Evening star. [volume], May 20, 1948, Image 1

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

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Hospital Shelled
In Jerusalem,
Jews Charge
Arabs Also Fire on
Hebrew University,
Defenders Declare
By the Associated Press
CAIRO. May 20.—The battle
for Jerusalem roared on today.
A Jewish communique said the
Arabs were shelling the Hebrew
University and the Hadassah
Hospitals, strongpoints held by
the Army of Israel.
Dispatches from inside Jeru
salem's walled Old City reported
King Abdullah's Trans-Jordan Arab
Legion and Arab volunteers by last!
night had battered more than half
way through the southern Jewish
quarter behind heavy bombardment.
Outside the walls, the Arabs cleared
Jews from the north, east and south
sectors of modern Jerusalem and
struck deeply into the western
sector.
Egypt announced her troops In
Southern Palestine occupied the
Arab town of Beersheba, southern
most limit of the Holy Land of
Bible days. The Defense Ministry
said Egyptian troops in a 10-hour
battle captured the fortified Jewish I
settlement of Deir.Suneid, guarding
the road to Tel Aviv.
Jewish Base for Supplies.
Deir Suneid is about 7 miles north
of Arab Gaza, commanding the
road and railway to Tel Aviv. The
Egyptians said the strongly fortified
settlement was a base for supplying
other Jewish defenses in Southern
Palestine. The settlement is 15
miles south of the Jewish-claimed j
portion of the coastal plain and 28
miles south of Tel Aviv.
The Cairo Ministry said that in
the northward drive up the coastal
plain the Egyptians also seized Beit
Hanun. 5 miles northeast of Gaza.
It is described as “one of the strong
est points in the operational the-,
ater.”
In the north, the Jewish army
»iaid one of its raiding forces struck
across the Jordan River in the Lake
Hula region, destroying a military
supply camp of the Syrian army
within Syria. The attack took place
Tuesday, the announcement in Tel
Aviv said, adding:
"Companies of the Syrian army
were stationed at the camp. Thev
were equipped with heavy armored
cars, artillery and a quantity of va
rious arms. Our forces penetrated ;
into the camp and. after fierce fight- j
ing. drove the enemy out. Huts were '
blown up. tents set afire, armored j
cars and field guns destroyed.”
Tel Aviv Raided Again.
A Damascus communique said
Syrians threw1 back a Jewish coun-!
terattack Tuesday and Wednesday.
in the Galilee area. It said Syrian
artillery destroyed fortifications at
Sha'ar Hagolan and Masada in two
battles in which the Jews lost 30
dead, including a major. The towns
are about 2 milps south of the Sea
of Galilee, near the Syrian frontier
Tel Aviv came under air attack
for the sixth straight day. Tw'o1
persons were injured.
The Jewish army headquarters
announced in Tel Aviv that, "in
Jerusalem heavy shelling by the
Arab Legion on the Hadassah Hos- <
pital and the Hebrew University
was heard in the late hours of the
night."
Dispatches from Jerusalem last:
night said the Jewish army at that
time held the two points, sur
rounded by machinegun nests, on
Mount Scopus. The advices said
neither point flew the Red Cross
flag and that the Arabs had warned
the places would be shelled unless f
the machineguns were cleared out.
An Arab official estimated Jewish j
strength in Jerusalem at 8.000. but
said only 400 Jewish fighters held
out inside the Old City. Their:
positions were bombarded for
is hours yesterday, the dispatches
said. I
Emergency Is Declared
By Israel Prime Minister
TEL AVIV. Israel. May 20 (4>>.— \
Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion
has decreed a state of emergency |
in Israel.
The decree was read by Mr. Ben
Gurion at last night's session of
the provisional Parliament. It em
powers each minister in the new
state to order emergency regula
tions necessary for Israel's security.
Parliament also authorized the
government to organize land, air
and sea forces, thus creating a legal
base for transforming Hagana. the
(See ISRAEL, Page A-3.)
