Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 43, Number 296, Decatur, Adams County, 17 December 1945 — Page 1

■xiill No 296.

MON-STRIKING GM WORKERS BACK TO WORK

I Early Break Winter Cold ■Predicted |Hfy Experiences Below Zero ® father Os Season ■■ k b „ m 1.. .'Hoti of mi early ■K »uth- wiii’er • tyl*-. ar VL.m • minty over tin- ;, n .| . ii> th.' tlx rmon>.-t zero tor the first 4»on The tempera on the Daily DemoflKff > ( rinum< l- i at s ««!o*'k rnmr was zero, * as low as 5 debrio* zero were reported Hid ’ally thin morning ■K'.. . f :n p’.o.-s 111 the county k this morning the W'.-) bad kotie up 2 degrees. MH . r - .Hons leporteil th.it ■■. ,-; i ji. z. i o temperature* p-.-uil ll.iotighotll the day IK.-. • nil ty road* w< re i.- . < .ndition. Some of ■■ • ■:• noered with SHOW M ■ ■ i.uixldvred danger ■■ . hull he* held regu- ■ ■-n.- ••• Sunday, and no furde. line thf number of 1 .i l. e nz.i in Adams conn noted beginning with the of tin- cohier weather |Ha relieved that the epidemic !■; deat lapidly with the cold B* ■. ji: li. ■ ■ ;••. owned by Jatix-s <auglit (Ire at a filling li.e Points early Sunand the local fire de., .ae \ filling station attend »** placing alcohol In the uf the ear and the bat • zplodeil The damage was M- Vi fires from overheat'd ■*■•« nr stoves were reported ■ thy weekend. ■r-tift ia-o Giiiig stated this that he was keeping his crossed during the cold because of a weak place ■ ’- 1 ' boiler of the heating plant ■ db- county jail. The sheriff Is that because It is neces <■- to work the boiler harder in kind of weather it might a leak There is only one tor the entire jail and realplants in the county apparently were coping ■'• tie cold weather and no u-bools were reported. At wa« higher than a week ■school buses were able to make ■ r runs and only a few small ■'* drifts were reported. The X ■’ have iiecn cut down over ■. r "*ds. making the roads pass 1 Slight Relief R By United Press B wintea-'s first severe cold y r ‘ **<■» to give way to slowly "‘"’hmtures in the mid E * »ad east today after sweeping ■ most of the nation and K‘ w at least §g d M ths. R™ 8 V- 8. weather bureau at ■ ’ is?B T " Page X, t'eiutnn I) K ~. fscotur Stores Open F'Skts This Week H -- ■J fef3l »r «'ore* will remain open pr Bight this week anti! 9 *° accommodate Christmas '-wai ■tores have a large F'^ r of Christmas gifts and ,o ”* r * items and moat stores * * much larger selection than 1 ’*r a lo /J *®eai stores, unless other»»noune«d. will close at 5:30 „ <l ‘ B "’* Monday afternoon. De- ‘ 241 aB!l remain closed all Sristmas day. The retail k .* 'tee of the chamber of Comi t»*k Wlll ,nnoußfe suggested " h '’«rs for the week between «•» Years on De **y*AY ▼ HER MOM ITER I READINGS ■A*-•- —- o i k •• . . 2 i *• *■ 12 —1 , WSATHtR •••"’B cloudiness tonight i otw U, B M •"• w ••uV’*nr«i *" •"B south and , Wnlene Tuesday. Not so i ” Yssoday, I

