Evening star. [volume], April 14, 1947, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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Injunction Use
In Strikes Voted
By Senate Unit
Martin Sees Passage
Of House Labor Bill by
More Than 2 to 1
iy the Associated Press
The Senate Labor Committee
today approved provisions of a
general labor bill authorizing
issuance of court injunctions to
block “national paralysis” strikes.
The committee also voted to es
tablish a new Federal mediation
agency, independent of the Labor
Lixicxii.
Immediately before the commit
tee's action was announced, Speak
er Martin forecast that the House
will pass by more than a 2-to-l vote
the strike-curbing bill recommended
by its Labor Committee as its cure
for industrial strife.
Chairman Taft said provisions
of a preliminary draft of the Sen
ate bill covering both the strike
situation and the mediation agency
were approved “substantially with
out change.”
He told reporters no formal vote
was taken.
Discussed at Conference.
Speaker Martin made his predic
tion to reporters after House GOP
members talked over the labor bill
in a party conference.
The bill comes up for debate to
morrow. A two-thirds majority is
necessary to cancel any presiden
tial veto. Speaker Martin said he
"wouldn’t be surprised if it is much
stronger than 2 to 1.”
The Republican conference. - he
said, “appeared to be strongly in
favor” of the bill. He estimated 150
to 175 of the 245 House Republicans
sat in on the meeting.
Before the Republican meeting,
a 19-man majority on the labor
committee declared in a report that
the legislation would protect work
ers from a “despotic tyranny.”
A six-man Democratic minority
contended, however, the bill is “de
liberately designed to wreck the
living standard of the American
people” and to “punish labor.”
Majority and minority views were
made known as the House Rules
Committee cleared the controversial
omnibus labor bill for House action
tomorrow—a.nri pynprtpH nnccacro hv
Friday.
On the other side of the Capitol
Senator Aiken, Republican, of Ver
mont declared Senator Taft had
practiced "high-handed political
bossism" in the handling of labor
legislation by Senate Republicans.
Criticizes Lumping of Curbs.
Senator Aiken’s accusation came
as the Senate Labor Committee,
headed by Taft, gathered in a tense
atmosphere to complete work on its
own labor bill. His criticism was
touched off by a decision of the
Senate Republican membership to
keep the labor legislation tied up in
a single measure.
The House Rules Committee or
dered six hours of general debate,
the equivalent of two days, fol
lowed by unlimited time for consid
eration of amendments if the House
wishes.
But Representative Lesinski of
Michigan, top Democrat on the
House Labor Committee, conceded
thr.t the bill is unlikely to be
changed during debate.
House Labor Committee Repub
licans, with four Southern Demo
crats siding in, said in the ma
jority report that the labor bill
‘‘would be scrupulously fair” to the
(See LABOR, Page A-5.)
Fire Razes Warehouse,
Cuts Phone Cable Lines
By the Associated Press
ABINGDON, Va., April 14.—Fire
earSv today destroyed the Farmers’
Tobacco Warehouse, the cable lines
of the Inter-Mountain Telephone
Co., leading to 41 cities, and a two
Btory residence.
Abingdon firemen estimated the
damage to the warehouse and resi
dence at $100,000.
Because the telephone lines were
destroyed at the outset of the blaze,
Abingdon police had to drive 16
miles to Bristol to obtain' help
from the Bristol (Va.) Fire Depart
ment.
■ k. a
Late News
Bulletins
Daylight Time Bill Delayed
Opponents of Washington's
local option daylight saving
bill today won a two-week1 de
lay in House action on the Sen
ate-passed McGrath bill. The
bill w as not called up for action
today • because opponents
served notice they would make
a point of order against it,
since a quorum of District
Committee members was not
present recently when the bill
was favorably reported.
Liner Elizabeth Aground
SOUTHAMPTON, England
Mb.—A dock official reported
tonight that the Cunard White
Star flagship Queen Elizabeth
was aground on a mud bank
off the entrance to Southamp
ton Harbor. A docks officer
said the liner, inbound from
New York, was upright and in
no danger. Five tugs were sent
to help pull the ship free.
