The Courier News from Blytheville, Arkansas • Page 1

BLYTHEVILLE COURIER NEWS VOL. 258 Blytheville Courier Blythevtlle Dally Newi Mississippi Valley Leader Blytheville Herald THE DOMINANT NEWSPAPER Of HORTMBAOT ARKANSAS AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI -T i BLYTHEVILLE, ARKANSAS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 1954 TEN PAGES Pro-Red PWs Turned Loose Rejected by Communists, Prisoners Stay in Compound By BILL SHINN PANMUNJOM (AP) The Korean War prisoners who stirred world wide controversy by their refusal to go home were turned loose today. Twenty-one Americans, 1 Briton and 327 South Koreans who chose communism were abandoned by Indian guards in a flimsy neutral zone compound at 12:01 a. m. (9:01 a.

m. Friday, CST). The pro-Red POWs said they would stay until their food runs out, echoing the demand of the Communist command that Indian troops stay on. The U.N. Command liberated as civilians the nearly 22,000 anti-Bed captives returned to it Wednesday by the Indian course the allies assert was required by the armistice.

Completely Quiet When official freedom came, more than 14,000 Chinese POWs already were aboard American ships en route to Chinese Nationalist Formosa. More than 7,500 anti-Communist North Koreans were in South Korean army reception centers. An Indian officer said the pro- Communist north camp was "ab- solutely quiet." There was no celebration among the Koreans. A ROK official said most were asleep. Some of the freed prisoners had been in stockades almost from the start of the Korean War years ago.

Allied insistence that no prisoners be forced to go home against their will was a major stumbling block in the prolonged armistice talks. The pro-Red American, British and South Korean POWs staged a sitdown strike in their compound. The purpose was to back the Communist position that they should be held until their fate is decided by a Korean peace conference. But it was considered likely that when their food runs out they will march vanish behind the Iron Curtain. The Indian command made a 'inal appeal Friday for the Beds accept the pro-Communist pris- See POWs on page 10 SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS Ike's Budget Tax Proposals Face Some Strong Opposition MAN OF THE YEAR J.

L. Weslbrootc, (left) receives his award as "Young Man of the Year" of 1953 from the Rev. James Rainwater, chairman of the selection committee, at the Jaycees' awards banquet last night. (Courier News Photo) 7. Westbrook, Jr.

Named 'Man of Year J. L. Westbrook, was named Blytheville's Young Han of the Year for 1953 at the annual awards banquet helc ay the Junior Chamber of Commerce at the Rustic Inn last light, Climaxing the observance of National Junior Chamber if Commerce week. Other awards presented last night by the Jaycees were the Good Government award to Circuit Court Judge Zal B. Ha.rrison and five "key man" awards to members of the Jaycees for their work in the organization.

Receiving the key men awards were Joe Warren, James Pearson, T. Caraway, Joe Bill McHaney and Nick Powe'rs. Billy Boone, Junior Chamber of Commerce president, made the presentation of the award to Judge Harrison his work in serving the community in a Judicial capacity. The Rev. James W.

Rainwater, chairman of the selection committee, 'presented Mr. Westbrook with the award after enumerating many community activities he has participated in. Guest speakei was Occult Comt i'-judge Charley Light oft Paragouid I whn nnJjafrYirt.fi. italhff mwtiM udge Charley Light ParagouJdWge who opJefftfrUjheltKr to cSnftfitTuWnile dJinquencr. re.

Demos Plan Floor Fight On Taxation By CHARLES F. BARRETT WASHINGTON (AP) President Eisenhower's 1 tp Congress to hold the line against any further cuts in major tax rates smacked int strong opposition today. Several key Democrats planned a floor fight in the almost evenly divided House for a plan to slice billion dollars a year off per sonal income taxes, relieving sev en million taxpayers from any pav ment at, all. And some Republicans and Dem ocrats alike predicted Congress would permit at least slight reductions In both corporation in come and excise tax rates. Eisenhower, in his annual budget message yesterday, strongly endorsed a project for rewriting almost all the nation's tax laws.

His proposals would reduce revenue billion dollars annually when reach full effect, but this would be done through many changes in various deductions, allowances and other technical through major rate changes. Republicans Applaud Republicans generally applauded this, program, but Rep. McCormack of Massachusetts, the assistant Democratic leader, accused he'Fresident of "political Insincerity." "Instead of appealing to the make sacrifices for great- r.iiatlonal McCormack "the President 'is appealing o'their hopes for tax reductions. apparently the only ones ling considered in the President's are corporations and fge stockholders! Iff'-. President hower Ice Halts Sports Events In Missco (See Earlier Stories on Page 4) Mississippi County coaches were busy on the telephone this morn- games for the most part.

