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The Courier News from Blytheville, Arkansas • Page 1

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The Courier Newsi
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Blytheville, Arkansas
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BLYTHEVILLE COURIER NEWS THB DOMINANT NEWSPAPER Of NORTHEAST ARKANSAS AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI VOL. 237 Blytheville Courier Blytheviile Daily Newt Mississippi Valley Leader Blytheville Herald DECEMBER 29, 1953 TEN PAGES SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS Democrats Question Plan To Reduce Forces in Korea But Top GOP Solons Voice Solid Support By ROWLAND EVANS JR. WASHINGTON (A P) Some Democratic senators today questioned President Eisenhower's decision to withdraw two U. S. divisions from Korea.

Republican Senate leaders gave it solid support. Sen. Sparkman of Alabama, the- Democratic vice presidential candidate last year, said he feared "budgetary factors may have played a great part in the decision." Sen. Monroney (D-Okla) called for a "full-dress, nonpartisan investigation by the Armed Services Committee" of long-range U. S.

defense needs. He predicted that administration 'defense cuts, planned for the year beginning July 1, "will be a major issue before Congress next year." JO Per Cent Reduction The administration is reported to have decided on an average 10 per cent manpower reduction in the Army, Navy and Marine Corps. The Air Force would not be affected. Sparkman, asked for his opinion on the Korea troop withdrawal decision, said in an interview: "One thing really bothers me. That is, we don't know what the Chinese Communists are going to do in Indochina.

But we do know HAPPY ABOUT WITHDRAWAL PLAN These joyous American soldiers in Korea clasp hands in anticipation of possible return soon to families and homes, after hearing of President Eisenhower's announcement that two U.S. divisions will be withdrawn from Korea. Left to right: Pfc. Joseph Jech of Cleveland, Pvt. Murlyn Blue of Des Moines, Iowa: Pvt.

Cameron Breitung of Pepin, Pvt. Thomas J. Guthier of Troy, N.Y., and Pic. George Paich of Trafford, all of the 2nd and 25th (AP Wircphoto via radio from Tokyo) that for every man we take out of Korea they can put that much more pressure on Indochina. This is a bad time for us to be weakening our Far Eastern strength." Sen.

Knowland of California, the GOP Senate leader, said in a separate interview he thinks it "advisable to reduce our forces overseas" as soon as world conditions permit. He expressed full agreement with the Korean withdrawal. Sen. Ferguson GOP Policy Committee chairman, called the move "a step in the right direction." Because of Eisenhower's military background, he said, he See DEMOCRAT on Page 10 Gen. Hershey Denies Charge That Selective Service Used to Help Control Farm.

Production By FRANK E. TAYLOR WASHINGTON (AP) Maj. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey has denied a charge by Rep.

Burr P. Harrison (D-Va) that the draft machinery in Virginia is being used to help control farm production. But Harrison, who made public today Hershey's reply to his complaint, said in an interview that he disagrees with the selective service director. Harrison's charge, in effect, is' that circular issued to Virginia draft boards discourages them frona giving deferments as essential farm workers to youths who are producing primarily crops of which there is a surplus. He said that would make selective service "an instrument of agricultural production control." Issued by Director The circular was issued by the Virginia state draft director, Thomas W.

White. A national selective service official said he knew of no similar circulars in other states; -He said state directors are not required to send such material to Washington, "but most do as a matter of information." The Virginia circular said that "if there is an overproduction of a pfiriicular agricultural commodity it can readily be seen that further production thereof would certainly not be necessary to the muintenance of the national health, safety or interest, and to defer registrants to continue to produce those commodi- ties where there is an overproduction would be unwarranted." Hershey Assured Hershey, in his letter to Harrison, said he had been assured by White that il. was not the state director's intention "to attempt to control fM Harrison, saying he disagrees with Hershey, commented: "I do not believe it was the intention of Congress to put the local selective service boards in the position of being agricultural economists." If local boards act on the basis of what they read about farm surpluses, he added, there could be great disparity in opinions. Harrison had written Hershey that "it was not my understanding that. Congress intended to have local selective boards concern themselves with agricultural surpluses, or to use selective service as an instrument for agricultural production control, Demand Lessens HarriscM in an interview, farm deferment decisions solely on whether the registrant is or is not necessary to farming, Hershey said he does not believe that Congress intended the supply status of a commodity should "be completely overlooked or Ignored in the classification process." "Generally speaking," he said, "as tlie supply of a commodity increases and approaches iiitind for it.

