The Mercury from Pottstown, Pennsylvania • Page 1

in in in in in 7--17-48--A0 ARNOLDS BOOK BINDING 7TH WASHINGTON STS. 2 -2 READING $13, PA. STRAND SHOE REPAIR 361 HIGH ST. In Basement While-0-Watt Service Pottstown Mercury ASSOCIATED PRESS CENTRAL PRESS POTTSTOWN, SATURDAY MORNING, JULY 31, 1948 TELEPHONE 2263 U.S. Official Linked With Red Spy; Charged With Revealing Secrets New York's Huge International New York's huge international airport at Idlewild, on Long Island's south shore, will today with President Truman and his Republican White House rival, appearing on the same platform.

Truman, Dewey To Be Together For Air Show 17, NO. 264 ent NEW Truman YORK, and July 30 (AP) Presihis RepublicanWhite House rival, Gov. Thomas E. Dewey, will see the nation's greatest peace-time: display of air. power together tomorrow.

The mighty show. will follow the President's dedication of another study. in superlatives -the hugh New York international airport at Idlewild on Long Island's south shore. The Air Force and Navy are assembling-850 of their newest most lethal planes for the: display. Some will fly from as far away as Spokane, Wash: The first craft are scheduled wing in from the Atlantic over wild at precisely 3 p.

m. (Pottstown time);) They will be F80s, flashing jets which now equip some of the Air Force's fighter wings. After them will come literally millins of horsepower in jet and piston engines. and Gov. the same platThe appearance: of Mr.

Truman form for the dedication ceremonies will itself write a new chapter in modern American political history. Records disclose no. previous instance in which the opposing presidential candidates of the major. Parties attended a public function gether and spoke from the same rostrum. Both men will make only.

brief talks. The speeches are to broadcast over all four major networks; starting 2:30 p. (Pottstown time). Driver Pleads Guilty, Fined $100 by Court By Staff Correspondent NORRISTOWN, July 30 Alton Hersch, 23, Green Lane RD. 1, was fined $100 today on a charge of drunken driving after he pleaded.

guilty before Judge Harold G. Knight. He was arrested at 1:30 a.m.. July 18. by Patrolmen Harold E.

Hahn and Paul Galloway. His car collided at 'Chestnut and Charlotte. streets, Pottstown, sedan driven by Harley J. Pratt, 180 Rohland. street: "The street's too narrow." the I defendant had said to Hahn after "he was apprehended.

He referred to Charlotte street, on which he was driving north. Pratt had told police he tried to verve away from the oncoming. Er but that it struck his left front fender. Stassen Says He'll Take Active Part in Campaign ST. PAUL, (P)- Harold E.

Stassen, unsuccessful Republican presidential nominee who has accepted the post as president, of the University of Pennsylvania, said tonight he will be "very in national political campaign in the Fall. In his first press conference since the announcement of his selection to head the Pennsylvania school, Stassen said he will make a number of political speeches before the general: election in November. THE WEATHER For Eastern Pennsylvania: Partly cloudy, cooler and less humid today. Fair with little change in temperature tomorrow. 91 Mercury 68 High Antics Low TEMPERATURE EXTREMES Local temperatures yesterday and early this morning were: 4 a.

.68: 4 m. 91. 5 a. m. ..70 5 p.

..90 6 m. 12 7 6 p.m. .:89 m. p. m.

:87 m. ..74 8 p. 00 a. .74 9 p. m.

.83 m. .78 p. 82 a. m. 11 .82.

m. .85 12 p. m. ..81 1 p. .07 1 .:80 2 p.

m. .89 3: 2.A. .80 ,90 A. image serial: 4035113 CERTIFIED LOWEST PRICES AT POTTSTOWN FURNITURE FACTORY 433 HIGH ST. SHOP IN IT PAYS! ASSOCIATED PRESS CENTRAL PRESS TELEPHONE 2263 Molotov Blocks Chance Of Conference MOSCOW, July 30 (AP) Foreign Minister V.

M. Molotov is out of town, U.S. Ambassador Walter Smith was told today when he sought an appointment to discuss four-power negotiations over Berlin and Germany. When the embassy called the foreign ministry for. the appointment, the response was' that Deputy Foreign Minister Valerian A.

