The Plain Speaker from Hazleton, Pennsylvania • Page 1

PLAIM LEARN TWO THINGS Learn these two things: Never to be discouraged because good things get on so slowly, and never fail daily to do that good thing which lies next to your hand. i MacOonald Weather Eastern Pennsylvania: Moderate temperature today. Occasional rain tonight and Wednesday. Not so cool tonight. 11 iiiiiw FULL LEASED WIRE REPORTS OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND (JP) WIREPHOTO.

VOL. 68, No. 20,637 FOUNDED 1882 HAZLETON, TUESDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 5, 1949. .28 Pages FIVE CENTS A COPY liVl 1" PEAKEE me id MMM EM, I I I-. Illinois Hospital Fire At Its Icighi 1 'i Fatalities Include 11 New-Born Babies: Toll May Reach 60 Missing New York Bank Official Is Caught In Florida More Taxis On N.

Y. Streets: Study 0 Operators' Spokesman Claims Strike Is Over But Union Issues Denial Captured Blaze At Effingham, 111., Spread So Fast That It Could Not Be Fought ilillllillisl iiiiii. 1 Uj VT" I 0 9 1(0 Effingham, Illinois, April 5 This rear view of the St. Anthony shows flames leaping through the roof at the height of the blaze. lives in the disaster.

(AP Wirephoto) hospital fire here early today, At feast 50 persons lost their New York, April 5. (IP) Taxis streamed through New York streets early today in greater numbers than at any comparable morning hour since a city-wide strike began last Friday. Immediately after the police an nouncement an operators' spokesman declared, "the strike is over." However, the striking union insisted that the walkout was still "between 90 and 95 per cent effec tive." Meanwhile both sides studied Mayor William O'Dwyer's settlement plan. Details were undisclosed but it was reported to involve a State Labor Relations Board election to determine whether the union has a majority of workers in the industry. Police said 2,852 of the city's 11,000 taxis were operating at 6 p.

m. (tST) last mgnt. xnis was more than one-fourth of the normal total of 10,853 and the largest number since the strike began. More than 3,000 city police are on special strike duty. Fleet operators estimated 7,142 cabs were on the streets yester day afternoon.

The striking unit of John L. Lewis' Unitfd Mine Workers ridicule! the employers' figure, and claimed the strike still was "more than 90 per cent effective." Union spokesmen said they were not retreating from any pre-strike demand. Representatives of the fleets said that the back of the strike was broken and operations soon would be normal. Justice Dept. Set For Reds Clark Says If War Comes U.

S. Subversives Can Be Handled Washington, April 5. (JP) A torney General Tom Clark has assured Congress that if war came now the nation would be "in pretty good shape" so far as subversives are concerned. At the same time, FBI Chief J. Edgar Hoover reported that his agency's work on subversive activities has increased 230 per cent in the past year.

"The persistent threats of Com munists in this country have neces sjtated a comprehensive domestic intelligence coverage in the general security field," Hoover said, Their statements" were published in hearings made public by the House Appropriations Committee as it approved a money bill to run the Justice Department during the 12 months beginning July 1. Clark told the committee his de partment is working out a system for keeping track of every alien the country. A close check is not necessary in an cases, ue nam, but the government wants to know where all aliens are "at all times." Hoover, in later testimony be- .11 1.. I mi Richard Crowe Seized In Bar After FBI Agents Had Attacked Him Washington, April 5. JP) Richard H.

Crowe was seized in Daytona Beach, last night on charges of fleeing with $884,660 from New York's National City Bank. Crowe, assistant manager pf the bank's branch at 195 Broadway, was arrested by FBI agents. He had been missing since March 27. FBI Chief J. Edgar Hoover who announced the arrest said Crowe was tracked down after a wide search in Florida.

Crowe was taken into custody in a bar after the agents and Daytona Beach police had trailed him from the street. Hoover said Crowe admitted taking a "large sum" of money from the bank but declined to specify and particular amount I Agents recovered $54,798.63 from a suitcase in Crowe's possession. Previously, Hoover said, $36,505 of the funds had been recovered and an additional $39,850 had been located. All told, Hoover added, a total of $131,153.63 of the stolen funds have been accounted for. Crowe told the FBI, Hoover related, that he threw -the stolen bonds and securities in the Atlantic ocean and "took these only to make the bank officials angry." The bank previously reported! that Crowe had taken at least $833,660, including $193,000 in cash and.

$690,000 in bonds. About $15,000 in cash was found in a vacant beach bungalow owneu Island. In addition, Crowe had mailed approximately $61,000 to banks and friends Jo whom he owed money. The. money was sent from Florida a few days after he disappeared.

