Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 20 February 1941 — Page 1

FORECAST: Fair and continued cold tonight and tomorrow; lowest temperature tonight 5 to 10 degrees.

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VOLUME 52—NUMBER 297

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1941

Entered as Second-Class Matter Indianapolis, Ind.

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JAPAN

German Bomb Kills 22, Injures 52, In London Hospital

HOUSE GETS 2 BILLS TO EASE STATE BUDGET

Levy on Soft Drinks and Control Over Liquor Are Proposed.

In the Legislature The Hopper Institution Bill Vetoed

Other Legislature News 13, 15, 19

Two more proposals to help iren out Indiana’s financial problems were introduced in the House today. One would place the wholesale liquor industry under State control. The other would place a tax on soft drinks containing caffeine. Both were proposed by Townsend Clubs recently to increase funds for old-age benefit payments. Rep. John Schermerhorn (R. Wawaka), Ways and Means Committee ranking member, introduced the wholesale liquor proposal. He said “it is not a committee proposal, but two or three prominent groups are behind it.” Urges License Issuance Rep. Lee J. Reynolds (R. Hagerstown) proposed a tax of 1% of 1 per cent on each half pint of soft

drinks containing caffeine. His measure also provides for licensing of distributors for those drinks. Both proposals contain a provision turning over $300,000 of the funds collected annually to the State Welfare Department. Meanwhile, other committee members and Senate financial leaders pushed forward their proposal for a 3 per cent sales tax. Senator William E. Jenner, majority leader, said a sales tax bill pending in the House would be started toward enactment. At the same time, the bill amending the Gross Income Tax to cut the rate for retailers from 1 per cent to 1% of 1 per cent, already passed by the House, will be reported out for Senate approval.

Would Repeal Gross Tax

If the sales tax bill is enacted, it will repeal the Gross Income Tax law. Originally, some Republican leaders had suggested striking out everything but the enacting clause in the House-approved gross tax bill and writing the sales tax provisions in. Then the new bill would have been given the House for concurrence. This plan was suggested to cut down time. Concerning his liquor control bill, Mr. Schermerhorn said it would raise between five and six million dollars a year and would provide a minimum of $300,000 a year for use by the State Welfare Department for old-age pensions, dep¢ndent children, aid to the blind and public health. -

‘Creates Beverage Division The bill would create an Alcoholic Beverage Commission liquor

ahd wine wholesale division, to be directed by an administrator ap-

pointed by the Governor, Secretary

of State and State Auditor. The administrator would serve for four years at ‘ar $6000 annual: salary: This setup is patterned after the Wyom- . ing’law, Rep. Schermeérhotn sditl: * * The division would be empowered to collect all excise tax on. liquor and wine and no retailer would be permitted to purchase liquor from any other scurce. Rep. Roy Harrison (R. Attica), Ways and Means chairman, said he was ‘not opposed to such a plan “but all such suggestions previously have been vetoed-by one source or another.”

OCTOPUS ROOSEVELT! WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (U. P.). —The Smithsonian Institution today named a recently discovered small species of octopus “Octopus Roosevelti.” . The octopus was one of several new specimens of sea life ¢found during President Roosevelt's Siuise ta the Galapagos Islands in

KNOX IS PESSIMISTIC ST. LOUIS, Feb. 20 (U. P.).—Secretary of Navy Frank Knox declared today that the United States cannot “escape the peril” of war on American soil if it rejects an “allout program of supplies and munitions” for Great Britain.

