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This newspaper page contains 27 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Athens Messenger
Location
Athens, Ohio, United States of America
Date
Dec 30, 1940
Page
1
President Roosevelt said U S experts would decide how best to use armament production to defend this hemisphere, hinting at a possible change from the 50 50 aid formula to Britain. Senators reacted with varied interpretations as lawmakers weigh military needs and policy clarity.
London endured a devastating bombing as Nazi fire bombs hit the city, razing buildings including the Associated Press office in Tudor Street and threatening St Pauls Cathedral. Firefighting efforts, aided by rain, battled widespread blazes while Britain reported heavy German casualties and ongoing air raids.
Toledo streets were buried under four inches of slush as the city saw 115 traffic accidents reported by the police on Saturday night and Sunday, surpassing the previous record of 107.
The body of 73 year old Martin McConaha, missing since November 8, was located by two hunters near Lake Hope. Investigators found no marks of violence and suspect exposure caused the death. Nine children survive, with funeral services scheduled Tuesday at Asbury Church and burial in the nearby cemetery.
Rep. Thomas A. Jenkins Republican of Ironton Ohio says he will draft a new bill to adjust Ohios claim for 1 300 000 in federal old age pensions after a veto by President Roosevelt on a prior measure. The veto argued the bill overrode Social Security Board authority in grant handling. The board withheld the funds in 1938 after a dispute with former Gov. Martin L Davey. Jenkins says the measure would not hinder the boards regulatory powers.
International Harvester plant workers in Fort Wayne agreed to postpone their threatened strike for at least 24 hours. David T. Boadley, labor department conciliation commissioner, announced after an all night conference that negotiations between the CIO United Automobile Workers and company officials are recessed for a day.
Cleveland detectives say they will seek a manslaughter warrant against a 26 year old mother after her two and a half year old son died from a fractured skull following a spanking. The mother reportedly told police she used a kitchen spatula to discipline him.
Laurence O Guinther aged 46 a noted aviation official and race official died last night in Akron. He was widely known in the airplane industry and served as an official at national air races.
A disaster in Easton Maine claims six lives when a wooden structure burns early today. Five of the deceased are sisters, leaving one male victim among the casualties. Firefighters battled the flames as neighbors looked on.
Washington reports optimistic outlook for the bituminous coal industry as 1941 starts. National Coal Association executive secretary John D. Battle says output may near the wartime high of 550 million tons, with 450 million already reached in 1940. He cites strong demand from war industries and fuel markets, rail cooperation, and a 27 thousand coal cars plus 104 locomotives addition in 1940s first 11 months.
The Defense Commission announced a surge in arms production with 2,400 aircraft engines, 700 planes, 10,000 plus semi-automatic rifles and 100 tanks monthly. It said one million workers were employed in two months and several million more will be needed by November. Contracts exceed ten billion dollars, with ships, factories, planes, ammunition, guns and trucks funded.
Discovery of dynamite percussion caps stolen from a shed and scattered around Kensico Reservoir plaza spurred a citywide search for explosives. Forty eight police officers along with citizens and state troopers joined the sweep targeting New York City’s $800 million water supply system.
The census bureau reports Ohio retail gains in November with 1224 stores up 15 percent from the previous year. Automobile dealers lead with a 38 percent rise, followed by shoe stores 27 percent, department and men's stores 13 percent, and drug stores six percent.
Washington report shows 16,000 companies and individuals received agriculture adjustment payments of $1,000 or more in 1938 totaling $38,422,685. Nine insurance companies on the list collected $1,978,653 among them.
The state ends 1940 with a $4.5 million cash surplus in the general revenue fund. Finance Director H. D. Defenbacher cites unencumbered balance usable in 1941 42. Revenue rose about $6 million in 1940 to roughly $115.33 million, funding $1 million more for old age pensions and $1.4 million more for poor relief from a June special session.
Nelsonville Retail Merchants Association members will close at 5 p.m. Tuesday and stay closed all day Wednesday for New Year’s Day.
Mercy F Ferguson as administrator of Morris E Ferguson estate sues the Pennsylvania Railroad in Fort Wayne Indiana seeking 75000 damages for the death of fireman Morris E Ferguson killed in a train truck collision at Van Wert Ohio several months ago.
The ninth day of a rainy holiday period in Ohio raised the highway death toll toward 100 as floods closed routes 146 and 147 in Eastern Noble County. Strong streams inundated lowlands across multiple counties including Guernsey Harrison Holmes Portage Wyandot Carroll Belmont and Washington while the Scioto River rose rapidly at Chillicothe.
Frank B. Tidd, 75, longtime local insurance representative, died Monday after a two year illness. Funeral Tuesday at 4 at Coolville Congregational Church, Rev. D. G. Holman presiding. Survived by wife Ora Athey Tidd, daughter Mrs. Willard Price, Coral Gables, Fla, and three grandchildren. He served 30 years as clerk of Coolville and Troy Township school board and 39 years in the Masonic Lodge.
John Mahaley, 47, of Struthers, died last night after falling in front of a ladle car in Youngstown. Police and railroad workers investigated the fatal incident.
At a Philadelphia symposium three leading psychiatrists urged the labeling of every liquor bottle sold in the United States as poison. They said the FDA could require warnings under current law and emphasized alcoholism as a major public health issue.
The address drew praise from British officials as courageous and realistic while Berlin offered studied silence and Rome accused Roosevelt of undeclared war. Italian editors downplayed novelty, Berlin papers omitted forecasts, Tokyo saw promise of aid to China, and Vichy officials mixed sensationalism with skepticism over defense production proof.
Senator elect Harold H. Burton called Roosevelt's address stirring and duty filled. Cleveland and Dayton editors described the speech as confident and restrained, presenting civilization vs dictatorship and the effort to defend liberty without new or shocking proposals.
Opinion excerpts contrast Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill on appeasement and democracy. Editors debate America’s wartime role, production boost, and risk of isolation as Hitler’s threat persists.
The Tokyo War Department announced casualties from the undeclared war, citing 1,800,000 Chinese and 100,000 Japanese killed. The figure reflects ongoing hostilities and a dire toll across the conflict.
President Roosevelt told Americans that the emergency facing the United States rivaled war itself and that defense and aid to Britain were not enough. He called for an end to business as usual, pledging increased munitions production and steady aid to Britain while warning against appeasement and domestic dissension. The broadcast outlined ten key points emphasizing unity, sacrifice, and a nonwar direct policy aimed at keeping war away from the United States.
In Chillicothe, Betty Lou Arledge a twelve year old infantile paralysis victim who spent nine weeks in an iron lung in a Columbus hospital died here.
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