Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 37, Number 16, Decatur, Adams County, 19 January 1939 — Page 1

rXXVII. No. 16.

WISH LOYAL .BCES CLAIM lIDE STEMMED ?H or t Government -E„ )P s Fighting Off Rebel Thrust .. uP) - "‘l’"I'*oll 1 '* 011 troops were beinn lopoHed ' ,,l " !rai ' p. ~ luna donion- , bt . b yalist dispatches JR by the fad that repeatthrusts during the |ML davs have not been sueRebel Gen Francisco apparently has failed so a weak spot in the reloyalist defense from th- French fronthe Pons sector to M southward through the and t’og'illa hills to Vencontinuing to batter < t Igual da the inlanders u< rtn hold out ul sts. insurgents a surprise drive in the bills dispatches attack tail- that - sought to the u flank et the Igualada M, I.:;- ' -■■ ■ • ■' - Mde Armentera. east of :. th- goveriiin- nt mesbut loyalist reinforceJk sent drive fighting continued, the reported. along front." but detailed oi; villages oct upi.nl indi the chief progress wci., Mr . alieadv sur- * nationalists reported that SMhad occupied the village of or, 'he extreme southwhere they are moving from Tauacmua toward The real loyalist de- ,,\- pace TWO) — - — ■«LLED AUTO ■llf TRAIN Hee Members Os FamH Jump To Safety M Before Accident pssons and a child escaped death last nigh: about a 45 their stalled auto was fc r a Pennsylvania freight B^H a - the Adams street crossing, who escaped were Mr. and ■ Kocher. si„ Jetferson a,1,! ,t,p tr seven-year oid son. Ss' leaped to safety just befreighter struc k the auto . °' ,>r - driving ,. ast on Ad . M‘ treet ' said that he did not MM ‘ 6e a PP ro aching train until llini H e said he applied and the <- jr started skiil- • » it struck the tracks, the ■O and the car stalled. IB lng °P*n the doors, he grabhK f hild and all three clam ■ ? M estimated 15 seconds ■ "<* ‘■itgine rammed into the unusual coincidence, the IHhim^ 0 ' Wit ' l ignil ion switch Hksnd ° n ' Btar,ed after bein|H ran lnto the yard near■naged v d ° f the Car was bad ‘ ■ him i 1°”” ° f ,he ocri| pants H’X I ,bey Buff *red K ® shock anti a thorough K?!r,ar ‘ Husseii Prior, Il jl Mperat ure readings m Ovßat THERMOMETER Eo>.m 22 r° Opm 26 ■o.. We ather ■“ lh ''X\tled' r in extreme port! d ' n central and toni Sht and *, ‘Oflhtly warmer Fri-

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

O’Dan id’s In

1 ’" I 'ijii'' ? W. Lee O'Daniel Flour salesman, poet, radio singer and hillbilly band leader, W. Lee O'Daniel, takes the oath of office as new governor of Texas in ceremonies before 50,000 persons at Austin. O'Daniel, who campaigned with a hillbilly band, thundered his intention to drive out "professional politicians." but did not mention his pension plans in his inaugural address. O'Daniel, born at McArthur. 0., has promised S3O a month for one and all over 65. URGE CAUTION TO MOTORISTS Drivers Warned Against Hazardous Condition Os Highways Authorities today urged motorists to continue to exercise extra precaution on eounty roads and paved state and federal highways. Hard-packed snow and ice still cover cement roads and county highways, they reported. Only black top roads are practically free from snow. A cessation of the snow fall this morning and the continuous traffic aided In wearing away a greater portion of the ice on the highways but had little effect on city streets. Last night driving was extremely hazardous. Motorists in the city were forced to move their cars at a snail's pace to avoid accident. In-ter-city traffic was kept at a minimum. Temperatures also took a sudden fall during the night. Hovering near the freezing mark almost all day Wednesday, the mercury slipped a way about 10 degrees during the night. This morning at 8 o'clock the Democrat thermometer registered 22 degrees above zero and ascended but very little during the entire forenoon. - n Fire Destroys Two Stores At Atwood Warsaw, Ind.. Jan. 19 —<UP) — F‘re, following an unexplained explosion, early today completely destroyed the Cash Rovenstine general store and the Smith Hardware at Atwood, seven miles west of here, for a loss estimated at >15.000. 0 GEORGE GERBER IS GIVEN FINE Magley Man Fined For Possession Os Gambling Devices George Gerber, Magley filling station proprietor, this afternoon was fined $25 and costs when he entered a plea of guilty before Mayor Forrest Elzey in city court to a charge of possession of gambling devices. Gerber was arrested Friday evening by state policemen Russell Prior and Truman Bierie and Sheriff Ed P. Miller when they raided his tilling station at Magley. A slot machine, dice games and premiums given to winners on the; devices were confiscated. • The court returned the money from the machines and the pre mlurns, and ordered the devices destroyed. They were to be destroyed this afternoon at the jail. Gerber and D. A. Gehrig, proprietor of the Family restaurant tn this city, were both arrested Friday when the officers raided (both places of business.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

