, a Spitfire 367, but both have been speeded up. All the Mohawks and some of the’ Tomahawks were ordered by France, but were diverted to Britain after the French collapse. Three other American-made planes showed their stuff. A Douglas DB7 bomber stood out

because of its performance.

'Who Are You?" Genoa's Shore Defenses Flashed, Then British Navy Let Shells Fly

Ehange Telegraph = correspondent

In a roaring, diving sham. battle arranged by the Ministry of Aircraft Production for British, Dominion ‘and American correspondents, American planes gave a convincing demonstration of superiority,

R.A. F. ATTACKS ON WIDE FRONT

Bombs Germany and Sicily; British 120 Miles From Key Red Sea Port.

By UNITED PRESS Despite widespread speculation about possible peace or new Axis military projects, the Royal Air Force pounded without relaxation today at German and Italiai targets. The London Air Ministry said that British bombers attacked Bremen last night and bombed Hanover for the second successive night in continuing their relentless and ever-intensifying raids on Germany. They also smashed at the French invasion coast. Fires and explosions were caused among industrial targets at Bremen and planes which again visi anover added fuel to flames s over a wide area during a six-hour raid the night before, it was claimed. Despite less favorable weather the R. A. PF. also attacked other targets in northwest Germany, Holland, Norway and Denmark. “At Rotterdam bombs caused a heavy explosion in ail installations,” the Ministry’s communique said. “During the early hours of darkness (Continued on Page Two)

YOUTH KILLS SELF IN FRIEND'S HOME:

Girl He Was Not Allowed to + Visit Hears Shot.

Nineteen-year-old: Oscar Burgin last night shot and killed himself in the home of his 16-year-old girl friend whose mother had forbidden

.|as before

RUMOR OF PEACE BID bY ITALY RIDICULED; "HINT AXIS ASKS BASES

War Moves Today!

By J. W. T. MASON United Press War Expert

General Franco’s meeting with Mussolini today and with Marshal Petain tomorrow have caused rumors to spread over Europe that peace possibilities will be discussed. All of the three Latin countries would welcome a termination of the war at the earliest moment. France is beaten, Italy is in process of being beaten and Spain is striving to keep out of the war, while facing nation-wide hunger. circumstances, rumors of a peace talk are to be expected in European

French War Role 2 “| Believed Link Secret

On War Front ‘Real Benghazi Story ... War Profits Curb Asked Other War News

By HARRISON SALISBURY United Press Staff Correspondent

One of the war’s big diplos matic conferences was undere way in Italy today under cover of greatest secrecy. Gen. Francisco Franco of Spain and his Foreign Minister, Ramon Serrano. Suner, arrived in Italy for

a meeting with Premier Benito Mussolini. It was speculated that Adolf Hitler or German Foreign

also might be present. But not a word of news concerne ing the meeting was allowed to be transmitted from Rome.

might have a major effect upon the course of the war. big developments may come any time, the British were on the alert against Axis moves in the Balkans or in the French-Spanish area, and even against the long-awaited frontal attack on the British Isles.

Rumors swept Eurcpe. Some

that Italy might make a bid peace with Britain.

might be drawn into the war®on the side of the Axis. The Balkans feared a major Nazi . invasion of Bulgaria at any moment, In the maze of rumors and ree ports there were few tangible facts. Franco and Serrano Suner were in Italy despite the absence of any news from Rome concerning. their visit. Tomorrow they are expected back in France for 3 meeting with Marshal Henri Phlippe Petain, a warm friénd of Franco, and A Jean Francois Darlan, French Vice Premier,

Berlin Ridicules Rumor

the new

held at a large southern “French city—unnamed because of censors

tions for secrecy were under way, French police refused to allow news paper correspondents to enter the

fic and telephone Apparently r precautions’ were in effect in Italy. Suggestions of an Italian peace

taken lightly in London where: it was not thought Italy had taken enough hard blows as yet to unders mine the regime of Mussolini. :

Axis might be dickering with Spain for bases in the Canary and Bae learic Islands from which to attack British sea. routes and possibly for co-operation in the often-rumored attack on Gibraltar, But the British doubted that Spain openly would enter the war on the Axis side because of its ine termat difficulties and stringent fod shortage,

Nazis Criticize Darlan

The feeling of Germany toward Vichy was revealed in a statement by DNB, official news agency in Berlin, which said that Nazi politie

ment of Admiral Jean Francois Darlan as “a purely temporary gove ernment.” DNB, however, characterized Dare lan as “not a weak man.” . The comment was considered sige nificant in view of the official Gere man attitude that cabinet reorgane izations at Vichy were purely the internal of France. This attitude wgs maintained despite ats tempts of to regan power at Vichy. return to Vichy as head of the gove ernment under Marshal Petain, Dare lan became head of the government under the Marshal. In the military. field there were (Continued on Page Two)

NAZIS SAY WILLKIE ‘SEEMED UNCERTAIN?

BERLIN, Feb. 12 (U, P.).—N commenting on the testimony Wendell L. Willkie before the S ate Foreign Relations Commit said today that he seemed *“n quite so his own mind visit to Great Bri that American aid to Britain wo be successful. ; “There was a noticable tend to avoid answering questions,” spokesman -said. “It UX

Believing 2

Others suge gested that Spain or even France

al .

The Petain-Franco meeting will be ;

cal quarters consider the govérne

Laval, a pro-Nazi, When Laval fajled last week fo N

Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop ™

London believed the conference b

eo]

ship restrictions. Elaborate precaus region where the meeting will be 4 held and strictly r i all trafe bid were ridiculed!in Berlin and |

Some reports suggested that the XH

WY re