22 Jan 1940
Page 1
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Newspaper
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Location
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Jan 22, 1940
Page
1
Italian officials report all 412 passengers aboard the burned motorship Orazio have been rescued off the French coast. Crew casualties are uncertain with 231 crew members initially listed missing, survivors say many fled into lifeboats as emergency ships, two French warships and three Italian merchant ships assisted.
An official communique describes the Jan 21 fire aboard the Italian motor vessel Orazio 11,669 tons south of Toulon. French and Italian rescue ships aided evac. the ship burned as crews battled a north wind and heavy seas. Passengers were evacuated in an orderly but precarious operation as the torchship burned and a report of an explosion was noted.
John L. Lewis charged at a Columbus press conference that the federal government has not enforced the Wagner Act by withholding fat government contracts from firms defying the law. He said Roosevelt could require compliant behavior on government contracts and cited alleged violations by Bethlehem Steel Electric Boat and the aircraft industry spreading wealth among a new class of millionaires.
London AP reports four British ships were sunk or damaged over the weekend amid mine and torpedo dangers around the British Isles. The destroyer Grenville, a 1,485 ton flotilla leader, was sunk with 118 saved and 81 deaths overall from the week’s losses.
Japanese authorities detained James R. Young, chief of the International News Service Tokio bureau, offering no explanation. Young, a veteran Far East correspondent, had just returned to Tokio from an extended trip through war areas in China.
Sen Ellison D Smith of South Carolina becomes dean of the Senate after the death of William E Borah. Smith, 76, began his service 31 years ago, two years after Borah arrived in Washington, and he is known as a blunt and blustery figure.
Finnish defense plans hardened as Gulf of Finland freezes and Soviet bases in Estonia loom. Reports say Finland struck Kronstadt and Baltiski air bases while coast towns faced bombardment and artillery activity on the Karelian isthmus front amid harsh cold and night raids.
Treasury release lists the nations highest salaries for 1938. F A Countway of Lever Brothers tops at 469 713 in 1938, with IBM president Thomas J Watson second at 453 440. Others include Bethlehem Steel’s Eugene Grace and General Motors’ William Knudsen.
Friends of Mary McElroy say life and society imposed harsh penalties on her. The 1933 kidnap ordeal left her chained in her home while a ransom was paid. She later saved one kidnapper from the death penalty and became lonely after her father’s resignation and death amid public investigations. She died Saturday night by self infliction leaving a note about a social death penalty.
Cedar Rapids city council approved two hour parking on the First Second and Third avenue bridges from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. effective Jan 30 with similar limits on Fifth Street and Second Street SE. A 60 minute rule on First Street SE remains enforceable. The move follows pressure from the Chamber of Commerce Bureau and traffic officials expect to free space for about 400 more cars.
The House Rules Committee unanimously approved a one year continuation of the Dies committee probe into un American activities. The measure now goes to the House for one hour of debate Tuesday with a likely large margin to approve. Rep Frank E Hook urged inquires into an implied link between Chairman Martin Dies and William Dudley Pelley.
County Attorney Francis J. Kuble on Monday asked Senator Clyde L. Herring for the names of individuals who supplied information on alleged illegal liquor running into Des Moines and Polk county. He said a telegram was sent and offered to address the grand jury or accept information by telegram or letter. Governor Wilson said the state would cooperate with the grand jury investigation in every possible way.
Gardner Massachusetts Mayor Fred E. Perry vows to help unemployed men marry by securing public welfare jobs. He argues reformers should stop undermining natural laws and cites fears of economic collapse, bachelorhood, and declining birth rates as context.
Cartoon caption by Arthur Bugs Baer discusses sending agricultural implements to Finland as a wartime move. It satirizes undeclared wars and denials of invasions while noting confusion over actions in Europe and Asia and the unknown aggressors behind provocation.
A rural note mentions an agricultural implement, a whiffle-tree, described as capable of killing a horse at twelve miles, signaling a curious and risky claim in old farm equipment lore.
Tokyo formally protested the halting of the Asama Maru by a British cruiser and the removal of 21 German seamen as POWs. Britain defended the act as international law, while Japan demanded a full explanation and warned of further sentiment if repeated. The Germans were en route to Germany via Japan from San Francisco after being released by Standard Oil.
A report from Oslo to Copenhagen claims Maxim Litvinov former Soviet foreign minister has been liquidated by Kremlin authorities in Moscow. The dispatch says Moscow viewed Litvinov as a friend of the western powers and thus dangerous.
A reader quotes Dr. Joseph Fort Newton on Captain Scott as an emblem of idealism tempered by realism. He argues peace requires roots of justice and honesty, warned by prophecy that without fairness no peace will prevail, even as distant as the South Pole. The piece urges united effort to resolve war’s causes.
Rev Ambrose J. Sullivan of Holy Rosary Church vows to resume weekly wow games after Easter despite police opposition. He says a deputy prosecutor advised that wow is lawful with a free will offering instead of an admission fee, as officers pause enforcement.
Prince Rene of Bourbon Parma brother of former Empress Zita of Austria Hungary left Copenhagen for Stockholm on Sunday and will join Finnish volunteers to fight.
The Cedar Rapids Real Estate Board voted unanimously to support demolishing the former Washington high school to create a city parking lot. The plan, proposed by Edward Sheehy Jr for the Chamber of Commerce, hinges on city purchase of the site and a 10 year lease by an oil firm.
Earl Browder general secretary of the Communist party was found guilty by a federal court jury on two counts of passport fraud. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $4,000 fine. He represented himself after his attorney failed motions to dismiss.
Charlies Petrak a 59 year old milk man on route No 3 was fined 25 dollars and costs for reckless driving in police court after his milk truck struck a parked car belonging to Dr H N Grim at 2881 Linn boulevard SE. Police said Petrak had been drinking prior to the accident but was not intoxicated. He pled guilty and said he had never before been arrested.
The Cedar Rapids area saw temperatures rise from 1 below zero on Sunday to 18 above by mid afternoon with a 15 above reading by 2:30 pm Monday. City crews with extra workers cleared sidewalks and plows shaved packed street snow.
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