davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22
Auto Licenses Go
On Sale Jan. End
AT Patrol Office
Black on Yellow Forms
Color Scheme For New
California Plates

Automobile license plates
for 1910 will go on sale at
the California Highway pa
troll office in Ell Centre Jan
2.
The new license plates, $1,000 OF
them, were streamlined in the latest
mode, Captain Frank Oswalt said,
ind display black numbers and
letters on a yellow background.
Oblong and much smaller than
the plates of other years, the plates
were designed to save the state il
mailing and transportation charges
and to blend in with late model
streamlined automobiles.
The procedure in obtaining H.
cense plates this year was changed
somewhat, Oswalt said. Every per
son applying for license plates must
have the white slip" to show the
clerks at the office when applying
for the plates.
Registration this year will begin
Jan. 2 and close Feb. 4. There will
be no extensions, OsWalt declared
so motorists should buy plates early
to avoid the rush.
The legislature set the deadline, -
he said. 80 there will be no pos
sibility Of an extension being grant,
ed. Motorists who are late will be
charged double as penalty for
being late
Plates will be distributed from
the highway patrol headquarters in
the basement of the county court
house, Oswalt said. where the Cali
f0rnia Motor Vehicle department
p epared to set up the machinery
OF distribution next week in readi-
ness for the opening of the annual
renewal period.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22

hOlCcu ny AltSDlN f1dTIlSOll, dbJOI-
ney for the Dock Checkers Employ
ers association, that when the gov
ernor spoke of his devotion to the
public interest, "The voice has been
that of Olson but the words have
been the words of Harry Bridges" J."
Meetings at the call of the San
Francisco Employers association,
representative of business, industry,
agriculture and shipping passed a
resolution unanimously endorsing
the stand of the waterfront en-
ployers in refusing to submit to
arbitration the issues of selection
and registration of monthly clerks.
They severely scored the gover-
nor for refusing to stand behind the
recommendation of his own COM
mittee after he had entrusted it
with the responsibility for rendering
the recommendations
The settlement submitted by the
committee called for immediate re-
turn to work of striking clerks with
Continued on Page 2. Col. g.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22

via Bakersfield. Cal, Kingman
Ariz., Albuquerque, N. M, Kansas
City and Chicago. The weather
bureau reported bad weather
throughout the middle west. but
Johns expected this disadvantage
to be offset by tailwinds along most
of the route.
The tiny plane carried approxi-
mately 1900 pounds of load, nearly
as much as the crafts own weight.
Johns carried 16O gallons of gaso-
line.
The flyers home is in Algoma,
Wis, where he is engaged in the
woodworking business with his
father He is married and has a
daughter.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22
Pilot axes Off
For S peed Dash

SACRAMENTO. Dec. %. CUP)-
Pat Johns, 25-year-old son of Con-
gresham Joshua L. Johns of Wis
consin, took off today at 8:05 am.
5PST) on a projected nonstop
flight to New York in a tiny single
seated Aeronca plane.
Johns said he hoped to break
the light plane speed record for
the 3,00o-mile hop as we'll as records
for miles flown by a single pilot
ard for ground speed. He expected
the trip to take about 80 hours.
The pilots tentative route was
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22

up under the protection of the Red'
army.
Bombs were dropped on the Hell
sinki factory district, in the north
ern section of the city, where two
persons were injured. Several OF
the bombs failed to explode.
The Russian airplanes also scat
tered propaganda pamphlets-moSt
of which blew out into the Gulf OF
Finland-as they flew overhead at
ter a brief snow furry had ended.
1t was the fourth successive day
Commandment by air along the Cult
of Finland coast.
One of the bombs blew away
about one quarter of a wooden
building in the factory district. A
street car track also was destroyed
at another point where the bombs
hit the middle of the street.
Finnish dispatches from the front
reported that the Russian often
sives had been broken up in the
north and that. for the moment
at least, the danger that Finland
would be cut in two by Red army
advances southwark from the Arctic
coast and eastward toward the Gulf
of Bothnia had been eliminated.
The chief Finnish victory was
reported in the Salla sector, on the
northern part of the eastern, (cen-
traD front where the Russian army
was reported cut to pieces by Fin
nish counter attacks.
Finnish troops still were pursuing
the Russians toward the frontier,
the dispatches reported.
The Russian advance from the
Arctic coastal district of PetSamo
also was reported turned back, with
the Firms regaining part of the
ground lost there.
An official announcement tonight
said the Finnish armies had coun-
ter-attacked Russian forces on the
Karelian Isthmus and had also
thrown back the Red army in a
fierce battle at Aglajaervi, 10 miles
north of Lake Ladoga.
If the reports of counter-attack
on the Isthmus are true, it would
mean that the Firms had turned the
tide of battle after holding their
ground under tremendous pressure
and heavy bombardment.
A communique issued at Finnish
headquarters in the field on the
north central front, at Rovaniemi,
said that the town of Savakoski
in the Salla sector had been recap
tured last night and that a Finnish
patrol had penetrated 80 miles be-
hind the Russian lines in the same
sector, destroying 20 gasoline and
ammunition trucks. Russian forces
were reported halted or in retreat
all along the Salla front
Finnish army sources reported
officially today that $50 Soviet tanks
had been destroyed or captured since
the start of the war, and that 35
Russian airplanes had been shot
down in the last three days.
Snowstorms-eagerly awaited by
Continued on Page 2. Col. 81
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22
Texas Threatens
Orange Boycott

