davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Escaping Gas Is Blamed
For Winchester Explosion
Spee;oI Dispoten 10 The S,or

WINCHESTER, Va, June 26.-
Escaping gas caused the explosion
which wrecked department store
here Wednesday. killing one person
and injurlng 20, Federal Bureau
Of Mines expert told the Winchester
City Council last night.
The Council Immediately directed
the gas company here to take
prompt safety measures at its own
expense or lose its operating fran
chise.
The Wednesday blast resulted in
the death of the stores assistant
manager, Lawrence E. Owens, %.
C. w. Owings. Bureau OF Mines
gas explosion expert. exhibited q
section of gas pipe during the Coun-
Gil meeting. He said it had been
removed from the street in front OF
the wrecked building and he showed
that it was full of holes. Mr.. Ow-
ings said gas escap ping from this pipe
easily could have permeated the
porous ground in the vicinity Of the
pipe and through a crack In the
cellar wall, thus causing an accumu-
lation of gas in the stores basement.
Evening star., 1948-06-26

were listed as 81 killed and 20 taken
prisoner.
Two more guerrilla attacks were
reported in the Sarandaporos River
valley in the Konitsa region. but the
communique said resistance there
was weakening.
The air force and artillery were
reported playing major role in the
campaign. A dispatch from End
Army Corps headquarters in Kozane
said they hammered the guerrillas
throughout the operations area yes
terday
Major Battle Seen.
The dispatch reported no deci-
sive ground action, but said a major
battle seemed 10 be shaping up
around Pyrssoyani on the 9th Divi-
sions front. There were reports, the
story said, that guerrilla Capt
Ypsilant" had moved two battalions
into the region and was counter
attacking,
AnastaSioS Balakbassis. Minister
of Air, was quoted as telling news
men in Kozane that arrangements
were under way with American ap-
proval to expand the air force
United States military men are act
ing as advisers in the offensive.
An unconf1rmed press report here
said the guerilla chieftain, Markos
Vafiades, had fed into Albania after
his headquarters had been fire
bombed.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Girl Governor Candidates
Nominated at Annapolis
By the Assoeiotsd Press

ANNAPOLIS, Md, June 26-Two
candidates for girl governor" of
Maryland are busy lining up election
support
They were nominated by the two
parties organized to lend political
reality to the third Girls State"
The proceedings are part of a
yearly citizenship get-together, spon-
sored by the Maryland Department,
American Legion Auxiliary.
Candidates nominated yesterday
are Ruth Ann Lee. II, Of Cockeys-
Vile, backed by the Nationals"
party, and Mary Virginia Matthews,
is, Of La Plata, supported by the
"Federalists.'
Ruth Ann stepped down from the
speakership of the house to run for
governor. She Is Towson High
School graduate. and the daughter
of Mr.. and Mrs. Robert e. Lee. Her
rival is a senior at La Plata High
School. and the daughter Of United
States Marshal and Mrs. William B.
Matthews.
The new speaker of the house Is
Joan Aamodt, l6. the daughter OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Olaf s. Aamodt OF
Hyattsville.
The election today will conclude
the four day session.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Army Gets S641,575,666
Fund for Civil Functions
By the Assoeioisd Press

President Truman signed yester-
day an appropriation bill carrying
s64l ,575, ,666 for Army civil functions
for the IL months beginning next
Thursday.
The bill provides record $573,-
600 900 to the Army engineers for
the most extensive program OF flood
control and navigation projects ever
undertaken in a single year.
Construction funds are provided
for 200 flood control projects and 7S
rivers and harbors improvement
Jobs throughout the country. Ad-
ditional sums are provided for plan
ming future construction.
The 1878 1000, 900 waterways pro-
gram is $157,0Oo. 900 more than was
appropriated foI the year ending
June 80. The new amount. how
ever, is $92, $50 900 less than the
Presidents budget request.
The bill also carries funds for
maintenance and operation of the
Panama Canal, the national ceme-
teries, the Soldiers Home and the
Signal Corps communications sys-
tenn in Alaska.
In all the s641 ,575 .666 appropria-
ton is soc, ,228, ,634 under the budget
estimate.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
by the Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA, June 26.-Now
that Democrats are moving in be-
hind departing delegates to the
Republican convention, the political
spotlight is focusing full beam on
the Souths Pretty Dorothy Vreden-
.burgh.
She is secretary to the Democratic
National Committee. That party's
convention opens here July II,
Even with the Republicans jam
ming the hotel corridors outside
Democratic convention headquart-
ers, there were literally hundreds OF
callers. day and night.
Many wanted to know about their
accommodations for the Democratic
convlave. Mrs. Vredenburgh han
dies housing C'and please tell my
Alabama friends I'm doing my best,
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Censor's DeIetion Brings
Criticism of Israel

TEL AVN, Israel, June 26 lP.-
Investigation here shows 1t was a
censor's deletion that brought criti-
cism that Israel did not mention
God in its declaration of inde-
pendence.
The Christian Century, nom
denominauonal religious magazine
published in Chicago, said recently
the declaration omitted such men
ton. The Minnesota Rabbinic AS
sociation denied this.
The document, as Prime Minister
David Ben -Gurion read 1t May IA,
closed with this paragraph:
With trust in Almighty God, we
set our hands to this declaration at
this session of the provisional state
council in the city Of Tel Aviv on
this Sabbath eve, the fifth day OF
Iyar, 57o8, the l4th day OF May,
l948."
Subsequent inquiry showed the
censor had cut the paragraph from
the text sent that day by the Asso-
ciated Press. He did so under in
structions to eliminate references
to the time and place of the cere-
mony for fear of Arab bombing.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
! British Minister Here
/. New Envoy 10 Argentina

Sir John Balfour, Minister at the
British Embassy, has been appointed
Ambassador to the Argentine, the
British Foreign Once announced
yesterday.
Sir John, who had been at the
Embassy in the administration Of
President Coolidge, returned here in
April, 1945. He and Lady Frances
Balfour, his wife, have been living
at 1924 Thirtieth street NV.
During the war, he was Minister
at Lisbon. Portugal. and at Moscow.
In the latter post he served under
Sir Archibald Clerk Kerr, who came
here later as Lord Inverchapel,
British Ambassador.
At Buenos Aires he will succeed
Sir Reginald Leeper. who is retiring
from the Foreign Once.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Smooth TaIker Convicted
OF $4,000 SwindIe
BY the Assoeiofed Press

NEW YORK. June 26.-A S47-a-
week elevator starter, who witness
said had such beautiful way of
talking" was convicted last night
of squandering some $4,000 his
friends gave him to invest.
The gray-haired defendant, Gus
Fusaro, 81, was found guilty by a
jury on five counts of grand larceny
and bucket shop operations. He
was arrested last June
Assistant District Attorney Fran
els x, Clark said Fusaro posed as
a big-time Wall Street operator to
talk friends into turning money
over to him for investment in the
stock market.
One of the 13 persons who testi-
fled they had given money to Fusaro
said:
He has such a beautiful way Of
talking that I didn't think we'd
lose any money
Sentencing was set for August II.
Fusaro faces possible IS years
IMPRISONMENT.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Anq|o-U. 5. Zone Of Reich
Asks $780, 100000 Loan
ey the Associoted Press

GENEVA, Switzerland, June 26.-
The Anglo-American zone OF Ger
many seeks credits totaling 81 ,230,-
900 900 during the first year OF the
European Recovery Program under
proposal being submitted to the
Marshall Plan organization In Paris,
it was learned here today.
The proposal was made in a de-
tailed l60-page survey Of the zone S
requirements, prepared by German
economic experts of the two-power
economic administration. Its tar
get is an overall Is per cent increase
of the zones production within a
year.
The 10-week -old plan was being
kept secret, pending its considera-
ton and approval by the Marshall
Plan nations in Paris, but advance
copies recently reached non-Com-
munist delegations to the Economic
Commission for Europe here.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
) From Tokomo Park
To Intern at Suniturium

DR.. Donald E. Finch, DR.. Thomas
r. Huxtable, jr., and DR.. Albert w.
Olson, all of Takoma Park, Wash
ington Missionary College graduates
who have completed medical studies
at the College Of Medical Evangelists
in Iona Linda, Calf, have been
chosen as interns at the Washing
ton Sanitarium and Hospital In Ia
koma Park. They will begin their
work in July.
DR.. Finch Is the son Of Mr.. and
Mrs. John p. Finch of Z Elm avenue,
DR.. Huxtable is the son Of Mr.. and
Mrs. T. r. Huxtable OF 1901 Hilton
avenue, and DR.. Olson is the son OF
Mr. and Mrs. H. 0. Olson OF 303
Greenwood avenue
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Meridian Hill Hotel Rents
Hearing Set for July Z

The District Rent Control Admin
istration will hold a public hearing
July IL on the petition of the
Meridian Hill Hotel, 2601 Sixteenth
street NV, to raised weekly rents
on 644 rooms, William Richardson
administration secretary, announced
today. .....
The petition was filed by Abner
Freedman and Sidney Clayman OF
New York, who last January bought
the property from the Defense
Homes Corp. The owners have asked
permission to raise rents On $6.5O-a-
week rooms to $8.45 and on $8.75-
a-week rooms to $1f37.
The Rent Control Administration
also have received petition for an
IL per cent increase on rs apart
ments in buildings in the $500
and 5000 blocks of Fourteenth street
NV
Evening star., 1948-06-26
sy the Associated Press

BERLIN, June 26.-Worried Ber-
liners asked one big question today
will the Western Allies leave Ber-
lin under Russian pressure?
1t is heard on all sides-in the
food queues, in the long lines of
Berliners waiting to exchange their
old money for new, in the homes
and on the corners. Most of them
say this:
"Food-important a problem as it
may be-is secondary for the mo-
ment. After all, we've lived for
years never knowing whether we
would get tomorrows food ration.
We know there's enough to eat for
at least the next month. And by
that time the crisis may be over.
But will you Westerners still be
here?"
No one could yet give them the
answer.
Feel DiscOmforts Again.
The 100000 Germans in the
Western sectors of the city, most of
whom haven't had a big meal in
more than three years, are expert
encing again the discomforts of
darkened homes. Last winter it was
because of a coal shortage. Now
it's because of the Russian power
cutoff. And one day their gas stoves
NAV be cold because there's no coal
for gas.
In the face of this dreary outlook,
most of them just shrug.
"It isn't for us to say anything,
a. German secretary said. We do
what we're told to do. It's just
Evening star., 1948-06-26
McCorrun Recovering
From Recent Operation

Senator McCarran, Democrat. OF
Nevada was reported today to be
recovering from a recent operation
at the Mayo Clinic at Rochester
MINI.
The former chairman of the Sem
ate District Committee left the hes
pital this morning, an aide said,
but will remain at a hotel in
Rochester another week. The opera
tion was reported to be complete
success.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Tourist, 9, Found Roaming
Around Monument Grounds

A young tourist, Ronald X. Brooks,
9, of Burlington, VT, who became
separated from his companions,
spent the night at Park Police head
quarters after being found early to-
day wandering around the Monu-
ment Grounds.
The boy apparently wandered
away from his party, police said.
The party, including 20 boys and 4
adults, had arrived here about
pm. by truck and police did not
know where they were staying.
The boy was to be sent to the
Receiving Home to await his return
to Burlington If he Is not claimed
by his companions today.
Evening star., 1948-06-26


make a union shop provision ef-
fective unless the NLRB has certl-
fed that at least majority OF the
employees have voted by secret to
authorize such a provision"
Mr.. Moses added that the steel
companies ARE prepared to accept
reluctantly" the other provisions of
the contract negotiated by the COM
mercial coal operators.
Last year Big Steel negotiated
the contract giving huge conces-
sions in pay and welfare money to
the miners and then, in effect,
forced the coal industry to accept it.
The new contract is for one year,
but retains clause of the old
agreement which says that it may
be reopened any time during the
next year on 30 days notice Of
either party Mr. Lewis refused re-
quest of the operators to eliminate
a clause which states the miners
will work when able and willing. -
Southern Operators Sign.
Compromise of the dispute be-
tween Mr.. Lewis and the Southern
Coal Producers Association over the
right of the association to sign a
contract was reached in the new
agreement. The pact this time was
signed both by the association and
the IA individual operator groups
which make up the association.
The miners won their long fight
for 500 monthly pensions and other
liberal welfare benefits. Disburse-
ments from the welfare fund, which
now has about $45 ,000,000 in 1t, will
be controlled by majority vote of
the three trustees of the fund.
Justice T. Alan Goldsborough
made possible the negotiation of the
new agreement by his ruling Tues
day approving Mr., Lewis pension
and welfare fund ideas.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Truman and Congress
|Assai|ed by Wallace
I'm Dinner Talk Here

President Truman, the past Con-
gress and the Democratic and Re-
publican Parties last night were
blasted by Henry A. Wallace. New
Party candidate for the presidency.
In q speech centering mainly around
civil rights.
He told more than TOO persons at
tending . dinner in the Hotel Stat
Ter that democracy In the South
is q fraud" but that "a new Amer
ican citizen is emerging in the South
the common man with q chip on
his shoulder and an eye for his
rights"
Mr.. Wallace was the principal
speaker at the dinner. sponsored by
the Washington Committee for Wal.
lace.
The former Vice President said
President Truman came nearest to
mentioning civil rights when, on his
Western tour. he corrected his
statement that the Eightieth Con-
gress was the worst in history. He
said the President explained the
Congress of Thaddeus Stevens was
"a little worse"
Responsible for Amendments.
Mr.. Truman exposes either his
ignorance of our civil rights history
or his true attitude towards civil
rights" Mr.. wallace continued. 'for
it was that same Thaddeus Stevens
Congress which gave this country
the first civil rights act"
Thaddeus Stevens. Mr.. Wallace
pointed out, was the man primarily
responsible for the 18th and l4th
amendments - the amendments
which abolished slavery and guar
anteed rights of all citizens. For
this alone he deserves to be remem.
bered with respect and honor
He added that the President also
ignored the foreign civil rights
issue" which the Palestine issue can
quite Justly be called" and that Mr..
Truman has spoken on both sides
of just about everything"
"Congress Of Puppets"
In discussing the recent Congress.
Mr.. Wallace termed 1t the one that
Ignored the needs Of the people"
TT was the Congress OF puppets
who pranced and danced for the
plaudits and profits of the National
Association of Manufacturers. the
real estate associations, the power
lobbies. the monopolistic railroads"
he said.
Regarding segregation in Wash
ington. Mr.. Wallace declared that
our Capital is the living symbol Of
national sin"
"One third Of the population OF
Washington is Negro he remarked.
IF Washington is given political
life, all Washingtonians must vote.
Home rule for the District would
strike q powerful blow at Jim Grow
and. all its ugly ways. And some
of the enemies of franchise for
Washington are arrogant enough to
admit this
The Republican convention in
Philadelphia. Mr.. Wallace said had
done the new party "a great service"
Other speakers were Canada Lee,
the colored actor, and Radio Com
mentator william Gailmor. DR..
Joseph L. johnson, dean of medi-
cine at Howard University, was
chairman Of the program.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Public Health Services
In U. S. Hit by Russians
Ax thu A.,aeiated Press

GENEVA, June 26-The Soviet
delegate to the World Health AS
sembly declared today that public
health services in the United States
are inadequate.
N. A. Vinogradov. Soviet Deputy
of Health, In a speech to the con-
ference of doctors and public health
experts from more than so nations
quoted from President Trumsn's
address to Congress last January to
support charge that "a large part
of the people Of the United States
are unable to obtain sufficient medi-
cal care"
The Soviet delegate urged pro-
gressiye naturalization of medical
and public health services through
out the world but without abolition
of private medical practice.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Civic Associations Decry
Approval Of Segregation

Continuation of segregation on the
District Fairgrounds was condemned
last night by the Federation OF
Civic Associations at meeting In
The District Building.
Sixty delegates approved a resolu-
ton censuring the action OF the
Board of Educa ton recommending
continuation of the segregation. The
delegates also commended two men,
bers of the Board of Education, Mrs.
Velma G. Williams and George E. c.
Hayes, for opposing the stand.
Opposition to any rate increase
by the Capital Transit Co. also was
voiced by the group.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Four Romunions Get
Life for Killing Jews
BY the Assoeiotsd Press

BUCHAREST, Romania, June 26.
A Bucharest Criminal Court to-
day sentenced four former Roman
ian army officers to life terms on
charges of killing 10000 or more
Romanian Jews in 194l.
The officers were among 81 de-
PENDANTS. Four were acquitted and
others received terms varying from
life to Is years.
The army men sentenced to life
were Gen. George Stavrescu, So;
Col. Constantin Lupu, 81; Col.
Cumitru Captaru. 54; Col. Ermii
Mates, 58. Aurel Triandas, 20, also
got life.
Evening star., 1948-06-26

and materials to Palestine. The
countries are: The United States,
China, India, Italy. Hungary, Greece,
Canada, New Zealand and Switzer-
land.
Three American destroyers acting
for the U. N. arrived off Haifa.
The Israeli government said Mrs.
Golda Myerson, formerly of Mil
waukee, has been appointed Israels
representative to the Soviet Union
and Pavel Ivanovitch Yershov, now
charge d'af1aires in Turkey, will be
Soviet Minister to Israel.
King Abdullah of Trans-Jordan
left his Amman capital to visit King
Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Methodist Conference
Resumes Vote on Bishop
By the Assoeiotsd Press


