Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 35, Number 303, Decatur, Adams County, 24 December 1937 — Page 1

No. 303.

jlpetafur Citizens | Join Observance ■9/ Christmas Day

•Ljjßgv, Generally Will I Befcu-pcnded Sa,ur ’ 1j« ; Churches Will ißp lll Special Pro"I — | SfGRES CLOSE I “For fio' l s " 11 ■ v ' ,l w ‘" ,(l - ils W Hb» <•" ! - v >"* " s " !l 1 lLli should I p. wT<JJ»|l('-|''"W. HliZrllS ..I !'!.■ ■g|||E’o:uiiii oily will r.-v.-vnl ■tin vV* 111 ‘ "" ll "' ;I ' ll ls I birth W" y ears ;l £o. I Chnrdfees of the city will hold , s of the event. Jfowfct M.itv's Catlndii ■ soleflHi ich mass at 5 oa lock ~ Bju the Sot i. ' ■' will I"- followed l.y masses al halt horn i the day. ''iAt A< zil ’ n 1-tttherau church ~ IsttecUlP*' l viIPS will "'lock A. M. Other IclißrchM have already held ChristEgg sen - s while some will ol>E day on Sunday. Sunday , at 4 iyOj/ iHll be held at the First Bltotlmltn: Episcopal church. I dKial program will be pre- ■ •ettledia' the ziul ‘ Reformed ■ church t lis evening at 7 o'c lock. I To«8t, Christmas Eve. child Bren and {rownups alike will await ■ thecami: of Santa Claus and his ■ lifts, »|ni die of Gods gift the ■ world Wien "He gave His only be

I I In.” ( family gatherings and rill be prevalent throughIty. All schools of the city tty have closed to permit the freedom of the Christ'ent silence will prevail Christmas Day, when nen, clerks, laborers and Iters lay aside their work ■ at the family dinner re appropriate Christinas have been prepared. >lly all bustness houses, exception of a few conis, service stations, theatrestaurants, will close s entire day. lie buildings, such as the ary, county and city off >e closed. The post office osed and no mail, other ial deliveries, will be desatur Daily Democrat, in e with annual custom, Tint on Christmas. as Night, the Decatur sub will be the scene of 1 Christmas charity ball. WED ON PAGE TWO) o hool At Berne Tuesday school will ibe held at esday evening for meme Decatur, Berne, Geneva M fire departments. I of the state fire: 'wrsjjj’s fi'ice at Indianapolis will attend *e meeting and speak to the firemen. Instructions will be given on the Various aliases of fire-fight-s s I HEAVY postal BUSINESS TOLD wR' ir I >os t Office Experiences Heavy Kush Os Christmas Mail After reaching a peak yesterday, ■'hrittaa.• mailing eased up some- ■ What at the Decatur post office to- ! day, Mrs. Lola P. Macklin, acting , postmaster. sta ed today. One |of the heaviest rashes in " r >he Watery of the local post office * ; hag been experienced during the '■ MM.we.ls. with Decatur residents Whtglng the office in their efforts. ,i to maif last minute gin packages, lett-r?- ca ds. • Ncfijural or city mail deliveries '■ ”'S» be made tomorrow, Cliristmas Ko n the local office. SpSelal delivery letters, how- ’ ’Wfiffil be mailed and packages •hat appear to be gifts are on hand ! phHtjjha« morning will also be j pulivared. employes stated. ■ a ■^*‘ e |°* ) by will be open until 5 n Ciock|Chrlstinas evening and mail > ? dispatched as usual. How- - *VS| minimum of employes will office to take care of the $ <fching.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

SCHOOL HOLDS XMAS PROGRAM Unusual Program Is Held At Public High School Thursday — In one of the most impressive and appropriate programs ever' held at the Decatur high scholo, members of the Commercial Club presented a series of religious tableaux, depicting the birth of [ Christ and the homage paid by the 1 Three Wise Men and the shepherds. at the school late yesterday. Directed by Sigurd Anderson and Deane Dorwln, members of the fac-' ulty. the tableaux were accompanied by singing of Christmas carols. The program opened with the singing of carols by the entire student body. Santa, in the person of Laiires Myers, assisted by Zulu Porter, appeared and distributed gifts to students and faculty. Various members of the faculty were presented with gifts by classes and organizations in appreciation of their efforts during the first term. Santa also made several humorous presentations to students. Don Death, president of the senior class, was in charge and intro- 1 ) duced the program. W. Guy Brown. | ■ school principal, introduced the j class president. Helen Friedly | also entertained with her version . of a visit to the movies.

