anaheim-gazette 1951-04-04

4 Annaheim Gazette WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 1951 ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA Published afternoons, Monday through Friday, at the East Center, Anaheim, California. Phone Anaheim 2208. Entered as second-class mailer at the Anaheim, California, Postoffice on June 6, 1868, under the Act of March 8, 1879. The Gazette is a member of the Associated Press, the National Editorial Association, and California Newspaper Publishers Association. All rights herein are reserved. MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS—The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the news for republication of all the local news printed in this newspaper as well as all A.P.S. news dispensers. THEODORE & KUCHEL MARK MELLER ASSISTANT PUBLISHER BENNER GEYER EDITOR AND SPORTS EDITOR LEONARD LEIDT ASSISTANT EDITOR MYLES MRASLEY PICTURE EDITOR NEIL STANLEY ADVERTISING MANAGER G. E. MELLER ASSISTANT ADVERTISING MANAGER MARY ROULAND ASSISTANT ADVERTISING MANAGER RALPH HOULAND CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER LUCY HUBbard Circulation Manager Throwing a game... One day last week thousands of newspapers, marroring me in the United States, showed a nation with a dirty face. On that single day, published side by side, were reports headed "Vita Rachel Uncovered in U.S. Consulati," "Three More Arrested in Basketball Fix," "Special Treasury Squads to Probe Gangster Income," "Anastasia Seized for Illegal Entry," "Police Official Blamed." Crime, influence and scandal virtually blotted everything else from the front page and the public mind. In Washington on that day the Kefauver Committee was continuing inquiry that had held millions of Americans spellbound for it may be that we are more cynical today. But we are also more watchful. Remember there was a time when you could be hanged for stealing a cow. In other words, the standard of ethics and morals changes. But it isn't any easier to get away with something these days. It's harder. Sooner or later, the spotlight is sure to get around to the man who tries. Swope said the effort to obtain influence in government, either by buying it or through some other means, is not new, either. "What is new is that government is very much bigger today than ever before," he said. "As it gets bigger, it gets wider in the opportunities for graft. Apparent..." Mr. Rae made this week, going and returning on lited over night Groat who has 100 in constructing 21 ditch and pipe lines escal Water Company Groat has already miles of ditch. He on 200 men soon work to completion of ditch is located city, wherein the number of young city are employed ciled in a tent label of horrors." The district structured will convine nine wells at Elsinor where it will be u tion. The Temesca pany will issue book of $350,000 to comp refund its indebted other improvements. Mrs. Adam Dingw City is visiting her Mr. and Mrs. J. B. city and will rema Special Easter se held in the Presby Preaching by Rev. S Crime, influence and scandal virtually blotted everything else from the front page and the public mind. In Washington on that day the Kefauver Committee was continuing inquiry that had held millions of Americans spellbound for weeks. On that same day, Sen. William Pulbright, whose committee had been studying the pattern of influence on the RFC, issued a startling warning—that public immorality concerns much more than domestic politics. He said: "Without confidence in their government, the people will not make the sacrifices necessary to oppose Russia successfully." What has happened to American public morality? Is this the century of cynicism, dominated by the philosophy of the fix? Has a black bag, containing the pay-off become the great seal of the United States? Or is this a perennial condition, something that exists all the time but seems new when it is caught suddenly in the beams of a probing spotlight? Relman Morin special correspondent of the Associated Press, thought over these questions, and then turned to prominent Americans in an attempt to throw some light on the matter. Herbert Bayard Swope is a New York business executive who has looked at public life and officialdom from several different points of vantage. He was a newspaperman, a public official, an advisor to officials and for 11 years chairman of the New York State Racing commission. "Public morals are no worse," he said. What has happened is that we have become more vigilant, with a higher standard of expectation." As evidence, he cited the examples of influence, bribery and corruption that go all the way back to the earliest American federal and state governments. IN THE DAYS OF with something these days. It's easier or later, the