Firearms Curb Passed
The House today passed the
firearms bill giving police the
power to arrest and search
persons they have good reason
to bel eve are carrying deadly
weapons. Also quickly passed
were bills permitting the Juve
nile Court to waive jurisdic
tion in capital cases involving
minors, broadening the room
ing house licensing powers of
the Commissioners and raising
sums involved in grand larceny
cases from $5kto $200. <
f ' '
News Censorship Is Essential
In Russia, Stalin Tells Stassen
bays borne Writers
Depict Government as
'Zoological Garden'
ty the Associated Press
MOSCOW, April 14.—Prime Min
ister Stalin told Harold E. Stassen
in a conference April 9 that some
foreign correspondents when left un
censored “depicted the Soviet gov
ernment as a sort of zoological gar
den" and that as a result “it will be
difficult in our country to dispense
with censorship.”
The former Minnesota Governor,
an aspirant for the Republican pres
idential nomination next year, made
public today the portion of his inter
view wth Mr. Stalin dealing with
the press, but withheld release of
the talk on economics untli an un
specified later time.
Mr. Stassen told reporters he did
not talk with anyone, including Mr.
Stalin, on “current events,” the
Roreign Ministers conference or the
United States foreign policy.
He said he found the generalis
simo “alert" and that his talk was
i carried on in a “forward and direct
: manner.”
Asked about reports of starvation
j in the Ukraine, Mr. Stassen—who
v,_■ -
Urals to Kiev—said:
“I did not see any starvation. My
observation of th emarket places
found foods of the usual type avail
able everywhere. It seems clear
that the toughest time will come
between now and next June when
Electrical Workers |
Given 15c Increase
By General Motors
Union Calls for Health
And Retirement Plan
Still to Be Negotiated
By th* Associated Press
DETROIT, April 14. — An
nouncement of an agreement
between General Motors Corp.
and the United Electrical, Radio
and Machine Workers of Amer*
ica, CIO, providing for a 15-cent
an-hour increase for more than
30,000 employes, was made today
in a joint statement of the cor
poration and the union.
The agreement is effective today,
Under its terms, all wage rates and
classifications of the hourly rated
employes represented by the UE
CIO will be increased by 11 >2 cents
per hour. —
The remainder of the 15 cents :
will be used to cover the cost of six
paid holidays and other economic
items. Assignment of 3 Vi cents ]
holiday pay to meet other economic
issues was one of the original de- '
mands of the union which was '
agreed to in negotiations.
The holidays for which GM will
pay employes,represen ted by UE are
New Year, Memorial Day, July
Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving ,
and Chirstmas.
Negotiations to Continue.
rru- .... 1 j _ _ t_uu
* U UVtllWllU tv tivai VII,
welfare and retirement program
will continue a subject for discus
sion in negotiations. The agree
ment must be ratified by member
ship of the four UE unions in
volved. Under the terms of the
agreement, the International union
must notify General Motors of
ratification by the local member
ship not later than April 21.
The divisions of General Motors
covered by the agreement are
Frigidaire and Delco Products, Day
ton, Ohio; Packard Electric, War
ren, Ohio, and Delco Appliance,
Rochester, N. Y.
The statement Issued by H. W.
Anderson, vice president of General
Motors in charge of personnel, and
James J. Matles, director of organ
ization for the electrical workers,
sMd:
"This agreement settles the eco
nomic issues raised by the UE-CIO
and the new agreement may con
tinue indefinitely unless either or
both of the parties choose to term-_
inate the contract or reopen it for"”
modification. The earliest date upon
which the contract may be reopened
or terminated is April 28, 1948 0 • •.
"This agreement, arrived at
through direct collective bargaining
by the parties, recognizes increased
living costs and the necessity for
maintaining continued, maximum
(See AUTOS7~Page Aj-4J
Italian Teachers Strike
ROME, April 14 (/P).—'The 50,000
teachers of 3,000 Italian interme
diate schools wTent on strike today.
