Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 36, Number 257, Decatur, Adams County, 31 October 1938 — Page 1

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jarope’s Nations fra//? Problems To ■ Maintain Peace

|’ou<’i< Discuss Kd- Os Amicable In World ■ ;S SMLoXI ERENCE sW, 1 O'. U.R>—Fuehrer- .'^■ r rs agreement not to * jr ,or d period of t rfcK, C r -■> *- ars - '* was d,s ‘ gh’.. as Foreign MinBennet opened a talks which are rea prelude to fourfor general EuroKli jipppasementtlir I'niierl Press I], J'r'aO - "I'i- ! " IH ' l>''Kan get•i , ;i: < maintaining p.. cuv. innn-nt of «. V | o” k T KJTr.uli, socialist party to HL tit- >ii-' " r conversare.. on ,11(J . ambassador. Kj* i ' '•’ European ap- " . I Koine, has , Lil I.al to be bearing a I : -a [anti-war pact. JK Linlei. Prime Minister prior to full cabinet CM| to broad 'TBS' >< return of Germany's ■Bi colonies ' H’Wf" 1 "' ''■ question. in conwith which Germany is ’;• <1ei) ON PAGE SIX) IiSION ENDS SUNDAY NIGHT Weeks’ Mission Is teed At St. Mary’s Catholic Church two-weeks’ Catholic mission at St. Mary’s church Sunfening with the congregatending and Rev. Father Jrnst. Precious Blood misdelivering the concluding Idition to the sermon, proand Benediction of the Sacrament took place. en priests, including the Father Cyril, Rev. f Meyer, C. PP.S., Father Ald Rev. Father Joseph J. :, pastor of St. Mary’s participated in the proand service. S. imetz stated the misU»o v|as one of the most suceess|P yr held. More than 5,000 unions were distributilu- two weeks and the was large at both the masses and evening ser- ■ ABolher mission will probably in five years. Father announced today. The was held in 1932, just the death of Rev. Father then pastor of St. church, Cyril delivered an intalk on “Jesus Christ, and urged the faith- »■ fulfill their good intentions the mission. “Jesus UfT*? 1 is ~le best friend you have." the missionary. mission store in the Calhbuilding, which was ff?®ii'ted during the two weeks, 'han MOO of religious MgITINUED ON PAGE THREE) MgS — o f‘APERATURi= READINGS OCRAT THERMOMETER | a -m 34 2:00 p.rn 64 a m 45 3:00 p.m 66 g|| r ' 5« I WEATHER tonight and Tuesday; e , so co °l tonight; warmer

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Ex-Banker Dies

01

D. James Harkless, prominent Decatur resident, died Saturday night at the Adams county memorial hospital. Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon.

D. J. HARKLESS TAKEN BY DEATH Prominent Decatur Man Dies At Hospital Saturday Night D. James Harkless. 73, veteran bank employe and well known Decatur resident, died Saturday evening at 5:30 o'clock at the Adams county memorial hospital. Death followed a major operation for the removal of gall stones Thursday, October 20. He had been confined at the hospital since that time. At the time of his death, Mr. Harkless had been employed at the Schafer store here, acting in the capacity of credit manager and bookkeeper. Mr. Harkless first taught in the local schools and was later employed by the local post office for two years. He then joined the First National bank staff as bookkeeper, a position which he held until 1897 when he went to the Paulding Farmers’ bank at Paulding. Ohio. After five years he was employed at the National bank in Paulding as cashier. He was employed in Paulding for 23 years. Returning to this city, he was employed at the Peoples’ Loan & Trust Company bank here, then going to the Old Adams County Bank until ill health forced him temporarily to retire from active duties. In 1931 he went to Berne, where he was employed as cashier until 1934, when he came to the Schafer store as credit manager and bookkeeper. Surviving, besides the widow, are three daughters: Mrs. Herman (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) ONE WEEK UNTIL FALL ELECTION General Election Will Be Held Tuesday, November 8 With only one week remaining, Decatur and Adams county today intensified its preparations for the November election next Tuesday, November 8. Candidates of both parties, “warm up" to their chances in the approaching ballot casting event, flooded the community with cards proclaiming their merits and proniis6S« Posters, candidate cards, blotters and other forms of election advertising were on all sides. In the clerk’s office at the courthouse the official acts of preparing for election were taking place. - Voters, who will be unable to cast their ballots in the home precinct on election day were either making application for or voting by the absent voters’ method. Tuesday, November 1, will be the last day for respective county chairmen to file lists of the precinct election boards. The lists are now being prepared and are expected to be available for tomorrow!