TIMES FEATURES ‘ON INSIDE PAGES

Clapper '......13| Movies ....10, 11 Comics ....... Crossword ....21 Editorials ....14| Obituaries .... 6 Financial .....23|Pegler ........14 . Flynn ........14|{Pyle .. veel Forum .......14 . Homemaking. .17 In Indpls ..... 3 Inside Indpls. .13 Jane Jordan ..17 Johnson ,.....14

Mrs. Roosevelt 13 Serial Story ..22 Side Glances, .14 Society ....16, 17 Epors i .18, 19 tate Deaths.. 6

if the bill is passed.

ing the old people of Indiana.

aged will be set at $40. That's agreed.

be blamed for one of two things: 1. Snatching from the old folks something that was virtually in their grasp. 2. Spending $16,000,000 or more a year of the State's out-of-balance budget. * Here's What Happened

What happened is this—The Senate passed a bill authored by the Republican floor leader to raise the maximium pension from $30 to $40. Although $30 is the maximum, the average is only about $17 a month, the county welfare boards determining the need of the pensioner. . This bill languished in the House Ways and Means Comniittee until Monday when 2000 Townsend Plan members packed the galleries. Then Rep. Winfield K. Denton (ID. Evansville) moved that the bill be forced out of committee througl House action. Rep. Frank Millis (R. Campbellsburg), majority floor leader, supported the motion and the bill was reported out. When the “show” was over, B. J. Brown, State Townsend Plan manager, took the rostrum and told the House members their action was “amusing” and didn't amouni to anything. Demands $10 Floor “What we want it a $40 floor for the pensions, not a $40 maximum, » Mr. Brown said. Today the bill was on second reading. Without advance notice to his floor leader, Rep. Thurman Crook :D. South Bend) introduced the amendment to make the minimum $40 in accordance with the .Townsendites’ request. Rep. Frank Millis, ‘Republican floor leader, charged the Democrats (Continued on Page Five)

PRIMARY BALLOT BILL ‘RELEASED’

House Forces Action; Puts Governor on Ticket.

The House today forced its elections committee to “release” the G. O. P. bill to place the Governor and the United States Senator on the primary ballot. They now are nominated at party conventions. The proposal to put the measure on the floor for action was made by Rep. H. H. Evans (R. New Castle), ang Rep. Bert Mayhill (RR. Delphi). Rép. Evans said “farmets, laborers and businessmen are demanding that such a law be passed.” Rep. Winfield Denton. (ID. Evansville) came to Mr. Evans’ support, saying that “the primary is pure and simple democracy” and pointed to the fact that the Democrats had introduced a bill which would put all other State offices or; the ballot. “If youre going to have a commission form of government, you'd better let the people choose their own Auditor, Secretary of State and Treasurer also, ”’ he said. The minority bill still is held by the committee. Support of the motion became

6 unanimous when Rep. Frank Millis

(R. Campbellsburg), majority leader, said he was going to ‘“slirprise the minority by going along with this.” He said he was surprised to see that

“the a HoeTats suddenly want to 6'let people rule,”

‘From 10,000 Old Folk’

Yesterday Rep. Thurman Crook (D. South Bend) was responsible for amending a bill to give old-age pensioners at least $40 a month, Today a bouquet of flowers was presented him with the inscription: “In grateful recognition of your efforts in helpFrom 10,000 old folk.”

2

State Aged to Get Minimum Pensions of $40 Unless—

Whatever Happens, One Party or the Other Is Going to Be on the Spot; Bill Waits Second Reading.

By WILLIAM CRABB Unless something happens, the minimum pension for Indiana’s

Despite what happens, somebody is going to be “on the spot.”

But whether the Republican majority or the Democrat minority in the House turns out to be responsible, one party or the other will

BLUE AIDS QUIZ IN GAS DEATHS

Exterminating Co. Operator To Testify Tomorrow, Probers Say.

Prosecutor Sherwood Blue and his deputies today joined the Coroner and police: in investigating the deaths of two persons during fumi-

gation of an apartment building at 1723 N. Meridian St. yesterday. An inquest to determine whether the deaths resulted from possible acts of negligence was started today by the Coroner’s office. First witnesses to appear were William Hering, manager of the 32-apart-ment building; his mother, Mrs. Ada L. Hering, and Claud Banks, the janitor. Jason Nicholas, operator of the Reliable Exterminating Co., which had charge of the fumigation, has been subpenaed also and has agreed to appear for questioning tomorrow, Otto Ferger, Coroner’s investigator, said. ° Earlier, police had announced they were unable to locate Mr. Nicholas. The victims of the fumes, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Abel, were asleep in their apartment, directly above the one being fumigated. Their deaths were not discovered until several hours after the fumigation was started.