Puts Vishinsky In Racket Class Washington. April 5. (P) As sistant Secretary of State Garrison Norton puts Soviet Foreign Minister Vishinsky in the "racketeer" class. Norton says, too, that sooner or later the United States may have to use "retaliation" against Com munists in Cuba, because of what he called flagrant discrimination against American shipping Norton spoke up at hearings early in February on a bill appro priating money for Mate depart ment expenses. The House Ap.

propriations Committee approved the bill today and made the testi- Norton's crack at Vishinsky was short. He told of a United States policy of seeing to it that all countries have free, access to seaports and international waterways, like the Danube river through the heart of Europe. "That," he said, "was one of the arguments we used with Vishinsky, and that bunch of racketeers 'who were bulldozing the Riparian (river-bordering) states into giving up their rights on the Danube. That was exactly what tne Soviets did." The reference was to an international conference on use of the river. As for the Cuban situation, Norton said the department is trying to end "a tremendous amount of discrimination in Cuba against United States shipping." He said U.

S. officials also are working on ml 1 I -I fx ft- Richard H. Crowe Missing New York banker who was caught in Florida, after disappearing with large sum of cash. Asks Speed On Pact Approval Connally Urges High Prior ity Be Given Newly-signed Atlantic Pact Washington. Anril 5.

(JP) Spn tor Connally (D-Tex) called todayf ft North Atlantic Security 3 Treaty, But the timing remained uncertain on the Senate decision to affirm "or block this country's entry into the 12-nation defense, alliance signed here yesterday. Senator Lucas of Illinois, the Democratic leader, would promise only that the historic treaty will reach the Senate floor "in this session" of Congress. He said there is much pressing domestic legislation ahead. There had been some talk of delaying action on the pact until summer, when the Senate could remain in Washington to work on the agreement while the House goes home. Connally told reporters, however, he doesn't believe the Senate "can afford to wait too long" to let the world know this country's final stand.

Two-thirds approval of senators voting is needed to ratify the treaty and make it officially effective for the United States, Connally, chairman, called the foreign relations committee together today to discuss the time schedule and other treaty matters. Meanwhile, senators' comments' in dicated mostly favorable reaction to the step taken by Secretary of State Acheson in signing for the United States. Less than a third of the Senate showed up for the ceremony. In what Lucas called a "blunder," most members weren't invited until the last moment. Sinister Tradition Rolle, Switzerland, April 5.

(JP) The level of Lake Geneva has fallen so low that a stone on the lake bed has been uncovered and jthe following inscription brought to light: "When you see me, cry." Old Swiss residents say the sign refers to the bad times endured during dry spells years The stone hasn't been seen Jumped From Delivery Room To Escape Flames Effingham, 111., April 5. (JP)- The stork hovered over St. Anthony Hospital as fire swept the building today, killing over fifty persons. Mrs. Arnold Aderman, 24, an expectant mother, was in the hospital delivery room when the fire broke out.

She jumped from a second floor window and was removed to her nearby home. Less than two hours later, Mrs. Aderman gave birth to a baby, her third child. Dr. J.

C. R. Wettstein, her physician, said both the baby and mother were "coming along fine." Fire Disasters Of Other Years New York, April 5. (JP) Major fire disasters in the United States in the past two decade es, and their death tolls: October, 1947, Maine forest fires 22. Dec.

7, 1946, Winecoff Hotel, Atlanta, Ca. 119. June 9, 1946, Canfield Hotel, Dubuque, la. 19. June 5, 1946, LaSalle Hotel, Chicago 61.

Jan. 16, 1945, General Clark Hotel, Chicago 14. October 20-21, 1944, Cleveland liquid gas explosion and fire 135. July 6, 1944, Ringling Broth-ers-Barnum and Bailey Circus, Hartford, Conn. 168.

March 27, 1944, Amsterdam Hotel, San Francisco 22. Nov. 28, 1942, Cocoanut Grove Night Club, Boston 498. 1 April 23, 1940, Negro dance hall, Natchez, Miss. 198.

May 16. 1938, Termipal Hotel, Atlanta, Ga. 35. March 18, 1937, New London, school explosion and fire 294. Feb.

11, 1936, Victoria Mansions, Lakewood, N. J. 16. 1 Dec. 11, 1937, Kerns Hotel, Lansing, Mich.

