davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08
Reds in FIanking
Movement Against
Defending Armies

HElSINKI, Finland, Dec. 8. CUP
Russian reinforcements were re-
ported moving into the southeastern
lake country of Finland tonight
and Red army thrust in the
Nurmes sector appeared to be the
beginning of an attempt to encircle
the Finnish main defense line.
The Russian offensive was report-
ed moving slowly ahead on the
southeastern front in Karelia, the
middle front along the eastern bor.
der OF Finland and in the far north.
where small Red naval vessels were
reported landing additional troops
near Petsamo.
In broad way. military experts
said, the Soviet high command an.
parently was attempting to break
Finnish resistance by tactics similar
to those used by the Germans in
Poland, but weather conditions and
repeated counter-attacks by Finnish
troops have offset the superior
strength of the Red army SO far.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08

+ lays
Governor Charged
With Giving Hell p
To Radicals

STOCKTON, Cal, Dec. 8.
(UP)--California farmers to-
day d e m a II d e d protection
from labor racketeers" and
from interference with mar
keting Of farm products in a four
point program aimed chiefly at
waterfront strikes, hot cargo dis
putes, and the closed union shop.
The program was outlined before
the convention of the Associated
farmers of California by Holmes
Bishop, Orange, retiring president
of the organization. John Watson,
Petaluma, was elected president to
succeed Bishop.
After its presentation before the
delegates it went to the association
board of directors which also was
considering action on vigorous
condemnation of Governor Culbert
Olson.
A resolution presented as the con-
vention opened accused Olson OF
siding with radical and subyersive
elements" and of attempting to
hinder the work of local law en-
forcement officials.
The attack on the governor was
based on his testimony before a
U. S. Senate Civil Liberties COM
mittee hearing in San Francisco
and his demand that authorities of
Fresno and MADEIRA counties pre-
sent certain documents which they
had refused to turn over to the
committee.
Bishops report on the labor leg
lslatlon program was his last Off
cial act as president of the Asso-
ciated Farmers.
In addition to Watson. others
elected to office were r. F.. Schmei-
ser, Fresno, northern California
vice president; Ray Badger. San
Diego, southern California vice
president; Henry L. Strobel, Sail
mas, treasurer; Philip Bancroft,
Walnut Greek, and Don Stevning
Riverside, executive committee mem
bers at large.
The four-point labor program pre-
sented by Bishop represented the
principles advanced at series of
meetings protesting the tieup of
Continued on Page 8, Col. y
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08
Stockman, |. Y. Pioneer for so Years,
Dies at Ranch Home Near Fl Centre

John Huston Kissee, II, well
known stockman of the Ell Centro
area and member of the rapidly
thinning ranks of Imperial Valley
pioneers, died Thursday at his
home.
A heart ailment complicated by
pneumonia was given as the cause
of death.
Funeral services for the man
known as Jack Kissee" through
out the more than 30 years of his
residence in the valley, were sched-
uled for the Lemons funeral chapel
at 2 pm. Sunday with Ell Centre
lodge of Elks in charge of the
rites. Burial rites were scheduled
for Evergreen cemetery.
Kissee was known as good
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08
Prizes Announced
FOR Xmas Lights

Let's make Ell Centro the City of
Christmas Lights!
A complete list of the prizes in
store for FL Centro residents in
this years Tournament of Christ
mas was announced Friday.
The following awards will be dis
tributed just before Christmas after
Judges inspect Christmas Lighting
displays in front of residences.
Grand prize, $25.
Division One (best decorated and
lighted Christmas tree in front of
home). First prize SO, second S.
merchandise, third So merchandise,
fourth 81.
Division Two (best decorated
bush, shrub or vine in front of
home). First prize $40, second $5
merchandise, third So merchandise,
fourth 81.
Division Three (best decorated
window in home). First prize $40,
second S. merchandise, third 50
merchandise and fourth 81.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08
Sabotage Feared
AT Boulder Dam

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8. CUP)-
Commissioner John Page of the
bureau of reclamation disclosed to-
day that fear of possible sabotage"
at Boulder Dam, Nevada, had re-
suited in closer supervision of tour
lists at the dam.
Tourists now may not come closer
than one-quarter of mile to the
dam, Page said. The former re-
striction was 200 yards. Pointing
out that visitors to the dam come
from all states and all nations, Page
said federal authorities always have
checked carefully any packages
carried by tourists visiting the huge
project.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08
Kennedy Favors
FDR Third Term

