Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 4 March 1941 — Page 1

CRIPPS — HOWARD §

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“The Indianapolis

VOLUME 52—NUMBER 307

FORECAST: Fair tonight and tomorrow; colder fonlght with lowest temperature 15 to 20.

*

TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1941

Entered as Second-Class

at Postoffice.

es

Indianapolis, Ind.

Matter

F.D.R. Aid Charges Plot To ‘Inject Poison’ In Defense Setu

NA

‘Something Must Be Done,’ Citizen Pleads

As Auto

Safety Board Listens as A Layman Asks for Traffic Cure.

A gray haired Indianapolis man walked into the Safety Board chambers in City Hall today and, without introduction but with such apparent earnestness that he commanded instant attention, spoke. “Two more children killed in traffic last night!” He shook his head, profoundly shocked by the accident. “Something’s got to be done.” Then he introduced himself as William E. Osborn, 4018 Park Ave. and he talked as Council listened. He suggested many things the most practical of which was that automatic traffic light intervals be lenghtened so that pedestrians would

have more time to get from curb].

to curb. Urges Early Action

- ‘He said that, although he knew neither of last night's victims, a relative of his recently had been injured in traffic. He urged that something be done scientifically about the problem, as soon as possible. “Something must be done,” he said. Then he turned, picked up his brief case, and started to leave. “Thank you, gentlemen,” he said. That was one layman’s reactions to last night’s—this year’s—traffic record. This is what police say, and what their records show.

Blames Pedestrians

Pointing ‘out that 12 of the 13 trate, victims in Indianapolis this year have been pedestrians, police “said that..nugh* of “the ‘blame fot’ those accidents must fall on the pedestrians themselves. ‘They said they feel that many pedestrians are lax in not looking beforé entering the street, and that they are greatly to blame for crossing streets in the middle of the block. The following are thumbnail sketches of each of the City’s fatal traffic accidents this year as officially reported in the files of .the Accident Prevention Bureau of the Police Department. In ‘cases where arrests have been made, the Department withheld information as to the cause of the accident.

The Victims So Far

Jan. 4, at 5:30 p. m.—Frank Feeser, 63, of 1113 Woodlawn Ave., in front of 2115 W. Michigan St. Was not crossing at intersection.

Jan. 11, at 11:11 p. m.—Sadie Bossie, 72, of New York City. Passenger in bus that hit safety zone when driver, blinded by approaching Lights, swerved at 2220 W. Michigan St.

Jan. 17, at 5:19 p. m.—Kiah Cooper, 50, Walking across N. New Jersey St. and struck by inbound New York St bus making left turn off of New York St. onto New Jersey St. Driver arrested on charges of falling to give right of way to pedesn

Jan. 20, (accident happened Dec. 22, at 1:41 p. m.) —Stewart Cheaney, 85, of 1234 Congress St. Alighting from an automobile and knocked down when the automobile moved slightly. Had no apparent injury at the time and died later.

Jan. 25, at 5:49 p. m.—Louis Richardson, 55. Struck while crossing in the 300 Block on S. Illinois St. Driver arrested on charges of in(Continued on Page Five)

CLAIMS NAZIS BRAG: ‘ENGLAND, THEN N. Y.

JERSEY CITY, N. J., March 4 (VU. P.) —A returning American said today German officers in Paris had told him they “would be in England by June and in New York shortly after that.” “They told us,” Edwin K. Thorn of Oshkosh, Wis, said, “that ‘you ‘Americans will be sold out.’ ” Mr. Thorn, past commander of the Paris post of the American Legion, and his French wife were among 185 passengers aboard the American Export Linet Exeter when it docked here.

' BRITISH TRAWLER SUNK LONDON, March 4 (U. P.).—An Admiralty communique said today that the 500-ton trawler Ouse, used in fleet target service, had been sunk. Some casualties were reported.

"TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES

Mrs. Ferguson 12 Obituaries ... 20 Pegler «c.eeee 12 Pyle coveseees 11 Questions .... 12 Radio 20 Mrs. Roosevelt 11 Serial Story.. 18 Side Glances. 12 Society .... 9 38 Sports State Dies ‘18 Travel coceoces 15

Clapper CBee e 11 Comics seen 18 Crossword ... 17 Editorials .... 12 Fashions soe 15 ‘ Financial ....

In Indpls oes Ins

Toll Hits 13

Ruth am Meletnon

PIGGY-BACK RIDE FATAL FOR TWO

Girl and Uncle, 14, Die Almost at Doorstep of Her Home.