Blytheville Coach Jimmy Fisher said his game at Rector for tonight is definitely off. Lefty Alexander, director ot Osceola's Northeast Arkansas Golden Gloves tournament, said the remainder of this week's fights are off. Final three nights of the Golden Glove event will be run off on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday of next week. Coach Fisher has re-scheduled his game with Hector for March is filling a date Newport left vacant when the Blytheville game conflicted with its district tournament. Osceola was to go to Dell for two games tonight, but Coach Bill Beall said today the weather will "have to get better than this if we make the trip." Coach Fisher is somewhat apprehensive concerning tomorrow night's game here with He said he has not yet heard from the Monticello coach.

The team Was due to play in Jonesboro tonight, coming here for a game tomorrow. KEY MEN, JUDGE HONORED Named "key men" at the Jaycee awards banquet last night were (above, left to right) Joe Warren, Nick Powers, Joe Bill McHaney. T. H. Caraway and James Pearson.

Below: Circuit Judge Zal B. Harrison (left) receives the Good Government Award from Billy Boone, Jaycee president. (Courier News Photos) Soys Some Security Risks May Still Be on Payroll Heart Association Meet Postponed A meeting of the Mississippi Heart Association scheduled to have been held here last night was postponed because of inclement weather. The at which plans for a fund campaign are to be made, has not yet been re-scheduled, association officials said today. fnsidt Today't Courier News Golden Gloves WyaM Mutt Get Bumper Crop of FrMhmen Iftlt year.

Sporu 4 and 5. Farm News page 7. Indla'i Prisoner Handling Vaunted Neutrality Edlltriali ft Society and Church News. nates 2 and j. WASHINGTON UB Ally.

Gen. Browncll says there may be some "very serious security risks" left on the federal not, so far as he knows, any Communist Party members. Brownell made the statements under a barrage of questioning yesterday at the first news conference he has held here since last the Senate internal security answer to a requesl irom perjury charges can be brought against career diplomat John Paton Davles Jr. Davies testified last year in an investigation of his record. The State Department has reopened an investigation of Davles who has been labelled pro-Communist by Oct.

16. He refused repeatedly to givejSen. McCarthy (R-Wis). any breakdown of the 2,200 federal employes President Eisenhower says have been "separated" from the government as security saying "at least one" employe let go by the Justice Department was a former Communist Party member. On other matters, Brownell said: 1.

The Anti-Trust Division is studying several complaints arising from the rise In coffee prices, but Is not making a formal investigation. 2. "Several more" cases involving second string Communist leaders are to be prosecuted under the Smith conspiracy law. 3. The government will try to deport native American Communists who are convicted of such conspiracy If Congress adopts El- senhower's proposal to strip them if their citizenship and if some ilhcr country will take (horn.

I 4. He "about ready" to tell Cabinet Aide Named WASHINGTON (yp) President Elsenhower today nominated Roswell B. Perkins, 27-year-old New York attorney, to be assistant secretary of health, education and welfare. The post pays $15,000 a year. What's the Puzzle? LITTLE ROCK (fl-Policc arc puzzled over this one today.

A drug store here was broken Into last night. The thief took three fifths of whisky and a box ol cigars. He discussed the causes of Juvwi- Ile delinquency and said one of main causes was "adult delinquency." In pointing out possible actions that may be taken in combating the problem, he related the part a proposed domestic relations court would pay in its combined work. This court would not only investigate the juvenile delinquency cases but would also look into the is usually a broken home or some type of domestic rif Favors More Probation Officers He said he is in favor of extend ing the probation system whid would give Arkansas 20 probation officers instead of the present six This would allow an officer fo: every 50,000 persons, he said. Selection of the D.

S. A. winnei was made by a committee composec of the Rev. James W. Rainwater Mayor E.

R. Jackson, Bob Logan Dr. W. T. Rainwater and William Lawshe.

Mr. Westbrook, 27, attended high school in Jonesboro and was graduated from Arkansas State College in 1948 before moving here about six years ago to' be affiliated with the Family Shoe Store. He and his wife, the former Miss Pat Besharse, daughter of Mr. anc Mrs. H.

D. Besharse of Blytheville are the parents of a five-months- old daughter, Cynthia. Some of the activities he engaged in during the past year were the March of Dimes polio drive and thi Bed Cross drive. He was co-chairman of the solicitations committee for the National Cotton Picking Contest as well as chairman of the NCPC beauty pageant. He is past president of the Shrine Club and a member of the board of the Chamber of Commerce and the Junior Chamber of Commerce.

He was chairman of the National Cotton Picking Contest in 1952. Special guests attending the dinner last night were Alderman and Mrs. J. L. Nabers, Mr.

and Mrs. L. E. Old, Mayor and Mrs. E.

