m NOME NUGGET
OLDEST NEWSPAPER IN ALASKA—MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
VOL. LXI No. 20 NOME, ALASKA, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1959 Per Codv—15<t
Senate Democrats
Offer Cooperation
In Foreign Affairs
By JACK BELL
WASHINGTON, UP) — Senate
Democrats promised today a full
measure of cooperation with the
Eisenhower Administration on
foreign policies during Secretary
of State John Foster Dulles’ ill
ness.
Senate Democratic leader Lyn
don Johnson said after a confer
ence with Chairman J. William
Fulbright of the Foreign Rela
tions Committee that Democrats J
will do everything they can to help
keep Administration foreign poli
cies intact.
“It will be the policy of the ma
jority to advise and consult with
the Administration in every pos
sible way in an attempt to help
them develop a strong, positive
foreign policy,” Johnson said.
Dulles, in Walter Reed Army
Hospital, starts this week a series
of radiation treatments for cancer.
The new malignancy, announced
Saturday, was discovered after a
hernia operation Dulles had un
dergone the day before.
The State Department said Sun
day that Dulles’ condition “con
tinues satisfactory.” During the
day the secretary talked for about
15 minutes with acting Secretary
of State Christian Herter.
Herter, returning Saturday
night from a South Carolina vaca
tion, told newsmen he would ac
cept appointment as Secretary of
State if President Eisenhower
asked him to.
Eisenhower said Saturday that
Dulles would continue on the leave
of absence he obtained to undergo
the operation and said, “I will, of
course, be in close touch with him
constantly.”
Dulles’ doctors, meantime, gave
him a fighting chance to recover
enough from the cancer to re
main on the job at least part time.
They took the view it is still too
early to tell what course Dulles’
illness may take, especially in a
man of his strength and will pow
er. Although Dulles will be 71
this month, he resumed a full work
schedule after a cancer operation
in 1956, and has battled off other
illnesses since then.
Castro Made
Cuba's Premier
HAVANA — UPl — Fidel Castro
vaulted to Cuba’s premiership Fri
day night with wide powers to
speed up the social revolution
born of the rebels’ victory in arms.
The 32-year-old military com
mander assumes the administra
tion of a country still restless af
ter two years of civil war and
confronted with serious economic
and diplomatic problems.
His first task is to :ind jobs
for the half million unemployed
in a work force of 2,204,000 and
satisfy the demands of workers
who expect better living standards
to result from the revolution.
In response to Castro’s direct
pleas, the workers in Cuba’s vital
sugar industry have agreed to sus
pend their demands for higher
wages and better working condi
tions until later in the year, after
the current crop has been har
vested.
In moving up to the political
front. Castro took a step that many
felt was leading toward the
presidency.
Western Powers
Call for East-West
Berlin Conference
By JOHN M. HIGHTOWER
WASHINGTON, UP — The
United States, Britain and France
bluntly warned the Soviet Union
today against the danger of touch
ing off a world war over Berlin.
They called for a wide open Big
Four foreign ministers meeting
this spring to discuss the whole
German problem with German
advisers present.
The Western powers would like
the conference to open in late
April or early May at Geneva or
Vienna. The Soviet Union has
threatened to pull out of East Ber
lin on or after May 27 and the
West fears this may jeopardize
the Allied position in West Ber
lin.
“The danger to world peace in
herent in this Soviet initiative is
evident,” the note released by the
State Department said.
As the note was delivered Sec
retary of State Dulles lay ill of
cancer in Walter Reed Army Hos
pital. Who would represent the
United States at the proposed con
ference — which could prove to
be the most critical yet held with
the Soviet Union — was not
known. There was no doubt that
Dulles himself intends to be there
if he can.
This is the first time the West
ern powers have called for inclu
sion within the conference room
of representatives from Commu
nist East Germany and allied West
Germany.
While they would have the role
of advisers, the step could prove
to be a historic move toward
some compromise on the problem
of reunifying Germany.
U. S. officials opened up the
possibility of a summit conference
to follow if the foreign ministers
meeting succeeded in making sub
stantial progress on German issues.
These officials said that a top
level session which would bring
together President Eisenhower
and Soviet Premier Khrushchev
would not be excluded.
Wade Asks Close Scrutiny
Of Proposed ACS Sale
To Assure Proper Rates
JUNEAU, UP) — Alaska’s Con
gressional delegation was urged
by acting Governor Hugh Wade
Saturday to scrutinize the Defense
Department’s proposal for selling
the Alaska Communications Sys
tem and other government-owned
facilities in the new state to pri
vate parties.
