Mt. Vernon Register-News from Mt Vernon, Illinois • Page 1

TEMPERATURE 34; low 25. Airport noon temperature, 35. MY. VERNON REGISTER-NEWS MEMBER AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS A SQUARE DEAL FOR ALL SPECIAL FAVORS FOR NONE A NON-PARTISAN PAPER VOLUME 118 MOUNT VERNON, ILLINOIS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1950 SOUTHERN ILLINOtS erally fair and a tonight, Friday fair warriWv er. Low tonight 15-25, htarfi Friday 32-38.

25c PER WEEK BY CARRIER PMWCOAL MINERS CALL ILLINOIS STRIKE SEVEN KILLED IN CHEMICAL PLANT BLAST Dow Factory at Midland, Making Rubber Base Paint, is Wrecked By Explosion. AT LEAST NINE WORKERS INJURED Rescue Crews Dig Through Debris in Search of Victim's. Blast Shakes Entire City. By Associated Press MIDLAND, Fob. An explosion wrecked a hit; building at the sprawling Dow Chemical today, killing at least seven workers.

At lea si nine more men were injured in the violent blast, that shook this entire city of 12,000. Rescue crews were divine through the smouldering hulk of the ruined building to determine if there were more casualties. A temporary morgue was set up at the fire department the great chemical works. The explosion, occurring at 11:20 a. blasted the roof and one wall off building number 414 at the sprawling plant.

The building houses Dow's emulsion polymerization process in the manufacture of rubber base paint. It was not determined immediately determined how many workers were in the plant at the time. All Ambulances Culled eliemi- cal city was called into action to take away the dead and injured. The first of th einjured were removed by truck. Five of the dead wore identified ass: Dave Brubnker.

George Rig- Kip. Flovd Schrciber. R. A. Nissila, and H.

S. Hawkins, all of Midland. Service crews not the regular working in the building at the time. For this reason company officials said they could not learn quickly how many men were at work there at the time of the blast. 11:25 a.

in. The cause of the blast was not determined. Immediately following the blast, a wall of flame shot un out of the shattered building. Firemen reported at noon, however, that the fire was under control. Homes Shaken Homes in a large area Mirround- ing the Dow property were shaken by the explosion, which was heard for miles around.

Windows of nearby houses were broken by force. The Dow Company, one of world's largest manufacturer's chemicals, extends over a wide area of this central Michigan city 120 miles northwest of Detroit. MASTER PLAN PREPARED FOR RACKET FIGHT Fingerprinting Everybody, Bar on Race Information Among Proposals. its the of i China to Send Million Slaves To the Russians 0 By Associated NEW YORK, Feb. 16.

The New York Times today reported Communist China had agreed secretly to furnish Soviet Russia with a large labor force and to give the Russians control of seven yellow seaports in case of war. A Times dispatch from Paris said the Chinese Reds had agreed also that Soviet "advisers" would be given "key positions in China's army, secret police organization and communist party." The dispatch, by Times Correspondent C. L. Sulzberger, said these concessions by Mao Tze- tung, chairman of the Chinese Communist government, and Premier Foreign Minister Chou En- iai were believed to be in secret codicils signed in Moscow prior to the announcement Tuesday of a treaty of alliance between the two communist governments. The Chinese Reds, Sulzberger reported, were understood to have understood to have agreed that the ports of Daircn, Port Arthur, Chinwangtao, Haichow.

Chefoo, Weihaiwei and Tsingtao "would be placed under Soviet supervision immediately in case of war." The Times also relayed reports (hat the Russians had requested 1,000,000 Chinese manual lahorers be sent to Siberia. Sulzberger wrote that "300,000 workers, a sizeable proportion of the contingent agreed upon, are reported to oc already enroute to the Soviet Union from Manchuria." 9 ASSASSINS TO DIE Associated SINGAPORE, Feb. IK. Nine Malays were sentenced to death today tor planning the assassination of Duncan Stewart. British governor of Sarawak, last By Associated Prtst WASHINGTON, Feb.

