The Selma Times-Journal from Selma, Alabama • 1

1 8 a i WEATHER Occasional rain and tonight and Friday. IF YOU DO NOT YOUR PAPER PHONE 77 DAILY 5:15 to 6:45 P.M. SUNDAY 8 to 9:30 A.M. 1BT lot Associated Press Leased -Wire 10 PAGES TODAY SELMA, THURSDAY AFTERNOON, JANUARY 10, 1947 Full NEA Service VOL. 26, NO.

243 TALMADGE SEIZES OFFICES, MANSION YOUTH CENTER PROPOSAL HAS PTAAPPROYAL ARNALL DENIED ENTRANCEAND GUARDS READY Locks Taken From Doors In Pre-Dawn Coup By Job Claimant SEVEN ARE RESCUED COURT PLEDGES PROMPT RULING ON COMMITTEES Chief Justice Garner Says Decision On Interim Groups Legality Will Be Returned Before Legislators Wind Up Current Session FIFTEEN UVES TOLL OF BLAST AT COAL MINE Three Others Injured As Explosion Traps 22 Below Surface MONTGOMERY, Jan. 16 An early4 ruling by the State USO Building Urged As Site For Project To Serve City ALLEY WORK SOUGHT DICTATORSHIP SEEN SSSSSSSi.E As Needing Work Jo Quaker State Scene cVief Justice Lucien D. Gardner If, Aiiamnt Made To Of jjs Defy Regime Improve It' How about Youth Center for. Selma? Discussed for some time past in a quiet way, the proposal now is brought to light in the Selma Times-Journal Chamber of Commerce forum as one of the outstanding proposals yet pretented for consideration of the public as a goal for action in 1947. said we will-try to give it to them in a few days.

By them" he meant the House of representatives, which voted unanimously to ask for a court review after Attorney General William N. McQueen held in an advisory opinion that the- recess committees cannot be established the present session. The formal request was John PLYMOUTH, Jan. 16 (IP) Fifteen miners were killed and three otners injured, in an ejplosion Iasi night that wrecked the anthracite colliery operated by the Glen Alden uoai Co. nere, trapping some Z'i workers 850 feet below the surface, Edward Griffith, president and general manager the coal firm which operates the Nottingham 4 (NEA Photo) TWO GOVERNORS SIT IN GEORGIAS CAPITOL Perhaps the most dramatic moment of the struggle for state control between Georgias Ellis Amall, left, and Herman Talmadge, right, came as the two faced each other in the governors office in the capitol building early Wednesday morning.

Amall told Mr. Talmadge that he would not vacate the office to which Mr. Talmadge had just been elected. With Talmadge is his mother, Mrs. Eugene Talmadge.

PRICE CUTS BY FORD SEEN AS ECONOMIC AD) from the Parent-Teacher Association of the Albert G. Parrish High School, the matter is presented in the following letter from Mrs. George Galliher, secretary: At the regular monthly meeting of the A. G. Parrish High School PTA.

held Jan. 14, the secretary was asked to write a letter to your newspaper forum expressing the organizations long-desired wishes for a nice, well-equipped, capably run Youth Center for our high school age boys and girls. USO Building Favored Since the USO program in Selma is. soon to fold up, we are wondering if citizens of Selma wouldnt like to see the present USO building, with all of its equipment, and Mrs. Helen TMmadge included, turned into a high school youth center, thereby giving our teen age boys and girls wholesome recreation, under the proper guidance and supervision.

it NEW SPEAKER Rep. W. M. M. Snodgrass, leader who in the a court Ruling The the 23rd ought to then, the The morning any business, Monday, two of Although Inzer of has yet were he after the Beck is Rules Colliery, said the blast was discov-eded by an unidentified foot tender at the bottom of a mine shaft.

