Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 36, Number 302, Decatur, Adams County, 23 December 1938 — Page 1

fIfIISTMAS edition

XXXVI. No. 302.

DEDICATED [LAST EVENING L Junior-Senior High [gchool Building Is Dedicated

inost i'npressiw kind ■ Uy’s magnificent, million dollar junioi'mb S' !.•><•! was forniall;. MKihl last night before more IE m , - terns of 1 Vcaliii and I 1,200 people filled ■4: ; ii'ing t'aeilities on floor and lined th* of the new strtli tme leaders and enthustrilm’e for their part in - soft, Impress of the lights from the .....■d * oiling of the audithose who had gathered tirst time to publicly tour institution of learning. personages praise I:, id.ng and laud the .1 those connected with I Mi Murray, state sup.-i- ■ instruction ami the principal speakers on ■Hpn'c.im highly commended |Mr;.r upotc tile new building, • !•- it as "one of the finest I ■aJj »ver seen.’’ in the midst of a great bii.ldiiig." the speaker st.itrotii|,arable to the times ■M. ■ ■ t Egyptians and tli.-i: of the Romans and their the golden age of '< intricate structure Chinese at the time they their walls.” he said, in speaking of Hh school, "is a product of era of building. This 'll inure than 650 improve and time new school buildthe state of Indiana in years, an average of three vajßl county. In audition, more 'housands of mile- of iH" ON PAGE' SIX) ■VARY CHURCH ■UNS PROGRAM ■ilvary Evangelical ■torch Program Sunday Evening Program will lie givaHl' the Calvary Evangelical Siimlay evening at 7:00 o'Th- program is being spoilSunday schoo: end th--people are presenting the The following are the Music — The W.il- — The Choir Prayer. Children Marcella Miller — Maryin Manlier — Marjorie Miller. of Greetings. Duet— Misses Mildred SliifFayma Miller. |BdUtion — Brice Miller. — Paul Miller — Betty Leh litenber- — The Choir ■Ration — Bobby Miller ■ ation—Mildred Shifferly. — Dorthea Smitlcy. — Four Girls. Three Candlev ■“tai Duet — Fern Leichtenber■“d Ardella Miller. — James Tee pie. ■’l’umental Music — The Wai- ■ sr ''ise — Call of the Christmas H klng - — Girls Cfhorus — Junior Miller — Mary Margaret OhBromine

I \ D I ■ fr CHRISTMAS SEALS

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

South Ward Pupils Entertained Today The South Ward teachers association served its annual Christmas dinner today to the children of the school. This was the loth annual Christmas dinner. The table was appropriately decI orated and the menu filled with Christmas delicacies. The mothers of the students prepared all food with the exception of the chicken, which was prepared in the domestic scene rooms of the new school by Miss Mildred Worthman, instructor. Each child was given a Christmas treat. A large Christmas tree afforded the main decoration at the annua party.

GOV. TOWNSEND EXTENDS TIME TO BUY PLATES Governor Extends Auto License Sale Date To March 1 Indianapolis. Dec. 23. — (U.R) — Gov. M. Clifford Townsend today extended until March 1 the date for purchase of new 1939 automobile license plates. At the same time the governor expressed the "hope" that the legislature will extend the date of purchase of new license plates to some time between March 1 and July 1. The extension does not apply to drivers’ licenses, which must be purchased by January 1. This is the second consecutive year that Townsend has granted a moratorium on license plate purchases. Last year he did so with the assertion that business recession had created a difficult financial condition for many motorists. But this year Townsend bluntly said that he believed it is “unjust to require motorists to pay license fees at a time of the year when 'Mr obligations are the heavies. The governor said he is asking all law enforcement officers to cooperate with his extension of time. "In past years,” Townsend said, “motorists have been unable to drive their cars for several weeks because they were financially unable to pay their fee at the first of the year. An automobile no longer is considered a luxury and for many persons the loss of their automobile is a real tragedy. “Last year we extended the tune required for purchase of new licenses and I do so again with the hope that the coming session of the legislature will enact such a law as may be necessary to extend the date of license sales to (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) - temperature readings democrat thermometer 8:00a.m 32 2:00 p.m 32 10:00 a.m 32 3:00 p.m 32 Noon 32 WEATHER Cloudy becoming generally fair, somewhat colder tonignti Saturday fair, somewhat colder in east portion.