the need to defer Sec DUAFT on I'ajje 10 Sec Dulles Warns Red China Against Aggressive Moves French Pour To Talks Coils on Allies To Join in Great 1 Battle with Reds By WILLIAM BARNARD SEOUL Korean President Syngman Rhee today called on the Allies to halt "futile discussions with the Communists" and join his nation in "the last great battle to annihilate the Red forces that seek destruction of the free world." The fiery Korean patriot, in a new year's message to his people that echoed his previous threats to unify Korea by force, asserted a decisive war with communism is "eventual and inevitable." A few hours earlier the aged leader pledged to North Koreans in a new year's greeting, "We will come to your rescue just as soon as we can." He told the 'people of the Communist-ruled North "never do we forget, even in the nightmare dreams that haunt us in sleep, the terrible plight in which you are caught." New Life The strong statement appeared to give new life to his repeated threats in the last stages of the war last spring that South Korea would if necessary- See RHEE on Page 10 President Lauded For Harmony Bid By EDWIN B. HAAKINSON WASHINGTON (AP) Republican Senate leaders today issued a back-to-work notice for Jan. 5 the day before Congress meets officially and applauded President Eisenhower's bid for Democratic cooperation- Post Office Here Handles Record Yule Mail Load Heaviest loads of holiday mail in Blytheville history has been handled by the post office here, Postmaster Ross' Stevens announced today. What's more, Mr, Stevens pointed out, the mail was handled better and faster than ever before. l.ils was due, he said, to the cooperation of patrons, who both shopped early and mailed early.

"We didn't have any particular peak as we usually do," Mr, Stevens said, "The mall flowed evenly through our office throughout the holidays. meant a lot In getting early delivery of cards and pack- Sen. Knowland of California, the Senate OOP leader, said the Senate Republican Policy Committee would meet Jan. 5. That is the same day on which Eisenhower yesterday invited Democratic leaders of Congress to the White House along with some Republicans for a preview oi his State of the Union Message.

He will deliver it to a joint session of Congress two days later. "I think it's a good policy," Knowland said of the plan to invite the Democrats to hear something of the legislative program in advance. Chairman Ferguson (Mich) of the Senate GOP Policy Committee agreed. Some Democrats had been grumbling because Eisenhower invited only the GOP leaders and committee chairmen to his legislative con ferences earlier this morith. While several of them spoke kindly of the forthcoming talks to include Democrats, they laid it was little more than a gesture since the President's message to Congress would be virtually completed by then.

Better Than Nothing "This Is better than no consultation at all," Sen Kefauver (D- Tenn) said. "I hope that the program has not been so permanently set that there Will be no opportunity for acceptance of Democratic suggestions." Sen. Monroney ((D-Okla) described the Elsenhower invitation "belated recognition" that some Democratic votes will be needed to put over portions of the President's program in the closely divided Congress, Rep. Rayburn of Texas, the House Democratic leader, Bald "I'll be glad to attend." He declined further comment. Sen.

Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas, the Senate Democratic leader, and Son. Russell were expected In the capital today or tomorrow. Both art among those in- vited by Eisenhower. Knowland told reporters he would confer with Johnson as soon as the Texan arrives.

He voiced hope the Senate will get down to lawmaking as soon as possible. No business is ever transacted until after the President's message, but Knowland said he wants to avoid the "usual January drag" after that. Second Negro Dies of Injuries In Wreck Here Funeral services for the second person to die from injuries received in an automobile accident here Dec. 21 will be conducted Thursday in Dell. Haywood Wilkins, Negro, 35, died at the Blytheville Hospital Saturday night where he was being treated for head, leg and arm injuries.