Zorian was on duty. Ambassador Smith, in company witir Frank Roberto, private to- British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin, returned to Moscow only yesterday from London where. high-level strategy conferences were held among American, British and French diplomats on new approaches we to be made to Moscow. REPORTS CONCERNING these conferences have been prominently published abroad for a week, along with. reports that the three-power proposals probably.

would be ready presentation to Molotov late this week. (The Socialist press in Berlin said. was a delaying tactic.) Short Meat Supplies Are Expected to Send Prices Rising Higher Airport To Be Dedicated Today The 4900-acre field (left) covers an area as large as all of Man-. hattan: Island from the battery to: 42nd street, heart of New York. City- (right).

WASHINGTON, July 30 (AP) The fight over infation surged to a new height of bitterness today. with President Truman accusing Congress of "blind disregard of the dangers. that beset our path." Senator. Taft (R-Ohio), sharp tongued spokesman for Repulicans in the Senate, shouted back that Mr. Truman actually "doesn't want to stop inflation." Instead, Taft told the Senate, he is "making political speeches to Congress." Senator Barkley (D-Ky), vice presidential running mate of the President, got into the quarrel by Taft himself.

was making a political speech. Taft talked of winding up the special session a week from WHILE ALL this was going on, Congress committees heard: 1. Secretary of the Treasury Snyder that he doesn't like price controls any more than He does. castor oil, but that in an emergency resort. must be had to distasteful remedies.

2. From Presidential, Assistant Paul: Porter, former OPA chief, that petroleum and petroleum pro Truman Terms Congress 'Blind' To Dangers of Unchecked Inflation ducts. would be among the items to get "first consideration" if Mr. Trumani should induce Congress to approve price controls. Porter previously had included in this group meats, dairy products, clothing, building materials, steel and some other metals.

Today's: fireworks on. inflation: were set off by a bristling letter. Mr. Truman sent to Capitol Hill along with the midyear report of: his council of economic advisers. The report told of peacetime or all time records piled up in employ(Continued on Page Three) Playground Hepcats Stomp Despite Heat for the Hepcats Jubilee, the Humid heat didn't prevent -agers from gyrating around the floor of the Junior High School gymnasium last night.

Sweated blouses and shirts clung to those who turned out Stalin May Be Given Joint Plea to End' Blockade of Berlin WASHINGTON, July 30. The United. States, Britain and France. may seek to carry direct to Premier Stalin their new joint request for an' end to the Soviet blockade of Berlin: This possibility came in for. public: speculation today after.

the State department received word from American Ambassa-: dor W. B. Smith in Moscow that Soviet Foreign Minister. Molotov is away from his office "on vacation." Several possible next moves were forseen here on the basis of this information: 1.. Smith and the other western envoys may.

deal with Deputy Foreign Miniser Valaerin A. Zorin on preliminary arrangements. Ther may advise him officially that they want to talk with Molotov and perhaps top Soviet officials about the Berlin crisis. 2. If.

Zorin indicates that Molotov's absence will last more than a few days. they may ask for a I conference with Stalin'. Bold Plot to Seize Airliner in Sky Bared by Lone Survivor of Crash MACAO, July 30 (P) The lone survivor of a plane crash that took 25 lives confessed today that his robber gang caused the tragedy by trying. to seize the airliner, Police Commissioner Luis. M.

Paletti announced. unexpected opposition, the pirates excitedly shot the pilot and co-pilot of. the Cathay Pacific flying boat just after it had taken off July 16 on its regular 40-mile run from this Portuguese colony to Hong Kong. Their bodies jammed the controls and the plane fell into. the: sea.

Seven of the dead, including pilot Dale Cramer, were Americans. Closed July 26-31, 0. N. Sussel. Dental F.

M. Sussel, D. D. S. Office closed until July 31, inclusive.

Dr. Charles A. Baylor. Ripe, Red Southern Watermelons. Sam's Fruit Market, West High: St.

Quick Radio. Repairs. Call 3830. J. Fegely Son, 38.

High" St. No. office. hours 2 to 16. Dr.

