Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 37, Number 45, Decatur, Adams County, 22 February 1939 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

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Ise action Lio bases IjILL DELAYED lshow^D° wn On LNaval Air Base J | s Predicted (UR, ~ E, over authorizing s•>■• ■ fur improvement h on the I*«»KL action on the $-> 3 - 8 ' ■ lirengthen naval air ■ resunieil general deK. l b( . bill with indications ■ ihow-down on the Guam Eland passage of the whole E would not come before Esw Carl Vinson. I’. Ga.. ETouse naval affairs comK who sponsored Ihe meanElided that the Guam E, would be retained, but Ku opponents of the proEranded by Hep Hamilton ■ j X V. as a ' dagger at Em, of Japan" were equalEwnt that It would be Kiri. tCn»m section was the only Eetsial point in the bill Enns have agreed to sup ■ provisions tor establishment ft bases termed vital for Ll defend tJoseph B Shannon. D.. ■ ilMpeehig with the Demoft majority. described the ■ proposal as "another move L a lot of American boys ■tiers' graves." Kgtnts supporting the bill ■lied — as has Mr. RooseKit the authorization for ft would provide only for. L the harbor and building ■ line ramp and a power sta- ■ controversy over Guam exftleven to the senate where liohert R. Reynolds. D. N.C.. | the Fnited States should ■ Mt" of the far east and ■ Bmest Lundeen. Farmerftii. Minn , said if Guam KmtLflcd “It WOUld Bo ft 1 ■an present to Japan ror n ■ k taken in 48 hours '* ■thouse debate on the naval, tue bill received major atm.. Other ueVelupmeutb in Hen' Roosevelt's national w program included: etaouncement by ChairMorris Sheppard. [)., Tex., his senate military affairs lltti* may vote late today on | ISS.'Xoou emergency nationefense bill to Increase army strength to 5,500 planes. It Uy has been passed by the K ■Gat. Charles Brunett. chief army's bureau of Insular in told the senate territories titter that the United States Bto withdraw its army perkl from the Philippines as * w the Islands are granted ■TWUED ON PAGE FOUR) ® s Brotherhood To Meet Thursday * «>en's brotherhood of the United Brethren church will " the church Thursday evenH o'clock. A representative ot J UI< ‘ police department will Mfel y and the duties of •officers of the brotherhood •Mduct the meeting, which with a supper. A short •“ meeting will be held fol- * «* principal address. UCECAR IS BUCIiT BY Cm Council Authorizes Turchase Os New Police Auto fc C ‘* SP ofa n ew city police I iouX ceilli>Btnißhtbythe Mfeguia 1 Wor!<3 and safety meeting held **'For<l P t^ lrt I d the purchaß “ 11 0S -h r door COach from «t o Motw Sa >- fo‘aXur She ° ld Polis e l i^Xe had previoUßl y been * in w h PU ‘ c u ase the car •Border D J ™ ° llCe Chlef < forth? P eßented a Potion •«c } of th T raD(l clted »» ! tlaance h Present vehlcl »- * <2 t^‘ !ttee reported bad » J hSt the Plrst state ! council m ted the '“vltation "'“y funds’T h ? depoa >tory Mon record aCCeptancc