69 Jews on U. x ihip
Arrested by Lebanon
By tH# Associated Press
BEIRUT. Lebanon, May 20.—The
Eovernment announced today that
69 Zionists en route to Palestine
aboard the American ship Marine
Carp were arrested and sent to a
concentration camp.
A communique said the 69 were
arrested because they were able to
bear arms.
A Jewish source said earlier at
Haifa that Lebanese^ authorities
boarded the American'ship yester
day and forcibly landed the Jews,
some of them American citizens.
The informant said more than 100
armed Arabs boarded the ship,
which was en route to Israel. Fifty
one passengers, mainly old men.
women and children, continued on
the voyage to Haifa.
The removal of 69 Palestine
bound Jews from the American ves
sel at Beirut was carried out over
objections of the American Min
ister there, the State Department
said today.
Department officials said, how
ever, that additional information is
being awaited before a decision is
made on a formal protest to the
Lebanese goevrnment.
Lowell Pinkerton. American Min
!stei at Beirut, said he entered
strong objections to any rem fel
of the passengers. 1
Senate Hearings on Mundt Bill,
But No Early Action, Promised
Taft Skeptical of House-Approved Red-Curb
Measure, but Suggests 'Serious Study'
(House Roll Call on Page A-2.)
By the Associated Pres*
Senate Republican leaders to
day promised discussion—but no
early action—on the anti-Com
munist bill passed by the House
by a 319-to-58 vote.
Chairman Wiley of the Senate
Judiciary Committee told a reporter
there "certainly” will be hearings
on the measure sponsored by Repre
sentatives Mundt, Republican, of
South Dakota and Nixon, Repub
lican, of California.
It is designed to curb Communist
Party activities as a "clear and pres
ent danger” to the United States.
The Mundt-Nixon bill says an
international Communist movement
is plotting to set up a dictatorship
in this country through Moscow
controlled organizations. It tabs
the Communist Party here as one
of such controlled groups.
With stiff fines and imprisonment,
the measure makes it illegal to try
to create a foreign-controlled dic
tatorship in this country.
Senator Taft of Ohio, who heads
the Republican Policy Committee,
said he thinks the measure needs
"serious study” before the Senate
acts on it.
“As I read the bill,” Senator Taft
said, “it requires the registration of
anybody who is trying to set up a
dictatorship. But that would be an
admission of what becomes a crime
under the bill. So there would be
no registration. I'm afraid it w:ould
merely drive - Communists under
ground.”
On the other hand. Senator Fer
guson, Republican, of Michigan, a
Judiciary Committee member, said
he thinks the measure makes any
subversive activity of a Communist
a crime.
“I think it will cope with a situa
tion we are facing, if we actually
enforce it,” he said. “We already
have laws on this point, but I think
we have fallen down in enforcing
them and I'm willing to take this
new step.”
Senator Kilgore, Democrat, of
West Virginia, another committee
member, said he doesn’t like the
‘SeeMUNDT BILL7Page A-5.)
America and Russia
Deadlocked Again on
Move for Peace Talk
Moscow Standing Firm in
Demand That Negotiations
Be on Two-Power Basis
By the Associated Press
The peace exchange between
Russia a.id the United States
appears today to be hardening
into the same kind of deadlock
that has blocked progress on al^
other issues involving the two]
great powers.
Moscow's latest declaration — a
Tass News Agency dispatch evi
dently reflecting official Soviet views
—represents the Soviet Union as
standing firm in its insistence that \
any negotiations undertaken should
be on a two-power basis, covering i
a range of subjects from atomic1
energy to human rights.
1'. S. Wants Agencies Used.
By contrast. Secretary of State
Marshall has made clear that any
settlements which Russia is pre
pared to reach on major issues
njust be sought through the United
Nations, the Council of Foreign
Ministers or other international j
agencies which have been grappling |
with these issues for the past two
years or more.
American officials incline more
and more to the attitude that, as
one highly placed authority put it,1
Russia is embarked on a "cynical
attempt" to build up world hopes
for more peaceful relations between
East and West. Actually, they!
maintain, the Soviets are unwilling ,
to make the practical compromises
essential to real improvements. I
There still is speculation here,!
however, that the State Department
may yet send another note on the
situation to the Kremlin.
