La Grande Observer from La Grande, Oregon • Page 1

WEATHER Partly cloudy today. Fair tonight and Saturday. High today 70-75. Low tonight 40-45. High Saturday 70-75.

ran server Eitablhbtd 1896 Daily except Sunday LA GRANDE, OREGON, FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1956 Price Cents Fails i Portbimd LBomrob Try dK Xh'y Crude Device Rigged Eisenhower AntiReds Form Arson To Kill James Elkins he fired two warning shots at a. Oregon Products Week Set By Gov. Smith SALEM IIP) Gov. Elms Smith today designated July 9-14 ai all Oregon Producti Week and urged people of the state to use and promote the use of Oregon products particularly during that period. The week is sponsored by the Portland Retail Trade bureau to acquaint consumers with Oregon products.

i ''anew fi I' I Discusses 2nd Term GETTYSBURG. Pa. UPI resident Eisenhower discussed second term intentions with his; itaff today for the first lime since his illness. White House Press Secretary James C. Hagerty announced that Eisenhower discussed both 'personal and general politics" in conference Uns morning with Hagerty and presidential Assist-int Sherman Adams.

But there was no immediate statement on the big question: rtn- Un Dnlnnfr ctitl lntn1 In run for another term in the White House? Hagerty flatly refused to give any details of the political conversations. He said he "wouldn't know" whether a further state ment of the President's second term intentions is required 'All I'm trying to do is to keep you informed of the conversation I have had with the President," Hagerty said with a face-splitting grin. "When might we expect an announcement of these political discussions?" a reporter asked. 'I wouldn't knpw," Hagerty said. Hagerty said it 'might be" that Mr.

Eisenhower would have a news conference before he leaves Gettysburg. Hagerty surprised newsmen by volunteering the information that he had talked politics with the President at the farm this morning. Asked to 'elaborate" he said. 'I'm not going to." The White House aide suid he believed Mr. Eisenhower him self initiated the conversation on polities.

'J J' 7 -MtiMiyrr SITE OF RESCUE Left to right, Jimmie Whitman and LaVerne Carlton point out the spot where Jimmie held LaVerne's head out of the water last year till help arrived. The boys said most of the log-jam had washed away with this year's high water. Jimmie has been nominated by Governor Elmo Smith for national recognl-tion by the Young American Medals committee. (Evening Observer Photo) Youth Surprised, Proud Of Governor's Nomination PORTLAND (UP) An apparent, attempt on the life of a man who has figured prominently in the investigation of vice and corruption charges in Portland was foiled today. A crude dynamite bomb was found under the hood of a car owned by James Elkins, Portland night life figure, where it was parked in a garage (at 2409 S.

E. Main street.) Raymond F. Clark, an employe of Elkins and owner of the garage where the car was stored, said Fines Net Local Police $1,282.25 Fines, fees and revenue from parking meters for tho last half of June totaled $1,282.25, accord ing to a semi-monthly report issued by the La Grande Police Department this week. Largest items in the fine column of the report included from parking meters, $138 for parking meter fines and $90 in fines from the seven intoxica tion cases settled during the period. Two felonies are listed in the report, one was for auto theft, the other involved a sex offense; four prisoners wcro held In jail for Oregon State Police.

Traffic offenses included a hit and run, two charges of inade quate mufflers and four cases Including violations of the basic rule. There were eight accidents reported in the city, police officers investigated three of them. One person was injured In a traffic accident during the period. 'No Progress' In Steel Strike Negotiations PITTSBURGH ftP) Negotiators for the United Sleclworkcrs and the basic steel Industry today stood pat on their pre-walkout bargaining strategy, showing no apparent willingness to resume bids to end the paralyzing dead lock, As the strike of 650.000 mill- workers entered its sixth day, it seemed left to the Federal Media tion Service to schedule joint ne gotiations. The labor-management representatives last met together Saturday, six hours before the walkout began.

Joseph F. Finncgan, mediation director, indicated he would not necessarily wait for an invitation to set up joint talks. After sepa late "exploratory" meetings with union and industry officials here Thursday. Finncgan said he would contact both sides "early next week." 5-Day Weather Outlook By UNITED PRESS Western Oregon: A few light showers beginning of the period and again Monday or Tuesday hut otherwise little or no rain. Temperatures averaging near or a little below normal.

