Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 8 March 1941 — Page 1

FORECAST: Fair and warmer tonight and tomorrow; lowest temperature about 32.

SCRIPPS ~

VOLUME 52—NUMBER 311 |

SATURDAY, 3 MARCH 8, 1941

Entered as Second-Class Matter Indianapolis, Ind.

at Postoffice,

PRICE THREE CENTS

Japan Rushes Leader to Berlin; Mediterranean Blow Feared

SCHRICKER: ‘VOTE PROBE A SMEAR’

Inferno After Hurricane

This original picture, just received in America, shows one scene

during the great fire that swept Santander, Spain,

The fire resulted

when a hurricane blew a power line onto a barge loaded with dynainite,

"ENGINE KILLS RAIL WORKER

2 - Others Hurt as Speed Car Jumps Track, ~ Hits Locomotive.

A 63-year-old man was killed and two others were injured today when a rail speed car jumped the tracks in the Big Four Railroad yards near S. Sherman Drive and crashed into a locomotive on a parallel track. The victim was George Lewis Little, 2606 E. Washington St. He was riding on the car with eight other men and was thrown under the train. Six escaped injury, although they were thrown from the car at the time of the crash. Sheriff’s deputies said the injured men were William Lizby, 29, of 1230 St. Paul St., and Ed Ellison. 52, of 1530 Lexington Ave. The lbcomotive was in charge of Peter Lutz, 1524 Fletcher Ave. Thrown Before Engine

Mr. Little was thrown into the path of the switch engine, but was not run over. Dr. Hubert Collins, deputy coroner, said he apparently died of a fractured skull. Mr. Lizby and Mr. Ellison were cutyon the face, but their injuries were not. believed to be serious. Railroad men said the locomotive was moving very slowly at the time. What caused the speed car to jump the track has not been determined. Those on the speed car and reported not injured were R. Melton, 439 ‘N. New Jersey St.; Conlzy Plumer, 1524 S. Sherman Drive; Dewey Howard, 424 N. Drexel Ave; H. A. Powell, 28 S. State Ave.; Fred Yoder, 1936 Shelby St, and Carl Hubbell, 265 N. Arsenal Ave. Mr. Little was born in Carbon, Ind. and came to Indianapolis more than 49 years ago. He has worked as a railroad man for 28 years, and

for a while operated a funeral home | sme

here. His son, Vernon Little, now operates the home.

Mr. Little was a member of the 3

What the Turks Think of Stalin ‘ANKARA, Mach ‘8 (U, B).-A high Turkish official. source today indicated great skepticism of any effective move by Russia to halt the Germans.

Asked what he thought the Soviet

Union would do if Germany tried to reach the Dardanelles, he said: “Probably they would express displeasure more strongly than they did regarding the occupation af Bulgaria. But if Germany got ta India the * Russians would express even more keen displeasure—but still would do nothing about it.”

DRIVING BLIZZARDS SWEEP EAST GOAST

N. Y. Crippled; Fair and Warmer Forecast Here.

LOCAL TEMPERATURES 6am... ..2 10a.m... . 36 Tam ....2¢4 1ll a.m... 3? 8am ....2"T 1pm .},, 40 9a. m. ..., 30 12 (noon) .. 3%

By UNITED PRESS Driving blizzards swept the Allan tic seabord' today, snarling traffic in metropolitan New York where more than 10 inches of [snow had fallen. The storm had moved across the nation from California vhere last week-end it caused widespread damage and torrents of rain The Weather Bureau recorcled 10.6 inches of snow in metropolitan New York early today. Elevated {rains and all surface transportation was crippled, » But in Indianapolis, fair and warmer was forecast for tomorrow. Lowest tonight will be ahoul 32, the Weather Bureau said.

GREECE READY

{move toward the-Axis and the date

T0 FIGHT ON DESPITE 0DDS

Jugoslavs May Sign Pact With Axis Next Week; 18: Ships Sunk.

(Stowe answers readers, Page 7)

By HARRISON SALISBURY United Press Staff Correspondent

Japan’s ‘Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoa was expected today to leave immediately on a flying journey to Moscow, Berlin and Rome which may trip the trigger on all all-out

British Empire.