The purpose of this action would
be to ask Soviet Foreign Minister
Molotov what specific proposals his
government has in mind for settling
outstanding difficulties along the
lines laid down by Gen. Marshall.
Norway, Denmark Ask Arms.
Meanwhile, it was learned that j
Norway and Denmark, both targets;
of recent Soviet press criticism, have1
asked the American Government for
military equipment to strengthen
their security. They want mainly
“(See RUSSIAN, Page A-fkj
Symphony Plans Season |
Of 4 Weeks at Water Gate
The National Symphony Orches
tra has definitely decided to give
four weeks of concerts at the Water:
Gate this summer, it was learned
today.
A symphony official said formal
announcement of the series will be
made at the symphony associa
tion's annual meeting, at 5 p.m.
today, at the Willard Hotel.
The decision was made despite
the fact that an underwriting fund j
of $15,000 still is about $3,900 short!
of its goal, the official said. The;
concerts will be planned in the
hope that the full amount will be
raised, he added.
The fund-raising w'as undertaken
by the Cultural Development Com
mittee of the Board of Trade, in
co-operation with the symphony
association and Radio Station
WTOP, which will broadcast four
of the concerts. The opening con
cert probably will be July 4.
Joint Congress Action
On Move to Strengthen
U. N. Appears Likely
House Group Fails to
Agree on Its Course
At Morning Session
By J. A. O'Leary
Joint action by both branches
of Congress before adjournment
to strengthen the United Na
tions organization appeared
likely today although the House
Foreign Affairs Committee failed
to reach a decision on the form
of its recommendations at a
meeting this morning.
The Senate Foreign Relations
Committee gave unanimous approval
yesterday to its own six-point im
provement formula, but Chairman
Vandenberg expressed willingness to
see the two branches act concur
rently if the House Committee goes
on record for a similar resolution.
Chairman Eaton of the House
Committee said his group is consid
ering combining its statement of
policy on how to improve U. N. with
the bill authorizing a $65,000,000
appropriation to erect the new
United Nations home in New York
City. The site for the building has
been donate by John D. Rocke
feller, jr.
The Vandenberg proposal asks
the Senate to "advise" the President
that it favors efforts to bolster the
U. N. within the present charter.
Only as a last resort would the reso
lution advocate calling a general
world conference to revise the
charter.
Two Lines of Action.
The bolstering would take two
general directions: First, trying to
obtain voluntary agreements to cur
tail the veto powder and to get the
international police force contem
plated originally; second, to encour
age regional agreements, within the
charter, by which the United States
would join with like-minded nations
for mutual aid and security.
Being merely ••advisory," the sep
arate resolutions would have no
force of law. The building fund
measure, however, must take the
form of a law.
There are reports the House com
mittee may consider writing into
the Building Fund Act a general
statement of its views on strength
ening the U. N. organization, instead
of passing a separate resolution.
Binding Provisions Unlikely.
Even if this course should be fol
lowed, however, the references to
U. N. procedure probably would
take the form of an advisory pre
amble. rather than binding pro
visions, because of the constitu
tional argument that Congress can
not direct the President on how
to carry on negotiations with for
eign governments.
Both houses are expected to make
it clear, however, as the Senate
committee did yesterday, that these;
U N. improvement declarations are
not commitments, and that any re
gional agreements entered into with
other democracies for mutual aid
and defense would have to be rati
fied on Capitol Hill after the nego
tiation stage is passed.
Although the Senate committee
acted unanimously, there were early
indications the Senate as a whole
is not in complete accord on the
value of regional agreements as
a means of preserving peace.
Senator Dworshak, Republican, of
Idaho said a system of regional
'See CHARTER, Page A-5.i
Troops Patrol
Meat Plant After
Picket Is Slain
500 Iowa Guardsmen
With Fixed Bayonets
Clear Away Strikers
By the Associated Press
WATERLOO, Iowa, May ZO.—
National Guardsmen, who moved
into the area with fixed bayonets
shortly before dawn, patrolled
the Rath Packing Co. plant to
day after CIO Packing House
Workers rioted when one of their
pickets was shot to death last
evening.
