Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 35, Number 302, Decatur, Adams County, 23 December 1937 — Page 1

No. 302.

4eclthr plans Orvance of ICIiSTMAS DAY And Schools Special l’ r °S ra,ns liß'> r Christmas ■ holiday season. |E 1,0 eonn>i"iiioi a'od in till' • it. K oootniinh?. s'crtiiig Frida;. .II. 1 o'."l S.itll: ; r, . ' prou-ums a i,.‘ ’is f.iniiU unlit .’.nJ, K my, t ■ t;< 1 silsp.m ion ..t lUS ■),.. the ISS Epii'chU mas Eve members oi KiLaiA’ellows <llil>. assisted by Ember* of the •> *’ °- K,kß> will ' ■L t>«Ee‘ ,|l - v ot the ci,y - '-Eilmuitanetiusly. in scores of A\Etes. E'li'' l,f ,he ci,y - in a " K(K- . i;>e celebrations. "El a«W coming .n Sama Kus *1 receiving of gills. Kate Crt 'mas exchanges a.II ■ 11 several parties K>,ni7Mho"'s will close Friday. Kin rM»>.'! ! * ' ie-'o'l 'i' l A yKn uffii I"" ial pro-’ran.' mark » I E Studeifs letitrning on M■ >n«l:iy ' c Sj Suspended TjTfoninW will he genera'ly sus- ■ fwed>' Christmas and .-.inday, ilh store! remaining open Friday I'ening tc|a. lomodate las', minute if! shoK’ deliveries. with the exr>’aio»ot special deliveries, will i e maKa urday or Sunday. Tim ill KSt 0* I wil' also be closed, as Z and other public build tigs. J The® 1 ? Democrat will not puhI I isli&nSii >n Christmas Day. with I he epeela Christmas edition ap--1 .paring top ght. The library will alobejifed Christmas Day. . Cl Programs At Churches gesetltt pl.arches will commemoritetheßri't of the Christ-child in I'liristma* Day. Many tave already been anhe Democrat, several of ■s presenting their anms last Sunday or earleek. it 7:30, a special .proB he.'d at the Church of le. On Christmas mornservices will be held at Lutheran church. The 11 be held at 8:30 and Mary’s Catholic church gh mass at 5 a. m. will of nine masses to be itmas Day. The men choir will sing at the i will also be a congreimunlon. The annual orction will also be made. Christmas Night mas night, starting at the annual Christmas sponsored -by the Delta nd Psi lota Xi sororities at the Decatur country only official festivity. lack of appropriate I'hrlstmas. weather to date, this year is |xp. . led to be one of the most enjoyable holiday seasons for esidentie of the city and communh/WW Wg o ■ BULLETIN Mexico City, Dec. 23.—.U.R. - An earthquake of destructive proportions rocked part of Mexico City today, causing whet It was feared to be heavy damage and perhaps loss of Of*. At least two deaths were caused in the capitoi, which was far from the center of the disturbance. The ehook was so severe that it broke observatory instruments here and its center could not be determined although It was estimated to be about 250 miles away, probably In the earthquake zone in ’he sMith.

i* * fyerybody t> i and uses yhristmas Seals 74e iGREMJmcs 81 mail pilot ! t , ( L” 3 ’ r U*4*) 81-l aJSSWIgg I I Shopping I * p °v LeH

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRA

BUSINESS OUTLOOK * The first of a aerie* of seven ) article*, eomprhensively covering business outlook In Indiana, is printed on page 4 of today's ' Dally Democrat. This series I was prepared for the Democrat by Indiana university experts, . and will run each day until the | first of the year.

