Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 35, Number 5, Decatur, Adams County, 6 January 1937 — Page 1

Ivl XXSV. No. rive.

SjRENTS WAIT | hessage from ■SON'S CAPTOR IMrs Mattson Sported I 0 Verge Os Collapse I BAt Tacoma Home I ft.wna. Wash., Jan. 6 -(UP)—I W wasaiwnt from for two hours before dawn g.-n.-ral hospital A . ir on '•> c ‘ ,n - Idli -arlee. Vj ... house overpuurt sound, from which h‘e ■JK.u, 1 kidnap d 1" days ago by a I man who left a note deat T 41 A " *' ST darned at 6:50 A. M., and ■waul I not discuss hie mission. BlU'rndatit- r genera' hospital that he had been -<1 there o> treat a patient sham he performed a major ESpon yesterday and that he time at the hospital, third day of the "truce” deby law enforcement agencies | |t Ma'i. tie request to (permit Ealpen elfannel for negotiations kidnaper brought no fnrof contact with the Mrs. Mattson wan reporti *l»ar collapse. Virgil wi'h l.er husband. Ift-Jiattson. beside the five special ' in their home awaiting work from the bearded, swart ; left a worn and crumpled demanding S”S.Ot'O for the s sate return. <‘f aniety. the nerves were rejiorted near ■■ t )tS:--.ik■' - I” I ’"' t"" 1 rhe was bem have tak-ii sedat ves pres|Ew hy her husband Although ■ their eon etill Hves. polie- belief that the kidie a man ac. the distraught alarmed over tile boy's mditimi They fear that day. in the bitter cold of a have brought illness to the scantily clad {US cm) ransom money >. • - PAXPROPOSALS HUE SUGGESTED Tax Board Asks lEWroad Powers Over I Local Units .Jan 6 - 'U.R) — governexpenditures were asked board >f tax comniis-r.-eommendations for the 1937 legislature, tomorrow. board proposed: To extend the right of ap or. bond issues to include contracts of SSOO or more That all municipalities havown utilities be required budgets to the county of tax adjustment, paving f»i e.jnie appeal to the board. K Ev-iicfl [j... moratorium Tends for another five (-imitations on expenditures units exceeding regular amounts. HB That piat books on real he kept up to date. gH' Listing of all improvements K ." r '" an property with county that a.nnual tax K^ lp,lw ‘ applications be filed on ■ Property not actually used bv ■k'ous, benevolent and fratern■)ser Funeral B Rites Thursday ■““era! g ervicee f()r Charles K? W ' h ° waH d«ad at his K»» ° f Pleasan ‘ >’ills yesK af . lnOrnil,K ' wi " be h cM T’aurs- ■. '.. rn 7 at 2 o'clock at the ■L ’° U ' R l ' h " r( ' h - Burial will ihe Van Wert cemetery.) #>versaw Named E Geneva Attorney boar d of Geneva TuesK"; a o,ntf " l ,Ar,hur D-un- ■>'» vear V" n” C ° llr ‘ ae! for the Kt of n ' r ' t;nverKa w Is a resKothn?' r and Practices law B2iZ np and Pecatur - He is a in th" 1 Pollticß aiKl ha s been K ■ Work of the narty for h" y< ‘ ars - Mr - Unversaw '"’i

