Statesman Journal from Salem, Oregon • Page 1

$500,000 Blast, Blaze Level Newspaper, 2 Firms at Dallas X. Si: jj-? itMm I S. ZSF. wT till 120th Year 4 SECTIONS-48 PAGES PRICE 10c The Oregon Statesman, Salem, Oregon, Thursday, November 12, 1970 Gas Gets Blame for Explosion By DANIEL W. DAVIES Statesman Regional Editor DALLAS, Ore.

An explosion and fire destroyed the weekly newspaper and two adjoining businesses in downtown Dallas early Wednesday, causing damage estimated at upwards of $500,000. There were no injuries, although windows were shattered a block" away and residents living as much as a mile from the scene reported hearing the 12:50 a.m. explosion. Cause was attributed to a gas leak in the building housing the Polk County Itemizer Observer on Court Street west of City Hall. Also destroyed were Woods Insurance Agency and a thrift shop operated by Polk County Association for Retarded Children.

Worked Two Hours Dallas Fire Chief Jack Stein said nearly four dozen men and equipment from Dallas, Rick-reall and Monmouth worked two hours to bring the blaze under control. Authorities termed it a near miracle that there were no injuries. Dallas police officer Mike Perkins had called for a gas crew and left the scene only a minute or so before the blast, after confirming a report from a passerby that there was a strong smell of gas in the area. Mrs. Gwen Van Den Bosch, editor of the Itemizer and wife of Dallas Mayor R.

I. Van Den Bosch, was working in the building until about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday Often in Building "It was the earliest I've ever left (on a Tuesday)," she said Wednesday. She's often in the building preparing copy until 3 a.m. on Wednesdays, publication day, she noted.

In addition to its own per the Itemizer plant printed more than a dozen other publi-cations including three other mid-Willamette Valley weeklies the a Mail, Silverton Appeal and the Independence Enterprise-Monmouth Herald. Al Cosovich, newspaper business a a said all four weeklies are being printed this week at the Albany Democrat-Herald plant and printing arrangements will be made for "all our customers until we're back in business." Temporary newspaper offices are being set up in the former Coast To Coast Store building at 617 Mill St. (Additional details, picture on page 5.) Must Be Voted by Locals Sen. Kennedy May Nxon Arrives tor De Gaulle's Funeral Face Fight for Job bargainer, said the new contract was inflationary by the standard definition of the word, but added that this was the pattern today in labor contracts. Details of the contract were withheld until it is presented to the union's 350-member GM council, which must okay the pact before it is passed on to the membership for ratification.

The council met at 1 p.m. Wednesday to look at the contract, but the meeting was adjourned until 9:30 a.m. Thursday to give union officials more time to write up an explanation of the offer. (Additional details on page 44, picture on page 39.) By A. F.

MAHAN DETROIT (AP) The United Auto Workers and General Motors reached a tentative agreement Wednesday on a new three-year labor contract which could set the strike-crippled auto giant moving towards full production by the end of the month. Ratification of the national contract by 394,000 GM workers and the settlement of outstanding U.S. local contracts still stand in the way of a full resumption of car and truck output by the world's largest automaker. Earl R. Bramblett, GM's vice president for personnel and top now developing against him is that while he has enjoyed the prestige of the job, he has neglected its practical duties, such as filling in for the Democratic leader in his absence, making nose counts on legislation, and making sure that Democrats are present on crucial votes.

Byrd, who as secretary of the Democratic Conference holds the No. 3 spot, is keeping his counsel for the moment but significantly is not ruling out a challenge to Kennedy. Through a spokesman, Byrd took the position that it was premature to speculate on whether he would run for the whip post until after Congress completes its post election session that begins next Monday. Now that he has renounced his presidential ambitions for 1972, Kennedy can no longer command the support that flows to a likely presidential candidate. Since the June, 1969, accident at Chappaquiddick in which a young secretary died, he has also lost some of the asset of being able to promise political support to Senate colleagues up for re-election.

By JOHN W. FINNEY (C) 1970 New York Times Newt Service WASHINGTON Sen. Edward M. Kennedy is approaching another possible crisis in his political career this time over holding his job as assistant Democratic leader of the Senate. When the new Congress convenes in January, it appears likely that Sen.

Robert Byrd of West Virginia, a conservative Democrat, will challenge Kennedy for the No. 2 post in the Senate Democratic hierarchy. Some Kennedy associates are fearful, if uch a fight occurs, that the Massachu-getts Democrat could lose the whip post that he wrested from the Southern Democrats in 1969. Kennedy has made no secret of his desire to keep the whip post and thus retain his leadership standing in the Democratic party. As whip, Kennedy is included in the leadership councils of the Democratic party in the Senate.