HULL RECEIVES COMPLETE STORY OFBOATATTACK Secretary Os State Receives Complete Panay Reports Washington, Dec. 23 — (U.R) — Secretary of State Cordell Hull announced today that this government has now received complete reports on the Panay bombing incident and has decided on the basis thereof to make additional representations to the Japanese government. The additional representations, he said, will he made through Ambassador Joseph C. Grew in Tokyo and will be in the nature of new evidence supporting previous demands. The complete reports include the official report to the navy from Lieut. Comdr. J. J. Hughes, In charge of the Panay, on the loss of his vessel; the findings of the naval court of inquiry which investigated the Panay sinking anil took sworn testimony from all witnesses available; and the report to the state department from George Atcheson, Jr., second secretary of the American embassy at Nanking who was on the Panay at the time of the attack. The reports will be made public as rapidly as they can be prepared for publication. Hull said. The Hughes report will be made public tomorrow afternoon and the findings of the court ot inquiry Saturday morning. Hull said also that all new facts contained in these reports would be relayed to Grew to be used as the basis tor additional and continuing representations Hull indicated that the additional facts developed probably would not change the nature of the demands made by this government upon Japan for full indemnification. officially recorded apology and concrete and specific guarantees that in the future American nationals, and their property in China shall be assured against attack by Japanese forces. Respect Foreigners Tokyo, Dec. 23—{U.R)— Japanese commanders in China have received government orders to respect foreign interests even at the risk of permitting Chinese to escape, it was understood today. The orders, said to have been issued within the last few days, were regarded as a direct result of the government's grave anxiety over angry United States and British protests against Japanese army and navy attacks on American and British gunboats. Reference to the new orders, it was understood, will be made in (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE)

PROMISES AID TOROOSEVELT Southern Democrat Leader Promises Economy Drive Aid Washington, Dec. 23 — (U.R) — Rep. Martin Dies, D„ Tex., a leader of the southern democratic bloc which fought and killed the wageI hour bill, wrote President RooseI velt today promising to organize a i movement in the house to support : the president's economy demands. Dies wrote to the president after I reading Mr. Roosevelt's letter to [chairman Wilburn Cartwright, D.. : Okla of the house roads committee, warning the democratic tna- ' jority of congress that It will have take the blame if it disturbs his budget-balancing Plans for next L ear The roads committee had : ignored the president’s request for [a repeal of federal highway aid ! authorizations for next year. i Dies told the president he would Lail a caucus immediately after congress convenes to draft and agree upon a definite program to balance the budget and support the president's ecenomy program at least 100 democrats would join the movement but warned that "most of these_so"“(CONTINUED ON PAGE SEVEN)

GEORGE NORRIS IS STRONG FOR F.D.R. PLANS Nebraska Independent Assails Opponents Os New Deal Washington, Dec. 23.--(U.R)' -Continued blocking of the new deul program will “compel ' Preisdenl Roosevelt to seek a third term, Sen, Gorge W. Norris, 1., Neb., an influential new deal backer, said today. The Nebraskan’s statement was of special interest because he was one of a senate liberal block that discussed the general legislative situation this week at the White House and urged President Roosevelt to resist demands for drastic changes in policy to combat the business recession. "There is a concerted outside effort to frighten and control congress and to defeat the President's program." Norris said. "It probably will continue until 1940 hi an effort to elect a rear-' tionary president. And that will compel Mr. Roosevelt to run for a third term despite his own desire to retire. "Personally. I do not believe in the third term idea but If this false propaganda campaign continues I will do everything in my power to aid in re-election of Mr. Roosevelt.’’' In setting forth his views of the current congressional conflict over efforts to encourage private enterprise. Norris disagreed sharply with a powerful group of senate Democrats and Republicans seeking drastic changes in administration spending, taxation and power policies. He charged that public utlities and a majority of the newspapers were chiefly responsible for what he considered an unfair campaign to defeat the president's program. A contrasting view was taken by Sen. EdwanJ R. Burke, I)., Neb., who praised the "fair'’ presentation of facts by the nation's press. "The President," Norris said, “is not trying to control congress in my opinion. For instance, the agriculture committee never got (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE)

XMAS BUSINESS REPORTED GOOD Decatur Merchants Report Excellent Business For Christmas Christmas business this year will amount to at least the same total or better than last year, which was considered a “bumper” or unusually good season, according to a survey made today among advertisers in the Decatur Daily Democrat. Increased optimism has been shown in the last few days, indicative of a better state of mind among customers in the last two weeks. The survey showed that those merchants, who will have the largest gross sales, are for the most part those who began their preparations for the season early, by advertising and stocking theii stores with attractive merchandise. November was one ot the best months enjoyed by the merchants of Decatur in recent years. During the first two weeks of December there was a lag in buying—especially in the fields of nonessentials. An improvement in buying became noticeable about the middle of the second week of December and has continued growing in volume, until it is expected that all of the more progressive merchants will equal or exceed last year’s busisnss. The nature of the Christmas business has been slightly different than last year when considerable of the buying was on a replacement basis. This year more (CONTINUED ON PAGE SEVEN)

* Buys Health Bond The American Legion post of this city has voted to make purchase of a $5 health Christmas Seals! "co’um

‘httj .■

ty tuberculosis association, W.Guy Brown, president, announced today. Proceeds of the sales

Buy and Usa Them aid victims of the disease and to give milk to un dernourished children of Decatur.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana. Thurs day, December 23, 1937.

