Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 3

PART 1 PAGE 3. ACCEPT LESSONS AMERICA COMES TO LIFE IN SONG DOLLAR FIDDLER TURNS TO NEWS, BUT PENS SONGS Sketches of Winners in W-G-N Quest for Great American Operetta OF MODERN WAR: IN W-G-N QUEST COL. Pick Composers of 3 Best Operettas. CHICAGO SUNDAY TRIBUNE: FEBRUARY 22, 1042. CORMCK Continued from first page.

Cooper's Latest Heard on W-G-N Program. v' -v: v- Lll U- t'JtJl V'x ') -V" I 1 1 JU1L 1 1 LrkOi: LEE ARMENTROUT FENTON LEE if America danger lies mostly In the presence of those leaders who still are reluctant to accept the lessons of Tat-irra war, CoL Robert R. McCor mick. editor and publisher of The TluBnrE, said last night in an address delivered during the Chicago Theater ef the Air over W-G-N and the Mu tual network. It was this group, immersed in out moded theories of combat, which pre vented until recently top priorities being given to the construction of -air craft, CoL McCormick said.

The considerable criticism directed at American and British naval authorities recently might that they are the only men who have been remiss in the application of new techniques. Such is not the case, however. CoL McCormick said. The same reactionary spirit has meant death to many in commercial fields, be pointed out. "Original men, he said, "are very rare, while men who can do the old thine well are numerous.

TEXT OF ADDRESS The text of CoL McCormlck's ad dress follows "So much criticism is being piled tipon American and British officers ior not taking up airpiane as give the impression that they are less enngntenea ana more oosunaie than other people, me recora, now- ever, does cot bear out tnis casti- gation. When the railroad was Invented, the rich and highly profitable stage- coach companies did not adopt steam or rails. Their operators could not accommodate themselves to the nov-1 elry and failed. When motor trucks and airplanes came, the railroads, in turn, did not adopt them and for a long time made SSSSVSS ZZ Tells Peril to Nation They Are Rejected. I ROSS HASTINGS Ross Hastings and his wife, Louise, who helped him write the libretto for hit $1,000 prize winning operetta.

are the kind of people who would name a daughter Verdi. They are opera enthusiasts and their greatest love is reserved for the Italian composer. Their own Verdi is 3 years old. Ross Hastings was born 27 years ago in Los Angeles, the son of the late Chicago organist, Ray Hastings. From earliest childhood Ross was Immersed in music.

He played the piano at 4. Deeply steeped as he is in music, Hastings earns his living as office manager of an upholstery fabric company. And he doubles as an usher In a Los Angeles theater at night. Despite the long hours which these two jobs entail, Hastings and his wife found the time in the last several months to compose a prize winning operetta. Hastings greatest admiration 'is for opera, but he also enjoys the symphony.

Brahms and Schubert are his favorite composers in this field. The Hastings live at 1843 West 71st street, Los Angeles. They also have a son, Stephen, who is a year old. JUDGES PRAISE OPERETTA QUEST; ASK SECOND ONE The judges of the $10,500 W-G-N operetta competition, In a statement issued last night, praised the contest for the encouragement it gave to young composers and for its stimulation of genuine American music. They asked that the contest be repeated.

The statement follows: "The operetta quest has been most stimulating to the cause of true American music. It is difficult to conceive of anything which would be more encouraging to young and untried composers than this opportunity to bring their work to the attention of the nation's music lovers. Millions will hear the broadcasts of the operettas chosen as the best of the contest entries. Who knows how many persons will be encouraged along the path to musical accomplishment and fame? "What has been begun thru the Lee Armentrout, collaborator with Fenton Lee In another of the win ners, has been associated with several notable names in modern music as an arranger. He has written for Paul Whiteman, and Alec Templeton, and Is presently working with Ben Bernie.

Armentrout was born in Mattoon, 111., April 30, 1909. He learned to play the piano when 5 years old and then turned 'to the trombone when he reached high school. At 15 he began playing with dance orchestras. In this capacity he saw much of the country. He still does.

Bernie is' vacationing just now In Florida. Armentrout expects to join him soon in California. In Chicago Armentrout lives at 4946 Sheridan road. Armentrout and Lee have written many popular songs together but they admit that up to now publishers have passed them by. So they decided to collaborate in the W-G-N operetta quest.

Armentrout is a devotee of mod ern music. He is particularly responsive to Stravinsky, Debussy, Ravel, and Delius. Nevertheless, most of the music he has written has been dance music. Collecting records is his hobby, i enterprise of station W-G-N, and the coSperation of the Mutual Broadcasting system, should be continued. In our opinion the contest should definitely be repeated.

However, we recommend that in any subsequent contest more time be allowed the composers. We feel that'another contest may discover even finer works. It was a pleasure to be associated in the consideration of the operetta quest entries. We are glad to give over the final judgment to the American public. In addition to the music of the selected operettas a number of individual songs of merit came to light in other operettas.

These, are another indication of the potentialities of our relatively unknown composers and another indication that the future of American music is a bright one." DEFICIENCY DISEASES DECREASE. A table of death ratea for deficiency di-taaea ahowa that few deatha ara reported due In Inadequate diet. The death rate per 100,000 population for ricketa and other bone diaeaoea decreased from 0.7 In 1915 in O.l in 1939. PeUatra fell from 4.2 In 1915 to 1.9 tn ln. N' PERCY FAITH Perry Faith, co-winner with Jim pease of one of the three $1,000 cash prizes, has been interested In music since he was 6 years old.

He then lived in Toronto, Canada, where he was born April 7, 1908. When 6. he started studying the violin. After three years of fiddling he turned to the piano. This was a fortunate switch, In 1919, when Faith was 11, he got his first job playing cowboy and Indian music for the silent movies in a Toronto theater at $3 a night.

In 1940 he came to Chicago and be came guest conductor of the Contented hour on NBC The job became a permanent one. Now to fill in the intervening years: At 15 Faith made his debut as a concert pianist at Massey hall. To- ronto; at 19 he was touring with gmaU concert group. In 1933 he was engaged as staff conductor for the Canadian Bnoadcastinsr corporation. with CRf! until he waf called to Chicago and made pei manent conductor of the Contented hour on Sept.

2, 1940. Faith is married, has a 10 year old daughter, Marilyn, and a son, Peter David, 4. They reside at 901 Green- wood avenue, Wilmette. OPERETTA QUEST winners rejoice (comments or tne winning com osers in W-G-Ns quest for the TrC-TLTTYMlT C- im 10 w-u-w lor giving us such a wonderful opportunity. It was a fine thing, and my partner Lee Armentrout and I are thrilled over the outcome.

LEE ARMENTROUT Tve been trying for years to write something worthwhile. I heard the announce ment while listening to the radio. I certainly am deeply grateful to W-G-N for this opportunity. And now I'll be able to pay my income tax. PERCY FAITH I'm simply over whelmed.

I can hardly believe it. It's the climax of 8 or 10 years of trying. I want to thank W-G-N for crlvlntT nm nncora avsrvwhAra Itiia iMntA JT "l' a a was iiaiiis ass sm in Oak Park when the good news came out of the loudspeaker. I wasn't any good after that. I want to thank W-G-N for Initiating such a worthwhile competition.

ROSS HASTINGS from Los An geles by phone) I've been writing for years, but Tve only had three songs published. My great ambition is to write an operetta as great as those of Jerome Kern. I hope this is a step in that direction." KNCINCEB DIES OF HEART ATTACK, M. MmmMW, OS jnr Ola. ll.VJ.f Tn.Viuiit dm, m.

nwrhan -al mnnMr. died of heart atlvk ynterdtj at the Wilson Enrineennr company. 122 South Micbigao sTMrowhTf wan employed. tnaiir 'AND PRAISE W-G-N If the manager of the Columbus, vaudeville house back in 1901 had seen fit to give his first and only violinist a raise, Kent Cooper still might be fiddling in soma theater pit instead of being general manager of the Associated Press. As it was, he left that $1 a day job to be a reporter on a newspaper in Indianapolis at $10 a week.