DECATUR DAIEF DEMOCRAT

Six Persons Killed In Train Collision Heavy Winter Fog Blamed For Crash Kollock, S. C„ Dec. 17 -(I'Pl Heavy winter fog was blamed today for the broadside crash of the luxury train Silver Meteor Into the New York bound Sun Queen mar here yesterday There were seven known dead and at least 20 persons were injured when the Florida-bound .Meteor crushed into the middle of the Queen as it pulled onto a siding to clear the tracks. Officials of the Kralxmi’d air line railway said an early investigation showed that Shoemaker didn't see the Sun Queen coaches until it was too late. Survivors reported there was a heavy predawn fog. 30 Soldiers Injured Chicago. Dec. 17—(CPI-Eight homelmiittd soldiers were hospitalixed and 22 others under treatment for lesser injuries today after the collision of two coupled Chicago and Northwestern "100" Diesel engines with a troop train. Scores were shaken and bruised The rear car of the 11-car troop train, its cargo of soldiers singing happily over impending discharges after Pacific duty, wax hit by the two-engine Diesel combination last night as the troop train slowed in the Northwestern's west side yards. Eighteen persons, including two railroad workers, reqquired hospital treatment- Others were treated at the scene by physicians, nurses and military personnel. Many of the soldiers were standing in the aisles when the crash occurred and were hurled to the floor of the cars or against shattering windows. The troop train was carrying 17 officers and 254 enlisted men. It was en route from Camp Stoneman, Pittsburgh, Calif., to Fort Sheridan. 111., where the soldiers were scheduled for discharge. BULLETIN Washington, Dec. 17—(UP) — The supreme court today granted a formal stay of execution to Japanese Gen, Tomoyuki Yamaehita. who has been sentenced at Manila to hang as a war criminal. The court granted the stay until it has time to consider his appeal for a civil trial in this country. , | «. Five Are Injured In Philadelphia Blast Philadelphia. Dec. 17 (IT) - Three dwellings were reported demolished today and five persons Injured In a gas main explosion in southw<Kt Philadelphia. A fourth hoiwe was set afire and windows and doors In many other homes were blown out. first reports >»M. O' Auction Graduate Exercises Tuesday Classes To Close Here On Saturday Commencement exercises for the HI graduates of the Reppert seh-m! of aurtbmeerin-z will be held tomorrow nnon at the Knights of Pythias home on Third street. Col. Fred Reppert, founder and president of the school, announced ' Tlaxses will be continued until next Saturday. Mr Reppert said. Th<- commencement exercises date wga advanced due to the fact the hall will not be available the latter part of the week. Dinner will be served at noon and diplomas will be distributed to the graduate*, dependent upon their completion of the course of instruction. Quentin R. Chaffee, of Towanda. Pa. assistant manager of the school, and instructor of public speaking, will deliver tae address to the graduates, who come from nearly every atate In the union and several Canadian provinces. Included In the list sre several former memlmrs of the srmed fort es who are furthating their education and learning the rudiments of auctioneering undar the G. I- bill This l» ’ha largest class to bs graduated in tbs bistery of 'be school, which thia ysar is cels brating its Ss'h successful year.