EXTENSION OF LICENSE PLATE DEADLINE SEEN House Adopts Report Extending Deadline To March 1 Indianapolis, Jan. 19 — (U P) — Extension of the deadline for purchase of automobile license plates from Jan. 1 to March 1, as recommended by Gov. M. Clifford Townsend, appeared assured today when the house of the legislature adopted a committee report favoring such a law. Similar measures have been introduced into the senate. With the Republican majority in the iiouse and the Democratic majority in the senate both backing bills to this effect, favorable action on the proposal this session seems certain. The bill considered today in the house was. sponsored by Reps. Roy Harrison of Attica and Robert A. Hoover of Goshen, both Republicans. Their original proposal would have extended the deadline to April 1, the bill would become effective next year, with no charge against motorists for the two months during which 1939 license plates would carry over. On this latter section, an argument ensued. Rep. Edward Stein of Bloomfield, Democratic minority leader, protested that the state would lose $500,000 In revenue and urged that the report of the committee be rejected. But on a vote almost entirely on party lines, the report favoring the bill was adopted, 53 to 39. The house spent a half-hour wrangling over a committee report on installing a loud speaker system in the house at a cost of $2,844 which would provide a microphone at every representative’s desk, at the speaker's rostrum and by the reading clerk. Finally the house voted for the installation, 67 to 23, after debating whether to spend the money. Sen. John Webb delayed introduction of his bill providing a $5,000 exemption for home owners from property taxes, explaining that it needed some revisions. Webb emphasized that there (CONTINUED ON PAGE SEVEN, o BIRTHDAY BALL DUCATS ON SALE Good Advance Sale Reported For Annual Ball January 28 Plans for the annual President's Birthday Ball to be held at the Decatur Country club Saturday night, January 28, are progressing rapidly, accodlng to John L. DeVoss, chairman. Early ticket sales indicate a large crowd will attend the yearly Decatur event, staged to raise funds for combatting infantile paralysis. The tickets are selling for sl. Os this amount 50 cents is So be retained by the local Birthday Ball committee, to be used in fighting the disease locally, while 50 cents goes to the national foundation for research work. Frankie Schenk and his orchestra of Lima, Ohio, will furnish the music tor the event. A report from Harry Grube, chairman of the “March of Dimes" progam being conducted in the city schools is also expected within a short time. The “March of Dimes” movement is also designed to aid in gathering contributions toward the battle against the disease and the proceeds are divided in the same manner as those secured at the birthday dance. o —— City Police Officer Observes Birthday City Police Officer Sephus Melchi today commemorated his 67th birthday. No elaborate celebration marked the day however, and Seph spent the occasion making his rounds at usual. Officer Melchi has been a police officer here for more than a quarter of a century, —o C. T. Habegger Heads Berne C. C. C. T. Habegger is the new president of the Berne Chamber of Commerce. He succeeds Roy Girod, who was named vicepresident, succeeding C. H. Museman. Other officers are: Simon Schwartz, secretary and Leslie Sprunger treasurer.