Ul VIOII rv, .... Following the program the stu- j dents were dismissed for the Christmas vacation, to return on J Monday, January 3. Christmas, programs were also held at other ' public schools. Most appreciative of all those: who received gifts from Santa was lillle Johnny Myers. srAv of Mvw 1 Mary Myers, school librarian, who i was the recipient of two mammoth ; stick of candyo • Icy Pavement Is No Respecter Os Persons Business men, e’et ks, stenographers, industrial leaders and even policemen have fallen victims to the icy pavements this winter. And now Mother Nature has add- ■ ed another victim to the list, amply , proving that she fears not even the wrath of a Decatur pedagogue Stepping out unwittingly on the icy walks this morning. W. Guy Brown, principal of the Decatur high school took a prompt but unceremonious tumble, which he, himself avowed “made even the courthouse rumble.’’ POPE ATTACKS GERMAN POLICY Pope Pius Makes Bitter Attack On Nazi Policy Toward Church Vatican City, Dec. 24— (U.R) — Pope Pius, at a reception to his cardinals today, bitterly attacked the German Nazi policy toward the Roman Catholic church. "In Germany there is real, actual religious persecution despite efforts to present a contrary Impression, the pope said. Cardinals leaving the ceremony said that the pope spoke frankly and bitterly about the chinch situation in Germany. His remarks were made in resnnnse to Christmas greetings, which Cardinal Granito Pignatelli de Belmonte, dean of the college of cardinals, extended in the cardlnTwen“y,e'i>ine cardinals were Pl The pope denied that the church was engaged In political activlt es m Germany and affirmed that its work was purely religious. He prefaced his remarks regal dtng persecution with the state“**We want to say a few important plain words before the whole world regarding the situation of church in Germany. th ; i eI he asserted that religious persecution in Germany was “frightful and grave. The pope said that his words represented “a statement of pro- . vow high protest. e ‘“We shall not hesitate.” he continued “to give tl>e true nanlP -- TcONTINUED on PAGE fOUR)

MERRY CHRISTMAS v®f -fIBS - -J® -*♦ Mr. Irf

GIVE PROGRAM SUNDAY NIGHT, Christian Church To Present Christmas Program Sunday The dhristmas program to be given at the First Christian church here Sunday night at 7 o'clock, was announced today. Following is the complete program: Piano selection —Sylvia Ruhl. Address of Welcome Billy Callow. A Greeting—Nancy Callow. Christmas Breeze —Barbara and Alice Gunder. Dear Man —Sheldon Daniels. Song —Primary and junior chilReady to Quit —Billy Hutken A Christmas Story—Jimmy Callow. Green as Evergreen—Dick King. Little Jack Htfner—Everett Hutker. Instrumental music—Lucile Bell. Shepherds Leave the Hillside Kenneth Nash. Love's Gifts—Wilma Bell. Christmas Joys—Jean llutker. Song. “I Love You”—Dick King. Christmas Cookies Phyllis K Recitation— Billy Uchtensteiger. Victorious Xmas March —Seven '’'nmtrumental music — Walter Guinnan. , , , The Night Before Christmas — Barbara Kohls. The Christmas Spirit—lntermediate girls. „ . , Recitation— Flora Belle kohls. Instrumental— Donna Kraft. In closing-Joan Llchtensteiger. The Christmas Story—J. E. Anderson, reader. Ex-JudgTWalters Slightly Better The condition of former judge C. L Walters was reported as improving today. Judge Walters has been seriously ill at his home for some time. He is reported as still very ill- — ♦ Buys Health Bond J The American Legion Auxiliary has voted to make purchase of a $5 health Christmas Sealsl co'unty tuberculosi Sl 5 £ ls association, l X 5 W.Guy Brown, < > president, anj f nounced tolTv day - P' oceeds of the sales Buy and Use Them aid victims of the disease and to give milk to undernourished children of Decatur-