Ministers Os Big Three In Session Today Atom Bomb, Other Essential Topics At Moscow Confab Moscow, Dec 17 tl’P) Th«Illg Three foreign ministers will * sit down around the Green Raise : lalde in Hpiridonovka palace today for their first hlun' talk about ’ the atom !><>mb. 1 The vession begin* at Ipm. I' * will be the eecoiuL meeting of f Secretary of Stale James Byrne* 1 and Foreign Minister Ernest He- ■ via with foreign Commiaaar Viachexlav M. Molotov since their 1 weekend arrival. Ilevin told a press conference 1 that the atomic bomb question ’ will lie dheuxxed on a "policy ba ’ Sb." This implies that the confer 1 eea will not discuss scientific de ’ tails, and that the whole question is Ih-liik raised with The Russian" ’ for the first time. He pointed out » that the British delegation did not 1 include an atomic expert Ijite Sunday afternoon the 1 three men held a brief, friendly 1 dioctixslon to settle procedure and technical details for their talks, ' which will continue altout two ■ weeka They adjourned at 7:25 p. ' tn. so Ryrncx and Revin could re- > turn to their respective embassies for dinner During the evening iurth Amerl 1 can and British delegates held ’ strategy discussions with t!»-ir ‘ etaffs. There were no »o< lai oveiita scheduled, in keeping with plans 1 to make the conferenct a plain--1 speaking, cards on the table as- - fair Formal social functions will • Ire on an austerity basis. ’ Bevin conferred Irefore the first session with Sir William Reader Bullard, the British atnhaiMador o Tehran, on the situation in Iran Shortly before the meeting, a Tasr dispatch from Iran announced the formation of an autonomous government in Azerbaijan province. The Iranian question will be thrown into conference discussions at an early stage, it was believed. The I'nlted Slates ha>< Ireen pressing in vain for withdrawal of all (Turn To Page I. Column I* —o Truman Message On Merger Wednesday I • Congress Recess To Begin This Weekend Washington. Dec. 17 — (UP) — President Truman's message to congress on merger of the armed services is virtually completed and probably will be sent to Capitol hill Wednesday. White House press secretary Charles (J. Roas announced today. Ross' announcement came aa congress appeared determined to begin its Christmas recess this weekend without acting on either ' the president's labor or housing programs. ' • The merger message will be be--1 tween 5,000 and 6.000 words long. Ross said .Mr Truman favors the 1 principle of a merger hut he has 1 not Indicated the exact kind of a setup he prefers. • 1 Mr. Truman will leave Washington by plane Chriatmas morning for a threeday visit to his ’ home in Independence, Mo. He will return to Washington Friday, Dec. 26. i Upon his return, the president will start work on his state of the I Union message which will l>e sent ’ to the new session of congress early in January. Both house and senate faced a ' heavy week's schedule and showed no inclination of taking up i major issues before returning from their recess, probably on Jan. 7. There was only a faint possibility of pre-Christmas action on the , president's request for some form of housing price controls. Both houses, however, have refused to take up until after the recess his proposal for fact-finding maebin- , ery to avert strikes. Reports persisted that Mr. Tru(Turn To Fap* 1, Column 7)

ONLY, DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, December 17, 1945.

Os Such Stuff Dreams Are Made IMITATION IS THE SINCEREST FORM of flattery, they say. so lll’hi Queenle imitates the post of the statue of Halto. heroic slid dog who sped serum to Nome. Alaska, during a furious storm Queauie got the Idea during a snowstorm In New York City but nobody except a pass ing photographer paid any attention to her.

I I Truman Urges Peace On China Factions I Intimates U. S. Aid May Be Withdrawn 1 Washington. Dec. 17 -• (UP) — Diplomatic observers believed today that President Truman's new 1 statement on U S. policy toward ' China had bettered prospects Cor 1 unifying China's two rival political I groups. • Mr. Truman called for a truce between Chinese Nationalists and ' Communists and for eventual consolidation under the government ' of Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek. r This was the oft-egpre*sed goal of > American policy. This time, however, the presidi ent put some pressure behind his i appeal. He intimated that Amerl- . can financial and economic assistance in postwar rehabilitation > might not he forthcoming if Chii na did not respond Mr Truman issued his statement following the departure for Chius I of Gen George C. Marshall, his new personal ambassador. Marshall succeeds Maj. Gen. Patrick J. Hurley who resigned with charges that career diplomat* were undermining American foreign policy in China and elsewhere The president's statement was Intended to make a matter of public record the objectives that Marshall is to seek in China. The immediate ones were (It a truce between Nationalist*. Communists and other dissident groups to fat ilitate evacuation of Japanese force* and <2» a national confer- ( ence of major political emenents I to work out a unified government. Truman acknowledged that his proposal meant inodiftcation of ( the one-party system now in effect. ( But he fell It would lead to abolition of autonomous armies and 1 (Turn To Page 2, Column i)