SACRAMENTO, Dec. %. UP)-
A possible threat against the ship
ping of California oranges into
Texas unless the quarantine was
lifted on Texas grapefruit was
transmitted to Gov. Culbert Olson
today from j. M. Stein, editor OF
the Brownsville Herald.
Stein said citrus growers of Texas
were demanding that a quarantine
be set up against California oranges,
apparently in retaliation for Cali
fornia's wall against Texas grape-
fruit. =. They feel this is arbitrary
and uncalled for and propose to
keep California oranges out of this
state" He inquired if Olson would
urge change in the quarantine
laws,
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22
British Fight Off
New German Raids
On Coast Defenses
Scottish Naval Base
Target For BOmbers in
Renewed Nazi Activity

LONDON, Dec. %. (UP)
German airplaneS renewed
reconnaissance thrusts at the
British coastal areas today
but were fought off by Royal
Air Force planes.
the Firth of Forth-important
Scottish naval base-and the Suf-
folk coast were the main scenes OF
operations.
A British fighter engaged and
chased a Heinkel bomber through
the clouds off the Firth of Forth.
and two unidentified planes, be-
lieved to be German were sighted
later off the eastern coast. One OF
them. apparently a Heinkel, was
flying at about $4,000 feet, trailing
cloud of thick white smoke.
There was no indication whether
it was the same plane that was
chased from the Firth of Forth
area.
Persons on the cliffs along the
eastern shore reported four German
planes off one eastern coastal point.
British anti-aircraft gunfire shook
houses in that district and some
people went to air raid shelters.
One plane headed north with
long trail of smoke behind it. The
others went southwark.
In Paris, the newspaper LIE Temps
today quoted reliable source" as
saying that the German fleet has
left Hamburg and that half of it
was headed into the Baltic sea and
the other half was steaming through
the Kiel canal toward the North
sea.
Movement of the German fleet in
the North sea had been reported
recently. These reports indicated
the return to home naval bases OF
some German ships-possibly one
or more that had been acting as
raiders in the Atlantic.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22
Lottery Defendant
Denied New Trial

PITTSBURGH, Dec. %. (UP)-
Thomas R. Harkins of Pasadena,
Calf, promoter and only defendant
convicted in a $4,000 mail fraud
and lottery case, today was denied
a new trial by Federal Judge F. P.
Schoonmaker.
Harkins and seven others who
pleaded guilty or no defense when
the case was tried in the spring
Of 1887 are expected to be sentenced
early in January.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22
Child Mother Asks
For Toys; Leaves
Son to Grownups
Girl, 6. Uninterested
In Christmas Presents
For Her Baby

LIMA. Peru, Dec. %. (UP)
Lima Medina, child mother
who will be six years and
three months old tomorrow,
wants a pair of sandals, a
hand ball and another doll for
Christmas. AS for playing Santa
Claus to her little son, born by
Caesarean operation six months ago,
she will leave that to the grownups
What would you like for Christ
mas?" Lima was asked.
Some sandals for summer she
replied Summer starts here on
Jan. l.
And what do you want us to give
your little brother"
"A pair of knickers and a bib"
What toy do you like most"
"A hand ball and a dolly"
Lima lives at the Lima maternity
hospital with her son under gov
Continued on Page 2; Col. 4)
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22
Course Stripped
Pay Mortgage

