Casper Star-Tribune from Casper, Wyoming • 1

Wnhm mm Statewide Coverage Wyoming's Largest Every Day Pric 10 77TH YEAR NO. 92 osper, Wyoming Oil Capital of (he Rockies monday evening, aprii 1968 nno 4 ir UL With LBJ fiieimmedy Urges Meetin fofe Letsdsirs HHH Forced To Make Mis Mind Up Soon A re-Swansea Mimd Shodied decision to step down at the end of his current term. Recalled Kennedy Pledge 4 t- jr 7 He recalled the day 52 months ago when he assumed the presidency upon the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and he quoted from the late President's inaugural address that "This generation of Americans are willing to pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival of liberty." "we have kept that com pact," Johnson said, tears welling in his eyes. "I shall continue to keep it, whatever the trials and tests ahead, The strength of this country will the unity of our people." The President's decision was well kept secret from all but his most intimate associate Significantly, the only Cabinet member standing by in John son's White House office during the speech was Defense Secretary Clark M.

Clifford, a friend and advisor in since the Pres it. presidency, refused comment on President son's bowing out of the race. He planned a press conference early Monday (UPI Telephoto). New York MOBBED: Sen. Robert Kennedy (D-NY), is mobbed by youthful admirers as he arr rives at Kennedy International Airport late Sunday.

Kennedy, seeking the Democratic nomination for the ident's cngressional day. Johnson. Informed Humphrey of his decision not to run during a brief visit to the vice president's apartment shortly before Humphrey" departure Kennedy Scays Humphrey Must Make Up Own Mind it together in the interests of national unity." In a nationally televised and broadcast speech to the nation, the New York senator whom Johnson catapulted into a front-running position for the Democratic nomination noted that Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey had a "distinguished record" but would have to answer for himself on whether he was now a prospective Reserve The first call-ups are expected to come In the next three days, They will supply some of the 13,500 support forces which President Johnson said Sunday night he was sending to Viet nam to bring certain units to "maximum combat effective ness." In addition, officials disclosed, Overseas Employes Will De Cut Dock WASHINGTON (UPI) President Johnson announced Saturday a 12 per cent first-stage cutback of government employes overseas which he estimated would save up to $22 million a year. He told a news conference that additional reductions will be made later this year in every country except Vietnam.

A White House statement said that of 22 757 Americans now employed abroad, 2,779 and their families will be brought back to the United States under the program. Also, 3,177 of 26,293 foreign nationals em ployed by u.s. embassies win be let go. The White House statement said that 13 per cent of 2,800 Americans who are contract employes abroad will be returned to this country. 6 7 A S.

AY If Roncalio reiterated his com passion for President Johnson but added that he had received several calls Immediately after the announcement, some of them promising support for Bob Ken nedy's nomination drive. "A few calls came from unexpected sources," Roncalio said. "I hope to get some more." "I think it behooves every Wyoming citizen who wants to be active in politics to work for Bob Kennedy to assure that Wyoming will not only nominate a Kennedy but elect a Kennedy to the White House." (He was referring to the 1960 Democratic national con vention in Los Angeles when Wyoming gave the late President John Kennedy the nomination by throwing Its 22 delegate votes to the Massachusetts senator.) Roncalio said he would contin ue to devote "all his energies and efforts to the Kennedy cause." Since Bob Kennedy an nounced for the nomination, the Cheyenne lawyer has been work ing full-time for Kennedy. He has traveled to Indianapolis, Ind, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Nevada and is scheduled to go to Bill ings and other Montana cities Monday. "Wyoming ought to be whole hearted supporters of Bob Ken nedy because of the historic role the state had in the Kennedy cause in 1960," Roncalio said, "He is the best man, he has a charisma, a standing in the na tlon," he said.

He added that Bob Kennedy has a "huge organization" in Wyo ming, and named two prominent Democrats as active Kennedy workers: Don Anselmi in Rock Springs and widow of Walt Phelan of Chey enne, former Democratic state chairman. "It was a real surprise. "It's a little hard yet to as sess its affect. I don't think John son took himself out completely. I don't think he'll be against a draft if it comes.

Ha won't be doing much in the way of politi cal moves. (Continued on page 8) Viet Cong Launching Big Attacks SAIGON (UPI) Communist forces launched heavy attacks early Tuesday on a sprawling petroleum tank farm on Sal gon's southern outskirts in their second consecutive early morning raid. The attack came after a bombing pause of North Vietnam went into effect. U.S. officials "said two huge petroleum tanks were set ablaze and a third was in danger of igniting at Nha Be, about three miles south of the city.