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, December 24, 19

Xmas Greetings From The Mayor In anticipation of the glori Joaa rt>»4srmas awaiting eae citizens of Decatur. Mayor Arthur R. Holthouse today expressed. on behalf of the city, the following greeting to local residents: “Decatur has been so abundantly blessed during the year and our people seem so cheerful and happy that apparently Christmas will be merry for everyone. With a true appreciation of the Christmas spirit, the Good Fellows will see that the day is also made happy for the needy children and their parents. And 1 know the whole town joins me in saying Merry Christmas to all. May the good cheer of Christmas remain with us throughout the New Year.” ANNUAL LEADER SCHOOL JAN.IB —— Adams County Leadership Training School To Run Five Weeks The annual Adams county leadership training school will open j . at the Decatur high school Tuesday, January 18, it was announced today. The meetings will be held each Tuesday up to and including Tues-1 day, February 22. Classes will begin at 7:15 o'clock each evening. The Rev. R. W. Graham, pastor of the First M. E. church here, is ’ dean of the school and the Rev James A. Weber, pastor of the Decatur United Brethren church, is registrar. , The enrollment fee is 50 cents, j Credits are issued by the internaI tional council and state council of Christian education. ’ I Following are the courses which will be offered students. “Personal Religious Living,” with the Rev. George S. Lozier, as instructor. “How the Bible Came to Be,” j with the Rev. Charles M, Prugh, ’ (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) r f TEMPERATURE READINGS t DEMOCRAT THERMOMETER 8:00 a. m. -T4 > 10:00 a. m 37 . Noon •• 38 WEATHER t Snow northwest, rain changi ing to snow east and south port tions tonight with mostlycloudy Saturday; much colder, moder- ' ate cold wave north portion.

EMPLOYES VOTE 32-HOUR WEEK G. E. Employes Favor Shorter Week To Employ More Persons A Christmas present for the employes of the Decatur General Electric company will be the announcement of the completicm ot negotiations between the plant and the Decatur General Electric em , ployes association for a new guar-, nteed work contract. The contract wi'l be in effect for the first six momths of 1938 and will be the fourth to have been signed. An offer was made by the company to the employes to make at least 5.000 motors a week for the next six months. Employes were given an opportunity to decide. how the work should be divided: 40 hours a week for part of the I force; 36 hours a week for a larg er percent of the employees or 32 hours a week for the largest share of the employees. By an overwhelming vote, the I employes of the Decatur union vot-| i ed to give the greatest amount of | i work to the greatest number in | l spTte of a possible financial loss to a voting majority of the employes who cut down their own' hours to give more jobs and so determined on the 32-hour week. More Employed However, the guarantee does not imply that those guaranteed shall be the only ones to be employed as the union was Informed that the present schedule calls for the production of 7,000 motors a week, beginning at the first of the year. As an example of how this works, there are now 263 persons on the guarantee for the last six months of 1937. but 327 employes) on the pay roll, according to the union's records. The new schedule calls for the dropping of only 21 persons from the pay roll, effective January 1. There will be (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) * READ FARM PAGE One of the outstanding sea- | tures of the year is included in |j I i.'Nlay's issue of the Decatur | | j Democrat's farm page—the Out- | ] look reports for agriculture | j during the year 1938. The general estimates on 1938 | United States and foreign crops | and prices are prepared by the | United States department of | ! agriculture. The reports are | then localized to suit Indiana | conditions by Purdue Univer- | I sity. Part of the earlier reports | i reports have already been pub- | I lished in the Decatur Democrat, j