$5000 Surety Required

Police said they were studying a City ordinance which requires that exterminating companies notify the fire and police departments and the City Health Board, and post warning notices in buildings before. starting fumigation. Dr. Herman G. Morgan, Health Board secretary, and police and fire officials said they received no such notice. They added that no signs were posted. The prosecutor was reported checking to see whether any State laws were violated by the exterminating company. Dr. Morgan said he recalled only one other death here from fumigating gas in the last 20 years or more. He said the City ordinance regu(Continued on Page Five)

SAME TRAIN KILLS 2D DRIVER IN CRASH

A fast inbound New York Central passenger train struck an automobile at the W. 59th St. crossing near Oaklandon today, instantly killing the driver, Charles Nelson, 54, of 2025 Highland Place. State Policemen Robert Shields and Charles Galloway said that the train was the same one which crashed into another car Feb. 8, killing one man and injuring another. The train had different crews each time, they said.

GOSHEN DRIVER KILLED William Slinkard, Goshen, Ind. was killed today when the car he was driving went out of control

$n Sale Road 41 neat Ind. ;

FIFTH COLUMN

DRIVE IN STATE MAPPED HERE

City, County, State and U. S. Officers Meet; Home Security Stressed.

governmental law enforcement agency in Indiana met at the Federal Building today to tighten cooperation between agencies in fighting crime. Emphasis was placed on home security in the face of national emergency. It was the first in a series of meetings called by Federal agencias to “get acquainted with local enforcement officials.” But behind the meeting was the hand of Uncle Samh, acting to put local police, sheriffs, prosecuting attorneys and state officials on guard against subversive movements.

80 at Session

At the meeting—the biggest of its kind ever held here—were 80 top men from the FBI, district attorney’s office, Federal narcotics and agencies of the Army and Navy Intelligence, the Postoffice inspectors’ department, state, city and county police and personnel and investigative heads of large local industries engaged in national defense production. The officers heard an earnest plea for . co-operation against unAmerican activities from Earl J. Wynn, agent in charge of the local FBI office who said: “Our agency is chiefly interested in un-American activities. We are interested in receiving all evidence of such activities so that we may serve as a clearing house in this field. We want to keep our pulse on the subversive movement in this country so that we will be able to cope with any manifestation of it in a time of national emergency.”

Describes ‘Home Guard’

W. R. Briggs, postoffice inspector in charge of the Cincinnati, O., office, said it is the duty of all enforcement officers to “make and keep the country’s defenses strong by fighting lawlessness and disorder.” B. Howard Caughran, district attorney, characterized the duties of enforcement agents as similar “and as important,” as those of the soldier, sailor and marine. Others who spoke on problems facing law enforcement officers include E. P. Swope, warden of the Federal Penitentiary at Terre Haute; Ernest Vaughn, special agent of the Internal Revenue Department intelligence unit; C. M. Stewart, special agent for the WPA, Division of Investigation, and Don Stiver, State safety director. Local private industries represented included the Allison Division of General Motors, the International Harvester Co. the Standard Oil Co., Eli Lilly and Co. and the Indianapolis Power and Light Co. The Indianapolis Merchants’ Association also sent representatives. George B. loy, Secret Service agent here, who acted as “master-of-ceremonies,” said other meetings would follow.

TOWNSEND TO JOIN HILLMAN'S STAFF

Ex-Governor.- Gets Job as Agriculture Adviser.

Times Special WASHI ON, Feb. 20.—Former Governor Clifford Townsend will come here March 1 to take a position as agricultural consultant on the staff of Sidney Hillman of the Office of Production Management, it was learned today. The former Hoosier Governor waz here yesterday and learned that his application had been gpproved by the Civil Service Commission as required for all defense jobs other than the dollar a year men.