A. Bernstein, 353 King. Look for Food Specials: -Market Ad, Page 7. Big Values! WPB MEMBER IMPLICATED BY WOMAN AGENT W. W.

Denies Claims Against Him; Will Testify Today WASHINGTON, July 50 (AP)-Elizabeth T. Bentley, who said she fell in love with a Communist: and became. a Russian spy, calmly unwound today a story of collective wartime military information from William W. Remington in the War Production She. appeared before the Senate investigating committee inquiring into reports of subversive persons holding responsible government jobs.

Remington Miss tonight said fatly that Bentley's, allegations are untrue. He told reporters that he will prove this tomorrow when. heap.pears before the committee which heard Miss Bentley's testimony. Remington is still on the government payroll but was placed on "indefinite from his Commerce: department post. more than a month ago.

MISS BENTLEY. 36. who said she was a 1930 graduate of Vassar college, said: she decided to: quit her Communist work- centering in New York and Washington 1944 and a year later went to the Federal Bureau of Investigation office in: New Haven; with her: She: said she went: to New Haven rather than Washington, because "after you have been doing work like- mine for'a a while, you begin to feel there are Russian spies in every rovernment; A Bentley said Communist party dues from Rem: ington as well as secret government information; but Che was. very about paying up. Also in: the course of afternoon testimony, "she told Senators: 1.

The Communists had a "contact" who worked at the White. House and notified them that the Americans at one time were about to or translate the Russian "The Russians were very excited and asked which I couldn't tell "them that; and neither. could our. She- contact was man." in 2. contact "at: least once" with someone in top.

execu-: tive offices. who helped pull strings. to have -party members moved to. (Continued on Page Three) 1948 Housing Costs Exceeding Estimates WASHINGTON, July 30 (P)-Gov-. ernment; agencies estimated today that housing construction costs this year.

will run: $1,100,000,000 over esti-103 mates made the past November. The Commerce and Labor departments. raised their joint calculation. of the total outlay from to said they didn't expect the bigger to increase the number of new. houses built: Mostly, they explained, the rise is due to "the fact that average construction cost of houses built this year.

is turning out to. be. stantially higher than expected" originally. They stood pat on their November estimate that 950,000 privately fi'nanced dwelling units will be started in 1948. That reflected belief that higher costs so far had not brought a in building plans.

Woman, 100, to Be Honored By State Medical Society food budgets, ping point, will be put under or early next Fall. Meat prices, which already highest points in history, are expected next few. months, the U. S. Department Supplies are.

expected to decline -and to reach: the year's lowest level in September. "As, meat supplies decrease," the are expected to further: department said in noreport, "prices Demand for meat is stronger than a year earlier because of higher wages and other The report held out: little hope for improvement in meat supplies before late 1949. It said cattle numbers are continuing a decline started in 1945. High: prices and shortages of feed grains- were, said to be factors causing. this downturn.

It: added, however, that a large corn. harvest this year would result Pottstown's oldest living resident, Mrs. Lena Reifsnyder, 7. Fifth, street, will be honored at 2. o'clock tomorrow afternoon with a plaque from the Medical Society of: the State: of.

Pennsylvania. Mrs. Reifsnyder, who will celebrate her 101st: birthday anniversary November 4, will be presented with the plaque by Dr. Edwin F. Tait, Norristown, chairman of the public relations committee of the Montgomery County Medical society.

Dr. Ralph. Merkel, Mrs. Reifsnyder's physisaid she health. been invited to the presentation: "She's in good shape," he remarked.

"I passed the other day and she waved to me from the porch." Born near Monocacy, Mrs. Reifsnyder came to: Pottstown -June 12, 1869. She is: one of four cenMrs. Lena Reifsnyder tenarians in Montgomery: county. The medical society, which is presenting plaques to all persons over 100 years old throughout the State, will observe its: 100th anniversary in October.

July Hot? Weatherman Terms It Just So-So pills, sat back yesterday that July was a But. Charles hindsight estimate into hat; when he predicted its normal 75.2" by only 8 degrees. With one day still said temperatures slightly. above normal. were six.

days, however, the mercury ranged degrees, according to ords. A top temperature for the month on July low of 58 being' set and. Monday morning quarter -backed Reading weatherman, knocked their Local. weather prophets, industriously sucking their, salt: Mrs. Charles W.

