davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-23

seize control of Montgomery
Ward q Co.. by utilization Of the
capital and assets Of the merged
companies to purchase stock in
the Chicago firm"
5. Purchase of 81 million
worth of Ward stock by the Gen.
trail States Welfare Fund. a fund
of the AFL Transfers Union.
This union is headed by David
Beck and is conducting an Or
ganizing drive among Ward
workers.
Both Mr.. Beck and James A.
Hoffa. head Of the fund, deny
there's any connection between
the Avery-Wolfson fight, the
teamsters' union campaign and
the welfare fund purchases. They
say the fund is just doing some
investing.
However, the stock can be
voted at the annual stockholders
meeting. At around $50 a share.
50 million will buy $4,000 shares
Of Wards common stock. It is a
sizable voting block in a COM
pany in which the average stock
holder owns less than 100 shares
6. Introduction in Congress by
Senator Capehart, Republican, of
Indiana. of a bill to force persons
seeking to gain control of cor
poration by soliciting stockholder
proxies to make a full disclosure
of their identity and associates. :"
The bill is aimed at Mr.. Wolfson.
among others.
Mr.. Avery has criticized the
efforts of outside groups to get
managerial control of a company
through stock buying as "a saw
age, vicious. rotten. crooked
thing"
Does Mr.. Wolfson think gain
ing control of companies by buy
ing stock is unethical?
Mr.. Wolfson replies. WELL
managed companies never should
worry about any group buying
stock if they act in the interest
of all the stockholders"
Tomorrow: Mr.. Avery's trou-
bles with tOp-echelon subordi-
mates.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-23

ment? Who is the spy in the
State Department."
The department declined COM
ment.
Democratic Leader Lyndon
johnson told the Senate that
circumstances under which the
documents got into print
strongly suggest official collu-
Sion."
Henry Suydam, State Depart
ment press officer, said there has
been no investigation of how the
Times obtained the report.
Bridges Offers Aid
Senator Bridges. Republican.
of New Hampshire told the Sen
ate he agreed with Senator
Humphrey there must have
been an unauthorized leak" He
said he would be glad to help
find out who was responsible.
Republican Leader Knowland
denied a statement by Senator
Lehman. Democrat-Liberal, of
New York that copies of the
papers had been furnished in
advance of their public release
to the G. o. P. National Com
mittee and its speakers bureau.
Senator Bridges said the Sen
ate G. o. P. Policy Committee
he heads will discuss at a meet
ing today methods by which Re-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-23
The Montgomery Word Bottle
|Dissin1iIur Personalities Clash
In WoIfson-Avery Stock Duel

its straight-lippeo crew, your
first wonder is. Where's the
body?"
Mr.. Wolfson announced his
intention of overthrowing Mr..
Avery's control Of Wards last
August, pointing toward the an
nual stockholders meeting April
%. This ambition has produced
what is rapidly becoming the
biggest and bitterest financial
battle in years.
These have been some Of the
most telling developments:
/. A ruling by a Federal Cir
cult Judge in Chicago that
Wards method of electing di-
rectors is illegal. Out of a nine
man board of directors. three are
elected each year. It's known
as a "stagger system" Wards
has appealed this ruling to the
Illinois Supreme Court.
This point is extremely i'm
portant to Mr.. Wolfson. If the
stagger system is upheld, the
best he can do this year is get
three members on the nine-mem-
Der board. However, if he did
get three he would GUST Mr.
Avery, who is one of the three
lid for reelection.
If Mr.. Avery is defeated, it's
conceivable the other pro-Avery
directors might resign and let
Mr.. Wolfson take control. But
Mr.. Wolfson would rather have
all nine directors come up for
reelection in April. Then he'd
have a chance of electing clear
majority
2. A boost in the regular quar-
terly dividend rate on Wards
stock. The company now is pay
ing rs cents a share quarterly,
compared to so cents previously.
This increase was put into effect
late last year. 1t came despite
a decline for the fourth straight
year in Ward earnings.
Mr.. Wolfson has called this a
political dividend" with the
clear implication it was put
through to rustic up a few votes
for Mr.. Avery.
8. A proposal by Mr.. Wolfson
that, if elected. he will recon-
mend that Wards buy up to 2
million shares of stock from
shareholders at book value. In
asmuch as book value is around
500 to $94 share, and one can
buy the stock at around $50, this
offer is not without some appeal
down in the precincts.
Motives Questioned
Does Mr.. Avery think this and
other suggestions of Mr.. Wolfson
regarding Wards have been put
forward seriously or for political
purposes?
Mr.. Avery replies, "Are you
kidding? Any serious analysis of
Mr.. Wolfson's statements can
lead only to the conclusion that
they are no more than campaign
oratory to attract votes"
4. Filing of a suit in Federal
District Court in Camden, IN. j.
by a group of minority stock s
holders of New York Shipbuild-
ing Corp. to prevent its merger
with Merritt Chapman & Scott.
This suit charges the contem-
plated merger is "a conspiracy to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-23
District Woman Dies
In MARYLAND Crash
.AP Wirephotos.

