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Show f SOUTH CACHE COURIER ON THE o' Fussin' to Make a Hall Into a Home For Major Political Parties' National Conventions It Takes Heap Exclusive War Story: (Ray Brock, war correspondent, years in the Balkans for the IV.' Y, Times and practically en route at this moment to the European theater for Interna pick up the rumbling, rolling peal GOP and Democrats Work Harmoniously On Arrangements. Dear Walter: Heres the story precisely as Bea Tolstoi gave It to me the other night. I think its one of the great, hitherto unwritten chapters in the war. Scene: Shep heards Terrace, Cairo. Time: Late afternoon, November 15, 1941. Ken Downs, then an ace war correspondent for Intl News Service (hes now a It. col. on Terry Allens staff In Europe), was finishing a Scotch and the last five pages of "For Whom The Bell Tolls. Geoffrey Keyes Interrupted him. Geoffrey, a lieutenant-colonel at the. age of 24 (son of Admiral Roger Keyes), had ducked a desk job in England to come out to Egypt, join the British desert commandos and raid the German and Italian rear dynamiting airdromes, blowing bridges, playing general hell with the enemy, etc. But now Ken Downs told Geoffrey Keyes to go way. Ken was absorbed in the fictional last few minutes of Robert Jordans life in the Bell, the unforgettable last few minutes when Jordan, with a smashed thigh, props himself against a tree and levels his tommygun om an approaching column of Fascist cavalry . . . Keyes was off with Capt. Colin Campbell and his commandos on the raid to kill Rommel, the raid that missed Rommel because the Afrika Korps general was in Rome on a birthday party but It was one of the most daring operations of the war and won Keyes his Victoria Cross posthumously. Keyes landed his commandos two hundred miles behind the German lines, beached his landing craft by night near Sidi Rafa. They hid two days and nights in a wadi (gully), trekked twenty and snaked up to miles on the Afrika Korps GHQ. They attacked with grenades, and machine pistols, Keyes leading. Keyes killed the first sentry, kicked down the outer door and led his raiders in, spraying the corridor with tommygun and pistol. Startled, frightened German staff officers poured from their billets. Keyes men blasted them down. The sirens went, a general alarm being sounded. tom-mygu- The Germans got to their arms, began to fight back. Keyes small force got smaller. But Geoffrey, still leading, took seventeen men through the last defenses in the inner stockade to Rommels own quarters. Rommels staff aide got Keyes, a machine pistol fusillade which almost tore Keyes right leg off. Keyes fell In the doorway. Colin Campbell, behind him, dragged Keyes back from the threshold and hurled two grenades inside. Then he sprayed the room with his tommygun. Had Rommel been there hed have caught it. Campbell and a sergeant dragged Keyes back to the outer stockade, firing as they fell back. Then CampGet out! Keyes orbell was hit Take him out. Leave me dered. here. They had reached the door of Giverne that the outer stockade. tommygun." Keyes took the and propped himself in the door. Well. The rest of it came from Downs report as he got it from the sergeant and from Colin Campbell, who wrote from a German prison camp. By AL JEDLICKA Released by Western Newspaper Union. Amid buzz and bedlam, col- or and decoration, and teeming thousands with their tingling enthusiasm, America holds its great political conventions every four years. Two Old-Time- Both OConnell and Hallanan are old hands at conventions, OConnell having attended his first as a member of A1 Smiths entourage in 1928, and Hallanan his as a newspaper man in 1912. Although red hot partisans inclined to admit nothing, both men have worked together in making the principal arrangements, since the Republican convention of June 26 will be followed by the Democratic on July 19. Because of the heavy wartime strain on the railroads, transportation posed one of the big problems of this years conventions. But the problem promises to be solved by use of day coaches by those within .hours of traveling time of Chicago, and of provision of extra sleeping and dining cars for accredited representatives from farther distances. To assist delegates from Hawaii to attend, the navy will furnish plane service to the mainland. Next to transportation, housing has presented another major difficulty. Although both parties were assured of approximately 5,000 rooms, the Republicans, for one, could use another 3,000. In quest of extra housing, Hallanan has even scoured Chicagos outlying apart ment districts for accommodations, and it was reported that some good Republicans offered to come to the aid by boarding convention attend- ants. As if OConnell and Hallanan were not having trouble enough, they have been pestered for accommodations by that type of individual who feels that no business is so important as that of finding a particular room for him, even though all hotel arrangements are to be made by the head of the state delegation. Plenty of Problems. Preparation of Chicagos huge, streamlined Stadium for this years conventions has not been without its problems, either. Until the Citizens committee which bid to bring the conventions to Chicago arranged to furnish the Stadium for $25,000 to each party, Hallanan estimated that the cost of readying the amphitheater alone would amount to $48,-00not including rental. The services of over 100 men working about three weeks are demanded for preparing the Stadium. Canopies outside