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

State l*olice Seek Missing Druggist Madison, Ind., Jan. 6 —(UP) —) State police todav searched southern Indiana for William 11. Bright, !36 year old Indianapolis pharma- | cist, convinced that he wae either slain or severely beaten after his blood-stained automobile was found abandoned here yesterday. A hat found in a pool of blood in a cornfield near Shelbyville u'eo ‘ was believed to be Bright’s. The hat | had a bullet hoJe in it, evidently j made by a revolver or small caliber. FIRST ATTEMPT TO HALT AUTO STRIKE FAILS Attempts To Call Conference Fails; May Draw In (Government Detroit, Jan. 6.— (U.R) First attempts of federal labor conciliators to bring union leaders and General Motors executives together for a conference on a strike affecting 53,900 men apparently failed today. Homer Martin, president of the United Automobile Workers, said at a press conference that no meeting with General Motors executives was scheduled for tdilay and added ) that there was “very little" prospect of such a meeting soon. Alfred P. Sloan, president of General Motors, arrived from New I York today and conferred throughout the morning with William 8. Knudsen, executive vice president of the corporation. Sloan said no statement would be made today and indicated tliat he was not ready to start negotiations with the union. Martin asserted that the strike might spread soon to the Fisher body plant and the Chevrolet factory in St. Louis. James F. Dewey, Federal labor conciliator, conferred with Martin last night, an dtoday. as a result of that) conference, the union president said he was ready to meet’ Sloan and Knudsen any time to discuss the eight demands made by the U. A. W. Eligible For Relief Washington. Jan. 6.—(UJ>>—John L. Lewis’ committee for industrial organization, assured by government relief authorities that strikers are eligible for relief if in need. . today charted its strategy for a crucial test with General Motors Corporation. Possibility that the government would be drawn into the widespread controversy was seen at . the same time. Presidnte RooseI velt followed development through labor department representatives. Simultaneously, dozens of bills designed to protect rights of labor were introduced in the Rew congress. Sentiment appeared to be growing for a constitutional amendment to give the federal'government powers, along lines of outlawed NRA. to regulate hours and wages and enforce fair business (cnvTtvrFn nv paov pottr) 0 BROTHERHOnn TO STAGE BANQUET U. B. Men’s Brotherhood To Hold Pier Roast Friday Night Members of the men’s brohterhood of the First United Brethren church of this city expect a large crowd to attend their meeting and rig roast banquet at the church Friday night at 6:30 o’clock. The banquet will he held for men and boys of the chinch. There will he no charge but a free wi'l offering will be taken. Glenn Hill, president of the brotherhood and chairman of the meet-. inging, will act ae toastmaster. Roy Mumma wi) ac tas chief cook, Ollie Mills as ipep song leader, Dick Shaffer will read the scripture and Earl Crider will offer praver. The men’s quartet will eing several soloe and furnish special music for the ; program. Haro’d Mumma will be the pianist and organist. Howard J. Wisehaupt will be the I chief epeaker on the program, delivering his ever popular, “Fit and Misfits". The speech will be delivered in the main auditorium at 7:30 (o'clock. IA general invitation has been extended to all men to hear the I lecture. Members In charge of the committees are: Orland Brown, table I arrangement*; A. N .Hilton, waiters Eddie Deitsch, dishwashing; George I HIII, ushers. All members are urged ' to attend. 1

REBEL FORCES OPEN DRIVE ON SPAIN CAPITAL France Takes Precautions; Spain Protests To League By United Press Latest Spanish war developments: Paris—French believe rebels are making tinal drive on Madrid; think if it fails Germany may seek withdrawal of all foreign forces, leaving rebels and loyalists to | settle it alone. London — Britain sends 15 warships from Malta to Spanish waters. Berlin — Germany may reply tomorrow to Franco-British appeal for stoppage of volunteers to Spain, presenting such terms as to make a general agreement unlikely. Geneva — Spanish loyalist gov) eminent protests to league against German seizure of ships and Italy's sending of volunteers. Madrid—Capital subjected to another aerial and artillery bombardment as troops battle fiercely northw-est of capital. , Inspects Defenses Paris. Jan. 6. — (U.PJ — Edouard Daladier, defense minister, left for Toulon today to inspect France's Mediterranean costal defenses in view of the implied threat of international trouble arising from the Spanish civil war. Meanwhile, it was learned that conversations between the French and British general staffs on co-1 operation in the event of war wiilj be resumed shortly. The consultation, it was understood. would result from unannounced conversations between Daladier and Alfred Duff-Cooper, British minister for war. The talks would be the normal outcome of the British letter of last March 19. giving France mill-! tary guarantees against unprovoked attack as long a5 C?ie Locarno ■i-treaty guaranteeing security in, (CONTTNt’En OX' PtOE THREE) CONTRACTS ARE LET BY BOARD Commissioners Award Contracts For Highway Supplies Proceeding ahead of schedule the board of county commissioners late Tuesday afternoon coriipleted the awarding of contracts for highway supplies in 1937 and adjourned until Thursday morning. Thursday, one or more new trucks will be purchased for the highway department. As the 1937 needs of the county are not known, the majority of the contracts awarded are for price : only. Quantity will be determined as the occasion arises. The contractors are bonded to furnish whatever amounts are required, at the prices bid. Where various grades of materials were contracted for, Walter Gilliom, highway supervisor, will: be authorized to purchase the best type for the purpose needed. Stone The following contracts were awarded for stone loaded on county trucks at the plant: Meshberger Brothers, Linn Grove, stone. 90 cents: screenings. 50 cents; Blue Creek Stone quarry, stone, 90 cen*s screenings, 90 cents; Dick Tonnelier, stone, 89 cents; screenings, 50 cents; John W. Karch Stone company, Bryant, stone, 90 cents, screenings, 90 cents; Erie Stone company, stone 90 cents, screenings, 50 cents. All of these were bid in tons. These will be purchased throughout the year in such quantities as are necessary. Tires The contract to furnish tires was ' given to the Main Street Filling Station at Berne, who bid on Firestone tires. Other bidders were Leo Kirsch. Giles Porter, Royj Runyon and Son, 'Harry Knapp, Goodyear. Inc., and Eastern Indiana Oil and Supply, all of Decatur. The commissioners stated that few tires will be needed this year as all) (but one of the trucks art new. Gravel Contracts for gravel were given as follows: Lybarger Gravel com- , pany, Geneva, washed gravel and stone. 90 cents a cubic yard; pit run sand and gravel, 75 cents a cubic yard; Lucius Somers. Allen county, washed gravel and sand, $1 a cubic yard; Yost Brothers, Decatur; washed gravel and sand, 80 j cents a ton; pea gravel, 50 cents i (CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR)