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, January 19, 1939.

Deputy Collector To Be Here Friday Attention is called again to the assignment of a deputy internal revenue collector who will ibe locatled at the Decatur post office, Friday, January 20, for the convenience of taxpayers. The collector will be here from - 8:30 A. M. to 4:30 P. M. His services are free to taxpayers and anyone wishing his help Is invited to call at the post office Friday during the hours of his assignment. o TELLS STORY OF WILDLIFE >• t : Noted Hunter Speaks, J Shows Movies At Hoagland Meeting ? A thrilling story of the Canad- >. • lan hunting country and moving n . pictures showing the abundance of wildlife in and around Metai gama. Ontario, Canada, were gtvi. en by M. U. "Mike” Bates, famous ~ hunter, author and operator of a ~ string of 30 hunting camps in i- Canada, at the. Hoagland high i |. school last evening. ~' The meeting was sponsored by o' the Lions Club of Hoagland and P John Kolter, a personal friend of 9 Mr. Bates. Lions club members from Decatur. Monroeville, Fort! [. I Wayne and others from, these n towns and surrounding commun- -. ity listened with great interest to p Mr. Bates' story about the coun- ,. try “which has not been ravaged f by the automobile.” One of the films showed H. P. y Schmitt of this city and Mr. Koi- -. ter and members of their party > leaving Metagama last fall after r succeeding in killing two moose' and a bear. They were shjwn at r the railroad station, waiting for | f the train to take them home s Metagama is a settlement of 121 p persons, located on the Canadian i I- Pacific railroad. Mr. Rates related the story of B 1 the life of "Grey Owl,” the Engt-: list born man who gave up his I life in England to go to Canada j ). adopt the life of the Indian and a become famous through his books | a and taming of the beaver. Two g films showed the London recluse in the wilds of Canada and bls e friendship with the beavers. Mr. Bates came to Hoagland from Chicago, as a personal tri(CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) O St Mary’s Church ' Trustees Elected 1 Clayson J. Caroll, Barney Wertzbeger and Robert Gage were elected . trustees of St. Mary’s church at the annual meeting held Sunday. Rev. Father Joseph J. Seimetz har compiled the annual report of the parish and turned the copy ’ over to the printer. o ’ Slightly Injured As Auto Overturns 5 Roger Augsburger, of Berne, Is - recovering from cuts and bruises on i the head sustained when the car he • was driving skidded and overturn- • ed at the intersection of roads 27 ‘ and 124, west of Monroe. r Roy Schwartz, Gorman McKean, ' Palmer Liechty. Eugene and James 1 Sprunger, who were riding with '! him, all escaped unhurt. The car was badly damaged. 0 C.C. PUMPHREY IS APPOINTED 1 Named By Congressman Gillie On Advisory 1 Committee Carl C. Pumphrey, Decatur jeweler, has been appointed by Congressman George W. Gillie to serve on . the advisory committee of the Na tional Rivers and Harbors Con- • gress for the ensuing year, according to word from Washington. 1 The Rivers and Harbors Congress is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to the improvement, development and utilization of the rivers, harbors, lakes and water recourses in the United States, including ade--1 quate flood control, reclamation, soil and water conservation. The committee is to be composed of 10 civic leaders from the Fourth Indiana district. Other members, in addition to Mr. Pumphrey, are Alva J. McAndless, Otto Mahrens, and E. C. Miller, all of Fort Wayne; John B. Mahling of New Haven, PhU Dwinnell of Bluffton; A. L. Lomax, of Columbia City; Ray Davis of Kendallville; Merle Tucker of Angola I and Leo Martin of Auburn.