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8. (UP)
President RoOsevelt's No. /
diplomat, Joseph p. Kennedy,
ambassador to Great Britain, fa-
vOrs third term for Mr.. ROose-
welt because he wants a man
that it won't take two years to
educate"
Asked today about his views
on the third term, Kennedy EN-
phaSized that he favored it if
the president wants it, adding:
ut seems to me that the pob-
lens that are going to affect the
people of the United States, and
that are already SO great and
will be made greater should be
handled by a man that it won't
take two years to educate"
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08
Arizona Suspends
Lettuce Slipments

PHOENIX, Dec. 8. CUP) - Salt
River Valley packers suspended all
lettuce shipping today to remedy
what was described as a glutted
condition of the market.
The packers said shipping would
begin again early next week with
total output reduced by about 25
per cent from present.
The glutted condition of the mar
ket was blamed on exceptionally
warm December weather which has
caused the lettuce crops to mature
ahead of schedule.
The large supply has forced the
price of five dozen size crates to
drop from $1.65 to $1.15.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08
WRESTLING arena FEUD GAINS IN HEA7
AFULL.P PARDON?

Should full pardon be granted
Oscar Adolph Erickson. admitted
Communist convicted Of criminal
syndicalism in Imperial county in
1890?
This question was asked Judge
Vaughn N. Thompson and District
Attorney Elmer Heald Friday in
letters from California Advisory
Pardon Board, to the judge and
prosecutor at the famous red trials"
which made California history.
mo pardon" was the recon-
mendation of Thompson and Heald.
Judge Thompson suggested that
the pardon board order an "un-
biased" investigation of Erickson's S
activities since he was paroled in
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08
City Answers Call
AS Cash Comes to
Community Chest
$4,000 Already Donated
To Needy Here; Goal
May Be Reached Soon

First major "wave' in an
impending flood of green
backs swept into the treas
ury of the Community Chest
in Ell Centro Friday.
1--WE are over the $4,000 mark in
cash actually turned in," Roy john
stone, treasurer, announced.
This, however, does not include
funds which have been gathered by
committees in the field but not yet
delivered to headquarters.
Largest latest report made was
from Warren Curriers' committee
on advance gifts that delivered more
than $500 to Johnstone Friday
morning.
At an executive meeting of cam
paign workers Hugh Wilcox an
nounced that reception on the part
of citizens is better than last
year..
I'VE were astonished by the ready
cooperation" Wilcox said, and his
remarks were corroborated by M. o.
King, Currier, and B. L. Hamburger
Hamburger pointed out that El
Centro's Community Chest drive
in behalf of the seven character
building agencies is unique in that
all but fraction of the funds
gathered go to welfare purposes.
I've worked on Community
Chest drives all over the country"
he said, land this one in Ell Centre
is run on a more economical basis
than any of them. On the coast
operating expenses eat up 10 to 12
per cent, while in Ell Centre the
Continued on Page 8, Col. g.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08

COFClCQ UdGllCllClSlo VI OllC llOi eii !,
guns ratified in scattered forayS on
the Western Front; German bomb
ers flew over France and along the
English coast; ships were blown
up at sea.
But the real energies of a con-
tinent beset by war and facing a
dark future were devoted to jockey
ing for advantage in the lineup
which must emerge eventually from
the present indecision and muddle
of conflicting interests.
Britain and France were on rec
ord as opposed to Russia's invasion
of Finland, although they have not
committed themselves on the ex-
tent and form of any aid for Fin
land.
Premier Edouard Daladier, ad-
dressing the French parliament, de-
nounced Russia as an aggressor and
promised Finland the full aid and
support of France.
Britain and France apparently are
Continued on Page 8, Col. 81
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08

by pioneers and destined to be car
ried forward by hardy farmers.
Our grandfathers and our great
grandfathers won California for us
from the wilderness" she said "It
is for us to save it and bring it
back to the union"
Miss Mitchell said she was writ
ing an answer to Grapes of Wrath
in book she has titled 'Of Human
Kindness.
She said the title was selected
because the milk of human kind
ness flows in California" in the
face of work, worry, flood, grass
hoppers and radicals.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08