RAILWAY HEADS ID CONFER ON WAGE DEMANDS Executives To Meet On Proposal To Drop Wage Reduction f Washington, Oct. 31 — <U.R> — Chairman H. A. Enochs of the carriers’ joint conference announced today that representatives of the nation’s railroads will meet in Chicago within two weeks to decide whether to withdraw demands for a 15 per cent wage cut affecting nearly 1,000,000 rail workers. The meeting. Enochs said, will be held I his week or next. The Chicago conference apparently was the major development at today's meeting of the carriers joint conference committee, summoned ! after President Roosevelt's spe- j cial fact finding commission rec-1 ommended against the railroads' - request for the pay cut. The announcement came as President Roosevelt intervened in the pay controversy in an attempt to avert a threatened walkout of railroad workers, who voted to strike should the operators attempt to enforce the $250,000,0001 pay cut. President John J. Pelley of the association of American railroads went to the White House at 10:30 a m. for the first of two important conferences scheduled by Mr. Roosevelt. The president was scheduled to see George M. Harrison of the railway labor executives association later. Pelley indicated that some of the weaker railroads might be opposed to withdrawing the paycut demand, but would not amplify this remark. Enoch's committee conferred with Pelley before he left for the conference with Mr. Roosevelt. Enochs said the committee was “disappointed" by the recommendations but that “the railroads are all law abiding.” “I don’t know whether all the : railroads wiH comply with the (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) o CHURCH HOLDS FINAL SERVICE Decatur M. E. Church Closes Centennial Observance | Every seat in the church was filled Sunday evening when Floyd I Brittson, of Dallas. Texas, former member of the church, superintendent of schools and hardware man here, spoke at the closing program of the month of special services at the Decatur M. E. church in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the congregation. Sunday morning, Dr. F. E. Fribley. Fort Wayne M. E. church superintendent, delivered the sermon. On each of the Sunday mornings and evenings during the last month, special services were held. I On week days other programs and dinners were held and a personal i evangelism campaign, begun by I Dr. T. H. Black, was carried out. The service Sunday evening was devoted to the Holy Land to which Mr. Brittson, who is now visiting i James Rice on North Fifth street, ! recently made a second visit. Mr. Brittson had taken a number of moving picture films both I in color and in black and white. He exhibited these, explaining them as the scenes proceeded. He had photographed many of the remaining landmarks mentioned in the Bible, including the probable birth of Christ, the probable home of James, the site where Paul became a Christian, and several places where he spoke, the Garden of Gethsemane, the hill on which Christ was crucified as well as many other scenes in Jerusalem and Nazareth. He also photographed the Sea of Galilee and historical scenes taken along his trip. During the showing of the film of the Sea of Galilee, Mrs. Dan Tyndall sang an unaccompanied number. Q Elks To Initiate Class Wednesday A class of candidates will be initiated into the B. P. O. Elks lodge at the regular meeting Wednesday night at 8 o’clock. The degree team of the Decatur lodge will confer initiatory work. A lunch will be served following the meeting. All members are urged to attend.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, October 31, 1938.

Requiem High Mass Wednesday Morning A requiem high mass for the poor souls in Purgatory will be celebrated at St. Joseph's Catholic cemetery Wednesday morning at 8 o” clock, weather permitting, in observance of All Souls day. The mass will be read, by Rev. Father Joseph J. Selmetz, pastor of St. Mary’s church. Five other masses will be said Wednesday morning at the < church. Priests may say three masses on All Souls day. The first mass will be said at 6 o’clock, continuing through to the high mass at the cemetery. RADIO PROGRAM SPREADS FEAR IN LISTENERS Too Realistic Program Frightens Thousands Os Hearers New York, Oct. 31 — <U.R) — The federal communications commission today investigated a radio dramatization of H. G. Wells' novel, “The War of the Worlds.” which threw thousands of listeners all over the country into panic last night and created scenes of mass hysteria among persons who believed the United States was being invaded. New York. Oct. 31. —(U.R) —Federal communications commission investigated a radio program today w’hich caused thousands of persons in every part of the country to believe, that the eastern United States had been invaded by creatures from the planet Mars in the first engagement of a "war of the worlds." The hysteria following the one hour radio dramatic program swamped police and newspapers of New York City and of New Jersey towns and cities where the Mari tian adventurese were said to have landed, killing thousands of perigons after they left their space rocket. But it was not limited to the I east. In Indianapolis, an unidentified woman ran down the main | aisle of St. Paul s Episcopal church, I crying, “the world is coming to an end.” The congregation was hastily dismissed. In Toledo, O„ three persons fainted at telephones while'trying to call police. In Chicago, police reported that several persons ran out of restaurants without finishing their meals. In Salt Lake City, residents packed their belongings and were only dissuaded from fleeing their homes by proof that it was all just entertainment. But in the east, in the country being subjected to the "invasion, hysteria ran riot. Several persons came forward to swear they saw the rocket land and “strange creatures” climb out of it. In Newark, N. J., hundreds fled from two city blocks, carrying what possessions (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) o X Railroad Man To Speak To Lions L. P. East, agricultural agent of the Pennsylvania railroad company, will be in this city Tuesday night and and speak to the members of the Decatur Lions club in their weekly meeting at the Rice hotel, it was announced today by the club president, Dr. N. A. Bixler,

