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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Dec 26, 1939
Page
1
Washington dispatch notes mixed reactions to President Roosevelt’s plan for government and religious groups to work together for world peace. Apostolic delegate Cicognani and church leaders express gratitude, while some critics raise questions on potential Vatican diplomacy.
The fourth child of the Secretary of War and Mrs Ha Woodring died at birth in Walter Reed Hospital. It was a boy.
The Decatur Daily reports a Finland relief effort led by former President Herbert Hoover. Contributions will be acknowledged in the paper and forwarded to the national committee in New York for Finnish assistance. Send gifts to Finland Relief Fund care The Decatur Daily Decatur Alabama.
Secretary Wallace directs farm security administration to deny loans to tenants or sharecroppers when a farm plan relies on one cash crop. The move aims to boost soil conservation through crop rotation and diversification, affecting AAA and other agencies and encouraging conservation practices with revised subsidies.
The German freighter Duesseldorf, 4930 tons, captured December 15 off Chile, was released by the United States Army at Cristobal Panama and granted clearance for Jamaica after transit through the Canal. The protest from German Consul Walter Schmidt was not entertained.
President Roosevelt designated Joseph E Davies American ambassador to Belgium as a special assistant to the Secretary of State to handle war emergency issues and international trade talks. Davies has just returned from Brussels to brief the State Department and White House.
Lawson Davidson chairman of the Decatur Rotary club says about 900 children were visited by Santa thanks to the public response to the appeal. He expresses the club’s appreciation for support and generosity during the Christmas effort.
Washington reports the federal government will begin monthly old age pension payments under the Social Security Act starting January with checks due by February 1. Expected 1940 disbursements exceed 100 million dollars to about 1 million beneficiaries, with typical single men around 26 dollars and married men about 39 dollars including wife supplements. Maximum 85 dollars requires 40 years of coverage and high earnings. The plan marks the final phase of the 1935 act, funding broader unemployment, aid to the aged, the blind, and dependent children.
In Bucharest on December 26 Ignace Moscicki former Polish president departed for a Swiss sanatorium while under treatment. He fled into Romania as Russian and German forces occupied Poland but was granted permission to leave after doctors advised it. He travels with his wife and daughter.
In Troy Alabama the Christmas Eve road house shooting left three dead and one wounded. M T Grissett 39 a former state convict guard is charged with murder. Victims are Tru man Paul 27 Hillary Killings worth 39 and Curtis Sanders 30. Sheriff Reeves gave few details and motive remains unexplained.
Senator George W Norris of Nebraska announced he would not seek public office again after his present term ends in 1943. The 78 year old veteran, in office for 37 years, said his work is done and he will not run for reelection, despite prior statements to the contrary.
Finnish communique reports 50 Soviet prisoners and two Red Army tanks disabled after heavy shelling of Viipuri on the Karelian Isthmus front. Italian line moves 25 miles from the city near the Finnish border. Separate reports claim Red victories near Jolomantsi and Suomussalmi as war persists along the eastern frontier.
Mary Elizabeth Phillips 73 died at 12 15 a m Tuesday at 1416 Fifth Avenue South after a lengthy illness Her body was taken to the home of her daughter Mrs Freeman Gustat Ardmore Funeral services will be held Wednesday at Wolley Springs Baptist Church conducted by Rev J A Chambers and Rev Malley Har grove burial will be in Gatlin Cemetery Ardmore She is survived by three daughters Mrs Gust Mrs Frank Jester of Ardmore and Mrs Joe White of Huntsville and six sons Asa of Athens John of Austinville Alex Foster and Sam of Decatur and Joe of Pulaski
In an election year Congress faces pressure to cut federal spending and curb deficits while considering a balanced budget and defense reductions. Past patterns show economy blocs falter, with major appropriations benefiting states likely to pass. Tax reform also stalls as lawmakers seek to depart Washington for conventions. President Roosevelt cites unpaid farm benefit financing.
A tremor struck Nicaragua's Pacific coast around 6 a.m. local time, rocking towns including Chinandega and Corinto without immediate reports of damage. Separately, a Gulf of Mexico windstorm damaged New Orleans area landmarks and injured a resident at the Southern Yacht Club.
In Grove Hill Alabama Gr aves faced opposition as county officials led by J D Bradford refused to delay a Coffeeville school dedication where Graves spoke amid factional clashes tied to gubernatorial ambitions. The dedication went ahead with Graves as principal speaker despite county board votes and local petitions.
Governor Frank M. Dixon travels with his son Sam Perry UVA student Frank Woodruff from Montgomery and Walter Scott of Birmingham to Bellamy Alabama for a deer hunt. The Alabama capitol closed at noon Saturday and will reopen Thursday.
Bloomington officials revived an old curfew law for children under 16. With 18 000 residents, they failed to find a loud bell or whistle and settled on a plan to drive a fire truck into the street at curfew and turn on the siren to deter juvenile crime.
Berlin reports authoritative sources say Adolf Hitler walked into France while with German forces in the Westwall defenses for Christmas. He toured dugouts near Spicheren Heights between Saarbrucken and Forbach and promoted his guide from captain to major before departing at dusk.
The British steamer Stanholme, 2473 tons, torpedoed and sunk off the west coast of England with one death. Ten survivors report no warning given on Christmas Day. Most crew were below decks when a massive explosion sank the ship two hours after leaving port. only the captain survived uninjured. one woman aboard, Mrs. Mabel Lenny.
Special investigators reported to the Dies Committee that a survey of Communism on the West Coast showed the Hollywood movie colony had Communist party members or backers. The report named actors and actresses and alleged a front organization influencing California and Washington state government.
Washington reports show the army missing its Jan 1 target set in September by President Roosevelt. Officials cite the goal as too high and say more time is needed as December enlistments stand at 210,340 regulars and 222,700 National Guard, well short of the 227,000 and 235,000 aims.
Edward R Cassidy, 23, watched his father Edward J Cassidy a policeman wear a hat for the first time in 27 years. The family bought him a Christmas hat and had Edward place it on his father, who then wore it proudly as the children cheered.
A holiday rash of automobile crashes in the Decatur area left two men dead and 13 injured. Wooten, 19, of Birmingham, died after being struck crossing a highway near Cullman. Lawson Jones, 44, of Hartselle, died when his pickup was hit on Bee Line Highway south of Decatur. Several other injuries occurred as patrols investigated crashes and a patrol car was struck.
The Tennessee River gauge reached 16.2 feet with 36 inch rainfall and temperatures from 36 to 47. Showers tonight across central and east Tennessee, colder in the west. Alabama sees partly cloudy skies after rain in the east with frost possible in the south if skies clear. Wisconsin remains cloudy and colder in the southeast with strong easterly winds along the coast.
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