Three-year-old Ruth Ann McLernon had a dream child, Ancey, who was always. getting hurt in. traffic. In her role as make-believe mother, Ruth Ann frequently warned Ancey about streets and autos, and once in a while “visited” her in hospitals after “accidents.” Today, Ruth Ann herself is dead. She was being ridden home piggyback by her 14-year-old uncle, Walter Upton, last night and they were struck and killed by an auto almost al the doorstep of Ruth Ann’s home, 13251, English Ave. The driver, Allan Robert Vestal, 35, of 431 N. Gray St., told police they came from between parked cars and that he was blinded by the lights of an approaching auto.

Mrs. Elsie McLernon, mother of.

Ruth Ann and sister of Walter, gave the two permission to go to the home of Ruth Ann’s grandmother, Mrs. Clara Upton, at 1518 DeL.oss St. After a short visit, Ruth Ann said she wanted to go home. It was almost time for her favorite radio program. “I ride piggy-back,” she said, “Uncle Walter's got a whip and makes the horse go. when he don't want to go.” Walter hoisted the child on his shoulders and left. . Mrs. McLernon was looking out the window of their apartment and saw a string of trackless trolleys stopped. Curious, she and her husoand, Albert McLernon, went down to the street. A woman said to her: “They’ve killed the prettiest little girl. She’s the sweetest little thing.” Mrs. McLernon looked into the (Continued on Page Five)

GOP COMPROMISES ON POLIGE MEASURE

House Amendment Gives Schricker Control.

In a last-minute compromise, the Republican - controlled Legislature today voted to give Governor Henry F. Schricker full control over the State Police. | This measure, would have forced the chief executive to share appointing power with the Lieutenant Ggvernor and to give up control over the Superintendent, has been one of the most bitterly opposed by the minority. An amendment made in the House today would give Mr. Schricker full power to appoint a bi-partisan, four-member Police Board and also the Superintendent. It was adopted unanimously. Final action on the bill is expected to-

morrow or Thursday. This G. O. P. “ripper” bill, one of

the last on the long list, has had

rough travelling since the start. It was held up several days by Republican Senators who charged that taking police powers from the Goyernor would be “unconstitutional.” After it has been passed by the Senate, a G. O. P.-dominated House committee studied the measure for several days before reporting it out for action. Several attempts were made to amend it at that time but were refused. Majority Leader Frank T. Millis 9 made the motion to amend today, saying: “We are giving the minority Wages have been king for.”

which originally

Mr. Lilly said.

BALKY HOUSE

DELAYS CUTS IN GROSS TAX

Legislature Speeds Work;

Pocket Veto Possible After Thursday.

In the Legislature

The Hopper Budget controversy Other legislature news 5, 7, 13

With tension increasing as the decdline neared for getting controversial bills on the Governor's desk. Incdiana’s Legislature turned on full speed today. Al] measures passed later than tomorrow may be lost. It takes at least one day to enroll an enacted bill, Measures not on the Governor’s desk by midnight Thursday face possible pocket veto by the executive. Tempers which flared in the House last night when the Representatives debated the first of three biennial budget bills, still were in evidence today. Another bitter fight is expected when the House takes up the institutions budget bill tonight.

Caucus on Districting

Toclay’s action included: 1. A balky House delayed final approval of a proposed cut, in the gross income tax rate for Indiana’s 42,000 retailers. The Senate accepted the report of a conference committee on the-bill, 31 to 16. 2. The G. O. P. backed up on one of ite “ripper” bills by amending.the State Police measure to give Gov-

‘#rnoi, Henry FP, Schricker complete]

control over that department. 3. Republican leaders appointed a six-member - Senate committee to iron out a controversy over Congressional re-apportionment. . 4. The House took up the Senateapproved Stout liquor control bill after noon, and more than a dozen proposed amendments immediately were offered from the floor.

Control Board Extended

5. The Senate Roads committee cut down the shares of Indiana’s 92 counties in gasoline tax funds by amending that bill to give them a flat 812,200,000 a year. The cities’ share was left at $3,000,000. 6. After long debate the Senate pasec. a bill extending the State Milk Control Board for two more years. This controversial measure now goes to the House. 7. The Senate voted to suspend its rule that a bil] cannot be acted upon finally until two days after it has been printed. This will enable the Senate to clear up its calendar by making it possible to call down a bill immediately after it reaches the desk in printed form.

ATTACK ICED BEER SALES IN GROCERIES

The House this afternoon adopted an amendment to the Senate—approved Liquor Control Bill, prohibiting the sale of iced beer at grocery and drug stores. The amendment was offered by Rep. Glenn A. Markland (R. Zionsville) who explained that abuses have resulted from customers buying beer in groceries and drinking it on sidewalks. Representative Markland introduced two other amendments to the bill. ‘One would change the effective date of the bill from July 1 to May 1. The other would increase the membership of County liquor boards to four instead of three, giving the State Beverage Commission the power to appoint one member on each county board.

