Star Tribune from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page 6

MINNEAPOLIS TRIBUNE Sept. 13, 1967 LADIE LETTERS: Sly Whispers Led to Executions Continued From Page One women who claim to be civilized fail to see it. The Chinese Communists say are Marxists. Yet they believe that it is not merely feasible, but necessary, for human beings to destroy one another. w.

1 i WW, booklet shows you how you can cut cleaning time with flameless electric heat Mm- Evil and insanity are on one side of the scale; intelligence, progress, brotherhood and humaneness on the other. World peace hangs in this hellish balance. So do we, our generation, our children, the era itself. We must all of us have faith in the power of decency and goodwill. It seems to me that in our time faith in God is the same thing as faith in good and the ultimate triumph of good over evil.

By the time I was 35 and had seen something of life, who'd been taught from earliest childhood by society and my family to be an atheist and materialist, was already one of those who cannot live without God. I am glad that it is so. Alexander Svanidze, the brother of my father's first wife, was three years younger than my father and one of the early Georgian Bolsheviks. Uncle Alexander was handsome in the way that people from the mountain region of Svanetia are. He was well dressed to the point of being a dandy.

Do you think it odd that I talk all the time about everybody being beautiful or handsome? It was a different age people really were good-looking then. My Uncle Alexander was an educated Marxist of the old school. He quickly became the first people's commissar of finance and a member of the party's central committee in Georgia. He married Maria, who had been educated in St. Petersburg and at the music conservatory in Tiflis and was a singer with the Tiflis opera.

Aunt Maria was very beautiful. She was from a wealthy Jewish family, the Korons, who were of Spanish extraction. She was a big woman, good-natured and well dressed, and she always wore good perfume. I remember their coming to Zubalovo. They lived in a wing of Zubalovo and they'd come over to our house on foot.

Zubalovo was always full of people, a revolving vacation retreat. Mikoyan's sons, Gamarnik's daughter, the sons and daughters of Voroshilov and Shaposhnikov all have memories of this happy, hospitable place. They had movies there, early silent ones and occasionally talkies. There was a tennis court. There was even a Russian bath for those who liked it, including my father.

The Svanidzes had a son with the peculiar name of Johnreed, in honor of the famous American journalist. When he was little we all called him Johnny or Johnik, but now he's Ivan Alexandrovich. Uncle Alexander had ideas about Johnik's upbringing. One he found that Johnik had shoved his kitten into the fireplace and singed it. He grabbed his son by the hand, dragged him to the-fireplace and thrust his hand into the flames.

The little boy howled with pain. My uncle then told him that "It hurt kitty, too!" Aunt Maria didn't spend so much time with her son. She spoiled him and turned him wholly over to the nurse. Beloved Uncle Turns Enemy' My father loved both of them, especially Uncle Alexander, and treated them like real members of the familv. Did they have their differences when it came to politics? I don't know the facts.

I'm sure it never entered his head to suspect them of being covert "enemies of the people" or personal enemies of his, two things that later, unfortunately, came to mean one and the same thing. Redens was arrested in 1937. Thas was the first blow. Soon afterward both the Svanidzes were arrested. How could my father do it? The only thing I know is that it couldn't have been his idea.

But if a skillful flatterer, such as Beria, whispered slyly in his ear that "these people are against you," that there was "compromising materiar and "dangerous connections," such as trips abroad, my father was capable of believing it. His opinion of people could be manipulated. It became possible to insinuate that so-and-so had turned out to be "no good," even though he'd been well thought of for years. "Actually, he's an enemy. He's been saying bad things about you; he opposes you.

and have given evidence against him." What my father didn't want to realize was that in the cellars of the secret police, and could be made to testify to anything. And when the "facts" convinced my father that someone he knew well had turned out "badly" after all, a psychological metamorphosis came over him. This was where his cruel, implacable nature showed itself. The past ceased to exist for him. He could wipe it all out at a stroke, and would be doomed.

"So, you've betrayed me," some inner demon would whisper. "I don't even know you any more." In his coldblooded way, he cared about only one thing. How is conducting himself now? Does he admit his mistakes? My father was astonishingly helpless before Beria's machinations. All Beria had to do was bring him the record of the interrogation in which "confessed," or others "confessed" for him or, worse yet, refused to "confess." Uncle Alexander held out. He refused to "confess" or "ask forgiveness." He refused, in other words, to write letters appealing to my father.