But one of the complaints Day Passes Without Yank Death in Battle No. 230 Accompanied by Secretary of State William P. Rogers and key advisers, Nixon was leading the American delegation to the state memorial Mass later in the day in the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Nixon brought with him from Washington De Gaulle's 22-year-old grandson and namesake, who is taking an on-the-job training course with a New York City accounting firm. Nixon and De Gaulle enjoyed warm personal relations at a time when the then President of France was feuding "with leaders of the United States.

NEW YORK (AP) -The television networks will devote extensive live coverage by satellite to the funeral ceremonies and burial of Charles de Gaulle Thursday. NBC. will begin at 1:30 a.m. PST. The NBC "Today" show will be expanded from 4 to 7 a.m.

The CBS coverage will run from 4 to 7:30 a.m. ABC will be on the air from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. (Stories also on page 21.) Rain Going, Bllt Cold, -wvrivi, sm rog coming "ain on the decrease for the Mid Willamette Valley, McNary Field weathermen say, but fog and cold temperatures are expected to move in. Today's chance of rain dropped to 30 per cent from Tuesday's 90 per cent. Exten- sive late night and early morn- ing fog is expected in the Valley through Friday.

Tonight's low should be 32 degrees and to- day's high 55. The chance of rain tonight and Friday is near zero. Port Job Filled, Transportation Chief Named George M. Baldwin, general manager of the Port of Portland, has been appointed director of the State Department of Transportation, succeeding John M. Fulton whose resignation was announced Wednesday by Gov.

Tom McCall. Fulton, 66, was the first director of the department formed by the last legislature. His resignation is effective Dec. 31. He is leaving the job for a position on the new nine-member Port of Portland Commission, established through voter approval last week of the merger of Port of Portland and the Commission of Public Docks.

Fulton was chairman of the Public Dock Commission before taking on the state job. The new commission's membership is based on four appointments each by Gov. McCall and Portland Mayor Terry Schrunk. The ninth position which is Fulton's, is a joint appointment. Selection of the other eight members of the new commission will be announced today.

McCall said Baldwin, 59, will be responsible for development of the state's aviation, maritime and land transportation capabilities including meeting needs for improved mass transportation. (Picture on page 2.) Today's Chuckle An elevator man grew weary of being asked the time of day, so he hung a clock in his elevator. Now everybody asks him: "Is that clock right?" PARIS (AP) President Nixon, arriving in Paris early Thursday to pay a final tribute to Charles de Gaulle, said the general's wisdom "has been of great benefit to me in the decisions I have made in the past and it will continue to be a benefit to me." Like many of the world leaders here for the memorial service, Nixon briefly paid his respects to a large portrait of De Gaulle, draped in black ribbon, hanging on the wall of Orly airport's Salon of Honor. In an impromptu speech, Nixon conveyed to the people of France, "and more particularly to Madame de Gaulle," the condolences of the American people. Nixon described De Gaulle as one of the four great Western leaders of World War II and the postwar years, linking him with Britain's Sir Winston Churchill, Dwight D.

Eisenhower of the United States and Konrad Adenauer of West Germany. Good Morning! Today In The Statesman Page Sec. Ann Landers 38 III Classified 44-47IV comics 3s in Crossword 38 III Editorials 4 I Food News 25, 28-35111 Market, Business 22 II Medical Talk 5 I Obituaries 12 I 44IV Panorama 25-27 III Publie Notices 44 IV OS 38 III Sports 17-19 II Star Gazer 38 III TV-Radio 38 111 Valley News 4 1-43 IV Wirephoto 39 III California-to-Rome Jet Hijacker Given 7 Years ROME (AP) Raphael Minichiello, Marine who commandeered a jet liner from California to Rome in the world's longest air hijacking, was convicted by an. Italian court Wednesday night of kidnaping, assault and illegal weapons charges. He was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison.

A three-judge court returned the verdict after deliberating three hours and 48 minutes. SAIGON (AP) For the fifth time in as many months no American combat deaths were reported throughout Vietnam in the past 24 hours, the U.S. Command said Wednesday. A communique of battlefield activity listed only one incident in which there were any American casualties. A mine blew up a vehicle south of Da Nang and wounded five.

The number of Americans Woman Has 32nd Child BRINDISI, Italy (AP) Maria Addolorata Casalini, 41, gave birth to her 32nd child Wednesday. Doctors reported mother and baby, a girl weighing 6.6 pounds, were in good condition. Fifteen of the 32 children survive. The father, Pietro, 41, is a farm laborer. Mrs.