Sell Dies; Was Leader In Lady Reindeers Mrs. Charles. W. Sell, 44, of Beech street, a leader of Pottstown' lodge, Lady Reindeer, 'died last night at 6:48 o'clock at her home. President of the lodge, four years ago she had been nominated for.

the top office of noble grand a about two months ago. The day after the nomination was made, she 'became ill' and was forced to decline the honor. also was a. member of Tra Transfiguration Lutheran church and of its Fischer. Bible class, and a member of the Hilltop Social club.

The former Ida. S. Ziegenfuss, she was born in Washington township, Berks county. a daughter of Peter Ziegenfuss, New Berlinville; and the late Emma (Miller) Ziegenfuss. After, spending her girlhood in Berks.

Mrs. Sell came to Pottstown .23 years ago, when she was married. Surviving are her husband and two daughters, Ruth, wife of Joseph Monroe. and Miss Marian Sell, both of Beech street. Also surviving are two sisters, Minnie, wife of Eugene Reigner.

New Berlinville. and Mrs. Helen Kulp. 603 Water street; two brothers, Henry, of Red Lion, and Warren, of Fleetwood, and one granddaughter. Funeral arrangements, which are in charge of a funeral home at 112 North Washington street, were incomplete last night.

Hollywood Film Official To Marry Ida Lupino. SANTA MONICA, July (AP) Ida da Lupino, actress. and Collier Young, studio executive, obtained a. marriage license today. Young gave his age as 39, Miss Lupino as 30.

Stowe Quoit Club annual picnic. Aug. 1, at Hartenstine's Grove. No hours during August. S.

Nowacki. 884 High St. It's here! Empire Garden Tractor. advertisement on Page 11. Walt Shoe Hospital will be closed Aug.

2 to Open: Monday, Aug. 9. Stowe Quoit Club annual picnic, Aug. 1, at Grove. Look, for Food Specials.

Hartenstine's Market. 'Ad. Page 7. Big. Simmons Highway Mkt.

now. open. Fruits and vegetables. Rahn's: Hill. Lawn Mowers sharpened.

Call and deliver. Phone: 2599 15: E. 4th St. already stretched to the snapheavier: strain later: this Summer I have jumped to one of the to reach their peak within the of Agriculture said yesterday, further during the weeks ahead A in a sharp increase in next year's Spring. pig crop.

-A record corn crop has been forecast. But those animals would not be ready slaughter until late in the year. for. The Department said a normal Winter increase in pork supplies will come later this year than usual. Prospects of plentiful supplies of corn at lower prices are expected to lead farmers to.

feed their hogs longer in order to put more weight them, CIGARETS ON the retail market gone further up the inflation spiral. yesterday in Pottstown, but. all merchants were agreed that the price increase would go into effect early next week Announced several days ago by major producers, the increase will amount. to a cent per pack and about seven cents: a carton. spokesman for one local: wholesaler: Auchenbach and Son, 231 South street, last night reported that, prices on wholesale cigarets had been advanced 36 cents per thousand in the past two days, The boost affected products of the "big four" cigaret manufac American Tobacco, R.

Reynolds, and Myers and Lorillard companies. They are, the makers of Lucky Strike; Camel, Chesterfield and Old Gold, respectively, among many. other brands. The Auchenbach representative estimated that retail prices on the cigarets just effected at the ware house will go up sometime in the first three days of next week ELSEWHERE: THE dealers. were waiting to be told Thee Cole Tobacco company, 21 High street, one of the area's largest wholesale, with 300 to 400 retail outlets, had: instituted no price changes, wholesale.

or retail George: W. Fisher, treasurer of the company, said he had "heard nothing official about the increase" and would do nothing until he heard definitely. Fisher said the Cole company was: also one of the largest distributors of cigaret vending mai chines in the area but that no steps would be taken to change the machines to take quarters instead of20 cents until positive word on the necessity of the shift. was received. When the price change (goes into effect vending machines, ably: will have to receive quarters: and return four cents in the pack.