Under protection of upward of 500
Guardsmen, a group of 150 non
striking workers isolated in the big
independent packing plant when
the rioting began were able to go
to their homes.
Relative quiet prevailed at the
scene where tumult had broken out
for two hours last night after Picket
William J. Farrell, 40, of Waterloo
was killed by a pistol blast from a
nonstriking worker’s car which
pickets had stopped at the plant
entrance.
Woman Picket Wounded.
A woman picket was wounded in
the shoulder, apparently by the
same bullet that killed Mr. Farrell.
Martial law was not proclaimed.
As Guardsmen took over under
direction of civil authorities a group
of about 50 pickets retreated before
the advancing soldiers. They
shouted jibes but offered no resist
ance and gathered in a cluster about
a block away where others joined
them as the day wore on.
Road blocks were set up on streets
leading to the plant. Half tracks
and jeeps patrolled the area.
The Guardsmen were directed to
enforce court orders restricting
strike activities in the plant area.
To relieve tension the Rath plant
shut down its limited operations for
today and the man held in the slay
ing was removed to a secret place.
Union officials using loud speakers
joined with 60 peace officers in
quelling the disorder which erupted
after Mr. Farrell was felled by a
gunshot which police said came from
the car of a nonstriking worker.
Pickets had stopped the car as it
approached the plant entrance.
County Attorney Blair Wood said
the shot was fired by Fred Lee
Roberts, 55-year-old Negro from
nearby Dunkerton. Mr. Wood said
that Roberts, father of nine chil
dren, would be charged with mur
der. Sheriff Wagner said Roberts
was in custody at an undisclosed
location as a precaution against
possible mob violence.
30 Cars Turned Over.
Mr. Wood said Roberts told him
he tried to shoot into the ground
to “scare off pickets who were
threatening to turn my car over
and who were yelling ‘Kill the jig.’ ”
In the wake of the shooting a
plant fence was torn down, nearly
30 cars of nonstriking Rath workers
were upset on a parking lot and
rocks were hurled through windows
of the overturned vehicles.
As the disorders boiled rapidly out
of control and a crowd of upwards
of 3.000 persons surged around the
plant entrance, Sheriff Wagner sent
an emergency call to Gov. Robert
D. Blue for troops.
The Governor at once directed
guard headquarters to deploy
troops to Waterloo and Col. Ralph
Lancaster, assistant adjutant gen
eral, said “upwards of 500’’ men
were being sent.
The Governor stressed that the
troops were directed to aid civil
authorities in protecting life and
property and that martial law was
not being proclaimed.
Approximately 4.500 CIO-UPWA
workers at the independent Rath
plant have been on strike since
March 16 and settlement negotia
(See WATERLOO, Page A-5.)
Alcoholic Clinic Put
In Health Department
The District, alcoholic clinic, set
up under the Hebert Act, will oper
ate under the District Health De
partment. the Commissioners an
nounced today.
They rejected proposals to place
the clinic directly under their own
jurisdiction.
These proposals were advanced
January 29 by the Citizens' Advi
sory Committee, which also was cre
ated under terms of the Hebert Act.
in their first report.
Col. E. Goring Bliss, chairman of
the committee, who presented the
report to the Commissioners at that
time, pointed out that under the act
the director of the clinic will report
diiectly to the Commissioners and
concluded that to place the clinic
under another office would be to
divide its authority.
Both Parties See Victory in House Ball Game
Affairs in the House of Re
presentatives virtually were at a
standstill, political observers re
ported. on the eve of the annual
baseball game between Demo
crats end Republicans tomorrow
night in Griffith Stadium. It
seems the Democrats were not
speaking to Republicans, and
vice versa.
An honest-to-goodness rhu
barb wa.s developing over the
technicality of which side will
have the home team's privileges
tomorrow night.