But Cooper never lost touch with his music his S3 violin, which ha taught himself to play, the family piano, and those scribbled quarter and half notes, the sharps and flats, the clefs. Last night, Cooper's latest composition, "America Needs You," for which he wrote both lyrics and music, was sung for the first tima during the Chicago Theater of the Air broadcast on W-G-N and the Mu tual system of "America Is Ameri cans," a salute to the nations Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Keeps Up With Music. I think I'd have had as much fun as a musician," commented Cooper. "I never lost the habit of thinking about my music even after I was sure that my future career would be wrapped up in newspaper work." Cooper's urge to write songs was whetted by Victor Herbert when the great composer toured Indiana in 1906.

Cooper took time out from his duties as a city editor to act as advance and press agent for Herbert. When he returned to the newspaper office, he hummed and sang "Kiss Me Again" so continually that the other reporters and editors referred to it as Kent Cooper's Song." "Dixie Girl" His Starter. Not until 1923 was Cooper's first real effort published. It was "Dixie Girl," a ballad which was introduced on the air last July by Attilio Bag-goire, W-G-N tenor. Another number, "Sunset," was Included in the score by a radio operetta, Rose of Algiers last Saturday and sung by Miss Marion Claire.

And, last night, as he listened to Bruce Foote sing- the rousing strains of America Needs You," Cooper said he hopes his latest number is good enough to be considered "a really good patriotic number. A moment later the applause from the audience indicated it is. WOMAN CHORES TO DEATH. -Mr. Hilda Ziebell Ryan.

32 year eld. 18127 Martin avenue. Homewood. choked death yesterday ahortly alter catins break fast in her home. February ALE of the loadt of values offered in new and used spinets and grands! If you haven't yet participated, take a friendly word of warning: there are on I Fenton Lee, Armentrout's collab orator, wrote the major portion of his manuscript flat on his back ina hos pital in Oregon, 111., in January.

While driving from Chicago back to his job in the Savanna III. Ord nance depot on Jan, 21, his car over turned. He was seriously injured, and in the ensuing hospital stay, found the time to write the libretto for the operetta that he and Armentrout had planned. Lee was bom in Rockford 28 years ago. He played the piano at 4 and performed with professional orches tras while still in knee pants.

He later was associated with many other bands, worked in amateur theatricals, and in vaudeville. He was a supernumerary for the Chicago Civic opera. At the suggestion of his physician, Lee left the music and entertainment field. He took a business course and then civil service examinations, obtaining work at the Savanna ordnance depot. After the accident, he resigned from government service and is at present living at 246 Mafn street, Racine, Wis.

QUEZON STILL FUNCTIONS WITH 3 MAN CABINET Washington, D. C. Feb. 21. It was revealed today that President Manuel L.

Quezon is still conducting his government somewhere in the Philippines. This information was contained in a telegram received by Resident Commissioner Joaquin M. EM-zalde from Mr. Quezon. The Philippine president revealed that he has a three man war cabinet, including Vice President Sergio Os-mena.

Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos, and Gen. Basilio Valdes. Andres Soriano, the secretary to the president, it was said, hae been named treasurer of the Philippines, BIRTH RATE INCREASES. The United Statea birth rate'haa turned upward, centua record Indicate. Provisional tabulation ahow 2.353.988 birth reported In 1U40 an increase ot 91.280 over final 1939 figure.

The birth rate per 1.000 ponulition inmped from 17.3 In 17.B. This coat is $5950 pianist who, with the help of a beautiful singer, composes a song which becomes a smash hit. Honorable Mentions Made. Three other entries were considered of such merit by the musical leaders who judged the contest that honorable mentions were awarded. These were Frisco Town," submitted by Sonny Vale, 3342 Crenshaw street, and his collaborator.

Jacob T. Pin- cus, 241 South La Salle street; "Gay Little World." entered by Max Wald, 1220 North State parkway, chairman of a department of the Chicago Mu sical college, and "Trapper Call," submitted by Glenn R. Webster, 2112 Central avenue, Middletown, and Edward E. E. Menges.

6267 Delmar boulevard. St. Louis, Mo. In judging the contest. W-G-Ns music and drama experts were joined by a distinguished musical group including Oscar Hammerstein, Broadway producer; Emmerich Kal-man, the noted operetta composer, and Dr.