U. S. GUNBOAT SAILS MONDAY FOR WAR ZONE Oahu To Go To Nanking War Zone To Protect U. S. Interests Shanghai, Dec. 24 (U.R) The 1 United States gunboat Oahu will j leave Monday with two American | consular attaches for the war zone In which her sister ship the Panay was attacked by Japanese navy airplanes and Japanese troops. U was announced today. tinder orders of Admiral Harry E. Yarnell, commander in chief of the United Slates fleet, Hie Oahu will steam up the Yangtse to Nanking. to protect American interests. Aboard her will he Consul John M. Allison and Vice Consul James Espey. under orders to reopen the embassy which was evacuated just before Japanese entered the city and to watch out for American interests. As this announcement was made, American Consul General Clarence E. Gauss made representations to the Japanese complaining that Japanese soldiers at Wuhu, up the river from Nanking, entered an American mission school December 13 —the day after the attack on the Panay and not only cracked ’he mission safe and looted it but pulled down and doused in the river an American flag flying on a small mission boat. Japanese officers at Wuhu already had expressed regrets to mission authorities. The Oahu came to Shanghai with survivors of the Panay sinking. At the time a Japanese ipokesman intimated that if forjign nations wanted to “keep their ships safe, they had better keep them out of the Nanking zone. But after Admiral Yarnell retorted that the Oahu would return in due course, tile intimation was withdrawn. As the order For the Oahu's sailing was issued today, a JapanI -ge navy spokesman announced that the British cruiser Capetown ' n*jeh arrived at the mouth of the Yangtse near Shanghai with American and other foreign refugees had had a most dangerous voyage due to floating and moored mines. He added that the Japanese advised foreign shipping to slum the Yangtse because it was necessary for mine sweepers to precede each convoy of ships. He expressed hope that foreign ship masters I would destroy mines when they saw them. It is through this mine strewn river that the Oahu is to steam, with the additional danger that Japanese or Chinese might attack it by mistake for an enemy ship. Dispatches from Tsingtao, up the coast, reported a minor panic (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) o MANY WEDDINGS ARE SCHEDULED Clerk’s Office Busy Issuing Marriage Licenses Today | i The sprit and colorfulness of Christmas and the holiday season in the city and county will be enhanced this year with a number of December weddings. At least, this impression is given 'from the numerous marriage licenses issued late yesterday and today in the offices of County Clerk G. Remy Bierly. Six couples were issued licenses to wed, several of whom had already signified their intentions of I taking the vows on Christmas day, while others are to be married during the coming week. The following were issued licenI ses by Clerk Blirly; Jack Haney 22, ; Willshire, Ohio clerk and Ruby Ruplert 21. Monroe stenographer; Heni ry Wendt, 29, Okenama, Michigan salesman, and Mildred Hiser, 31, | Decatur waitress; John W. Spitler, ■22. Wil'shlre. Ohio clerk and Ruth |;E. Ray, 23, Decatur route three; Charles Grissa, 65. Bellefountaine, | Ohio boilermaker and May Noe, 61, Linn Grove; Don Aspy 24, Geneva i steel employee and Carmen L. Schwartz. 22. Berne; Charles Redding, I 22, Fort Wayne chauffeur and j Georgia Heeley, 22, Decatur dime | store clerk. Hensley Condition Remains Unchanged — The condition of Bobby Hensley, | linear old son of Mr. and Mrs. | David Hensley of Bronson, Mich., j remained unchanged, according to | word received this morning. He has | ’been critically ill the past two days , suffering from pneumonia.

Official Report On Panay Attack I Is Made Public

OTHER HOUSING I GRANTS LISTED Decatur First Small City In Country To Have Fund Earmarked Decatur is the first small city In the country to have earmarked for it a grant under the federal housing corporation. It was revealed today with the announcement of grants to other communities by the national administrator, Nathan Straus, in Washington. Earmarking of grants have so far been made to only 32 cities in the United States. Those approved in the last group are: NewYork City. $18,000,000; Cincinnati, $8,000,000; Peoria, Illinois, $1,600,- ' 000; Tampa. Florida, $1,500,000; Columbia, South Carolina. SBOO,000; Covington. Kentucky. $1,400,000, and Decatur. $50,000. Before the grant will be made final, Decatur must meet certain requirements, all of which have not yet been announced. These ' probably will include: proof of the 1 need for additional houses: an in- ' dication that the local authority will have ample funds for prelim- ' inary expenses; a means of raising the local 10 percent share of the I cost; the completion of some sort ' of a city plan Tor future develop- ' ment; decision of a type of house ' which can be built cheaply and yet meet the requirements of the I government for sanitation, and a ; determination of the income class ' to be assisted by the program. ■ These are to lie taken up at a ’ meeting, which Nathan C. Nelson, chairman of the local authority, ’ has announced will lie held early next week. 1; Official announcement of the I I earmarking of $50,000 for the De 1 1 catur project was received here ’ today by Nathan Nelson, chairman ’ of the local authority. It read: ‘ "Am today announcing earmark- ■ lug of $50,000 for Decatur. This ' temporary earmarking does not int- ‘: ply approval of any specific pro- ' ■ ject. Please accept my thanks for 1 ' your cooperation in launching pro- - 1! gram. • ' Nathan Straus, administrator” Mayor's Statement Mayor A. R. Holthouse, who ap--1 pointed the local authority upon a - petition filed with the city council 1 several weeks ago, made the fol-

(CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) , 0 Auctioneer Speaks To Local Rotarians 1 Col. Roy Jobneon, well known auctioneer gave an interesting talk on the auctioneering business at the weekly meeting of the Rotary club last evening. Col. Johnson stated that during the year he would conduct approximately 200 sales, running in value from a half to a million dollars. The auctioneer helps in many years in obtaining the real value of property and instances were cited where the auction sale brought a higher price for a farm than it it had been sold at private sale. Christmas carols were sung, .led by Dr, Fred Patterson. Walter Gard, | president of the club, distributed a personal gift to the members.