“War Os Worlds” Broadcast Causes Excitement In City

The too-realistic radio play, broadcast last night over the Columbia broadcasting system, which threw many parts of the country into mass hysteria, also had its terrorizing effects in the city of Decatur and surrounding community. Although local radio listeners who iyere “taken in” by the broadcast were, this morning, naturally enough, reticent about admitting that they had been hoaxed, and in-| vestigation revealed the facts. The chief operator and a staff of telephone operators at the Citizens Telephone company spent a busy 15 , minutes about 7:30 o’clock last) night, relaying news of the “hor-, rible catastrophe.” It was mostly calls from those who sought to warn loved ones and friends, that came to the local of-1 flee, the operators stated. For several minutes tho opera-1 tors were busy at the lines before one caller gave them an Inkling of j

PLAN GOODWILL INDUSTRYHERE Churches Cooperate In Planning Goodwill Industries An opportunity to join the Goodwill Industries in this city is to be offered through arrangements being made with Decatur churches, who are cooperating. The organization now functions in 108 cities of the United States and has been successful in turning discarded articles of clothing and furniture Into wages for crippled and handicapped people. In the last ten years, more than $30,000,000 was derived from these articles and used in supplying the necessities of life for those who would be unemployable in any other industry except Goodwill. Goodwill industries throughout the United Spates have more than 53.000 people on their pay roll daily. Under the supervision of Rev. Harley A. Davis, a minister, and a competent board of directors made up of prominent business men of Fort Wayne, representing many church denominations, relief is being given to more than 30 families who otherwise would have to be cared for by state institutions. The manner in whrth the Goodwill Industries functions is to leave a Goodwill bag at each of the homes and later pick them up in a truck when they are filled. The contributed furniture, magazines, papers or other articles are taken to the shops, reconditioned and made ready for sale. They are placed on sale at the store operated by the Industries on 112 E. Columbia street, in Fort Wayne. This work has been growing with remarkable success since its beginning on January 15. This sort of relief costs the community very little since $1 contributed in cash produces $4 in wages. Discarded articles that are worked over furnish labor to keep the employees busy. Since the wages paid require more than the amount of sales, the overhead expenses must be (CONTINUED ON PAGE-FfVE) 0 FOG DESCENDS ON THIS CITY Heavy Fog Makes Driving Hazardous Sunday Night, Today A thick “pea soup" fog that settled over the city late last night, still hung low this morning, slowing traffic pace to a minimum as drivers anxiously leaned out windows as they wound their way through the city. It was the first heavy fog of the season and caused considerable inconvenience, especially among the drivers unaccustomed to such an element of nature. Practically all drivers turned on headlamps to warn other motorists of their approach. Hanging only in the low spots at first last night, tne rog gradually settled generally over the entire city and community. Low temperatures accompanied this new display of the season’s bag of elements, with the thermometer hovering near the freezing mark. This morning at 8 o’clock the Democrat thermometer recorded 34 degrees above zero, just two dedegrees above freezing. •

the cause of the smamped communication lines. In case you haven’t heard the ] cause and didn't listen to the radio last night: The broadcast was an adaptation of H. G. Wells of the “War of the Worlds,” in which ra-pid-fire commentators, described with horrifying reality the supposed destruction of the eastern states by the strange men or Mars, who | came to the Earth in a comet, using ! their devastating electric ray to massacre earthly residents by the scores. Local persons who did not hear ' the opening announcements of the ; play, understood that it was a news ' bulletin given by a commentator on the scene. In eastern cities near the scene I of the supposed massacre, hundreds ; of persons terrified by the broadcasts made preparations to desert | (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE)

