davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1947-12-21
By the Assoeiotsd Press

CHICAGO, Dec. 20.-Santa Claus
little friends wouldn't desert him
in the face of danger today, SO he
doubled in the role of rescuer when
fire broke out in the Goldblatt
Brothers Department Store on State
street.
The blaze, causing an estimated
SIS 900 damage, forced the evacua-
ton of $4,000 Christmas shoppers.
Santa joined store officials, detec-
tiyes and other employees in lead
ing them to safety.
The fire started in an escalator
between the first and second floors.
Smoke soon seeped up to the eighth
floor toy department. where Santa
was discussing Christmas gifts with
a long line Of waiting children.
Word was quietly flashed by teler
phone to store detective4 band special
service men on each Aoor. Store
Evening star., 1947-12-21
Tips on Officials Specializing
In Grain Pour in to Ferguson
House and Senate Investigators to Look
For Leaks, Use Of Inside information

branches have had inside informa-
ton" on Government commodity
purchases.
Mr. Andersen said his committee
will get started as soon as it sets
up a staff and then move fast"
But probably it will not go into
action before the regular session of
Congress which will begin January 6.
The staff of Senator Ferguson's S
committee will work during the holi-
days to get the information before
the public. as rapidly as possible,
Senator Bridges, Republican, of New
Hampshire, said.
Bill Signed by Truman.
Senator Bridges, chairman of the
Senate Appropriations Committee
appointed the five-man subcommit-
tee headed by Senator Ferguson
Friday, shortly after President Tru-
man signed legislation authorizing
congressional committees to obtain
lists of big-time market operators
from Secretary of Agriculture An
derson
Mr.. Anderson has announced pub
licly that he has such lists, but he
(See SPECULATION, A-7.)
Evening star., 1947-12-21
Search for Bodies Still Logs
Five Days After Empire Crash
Wreckers Have Dug Into Apartment Debris
Only for ~ Hours Since Fremen Left

This morning, as on each
morning since last Wednesday,
relatives of three persons be-
lieved dead in the collapsed EN-
pire Apartments will gather at
the rubble-f filled shell, Ninth
street and New York avenue NV.
They hope to witness-finally-
the start of an active search for the
bodies presumed to be buried under
debris OF the partly demolished
sevep-story structure.
Since Wednesday, when it first
appeared the three missing tenants
had perished, their families have
been wondering why no one was dig
ging through the wreckage for
possible victims.
They watched Workmen of one
wrecking firm hack away at the
roof for two and a half hours Fri
Cay. This was the first work done
since flremen were called out of the
building Wednesday morning-less
than II hours after the collapse.
They saw-but failed to under
stand-transfer of the job to
another company. The second con-
tractor spent all day yesterday
doing preliminary safety work pre-
paratory to searching for bodies and
clearing debris
Late this afternoon, it was esti-
Evening star., 1947-12-21

Sale OF tickets for The Evening
Star games, Washington's first in
door track meet since before the
war, is moving along at a brisk pace
and a good portion of the best seats
are already gone.
Only 4,200 seats will be available
because of the restricted seating in
the National Guard Armory, where
the meet is to be held at pm.
January 3.
The Brown University Alumni AS
ISOLATION has taken the lead among
alumni groups in reserving a large
block of seats and members have
been asked to inform Hal Master
by Tuesday Of their desires. Mr..
Master, whose telephone number is
Emerson 1880 or Executive 6400,
Branch $500. has circularized the
group.
Among those from Brown who
will participate are Ray Leeth in
the 70-yard high hurdles invitation;
Joshua Tobey, and his brother,
Jonathan Tobey. both in the mile
relay; Robert Factor in the mile
relay; and Royce Crimmin in thsl
mile relay and the 1,000-yard inl
Evening star., 1947-12-21
Second Student Dies
After Virginia Crash;
our Others Injured
Auto With Six Veterans
Bound Home for Holido,
Strikes Side Of Bridge