FURTHER SLASH RY COMMITTEE House Committee Makes Further Reduction In Expenses Washington, Jan. 19 — (U.P) The house appropriations commits« economy drive gained momentum today when memb< m followed up a $150,000,000 cut in j President Roosevelt's relief funds J by slashing other deficiency requests by 26 per cent. The general deficiency bill carried $9.979,000 instead of the $13,529,000 asked by the White House. i The deficiency measure was the second appropriation bill of the session. It went directly to the house floor for debate with passage expected tomorrow. Severest committee cut was a $2,000,000 reduction in a $5,000,000 fund asked by Mr. Roosevelt to eliminate fire hazards in New England forests damaged by last Septemlier's hurricane. The committee provided that the forest funds be made available only to the states which put up a like amount. A $700,000 fund asked by the president for national forest protection in the area was cut to $500,000. The committee made two other reductions In presidential requests. Mr. Roosevelt asked $3.300.000 for grasshopper control; the committee voted $2,000,000. The wages and hours administrai tlon asked for $950,000 and got $850,000. Spending Boosts Washington, Jan. 18 — (U.R) — Treasury figures revealing that government spending since July 1 is approaching $5,000,000,000 stiffened senate determination today to cut President Roosevelt’s new relief appropriation by at least $150,000,000. , The house already has sliced ' that amount from the $875,000,000 sought by the president to continue work relief for the next five months. The senate evidently is . determined to support the house and might even cut further. | Government spending in this fiscal year, boomed by relief i needs, was expected to go beyond $5,000,000,000 within a week. The . national debt already exceeds $39,(CONTINUED ON PAGE EIGHT) O DRAIN MEETING IS HELD HERE

Thirty Farmers Discuss Drainage Problems Wednesday Thirty farmers attended the meeting held Wednesday afternoon In the Adams circuit court room. called by Walter H. Gilliom, county surveyor, for the purpose of considering any changes in the Indiana ditch laws. Most of those in attendance ageed with a statement by Charles McKean. Adams county farmer, who said that the present ditch laws are the best the state has had to date, although they could be strengthened in some parts. George Krick suggested that with the change from horse drawn machinery and equipment to power driven machinery, a greater dead weight is placed on field tile drain and that tile should be purchased under more rigid specifications in order to carry the load. L. E. Archbold, county agricultural agent, stated that conservation methods of farming would help to keep soil in places where it could be used and less of the soil would get into open drains. This, he said, would make the work of ditch cleanout a lesser problem. Charles McKean was elected a delegate to the northeastern Indiana drainage convention and George M. Krick was elected alternate delegate. —o Ohio Couple Held On Liquor Charges Fort Wayne, Ind., Jan. 19 —(UP) -Leo Moran and his wife Wanda, 91 Continental Ohio, will tace charges of possession and transportation of untaxed liquor before U. S. commissioner William D. Remmel today after an arrest last night that was reminiscent of prohibition nays. State and federal police picked up Moran's trail near the Ohio-lnd-itna border and in a chase over icy roads finally brought him to a halt after bullets had punctured the tires of his car and sent the machine spinning five hundred yards down I a highway.