Rescue crews, in constant danger of cave-ins because of- weakened, shorings, rescued seven men after more than three hours of frantic digging. A short while later, Griffith said, the bodies of 15 dead men found grouped in a gangway leading from the shaft were brought to the surface. Griffith said the company was unable to ascertain the exact num. ber of night shift men working in the blasted section located under the Susquehanna river but reports from, the scent said only 22 men were in the shaft. Exact Timing Thomas Miles, of Plymouth, who was unhurt, recalled had been at work for about two hours when he asked his laborer, Charles Kra-wiec of Plymouth (also uninjured) for the time.

Its 5:45," Miles quoted Krawiec. He shoved his watch back into his pocket and then it came. There was a terrific explosion. Everything seemed to go topsyturvy. My place is the second one in from the foot of the shaft.

The others who really were caught'" in the blast were a lot farther in than I was. Rescue workers said 700 feet of gangway had been wrecked by the explosion, actual cause of which is still undetermined. Auto Permit Lost By Mrs. Roosevelt As Wreck Penalty ALBANY, N. Jan.

16 -W New York State has revoked the automobile driving license of Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt as the result of an accident at Yonkers last August, but the former first lady may apply for reinstatement after 30 days. Five persons, including Mrs. Roosevelt, were injured in the accident involving three automobiles on the Saw Mill River Parkway. Move Will Help Prevent Recession, Belief Of Govt Leaders Officially referred to the Forum If this idea could be realized would be like a dream come true.

"Many clubs and organizations have sought to sponsor a Youth Center in Selma in the past but so far nothing has been done about it. We talk about our young folks going to the dogs and then sit back and watch them do it, all the while saying, yhats wrong with our young people The trouble is, something is radically wrong with their parents. Lets take a good dose for what ails us and do something for the Selma Teen Agers before they are adults, and, maybe, following in our footsteps, because we, their guides, led them in the wrong direction. Lets act quickly, as Time waits for no man. Attention On Alleys The suggestion that Selma turn some attention to her alleys, which would be improved by paving, is embodied in a letter to the Times-Journal Chamber of Commerce forum, from C.

C. Grayson who points out that one alley, that linking Water Avenue and Mabry Streets, would benefit greatly from such a plan. Used extensively as a short Cut by those who traverse the area toward West Water Avenue, the (See Yonth, Page Three) presented to Justice Gardner by Rep. administration floor introduced the resolution House yesterday to seek decision. By Thursday legislature has to leave by (next Thursday) and we give them our answer by Chief Justice said.

Legislature Recesses Legislature met briefly this and, without transacting recessed until 2 p. m. hours after the inauguration James E. Folsom. Lt.

Gov. -Elect Clarence Gadsden already has announced his committee assignments, Speaker W. M. Beck of Dekalb to appoint House Com-nyttee members, and indications probably would wait until inauguration. expected to name the Committee first so that body can receive a report from a three-man committee appointed to commend a drastic streamlining of the present House structure.

The proposed changes, which include a reduction iii the number of standing committees from 40 to 14, will be drawn up by a committee composed of Reps E. L. Roberts of Etowah, Earl McGowin of Butler, and Willis L. Mcllwain of Bullock. The committee advocated consolidation of present standing committees into the following: rulfes, judiciary, ways and means, constitution and elections, education, public welfare, health, business and labor, transportation, agriculture, conservation, local government, state administration and local legislation.

Each would be composed of members under present rules. On the interim committee question, the House voted unanimously yesterday to ask the state supreme court to decide if the groups could be set up to consider proposed legislation in advance of the reguluar session in May. Administration Floor Leader John M. Snodgrass of Jackson county presented a resolution to (See Court, Page Three) Beck, of Fort Payne, 43-year-old former Marine Corps sergeant who served in World War II, stands before the microphone in the legislative hall at Montgomery after his election as Speaker of the Alabama Honse of Representatives. Beck, a lawyer, was supported by Gov.

Folsom. (AP Photo), POTATO QUOTA BOOST OKEYED Larger Acreages Slated Despite Big Losses On 1946 Crop AURIOL CHOSEN FORPRESIDENT Veteran Socialist Leader Wins Over Rival By Wide Margin PARLEY SHOWS GOOD RESETS By STERLING F. GREEN WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 (IP) Government officials today hailed the cut in Ford car prices as an encouraging start toward the general price reduction which President Truman has asked of all industry. Edwin G.