He was shot jn February 1942, at the age of 60. In 1942 a great many people in camps were shot, though they might have been sentenced only to exile, hard labor and long prison terms. I've no idea why this happened, whether it was the way the war was going or whether Beria had simply made up his mind to get rid of those who knew about his crimes and had no trouble talking my father into it. When the sentence that had been carried out against Uncle Alexander was read to my Aunt Maria, she dropped dead of a heart THURSDAY': Svetlana's mother commits xuieide in the Kremlin after argument with Stalin. 5 OH iiiiimVi- WaNMt: Nifcfc.

Mill I ilW SVETLANA SHOUTD OFF DAUGHTER Yckaterina Zhdannva about 1950 T'his easy'toread, 12'page illustrated booklet gives you all the facts onthe most modern form of heat electric. You'll see advantages in decorating, comfort, cleaning, low cost and Text of Jury's Report on City's Riots mms jm f-. i a I lots more. For your free copy, call NSP or mail this coupon today. more "beat men" in certain areas be supplied to re-establish the rapport between the people and the authorities that has practically disappeared.

We believe that the intended purpose of The Way is good. We believe that all staff members of The Way should be of the highest character, honesty and integrity. Should this establishment continue to show negative results in rehabilitating the hoodlum element, it either should be discontinued or its leadership changed. There is fear at the present time that many of the criminals they are attempting to help are taking advantage (of), assuming too much power (at) and actually using this establishment as their headquarters. We suggest the police and the Board of Directors continue to keep a watchful eye on this problem.

HANDGUN REGULATION We also recommend that a law be enacted controlling the carrying of handguns in public places. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS We strongly recommend that the laws of this community be rigidly and impartially enforced. Electric Home Heating Specialist Northern States Power Company 414 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minn. 55401 Phones 330-5791 Dear Sir: Please rush me my free copy of your 1 2-pag electric heat information booklet. Thank you.

Name Following is the text of the Hennepin County Grand Jury's report titled "Minneapolis Riots." On July 19, 1967, racially connected disturbances commenced as the Minneapolis Aquatennial Night Parade terminated on 2nd Av. between 4th and 5th Sts. in downtown Minneapolis. Minor violence and arson continued in several sections of the city, but mainly on the near North Side, along Plymouth Av. The mayor of Minneapolis requested and was granted the activation of the Minnesota National Guard by the governor.

There was no further violence during the period of their presence from July 21, until they were deactivated on July 25. Upon their leaving, another business on Plymouth Av. was burned and other minor attempted burning incidents occurred through July 31. The grand jury investigated this matter very thoroughly and heard numerous witnesses from many walks of life and racial origins. Our purpose: (1) To determine the identification of individuals who actually perpetrated the specific crimes involved.

(2) To determine whether or not there was a conspiracy involved, especially with outside influence. (3) To determine whether or not the Hennepin County Grand Jury could make some constructive suggestions that would be helpful in the future in like matters. As a result of the entire situation, including the police investigation, 29 arrests were made for minor violations. These persons were turned over to the proper authorities for legal action. There were two nonfatal shooting incidents that did not seem to be part of the "riots," but as a result of arguments between private citizens.

In one case, a charge of assault was brought and in the other case, the Grand Jury brought in a "no bill," based upon self-defense. In that case, each had a gun in his hand, and according to witnesses, the victim was the first to pull his weapon. Address. City GLOSSARY State. Zip.

Phone. NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY 240 New York Times Service GAMARNIK, YAN BORISOVICH: (1894-1937); Bolshevik military leader, chief political commissar of Red Army; committed suicide during 1937 purge. GULIA: Daughter of Yakov, Stalin's older son. JOSEF: Svetlana Alliluyeva's son from her marriage to Grigory I. Morozov; born 1945.

KATYA: Pet name for Yekaterina, Svetlana Alliluyeva's daughter from her marriage to Yuri A. Zhdanov; born 1950. MIKOYAN, ANASTAS Stalin's commissar for food industry in 1930s. SHAPOSHNIKOV, BORIS A deputy chief of staff of Red Army in 1930s. SVANETIA: Mountain region of Georgia.

SVANIDZE, ALEXANDER Stalin's brother-in-law by his first wife; a high banking official; died in the purges. SVANIDZE, IVAN A. (JOHNREED, JOHNIK): Son of Alexander and Maria Svanidze. SVANIDZE, MARIA: Alexander's wife; died 1942. VOROSHILOV, KLIMENT Stalin's commissar for defense in 1930s.

YAKOV: Stalin's older son by his first marriage. ZHDANOV, YURI Svetlana Alliluyeva's second husband. 'ZUBALOVO: Name of Stalin's country house In western suburb of Moscow. No Police Brutality The grand jury foreman was Harold Van Every, 2700 W. 54th an insurance agent.