The accident occurred -when the, car in which he was riding failed an Sw Warned Commu to make the curve at Rose Street mst la 'cams for dragging Report Blaming S. Korea in PGW Stalemate Is Issue PANMUNJOM Korea's foreign minister today assailed India for backing a report blaming South Korea for sabotaging the explanations to balky war prisoners. "We are not Minister Pyun Yung Tai declared, "because we know India will side with the Communists on all important issues." Pyun'R attack was the opening blow of an expected South Korean thunderclap against India's neutrality in the touchy prisoner situation. India, the chairman of the five- nation repatriation commission, sided with Poland and Czechoslovakia in a majority report that accused South Korea of control- liner compounds housing more than 22,000 anti-Communist North Korean and Chinese war prisoners. Only a small number of the anti- Red prisoners ever met Communist persuasion teams in the 90- day explanation period.

Those that did rejected return to their home- ands by an overwhelming majority. A minority report by Sweden and Highway 18, and skidded Into a warehouse as It overturned. Jessie Brldgeforth of Dell, another occupant of the car, was killed in the crash, Services will be conducted Thursday at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church at Dell by the Rev. G.

W. Parnell. Burial will be at the Ml. Zion Cemetery with the Caston Funeral Home in charge. Survivors include his wife, Blan- chle Wilkins; two daughters, Rosa B.

'and Willie Mae Wilkins; three brothers and five sisters. out the interviews sometimes as long as five hours. Pyun told a news conference In Seoul he did not know what went See I'OVVs on Page 10 Speed Bonds Forfeited Municipal Court collected a total of In bond forfeitures this morning on four charges of speeding. Those forfeiting bonds of $18.75 were Jess V. Lame, F.

M. Tote, Carl Long and Quincy Donaldson. 3 Youths Held For Investigation In Burglary Here Three Blytheville youths -were questioned this njornlnpr by city police in connection with the burglary of Freeman's Market on West Main last night. Only about $3 In penniOB was taken from the store, which was entered by breaking open the back door, J. C.

Freeman, owner of the store, said. The youths are held In city Jail for further Investigation. Reinforcements Info Indochina By LARRY ALLEN HANOI, Indochina (AP) Communist-led Vietminh troop swhich made a lightning drive to cut Indochina in two apparently have achieved "prestige and political su but they are going have a hard time trying stay there. The French are pouring forcemenls into central Indochin and already have opened whf might be termd the first phase a Pilots flying American-supplie B26 bombers and Bearcat fighte are hammering Vietminh concei rations novth of the rebel occupie town of Thakhek, on the Mekon River bordering Thailand, and rea supply bases. The Vietminh supplied their sw push from the South China Se across Laos by using a vast an of coolies carrying war equipmen "inmunition and provisions on the! backs.

Looks Impressive These human pack train: moving through the rugged jungl and mountainous country towar Thakhek. are getting a heav jounding. The Vietmi.nh sweep into Thak iek looks impressive on a gtanc it the map of Indochina since th country now i.s cut in two. The drive did sever the Mekon liver and road supply lines fo he northern half of the Indoch nese kingdom of Laos, includin he governmental snot at Vicnt me and the royal capital of Luan Tabanjj the iraffic by river, and roa was paiticulariy heavy an oi Lao.s has long bee Kettmff mnst of its essential sup plies by airlifts. Supply Unaffected Thus the rebel occupation Thakhedk has po.sed Jittle new i the way of problems for the Prenci in supplying forces in Laos.

The Vietminh breakthrougl to the Mekong also has not af fected the French supply of force in northern Indochina. There is a widespread belief tha the Vietminh's Quick thrust to the Mekong aimed principally gaining a powerful political weapoi a prelude to possible new Rec -surestions for a truce. It may be that the Vietminh wanted to nut troops on the Me kong to draw a line across centra Indtchina which could he used as proposed demarcation if a ne gotiated peace ever crystallized. Poll Shows Frenchmen AcceptEDC PARIS good majority ol the French people consider the proposed European array treaty (EDC) an "acceptable" means 01 defending Western Europe, a pol of French newspapers showed to. day.

The survey was conducted by the "Service des Bondages el Statist! qucs," a pr i a organizatior throuf 'h questionnaires sent to representative newspapers in various sections of the country. The French News Agency, which published the results, said, however, that the Communist press die not answer the ouestioas. The Communists are bitterly opposed to the EDC. In answer to the quesion heir attitude toward the currently an extremely hot issue in French 13 per cent replied that it was a "good" project. But 47 per cent said it was "acceptable," and 26 per cent described it as "bad." The remaining eight per cent gave no answer.

Other replies showed that most Frenchmen believe Britain must be somehow connected with the EDC. This Is also an Issue In French politics because it is one of the conditions which Parliament has tied -to eventual ratification of the EDC. Repeats As Man of the Year Inside Today's Courier News Chicks Open Defense of NBA Cane Crown Tnnifrht. Trabert, Srlxas Crush Ausslcs In Surprise Win Sports P.TRC 6 Top Stories and Personalities ol 1953 Reviewed 5. Unwilling Russian "I'lo- nftra" Direct Development of Soviet Provinces pare 3 By SHERRY BOWEN AP Newsfeature Writer Dwight Eisenhower, first Republican president since 1933, is Man of the Year.

News and radio editors in the annual Associated Press poll voted him the title overwhelmingly for the second successive year. His nearest competitor, Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin, got less than a third as many votes. Leading Allied forces to victory in Europe, he was also high in the news rating. He won the title "Man of War" in 1944 and topped military leaders in 1045. This year he moved into the White House in January.

His position and policies have kept him steadily in the news ever since. Early in the year the wisecrack that cabinet was composed of "eight millionaires and a plumber" was widely current. Later the plumber. Martin P. Durkfn, quit as secretary of labor.

His administration claims credit for the Korean truce, for curtailing government controls on business, simplifying customs regulations, planning extension of social security, extending the battle against racial discrimination, simplifying government operations for economy in government and promoting a bipartisan international policy. In a drumfire of Democratic criticism, the headlines were not always favorable. He often was urged to repudiate "McCarthyism." The criticism was no less bitter because many Americans Dwight D. Eisenhower were ardent backers of. McCarthy's methods, as reflected in his second-place ranking by editors.

He flew from a Big Three meeting in Bermuda to make a plea for use of the atom for peaceful purposes in an address to the U. N. Assembly in New York City. Dec. 8.

He proposed that Russia and other atomic powers immediately create an international agency for the development of the atom for peace. The speech was widely hniled in the capitals of the free world. Russia countered with a demand for disarmament first. Ike Moves to Curb Rail Strike Threat AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) President Eisenhower today created an emergency board to head off a threatened strike of more than a million railroad workers represented by 15 non-operating unions.

The union members all nre such employes as clerks and track walkers who don't work on the moving rains. The dispute affects 150 operating throughout the country. Creation of the three-man em- ency board means that under crms of the Railway Labor Act he 15 unions are barred from strlk- ng for a 60-day period. Eisenhower's vacation headqunr- crs here said the members of the board will be named in a few days. During the 60-day no-strike per- od the board will hold hearings and recommend settlement terms.

The last half of the two-month per- od is reserved for union-manage- rtcnt negotiations on the basis of he board's findings. No Date Set Eisenhower's executive order up the board said the dis- )Ute threatens "substantially to in- errupt interstate commerce to a dqgree such as to deprive the coun- ry of essential transportation serv- Tlie 15 non-operating unions re- cenlly look a strike vole, after which it announced more than 90 per cent of the members approved a walkout. No strike date was set, however. The unions have no pending wage Increase demands but have asked for a variety of health-welfare and similar fringe demands. The situation has been complicated by the fact that thn railroads have filed suit in federal court in Chicago, claiming that under the railway labor law they are not compelled to bargain on many of the health-welfare and other union demands.