32. Sept. 8, 1934, S. S. Morro Castle fire off Asbury Park, N.

J. 134. 1933, Hotel fire, Houston, Tex. -54. April 21, 1930, Ohio State Penitentiary 320.

May 15, 1929, Cleveland Hospital clinic fire 124. Ready For Trouble At U. N. Assembly Lake Success, April 5. (JP) United Nations security officials expect a quiet opening of the Gerf-eral Assembly today but are ready for trouble if it develops.

New York city police are assigned to patrol outside the grounds of the assembly hall in Flushing Meadow Park. A few also will be inside, helping direct traffic. They will augment the U. N. force of 102 security guards, 36 more than normal, who will be on duty through the session.

Security officials said they had no advance word of any extraordinary "welcome'' for British Foreign Secretary Bevin and other signers of the Atlantic Pact due from Washington for the opening. Pickets threw eggs and tomatoes at Bevin's car after he arrived in New York on the Queen Mary last Wednesday. They were demonstrating against his Palestine policy. in Wayne (Detroit) county. Democratic stronghold where labor had staged an intensive pre-election doorbell ringing campaign.

This was with only 275 of the county's 1,675 precincts unreported. Republicans cheered what they claimed was a victory over attempted CIO encroachment on the Universitv of Thm C. 0. P. candidates, incumbents Al- fred B.

Connable and Vera B. Baits, were defeating Rosa A. Falk, AFL Teachers Union member, and Jo- seph Arsulowicz, ClO-supported Grand Rapids attorney. Democrats had said the vot would show state resentment GOP "stalling of Gov. Williams' program in the Republican-dom inated legislature, They also predicted it would rive the Democrats control nf thm Effingham, April 5 Police and firemen on ladder lower the body of one of the child victims who died in the St.

Anthony Hospital fire here early today. A number of children died in the nursery on the second floor of the hospital. (AP Wirephoto) Effingham, 111., April 5. (P) More than 50 persons, including at least 11 new-born infants, wera reported killed today in a fierca fire that destroyed St. Anthony' Hospital.

Hospital and firefighting offi. cials said the death toll may reach 60. At least 15 bodies were removed. The fire was discovered shortly before midnight in a laundry chute. Eyewitnesses said the 60 year old, three and one-half story brick structure quickly became a great mass of flames.

"It burned so fast, it couldn't fought," said one rescuer. Many patients leaped from win. dows. Some died in their flaming rooms as nuns and townspeople tried to save them. The bodies of 11 infants, still in.

their flame-blackened metal cribs on the second floor, were the first to be removed. Uncounted bodies were strewn on upper floors. There were about 30 patients on the third floor, a nurse said, "and I don't believe any of them got out." Effingham is a community of 8,000 in South Central Illinois, 100 miles northwest of St. Louis and 200 miles southwest of Chicago, on the Pennsylvania and Illinois Central Railroads. Hundreds of the city's residents rushed to the aid of the 100 or more patients in the 125-bed hos pital.

But they were hampered by falling bricks and rubble, and the danger of falling walls. Nuns Braved Flames Inside, the Roman Catholic nuns who were on duty braved the flames to lead some patients to safety. Some nuns died in the attempt, and others perished in their rooms, where they were asleep. The hospital is operated by the Sisters of the Order of St. Fran cis.

The hospital chaplain, Father Sandon, died in the fire. His charred body was found in a room next to the hospital chapel. Dr. George Wood, staff physi cian, estimated the number of dead at 56 or 58. Lt.

Nelson Page of the Illinois state police said the toll is from 50 to 60. Chief H. Green of the Effingham police said "there's just no way of telling." Only Some Walls Left Only some walls still stood early today. The intense heat of the smouldering ruins and the tangled debris slowed removal of the bodies. Karl Alt, 6, who lives across the street from the hospital, said flames were shooting out of the uoapiuu iiuiit, euuaitce bliuruy after the alarm was sounded.

He and a neighbor helped 12 to 15 per sons to safety. Max Beidenhorn, 66, a male nurse, was badly burned in helping 12 patients to safety down an elevator. He said the sister who found the fire in a laundry chute got him out of bed. "The whole place was a whole bath of flame," he said. Beidenhorn said there were at least eight new-born infants In the nursery and "they died along with the sister who stayed with them." Two Expectant Mothers Escape Two expectant mothers escaped from the delivery room.