ANNUALPARADE FOR HALLOWEEN THIS EVENING Callithumpian Parade, Free Dance, Feature City’s Program Decatur's annual Halloween celebration, the colorful Callithumpian parade, will be held tonight through the business district of the city at 7:30 o’clock. The annual celebration, which for several years has attracted thousands of participants and spectators to this city, has been one of the most popular events in Decatur’s history, and with perfect weather in prospect, one of the largest crowds ever to witness the Callithumpian parade is predicted tonight. Paraders will meet at the county jail yard in ample time to start the parade at 7:30 o'clock. The parade will move west on Adams street to Second, north to Marshall, east to First, south to Monroe, west to Second south to I Jefferson, where the line of march will end. The Decatur Chamber of Commerce, sponsors of the annual celebration, has set aside $l5O in cash prizes Jo be awarded to paraders in a number of divisions. These prizes will be presented at 9:15 o'clock at the Catholic school auditorium, where a free dance will be held immediately after the parade. The WPA orchestra will provide music for the dance. The general public is invited to attend the dance and witness the awarding of prizes and unmasking of the parade winners. The capital prize of $25 will be awarded to the best hand or drum corps in costume. Second prize in this division will be S2O and third prize of $lO. Various individual and group group prizes, ranging from $2 to $lO, will also be presented for unique and elaborately costumed paraders. o Driver Is Killed As Truck Strikes Train Anderson, Ind.. Oct. 31—(UP) — Rexford C. Lecka. 32, Muncie, was killed instantly early today when the Kuhner meat truck he was driving crashed into a Big Four freight train one mile west of here on new road 67. Bon Chalfonte, 40. Muncie, a passenger in the truck, was bruised. Berlin West, Muncie, driving behind Lecka in another meat truck crashed into the rear of Leeks’ A truck. West received a bruise on the head. oHigh School Student Hangs Self Saturday Fort Wayne, Ind., Oct. 31 —(UP) —Funeral services will be held this afternoon for Laverna A. Cocke, 16y ear-old high school student, who hanged himself Saturday afternoon. Dr. Walter E. Kruse, Allen county coroner, returned a verdict of suicide while despondent over the death of his mother." Mrs. Cocke had died a year ago last June. o — START RAZING OF WEST WARD Work To Start Tuesday On Wrecking West Ward Building Razing of the West Ward school building, one of the two to be wrecked to make way for the recently completed junior-senior high school, is scheduled to be started Tuesday morning. Walter J. Krick, city school superintendent, stated today. Yost Bros., of Decatur, have been awarded the contract for razing the old ward building. According to terms of the WPA grant, received to aid in the construction of the new school, both | the West Ward and North Ward are to be torn down. Work on the North Ward prob-j ably will not begin for some time yet. Students are still attending, school there. All students of the . WeAt Ward have been transferred ! to the old high school building. The transfer of all junior and senior high school students into the new structure was begun with a now intensity this morning. All students of the four high grades, the seventh and eighth grades are expected to be moved j into the new structure by mid(CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) I

G. E. Executives To Visit Decatur Branch Wednesday

Host To Officials E. W. Lankenau. superintendent of the Decatur works of the I General Electric company, will be I host to company executives from throughout the United States at a luncheon and meeting Wednesday.

CROPS CLUB TO SHOW SATURDAY County 4-H Crops Club Show To Be Held Here Saturday The Adams County 4-H Crops club show will be held Saturday, in the auditorium of the Decatur high school. The following classes will be exhibited: pollinated I corn. hybrid corn sugar beets, soil conservation maps, potatoes. forestry exhibit, and poul-i try. In addition to the exhibits, the record books for all agricultural projects wil ibe turned in at this time. The 4-H club boys have local crops’ clubs all over the county and theii exhibits will be brought to the high school to be judged Saturday morning. In the afternoon at 1:30, ail the club members are asked to be present at the high school and hear the judge's comments. A short, interesting program will follow. Parents and friends of the club; members are invited to attend the afternoon program. The following boys are expecti ed to exhibit in the show: Arthur Franz of Decatur; Berne: Duraht Amstutz. Bobby Badlkiga’’tner, Gerald Gerig, Merlin Habegger, Frederick Lehman, Frederick H. Liechty, Edison Dale Reynolds, Robert Reynolds, Burl John Sprunger, Delbert Doyle Sprunger, John Henry Sprunger and Roy Sprunger. This club is under the leadership of J. D. R. Schwartz of Berne. Jefferson: Bill Andrews. David Mosser, Warren Andrews. Robert • Lautzenheiser. Clifford Baker, ! Donald. Earl and Harold Hamrick. Bill Kenney, Gerald and i Virgil Morningstar, Donald Lee 1 Cline and Warren Augsburger. Kirkland: This club is led by Stanley Arnold. Billy, Don. EuI gene and Stanley Arnold, Jack ' Beineke Eugene Bender, Leo Borne, Carl Braun, Hugh Ehrmau. j Janies ffipsnaugh, Glen Griffiths, j I Junior and Richard Helmrich, | ' Carl, Dale and Glen Mankey, I 1 Robert Reppert, Dwight, Kenneth and Richard Roth, Billy Shady, I Donald Shady, Harvey L. Smith, : Dallas Walchle, Paul Worthman. I ' DeWitt Williamson, Nile Williamson, and Edward Yaney. Monroe: Elmer Nussbaum is in , charge of this club. Thomas j Johnson, Robert L. Mann, Alvin, I Elmer, Leo and Milo and Reuben Nussbaum, Chester. Leßoy and Millard Schwartz. Clinton and j i Franklin Steury, and Darrel j ! Wagner. Root: This club is under the > I (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) o Bloemker Infant Dies Today At Indianapolis i Funeral services will be held Tuesday morning at 10 o’cjock in Indianapolis for Robert Edward, infant son born Saturday afternoon to Dr. and Mrs. Edward Bloemker, I of that city. The infant died this morning. I Mrs. Bloemker was formerly Miss Helen Kirsch, daughter of Mr. and j Mrs. O. L. Kirsch, of the city. |

