Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 39, Number 140, Decatur, Adams County, 13 June 1941 — Page 1

iJ. XXXIX. No. 140.

SOVIETRUSSIA I DENIES GERMAN TROOPS MASSED hyn Report Are Merely c lumsily Concocted I’ropaxanda” London. Jun* 13—<U.F!—-The , tf ry enveloping relations 2 wef n Britain and Russia 7 a RuM>a and Germany deep <d tonight when reliable dippMtic sources reported that Ir.tame ambassador to Mot ft.r Stafford Cripps, will return to hit post. O .plomatie circles reported will be Offered an ImLrunt government post, pos,n the war cabinet as seated by the authoritative London Times today—ar sone related to India, either as i of state for India or i mission to India. jle* York. June 11— <UJf» — A by the off hla I Russiant mi sgency Tas*. beard in N«w! Urt. today Haiti that rumors of troop concentrations on |(ii««lan liordi-r and Nall de j gondii on the Soviets "are clum -| mmoroi ied propaganda of forces to th.- USSR and Germany." Th* Ta«s statement noted that rumors rtarted to circulate '(THI before the arrival of lhe pttlib ambassador in th* USSR . Pr tipaflorri Cripps. in London and j Miralarly after his arrival" TV Tas* statement nald flatly . fc- -Germany did not present any jSsmi to the USSR and does not i ir0p,,... any new. closer agree ' gmi tn view of which no negotianai on thia subject could have st-n place." Stir Interest Umdeii June 13 — (U.R< - A repr from Finland that an ImportMi nateinent on German Finnish station* was imminent, and repot from Rumania that air raid pvrsstions suddenly had been In- i tadfied stirred interest today in. St multiplying Indications that Seauny might be preparing s t Crtkr at Russia. A I nlt.-d l*resa Helsinki dispatch Bid that the statement on GermanPlnnlsh relation* was expected to- - The United Press Bucharest burns reported that authorities had •derrd a thorough Inspection of hl Bucharest buildings before Sunfly to determine their resistance b aerial Isimbs, and that newspa-1 iwwTiNuien n*r pag« fiv» ATTEMPTS JAIL BREAK BY FIBE Runaway Youth Foiled In Obvious Attempt To Escape Jail As obvious attempt by a runaway Wl to escape from hl* jail cell Ajitsrting a Ore was made known May by Sheriff Cd Millet TV youth, who was held by the, dteriff until his parents arrived frua Flint. Michigan, set fire to his *>l bed yesterday while the sheriff ■u In the court house office transfftisg business. Mrs. Miller heard the cries of the •d and when she arrived at his •rond floor cell It was almost eoftl-i M*tely enveloped In smoke. •b ignored his pleas to be re-1 *«*d. and standing at the cell' *»* direct*! him In smoth.-ringfhe ■ !U * Two mattresses . two tdan- **- a pillnav and a 'bed blanket' Mrs destroyed. After the fire was smothered. ’ Uo Miller called the sheriff back '• ’be jail. The youth denied inten-; 'easily setting the fire, saying !4a > matches in his trousers pock- * •ceidentally ignited. He disclosed a burn on bis thigh • wldenco. Investigation by the •beriff. however, disclosed that a *• in his trousers had been lorn “d not burned. Ho chargee were pressed against •* lad. Duwayne George, who is *iy 14 years of age. After being he was turned over sc i» parent* upon their arrival. T *MPffRATURI reading “UMOCRAT thermometer •:00 a. m. *3 ’0:00 g. m. W ’•*" 74 f OO P- m. 70 »:00 p. m 70 ■i ■! imii / WEATHER Hartly cloudy to cloudy! **tt»red showers tonight and •turday; not much change in ’•"’Psrature.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

