Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 36, Number 155, Decatur, Adams County, 1 July 1938 — Page 1

Vol. XXXVI. No. 155.

gov.townsend SAYS SENATOR RACE IS OPEN 1 Reports Persist Van Nuys Maype Renominated By Democrats Indianapolis, July I—<U.R>—Gov. VI. Cliffttrd Townsend’s assertion hat thelpeinocratic state convenion July 11-12 •» "open” to any andidate led some Hoosier Demorats to believe today that Senator ■ tedetdek Van Nuys might be renominated instead of politically .hidgeoned by the state house machine. There pave been intimations re- < ally Bat the Democratic convention might turn into an effusive lovt-feast Instead of a grisly execution of Van Nuys for opposing 1 •resident Roosevelt on supreme court •eform and for past sins tigainsf the regular party organization. Towns.nd, after intimations in Washington that Van Nuys is "not acceptable” to Hoosier Democrats, lias flatly declined to state that Van Nuys will be denied renomination. although his aides have been supporting other candidates. In a press conference late yesi- iiay, Townsend furthermore admittedithai he knew nominees on many Ittcal tickets in the counties and districts urgently hoped that Van Nuys would be renogiinated. The {governor expatiated briefly butpossibly very significantly mt Van Nuys — exactly 24 hours after the Republican state convention tad adjourned without giving Vanßhiys any recognition whatever tjespite the urgings of many G. O. [P. leaders. They thought they saw a chance to capitalize on the sup ehouse-Van Nuys split. wKn asked if he had said that the democratic convention positively would not nominate Van Nuys. I Townsend raised his voice somewhat in a blunt, emphatic denial. and then added: “The convention is open to anyone wh<> will support the president and vtbto for progressle legislation. 1 doni know whether this would < xclmje Van Nuys or not. But this will be an open convention.” Asked about reports that some local nominees wanted Van Nuys at tho S®*" l of t* l6 ticket. Townsend (CrWFINUED ON PAGE THREE) CAR AND TRUCK COLLIDE TODAY One Man Seriously Injured In Crash At Road Intersection The attending physician late this afternoon said Mr. Weist’s condition was critical. He sustained a concussion of the brain,, a crushed chest and internal injuries. He was brought to the Adams county memorial hospital after receiving emergency first aid treatment at Berne. A I milk truck with a four ton >ody| and load, and a light sedan MMiobile were demolished in a rash at an intersection near the Carmel church, nine miles astieast of Berne in Jefferson owijship this morning. The driver if the automobile, J. C. Wieet, of ■Bfe two Bryant, is in a serious MMiiorwin the Adams county meixirfial hospital. The accident happened this mornng it 9:15 o’clock at a road interBoth drivers were unable ;o »ee (because of a row of trees |H low hanging branches making Impossible to see when approachtroni the west and south. he driver of the truck was Cart per, of Keystone, route one, livkbout nine miles south of BluffBn Nottingham township, Wells Ity. He was uninjured. r. Weist lives on the south side Be Portland-Adams county line, kt four miles west of the Ohio CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) 0 TEMPERATURE READINGS EMOCRAT THERMOMETER 00 a.m 66 2:00 p.m 72 OOa.m 69 3:00 p.m 73 on 70 WEATHER Unsettled tonight and Saturiy, showers and local thunderorms probable in central and >rth portions; slightly warmtonight in extreme south por- * \ -

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Fireworks On Sale First Time Today A monotonous boom from here and there in the city today gave notice that the Fourth of July is. rapidly approaching, and that the sale of fireworks has legally opened for the first time. The fact that many have forgotten the real reason for celebrating I the Fourth and that the day is declared a legal holiday in commemoration of the time in 1776 when the nation’s leaders signed their names to a document declaring her independence, is not expected to dampen in the least the , ardor of the celebrants during the 1 climax of the noise-making Mon-! day night. Merchants, who have fireworks on display, opened their doors this morning to would4>e purchasers, who formed the customary vanguard of "first-minute’’ calibrators. Monday night at midnight the revelers must fire their last salute, as the state law forbids exploding any fireworks after the Fourth. BOARD ACCEPTS $27,000 GRANT St Mary’s Advisory Board Accepts Grant For School Addition The St. Mary’s township advisory board, in session last night at the Pleasant Mills school, unanimously voted to accept the |27,000 grant of the PWA toward the building of an addition to the present school structure. D. Burdette Custer, township atorney, announced today. Tbe acceptance of the grant and a ground plot plan was mailed to the PWA this morning, Mr. Custer stated. Since it is required that the petition for building such a structure must be circulated no lees than one year before the grant, a new petition was Ibeing circulated in the township today. The petition will be submitted to the board on Tuesday evening July 5. The board first made application in December, 1936. The application was among those left pending, after the PWA was closed out in Washington. Notice of the PWA approval was received here June 23. Start In August Actual ’construction will be opened about the last week in August, since the grant provides that work must start no later than August 29. i Contracting for the work will be let about a week prior. Legal advertising will start next Wednesday. Charles Houck, Muncie architect, submitted the preliminary plans for the building, which is to house additional classrooms, a community trail and gymnasium and a cafeteria. ] According to plans, the building, | side of the present structure, will which will be located on the north be about three times as the present I school ibuilding. Sherman Archer, Otis Shifferly and Sam Cottrell are the advisory board members, Ben McCollough the trustee, and Mr. Custer the at-1 torney.