nation's law enforcement officials today began whipping into shape a "master plan for moving in on the The decision to set in motion an organized crackdown on the country's multi-billion-dollar gambling machinery was taken yesterday by Attorney General McGrath's National Conference on Law Enforcement. The steps proposed in this direction ranged from "moral influence" to far-reaching now legislation by Congress, along with the closest possible cooperation among federal, state and local authorities. A "continuing executive committee" on law enforcement was created with 38-year-old Mayor Quigg Newton of Denver at its head. A second committee, headed by Mayor Thomas D'Alcsandro of Baltimore, was authorized to begin work at once on a scries of recommendations for action by Congress to be submitted there by April 15. Fingerprint Law Mayor W.

Cooper Green of Birmingham. who headed a conference resolutions committee, told a news conference at the end of the sessions that the legislative group had been instructed to look into possible new federal laws which would: 1. Ran interstate transmission of horse racing information for gambling purposes. 2. Forbid interstate shipment of gambling devices into states where thev arc illegal.

3. Require fingerprinting of social security registrants and distribution of such prints to law enforcement agencies. 4. Throw open the non-confiden- WiccMe tax returns of knov.n criminals to law enforcement inspection. 5.

Make uniform firearms registration and licensing laws, and establish a central national bureau to record serial numbers of all firearms sold. 6. Require identification of owners and users of gambling devices such as slot machines, for which federal stamps must be bought. 7. Strengthen the laws for revoking fraudulent citizenship.

Fatally Hurt on Day of Retirement By Associated Press CEDAR RAPIDS, Feb. Godfrey Vokon, 83, went to work for the last time yesterday. It was his final day on the job as custodian and elevator operator at the American Building here. Vokon was retiring after a long and active life. Vokon's closing assignment was to instruct Clifford Thompson, his successor, in the duties of the job.

Vokon opened the first floor elevator door and stepped inside. The elevator wasn't there and Vokon fell 20 feet to the basement pit. He died of his injuries an hour later. 2 Deaths Caused By Icy Streets By Associated Press EAST ST. LOUIS 111..

Feb. 16. -Icy streets were blamed yesterday for the traffic deaths of two men. Fred J. Ellis.

58. a railroad worker here, was killed near Fairmont City when he apparently slipped on ice and fell into the path of an automobile. Ellison Dixon. 19, Love.joy, 111., Negro, was injured fatally under the wheels of a backing truck. Witnesses said he too apparently slipped on the ice and lost his' footing.

GUARANTEED 200-DAY WORK YEAR SOUGHT Lewis Makes Demand at Contract Talks; Hints He Might Cut $15 Day Pay Figure. By Associated Press WASHINGTON, Feb. Lewis today was reported to be demanding a guaranteed 200- day work year for his miners. Such a demand would be in line with Lewis' desire for more stabilized employment in the coal fields. One of the negotiators told newsmen that Lewis had mentioned the guaranteed working year as a contract possibility.

Might Cut Demands There was some indication that Lewis had hinted in the negotiations he may be willing to take less than the $15 a day wage and 355-ccnt welfare fund tonnage royalty he has previously demanded. The present wage is $14.05 a day and the royalty is 20 cents a ton. Lewis was reported to have talked of a wage boost of "up to $15 a day'' and royalty of "up to 35 cents a ton" indicating these arc his top figures but subject to compromise. The union has signed contracts on the basis of the $15 and 35 cents figures with owners of mines producing more than 40,000,000 tons a year. These contracts, however, are on only a 30-day basis.

Lewis has been barred by a second court order from seeking four of the key terms in his old contract. Instead he had beffn reported determined to get. a healthy wage and welfare fund boost. Besides the union shop and union-controlled welfare fund set-up, Lewis now is restrained by federal court order from insisting that miners work only when "able and 'willing" and'that they may take long "memorial period holidays." These clauses had been bitterly opposed by the industry. The union shop, under which only union members may be hired, and other contract clauses Lewis had asked now have been declared probably illegal by Federal Judge Richmond B.