TO ORGANIZE CAMERA CLUB Made Tuesday ' Final organization will be effected at the second meeting of the Decatur Camera Club to be held Tuesday evening at clock i oT “ne ter permanent MMXtCThe “still” division of the club taken by the ption has “o'— l “> sizes of contac P names, me prints are not to catty

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

11. S. TO KEEP FIRM ATTITUDE TOWARD NAZIS Relations Strained Over Latest Dispute Over Remarks Washington, Dec. 23—(UP)—A high administration official indicated today that the United States would maintain its strong attitude toward the German government even though resultant events might lead to a severance of diplomatic relations. The state department's rebuke to Germany through acting secretary of state Summer Welles was not calculated to cause a diplomatic breach. But amicable relations were more* strained than at any time since the world war because of Welles’ refusal to apologize for, or express disagreement with, a speech delivered by secretary of interior Ickes. For the present, the result of the diplomatic clash depended upon the German government. It was stated officially that the next move. If any must come from there. It was emphasized that the future of GermanAmerican relations may depend upon the action Germany takes. According to high administration officials. President Roosevelt was determined not to back down, and is prepared, if necessary to attempt to force Germany to live up to the terms of its “friendship” treaty which guaranteed the personal liberty and the rights of enterprise of all Americans residing in Germany. The present situation was created at what must have been a most dramatic conference Wednesday between Welles and Dr. Hans Thomsen, charge D'affaires of the German embassy and ranking member of the German diplomatic staff here since the recall of ambassador Hans H. Dieckhoff. Thomsen protested and demanded • CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE)

CHURCH PLANS XMAS PROGRAM First Evangelical Church To Give Christmas Programs The pupils of the children s division of the First Evangelical Sunday school will render their Christmas program Sunday morning at 10:10 o'clock. The program is being directs by Mrs. Earl Fuhrman, superintendent of the children’s division and her assistants in the department. The program follows: Piano prelude, selected Phyllis Kolter. The invocation. Recitation— “A Change of Plans —Jackie Lutz. Exercise —“Our Debt”— Clarabelle Brown. Rodger Cole and Jerry Recitation — “When I Think of Christmas” —Jack Hahnert. Piano solo, selected Jackie Warren. .. , Recitation —“A Secret Janelie Sheets Recitation - A Christmas Candle —Kenneth Roop. Exercise —“The Right Kind of Friend -’_Amy Lou Reynolds and Dwight Sheets. Recitation -“Tiny Tots -Barbara Cole. Primary song. Recitation —“I Haven’t Any Doi-

(CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) —o — Zion Lutheran Will Hold Christmas Party The annual children's Christmas party of the Zion Lutheran church wil be held Saturday evening at 7 o'clock at the church. Songs, recitations, singing of carols and other entertainment will be presented. oGood Fellows Club J Previous total A Friend Gecode Club ' ' Caroline Nelson ■•••••• -® Mr. and Mrs. Good Fellow.. 2.00 Mrs. Akey ' Bobby Mutschler T0ta15322.65 New wearing apparel has been donated by the Boston Store Holt-house-Schulte Co., and C. A. Doug lag co., and toys by the Niblick Store.

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, December 23, 1938.

Pearl Buck Gets Nobel Prize f I /•«. ■■ ; ■■■ >■ J y z' ' r x Pearl Buck and King Gustav In a brilliant ceremony in the Stockholm concert house. Pearl Buck, American writer, receives from King Gustav V of Sweden the 1938 Nobel prize in literature. Mrs. Buck receive.! a parchment certificate bound in tooled leather, the Nobel medal ami a check for an amount equal In American money to about $37,795.