The secretary was Betty Ireland, 4005 Sunnyside Edina, secretary to the chairman of the board of the Pillsbury Co. Other members were: Mrs. Stella Wallace, 260 Emerald Av. wife of Glen Wallace, executive director of the Minneapolis Capital Long-Range Improvements Committee; George B. Medvec, 5053 36th Av.

retired; Mrs. L. J. Gleason, 234 Yosemite Circle, Golden Valley, wife of the president of L. J.

Gleason Realty Mrs. Lillian Lundell, 2807 NE. Garfield wife of Wilbur H. Lundell, Henry High School teacher; Mrs. Ruth Deardorff, Shorewood; Thomas H.

Gallagher, 4113 20th Av. Coca-Cola Co. salesman; Dirk DeVries, Hermitage Way, Minnetonka, Intech, engineer; Cyrus S. Peterson, Deephaven, vice-president of Branson Shoe Lawrence Knutson, 1319 Spring Valley Road, Golden Valley, business agent, Carpenters Local Emmet Cushing, 5641 27th Av. president, Amalgamated Transit Union; Roy E.

Curwen, 909 W. 44th insurance agent; Robert G. Bennett, 5612 Concord Edina, president of A. H. Bennett Robert Smith, 4051 Boone Av.

New Hope, secretary-treasurer, Teamsters Local 638; Don Archer, 2523 15th Av. secretary-treasurer, Taxicab Driver's Local 958 of the Teamsters Union; George Acko, 1947 NE. Cleveland Pillsbury Elementary School teacher; Mrs. Gerald Mullin, 4314 Xerxes Av. wife of the retired president of Minneapolis Gas Mel Grevich, Long Lake, building contractor; C.

Judd Ringer, Crosby Road, Wayzata, president of Judd Ringer Frank H. Smith, 719 SE. 5th research fellow at the University of Minnesota; C. W. Britizius, Deephaven, president, Twin City Testing Service; C.

R. Bjornson, 3216 Georgia Av. St. Louis Park, retired. raM.r fs Explore the wonderful world next door! A Quality Instrument Is Essential for Your Child's Success in the School Band! DISCOVER AMERICA I "'-AU-; 1 I ft iMjljlTiiilfM -Mrff-riltilfff- There was an estimated $375,000 fire loss.

Almost without exception, the fires were started by crudely made "molotov cocktails." The fire loss would have been greater except for the fact that most of these devices were ineffective. Fear or complicity prevented eyewitnesss from coming forth to pinpoint the blame of the actual throwing of these fire bombs. There were no fatalities. No weapons were fired by the authorities, and there was no evidence of so-called "police brutality." In fact, we wish to compliment the Minneapolis and St. Paul Fire Departments, the National Guard and especially the Minneapolis Police Department for their restraint and effectiveness.

For about a week before July 19, there was rumor upon rumor that violence would occur in rriany places and in many forms. Except for the fact that several St. Paul youths were arrested for minor offenses during this period, there was no evidence of either outside influence or of an actual conspiracy. It appears that even the St. Paul participants were attracted by the widespread rumors and by the fact that all were aware of the rioting in so many other cities.

It is also true that those participating in the actual violence numbered less than 25 persons. The rest appeared to be observers. We think it fair to say that more than 99 per cent of the Negro people in our area abhor this violence. The Way Investigated Because many of those alleged to have participated in the violence appear to be connected with The Way, a community center located at 1913 Plymouth Av. established on Sept.

8, 1966, as a direct result of the violence of that summer, this establishment came under severe criticism in testimony before us, especially by the Negro people themselves. Most of the Negro community wants it known that those persons connected with The Way do not speak for them. This matter was gone into quite thoroughly and those who established and operate this organization were called upon to give testimony before us. They testified that they do not purport to speak for the Negro community and that they have established this center in an attempt to reach the real troublemakers, for it is those few troublemakers who have caused and can cause this extensive damage. They are trying to reach the almost "unreachables" and they therefore will naturally have many so-called "hoodlums" associated with their establishment.

In spite of much information received, we have found no factual evidence that The Way, even though in the center of the damaged area and the violence, assisted in causing these riots. More Police Recommended We have studied and heard testimony concerning the "Outline of Special Message on Human Relations by Mayor Arthur Naftalin to the City Council" and "A Report by the Minneapolis City Council's Commission on Human Development to the City Council and to the People of Minneapolis" submitted by its chairman, Raymond Plank. We suggest that the combined recommendations be studied and instituted just as soon as humanly possible and practical. We recommend that the Minneapolis Police Department be expanded and better paid. We recommend that CLOSE-I01IW Will 'ymftlM-i' mtntt an.

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