-— North WarG School Holds Xmas Party Pupils of the North Ward grade school entertained with a guest program Thursday afternoon. The rooms were decorated with evergreens and icicles and other gay > Christmas decorations Each of the four grades took part i in a program of songs and reciia- , tions, after which the children and guests adjourned to the lower hall, i where many Christmas carols were I spng around the lighted tree Santa then arrived and each child was given a gift and also a treat of candy and nuts. * Good Fellows Club Previous Total $420.62 Personnel of Adams County Hospital 10.20 A Good Fellow 1.00 A Friend 100 George Appelman 2.00 Morris 5 & 10 5.00 Mr. Long — 100 Bobby Mutschler 1.00 Friends .20 TOTAL $442.02 The Burk Elevator Co. donated a ton of coal.

Price Two Cents.

j Commander’s Report Shows Japanese Attack On U. S. Gunboat Deliberate; Is Made At Mid-Day. I I SUPPORTS BELIEF Washington, Dec. 24 (U.R) — Japanese planes that bombed and sank the United States gunboat Panay gave every appearance of deliberation; the planes machinegunned the small boats taking the survivors, some of them wounded from the sinking ship to shore; a Japanese surface boat machine gunned the Panay as she weut down. These facts Commander J. J. Hughes, commanding officer of the Panay. transmitted to the navy department in a report made public today. The report revealed both the details of the attack on the Panay, and the individual acts of heroism by members of the crew. In the view of officials here, Hughes' report supported the official belief that the Panay was ’ first boarded by Japanese military ■ officials, then deliberately sought out, attacked and sunk by Japanese bombing planes. The report was the formal statei ment required by law of every naval commander who loses a ship. It revealed that the attack was ■ made at midday; that visibility I was excellent ; that the Panay was ■ practically covered by huge Amerii j can flags, both horizontal and veri tical; that the ship was painted ■ with distinctive markings; that, in i 1 spite of all these marks of identi- . fication. the Panay was the princi- , I pal object of the Japanese aerial r; attack. i Only after it was apparent that j j the gunboat must sink. Hughes re- ■ port stated, did the attacking > plane? turn to the three Standard i Oil steamer* the Panay was convoying. and destroy them Hughes’ report was considered i by state department officials to - support in full details this govern--meat's formal protest, and to justify demands that the Japanese gov- - ernment must, in addition to making full indemnification and a ' formal apology, give adequate guarantees that American natlon- - als, their rights and interests in i China will be assured of freedom

from attack or interference in any manner whatsoever from Japanese armed forces or other Japanese elements. Hughr V report made these points: 1. The Pauay was identified as an American vessel by two large horizontal flags, one spread over the forward top deck and one over the after top deck, both clearly visible from the air from any angle. Each flag measured about 18 feet in length and 14 feet in width and had been freshly repainted. In addition, because of the emergency condition existing, the Panay had been flying her largest ensign at the gaff both day and night wheth(CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) o MERCHANT IS ROBBED TWICE Chicago Storekeeper Is Twice Victim Os Robbers Thursday Chicago. Dec. 24. — <(U.R> — The I Yuletide spirit has its evils. Sanr | Regee said today. Here’s his ■ reason: I Sam was happy last night even after two men walked into his shoe 1 store and robbed him of S2O. He j was chuckling as the next customer came in. “I outsmarted those fellows,” he said. “I’ve been robbed before, always at Christmas time. This year I left only S2O in the cash register and hid $l2O in one of the shoe boxes.” He looked at the number “IS" on his show window. “Maybe it’s that,” he said, "but it must be the Christmas. Every time at Christmas this happened. But this year I’m happy — only $20.” The customer smiled as he left with his purchase of socks. He returned a few minutes later. “Back again?” Sam asked. “What’ll you have?” "I,” said the man producing a pistol, “will have the shoe box—• with the $l2O in It.”