They refused to join the staffs of
primary and secondary schools who
voted Saturday to defer a walkout
until the Italian cabinet had con
sidered their demands for better
salaries.
HAROLD E. STASSEN.
—Star Staff Photo.
the first harvests are available. I
saw no difference in the rationing
of food anywhere in the Soviet
union."
Mr. Stassen said he gave Secretary
of State Marshall an informal de
port on his talks with Mr. Stalin
and Russian Foreign Minister Molo
tov.
Mr. Marshall himself has not seen
Mr. Stalin during the foreign min
isters meeting.
Talking of censorship, Mr. Stassen
commented to Mr. Stalin:
"I feel that if stories came out
(See STASSEN, Page A-4.)
Eisler Again Indicted;
False Statements for
Exit Permit Charged
1945 Application Basis
For New Case Against
German Communist
A Federal grand jury today
indicted Communist Gerhart
Eisler on charges of swearing to
false statements when seeking
to leave the United States in
1945.
Eisler, 54, a German alien who
das been lining in New York, also is
under indictment for contempt of
Congress. That charge was brought
ast February when he refused to
;estify under oath before the House
Committee on Un-American Activ
ties.
Eisler was called before the com-;
nittee after other witnesses de
icrioeo nun as me one-time master
nind of the Communist movement
n the United States.
Today’s indictment, returned be
fore Chief Justice Bolitha J. Laws
n District Court, contained three
sounts. It charges Eisler with con
sealing when he sought an alien
leparture permit from the State
Department in 1945:
1. “That he was a member of the
lommunist party."
2. “That he had * used and was
mown by various aliases.”
3. “The fact he had been in the
Jnited States within the last pre
seding 10'years of the date of the
iffldavit.”
The case was presented to the
p-and jury by Assistant United
States Attorney William Hitz and
lames Mclnerney, special assistant
0 the Attorney General.
Mr. Hitz and United States At
orney George Morris Fay said the
Federal Bureau of Investigation had ;
recovered evidence that the de- ]
fondant was a member of the Ger- •
nan Communist Party, acting as i
1 representative of the Communist ;
Internationale when he entered the i
Jnited States illegally in 1933, and i
igain two years later. ,
Arrangements will be made to ■
lave Eisler arraigned at the earliest
possible date, it was said. He will
x prosecuted by Assistant United
States Attorney Hitz.
The grand jury which returned
oday’s indictment against Eisler
ivas the same one which indicted:
lim in February.
Nickel Meads feuilty
To $780,000 Swindle
ly the Associated Press
NEW YORK, Asrii 14.—William
Arthur Nickel, former cashier for
the Mergenthaler Linotype Co.,
pleaded guilty today to a charge of
a grand larceny in the $780,000
swindle of the company.
Nickel pleaded guilty to 202 counts
of the Indictment which covered 470
counts of grand larceny, forgery and
conspiracy to commit a felony.
The district attorney's office said
Nickel, who was remanded for sen
tencing at an unnamed date, would
become principal State witness
against two co-defendants on trial
with him, and another who was
granted a separate trial.
Reynolds TdkesOffFrom Tokyo
After Refueling at Shanghai
Industrialist, Halfway Around World
In 34 Hours, Hopes to Get Home in 65
BULLETIN
SHANGHAI, April 15 (Tues
day) UP). — The Reynolds
’round-the-world plane landed
at Kaingwan Airfield north of
Shanghai at 1:58 a.m. Chinese
daylight time (11:58 a.m. Mon
day. Eastern standard time).
It took off an hour and 24
minutes later for Tokyo after
refueling.
By the Associated Press
CALCUTTA, April 14.—The
Reynolds Bombshell swept swift
ly toward Shanghai today on the
last half of its world flight, with
its wealthy Chicago owner vow
ing to set a ’round-the-world
record of 65 hours if good for
tune continues.