There was a note of urgency in the Japanese statesman’s projected mission. March is the month when Hitler is expected to launch his root-and-branch attack on the British and the deadline may be only a matter of a fortnight or so. Growing indications were seen by non-British diplomatic circles in London that Hitler was marshaling his forces to drive the British from the Mediterranean in a- sweeping plan that would have repercussions from Turkey to Portugal. Germany has been reported to have 150,000 to 300,000 troops concentrated in Italy, center of the Mediterranean. At the same time, the following developments in the war brought it nearer to a showdown: 1. Greece was said in informed Athens quarters to be mustering all her resources to carry on the war in full compliance with her treaty commitments to Great Britain and in defiance of the Germans poised to attack her from Bulgaria.

Torpedo Boats Effective

constantly are setting dates and deadlines for various German moves today fixed upon Tuesday as the. day when Jugoslavia would make a

for the German attack on Greece. 3. The German high command claimed striking victories in the sea war and counter-blockade of Britain, saying that 18 British ships, including two destroyers, had been sunk, for a total tonnage destruction of 79,600, Twelve of the ships were credited to high-speed motor torpedo boats, five to a submarine and one to bombing planes.

Rome May Get Visit

Tokyo reported * that Matsuoka probably would leave by plane to catch a trans-Siberian express on which Germany's Ambassador to Tokyo, Gen. Eugen Ott, is traveling back to Berlin. He is expected to go to Berlin to confer with Hitler and Foreign: Minister Joathim von Ribbentrop, presumably on Japan's part in the Axis all-out drive. Berlin said he-would also, probably, find time to go to Rome to see the third Axis partner, Mussolini. (Continued on Page Three)

Axis blitzkrieg against the|

mostly a 2. Those Balkan Sources which |dark herses./

MAP ‘CAFETERIA’

several made to the Mayor's Advisory Committee on Traffic Safety would be placed in effect by County and City officials as soon as details can be worked out.

64 to 16

That’s How Net Field |} Will Be Cut With Today’s Games.

By. J. E. O'BRIEN

Sixty-four Indiana high school basketball teams went to look for goals today with full knowledge that the search would claim 48 of their

|number by late this evening. \ Where there were 64 at noon to-

day, there were 777 ten days ago.

The 16 still alive this evening will be regional winners, fully accredited to move into the

four semi-final tournaments at Indianapolis, Ham-

mond, Vincennes and Muncie next

Saturday. After that comes the

Fieldhouse final on March 22, when a champion will be chosen from a slim field of. four,

Today’s regional program con-

sisted of three games in each of 16 scattered centers, with the winners of the 1:30 and 2:30 p. m. games meeting in the tournament finals at 8 o'clock this evening.

The focal point ef Indianapolis

and Marion County interest was the Anderson regional, where Decatur Central's Hawks were to meet Pittsboro, winner of the Danville sectional, in the second teatime game. Successful in that the Hawks, who rode th#ugh Tech, Manual, Shortridge: and Ben Davis to the local sectional crown, winner of the Anderson-Maxwell game this evening.

would meet the

Plans for the 16 regionals were

completed last night with the naming of officials to handle the 48 games. derson regional were L. E. Fink and J. Clayton Hughes.

Those assigned to the An-

In the .other 15 centers it was Water of favorites facing

TRAFFIC COURT

Blue and Morrissey Discuss Setup; Safety Group's Report Studied.

There were indications today that of the recommendations

Prosecutor Sherwood Blue and

Chief Morrissey are working now on plans for a “cafeteria-type” court in which persons, other than chronic

repeaters, minor moving violations will be

who are arrested for

Prisoner Turns Lawyer in Cell

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind., March (U. P.).—Armed with training he taught himself in his

cell, 33-year-old Perry Fitch today sought to escape Indiana State Prison, according to law. Pitch filed a petition, written in longhand,” in La Porte Circuit Court for a writ of habeas corpus. He intends to defend himself, but may never do it. Suffering from a serious kidney ailment, Fitch is to be removed to an Indianapolis hospital for a major operation. He was sentenced to 10 years .in State Reformatory for automobile bandizy, in Peru, Nov, 16,

War Moves Today

1932.

permitted to plead guilty and pay fines in the manner now used for parking vielations. Meanwhile, Safety Board President Leroy Keach, the Chief, the Municipal Judges and the Prosecutor’s staff were studying a long and vigorous report from a subcommittee on enforcement, headed by Dr. R. N. Harger, toxicologist of the InYinka University School of Medicine The report, characterizing traffic law enforcement in Indianapolis as “feeble, vacillating and almost «a farce,” was accepted by the cemmittee, subject to amendment, at an animated meeting of the whole committee in the Safety Board at City Hall yesterday afternoon. One of the outstanding recommendations made by the subcommittee was that Indianapolis employ a full-time traffic engineer, re(Continued on Page Three)

FOR MAY GET LEASE BILL BY MONDAY NIGHT|

Friends and Foes Unite In Seeking Senate Vote Today.

WASHINGTON, March 8 (U. P.). —Senate Democratic Leader Alben W. Barkley of Kentucky predicted that the British aid bill would be passed by the Senate by a substantial majority late today and get to. President Roosevelt's desk for signature n Monday—exactly two months from the day it was introduced. Senator Barkley said the House would be asked to approve Senate amendments on Monday, sending the measure direct to Mr. Roosevelt for his signature, instead of having it go through a Senate-House conference on the amendments. Administration leaders were confident that they would defeat all amendments offered today, but conceded the closest test would come on a proposal by Senate Naval Affairs Committee Chairman David I. Walsh (D. Mass.) to write in a virtual prohibition on the further transfer of warships or naval aircraft. “The opposition is co-operating to get a final vote without a night session if possible, There is no reason why it should go over until next week,” Mr, Barkley said.

Two Tests Remain

Senator Barkley added that he believed aid bill opponents reached their peak—39 votes—on a defeated proposal .yesterday by Senator George W. Norris (Ind. Neb.) to declare that nothing in the law should authorize the President to send American troops te fight on foreign soil outside the Western Hemisphere without Congressional approval. After the Walsh amendment, there were two other test votes delay final passage: 1. Substitute bills for direct dollar loans to Britain and Greece offered by Senators Robert A.. Taft (R. 0.) and Charles W, Tobey (R. N. H.) Senator Taft's bill would permit loans -of $1,000,000,000 to the United Kingdom, $500,000,000 to Canada and -$50,000,000 to Greece. Senator Tobey's measure would provide $3,000,000,000 to Britain in exchange for Caribbean islands and as loans, and a $100,000,000 loan to Greece. 2. An opposition motion to recommit the entire Administration bill to the Foreign Relations Committee—a move which, if adopted, in effect would shelve the bill. The Walsh amendment was pending when the Senate quit at 8:53 p. m, (Indianapolis Time) last night after a session of almost (Continued on Page Three)

LIE TEST MAY BARE TERRE HAUTE THIEF

Mayor and All City Hall Aids Submit to Detector.

Employees of City Hall at Terre Haute, from Mayor Joseph Duffy on down to the furance man, were being tested today by the lie detector at the State Police Laboratory in an effort to identify a thief who has stolen. $270 from the hall over a period of several months. State Police say they are running the tests at the request of Terre Haute police and as a favor to them and that the State Police Department has no other part in the investigation. Mayor Duffy said that in fairness to other employees in, the building he also would submit to the test.

TM GOING OUT AND TELL THE PEOPLE, HE WARNS; ‘MERIT BILL BECOMES LAW

Sign Measure Cutting ‘Gross Income Levy For Retailers.

Governor Henry Schricker announced today that he will permit the merit system bill to become a law without his signature and at the same time signed the Gross Income Tax La wto cut the rate for retailers. The Governor said the merit system bill was a ‘‘good one” except for the “unfortunate appointing provisions” for the personnel board. The bill provides that ‘the Governor share the appointing power with Lieut. Gov. Charles M. Dawson, Republican, unless the two should be of the same political faith. a “It Is Unfortunate” “It is most unfortunate that a law, supposedly desigzed to take politics out of our state institutions, should, at its very inception, be steeped in political intrigue,” the Governor said. “Insofar as the bill's provisions are designed ta remove partisan politics from the management of our istitutions it is in complete accord with a policy that I have personally long advocated and am heartily in sympathy with,” he said. Referring to the provision to give the Lieuténant Governor power to

to| appoint half the Merit System Per-

sonnel Board, the Governor said “there can be only one reason for such an appointive arrangement and that is to retain some political control over the appointees.

Cannot Approve Bill

“True to my oath, therefore, I can not approve this bill, and propose to let it' become a law without my signature,” he said, The new law covers about 3000 employees in the Welfare and Health Departments, the 21 State institutions and the Historical and Library Board. After signing the Gross Income Tax Bill, the Governor said he was “happy to see some relief for retail merchants . . . they have been carrying the biggest part of the burden for many years.” The. bill reduees the rate for retailers and several other business groups from 1 to 12 per cent. Besides retailers the bill gives the 1%, per cent rate to laundries, dry cleaners and domestic cauality fire insurance firms. The provision reducnig the rate for these firms caused a row in, the (Continued on Page Three)

M’NAMARA, BOMBER OF L. A. TIMES, DIES

SAN QUENTIN PRISON, Cal, March 8 (U. P.)—James McNamara, union leader sentenced to life imprisonment for bombing the Los Angeles Times Building in 1910, died today in San Quentin Prison after a lingering illness. He was 59. McNamara entered the prison hospital Feb. 13 for a series of operations. One was for a cancerous condition, afdther for an abdominal obstruction. A third operation was planned but his condition prevented it.

REUTHER HERE FOR CHEVROLET ADDRESS

Walter P. Reuther, director of the

Andy's a Violent Heard, Judge, to Any Golf Partner

Governor Schricker

BUDGET RAISED HALF MILLION

Legislature Rushes to Clean Up Business Before Stopping Clock.

By WILLIAM CRABB The 82d General Assembly, its life now only a matter of hours, worked furiously today to wind up its most important unfinished business before the stroke of midnight Monday night. Chief problems remaining to be solved include: 1. Approval of the three’ budget bills to pay the State’s expenses for the next two years. 2. Solution of House and Senate differences over liquor control. 3. Enactment of Unemployment Compensation Law changes demanded by employers and labor. 4. Passage of a milk control law. The Constitution requires that the Legislature adjourn at the conclusion of the 61st day of any regular session. It usually is necessary for both Houses to stop their clocks before midnight on the last day to permit last-minute "business to be cleaned up. This session promises to be no exception. Predictions of legislators on the time the -session “would end range from 2 a. m. to 4 p, m. Tuesday. The 1939 session ran nearly 16 hours over the allotted time. The budget is the most serious problem confronting the House and Senate. The original budget as drafted by the State Budget Committee was cut more than eight million dollars by the House Ways and Means Committee. The Senate today, acting as a committee of the whole, loafed through almost two-thirds of the bill which would give the State $8,300,000. to operate its offices and departments for the next two years, and in the process raised the (Continued on Page Three)

COMPENSATION BILL HELD UP- BY KNAPP

‘Liberalization’ Is Beyond Reason, He Charges. Democratic members of the In-

diana House, balked in their first attempt, were to try again this aft-

Charges Republicans] Tried to Use Quiz As a Club.

By NOBLE REED The legislative probe of the Nov. 5 election was describ by Governor Henry Schrickez today as ‘an insulting smeaz on the good name of Indiang and ‘the Governor's office.” The Republican majority of the joint legislative investigating come mittee, in its final report Thurse day, recommended that the probe be continued by Federal and Lake County officials but stated it had found insufficient evidence ‘on which to contest the election’ of Governor Schricker. “I'm going out and tell the world that the investigation was a smeap

all the way through,” the Governog said in a press conference today.

Calls It Farce

“The whole thing was a farce tao hold a club over my head in legis= lative matters. There was not an ounce of evidence found by the committee of any voting fraud, They had plenty of time to investi= gate thoroughly and money was available to do it.” The Republican majority report stated that the committee did not have sufficient time to conduct the probe and had na money for it. . “I've been crucified in this thing and I think it is a shame to smear the high office of Governor,” the Governor said. “The State of Indie ana has been humiliated and I'm going out and make a series of speeches to the good people of Ine

‘|diana and tell them just what was

behind all of this. “When I get through, the Demds cratic votes in Lake County (where the alleged vote fraud was all to have pneen found) will be dous

bled. Cites G. O. P. Letters

“I've received hundreds of letters from Republicans telling me that this probe was an outrage. I wanted a completed investigation of the: whole thing because of the implietions that I have been serving iis legally and elected by fraud.” The. Governor said the people will learn soon where this probe nated and when they do “I'll be ashamed to go out of the state and attend a conference with other Governors.” “I am holding my office by the vote of the people of Indiana. and not by suffrage of the in supposedly ‘clearing my title to office,’ ” he said, The Governor censored the Ree publican majority of the committee

Democratic minority report. Attached to the end of the report was the minority’s refusal to concur in the recommendation for continue ing the probe. The majority report said “We "believe that illegal votes were cast by aliens in Lake County?

Filed by Whitaker

The minority report stated thal ; “no evidence of election fraud was

found during the investigation.”. A petitoin seeking to unseat .the Governor was filed in the House Jan. 14 by. Virgil Whitaker, Hams mond attorney, who charged tha 1500 aliens had voted in Lake County. The name of Chester Wolf, fore merly of Illinois, was linked with preparation of purported evidence contained in the petition. Mr. Whitaker explained that Mr. Wolf merely assisted him in: the work.

PITTS SANBORN, N.Y. MUSIC CRITIC, DIES

also for failing to make public the ’

{

“

by

lv

General Motors Department of the United Automobile Workers Union, was in Indianapolis today to address the union’s mémbers of the Chevrolet Commercial Body Divi-

Englewood Christian Church, He is Survived by his wife, Mrs. Norma . Little; a daughter, Mrs. Marjorie |g a a nurse at City Hospital; and

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

Official announcement in London today that British’ warship construction for the year ending

ernoon to force Speaker James M. Knapp to hand down for action the Senate-approved bill to liberalize workmen's compensation laws.

NEW YORK, March 8 (U. P).— «| Pitts Sanborn, noted music critic of the New York World Telegram, died !

sure you haven't, else you wouldn’t be a judge, but a prosecuting attorney..

By HENRY geile United Press Staff Correspondent DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., March

‘8.~Judge Hardy, this is a letter to * = =»

three sons, Vernon, Charles Little, a clerk at the Post Office here, and Wayne Little, New York Central Railroad yard master at Lawrenceburg. Funeral services will be at Little & Son Funeral Home, on N. Meridian St., at 2 p. m, Tuesday.

TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES

6, Movies «..... 14 7{ Mrs. Ferguson 8 13 | Music 12 | Obituaries. .6, 11 8iPegler «vesvee sees 5| Pyle MUTE FU 9iRado vuvevy. 1] 8| Mrs. Roosevelt 7 8 Serial Story.. 13 5 Side .Glances . 3| Society .... 7| Sports ....10, 1 81 State Deaths. 11

: Churches seen Clapper Comics... Crossword ee. Editorials Fashions Financial ,... Flynn Forum Homemaking. In Indpls. . Inside Indpls. Johnson sees

d

Mr. Mason

Great Britain is not besiegad because it is open to shipping from the Western world and the Orient. The European Continent, however, is locked within: iwself, unable to maintain commercial | intercourse with the rest of the world because of the British Navy’s control of the ocean traffic lanes.

The new additions to the British

fleet not only are tightening the Atlantic and Mediterranean blockade but also allow Great Eri:din to add somewhat to the strength of her fighting craft in the Orient. This relentless pressure [of sea pow=

er, ever increasing, is destined to x

April 1 will total 480 fighting craft emphasizes the isivé manner in which the British Navy is holding its command of the seas, and maintaining an unbroken blockade of the whole European continent. From Northern Norway southward through the Atlantic | and eastward into the Mediterranean, approximately five thousand miles of coastline are prohibited areas for enemy overseas commerce. speak of the British Isles @s a fortress under siege.. In reality, however, the Continent of Europe is more accurately’ described by that phrase.