A second University of Vir-
ginia student died late yesterday
as the result of an automobile
wreck near Woodbridge, Va, in
which four fellow students were
injured.
He was Stuyvesant Mckinney, 20,
the son of Mr.. and Mrs. John Hill
Mckinney, socially prominent resi-
dents of Tuxedo Park, N. Y.
Mr.. Mckinney died in the Marine
Base Hospital at Quantico IA hours
after the automobile smashed into
the concrete side of a bridge on
Route l.
David B. Powell, %, of Buffalo,
N. Y, was killed instantly in the
crash. He was the son of Joseph
Powell, president of the Powell Stor-
age Co. of Buffalo.
All Are Veterans.
The six young men, all veterans,
were homeward bound for the holi-
days.
Most seriously injured of the sur
vivors is Philip Schuster, Is, an
Army aviator with combat service
in the Pacific theater, who suffered
a compound fracture of the jaw and
other head injuries. He is the son
Evening star., 1947-12-21
Russia Moves Swiftly
To Tighten lis Hold
On Eastern GERMANY
Heads of MiddIe-of-Roud
Porty Who Opposed
Nozi Regime Are Ousted
By the Associoted Press

BERLIN, Dec. 20.-The Soviet
military administration moved
swiftly tonight to solidify it's
hold on Eastern Germany for
whatever eventualities the fail
ure of the Big Four Foreign Min
listers Conference in London may
bring.
The Russians fired the two lead
ers of the Christian Democratic
Union (CDU) in the Soviet zone.
These party leaders, Jakob Kaiser
and Ernst Lemmer, were opponents
of the NaM regime and took part
ton plot against Adolf Hitler.
ton plat against Adolf Hitler.
The Christian Democratic Union,
called the Christian Social Union
in the American zone, had been
tolerated only as opposition" win
dow dressing in the Russian occupa-
ton area. The union is a middle
of = the road party with strong
church backing.
Party Loses Independence.
The Russians also have informed
the union that the license of Will
helm Cries, chief editor of the
party's Berlin newspaper Neue
Zeit, had been withdrawn and a
new editor was being installed.
The Russians had cut the per-
mitted circulation of the paper to
$4,000 yesterday as a sign of their
displeasure The circulation was
restored today to its original figure
of 100000 in the Russian order.
Although Kaiser and Lemmer de-
clined to say what they would do
in the face of the Russian order,
it was obvious that their party
had lost its independence in the
Soviet zone.
Some observers said the Russians
would seek to maintain the union
with the help of a number of dis
sident factions but that the present
(See GERMAN, Page A-10)
Evening star., 1947-12-21
President S Pup
Is Delayed Twice
On Flight Here
picture on Page A-11.J
Bv the Assoeioted Press

INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 20.-Feller,
airborne cocker spaniel en- route to
the White House to become sue
cessor to Fala, was on his way again
at 1:25 pm. tonight after a two
hour delay here caused by poor fly
ing weather, and a three-hour de-
lay in leaving Chicago.
The ceiling closed in just after
the flight bearing the already-fa-
NOUS dog and "a human passengers
landed at Weir Cook Municipal air.
port, forcing a wait until conditions
improved.
Airport officials said the fight
probably would reach Washington
at approximately 2:30 am
Capt. c. c. Mitchell of chicago,
pilot Of the American Airlines plane
carrying the puppy to President
Truman. carried his distinguished
canine passenger to the airline's
Office after the flight was grounded.
He's just little purp," Capt.
Mitchell said. He sleH all the way
from Chicago" q
Feller is only hve weeks old.
Evening star., 1947-12-21
Children Refuse to Desert Suntu
In Downtown Chicago Store Fire

employees circulated among the shop
pers, telling them to leave.
But several children set up a
howl when they thought they were
deserting Santa in burningNbuild-
ing. Save Santa Claus; bring him
with u.s." some of them cried.
Santa, also known to his intimates
as Harland M. Worley, 81, rose to
the occasion. He led the children
and their parents to the nearest
elevator and promised to follow as
soon as the floor was cleared.
Music was broadcast over the first
floor loud speaker system and store
officials said the entire building was
cleared in Is. minutes. There was
no panic and no one was reported
injured. Operations were resumed
In IS minutes and store officials
said the crowd, including persons
attracted by curiosity was larger
than ever"
Santa. too. went b4ck to his
eighth-fioor post.
Evening star., 1947-12-21
What theRussions
Are Saying of Us

The Mosco,0 radio, broadcastin.
IN German to Europe, said:
"The Soviet decision to abolish
rationing and carry out a cur
rency reform has found a wide
echo in the world press. The
great Soviet country which had
borne the main burden of the
war proved once more to the
world that the socialist economic
system is immeasurably superior
to the chaotic and predatory
system of capitalism.
''The venal journalists, on the
other hand, who are being kept
by the reactionary monopolists
in the United States, Britain and
other capitalist countries, have
shown once more that they do
not draw their money for moth
ing. They employed every means
to distort the historic Sekiet
measure"
Evening star., 1947-12-21
Charlotte TO Buy Kerosene
For Resale in Oil SHORTAGE
BY the Assoeioisd Press