OAKLAND, Dec. %. CUP) -
Castlewood Golf and Country club
formerly the estate of Phoebe A
Hearst, was ordered stripped of al
its elaborate furnishings today in a
decree of foreclosure of a chattel
mortgage covering $40 585.2a
promiSSory note.
Superior Judge Leon Gray signed
the order in favor of Anglo-Cali-
fornia National bank.
The order covered everything re-
movable, including oil paintings,
champagne buckets, chairs, tables,
lawn equipment. All that will be
left will be the bare buildings, the
empty swimming pool and the de-
serted fairways.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22
National American Legion Chief to
Address Valley Audience Jan. 9TH

For the first time in history a
national American Legion COM
mander will deliver a public address
n Imperial Valley Jan. 7.
National Commander Raymond j.
Kelly of Michigan will speak at Vet
erans Memorial hall in Ell Centre
the night OF Jan. 7, LegionnaireS
announced Friday.
Other notable at the gathering
will be State Legion Commander
w. S. Dunn of Imperial who will
bring Kelly to the valley for the
meeting. Immediately after the
address the national commander
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22

iio"CO CIle'I ollOEJpCIS IIIOuSllOuL
the nation spent from five to Is
per cent more than last year, in
some sections as much as 20 per
cent. Stores in few southern and
western cities reported their biggest
sales in history.
Extra dividends and larger pay
checks resulting from business I'M
provement were credited for the
freer spending In addition, un-
SeaSonably warm weather, although
injurious to sales of winter speciality
lines, brought out shoppers. in rec
ord numbers.
Department of commerce econo-
mists estimated that the Yule buy
ing would equal, if not surpass, that
for 1887. Practically all sections OF
the country reported that purchases
this year were of better quality than
in 1898.
New York was the only large east
ern city which failed to report bet
ter Yule business than a year ago.
Late buying there was expected to
lift volume slightly above 1888 levels
Connecticut stores said sales were
the best since 1928. At Boston sales
were up about 4 per cent and at
Philadelphia 10 per cent.
Through the deep south and ex-
tending to the west coast, principal
cities reported excellent business,
running as high as 20 per cent
over last year and in many cases
expected to reach the best levels
on record. California, Colorado, New
Continued on Page Q. Col. 81
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22
keep LIGHTED

Let's keep Ell Centre a City OF
Christmas Lights at least until
after New Years!
This was the latest appeal Friday
rs awards were delivered in the
third annual Post-PresS Tournament
of Christmas. At the same time,
tournament sponsors extended an
invitation to residents all over tha
Imperial Valley to visit FL Centre
and view the variety of beautiful
displays.
Display owners were urged to
Keep their Christmas lights turned
on up until 6 pm. so that visitors
from out of town will have an Op>
pOrtunity to see them.
The Post-Press Friday extended
4 warm thank you to those public
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22
Chinese Convicted
On Dope Charge

A jury in superior court Thursday
night found Wong Fun, Brawley
Chinese, guilty of possession of mar
cotics and not guilty of violating
the law prohibiting an ex-convict
from carrying a gun.
Wong Fun was scheduled to be
sentenced to Folsom prison next
Tuesday for a term not to exceed
six years.
Wine containing narcotics was
found in a Brawley residence by
state narcotic inspectors last No
vember. They arrested the Chinese
in the same house where they
found the drugged wine.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22
Bean Farm Pays
Off College Debt

LAVERNE, Cal, Dec. %. CUP)-
Laverne college today disclosed it
bad received its greatest gift of the
Yuletide season, a $4,000 bean farm
the sale of which returned enough
to pay off the institutions mort
gage.
President c. E. Davis said the &C
acre Orange county farm was pre-
sented to the college by Adam Wen
ger, elderly Pasadena resident and
that sale of the farm for $4,000 was
sufficient to pay the mortgage of
S26,500 which has been a long
standing debt of the college.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22

to every one"
Wadsworth said the action did
not represent a compromise "be-
cause there is nothing to COM
promise"
"Our concern is to find work for
those people who are now out OF
work there" he said.
1t was the WPA contention that
under the 1899 relief act it was
required to give work to all jobless
persons regardless of political af-
tiliation. The WPA officials said
the work of Miss Adams was sat-
isfactory.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22
School Holiday
Extended One Day