Kcech. The same judge directed an end of the strike order the miners have so far ignored. Drops Gold Piece In Parking Meter Bv Associnted Press ORANGE, N. Feb. 16.

A woman driver dropped a coin into a parking meter yesterday, then yelled for police. Two policemen responded and obligingly opened the meter's coin- and returned her coin. She had told them that instead of a penny she put a $2.50 gold- piece in the meter. She had been carrying the gold piece as a good- luck charm. Demo's $100 Menu By Associated Press WASHINGTON, Feb.

16. Here's the menu for the Democrats' $100-a-plate Jefferson Jackson Day dinner tonight: Texas Pink Grapefruit an Kirsch Celery Queen Olives Broiled Filet Mignon. Bordelaise Pommcs Rissoles String Beans Provencale Hearts of Lettuce. Roquefort Dressing Fancy Ice Cream Pet its Fours Demi Tasse -CHIPS ON SHOULDERS- TRUMAN AND REPORTERS BARK AT EACH OTHER By Associated Press WASHINGTON, Feb. Truman barked at.

reporters today in a chips-on-shoulders news conference that they were disgruntled, he didn't like their attitude, and they ought to cool off. That. was all because he had given an exclusive interview to Arthur Krock of the New York Times and reporters were trying to amplify some of the points in that interview regarding dealings with Russia. The Chief Executive said with obvious heat that he is his own Tree agent, will see whom he pleases, say what he pleases, and he isn't going to be censored by anyone. When the President emphasized that he is going to do as he pleases," somebody asked whether "you intentionally omitted 'damn'." Yes, the President said, but you can put it in if you like.

Mr. Truman said that he himself is not disgruntled in the slightest. "Why should you be," a woman columnist, Doris Fleeson, asked. She added "we think our business is quite important." Sometimes I'm not so sure, Mr. Truman came back.

Earl Godwin, a radio news commentator, told the President that the tyne of exclusive interview given Krock the thing that reflected on every news bureau chief and every reporter at the White House who did not get similar treatment. Can't Edit Truman The President said it was nothing of the kind, and he added that: he did not stand any editing of his actions. Asked directly whether there is no longer a rule at the White House against granting exclusive interviews, the President, said that rule or custom will be continued. But, lie snapped, he will do as he pleases with regard to breaking it. SAVE 11 B-36 FLIERS; 6 MEN STILL MISSING Rescued By Fishing Boat After Bailing Out of Burning Bomber.

By Associated Press McCHORD AIRE BASE, Feb. crew members of an abandoned Air Force B-36 were reported still missing today along the rugged British Columbia coast. A coast guard report last night that all 17 of the men had been picked up or located was without substantiation this morning. Search headquarters here and at Vancouver, B. and the coast guard at Ketchikan, Alaska, said a large scale search was under way today for the six.

Eleven men were rescued dramatically by a fish boat, yesterday and last night from Ashdown and Princess Royal islands. They had parachuted from the Buring B-36 during night after three engines caught fire on a flight from Alaska to Texas. Cold, Hungry 10 Hours Ten survivors were picked up after they had endured miserable, cold and wet and hunger for more than 30 hours. One was picked up later by a rescue team from a Canadian destroyer after he had hung with head down for 10 hours, with legs broken, after he had landed in a tree on a cliff side. He suffered for additional hours in an improvised shelter after other survivers freed him but couldn't get him to the beach.

Hopes that all of the 17 had been rescued were blasted rudely this morning. The coast guard information office here said the original report that all were located, and safe, had come from an Alaska base, but that it later was corrected. Comdr. F. J.

Scheiber at the coast guard's Ketchikan base said this morning that there was no information up to that time on the other six men. He said the best that could be presumed by searchers, on the basis of information at his base, was that the missing men parachuted into the same general island area. Landed on Islands The 17 men parachuted from the ice-weighted B-36 during Monday night. They landed on two rugged, wooded islands off the northern British Columbia coast, about 400 miles northwest of Vancouver, B. C.

