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Newspaper
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Location
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Dec 01, 1939
Page
1
The Santa Claus parade proceeds through Cedar Rapids despite rain with thousands of children watching. Volunteers and drum corps keep spirits high as Christmas nears while adults reflect on wartime anxieties and foreign policy. President Roosevelt condemns Soviet aggression and calls for diplomatic stance amid global turmoil.
District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey formally announced his candidacy for the 1940 Republican nomination for president accepting New York state party endorsements. He pledged to fight, praised the party, and said primary plans and delegate strategy would be decided later with a policy against seeking delegates in states where rivals exist.
The American Youth Congress faces scrutiny as its leadership is labeled communist influenced. Dies Committee investigates its sponsorship while members vote against new congressional funding, claiming the Dies panel undermines youth faith in American government. Mrs Roosevelt and Tom Mooney testified as supporters of the youth group.
Washington warns federal census takers to avoid politics though many were hired for loyalty. The piece argues Hatch Act limits failed to prevent political influence and urges competent service over partisan action. It then shifts to a Iowa 1939 football squad looming large after a record comeback and cautions athletes against commercializing their achievements.
Cedar Rapids police were told a burglar damaged a strong box with an axe and fled with 186 dollars. The box was moved from under a bed to the basement before being broken open. A small bank with 4.50 dollars belonging to the daughter was also missing. The break in occurred between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesday, report filed at 1 p.m. Thursday by Earl W. Harr.
Dairies in Cedar Rapids debated a one cent rise for milk and cream with initial reports claiming it would take effect today. Despite notices sent to customers, a spokesman said the plan did not gain sufficient dairy support after a Friday luncheon at the YMCA.
A columnist cautions a celebrated football team that many groups will invite them to ceremonies not for genuine honor but to promote themselves. The players will receive numerous sincere tributes from clubs and organizations that value the record they made, and should ignore solicitations seeking advertising.
Two convicts, Clinearth Lindley and Ben Blakely, escaped Anamosa State Reformatory by crawling 300 feet through a tunnel used for heat and water, emerging in an under construction hospital building. Authorities believed they slipped out before a holiday football game and have not been located as of Friday. Lindley, 28, a former Northwood resident, was serving 40 years for second degree murder. Blakely, 26, from Warren, Ohio, held a 10 year sentence for larceny of a motor vehicle. Sheriff departments were alerted and a state radio broadcast issued.
Three drifters were sentenced to life imprisonment at Fort Madison for the murder of Harold J. Dreher a Mason City salesman. The defendants Francis P. Welsh 32 Fred O Ostenrieder 18 and William Cooper 21 pled guilty to first degree murder and faced life or death by gallows Judge Lou Ladd imposed life terms after hearings with defense and county attorneys arguing mitigation and cooperation with investigators.
Hundreds of children want puppies and mothers seek canaries for Christmas. Advertise your pets for cash in The Gazette Want Ad section classification 36. Start your Want Ad now to attract Christmas buyers. dial 2-1121 to place.
The invasion sparked global furor as Finland moved to repel Russian advances. Scandinavian nations fear Baltic expansion, while Danes Swedes and Norwegians urged to join the Finnish cause. Reports from Belgrade Budapest and Bucharest note arrests and military tensions. British papers call the act murder in Finland and question the western democracies' response.
Over half an inch of rain fell and a chill mist did not deter thousands of children and parents who watched Santa Claus and helpers parade into Cedar Rapids. Rain totals reached .17 inch after 8:30 a.m. with .42 inch on Thanksgiving night, as temperatures eased from 43 to 41 and a 46 degree low was recorded.
Police sought a hit and run driver who cut in front of the courthouse on Third avenue. The other car sideswiped the eastbound vehicle, then sped west about 8 05 p m Thursday. The driver’s car had no lights and the license number was not obtained. The Bechka vehicle suffered a damaged left front fender and both hubcaps.
A column reflects on wartime cultural notes and quotes from figures like Stalin and Masefield, contrasting art and bombs. It recalls Sir Nevile Henderson’s Goering portrait, jokes about temper, and remarks from Shaw and Cobb, ending with a quirky medical note about sixteen operations.
Santa Claus led Cedar Rapids Christmas festivities in a rain drenched parade drawing thousands from the city and across northeast Iowa. Merchants and volunteers organized the event with children’s groups, Miss Merry Christmas, and three drum and bugle corps. Santa then greeted visitors at Greene Square Log Cabin with balloons candy and entertainment for kids.
Zoltan Mesko Nazi deputy in the Hungarian parliament voiced the Nazi party s strongest sympathy for the Finnish people in a speech in Budapest on Friday.
At Teriyoki near the Finland Soviet border a Finnish rebel topples Helsingfors rule and proclaims a people’s government backed by Moscow. Otto Heikinheimo, ex head of the communist international, heads the new regime which seeks mutual aid with the Soviet Union and the cession of Soviet Karelia. The plan includes a seven hour workday, wage rises, bank control, land redistribution, tax forgiveness for peasants, and expansion of schools and arts.
Helsinki reports Risto Ryti forms a new cabinet to replace Cajander Erko with aims to renew negotiations with Moscow. Finland endures heavy Soviet air raids and naval movements as casualties rise and prison camps claim prisoners in the Karelia region.
President Roosevelt expressed deep shock over Soviet naval and military bombings within Finnish territory and warned that force endangers small nations and mankind’s right to self government. He urged Russia and Finland to refrain from ruthless bombing and faced questions on neutrality and recognition.
LaPlant Choate Manufacturing in Cedar Rapids introduces a one year contract with No 381 of the American Federation of Labor. Roy E Choate announces a vacation payment plan for 354 employees. Those with one to five years get two percent of gross earnings. over five years receive four percent, paid before a two week shutdown for inventory on June 30. If an employee leaves, a separation payment equal to two or four percent of gross earnings for the period worked is given.
Emmett Berry was injured and taken to Mercy hospital after his car struck a parked vehicle owned by Vernon Thompson. Witnesses say blinding lights may have caused the collision. Berry’s condition improved to good by Friday. A separate 6 p.m. crash outside the city injured George Kane and Kermit Spencer, both treated at Mercy. Spencer was dismissed the same night and Kane on Friday afternoon.
In a column style piece Bugs Baer argues Russia uses aggression toward Finland as a model. He asserts small adversaries require only aggression, not excuses, with Europe pressing Finland to bear war debts and set an example. He also notes curiosity about Dale-book sales.
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