‘ w "’ " I Christmas Season Ushered In With Nativity Play At School

' Christ ma« week, with all of Its 1 tender sentiment, religious algnlflea nee and beautiful carols, was ushered in Sunday afternoon with the presentation of the Nativity play, "The Shepherd's Star,” hy 1 aeventh and eighth grade pupils and Decatur high school students at the junior-senior auditorium. Nearly 1,500 persons braved the , zero temperature to witness the candlelight ceremony, depicting ! the birth of the Child Jesus, consisting of seven scenes and augmented with singing by the high school chorus and glee clubs. The audience maintained silence throughout the "sacred Hour," and sat enraptured with the unfolding of the Biblical story, lieginning with the Angel's annunciation to the Virgin Mary that she was to become the mother of the Christ Child, and carried though to the 1 adoration of the Rabe by the three holy kings and lonely shepherds. Costumes and scenery were furnished by Row, Peterson and Company of Chicago. The play was written by Janet Katherine Smith..

Former Local Pastor Dies At New Paris The Rev D. O. Wise. 72. former pastor of the First Evangelical church of this city, died Sunday at his home In New Paris after a year's Illness. A minister for 39 years, the Rev. Wise had also served pastorates at Berne, Wabash. Elkhart. Peru and New Paris. Surviving is the write. Funeral services will be held at 2 p. m. Wednesday at New Paris, (be Rev Ixzzler. district superintend1 ent. officiating. Burial will be at New Paris. 0 Six Persons Die In Aulo-Train Collision Frosted Windows On Auto Held To Blame Staunton, 111. Dec. 17—(UP)— Six persons were dead* today ami a seventh In critical condition aft- ( era collision of an automobile in which they were riding with a fast Wabash passenger tralu at a ‘ railroad crossing here last night. Russell Scheller. 23. died of injuries a few hour* after the crash. Other fatalities were Violet Comp- ( ton; O. V. Fritsche, a soldier; George G. Kasarda, a sailor; Andrew Frank Andrawko. a marine, and Victor L. Mueller, a discharged suidler. John M Jeskl wa* xer- | iously injured Ail were from Mt. Olive, 111. ( Witnesses said frosted windows on the automobile apparently prevented the motorist* from sqelng 1 the approaching train, en route from Chicago to St Ixitils • The car was struck and demol--1 Ished as the group entered Statin- ■ ton. reportedly on the way to a dance. The injured were taken to 1 St. Fraud* hospital al Litchfield HI.

The various scenes were: The ■innunciation to Mary: The annunciation to Joseph; the annunciation to the shepherds: the journey of the kings; the warning to Joseph; the journey of the Shepherds; the Adoration of the Child. The cast of characters was composed of high school students, their names and parts having been previously published. The singing was directed by Miss Helen llaubold. music director in the school. Other direct ors of the yuletide program were. Deane Dorwin and Miss Catherine Weidler. dramatics; l<owell Smith, lighting effects; Miss Katherine Kauffman, art work: and Miss Mil- , dred Worthman, costumes. W Guy Brown, school principal, presented ! the program in behalf of the school faculty and students. The scenes were presented from the stage, while the singers were seated on the main floor, the arrar gement being that of a choir loft or church sanctuary. Miss Haubold directing the singing from , a podium.