* RAOIBHEBI * Charles Ettinger, local telephone company head, poaM-aaea an unuaual front yard at his property on Winchester street much to bls amusement and | chagrin. This spring Charles purchased some expensive grass IT) seed and painstakingly planted It. with th* hope of some day having a beautiful lawn, lately. however, he discovered that hie lawn la rapidly becoming a ' garden, for the grass seed proved to be radishes. LABOR GROUPS n GIVEN WARNING BY ROOSEVELT ——— Warns Against Raiding Each Other For Union Membership — Washington. June 11. — <U.P) —j Priwldent Roosevelt warned labor organisations to stop raiding each other for membership and notified government agencies to watch such jurisdictional strife. Mr. Roosevelt coincided with authoritative disclosure that President Philip Murray of the Congress of Industrial Organisations planned to match the administration's campaign against subversive labor agitators with a "purge" of CIO left wingers who foment “outlaw"’ strikes. Mr Roosevelt acted on receipt of a telegram from President Daniel Tobin of the AFL's International brotherhood of teamster*. chanters. warebousemen and helpers. Tobin, from Indianapolis. charged that because of his union's unequivocal support of Mr. Roosevelt in the national emergency, bundlsts. Stallnites. Trotskyites and “other subversive organisations'* are seeking to destroy hie organisation. White House secretary Stephan T. Early said that Mr. Roosevelt was vitally Interested In the development. "He <tbe president) asked me to' have the various govern medial agencies Interested notified, end to point out that in bis opinion thia was no time for labor unions, local, (attonal or international, to begin raiding each other for purposes of membership or similar reasons." Early said Tobin Indicated he would amplify his charge in a statement later at Indianapolis headquarters of the teamstere union. The White House development followed reports that th* teamsters organisation was undergoing violent raids by left wing labor groups, in which Tobin's support of the president’s policy was being made an Issue. —o Roosevelt Cancels All Appointments — Washington. June 13 — (UJL — President Roosevelt, suffering from a sore throat and a slight fever. I camelled all appointments today, including hla regular press conference and cabinet meeting, and re-1 malned in bis room. Admiral Ross T. Mclntire, the president's physician, said that Mr. Roosevelt's condition was not ( In any way serious and that he probably would be able to resume ( routine after a day of rest. Me-' Intlre said that Mr. Roosevelt had a temperature lesa than a degree alrnve normal and he suggested that the president rest and cancel all appointment*. COBRTTEBMTO END SATURDAY — ■ Adams Circuit Court Closes Saturday For Summer Months Activities In the Adsrns circuit court will be suspended for the summer months sfter Saturday * bslnes*. The April term will be concluded Rsturdsy after the regular nine weeks' session. The new session, the September term, will not be opened until Labor Day. September 1. for another nine weeks of court. Judge J. Fred FrucKte And court attache*, bailiff Fred Kolter and reporter Leia Aeschllmsn were today making final plans for court closing. Judge Fruchte will hear birth certificate petitions throughout most of the summer on Saturdays. Varios last minute entries were ; expected to be offered by attorney* today and tomorrow before closing of court.