Frederick Stock, conductor of the Chicago Symphony orchestra. Urge Repetition of Contest. The judges praised the contest for the encouragement it gave to young composers and its stimulation to the creation of real American music. They urged that the competition be repeated. The quest was undertaken because so many listeners commented on the absence of works about America on the Theater of the Air series.

W-G-N replied that there was a dearth of such works, but that it would do something about it. The quest was the result. CHINESE BLOW UP JAP TROOP TRAIN; 400 CASUALTIES CHUNGKING. Feb. 21 (P).

The blowing up of a Japanese troop train which resulted In 400 Japanese casualties was reported in a Chinese communique today. The bulletin said Chinese forces attacked the Japanese at'Chiyuan in North Honan province, tore up sec tions of the highway, and blew up the train on the railway south of Tangying. An engine and four coaches were demolished. In East Honan province, Chinese forces raided a Lunghal railway sta tion east of Yucheng, while near the Honan-Shantung border Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek's forces attacked Japanese troop concentrations. COMMISSION HOUSE SAFE LOOTED.

Burglar who broke into Marea Rosenberc wholesale commission house at 946 West Randolph street, looted the safe of S115. it reported tn police yesterday. One of the greatest selling events in our history to it hat been proclaimed by the many Chicagoans who have come in and taken advantage Outstanding for tonal excellence and general all-around performance! Federal American 'styling in open-pore mahogany finish. Full 88-note keyboard; rugged, durable construction throughout. SAVE to 50 Winrtr Stack Story Clark.

Steinway SAVE to G5 H. C. lay $195 Kimball 225 Howard 245 Knaba 250 H. F. 285 ir-Stfx (qularly 360 375 425 505 510 575 515 JIM PEASE i Jim Pease, collaborator with Percy Faith in a prize winning operetta, is a veteran advertising, newspaper, and radio man.

But he never has written anything remotely resembling an operetta before. Pease, who is assistant continuity director' at NBC, lives at 282 Claremont street, Elmhurtt, with his wife and daughter, Doris, who is 19. Pease has written several shows for W-G-N, among them the "Melody Street" and "Yesterdays series. Currently he is writing the scripts for the "Roy Shield and Company" show and the Parent-Teacher program, titled "On the Home Front." Pease was born in Chicago, Nov. 2, 1896.

From 1916 to 1928, except for a period during which he served overseas in the first World war, he was associated with advertising agencies as-a writer and account executive. He later was promotion manager of the Chicago American. His first radio show, which he both wrote and directed, was the Frank Simon Ironmasters band for WLW. Besides his work and his family, Pease's chief interest is amateur photography. ARMY NAMES NEW CAMPS; OUTSTANDING SOLDIERS HONORED Washington, D.

Feb. 21 army announced today the names chosen fox some of its new training camps. Camps designated and their location are: Camp White, Medford. Camp Atterbury, Columbus, Camp Gruber, Cookson Camp Carson, Colorado Springs, Camp Campbell. Clarksville, extending into Kentucky, and Camp Hood, Killeen, Tex.

The names honor: -Maj. Gen. George A. White, late commander of the 41st division. Brig.

Gen. William W. Atterbury, director of transportation of the AEF in World war I. Brig. Gen.

Edmund L. Gruber, established the field artillery firing center at Fort Sill. Okla. Brig. Gen.

Christopher Kit Car son, famous Indian scout, hunter, and soldier. Maj. Gen. William Camp bell, colonel of the Tennessee volunteers in the Mexican war, governor of Tennessee from 1851 to 1855. Con federate General John B.

Hood, or ganized and led the famous Texas brigade in the Civil war. Malta Ha 12 Air Raid Alarm and a Few Bomb VALLETTA, Malta, Feb. 21 W. Malta had 12 air raid alarms today during which some bombs were dropped, causing slight civilian dam age and a few casualties. 8B0FTIFTH FLOOR.

Only 77 Coats and When These Are Gone There'll Be BJo More at THIS Price cl a newspaper. Changes Hit Business. UJitt JkiJCW UUII miu tcred wooden windmills. windmills became more popular he chanced his business to buggy making, altho he was a dealer in gasoline engines. "Of the many wagon and carriage shops of 40 years ago.

I can think cmly cf one that turned to auto mobile manufacture. "The merchant trade was fully as tli as the navy in adopting Steam. Forty years ago. when photog raphy and etching made newspaper pictures possible, a whole generation of literary editors went into the dis card because they would not. or could not.

take up this new vehicle of ex- prssicn. Their only revenge wat toj ub their conqueror, -yellow journal- its- When picture services for news papers were inaugurated, they ran for years a heavy loss because of the indifference of publishers. Original Men Very Rare. "Original men are very rare, while men who can do the old thing well are numerous. "In civil life, innovators can start their own and drive on to success in face cf less capable competitors.

Not so. alas, in naval and military life, and thru this, peril lies. "In the military services, as in lif Tnanv rf th. I OiO imng very well, wneiner ll De I BTtillerv. or infant rv.

or cavalrv. or I Only a few can do anything new. "The man in established position cf things as they are. sees personal ruin in novelty. "And.

as he cannot see the value rt it, he becomes and remains an implacable foe of Improvement. Economy a Guide to Germany. "You ma ask. if that is true of the American, British, and French armies, why was it not equally true rf the German army? My guess is that it was true of the German army. But there came to second place in the German government a celebrated World war flyer.

It was he who built tp the air force and air tactics. You ran readily see that if Billy Mitchell had come to position of political power, he would have forced aviation open the army and navy- Another consideration guided Germany toward air power Air power is infinitely cheaper than naval power. Germany was unable to build a great, navy and, therefore, there couH be no naval resistance to air power in Germany. "Then you may ask. how is it that the Japanese, supposed to be inferior and imitative, developed the proper air tactics? I can only surmise that the Japanese were instructed by the Germans.

Factors Affecting Dutch. "And again you may ask why are the Dutch so far ahead of us snd the British in their comprehension of air power? The answer again would seem to economy and necessity. The 'Dutch, for reasons of economy, had or.lr built a small navy, and when the war clouds began to gather, there was no time to build it up to formidable force. But the aircraft factories cf America were open to them and they obtained fighting ships and learned how to use them. "Our present danger lies from the men who still are unable and unwill-irg to read the lessons of the battles in these wars; who still want to continue doing the old thing because that is all they know how to do.

These are the men who prevented priorities hcing given to aircraft construction by diverting them to other weapons. "Only publicity foiled this fatal blunder. That is why I intend to tlk on this subject whenever the occasion permits." FTK CtJAT STOLEN FROM CAR. Tjwit. htwr Slaieel.

aa armr officer of y-mrk. N. reconed to police yeiterda trt a fur -t and women wearing apparel ur at S3fx wa tolen from hi autnmo-tr) Friday mrht while it waa parked la trsmi cl tZll Wtnthrcp avenue. on brand new CABLE-NELSON SPINET. '75 85-, '95 ROTHMOOR BRUCEWOOD COATS in fine all wool fabrics lavishly furred i- if Sale Price Saving S23S $110 245 115 215 8 315 110 425....

00 455... 55 475 100 4fl 100 TRIMMED vjunrnn COATS $95 H00 $115 125 an 135 QUALITY COATS LUXURY COATS vV 10 Down Budget the balance) in convenient monthly terms. Allowance on your old piano in trade. oh Ivers $35 Krantch lack Conover 395 Chlckerlng 4.5 Steinway 495 WANT INFORMATION ABOUT MUSIC? Ready date about musicians, operas, musical farms, In MUSIC LOVERS ENCYCLOPEDIA by Rupert Hughes and Deems Taylor, $1.91 Jr Sizes 12 10 Enjoy the TREMENDOUS SAVINGS that ara only available during eur gigantic February Sale I Thesa ara beautiful fabrics luxuriously flattered with glistening Silver Fox (hand picked, winter caught pelts)! Don't wait Come for yours NOWI 46 half sites 33 to 45 5th floor State at Jackion UISSBT AKD WOMEN'S COAT Maurice Rothschild Wabash at Jackson On the Avenge: 842 North Michigan In Oak Park: 123 North Marion ETC HERS BOSTON STORE.