Representatives of every major|

Union Aid Dies

Thomas L. Hughes: Sr. ” 2

HELD TEAMSTER POST 36 YEARS

Hughes First Elected as Secretary-Treasurer at 1905 Convention.

Thomas L. Hughes Sr, for 36 years general secretary-treasurer of the International Teamsters Union, which has its headquarters here,

died last night at his home, 5849 Washington Blvd. Mr. Hughes, who was 60 years old, had been afflicted with heart disease for some time. When Mr. Hughes became an organizer and member of the Chicago, local of the union, there were approximately 50,000 members in the international. He soon.was. secretary-treasurer of the local and was made its business agent. As business agent he negotiated contracts with what his associates

* [termed outstanding provisions for

wage and working conditions. At the national convention in 1905 he was elected national secretary-treas-urer, backed by the Chicago Council. He was re-elected at each subsequent national convention. Upon assuming the national office he moved his family to Indianapolis. In his youth in Chicago, Mr. Hughes was a pitcher for many semi-professional baseball teams; and his associates said that he always maintained his interest in the game. He attended nearly every ' night game at Perry Stadium. After coming to Indianapolis he was active in the Elks Lodge and served three successive terms as exalted ruler. He was on the building committee of the lodge when the Hotel Antlers was built. He served on the

committee which erected a memorial’

to William E. English and was district deputy of the Central Indiana Elks. He also was a member of the Mayor's Citizens Safety Committee. Mr. Hughes was a delegate to the A. F. of L. concention for 38 yeas. (Continued on Page Eight)

REPORT JUGOSLAVIA KNEELS TO GERMANY

Copyright, 1941, by The Indianapolis Times and The Chicago Daily News, Inc. LONDON, ' Feb. 20.— Jugoslavia has agreed to allow the passage of German troops through its territory to turn the Greek flank in Albania and has granted Germany wartime control of its railways to complete its back-stabbing deal, according to information received by non-British circles in London today. According to this information Jugoslavia will receive compensation for its great kneel by being allowed a place in Germany's “new order,” and will be allowed to discuss with the Italians another deal whereby Zara and certain districts in northwestern Albania would be ceded to the Belgrade Government. Bandit-ridden Macedonia will be allowed to decide between Jugoslavia and Bulgaria under the terms of the agreement, according to the Isame sources.

Nurses Leave Dance To Risk Lives in Rescue Work.

By H. L. PERCY United Press Staff Correspondent LONDON, Feb. 20.—Twenty-two persons were killed and scores wounded, 52 seriously, when a German bomb wrecked three male wards of a big London County Council Hospital during the night. . Rescue workers, including nurses in dance frocks and their soldier escorts who had run to the scene from a dance in the nearby nurses’ home, worked for hours in deadly peril from a time bomb which struck nearby, before all those trapped in the ruins were dug out shortly before noon. Most of the victims were patients, including soldiers. Several nurses were among those killed and the dead included at least one male member of the hospital staff.

Bomb Strikes Squarely

Surgeons administered morphine to trapped victims. Clergymen. of all denominations risked death in the ruins to aid them and administer spiritual consolation/to the dying. Royal engineers were soon at the

"At the hospital, I found a blackened, twisted ruin which had been one "entire block of the hospital. "The shell of the building was filled with debris, bricks and jagged floor boards and beams, which hung precariously. An old-fashioned iron cooker swayed drunkenly from the second floor. That was all that remained of the part of the hospital where a bomb had struck squarely on the side of the building.

Nurse Found in Chair

Patients and nurses were blasted through the windows of the second and third floors to the ground iloor as the floors collapsed. Curiously the fourth story, which was the only one empty, was untouched. There were at least 80 persons in the three wards, in addition to nurses and other members of the staff and none escaped unwounced. Soldiers erected a ladder alongside an elevator and brought down some of the wounded. Nurse Maizie Christian, who had ‘been sitting on a chair in the middle of the ward in the third story, was (Continued on Page Eight)

IT'S A BIT WARMER; REALLY, 2 DEGREES

Otherwiss: | It’s Expected to Continue Cold.

LOCAL TEMPERATURES Midnight .. 15 7a. m..... jam... 11 8am. .... 2a.m.....10 Sam... 3a.m.....10 10a. m. ... 4 a m. 9 11a. m. .... 18 5am .... 8 12 (noon) | .. 18 a.m. .... 7 1pm .... 2 6:30 a.m... §

7 9 . 13

A two-degree “heat wave” hit Indianapolis this morning and the lowest temperature. was 5 above zero at 6:30 a. m. at the Airport, as against only 3 above yesterday morning. Except for such minor variations, Indianapolis and Indiana may expect continued cold weather tonight and tomorrow, the Weather Bureau predicted. - The skies will be fair. Even at Minneapolis, where it was 20 degrees below yesterday, it was

only 11 below today.

Harold B. Tharp Heads Community Fund;

Harold B. Tharp, civic and business leader, today was named president of the Indianapolis Community Fund by the Fund directorate at a noon meeting in the Lincoln Hotel. Miss Gertrude Taggart, a member of the Fund directorate for eight years, was named second vice president. She is the first woman ever to be a Fund officer. - Perry W. Lesh, president of the C. P. Lesh Paper Co., was reelected first vice president. Otto N. Frenzel, president of the Indiana

Merchants Nationa] Bank, was reelected treasurer. Mr. Tharp is a departmental head of the Fletcher Trust Co. He has been associated with the bank for 20 years. He succeeds W. C. Grif-

fith as Fund president.

Mr. Grif-

Trust Co. and vice president of the

Miss Taggart Is Among High Officers

Thomas D. Sheerin, in an address at the luncheon meeting, praised the administration of Mr. Griffith. Mr. Tharp was general chairman of the campaign for funds last fall and led workers over the top. He has worked in every campaign, first as a worker, in the first 21 years ago, then as .a captain, district ch , chairman of the special gifts section, general vice chairman, and then general campaign chairman. In 21 years, the humber of donors to the fund has incréased from 12,000 to 75,000. Miss Taggart has long been interested in the work of the Children’s Bureau of the In Orphans’ Home and is a former president of the Indianapolis Council

scene, trying to immunize the time| bom; while the rescue work went]

Senator Gerald P. Nye... fears war within 30 days after passage of aid bill. o ”

WAR SENTIMENT RISES, NYE SAYS

Charges 30 Senators Ready To 0. K. Entry; Reynolds Calls Bill Dangerous.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (U. P.) — Senator Gerald P. Nye (R. N. D. charged today that 30 Senators are ready to vote for a declaration of war and predicted that the United States would be at war 30 days after the British-aid bill is passed. Administration supporters of the bill denied Mr. Nye’s assertion, contending that the bill, by helping Britain to survive, would keep the war in Europe. A German victory, they said, was nore likely to mean war for this country. Mr. Nye cited what he described as the many recent “pro-war” speeches in the Senate, specifically, that of Senator Josiah W. Bailey (D. N. C.) yesterday. Mr. Bailey advocated intervention in the European war, adding: “I hope intervention does not mean war, but if it does I am ready to go to war.” Senators Claude Pepper (D. Fla.) and Warren R. Austin (R. Vt.) both have advocated war, “if

victory. “It’s just a guess, of course,” Mr. Kye said, “but I believe that it will be less than 30 days after the passage of this bill before we encounter the incident that will leave no alternative but war. “Senator Bailey's frankness was very alarming yet refreshing—refreshing to find an advocate ‘of the bill ready to speak honestly and fairly about what it means, namely, intervention.” The fourth day of Senate debate began with the Administration planning very few, if any more, prepared speeches. Its strategy is (Continued on Page Five)

BELIEF IN BRITISH

Most of Europe Feels That sou U. S. Is ‘Coming In.

Copyright, | 1oaL by The Indighapolis Times en Daily News, ‘LONDON, Feb. 20—C _ Continental Europe, Germany excepted, now believes that the chances of British victory in the present war are better than even. It has reached this conclusion not because of anything the British have done in North Africa, or elsewhere, but because it is now just about convinced that the United States is coming in. American participation in the war, “short of nothing” is now Somgonty expected in both Allied and ni countries, ‘according to reports reaching London the last few days. The belief that the United States will come into the conflict with all its resources in the very near future, also has spread to Italy and

areas of Central Europe. . This is primarily the result of the Lend-Lease Bill and it is particularly gratifying to the Allied Gavernments because it has been achieved without having it cost anybody, including the United States, a single man.

STOCKS GAIN UP TO $3 NEW YORK, Feb. 20 (U. P.).— Gains of $1 to $3 on the stock market today wiped out losses of the past several days. Main incentive [| was hopes for ] of_ the

necessary,” to prevent a German)

VICTORY IS GROWING

Russia and the German-combinated |

BRITISH SOUND OUT U. S.; REPORT NAZIS PRACTICE CROSSING INTO BULGARIA |

Tokyo Press Launches

Sudden Attack on

Indo-China.

On War Front "'Today’s War Moves.....

Dutch Map Defensé Other War News..

Page 8 | veserisve 3 i we

By HARRISON SALISBURY | United Press Staff Correspondent \

Great Britain and the United States, London indie = cated today, are considering steps to halt Japanese ace cumulation of strategic mates rials for possible use in wap against the democracies. British sources reported that proe posals to this end were given Harry L. Hopkins while he was in London for submission to President Roose velt. They are believed to be under study at Washington now. This new threat of action, amid. unabated tension in the Far East, came as Germany stepped up hep air attack on Great Britain—a pose sible portent of the spring blitze krieg to come—and as rumbling continued in the Balkans. :

seven

One of the Balkan reports w y came out of Zurich, Switzerland; said German troops had thrown & pontoon bridge across the Danubs River and entered Bulgaria from. Rumania. There was some belief, however, that the crossing was ‘a. practice maneuver rather than the beginning of a march into Bulgaria,

Russia Interested in Thailand

The official Japanese Domei News Agency launched a sudden attack’ upon French Indo-China which was charged with plotting resistance to Japan with the British, the Chinese. and the Free French movement of Gen. Charles de Gaulle. The Chinese reported that Japan had massed half her air force at’ strategic points for a drive against the South Pacific, and Russia sude denly displayed an unusual interes$ in Thailand, the little Oriental na= tion adjacent to Indo-China which is coming more and more under Japanese sway. Chungking ridiculed reports thas the Soviet has demanded that China make clear her attitude toward the Chinese Communists. - However, the Russian position toe ward the Far East aroused conside erable interest. The Moscow press has harped upon the danger of wae betweer. Japan and the “Anglos American bloc” in the past two days ‘Pact Still in Background

Then, when a Thailand represens. tative arrived in Moscow for the first time since the Bolshevik revo« lution, he received great attention in the press, quarters at the official Government guest house and. prompt reception by high Russian Foreign Office and foreign trade officials. With Russia actively negotiating with Japan on trade and fisheries questions the sudden Soviet inter est in Thailand attracted attention, In the background of the Far Easte ern situation is the possibility that

aggression pact which would frees ig for big adventures in the

Or British, in suggesting restrice tive action against Japan, emphae sized that they did not desire to provoke the Japanese into action, However, they believed that the (Continued on Page Eight) x

——

8 UNCENSORED ARTICLES 2 By LELAND STOWE

America's No. | foreign correspondent who has just returned fo the United - tates after service on all the war fronts. He has written eight powerful, un< censored articles: I. The War in Greece. 2. The War in Africa. 3. Scandinavian Twilight. 4. Where Does Russia Starid? 5. Hitler's Alternatives. 6. Britain's Alternatives. 7. Europe Looks af America.

8. The War As | See If,

The First Appears Monday

Russia and Japan, with German 0% prompting, may arrive at a nons