NATIONALAFL I LEADERS SEEK - END TO STRIKE Ask West Coast Shipyards Workers To Return To Work By United Press International officers of the AFL machinists union asked MN> members to return to work at II San Francisco shipyards and end one of the few major strikes still bam perlng defense production. At San Francisco, the union local ’ called a meeting Sunday to con | slder the recommendation. TinInternational officers' requesst was sent after the executive council acted on President Ruoeevell'x I plea to call off the strike and sub \ ' mil the dispute to the national de 1 I sense mediation board The strike of 1.300 AH. and SBO j ' CIO machinists was caled May 10 I to enforce demands for an hourly wage of IMS and double time for overtime National AFL leaders’ denounced lhe walkout as a viola Hon of a coast wide agreement which provided an hourly wage of II 12 and time and a half for over time. AFL officials fostered a hack to I work movement at all the plants. except (hose of B<-thl<«h<-in Corpor-1 al lon. only major shipbuilding com , pany to reject the master agree ment. Bethlehem holds more than half the 1U0.8M.800 In defense contracts al the II plants. The NDMB ftpMfti hearings at I Washington yesterday on the dis-1 pute with Bethlrtietn. Negotiations ' were to continue today. I A spokesman for the CIO ma- ’ chlnlsts indicated their action would depend on that taken by the AFL members. Only xoo of the AFL strikers have remained on strike. AFL machinists at San Diego. Calif., signed a contract with the <rONTINI!KI> OM PAtlB FIVBt YOUTH TO MEET HERE JUNE 18 Methodist Youth Fellowship Convention To Be Held Here The Methodist youth fellowship convention of the Fort Wayne district will be held at the First [ Methodist church in thia city Thursday. June Ift. Dr. R. W- Graham. pastor of the chruch, annonced today. More than 300 youths and mlnlst--1 ers are expected to attend the all- , day convention, which wilt open with -registration at 9 a. m. The morning business session will open at 10 o'clock, with the ' convention sermon by Rev. S. Man-1 I ell Bell, who will speak on "The explosive power of a tender affec- ' Hon." A cafeteria style luncheon will be served at noon. A sight-seeing tour of the McMll- ' len Industries, the Homstead and Decatur parks will start at 1 o’clock. Klection of district officers will be held at the afternoon session- opening at 2 o'clock. Dr. Graham, who Is dean of the I Epworth Forest institute, will dis- ‘ muss plans of the institute at the afternoon session. These plans will i ; also be dim usaed by the pastors at ■ a special luncheon, with Dr. B Brooks Shake, district superinten--1 dent presiding. A planning conference for lhe year’s work of the churches of the district will also CONTIWIYRD OW WAGE THREfft Tallulah Bankhead Is Given Divorce Reno, Nev.. June 13 —Tai-. !in bill Bankhead, actress daughter of the late William B Bankhead, speaker of the house of represen tatives. today was granted a di-, vorce from John Emery. Miss Bankhead said idle had no plana to remarry. She charged Emery with "mental cruelty" but said privately that he was a fine person; just wrote her a beautiful latter two days ago. The trouble was. she said, that their careers conflicted. He is an actor. — 0 Friday the 13th Eaby Judith Ann I* the name of a baby girl born this morning to Mr. and Mrs. Guy Secour, of route one. at the Adams county memorial hospital. The baby weighed seven pounds, six ounces and was bom at 1:30 ! a. m. !♦ ♦

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, June 13,19-11.

Son Congratulatex Chief Justice ' ■ * ..w jt Harlan Fiske Stone, newly-appointed chief justice of the United States supreme court. Is congratulated by his son. latuaon. In his New York City law office. Stone, who will lake the court's high post when Charles E. Hughes retires on July 1. Is K 9 years old. a Republican, and has Item an associate justice of the court since his appointment by ••x president Coolidge In 1925.

THREE YOUTHS IRE SENTENCED Adams County Young Men Sentenced To State Reformatory Friday the thirteenth lived up to It* unlucky tradition today for three youth*. Hugh Death. 21. of Bolwi: Donald Byer. 24. of Blue f’reek township and Clifford Burkhart. 25. of near Monroe, were all sentenced today to serve 1 10 years In the Pendielon reformatory for their part In activities of the thievery gang of five. Sentence was Imposed In Adams circuit court this morning by Judge J. Fred Fruchte who earlier In the week had received guilty pleas from each of the three. Byer was charged with receiving stolen goods while a grand larceny count had bean placed against the other two for a aeries of crimes, which Included the theft of fence from the Albert Mauller elevator at Pleasant Mills, tires and wheels from a truck in Willshire. Ohio Clyde Everett. 23. also of Pleasant Mills, and Jack East home. 24. of Celina. Ohio, are being held In Ven Wert and Celina. Ohio jails for their part In the activities. The five were rounded up in the past week by Sheriff Ed Miller of Adams county and Sheriff Roy Shaffer of Van Wert county. Ohio In a wholesale crime cleanup. Confessions of the three held here, obtained by Sheriff Miller, were In the bunds of the court this morning when he pronounced sentence. Burkhart, who was reportedly A.WO.L. from Camp Custer army camp, was previously convlctwl in Adams circuit court here on a charge of forgery but was given a suspended sentence of 2 to 14 years After hearing sentence, the three were returned to the jail In the custody of HTi-riff Miller to await committment to the reformato-v