Music Chorus Will Meet Next Tuesday The Adams county music chorus will meet Tuesday afternoon in the Monroe school house at 1:36 o’clock. o SEEKS TO HALT SPECIAL PRUBE Marion County Prosecutor Seeks Writ From Supreme Court Indianapolis, July 1. —KU.R> — A petition asking for a writ of prohibition against criminal court Judge Frank P. Baker to prevent him from conducting a threatened special investitgation into alleged primary election frauds was on file with the state supreme court today. The petition was filed by Marion county prosecutor Herbert M. Spencer a few hours after he had filed another petition with Judge Baker asking him to set aside an order appointing Harold H. Bachelder and Fae W. Patrick as special prosecutors to Investigate election irregularities. In the petition thte high court was asked to issue a temporary order against Judge Baker pending a hearing before the entire court on July 14, next regular meeting date. It charged that Judge Baker acted without authority in naming the special prosecut(WNTINUttD. QN PAGE SIX).

LEGISLATURE TO GATHER IN SPECIAL MEET Gov. Townsend Announces Special Session Definitely Decided Indianapolis, July I—<U.R) —Any i doubt as to whether there will be ' a special session of the state legislature this summer ended today afte’r Gov. M. Clifford Townsend ' announced that the date tentatively [ has been set for July 19th or 26th. The legislature will be summoned to appropriate funds to match PWA grants authorized by the recent session of congress with which to finance an 18,000,000 construction program at state benevolent institutions. The state’s share is approximately $4,400,000. Townsend said that he definitely will call the special session because he had learned that in order to obtain the federal funds, the congressional act stipulated that the projects so financed must be under construction by Jan. 1. This is several days before the regular i 1939 legislative session. The governor said he planned to give the legislators at a fiveday notice of the session date. Townsend said that fixing of the i date depended upon certain adI vance preparations which his adj ministration is compelled to make I for plans, specifications, determinI ation of needs and other details, i The governor said that there is I “no doubt” that the state would ' receive its federal funds if it took the required steps in the next six months. Townsend volunteered the inforI mat ion that he had learned there I was some opposition to construct--1 ing a state office building for I $3,060,000 to take care of various agencies now scattered outside the statehouse. "I don't know why they are opposing it,” the governor said. "I have not decided whether to : recommend it (the office building) or not. I want to do what the majority wants to do.” Townsend said that after consulting administration official*, he I had decided to ask the legislature for funds for 17 projects, all for state benevolent institutions. Included is a new $560,000 tuberculosis sanitarium in southern Indi(CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE)

YOUNG BANDIT IS ARRAIGNED — Orelle Easton Insists Slain Brother Was Killer Os State Cop Michigan City, Ind., July 1. —<U.R> ■ —Orelle Easton. 25-year-old surj vivor of two North Dakota farmer- ; brothers whose plans for a crime career were abruptly halted by I posse bullets, refused to enter a i plea today when he was arraignI ed for the slaying of a state police- ' man last Sunday night. Easton asked Judge Russell W. Smith to name an attorney for him. which the court will do later today. Judge Smith then postponed j Easton’s trial until next Tuesday i to give the accused killer of state Policeman Ray Dixon time to consult with his court-appointed lawyer and prepare a defense. Dixon was fatally wounded near LaPorte when he stopped to assist what he believed were a pair of stranded motorists. He was greeted with a hail of bullets. Easton was taken from Kankakee, 111., LaPorte, Ind., last night by Sheriff Joseph Wolf and two officers. During the trip, Wolf said, Eaeton blamed his brother, Clarence, 27, killed by possemen Monday, for the death of Dixon, which ended their dreams of easy money to come by "starting with filling stations and working up to banlks.” Throughout the nights, guards closely watched for an attempted suicide. All email iron objects and Easton’s belt were removed from the cell after the sheriff warned that the young gunman had hinted (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) o—■ Star Mail Route Is In Operation The new star mail route from Ft. Wayne to Portland was started this morning with pickupe at the Decatur post office. The new route will run through Decatur dally, except holidays and Sundays, leaving Fort Wayne at 5:45 o’clock In the morning and arriving at Portland about 7:45 a. m. ~