Nourse, chairman of the Presidents council of economic advisers, termed the Ford action a crucial contribution to sustained high production and employment. Mr. Fords statement was made in most careful and reasoned terms it should appeal to a large business following, said the economist, with reference to yesterdays price-cutting announcement in Detroit by Henry Ford president of the Ford Motor Company. Ford announced immediate reductions ranging up to $50 on all Ford cars, as a common sense move to avert the recession which been widely forecast for this year. Presidential Assistant John R.

Steelman, former reconversion director, promptly wired Ford that the announcement was good news for the country and I believe good business for your company. Members of Congress also were quick to applaud. Senator Myers a mem ber of the joint congressional committee on the economic report, described the reduction as not only smart business but real patriotism. Automobile prices, like most prices today, are so far beyond the reach of the average worker that, unless industry bends its efforts now to reduce those prices substan. tially, I am afraid the huge reservoir of purchasing power we expected for our postwar prosperity will be dissipated in the stern problem of just buying barest essentials, Myers said in a statement.

Seldom has the action of a single private firm produced similar elation here a possible sign of the governments anxiety over the possible 1947 dip" foreseen the economic council. Mr. Trumans economic report cautioned that a serious drop in purchasing power already is visible. Unless price and wage adjustments are made in time, it said, there Is danger that consumer buy-(See Price, Page Three) ATLANTA, Jan. 16MAV-Ellis Amall was denied access to the governors mansion by four state patrolmen today who acknowledged that they would resort -to force if he attempted to use his personal key to get it.

Arnall arrived at thg mansion at 11:50 a.m., to keep a 12:30 p.m. luncheon engagement and was stopped by the troopers as he walked toward a side door. Do you deny me the right to use my key to gam admission? Arnall asked. I have orders to that effect, said Sergeant Frank Jones of the highway patrol. What would you do if I tried to get in anyway? Arnall asked.

I hate to tiynk what would happen, Jones said. Offices Also Seized This development followed a predawn coup by which Herman Talmadge seized control of the executive chambers of the state and denied Arnall admittance there also, Arnall set up a personal offio in the rotunda of the capitol building and announced that his secretarial staff would be quartered in a downtown office building. He has been governor for the past four years and contend he is still the executiye because of what he describes as illegal legislative action in naming Talmadge to the term his father, Eugene Talmadge, who was prevented by death from accepting. Arnall charged that Talmadge was attempting to rule the state under a military dictatorship. Locks Taken Off Doors Talmadge attaches took over the executive chambers early today after locks had been removed from the doors.

Arnall had sat in the chambers yesterday while Talmadge occupied anpther office in the executive suite less than 20 yards away. National Guard officers were stationed outside the chambers after Talmadge took over. After taking his place at a desk in the capitol rotunda, Arnall told newsmen that he thought the next vantage point in this panzer movement by Talmadge would be at the executive mansion which is under my control. Arnall has the keys to the mansion. Talmadge had announced ha will sleep there tonight.

Arnalls entry to the executive offices was blocked by Ben Odom, secretary to Talmadge. Arnall set up temporary offices in the rotunda of state capitol building and at 1400 in the down-town Candler Building. As Amall arrived in the anteroom which opens into his executive offices at the capitol, he was met by Odum and during a brief exchange of words at the door Arnall continued to pound upon it demanding admittance. From within the room guards stationed at the door refused to open and called repeatedly for colonel. Finally the door was opened and Arnall forced his way in.

Arnall strode across the floor to a door leading info the executives private office where he was met by an aide of Talmadge who told him to have a seat when he said he desired to see Talmadge. Direct Challenge In a blunt question directed repeatedly at Odum, Amall said dramatically: Are you denying me the right to enter my office? Odum insisted each time that he was not denying Amall entrance to "your office, but that he would not permit him to enter the office of Mr- Talmadge who is now the legal governor of the state of Georgia. After continued futile demands to gain entrance, Amall turned to the room which was crowded with phographers, newsmen and Talmadge supporters and said: Gentlemen of the press. It is quite obvious that I am denied access to my office- It is quite obvious that Mr. Talmadge is afraid to see me face to face.