Superstitious Persons Shy At Fears Os Friday, The 13th

More superstition* iJecaturlte* proceeded with tedious caution today. fearful always’ of Impending disaster promised by the bugaltoo of Friday the Thirteenth. The*e same resident* shied hastily away from .blai k cats crossing their paths, walking under lad dera. etc., a* they sought to evade the misfortune they believed destined to befall them. Despite the imlnou* predict lons of the lielievera. late today no major mishap had been reported The fact that many hours had gone by and as yet no terrible misfortune had been noted gave courage to many who during the earlier part of the day had many misgivings. Mark* Birthday On the other hand. a< least one person welcomed Friday. June 13. She is Shirley Ann Fisher, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gedde Fisher, of Third street. For little Shirley the day held no terrors. Quite to the contrary, it brought good fortune, Including

LUCKVt | | Elisha Little of Mercer ave- | nuc. pooh pooh* the idea of Frl- j day the Thirteenth or any other | day holding 111 luck In store for | him. In fact. Eltotha expects to 1 j Im- another*! with good fortune | for some time to come. In the ! front yard of hl* home, th.- local I resilient found no less than four I | four-leaf clovers and a five-leaf | clover. | BIODLE LIKELY NEW APPOINTEE Francis Biddle Expected To Be Named Attor-ney-General Washington. June 13 — <UP Solicitor general Francis Biddle was believed to be President Roosevelt's choice for attorney general to succeed Robert II Jackson who has been nomlnati-d to the supreme court. Nomination of a new attorney general, however, probably will lie delayed at least nntll the senate has acted upon Jackson’s appointment. In the senate It was predicted that Jackson’s nomination and the elevation of Harlan Fiske Stone to the chief Justice ship would be approved quickly and probably without opposition. Stone rephiced Charles Evans Hughes whose retirement Is effective July 1. The third supreme court nomination sent to the senate yesterday that of Sen. James F. Byrnes. D-. S. was confirmed within 10 minutes of Its receipt. That was in accordance with an unbroken senate tradition which calls for Immediate confirmation of a senator nominated for the judiciary. Senate rules require that In all other cases a hearing must be held before a sub committee, one' week after the subcommittee Is appointed.

a nice, new dress from “Uncle Hobby." among other gift*. Court house attaches were the most troubled by the day. The crew of painters Insisted upon leaving ladders standing up here and there for the superstitious workers to dodge. , BUI Shrahika, a local laborer, couldn't wall for today to -lie visited by Dame Misfortune. He fell yesterday and cracked two rib*. Thia la the first time this year that Friday ha* fallen on the thirteenth. It happened twice last year -September 13 and December 13. It won’t happen again until February 13, 1942. but there will be two in a row with Friday. March 13 following. Probably the fellow who suffered the most thia day is the writer—who was assigned to “cover” any Friday the' 13th misfortunes and then had the "misfortune" of not being able to find any misfortunes — but then, the day Isn’t over.

