davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Fists Fly as Democrats
Pick Convention Delegates
by the Assoeioted Press

WILLIAMSBURG. Va, June 26.-
Fists few last night as Williams
burg Democrats elected four dele
gates to the Forthcoming State con-
vention at Richmond.
Ashton Dovell, former Speaker OF
the House of Delegates, and Dr
Robert G. Caldwell, professor Of
sociology at the College OF william
and Mary, swung at each other tol'
lowing a dispute over methoos o.
counting ballots for delegates.
Several spectators received oloWS
when they sought to break up the
fight. In the tussle DR.. Caldwell
shirt was badly torn. -,
DR.. Caldwell and Mr.. Dovell botr
were elected delegates, along WITT
Mayor Vincent D. McManus ane
LLOYD H. williams. who as chair
man of the local committee pre-
sided over the meeting.
The meeting, by a close vote
adopted a motion proposed by MI
Dovell and opposed by DIR. CaldWel
and others, which instructs the dele
CATION to oppose any resolution
having for it's object the refusal tt
support the National Democratic
| Party.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
By the Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. June 26.-Gov.
Tuck. newest fall guy Of the
famed New York City Saints and
Sinners Club, brought suggested
new State motto back from his
initiation ceremonies-"Sic semper
Trumanis."
Still grinning from the ribbing
he took before 1,5o0 guests in the
Waldorf Astoria Hotel, the Governor
acknowledged yesterday that the
pranksters had rubbed 1t in pretty
hard-but he admitted that he'd
enjoyed the festivities Thoroughly.
The Saints and Sinners had pre-
pared for the luncheon their own
edition of the Virginia Blue BOOK "
On the cover was a new State seal
of Virginia, but some changes had
been made. Virtus, the Common
wealth's Amazon, had traded her
sword for a rolling pin, and she
was treading not upon the figure OF
tyranny. but upon a man in civilian
clothes. The motto declared IN
Latin, Thus always with Trumans. !"
"Tuckson" Named for Tucks-
The authors set forth in their
treatise that the first Tuck came
to America as stowaway with
Christopher Columbus. Virginis's
famed early settler really was named
Capt. John Tuck, they avow, ana
explain that historians got on when
Evening star., 1948-06-26

Ceremonies preceding the seventh
annual running of the Washington
Soap Box Derby moved off to rous-
ing start last night with colorful
parade. sponsored in salute to the
entrants by the Greater Southeast
Parade Committee.
More than 40 floats, bands and
marching units, led by the Metropol-
itan Police Band, participated in the
procession down Pennsylvania ave-
nue. Sc, from Texas avenue to
Prout street. Chief Clement Murphy
was on hand to represent the Dis
trict Fire Department.
A crowd favorite was a group of
children from the Hilltop Recrea-
ton Center. dressed as pioneers and
marching beside an improvised COW
cred wagon. The wagon began to
collapse just as the group reached
the reviewing stand at Pennsylvania
and Minnesota avenues. A small girl
carrying doll who had been riding
in the wagon climbed out just in
time and walked the remaining
steps to the finish line.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Escaping Gas Is Blamed
For Winchester Explosion
Special pispoteh 10 The Stnr

WINCHESTER, Va, June 20
Escaping gas caused the explosion
which wrecked a department store
here Wednesday, killing one person
and injurlng 20. a 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 a
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 escaping 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
Ketchum Speaking Tonight
Before Maryland VW
By the Associated Press