Panzer Movement Last night a perfect panzel movement was executed which resulted in the removal of the locks from these doors by a military forct from the Talmadge organization A suit has been instituted in the courts of Georgia to sustain my position I hereby place on order all department heads And not! them that henceforth they act at their peril unless expressly under direction from Ellis Amall." (See Arnall, Fag Twej ANOTHER YEAR OF PEAK CROP OUTPUTASKED inal Production Goals For 1947 Announced By Anderson WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 (7P)-Secretary of Agriculture Anderson today issued final 1947 farm pro-duction goals calling for perhaps the last time in several years to come for another year of record output of food and other products. Anderson recommended planting of 356,893,000 acres, which is more than was seeded last year and about more than the pre-war average. He asked also for a continued high level of production of livestock and livestock products. Announcement of the goals came a week after President Truman cautioned in messages to Congress that a possible shrinkage of foreign markets and agricultures increasing efficiency may join to create price-depressing farm surpluses.

Compared with last year, one of the largest increases urged was for cotton. The goal was set at acres compared with 18,316,000 last year. eBcause of wartime emphasis on production of food, supplies of cotton have dwindled to a relatively low level. The final goals compared with 1946 plantings and production included: Food grains Wheat 70,700,000 and 71,896,000 acres; rye, 2,374,000 and rice, 1,520,000 and dry beans 2,150,000 and dry peas 478,000 and 512,000. Feed grains and forage crops corn 91,550,000 and oats 44.669.000 and barley 084.000 and 11,513,000, all sorghums except sirup types 16,000,000 and sorghums for grafn and 5,841,000.

Oilseed and fiber crops soybeans for beans 11,244,000 and flaxseed and peanuts for picking and threshing 839.000 and cotton Another, Page Three) Lyerly Selected As Chief Of Staff To Incoming Governor MONTGOMERY, Jan. 16 (IP) W. V. (Bill) Lyerly of Tallassee, who served as a master sergeant in Pattons Army, will head James E. Folsoms crfficial staff with the rank of colonel.

A close friend of the incoming governor, Jjyerly was among 21 named yesterday to the staff. Oth. ers appointed, with the rank of lieutenant colonels, were: J. R. Clark, Elba, Folsoms brother-in-law; Tom Skinner, Birmingham; John Stiefelmeyer, Cullman; J.

B. Scarborough, Alabama City; J. A. Tucker, Union Springs; C. F.

Stiles, Birmingham; Jim- Leak, Arab; E. G. (Buck) Williamson, Florence; Carl Green, Union Springs; Lowell Gregory, Oneonta; Dr. J. S.Snoddy, Russellville; Louis Oppert, Dothan; Horace Armstrong, Scottsboro; John L.

Edison, Cullman; Harry Leary, Birmingham; Sam Ray, Montgomery; Guy Hanna, Birmingham; C. E. Snead, Gadsden; H. GI Branch, Mobile, and Claude Tindall, New Brockton. The Rev.

J. Marion, former pastor of the Cullman Baptist church, was named chief of chaplains In the state prison department. The Rev. Mr. Marion, a former field representative of the Southern Baptist Theological Sem.

Inary at Louisville, was Folsoms pastor In Cullman By OVID A. MARTIN WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 (IP) Despite a 100,000,000 bushel surplus of potatoes last year which cost the government $80,000,000, growers in 34 of the 48 states were authorized by the Agriculture Department today to plant an even larger spud acreage this year. But it expects a smaller harvest to result. Under the first postwar attempt to curtail farm production, the department called upon growers in the other 14 states to decrease their plantings.

