14 Dec 1939
Page 1
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Newspaper
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Location
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Dec 14, 1939
Page
1
The public safety department is urged to restore stop and go signals at Fifth street and Third avenue. The letter criticizes recent signal removals and railroad blockages, notes heavy downtown congestion, and urges departments to curb jaywalking and permit right turns on red where lawful to ease pedestrian risk.
The League of Nations council votes to expel Russia for its invasion of Finland. Finland, China, Yugoslavia, and Greece abstain, while an earlier assembly vote saw several European states abstain. The White House had announced Hoover would lead American relief for war torn Europe, including aid to Finland, amid questions on motives and timing.
German pocket battleship Graf Spee, docked in Montevideo after a 14 hour battle with British cruisers Exeter Achilles and Ajax, is under guard as repairs finish. 36 dead, 60 wounded among its crew. Exeter limped in, while Graf Spee may attempt to flee at sea with a tanker loaded to refuel.
The article argues that providing government aid to the Baltic country could drag the United States into a broader European war, urging Congress to consider the global consequences of such assistance. The piece emphasizes the danger of expanding involvement and highlights lawmakers’ concerns.
Berlin says the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee sank two British merchantmen Tairoa and Streonshall en route to European waters and met Exeter Ajax and Achilles in the South Atlantic. It reports the ship in Montevideo to bury dead seamen and aid wounded, while denying internment.
Des Moines Iowa Senator Clyde L Herring told Kiwanis that aiding European democracies to fight Hitler and Stalin could keep the United States out of conflict He said aiding France and England is the best way to stay out of war unless France and England face defeat and a financial obligation falls on the United States He praised the neutrality act cash and carry and warned against American ships entering war zones or citizens traveling on belligerent vessels The senator stressed he cannot envision a scenario where a Senate member would support going to war
Clear skies helped Cedar Rapids temperatures rise after a frigid start of 9 degrees, the season’s low to date. By afternoon the thermometer climbed to 36 as the day warmed from a 26 degree high earlier.
The British destroyer Duchess was sunk after colliding with an unidentified warship, with about 120 officers and men believed lost. Only one officer and 22 sailors survived. the Duchess, completed in 1933, carried 145 crew and served mainly in Chinese waters.
Theodore Simon a police department clerk since 1913 remains in the station building after a 10 day suspension without pay for disobeying orders and failing to perform duties. Chief Robert Viach cited repeated failures to issue requested traffic arrest and conviction statistics. Simon sent back the suspension letter by sliding it under Viach’s door.
Atlanta relives the old south for the Gone With the Wind premiere as six Civil War veterans attend with Clark Gable as guests.Residents dress in antebellum fashion, shoppers decorate storefronts with Confederate money, and streets fill with period nostalgia.
A reader argues that personal goodwill is not enough without it shaping group life. He warns that nationalism and rigid isms threaten peace, and calls for spiritual mindedness to become public mindedness to prevent societal ruin.
In Los Angeles a couple of hunters who fired at low flying army planes were indicted for damaging government property. The buckshot peppered two planes, with damage estimated at 1000 dollars per aircraft.
Secretary Morgenthau told a House subcommittee he believes the national debt limit could be raised to 50 billion dollars, up from 45 billion. He stressed the 50 billion figure was a belief, not a recommendation, and favored lower expenditures and higher taxes to avoid debt increases. He declined to propose new tax specifics while studies proceed.
Soviet troops captured Salmijarvi near the Norwegian border while Finnish forces reported counter attacks and the isthmus fighting remained localized. The Petsamo district burned as towns Kolosjoki Tullevi Koivolahti and Kovoranta burned and smoke spread across the frontier region.
White House Secretary Stephen T. Early said President Roosevelt offered Herbert Hoover a leadership role in an agency for relief work in war torn countries months ago. Hoover reportedly declined the position, with the offer made through Norman Davis of the American Red Cross before the European war began.
Geneva report says the League of Nations expelled the USSR by unanimous council vote for its Finnish invasion. Finland abstained, along with China Yugoslavia and Greece, while Britain France Bolivia Egypt South Africa the Dominican Republic and Belgium voted for expulsion. Iran Peru and Russia absent. The move follows Assembly condemnation and marks the first expulsion in League history.
Cedar Rapids gas officials challenged claims of an self-styled analyst that local rates were excessive. Don Barnes said the utility proposed a $1000 monthly bill reduction by using a 1035 BTU base instead of 1050 and criticized city tests as using an antiquated meter, pledging to share a modern calorimeter and cover maintenance costs if the change is adopted. The delegation also pressed for 24 hour testing and noted prior meter checks cost about $3000.
Arthur Baer notes the supreme court ruling limits wire tapping and hints at broader issues. He argues law would permit or forbid searches of a pickpocket who has already targeted a legitimate business, warning of overreach and misuse. The piece satirically questions signals interception legality and its impact on commerce.
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