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Newspaper
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Location
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Nov 26, 1939
Page
1
A 10 percent wage increase for 35 000 motion picture technicians halted a potential nationwide strike that could have shut theaters. The deal runs until February 15 1940 when terms may be reopened and arbitration could ensue if talks fail.
Official figures show U S defense expenditures totaling about 14 per person for the current year. The army faces 956 million dollars with a 119 million deficiency request to cover extraordinary European war expenses. The navy totals 924 million dollars with a 146 million deficiency for Atlantic coast neutrality patrol costs.
A fragmentary quote by Arthur Baer jests about gunpowder and paper and Chinese invention. It ponders war tools versus treaties and suggests a spoof Nobel Peace Prize to a turtle inventing a neck pull. The note casually mentions submarine warfare and bass fishing near wrecks.
Iowa City sheriff and state agent filed two preliminary informations charging first degree murder against Charles Becicka 28 for the double murder of George and Mrs Novotny at their Shueyville area farm home on September 9 Becicka confessed alleged to be in federal custody and earlier charged with extortion of Wesley Novotny.
Colleen Linton a 13 year old Lynwood girl who accidentally shot Arthur Wilson 9 sobbed she cannot go to movies after the tragedy. She said she did not pull the trigger the gun went off while she tried to scare him into doing housework. The bullet struck the boy in the heart and killed him instantly. She told police three boys urged her to go out to play cowboy but she could not until housework was finished for her father Ernest whose wife and she are separated.
In Elizabeth New Jersey an elderly amnesia victim was identified as Mrs Emma Legg after police spent hours confirming her identity. Later that night officers found her husband Herman Legg 71 collapsed behind the kitchen stove from a stroke. Both were admitted to the same hospital unaware of each other’s presence.
Secretary Hopkins reports wholesale inventories up for October from 1938 levels. Cost value increased three and a half percent while sales volume fell six and one half percent in October versus September.
At Warm Springs Georgia the Georgia delegation met with President Roosevelt and discussed funding national defense. House Naval Committee chair Carl Vinson said a national defense tax could be proposed while noting lower brackets and inheritance taxes could be adjusted to raise sufficient funds. Escalating defense costs and deficits were central themes with no concrete tax details.
Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd began a three year Antarctic voyage departing for Little America. He boarded a Pan American Clipper in Miami to Havana then Cristobal to meet the flagship North Star. The Bear will dock in Norfolk before joining the polar mission.
Washington reports a renewed legislative clash as railroads and airlines contend over bringing air transport under the Interstate Commerce Commission. Airlines have doubled traffic this year to about 2,260,900 passengers, while critics consider centralizing regulation of land sea and air transport. A railroad group backs broader oversight, citing safety gains and rail competition impact on long-haul traffic.
In New York, George Lowther III, styled as a modern Romeo, begins a campaign to visit Debutante Eileen Herrick after the state supreme court ends a ten day separation. Eli Johnson claims the Herricks hide their daughter despite the court order, while Lowther vows to continue pursuing a marriage amid public interest and legal spins.
In Oakdale New York a five month old baby named Jean has been adopted by the Royal Fraternity of Master Metaphysicians to prove humans can live forever. Leader James B. Schafer says the child will be fed a vegetable diet and kept in strict training with no talk of death or disease. The private nurse cares for her at Peace Haven an old mansion on Long Island the fraternity obtained in January 1938. The group believes illness and death stem from destructive thinking.
Mrs. Adelaide Stinger, 65, of 1207 Third avenue SE, remained in St. Luke's hospital Saturday night after a car struck her on First avenue about 100 feet west of Thirteenth street E at 5:42 p.m. A right arm fracture and possible rib and chest injuries left her condition fair. The driver, Mrs. Sheldon Lane, 32, of 2611 E avenue NE, said she saw something dart into the street and struck her fender. Lane was not detained by police. Earlier, Sherman Brady, 5, of Vinton road NW, was injured when a car driven by Leland Gosnell, 30, hit him on Thirteenth street NW near B and C avenues. Brady refused a ride home, and Gosnell followed to assist. Brady’s parents said he was not hurt.
Cedar Rapids clerks at the Fanny Farmer candy shop on 129 Third Avenue SE reported a counterfeit bill scam after a young woman passed a bogus $1 bill raised to $10. Employees recalled the incident occurred Friday afternoon and evening but could not determine total loss or describe the suspect.
Berlin based Beobachter claims Capt Richard Stevens a Briton held by German police admitted that the British secret service organized 15 sabotage acts that damaged German Italian and Japanese ships for more than 24 million dollars. The newspaper says the deeds occurred from 1937 to 1938 before the war.
Washington reports Ambassador Joseph E. Davies, returning from Belgium to confer with President Roosevelt, is being considered for appointment as secretary of the navy. The post has been vacant since Claude E. Swanson's death. Assistant Secretary Charles A. Edison has been acting, but may seek the New Jersey Senate seat next year.
Skies over Cedar Rapids darkened with threatening weather Saturday afternoon and evening as a light sleet fall yielded only a trace. The temperature fell from a high near 49 to 40 by noon and to 34 by midnight, with morning lows around 35.
Senator H Styles Bridges of New Hampshire on a cross country swing said he can win the Republican presidential nomination and the 1940 race, especially if Franklin D Roosevelt is the opponent.
A roundup of college football results including Iowa tied Northwestern 7 all, Michigan defeated Ohio State 21 to 14, Minnesota beat Wisconsin 23 to 6, Purdue edged Indiana 7 to 6, Illinois 46 over Chicago U S California 26 and Notre Dame 12 over California 12. Missouri 26 over Kansas 6, Nebraska 13 over Oklahoma 7, Tulsa 14 over Drake 18, Michigan State 18 over Temple 7. Yale 20 over Harvard 7, Princeton 28 over Navy 0, Corsten 26 over Pennsylvania 0, Boston College 38 over Kansas State 7, Duke 28 over North Carolina State 9, Texas Christian 21 over Rice, Georgia Tech 21 over Florida 7, Southern Methodist 21 over Baylor 90, California 32 over Stanford 14, Oregon State 13 tied UCLA 13.
After a week of heavy sea warfare the German air raids on British warships in the North Sea triggered conflicting reports. DNB claimed direct hits on four ships while the British admiralty said no hits or casualties occurred. Mines proved the chief menace as 17 ships were sunk that week, with Britain suffering the largest losses.
Three coast guard planes searched several hundred square miles of ocean off the North Carolina coast for the 56 foot schooner Pinta. Austin Gilmour and four others were aboard when distress signal was sent to the steamer Brazos. The Sebaga cutter located the area but the craft was not found.
A Stinson monoplane that vanished after takeoff from Newark refueled at Allegheny County airport in Pittsburgh on Saturday and proceeded west. Pilot Frank C. Hoffman of Staten Island was aboard with his wife, a three year old son, and Dean Worth. The Civil Aeronautics Authority issued a teletype seeking information.
In Shenandoah Pennsylvania two bootleg miners Joseph Kuntis aged 23 and George Kraulis aged 48 died after entombment of more than ten hours in a makeshift underground shaft. The deaths bring the year’s bootleg mine toll to at least 50, highlighting the dangerous independent operations in the anthracite region.
Berlin reports reveal eleven grandsons and one grand-nephew of former Kaiser Wilhelm II serving under Hitler. One grandson has fallen. Prince Oscar of Prussia commands a frontline regiment while his son Oscar, a 24 year old lieutenant, died in Poland on Sept 5. Two other sons Burchardt and Wilhelm Hari hold officer ranks in infantry and artillery. Burchardt speaks English and frequents the American colony in Berlin.
INEZROBR reports New York experiences a war driven prosperity surge as wealthy refugees flood the metropolis. The upper crust enjoys theaters, clubs, restaurants, and luxury goods while champagne and mink rush through Park Avenue amid a demand influenced by the European conflict.
Washington reports a 1940 corn control program urging midwestern belt farmers to shrink plantings by about 12 percent. The 36,638,000 acre commercial belt allotment replaces 41,256,000. adjustments vary by area. Conservation payments rise to 10 cents per bushel with parity payments around five to six cents.
Prague reports stricter rationing in Bohemia and Moravia after December 1. Wholesale buyers may receive 50 percent of their six month 1939 average. German member organizations must surrender property and funds proportional to German membership as of January 1, 1938.
Chicago report notes the period from November 27 to December 2 will be largely dry with temperatures near or above normal. Forecasters expect modest moderation in precipitation and a general dry trend across the valley.
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