23 May 1949
Page 1
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Newspaper
Grafton Sentinel
Location
Grafton, West Virginia, United States of America
Date
May 23, 1949
Page
1
Detroit reports indicate the 18 day Ford strike remains deadlocked as federal mediators push a 24 hour cooling off period. Both CIO United Auto Workers and Ford accept the pause and say they will return to talks if the government arranges sessions.
The widow of James Forrestal is identified as former Miss Josephine Ogden of Fairmont and Charleston. She is the youngest daughter of Howard Ogden, an early State Public Service Commission member, and was married to Forrestal in 1926. Relatives note she then lived in New York working for Value magazine. Howard Ogden was brother to H. C. Ogden, publisher of a West Virginia newspaper chain.
Communist troops battled Shanghai defenses all day with no breakthrough by nightfall though gains were reported in places. The mid day communique signaled a climactic Pootung fight as shells sparked at least 40 fires across the Whangpoo riverfront, drawing thousands to watch from rooftops and streets.
Two American GTs, George Jones of Owensboro Kentucky and Clarence R Hill of Pampa Texas, held in Czech prisons for six months as spies, say beatings and threats failed to break them. Czech President Gottwald pardoned them amid U S pressure after secret trials sentenced them to 10 and 12 years. They were handed to Lt Col Charles Y Talbot at the Czech German border and may face U S Army court martial for absence without leave since December 9 1948.
All-American Airlines began passenger service between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati with stops at Wheeling and Parkersburg West Virginia. The first westbound flight from Allegheny County Airport at 9:30 a.m. EST covers about 2 hours 15 minutes to Cincinnati. Planned schedule includes three eastbound and three westbound flights daily with future stop at Athens Ohio within three weeks.
Three people escaped injury in a morning two car collision on Main street as a Ford sedan and a 1942 Plymouth sedan collided head on causing extensive damage to both cabs and nearby parked vehicles. A nurse in Pilson’s cab remained unharmed and proceeded to another cab. Police investigated, noting another weekend West Main sideswipe between a 1947 Ford radiator and a Ford pickup with damage to fender and bumper.
Forrestal, the 57 year old former secretary of defense, died by suicide after a career serving Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. An inquiry was ordered to investigate the circumstances as leaders mourn a man described as a casualty of war.
Clean up crews comb debris after one of the citys worst windstorms. Winds up to 65 mph battered the area for 15 minutes causing hundreds of thousands in damage. Roofs, windows, and signs were ruined. a two story apartment near city hall was evacuated. Four downtown blocks were cordoned off for possible masonry falls as radio and utility services faced outages.
A rapid succession of tornadoes and weather fury killed 46 people and caused millions in damage across nine states over the weekend. At least 229 injured, 900 homes destroyed. Missouri Indiana and Illinois hardest hit with 44 deaths. Red Cross set aside 500000 for relief as reports spread from Kentucky Pennsylvania West Virginia Texas Tennessee Maryland and Cape Girardeau Missouri.
Fairmont announces a $46,000 resurfacing plan on its main streets. Mayor Albert F. Robinson said the work will begin early next month and be the most extensive resurfacing in the city in 30 years, targeting major thoroughfares.
Senator Vandenberg urged a complete inquiry into the Atomic Energy Commission and its chairman David Lilienthal. He criticized the grant awards to an admitted communist and to others lacking security clearances, urging scrutiny amid ongoing hearings and calls for Lilienthal's resignation.
A city council letter from the Grafton Volunteer Fire Department extols Fire Chief John L. Proctor for leadership and the department's development into an efficient fighting force under his command. The note expresses gratitude and confidence in continued leadership. See CHIEF Page 6.
Washington reports the House Appropriations Committee ordered a 15 percent cut in Marshall Plan spending for the year, trimming $629,730,000 from $4,189,200,000 and reducing aid to Greece and Turkey by $50,000,000 while approving other allocations as the fight over postwar relief moves to the ORDERS page for further details.
Paul G Hoffman head of the Economic Recovery Administration tells the House appropriations committee he has no intention of resigning or running for office. He dismisses rumors sparked by Drew Pearson and says he could not resign with a clear conscience if the 1990 ECA money bill passes and expresses a wish to help achieve real progress in mutual aid. He also states no desire for political office after a year of public service.
Two legislative interim committees scheduled meetings in Charleston today the first since adjournment of the 1949 legislature. The joint committee on government and finance will review municipal financing issues with Senate President Johnston and House Speaker Flannery cochairing. An organization meeting was planned for a joint committee studying a proposed four year medical and dental school, formed after bills to establish such a school died in the 1949 regular session.
The Big Four foreign ministers Ach ern Bevin Schuman and Vishinsky met in Paris to begin settling Germany. It was the sixth Foreign Ministers Council session since the war and the fourth on the German issue. Western powers pressed Russia for urgent Berlin talks as blockades had been lifted.
Southern coal operators in Bluefield plan contract talks with the United Mine Workers. President Joseph E Moody of the Southern Coal Producers Association called a 27 member board meeting for 1 30 p m EST to set eight negotiators to bargain with UMW reps as the June 30 contract deadline nears.
Berlin commanders from the United States Britain and France rejected a west Berlin city government demand to seize strike bound elevated railway stations the move would have allowed western backed police into western rail facilities amid days of rioting and a 12000 strong strike force demanding intervention The decision preserves Russian controlled railway rights established in 1945 while some trains still reached Berlin from the west with yards largely unmanned.
James V Forrestal spoke of becoming a victim of the Washington scene and killed himself yesterday from a 16th floor Naval hospital window after nine years in federal service. The resignation rumor swirled since Truman’s election, but Forrestal said he would stay on and submit his resignation to the new president.
Plans completed for a charity ball at the Elks ballroom next Friday night May 27 to raise funds for a hospital blood bank and a charity bed. The semi formal event organized by the Woman's Hospital auxiliary Ways and Means Committee is open to the public and starts at 9 p.m. Music by Joe Shuttlesworth and Willow Beach Orchestra. Tickets available at local shops or from auxiliary members including Mrs Flanagan and Mrs Gerkin.
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