ASKS REMOVAL OF EXEMPTION TO PAY TAXES Roosevelt Would Remove Exemption Os Government Salaries Washington, Jan. 19 — (U.R) — President Roosevelt today renewed his request that congress pass legislation removing tax exemption privileges from future government salaries and bonds. He also requested action before March 15 to bar retroactive federal income levies on state officers and bondholders whose income had been regarded as exempt from federal taxation until recent decisions by the U. 3. supreme court. The president’s special message renewed recommendations made last spring. A senate committee i already Is considering the tax exemption question. Treasury I witnesses told the committee yesterday that federal revenues ultimately might be increased by more than $300,000,000 by removal of the tax exemption privilege. Mr. Roosevelt said that present tax exemption privileges rest not j on constitutional requirements but upon judicial decisions which, he pointed out, are now in the process of re-examination by the supreme court. "A fair and effective progressive income tax and a huge perpetual reserve of tax-exempt bonds could not exist side by side,” Mr. Roosevelt said. "Those who earn their livelihood from government should bear the same tax burden as those who earn their livelihood in private employment.” Pointing to supreme court decisions which have broadened the federal tax powers, over incomes of quasi-state employes, the president declared that "it is obvious that these inequities can not be satisfactorily corrected by judicial decisions alone.” , He noted that until the recent ' series of supreme court opinions many employes of state agencies and holders of public securities considered themselves exempt from federal taxation. i “In the interest of equity and justice,” he said, “therefore, immediate legislation is required to prevent recent judicial decisions from operating in such a retroactive fashion as to impose tax liability on these innocent employes and Investors for salaries heretofore earned, or on Income dei rived from securities heretofore

I (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) —————o Mrs. Crawford Dies At Daughter’s Home 1 Mrs. Margaret Crawford. 72, died at 9:30 this morning at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Fred Blum in Berne, after a several months’ illness of cancer. She had made her home In Berne for the past two ! years. Six other chidren survive, including Mrs. Lyle Harshey, also ot ’ Berne. Funeral services will be held at ‘ the Blum residence at 2:30 p. m. Friday and at 2:45 at the Berne EvJ angelical church. The body will be i taken to Saybrook, 111., for funeral , services and burial Sunday afternoon. 0 PLAN COURT OF HONOR AT BERNE Court Os Honor For Boy Scouts At Berne January 31 A court ,pf honor for the Boy Scouts in Berne and the south half of the county is being planned byScout officials in that section for January 31. A carry-in supper will open the festivities in the Berne community building that night, which will oe under the direction ot J. Jerome Yager, of Berne. Dr. M. L. Habegger and Ralph 1 McClain, scoutmasters of the two ■ Berne troops, will assist in the supervision of the event, the first of its kind for that town. The committees in charge: Arrangements: E. M. Webb, I chairman; Howiard Gilliom and C. T. Michaud. Court of honor: Roy Girod, chairman; George Niederhouser and A. D. Unversaw. Board of review: William H. Spurgeon. ' chairman; Lester Lehman, Rev. M. ' O. Herman, Carl Amstutz, Luther Yager, Edward E. Liechty and Lewl ellyn Stucky.

Story>Book Stuff 4' I . IH I ' j Susan Hayward Movie studios are the most closely guarded precincts in the world, it is claimed. Yet. Susan Hayward, former New York model, gained one of the year's most coveted roles by the simple method of walking into a Hollywood studio and asking for a job. She will play the feminine lead opposite Gary Cooper. DEATH CLAIMS LEMUEL ADAMS Prominent Decatur Man Dies This Morning At Home Os Son Lemuel D. Adams. 91, prominent local resident and manufacturer, died this morning at 8:30 | o’clock at the home of his son, Earl B. Adams, local attorney, 316 Mercer avenue. Despite his advanced years the cooperage manufacturer had been actively engaged in his business until last September 24, when he was struck by an auto in Huntington. He never completely recovered from the injuries received in that accident. Following the accident he was brought to the home of his son, where he resided until his death. The deceased was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, August 27, 1847. the son of Robert and Mary Rahlya-Adams. He was married to Elizabeth Peterson, March 25, 1873. She preceded him in death 12 years ago this week. Started in 1871 Mr. Adams first started in the •ooperage business in 1871, coming to Monroeville from Pennsylvania. He entered business with his uncle there. Later, in 1873, he vent into business for himself. In 1877 he came to this city and ,-stablished the cooperage business here, later moving to Uniondale and Frankfort. Both of these places were destroyed by fire. He was also In the business at Anderson and Bluffton with his brothers in 1890 and in 1880 with the late Henry Hite in Bluffton. For the past 25 years he had been in the cooperage business at Huntington. Last July the Adams mill in Huntington was sold to C. O. Porter of this city. He was the oldest living member of the local Masonic order. He was a member of the First Methodist, church here. Surviving are the son, Earl B. Adams and a brother, Henry S. Adams of Fortville. One son, Robert R., is deceased. Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock at the home of the son here and buriil will be made in the Decatur cemetery. Rev. R. W. Graham. pastor of the First Methodist church and Rev. George O. 1 CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) O Proposes Number Os Judges Reduced Indianapolis, Jan. 19 — (UP) — Chief Justice George Tremaine of the Indiana supreme court today suggested the state judicial system be stream-lined by cutting the numbers in half. Such a procedue would save the taxpayes $300,000 a year, he said. There are now 80 judges in circuit courts and this number would be reduced to 40 under Tremaine’s proposal. He asserted that many of the small circuit courts have little to do but that the larger circuits are overcrowded. Trials with no jury have kept the courts up to date, he said,