They gave birth in nearby homes. They and their babies were reported in good condition. The mothers are Mrs. Arnold Aderman, 24, who jumped from a second floor window, and Mrs. Wenston Sidner, of nearby St Elmo, 111.

i At least two nuns and a nurse, Ada Kaywood, were reported missing. Shortly after dawn, firemen used a rope and tackle to haul small white-blanketed bundles down ladders, passing them from hand to hand. The blankets covered the bodies of 11 newborn babes. Parents hoped to identify them from lettering on beads around their tiny necks. Douglas Hooked In Eye Hiile Fishing London.

April 5. (JP) U. S. bassador Lewis W. Douglas Am- was hooked in the eye by an artificial fly yesterday while fishing.

The embassay said he was takes to a hospital and an operation per- formed to rpmov. thu honk 48 hours before the re- the operation wcu.d fce mbassador was fishire vita on the river Test in Haaip- it Recovery Bill Dragging On Critical Minority Shows No Hurry For Passage Of European Aid Measure Washington, April 5. (JP) The Senate today plodded. slwly to ward a vote on the $5,580,000,000 (B) European Recovery program. A critical minority showed no signs of being in any hurry to reach -a final vote-on the aid meas ure.

Lengthy debate is expected on a sheaf of amendments to the Eco nomic Administration Authoriza tion Bill. The pending amendment is one offered by Senator "Ellender (D La). It would force ECA nations to set aside not less than 25 per cent of their so-called counterpart funds to buy critical materials needed by this country. These counterpart funds are the money the governments put up to match ECA dollar aid. At present, the act provides the nations put aside not less than five per cent of the counterpart funds for strategic materials.

Backers of the full ECA air program are expected to override the Ellender amendment just as they an economy move bv Senator Taft (R-Ohio) and Senator Russell (D-Ga). The Taft-Russell amendment to cut 10 per cent off ECA spending was beaten' down 54 to 23 last week. Gromvko Will II I ar IllAAt lfTHOfC 1TJ.CCL OlwIICl Kew April 5. (JP) The sembly today brings Russia's Andrei A. Gromyko face to face with the signers of thaAtlantic Pact at a tense and potentially explosive moment.

Many delegates believe Gromyko may soon give the clue to what Russia intends to do about the defensive alliance which the Rus- sians sy is imed against them, But the Russians are guarding their plans carefully here Whatever the Soviet plans may be, Secretary of State Dean Ache-son, British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman and the other signatories of the pact expected to be on hand. They announced in Washington they were heading for New York individually, either last night or this morning. The 58-nation assembly is scheduled to meet at Flushing Meadow Park, at 3 p. m. (EST), just less than 24 hours after 12 foreign 'ministers signed the new treaty.

Although the pact was not on the 'assembly's agenda, it was the lead ing topic of conversation and few believed the session could pass without a better east-west clash on this subject According to the published sched Delegate Herbert V. Evatt as- Song writer Ta c4 swinaier Beverly Hills, Calif, April 5.. To Send New This Week France, the and Luxembourg. The other five which signed the pact here yesterday were Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Portugal and Italy. 30 Cops Suspended Over Numbers Racket Norfolk, April 5.

(JP) Thirty Norfolk policemen were under suspension today as the aftermath of an investigation of the numbers racket. Twenty4four of the officers were charged with accepting bribes. A corporation court grand jury handed down indictments yesterday on the bribery charges. This was followed by a suspension order by the public safety director relieving the additional six of their duties. fore the committee, said that 01 ttle United Nations As.

what Rep. Preston (D-Ga.) called'since 1921. Expect Truman Pact To Senate Washington, April 5. (JP) President Truman is expected to send the North Atlanaic treaty to the Senate before the end of this week with an appeal for speedy approval. This is one of three major steps which officials forecast today for carrying out tne pace mat me president acclaimed last night as a milestone in history.

The treaty was signed by 12 western nations in a solemn, fast-moving ceremony yesterday afternoon. How soon the Senate might act is uncertain; the issue is controversial and other major legislation is crying for attention. The other two steps in prospect to implement the treaty are these: 1. Completion of an American arms aid program, costing close to $2,000,000,000 (B.) Mr. Truman is expected to recommend this to Congress early next week.

2. Discussions among the 12 treaty powers on organization of a council and a defense committee. Their assignment would be to unify the defenses of the non-Communist western world under the new alliance. The arms program probably will provide between 1.250,000,000 (B) and $1,500,000,000 (B) for American help in rearming the European members of the alliance. The balance of the funds would go to aid other non-Communist countries such as Greece, Turkey and Iran.

Officials said that no action to ward forming-the 12-nation coun cil can be taken until the treaty comes into force, but plans for the ahead of time. The actual enforcement of the pact depends on its being ratified by the seven nations which originally drafted it" That in turn, depends mainly upon its approval by two-thirds of the U. S. Sen- ate because without Senate con Michigan Goes Back Into GOP Column At Spring Election Budenz Testifies Red Aim -Was To Overthrow U. S.