Pupils in all Ell Centre schools
received an unexpected New Years
gift from school board members
Friday.
School boards of elementary ana
high school voted to add. an extra
day to the Christmas vacation and
scheduled classes to begin Jan.
or one day later than originally
planned.
Glasses closed Friday afternoon
for the annual Christmas holiday
and will not reopen until Jan, 3.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22

spirited, community conscious citi-
zens who cOoperated in giving El
Centre brighter Christmas season
by their time and effort in erecting
displays. Concentrations, also, were
directed at the firms and individuals
who contributed the list Of awards,
as well as the IL members of the
Arts and Crafts section of the Ten
Thousand club and their leader,
Mrs. Earl Farris, who gave unstint.
ingly of their time in judging the
displays.
Through a mistake, the display
at 642 Len Rey was attributed to
ii. V. Horgood, when Mrs. E. l.,
Kenny should have received credit,
The Hopgoods formerly lived there.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright,
Round yon Virgin Mother
and Child,
Holy Infant SO tender and
mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
If mice hadn't nibbled at the
bellows of the organ in Josef
Mohr's little church high in the
Bavarian mountains, this immortal
carol might never have been
written. The peaceful stiffness
following a wintry blizzard on the
night before Christmas, 1918, in
spired the Oberndorf minister to
pen the words. The music was
composed and harmonized hur-
riedly by his organist, Franz
Gruber, because the organ had
broken down and there was only
the choir to render Christmas
music.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22
Medals Awarded
SquaIus ResCuers

WASHINGTON, Dec. %. CUP)-
President Roosevelt today awarded
medals to two officers and AZ en-
listed men of the rescue and sal
wage units that were called into ac-
ton when the submarine Squalus
sank last May.
The president gave the medal of
honor to four enlisted men. He
awarded navy crosses to two officers
and 43 enlisted men,
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22

oliiy ollSHJly ClllllleT WedlIler was
noticeable in the valley, however.
Thursdays maximum temperature
was II, with low Friday of 40. The
temperature at noon was a mild 81.
The Laguna mountains got
sprinkling of snow, however, Thurs
day night, Mrs. c. w. Maitland re-
ported after returning to Ell Centre
from her mountain home. Less than
an inch fell in what probably was
a freak storm. Hail was reported at
Jacumba. The sun melted most OF
the snow during the forenoon.
Only a few sections of the nation
could look forward to white
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22
Hair Tonic, Not
LIQUOR, Saws He

"The officers smelled hair tonic,
not liquor"
This was George Ramseys de-
tense in superior court Friday when
ne was accused of breaking the
tcrms of probation by getting drunk
A hearing called to revoke proba-
ion was continued until next week
while officers investigated the hair
tonic defense. If it was not hair
tonic the officers smelled, Ramsey
must go to Jail to serve a term
imposed because he did not provide
for his family.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22

Ralph Wadsworth, deputy regional
supervisor, said Earl Cummings
Fresno, supervisor for the lower San
Joaquin area, was directed to see
what could be done about trans
ferring Miss Adams and other
workers affected to other jobs and
to get the projects or new ones
started.
1--WE are anxious to resume work
on the various projects which have
been shut down since the Kern
county authorities Withdrew spon-
sorship," Wadsworth said. Cum
mings will try to get something
worked out that will be satisfactory
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22

was slated to leave for, San Diego.
Commander CH.H. Small OF
Boyce Aten post in Ell Centre said
the Legionnaires of the valley would
make room for the public at the
Ell Centre meeting instead of re-
serving the space for Legionnaires
only.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22

Christmas, the United Press re-
ported. In Arizona, northern sec
tions were receiving flurries OF
snow while most of the southern
part of Arizona continued to bask
in a warm sun but faced Increasing
cloudiness and skidding tempera-
lures for the next few days.
Flagstaff reported a low OF 20
and a maximum OF so degrees last
night. Winslow's minimum was "a
and maximum 81. while ut Grand
Canyon the recorded minimum tenn
perature was 20 degrees.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22
TRIAL SLATED HERE

Keith r. Case, Friday was ordered
to trial in superior court Jan. %
on a charge OF negligent homicide.
He was the driver of the car in
which g. E. English of San Diego
was killed when it plunged off the
grade near Mountain Springs.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22
Winters Here,
Cal end ar Insists

Gentle winds that shuttled about in Imperial Valley
sunshine Friday brought hint tnat in the mdde-west
would have meant Springs here.
But 1t wasn't spring. 1t winter For the official
date for the beginning of winter the sostce past
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22
Santa's Sleigh BuIses as
Christmas Shopping Booms
Holiday Sales Increase Sharply With
Some Stores Reporting Best Sales
In History; Presents Better