the main entrances must be draped with bunting. One hundred and twenty flags must be hung from the rafters to sway impressively above the floor. Three emergency hospitals must be set up and equipped with medical goods, light and water. A huge platform holding 180 people must be constructed, with a special conference room underneath it. , And, of course, seats enclosed within stanchions for the different state delegations must be put up. Elaborate preparations must be made to accommpdate the press, newsreel and radio, especially this year when the two conventions will attract international attention. Already, reservations have been asked by newspaper representatives from Britain, Russia, South America, China, Sweden and French Africa, and, in all, about 3,000 observers with their technicians will be on the job to describe the proceedings to the U. S. and world. Not only will the press be seated in front of the main platform, but a special newsroom will be provided At both places, in the basement telephone and telegraph facilities must be established to send out stories from the building. Darkrooms will be constructed for photographers to develop pictures. Microphones Everywhere. Important for transmitting the actual reality of the convention atmosphere to the world, all four of Americas great radio networks will make elaborate arrangements for covering every detail of the conventions. Contact will be made with delegations through microphones on the floor; portable equipment will be to interview used dignitaries throughout the entire building; special booths will be erected to accommodate the radio commentators, and facilities will be installed to 0, They dragged Campbell to a tree nearby. His wound was pretty bad. They gave him morphine and he began to go under. But he could still see Keyes, in the first gray streaks of daylight, propped in the doorway and blasting away at the Germans in the stockade. The sergeant ran back to Keyes, but Geoffrey refused aid. He simply demanded more clips for his tommy-guThe sergeant got them. n. , Listen Keyes fired a burst Not more than two or three of you he will get away. Some of you fired again, .a long, choppy burst that drove the Germans back to Some of you must get back cover. to report" he fired again and rammed home a fresh clip. Tell them" Yes, sir! snapped the sergeant finGet word to Ken Downs, Tell him, if you ished Keyes. will, that it happened this way. Good-bThe sergeant saluted and ran, for a wadi and safety. Campbell began to pass out As he went under he could see Keyes firing, reloading, firing . . . Washington, D. C. by the parties to furnish newsreel men with enough lighting to take GETTING TOUGH WITH SWEDE1 After too many months of Allie moving pictures of the proceedings, With 10,000-wathe Swedes are incandescent searchlight units set up, enough light to for a tough crackdown. At long last illuminate a medium-siz- e town will the State department, the Foreig be provided cameramen shooting Economic administration and, pel from the high rafters. This lighting haps more important, the British must be arranged to permit shoot- have determined to pull together ii ing from any angle of the building felling the Swedes they will have b without causing blind spots from too fish or cut bait in sending vital wa much light on any one point. piaterials to Germany especial; In making a success of a conven ;ballbearings. The question of ballbearings in tion, the little things are as impor SKF ball tant as the big ones, and sometimes volves the world-famothe little things cause as much both' Rearing company in Sweden, whic! er as the big ones. pperates a subsidiary company For instance, OConnell and Hal Philadelphia. The president of thi lanan have had their difficulties pro- 'American company, William Eatt, i of the War Produe viding badges and tickets. Because of wartime, metals have been un- tion board. Not many people realize it, bu available for badges, and it has been necessary to secure plastic material. despite the loss of 600 U. S. aviator To convention - wise Ambrose jn bombing the Nazi ballbearinj OConnell, there is more to badges plant at Schweinfurt last fall, to sa; than meets the eye. For instance, pothing of the loss of countless othe they must be so designed as to avoid lives, the Swedes have been nullify catching onto clothing and ripping ing these American sacrifices b; it, and all kinds of different types (shipping great quantities of ball must be used to restrict the move- bearings to Germany. ments of the various attendants Hitherto secret, has been the fac throughout the Stadium. that the Swedes have supplied Ger Tickets a Headache, Too. piany with 70 per cent of certaii ballbearings. Ant Also because of wartime, there vital airplane has been a scarcity of certain paper when you consider that one bombe stocks, a condition of particular plone requires up to 3,000 ballbear thi pique to bustling Walter Hallanan, ings, you realize that this is since it is necessary to print tickets most important single commodit; on material that cannot easily be Germany is now getting from tht outside world. In fact, ballbearing counterfeited. are so essential that, without them ol distribution in the Incidentally, tickets to the conventions, each dele the Nazi airplane industry would bt Nt gation is allotted a percentage, use paralyzed almost overnight. can be withou constructed plane the approxially depending upon mate distance of its state from the several hundred to several thousam meeting site. The idea, of course, ballbearings. U. S. officials