17 Jan 1940
Page 1
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Newspaper
Washington Evening Journal
Location
Washington, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Jan 17, 1940
Page
1
Davenport police say two arrests already made in a cigarette smuggling probe with more expected. Officers seized cartons of Untaxed cigarettes from suspects including Merritt, while suspects tied to the operation remain in custody as investigations continue.
An upswing in Iowa employment is noted as five months of growth continue after a post-holiday setback. Weekly initial claims fell by 7 percent, with 10,214 claims filed in the week ending January 10, down from 16,316 the prior week, according to Claude M. Stanley, commission chairman.
Deans from nine colleges of the University of Iowa hold seats on a committee to confer with the State Board of Education on selecting a successor to President K A Gilmore, whose resignation was announced.
The Iowa Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the constitutionality of the Iowa Small Loan Act, including sections allowing the State Banking Board to set loan interest rates. The ruling in Oliver C. Miller vs D. W. Bates and the Banking Board affirmed Polk County District Judge John J. Calloran who denied an injunction to block enforcement. The opinion, by Justice Frederick M. Miller, held challenges must prove invalid beyond reasonable doubt.
Iowa farmers have received over 66 million dollars in AAA program payments to date, including 318,645,551 in parity payments tied to corn and wheat acreage allotments. Nearly all conservation and parity checks have been issued, with about 219,554 applications recorded statewide.
About 20 CIO union members led by Lawrence Miner picketed the Wapello county courthouse as District Judge W S Cooper of Winterset spoke to a meeting of second district attorneys. CIO officials said Cooper was the sole target of the demonstration, denouncing his Senner case decision.
Mrs. Henry Demers a 35 year old farmer's wife and mother of two hung herself after hanging out the family washing Tuesday. Coroner John J. Taylor said health may have prompted the act and noted the husband survives.
A brutal cold wave gripped Iowa with forecast lows of 20 degrees below zero in the northeast and party colder elsewhere. Mason City hit 15 below, Ames eight below, and Des Moines two below as snow fell in Iowa City and Dubuque while highway travel remained limited by last week’s storm.
Britain reports the allied naval blockade of Germany more effective than after two years of World War I while Italy warns fascism may join the war at any moment. German economic suffering is cited as the main battlefield as Gen Ettore Muti urges Italians to be ready to take up arms amid a winter stalemate on the western front and in Finland.
The district court judge at January term named Ralph Thompson WL Orr and Attorney Theodore B Bailey as the 1940 Washington county board of inheritance tax appraisers. Bailey replaces Edward J Harmeler who died last week. Thompson and Orr are hold over members.
Lt Col Charles P Gross of the Rock Island district said the federal government plans a six million dollar flood control project on the Iowa river north of Iowa City. A dam at Coralville would flood 22 000 acres. The state conservation commission opposes the plan and Iowa authorities will decide if funds are withdrawn.
Mary Atchison remains off work at the J Rothschild store due to illness. This marks her second week from work with a lung congestion keeping her away.
Washington Rotary announces February and March lectures by Dr. F W Eastwood and four speakers on international affairs. Topics include International Realities for America to Weigh, South of the Border, Central European Tensions, and The Struggle for Raw Materials. Readings will be free at the high school auditorium with tickets via sponsoring organizations.
Father Pat McDermott of Atlantic, national chaplain of the American Legion, will address a county Legion meeting in Washington on Tuesday Feb 13. The event will be a joint meeting with the Legion Auxiliary, with entertainment and plans for a dance afterward.
Four men were killed and 12 injured when a blaze swept the Salvation Army industrial home in Houston Texas early today. The fire, found at three o'clock, trapped 16 workers on the second floor. five leaped from second story windows.
In Des Moines a Dewey for president effort announces a meeting at Hotel Lavery on January 2% with plans for a statewide organization. John Fletcher the former Iowa attorney general chaired a preliminary meeting. Sam K. Miller served as secretary as organizers aim to mobilize Iowa support.
Secretary Hamilton told the 21st state convention that the Iowa Farm Bureau reached 36,208 paid members for 1939, up 5,000 from the prior year. Benton county earned a bronze trophy as the federation’s largest membership, with 842 members, followed by Dubuque 736 Fayette 651 Tama 611 Winneshiek 600 and Clinton 693.