Office Workers Return To Jobs; 11 Sinclair Properties Returned

Indianapolis Skipper To Testify Tuesday Captain Os Sunken Cruiser A Witness Washington. Dec. 17 — (UPI One of America's at e wartime stile marine commanders said today that a vessel could not save Itself from submarine attack by follow ing a xig-Mta <<>urse The officer, (’apt. fllynn R Donaho, of Arlington. Va.. test! fled at the court martial trial of ( apt Charles B McVay. HI. skip per of the cruiser Indianapolis. .McVay Is charged with negligence anti Inefficiency in connection with the loss of his ship. one of the charges against McVay is that he failed to order the in.ntm-ton cruiser to follow a xigzuk course In enemy submrfine waters. The warship was sunk l>y a Japanese submarine in the | , hilip|>tn.s Sea July M with the loss of 6M officers and men. Donaho told the court that he had lieen in the submarine service since Ifi.iu and had led seven undersea patrols during the war His command took part in 23 consecutive successful attacks, he said, and sank 2* ships totalling 200,000 tons Capt. Joint P Cady, McVay's defense counsel, asked him how zigzagging courses affected the success of his submarine attacks. "They had no effect." Donaho said. He said a submarine could correct its aim to compensate for a zigzag course within 10 seconds. During the cross-examination, navy prosecutor Capt. Thomas .1 Ryan. Jr . asked Donaho If he Implied that zigzagging was of no value in evading enemy submarine attack. "Yes. that la what I mean." he replied. Th- court later adjourned until tomorrow when McVay will take the stand ill his own defense. Should McVay lie acquitted, the court's announcement is expected soon after the final arguments. If he is found guilty, the verdict would first have to be reviewed by the navy's legal department and the secretary of the navy. That would probably delay an announcement until sometime in January. During the first two weeks of (Tune T-> Page 2. Column ’>) Fast Army Bomber Is Crashed Sunday Fast Plane Crashes Week After Record Washington. Itec. 17 — (UP) — The army began an inquiry today into the crash which turned its fastest nofnner. the toirmilean hour XB-42 "Mixmaster." into a pile of wreckage a week after its public debut. The unusual appearing plane, i equipped with dual rotating propellers in the tail assembly, de- < veloped engine trouble during a routine flight front the army’s Bolling Field here yesterday. All three occupants parachuted to 1 safety before it plunged into a wooded field at nearby Oxon Hill, i Md. Army officials dug through the wreckage and questioned the crew i members to fix th* cause of the crash. The "Mixmaster” was first in i the headlines Dec M when it i streaked from Ixing Beach. Calif , i to Washington In hours. 17 min- | utes and 31 seconds for an tinofficial transcontinental record, i Its average speed was 432 miles | an hour but it was clocked at 450 i when It shot over the Washington , national airport. Lt. Col. E. J Ascani of Rm k- | ford. 111. who was piloting the ( ship yesterday, said both engines | (Turn To !’»»« I, Column 7) 1

Party Politics Flares Up In Attack Probe Threats Voiced To Investigate Aides, Question Gov. Dewey Washington. Dec. 17 — <1 Pt The Pearl Harbor Investigating committee heard today that the navy provided special equipment to break Japanese codes for the r S. Asiatic fleet at Manila but not for the Pa< iflc fleet at Hawaii where Japan struck the wars op ening blow Vice Admiral T H. Wilkinson, former chief of naval intelligence., testified that the special equip ment was seiji to Adm Thomas C Hart nt Manila to break the so-called "purple" code used by Japan in diplomatic exchanges He said Adm Husband E Kimmel. commanding the pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor, did not have facilities for breaking the dlphe made code Wilkinson testified after Democratic mid Republican memlu-ra of the committee fought another skirmish in the running political warfare which has accompanied the Investigation The threats were voiced to investigate all committee aides, to determine their past employers and present salaries, mid to question Gov Thomas E Dewey at some later dale Io find out how he learned during the 1044 presidential campaign that we were breaking Japanese code. Dewey was brought Into the political aquahide on Saturday when Sen. Scott W. Lucas. D. HI. said he intended to find out sli t gave Dewey our "top secret" during the 1944 tzreafolentlal campaign the secret (hat we were breaking Japanese codes. Rep Frank B KeeTe. R Wis.. remarked today that he had read newspaper stories of Lucas' statement mid added: "I'm wondering if we're Investigating Pearl Harlair or If we're investigating Mt. Dewey." Lucas retorted he wanted to find out "who gave him this top secret, and I think thia committee, and tile country are entitled to know." "What has it got to do with Pearl Harbor?” Keefe asked "A lot more," Lucas replied, iTurn To I'age 2. Column X> o Former Premier Os Japan Is Suicide Suicide Thwarts Konoye's Arrest Tokyo. Dec. 17 (J Pi Alib i authorities may al-olbdi the grace period which lias been allow ) Japanese war criminal SUSP* ts before their arrest, it was learned today, as a result of the suicide Sunday of Prince Fumlmaro Konoye. thrice premier of Japan Konoye's arrest had lieen ordered by Gen. Douglas MacArthur Dec. 6. The directive 0.-t midnight Dec IS ao the deadline for hl« delivery into < ustody. Konoye drank poison at !iis suburban home early Sunday the day he was to have en'-red Sugamo prison when- top Japanese war crime suspects are being held (M-ndlng trial. in a note db-tated <arlier, Kte noye »aid be "u-lt great n-sponsl-hlllty for the China affa'r and deep regret at becoming a war criminal ■aspect." Japanese sources speiuiated that he look his life rather than give testimony that might involve Emperor Hirohito ’to whom h- had been a close adviser.