CITY COUNCIL REDUCES TAX Slashes Tax On Bowling Alleys, Theaters, Skating Rinks An ordinance was passed last night by the city council, slicing the city tax on theaters, howling alleys and skating rinks from S3O to $lO per year. The same ordinance also ex- 1 empted bowling alleys not operated for public use. which, the counctlmeu stated, included the Knights of Pythias and G. K. alleys. as long as they were restricted to membership use. The license does not mention outside shows and amusements. The licenses must be procured on or Itefore March 15 of each year and no license is to be grant- j ed for a lesser period than one year. v The ordinance also fixes the penalty for violation of the ordinance for each offense. Ask For Truck The light department last night | filed with the city council a petition for a new service car and pickup truck, with a "crow's nest," to be used in reaching high lights and trimming tree limbs. The petition was referred to the light committee. The board of public works and safety reported to the council the employment of Bevlpgton ft Williams to draw up plans and specifications for the construction of the new cooling tower at the city plant. May Change Hours The possibility that the city clerk-truasurer’s office in the city hall building may be kept open during the noon hours, at least part of the time, was seen today ■ following the discussion at the regular council meeting last night. Councilman Morris Pingry in an open discussion suggested that the office be kept open each week day from 8 a m. until 5 p. tn., including the noon lunch hour. All councilmen approver! the suggestion, and referred the matter to the board of works and qofoty With Act. City Light superintendent Mnrtfn J. Mylott suggested to the council that the office remain open noon hours only during the last few days before city bills become (CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR) O DEATH CLAIMS LOUIS CUNRAD Kirkland Twp. Farmer Dies At County Hospital Louis Conrad. 74, Kirkland township farmer, died this morning at 2 o'clock at the Adams county memorial hospital of carcinoma. The deceased was a native ot I Germany, born May 16. 1864. He was first married to Louise Scherry who preceded him in death. Two i children by this union are deceased. He was later married to Sophia Kruetzmann, who survives. He came to this country when 18 years old. He was a member of the Salem Reformed church Surviving besides the widow are the following children: Mrs. Waller Reppert, Walter Conrad and Mrs. Elmer Peters, all of Magley. All brothers and sisters are deceased. Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock at the home, three miles south of Magley and 2 o'clock at the church. Burial will be i nthe church cernei tery. Rev. David Grether will officiate. # The body will be returned to the residence from the Zwlck funexal home Thursday morning and may ibe viewed there after 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon until time for the funeral. o_ — Muncie Public Schools Closed By Epidemic Muncie, Ind., Feb. 22 — (UP)— Public schools here were closed at noon today by the city board of health and school officials after it was estimated that 2.006 pupils arc suffering from colds and influenza. | Classes will be resumed Monday if the epidemic subsides. o TEMPERATURE READINGS DEMOCRAT *THERMOMETER 8:00 a.m 12 2:00 p.m 17 10:00 a.m 13 3:00 p.m. .16 Noon 16 WEATHER Fair and continued cold tonight; Thursday fair and warmi er.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Anti-Nazis Heckle Bund Rally in New York S 4 w

With platoons of policemen vigorously repulsing some 500 would-be hecklers outside Madison Square Garden. New York, during a rally there of the German-American Bund. pro-Nazl organization, there was also excitement within the building when

YAGER OUSTER ACTION FAILS Attempt To Remove G. 0. I*. Chairman Fails Tuesday Ouster proceedings against Ralph E. Yager as Republican county chairman, instituted by insurgent factious of the county G. O. P. disintegrated last night 1 in the midst of a meeting called especially for that purpose. Republican leaders reported. The meeting had been called hy the circulation of a notice signed by 40 precinct committeemen and rfc-e-committeewome?* Notices had been sent to those who did not sign the petition, stat- ! ing that there was to be a meeting, the purpose of which was to “remove Ralph E. Yager as chairman. for cause." Mr. Yager presided at the meeting. In an interview following the meeting, he stated that the special session was halted in the middle of the roll call by the members of the opposing factions. He said that following a heated discussion, the calling of the roll ’ and checking of proxies was started. About midway through the checking, a motion that the meeting be adjourned was made by Ed Warren, Republican precinct committeeman of Decatur and seconded by Ernest Reicheldeffer, of Geneva, Mr. Yager, Joe Hutaell. i Allen county GOP. leader and local sympathizers of the party chairman stated. Ralph Gates, district Republican chairman, also attended the meeting. These same spokesmen termed ; the charges against Mr. Yager j (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) FILE PETITION FOR LIGHT LINE Council Is Petitioned For Extension Os Rural Light Line A petition from residents of Root township asking for the extension of a rural light line was presented i to the city council in session at the ! city hall last night. The signers on this petition included several residents of Rtfct township and several in Allen county near the Allen-Adams county line. The petition asked for a light line from the Adams-Allen county line running west for a stretch of s three-quarters of a mile. The petition was signed by Paul Bieberich, Fred W. Scheumann, William Bultemeier and others. Th» petition was referred to the board of public works and safety. A petition was also presented by Ed Warren and others asking for the erection of a street light at the east end of Mdßarnes street. The petition was referred to the electric light committee with power to act. A petition for the extension of a water line from Jackson s.reet to Nuttman avenue, signed by Phil Baker and others, was referred to the water committee.

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, February 22, 1939.