recently have being to provide more seats for those unearthed information indicatwho might be able to come in by ing that the Nazis deliberately auto, etc., from neighboring replanned, well before the war, to gions. Civic committees which put use Sweden as their source for up the finances to bring the conven tion to their cities also receive an ballbearings. A conversation reallotment of ducats. ported to have taken place with Air Minister Goering has reUnique, in that this years conventions will be the second in the cently come to light, in which Goering explained that he was history of this country held during not anxious to build up the Gerwartime the first being in 1864 man ballbearing industry too the impending Republican and Demmuch, since it might be advanocratic meetings are expected to tageous to have the industry in a lack some of the flourish and hoopla neutral country where it could of bygone days. However, they are not be bombed. not expected to be bereft of all popular enthusiasm so easily stirred SEDITION TRIAL over a candidate, or over the exMONKEYSHINES pression of a partys outstanding The most patient man in the work principle stressing the hopes, the aspirations and the achievements of Is presiding over the mass sedi tion trial in the Federal Distric its partisans. In their excitement over the swift court here. He is painstaking Chief Justice Ed stream of dramatic events often ac- square-shootin- g C. ward who is recognizet Eicher, even the companying conventions, soberest politicians and statesmen by the legal profession as absolutely sometimes forget their immediate fair and who has been leaning ove: environment and lapse into what aft- backward to give the 30 indicte erthought must characterize as the defendants their full day in court However, the defendants are de comic. For instance, during the 1932 Dem- manding more than that. So brazei ocratic convention in Chicago, OCon- are some of them in their tactics t nell remembers the heated fight over delay the trial, that they boastful!; the election of a permanent chair-ma- refer to themselves as monke; because which would have demonstrat- wrenches from heaven, ed the strength of the contending they say, there is always one amonj them capable of factions. pulling some As the fight developed, the Missis- thing to cause another delay. Here is an example of what th( sippi delegation caucused, only to find venerable old Senator Pat Har- patient Justice Eicher has had t( rison absent Without further ado, put up with. Whenever a defensi some members hurried off to his motion has been denied, Charles B hotel and after pressing the urgency Hudson of Omaha, Neb., publishei news letter of the situation upon him, hustled of a him back to the convention hall in America in Danger, has tumec his pajamas, carpet slippers and and chanted to reporters: Railroad! Railroad! Toot-tobathrobe, there to cast his vote. toot! As Hallanan said, this years conEicher has overlooked much ventions will be marked by the soof this in order to exber restraint of a nation at war. pedite the trial. However, he has Once events have stirred up the atalmost worn out his gavel trytendants, the enthusiasm may carry ing to keep Mrs. Lois de Lafayover into the typical hysteria of ette Washburn the these great national meetings. Fascist-salutin- g Chicagoan who boasts descendency from the Revolutionary hero and some of her more demonstrative cronies in line. At one point, Mrs. Washburn leaped up and screamed: Lafayette, we are here to defend ourselves! Ellis O. Jones, tall, lanky defend ant from Los Angeles, also had tc be gavelled down when he com plained about the food in the dis trict jail. Ive already lost ter pounds," protested Jones. If thh peeps up, youll have to get me at undertaker. NOTE Eicher finally decided that these antics bad continued long enough. Since he cited two defense lawyers for contempt, others are beginning to realize that Hitlerian horseplay of the type used by the Brown Shirts when they were tried after Hitlers unsuccessful Munich putsch will not get by forever in an American court. On the other hand, many of the defense attorneys, of excellent standing at the bar, are doing their best to preserve court decorum. tt As convention delegates fuss and fume through the lengthy, historic sessions, millions of Americans throughout the nation follow the proceedings with attention and even heat, since either the Republican or the Democratic party embodies the principles they hold most consistent with their social ideals. During the period of the conventions, well might it be said that the heart of the nation is centered in the localities of the meetings, bounding with the peoples delegates, with newspaper men, newsreel men and radio broadcasters milling to flash stories of the unfolding events to an anxious citizenry, and with visitors attracted by the great spectacles. Normally, cities compete to have the conventions held in their localities, since the delegates and visitors expenditures for hotel accommodations, food and entertainment and shopping In the business districts amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. But with the country riding the crest of a profitable war boom this year, with housing facilities taxed and heavy demands made for limited stocks of merchandise, only Chicago actively bid for the conventions, offering each party $75,000 for expenses. Ordinarily, it costs between $100,000 and $150,000 to run a national convention. When both parties accepted Chicagos bids, financial problems