One tobacco clerk said he had encountered one machine in a small rural town recently which took quarters and returned only three cents with the pack THE HIGHEST PRICE: for a "regular brand" pack of cigarets in the area. yesterday was 21 cents and the lowest. was 19 cents. Chain drug stores chain REDS HINT BAN ON AIR TRAVEL Officials Believe Soviets May Close One or Two Air Corridors to Berlin: BERLIN, July 30 (P) American officials speculated tonight that the Russians might declare closed one or more of the three air corridors used: by U.S. and.

British flight planes. to fly supplies to blockaded Berlin. sian declaration barring flights, in One. responsible officer said: the Americans dies would ignore any Rusthe corridors. He declared: "We will just continue to fly supplies: in.

The only way can stop us is to shoot us down." The Russian licensed news. agency ADN said tonight the Russians are setting up. a special trade organization to provide fuel, raw. materials and power for industries in the city's blockaded western. sectors.

THE AGENCY said the organization would undertake to sell finFished products. to those industries in the Russian zone and in Eastern Europe through the Soviet-sponsored German Economic commission. The western powers already have announced they reject any such Russian offer. They labeled it an attempt. to incorporate Berlin" into the Russian three air corridors to the west were agreed upon in the four-power.

Allied control coun(Continued on Page Three) playground celebration honoring Joseph Lee, national founder. of playgrounds. A five-piece orchestra led by Chuck Fullmer provided the energetic twirlers with polkas, jitterbug jive and the slow and. easy stuff. About 200.

youngsters attended the dance; but most of them were girls. Leap Year didn't seem to bring out their courage, in view of the eligible male onlookers. Subdued lights, and gay decoraions of crepe paper and balloons didn't seem to develop male 'courage either. So, for the most part, girls danced with girls. The dancers.

hepped and from. '8 to: 11 o'clock. Dance committee for the affair was. composed of Henry Stofka, Raymond Meeker, Barbara Silver. Claire O'Such, Betty Levengood, and Robert Sheffey.

SEVERAL HUNDRED children assembled at Manatawny park morning for a day. of playground festivities. Sports activities. before: the hour resulted in Rupert members chalking points to become sports champions of the Manatawny playground members came in a' close second with 26 points. Marion Walters.

Manatawny leader, and Robert Sheffey, Jefferson leader, were in charge.of the sports games. They were assisted by Raymond Meeker, St. Clair playground assistant. Alice (Continued on Page Three) $20,000 Blaze Damages Reading Truck Body Plant READING. July 30 An estimated $20,000 damage was.

caused by a fire that destroyed the Williams and Arnold truck body works in Reading this afternoon. The fire started when. one.of the partners, Harold Arnold, was using a cutting torch without: realizing that combustible fluid was leaking from a nearby hydraulic pump. A $1100 payroll was believed at first. to have been lost, but Reading firemen, who fought for two hours, later recovered a charred package of bills containing part of the payroll.

Firemen were hampered in their efforts. by the setting off. through the intense heat, of 50,000 rivets containing a small explosive charge. Office closed until Aug, 2. Dr.

Maurice Wolf. "No office hours during month of. August. Dr. Harriet Stapp.

Keck's Barber Shop closed until Aug. 2. Office closed. until Aug. 2.

Dr. R. K. Karn, Optometrist, 30 N. Evans.

a cocked July would temperature to ro, Ling were only: There when above 90 the rec- later on. July. 8. Neither of extremes were record breakers. The all-time high for.

July was degrees registered on July 3. 1898, while the record low. of: 48. degrees was set the same year on July 11. SIX THUNDERSTORMS' clattered and banged during 11 days of in the On July 14, one accompanied by 1.23 inches rains of rain.

This was followed by a buster on July 23 when 2.06 inches of water poured down. were measured up. to July A total of. 4.89 inches of rain. It was .89 inches above the normal for the month; In the northern Pottstown rainfall was not quite as heavy (Continued on Page Three) of 94 was set 5, with a three days 8 Chicago Area Dairies Indicted By Grand Jury on Price Fixing CHICAGO, July.

30 (P)-A Federal; fluid milk customers in the Chi- grand jury which spent 10 months investigating. food costs today. indicted eight. Chicago area dairies and 13 of their officers on price fixing. charges.