White House in Festive Attire < ’"''S' V > i / Ay Decorating entrance to executive mansion Wreaths and Christmas trees added to the holiday attire of the White House as members of the staff trimmed the entrances and windows of the executive mansion with traditional Yuletide effects.

NAME SHAKE TO SUPEME COURT Vincennes Attorney Appointed To Succeed Treanor i 1 ■ Indianapolis. Dec. 23 — (U.R) — ; Curtis G. Shake. Vincennes attorney. will be appointed to fill the ‘ state supreme court vacancy creat•cd when Justice Walter Treanor resigns. Gov. M. Clifford Townsend j announced today. Treanor will leave the supreme bench to become a member of the federal circuit court of appeals in Chicago before Jan. 11 when the next term begins. His appointment was confirmed by the U. S. senate Monday. Shake will take the supreme court post as soon as Treanor subinits his resignation. Shake's appointment will run until Jan. 1. 1939, but it is probable that he will be nominated for a full term by the Democratic state convention and stand tor election in November. Shake was the Democratic nominee for attorney-general in 1928 but was defeated. For years he has been a prominent member of | the bar in Knox county since his j graduation from the Indiana University law school in 1910. Born on a farm in Harrison township of Knox county, July I I. (CONTINUED ON PAGE SEVEN) No New Contagious Diseases Reported The weekly report from the state board of health shows that no new cases of contagious diseases were r reported in Adams county for the . week ending December 18. Several new cases of measles had been reported for the previous week.

#lerrp (□jristmas J)appp jhto geap kinb tliouiU’ts - * for loyal supportfur IjCiirtu coopcrationfor all tlic courtesies extenbeb us burinp the past pear iue tljauk uou sincerelu. Jttav pour Christmas h e joyful anb pour Wear prosperous. Decatur Daily Democrat

* Good Fellows Club Previous total $417.4 ■ Margery Lin'n I- 00 Anton Thieme 1-00 A Good Fellow 22 A Friend -2D Patsy Ann Reynolds 10 Billy Reynolds 10 Friends ... ...................43 Total . $420.62 The Niblick Store donated $5 worth of merchandise to the club. FARMER LOANS BEING REPAID Indiana Farmers Repay FSA More Than Half Million Indianapolis, Dec. 23.—(U.R/ —Approximately 7,300 Indiana farmers i have paid more than $567,312 dur- | tag the last three and a half years I on a total of $3,016,876 borrowed from the farm security administration in the form of rehabilitation loans. FSA officials announced today. Repayments amount to only approximately 20 per cent of the total amount loaned, R. C. Smith, regional director, pointed out in explaining that the rehabilitation loans were made for periods extending to five years. Repayments usually are made in annual or semi-annual installments he said. Since the bulk of Indiana loans were made during the past 18 months repayments due amount to much less than the total amount loaned. Smith explained. The rehabilitation loans were made to enable farmers emerging from the depression, sickness, flood, drought or other misfortunes (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE)

CHINESE PLAN FINISH FIGHT > AGAINST JAPS Military Affairs Commission Delegated Supreme Powers