Jackson. Josh Pruitt and W. Johnson. Charles Moore was master of ceremonies. 'we 'can have 'eductions, the people generally 'should benefit." Eisenhower said the program he proposed, in Its first year, would relieve individuals of 585 million dollars in taxes and corporations See TAX on page 10 GOP EnthiLsiasticOver Air Power Emphasis WASHINGTON (AP) President Eisenhower's "new concept" for defense, emphasizing air and new weapons while making a four-billion-dollar spending cut, got enthusiastic Republican support in Congress today.

Many Democrats withheld fire, saying they wanted to study the complex multibillion-dollar budget, but Sen, Maybank (D-SC) in an interview asked "expansion of our air power as fast as we can." He suggested unspent foreign aid funds be used to speed the Air Force program. And Sen. Douglas (D-I11) ques- Joned plans to cut. back ground forces of the Ai-my and Marines. Chairman Short (R-Mo) of the House Armed Services Committee said he does not expect any sharp fight in the House, but disclosed he committee has arranged for defense chiefs to expound the new policy to its members.

Closed Meeting Short said Secretary of Defense Wilson and Adm. Arthur M. Rad- 'ord, chairman of the Joint Chiefs )f Staff, will appear at a closed neeting Mondy. One Democratic member of the committee, Rep. Price of Illinois, lid House Democrats probably would support the budget.

"As long as they (the administration) have awakened to the need of air power and atomic aims," he said in an interview, "we can go along with Uie risk In other fields, hoping they know more than they're telling us." The. senior Democratic member. Rep. Vinson of Georgia, was one of those reserving comment pending further study. But Short said in an interview he got the impression Wilson "feels he could cut the budget even more, knows what he can get away with." "Everyone knows we have got to have economic strength," Short commented.

Increases Offset In the budget for the fiscal year which begins July 1, the President stepped up spending plans for the Air Force as well as for air arms of the Navy and Marines. These increases were more than See DEFENSE on page 10 Western Ministers Plan Big 4 Strategy BERLIN (AP) U. S. Secretary of State Dulles, French 'oreign Minister Georges Bidault and British Foreign Secre- ary Anthony Eden reached Germany today for a Big Four onl'erence opening Monday. Communist secrecy cloaked the lovements of Soviet Foreign Minister V.

M. Molotov, but he expected train tomorrow. The three Western ministers ar- ference talk tomorrow' at French anged a get-together to set up -rategy for the meeting. A French ireigri ministry spokesman said le three would hold a pre-con- Weather ARKANSAS Cloudy and cold occasional snow or sleet north and east this afternoon; slow clearing and cold with lowest 10-20 tonight; Saturday fair, not so cold in afternoon. south partly cloudy north; scattered light snows south and west this afternoon; partly cloudy tonight and aturday; warmer; low tonight 10 northeast to 20 In southwest; high Saturday 30-35 northeast to 40s In southwest.

Maximum Minimum thli Sunrise Sunset Mean temperature (mldwiy between high Precipitation lut houri to 7:00 Precipitation Jan. I to Thlj rule Year Maximum yp.stmlay—40. Minimum Jtnuarjr i to Dangerous Ice Layer Coats Roads in Area Highways were still coated with a slick layer of ice at noon today with extremely light traffic reported by the Arkansas Permit Station at the Arkansas-Missouri State Line. Highway 70 had ice all the way to Little Rock while Highway 61 was reported "very slick" and dangerous south of Blytheville to Memphis. North on Highway 61, the ice was reported heavy as far as Cairo.

Traffic was slow this morning with the majority of trucks and cars going south. rive schools in Mississippi County were reported closed due to the weather. They were Luxora, Wilson, Burdette, Armorel and West Ridge Blytheville schools were closed but riot because of the ice. Mid-term and the beginning of a new semester was the reason. (See Related Story on Page 10) Ark-Mo Power Company reported did not have any major trouble caused by the ice although crews worked through the night and early morning to keep the lines open and 'n operation.

The line between Blytheville and Armorel went out last night about 11 p.m. and because of frequent jreaks was not on for continuous iervice until about 1 a.m. this morning. Electricity was off in the western part of Blytheville last night for an hour and 35 minutes when a line broke from heavy ice and shorted out the current at the West End station. No serious damage was reported from the station.

Some residents were late to work because their electric clocks were slow. Lost Canp. Line Out No trouble was caused to transmission lines between towns, the Ark-Mo official said, but the line to Lost Cane went out about midnight and was still out this morning. As soon as one section was repaired, another one went down, the spokesman said. One-quarter of an inch of rain fell here yesterday before turning to sleet.