The total alloted for potatoes this year is 2,669,800 acres compared with 2,624,700 last year an increase of 45,100 acyes. The department has recommend-a 1947 crop of about 375,000,000 bushels, compared with last years record of 474,000,000. Officials explained that while this years allotted acreage is slightly larger, the total production should be smaller because the allotment shifted many acres from states with high pre-acre yields to states with lower yields. Only those growers who plant within their individual allotments will be eligible for government price supports or guarantees. It was in carrying out such guarantees that the government lost money on the 1946 crop.

Millions of bushels of that crop rotted for the want of a market and the government paid farmers promised minimum prices for them. States which get larger allotments included: Georgia and Alabama. Th(ose receiving smaller allotments included South Carolina. The final 1947 goals and the 1046 acreage by states included: South Carolina 21,700 and Georgia 26,900 and Alabama 48,900 and 46,000. CHINESE RENEW PEACEEFFORTS AIRLINES FACE THORO INQUIRY General Investigation Ot Operations Indicated At Capital PARIS, Jan.

16 (IP) Vincent Auriol, veteran Socialist leader, today was elected president of the Fourth French Republic at Versailles Palance. An unofficial count gave Aurioh 452 votes with 242 going to the MRP candidate Auguste Cham-petier De Ribes, 122 to Jules Gas ser of the Radical Socialists and 60 to Michel Clemenceau, son of the Old Tiger of France representing the PEL. The communists had adopted a motion saying that they were supporting Auriol, 64-year-old lawyer and one-time newspaperman, because of a desire to give the elec-, tion a national union character." Auriol, 62-year-old peacemaker in the turbulent French political scene, reached the pinnacle of a career of 32 years in politics when he was Chosen today as president. The stubby, cheerful, spectacled Socialist leader has been hailed here as a man above parties, particularly in his role of president (or speaker) of the two constituent assemblies and of the permanent National Assembly. -(Lacking the color of Gen.

De Gaulle or retiring Interim President Leon Blum, Auriol worked steadily and conscientiously at the unspectacular but vital task of keeping peace among the rival deputies of the Communist, Popular Republican movement (MPR), Socialist, Radical Socialist and Righties parties. Scheduled for today was the last meeting of the Interim Socialist cabinet of Premier-Foreign Minister Leon Blum. Blum is to hand his resignation to the new president of the Republic tomorrow. Sentiment was reported growing among French politicians to keep Blum as Premier with instructions to form a coalition cabinet. The 74-yeap-old Socialists chances were believed strengthened by his agreement with Prime Minister Attlee in London this week to negotiate a French-British alliance to forestall German aggression.

Resumption Of Parleys With Reds Planned By Gov't NANKING, Jan. 10 The government announced officially today it is going to resume negotiations with the communists and selected Gen. Chang Chih-Chung, governor of Sinkiang province, to present its proposals to communists headquarters at Yenan. Chang was an original member of General Marshalls former committee of three that negotiated a quickly-aborted truce a year ago. U.

S. Ambassador Stuart, who is keeping in close touch with both factions, relayed the governments decision to the communists representative here. The minister of information, who announced the goverments peace bid, gave no indication what it is prepared to offer. (See Chinese, Page Three) Mr Meeting Between Truman, Big Six Of Congress Held WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 (Pi-President Trumans first meeting with the congressional Big Six wound up today with Senator Van-denberg (R-Mlch) reporting good results.

The Republican-Democratic legis-. lative conference at the White House lasted 20 minutes longer than scheduled and ended in what all participants said was an atmosphere of good will. The President and the four Republican and two Democratic leaders called in Maj. Gen. Robert Littlejohn, War Assets Administrator, during one part of the conference dealing with war surplus disposals.

Vandenberg, the Senate president acting as spokesman for the congressional group after the 50 minute session, told reporters: We had a very pleasant talk with the President about the possibility tor cooperation with respect to legislative problems as differentiated from political Issues. The discussion was confined very definitely to nonpartisan problems. Problems discussed, he said, included: 1. Surplus disposition. 2.