Mrs. Beulah o. Dixon, So, of
1915 Hamlin street NE. died
yesterday from injuries suffered
in an automobile accident on
Largo road about one mile south
of Largo in Prince Georges
County.
Maryland State police said the
woman was driving north at 1870
pm. when she struck a soft
shoulder after rounding curve.
She apparently lost control,
crossed the road. went down a
6-foot embankment and struck
a tree, police said.
Taken to Prince Georges Hos
pital by the Capitol Heights Res
cue Squad, she was treated for
shock, fractures of both hips.
head injuries and fractures OF
both legs and left arm. She was
pronounced dead by DR.. James
I. Boyd, county medical exam
liner. at 4::35 pm.
The victim was the wife OF
Andrew ]. s. Dixon, jr.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-23
Bribery
Continued From First Page

NNSAASA1AASA win . - Nv eeS'
said. Simpkins again called him
and told him he was going to
change his Office location every
two weeks to avoid trouble.
The police captain testified
earlier that Simkins told him
last August that the numbers
racket was in such poor shape
he had to leave town twice to
borrow money, but that the gam
bier kept his bride agreement
and handed the policeman $500.
Capt. Thoman said he got the
payoff in a meeting with Sim
kinS August 10 at Bladensburg
road and Eastern avenue NE.
Borrowing Money
"He told me that Charley An
derson was broke. and that
large number of the numbers
operators were broke, and he
said he had to go out of town
twice to borrow money" Capt.
Thoman testified. "He also
stated that Bozo Taylor wanted
him to handle his numbers work;
that he couldn't do it,"
Under questioning by Attorney
George E. c. Hayes, who repre-
sents Simkins. Capt Thoman
said the meeting was arranged
the day before during a tele-
phone talk with Simkins. He
said the talk was recorded
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-23
I Reds Seized in Korea;
Plot on Rhee's Life Hinfed
BY the Associated Press

SEOUL, Mar. 23.-Korean ma
tional police today announced
the arrest of seven Communists
who, they limited, were plotting
to asSassinate President Rhee.
One Russian-made rifle. one
burp gun and a United States
made caliber As pistol were
seized at the time of the arrests
in Seoul March Is, police said.
Police said the seven had been
preparing for an assassination
attempt on "the highest govern
ment official" since July. but had
not made any attempt. They de-
clined to give details.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-23
Holders Of Million
Ward Shares Backindi
Him, WoIfson Says

NEW YORK. Mar. 23.-Finan-
cier Louis E. Wolfson told big
stockholders meeting yesterday
that holders of a million shares
of Montgomery Ward & Co.
stock are now backing him in
his fight for control of the mail
order house. About ST. million
shares are outstanding.
Mr.. Wolfson made his state
ment in answer to a sharehold-
er's question at a meeting OF
about 5000 persons who gathered
in the Hotel Sheraton Aston to
see Mr.. Wolfson climax his
coast to-coast campaign in his
battle to unseat Wards board
chairman. Sewell Avery.
The stakeholder challenged
Mr.. Wolfson to explain how it
was that he listed control of only
285,000 shares in his proxy
material just mailed to stock
holders, whereas last fall he
claimed that he had the support
of about 100000 shares.
Says Rules Barred Listing
Mr.. Wolfson answered that
Securities and Exchange Com
mission regulations forbade his
listing of the balance of his stock
backing. but that the same peo-
Pile" he referred to last fall now
have in excess of a million
shares"
The Wolfson proxy material
listed only his own holdings and
those of other opposition canj1-
dates for the Ward board of di-
rectors. as well as holdings of
close associates and business con-
nections.
Mr.. Averys proxy material,
put in the mails a week earlier,
gave stock holdings of $4,000
shares on the same basis. 4
This was the most important
disclosure by Mr. Wolfson during
the meeting which followed
roughly the pattern of his "cof-
fee cup talks with stockholders
at various cities throughout the
Nation
Fires Blast at Avery
He assailed Mr.. Avery'S
"gloom and doom philosophy"
promised to raise earnings and
dividends if he won control,
declared he would put into
effect a seven-point program of
corporate democracy" if his
slate is successful in the April
% annual stockholders meeting
at Chicago where the new board
is to be elected.
In their willingness to let
stockholders be heard, Mr.. Wolf
son and former Notre Dame
Football Coach Frank Leahy,
who presided, let the meeting
degenerate at the end into a
noisy ruckuS in which a number
of stockholders were trying to
shout each other down.
1--WE had a lot of alumni
trouble but I never saw anything
like this" said Mr.. Leahy as he
adjourned the meeting while
stockholders were quarreling
loudly.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-23