Ell PASO, Tex, June 26.-A new
attempt to choose successor to re-
firing Bishop Charles c. selecman
of Dallas was scheduled today by
delegates to the South Central
Jurisdictional Conference of the
Methodist Church. They failed in
Is ballots yesterday to elect a new
bishop.
When the conference adjourned
last night, DR.. Paul w. Quillian,
pastor of the First Methodist
Church of Houston, led with 126
votes. He needed I'll for election.
DR.. Gerald H. Kennedy, Lincoln,
Nebr., was second with 90 votes
after twice gaining and then losing
the lead.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Truman Opens Gates
To 205,000 Refugees
After Blast al Bill
BY the Assoeioted Pres,

The gates to the United States
we're thrown open today to
205,00O European refugees who
can meet conditions labeled
"fagrantly discriminatory" by
President Truman.
In signing the displaced persons
bill into law yesterday. Mr.. Truman
fred a strongly y-phrased 1900 word
blast at Congress for not sending
him better measure.
He said he signed the bill with
very great reluctance" and added
that "if Congress were still in ses-
sion I would return this bill without
my approval and urge that fairer,
more humane bill be passed"
Discrimination Charged.
The measure discriminates against
Jewish and Catholic immigration
the President charged, by setting up
conditions which most such refugees
cannot meet. 1t forms, he said, "a
pattern of discrimination and in
tolerance"
1T is a close question" the Pres
ident said, whether this bill is bet
ter or worse than no bill at ALL"
The new law limits immigration
over the next two years to those
DPS who fed to Germany, Austria
and Italy between September /,
1899, and December %, 1945. by
this DEVICE" said Mr.. Truman,
more than 80 per cent of the re-
naming Jewish displaced persons
are definitely excluded"
And, he said, it Also excludes
many displaced persons of the Cath
olic faith" who fled into the Amer
lean zones after December %. 1945.
IN order to escape persecution in
countries dominated by Commu-
mist form of government.
Hopes for Better Bill.
The President said he hopes the
next session of Congress will remedy
the bills defects-especially the De-
cember, 1945, deadline.
1T is inexplicable, he declared,
except upon the abhorrent ground
of intolerance, that this date should
have been chosen instead of April
q, l947, the date on which Gen.
Clay american occupation COM
nander in Germany closed the dis
placed persons camps to further
admissions"
Mr.. Truman charged that the
measure, passed as a compromise
on the final day of the session,
combines the worst features of
both the Senate and House bills.
Chief Provisions.
These are some of its provisions:
Refugees must have jobs and
homes awaiting them here before
they can enter. They also must
pass stiff loyalty and character tests.
At least 40 per cent of the immi
erants-about 80000-must come
from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and
Eastern Poland-countries annexed
by a foreign power. At least 80 per
cent must be farmers. Household,
garment and construction workers
also get priority.
All would be charged against reg
ular immigration quotas under a
system which might cut future
quotas for any affected nation by AS
much as so per cent, possibly for
several years.
The bill directs the State Depart
ment to permit again the admission
of German and Austrian immigrants
under prewar quotas and requires
that so per cent of those quotas be
filled by persons of German ethnic
origin, who now live in Germany,
but who were born in Poland, Yugo-
slavia, Romania, Hungary and
Czechoslovakla.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Trumun Still Looking
For Labor Secretary
By the Associated Press

President Truman is still LOOKING
for a Secretary Of Labor TO succeed
the hate Lewis Schwellenbach.
Press Secretary Charles G. Ross
refused to forecast yesterday when
an appointment might be expected;
John r. Steelman, presidential
assistant and labor. adviser, Is known
to have removed himself from the
picture.
white House informants say Mr.
Steelman and the President agree
that Mr.. Steeiman is more valuable
in his present post than he would
be as Labor Secretary.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Cruelty to Animals
Suspect Freed on Boil
" the A,soc;o,sd Press

BALTIMORE, June 26.-Harry L.
Brown Of White Hall, Md, is free
under $1,000 bail today pending a
July / Police Court hearing on
charges of assaulting . policeman
and cruelty to animals.
He was arrested Thursday by Iraf-
fic Patroiman Howard T. Drummer.