CHARLOTTE, N. c., Dec. 20
Mayor H. H. Baxter of Charlotte
said tonight he will proclaim a state
OF emergency Monday authorizing
the city government to buy kerosene
in 00,000-gallon lots for resale to
victims of a severe fuel oil shortage.
The Mayor admitted there was no
certainty that even the city could
obtain oil in such quantities at the
present time.
The Office, in operation three days,
already has an untitled backlog of
more than 1000 requests. The city
has been allocated $500 gallons of
oil per day by dealers, who in turn
are rationing their customers at go
per cent of oil storage capacity.
Mayor Baxter said there was no
indication when the orders at the
emergency Office could be filled. The
maximum emergency order from the
city Is for 80 gallons.
Evening star., 1947-12-21

mated, actual digging for bodies
might begin.
Il do not understand why they
are so slow in getting the bodies out
of the wreckage." said Mrs. Mary
Matte of New York. Her brother
in-law, Joseph M. Smith, was be-
lieved dead in the rubble. The
sister, Mrs. Lena Smith. lay criti-
cally injured in Emergency Hospital
When there is mine disaster
there are men going in searching
for bodies almost Immediately.
This was the comment of Mrs.
L. B, Phillips of Round Hill, Va.
She had taken leave from her Navy
Department job to await the search
for hte body of her mother, Mrs.
K. B. Van Sickler, another missing
tenant.
What if she had been alive until
Wednesday afternoon?"
There was bitterness and grief in
the voice of Mrs. William Van
Sickler of Accokeek, Md, daughter
ln-laW of the missing woman.
Statements of the waiting rela-
tlVes range from pure anguish to an
angry determination to take legal
action against those responsible for
the delay.
This is the chronology from the
(See COLLAPSE, Page A-6.y
Evening star., 1947-12-21
Telegraph Workers
Await Strike Order;
To Lay Plans Today
ConciIiotors Fail to Aver,
Threatened WuIkout of
$4,000 in Western Union
By james Y. Newton

Fifty thousand employees of
Western Union, members of
three AFL unions, last night
awaited the word of their leaders
that would touch off Nation
wide telegraph strike, after Fed
eral conciliators failed to bring
about. settlement of the wage
dispute with the company.
Locally, members of the CONNER
cial Telegraphers Union, largest of
the three, were summoned to a
2 pm. mass meeting at the Anna
polls Hotel today to receive assign
ments for picketing and make other
final plans for the strike.
The Washington local has TOO
members, but union officials said
there will be no interruption of
work because of today's meeting
unless the walkout signal is given
beforehand Similar meetings were
called in other parts of the country.
Order to Disregard Call Reported.
Meanwhile, an Associated Press
dispatch from Kansas City quoted
union and company sources as say
ing that, notices had been posted
ordering 1,500 CTU employees in
Missouri, Kansas and Colorado to
disregard and nullify" the strike
call.
Union officials there said the or
der was posted by Local % and
signed by J. J. Layden, acting chair.
man. Mr.. Layden said he could
Evening star., 1947-12-21
BY the Associoied Press

Many tips that Government
officials and other public figures
have been specializing on the
grain market were reported ar
irving at the Capitol yesterday
as committees of both the Sen
ate and House made ready for
broad Investigations.
Senator Ferguson, Republican, of
Michigan, who heads the Senate
Investigators, told reporter that "a
remarkable number of tips are
coming in from anonymous persons
and in signed letters.
"We certainly will follow up any
that are worthwhile. We can ask
Government agencies to check up
on brokerage accounts if these
names are not found on the lists"
Leaks" to Be Hunted.
Meanwhile Representative August
H. Andersen, Republican, of Mime
sofa, announced that the special
House committee which he heads in
tends to find out whether "any
leaks" have enabled spectators to
make "a killing" and whether any
one in the legislative or executive
Evening star., 1947-12-21
One Last Appeal 10 StaIin
On Atomic Control Urqed
~ the Assoeiotsd Press