Germany Warns She Will Sink Any Ship Carrying Goods She May Define As Contraband

Short-Of-War Protest, Demands For Indemnity And Apology May Be Asked By U. S. NO MUNITIONS Washington. June 13 <U.R- . I’nder secretary of state Sumner Welle* said today. In connwtion of th* American steamer Robin | Moor, that the United Ntatea stands on rhe principle of International law that proper precautions for the lives and safety of passengers and crew must be taken before a ship is sunk. Indicating this I*l lef that such precautions were ordered by the commander of the axis submarine which sank the Robin Moor. Welles said thai Internal lonol law Is clear in such points. He said that Germany and the United Htates accepted the principles embodied in the Ixindon naval treaty on that ■ear*. Replying to German assertions that published Hats of the Robin Moor's i-ergo showed she carried goods defined as contraband by the British — and hence expected as such by the Reich —Welles noted that the I'nifesl States has never acqulesed In the British or German definition. Washington. June 13 — Sbort-of war profits to Germany and demands for Indemnity and apology today were the likely developments after the charge that the American steamer Robin Moor was sunk by a Nasi submarine with a torpeilo and "some 3n<xld shells." How near the Robin Moor Incident will bring German American diplomatic relations to a break will depend <m the extent to which Berlin and Washington are able to agree on exactly what happanod end who Is responsible for what The Incident is aggravated by the probability that up to SS memboru of the ship's company and passen- , gers lost their lives. A basis for formal IT. S charge* was contained in a report to thi 1 state department by Walter J. j Linthicum. American consul at Pernambuco. Brasil, who interviewed II survivors yesterday. .V. S vice consul Philip P Williamson. who also Interviewed the ' survivors, starts for Washington I tomorrow l>y airplane to make a ' complete report. Linthicum cabled that the survivors reported they were permitted to enter Hfe Imats liefore the Roliin Moor was sent to the bottom of the South Atlantic with a "torpedo amidships, then some SBodd shells." The vessel sank stern foremost "In about 23 minutes." The consul's report revealed that none of the surviving seamen was among those who. at the sub- , marine's demand, had gone to the submarine before the Robin Moor was sunk But Linthicum added' "There Is no doubt in the minds of the survivors that the commander and the sulmiarine were German. although the latter had no visible markings other than the name lairricke or Lorlckke and a figure descrilted as a laughing cow , both painted on the conning ((WNTINIHUD nts PAGE SIV«, TOINITUTE BLISSSUNDAY Knights Os Columbus To Conduct Initiation Here Sunday Plans for the Knights of Columbus Initiations to be held in this 1 city Sunday were announced today. The first degree initiation will conducted Sunday morning at 10:30 o'clock 'by the Decatur degree team • In the local K. of C. liall. The first degree initiation was moved hack to the morning, instoad of In the afternoon as was provlously announced, because of the addition of candidates from Hnntlnglon and Fort Wayne, At 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon, the Fort Wayne degree team will confer second and third degree work upon the combined class. All members of the local council are urged to attend. Th<» regular meeting of the local order will be held Monday night at D:3O o’clock. Free lunch and nffreshments will I be sewed.

PRIEST SPEAKS AT EXERCISES Rev. Seimetz To Speak At St. Joseph College Alumni Days ■'■"■■l — • Rev Joseph J Helmet*, pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic church, will speak as a representative of the clergy at the alumni days celebra tion. Sunday and Monday, at St. Joseph's College. Rensselaer. The speaker representing the lay alumni will be Henry B Pruning. dean of the chemistry department at the University of Notre Dame. Father Helmet* attended St. Joseph's from 1903 until I9og, Dean Priming trom 1*99 until I9<>2 The banquet will lie held at 5 30 p. m Sunday, with J. Henry Hlpsklnd. of Fort Wayne, national president of the aluinnl association. as toastmaster A business meeting and an election of officers will follow the banquet. A requiem mass for deceased alumni will be said In the college chapsl Monday morning An alumni golf tournament will be held at Curtis Creek Country Club. Monday. The Goth anniversary of the founding <rf St. Joseph's will be the theme the alumni celebration Among Decatur residents who are members of the St Joe alumni assiM-ation are: Clayson J. Carroll. Gerald Durkin. Henry Fattrote. A C. Geitner. Arthur Holthouse. Charles E. Holthoitse. Louis Holthouse. Norbert Holthouse. Rev. Alvin J. Jasinski. Haymond Keller and Elmo Smith. W. J. MEIBERS TAKEN BY DEATH Native Os Decatur Dies Unexpectedly At Fort Wayne Home Walter J Melbers. 43. a native of Decatur, died tincxpecti-dly Thursday evening at his home at 318 West Gunipper avenue In Fort Wayne He had been In failing health for lhe past three years but his death was sudden. He had resided In Fort Wayne the past 25 years and served as a deputy Allen county sheriff under former sheriff Fred Lttnx for four years. He was last employed by the General Elwtrlc works He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic church, the Holy Name society. F<»rt Wayne council No. 451, Knights of Columbus. Elks lodge No. 155. American le-gion post No. 47 and the lo and I. He enlisted March Ifi. 1919. and served overseas with the American expeditionary forces from May. ISIS to July. 1919 Survivors Include the widow. Agnes; the mother. Mrs Ixiulse Meibers of Decatur, and a brother. Eugene Meibers of Rome City. The body was removed to Mungovan A Sons' mortuary, where It may be viewed after 7 o'clock tonight. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a m Monday at the mortuary, and 9 o'clock at St. Patrick's church. Rt Rev. Msgr D Lawrence Monahan officiating Burial will be In the Catholic cemetery at Fort Wayne. Attend International Rotary Convention Pete Reynolds, president of the Decatur Rotary club, and Maurice Kindler, club member left thia afternoon for Denver, Colo., where they will attend the convention of Rotary International from June 15 to 20. Inclusive. Given Commission As Reserve Ensign Roger Cole, a son of Mrs. Charles Cole, received a reserve ensign's commission during graduation exercises of the V. ft naval midshipmen's school of Northwestern university at Chicago After, a brief visit In Decatur with his mother, he will leave for San Francisco. California, where he will be stationed In the mer chant marine training school. Ills mother and Bob and Rose Marie Kohne. of this city, attended Roger's graduation exercises.