Pi ice Four Centis

Navy Scheduled To Relinquish Control Os Sinclair Company Properties Tonight By United Press Non-sDikitig General Motors office workers ermwted (‘IO I nitej Auto Worker* picket I'nes tmlay, and (he government prepared to return II Sim lair Refining Co. propertle* to private control Strikes and shutdowns idled 4’>9,« (WO American workers. Enforced by polk* protection ami court Injunctions, some offlc«» workers entered •truck (IM plants at Flint and lainslng. Mich.. Ia» Grange. HI Cleveland. 0.. utiti Llndenn. N J No violence was reported A CAW spokesman said several local unions already have be--n advised to perm t office workers to enter the plants and that a general policy statement advising all I'” cal* to do so would l>e issued shortly. Strikes ••tided today at the Sprague Electric Company. .North Adam*. Mass., and Hie Cudahy I’m kina Co . Newport. Minn The navy was scheduled io reHnqiilsh control of to- Sinclair properties tonight. The navy announced last night, that th* oil company hud rea< hod an agreement on the union'* wage demands, settling for 1» percent a ieqm-t f>r a ".»• percent increase. The settlement called for a 40liotll week. Also in the new Sinclair contract was a pledge that tlx CIO oil workers would not engage In strikes, walkouts or slowdowns. The Sinclair plants were among 53 oil propert e* tak tl over by the Navy Oct. 5 under an executive order issued by I’r.-sident Truman during a natluiwlde work •toppatp- drastically cutting output of (Hindeum products. At Detroit, observer* found mon* gei hopes for settling tile auto industry labor snarl in at Hon by tb«t White House and wav negotiation* between the Ford Motor Co. ami tin- Cniteii Auioiimbiie Worker* of America iCHD. Until sides were deadloi ked, however, in the companion dleput** of I' \W and General Motor* whichsent 175. turn worker* Into their 27th day of Idleness. t'AWGM talks also wen- expected to bi resumed today. Sinclair Refining Co properties returned to private operations ar.< at Coffeyville. Kan ; Cot pus Christi. Tex . East Chicago, Ind.: Fore Worth and Houston. T« -. Kansas City, Kan : Marcus Hook. Fa.; Sand Spring*. Okla; Sinclair, Wyo. and Welleaville, N Y. Four of the 53 till plants taken over by tin- navy previous!) had la-eti returned. The navy will continue operation of the others until settlement of the dispute*. A government fact-finding panel will study the issue*. ia-velopiiietite in th- motor industry’* attempt* to return to normal output in the face of I'AW deniatids far higher take horn- pay to make up for lower wage rates ami shorter peacetime hours included Completion by Ford of a weekend study of the wage priqiosuis. an indication the firm might mako a counter-offer, emphasis by President Henry Ford II that lack of parts, not employe failure, had (Turn To Page 2. t'-lumn 3) Buys Health Bond Bit•ln<** Prof Woman's club han voted purchase of a »5 health

bond, officiate of i the Christmas seal {campaign In ' Adams county an- ; nounced today. All ; proceeds from the ; annual Christina* : seal sales are used lin the fight on I tuberculosis and to provide free I clinics and other-

Prevont TB Chrktam Sods

wise carry on the fight against the "white plague." The sale is conduct! d hy the Adams county tuberculosis association.