Price Two Cent?

Leading Officials From G. E. Plants In U. S. To Inspect Decatur Branch Plant. SERVE LUNCHEON Executives of the General Elecric company from the different Plants throughout the country will meet in this city Wednesday at the Decatur G. E. Works for the final session of a two-day ales committee meeting, which ipens Tuesday at Fort Wayne. Headed by C. E Wilson, execu.ve vice-president of New York, nd E. O. Shreve, vice-president i tnarge of sales from Schenecady, a group of 33 of the leading ..ecutives of the company will jet here Wednesday noon. J. W. Lankenau, superintend,nt of the Decatur plant, will act las host to the company execuI lives, including Neil Currie, Jr., ; manager of the Fort Wayne Works and executives from that city. A luncheon will be served at 1:15 in the local club rooms at the plant, followed by a trip of inspection through the factory from 2 to 3 o’clocjt. From 3 to 4 o’clock the final session of the day conference will be held In the clun rooms. This is the first time in the history of the plant that such a disr nguish?d group of General Electric executives has visited Decatur at one time. Mr. Wilson is assistant to Gerard Swope, president of the General Electric company. The conference will deal with the sale of fractional horsepower motors and matters pertaining to the sales department. Aqiong the executives who will be here are: E. W. Allen, vice-president, I Schenectady. N. Y.; R. M. Alvord, district manager Pacific district, San Francisco; John Anderson, secretary sales committee. Schenectady: 11. L. Andrews, vice-pres-ident, New York, vice-chairman sales committee; J. V. Anthony, manager distribution department, Schenectady; C. W. Appleton, vice-president. New York: Hi H. Harnes, Jr., commercial vice-pres-ident. New York district, W. O. Batchelder, commercial vice-pres-ident, central district, Chicago. W. J. Becker, chief commercial engineer. Schenectady; L. T. j Blaisuell, commercial vice-presi-dent southwestern district, Dallas; J. F. Cunningham, assistant to vice-president of manufacturing, Schenectady; E. H. Ginn, commercial vice-president southeastern district. Atlanta; W. J. Hanley, commercial vice-president of east central district, Cleveland; J. E. N. Hume, manager of industrial department; A. L. Jones, commercial vice-president Rocky Mountain district. Denver. T S. Knight, commercial vicepresident New England district, Boston; C. H. Lang, manager publicity department. Schenectady; A. S. Moody, manager northwestern district. Portland, Oregon; E. O. Shreve, vice-presi-dent in charge of sales, Schenectady; W. M. Stearns, manager of special contracts, Schenectady; ’ (CONTINUED on PAGE FIVE) ADAMS COUNTY NATIVE DIES Andrew J. Buffenharger Dies Saturday At Crown Point Andrew J. Buffenbarger, 92, former Adams county resident, died Saturday at the home of a son, : Ferguson, in Crown Point. Death was due to complications. The deceased was born east of Berne March 21. 1846. the son of i Jesse and Kathryn Buttvnbai ger. | Surviving are three sons, FergI nson of Crown Point, Sherman of | Hartford City and Alex of Albany; a brother, John Buffenbarger, of Decatur. The body was taken to the Bierfe & Yager funeral home in Berne, where It may he viewed until time for the funeral Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Spring Hill church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The deceased for a number of years resided with a nephew, Harrison Miller, east of Berne, beforo | moving to Crown Point.