Maximums 75-85; minimums 46-52. Eustern Oregon: Temperatures averaging below normal. Maximums mostly 72 B2; minimums generally 46-52. A few scattered showers again about Tuesday. Commission Increase Election Details Set By Tom Mercer How does it feci to be nominated by the Governor for a Hero's Medal? When asked this question yesterday.

Jimmie Whitcman. the La Grande boy credited with saving his pal, LaVerne Carlton, from drowning, looked at his shoes and thought for awhile. "Well, you know. I didn't know anything about this until came home this morning and rinht now I'm still surprised about it. thought that it had been forgotten and that after it was all over last year that would lie the end of it.

1 do believe if anyone else Reapportionment Fails To Make November Ballot SAI.EM HP Failure to gather enough signatures will keep a proposal for legislative reapportionment along federal lines off the November ballot in Oregon. The failure left a total of seven measures on the ballot. Five them were referred by the legis Cal-PacGas Rates Filed With PUC California-Pacific Utilities Com Pan's natural gas rates have been filed with and accepted for fil ing by the Public Utilities Com missioner of Oregon, according to A. B. Olson, district manager.

La Grande residential users of natural gas will receive reductions ranging from 24 per cent to 39 per cent below present billing charges, depending on class of service and amount of use. Reductions for commercial customers will follow a similar pattern with calculated reductions ranging from 10 per cent to 43 per cent, depending upon class of service and amount of use. The overall average reduction for all classes of service, based on present use, is estimated at 25 per cent, Olson said. The effective date of the new rates will coincide with the ar rival of natural gas in Iji Grande, probably in August The Evening Observer published an editorial favoring the increase on January 13, 11)56 after Commission President Lynn An derson discussed the proposition before the city commission. At that time, members of the com mission voiced approval of the change.

Later in the year, George Lor-enzen and Jack Brazeal brought the idea to the commission again and offered their support in the move if the commission would call the special election. The election is scheduled for Friday, July 13. between noon and 8 p.m. at polling places at the La Grande Garden Club, 1309 avenue and the Presbyteria; Church basement. Voters, living north of the UP railroad tracks will vote at the Garden Club.

Those living south of the tracks will vote at the church. JET CRASHES; AIRMEN SAFE WICHITA, Kan. HPI An K89 Northrup Scorpion jet plane crashed shortly after take off from McConncll Air Base Thursday, but two airmen aboard parachuted to safety. The two men, C'apt. Noah B.

Gregg and 2nd l.t. Harville E. Hobbs, Hope, Maine, were taken to the base hospital for observation. They were from Presquc Isle, Maine Air Base. The plane was enroutc to Vuma, Ariz.

fleeing figure ot a man wno nad apparently placed the bomb. The incident occurred at about 2: la a.m. today. Police said it was the first attempt at overt violence since the Portland vice uproar was touched off last spring. A woman scheduled to appear be fore a grand jury investigating the city's underworld was threatened with a beating but nothing came of it.

The bomb found in Elkins car had not been connected with ignition wires, presumbaly because Clark surprised the man before he finished his work. Police demolition experts said the intended bomb had been ineptly rigged. It had no detonator and the dynamite itself was sodden. They said there was no con ceivable way it could have beei touched off. Attorney General Robert Thornton was notified of the incident this morning.

He is conducting the grand jury vice probe here. Robert Suydam Promoted By Police Chief Chief Oliver Reeve announced yesterday that he has reclassified Robert F. Suydam from patrolman to sergeant in the La Grande Police Department. Reeve's ac tion was taken in compliance with. Ordinance 1790 which became, effective July 1.

Sergeant Suy-dam's duties will be to assist on investigation and traffic control. James McPherson has been assigned to enforce the parking ordinance-. His Job will consist of writing" tickets for dvortltrlc parking, checking, repairing and replacing jinctcrs. Officer Roland He is has been transferred from meters to general police work on the night shift. Elks Annual Picnic Will Be Held Sunday Exalted Ruler D.