EIGHTEEN APPLY AS POSTMASTER Names Os 18 Persons Announced To Take Examination The names of the 18 persons who applied to take the civil service commission examination for the appointment of postmaster of Decatur, were announced today from Washington. Two women and 16 men are applicants for the examination. The date for the assembled examination has not yet been set. Mrs. Lola P. Macklin, who is serving as acting postmaster, succeeding her husband, who died in July, 1937, and Mrs. Grace T. Wei-, land, bookkeeper at the Schafer company, are the two women applicants. The other applicants are: August A. Heiman, restaurant proprietor; Paul Blackburn, employe at the Lee Hardware Co.; Clayson J. Carroll, former coal yard proprietor; Theodore L. Becker, employe of the Decatur Hatchery; Henry Frohnapfel. local chiropractor; Leo W. Kirsch, auto dealer; E. Coy Martz, barber; Burl Johnson, former state policeman; Joseph C. Laurent, money order clerk in the Decatur postoffice; Ralph E Roop city engineer; Tillman H. Gehrig. General Electric employe; William G.Griffiths, farmer; Dick Boch state highway: employe and an applicant for the appointment in a former examination; Fred P. Hancher, barber; Raymond Borne, school teacher (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) 0 NO PAPER MONDAY Following annual custom, the Decatur Daily Democrat will not publish an edition Monday, December 26, which is the legal observance of Christmas Day

Business Outlook Series Is Prepared By I. U. Experts

(Editor's Note: This is the first of a series of articles on the various lines of Indiana business perpared by members of the faculty of the Indiana University School of Business Administration.) Indiana Real Estate and Mortgage Activity in 1938 by . (Dr. Arthur M. Weimer, Professor of Real Estate, Indiana University Business Administration School.) During 1938 the volume of real estate activity in Indiana lagged behind the levels established in 1937. Similarly, the amount of mortgage activity was smaller than that of last year. During the first half of this year, real estate transactions were considerably smaller in number Chan in the first half of 1937 and more nearly resembled the amount of business transacted in the corresponding period of 1936. The general business recession

.Jury Commissioners Re-Appointed Today Judge Huber M. DeVoss has reappointed Henry F. Gallemeyer, Democrat of Preble township, and Forrest Elzey, Republican of Decatur. as jury commissioners for 1939. The two men have been ordered to appear in open court, Tuesday, December 27. to qualify. The third member ot the jury commissioners in County Clerk G. Remy Bierly. who serves by reason of his office. The other two men, by law, must be ot' different political faiths. oKIRKLAND PLANS XMAS SERVICE Christmas Program At Kirkland Building Sunday Night “The Glory of Christmas,” a can-tata-pageant, will be presented in the Kirkland community building bv the* Kirkland community Sunday evening at 7:30 o’clock. The general public is invited to attend. The complete program follows: Instrumental prelude. Call to worship—Rev. Yunker. “Christmas” — choir. Invocation—Rev. Flesher. Prayer response—choir. Offertory prayer — Rev. Meckstroth. Carol-anthem, “Joy to the World" choir and congregation. Anthem, “Tidings of Joy and Peacs” —Shoir. Carol, "It Came upon the Midnight Clear,”—young people. Soprano solo and choir, “Come to Bethlehem” — Irene Fosnaugh, soloist. Duet and choir, “O Prophet Voices Ringing,” Miriam Hoffman and Dou(CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR)

apparently accounted for this condition However, since July the | differences between the amount j of real estate activity in the last! two years have not been marked, ; and while the amount of business transacted in recent months has not equalled the 1937 levels, it, has been nearly as great. The volume of real estate transactions during the current year and remained below the amount of mortgage business reported for 1937. However, the number of mortgages recorded in the last half of this year compared favorably with the corresponding period of a year ago. These general changes were typical of each of the six major urban connties of Indiana: Allen, Lake. Marion. St. Joseph. Vanderburgh and Vigo. In the first eleven months of 1938. a total of 30,528 transfers of real property were recorded in these counties, (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO)