Workers Angered Some of those demands are; Lite insurance paid for by the railroads in a coverage sum equal to the worker's annual pay, with minimum of hospital, sickness and disability benefits for employes and their families; widely enlarged free pass provisions See IKE on Page 10 Judge Light to Speak At Man-of-Year Dinner Circuit Judge Charles Light of Paragould will be principal speaker at the annual award banquet to be held here by the Junior Chamber of Commerce Jan. 21, it was announced today by Bob Warren, Jaycee vice president. The banquet, at which Blythe- ille's Young Man of the Year tor 953 and five Jaycee men will be onored, will climax the observance ere of national Junior Chamber Commerce Week Jan. 14-21. The Blythevilie Jaycees will join hat week with 2,800 other, clubs ver the nation In observing the 4th anniversary of the founding of he United States Junior Chamber Commerce.

The Young Man of the Year, to selected by a secret committee Blytheville citizens, will receive he Distinguished Service Award nd awards will be presented to ve Jaycees named by the club as ey men in its activities during the ast year. Nominations for the Man of the ear nre to be submitted along Ith a listing of the nominee's flc- vltlcs during the past year to rank Harshman, chairman of the Jrnmlttee on Jaycee Week aclivl- es, P. O. Box'311. The Distinguished Award Is given the man between the ages of 21 nd -vho is judged by the selection committee as having rendered during the preceding year.

the most service to the community Acts May Bring Direct U.S. Retaliation WASHINGTON (AP) Secretary of State Dulles hinted today that U. S- sea and air forces will retaliate directly if Communist China openly intervenes in Indochina or renews the fighting in Korea. In a news conference discussion of President Eisenhower's decision to pull two divisions out of Korea, Dulles emphasized that this government might meet renewed aggression in Korea or open intervention in Indochina by striking nt the aggressor forces in places outside of Korea and Indochina. He said that while American power in terms of foot soldiers in Korea is on the decline, its power "i terms of other lously new being increased.

Eisenhower himself had made much the same points when disclosing the decision to withdraw two divisions from Korea. Dulles Confident Dulles expressed confidence that available French and native forces In Indochina will deal effectively with the new Communist drive across Laos. He said that nothing the Reds have done in this operation has altered appreciably the time table of operations by which the American and French governments hope to break Communist power In Indochina in a year. Furthermore, Dulles said, he does not think that the Red drive presents any present threat to Thailand, bordering Laos on the west. Some Congress Knowland (R- Calif) for expressed concern that might be of would" be considered highly critical," Ztnowland told reporters.

"We could not stand by. If the United Nations did not take action, It could not survive." Thailand Must Be Protected Knowland, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said any Communist threat to Thailand, adjacent to the point where Communists now are applying pressure in Indochina, would force "the free world to take cognizance." Thailand must be protected Communist invasion, he said, "unless the free world wants ail Asia to go down the drain." At the State Department yesterday, a spokesman 'said it is "watching that (Indochina) situation closely and awaiting further reports." American officials estimate the Vietminh troops number between 3,000 and 4,000. They have said the Communist military DULLES on Page 10 AP Asks Okay to Serve OsceoSa Plant LITTLE ROCK UP) Arkansas Power and Light yesterday asked permission to expand, its transmission system to provide power for a new plant in Osceola. The company told the State Public Service Commission that the proposed improvement would cost S141.CCO, and bring in 550,000 year in additional revenue. Inclvided in the project, designed to furnish 1,500 kilowatts.of power to the Osceola Finishing would be 2.5 miles of distribution lines; rebuilding of another 2.2 miles of lines; and construction of a substation at Osceola and a trans-S former station.

Weather ARKANSAS Partly cloudy to cloudy this aftcrnctm; scattered showers and a few snow flurries and turning much colder tonight and Wednesday; lowest 12-25 north and 25-35 south. MISSOURI Cold wave with snow squalls and strong northerly winds entering northwest this afternoon and overspreading state tonight and Wednesday; rain changing to snow southeast and extreme south as cold wave enters that portion of state tonight; temperature Maximum Minimum this Sunrise Sunset Precipitation lim 24 hours to 7:00 a. m. Mean temperature (midway between high and Precipitation Jan 1 to This Date Last Year Minimum Precipitation JaaiuT 1 42.43..

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About The Courier News Archive

Pages Available:
164,313
Years Available:
1930-1977