In a telegram to the delegates,
Wade said he thought Alaska
should have a voice in the terms
of the sale to assure good service
and a fair rate structure.
Wade suggested the rate struc
ture be tied to the purchase price
of the facilities rather than to the
actual cost or cost of replacement.
There should be some assur
ance, Wade said, “of equivalent
service and adequate safeguards
as to performance and rates.
MEDALS AWARDED FOR
OUTSTANDING SERVICE
WASHINGTON, Iff) — The Com
merce Department has announced
the award of gold medals to 12
employes for “outstanding con
tributions to the public service,
the nation or humanity.”
One of the medals went to Glen
Jefferson, Anchorage, for 40 years
of service and management of the
weather bureau program in Alas
ka since 1943.
Bartlett Says Egan Will
Not Return During Two
Month Legislative Session
SEATTLE, W) — Senator Bob
Bartlett said Saturday he feels
there is. no chance of Governor
William Egan assuming executive
duties during the present Alaska
legislative session if it runs for
two months.
The Alaska Democrat com
mented in an interview after vis
iting Egan at the hospital where
the Governor is convalescing from
an operation.
Bartlett explained he was ex
pressing a personal opinion, not
based on conversation with Egan’s
doctors.
“The Governor has made a good
change for the better since I saw
him last Sunday,” Bartlett said.
“He is making a slow but steady
improvement. But I feel that if
this is a two-month session it
would be altogether impossible for
him to assume duties of his office
during that time.”
Bartlett stopped here enroute to
"Washington after visiting the Leg
islature at Juneau.
He said Interior Secretary Sea
ton may announce a decision soon
whether to put into effect this
season a previously announced
ban on fish traps in Alaska.
Oregon Centennial Stars
Nixon In Celebration
PORTLAND, Ore., liPi — Oregon
began celebrating its 100th birth
day anniversary Saturday.
Vice President Richard M. Nix
on came to lend a helping hand,
and promptly branded Oregon the
nation’s Valentine State.
Activities — just 100 years efter
President James Buchanan signed
the statehood bill — centered on
Nixon.
Nixon got a jubilant welcome on
his arrival here Friday night. As
he strode bareheaded from the
plane into a driving rain, he was
greeted by Governor and Mrs.
Mark Hatfield.
As Nixon arrived downtown, a
Democrat, Stat eSenator Richard
Greener, walked up, shook his
hand and said: “Remember, Mr.
Vice President, this is a nonpoliti
cal visit.”
“Sure, not a word,” Nixon re
plied.
The state is spending nearly 3
million dollars to finance the long
celebration. Thousands of men
have sprouted beards for the
occasion.
Census Bureau Report
Shows Youngest State Has
Most Youth, in Proportion
WASHINGTON, OP — Of the 49
states, Alaska has the smallest
proportion — 4 per cent — of
persons 65 and over in its popu
lation, the Census Bureau says.
Nationally, the ratio is 9 per cent
of the total population. Vermont
has the largest proportion, 12 per
cent. In Alaska, the number of
children 5 to 17 increased 83 per
cent between 1950 and 1957.
“Don Juan’ In 'Red Wool’!
MOSCOW, OP — The newspaper
Soviet Aviation has put the finger
on Lt. V. Zozorez as a “Don Juan
without a guitar.”
The paper said Zozorez has a
bad habit of flitting from one
girl to another, marrying some
and making impassioned proposals
to the rest. Playboy Zoborez had
better watch his step, for as So
viet Aviation says:
“This man wears a Soviet uni
form and the day is gone when
he can’t ignore or discredit this
uniform.”
Von tier Heydt Going to Juneau To
Represent Nome for 4 - District Plan
The Public Administration
Service’s proposed organization of
the judicial branoh of the State of
Alaska is now under consideration
by the Legislature in Juneau. The
plan is so biased against North
western Alaska and so detrimental
to the administration of justice in
this area, that the Chamber of
Commerce as well as individuals
have been alerting not only the
representatives of the area but
representatives of other parts of
the territory as well.
In addition to the fact that
Northwestern Alaska would have
no resident judge, and those in
need of court action or probate
proceedings would have to gp to
Fairbanks to the already crowded
court and bear the expense of tak
ing witnesses to Fairbanks, this
area was not represented on the
Judiciary Comittee in either the
House or the Senate.