The indictments. are the fifth I batch to be voted against dairies since the Justice department launched. a nation-wide drive to 'break up alleged price fixing combinations in food, clothing and housing. One of three indictments returned today: before Federal Judge Kohn P. Barnes charges the eight dairies and nine of.

their officials engaged in a seven-year. conspiracy "to allocate among themselves the wholesale Good Will dance. Saturday, Dan Garber. Sunday, Al Saboid. Look for Food Specials.

Hartenstine's Market Ad. 7. Values! Pie and Cake sales, July 31, from 7 a. at Zion's Ref. Church.

Dr. Robt. M. Barr, Bahr Arcade, rm 208, beginning Aug. 2.

All candy reduced at the Coral shop: Closing during August. Piano Instruction I Robert, E. Dppehimer. Phone 1761-M (Continued on Page. Three) $100 Damage Is Caused In Traffic Mishap Here: Damage estimated at almost $100 resulted from a collision between an automobile driven by Lloyd C.

Eschbach, 324 South Reading nue, Boyertown. and a parked car from which Wilfred E. Pickar. 40 East Fifth street, was emerging late yesterday afternoon at Hanover and King streets. No one was injured.

Eschbach i proceding toward High street when' he said Pickar opened the door of his- coach to alight. The The left door on Pickar's sedan accident followed. was smashed and the right rear. fender on the Eschbach vehicle. 1941 four-door sedan.

was dented. The right rear door was also thrown. out of line. Eschbach's father. Sam uel, same address, was with him in the front seat at the time of the' accident.

The survivor was Wong Yu, al Chinese, who suffered broken legs. COMMISSIONER PALETTI told a news conference today that Wong had signed an eight-page. confession describing the daring, fatal plot in detail. Quoting from the confession, Paletti gave this account: Chiu-Tok, a former pilot from Manilla, and a kinsman, Chin Yat Yeng, approached Wong and asked him if he was interested in "some work." Wong was: broke, he agreed. A third.

relative, Chiu Cheung, was brought into the scheme, and. (Continued on Page Three) Office re-open 2.: Dr. A. P. Leber, Collegeville.

Russian Orthodox picnic 2:30 p. Sendecki farm, Douglassville. Office closed July 31. until Aug. 8,1 inc.

Dr. Ernest H. Dengler. Stowe Quoit. Club annual picnic, Aug.

1, at Hartenstine's Grove. Office closed to 18. Dr. 'Ralph H. Merkel: Kitchen closed Monday and Tues'day, due to alterations.

The Pine. cago area." Charging vlolation of the Sherman Anti-Trust the indictment lists county, State and Federal institutions among the customers who allegedly. were conspired against in the Chicago area. One of the officers indicted. 0.

0. Smaha. of the Borden Dairy company, termed. the charges in the Sherman act indictment "untrue and He asserted the Borden company records would clearly show "the existence of a highly competitive situation." As to the charges of price discrimination, Smaha said: "It is obvious to anyone that a customer who buys one" hundred thousand parts in a given period should be charged 1 than one: who buys one thousand." Hookies. Members only.

Orchestra Saturday and Sunday evenings. Ten Brands. Frank A. Smith, Beer Phone 2205. Watches, Diamonds, Wedding Rings Levin's, High and Hanover streets.

Heat in Winter. Cool in, Summer. Mike Raymond, 358 Cherry. Ph. 2231 Assorted colors Rytex printed Stationery, Mercury Office.

June Elbertas Fringing Hill Orchard ON. THEMAIN DRAG HARBACS -looking for hard-shelled crabs in the springhouse, FAUL' NICHOLAS describing events. at the Lions club convention. MRS. NORRIS OTTINGER -trying to quiet: three barking BILL McCANN -wearing swimming trunks while washing his car.

'LUCILLE FREY -sporting. a broad grin as she hurries home. VIC SHANLEY -checking the tires on his automobile. SANDY MILLER -busily washing windows CLAIR SNELL' "Tittle BARBARA DANIELS -swinging on the front gate -displaying bright yellow BARNEY: REPKO: image serial: 4035113.