spotlight is sure to get around to the man who tries." Swope said the effort to obtain influence in government, either by buying it or through some other means, is not new, either. "What is new is that government is very much bigger today than ever before," he said. "As it gets bigger, it gets wider in the opportunities for graft. Apparently there are just that many more people in office who are susceptible. "Hence, simply because of the greater size, you hear of more examples. But the methods are the same, at least in principle." Swope did not agree with the Kefauver witness who described gambling as "a biological necessity." "It isn't as strong as that," he said. "It seems to be a human instinct. People apparently want to gamble, and I am not at all sure that that is a breach of basic morality." "People indulge it by placing a bet on a horse race with a bookie. Bookmaking is supposed to be the basic cause of pay-offs to the police. "In that case, remove the policeman from the picture by legalizing the action. It doesn't make much sense to permit betting at the track and forbid it outside the track." What's the explanation of the basketball "fix"? A generation ago, it was popularly believed a college athlete would die rather than throw a game. "That isn't so much the result of a lowering of individual standards as it is of professionalizing college sports," Swope said. The coaches can't avoid some of the responsibility for that side of it. And neither can the people who demand a winning team—or else. "It so hapenns that basketball has become an easy vehicle for betting. But if the individual player had not become somewhat cynical about sports through being paid for his ability, he probably would not have been so susceptible to the bribe offer when it came along." IN THE DAYS OF LONG AGO From the Files of the Anahiem Gascette By MRS. HENRY KUCHEL 75 Years Ago Why does not some one keep fresh fish for sale? There would be no trouble in keeping a shop supplied from the sea shore and many here would be glad to buy. They could easily be kept fresh for reasonable time by cold water and refrigerators. The new Los Angeles city charter is reported to have passed the House. It passed the Senate some time ago. This is from the Los Nietos Valley Carrier—speaking of the growth of Los Angeles county—"A well built city of one thousand inhabitants now stands on a spot where, in 1856, the sagebrush and cactus flourished and a line of railroads reaches it from Los Angeles, with two daily trains. We allude to the beautiful city of Anaheim." Los Angeles papers report that a stock company is being formed for the purpose of planting a forest of Australian blue gum, but we here can boast of the project accomplished, and by a private individual, too, Mr. Riley, living within a mile and a half of the centre of town, has almost 20,000 one year old trees of this kind planted in forest forms, and flourishing. Los Angeles has a public library of 2000 volumes. A Los Angeles hotel claims to have Maximillian's cook. Los Angeles papers report a case of wife-beating, and suggest the application of the new Roach bill. A fire marshal is to be created in Los Angeles, to prevent the occurrence of so many fires. Los Angeles is afflicted with sneak thieves and dust. Another enjoyable ball will be given at Turtin on Friday evening. The ladies are determined to have an organ for the school house and have taken this method to secure the funds to buy one. 50 Years Ago A force of Sunset telephone workmen have been in town during the week putting up new 43 foot poles and stringing copper wire thereon to accommodate the company's increasing volume of business hereabouts. Mr. Rae made a trip to Perris this week, going over on Friday and returning on Monday. He visited over night with Clarence Groat who has 100 men employed in constructing 21 miles of cement ditch and pipe lines for the Temescal Water Company of Corona. Groat has already excavated three miles of ditch. He expects to put on 200 men soon and rush the work to completion. Along the line of ditch is located a miniature tent city, wherein the men employed on the job are fed and lodged. A number of young men from this city are employed and are domiciled in a tent labeled "Chamber of horrors." The ditch being constructed will convey water from nine wells at Elsinore to Corona where it will be used for irrigation. The Temescal Water Company will issue bonds in the sum of $350,000 to complete the work, refund its indebtedness and make other improvements. Mrs. Adam Dingwell of Kansas City is visiting her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Ramella of this city and will remain some weeks. Special Easter services will be held in the Presbyterian church. Preaching by Rev. Stone. 