Dorothy Thompson, inset, newspaper columnist and wife of Sinclair Lewis, novelist and playwright, was ejected and then permitted to return after shouting "bunk!" at a speaker. Large photo shows action outside the garden.

| Lenten Meditations Written By Pastors For Daily Democrat i The Lenten Meditations, written | by local ministers, which proved ; so popular last year, will again be published in the Daily Democrat during the present Lenten season. The first of the meditations is published in today’s papor. It was written by Rev. Charles Prugh. pas- . tor of the Zion Reformed church and president of the Decatur Minis terial Association. Pastors of all churches, including j several of the rural churches in the - | Decatur vicinity, will contribute the written meditations for this paper. OEGAPJR Sirs BROTHER DIES Floyd Robenold Dies Os Sudden Heart Attack Tuesday Night Floyd E. Robenold. 48, brother ot Charles Robenold of this city, died ! of a sudden heart attack at the American Legion club rooms in Bluffton at 8:15 p. m. Tuesday. He had been in apparent good health and was engaged Tuesday Jin digging a drain tile ditch at his home on East Ohio street in that city. He had just entered the club J rooms and suffered the fatal attack while sitting at a table with a group |of friends. He was dead when a physician arrived. Overexertion Is believed to have superinduced the attack. The deceased was born in CraigVille April 29. 1890. the son of Tillman and Melissa Crum-Robenold and was a lifelong resident of Wells county. He married Winifred Stoutenberry August 19, 1925. Surviving besides the widow are the brother, Charles, in Ibis city, and a sister, Mrs. Dan Weldy ot Curryville. Another brother, William, dropped dead of a heart attack in this city several months ago. Mr. Robenold was a World War veteran, enlisting February 6, 1918, j serving overseas with Company B 1 of the 318th Engineers, from Augi ust of 1918 until June of 1919. He saw action in the Argonne drive and and was decorated for outstanding bravery. Funeral services will be held at the First Baptist church in Bluff--1 ton Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock, [ with Rev. Morris Coers officiating. ' "(CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO)

LENTEN MEDITATION (By Rev. C. M. Prugh) (Zion Reformed Church) “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be betrayed .... and they shall condemn Him to death.” Travelling through western Kansas on one of the leading highways. one comes to a village called “First View,” from which on a clear day one gets the first glimpse of Pike’s Peak, one hundred and fifty miles away. Similarly, on Ash Wednesday we arrive at that point In the church year where we get a "first view” ot Calvary, some forty-6dd days in the distance. We see Jesus. His face set like flint to go up to Jerusalem, there to offer Himself publicly as the Messiah, and to accomplish His redeeming work. The dread anticipation of mockery, scourging and crucifixion did not deter Him. With steady, majestic tread He moves forward to the climax of His earthly ministry. Such resolute determination to follow the path of self-renun-ciation and love should challenge afresh a generation that has largely lost its vision of the Kingdom of God and lapsed into a life of comfort, self-indulgence and ease.

LENTEN SEASUN OPENED TUDAY Season Os Lent Opens Today With Ash Wednesday Services The season of Lent opened this morning with the observance of Ash Wednesday. At St. Mary’s Catholic church, the blessing with ashes took place at tne 7:30 mass. This evening the ’ first ot the series of Lenten sermons will be given, followed by Benediction and blessing with the ashes. Rev. Father Joseph pastor will deliver the sermon this evening. Beginning next week the weekly sermons will be given on Tuesday evening. Public Way of the Cross will be made every morning following the 7.30 mass, except on Friday and Sunday mornings. On Friday the ■services will be held at 7:30 o clock in the evening. Easter is on Sunday. April 9. this year. — — o Five Persons Killed In Four Air Raids Madrid, Feb. 22—-(UP)—Five Savoia (Italian) planes dropped 50 bombs on the Republican port ot Alicante at 11:30 A. M. today. A •majority of the bombs fell on the. outskirts. Five persons were killed and many injured hl four air raids on Almeria during the night. Many houses were destroyed in the raids on Almeria. The first raid came at 12:45 A M. and alarms continued throughout the night. The populace huddled in refuge cellars until 5:30 A. M. 0- ——— Report SOS Calls From Sinking Ship Chatchami, Mass., Feb. 22 —(UPI The radio marine corporation station here intercepted relays of an S O. S. call from an unidentified ship which it said had been torpedoed by an unknown submarine and was sinking. The call was relayed by the American Tulso, which said it had picked up the S. O. S. from a ship with call letters of P. E. Z. Z. The call letters were not listed in marine directors but it was believed that the call letters were those of ’ a Dutch ship.