HAGERSTOWN, Md. June 90
About 100 resolutions will be passed
on today by the nearly 5000 dele
gates attending the State conven-
ton here of the Veterans of For
eign Wars.
Speaker at tonight's annual ban
ouet will be Omar Ketchum, national
VFW legislative representative.
High light of opening-day activ-
tiles yesterday was a parade In
which some 1000 marchers partic-
ipated. 1t featured armored We
ilicles and several detachments OF
soldiers and WACS from Fort
Meade.
Tomorrow the veterans of two
World Wars will map political tao
tics at the annual election of State
officers.
-Four Baltimoreans, all World Wal
I veterans, have announced theii
candidates. for the State command
ership. They are Joseph A. Nc
Laughlin. Arthur P. Rainey, James
A. Arthur and J. William McAvoy
Mr.. Arthur is a former commander
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Derby
1Continued>From First Page)

ward off the sun rays and many
carried gaily colored balloons.
Crowds Gather Early.
Crowds began arriving at about
6:45 am. and took places in grand
stand near the finish line and along
the avenue lining the course. Hats
fashioned from newspapers were
being worn as protection against
the sun as early as 9 o'clock. One
woman stood serenely under large
umbrella.
Among early arrivals was a family
that came So miles from Valley
Lee. Md.
They were Mr. and Mrs. Bjorn
Egeli, whose sons, Peter, IA, and
Cedric, IL, are entered in the derby
On hand to cheer them on were
Biorn James. 10, and Mary Lois
Egelis, 6, while their 5-month-old
sister, Caroline, rested in her baby
carriage.
Behind the starting line the en-
trants were busy greasing and ad-
justing wheels and giving thell
racers the final touches, many WITH
the assistance of their fathers.
Scotch Tape Used on Racer.
Mrs. John E. Davis, mother o1
John Boyles, IS, of 1888 Madison!
street NV, was busy pastlng
Scotch tape on Johns racer tc
smooth the rough edges.
AS he waited for his turn to come
up. Charles Daniel, IA, of 4576 Mac
Arthur boulevard NV, was chew
ing bubble gum earnestly. Charles
whose birthday is today, said the
gum would help him to concentrate
a she came down the runway
Eleven-year -old Larry Eitel, OF
1876 Fairmont street. Falls Church
was combating the heat by chew
ing ice.
George Christman. superintendent
of the German orphan Home
brought five of his charges Il
participate in the derby. They arr
Denny Swami, IL; Russell Mus
tickle, 13; Bobby Drechsler. Is
Jimmy ,Lemar, II, and William
Swami. 13.
The crowd got an extra treat just
before racing started when Davle
Icenhower piloted the black racer
in which he won the Washington
1947 derby down the course. His
preliminary run indicated that time
has handicapped the sleek car
Official timers said it took Dave
35.1 seconds to travel the course
which he made last year in 81 fiat
Wear Smart Helmets.
Just before the first cars were
wheeled onto the especially designed
starting ramp, the contestants
paraded down the course, attlred
in their smart racing helmets and
shirts.
The procession, traditional part
of every Derby. was headed by a
SQUADRON of Metropolitan Police
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Maryland Firemen
Elect f. |. WaIston
speeioI pispoteh TO The stor

OCEAN CITY, Md, June 90
The 56th convention of the Mary
land State Firemens Association
ended last night after the election
of E. Landon Walston of Preston as
president, succeeding Charles R
Stallings. jr., of Pikesville. Mr.
Walston was opposed by Spencer j
H. Brown of Sandy Spring.
David S, Touhey of Cabin John
Park was elected first vice presi-
dent and James Jarman of Ocean
City second vice president. Three
officers were reelected: B. R. Ben
son III of Cockeyville, secretary;
William A. Wilson, Midland, treas
urer, and the Rev. James w. Min
ter of Glyndon, chaplain.
A parade of more than so fire
companies, which took one and a
half hours to pass the reviewing
stand, was the main event yester-
Gay afternoon Last night the an
nual ball-complete with fireworks
and priZeS-WaS held.
Vernon Google" Listman, 49,
vear-old Anne Arundel County youth
the first Maryland volunteer fire.
man ever to win a Carnegie medal
for heroism, was honored at a cere-
mony Thursday night when he re-
ceived the medal and $500 check,
Young Listman, member OF the
Earleigh Heights fire department
responded to the call when a r.
year-old boy fell into 30-foot we'll
Another fireman was lowered into
the we'll but became jammed
Google" volunteered to go down
and brought up his comrade and
the boy, both semiconscious.
Miss Mary Ella Harmon, l7-year-
old blond from Clarksville, Md, a
graduate of Rockville High School,
was named Miss Fire Fighter" at
the annual beauty pageant. Miss
Harmon. who attends modelling
school, represented Montgomery
County and the Hyattstown Volun-
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Alexandra Jury
Weighs Data on
'Bowery' Area
Recommendations
To Follow Session
Due Next Week

Alexandria today was awaiting
the report Of a five-man grand jury
which yesterday conducted an in
vestigation OF "Bowery" conditions
along downtown King street.
After completing questioning Of
top city ofiicials late yesterday. the
jury announced 1t would reconvene
sometime next week to make recon-
mendations.
The investigation was prompted
by complaints Of merchants about
drunkenness and disorderliness in
the 400 block of King street.
The jury took the investigation
on itself after completing the regu-
lar jury duties and returning indict-
ments earlier this month.
Details Not Divulged.
Although details of the question
ing by the jury were not divulged,
1t is understood a major problem
being studied Is that Of habitual
drunks. Complaints of the dis
orderliness have pointed out that
the same drunks are arrested re-
peatedly only to be released and
cause trouble again. Alexandria
policemen have expressed surprise
at finding drunks back on the
streets when believed to be in Jail.
The beer license of one King
street establishment was not re-
newed by the State last week and
no alcoholic beverages can be sold
there after July l.. The license re-
newal hearing furnished much OF
the information that prompted the
grand jury's investigation.
The first witness before the jury
yesterday was M. K. Bryant, Alco-
holic Beverage Control Board in
spector, who was questioned about
10 minutes. He was followed by DR..
w. L. Schafer. jr., Alexandria
health officer. who was quizzed an
hour and a half. Pvt. Marshall E.
Reid who patrols the trouble area
was next to be questioned. He was
before the jury about half hour.
Records Of Drunks Shown.
Mai. Edgar Sims, head OF the
police department. who was before
the jury more than an hour and a
half, carried with him into the jury
room arrest records of most OF the
known drunks. Howard w. Smith
ir, commonwealth attorney, and
Civil and Police Court Judge James
R. Duncan, jr.. who were the last
two witnesses to appear, each was
before the jury about As minutes.
Two other witnesses who were
subpoenaed but not questioned, were
Inspector Russell A. Hawes, chief
of detectives, and 1t. George F.
Everly
Arthur F. Campbell is foreman OF
the jury. Other jurymen are Ernest
Il. Mankin, Edward w. Dixon. DR.
Bruce Silcox and Irving Hufford.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
40 Groups Take Part in Parade
Preceding Soap Box Derby

Theme of the parade, which WILL
be held annually on the night pre-
ceding the big race, was the
American Boy" Prizes, donated by
merchants of the Southeast area,
will be presented to prize winners
in each of four classes OF paraoe
participants.
Judges swarded first prize for the
most cleverly decorated float to the
entry of Yarborough's Restaurant.
Second and third places went to
entries of the Maddux School OF
Dance and the Robinson Hardware
Co. The Highland Theater entered
the most elaborate float, judges
decided, with second prize going to
the Randle Highlands Citizens
Association and third to the Wash
ington Gas Light Co.
The washington Boys Club Band
placed first in the musical unit class,
closely nosing out the Elks Boys
Club Band. Prizes for best marching
units were won. in order, by the
Southeast Recreation Center, the
American Legion's Guard OF Honor
and Anacostia High School.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
5eBfP&feasanbly
Woman Killed
In AutoCrash
District Man Is Hurt
As Car, Truck Collide
At Gainesville, Va.

A Seat Pleasant Md woman re-
turning from a church conference
was killed and a Washington man
was injured yesterday when their
automobile collided with a truck on
Route 2ll at Gainesville, Va about
10 miles from Warrenton.
The woman was Mrs Marian
Brown Courtney, 38, of Hill road
She died shortly after being admit
ted to Physicians Hospital, Warren
ton. officials there said she had
been driving the car.
Her companion. T. Bruce Morgan,
3425 Eastern avenue, suffered cuts
on the forehead and chin.
Was at Episcopal Meeting.
Mrs. Courtney was active in St
Matthews Episcopal Church, Seat
Pleasant, and was returning from
an advanced conference of Episcopal
church members from the District
of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia,
West Virginia, Pennsylvania and
Delaware, according to her relatives.
The conference had been held at
Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar,
Va.
Mr.. Morgan is a member of St.
Johns Episcopal Church, Mount
Rainier and is preparing for the
ministry. according to the Rev. j.
J. Amber. rector of Pinkney Me-
mortal Episcopal Church, Hyatts-
vile,
In another accident last night,
three persons were injured in a
head-on collision of two cars on
the road between Old Germantown
and Boyds in Montgomery County.
Girl Suffers Head Injuries.
Admitted to Suburban Hospital,
Bethesda, were Eloise Hubble, II,
Beallsville, who suffered head in
lures and fractured jaw; William
Washington, Germantown, head in
Juries and a fractured leg and arm,
and Harry Turner, also of Ger
mantown, fractured leg. The latter
two are colored.
County police said the girl was
riding in car driven by Walter
E. Gordon. 18, Poolesville. The two
men we're passengers in an auto
mobile driven by John C. Talley, %,
colored, of Boyds, according to po-
lice. Both drivers were charged with
reckless driving
w. G. Conklin, AZ, of 4435 @
street NV, was injured last night
when his car left the road, struck
tree and overturned on Route 2ll
about 3 miles east of Luray, Va.
Mr.. Conklin was taken to Page
Memorial Hospital at Luray, where
his condition was reported as good,
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Four Virginia Veterans
IOfCiviI War Over 100
Rx the Asseeiotsd Prsss

RICHMOND. Va, June 26.-AI
but one of Virginia's five surviving
Confederate veterans has reached
or passed the century mark in age
records in the Office Of the State
chief pension clerk show.
Gen. Julius Franklin Howell, luz
died in Bristol last week.
Ages of the surviving veterans
are. John Sailing, Slant, Scott
County, 90: James 6. Dickerson
Suffolk, 1903; Charles w. Matthews
Bluefiield, 100: Theodore N. Mayo
Norfolk. 1903, and George Bannister
Richmond, 100.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Virginia on Way to Goal
In Education, Bottle Says
by the Associated Press

PORTSMOUTH. Va, June 20
State Senator John S. Battle pic
tured Virginia last night as well
on it's way toward the desired goal
in public education in one OF his
first platform appearances since he
announced his candidacy for Gov
ernor earlier this month.
Virginia, though far from per-
feet and as yet a long way from
the desired goal" he told con-
vention of Virginia and District of
Columbia Eagles has not been as
backward in providing proper edu-
cational facilities for her children
as we are sometimes led to be-
lieve."
In a business session yesterday,
IS. S. Cobb of Norfolk was elected
president of the District of Colum-
bia Virginia State Aerie. Fraternal
Order of Eagles. He succeeds H..
l.. House of Portsmouth.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Bay JET Plane Crash Kills
III, comdr. Thomas Ramsay
By the Assoeiotsd Press

1t. Comdr. Thomas N. Ramsay,
%, was killed instantly yesterday
when his Navy jet fighter plane
crashed into Chesapeake Bay near
the Navy Air Station at Patuxent,
MD.
Comdr. Ramsay, head Of the fight
er section of the service test di-
vision at the station, was testing
the plane, an FJ-1 CFury). The
Navy said the cause Of the crash is
not yet known.
During World War II Comor.
Ramsay was a dive bomber in the
Pacific theater. He was shot down
in the Battle of Midway. He held
the Navy Cross. three Distinguished
Service Medals and numerous air
medals. His home originally was
Perkinston, Miss.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs
Myrtle Alchia Ramsay, and one
child. The body will be taken to
Mrs. Ramsay's former home. At
lanta, Ga.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
u. S. Urges Virginions
To Check Tux Refunds