Harry L. Hopkins Is Named Secretary Os Commerce To Succeed Daniel C. Roper

OBSERVANCE OF CHRISTMAS IS PLANNED HERE Decatur And Community To Observe Annual Christmas Holiday Decatur and community were today preparing for its annual commemoration of the year's outstand-, Ing holiday — Christmas Day. The people here will join with' the rest of the Christian world Sunday and Monday in rejoicing the birth of the infant Lord Christ In the town of Bethlehem nearly 2,000 years ago. Significant of God’s gift to the world in presenting his only begotten son, relatives and loved ones will give tokens of their affection, terming them "Christmas gifts.” Children and grown-ups alike will anxiously await the coming of "Santa Claus” and his presents on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, as the entire community joins in a weekend of festivities. As for the city itself, business will be generally suspended in commemoration of the event cally all stores will close on botn ■Sunday and Monday. Since the holt-1 day falls on Sunday, the legal holi-' day will be observed Monday, December 26. The post office will be closed, with only gift packages and special deliveries on Monday. The bank and all public buildings and offices will be closed. The Daily Democrat will not publish on Monday, since the day has been legally declared a holiday. Ixxal stores are anticipating the usual last minute rushes Saturday as late shoppers who failed to heed the “shop early” warnings make desperate efforts to secure suitable presents and purchase necessities for over the two-day holiday. At Decatur's churches, the event will be more reverently observed. A majority of the churches are presenting Christmas iprograms tonight DOONTJNUED ON PAGE THREE)

Gifts Are Announced At School Dedication Principal W. Guy Brown of the Decatur..high school in his address at the dedication services of the school last night presented a flag in memoray of Michael W ertzberger, first janitor at the old Central School. The flag was given Mr. Brown by Mrs. S. Adelia Walters, daughter of Mr. Wertzbergcr. Mr. Brown also announced that the classes of 1938 and 1939 had made the opening contributions to a fund for a plaque, to be erected in the new school in memory of the late M. F. Worthman, former city school superintendent. —o CHURCH OF GOD XMAS PROGRAM Annual Christmas Program Will Be Presented Sunday The annual Christmas program of the Church of God will be pre* sented at the church Sunday

seniee. ....----- morning. The complete program follows: Song by the congregation—“O Come all ye Faithful." Scripture. Prayer. Recitations—- “ Welcome” —Doris McKean “Greetings”—Bobby Mitchel “Trimmings'—'Juanita Weldy Exercise —‘Spirits of t hiislmas Joy —Sharon Strickler Cheer —Barbara Marshall Kindness —Doris Marshall Love —Barbara Bollinger Gladness —Maiy Ellen Magner. Recitations — “What Can I Do?’’- Bobby Rayhouser • "The Best Gift”—Ruth Gaskill "A Gift for Jesus" — Bobby ' Strickler J Piano solo, “Whispering Hope’ 11 —Mary Bollinger. Recitations — , “Christmas Lights" — Jean MltI (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE)

PAGEANT WILL MARK PROGRAM Eighth St. U. B. Christmas Program, Pageant Sunday Night A Christmas program and pageant will be given Sunday night at the Eighth Street U. B. church at 7 o’clock. The program is as follows: Prelude. Silent Night Donald Lobsinger. Guitar music—Paris Hakes and Vilas Elzey. Responsive Reading. Prayer. Recitation — Carol Joan Kluseman. Recitation—Welcome — Sharon Martin. Recitation—Gloria Vian. Recitaion—Floyd Mcßride. Recitation—Pauline Lobsinger. Recitation—Lois Ann Troutner. Offering. Pageant—The Shepherd’s Trail. Characters: The stranger—Clara Klemz. The Spirit of Yule Fir—Eilleen Johnston. Six youths—Evalyn Klemz. Donna Johnston. Jean Elzey, Betty Brewster, Patsy Gaffer and Ollie Smith. Shepherds—Paris Hakes, Melvin Klemz, and Richard Harrod. Wise Men—Warren Harrod. Junior Hakes and Vilas Elzey. Angel—Wanda Vian. Angel—Wanda Vian. Hidden Voice —Dale Osborn. Rose—Phyllis McClure. Christmas card—Mona Lee Martin. Gift—Herbert Johnston. Christmas Tree — Claire Reyn(CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) 6—