Acting President Russell Her
mann, of the NWA Chamber of
Commerce, called a special meet
ing of the Board of Directors last
Friday, concerning the problem.
The P.A.S. report carries the
specific recommendation that the
present court facilities here be re
moved, and that all legal matters
be handled by the court sitting in
Fairbanks. It was the view of the
board that strong opposition to
this report must be voiced to the
State Legislature. The loss of court
facilities here would be a stagger
ing blow to the development and
economy of all of Northwestern
Alaska.
By unanimous vote of the board,
it was decided that personal rep
resentation of Nome and the
Chamber of Commerce must be
had in^Juneau, as the situation is
a very serious one to this commu
nity, and consultation is necessary
with the legislators who are work
ing on the problems of this area.
Jim von der Heydt, local attor
ney and former legislator, was se
lected to travel td Juneau to rep
resent Nome in this matter, and
he left today for Juneau, and it
is expected he will be gone ap
proximately ten days.
Recent conversations with Sen.
Ralph Moody, Chairman of the
Senate Judiciary Committee, indi
cate that the judiciary bill may
possibly come on the floor of the
Senate for action within the next
few days.
This bill, as introduced, was
written by the Board of Gover
nors of the Alaska Bar Associa
tion at a recent meeting in Juneau
which von der Heydt attended,
and it specifically provides for
court facilities in Nome. However,
the danger is felt that this provi
sion may be amended out of the
bill.
Von der Heydt is making the
trip at no cost to the Chamber
other than actual expense. Mayor
Andersen has indicated that he
will recommend to the City Coun
cil that the City share in the costs
of the trip, as von der Heydt will
represent the City of Nome while
he is in Juneau regarding cer
tain legislation affecting city gov
ernment.
Michigan Industry
Pays State Taxes
In Advance
LANSING, Mich., UP — The Mi
chigan treasury has temporarily
staved off “Collapse Day,” thanks
to advance payment by industry
of 35Vi> million dollars in taxes.
The prepayment, in answer to
an appeal by Democratic Governor
Mennen Williams, will enable the
state to meet pressing financial
commitments, at least through
April 16.
The term “Collapse Day” to de
scribe the state’s financial crisis
has been used in many Michigan
papers since it was coined by Re
publican State Representative
Harry Phillips in a legislative
speech.
Williams asked major state in
dustries for the advance tax pay
ment February 2. He said the state
would not be able to meet its ob
ligations after today without the
money.
State officials said the prepay
ment would enable Michigan to
give its three major universities
their first aid payments since last
November. Cities and villages will
receive within a week some 12
million dollars due in sales tax di
version money, and another 11
million dollars will go to depen
dent children and persons draw
ing old age assistance.
CANADA'S WINTER
JOBLESS TOTAL RISES
OTTAWA, UP — Canada’s roll
of unemployed rose to a postwar
high of 538,000 in the week ended
January 17, up 98,000 from mid
December. A government state
ment today noted winter weather
caused a fairly sharp drop in em
ployment in the western prov
inces. Job-holders -\yere estimated
to total 5,538,000.
I Wabash River Area Still
j In Danger As Most Floods
i Subside In Midwest
The farming area near Oak
town, Ind., became the main cen
ter of activity along the flooded
Wabash River today as the dan
ger in upstream communities ap
peared easing.
National Guardsmen were sent
by Governor Harold Handley into
the Oaktown area, about 40 miles
south of Terre Haute, to strength
en an old levee. A break in the
levee would flood thousands of
acres of farm land.
Dry weather prevailed in the
flood zones and also in wide areas
throughout the country east of the
I Rockies. The country’s wettest re
gion was in the Pacific Coast area.
Officials in the flood sections
of Indiana, which forced some
1,700 families from their homes
last week, said barring heavy
rains, the worst of the overflows
appeared ended.
However, Weather Bureau offi
cials said it would be two weeks
before the Wabash falls below
flood stage.
B-E-C-K, McLaughlin, &
Associates Win Contract
For Aleutian Construction
ANCHORAGE, UR — A $8,682,
451 contract has been awarded to
B-E-C-K, McLaughlin and Asso
ciates, Seattle, for Air Force con
struction work at Shemya in the
Aleutians.
The Alaska District Office of the
Army Engineers said the work will
include communications and op
erations buildings and engineers’
and auto maintenance shops.
A theater, gymnasium and bowl
ing alley at the base also will be
rehabilitated.
The government estimate was
$8,572,471. The Seattle firm was
lowest ampng eight bidders.