There was only a five-degree margin between yesterday's maximum temperature and this morning's low See WEATHER on page 10 headquarters. Dulles, who flew to this divided city In President Elsenhower's plane, Columbine, said in a prepared statement the Western powers "hope to unite Germany by giving the German people as a whole the right which our civilization treats as fundamental, including- the right of a people by free elections to choose for themselves their own sovereign government." Dulles Arrived First The American Secretary at State was the first to arrive. He was greeted at the airport by a large delegation of Western officials, and an American tank unit fired a 19- gun salute. Dulles was followed shortly by Bidault, who came in by train from Paris. Eden stopped off In Duesseldorf on his way to Berlin and told reporters at the airfield there "nobody can expect a full solution to the problem (of lermany) can be found In a matter of a few weeks." Speaking to newsmen before his departure from London, Eden warned: A conference like 'this must time.

For my part as long as we are making any progress at all, I am ready to devote any time hat may be necessary." Expressed Caution Dulles also had expressed cau- about the parley's prospects vhen he left Washington. "If the Soviet leaders come to Berlin with i genuine desire to create condi- ions of peace," he told reporters, 'they will find us open minded and cooperative. But he queried: "Will Germany See BIG FOUR on page 10 Spending Plan Hits Snag from Both Parties By WILLIAM F. ARBOGAST WASHINGTON (AP) For- tions of President Eisenhower's unbalanced 65 dollar spending budget for next fiscal year today appeared to face some stiff bipartisan congressional trouble. "Too much," said Chairman Taber (R-NY) of the House Appropriations Committee.

Rather risky, commented House Democratic Leader Rayburn of Texas, referring to a cut in ilanned national security spend- ng. Many Congressmen, however, iraised the emphasis on air power and new weapons. Rayburn agreed it was proper to put emphasis on both. Some Republicans and Democrats joined in commenting that the President's stand against cuts in corporation and excise tax rates was likely to face severe fire from a Congress anxious to cut taxes in a year when many members face re-election campaigns. Foreign Aid Criticized There was some criticism of continued heavy foreign aid spending and, from a few Democrats, of proposed cutbacks In Army and Navy manpower.

And there was bipartisan unhappiness over the fact that the budget projects a federal deficit through the 1955 fiscal year starting July The reduced spending estimates came in for general praise, although there was some criticism of specific cuts. The bulky document picturing the government's financial plans for the new year headed for the Housed Appropriations- Committee, the first step toward congressional approval or revision. Taber, who always has insisted "there never was a budget that couldn't be cut," said his committee ought to be able to trim at least three billion dollars from the 56 lt billions in new appropriations requested for the coming year. Might Cut Deficit That, Taber told newsmen, might "get rid of the deficit," which the President estimated would be 82,928.000,000 for the year ending In mid-1955. Told that Budge.t Director Joseph M.

Dodge, the President'! chief fiscal aide, had said such a cut would have to be made "at the expense of essential activities of the government," Taber replied: "The proof of the pudding is in the eating." Sen. Douglas (D-Ill) meanwhile predicted a federal deficit of "at least five billion dollars" for the current fiscal year and chided the administration for an "altogether too optimistic" estimate. Eisenhower estimated a yearend deficit next June 30 ol $3,300,000,000. Douglas said the Treasury Department reported a deficit earlier this month of $9,822,000,000, ana added: "They now say they are See BUDGET on page II Living Costs Fall Only Tenth Of 1 Per Cent COLD CASUALTY Winter dealt a damaging blow to this car last night when a large tree, apparently a victim of age, Ice and wind, toppled across Its hood In the 800 block on Hcarn. Owned by Central Motors Acceptance the cur wat being iued but not occupied at the time by Terry McCahlll, who works for OMAC.

The tree came up by the roots and completely blocked street. (Courier News I'holo) WASHINGTON cost of living dropped less than one-tenth of 1 per cent in December, a minor movement which the Bureau of Labor Statistics saw as evidence of "continued stability" in the economy. The decline was the second consecutive monthly drop. BLS commissioner Ewan Clague said, however, that the price trends definitely "are not behaving like a business recession." Together the November and December drops totaled one-half of 1 per cent. They brought the consumer price Index near the end of 1953 to 114.9 using the 1947-49 averages as 100.

This was seven-tenths of 1 per cent higher than a year ago and 1.5 per cent higher than in February when price decontrol began. Looking ahead a bit, Clague Bald the index normally would show declines for January nnd February also, but recent strength shown in both food and commodity does not indicate that the full seasonal drop will occur. Today's report Is based on the consumer price sltuatlOB it of mid-December, or just before Christmas. In November the coat index figure dropped slightly after an eight-month climb. Foods were reported to have increased somewhat from November to December, but there was some decline in clothing and transportation costi.

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