Price Two'Cents.

F. D. R. DENIES ANY APPROVAL OF GUAM BASE Disclaims Approval Reports; Japan Denounces Proposal Washington, Jan. 19. — (U.R) — President Roosevelt today disclaimed any approval of a proposed measure providing $5,000,000 for the beginning of a major naval base in Guam. Chairman Carl Vinson of the house naval affairs committee has prepared a bill to carry out at least some of the recommendations of a special naval board for construction of two score new naval and air bases. The navy board urged development of the base at Guam, far out in the western Pacific, and the project brought an angry reaction in Japan. Reports had been published that Vinson’s bill would include the Guam base and that it had been approved by Mr. Roosevelt. Asked about those reports, Stephen T, Early, White House secretary, interrupted his press conference and called Mr. Roosevelt on the telephone. He read the first paragraph of the story and then Mr. Roosevelt informed him that the measure never had been seen at the White House. The White House indicated that the administration’s attitude might well be reflected in an article this morning by Walter Lippmann, who said that the question of a fortified airplane and submarine base at Guam, recommended by the Hepburn naval board, “is one which needs most emphatically to be examined with the coolest kind of judgment.” Japan Denounces Tokyo. Jan. 19.—(U.R)—Japanese navy sources today denounced American proposals to fortify Guam as putting “a gun against a neighbor’s door” and charged that the ! United States, Great Britain, France and Soviet Russia were prolonging the war in China by aiding Generalissimo Chiang KaiShek. The navy issued a vigorouslyworded pamphlet intended to promote popular support of its navy building demands to be made when the budget is presented to the diet next month. The statement declared that the Japanese navy’s command of the western Pacific has prevented the four powers from taking forceful or military actions in China and confined their efforts to shipping war supplies. Hindrance to Japan’s aim of building a “new order" in the tmNTTNTTRn ON PAGE SIX) 0 Ex-Governor McNutt Visits British Base Singapore, Straits settlements, Jan. 19 —(UP)— Paul V. McNutt American high commissioner to the rhlllippines. visited the British navy and air base today as a guest of Commodore T. B. Drew, senior naval officer. Commodore Drew conducted him Ou a tour of the base. McNutt then flew over the island in a flying battleship plane. McNutt is here on a vacation, ofLrially. He is a guest at Government house. THANK VOTERS FOR INTEREST Eichorn And Heller Express Thanks For Legislative Interest State senator Vou A. “Pat” Eichhorn and representative Robert H. Heller, issued a joint statement today from Indianapolis, thanking the voters for their interest in proposed legislative matters. They also stated they would hold another public forum as soon as possible. Their statement reads: “We wish to express our deep appreciation for the sentiments expressed to us at the meeting conducted in the court house last Saturday. “If at all possible to predict in advance a time when the asseiflbly will 15e adjourned and there will be no committee meetings, we will repeat the public forum. "We will give proper notice through the newspapers as early in advance as possible.” X number of people conferred with the legislators last Saturday, the conference lasting during the afternoon.