LONDON, Dec. 20.-Eleven promi-
nent Britons tonight urged Presi-
dent Truman and, Prime Minister
Attlee to approach Prime Minister
Stain in zone last attempt" to per-
suade Russia to share in interna-
tional control of atomic energy.
If that fails, the appeal said,
:the freedom loving powers closely
associated with Britain and America
should act in concert. They should
develop such predominance Of de-
fense strength, including atomic
strength, that no power would dare
to challenge them"
The statement from the II Britons
said all attempts thus far at inter-
national control have been "frus-
trated by the intransigence of the
Soviet Union" Ad added that .1un-
less within the very near future
strict international control of
atomic energy is established we
shall face a very desperate world
situation"
The signers included Bertrand
Russell. the famed philosopher: the
Rev. w. r. Matthews, dean of st.
Paul's Cathedral; T. S. Eliot. the
poet: and Clement Davies, head of
the Parliamentary Liberal FIFTY.
Evening star., 1947-12-21
Many of Best Seats Already Sold
For Eveninq Star rack Meet

vitational, the latter entry being
provisional.
Several other groups, business and
social, also have already taken sub
stantial blocks of seats.
Ticket supplies have been placed
at a number of convenient spots in
cluding 1rvings, Tenth and E streets
NV; Andy Farkas Sports Shop,
2131 Pennsylvania avenue NV;
Kneessi and Adler's, 822 Fifteenth
street NV; the University Club,
the Army and Navy Club, the Sta
dium Pharmacy, 100 Nineteenth
street, Sc; the Junior Board of
Commerce Office in The Star Build
ing, and the business counter in the
lobby of The Star Building at
Eleventh street and Pennsylvania
avenue NV.
Reservations by mail can be made
in Room 724, The Evening Star
Building, and telephone reserva-
tions will be received over National
5000, branch 452 or 1894. AL checks
should be made out to The Evening
Star Games. Box seats are priced
at 81. Balcony and stand reserved
seats at So and general admissions
at 50.
Further details In sports section)
Evening star., 1947-12-21
Two PoroIyzed Veterans
Hurt in Hit-Run Crosh
BY the Associoted Press

PORT ROYAL, Va, Dec. 2O.-Two
paralyzed war veterans from Me-
Guire Hospital. Richmond, Oh their
way home for Christmas, were
among four persons injured in an
automobile accident on Route
near here today.
The car, especially equipped for
paraplegics, was in collision with
another automobile, which did not
stop after the accident. The vet
erans' machine overturned.
The four persons hospitalized
were Samuel Malone, "a. James
town, Pa; John Victor, 80. Balti-
Mrs. Frances Fern, 80, and
Alice Tyler, Is, both Of Richmond.
They were taken to the hospital at
Fredericksburg, where attendants
said their conditions were not seri-
GUS.
Evening star., 1947-12-21
Gun Battle
Fought Between Arabs
And Jewish CONVOY
Palestine Clash Is Near
Area Where GuerriIIus
Were Reported Messing
BY the Associated Press

JERUSALEM, Dec. 2O.-Arabs
fought a running gun battle
with a Jewish convoy tonight
The engagement swirled close to
the borders of Syria and Leb-
anon where Arab guerrilla forces
have been reported massing to
fight Zionists.
The Trans-Jordan frontier force
an Arab military organization doing
police duty in Palestine under Brit
lsh supervision, and British troops
rushed to the aid of the convoy.
Two Jewish settlement police were
wounded and one Jew was reported
missing in the fighting which took
place near the border village of
Khisas where Jewish fighters killed
10 Arabs, including five children,
yesterday.
Alden Outbreak Feared. -
Meanwhile terse cable reading
rush help" was received in Jeru-
salem from Jewish community sur
rounded by Arabs in the British
colony of Alden on the Arabian coast
1t was feared that the Jews there
again were involved in communal
strife Earlier this month rs Jews
and "a arabs were killed in Alden.
On London the Colonial Office
said it had received no reports
Of new fighting in Alden. But it
acknowledged receiving plea
from Tel Aviv rabbis to rush
help" One government source
was inclined to discount reports
of trouble, saying he was sure
the British representative would
have advised London)
Scattered fighting throughout
Palestine brought death to seven
Arabs, two Jews and one British
soldier. The Associated Press death
count since the United Nations
General Assembly voted for parti-
ton of the Holy Land on Novem-
ber 20 reached 290 in Palestine
alone and Ali throughout the Mid
die East.
-Four Arabs, Jew and British
soldier were killed in the bloody
Jaffa- Tel Aviv border area. Opera
tions there included a counter
attack by Hagana fighters against
Arab positions. Arabs claimed two
of their dead were laborers shot
down while en- route to work, but
Jewish sources said the men were
killed while firing toward Jewish
buildings.
Hagana said the British soldier
1See PAT ESTTNF page A-10D
Evening star., 1947-12-21

LONDON, Dec. 20 (P.-Britain's S
beer must take another cut with the
years end-this time in quantity
rather than quality. The Brewers
Association announced that reduc-
ton of sugar ALLEGATIONS would mean
a curtailment in beer output equiya-
lent to nine pints out of every IA
pint barrel. On previous reductions
of ingredients, the industry turned
out weaker beer to help maintain
supplies.
Evening star., 1947-12-21
Christmas Shoppers
In D. T.. Set Record
For Dollar Volume
Figures May Show 10%
Gain Over '46; Unit
Sales Up Slightly
TREE-LIGHTING by President
Heads Christmas Activities. Al.