Julius Keleh of Britt struck a match to check a suspected frozen gasoline feed line. The check failed and the car was a total loss.
The Republican delegation was directed to support Dewey at the national convention, aligning district representatives with the party nominee amid ongoing campaign organization and rally efforts.
In Nitro NJ a Du Pont nitro glycerine mixing plant explosion killed at least two workers and seriously injured two others. The blast shattered windows miles away and shook a 50 mile radius across New Jersey Pennsylvania and Delaware. Two carpenters nearby were trapped but rescued. Cause not yet known and guards had recently been posted after sabotage alerts.
Washington hosts Golden Gloves doubleheader at the new $58 000 Armory with about 70 boxers from Ottumwa Iowa City Fairfield Lone Tree Columbus Junction and other towns competing. The event starts at 7 30 PM Thursday and Friday with 50 cent admission for more than three hours of boxing.
The Washington coffee club held its most notable meeting to date this morning thanks to Rollie Optenburge who donates elk meat annually from Colorado. About thirty men enjoyed elk sandwiches during the gathering while W. S. Gatewood, a Cedar Rapids based salesman for Wolf Floral, was unanimously elected president.
Raymond Dayton of the Credit Reference Exchange spoke to the Y's Men's club about master credit records for about 60 million people across the United States and Canada. The local bureau serves over sixty firms, emphasizes confidentiality, and notes losses from bad debts dropped to under half a percent due to access to credit information. Franey highlighted Golden Gloves efforts for 50 plus fighters at the New Armory, with proceeds to reduce the tournament deficit.
George W. Hotle 55 a former Washington public school janitor died of a heart attack shortly after 11 this morning at his home 917 North Iowa Avenue. He was born August 8 1884 in Dutch Creek Township and married Leona Dunbar September 20 1905. Survivors include his wife parents three daughters four grandchildren and several brothers and sisters. Funeral arrangements pending.
Judge James P. Gaffney assigns eleven civil cases for jury trial beginning Monday January 22 at 1 30 PM. Blattner vs McGraw goes to the court tomorrow at 9 AM. A special January 29 1 30 PM assignment covers the state case against John E K Walton.
Peter Reuben 82 former Washington man died at Hartsh burg Illinois. Service to be held at L A Jones funeral home Thursday afternoon at 1 30 with burial at Elm Grove cemetery. He left Washington ten years ago lived with a sister in Hartshire and survived by another sister Mrs Carl Koehler Havre community. His wife died twelve years ago.
The Winterset Lions Club distributed white canes as Christmas presents to residents who are blind or near blind in the Winterset community, aiding mobility and independence.
A Romanian spokesman said under King Carol a hundred miles of frontier fortifications known as the king's dike are nearly complete. The line, begun after Czechoslovakia's dismemberment, aims to deter aggression from Germany in the west or Russia in the east, with plans reportedly prepared by the king.
Donald Spees, 14, of Kidora, fell through an ice hole while skating at night. Ed Schultz pulled Spees from the water after diving onto the ice to reach him.
Barbers from Washington held a Monday meeting at Rickey shop with thirteen barbers present from most shops. They scheduled a dinner for February 15 and named Tom Rickey chairman and Ted Pratt financial chairman. They plan monthly gatherings, the first of its kind in town.
Four lodges Wellman Kalona Keota and Washington held a joint meeting in the I O O F hall in Washington with about 100 members attending. Fourteen candidates received the initiatory degree and a lunch followed. bad weather and roads reduced attendance. On Tuesday January 23 Washington lodge will travel to Wellman for a first degree.
The Journal reports a five dollar contribution for Finnish relief from Charles Swift of five and a half miles northeast of town. It explains earlier hesitation to publicize Finland aid due to local needs andongoing campaigns. Contributions may be mailed or delivered to the Journal office and will be forwarded to the national Finnish relief fund via the state treasurer in Des Moines.
The report states there was a broken ankle with no injury details or cause determined yet. It notes no other injuries were reported. Further investigation was pending to establish how the incident occurred.
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