Belleville Daily Advocate from Belleville, Illinois • 1

BELLEVILLE DAILY ADVOCATE ONLY ST CLAIR COUNTY PAPER MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS A FRIENDLY NEWSPAPER FOR A FRIENDLY COMMUNITY SERVING BELLEVILLE AND ITS NEIGHBORS SINCE 1839 Vol CVII No 35 One Hundred-Seventh Year 3c Per Copy BELLEVILLE ILLINOIS WEDNESDAY JANUARY 16 1946 Member Audit Bureau of Circulations Pastor Of St Mary's Marks 25th Anniversary Meat Oil tteir Strike Halts TWO MINERS KILLED AT LITTLE OAK John Sinkewilz 72 Albert Graul (7 Are Victims Across Announce Ritz i 1- $5 Two cool miners employed in the Little Oak mine four miles east of Belleville on the Southern railroad lost their lives shortly after 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon when they were crushed under a fall of slate and rock while engaged in loading coal into pit cars Both were pronounced dead on arrival at St Elizabeth's Hospital where they were taken in the Renncr-Geminn-Bergman ambulance The two men are John Sinkewilz 72 of 321 North Tenth street Belleville and Albert Graul 67 of Mascou-tah According to William Griebel 214 Gilbert street Swansea both men were em mt v1 A- 'v- St Photo Among principals on a banquet program at St Mary's Hall at noon today following a solemn high mass of thanksgiving in St Mary's Church in celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the ordination of Rev Joseph Orlet pastor into the Catholic priesthood left to right seated Msgr Peter Engel East St Louis: Auxiliary Bishop George Donnelly St Louis and Father Orlet standing Rev Louis Ell pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church toastmaster Msgr Joseph Mueller pastor of St Cathedral and Rev Rudolph Jantzen Cairo who responded to toasts and Rev Leonard A Bauer STD Chancellor of the Belleville Diocese Thomas Bloomer left and Wesley Bloomer members of the firm of Bloomer Amusement Company as they announced the grand opening of the new Ritz of Tomorrow tomorrow evening Other pictures on page 3A and elsewhere in this edition New Effort Will Get Under Way To Bring Settlement CHICAGO Jan i (AP) A nation -wida packinghouse workers strike involving 268000 workers threatening a meatless diet for the nation began today but union leaders agreed to confer tomorrow in Washington with Secretary of Labor Schwellenbach in government efforts to halt the walkout Lrwh Clark president of the CIO United Packinghouse Worker Union said ho and the union' genrral counsel Ralph Hclsttin would go to Washington Spokesman for Clark however said the strike was in full force with all its 193000 members out in 140 plants across nation Previously Farl Jimenon president and Patrick Gorman secretary of the AFL Amalgamated Meat Cuttera and Butcher Workmen proposed to the CIO that both unlona hcM the last minute plea by Schwellenbach and of the strike The AFL pointed out however that Schwellenbach' appeal last night came too' late to avert the strike which had been called for midnight and began promptly in some instances even before the deadline There was no immediate estimate from the AFL as to how-many of Its members actually were out but 75000 were involved 45000 today and 30000 more later Another 60000 AFL members in the retail trade were not directly Involved Spokesman for major packing companies made these estimatei today of the number our on strike nationally: Armour and Company 35000 Cudahy 10000: Wilson and i Company 9400: Swift and Com-ipany 15000 to 16800 The CIO spokesman said struck plants included thoe of Armour Cudahy Swift Wilson and five smaller concerns Morrell Kingaa and Company Cudahy Brothers Rath Packing and Tobin Packing companies 1 George A Eastwood president of Armour and Company said that (Continued to Page 2 Column 2) Schwesig Is President Of Central Body q1 ployed at the face of mine loading ears when several tons of slate and rock were loosed from the ceiling this class of ac cident giving no warning butting and badly crushing both workers Frank Curry another miner Mascoutah Sinkewlts and Philip Ruff whose home is In New Athens were nearest to the victims of the crash and aided in the rescue work They found both bodies badly rushed and that life waa extinet The accident is the first fatal accident to occur in the Little Oak since 1930 according to Mine Manager Griebel A coroner's inquest is to be held at 5 o'clock tomorrow afternoon Sinkewlts Funeral Friday John Sinkewilz was a native Lithuanian born August 16 1873 a son of the late William and Hath-ryne Sinkewilz and was