RICHMOND, Va, June 26 P.-
Federal taxpayers in Virginia who
do not receive funds due them by
July 20 were advised yesterday by
Stuart L. Crenshaw, acting COL
lector of Internal Revenue, to ad-
dress inquiries to him here after
that date.
Mr. Crenshaw said his office had
completed scheduling all known re-
funds for payment. The Treasury
Departments disbursing office,
however, has been unable to issue
checks on all refunds due to the
lack of funds. -,
I'VE are hoping that they will
have authority to begin again re-
leasing these refund checks after
July /. the beginning OF new
fiscal year." Mr. Crenshaw said.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
700 Due at All Course
At Virginia Tech
By the Associofed Press

BLACKSBURG, Va, June 90
Youth training will occupy the
spotlight on the Virginia Tech cam
pus Monday when an expected TOO
rural boys and girls gather to open
the 25th State All Club short
course.
Club leaders this year have
adopted as a theme for the five-day
conference creating better homes
today for a more responsible ciu-
zenship tomorrow"
Gordon A. Elcan. State boys club
agent, and Miss Halle L. Hughes
State girls club agent. have an
nounced a short-course program
which includes a series OF four so-
dresses at morning sessions py
speakers who will develop the gem
eral theme.
Evening star., 1948-06-26
ECA Approves Requisition
OF MARYLAND Tobacco

Representative Sasscer, Democrat
of Maryland yesterday announced
French reouisition for l,185, 1000
pounds of Maryland tobacco has
been approved by the Economic Co.
operation Administration.
The French has been purchasing
Maryland tobacco for years, particu-
larly those grades in which Amer
ican cigarette manufacturers have
not been active, Mr.. Sasscer's Office
explained.
ECAs approval of the request will
permit the French to resume buying
direct on the Maryland market i'm
mediately. rather than wait for
ECAs overall tobacco program to
be worked out, Mr. Sasscer said.
Evening star., 1948-06-26

Heat results in today's running Of
the Soap Box Derby are listed below
The entrants are divided into two
age classes with separate heats fol
each class. Class A boys are 13, Il
and IS years old. Class B boys 10
II and IL. The results:
First heat-class A: Ed Diehl, 10. OF
361O Lee boulevard. Arlington, first; Ed
ward Maxfeld, "A, of 1l19 Robinson
First heat-class 3; Joel l. Moyer 2yn III e
Second ss5i Fiansee staeef kW h oea Second % ''
1e. oeisoo isoo Branch avenue Sc, first; .Johr
Fulton, Il. of 315 Lexington drive Silver
Spring, Nd. second.
Second heatlcIaSs B; Tony Prinsslps sref
dIae afhars sHer SseTns seTng second eco Bonad
Walker, 10, Of 6526 Fifth street NV.
Third heat-class 4: Richard Juten, 49,
Home Srr and and School, did not finish.
Third heat-class B: Donald Lee wills
IL Of 1434. K street e, frst; Leslie S;aho,a
stqesta HpS1arq Arlinston m of second. an N0F'n N'
IA. roaf Of q s1s SET b street. s.w., frst; George
Seminora, 13. 2453 Wisconsin avenue
NV, second John Eugene Wardep thrd r.
Fourth heat-Class B: Dickie Van Wag'
oner, IL, of 22O0 North Pollard street
Arlington, Va. first: James G, Taylor, II
R. F. D. No. l. Rockville Md, aus,i secone mo.
| .., /-,,r. A. rb,r rIee napie1 ir
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Fund Totals $1l4,227
For Alexandria Hospital