TREE-LIGHTING by President
Heads Christmas Activities. Al.
With only three more shop
ping days left before Christmas,
Washington is ringing up its
greatest dollar volume of holi-
day purchases on the cash regis
ters OF local department stores.
A survey last night of the city's
stores showed general agreement
that the District like the nation in
general, is spending more on
Christmas gifts than in any pre-
vious Yuletide. Early reports from
the Federal Reserve Bank of Rich
mond. which includes the District
in its area, back up the local figures.
Exact figures will not be known
until the New Year but the Federal
Reserve totals indicate this seasons
dollar volume of sales will be at
least 10 per cent over last year,
perhaps as high as IS per cent.
Unit sales-the number of each
item purchased-have not increased
as greatly, however, because prac-
tically everything has higher
price tag on it this year.
Yesterdays tArong of shoppers
crowded the stores once again. The
Hecht Co., which broke all one
day records the Saturday before,
said yesterdays crowds were fully
as large as the previous Saturdays"
but sales figures would not be
totaled until tomorrow.
Charles B. Dulcan, sr., the COM
pany's vice president, said sales
for this Christmas season have "far
exceeded those of any other year
in the history Of the Hecht Co."
Woodward & Lothrop reported
sales in the last 10 days have been.
running well ahead for each day
in the same period last year and
there is no doubt the total sales
will be new high. The previous
Saturday was the biggest day in
the stores history.
LanSburgh's reported a iammed
store all day yesterday with the
total dollar volume this season
bigger by far" than last year.
Toys have been selling especially
fast, the store reported.
Garf1nckel's said sales have been
very good, running ahead of the
1916 season.
Kann's hkdjse reported a new
high in dollar volume with unit sales
heavy.
Wide Choice for Buyers.
All the stores reported that the
generally better quality of mer-
chandise plus the wider choice
available in all stores seems to be
bringing in the customers. Pur-
chases of house furnishings and
other practical" gifts has been
heavy along with the big sale of
toys. -~~@
A return of quantities of what
the stores call wheel goods
bicycles, tricycles, etc.-will mean
merry Christmas mornings in many
a Washington area home for the
youngsters.
The nylon stocking supply has
held up despite a big demand, the
stores reported. though a shortage
turned up in New York for a few
days.
The Associated Press survey
throughout the Nation indicated
lSee SHOPPING Page A-4l
Evening star., 1947-12-21
Russian Newsmun Held
In Death of u. S. Soldier

BY the Associofed fTesS
VIENNA, Dec. 20.-The United
States Army announced today a
Russian journalist has been arrested
in the death Of an American soldier
whose jaw was broken in a fight.
The Russian. Stefan Ingrin, now
is in custody of Soviet officials.
The soldier died in the army hos
pital three hours after the fight in
Vienna's international zone yester-
day. His name was withheld pend
ing notification of next of kin. A
second American soldier who at
tempted to intervene was bitten by
the Russian, officials said
Evening star., 1947-12-21

Complete Index, Pg. Az
Radio Programs. Pose c-s J
Evening star., 1947-12-21
British Beer Cut Aouin

tSee CRASH, Page A-10.)
Evening star., 1947-12-21

(see AIR FORCE, Page A-10.J
Evening star., 1947-12-21

tSee ECONOMIC, Page AID
Evening star., 1947-12-21

See WESTERN UNION, P. A-l0.
Evening star., 1947-12-21

tSee SHOPPING, Page A-4.
Evening star., 1947-12-21

Mostly sunny, warmer. highest tempera-
ture near So moderate northwest winds
today. Fair, little change in temperature
tomorrow
Evening star., 1947-12-21
Home Delivery

The Evening and Sunday Star is
delivered by carrier to all subscribers
at $1.20 per month when Sundays;
$l.30 per month when Sundays.
Telephone MA. 5000.
Evening star., 1947-12-21

(See GERMAN, Page A-10D