PioEClOy OWllCIO.
The new petition, in affidavit
form, was in circulation Friday. It
was directed to the state Athletic
Commission and asked the commits
sion to revoke the arenas license,
in event the city grants a permit.
Meanwhile the El Centro Minis
terial Association, active in oppos-
ing an arena at Seventh and State
streets, received a letter from Gen.
trails Hi-Y club urging campaign
against pool halls as a part of any
drive to improve moral conditions.
The ministers had previously at
tackled the proposed arena on the
grounds that it would prove a bad
influence on the city's youth.
The clubs letter defended wres-
tling as a sport and pointed out
that more pressing menace to
morals in Ell Centre was pool halls
in the heart of the city.
The ministers attack was directed
at the arenas site, urging that ''if
we have to have dirty linen. let's
keep it in the background instead
of the front yard"
Most of the city's clergymen will
carry the controversy to their con-
gregations Sunday. the Rev. Mr..
Harold E. Doty of the association
announced.
THE wrestling issue will not be
a sermon topic. of course, but at
least eight ministers will give a
brief editorial of explanation to
their congregations, he said.
The promoters of the arena,
meanwhile, marked time, wonder
ing whether or not they would be
permitted to open as billed next
Thursday night. Their application
for a permit had been held up
pending the protest hearing next
Tuesday. One protest hearing al
ready has been held before the city
council, called at the insistence of
property owners in the Seventh and
State locality.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08

neighbor who maintained his inter
est in the lives of his friends even
after i'll health forced his retire
ment from business during the last
years OF his life.
He was born in Ell Monte in 1863
but left for Laramie, Wyo., when
he was Is years of age. He lived
there until he was 81 years of age.
He arrived in the valley in 1908
and lived the remainder of his life
on his ranch four miles west of El
Centre.
His survivors include his wife,
Mrs. Annie Kissee; daughter, Mrs.
Lillian Jones; a brother, Tom Kissee
of Gilroy and two sisters, Mrs.
Anna Martin and Mrs. Emma Lem
mon of San Bernardino.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08

1892 to determine if he should be
sent back to San Quentin prison
for failure to live up to the terms
Of his parole.
"At least 20 per cent of the popu-
lation of Imperial county would be
strongly opposed to showing any
leniency whatever for the defen-
1ant,' Judge Thompson wrote the
Advisory Pardon Board, "as many
Imperial county residents were dis
satisfied when Erickson was paroled
before he had served the full five
years of his prison sentence" He
outlined the trial and reminded
the board that as judge he had
been threatened by Erickson's
Continued on Page 8. Col -
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08
Sleepy Driver
Blamed for Crash

A driver who went to sleep took
the blame for traffic accident
which injured two persons fou,
miles east of Ell Centre at 12:3C
pm. Friday.
Fred Sylvester Taylor, 55, San
Diego, and Robert I. Beynon, New
York hitchhiker he took into his
car, suffered head and back in
juries.
Taylor said he went to sleep al
the wheel and awoke to find his
car in the borrow pit. He pulled
the machine back to the highway
plunged into the borrow pit on the
opposite side of the road, and crash
ed into telephone post.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08

S@A SA4S Oe'OCASAAOllOo, bIlC WAITS 10 ON,
The red navy advised neutrals
that a blockade of the Finnish coast
was being inaugurated while the
Soviet army pounded at the de-
lenses of southeast Finland. ad-
vanced slowly against repeated
counter attacks on the arctic coast.
and showed to a point almost 50
miles deep in the center of Fin
land in an effort to cut the country
in two.
Although the Russians claimed
they were within 10 miles of the
important town of Viipuri in the
south, the Firms were still holding
their main defensive lines in that
area and in the far north their
white clad troops were reported to
have thrown the Red army back
several miles by a surprise attack
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08

in the Petsamo region.
On the Western front, too, the
war went on with suddenly increas-
ed tempo. German bombing planes
were reported turned back in
flight towarS Paris. French troops
on the Moselle-Rhine front started
wider operations. Paris dispatches
said, in retaliation for about 30
Nazi raids in the last 40 hours.
Polish guerilla bands were re-
ported operating in the Carpath-
ians on a scale that prompted Ger
many to send around $4,000 men
to clean up those areas.
British fighting planes drove Nazi
craft from the North sea coastal
areas for the second consecutive
day.
Continued on Page 8, Col. 81
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08
Nazi Mines Sink
British Steamer

LONDON, Dec. 8. CUP = The
British steamer Merel, 1O88 tons.
struck mine and sank within four
minutes off the southeast coast of
England today. Only two of 18
members of the crew were rescued.
One body was recovered.
THE Merel must have been blown
to smithereens, there was only
wreckage floating on the water"
said a member of the crew of a
motorboat which went to the scene.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08
100 EIks Attend
Memorial Service