Collections totaling s114,227 were
announced at the second report
luncheon of the Alexandria Hos
nital emergency fund campaign yes
ferday. The sum represents 81 per
cent of the campaigns 100000
goal .o. a,,oro, ch.ir
nan of the campaign. told the
inncheon meeting he believed this
marked the first time more than
100000 has been collected in any
c;tN'wide campaign in Alexandria
The m campaign opened two weeks
200 and the final report Luncheon
q. sohed,,Ied for noon wednesday
=, the George Mason Hotel.
Evening star., 1948-06-26

The Fort Stevens Drum and Bugle
Corps, the Elks Boys and Girls
Band of Silver Spring, the Drum
and Bugle Corps of the James Reese
Europe Post of the American Legion
and the Greenbelt Community Bano
provided music for the line of march
Gayly clad drum majorettes, the
massed colors of the Legion posts
in the District and the Legion's Ma
tional Guard of Honor added color
to the parade honoring the race
drivers.
Included in the parade, which
was directed by Ernest Kennard
were Derby officials and the com.
mander of the District Department
of the Legion, Owen c. Holleran.
Greeted by Denfeld.
At the finish line the contestants
were greeted by Admiral Denfeld
chief of Naval Operations. After
his brief speech, the boys returned
to the starting line and their wait
ing cars.
Admiral Denfield praised the
derby in his brief address for the
qualities of resourcefulness anc
craftsmanship it develops in the
youthful participants.
If you had been around to sef
the things 1 saw during the war,
he declared, you would realize II
was these young boys and the way
they were brought up-the way they
know how to take part in changing
conditions-that helped us to win
the war.
II want to praise The Star, the
American Legion and the Chevrolet
Co. for sponsoring this event" he
added. And I hope the boy who
wins today will go on to Akron tc
win the derby there"
The Derby scene was a beehive
of activity as early as $50 am.
when workers assembled the starting
ramp and truckers arrived with load
after load of the midget cars.
The boy-built cars had been stored
at the District National Guard
Armory after they we're checked
against the rigid specifications OF
the All-American Soap Box Derby
Committee. Inspection of the cars
was not concluded until late last
night, when drivers whose cars pre-
viously had been disqualified for
structural defects brought them
back for a re-check.
In Armory at Dawn.
Members of the Transportation
Committee were at the Armory at
dawn, lining the cars up in the order
they were to race. The cars then
were trucked to the starting line.
Several small car hoists," built
for the purpose by the Shell Oil Co.
were at the head of the course
Drivers used these to give their
wheels and axles a last fabrication
before being called for their first
heat.
Preparation of the course and
Evening star., 1948-06-26
Lions Asked to Support
Statue of Liberty Fund
Ry the Associoted Press

ROANOKE. Va, June 26.-Vir-
einia Lions Clubs today were urged
to back a campaign to raise 81 900
600 to clean up and landscape Bed
loe's Island SO it will be a fitting
place for the Statue of Liberty.
The two proposals were made
Yesterday at the clubs silver ami
versary convention here and the
response of the delegates from the
165 clubs in the cities and small
towns virtually assured their adop-
ton at the closing session today
Evening star., 1948-06-26

adjacent area also was completed
early today, with the erection of
first aid and refreshment tents.
Earlier, drinking fountains had been
installed and comfort stations set up.
A grandstand for distinguished
guests provided limited seating, but
many of the spectators brought camp
stools, boxes and other temporary
seating.
Music Throughout Day.
At the finish line, the Maritime
Band was grouped and was to pro-
vide music throughout the day-long
racing program.
The final heat for the Glass A
winner and the Glass B champion
will be held about pm. The ex-
citing last race will be broadcast by
the Evening Star station, WMAL.
Bill Coyle, radio and television direc-
tor of The Star, who will be at the
track to bring the radio audience all
the colorful details of the last dash,
winner of which will be sent to Ak
ron, Ohio, by The Star for the ma
tional finals August IS.
WMAL also was on the spot Tor
broadcasts at 10:45 am. and 2:l5
pm,