married to Julia Gudaitis in St Vincent de Paul rhurch Springfield 111 Sept 27 1908 To their union six children were bom two sons and two daughters preceding their father in death and a daughter and a son surviving him Julia wife of Edwin Nolan of Alton and Frank 701 North Twenty-eighth street He also leaves four grandchildren and one brother Andrew Cascyville road He was a member of the Progressive Miners' Union Local 4 The body is at the Rcnner-Gem-inn-Bergman funeral home from where the funeral will be held Friday morning with services In St Mary's church at 9 o'clock and burial will be in Green Mount cemetery Rev Joseph Orlet will officiate Friends may call at the (Continued to Page 2 CoL 1) Freak Blast Death Toll Is At 14 Today Theatre Opening RITZ OF TOMORROW IS CIVIC EVENT Ccunfy And City Officials Civic Leaders Guests Tomorrow Night The new Ritz theater the first post-war motion picture house with all new improvements to be ron structrd this area will he opened tomorrow night It was built over and around the old Ritz theater which was operated for 3'4 months before removal after work was started in June on i the new theater After 7la months in construction the of will be formally opened by the Bloomer Amusement Company which also owns the Rex theater on West Main street Various improvements at the Rrx theater were completed recently The company employs thirty-five persons at the two mo- tion picture houses Civic Leaders Guests County and city officials and civic leaders will be special gucsta at the opening presentation 'Christinas in featuring Barbara Stanwyck and Dennis Morgan it was stated by Wesley Bloomer of the Bloomer Amusement Company When the doors of the theater arc opened at six o'clock tomnr-low night a half-hour befoie the start of the first of two complete shows the public will see a "theater of tomorrow-" The auditorium is bowl shaped which affords better vision Its walls and sound-proof ceiling arc decorated in coral and blue The uphnl- stered seats arc of the push-hack adjustable type to permit pruns 'Continued to Page 3 CoL 4 Governor Will Address Monroe Electric Co-op Gov Dwight Green has ac-cer-' an invitation to address the numbers of the Monroe County Electric Cooperative Inc at the organization's annual meeting in the new high school gymnasium at Waterloo Saturday Feb 2 it was announced today Attending the meeting will lie those who receive electric service from the cooperative as w-eli as those who have signed applications but for whom lines have not yet been constructed Additional seats will be placed on the floor of the gymnasium to provide accommodations for between 300 and 400 more people than the number which attended last year's gathering The time for the Governor's ad- dress has not been definitely announced but it was stated that it most likely will he during the part of the program i Sheets Ray and Sally entertain-iers of Radio Station KMOX St 1 Louis who were declared a hie hit at last year's meeting have been engaged to appear on the program 1 again this year KIMMEL REVEALS HE GOT THREATS AGAINST HIS LIFE Gives Committee Copy 01 Letter He Wrole To Admiral Stark WASHINGTON Jan Rear Adm Husband Kimmrl told a senate-house committee today that he received letters threatening him with death when he returned to this country after the Pearl Harbor disaster He gave the committee a ropy of a letter he wrote (b Adm Harold Stark on Feb 22 1942 protesting that "In all justice the (Navy) department should do nothing further to inflame the public against Stark was chief of naval operations Kimmd wrote that he had just received notification from Secretary of the Navy Knox that he would be retired March 1 1942 condonation of any offense or prejudice to future disciplinary "1 do not understand thia paragraph unless it is to be published to the country as a promise that 1 will be disciplined at some future the letter added stand ready at any time to accept the consequences of my acts I do not wish to embarrass the government in the conduct of the war do feel however that my crucifixion before the public has about reaphed the limit 1 am in daily receipt of letters from irresponsible people over the country 1 taking me to task and even threatening to kill me 1 am not parti-j cularly concerned except as it i shows the effect on the public of articles published about me" Kimmcl brought out the letter during questioning by Seth Rich-1 ardson committee counsel about (Continued to Page 2 Col 2) Frk Bloomer Jr Missing In 1943 Reported