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

New Photo of Countess “Babs” UsT. 13W * gm J/ ll* g Ifcl ** I Countess Haugwitz-Reventlow and Lady Milbanke Here is a new photo of Countess Haugwitz-Reventlow, the former Barbara Hutton, Woolworth heiress, as she attended a party in London with Lady Milbanke, right. “Babs” has been much in the news of late because of her differences with her husband from whom she is expected to separate.

WAR VETERANS HEAR WOODRING Secretary Os War Speaks At Gettsburg Reunion Os Veterans Gettysburg, Pa., July I—(U.R) — The whisper of ancient battle rustled the young corn of Pennsylvania midlands today, stirring rusty memories along a gallant but feeble band of fighters. Blue and Gray. It was the whisper of the bloodiest conflict this contingent ever saw and three quarters of a century has not stilled the answering echoes. Today in this Gettysburg countryside, where a crackle of musketry sounded at dawn on July 1, 1863, to clarion conflict that challenged a nation’s course, a great spectacle was in the making. But it was a spectacle, planned and guided by a nation in peace and unity, and of that homeric clamoring of a past century there remained but the thin whispering of breezes blowing over fields and the memories of old men. To those old men, a scant 2,666 of the legions once garbed In blue and butternut, the first act in the panoply by which their nation does them homage was symbolic —of time, of the fading old passions and the coming of a new way of life. For today was reunion day In Gettysburg. Seventy-five years ago Gettysburg kept reunion with death and destiny. This reunion was of a different order, a reunion in which Union and Confederate army of the Potomac and army of northern Virginia gathered in a common stadium of Gettysburg college and spoke from a common platform a common pledge of fellowship. Against this background was (CONTINUED ON PAGE SEVEN) o MOOSE TO HOLD STATE MEETING Decatur Moose To Attend State Convention In August A delegation from Adams lodge 1311, Loyal Order of Moose, is planning to attend the three-day 15th annual state convention of the Moose in Gary on August 11, 12 and 13. Fifty-two lodges will be represented at the convention, with Mark R. Gray, state president, presiding at the sessions. Registration for the convention opens at 8:30 on the morning of the first day, followed by a buffet luncheon at noon. The first meeting of the executive committee is scheduled for 2 p. m. on the same day, with the first open session at 4:15 p. m. The night program will include initiation ceremonies in the women’s lodge, dancing and a floor show. A sight-seeing tour is planned for the second day, followed by the conclave session at 4 p. m., banquet and entertainment at 6:36, a ball and floor show at 9 p. m. A full program of entertainment is planned for the third day.

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, July 1, 1938.

Hospital Board To Award Contract The awarding of the contract for the building of a new ambulance shelter and drive at the Adams county memorial hospital is scheduled to be made tonight at a meeting of the hospital board. Construction of the addition was made possible through a gift of about $4,666 from the estate of the late John McClain, of Blue Creek township. Phil Sauer, local contractor, who submitted a low bid of $3,492 for the proposed building, is expected to be given the contract. 0 FIND BODY OF MISSING YOUTH Body Os John Medill McCormick Found On Mountain Ledge Albuquerque, N. M„ July 1.- —idl.R) —The body of John Medill McCormick, grandson of Mark Hanna and heir to a publishing fortune, has been found in the wild Sandia mountains, the United States forest service announced today.

The discovery ended a search which was started a week ago to- | Cormick Simms, mother of McCorMick Simins, mother ’of McCor- ! inick, became worried when her j son and Richard Whitmer, his 20-year-old companion, failed to re- | turn from a mountain scaling exi pedition. They had left home I June 22. Whitmer’s body was found last j Friday on a ledge on the western shield of Sandia peak. The second body was on a ledge on the almost I vertical wall of the right fork of the canon Del Agua, approximate- ! ly a mile from where Whitmer was i killed. The canon runs northeast |of the Sandia peak precipice, ■ which was the youths' goal. The cannon precipice is 1,566 feet high. Foresters said the body would either be raised to the rim or lowered to the floor by ropes, jln either case it will have |o be carried 16 miles to the nearest road. Frank C. W. Pooler, regional forest service supervisor, announced the body had been found by a party of Sandia and Isleta Indian scouts led by Marion Perce of the Indian service. Perce and Pooler were working together on the search. Pooler said two Indians climbed down the difficult ledge and examined the body. Neither knew McCormick, so identification was not positive. “However,” said Pooler, “we are practically certain that the body is that of Medill McCormick. The body Is in such an inaccessible place that It will be impossible to recover It until late Friday.” Pooler refused to speculate on (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) o Young Berne Man On First Flight Luther Yager, 26, of Berne, son of Mr. and Mrs. L L. Yager, made his first solo airplane flight at the Smith-Baer airport In Fort Wayne this week. Young Yager, who has been interested in aviation for several years, made the flight after 11 hours instruction.