CHICAGO, Dec. 22. (UP)-Christmas sales have in
creased sharply in reaction to general business improve
ment and indications today that Santa's sleigh will
bulge Christmas Eve with at least 10 per cent
better-presents than in 1893. United Press survey
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22
WPA Probes Row
Over Red Worker

SAN FRANCISCO Dec. %. (UP)-The works prof. jecs
administration today sent representative to Bakersfield
to investigate closure of WPA projects by sponsors in
protest against employment of Miss Lauretta Adams,
registered Communist tmekeeper at the main office
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22

Hi There Santa!-
Thursday evening -year-old
Edwin Greer suddenly remembered
something. Wide-eyed and little
frightened he confided in his ia
ther:
Daddy, I forgot to write Santa
a letter!"
His father smiled and suggested:
why don't you telephone?"
Eleven-year-ol sister Joyce look
ed skeptical. She got interested a
few minutes later when she heard
her brother asking information"
Does Santa Claus have tele-
phone?"
We don't know what the operator
said, but we know what she did
She switched the call to the Post
Press, knowing that this office main
tains more or less direct line to
the North Pole. Circulation Man
Jim Clark wasn't aware of that fact,
however, and blurted to all and
Sundry:
my gosh! Someone wants Santa
Claus"
There followed a slight interval
while the North Pole line was put
in commission and then a more or
less bass voice answered Edwin's
call with:
This is the North Pole, Santa
Claus speaking!'
(The fact that the voice broke
into tenor at odd moments was
blamed on the phone connections.
They aren't SO hot, up around the
North Pole.)
Young Edwin gulped and although
he quavered he continued bravely
II want a bicycle :"
Good old Santa! He listened
gravely, strGked his beard and
wondered if there was still a place
in the sleigh for an extra bicycle,
Have you been a good little
boy?" Santa doomed and Edwin
came back with a quavering:
"Oh, yesI'
Meanwhile, sister Joyce was edg-
ing closer and closer to the phone
at the Greer home, her skepticism
rapidly fading and she couldn't re-
sist poking her brother and whis-
pering:
Tell him you've got sister, tool"
Santa promised he would do his
best to take care of both Edwin and
Joyce and that ended the conver-
sation. Edwin hung up satisfied and
Santa went back to his workshop
to wangle another bicycle.
Now that is a true story, because
RR got it straight from Old Santa
himself. However, there is a sequel
which goes to show that you can't
fool the old boy, even though that
North Pole line is a bit shaky.
A few minutes later the North
Pole phone rang again and Santa
hoped into his rel pants and an
swered again This time Santa de-
tected the voice of Jack Aaron, who
asked shrilly:
Santa, l want doll for Christ
mas"
The old Saints eyes twinkled and
he replied:
"a blonde, 1 presume
And hung up, and went back to
feeding reindeer.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22
Business Men Blast Olson
For Snubbins Own Agents.
Backing Pet S. +. Program
Voice That of Olson but Words Those
Of bridges Says Spokesman in Protest
Against Governor Pro-Unon Stand

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. %. (UP)-Fifteen hundred
northern California businessmen called upon Gov Cuber
L. Olson today to settle the ship clerks strike the basis
of recommendations made to him by his actfndng
committee They coupled their demand with the charge
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22
Bombers Return
Communist Visit,
Shell Rebel Citv
Red Offensives Broken in North; Tiny
Army Coun+er-Attacks Successfully on
Mannerheim Line; Snows+orms Start

HELSINKI, Finland, Dec. %. (UP)-Russian troops
rereatng before fierce Finnish couneratacks at
least two fronts today while Soviet arpanes resumed their
bombardmen of Hesnki and Finnish airplanes lombard
Tero the of the so-caled rebel set
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22

Butter: Los Angeles 3OlRc; but
terfat. Imperial Valley fob. ranch
grade A, 4OIac; manufacturing milk
341ac; route gathered cream 29c.
L. A. hay: U. S. No. S16.5O-17.5O;
q. S. No. 2 leafy S15.5O-l6' u. 5. No.
2 I2.5O-13.5O, Mpls May flax Sl.971a.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-22
y AMBlINe
II EPORTER

Quick Cure
George Robertson's bulldog, Rox-
ey, should have been named Tom
Sawyer.
Whenever RoXey feels neglected
and wants attention he develops
a sore leg, so sore that he limps
noticeably. When, after much cod
ding, Roxey is taken to the vet
the soreness disappears like magic
under the vets disbelieving stare.
Now you see it, now you don't.