"The Republicans may sit in
the home dugout," announced
Manager Dick Richards of the
Democrats. "But we're going to
have last bats." And Mr. Richards
spoke in his severest I'm-nQt
fooling-tcne.
"Another thing, he continued,
"what's this talk about Judge
Howell playing first base for
them? It’s unconstitutional.
The judiciary, legislative and
executive branches are separated
by law. and I know how the
Republicans are always looking
for loopholes. But this time
they're not going to get away
with it. If they want to us^.
1 judges we can, too. There art
more Democrats than Republi
cans on the bench, but we think
this game should be restricted to
active members of the House.”
Manager Runt Bishop of the
Republicans did not seem dis
turbed by the opposition's out
burst.
“Same old stalling tactics the ,
Democrats have used for years.”
he observed. "They think they’ll
rattle us, but we re too experi
enced to fall for that dodge.
They'd better bat first tomorrow
night, or they may not get a
chance to bat at all. It may be
a half-inning game if we get
hot the first time up.”
Bishop announced thql his
j aquad is as fit as the projfrblal I
bullflddle, accenting fiddle and
predicted the Republicans will
win in a landslide.
“It'll be almost as bad as next
November.” he declared. “The
—iSee BAlZTGAMErPage A-47)
Tickets for Ball Game
On Sale at Stadium
All tickets for the Congres
sional Ball Game, remaining
unsold at 1 p.m. tomorrow, will
be taken to Griffith Stadium,
where they will go on sale at
the regular box office.
There are plenty of general
admission seats available at SI
each, including tax, and a good
supply of upper-stand boxes at
S2 each, including tax.
Reserved seats, excepting in
right and left fields, are all
gone, and most of the lower
stand boxes are solo.
Sale will continue in the
lobby of The Star Building
until 1 p.m. tomorrow, and a
few tickets are still in the
hands of Representative Coffin
and Representative Stigler in
the House Office Building. •
JW
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ornurnT
What's Sauce for the Goose Is Sauce for the Gander
Any Amendments by Senate
Could Mean Death of Oleo Bill
Parliamentary Situation Is Such That House
Might Have to Get 218 to Sign Petition Again
By Chalmers M. Roberts
A new pitfall awaits the House
approved Rivers oleomargarine
tax repeal bill if the Senate adds
any amendments, it was learned
today.
| It conceivably could force the
House once more to go through the
laborious job of signing up 218
j members to a petition to again dis
I charge the Agriculture Committee,
which originally bottlenecked the
bill.
This is the situation:
I The House-approved bill Is before
the Senate Finance Committee and
is expected to be reported out in a
few days. The committee also is
expected to add an amendment, de
manded by Senator Taft. Republi
can, of Ohio, and several other
members, to make sure customers in
public eating places ' • told when
they are being served argarine in
stead of butter.
I House sponsors of the bill do not
UPWA Keeps Flaxer
As President; Eldean
New Vice President
Ewart Guinier Elected
Secretary-T reasurer;
Weinstein Wins Again
BULLETIN
ATLANTIC CITY (Special!.
—The convention of the CIO
United Public Workers of
America today re - elected
Abram Flaxer as president.
Roy Eldean, a post office em
ploye from Chicago, was elect
ed vice president. He is a
newcomer to the union’s top
leadership. Another newcomer,
Ewart Guinier of New York,
was elected , secretary-treas
urer. Robert Weinstein was
re-elected director of organi
zation.
By Joseph Young
Star Staff Correspondent
ATLANTIC CITY, N. J., May
20.—In a surprise move, the CIO
United Public Workers of Amer
ica apparently has decided to
drop a number of its top officials
so the union can comply, if
necessary, with provisions of
the Keefe Red rider now pend
ing in Congress.
Insiders say that five of the
unions six vice presidents will be
dropped from the list of officers.
One or two other changes are ex
pected when UPWA holds its elec
tion of officers today at the con
cluding session of its biennial con
vention here.
Abram Flaxer will retain the top
job of president, it was sa'd. Union
officials say Mr. Flaxer, if necessary,
can sign the non-Communist affi
davit required by the House
approved Keefe amendment. The
rider would force the dismissals of
all Federal workers whose union
officials do not sign non-Communist
affidavits.
New Set Up of Officials.
Under the new setup, there will
only be one vice president, along
with Mr. Flaxer, and a secretary
treasurer and director of organiza
tion. Those elected will be able to
sign the non-Communtst affidavit,
it was said.
The proposed shakeup in UPWA's
leadership apparently bars the pos
sibility that the Federal employer'
branch of the union will break away
right now and form a separate or
ganization. The union’s Executive
Board, however, will be given au
thority to take any action that may >
be deemed necessary in the future.
The “Build the Union” Committee,
anti-left-wing faction of the UPWA,
announced officially today that it
was leaving UPWA to form an
other Government employes union.
BUC people here said their new
organization would be pert of an
other CIO union. They did not
name the union because they said
final negotiations had not been com
pleted.
However, it is understood that
tContinued on Page A-2,Tol. 2.)
oppose tne amendment as sucn.
But they are alarmed over the
parliamentary situation which
would result if the Rivers bill is
passed by the Senate with this
amendment, or with any other
amendment.
Under House procedure, such a
bill goes to the Speaker's table from
which it is brought up by unani
mous consent, either to have the
Senate amendment agreed to at
once (which would send the bill
to the White House) or to disagree
and ask for a conference of the two
Houses.
But margarine backers in the
House fear that their opponents
feel so bitter on the subject that
they will not permit the bill to be
brought up by unanintous consent.
A single member of the 435 in the
House can stop this procedure.
If this should happen, the repeal
backers could go to the House Rules
Committee and ask for a rule to
(See OLEO, Page A-5.)
Home Rule Report Due
By House Group Today
After Revival of Bill
Favorable Action Seen;
Pigeon-Holing Threat
Brings Quick Response
By Don S. Warren
Favorable action by the House
Rules Committee on the Auchin
closs bill for an elected and re
organized District government is
expected to be taken this after
noon.
i The bill was regarded as “dead”
late yesterday, when the Rules Com
mittee for the third time laid it
aside. Within an hour, however, it
had i gained new stature and pre
dictions were made from both Re
publican and Democratic ranks that
it would get a “go ahead" signal.
The threat that th.e bill might be
pigeon-holed in the Rules Com
mittee stirred advocates to so much
effective foot work that within an
hour there were predictions that all
was well.
Chairman Allen of the Rules Com
mittee, who favors sending the bill
to the House under the rule barring
filibustering, announced that the
committee would take the question
up again at a midafternoon session
today. House leaders indicated the
bill, once out of the Rules Com
mittee. would be put on the House
calendar for next Monday.
The bill still faced the question
of a committee quorum. The com
7See"lHOME RULE, Page A-5.1
Siam Publisher, Critic
Of Regime, Is Wounded
By the Associated Press
BANGKOK, Siam, May 20—Suri
Thongwanitch, newspaper publisher
and outspoken critic of the Siamese
government, was shot and critically
wounded last night as he stepped
into a jeep at the doorway of his
home.
A gunman, who had been waiting
outside, shot the editor through
the Dack of the head. His condition
today was critical.
His newspaper, the Voice of the
Siamese, has strongly attacked the
military influence in Siamese pol
itics.
Bulletins
Hawaii Bill Killed
Hawaiian statehood virtual
ly was killed for this year in
the Senate today. The test
came on a motion to force the
bill onto the floor from the In
sular Affairs Committee. It
failed on a roll-call vote, 51
to 20.
(Earlier Story on Page A-2.)
Liquor Ad Bill Killed
.The Senate Commerce Com
mittee today killed a bill to
regulate liquor advertising. By
a 6-to-5 vote, it rejected a pro
posal to amend the Federal
Trade Commission Act to
brand certain types of liquor
advertising as “mia&ading.” i
President Arrives
In Philadelphia for
Speech at Girard
Remarks to Teen-Age
Students at Boys' School
Will Be Broadcast
By Joseph A. Fox
Star Staff Correspondent
PHILADELPHIA, May 20.—
President Truman arrived here
at noon today to take part in
the centennial observance of
Girard College, famed school for
boys, where he speaks late this
afternoon.
A good-sized crowd applauded the
President when his special train
pulled into the Pennsylvania’s Thir
j tieth Street Station, but one of the
sights that greeted him as his car
drove away was a group of 'teen
age boys carrying a huge sign
which started off, "We Want Tru
man,” but ended with “to Nom
inate Eisenhower.”
Gov. James H. Duff of Pennsyl
vania and Mayor Bernard Samuels
of Philadelphia, both Republicans,
met the President at the station,
with President Merle M. Odgers
of Girard. Earlier, at Chester. Pa.,
the President had been joined by
Senator Myers, Democrat, Penn
sylvania.
The brief ride from the station
to the college did not give many
Pniladelphians a chance to see the
President, who rode barehanded in
an open car. But those living along
the route turned out, and many
of the homes displayed flags.
, Receives Statuette.
There was another crowd at the
! entrance to the spacious grounds
of the college. Some young Negroes
tnere carried placards reading
"Down Jim Crow at Girard College,”
a demonstration prompted by the
fact that the school admits only
w hite boys.
A reception at Dr. Odgers’ home
was the first item on the President's
program. There he received a
bronze statuette of Stephen Girard.
French-born merchant and banker
who left his fortune to found the
school here for poor boys of wid
owed mothers. The presentation
was made by James P. Rabbitt, 16.
one of the students. The statuette
was cast at the mechanical school
ot the college, whose 1,300 pupils
range in age from 6 to IS years.
The President speaks at 5:05 p.m.
The talk will be extemporaneous
and will be broadcast.
In Mr. Truman's party was an
old friend. Horace Deal. St. Louis
(See TRUMAN. Page A-4.1
Barkley and Rayburn
Get Convention Posts
BULLETIN
PHILADELPHIA (^.—Demo
cratic leaders today selected
Senator Barkley of Kentucky
as. keynoter for their July 12
national convention. Repre
sentative Rayburn of Texas
was named permanent chair
man.
By th* Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA. May 20—Lead
ers of the Democratic Party's cam
paign strategy board gathered here
today to select a keynoter and per
manent chairman for the July 12
national contention.
Senator Barkley of Kentucky has
been mentioned mast prominently
for the post of keynoter or tempo
rary chairman. The 70-year-old
Kentuckian, considered a compro
mise figure in the internal Demo
cratic squabble over civil rights, was
keynoter at the 1932 and 1936 con
ventions and was permanent chair
man in 1940.
High Democratic sources have in
dicated they feel certain Represent
ative Rayburn of Texas will be
chosen permanent chairman. Mr.
Rayburn, former House Speaker and
now minority leader, has come out
against President Trumans civil
rights program.
Pennsylvania's Senator Myers also
has been mentioned for the post of
keynoter. Senator Kilgore of West'
Virginia called at the White House
yesterday to seek presidential in
dorsement of the Pennsylvanian.
Senator Kilgore told reporters "the
President said he was leaving all
that matter of organization to the
Executive Committee and to the
national chairman. Senator J. How
ard McGrath.” - l
Still Time Left
For Coal Talks,
Lewis Insists
UMW Chief 'Deplores'
Idea That Strike Is
Inevitable June 30
By James Y. Newfon
Asserting that there is still
time to establish “constructive
wage negotiations,” John L. Lewis
said today he “deplores” talk
that a new coal strike is in
evitable June 30 when the pres
ent United Mine Workers' con
tract expires.
The UMW leader made that state
ment at a news conference while a
substantial group of the soft coal
operators were considering resuming
negotiations with him. Formal
talks about a new contract collapsed
yesterday.
The operators are considering
sending Mr. Lewis a letter inviting
the UMW to new negotiations at
the Shoreham Hotel.