FIREWORKS TO BE FEATURE OF FOURTH OF JULY Legion Display Monday Night To Feature City’s Observance With the annual pyrotechnic display at Hana-Nuttman park in the evenig as the only official celebration of the day, residents of Decatur and community opened plans today for commemorating the Fourth of July. * The approximately 45-minute display of ground and aerial fireworks at the park will undoubtedly be the feature of the celebration here. Individual Fourth of July parties with families providing their own display of fireworks will be customary prevalent. The city itself, but for the din In Case Os Rain Legion officials announced today that in event of rain forcing cancellation of the fireworks display Monday night, the show will be presented promptly at 8:36 p. m. Tuesday. of firecrackers and other noisemakers, will be quiet. Business in general will be suspended. The First State bank, the Decatur public library and the postoffice will be closed. No mail, except special delivery, will be delivered. All stores, with the exception of filling stations, confectioneries, restaurants, theaters, cigar stores and fireworks' stores, will close for the day. As is customary, the Decatur Daily Democrat wil not publish on Monday. Many Decaturites will take advantage of the two-day holiday as- 1 forded by the Fourth falling on Monday and make trips to lake/ and other summer resorts. Garages and service stations' have been doing a heavy business the past few days conditioning autos for the holiday trips. Fireworks At 8:30 p. m. The fireworks display here, sponsored by the American Legion on I , the night of the Fourth will start I at 8:36 o’clock. The sheriff’s de-i partmet, city and state police will aid in handling the large amout | of traffic expected. Visitors to the display will be : (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) o William R. Barr Heads Fort Wayne State School Fort Wayne. July I—(U.R)~William1 —(U.R)~William R. Barr, Bluffton, today was eleefed president of the Fort Wayne state school at the annual organization meeting of the institution’s board of directors. He succeeds John Kitch, Fort Wayne, who resigned to become judge of the 72nd district court at Plymouth.

Body Os Drowned Man Is Recovered Lawrenceburg, Ind., July 1. —|(U.R> —The body of Mark Rousch, 30, of Petersburg, Ky., who was drowned here Tuesday when he fell asleep on the bank of the Ohio river and rolled into the water, was recovered last night by Joe Brady, a government diver. Rousch was employed by the Seagram Disj tillery company here. MURE RAINFALL IS EXPERIENCED More Than An Inch Os Rain Falls Here During The Night A second steady rainfall last night and this morning increased the prospects of an unusually wet summer this year. Walter Gladfelter, precipitation and river observer, reported this morning that 1.21 inches of water fell during the night. This precipitation and the rec-ord-breaking showers of June are expected to bring the total rainfall to a new high mark before the close of the summer season. The St. Mary’s river, however, has not been greatly affected by the rainfall, remaining at a practically normal depth, Mr. Gladfelter stated. The Wabash river and other streams In southern Adams county are reported to be at flood stage in many places. Starting last night about 11 p. m„ the rainfall started at a steady clip until about 8 o’clock this morning, with intermittent light showers continuing to fall after (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE),

1,000 Casualties Reported As Japs Raid China Port

STATE HEALTH ENGINEER HERE Paul Klieser Os State Board Os Health Speaks To Rotarians Paul Klieser, field engineer for the bureau of sanitary egineering of the state board of health, delivered an interesting discussion on the duties and activities of his department, at the weekly meeting of the Decatur Rotary club Thursday evening at the Rice hotel. Mr. Klieser stressed the necessity of a pure, safe water supply for healthier conditions in the world and discusesd the work of the state health board in controlling and governing water supplies in the state. At the present time, the state engineer said, the state control the water supplies of 364 individual communities in Indiana and is daily aiding other communities to provide adequate and safe water suuplies. The state health board has full control of swimming pools, of tourist camps, all of which must be licensed. Discussing sewerage, sewage facilities and sewage disposal plants, Mr. Klieser stated that there are 76 sewage disposal plants in Indiana at the present time and that a number of other cities are planning erection of such plants, most notable of which, he said, is Fort Wayne. Safe water supplies, Mr. Klieser said in closing, are a boon to recreation, to conservation and to proper, healthful food. Such supplies also aid in preventing property damage. Charles Brodbeck, superintendent of the water department of the Decatur municipal plant, was chairman of the program.