Killed i Frank Bloomer Jr radioman third class son of Mr and Mrs Frank Bloomer 1812 Hast street today was officially reported as having been killed during tlic battle of Salerno while aboard the USS Rowan a destroy-' er which previously had been an-' nounccd as having been sunk in Italian waters Sept 11 1943 Bloomer 22 had been reported on Sept 18 1943 in a Navy Department message to his father as having been missing in action At that time it was announced that the landing of the Fifth Army at Salerno cost at least two L'nit- eri States warships the Rowan and the USS Nauset The 1500-tnn destroyer Rowan went down as result of an explo-: off the Italian coast a Navy 1 communique said Bloomer entered the Navy in April 1942 His brother First Lt llany Bloomer recently received liis honorable discharge from service and is home He took part in 36 missions including the bombing I of the Borneo oil fields and oilier major engagements Bloomer's father a member of the firm of Bloomer Amusement Company is in Palm Beach Fla for his health and Mrs Bloomer is with him Casualty Frank Bloomer Jr radioman third class son of Mr and Mrs Frank Bloomer 1812 East street (Story above) i FATHER FATHER FAMILY AT ANNIVERSARY Bishop Donnelly Of St Louis Is Among Dignitaries Here With Catholic clergymen relatives and friends in attendance Rev Joseph Orlet pastor of St church observed bis silver sacerdotal jubilee with a solemn high mass of thanksgiving today Among the visiting clergymen was the Most Rev George Donnelly auxiliary bishop of St Louis Assisting Father Orlet at the anniversary mass were Rev Henry Aydt as deacon: Rev Walter Mey-erscough sub-deacon: Revs Michael Podrasky and George Ilolt-grave masters of ceremonies The jubilee sermon was preached by Rev Leonard Bauer STD chancellor of the Belleville diocese Three nieces and two nephews of Father Orlet participated in the ceremonies Marilynn lleumann as the bride Mary Orlet maid-ot-honor: Kathleen Orlet flower girl and Eddie llcuinann and Billie Orlet pages Among the relatives in attendance at the mass were Rev Orlet father Andrew Orlet South Thirteenth street and the priest's four brothers and one sister George Paderborn Jacob South Fourteenth street: Leo New Baden Steve South Thirteenth street and Mrs Anna lleumann South Tenth street The mass was followed by a din-jner for members of the clergy and immediate relatives of Father Or-ilct Rev Louis Ell was the toastmaster and those who responded to toasts include Rt Rev Msgr Joseph Mueller Rev Rudolph Jantzen and Rev Rater-mann The dinner was served in the St Mary's auditorium by women i of St Mary's parish Father Orlet who was ordained to the priesthood 25 years ago to-day by the Most Rev Bishop Hen- tContinued to Page 2 Column 2 Importance Of Registration In Primary Is Told With the approaching primary election in April County Clerk Oscar Becker today called attention to the importance of voters being properly registered that they be qualified to vole under the permanent registration system now in effect in Illinois for several years Not only does a change of residence since the last election make it obligatory that the voter record his change of residence with the county clerk but women who have changed their marital status should see that they are registered under their proper family names and persons who have become of age or have not previously voted in their precincts must register in order to vote Presentation of a registration card showing that the voter had at one time registered is not sufficient evidence to entitle the holder to vole since the election officials are provided with the registration books from the office of the county clerk and can he guided only by the name appearing on these records It is Important that any change (Continued to Pago 2 CoL 7) YOUTH ON TRIAL FOR BURGLARY OF DOWNTOWN TAVERN Three Brothers In Anolh- er Case Plead Guilty Ask Probation Lawrence McCoy 17 of 412 Abend street today was being tried before a jury in Circuit Judge Edward court for the 980 burglary of the Jess Doyle tavern 22 West Slain street Billy Check 16 of 214 Mascoutah avenue who waa Indicted with McCoy pleaded guilty on arraignment last Dec 18 and has been granted probation Using a bedspring they found in the rear of the National Hotel as a ladder to reach roofs of adjoining buildings over which they made their way into an enclosed courtyard in the rear of the Doyle tavern the youths are alleged to have lowered themselves into the enclosure and then broke into the building by way of a rest room window The jury retired to deliberate the evidence in the case against McCoy this afternoon Melvin Gage 24 East St Louis negro was found guilty by a jury of burglary of the home of Viola Gipson and the larceny of a 915 radio last Oct 30 His sentence was deferred The 31000 bond of Frank Kelly 314 Market avenue East St Louis was declared forfeited and his bail increased to 92000 with an order for his rearrest when he failed to appear for trial on a charge of robbery of Nathan Cram-blett of a watch valued at $118 last Nov 9 Three brothers James Walker (Continued to Page 2 Col 1) Scouts Annual District Meet Here Tonight Over 300 parents and Scout Leaders of the St Clair District I Boy Scouts of America are expected to attend the annual district meeting to be held this evening 1 at the Cathedral Hall Third and Lincoln street Belleville at 6:30 Officers for the coming year are to be elected awards presented and a talk to be given by Charles Dugan District Commissioner of I the St Louis Council and head of the United Drug Company also I of St Louis Awards will be given to the -Troop or Pack having the largest percentage attending in proportion to the number of Scouts or Cubs in their unit Coffee cream and sugar will be served by the ladies of the Cathedral Parish Scouts or Cubs may attend with their parents although there will be no special program for them Present officers are: James Wal-wark chairman: Harry Newton and William Buecher vice-chairmen and Carl Pinkel district commissioner Reports will also he given by the commissioner and the various operating committee chairmen DEATHS John Sinkewilz Page 1 Albert Graul Page 1 Frank Bloomer Jr Page 1 Henry Gruen Page 4-A Mrs Theresa Hues ter Pago 4-A MatKenzie Gives Children Report On Europe Kids Tells How They Many Of Them live In Caves And Filth (Editor's When Dewitt Mackenzie and his wife began their present world tour they promised to report to their own rhildren who remain in school in the United States on the children of other lands and how they hare been afferted by war This is such a report from Madrid) By DEWITT MacKEXZIE AP World Traveler MADRID Jan Dear Carol and Major: This is to report another of the strange and often heart-stirring things which we are encountering on our world tour In the suburbs of this beautiful old city with its boulevards and grand palaces hundreds of families are living in direst poverty in caves dug into the many hills of compact sand Their fate is indeed sad Now before going further we should warn you that you can't draw sweeping conclusions from this extraordinary situation These cave dwellers don't represent general conditions in Madrid nor yet in Spain They arc folk who are the victims of the tragedy which follows on the trail of wars and plays its evil tricks on the hapless ones who escape To understand this you must know that during the awful civil war of 1936-39 scores of thousands fled to Madrid from the provinces and created a great housing problem with which the city is still struggling There were more people than there were homes for them Then came the world war which made building operations difficult because of lack of material and so we find the underprivileged digging homes in the sand hills Most of the caves are very small just big enough for the family to huddle together to escape cold winds and to spread their tattered blankets on the ground for sleep They do their cooking over little fires built in the mouths of the caves or outdoors And they are lucky to have any fires at all for fuel is scarce Conditions are terrible in the heavy rains for the caves often are flooded and clothing and bedding1 drenched Worse yet the caves frequently collapse and sometimes bury whole families with loss of life Your mother and I visited two colonies of these cave folk and found them smilingly courteous and ready to show us their Virtually all of them (Continued to Page 2 Col 7j The Weather Fair and warm er this afternoon tonight and Thursday Highest temper-atures today at about 40 lowest -y Thursday morning about 39 BELLEVILLE WEATHER 7 a hi 20 11 a 89 2 40 Stage of the Mississippi River at St Louis 236 fall 11 I LAW MAKERS ALL SET TO LET DRAFT LAW DIE Life 01 Measure Expected To Expire As 01 May 15 As Provided Ry The Associated Pros WASHINGTON Jan 16 -The uncertain life of the present draft law posed a new complication today in the already difficult task of finding demobilization replacements fur the Army Influential members of the house military