25 Years Ago The oldest inhabitants will have to rack their brains to recall an April shower equal to the one that began shortly after noon Sunday and they will get no help by consulting the weather chart, because there has been nothing like it recorded since the establishment of the service 47 years ago. The low-hung clouds held their garnered fullness in check Sunday until the new Easter bohnets had all gone to church and returned safely home, then they let loose a few preliminary drops. The precipitation gradually increased, and a steady rain fell throughout the night. At 8 o'clock Monday morning The Anaheim Orange and Lemon Growers' association gauge indicated a fall of 88 of an inch, while Raymond Nebelung's gauge, half a mile away, registered 1.15. It rained all day Monday and at times the downpour was torrential, gutters overflowed and cells were flooded. The rain continued and at 8 o'clock Tuesday morning Dick Dugdale, at the packing house, reported a reading of 3.84 for the storm, while Nebelung's gauge indicated a fall of 3.74 at his place. This brought the total precipitation for the season to 10.29, while last year at that date it was 6.34. Rains later in the season last year increased the total to 6.51. In 1924 the total was 6.67, in 1929, 9.59 and in 1922, 19.66 inches. It continued to rain through Tuesday and Wednesday and at 8 o'clock Thursday morning the register showed 4.84 for the storm and 11.29 for the season. April 1926 has broken all records in the matter of rainfall. In April 1903—23 years ago, the precipitation was 3.77. This was the high record during the 47 years the record has been kept. WASHINGTON—The Washington rumor factory is probably the most active and the most irresponsible in the world. Tales cooked up in Capitol Hill lobbies, the drawing rooms of high society or in a taxicab conversation are spread as fact within a matter of hours. The story that the late Franklin Roosevelt was insane and had to be chained to his bed at night was a good example. One confidential news agency believed it to the extent of relaying it to its many thousand customers. Latest Washington canard is that Secretary of Defense George Marshall is in his dotage and unable to come to his office more than half a week. On the contrary, I can state that Marshall, though 70, is probably in better health than before his kidney operation, gets to the office before 8 a.m., has the papers read and sent out of his office by around 8:20 a.m., and puts in a full six-day week, working even on Saturday. This is a lot more than most executives do in Washington, New York, or anywhere else. Marshall is alert, his memory is amazing, and he seems completely on the ball. Furthermore, Marshall has put the old uniform aside and is trying to run the Defense Department as a civilian. This writer had some skepticism about this phase of Marshall's new job when first appointed Secretary of Defense, but the skepticism appears not to have been justified. Hal Boyle NEW YORK (AP)—Once upon a time Wilbur Peeble and his wife Trellis Mae decided to throw a cocktail party. Naturally they dressed it. Everybody dreads giving a cocktail party. Everybody dreads going to one. That is why cocktail parties are so popular. "They leave the house in such a mess," sighed Trellis Mae comfortably. "And nobody ever seems to know when to leave." "Now isn't that the truth?" agreed Wilbur cheerfully. "They all seem to forget they have homes of their own. It's just awful." "If once—just once—you could break a cocktail party up on time," said Trellis Mae, "it wouldn't be so bad." "Fat chance," said Wilbur. Then they went ahead with their plans. Trellis Mae sat down and scribbled out cute little notes to the guests well ahead of the party date: "Us Peebles are having a free-for-all at our barn from five to seven p.m. Come at your own risk—but do come. First aid kits and minor repairs provided by the management." Wilbur read the notes approvingly and said, "that's no joke about the first aid kits. We'd better lay in a supply of iodine and bandages." The day of the party Trellis Mae worked like a beaver polishing, dusting, and scrubbing up the apartment until it shone. She spent the afternoon making plate week to clean up they'll spill on my Wilbur pitched a little man. He table high with bourbon, cherry. He made a buckle and a bucket of milk laid in a supply of juice for the people cocktail parties at the host: "Full same color as but glass and don't about it, will you diet." The first guest Soon the room wilt with them. They cliche television set corners and told e latest witty remain children. They sat and discussed the atom bombs and s Everything was gag untoward happened ed out the window wors Nobody tried goldfish Nobody built