Casalini has had twins, triplets and two sets of killed in action has declined sharply since January, but the total battlefield deaths during the year have averaged slightly more than 12 a day. In its Thursday morning briefing, the U.S. Command reported no ground action involving American troops. A spokesman said a U.S. Army helicopter was shot down by enemy ground fire 80 miles southwest of Saigon the helicopter loss of the war but reported no casualties in the crash.

Ground action involving South Vietnamese forces was reported light and scattered. Hundreds of U.S. planes pounded suspected North Vietnamese positions north of fhe embattled Cambodian provincial capital of Kompong Cham and supply routes along a 300-mile stretch of territory in Laos and Cambodia. Between 300 and 400 fighter-bombers and B52 strategic bombers were involved in the raids aimed mainly at slowing the flow of North Vietnamese reinforcements and supplies. jtr a ufhui 1 "IN, reft '--iA tt.

Two Inch Up Yosemife Peak YO SEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) Two climbers inched up an agonizing 100 feet Wednesday in their weather-plagued three-week long effort to forge a new route up the mammoth southeast face of El Capitan, granite peak towering more than 3,000 feet over the Yosemite Valley floor. Amid talk of possible rescue efforts, the climbers shouted down that they were down to a "bare minimum" of food and did not expect to reach the top until Tuesday. But there was no plea for assistance from the pair, Warren Harding, 46, a construction worker from West Sacramento, and Dean Caldwell of Portland, Ore. Dave Hanna, an official of Yosemite Lodge, said Harding and Caldwell were at the level with 1,100 feet of serious climbing ahead of them.

The weather outlook was not promising, with light rain falling in the valley Wednesday evening. Bad weather has caused several long days in the climbing effort. (Additional details on page 13.) Blood Drawing Will Be Today An American Red Cross blood drawing originally advertised for Wednesday, will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at Chemeketa Community College in northeast Salem.

The public drawing is sponsored by Salem chapter of Oregon School Employes Association under the direction of Willamette chapter, Red Cross. The prosecution had asked that the 21-year-old Minichiello be sentenced to six years and five months on charges stemming from the piracy of a Transworld airliner one year ago. At the time of the hijacking Nov. 1 of last year, the Italian-born Minichiello said his aim was to see his father who since has died. After arriving at Rome, he abducted the airport police chief and fled with him to the hills of Rome, where he was captured.

Minichiello claimed during the trial that he pirated the aircraft because he could not get a fair trial in the United States on charges of burglary from a U.S. military installation. Minichiello said he took $200 worth of goods from a post exchange because the U.S. military owed him that much back pay for service in Vietnam. Minichiello was formerly from Seattle, Wash.

Coward in Hospital LONDON (AP) Sir Noel Coward, 70-year-old dean of England's theater, was admitted to a hospital Wednesday with pleurisy. The Weather Forecast: Partly cloudy with scattered showers today. Fair but with extensive late night and early morning fog through Friday. High both days 55, low tonight 32. (Complete report oa page 2.) Road Crews to Blow Up Whale Near Florence FLORENCE (AP) A state Highway Division crew plans to blow up the remains of a 45-foot Pacific gray whale near here Thursday.

The whale, which weighs about eight tons, washed up on the beach Monday about a mile south of the Siuslaw River. People who have smelled it say it has been dead for sometime. The State Highway Division, which has responsibility for care of the ocean beaches, was made aware of the problem Tuesday when Bill O'Conner, Port of Siuslaw manager, called the district maintenance office in Eugene. It took highway officials all day to figure out what to do with the whale. It's been so many years since one washed up in Lane County that nobody remembers what has been done in the past.

The highway people decided to- blow up the whale. Charges will be placed under the body and detonated. When the carcass is blasted into small pieces, the seagulls and other scavengers will clean up the beach in a matter of days. At least that's what the State Highway Division hopes will happen. Valley Man Killed The body of George C.

Martin, Hubbard, was found Wednesday on a highway near Malta, Idaho, after he apparently was killed in a hit-and-run auto accident Saturday. Martin lived most of the year at the Blaine Wight ranch at Malta, where he had worked as a ranch and farm hand for 14 years. He lived winters in Hubbard and Salem. (Obituary on page 12.) NMMmw a. sssmajua.

i w.v, v.v.v.v.vaoX':.:-:''Mo':':'wsf. Trihuto fn VnfArnnc McNary High School band turns on i riDure ro vererans some marching musjc it moved south down rain-slickened High Street to the Elsinore Theater Wednesday for Veterans Day observances, sponsored by the Federation of Patriotic Orders. The band played at the Marion County Courthouse lawn and then led patriotic groups to the theater for a one-hour tribute to veterans, past and present. (Statesman photo by John rick-sen) (Inside stories and photos on pages 2, 3, 12 and 37.) i i i.