committee disclosed that they are all ready to let selective service die on May 15 the day the existing law is to expire unless congress extends it The Army has been relying largely upon the draft for recruits to replace the clamoring long-service GI's overseas but in recent months it has been falling short of meeting the average monthly induction requirements of 50000 inrn Gen Dwight Eisenhower tuld aeinobilizaliun-consrious lawmakers yesterday the war department has ordered that by June 30 all men with two years of service or 40 points must he out of the Army or mi their way out Abrupt termination of the draft law on May 15 would eliminate the major source of replacements for those in later lease categories leaving them dependent on the success of the regular army's enlistment program The reason members of the house military committee are ready to let the draft law die is that they hope thereny to salvage the hog-ged-down univer-al training legls-1 Continued to Page 2 Col 6 Postpone Action On State Money For Coal Process The Illinois Coal Products Commission has postponed until nexi week its decision on allocating additional state funds for development of smokeless Illinois coal Victor Packman president of the Kern Coal Conversion Company of East Si Louis asked the commission yesterday for more funds to continue experiments The Kern company previously was allotted 320000 Dr A Singh spokesman for the Institute of Gas Technology of Chicago requested at least 340000 to operate a pilot plant for tests of the institute's fluidization process Replying to questions of commission members Packman Mid the Kern company could begin commercial production in the fall of this year Singh said the institute could not start production until the spring of 1947 The date of next week's meeting will he set later by Senator Rice Miller (R-Hillsboroi commission rhairman who was absent yesterday because of Illness The commission which has a (Continued to Page 2 CoL 1) Paul Schwesig was elected president of the Belleville Trades and Labor Assembly last night Schwe-sig a representative of the foundry shakers-out and all of tha other officers were elected by acclamation They were installed by Fern Rauch East St Louis vice-president of the Illinois State Federation of Labor The complete list of officers: President Paul Schwesig shak-ers-out succeeds George Badgley who declined nomination Vice-president George Fischer electrical workers succeeds Arthur Xnwotny Business agent William Reich ing barbers and beauty operators re-elected Secretary hotel restaurant employees sad bartenders Diefenbath was reelected to that position and aiso re-elected editor of the Labor Bulletin Sergeanl-ai-arms John Wicck building service employees reelected Financial secretary Trevor Adams enamel workers re- elected Trustees William Yerk machinists: George Badgley mounters and August Juncker clerks Legislative press committee Edward Loehr Raymond Fried-erich and A A Bohannon Entertainment committee Raymond Belleville Howard Kaercb-ner and Raymond Friederich 1 William Rrichling was named delegate to the East St Louts Trades and Labor Assembly Al Pierce delegate to the Union Label League and Frank llohm delegate to the Citizen Publi Health Association A WELCH Vs Jan 16 (API The death list in the freak Hav-aco mine blast rose to 14 todav while experts sought to determine the cause of the terrific explosion in which 253 miners miraculously escaped slive Clarence Hale 24 a digger died of bums in Grace hospital early today A thirteenth victim had died previously in the hospital State Mines Inspector Chatficld said the bodies of the 12 men killed outright near the base of the shaft had been removed and two exploring expeditions 9 'Tailed to find any others He said he was convinced no more victims would be found A smashing blast at the bottom of Havaco Mine No 9 of the New River Pocahontas Consolidated Coal Company yesterday literally twisted the tipple apart wrecked nearby buildings and injured some bystanders but the force In the main was directed away from the 267 men at work underground State Minea Chief Spind-ler his inspectors and company of- ficiala joined in the investigation of what they believed to he the most unusual disaster of its kind in West Virginia's mining history In most explosions the force spreads horizontally through the entryways and kills all men in its range Yesterday's blast blew upward and thereby saved more than 200 lives Within a thousand-foot radius all (Contpuisd to fags 2 CoL.