Ten of the survivors were flown here last night in a C-82 "Flying Boxcar." The injured man who was picked up by the Canadian seamen was Vitale Trippodi of Brooklyn. His condition was repotted favorable. Freeman Company Plans Huge Mine By Associated Press SPRINGFIELD, 111., Feb. A $6,000,000 shaft mine capable of producing 8,500 tons of coal a day will be built near Farmcrs- villc, the Freeman Coal Mining Corporation announced today. The mine is expected to be one of the biggest of its type in the state.

Two working shifts will be required to attain maximum production. Stuart Colnon, president of the Chicago mining firm, said 26,000 acres of underground coal rights have been purchased in Macoupin, Montgomery and Christian counties. Farmersville is 27 miles south of Springfield in Macoupin county. Colnon said construction of the shaft will start probably in a month, and mining operations will reach full scale in about a year. Coal will be machine mined.

Conveyors will transport it to the hoisting shaft. Six hundred tons of coal will be lifted an hour, he said. The mine will be called the Crown Mine. The state's largest shaft producer is the New Orient Mine in Franklin county, with an output of about 10,000 tons a day. Alton Collects Fines By Mail By As r.is ALTON, 111., Feb.

is collecting $1 parking fines by doing right well at it, too. The city has a traffic bureau which collects the cash from persons who plead guilty to parking violations. It saves a lot of time and cost in police court. Motorists lately have been Ignoring the tickets, bypassing even the easy way out. Officers in the traffic bureau decided to dun the delinquents by mail.

Fifteen letters enclosing $1 bills came in today. One was from a man from Chicago. An official said the mail system is about 80 per cent effective, which he considers pretty good. SINO-RUSS PACT SIGNED Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Ylshlnsky (seated) signs the 30-yenr alliance pact between Russia and Communist China as leaders of both nations looks on in Moscow. Standing, left to right, are: Deputy Premier Vlaschesluv, M.

Molotov, Premier Josef Stalin, Chinese Communist leader Mao Tze-tung, B. F. Podtscrob (at desk), N. T. Fcdorenkl, Wan Chlahsing, Politburo member George Malenlfcv.

and Chan Bo-da. Telephoto) FIRE DESTROYS HOUSE; FAMILY OF 10 HOMELESS Early-Morning Blaze at Willie Hardin Home on Forrest- Avenue. Fire destroyed a five-room house at 524 Forrest avenue at 2:45 o'clock 1'his morning, leaving a family of ten homeless. Only charred walls remained of the house, which was occupied by Mr. and Mrs.

Willie Harden, colored, and their eight children. The fire broke out, from unknown cause, while the family was asleep. Fortunately, the crackling flames awakened a daughter, who warned the rest of the family, and they all escaped the house in their night clothing. The entire attic and front room were a mass of flames when the members of the family aroused and fire had enveloped the house upon arrival of firemen. Firemen said the family lost all of its belongings, including clothing, furnishings and private possessions.

Responding generously to an appeal, citizens of Mt. Vernon and Jefferson county pledged donations of clothing, furniture and money to the homeless family. BULLETINS fBy The Associated Press) WASHINGTON, Feb. House Rules Committee refused today by a 6 to 6 tie vote to clear an nntl-job discrimination (FEPC) bill for House action. Four Democrats and two Republicans voted to keep the bill In a committee pigeonhole where It has been since last summer.

An equal number of Democrats and Republicans voted to givo the House a chnnce to settle the issue. (By The Associated Press) WASHINGTON, Feb. Senate Agriculture Committee voted 6 to 2 today to remove all government price supports from Irish potatoes until rigid planting and marketing controls are put into operation. (By The Associated Press) WASHINGTON, Feb. Truman disclosed today that be plnns what ho called a non-political campaign tour this year to help Dnmoyrntto candidates seeking seats In Congress.