Nha Be is the main fuel storage area for Saigon and surrounding provinces and is the site of a major port facility. The spokesman said two outposts at the tank farm came under heavy fire. Similar attacks were made before dawn Monday. American spokesman said U.S. planes, following the bombing pause ordered by Johnson, restricted their targets to supply dumps in North Vietnam's southern panhandle and lust above the Demilita rized Zone.

Slue By MERRIMAN SMITH UPI White House Reporter WASHINGTON (UPI)-Pres ident Johnson's "irrevocable" decision not to run for reelection today catapulted his second-in-command Vice Pres ident Hubert H. Humphrey into the forefront of White House contenders. The Chief Executive bomb shell announcement Sunday night, coupled with his order to halt immediately all but limited bombing of North Vietnam, lent an unprecedented authority to what he termed "this new step toward peace." Turning aside from personal ambition, the 59-year-old John son told an impromptu news conference after his 41-minute radio and television address: "I would hope that by what I die tonight, we can concentrate more of our energies on trying to bring about peace in the world and that we would have a better chance to do it." The initial reaction to his decision not to run, both at home and abroad, was stunned disbelief. Several prominent Democrats spoke of organizing a draft. "There Is no one else' who can handle the job of being president declared Rep.

Wright Patman, a friend for more than 40 years. Fulbright Applauds Action Sen. J. William Fulbright, D- an outspoken critic of the President's Vietnam policies termed Johnson "a great patriot." He said he thought the bombing halt and the President's decision not to run were hopeful gestures" toward peace, otner Vietnam "ooves' expressed similar sentiments. But politics takes no breather, and on the heels of their expressions of astonishment and tribute, the various presidential contenders immediately turned to assessments of their own chances now that Johnson had acted to remove himself from contention.

Former Vice President Rich' ard M. Nixon, the odds-on favorite in the Repubican presidential race, predicted that someone espousing the John son philosophy" would seek the Democratic nomination in the President's place. Sen. Eugene J. McCarthy, while praising Johnson as a man "who has given so many years of public service to his country, thought that the President's decision had en hanced his own chances for the White House.

The Chief Executive's eyes were red-rimmed and his voice appeared to break as he told the nation and the world of his Casper and Vicinity: Consider able cloudiness tonight andTues- day with a chance of showers mixed with snow tonight and in creasing Tuesday. Warmer to night; colder Tuesday. Stockmen should take necessary precautions. Low tonight, lower 30s; high Tuesday, near 50. Precipitation probability, 40 per cent tonight; 60 per cent Tuesday.

Sunset tonight, sunrise Tuesday, 5:47. Maximum wind Sunday, 24 mph with gusts to 29 mph; prevail lng direction, WSW. Mean tem perature, 39; departure from normal, plus three. Temperature at 11:30 a.m., 59. Surprise, shock, feelings of admiration, some doubt of mo tives, all of these capsuled the reaction of prominent Wyoming Democratic and Republican party leaders when the word came that President Johnson had apparently removed himself from the nomination.

Contacted in their homes Sun' day evening, these are the com' ments of a group of them: "I think he did it because be Is bigger than most of us have ever given him credit for. Pres ident Johnson wants history to record that he brought peace In his time." That was the reaction of former Congressman Teno Ron-calio of Cheyenne, the organizer of Kennedy for President forces in Wyoming. Roncalio, contacted by tele phone moments after President Johnson startled the world by announcing that he would not be a candidate, was as surprised and shocked as everyone in the nation. TENO RONCALIO Ex-Congressman Stocks Rise On Wall St. NEW YORK (UPI)-Wall Street responded enthusiastical ly today to de-escalation of the Vietnam War with prices climbing along a broad front in active trading.

Shortly after the opening bell. the United Press International stock market indicator jumped 1.41 per cent with 245 Issues crossing the tape. There were 195 advances and only 20 declines. Brokers said investors welcomed President Johnson's decision to halt virtually all bombing of North Vietnam in order to get peace talks started. Glamor stocks and blue chips shared the spotlight In the early and vigorous upswing.

Gains of a point or more were common throughout the list. Ford climbed l'i to 49 in the higher autos. U.S. Steel and Youngstown Sheet picked up franctions In the firm steel section. Oils were particularly strong.

Hess Oil climbed 2 to Califronal Standard, Royal Dutch Petroleum, Continental Oil and Mobil each rose more than a point. Collins radio advanced 2'z to 80 in the higher electronics. United Jumped 2'2 to 43'2 in the airlines. American picked up a point. a li for Mexico City early Sunday.