VETERAN G. E. EMPLOYE HERE i PAID TRIBUTE Bert Gage Is Awarded Highest Honor Paid By Company Bert Gage, general foreman and assistant to Superintendent E. W. lamkenau of the General Electric plant in this city, was awarded the 1 Charles A. Coffin award at a short I ceremony held at 1 o'clock this afternoon in the club room of the | local factory. The presentation of the awards, consisting of a $250 check, a lapel button and a framed certicicate was made by Nell Currie, Jr., general manager of the Fort Wayne Works of the General Electric company. The ceremony was attended by members of the Decatur foreman's ‘ | club, C. H. Matson, general superintendent of the Fort Wayne Works and P. C. Morgenthaler, assistant to Mr. Currie, of Fort Wayne. Superintendent Lankenau opened the program, which was in the nature of a surprise to Mr. Gage. He had no advance notice that he was to receive the high honor. The Charles A. Coffin award is the highest honor paid by the company to employes. It was established years ago from a trust fund provided by Mr. Coffin, first president of the General Electric company. It is given in recognition of meritorious service rendered by , employes. This year 18 awards ' were made in the United States to G. E. employes, three of which were given to Fort Wayne men. Mr. Currie, in presenting the ! award to Mr. Gage, stated that it , was given in recognition of his splendid service during the past quarter century to the company, his spirit of cooperation and accomplishments in helping make ’ the Decatur plant one of the finest • in the United States. ' Mr. Lankenau expressed his ap-‘ ’ predation to Mr. Gage for his loyalty and service and made men- ■ tiou of the progress made in the i local factory through Mr. Gage’s > untiring efforts. Mr. Laneknan i also expressed Ins happiness u»n the award won by M". Gage. ! j (CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR) i I o I : ALWILDA HELM DIES TUESDAY Mrs. L. C. Helm Dies Tuesday At Home In This City i Mrs. Alwilda Woods-Helm. 72, wife of Lewis C. Helm, died Tues- ’ day afternoon at 3:45 o’clock at her home on Fifth street. Death was attributed to heart trouble. 1 The deceased was born in Van 1 Wert county, Ohio. October 29, 1866. the daughter of William and i Martha McClure-Queen. She had : resided in this county for the . past 32 years. She was first married to Wili liam R. Woods in 1885. He preceded her in death in 1928 and in' 1929 she was married to L. C. Helm ol this city. He survives, and the following children: Ulysses B. Woods of 1 Middlebury, Ohio: Loyal S. Woods of Ann Arbor. Michigan: Mrs. Clady Murphy of Fort. Wayne, i ' The following brothers and sisters 1 also survive: Mrs. Margaret Smith, Dayton. Ohio; Mrs. Belle ■ Miller of Van Wert. Ohio: William McQueen of Convoy, Ohio; Scott McQueen of Poplar Bluffs, ■ Missouri, as well as 17 grandchilI dren and four great grandchildren, i One daughter, one brother and . five sisters are deceased. Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock' • at the residence, 328 North Fifth | street and burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. Rev. George O. Walton of the First Presbyterian church will officiate. The body will be returned to the home from the S. E. Black funeral home Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock and may be viewed there until time for the funeral. o Deanery President Forced To Resign Mrs. J. H. Brooks, of Fort Wayne deanery president ot the NCCW, has resigned because of ill health, according to word received by local members of the organization. Mrs. Charles Lose ot this city district president of the national council of Catholic women, was in attendance at the last session of the organization, during which Mrs. Brook's resignation was submitted.