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, January 6, 1937.

l Delivers Annual Message K K* -X.; F ■ ' ■ k jßlb i W .ssr A ( Franklin D. Roosevelt

POPE SPENDS QUIET NIGHT Vatican Official Says Pope Pius Appears More Cheerful Vatican City, an. f> —(UP) —Pope . Pius spent a comfortable night and awoke breathing easier and looking more cheerful, a Vatican official sa ; d today. t .Refrwhed by a satisfactory night's Bleep, the Pope received in audience Cardinal Pacelli, his secretary of s’ate; then Monsignor Alfredo Ottaviani, assessor of the congregation of the Holly Office; Then Monsignor Dominico Tardini, under secretary of state. "The Holy Father looks well,” Monsignor Ottaviani said after his : audience. “I was surprised at the lucidity of hfe mind and the bright-, ness of hie disposition.” It was expected that a written address would be presented to the Pope today, in substitution for the customary in which representatives of the Roman nobility give Popes their New Year greetings on the occasion of the feast of the EpiphanyI Because of the Pope’s weakness, |it was believed that the speech would be regarded as inadvisable, and either Cardinal Pacelli, secretary of sate of the Vatican, or Prince Lelio Orsini chief of civil assistants to the papal throne, would present I j fICONTPNL'ED ON PAGE EIGHT) I YEGGS DAMAGE COMPANY SAFE _ I Decatur Lumber Company Safe Damaged; No Loot Obtained Yeggs heavily damaged a safe at the Decatur Lumber company last night, when they forced entrance into the place of business, but left withot gaining any ioot. Entrance to the office in which the safe was located, was gained by prying loose the lock on the office door. Authorities are not positive about the method in which entrance was gained to the outer building. A window pane was removed from an outer window on the south side of the building, but dust and dirt on the window sill was undisturbed. The combination was broken off the safe, but the handles were also knocked off. The fact that the handles were torn off, prohibiting entrance to the safe, .leads authori- ; ties to believe that the work was that of Inexperienced safe crackers. The intended theft was not learnj ed of until the lumber men came to work this morning- Authorities instantly made a check of all other business houses, recalling that several years ago, thieve, after gaining about S2OO at the lumber company, looted seven other firms. Authorities state that they are in the possession of several clues, which they believe will be of invaluable aid in tracking down the culI prits. (

Nineteen Persons Die Os Flu And Pneumonia Indianapolis, -Ind-, Jan. 6—(UP) — Nineteen persons here died of pneumonia and influenza on Sunday and Monday, reports at the city health I department showed today. Due to the mi.'d and damp weather, the two diseases have almost reached epidemic proportions, Dr. Herman G. Morgan, secretary of the j board of health, said. He urged that everyone take especial precautions against colds and all respiratory inflamations. FIRE OFFICIAL TALKS TO CLUB Fire Marshall And Deputy Speak To Lions Club Tuesday i The necessity of proper fire prevention and the horrors of loss of life and property in fires due to lack of this prevention, were forcefully impressed upon the members of theDecatur Lions club in 'heir weekly meeting last night. Aided by the showing of colorful elides, demonstrating the disastrous results of tire over the state, Charles Shearer, state chief deputy fire inspector, aptly pictured the battle l of the state department in its effort to reduce the annual loss. State Fire Marshall Clem Smith ' appeared on the program in a brief j address, complimenting the local . fire department, on its work during ' the past year, and commending the men for their work of fire prevention. Deputy Shearer, in his talk, stated that 1,400 fires in Indiana during , 1936 were caused by defective chim- | neys on old shingle roofs. This was the major cause of fires, he stated. A total of 40 people in Indiana lost their lives last year, directly due to fire. I Demonstrating that fires were often a matter of carelessness, Depputy Shearer stated that last year seven schools burned down .causing greater loss than was incurred by all companies handling gas, oil and other inflammables. “Their job means they have to be careful," he statedHe warned against the handling of naptha gas and gasoline, stating that the inflammables should never (CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR) There is a Bridge for Business "Over the River 7 of Doubt | "Spanning the Adu years of . !