ZION REFORMED XMAS PROGRAM Zion Reformed Church To Give Program Christmas Eve The annual children’s program presented Christmas Eve by the Zion Reformed church will be held Saturday at 7 p. m. The program will be as follows; Revotions—Rev. C. M. Prugh. “Welcome”—Leonard Egly. “Merry Christmas Day”—Evelyn Rash. Recitations — Audrey Andrews, Alice Beineke. “A Tiny Girl” —Doris Jean Pnigh. “Calling Santa Claus" — Harriet Gerber. "Fairy Snowflakes” — Evelyn Summers. "Bobby’s Letter”—Max Andrews. “The Snowman” —Primary class. "Dollies' Christmas” — Harriet Beer. Recitation— Virginia Rash. “Hurrah For Santa Claus" —Four Beginners. ••If —Barbara Jean Andrews. “Worship”—Primary boys. "God's Gift to Mankind”—Neil Thomas. . “Hail Christmas Morn’ —1 rlmary boys. “The Real Thing" — Mary A. Beineke and Nora Gens Myers. •■The Christ Child" — Primary girls. “Merry Christmas” — Primary gi “Ten Little Christmas Bells’’— Beginners’ class. Christmas Acrostic — Primary class. "Lest We Forget” — Artena Cable. Candle service. Reading by Sally (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) — e- —♦ Buys Health Bond e — ♦ The Shakespeare Club has vot-

ed purchase of a $5 health bond, W. Guy Brown, chairman of the Christmas Seal drive, announced today. Proceeds from the health bond fund are used to aid in the fight against tuberculosis and to provide milk for unde r nourished children.

CHRISTMAS SEALS Help t® Protect Your Home from Tubercutosir

CHRISTMAS EDITION

Price Two Cents.

Works Progress Head Is Named By President To Cabinet Post; To Take Office Tonight. CLOSE TO F. D. R. Washington, Dec. 23 — (U.PJ — President Roosevelt today named works progress administrator Harry L. Hopkins to be secretary of commerce in a move Interpreted in some quarters as a boost for the relief spender toward the 1940 new-deal Democratic presidential nomiuation. At the same time Mr. Roosevelt designated Col. F. C. Harrington, West Point graduate, to be acting works progress administrator, and named Aubrey Williams, who has served as deputy administrator, to be administrator of the national youth administration. Mr. Roosevelt's orders promoting Hopkins and shifting Williams swept from the big spending re lief controls the two men who were most severely criticized for permitting alleged political activity In the organitation during the 1938 general election. Harrington, a regular army officer who has been serving as chief WPA engineer, was “designated” rather than nominated as the new relief chief. It was suggested that he would continue to draw army pay and would not require senate confirmation. Presidential Secretary Stephen T. Early announced later that since Harrington was designated merely as acting WPA administrator. he would not require senate confirmation. The announcement was made at the White House today slightly more than 12 hours before Secretary Daniel C. Roper will retire from the commerce department. He resigned to attend to private business. His departure, however, is of greater significance. The so-called left wing of the new deal long has considered Roper among its potential if not extremely effective obstacles and there has been pressure upon Mr. Roosevelt to get rid of him. Hopkins' elevation to the cabinet merely ratified his position in the front rank of new deal councils. He long has attended cabinet meetings and rates as one of Mr. Roosevelt's closest political advisers. It was Hopkins who tossed out the first ball in the new deal's spectacularly ineffective effort to ‘ purge” conservative Democrats in the 1938 primaries. Hopkins endorsed Rep. Wearin, D., la., a staunch new dealer, who sought to defeat Sen. Gillette, D., la., an occasional bolter, in lowa's primary. Wearin's decisive defeat was but the first of a series which set the administration back on its heels. For Work Relief Harry Hopkins, nominated today by President Roosevelt for the cabinet post which Secretary of Commerce Roper is vacating, once introduced himself sadly as (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) THIEVES LOOT DECATUR STORE J. J. Confectionery Is Looted By Thieves This Morning Thieves broke into the .1. J. confectionery sometime early this morning and escaped with a loot of cigarettes, beer and a sma'l amount of cash. John Joseph, owner of the confectionery, estimated the loot taken from the store at about five cases of beer and 31 cartons of cigarettes. The thieves also took approximately $5.30 from the cash register of the City News Stand, owned by Paul H. Briede, and located in the front of the confectionery. Entrance was gained through a rear window. The latch on the window apparently had not been locked. Bars and screening over the window were pried oft with a leaf from an auto spring, it Is thought. After gaining entrance into the tear ot the building, the thieves used the same instrument to pry oft an Inner door and enter the front part of the building. The theft was noticed this morning by Joseph when he opened the store.