Dame-wood. BPOE 433 recently announced that the Elks annual picnic will be held at Riverside Park Sunday. Festivities will begin at 11 a.m. and all Elks arc Invited to bring their families. Free beverages and ice cream are to he provided by the lodge.

Those attending should plan to bring their own lunch and table service. Races and other contests will be staged for the younger people attending and prices will be awarded. Arrangements for the 24th annual picnic are under the direction of William S. Piepcr. TO INSTALL OFFICERS La Grande IOOF Lodge No.

16 will install officers tonight under the direction of District Deputy Clifford Bragg. Refreshments will be served. All members are urged to attend. SCOUTS POSTPONE MEET Cub Scout Pack No. 110 meet- ing, regularly scheduled Friday night, has been cancelled.

Next regular meeting date will be announced later. fjil'ayette Trice, speaking on behalf of American Legion Post 43, asked permission to sponsor a carnival at Pioneer Park. The 'commission asked Trice to con tact the fair board and held the matter over for a week. After the last carnival was here, during which time a carniv.al roustabout was arrested for molesting a La Grande youngster, a group of citizens asked the commission to deny future requests for carnival use of the park area. The park hoard has also issued a strong recommendation against such use of city park property.

Proposed ordinances, read fo the first lime last night included one prohibiting parking on Ad ams avenue, nciwcen Alder and. Walnut streets; and one repealing the old fireworks ordinance and All tireworks are prohibited under the ordinance, except cdi anA tnnrlrlan anil i Campaign BKRL1N IIP Anti-Communist Polish partisans today were reported conducting an organiz ed campaign of arson against the Red Warsaw regime. An organization of refugees from former German territories in Poland said the underground groups have been waging the arson campaign for months. The 'expellees union" of West Ber lin said the Polish press has admitted a wavo of mysterious fires have razed entire villages. The union quoted the news paper Cycie Warsaw as saying that 63 persons died and 2,900 buildings were destroyed in a series of 4,900 fires in Poland this year.

1 Most of them were believed started by partisans," the union said. The organization, composed of Germans evicted from their homes when Poland occupied parts of East Germany after World War II, said the Polish Communist Party newspaper Trybuna Ludu reported that four villages with 2S0 buildings were burned to the ground in the month of May alone. According to the union, more tires were reported in Poland during the first three months of 1956 than in the entire last two years. Poland has been plagued by anti-Communists guerrillas since World War II. There have been reports of attacks on Soviet troop trains, buildings and gov ernment and Communist Party buildings.

Underground elements also were blamed for touching off the "food and freedom" riots in Po- znan. Western businessmen at tending the International fair in the big industrial city when the uprising erupted said they saw armed partisans leading the attacks. Appropriations Group Awards Building Funds WASHINGTON (W The House Appropriations Committee today called on Defense Secretary Charles E. Wilson to take immed- iutc steps to halt a wasteful fight between the Army and Air Force over ground to air guided missiles. 'It appears that the taxpayer will be the principal loser in uch a quarrel." the committee said in a report approving $1.4 billion in new funds for military construction.

'It is the responsibility of the secretary of defense to see that funds and effort arc not wasted in useless competitive rivalry between the services," the committee said. The military construction money was included in a catch-all supplemental appropriation hill providing all told $1,555,535,425 for a variety of government functions during the fiscal year that began Sunday. The House Appropriations Committee today approved military construction projects including: Army; Umatilla Ordnance Depot, $258,000. escent luminaries. These were promised in 84 days which would have put them here June 28.

Forty-three of 108 ballasts arc here, Slaght reported Poles were due on May IB; none have arrived. A telegram from the supplier said the poles were shipped from Minnesota on June 23; they were to arrive here in nine days but have not arrived. Slaght mentioned during the discussion that ihe contractor who Is tn inslail the lights has been quite anxious to begin work. Another situation, concerning city paving work was discussed during the meeting. Slaght was flaked for a report on readiness of paving contractors to begin work later this month.

He reported that sufficient gravel is not yet available to do the work but that the contractor, H. J. Miller of Pendleton, hopes to begin work about July 23. A bid of $1,602 25 for an Ad-dressograph machine to use In had been in my place they would have done the same thing." When asked what he was thinking while his younger brother was getting help. Jimmie said he couldn't remember much.

He re membercd he was afraid that he wouldn't be able to hold on to LaVerne long enough for help to arrive. LaVerne told him to let go when it looked like both of them might bq. pulled into the river, but Jimmie told him that he would hold on till help got there or be dragged into the river too. LaVerne Carlton expresses his feeling when he said, "As far as I'm concerned, Jimmie deserves that medal." The distance Eddie Whitcman ran for help was estimated at a quarter of a mile. When, asked in what direction he went, Eddie replied, "I don't know.

I just ran." Jimmie Whiteman said, "I'jn very proud that the Governor nominated me for this award, but never want to go through -an experience like that again." Ministerial Group The Rev. Don Baker, pastor of the First Baptist Church, was elected president of the La Grande Ministerial Association at a recent meeting, lie succeeds (he Rev. Floyd White who left La Grande to assume a pastorate at Vale. The Rev. James Parker, pastor of the Church of God, was elected vice-president.

meet any demand the kidnapi-r laturc; one of them, the three Baker Will Head prohibit commercial fishing on a coastal streams south of the Columbia river was initiated by the people. Deadline for filing completed petitions was 5 p.m. Thursday. Two other expected initiative measures also failed to materialize before the deadline. They were for establishing an olficc of lieutenant governor and setting a limit on the liability of relatives to support indigent members of their families.

Jean Margetts Condition 'Satisfactory' SALT LAKE CITY (UP) Doctors reported today that 18-year-old Jean Margetts was continuing ito recover 'satisfactorily" Irom the ordeal of being trapped in a carcar wreck for nine day but she still could not discuss the aeci- dent. A fortnal statement issued by Latter-day Saints Hospital today sai Ilia plucky patient was "not quite as alert" mentally as she was Thursday and so far she could only 'answer simple questions." She was trapped in the car and her fiance, James llixon, 22 was killed June 24 while returning here from a fishing trip. The Sunnyvale. girl was not found in the concealed wreckage until Tuesday evening. The hospital said Miss Margetts could still recognize her parents and doctors 'interpreted the absence crying to mean she was free Irom pain and hunger." Her parents, Mr.

and Mrs. Lawrence Margetts, have remained at me hospital constantly. DoctoDH for the first time discussed specific injuries the girl suffered. They said she did not appear to have a frontal skull fracture, as believed earlier, but did have some superficial gangrene of the toes, especially on the right side, due to exposure. She was trapped under the car on her right side.

3 Escape Jail In Pendleton; Free 15 Minutes PENDLETON 'IP Three men escaped from the Umatilla county jail last night and were re captured by Pendleton police 15 minutes later. Hack in the county jail alter their brief excursion beyond its walls last night were Paul Leh- 'If ll 1 till I n. I Walla, Walla iKitentiary; Charles Milner. 3H. being held for trial (charged 'ill burglary not in a II I It' 0-7 ja charSC 0f at" their cell.

Thev Antl-1 TUSt 3Ult led AgOinSF V7IVI pCTROIT UTI The Justice ivnartmrnl today filed its civil suit against General Mo rp charging the firm has lt monopoly in the sale and manufacture of buses. complaint was filed hy Attorney General who Assistant earned it here 'nm Washington. Ally. Gen, Herbert Hrownell Jr. announced wennesnav me sun mould be filed in Michigan, i ul.e coordinated Trans sport Co Family Will Meet Ransom Demands For Tiny Infant WESTIiURY, N.

V. HP A per-, family's New Jersey drug firm, son who said he was the kid-1 'My uncle isn't a rich man," naiKT of month-old Peter Weill-; Weinberger said, 'hut he will Acting City Recorder Jack llen- drickson reported last night that everything is in readiness for next Friday's special election on the question of increasing scats on the City Commission from three to five. The special election is necessary for a charter amendment as the number of commissioners is specified in the charter. There has been intermittent agitation for an increase in the size of the commission for several years. The matter was discussed in 19S3 when the charter was rewritten but was discarded at that time since a segment of the committee rewriting the charter favored the ward system and others did not.

4 1 1 7, Harold C. Dorn EOC Information Director Arrives To Assume Duties Harold C. Dorn has arrived on the campus of Kastern Oregon College to assume his duties as Director of Information. He will replace Ron Baycs as information director and instructor in journalism. Mr.

and Mrs. Dorn and daughters Jennifer 5 and tirah 2, arrived here from Dnane College at Crete. where he has been doing publicity work. Dorn was from the University of Nebraska and has A. B.

and A degrees in Journalism Bayes will leave La Grande at the end of the Summer Session to attend the Republican national convention and in the Fall will enter the University of Pennsylvania for study under a Wood-row Wilson fellowship. .4.. A' berger telephoned the child's lath- er todiiv and made new ransnm demands, the fattier. Morris Wein-joni maKes. lie tne Kidnam-ri can the check, and if there's not by tc It was not made known whether Ihe caller was a woman or a man The demands made also were! Steps Considered To Hurry Lighting Job mnnnf in 111..

k.l ml. uncle will guarantee the amount I he writes on the check will be given to him in cash." I'n lf' ItlnV Ui I hnur 1 fu, 1 1 ir mi" ui nit- in wiiH wnosr fhduclnr had threatened In kill I and found no useful in their search for Ihe child. aneriiooii p.ipc.s I He asked newsmen to nrint tins renlv: 'Am rea'lv to meet your demands. Awaiting your' call The riill was the hrst break in the ease since the infant was kid f.n, rnverrrl of But Weinberger said the caller! told him: 'I'll be watching him il the money were not bv Hi a.m. Thursdav.

his parents home about .1 p. in awiiienon. im ik.iicp In be; on the Fourth of July. i lieve Ihe .11 day-old child could not i Attempts to pav Ihe survive even if abandor som demanded in a note left panicked abductor. City officials are irrilated about Ihe fact that materials for the new street lighting system are not arriving here on schedule.

Last night. Commission President Lynn Anderson asked City Attorney Carl Helm to study the contract with the supplying firms and them to determine why deadlines had not been met. When the contract was signed, it was hoped the lights might be turned on July 4. City Engineer Dave Slaght, act-ing as city manager pro tern, reported on the lighting situation last night. In giving a rundown on the various portions of the materials necessary for erection of the combination mercury-vapor and fluorescent lighting system.

Slaght said some pole brackets, promised for May 10, were to be shipped on August 24. When the contract was signed. April 6, it was Indicated that items which would be last to arrive would be ballasts for the fluor connection with the city's new bookkeeping machine, was accept- cd. Additional supplies, necessary for use of the Addressograph, will be required. Included is a plate making machine, cabinets to hold the plates and a supply of 4.000 plates.

With the bookkeeping machine and Addressograph, Ihe city will be able to mail water notices and do other bookkeeping work now done by hand. Mary Archer, who said she owns property at DM Halm street, complained to Ihe commission of a clogged alley between Washington and Adams in that area which, she said, mane it difficult for garbage trucks to get into the area. Fire Chief Hay Snider has inspected Ihe situation and will be asked to do so again. Clara Belle Obert, who gave her address as 1H18 Sixth street, complained of newsboys' bicycles clogging the sidewalk in front of the Evening Observer building in the afternoon. ably cold weather and intermit-1 tent rain since the lime of the I once were Irariui that prcma ture publicity had kept the kid na)ei irom picKing up me r.in i som pac kage and panicked mio masing ti ins threat to; making good Ins threat to kill the child.

Dummy packages containing part of the S2.0O0 ransom demanded in a note left bv the abductor were placed Thursday the patio failed Thursday. Dummy! packages were placed as directed in the kidnap note, but Ihe kid- naper could not have picked them tip without revealing himself, and thev were untouched Weinberger announced this morning that the family had offered the kidnaper a blank check. for anv amount he chooses to fill in payment for safe return ol the child. He said the check has beei) written bv his uncle. Mannic Weinberger.

an executive of the in prominent spots near the! Named as coconspirators, but not Weinberger home. But they still defendants, were the Hertz were there when police officcrs'thc Greyhound National retrieved them well past the aD-ICitv Lines, and Public Ser- pointed hour. iuswuiw displays..