President Roosevelt Delivers Annual Message To Congress; I Asks Authority For Embargo

CITY COUNCIL I GRANTS MAYOR POWER TO ACT Mayor Authorized To Act With School Board Towards Building The city council in session last night authorized Mayor A. R. Holthouse to enter into an agreement with <he Decatur school i board and to fill out the necessary papers for filing with PWA, seeking a gra.nt towards the construction of a combined high school and civic center building. A joint meeting of members of the school board and Superintendent Walter J. Krick was held with the council last evening, fol-1 lowing the regular councilmanic | session. It was moved that the mayor and school board take the initial steps to get the building project underway and unanimous endorsement of the city’s cooperation in , the proposal was voiced by the council. The councilmen expressed a view that the maximum cost of the combined building should not exceed $300,000. The city’s share cannot be determined until more definite estimates are obtained. The matter of employing an architect, aereeahle to both the school board and citv will be ( settled this week, it was indicated. 1 Several architects have contacted both school and city officials and have sifbmitted preliminary sketches and drawings. It is necessary to employ an architect previous to filing the papers with PWA. a.s preliminary drawings and estimates of cost must be prepared by him and filed with the application, several well known architects are applicants for the job. The council acted as a committee of the whole. Mayor HoltI house suggested that the entire council comprise the committee i and that if the city were to join the school board in negotiations for a grant and construction of ! the building that support should be unanimous, the entire council being equally as interested, since 11t was a, community affair. The councilmen discussed the ■ proposals among themselves and then moved that the mayor repre- . sent the city in the preliminary i steps, he reporting back to them. Councilmen .Forest Elzey, Andy Appelman. Albert Miller, Herman j Gillig and George Stults each voiced approval of the plan. i .It is not known what action (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) o — STATE ASSEMBLY OPENS THURSDAY Indiana Legislature To Open At 10 A. M. Tomorrow Indianapolis, Jan. 6. —KU.R) —Preliminaries to the 1937 session of the state legislature opening tomorrow will be concluded tonight when the Democratic majority and Republican minority members will organize their forces in caucus. Democratic personnel of the committees virtually has been agreed upon, the leadership in the two houses was selected at a French Lick, Ind., party conference Dec. 18-19, and the majority party merely is awaiting the opening legislative gun tomorrow at 10 a. m. Rep. Paul B. Sturm. Dana, will preside at the caucus in the house tonight and Sen. E. Curtis White, Indianapolis, will occupy the chair in the senate proceedings. Thursday’s session of the legislature will be entirely routine. August G. Mueller, secretary of state, will preside in the house while Edward Stein, Bloomfield, is elected speaker. Lieut.-Gov. M. Clifford Townsend will preside in the senate until Monday morning when he will be inaugurated as governor. Henry F. Schricker, lieutenant-governor elect, then will becorrie the senate’s presiding ofii-| i cer and Sen. Thurman Gottschalk, I Berne, will act as president pro I (CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR)