Govt. New York, April 5. (JP) Louis F. Budenx told the jury in the Communist conspiracy trial today the year started the FBI had 18 679 security investigations pending. The FBI coordinates domestic intelligence work under a directive from President Truman, Hoover explained, adding: "These projects are, of course, not local.

For instance, the activi- ties 'of the Communist party and its affiliates extend from coast to coast as do the various espionage rings that have operated in this country. can politburo at the time of the alleged conspiracy. Budenz conceded with reserva tions that he owed the Daily Newspaper and returned to the Roman Catholic church. Defense lawyers brought up the financial matter in an effort to at- tack the credibility of the witness who had testified five days for the government. Budenz.

who served the nartv he had fixed things to quit the pelJed, he explained. Claiming he had succeeded in quitting very cleverly, he said "They for my name Worker St Patrick takrn hv lurnru waS still on the Dailvi tk t. I 7 .1 .1 t- viiii in the Cathohe church at hc he nPnng about $900 whe quitj overthrow the U. S. governments managing editor of the Red while he was a Communist party official.

Budenz, first government wit ness in the trial, made the asser? tion as he was being cross-exam-. ined. An American politburo runs the Inartv hv totalitarian control Detroit April 5. (JP) Michigan. which split between Republicans and Democrats last November, rolled back into the GOP column in yesterday's spring election.

As the first state election since the presidential contest last fall, the Michigan balloting was eyed nationally for political trends. It served also to weigh the CIO's political influence in other; than a presidential election year. The state went for GOP presidential nominee Thomas E. Dewey last fall, elected a Democratic gov ernor. G.

Mennen Williams. With more than half the state' counted unoflicially, the Repub- ncans apparently had elected their: entire ticket beating off a Democrat-Labor coalition which concentrated in the industrial areas. Republican Charles M. Ziegler, "outrageous charges they are making against our shippers for stevedoring." There is a "very strong Com- munist element down there, ror-ton said. Hungary Protests Budapest, Hungary, April 5.

(JP) Hungary protested today against Bolivia attempt to put the case of Josef Cardinal Mindszenty before the United Nations Gen- eral Assembly, A government statement addressed to the president of the assembly declared the Bolivian motion is a gross infringement of international law and of demo cratic principles adopted by the U. Bill Aims At Fox Hunting Harrisburg, April 5. UP) It appears to be a losing fight in the legislature for the "tally-ho" set The House unanimously pasted last night legislation to repeal a 1913 law prohibiting the shooting, trapping, snaring or poisoning of foxes in Delaware county. It's still cp to the Senate to determine if swanky fox hunting clubs in the Philadelphia area will continue ta cfsase the foxes to death or whether anybody ebe can ti rid of them otherwise. ducting national conventions and in several responsible posts be-'Ule, today meeting is confined to, organization and the defense corn-national committee meetings 1935 and 1945, testified that, an opening address by Austrialian jnuttee under it can be worked out It to Accept decision of "the lead-, er," Budent testified.

He did not! party "before they knew I president His associates mention "the leader" by name. leaving." said he would make a strong plea lTndr defense cross-examination! "The Communists have a sloganjfor cooperation among the big pow-for the third day in the conspiracy you cannot leave the Communist'ers. trial of eleven top Communist Wad-'party voluntarily. You must be ex- incumbent state highway commis-iernor elected -cabinet" the'injury was not fully determined, smnr, rolled up a margin of 66,000. State Administrative Board but One official added it probably -lT Kl I ma i ne ptr.ix-nv cannoi idrnui- toim over democrat John II.

31 c- the UOF retained it. -A ii w- Immmur Tan I. uum ue i v- mi, ii i imli u-)vaniy nun 01 zr.m itit. i tap Tnura I ers, Budenz said the politburo "edited" official party records toi keep facts from party members and the public. TJie defendants chai ged with conspiracy to teach and advocate forcible overthrow of the ment were members of the Ameri-i i Anvthinr Rut Itr." annnunrl An; iioic suits OI rin i in la reiKirxii.IT.

in in rimnum ron i i I 7 maae; known. was me Key target ot the Demo- much of what it railed "CIO dom- The a Anita Lhnest, the other rations which must ra- crats and CIO arr.nJi.tin.. iin.in- r- nuu.ms ana tne inenos canaaa, rrauea ty votes Democrats. hire..