More than 100 Ell Centre Elks at
tended the annual memorial SER
wees in the lodge hall Thursday
night, according to Cal Rector, ex-
alted ruler.
The service was featured by a
special music program, an address
oy Rev w. A. McCleneghan and the
lodge ritual conducted by officers.
The Desert String Trio, and
James Ryerson, soloist, provided the
musical program.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08

WtIe plCoCiiocu Oiic AoooSidoCo al
mers of California banquet here by
Ruth Comfort Mitchell, author and
wife of Former State Senator San
born Young of Los Gatos.
Without mentioning Steinbeck or
his book by name, she referred
repeatedly in her speech before
more than 1000 farmers and their
wives to "that certain book" as un-
fair and unjust both to ranchers
and migrants.
Miss Mitchell said that ours OF
the state failed to find either the
ranchers or the migrants described
in Steinbeck's book.
On the contrary, she said, Cali
fornia is a Golden State" founded
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08
PRAWlEY CAMP HAS
NEW MANAGER

william A. Hancock, formerly
manager of the federal mobile camp
at Firebaugh, this week assumed
his duties as manager of the fed
eral labor camp at Brawley.
He arrived on the scene just as
the camp sites we're filled to capa-
city. The camp now is occupied by
200 agricultural workers and their
families.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08
War Intensified
On Land Sec, Air

. Lyndon, Dec 8. (UP)-Two wars that may merge be-
ore ne month is out into confagration ragged today
win Fnands stubborn resistance Soviet invasion con-
tnulng, and German naval taking new tolls of
Allied and neutral shipping In the air. on the seas and
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08
State Can Solve
Migrant Problem

STOCKTON, Cal, Dec 8. (UP)-Co-operative action
the part of California agrculturists advanced to-
day the solution of the states migratory labor problem
and Cafornias answer to John Steinbeck's novel,
"The Grapes of Wrath" The and the solution
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08
Footballs FIoyed
Bv School Group:
Opinion Rallied
Ministers Plan Sermons Sunday Against
Wrestling; Students Urge Drive to
Regulate Footballs in Any Moral Move

Schoolboys blended their tenor voices Friday in the
discordant camor boxngwrestlng that pro-
moers hoped to establish within Ell Centros city limits
Concident with comments from Central high school
student organization petition circulated among
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08
Action Demanded
In Bridges Case
How About Deportation Report?
Group Demands of Secretary Perkins;
CIO Head Blame d for New WaIkout

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. g. (UP)-Busness and indus
trial organizations today awaited reply from Secretary
of Labor Frances Perkins to telegram asking what had
happened to the report in the Harry Bridges deportation
proceedings With negotiations at standstill between
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08
Showdown NeQrs
I'm War Alliances
- BY LOUIS F. KEEMLE -
United Press Cable Editor

The of words high above the sounds of battle
in Europe Friday.
Firms and Russians fought hand to hand in the snow
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08
Farmers Demand End Of
Labor Racket i'm STATE
z 4%'7'Hs tsosTts

Costly Exuberance-
RR Idly wondered Friday II
Sterling OsWalt knew what he had
let himself in for when he offered
to underWrite half OF dance pro-
gram for high school lads and
lassies.
1t seems a meeting of parents
was discussing series of dances
for their sons and daughters and
someone mentioned how grand it
would be to import one of the fa-
nous dance bands for one of the
"hops". When the expense OBJ
lection came up, Sterling, fired
with enthusiasm, said:
9TH personally underWrite half!''
They took him up.
Unless we're sadly mistaken a
"big dance band" receives con-
siderable piece of change for one
evening of footing, and RR's bet
is that Sterling is looking around
for something to mortgage.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08

Maybe Justified
Mrs Betty Carroll was discussing
a story in the morning paper. The
story was about truck driver, who
had been receiving relief for some
time because he was supposedly
blind.
"You know" said Mrs. Carroll
seriously 1--WE often wondered if
these truck drivers could see"
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08

Noisy Background
At long last we have run down
the background of how Fred Sterz-
ing came to pick eleven wrong and
two right in the Post-Press football
Guessing contest.
1t seems that some time ago
Sherman Eldridge climbed into his
motor car and then suddenly left
it like Corn Reed going to fire
just before Sherman's sudden de-
parture from the scene bomb
went off beneath the hood.
Some time later when Sherman
had been caught, it was explained
to him that one Fred Sterling plant
ed the bomb as a practical joke
and that the world really hadn't t
come to an end.
So, according to Fred, you can
draw your own conclusions as to
who made the phony picks in the
football contest.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08
A Bit Backwards