in the rug. The Peebles rushed glasses around to fub babble. This kept they were unaware of time. When the l gohe and the hubbby they sat down on it gether. "Everybody seemed wonderful time," Mae. "We never had a bad said Wilbur. Just then the clam mantle began to chin three, four, five, six—it stopped." In 1924 the total was 6.67, in 1923, 9.59 and in 1922, 19.66 inches. It continued to rain through Tuesday and Wednesday and at 8 o'clock Thursday morning the register showed 4.84 for the storm and 11.29 for the season. April 1926 has broken all records in the matter of rainfall. In April 1903—23 years ago, the precipitation was 3.77. This was the high record during the 47 years the record has been kept. For the first time in four years the Santa Ana river is functioning as a water-way. A turbulent stream, 600 feet wide is rolling down its channel into the ocean, and at one or two places there was a threatened break in the bank. City employees and volunteers patrolled the bank watching for danger signs. One break occurred on this side of the river above Olive bridge, but it was promptly plugged with brush and sandbags and the danger was averted. There were many washouts of railroads and highways throughout Southern California and some bridges were destroyed. The bridge over Santiago creek, near Orange was damaged, but it was speedily repaired. Sonora town, in the north end of Anaheim was inundated and many of the dwellings flooded. As we write on Thursday noon, more than five inches of rain has fallen for the storm beginning on Sunday (April 4). This is the heaviest April rainfall since the weather bureau first began measurements in 1878. In the mountain watersheds great volumes of rain have fallen, and a great stream is flowing down the river bed. This is glorious news, for with the plane of saturation lower than it ever was before, it is time Jupiter Pluvius looked a little this way. The news is glorious. Let it rain. Marshall is alert, his memory is amazing, and he seems completely on the ball. Furthermore, Marshall has put the old uniform aside and is trying to run the Defense Department as a civilian. This writer had some skepticism about this phase of Marshall's new job when first appointed Secretary of Defense, but the skepticism appears not to have been justified. Washington Pipeline Illustrating the Washington canard factory here is another I heard recently: "Drew Pearson has now sold out to Pan American airways. He got a free trip to Europe with Pan American and is now in their pocket." Real fact is that I paid my way to Europe on Pan American as I have on every other airline—unlike Roy Howard, publisher of a great newspaper chain, who has been a Pan American "guest" all over the world. However, I do not hesitate to pay tribute to Pan American's efficient operation across the Atlantic. If its Washington lobbying were on as clean a basis as its overseas operation, I could find no fault with Pan Am... The Senate Small Business committee will investigate the Civil Aeronautics Board for trying to regulate small, unchartered airlines out of business. Presidential Pique President Truman's pique and an economist's desire to throw off his New Deal label are back of the administration's tragic failure to clamp on price controls six months ago. This never-told story starts last year when the elder statesman, Bernard Baruch, publicly came out for price controls. Real truth was that the White House and National Security Resources board were at that very time toying with the same idea. But when Mr. Truman heard that the white-haired New York financier was for price controls, he reversed himself. The president had put Baruch on his "S.O.B. list" when Bernie refused to serve on a Democratic committee in the 1948 elections, and Truman didn't want to be in the position of coming out for price controls just after Baruch did. Another factor was the strong opposition to controls by Leon Keyserling; then acting chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors. Keyserling, a former Department of Agriculture economist and assistant to Senator Bob Wagner, was being attacked by right wingers on Capitol Hill as a wild-eyed radical. Keyserling, an able economist but subject to human ambitions, wanted to be named chairman of the council and gain acceptance as a middle-of-the-road advisor. And at that time he told both the president and Stuart Symington, chairman of the resources board, that controls were "unworkable." In one consultation with Symington, Keyserling argued that high prices would, in fact, be helpful by draining off excess purchasing power and its competition for goods, services and materials needed for rearmament. Everybody seemed wonderful time," Mae. "We never had a bad said Wilbur. Just then the chantle began to chime three, four, five, six—it stopped. "Seven o'clock," she uneasily, He got up over to the television turned the switch. Ing. He went out to Nothing wrong there city of canapes and did When he came back Trellis Mae in tears. "Everybody must help wept." What did we ever heard of a coo ending on time. Never. "Aw, it was just an said Wilbur. 