Price Two Cento.

No Information In Berlin On Robin Moor Sinking; RAF Blasts Heavily At German Industries. ALLIES ADVANCE ■trim. June 13—(UPl—German suthorised sourest said tonight that th* Amsrican freight*r Robin Moor—according to reports of it* manifest from abroad —carried good* classed a* contraband by the British "and therefore on the German contraband list." Germany warned today th*’ "every ship carrying contraband for Britain" will lie sunk and charged that th* United Htates Is wnploying the Robin Moor sinking to build up war psychosis pnmaxanda." Nasi propagandist* made that comment today upon the official revelation in Washington Hurt the American freighter was sunk by a tierman sulanarine The Germans made no statement as to the faits of th* sinking, asserting that military authorities iu Berlin have no information on the Robin Moor and until the fart* have been completely developed there can lie no Naxj statement at to Grmany's responsibility. So far the German public I* unaware of the Rotiin Moor im ideal and new tension in American-Ger-man relations. The Itubin Moor crisis arose as Allied columns closed in slowly upon the two chief cities of Syria. Beirirt and D-amascus. The fall of Itumascus was expected first In lauidon with free French forces reported In the suburbs of the ancient city. It was indicated that the Allied troops are encamped outside Damascus awaiting the outcome of ne. gotiatlons twhich they hope will allow them to enter the city unofiposed Vichy French lepreaentatlves were reported fleeing norfliward from Imtli Damaacus ami Beirut. Ixmdon replied to a Vi'-hy protest over the invasion of Syria with a suggestion that Vichy older Its troops In Syria to cease resistance. The British noted with approval a French statement that Vichy would void ction which might aggravate or -qiread the Anglo-French conflict. f Vichy continued to report that Syrian defense forces are holding firm at Kissoue, Hi miles south of IMmascus and si* miles -<>uth of Saida which is 32 mile- fr >m Beirut. Ben Ames. United Press staff correspondent at Alexandretta in southern Turkey across from the Syrian border, reported that travellers from Syria had described the important north Syrian town of Aleppo as virtually in German conlr«»l. The Gentians were said to lie in charge of the rallroa-l station and to be preventing any persons of military age from leaving lhe city. Some 2tto German planes were reported at the Aleppo airdrome and report* that the Nasis are leaving Syria were said to b • untrue. The Royal Air Force carried -out KXrNTINUEU nN PAO* > tVB, JOHN DOAN TO BE ON PROGRAM

To Speak At Fifth District Trustees’ Program Wednesday John M Doan, Washington town* ship trustee, will appear on the program of the fifth district town* ahip triMtees conference. to be held at Huntington township high school, south of Huntington. Wednesday, June IS. Mr Doan, as president of the tn* dlana township trustees’ assocl* atlon. will deliver the response to an address of welcome to be mudo by Mayor F. H. t'utshall, of Hunt* ington. The program will begin at 9 am. with registration. A luncheon wilt he held In the high school building, followed by the afternoon session. The relief budget law and other new laws will he discussed, as will the recent appellate court decision on emergency care. A question box will be conducted.