A Bit Backwards
Don't be astonished if Everett
Weatherbie asks:
"Have you seen man with his
clothes on backwards, riding a
horse backwards, with a mask on
the back of his head, guns strapped
on backwards and talking back
wards?"
Don't be astonished, because
Everett is looking for a man named
James JesSee.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08
Sure Remedy

Why it is, we don't know. and
Roy Johnstone doesn't either.
But Roy has to eat piece of
pie and drink cup of coffee at
noon every day. Otherwise he gets
a headache.
Now we can't wait for headache
to come along to try the new cure.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-08

Butter: Los Angeles 31c; but
terfat imperial AaIl~, t".h eaa"h
grade A, 41c; manufacturing milk
34c; route gathered cream 29isc.
L. A. hay, U. s. No. S16.-s17;
U. S. No. 2 Ieafy S14-15.OO; u. SIS. No
? S12.50-SI3.50; Mpls cash flax $500
Imperial Valley press., 1939-10-25

Did Pete Koleff ever live in I'M
perial Valley?
Officials of the royal Bulgarian
legation in Washington seek infor-
nation about a Bulgarian by that
name who was supposed to have
been murdered in the valley in 1920.
District Attorney Heald, to whom
Consul Gen. Carlyle S. Baer wrote
for information, found no mention
of the murder in records of his Of
flee, the sheriff's office, or the
county clerks office, he said We'd
nesday. The files were searched
between 1915 and 1899 without any
mention of the murder appearing.
Koleff's last known address was
box TAI, Brawley.
Koleff's mother is destitute, the
consul general wrote, and had re-
quested him to trace the $500 her
son was supposed to have had on
his person at the time of his mur-
der in September, 1920. He said
BulgarianS living in the United
Imperial Valley press., 1939-10-25
Liquor Scandal
Spreads Beyond
State Boundaries

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 25. CUP)-
Max Joskowitz, illiterate but highly
successful saloon keeper, was sche-
duled to testify before the county
grand jury today as investigation
of the city's liquor "shake-down
scandal assumed national pro-
portions in scope.
Joskowitz, who can neither read
nor write, was said to have started
MS story late yesterday, disclosing
amazing operations of the "associa-
ton which preyed upon liquor Ii
cense holders.
The investigation today had ex-
tended not only into the state CAP
ital but to New York and Wash
ington as we'll.
District Attorney Buron Fits. in
Commute telephone converse
ton with Gov. Culbert Olson, ar
ranged for a conference next week
WIN Olson and Attorney General
Earl Warren to formulate "a policy
tremendously important to the state
IN connection with the investiga-
ton"
flttS also disclosed he had tele-
phoned to New York and Wash
,ngCon' d. c.. in connection with
the inquiry.
Inc New York call was in con.
nectlon with the charge made early
IN the investigation, and believed to
nave been repeated by Joskowitz
Yesterday, that an attempt had been
mace TO "shake-down" three lead
ing eastern distillers for $780, 900 un-
oer threats that they would be bar
REQ IRON the local field
Imperial Valley press., 1939-10-25
Forestry Division
Changes Studied

SACRAMENTO, Oct. 25. UP)-
Chairman Carl Sugar of the state
forestry board and Warner l..
Marsh, the boards nominee to re-
place state Forester M. B. Pratt,
today oened a series of interviews
with all forestry division depart
ment heads.
Sugar said the purpose of the in
quiry "is to determine how the for
estry division can be rearranged,
if it is to be done, and how to get
it on a more efficient basis" He said
a full report will be made to the
entire forestry board meeting in
Red Bluff Oct. 80.
The chairman revealed Gov. Cul-
bert Olson had asked Attorney
General Earl Warren for an opin-
ion whether Pratt was under civil
service status. If the ruling says
Pratt is eligible to be replaced, Su-
gar said the boards recommended
ton to hire Marsh will be presented
to Richard Sachse, new director OF
natural resources, when he takes
office Nov. |.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-10-25
BeyschIag Probes
Valley Problems,
Assets in Talk

Problems confronting the Impe-
rial Valley and opportunities offered
its people were outlined for the
Calexico Rotary club meeting Tues
day by Frank Beyschlag, county
farm advisor.
Beyschiag listed drainage, small
farm profit and a low percentage
of owner-operated farms as the
three most serious problems facing
the valley.
Good coast markets, efficient
marketing organizations and eff
cient production of farm products
offset the problems, however, Bey-
schlag said, and successful farm
operators in Imperial Valley have
proven conclusively that the county
is one of the nations outstanding
agricultural centers.