'History them." But as he glumly hand he wished this happened to them. Moral: keeping what makes more people getting what they ask. FLOATING FIRTH AGE NEW YORK (P)—THE dependence, the newest trans-Atlantic liner, floating Fifth Avenue sails from New York on en voyage. (It is sch Feb. 10). Chester H. Case, m services-operations for Export Lines, says they will be equipped with shops from Saks Fifth Brentano's Book Shop and Rubinstein's Beauty Same services are to be on the sister ship of the dence, the Constitution enters service in the sp OBLONG VIEWS FROM AN EGG-SHAPED HEAD BY WALDO HUNTER IT'S NOT TOO late to get that little place in the country you've always yearned for. A Santa Ana realtor advertises 450 acres of Orange county pasture land for only $1000 per acre. AT THE GRAVE risk of subjecting myself to surveillance by FBI snoopers, I ask: O Price Control—Where Art Thou? Do YOU see any evidence of attempts to "hold the line"? I walked down theaisles of a supermarket the other day with the hausfrau, clutching my week's salary and two 1943 War Bonds (in case a shortage of funds developed at the butcher's counter) on a routine weekly grocery shopping trip. Close inspection of cans, boxes, bottles and cartons revealed that the prices had been erased and marked up. As we proceeded through the store, we noticed that prices had been changed so quickly that the system of erasing the old price had been ditched in favor of an "x" through the price of the day before. The new price was lettered beside the one that had been cancelled. This is not written to condemn the merchant. He, poor fellow, must stay in business, and twould be unfair to heap upon him the blame. Fact is, some of them actually hate to tell you what your total grocery bill is. Butchers, when pricing some cuts of meats are as embarrassed as a brite sorting out her first laundry. THINGS ARE BAD all over, in the food line. On a week-end junket to Santa Barbara, we bought some Seven-Up at a market. The manager, an ex-GI, told my hausfrau (during a discussion of prices in general) that he had established the market on a loan and by his calculations, it would have taken him five years to retire the loan. HOWEVER, (get this) he went on to say that under recent price regulations, he would be able to get out of debt in THREE years. Prices continue up; wages remain at last year's level. The only way out of the dilemma, it seems, is for all of us to make peace with the Lord and fast for 90 days. STATISTICS PUT OUT by one of the big automobile manufacturers reveal that during 1950 the corporation used wool from 6,800,000 sheep, enough to uniformly produce week to clean up all the caviar they'll spill on my sofa." Wilbur pitched in to help like a little man. He piled a kitchen table high with rye, scotch, bourbon, cherry, soda and ice. He made a bucket of martins and a bucket of manhattans. He laid in a supply of plain apple juice for the people who go to cocktail parties and whisper to the host: "Ful something the same color as bug juice in my glass and don't say anything about it, will you? I'm on a diet." The first guest had arrived. Soon the room was swarming with them. They clustered around the television set. They stood in corners and told each other the latest witty remarks of their children. They sat on the floor and discussed the structures of atom bombs and stenographers. Everything was gay and nothing untoward happened. Nobody yelled out the window at the neighbors. Nobody tried to eat the goldfish. Nobody burned a hole in the rug. The Peebles rushed plates and glasses around to fuel the merry babble. This kept them so busy they were unaware of the passage of time. When the last guest had gone and the hubbub had died, they sat down on the sofa together. "Everybody seemed to have a wonderful time," said Trellis Mae. "We never had a better party." said Wilbur. Just then the clock on the mantle began to chime: one, two, three, four, five, six—seven. Then it stopped. "Seven o'clock," said Wilbur. ordinarily if he were injured while on duty. The Santa Ana official pointed out that during World War II, it was necessary to pass a special state law permitting traffic officers to give police escort to military convoys. Moreover, said the traffic official, the police escort idea is much abused. Presumably a means of expediting arrival at some desired destination, its use very frequently delays arrival, particularly on short trips. Many times, said the official, some alarmed person has called frantically for a police escort from some address in the city, usually for a race with the stork to some hospital in or near the city. By the time the escort could be summoned and reach the address, the private citizen could already have reached the hospital by driving at safe and leisurely pace. they sat down on the sofa together. "Everybody seemed to have a wonderful time," said Trellis Mae. "We never had a better party," said Wilbur. Just then the clock on the mantle began to chime: one, two, three, four, five, six—seven. Then it stopped. "Seven o'clock," said Wilbur uneasily. He got up and went over to the television set. He turned the switch. It was working. He went out to the kitchen. Nothing wrong there. Still plenty of canapes and drinks left. When he came back, he found Trellis Mae in tears. "Everybody must hate us," she wept. "What did we do? Nobody ever heard of a cocktail party ending on time. Never." "Aw, it was just an accident," said Wilbur. "History is full of them." But as he glumly patted her hand he wished this one hadn’t happened to them. Moral: keeping what they have makes more people happy than getting what they ask for. FLOATING FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK (P)—The S.S. Independence, the newest American trans-Atlantic liner, will be a floating Fifth Avenue when she sails from New York on her maiden voyage. (It is scheduled for Feb. 10). Chester H. Case, manager of services-operations for American Export Lines, says the new ship will be equipped with staffs and shops from Saks Fifth Avenue, Brentano's Book Shop and Helena Rubinstein's Beauty Salon. The same services are to be furnished on the sister ship of the Independence, the Constitution, when she enters service in the spring. It is a brave and thrilling sight, calculated to make pulses leap with its excitement and risk, this breakneck disregard of personal safety in some human crises, with the millions of the law thus signifying their approval. The joker in the deal is that while the minions of the law may be signifying their approval, the law itself does not approve, nor authorize. A prominent Santa Ana police traffic official shakes his head every time he sees or reads about these mad rushes through traffic. His own men are warned against it. The police escort for speed dashes, however urgent the need, is strictly out of bounds legally, he declares. The police officer who pins back his cars and heads such a rush through streets or highways is risking his neck not only physically but legally. His neck is way, way out, according to this traffic official. The law does not recognise any sort of crises as excuse for violating traffic laws and there is no legal protection for either the private citizen participating in such incidents nor for the police officer supposedly giving the private citizen safe conduct, he asserted. Both are violators of the law and both are open to legal retribution from anyone injured or otherwise damaged by the incident, he added. Likewise the city or other political unit employing the officer. There is strong doubt that any police officer injured while giving escort illegally could collect compensation, as would be the case Many times, said the official, some alarmed person has called frantically for a police escort from some address in the city, usually for a race with the stork to some hospital in or near the city. By the time the escort could be summoned and reach the address, the private citizen could already have reached the hospital by driving at safe and legal speed. "But," he added, "they invariably wait until the last minute, for some strange reason, then get excited and call for a police escort, then wait for the escort while they could be getting to the hospital, and then there is a dangerous and senseless—also illegal—rush through traffic." Well, this sounds like it might spoil a lot of dramatic newspaper headlines. If our friend’s disclosure spreads. But evidently there is an important point for the traffic officer to keep in mind—the may front for the law but the law may not back him. GOVERNMENT TAKES OVER HISTORIC TREE HORSHAM, England (P)—The tree under which Alexander Pope is believed to have written "Rape of the Lock." has been taken over by the tree preservation department of the Ministry of Local Government and Planning. The tree is in West Grinstead Park near here. COLD WATER RUINS AQUARIUM LONGUEUIL, Que. (P) — St. Lawrence River flood waters swirled in Wilfred Galarnau's home and lapped around the side of his aquarium for tropical fish. When the owner discovered it, many of the fish wore dead from the change in temperature.