WALKOUT IS SET FOR TUESDAY Strike by Progressive Union Will Choke Off Virtually All Coal Production in State. ADDS 10,000 TO MINE STRIKE ROLL Union Serves Five-Day Notice on Operators After Eight Months Negotiation on Contract. Charley Gaston, 69, Dies; Rites Here Charley Gaston. 69, brother of C. S.

Gaston of 1212 Casey avenue, died at 2:00 a. m. today at a hospital in Los Angeles, Calif. Mr. Gaston is a former resident of Mt.

Vernon. The body will be brought to Mt. Vernon for funeral services and burial. Funeral arrangements wore incomplete today. Mr.

Gaston was born May 11. 1880 in Jefferson county, the son of William and Amanda (McConnaughhay) Gaston. He was married to Delia Branson, who preceded him in death several years ago. He is survived by two sons and seven daughters: four brothers, C. S.

Gaston of Mt. Vernon, E. W. Gaston of Keencs, Walter Gaston of Rochelle, 111. and John Gaston of Bluford; and a sister.

Mrs. Nellie Dobbs of Rochelle, 111. Recruit Women For Army and Air There will be a representative of the Women's Army Corp and the Women's Air Force in the Mt. Vernon area on the 27th and 28th of February. Single women between the ages of 18 and 35 who are interested in either branch of the service should contact the Army and Air Force Recruiting Station, Post Office Bldg.

in Mt. Vernon. The recruiting office stressed the fact that the team seldom gets into this area, and that those who are interested should try to see them on the above dates. Peace Mission To Reds Hinted By Associnted Press Feb. "'President Truman hinted today that he still has in mind a possible special peace mission to at some future time.

He dashed cold water on the idea of a possible "Big Three" meeting abroad, newly raised by a campaign speech of Winston Churchill, former British prime minister. The President repeated what he said he doesn't intend to go outside this country to meet with Premier Stalin or any other state head. Nearly Killed by Home Made Gun By Associated Press PAN 111., Feb, year-old Richard Garber was seriously wounded yesterday when a crude home made shotgun he built backfired. Garber was taken to Huber Memorial Hospital with a plug imbedded in his skull. The makeshift shotgun was fashioned from a length of pipe plugged at one end with a bolt.

The charge was made of powder taken from a regular shotgun shell. It was tamped into the closed end and set off with a fuse. The accident occurred last night whan the boy tried to fire the weapon for the first time. Woman Who Never Missed Movie Dies By Associated Prfts DECATUR, 111.. Feb.

16. Esther Rosen. 64. who attended the movies everv night for 35-years until her illness, died yesterday. In July, 1947, Mrs.

Rosen received a lifetime pass at the Alhambra Theater. She had attended the Alharrtbra and its predecessor, the American, every night for 35 years. She thus saw the same movies several times. The wife of a furrier, she came to Decatur in 1912. 2-Year-Old Child Fractures Leg Caroline Frailey, two-year-old daughter of Mr.

and Mrs. Ezra Frailey, suffered a fracture of her left leg in an accident at the Frailey home in Belle Rive last night. The little girl was injured in a fall on a divan. The child is a patient at Jefferson County Memorial Hospital. COUNTY CORN ALLOTMENT IS 38,072 ACRES Local PMA to Announce Individual Farm Allotments By March 1.

Jefferson County's corn producers will share a county corn acreage allotment for 1950 of 38,072 acres. This allotment was announced today by the county Production and Marketing Administration Committee. "There is still considerable work to be done in determining individual farm allotments," said E. C. Champ, committee chairman, "but it is expected that notices will be ready for mailing to producers around March 1.

The chairman explained that the county allotment was based on the county's annual planted -acreage during thel0-year period, 1940-49, with adjustments for abnormal weather conditions, trends in acreage, and other factors. "Corn growers in Illinois must plant within their farm acreage allotment Jo he eligible for Federal price supporting loans and purchase agreements on 1950- crop corn." the chairman said. "The Agricultural Act of 1949 assures 90-pcrccnt of parity support to 'cooperators' in this area for the 1950 crop." "As compliance with acreage allotments is purely voluntary," said Mr. Champ, "the only direct penalty for overplanting in 1950 will be loss of eligibility for Federal price support. We believe, however, that corn growers will wish to consider the possible effect of another huge corn crop on market prices for corn and its products before they decide how much to plant in 1950." The chairman also said that marketing quotas for the 1950 crop were averted by a compara- narrow margin, and that whether or not quotas, with penalties for overplanting, will be required after 1950 will depend large-, ly on how well producers cooperate with the acreage allotment program.