HEALTH BOARD ANNUAL REPORT Heart Diseases, I*neumonia And Cancer Chief Causes Os Death The three most important causes of death in Decatur during 1936 were heart diseases, pneumonia and cancer, according to the annual report filed today by Dr. R. E. Daniel, secretary of the city health board. The report also shows that there were 120 children born in the city, of which 57 were boys and 63 girls. Os the 91 deaths, the Important causes were: heart disease. 15: ! pneumonia, 13; cancer, nine; infant deaths (including still births) eight; apoplexy, eight; bowel obstruction, six; hardening of the arteries, seven; kidney diseases, ! seven; embolism (blood clots), five; blood poisoning, four; skull fractures, three; brain tumors, one; tuberculosis, one; diabetes, one; hemorrhage, one; pernicious anemia, one, and paralysis agitons (shaking palsy), one. Dr. Daniels pointed out the fact that only one death was caused by tuberculosis during the year. To show the improvement in health conditions in the city he ■ compared the five-year period be-) tore the World War from 1912 to 1917, inclusive, to the last five years. Important causes of death from 1912 to 1917 were: neart disease, 50; infant deaths. 45; kidney diseases, 30; tuberculosis, 25; pneumonia, 24; cancer, 17; and apoplexy, 20. For the last five years important causes of death were: heart diseases, 85; infant deaths, 25; kidney disease 27; tuberculosis, five; j pneumonia, 68; cancer, 30; and apoplexy, 39. Consideration should be taken for the fact that the Adams coun(CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR) THREE INDICTED MEN SENTENCED! ■ Three Indicted By Grand Jury Are Fined And Sentenced — Judge Huber M. DeVass in Ad-) ams circuit court this afternoon I fined amd sentenced three men, arrested by Sheriff Dallas Brown Monday night and Tuesday morning. on charges preferred in indictments returned by the Adams county grand jury in its November session. William Huffman, local young man, who plead guilty to both counts of the indictment charging him with drunken and reckless driving on November 26, when he was allegedly the . cause of an. accident that sent eight persons to the hospital, received the heaviest penalty of the trio. Huffman was sentenced to 30 days in the Adams county jail and received a fine of $lO and costs. Rex Sheets, local factory employe, who also plead guilty yesterday to the charge of using a ( motor vehicle without the owner’s permission, wais fined $25 and costs and sentenced to serve 10 da.ys in jail. Changes Plea Ralph Isch, third of the indicted trio, changed his plea of not guilty made yesterday to one of guilty this afternoon and was sentenced to 10 days in jail and received a fine of $lO and costs. Samuel Steiner, first of the four arrested on grand jury indictments is out on bond, which he furnished late yesterday. All three of the sentenced men. i began serving sentences immediately. After Isch had plead not guilty yestdrdlay, the court had fixed his bond at S3OO. Being unable to furnish it, he remained in jail. One Arrest To' Make With four of the arrests on the five indictments returned by the body, Sheriff Dallas Brown has yet to make one arretst to ( complete the work of the grand jury. WEATHER Rain probable tonight «nd Thursday turning to tnow Thursday; rising temperature east portion tonight; colder Thurs- | day; much colder west.

Price Two Cents.

Says No Amendment Making NRA Legal Necessary But Asks More Liberal Stand From Judiciary. SPEED NEUTRALITY Washington. Jan. 6 — (U.R) — There is no vital need for a constitutional amendment to legalize : NRA, President Roosevelt informed congress today in a message ’ asking authority to embargo munitions shipments to Spain and calling on the judiciary for more liberal interpretation of the fundamental laws. He said the courts are asked by the people to do their part in making democracy successful. Congratulating congress for its spirit of cooperation in emergency with the executive, the president said: "We do not ask the courts to call non-existant powers into being, but we have a right to expect that conceded powers or those legitimately implied shall be made effective instruments for the common good.” He delivered his message in person, speaking from the rostrum of the house chamber. A few momenta before he addressed the ' packed chamber congress made ready for quick action as soon as the president’s message was delivered. to pass the emergency j Spanish neutrality resolution. The need for speed in enacting the Snanish resolution, congress realized, was only too real. As members sat listening to Mr. Roosevelt’s address, reports anivI ed that even at that moment tug- ! boats were, preparing to swing out into New Y’ork harbor with a freighter loaded with war mater--1 ials for Spain. Alisent from the scene were the ) black-robed supreme court justices. Busy hearing argument, they did not haer the president’s frank criticism of their constitutional interpretation and his flat rebuke that: "The process of our democracy must not be imperiled by the denial of essential powers of free government." The message did not name the j United States supreme court where i much new’ deal legislation has J been outlawed as unconstitutional, but the inference of criticism I was plain. The president sketched his obI jectives. proposed federal and ' state supplementary laws to help solve the social and economic problems of a modern industrial democracy and challenged speculation, reckless over-production and monopolistic under-production as creating wasteful net losses to (CONTINTTEU ON PAGE FOUR) o CITY EMPLOYEES GET WAGE BOOST City Council Votes Wage Increases To City Employees A resolution calling for wage increase for city employees was adoptby the city council at the regular meeting Tuesday night. The increase was decided upon to bring the wages of city employees in line with those of privately employed labor, and to help them meet the rising cost of living. As provided in the 1937 budget, all civil city employees, including members of the police, fire and street departments, were given a five per cent increase. Heads of departments and others in the electric light and water companies were granted a five per cent increase- The wage scale of individual employees of the municipal utility, including engineers, firemen and assistants were adjusted. Increases not exceeding $lO a month were granted these employees. A wage scale of not to exceed 40 cents an hour was provided for temporary labor. iA wage scale of 45 cents an hour was adopted for semi-skilled regularly employed labor. A report was read by George Stulta, chairman of the electric light and power committee, which outlined some of the brobable future needs of the municipal plant, should the business continue to Ini crease at the present rate.