It is customary to

play a vital part in the eventual outcome of the war. First Lord of the Admiralty Alexander told the House of Commons on Wednesday that new warships coming into service during the present year make a formidable force, in themselves, judged by naval standards of almost any other country. Today’s announcement of the number of new craft constructed by April 1 emphasizes the truth of Mr. Alexander's claim. Among the additions. to the British Navy are five super-battieships

sion. Mr, Reuther is the author of a plan submitted to national defense officials to use Detroit's wast automobile plants to turn 500 airplanes a day. The aircraft plan was submitted as a way to stave off possible operations curtailment and unemployment in the auto factories due to scarcity of auto metal now being used for defense implements.

SOUTH SIDE GROUP EYES GAS TAX BILL

The South Side Civic. Club prepared today to make new efforts at track elevation if Governor Henry Schricker signs the gas tax

reapportionment bill. ,

At a meeting last night, the club

heard the bill explained and President Arthur Paetz instructed the track committee to make an immediate study of what course to

of the King George V .class, each (Continued on Page Two)

J take “if the bill becomes : law,

you toncerning your son, Andy. I suppose I should have written you:two.or three weeks ago, when I finished playund of wu: Andy

.but a man. doesn’t sit right

down to the typewriter after experiencing one of the most emotional upsets of his life. I could no § ‘more have thought clearly and con- Mickey Rooney cisely after fin- - ishing 18 holes with Andy (or Mickey Rooney, as he is known outside of marquee lights) than a scientist could dictate his reactions from the edge of Vesuvius in eruption.

Have you ever played a round of golf with Mickey, Judge? I'm

TO START WITH, Judge, golf was meant to be a leisurely game. It has no connection with polo, motorcycle racing, or the -100yard dash. But Mickey has brought the game the most violent virtues of all three. Before the handicaps could be arranged, the foursome lined up, or the honor decided, he knocked two balls out of bounds, buried another in a trap to the right, and, finally, getting a good one down. the middle of the fairway, galloped off after it like a polo pony spurred by a Hitchcock. We finally had to drive over his head and sprint to try to catch up with him, We never did. Our game of golf developed into a sort of hare and hounds business. » » »

AS WE PLAYED our seconds, Mickey played his thirds. As-we pitched to the green, he putted. As we putted he smote his drive (Continued on Page. Three),

A sharp exchange between the Speaker and a Democrat, Rep. Hugh Dillin (Petersburg) marked the first move this morning. Rep. Robert Heller (D. Decatur) said he again would seek action this afternoon. Speaker Knapp said that he had been holding the bill on his desk because “liberalization far beyond reason is provided. I intend to hold it until the two parties get together and it is placed on a common, sense basis.” Questioned by ‘Rep. Dillin, who charged the Speaker with “delivering another sermon,” Rep. Knapp came down to the floor and said that labor and industry could not agree on the terms of the bill. Rep. Dillin said that “as representatives of the people, we have a right to vote on this bill. It was amended in the Senate and Senator Jenner, the Republican floor leader, added his name to the bill as coauthor. I have not received a single protest from either labor or em-

ployers.. It is not a political val

in his apartment last night.

cumbed to a heart attack, but an autopsy will be performetl today pr determine the exact cause. A friénd

ance at the Metropolitan House. He had completed the first

was stricken. He. also was widely known as '& novelist, poet and essayist. At the . time of his death he was

harmonic Symphony Society was completing a biography of ¥ sten _Flagstad. .

‘SKIDMORE CONVICTED.

CHICAGO, March 8 (U. Ple=

William R. (Billy) Skidmore, pics tured by the Government as the middleman in Chicago's gambling “protection” racket, was convie of evading his income tax: in:

by a Federal Co urt Jury. today. es

Physicians believed he had sce: : i

found him on the floor of the bathe J room of his apartment a few hours « | after he had attended a performs

paragraph of his review when he

as program annotater for the: Phil g