There seemed little doubt that, if Johnson chose to play the role of kingmaker at August's Democratic National Convention, it would be Hum phrey who would receive his blessing and considerable sup port. Kennedy Ties Strained Ever since that day in 1960 when John F. Kennedy decided to ask Johnson to be his running mate over the objections of his brother, Robert, relations between the two strong-willed men have been civil at best. Johnson's family was with him in the oval room office as he delivered his address. "I have concluded that I should not permit the presidency to become involved in the partisan division that are developing in this political year," Johnson said slowly and emphatically.

He wiped at his eyes and his forehead. "With America's sons in the field far away, with America's future under challenge here at home, with our hopes- and the world's hopes-for peace In the balance every day, I do not believe that I should devote an hour of my time to any personal partisan causes or to any duties other than the awesome duties of this office." Definite Statement "Accordingly, I shall not seek and will not accept the nomination of my party for another term as your Pres ident," he said. "Let men everywhere, however, know that strong, confident, vigilant America stands ready to seek an honorable peace and ready to defend an honored cause, whatever the price, whatever the burden, whatever the sacrifices duty may require." With a final "Good night and God bless all of you," the Chief Executive concluded his speech. The clock on the wall of the oval room read 9:41 p.m. (EST).

The President did not put any time limit on his partial bombing halt. NEW YORK (UPI) Sen. Rob- ert Kennedy congratulat ed President Johnson today on his "magnanimous" decision to withdraw from the presidential race and urged a meeting "to discuss how we might work Two Women Are Freed By Viet Cong SAIGON (UPI)-The Commu nists released two American women today 52 days after their capture during the battle for Hue. A U.S. mission spokesman said Dr.

Marjorle Nelson, 29, of Kokomo, and Sandra Johnson, 25, of Clio, had been freed near Hue and "are now in A merican hands." The spokesman would not disclose where the two women were, but said they were undergoing physical examina- tions and appeared to be in good health. Hanoi's Vietnam news agency said Sunday that the two women would be released but did not say how or where. Their release follows by three days the repatriation of three North Vietnamese seamen captured by the U.S. Navy off North Vietnam in July 1966, a move the United States hoped would prompt further releases of A merican pilots by the Hanoi government. THE OLD Oh no! Not him! 55 Kennedy said he believed the cause of peace could be furthered by de-escalation and "negotiations with reference to his belief that peace will not be achieved until the Viet Cong is invited to the peace table.

He said however that it was an "obviously critical time" and thus an inappropriate moment for him to comment in detail on the President's announcement. Slated tnem would come from our active forces." It will be the fourth call-up of selected reservists since the Korean war. Defense officials also made these points: The ceiling on the number of U. S. troops to be sent to Vietnam is now 549,500.

No time limit has been set on Johnson's new order of a halt in bombing of North Vietnam which he announced Sunday night, -The Joint Chiefs of Staff supported the bombing halt. Render Trial Opens Today CHICAGO (UPI)-The trial of James E. Render, accused In the beating death of a Cheyenne, attorney, was to open today in Cook County Criminal Court in Chicago. Render is accused of killing Carlton Lathrop 67, who was found beaten and dying near a West Side housing project Jan. 7, 1967.

Lathrop died Jan. 16 in a Chicago hospital. Lathrop's wife, Marie, 64, died of a heart attack after flying to Chicago to be at her husband's hospital bedside. presidential nominee. Kennedy was in a serious mood as he faced microphones and television cameras just 12 hours after the President dropped his political bombshell in Washington.

The senator concentrated on the internation al repercussions of the President's decision to de-escalate the Vietnamese War in an effort to bring North Vietnam to the peace table. Call-Up some U. S. marines recently sent to Vietnam on an emer gency basis are expected to be returned to this country and they will be replaced by some Army reservists to be called up for combat duty. On top of all this, authorita tive sources said, the Pentagon is studying plans to replenish the pool of active forces In the United States with a reserve call-up of up to 50,000 men.

These men would not be sent to Vietnam. They would remain in the United States. Johnson said Sunday night the Joint Chiefs of Staff had recommended an additional 13,500 support troops be sent to Vietnam, and that some of Westmoreland Holds His Last Briefing NHA TRANG, Vietnam "(UPI) -Gen. William C. Westmoreland, commander of U.S.

forces In Vietnam, Sunday held what could be his last meeting with his field commanders. Westmoreland flew to this coastal city to be briefed by commanders of four corps areas of South Vietnam. Westmoreland has been' pro moted to chief of staff of the UjS. Army. Envelope.

Drive Ends Tonight.