thus were added to other special wartime difficulties confronting Republican Walter Hallanan of Charleston, W. Va., and Democrat, Ambrose OConnell of New York in making arrangements for the conventions. On these two men falls the responsibility of setting up the smooth functioning of the meetings assuring orderly activity on the floor of the conventions and establishing facilities for quick transmission of news to the waiting world outside. A y. ' iSt"1 Dozens of workmen are preparing the huge Chicago Stadium for the ernventions. Upper left is pictured Walter Hallanan, chairman of the Republican committee on arrangements, and lower right, Ambrose O'Connell, Bemorcatic chairman. When an Memos of a Midnighter: ad agency told Henry Ford that Tommy Dorsey was the next Ford Hour star. Mr. Big replied: Whos he? Whats the matter with Earl Godwin? . . . Its a girl for the Everett Sloanes at Drs. Hosp. Pops the Crime Doctor . . . Bob Musel, the New York newspaperman (now in England), has written the song hit of London: The Homecoming Waltz . . . The mystery murder (of a diplomats wife m that Chicago hotel) is the exact plot (so far) of a Universal film starring F. Tone. RUTH WYETH SPEARS of the huge Stadium organ. Approximately $6,000 will be spent -- tional News Service, spellbound some of us with this breathless story. W e asked him to jot it down.) HOME super-patienc- e, The war department, in instructions sent to all commanders both in the United States and overseas, has prescribed a policy of strict impartiality in the dissemination of political information. Title V of the new federal voting law, which is an amendment to the Hatch act, prohibits use of federal funds or sponsorship to influence the armed forces in voting in federal elections. Instructions to commanders in ob servance of this law state: The formation or entertainment which is burden is on the army to see that federally financed or sponsored and which might have the political the information and entertainment which it furnishes to the soldiers is character, will be disseminated to either (1) noppoliticai or (2) if soldiers except in conformity witb political, is justified by presentation the statutory provisions designed to in strict accordance with the alprevent unfairness or partiality in lowed exceptions. any such dissemination. The law permits rebroadcasts oi It is not the purpose of Title V to shut off information and enterpolitical speeches over government tainment from the armed forces. Its controlled stations provided equal purpose is to see to it that no in- - time is given each party. 4 have many modem uses. In the kitchen they are just the thing for ration books and a pad for the grocery list. Just inside the fron vice-chairm- door one will lend a decorative note and make a convenient place for driving gloves and keys. Originally these pockets were made in a great variety of designs and were used for letter boxes. They are still useful for this purpad and pose or for a pencil. If you enjoy working with wood you may want to cut these pockets out by hand as shown here. But if you have a jig it is much faster. leave-a-no- by-pl- g, CHAFF C. Friends have started a quia boomlet for OPA Administratoi t. It Chester Bowles for him for the Gov began by pushing emorship of Connecticut, which ht declined. Bowles, incidentally, has made one of the most unpopulai jobs in Washington, the OPA reasonably popular, C. Mexican workers have now earned $12,000,000 in the Unitec States under the emergency gov eml"nt program which brough them to U. S. farms and railroads te saw-availabl- e NOTE Mrs. Spears has prepared patterns in actual size for this pocket and two others in typical Early American designs. The patterns are on one large sheet with complete directions for making and finishing. Request Pattern 261 and enclose 15 cents. Address: MRS. RUTH WYETH SPEARS1 New York Bedford Bills Enclose Name- 15 r A f Drawer ! cents for Pattern No. 261. - Addres- s- The good part of an old carpet can be bound into a small rug. When clothing is left too long in the washer, dirt from the water goes back into the fabric. If the handle of your iron gets hot, cover it with a piece of corrugated cardboard held in place with strips of adhesive tape. A little paint left in a can standing 'around the house is a nuisance. Agreed? Then put it to work. Use it to brighten up the inside of the medicine cabinet, shelves of a utility cabinet, or the inside of a tea towel drawer. Soothe, cool, relievo diaper rash vent it with the astringent powder. Get often preMexaana, medicated Mexsana. Y0U WOMEN WHO SUFFER FROM or hash pro-Fasci- st CAPITAL Army Press and Radio Must Maintain Political Neutrality PEARLY American wall pockets - cut out of light weight pine or material may scraps of half-inc- h s If you suffer from hot flashes, weak, nervous, cranky feelings, are a bit blue at times due to the functional middle-ag- e period peculiar to women try Lydia E. Plnkham's Vegetable Compound to relieve such symptoms. Taken regularly Pinkhams Compound helps build up resistance against such distress. It helps nature I Also a fine stomachic tonic. Follow label directions. E. PINKHAMS LYDIA coiKf DONT LET A-- t CONSTIPATION SLOW YOU UP When bowels are sluggish and yoo feel irritable, headachy, do as millions do chew the modern chewing-gulaxative. Simply chew before you go te bed, taking only in accordance with package directions sleep without being Next morning gentle, thorough relief, helping you feel swell again. 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