-SKUNK FOR VALENTINE- ACTRESS AND COLUMNIST AIR FEUD IN HOLLYWOOD By Associated HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 1G Hedda Hopper received a skunk as a Valentine present from Joan Bennett and christened it "Joan." Then she gave it away to c.tt- lancier James Mason, saying, "Seems there's a great affinity between cats and Miss Bennett paid $35 for the deororized, house -broken wood pussy. She also spent $400, for two full-page ads in trade papers to tell all Hollywood about her feud with Miss Hopper. The actress said of the columnist: "I've been the victim of her attacks for many, many years." The ad contained reprints of columns by Hedda and rival Harry Crocker of the Los Angeles Examiner. By Associated SPRINGFIELD, Feb.

The Progressive Mine Workers today called a strike in Illinois effective at midnight next Tuesday. The strike will cut back the state's coal production to less than five percent of normal. John Marchiando, PMW president, announced that the union is breaking off negotiations with the coal operators after trying for eight months to agree on a new contract. Except for sporadic walkouts at individual mines, the Progressives have been working during the strike of the rival United Mine Workers. The old PMVf contract, which expired June 30, 1949, recently was extended indefinitely.

Marchiando said the union has served the operators with a five day notice of the strike, as re; quired by. the contract. He "said the PMW has- about 10,000 ing miners in Illinois and produce from 20 to 25 percent of the annual state output. Leave 8,500 On Job The PMW strike will leave only an estimated 5500 of the 23,000 UMW members in Illinois still on the job. These miners work at small shafts which have signed five day agreements with the UMW.

Their annual production amounts to about 2,000,000 or less than five percent or the Illinois coal. More than 1,900 PMW members were idle today at nearly a dozen shafts in southern Illinois. iando has ascribed these walkouts to use of the Taft-Hartley law in the United Mine Workers dispute. The union has been demanding a basic six hour day and five day week with the same "take home" pay as a seven hour day, five day week. Marchiando said the union wanted $14.05 a day plus travel time for a six hour day.

Seek 40e Royalty In addition, the PMW sought to double the 20 cents a ton welfare fund contribution by the Coal Producers Association of Illinois. "There was no chance of reaching an agreement so the scale committee decided to break off negotiations," Marchiando said. The last time the Progressives were called out on a full fledged strike was in May. 1946. They went back to work after two weeks.

Protested Taft Act A majority of them refused to work for two weeks In 1947 as a protest against enactment of the Taft-Hartley law. Marchiando said the strike does not have to be ratified by the rank and file membership. 1,700 Go Out Today The number of Progressives idle today included 1.700 at eight Saline county mines, 225 at the St Ellen shaft near OVallort and 35 at the Schubert mine near Belleville. Silas D. Schreck Dies at Age 80 Silas Dwight Schreck, of 406 12th street, died at 8:00 o'clock last night at the age of 80 years, ten months and seven days.

Mr. Schreck was a retired er Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2:00 m. at Myers Chapel, with Edwin V. Hayden officiating, burial will be in Oakwood The body will remain at Myers Chapel, where friends may call at anv time after 10 a. m.

Friday. Mr. Schreck was born April 1869 in Appanuce county, the son of Philip and Cynthia Ann (Julian) Schreck. He was married to Rhoda May Bailev, who preceded him in death in 1923. Mr.

Schreck was a member the Christian church. He is survived by three sons. Isaac of ML Vernon, Roscoe ft( Wichita, Kansas Denver. three Mrs. Elsie McFarknd of Houston, Mrs.

Helen Monwt of leans, and.