The question of authorizing the Maritime Commission to con-Jjnue shipping operations, authority ar which expires March 1 and must be renewed. A third decision, Vandenberg Said, involved procedure for future conferences of tho President (See Parley, Page Three) Court Order Annuls Marriage By Proxy MOBILE, Jan. 16 (IP) A Mobile woman's petition for annul, ment of her proxy marriage to an Army captain was granted yesterday in a judicial ruling which held that marriages by proxy are not recognized in Alabama. Circuit Judge Claude A. Grayson Issued the annulment order for Miss Margaret Purvis, 26, who was married by proxy last Dec.

2 at Kansas City, to Capt. Dale Douglas Armentrout, 37, of Bucyrus, Ohio, now stationed on Guam, Iiss Purvis said in her complaint that she realized immediately after the ceremony there was not true love and affection" between them. Japanese Confesses Brutal War Crimes WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 (IP) The Senate Commerce Committee's inquiry into recent plane crashes showed signs today Of expanding into a general investigation into operation of U. S.

commercial airlines. Senator Brewster (R-Me), said he had many questions to ask Civil Aeronautics Board Chairman James M. Landis about financing and foreign competition of the airlines. Landis was summoned to todays meeting primarily to furnish Information about recent plane crashes. President Truman and the bi-partisan congressional Big Six had their initial session the President request.

The 4 Republi can and two Democratic leaders of Senate and House were invited by Mr. Truman to confer with him on legislation in line with his fexpresed desire for cooperation. A Senate judiciary subcommittee resumed hearings on bills to bar or curb union portal pay court suits. A Kepublicqn-Democrat clash on Mr. Trumans report of economic conditions appeared in the making: Senator O'Mahoney (D-Wyo), re tiring chairman, called the Senate-House committee on the economic report into session to ask that It act promptly on President Trumans recommendations.

However, Senator Taft (R-Ohio), slated to succeed OMahoney, said he doubts that Mr. Truman recommended any thing requiring immediate attention, other than what CongYess will take up anyway. There were signs that the plan of (See Airlines, Page Three) Four Negroes Die In Freak Tornado TOKYO, Jan. 16 (IP) A Japanese Army Captain's frank confession that he beheaded 37 French and Indo-Chinese soldiers, killed two French officers and two women with a revolver and raped a French woman was read to the International Crimes Tribunal today. "I was afraid of a revolt by my prisoners," Captain Furukawas confession said of his decision to execute 40 soldiers at Hagiang, French Indo-China in March, 1945.

Three of the 40 escaped. The confession was given to French investigators at Saigon ih December. He also told of shooting to death two French Vomen who had been raped repeatedly by Japanese soldiers with whom they had been confined In barracks for two months. "Thinking that the young women might furnish some useful information to emissaries of the French. I decided to cause them to disappear," he said State Loan Agency For Veterans Urged MONTGOMERY, Jan.

16 (AP) A proposal for a state lending agency to aid war veterans who have difficulty in getting GI loans from private sources my be submitted to the regular session of the Alabama' legislature in May. State Service Commissioner C. Horton said yesterday that he might ask for such an agency when the legislature reconvenes after its organizing session. The public lending agency, Horton explained, would operate under provisions of the GI Bill of Rights and would merely advance money to veterans in the same manner as banks and other private lending agencies do now. The money would be repaid to the state at the same 4 per cent Interest rate provided under the GI bill NO-STRIKE CLAUSE JACKSON, Jan.

16 (IP) A freak wind storm, described as a spot cyclone," killed four negroes in Pinson, near here yesterday and razed the homes of six families. Killed, were Nance Jones and his wife, Lucy Jones; Ella Jones a sister, and Mlnzie Brown, niece of Mrs. Jones. All were occupants of a farm house blown awky by the storm. Red Cross disaster workers Said last night temporary relief had been provided for homeless lam tiles.

MOBILE, Jan. 16 (P) The membership of the Mobile local of the AFLS American Federation of Teachers has voted 3.1 to retain the no-strike clause in their constitu. tion, Mrs. Annie B. Havens, president, reported.

She said the vote was taken at the request of the national organization to determine sentiment..