The converted A-26 bomber made
a perfect landing at this approxi
mately halfway point on the 20,000
mile route today, 33 hours and 55
minutes after leaving New York.
There was a delay of an hour
and 57 minutes and the twin-engine
Bombshell took off at 4:03 pm.
(5:03 am. Eastern standard time)
for Shanghai. The elapsed time:
since leaving New York was 35
hours and 52 minutes.
The unofficial world flight record
of 91 hours and 14 minutes was set
Dy Howard Hughes in 1938.
Milton Reynolds, pen manufac
turer and owner of the sleek craft,
declared:
"Barring accidents, we should
break the record by at least 26
hours. Everything has been going
along all right so far.”
His pilot. William P. Odom of
Roelyn, N. Y„ said he expected to ,
(See REYNOLDS, Page A-5.)
\ - b
Reds Now Ready
To Begin Talks
On Lend-Lease
Soviet Notice Follows
Six U. S. Requests for
Action on Settlement
BULLETIN
MOSCOW OP).—The Council
of Foreign Ministers appar
ently agreed in principle to
night to negotiate a four
power nonaggression treaty on
Germany along the lines of the
40-year pact proposed by
James F. Byrnes.
GROMYKO ASSAILS U. S. tactics
on Greek loan proposal. Page A-6
By the Associated Press
The State Department an
nounced today that Russia, after
six requests, has agreed to begin
negotiations looking toward set
tlement of its $11,100,000,000 war
time lend-lease account with the
United States,
The conversations will be held in
Washington on the return from Mos
cow of Ambassador N. Victor Novi
kov, who has been designated Soviet
The United States will be repre
sented in the discussions by Willard
Thorp, Assistant Secretary of State
for Economic Affairs, and officials of
his office, the announcement said.
After repeatedly ignoring Ameri
can requests for settlement negotia
tions, the Soviet government told
Ambassador Walter B. Smith on
April 5 that it now was prepared to
start discussions.
Russia has requested a $1,000,000,
800 postwar loan from the United
States. A State Department official
told reporters that there was no
reason why this matter could not be
introduced in the lend-lease dis
cussions.
Marshall Asks Naming
Of Aides to Draft Treaty
By th« Associated Press
MOSCOW, April 14.—Secretary!
Df State Marshall proposed to-1
day the immediate appointment!
by the Council of Foreign Min
isters of plenipotentiaries to ne
gotiate a 40-year, four-power
treaty to insure German demili-i
tarizatlon and disarmament. I
The American Secretary proposed
that a provision be included in
;he peace treaty “to bind the Ger
nan state and become the law of
:he land.”
Highly placed informants- said
3en. Marshall had been prepared
to ask the Soviet Union to agree
n principle to the long-range treaty
ind that he would be willing to
leave the details to a commission,
rhe proposal first was advanced a
/ear ago.
Earlier Gen. Marshall, in an
ittempt to speed the work of the
jouncil on procedure, offered two
:ompromises.
Would Arree on Sirninr.
He said he would be agreeable to
he. signing of the treaty by a Ger
nan government if this was in addi
;ion to his original proposal that
icknowledgement of the treaty be
Placed in German’s new constitution.
Gen. Marshal said also that while
he United States still contended
hat all nations at war with Ger
nany should participate in the
>eace conference, he was “prepared
;o agree that the so-called two
hirds recommendation of the con
erence should require not only two
hirds of all the states present but
ilso two-thirds of those states pres
rnd and voting which are enumer
ited in paragraph two of the dep
ities report.”
This paragraph refers to the 18
itates which presented views at the
:onference of deputies in London.
The Soviet Union has been ob
iecting to giving all states equal
powers with the 18 which actually
participated in the war or who are
neighbors of Germany.
Hope *as expressed that Gen.
Marshall’s willingness to negotiate
the details would clear the way at
this time for agreement in prin
ciple. The informants said that
under his new approach, the Amer
icans, as well as the Russians,
French and British could put for
ward proposals for changes in the
suggested 40-year pact as advanced
by former Secretary of State Byrnes.
The treaty was on today’s agenda
(See MOSCOW, Page A-6.)
Pressmen Ordered Back
On St. Louis Papers
ly tH. Associated Press
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., April 14.—1
George L. Berry, president of the;
International Printing Pressmen’s
Union, AFL, told the Knoxville
News-Sentinel today he was direct
ing the St. Louis pressmen’s union
local to see to it thit "the presses of
Tsuiic ppwqnonprq orp nut. tn mil_
Lng immediately.”
A walkout by the pressmen's union
Last night halted publication of two
of St. Louis’ three newspapers, the
Post-Dispatch and the Globe-Dem
ocrat.
‘‘Any walkout of our St. Louis
pressmen is an unauthorized action,”
Mr. Berry declared at his office in
Pressmen’s Rome, Term. “I received
he publishers’ wire only 10 minutes
ago. I am wiring our local organiza
tion to get the papers' presses run
ling at once."
—
Sy th« Associated Press
ST. LOUIS, April 14.—Publication
)f the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and
he Globe-Democrat was halted last
night by a walkout of the AFL
Pressmen's Union.
The Globe-Democrat did not pub
ish its regular four editions and
he Post-Dispatch’s 6 pm. Sunday
nail edition did not go to press.
The pressmen, members of the
3t. Louis Web Printing Pressmen’s
Jnion, are seeking a wage increase
>f $8.90 weekly. They are sched
iled to meet today.
%
if
Thomas Asks Action
Against Wallace by
Justice Department
Cites Law Forbidding
Citizen to Deal With
Foreign Government
BULLETIN
Chairman Thomas of the
House Committee on Un
American Activities said today
the Justice Department has
“no alternative” to taking
legal action against Henry A.
Wallace for statements made
in England. He said the Logan
Act, which forbids any Ameri
can citizen to deal with a
foreign government or its
agents in any way to “defeat
the measures of the Govern
ment of the United States,”
covers Mr. Wallace.
WALLACE DECLARES he Will
speak for peace until end of his
days. Page A-2
By the Asiocioteg Pre««
The White House turned aside
today all questions as to what
President Truman may do about
Henry A. Wallace’s speeches
ibroad criticizing American for
;ign policy.
“No comment," Presidential Sec
retary Charles G. Ross said when
reporters brought the subject up at
his news conference. Bombarded
with further questions, he added:
• “There is no comment on the
Wallace situation in any way, shape
or form.”
An opportunity for Mr. Truman
to talk the matter over informally
with prominent Senators was pre
sented by a Copitcl luncheon. He
arranged to have lunch with a group
Df old Senate acquaintances there
before going to Griffith Stadium to
toss out the first ball for the opening
baseball game.
It is apparent that the develop
ments are confronting Mr. Truman
with the choicp of rra/Urincr Hnmn
on Mr. Wallace, or facing charges
that the administration's foreign
policy isn’t above politics.
Mr. Wallace, highly critical >t
the Presidents Greek-Turkish aid
program, has been roundly criti
cized in Congress for remarks dur
ing his current speaking tour of
England.
Although they didn't put it just
that way, some Republicans made
it plain they will have tittle patience
with talk about bipartisan co-oper
ation if Mr. Truman doesn’t dis
avow the former Vice President de
spite the political effect such a move
might have.
Friends of Senator Vandenberg,
Republican, of Michigan said the
chairman of the Senate Foreign Re
lations Committee will be very dis
appointed if the President doesn’t
act, and soon.
Senator Vandenberg is having his
troubles as it is keeping some of his
Republican colleagues in line for
the President’s program.
Senator Moore. Republican, of
Oklahoma pointed up the Republi
can view with a week-end statement
sayipg it was “unfortunate that the
day prior to Wallace's first speech
(See~FOREIGN~Page A-6.)
Senate Restaurant's Silver Loss
'Horrifies' Appropriations Chief;
Chairman Bridges of the Senate
Appropriations Committee said to
day he was “horrified" to learn that
visitors and others at the Capitol
took away several hundred dollars
worth of silverware from the Senate
restaurant and the Senate Office
Building cafeteria this year.
The disappearance of the knives,
forks and spoons was disclosed by
Capitol Architect David Lynn and
restaurant managers who testified
;hat the loss was “terrific" at the
Senate Office Building eating place,
rhev blamed occupants of the office
auilding for most of the “borrowing."
The committee, continuing its
bearing on the first deficiency bill
passed recently by the House, heard
those officials report an estimated
(65,000 net operating loss by the
3enate restaurants during the cur
rent fiscal year ending June 30. The
jommittee has been asked to author
ize a deficiency allotment of $30,000
in addition to the $35,000 previously
provided to meet the deficit.
Capitol officials testified that ap
proximately $2,000 of the deficit re
suited from loss of silverware and]
breakage of china and glassware.;
They did not have detailed figures
on the amount of silverware which
has been taken away by visitors and
others at the Capitol. But Mr. Lynn
said it was “about 50-50.” He added j
that the loss in silverware might]
therefore amount to approximately]
*1,000.
“It horrifies me to learn that peo- ]'
pie come to the National Capitol and 1
steal silverware," Senator Bridges
exclaimed.
He and other committee members
observed however that “souvenir
hunting” wss a common practice.
Approximately *17,000 of the
*30,000 deficiency request is neces
sary because of salary increases, the
committee was informed. Most of
the remaining money needed re
sulted from increased food costs, and
also from the difficulty in transport
ing cooked food from the Capitol
basement kitchen to the cafeteria in
the office building, the committee
was told.
Antarctic Flagship Docks Here;
Byrd Undecided on U. S. Claim
Forrestal and Nimitz Among 500
Welcoming Explorer and Cruzen
(Pictures on Page A-3.)
The U. S. S. Olympus, flagship
of the Navy’s Antarctica expe
dition, docked at the Naval Gun
Factory today and was greeted
by about 500 persons, including
Secretary of Navy Forrestal and
Admiral Chester W. Nimltz, chief
of naval operations.
First down the gangplank of the
flag-decked ship, amid flashing of
photographers’ lights, were Rear
Admirals Richard E. Byrd and
Richard H. Cruzen, leaders of the
four and a half month exploration
of South Polar regions.
Later, at a press conference on
board ship, Admiral Byrd told re
porters that he has never asked the
State Department to make territor
ial claims based on. any of his ex
peditions and that he was undecid
ed as to whether he would do so in
connection with this last trip.
Admiral Byrd and Admiral Cru
zen, task force commander, wire
congratulated with a “job well done"
by Mr. Forrestal directly after they
were piped ashore at 10 a.m. Ad
miral Nimitz followed with his con
gratulations.
Explored More Territory.
The expedition explored more
Antarctic territory than the previ
ous four expeditions, Admiral Byrd
said.
As to claims, he asserted:
“I have never officially requested
the Sta|e Department to make any
claims as the result of explorations.
It is my impression that the State j
Department has not gone into thisi
matter sufficiently, possibly because)
I made no such requests. I don’t!
(See BYRD, Page A-3.)
Supreme Court Denies
Gl's Seniority Rights
After Year on Old Job
7-2 Ruling Handed Down
In Appeal by UAW and
Cincinnati Trailer Firm
Ey the Associated Press
The Supreme Court held. 7;
to 2, today that the Selective
Service Act does not guarantee
a veteran’s preferred seniority
on his old job after one year.
The court majority took the po
sition that after a year the veteran
loses such protection from the Se
lective Service Act as gave him pre
ferred standing during that year
over employes not veterans but
having identical seniority rights at j
the time he returned to his job.
nnm nta p Vtanr#1 An on onnanl :
in which it was contended that the
veterans lost all preferred rights
after passage of one year on his old
job. However, the Supreme Court
decision did not go that far.
Justice Rutledge delivered the
court's decision. Justice Jackson
dissented and was joined by Jus
tice Frankfurter.
The ruling was given on an appeal
by the CIO United Automobile
Workers and the 1 railmobile Co. of
Cincinnati, from a decision by the
United States Circuit Court in Cin
cinnati which held that a veteran's
pre-service seniority rights extend
VSetT COURT, Page A-5.)
Ellender Considering
Governorship, Aide Says
Senator Ellender, Democrat, of
Louisiana is considering running,for
Governor of Louisiana, one of his
aides said today.
Gilbert J. Fortier, administrative
assistant, added that Senator Ellen
der intends to make a dfecision in
‘‘the very near future.” Senator
Ellender was not available for
comment.
Schwellenbach Calls
Phone Union Leaders
For Parley on Strike
Workers' Policy Group
Believed Studying Move
To Ask Truman's Aid
Secretary of Labor Schwellen
bach today called In telephone
union strike leaders for a con
ference, but the Labor Depart
ment had no comment on
whether a new proposal might
be in the air.
Shortly before noon Joseph A.
Beirne, president of the National
Federation of Telephone Workers,
left a meeting with the union Policy
Committee at the Statler Hotel and
beaded for Mr. Schwellenbach's
Dffice.
With him were John J. Moran,
president of the American Union of
Telephone Workers, and John J.
Crull, chairman of the union Bar
gaining Committee.
It was believed that the 49-man
Policy Committee was discussing the
idvisability of asking President Tru
man to step into the eight-day-old
telephone tieup, as an early settle
ment appeared more remote than
ever.
Steelman Taking No Action.
Before the Policy Committee met,
Charles G. Ross, White House press
secretary, told questioners that the
strike still is entirely in the Labor
Department's hands. He added that
John R. Steelman, presidential as
sistant and an ace conciliator in
past strikes, is taking no action.
TT-ia union thrAct-AnAH to kaaIt Mp
Truman’s assistance last week in a
memorandu mto Mr. Schwellenbach
unless American Telephone & Tele
graph Co. officials agreed to talk
terms on an industry-wide level.
With both administration and
union leaders opposing seizure of
the vast telephone network, it was
believed Mr. Beirne would urge Mr.
Truman to bring the A. T. & T. and
the union face-to-face for the first
time since contract negotiations
began.
Union Claims Improved Position.
Meanwhile, the union claimed its
position was better at- the start of
the second week than when the
strike began last Monday. Carle
on Werkau, national strike direc
tor, said reports indicated at least
125,000 workers were off the job.
In addition, they had the moral
support of CIO Organization Di
rector Allan S. Haywood, who
iromised "effective co-operation”
'rom the CIO. including a pledge
lot to Jross picket lines.
In a statement released from
strike headquarters, Mr. Werkau
"TseeTELEPHONE, Page A-4~T~
Congress Group Lands
In Athens on Way Home
Ey the Associated Press
ATHENS, April 14.—Four Amerl
;an Senators and six House members
who attended the Interparliamen
tary Union Conference in Cairo ar
rived here today from Turkey, en
route home.
The delegation planned to take off
tomorrow in an Army C-54 transport
plane for Rome and Paris. They
expected to reach Washington by
Wednesday.
Nats' Opener
With Yankees
Is Rained Out
Ceremonies Delayed
Until New York
Returns Friday
BULLETIN
The opening major league
baseball game between the
Nationals and the Yankees was
postponed because of rain to
day. The pregame ceremonies
will be held when New York
returns for a series here Fri
day. The Nats are scheduled
to play in the Red Sox opener
In Boston tomorrow.
By Francis E. Stann
Undaunted by leaden, dripping
skies that forced cancellation of
batting practice by both teams,
thousands of Washington base
ball fans poured into Griffith
Stadium today in hopes that
rain would not postpone the
first major league game of 1947
between the Nationals and New
York Yankees.
Two hours before game time the
bleacher section, which seats 6,500
spectators, was two-thirds filled by
fans holding umbrellas and huddled
In topcoats and raincoats, all con
fident, as was President Clark
Griffith, that the drizzle would halt
and baseball's greatest show would
go on.
Despite the somber day the ball
park glistened in its new coat of
paint, fresh signs and bunting. Long
before the scheduled arrival of
President Truman and his paHy,
press and movie cameramen were
jockeying for best positions in front
of the Chief Executive’s box, digna
taries galore were expected to at
tend despite the weather. The
Senate recessed for. the occasion.
Tarpaulin Over Infield.
A giant tarpaulin which covered
the infield was left on the ground,
depriving early-comers of the pre
game batting drills. While the Nats
were holding a closed .meeting, the
Yankees came on the field at 1:15
o’clock, huddled in their dugout for
a few minutes, and walked back to
the warmth of their dressing room.
Not a btfll was thrown.
If today’s game was postponed the
Washington opener will be held Fri
day afternoon against the Yankees,
The Nats will leave tonight for Bos
ton to help the Red Sox raise their
curtain tomorrow.
Floyd Bevens, while a 16 game
winner in 1946, was a surprise pitch
ing nominee for the Yanks, but
there had been little doubt about
the appointment of Bobo Newsom
by Nat Manager Ossie Bluege. The
big South Carolinian has been clam
oring for the assignment for weeks
and he recommends himself because
of an opening game he pitched 11
years against the Yankees.
Bobo Revived and Won.
Newsom was the principal char
acter in one of the most'dramatic
curtain-raisers in history when he
shut out New York, in 1936, with
four hits after having been painfully
Injured by a hard throw by Bluege,
then playing third base. The ball
struck Newsome behind the right
ear and all but knocked him uncon
sclpus, but Bobo was revived to re
bum aiiU VTUl UViUi V- ™ » VO*
dent Roosevelt.
Mr. Truman observed an old cus
tom by lunching with Senate cro
nies and other friends before head?
ing for the stadium.
Federal Trade Commissioner Lo
well Mason was host.
During the luncheon the President
joined in the fun as Senator White,
Republican, of Maine, was presented
a clay “Oscar" for guessing nearest
to the score of last year’s initial con
test between Boston and Washing
ton. The figure, a caricature of a
ballplayer, was modeled by students
of the Corcoran School of Art. At
torney General Clark, the previous
winner, made the presentation.
In accepting Owner Clark Grif
fith's Invitation to throw out the
first ball, President Truman was
perpetuating a custom which began
in 1910, when William Howard
Taft unleased a pregame pitch and
settled back to watch the late Wal
ter Johnson hurl a one-hit shutout
over the Athletics to win, 3 to 0.
In 36 opening games here since
there have been 13 shutouts, John
son winning six and Alvin Crowder
and Newsom one each for Wash
ington.
Mr. Truman so far has not been
a "lucky President” for the Nats,
who were vanquished a year ago
by the Boston Red Sox in a game in
which Ted Williams hit a 440-foot
home run. Luckiest of all Chief
Executives was Woodrow Wilson,
who tossed three opening pitches
and saw Washington win each time.
President Roosevelt, who threw the
(See BASEBALL, Page A-27T
Stocks Plunge $1 to $7
On Heavy Selling Wave
ly th« Associated Press
NEW YORK, April 14.—stocks
dived to new lows since last No
vember in today’s market with heavy
around $7 a share.
The high-speed ticker tape was a
minute late for a brief interval.
There were subsequent slowdowns
then activity stepped up as virtually
ill departments resumed the retrer t
Early liquidation was attributed
partly to bearishness over complex
labor situations, taxes, business
prospects and foreign affairs Re
covery tendencies followed an
nouncement that General Motors
tiaa reached an agreement with the
slectricalunion on a 15-cent hourly
w*8e boost for some 30,000 employes.
B ritislTBatHeshfp Runs
Into Submarine in Fog
»T »h# Anociatad Pros*
®n8,and, April 14.—
British battleship
Neton MUided with the submarina
"Ported as slight and there
*ere no casualties.