House Deals Blow To Advocates Os Old Age Pension

Paid High Honor Bert Gage, general foreman of the Decatur works of the General i Electric company, this afternoon was presented the Charles A. Cos- i fin award, the highest honor paid by the company to an employe. MINOR WRECKS ARE REPORTED Slippery Pavements Are Blamed For Series Os Accidents Slippery, snowpacked streets 1 caused a series of minor accidents late Tuesday in this city, although motorists exercised unusual cau-! tion in navigating the icy pave-; ments. j Cars driven by Fred Braun and a man who gave his name as Williams. collided about 6 o’clock last evening on North Second street as the Braun auto turned into a drive-1 way. The Williams auto was dam- ' aged. Officers Sephus Mekhi and | Adrian Coffee investigated. A light post on Line and Adams I , street was bowled over when struck by an auto driven by Wai-1 ter Garwood about 5:45 o’clock, Officer Melchi reported. About 2:30 p. m. Tuesday, cars driven by Dave Campbell of Bluffton and Don .Arnold, of Decatur, collided at the intersection of Third and Jefferson streets. At 3:30 p. m. a car driven by Merle Sheets slid into a parked car own-' ' ed by Ted Bonifas on Jefferson street. Both cases were investlgati ed by Officer Melchi. All of the accidents were atI tributed to the slippery condition of the streets. Business Men Are Guests Os Farmers Business men from various sections of the county were guests of the farmers last night in a banquet 'meeting at the Monroe M, E. church. A total of 88 businessmen and farmers were in attendance at tlie meeting and head the address of L. L. Bailey farmer member of the state soil conservation commitI tee. Following the banquet a discussion and question and answer period was held with soil conservation and main topic of conversation. I This was the first time that the busi iness men have been the guests of the farmers in this type of a meeting. those who attended reported. MORON SOUGHT DI AUTHORITIES f Police Seek Reported Moron After Attempted Attack i Police authorities here are intereifying their search today for a reported moron, who grabbed a young Decatur girl on North Thud street ( Tuesday afternoon. Parents of the frightened girl told authorities that the child was seized by the man, who appeared mentally unbalanced, as she passed the city light plant on Third street. , Tier continual screams frightened the attacker away, they stated. Although! but a partial description i of the man was given, authorities feel certain they have several tan- ■ gible clues. Police Chief James Borders and 1 Afficer Sephus Melchi were noti- . fled by the family and are leading ~ in the investigation.

Price Two Cents.

Lower House Os State Legislature • Refuses Resolution To Seek Congress Action. FORM REVERSAL Indianapolis, Feb. 22 — (U.R) — The house of the state legislature today dealt n blow to old age pension advocates when by a voice vote it rejected a proposal to ask congress to amend the constitution to permit the Townsend pension plan. This was a singular reversal of political form since many candidates in the November election openly courted the support of aged voters by professing to favor more lil>eral financial grants to them, including the transactional tax. S3O a week program of Dr. Francis Townsend. In fact, pension plan advocates claimed they were responsible for the gains made by the Republicans in the last election, and estimated their strength at upwards of 250.000 votes. The action today was on a resolution introduced early in the session by Rep George Wolf. Peru Democrat. At that time there was a tremendous demonstration of old age pension advocates in the legislative chambers, when hundreds of aged citizens stamped. applauded and shrieked organized cheers as a spokesman openly reminded the legislators of their political strength. Wolf’s resolution would simply memorialize congress to act favorably on the Townsend plan. The judiciary B committee today reported the resolution without recommendation and there was virtually no discussion. Wolf said that the Townsend plan advocates had asked passage , of this resolution and added that “I can’t see that it will do any harm” to do them this “courtesy.” Rep. Guy W. Dausman. Goshen Republican, moved that the reso<CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) O SELECT JURORS TO HEAR TRIAL Jury Selected To Hear Stauffer Drunken Driving Case Twelve men were selected about noon today to hear the case of Ornell Stauffer, 22, of Berne, who was indicted late last year by the Adams county grand jury on a charge of drunken driving. The jury is composed of: Earl Hyland. Otto A. Miller and Lawrence Franklin, all ot' Decatur, Leo Kohne of Washington township: William Kruckeberg of Union, John Hilgematin of Preble, Albert Coppess of Washington. Levi P. Schindler of French, Eli C. Engle of Washington, Fred Weidler of Washington. Noah Brunner of Jefferson and Harley J. Reef of Jefferson. Judge J. Fred Fruchte is piesiding over the trial. Prosecutor Arthur E. Voglewede opened the trial this afternoon with a resume of what the state expects to prove during the sub(CONTINUED ON PAGE THREEi o Investigate Rumor Os French-Italian Clash Paris, Feb. 22 —(UP) — French, Italian and British foreign offices investigated today a mysterious ru mor which circulated in Paris that there had been a clash between French and Italian troops on th® T:inis-Lyba frontier last Friday. The French war ministry officially denied the rumor. The foreign office here, and the British foreign office at London, said they had no knowledge of any clash. 0 Accident Victim Is Slightly Improved The condition of Mrs. Frank Rhoades, 61, ot Celina, Ohio, who was seriously hurt Tuesday in two auto accidents north ot Decatur was t eported to be a little better today, according to the attending physician. She sustained a fractured right pelvis and a fracture of the humerus in the upper left arm, In addition | to neck and shoulder bruises.