Nazi No. | Ace

No. 1 ace of the German air force, the German news agency has announced, is Lieut. Col. Werner Moelders (above), who has shot down 60 planes in the present war. In addition, Moelders accounted for 14 others during the Spanish civil war. Fuehrer Hitler has bestowed on him the oak leaves of the Knights of the Cross of the Iron Cross, the award coming last September when Moelders passed the 40 mark. Last June he was shot out of the war by a French flier, but was released to fly again after the armistice.

WAGNER BACKS BRITISH AID BILL

Foes Indicate Filibuster Against Measure Has Been Discarded.

WAS. TON, March 4 (U. P.). “Robert “Wagner =D" N= said today that the British aid bill merits the full support of all who want to aid Britain effectively and that speed in enacting it is vital. The veteran New York Administration leader made his first comment on the controversial measure in a formal statement as another bill supporter, Senator H. H. Schwartz (D. Wyo.) charged on the Senate floor that “we are now killing time while the Germans are killing English women and children and the aged and infirm.” Senator Alexander Wiley (R. Wis.), denouncing the bill, urged direct dollar loans of whatever amount Britain needs for her war effort if she will post an estimated $11,000,000,000 as collateral. He also suggested that the U. S. acquire Bermuda and other strategic British possessions in this hemisphere. While the debate continued, the foes of the measure discussed a filibuster but were reported to have agreed informally that it would be unwise. Senator Gerald P. Nye (R. N. D.) indicated that his two-hour speech late today probably would be the last “set” speech against the measure. He thought the Senate could begin discussing’ amendments - tomorrow. The 14th day of debate on the measure opened an hour early in the Senate amid reports that Secretary of State Cordell Hull and (Continued on Page Five)

The Circus Folks Feel Like Spring

YOO HOO! Mr. Armington! That “colder tonight” oprediction is out of line. The Safety Board today received its first 1941 application for a circus license. It was made by the 12th District American Legion for the Cole Bros. Circus to show here May 4 and 5.

Belt's New Safety Gates,

Four days after they were installed at a cost of $9000, one segment of the crossing gates at W. Washington St. and the Belt Railroacl were broken off today by a truck. Police and the truck driver, Leslie Davidson, Crawfordsville, said that the truck was proceeding slowly, and that the gate was lowered between the truck cab and trailer. J. J. Liddy, Belt superintendent, said that a red flasher light and a bell signal began operation five secons before the gates were lowered and that the flasher signal is 30 feet from the tracks.

Up Only 4 Days, Broken Off

“Those are Federal regulations,” &

“The light flashes and the bell rings five seconds before the gates are lowered. They are intended to give plenty of time for vehicles to stop on the safe fide ou the gates.” Liddy said that damage to tr Ei was at least $250 and that new parts will have to be ordered from Chicago. “If they break them up that fast, though, I don’t know what good it will co to order new parts,” Mr.

Lidey said, er

“¥¥lor ve teplaced, he said,

DENIES RUMOR OPM OFFICIALS INTEND TO QUIT

Early Says President Plans Advisory Group on Aid to Britain.

WASHINGTON, March 4 (U. P.). —White House Secretary Stephen T. Early charged today that sources, related to lend-lease bill opponents, are seeking to confuse, mystify and inject poison into America’s national defense setup.

Mr. Early, an official spokesman for President Roosevelt, linked such activities with opponents of the measure and asserted that the action must be considered as “trouble making.” The things which he mentioned included reports that following enactment of the bill, several leading members of the Office of Production Management would resign and Mr. Roosevelt would take over directly the administration of the British aid machinery with the help of Harry L. Hopkins and a select cabinet group. Denies Two Will Resign

He cited a story to this effect which said that William S. Knudsen, director general of the OPM, and John Biggers, production chief in OPM, might resign. “What I suspect some people are doing today is attempting to confuse and to make trouble for the Government,” Mr. Early said. “I think a good many efforts to confuse and mystify and inject poison into the defense setup are now going on. “It is probably related to the opposition to the lend-lease bill.” As for the rumors that Mr. Knudsen and Mr. Biggers would. resign “IT think that’s perfectly silly. I think that’s the poisonous part of it—the trouble making part of it.”

Advisory Group Planned

He made it clear that administration of the lend-lease bill will be handled by two divisions after its enactment—a policy-making group comprised of Mr. Roosevelt, the Secretaries of State, War, and Navy, and Treasury and their military, naval and fiscal advisers; and the production group of OPM handling the specific industrial problems of providing arms to be made available to Britain or. other democracies. Mr. Barly said this plan is no departure from the principle on which Mr. Roosevelt has been operating in planning the administrative details of the program in expectation of Congressional approval of the bill. The President, he said, has been conferring with the Cabinet group and OMP on details of the work, and will continue to do so after enactment of the measure. “It is very natural that the President will act when the bill passes and will act with an advisory group of his Cabinet,” Mr. Early said.

GOLD LURKS BEHIND THAT FINE SUNSHINE

Mercury May Tumble to 15 Here Tonight.

LOCAL TEMPERATURES

6a. m. ... 25 10a.m ... 27 a.m .,.23 lam... 28 8a. m ... 22 12 (Noon) .. 30 9a. m. ... 35 1pm ... 29

. One half of that agreeable meteorological team—fair and warmer —will hold over today and tomorrow in Indianapolis. There will be sunshine. : But it may get a little colder tonight, even as. low as 15, the Weather Bureau predicted. Nevertheless, the bright sun is expected to keep things cheerful and reiterate that little week-end promise of spring. More floods threatened California as continued rain swelled the headwaters of the Sacramento River. Showers were forecast for the next two days at San Francisco. Rescue crews still were digging through nine-foot snow drifts toward the seven trainmen and three skiers marooned three days in Cumbres Pass, 10,000 feet above sea level in Southern Colorado, during the worst storm of the year in the Rockies. Snow was still falling and the mercury hovered near the zero mark throughout the area.

REPORT NAZI CHECK ON U. S. MINISTER

SOFIA, March 4 (U. P.).—A responsible traveler arriving from Rumania today said that German authorities last weekeend declined

{to permit United States Minister

Franklin Mott Gunther to visit a villa outside Bucharest. The traveler said that Mr. Gunther had obtained permission from Rumanian authorities to make the visit - but despite the Rumanian

Solum. ;

IS RESENT SOVIET INTERVENTIO

HITLER SENDS MESSAGE T0 TURKEY AS BRITISH

This Italian prisoner, captured by the British Army in the drive through Libya, has had his wounds dressed by a British doctor and seems to. be- ap. he's out of the war, He is awaiting embarkation at

anese official revealed. He admitted that Japan had served an ultimatum on France to accept Thai terms, but denied that it contained a threat of war. Thai delegates originally had demanded large. slices of the rich Laos and Cambodia Provinces from Indo-China. Meanwhile, Tokyo newspapers, disclosing that anger was rising against Japan in French IndoChina; charged ‘that French Army officers, policemen and civilians severely beat four Japanese at Saigon and said the Japanese consul had made .a vigorous protest. Four French officers, it was assertec!, assaulted four Japanese a’ the Palace Hotel in Saigon Sunday night and policemen in plain clothes as well as French civilians joined in. Severe injuries were inflicted

Russian opposition in the southeast.

the future. displeasure at German expansionist plans to be known to the Bulgarian Government but rather by a secret diplomatic note than by a public protest. The fact that Stalin has given world-wide circulation to his condemnation of the German invasion must cause Germany to -interpret the Russian stand much more seriously. Stalin certainly intends his protest to be so understood? The Fuehrer, however, can scarcely have failed t6 have taken Russian sentiment into advance consideration before bringing pressure on Bulgaria. Whether he has appraised it fully is a question of the most serious importance. Stalin’s protest to Bulgaria is based on Russia’s objection to the

| spread of the war. But there was no

open criticism by Russia when the war was extended to Greece and Africa or when the Germans invaded Denmark, Norway, Holland and Belgium. What Stalin ‘dislikes is the expansion of the conflict in an area that Russia considers her own sphere of influence. Russia is preparing to (Continued on Page Seven)

MARKET RALLIES NEW YORK, March 4 (U. P). —The stock market rallied moder-

Indo- chins Ready to Yield

By UNITED PRESS A Japanese official in Saigon, French Indo-China said today that Thai and Indo-Chinese delegates virtually had completed peace negotiations and would sign a treaty tomorrow or Thursday at Tokyo. Under terms of the treaty, which he said the French Government at Vichy already has approved in principle, Indo-China will lose some land but not. as much as originally demanded by Thailand, the Jap-

on the Japanese, dispatches said. Koh Ishii, chief of the Cabinet Information Board, admitted that as the result of a communication from the French Government, Japan had made “minor” revisions in its “final” peace plan. Now, Ishii said, the French and Indo-Chinese delegates in Tokyo had asked fresh instructions from their Governments. These instructions were expected soon, probably today, he said. Ishii now expressed hope that a satisfactory agreement would be reached by Friday, when the truce between Indo-China and Thailand expires. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka conferred with French Ambassador Charles Arsene-

Henry.

War Moves Today

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

Russia's rebuke to Sofia for allowing the en- * trance of German troops into Bulgaria can only be accepted by Hitler as a preliminary Slav challenge in the Balkans. Berlin now point to revival of Russo-German antagonisms in southeastern Europe which existed between the Hohenzollerns and Romanoffs. Sooner or later Hitler's ambition to dominate the European continent was bound to run against

Relations between Moscow and

It has now done so openly and the

Fuehrer has added another complication to his uncertainties regarding It was to have been expected that Stalin would allow his

ARMY INTERVENE IN LABOR DISPUTE

Breaks Precedent by ‘Ignore Strike’ Order.

WASHINGTON, March 4 (U. P.). —The War Department today intervened in a jurisdictional labor dispute for the first time in its history and ordered the Penner Corp. to proceed with electrical installations at the air corps testing center at Wright Field, Dayton, O. In a formal statement the Army told the Penner Corp. of New York City to go ahead with the work despite a new walkout by 400 A.F.L. building trades unionists in protest against the company policy of using C. I. O. labor. The labor dispute started Jan..29, and the second strike since then began yesterday in protest to the War Department’s decision to reinstate the Penner Corp. as a contractor on the $5,900,000 Air Corps testing expansion project. The War Department said that the labor dispute is halting work “essential to the expansion” of the Air Corps .

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Bulgarians; Berlin Irked at Greece. = On War Front |

British business views ..Page 3 : Russian communique ... Other war news

rien 3 BY HARRISON ss United Press Staff Correspondent Russia intervened today ai an uncarded entry in the be Balkan pressure campaign bes ing fought out between. Gers many and Great Britain.

That Russia planned to 2

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|any further than staking. an

indefinite claim to an interest in events in the Balkan area seemed doubtful for the regs ent.

However, the Russian expression of disapproval of German entry into Bulgaria stirred all the Balkan hals 2d Berlin and London as Wi rought a cool Nazi statement. which made plain that ! places her war interests an Russia's opinion and that the Reich regards the occupation of Evigaia

j |as a military necessity.

London Sees Veiled Warning. - : g

“London saw a veiled : against trespass upon Soviet ests in Turkey and the nell Russia’s warm water outlet By: Budapest thought the statement might indicate that Russia and Ture key have some kind of military and. | diplomatic arrangement to effective in event of Nazi attack on Turkey. It was doubted any sue arrangement would be effective event of Turkish aid to Greece in resisting German attack.

man Ambassador Franz von had delivered to President I Inonu a personal message from Adolf Hitler. The Turkish said that the message was han ( to Inonu in the presence of Fore eign Minister Sukru Saracoglu. . The Sofia Government suppressed all mention of the e statement, presumably - because of the widespread sympathy felt for | Russia by the Bulgarian peasantry,

Nazis and Bulgarians Clash a Semi-official ‘sources were prised by the Soviet sta They thought it showed that tions between Russia and the Axis were not what the Axis waned | people to think. The Soviet press blazoned sia’s displeasure at German ent: into Bulgaria under large headlines and the official munique containing the rebuke’ Sofia was repeated on radio bre casts. At least one clash between Gere man occupying forces and Bule garian natives was revealed and (Continued on Page Five)

U. S. WORKER'S WIFE DEFIES DIES SUBPENA

WASHINGTON, March 4 (U. FJ). —Mrs. Sara V. Montgomery, wife of | a Department of Agriculture emw ployee, today defied a Dies tee subpena ordering her to. duce records and membership Ii of the Washington chapter © American Peace Mobilization, Inc. 4 She gave the committee 4 a copy of an A. P. M. “bre entitled, “What Is A. P, M.?” also read a prepared statement fore Chairman Martin . Dies Tex.) accusing the committee a issuing the summons “for the: p pose of smearing, for the purpose of spreading fear among the peo: ple who speak out for peace and democracy, for the purpose of © ing opposition to the so-called! lease bill which would bring ¥

It Sounds Like | Fourth of July

LONDON, March 4 (U. P). A new type of “ch flare” made its appearance: night in German air raids East Anglia. | It consisted of an - colored main flare, wh mained stationary abe minutes, with tails of white lights above and it. Searchlights picked oul “chandelier” just as the lights began to glow. A gun made a direct k the flare burst into thou

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