Shangha Dec. 23—(UP)-China’s military affairs commission has been placed in supreme control ot private and public industry, mines and all commercial and agricultural enterprises for a finish fight with all the country's power against Japan. Chinese official sources said today. It Is said that the commission, headed by Generalissimo Chalng Kai-Shek, would exert con'rol over almost every Chinese enterprise, including publications. A decree delegating blanket power over private enterprise was issued by the government from its emergency capital, Chungking, far in the interior. Under it, Chinese official sources said, the military affairs commission would cooperate with Chambers of Commerce and other technical and occupational organizations to coordinate output, conserve resources and generally strengthen the country to permit long range resistance to Japan. A usually reliable source reported ' that the Japanese intended to start on Christmas Day a drive on Canton, commercial capital of the south basing their forces on Bias Bay, notorious pirate headquarters north ot' Hong Kong. The operation, intended in its first phase to cut the short railroad line extending from Hong Hong to Canton, would entail grave danger of complications with Great Britain, already angry over alleged violation of British rights at Hong Kong where there is exxtensivo British leased territory. A Canton drive would extend to all of the Chinese coast what Japan intended last summer to be a brief triumphant campaign to "punish” China so rfailing to cooperate with Japan according to Japanese ideals. Even now Japan has great armies in northern China, northwestern China and Central China and may have to send an expedition to Tsingtao, up the coast form Shanghai, ' where $100,000,000 worth of Japanese mill properties thave been burned. Today's announcement ot the centralization of authority over pub’ic and private enterprise indicated ' fiat China was girding herself for i a war of exhaustion. | Japan s drive on Hangchow, south ■ of Shanghai on the coast, seemed i nearing its climax. A Japanese e.m■bassy spokesman announced to- ; night that foreign counsu’s had been asked to evacuate their nationI als from the Hangchow area in view of the imminent dinger that they would be involved in hostilities. He said that, the warning given. Japan would not be in position to guarantee to provide facilities for foreigners and thai the respective nations must be responsible for their own citizens. As to the campaign in northwest China, Chou En-Lai, communist , leader, asserted today that the Japanese advance had been stoppd. He ' said that the Japanese now were try- ! ing to clear their communications jto the rear of 60,000 irregulars, < o(CONTINUED on PAGE FIVE)

YOUNG FARMER MURDERS SON Noble County Farmer Kills Son And Attempts Suicide Ligonier, Ind., Dec. 23 —(U.R> — Mrs. Helen Lantz, a 21-year-old Noble county farm mother, put away the toys and trinkets today she bought for her son, Leroy, 2, to spend Christmas beside his casket. Police found the body of her dying husband, Donald Lentz, 24, lying beside her dead child on the back porch of the simple farm home, four miles northwest of Wawaka, near here, late Wednesday. Following the trail of blood leading to the back porch, police found the bloody cap of the slain boy lying near a hammer and a straight edge razor in the barn. The boy's skull had been crushed by a blow from some blunt instrument and police believe it was the hammer found in the barn. No other instrument was discovered which could have been used in the murder. Apparently the father had run to the barn, cut his throat, tossed away the razor he used and stumbled back to the house. Mrs. Lantz told state police she (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX)

South Ward School Pupils Entertained The teachers and patrons of the | ; South Ward school served a dellielouß chicken dinner to the pupils today noon. Christmas decorations and a holiday spirit prevailed over ■ the entire building. Charles Feasel, custodian of the i building, presented every child with un orange as his contribution to the i iChrletmas party. ■ o AUCTION SCHOOL OPENS MONDAY

Reppert Auction School Will Be Opened Next Monday The 34th semiannual term of the Reppert School of Auctioneering will open in Decatur Monday, December 27, Col. Fred Reppert, school founder, announced, today. This school will have new headquarters and class rooms this year, the Yager Bros., furniture store being used for the purpose. Auctions will also be held in the Yager building. Approximately 50 students are expected to enroll In the school this termSixteen states and Canada are to be represented, one of the largest variety of states ever to be represented at the school. The states include Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, lowa, New York. West Virghiia, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Texas, North Dakota, Wisconsin, California and Utah. The classes extend over a three weeks' period, under the guidance of Col. Reppert and a staff of instructors including Col. Roy Johnson, of this city. The first public auction will probably be held in the Yager building on Friday, December 31. Col. Reppert stated. Twice yearly approximately 35 or 40 students are graduated from the Reppert school to return to their homes and enter the auctioneering field. The first of the schools was held in 1921. Classes have been conducted semi-annual-ly since then. This is the second term of the year, the first classes being conducted in the summer. Many of the students will stay in private and tourists homes, while some will live in the clubhouse at Belmont park, former site of the auction school.