DEATH CLAIMS BAH MECHLING Wells County Resident Dies At Home In Curryville Today Daniel H. Mechling, 81. of Curryville, Wells county, died at his home this morning at 16 o’clock of heart disease. He had been ill about three weeks. Mr. Mechling was the father of Mrs. Roy Heller, of route 2, Decatur, and Mrs. William Scherry of Peterson. Born in Ohio, February 26, 1857. , he spent most of his life in Wells | county. ‘He was the son of Levi and Harriet Sovene-Mechling both of whom are deceased. He was married to Louise John in Wells county, who died July 16, 1936. He was the last of five children. Surviving are the following children, Mrs. Lewis McCormick, of Bluffton: John Mechling, of Craig-1 ville; Newton, of Craigville, and | Mrs. Heller and Mrs. Scherry. Two I children are deceased. I Funeral services will be held at the Jahn Funeral home in Bluffton, Sunday at 2 o’clock. The Rev. Mathew Worthman, pastor of the Bluff ton Reformed church, will officiate. Burial will be made in the Oakland cemetery, one mile north of Craigville. —o — Ideal Dairy Company Building Addition An addition, 18-feet in length Is being constructed at the rear of the Ideal Dairy company here, operated by Roy Price and Noah Rich. The new building is being constructed as a part of an enlarging program. _O — Execute Contracts For More Airplanes Washington, July 1. —<U.R> —The war department announced execution of contract for $14,433,196.88 worth of fighting airplanes —largest such order in the peace-time history of the nation. The order called for 98 airplanes. Included were 13 additional "flying fortress" bombing planes, two-motored Douglas bombers, seven Vultee attack planes and additional airplane motors and equipment.

Price Two Cents

I Nine Japanese Planes Bomb Swatow Today; j Heavy Loss Os Life Is Reported. TREATY SIGNED Swatow, China, July I—-ftj.R)— More than 1,606 persons were estimated to have been wounded or killed today in a Japanese air raid bombs on the city. Fires started in on this south China port. Nine Japanese planes dropped 71 the residential and business districts. The railway station and the water works were heavily bombed. The city apparently was without defense. No Chinese anti-aricraft guns replied. They were believed to have been removed to the interior. The property of Walter Berger, an American, was reported to have been hit by bombs. Huge Air Force (|By United Press) Two important developments affecting the balance of power in Eurepe occurred today, both centering on the Mediterranean. The first was the disclosure by Gen. Alfredo Kindelan, chief of the Spanish Nationalist air force, that the Nationalists plan a peace-time air force of 2,606 airplanes If they win the war. Such an air force would return Spain to the position of an important power, virtually dominating the western entrance to the Mediterranean and capable of threatening Britain’s Gibraltar. The other development was the conclusion by France and Turkey of a treaty of friendship which carried significant implications in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey controls the Dardanelles and like France, is friendly with Russia. Hence, in event of war, Russia would have access to the Mediterranean. The interlocking relations of France and Britain thus apparently would line up Russia, Turkey, France and Britain as possible allies, The Turkish line-up would tend to offset the announcement of Kindelan, if he proves a true prophet. A powerful Nationalist Spain would be allied to Italy and between them they might control the western Mediterranean.

A significant announcement was made in the British house of commons last ight when R. A. Butler, undersecretary of foreign affairs, told a uestioner that the passage of British ships through the strait of Gibraltar in time of war is assured. Butler did not amplify his statement to explain what is the baels of the "assurance.” Other European developments were minor. The crisis in the British parliam t over the rights of members subsided as a eelect committee began an investigation of charges against a member under lhe official secrets act for revealing military information. The prospects wereTTiat the committee would absolve Duncan San(CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) GIVE CONCERT SUNDAY NIGHT Men’s Octette To Present Sacred Concert At Union Service . — -w The North Central College men’a octette from Naperville, Illinois, directed by Clarence Dissinger, director of music, and accompanied, by Robert Hieber, student of music at North Central College, will render a sacred concert at the first of a series of union services, on next Sunday evening, 7:36 o’clock, at the Methodist Episcopal church. The organization Is composed of! a selected number of the finest voices of the college. The renditions are in keping with the high qualities of the work dime in the college. Only the best voices are selected to represent the college on the octette. The music loving public will be pleased with the coflcert. All worshippers will find in the service that which will enable them to worship God. The concert promises to be one of the best which the citizens of Decatur will have had the privilege of hearing. All are invited to the service.