There have been forecasts of a
probable mine stoppage June 30 as
a result of the breakdown of nego
tiations. But Mr. Lewis told re
porters there is still time for nego
tiations provided coal operators are
willing.
Wants Pension Plan Assured.
The mine workers’ leader made it
clear that he wants a miners' pen
sion plan and other welfare benefits
assured in the new contract. He
declared that “failure to activate the
miners’ welfare fund in a new coal
contract will create convulsions of
anger along the working mine
workers of this country.”
The present contract provides for
a welfare fund created from a pay
ment (by the operators) of 10 cents
a ton for each ton of coal mined.
This fund now amounts to nearly
$50.000.000. but thus far no pension
plan has actually been put into
operation.
First, the trustees of the fund*
were unable to agree on one. Thom
as Murray, neutral trustee, with
drew because of disputes between
Mr. Lewis and Ezra Van Horn,
operator's trustee.
Senator Bridges, Republican, of
New Hampshire -who replaced Mr.
Murray, got together with Mr. Lewis
on a $100-a-month plan for elderly
miners, but Mr. Van Horn has gone
to court to block it.
Policy Committee Meets.
Mr. Lewis talked with reporters
after a meeting of the UMW’s 200
man Policy Committee.
He named Benjamin Fairless,
president of the United States Steel
Corp.; George Humphrey, president
of the M. A. Hanna Coal Co., and
James Francis, head of the Island
Creek Coal Co., as men who have
it within their power to remove
blocs now in the way to successful
negotiation of a new contract.
Mr. Lewis said:
“The responsibility this year for
peace or war in the coal industry
clearly devolves upon these three
men.”
He said Mr. Fairless is the con
trolling factor in coal mines owned
by steel companies, that Mr. Hum
phrey controls heavy Midwest inter
i ests and that Mr. Francis controls
Southern production.
' "As a matter of fact it simmers
down," Mr. Lewis said, “to a deci
sion of two men—namely Fairless
and Humphrey.
Others Would Have to Follow.
“Because if they elect to make an
agreement, Francis' tonnage, the
tonnage in the Midwest and the
tonnage in the Far West would
have no alternative, but to follow—
j just the same as happened in 1947.”
Mr. Lewis charged that the coal
operators have blocked "activation”
: of the welfare fund—meaning they
! are to blame because no pension
j system is yet in force.
The formal wage conference be
tween the operators and the UMW
collapsed yesterday when Mr. Lewis
refused to accept Joseph E. Moody
as a negotiator in his capacity as
president of the Southern Coal Pro
ducers’ Association. In a statement
(See COAL, Page A-5.)
B-36 Carries Payload
On 8,000-Mile Flight
BULLETIN
The longest-range plane in
the world, the Navy's P2V
j Neptune, has been successfully
j launched from an aircraft
carrier, it was learned today.
By th* Associated Press
| The Air Force reported today that
j a B-36 bomber has made an 8,000
jmile flight on a simulated bombing
'mission. It probably was the long
est flight in history with a pay
ioad.
The B-36. built by Consolidated
Vultee Aircraft Corp. at Fort Worth,
Tex., Is powered by six 3,000-horse
power engines buried in the wing.
The propellers are behind the w’ing.
The plane weights nearly 140 tons.
The Air Force has described the
B-36 as a "10.000-mile bomber.” It
called the recent flight another step
in the ‘ continuing long-range test
ing program.”
The flight took place last Thurs
day and Friday, covering 36 hours.
The big plane shuttled between
Carswell Airbase at Fort Worth and
California, dropping a "sizeable,
useful load of dummy bombs” about
midway during the flight.
Average speed was given as 220
miles an hour.
A similar flight of less duration
was made April 8. .
There have been several flights
longer than tha\ made by the B-36,
but all were in a straight line and
were intended solely for distance.
The B-36 flight differed in that
it flew a closed course and carried
a useful load halfway.
The world distance record is 11,.
235 miles—Perth. Australia, to Co
lumbus, Ohio—set -ht, a two-engint
Navy patrol plane m 1946.