through a suction-cup micro
phone attached to the police
mans home telephone.
IT asked him If he was at the
same location. at $50 Shepherd
street NV" Capt. Thoman
said. "Simkins stated that he
was, and to look out for the
place: that his wife was work.
ing in there and he didn't want
her to get caught in a raid.
During the conversation he
gave me $500 in bills"
Recording Played
Earlier, the jury heard what
the Government says was a
recorded talk between Capt.
Thoman and Winston last Au-
gust 10, during which the police
officer has testified Winston
handed him 5000.
Capt. Thoman said 500 of the
money was intended for Capt.
Monroe to insure peace for Win
ston's numbers operation in the
twelfth precinct.
However, Judge Burnita S.
Matthews ruled that the jury
should not hear a recording of a
talk between Capt. Thoman and
Capt. Monroe the following day.
when Capt. Thoman said he
handed the 500 to the twelfth
precinct commander. Only the
voice of Capt. Thoman was clear
on the recording.
Tells of Meeting
Capt. Thoman related this
about the August meeting with
Winston:
Winston said that Hood and
Hawkins of the Gambling and
Liquor Squad had been trying
to get some money from him.
winston also stated that Charlie
Anderson was going to see Haw-'
kins that night.
Il asked Winston how he had
made out with Officer Smith.
Winston said that Smith wanted
too much money and he couldn't
come to his terms"
Men Investigated
(Police Chief Robert v. Muir
ray said the men mentioned in
Capt. Thoman's testimony are
PvtS. Allen r. Smith, Virgil j.
Hood and John w. Hawkins.
still members of the Morals
Division Chief Murray said
he was aware the names were
mentioned on a recording Of
the talk.
(Of course, when those
names were used, Mr.. Rover
Omitted States Attorney Leo A.
Rover) and I investigated it,"
Chief Murray added. How
ever. there has been nothing to :
implicate them in wrong doings
and there is no further in
vestigation against them.
owe cannot take a gamb-
ler's word on things like that.
We must have evidence" the
chief added.) nI
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-23

control of Montgomery Ward &
Co.. there isn't any pattern. Two
men could hardly have more dis
similar backgrounds.
Sewell Avery, 81, Wards chair
man, has been a leading Chicago
executive for the last half GEN.
fury. The son of a wealthy Mich
igan lumberman. he got his first
job with a gypsum company.
When several little gypsum
companies were merged by j. P.
Morgan g. Co. into United States
Gypsum around the turn of the
century. Mr.. Avery became an
executive with the new company
He was made president in 1905,
had a remarkable record and
was brought over by Morgan to
run Wards in 1881.
Friends describe Mr.. Avery as
a man with a great charm
although some add. "of course, I
haven't worked for him." Many
who have worked for him, don't
any longer. Mr.. Avery is suave.
quick at repartee, a little face
tious, a man who can produce a
ripple of laughter among assem-
bled stockholders.
Son of Immigrant
Louis E. Wolfson, who is chal-
longing Mr.. Avery's leadership
at Wards, was born in st. Louis
in 1912. When he was IA months
old, the family moved to Jack
sonville, Fla. His father was
a Russian immigrant who ran
a successful junk yard.
A husky young fellow, Mr.
Wolfson went to the University
of Georgia on a football scholar
ship. He did not distinguish
himself in the pursuit of cul-
ture, although he did catch up
with Yale's famed little Able
Booth on the football field. Re-
suit: A damned Wolfson shoul-
der.
With his gridiron career ended,
Mr.. Wolfson left Georgia. In
1882. on a borrowed $4,000, he
founded the Florida Pipe & Sup
ply Co. He has been piling up
the millions since. His COM
panies include Merritt Chap
man g. Scott, Devoe & Rayn-
olds. Capital Transit of Wash
ington, and New York Ship
building Corp.
Mr.. Wolfson is the deadly
serious type. Humor and wit
ticisms are not his line. His
attitude of restraint affects his
encourage. including those Or
dinarily Jolly testers, the public
relations men.
Unsmiling Crew.
When you enter a Wolfson
news conference, confronted with
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-23
Continued From First Page)

his own about the rightness of
the decisions made there.
The only thing he remembers
about it in which he was involved,
the President replied, was that
he sent his chief of staff, 1t. Gen.
Walter Bedell Smith, to Malta
where the late President Roose-
welt and British Prime Minister
Churchill and their delegations
conferred before meeting Soviet
Premier Stain at Yalta-to
brief them on his plans for his
1945 spring offensive in Ger
many.
Purpose Explained
He said his purpose was to
make sure that the Western
allied leaders knew that he ex-
pected his forces to advance at
least as far as the Elbe River
In Germany during that opera
ton. This was farther east in
Germany than the line set at
Yalta as a boundary between
the Soviet and Western zones of
occupation.
But, Mr.. Eisenhower volun-
teered, that Yalta decision only
approved agreement on a de-
marcation line that he under
stood had been worked out in
negotiations that had been going
on for several months in the
European Advisory Commission
In London.
About the same time the Pres
ident was meeting with reporters,
the Yalta issue was injected into
Senate hearings where Secretary
of State Dulles was testifying on
trade agreements.
Senator Kerr, Democrat, of
Oklahoma suddenly changed the
subject and asked Mr.. Dulles if
he ever. found out who gave the
Yalta papers to one newspaper
which led to their general release
The Secretary made no imme-
date reply and Senator Kerr
relented and said he need not
answer the question.
Senator Millikin, Republican,
of Colorado broke in to suggest
the committee had enough to do
on the trade agreements without
getting into the Yalta contro-
versy.
Earlier Senator Humphrey,
Democrat, of Minnesota had
called on Secretary of State
Dulles to disclose who is re-
sponsible" for giving out a copy
of the Yalta papers.
Senator Humphrey told the
Associated Press he had written
Mr.. Dulles also asking whether
the confidential stamp had been
removed from the papers at the
time an undisclosed source gave
q copy to the New York Times.
Humphrey Awaits Reply
II will await a reply from our
Secretary of State before de-
Gliding whether 20 pursue this
very important matter further, >
said Senator Humphrey. men,
Der of the Foreign Relations
Committee.
Bitter partisan debate on re-
lease of the politically con-
troversial papers kept the Senate
in session several hours after
Its normal recess hour last
night. with Senator Humphrey
demanding:
What kind of security system
do we have in the State Depart
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-23
Brother Of Shah Seeks
Missing Royal Nephew
By the Associated Press

PARIS, Mar. ga brother OF
the Shah of Iran arrived in Paris
today in search of his 7-year-old
nephew. The child vanished with
his French-born mother from
Switzerland last Sunday.
French police said there was
no indication the boy. Prince Ali
Patrick, and his mother are in
France.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-23

pubiicans can put the full Yalta
story before the American
people,"
Senator Barley, Democrat, of
Kentucky termed the docu-
ments "a dud" politically. Sen
ator Humphrey said the Demo-
Gratis would mot shy away from
any discussion of the Yalta con-
ference-if the Republican Party
wants fight, they'll get one"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-23
By WiIIiom Ferris
Assoeiased Press Stuff Writer

CHICAGO, Mar. 23.-What ex-
ecutive qualities are necessary to
run a great merchandising firm?
Judging from the personalities
of the two key contestants for
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-23

In this. the second OF four articles. As
socioted Press Writer Ferris gives the
background Of the two men fighting
for control Of Montgomery Word, old
est Of the notions moil-order houses.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-17

son by Porotox number 2 spray.
1t contains Captain for black
spot control, Mildex for mildew
control. Malathion and Methoxy-
chlor for insecticide and miticide.
Captain, which Is light in color,
replaces fermate, which black
ened the foliage and blooms.
DR.. Freeman Weiss, who re-
Gently reviewed the society's
pioneering activities in rose pro-
lection, said that the old ma
terials consisted of Bordeaux
mixture. lime sulphur, lead
arsenate and Black-Leaf Forty.
The first was injurious II wealth.
err conditions were not right. The
arSenate left a white coating,
Black-Leaf Forty still has place
of Importance in fighting certain
insects. "but those who tried 1t
against mildew and black were
sadly disappointed" he said.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-17
PIONEER ROSE MIKES
Dust and Spray Perfected
For Potomac Rose Society

Time was when rose sprays
were used even though in certain
weather the residue might be In
furious to the plants.
Then about Is years ago the
idea Of q combined formula
emerged.
When World War II ended,
some Potomac Rose Society men,
spanked by Arthur c. Barrett
they used his garage-started
mixing dusts and the name Poro-
tox was adopted and registered.
The society is selling Porotox to
this day to its members. In the
mean time. however, the COM
mercial developers got busy too,
and the society does not claim
that Porotox excels all others. It
does say that Porotox is las good
as the best"
In the belief that spraying
achieves q more lasting effect,
a combination spray formula was
tried several seasons ago by the
society in the gardens of its
members. Porotox number /
spray will be succeeded this sea-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-17
GRANDMA KNOWS THE ANSWERS
Culture of Geroniums
Is Most Rewordinq

frequent watering. Most house.
wives alter geraniums.
Water-logged plants grow rank
and weak without strength to
produce bloom. Water to keep
the soil moist. not soggy.
Pot size: Since the geranium
thriyes best and blooms when
slightly pot-bound, the size Of
the pot should be relatively small
in relation to plant and root sys-
TENS. A clay pot 4 inches in di-
ameter is average. Set the plant
pot and all-in boxes, or soil
outdoors to have continued
bloom.
Fertilizing: Many blooms on
a short, stocky. bushy plant is
the ideal. It usually comes from
the nursery in this prime condi-
ton. To maintain them so. bear
ting plants outdoors. (This APP
plies to Northern chimes where
the average last killing frost is
about mid-April. The date may
be advanced in southerly regions,
depending on the frost table,.
: Watering: Geranjums resent
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-17
Begonios in Europe

In continental Europe
France, Switzerland, Germany
begonias are probably more
widely used than petunias are
used in America. While definite
ly preferring shade. semper-
fiorens begonia will stand sun
even full sun. The dwarfer
sorts-v-8 to 10 inches-are ex-
cellent for edging and borders.
Begonias show of well planted
in shade around yews. the red
leaves and flowers seem to con-
trast well with the deep green.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-17
BY JAMES BIRcHFIELD

"A few warm days and a pond
nearby were too much for an
8-year-old boy. He went SWIM
ming.
Neighbor Welman Chamberlin
once told me that nobody but a
boy could possibly know when
it is warm enough to go SWIM
ming in the spring. Grownups,
he said. often have ideas about
when the first swim should take
place. but it is universally known
among boys that adults really
know nothing about it..
I wouldn't have thought so,
but apparently swimming time is
actually here. How the boy
stood it. ! don't know, but he
did. And furthermore, had the
time Of his life.
And now he wants to cut down
all the trees on the place to make
a raft. Wants to put q sail on
1t. too. We've got to keep an
eye out for our shade trees
around the house.
4 4 \ X
It is surprising what so feet
of garden hose can do. I am
sure it has added to my life.
We got an extra length of
hose the other day. and by
means Of a piece of old pipe, I
got it out to the stock tank. I
think the most restful feeling
I have had in a long time was
the other night when I threw
away the well buckets, turned
on the water and watched it
pour into the tank.
I don't know why it is, but to
me carrying water is the worst
job of all. l think one reason
Is that a COW never seems to
know when3he has had enough.
My old COW will suck up water
like a huge vacuum cleaner. You
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-17
LIFE IN
THE COUNTRY
BY JAMES BIRcHFIELD

just can't carry enough to keep
UP with her.
49,
I'm ahead of myself this
spring. For once. have the
barn cleaned out before hot
weather. 1t is true that my back
Is in pretty bad shape, and my
hands haven't got much skin
left on them, but, the barn is
clean. and there are several nice
piles of manure out around the
garden.
OF course, that job should
have been done before the gar
den was plowed. It would have
been much better to have plowed
under the manure. but you can't
have everything.
Now, all I have to do is shovel
1t between the rows when the
garden comes UP. But the main
thing--I can discard my rubber
boots now when I go out to milk
in the morning.
+ i
It seems that / don't have
much of an affinity for clover.
I sowed my clover early this
year. before freezing and thaw-
ing had stopped. I figured /
would get a decent stand.
But as far as I can see, there
isn't a clover leaf in my entire
field. suppose it means another
blowing job this fall and starting
over from the beginning.
Then can get it all killed
again by another drought.