CHARITY BALL HERE SATURDAY Annual Charity Ball At Country Club Christmas Night Genera! chairmen of the annual Christmas charity ball, which Is to be held at the Decatur country club Christmas night, reported today that everything is in readiness. The dance, which will start at 10 o’clock Saturday night, is sponsored jointly by the Psi lota Xi and Delta Theta Tau sororities, all proceeds going toward charity work. Mrs. Paul Hancher is general chairman for the Psi ilota Xis and Mrs. Hugh Holthouse is general chairman for the Delts. Homer Schaffer and his eightpiece swing band will furnish the music for the dance. On the orchestra committee are: Miss Eleanor Pumphrey and Mrs. Maro'd Zwick of the Psi lotes; Miss Patsy Fullenkamip and Miss Mildred Acker for the Delts. Members of the decorations committee are: Mrs. Floyd Grandetaff, Miss Betty Frisinger, Miss Jane Krick, Miss Phyllis Krick, Mrs. Ben Duke and Mrs. Al Beavers of the Psi lotes; Miss Mar)’ K. Leonard. Mrs. Mildred Pettit, Mrs. Luetta Smith, Mrs. Betty Schneider and Miss Kathryn Holthouse of the Delts. The ticket committee is composed of Miss Dora Shosenberg and Miss I Effie Patton of the Psi lotes; Miss Mildred Niblick and Miss Margaret Wertzberger of the Delts. Members of the time and place committee for the Delts; Miss Margaret Lautoy and Miss Mary Matha I Terveer. oTEMPERATURE READINGS DEMOCRAT THERMOMETER 8:00 a- m 24 10:00 a. m 26 Moon 32 2:00 p. m 32 3:00 p. m 34 WEATHER Generally fair tonight; Friday increasing cloudiness and not quite so cold followed by snow at night and on Saturday, except rain or snow exi trema south.

T

Price Two Cents.

$50,000 FUND EARMARKED FOR HOUSING BOARD Tentative Grant Is Earmarked For Slum Clearance Project

The federal housing authority has tentatlve'y earmarked $50,000 for a slum clearance project in Decatur, according to a telegram received by the Daily Democrat this afternoon from Senator Frederick Van Nuys. The senator’s telegram reads: "Housing authority administrator Strauss today announced tentative earmarking of $50,000 for slum clearance project In Decatur which will toe allotted when and if local housing authority complies with specifications set fourth by United States housing corporation,” a telegram was also received from Senator Sherman Minton, reading, “Housing Administrator advises $50,000 ear marked for your project." Robert Heller, secretary of the Decatur housing authority, cal’ed on Mr. Straus in Washington two ' weeks ago and laid Decatur's case before the administrator. A verbal I application was made for $50,000. To obtain the grant, It is necessary for the local community to raise 10 per cent of the project cost. On the basis of $50,000, Decatur would have to raise $5,000. This can be done by sale of bonds to the ■municipality or to individual investors. The local bonds are first liens on the improvements made. Nathan Nelson, chairman of the Decatur housing authority, s ated that a meeting of the board of directors, which is composed of himself, Mr. Heller, James Kocher. Dr. Harold Zwick and Theodore Grallker, wi'l be held next week. The housing conditions in the south and ' north parts of town have been surI veyed to some extent by the housing authority, with the idea of asIcertaining if Decatur needed a slum

(CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) Close Library For Christinas Holiday The library will close Friday evening at 6 o'clock and remain closed until Monday noon at 12:15 o’clock. o — Slight Improvement In Walters’ Condition A slight Improvement was reported today in the condition of former Judge C. L. Walters, who ha* been critically ill at his home here. —o- —— David Hensley’s Son 111 With Pneumonia Robert Hensley, 11 year old son ot Mr. and Mrs. David Hensley of Bronson, Michigan is serlosly ill at the Three Rivers hospital. Ths lad is suffering from pneumonia. Mr. and Mrs Herman Ehlnger left this afternoon for Three Rivers to be at his bedside. o Continue Evidence In Divorce Hearing Evidence was continued this afternoon in the divorce case brought by Lloyd 11. Oser against Viola S. Oser of near Berne. Matters of custody of the children and property settlements in case a divorce is granted were discussed. The case was begun in the Adams circuit court Wednesday morning before Judge Huber M. DeVoes. FIRE DESTROYS LEBANON HOTEL Thousands Os Dollars Damage Caused As Hotel Burns Lebanon, Ind., Dec. 23. —(U.R)—~A fire completely destroyed the My--1 ers hotel In downtown Lebanon early today with damage of several thousand dollars. Twenty-five guests, asleep In the two-story structure, when the flames broke out, were led from their rooms to safety by firemen I and Lebanon police but no one was injured. The hotel's lighting system went 1 out shortly after the fire was disj covered and officers had to use flashlights to lead the guests from the blazing structure. Most of the guests were attired only ta their Bleeping garments when they reached safety. Firemen said they believed the blaze started from an overheated furnace in the basement. A detachment of seven Indian(CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE)