The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume], January 04, 1945, Image 1

About The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949

Image provided by: Washington State Library; Olympia, WA

                
VOL. XXX
131 m
EHIN i 1%
THEKNEE§j§
Evidence Lacking on .
Russian Tactics
Behind the Army and Navy
Journal charge that Russian and
British politics in Europe have de
layed military victory, investiga
tion will show considerable yes
and-no evidence.
The hinge-point is whether the
Russians held back on their march
through Poland to Berlin in order
to gobble up the Balkans and Bal
tic states for themselves, whether
they deliberately delayed conquest
Germany proper.
“’s'me Polish organisations
"' have claimed the Reds did not
throw in enough power in 1
their Warsaw drive last August.
but the military evidence shows
they put all divisions into that
tray. Also Warsaw is easier to
defend from attack from the
east than the west.
The Vista river is supposed to
run through the city, but actually
the important part of the me
tropolis is on the west bank, which
is higher and commands the east
bank from which attack must be
made. The Reds appear to haVe
made a real fight and lost in
August and then let that matter
go in favor of their southern cam
paign through Romania, Hungary,
etc.
Butted Real Wall
The Nazi fortifications 10 to
15 miles inside the East Prussian
frontier are old (built before the
war), and comparable with those
we are- facing in the west. Here
also the Red army butted its head
against a real wall in September
and let the fighting degrade into;
trapping. “n ‘ . . i
Reports have 'heen Mashed "
that a Russian drive is about to
start on the dormant Polish
front. but you cannot tell about
. at until action starts and pro
fiesses .far enough to gauge the
size of it.
The Nazis fought the same, de
laying tactics against the Reds in
the Baltic states as they used
against us in France, holding ports
and pickets of resistance with sui
cide squads. Indeed, elements of
10 German divisions still hold the
Riga estuary, nullifying the cap
ture of that port as at Antwerp.
Russian Waltz
On the other hand the southern
drive through the Balkans was
a waltz up to Budapest. After the
Prut river was crossed and Ploesti
was captured, Romania dropped
like a plum to Stalin as did Bul
garia and Yugoslavia. It is un
deniable that this military cam
paign has worked Russia‘s way po
litically, not only as to the Bal
kans but by keeping Poland on
the rough edge until Polish politi '3
and Churchill settled the Russian
way. The Russians are further
from Berlin at Budapest than they
were in Poland at the end of sum
mer.
The facts from Europe seem
inwardly and outwardly- to be
kept in a yes-and-no state. In
deed, there is arising here an atti
tude like that of the New Deal
war whose statements you may
seen. He says it is all Brit
ish propaganda about the Com
munists wanting the Greek gov
ernment or being involved in the
revolt. ‘ ‘
"We hear conservatives yell- i
ing Communist every time a
people's movement rears its
head." he says. This is the
same line familiar since the
Spanish revolution of "It is" on .
one side. "It isn't" on the other.
with no one getting at accept
able tacts of the truth.
Personally, for myself, I rely
mainly on the judgment of the
military in such matters, but notJ
on politicians here 6r abroad. Byi
and large, military men care little}
about Communism or conserva-i
tives, but want to win their war.}
They_know more about the facts
than senators.. Their Army and
Navy Journal reflected the view
point of a large segment of the
defense services, although other
army exnerts are inclined to give
Russia the benefit of the doubt, at
least until they see how big a
drive new develops in Poland.
In this kind of a yes-and-no
game of news from Europe, where
Skilled propaganda forces are at
(Continued on Page 8)
51hr Krmmnirk Glnurirr- ißvpnrivr
Tea to Honor All
RC Volunteer Workers
The tea to be given by the
Benton County Chapter of the
American Red Cross on Thursday,
January 4th, is for all Benton
County volunteers instead of just
those residing in Richland, Mrs.
G. H. Harrell said today. An
nounced originally as for Rich
land volunteers, the party which
begins at two and lasts until
five in the afternoon, is for the‘
whole county and all volunteers
are urged to come. Nursery facili
ties will be available for the
children of mothers attending.
Schools Now In
Bun Full Time
Schedules
New building and
addition at Richland
take kindergarten
Split shift schedules are out and
kindergarten classes are in at
Richland grade schools beginning
with the new terms after the first
of the year, R. H. Fergin, superin
tendent of schools, announced to
day. The change in schedules of
Richland schools is being made
possible by the opening of a new
grade school, the Marcus Whit
man, and the enlarging of another,
the Lewis and Clerk. 1
Grade school children who, for
the past four months, have at
tended school only in the mom
ing or the afternoon due to crowd
efitj'conditions, may now go to
school for the full day, accord
ing to Fergin. Kindergartens will
be run on 'a half-day basis, how
ever, he said. The only fly re
maining in Richland’s school oint
ment now is an unbalanced num
ber of pupils in the various school
areas making it necessary for
some seventh and eighth grade
students in the Jefferson, Sacaw
jawea and Marcus Whitman grade
schfibl areas to attm' the 'LeWis:
and Clark school. 1
Registrations for kindergartens
were held on Wednesday, January
(Continued on Page 8)
New Theatre
Named Benton
The second of February has
been tentatively set as the open
ing night for the new Benton
theatre now nearing completion
on Kennewick’s main street. It
will be operated by the Mid-State
Amusement Co., which now oper
ates the Roxy as well as the two
show houses in Pasco and the
Yakima-Walla Walla string.
Today the finishing touches are
being placed on the title board
above the maquee. The name
Benton will be outlined in colored
neon, with appropriate border of
flashing, changing. colors sur
rounding the name board. In
side the theatre work is progres
sing rapidly with the finishing
work and the seats and fixtures
are expected to be installed within
a week or two, a roecdi ntgow
a week or two, according to Man
ager C. C. Miller.
Pfc. Merle Supplee, former
Richland boy, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Sam Supplee who now live in
Grandview, is missing in action
in the New Guinea theater. Other
word received by the parents from
another member of Co. E, 127th
Infantry, stated Merle had been
killed in action. To date this re
port has not been verified by the
war department. The Supplees
have two other sons in the service.
Edwin at the naval air station in
Pasco, and Warren in New Cale
donia. -
KEN N EWICK, WASHINGTON, THURSDAY. JANUARY 4, 1945
Seek Beliel
For Local
Superior Court
C of C to consider
asking for smaller
. court district
A suggestion was made to the
members of the chamber of com
merce this noon that some action
be undertaken to relieve the con
gestion in the local superior court.
The recent influx of population
has quadrupled the number of
cases coming before the court in
this county and the docket is
months _behind.
The local court district com
prises three counties, Adams,
Franklin and Benton, with Judge
Matt Driscoll presiding over all
three. Cases in the Benton county
court are numerous enough to
almost keep the judge busy, it
was pointed out at today’s lunch
eon, and as the relief must come
from legislative action, it was
thought an opportune time to
seek relief.
A committee from the Pasco
chamber of commerce was pres
ent at today’s lunchedn here and
presented the idea, suggesting that
the two towns work together on
the matter. Similar problems
are facing other districts and
some new reapportionment by the
legislature will undoubtedly be
made. It was suggested that an
extra judge be employed or that
the district be cut and an addi
tional judge "put on, taking in,
perhaps, Klickitat county with
Benton, making three districts out
of the two now on the upper
reaches of the Columbia. ’
After some discussion a special
committee was to be appointed
to work with the Pasco group.
O. H. Olson, former Pasco pub
lisher, was the spokesman for the
group, which included R. C. Clan
cy, president of the club, T. R.
Collins ‘ and Bert Edwards.
City Mail Must ‘
Have Street Addresses
Kennewick business men are‘
going to have to learn some brand}
new tricks. No longer will it be‘
possible for them to send out their‘
bills with just “city” for an ad-i
dress. With the new carriers and
clerks in the local office, every
such piece of mail has to be
checked and the address found,
for the new city carriers don’t
know the names. They can find
’em if the address is there, but
not without.
Postmaster F. H. Lincoln says
he’ll just heave ’em back to the
sender, hereafter unless the street
addresses are there. In this con
nection, people should cooperate
by seeing the merchants are sup
}plied with their proper addresses
—even those old timers who in
vented the country. The new
people don’t know them any bet
ter than the other newcomers.
New Year Resolui'ions
++OOOOO£¢OOOO¢O¢
Correspondents Wanted
Everyone likes to see his name
in the paper. Too runny local
people don't get to often enough.
We want correspondents in sev- .
eral of the nearby areas to
write news items each week
concerning the activities of
their friends and neighbors. The
work is interesting. all materi
als are furnished. We particu
larly want representatives in
the Section Seven district. in
South and West Highlands. the
River Road and other natural
divisions.
City Builds 33
New Residences
During Past Year
New construction ,zadds
half million to city
valuation
While the big rush is appar
ently over, nevertheless Kenne
wick’s building program for the
past year added over half a mil
lion to the assessed valuation of
the city, according to a report
made to the city council Tuesday
night by Fire Chief Herb Mal
chow, who is also city building
inspector.
His report showed that the per
mits for building on record at the
city hall totaled an estimated val
ue of $500,643.25 for the year.
This included 33 new residences,
26 private garages and 21 pub
lic buildings, with 19 miscellan
eous structures Two biggest single
permits twere for the new school
additions and the new moving
picture theatre, both of which
are still under construction.
The report also showed the
fire department had‘had a fairly
active year with 67 calls.
Pratt Back in
Repair Business
After several months of hectic
experience in the bus business, J.
C.Pratthasreturnedtohisfirst
love—the garage business. He
has taken back his shop and is
adding more space at the rear of
the shop and has again taken to
fixin’ ’em. He also operates a
wrecker service, on 24-hour call,
with two complete rigs. -I-Ie fig
ures he can be mayor and boss
a garage at the same time.
“D.C.” Featured at
Radio’s Club Talk
The Richland Radio club met‘
Tuesday, January 2, in room 141
of the Sacajawea grade school,
with B. J, Willingham as the
featured speaker. “D.C. Electri
city and Electra-Magnets," was
Mr. Willingham’s subject. The
main meeting opened at 8:15, and
was preceeded by a code class
session at 7:30 p.m.
Police Business
Triples in Pas!
Twelve Months
Fines and pinball
licenses take same
’ increase
Business in the local police
courts has almost tripled during
the past year, according to a re
port made to the city council at
the close of the year Tuesday by
Chief of Police M. H. Kershaw.
Not only the number of cases,
but the amount of money col:
lected by the city has bene tripled,
according to the report. And, with
the police cases money collected
from pinball machines for licenses
has also tripled.
Three years ago, the police re
ported 160 arrests, with fines,
forfeitures and costs totaling
$634.50. . In 1942, while there
were fewer arrests by four, the
amount of money collected had
jumped to $1,069. The same rela
tive increase was noted for 1943.
There were 351 arrests with fines,
et'c. totaling $3,191.50, while the
license money for pinball ma
chines went to $3,750.
During the past year the “take”
from the pinball machines li
censed, now numbering 59, a
mounted to $7,122.
The report showed that the
city police had handled 25 drunk
and disorderly cases during the
month of December, with eight
traffic violations which brought
court fines.
Evanson Opens Art’s
Welding Shop
The new concrete block build
ing near Washington street on
First avenue is the home of Ken
newick’s newest business—Art's
Repair and Welding Shop. Art
Evanson is the proprietor and will
handle all kinds of welding and
repair work, particularly of farm
machinery. Later, as soon as
the equipment becomes available,
Mr. Evanson expects to add ma
chinery and expand with a general
machine shop.
Girls Make Record on
War Bond Sales
Again the Kennewick Womensl
division of the War Bond Drive‘
goes over the top Their quota
was $50,000 and their cash sales
were SBO,OOO. This time the 4-H
Club helped the Rainbow Girls
do the selling. Two girls sold
more than the $5,000 each which
is the individual goal. Marilyn
Oliver and Ace! Ann Purdy. two
of the youngest members of the
Rainbow are indeed super-sales
men, Marilyn selling $6.000 and
Acel Ann doubled her sth War
Bond sales by selling $53,150
this time. ’The women of Kenne
wick wish to thank everyone who
helped put over the 6th War
Bond drive. .
Village Players Select
“Petticoat Fever”
The Richland Village Players
will present “Petticoat Fever."
called a non-tropical farce, some
time early in February. it was
announced here today. Scripts
have already been ordered by
Dave Treadweu, chairman of the
reading committee, and are ex
pected to arrive soon. Tryouts
will be held next week follow
ing a board of directors meeting
on Tuesday, January 8 ,at w“
a director will be m {or the
play,
Prat! Succeed:
A. C. Amen as *
Kennewick Mayor
S'erier new attorney;
two new councilmen;
cntlca‘l period
Four new men start out the
year at the head of the city gov
ernment in what is looked upon
as Kennewi‘ck's most crtiica! per
id! of development. A new mayor,
city attorney and two new coun
cilmen are assuming the respon
sibilities incident upon the city
management. together with the
seven other holdover or ne-electe
ed officers; u
Tuesday night, the first regular
meeting in the new year, Mayor
A. C. Amon closed up the city's
unfinished business and handed
over the reins to J. C. Pratt,
newly elected mayor. C. L. Pow
ell, as city attorney, stepped down
and Kenneth E. Serier assumed
the duties as legal representive
for the municipality, while P. G.
Richmond, from the second ward
and Chuck Neel from the third
ward are the two new council:
men. Richmond succeeds Howardi
Beste and Neel fills the vacancy
Continued on page 4 1
Kiwanis Club
Holds Installation
As has been the custom for sev
eral years past, the, Kiwanis clubs
of Kennewick and Pasco held joint
installation dinner and ladies
night Tuesday in the club hall
at Pasco. Roy Skill, retiring lieu
tenant governor, was the instal
ling officer, assisted by the two
retiring presidents, Vic Marshall
and Amon Mueller. Nearly 100
clubmen and their ladies were
pment. '
Kennewick club officers for
1945 are: President, John B. Coan;
first vice president, Dayton Fin
nigan; second vice, D. M. Deeter,;
directors, James Boekius, Leo Dy
son, James I4eavy, Mark M.
Moulton, and Edwin Neuman.
Harold Riggins has been installed
as secretary-treasurer.
Other appointments announced
by the president are: Program
chairman, Frank Maupin; charis
ter, Frank Maupin; organist, Ed
win Newman; chaplain, Rev. Leo
Dyson. Other committeemen are
to be announced at the regular
meeting next Tuuday noon at the
Arrow Grill. .
During the past year the club
made an unprecedented growth
and almost doubled its member
ship. It has been active in many
community and civic affairs. Sev
eral innovations have Men}
planned for the coming year, ac-‘
cording to those in the know. I
Josephxmtteoonwho'ewed
”monthsmsandtookplfl
in both the invasion of Attn
mammmkifledm
LeyteOctoberZSrd. Hemthe
brother of Mrs. Jerome Clark
aners.RoyShawwhouveon
theifighlands.
Tow Counly'
Representatives
Oulnumher City
' Possible line-Up may
. control legislature,
says special writer
Olympia. January 4—The bal
ance of power in their hands. the
. elected spokesmen of this state’s
small communities were assemb
lim‘ ”or a momentuous 1945 state
lleeislature here this week.
' '“r'ie. state senators and repre
sentatves from the big cities were
here, too, but out of the welter oi‘
pie-session disagreement there
came one agreement—Mr. Small
Town Legislator can. if he will.
“run" this deliberation.
Of course. there is no guarantee
that votes will be cast with an
eye by the legislator on his geo
graphical background. Partisan
politics and a sincere desire by
many legislators to serve the en
tire state are just two of the fac
tors which will mitigate against
any Small Town vs.. Big City
cleavage. Still, it' is interesting
to study this breakdown.
There will be 36 Democrats and
21 Republicans “small town”s
spokesmen on hand when the gav
el falls next Monday in the House
of Representatives. That’s a to
tal of 57 as against only 42 in both
parties from Seattle, Spokane, Ta
coma, and a few other larger com
munities. Of the “big city" rep
!esentatives,27 are Democrats and
15 Republicans.
And when Lieut-Gov. Victor A.
Meyers, Seattle, gives his waxed
moustache a happy twirl and be
gins presiding over the state sen
ate, he will find only 17 kindred
‘big city" souls with him: 13 Dem
ocrats and four Republicans.
There will be 19 Democrats and
to Republicans from the smaller
communities in the senate for a
total of 29—a most convincing
majority if things should ever
get down to~a~ point where it—is
a case of the rural fellow against
the city resident.
A little study of what may make
excitement in the conference
rooms shows that such a geo
graphical breakdown is not al
together pointless. There are some
broad proposals which easily could
be decided on the basis of small
community versus large city.
One of these is the frank dec
laration of Mon C. Wallgren, Ev
erett, for an amendment to the
state's liquor law to permit the
sale of hard spirits by the drink
in public cocktail bars. This forth
coming legislature already had
plenty to keep it busy for the
next two months when Mr. Wall
gren, who next week will doff his
toga as a United States senator
{or the-governor’s mantle, turned
the state upside down with his
liquor amoral.
Whileit is true that the little
band or Republican senators al
ready have stated they will stand
solidly in opposition to any such .
measure, it is difficult to see how
the cocktail bar issue will be de
cided on a partisan basis. It is
noteworthy that there has been
no similar or opposite stand taken
by any group‘ of Democratic leg
islators, althouui they easily could
outvote the GOP handful.
Many,notsoclosetothepo
litical scene, have expressed
amazement at Mr. Wallgren's
early espousal of this measure.
Oflrers, however, recognize the
Everett Democrat as one of the
state’s most astute politicians. a
man who has added sense to sur
‘nound himself with capable ad
visors. Mr. Wallgren. it must be
remembered, is somewhat in the
position of a “big league" base
ball player stepping down in class
to play in the “minor leagues”.
The analogy stops right there,
however, for Mr. Wallgren de- ‘
liberately chose to end his lz-year
career in Washington, D. C.. for
the big. panelled governor's of
fice here.
One, trying to guess the temper
oi the man in the small community
and the fellow in the big city on
this liquor issue. is forced, there
fore. to this one conclusion: Gov
ernor-elect Wallgren knew what
he was doing when be promptly
tollowed his Nov. 7 defeat of Gov.
Arthur B. Langlie with his liquor
PM
These are other measures. too.
whichmay get a small community
—big .city decision rather than a
party vote. Shall the sales tax,
which bothers the city resident
more than the farmer. be lowered
Continued on page 4
N o‘. 4O