Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 44, Number 132, Decatur, Adams County, 5 June 1946 — Page 1

XLIV. N° 132,

18 PERSONS DIE IN CHICAGO HOTEL FIRE

■time labor ■pule Probe ■Be Sought ■, n Heads, Ship ■Kers Return To SKj Negotiations Hi bulletin aEu... notcn. June S.—(UP) — , f/en maritime union* a nationwide snip ■E r ,ne June 15 will ask the BK^ M .nt to submit a compro- ■■ c .o P csai for settlement of ■9 Al ge and hour dispute, a on official said today. ~PI ■K, -ni-Hi l'U'l<Tn mid ehip■K..' Li'. I iltttiil wage ■■L l.i’i ' l.nch-l till! .it ■■.VO-' ! 1 JIV.-.lllt.ltblll 111 if ’ I* y f‘iil to pre--...11 .IltUtil- Stl.kl' Jane MHt'iat'!*- I'- I 1 !"" 11 ■ p,;l ■ h- wi'- a-k the senate- > .III'.. (IVl'.te tin- ( ,y»- ilitfi t* ll' <■- t ’ll" occur-. said 1" h iped the ton inquiiy wou'd not be but tin- l*o sides worn informed sources sulci probably would lI u.tiip .iliinr on the vital nil’ till l-IHtfll of the nta work 'i<-i itialiolH ill the eighth ■ ••■ iroiiriiiniiit < -cinsich’i-.-si ,i I - hour * > k Neaineit !■> k i'i hours weekly while ■■y .mil the unions want to cut ■| I.' Tin y originally asked n week .It sea, and ettlll de ]■ it fa si w irkers. |Hp;iiyers. on thn other hand. £■ •iid ti i» standing firm on 9H refusal to cut the 56-hour They would agree, inform -..k1, to hav<- an InvMwt Ilf the hours problem by ■•■ tr I Olin" presumably ■■eminent fa. t finding Itoard. ’ll lien' proposal to rework week probably will d until next week since are negotiating on Ute issue. Harry Illidges, presi- ■ •’< ftt> l"!i- , shoretm hand ware- ■ and Joseph Curran. I ■! t in national maritime huh <T<», have stressed the ( ,r i n.'kr hours demands, presni.: i Philip Murray was Te page J, Column 4) |9 o ■jncy, 111., Mayor ■tel Fire Victim June 5. (I’Pt-Edward Mrtneidman. 2040 Spring st.. "f Quincy, |||„ was among »ho died today in the l<a Hotel firn, | Hi lin.-idman. in Chicago in ■ *ffort to obtain housing for originally had planned to ■ 4l the Bismarck hotel. A ■* showed S< hneidmar. had not at the Bismarck, how- ■ »tid he wa* identified Imlay ■» ttteniher of nls Htaff wh(wp ■* •»« not obtained,

Of Hotel Disaster escribes Her Experiences

BR 4 ' o'’ 0 '’ n “"-: Mamie Wade. 28. «ay. 25. Ik, th of Ul. 111 (,u< a«o after attending ■L of Alpha lota, honsorority. In Hpring K> . , . Th ’* y w " re occupying ’«• in the LaSalle Hotel S’* '"*** Warle’a eye-witness W”"" of lhe fire. MAMIE WADE ■ b " Ml the United Press) IM. **"' Juno S—(UP)—MarHU ».. 1 * p re In our room— IM- .^'“‘P- shortly after midKL., argaret said she smelled |M’ 15,n * burning. !ha ' ’ ha '> W “ |M> " radiator In the ba(h|Hwa't that Fan * n ,berp but ** M,d “ *"■ Probably |K a i!i she next room smok- ■ the smoke got heavier r °° m <0! warmpr So |Kt. . opened the door and a IMlfrrir. ,ao>t * h,t u# in the fare. « started out Into the K her back iU d we MB The window was

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Daily Bible School Will Close Friday Closing sessions of the union dully vacation Bible echoed will lie heldUMday, A picnic for the pupils and teachers will he held at 11 o'clock Friday t.iornitig at Worthman field, and the sch ml’s demonstration program will be held at 7:80 o’clock Friday evening in the auditorium of the Lincoln school. The public h Invited to attend.

One-Third Os Europe Run By Reds-Churchill Virtual Stalemate In Cooperation Os Allies Pointed Out London, June s—(l'P) Winston Churchill charged today that nearly one third of the population of Europe now Is directed by "the commissars of ths* Kremlin’’ and that ’’lt la hero that the seeds of a new world war. If anywhere, are beln sown,’’ Churchill made his charge in a reply to foreign secretary Ernest Bovin's statement on British foreign policy in which he generally concurred with the labor party’s conduct of foreign affairs. Churchill expressed hope for success of the Paris foreign ministers conference but that time had come to "begin to ask what course we ought to take If no sort of agreement is reached which would command approval of the world at large." Charging that Britain Is subject to a "systematic system of villiglea t ion pumped out daily by the Soviet propaganda machine,'' Churchill declared that-

"Nearly one third of the population of Europe is at present directed by that name group of very able men the commissars of the Kremlin —who are already imposing the mighty powers of their despotic regime. It Is here that the seed* of a new world war, if anywhere, are being sown." Churchill said the year since the end of the war has brought "a virtual breakdown or stalemate" hr allied cooperation and a "painful decline" in British influence but made plain he did not blame the labor party for this situation. He defended non-intervention in Spain, praised the British intervention and elections in Greece, urged restoration of the southern Tyrol to Austria, and denounced the British Communist party. Churohlll. leader of the opposition, addressed the House of commons on the second day of debate on foreign affairs. "The year that has passed since the end of the German war has been darkened by the virtual breakdown or stalemate in the concert and collaboration between the great power*, as well as by a painful decline in British influence and prestige." Churchill said. Churchill said the "socialist” tTurn T-> I’.ig- I. Column 5>

epon slightly and we pushed ft all the way up because it was getting so hard to breathe. Hy this time the smoke was getting dense. So we hung out the window and screamed for help. An we stood there at the window we saw the firemen arrive and put up ladders. We saw several people being carried down but didn’t see anyone Jump. We kept hanging out the win dow and yelling for about 45 minutes. Leaning out the window was the only way we could breathe. Tt,en the flames died down and the smoke In the room began to clear. We opened the door. There was less smoke in the hail, but it was awfully hot. A fireman came along and showed us a fire escape. We climbed down the eight stories, stepping over some people who were unconscious along the way. Just as we reached the bottom, a fireman turned his hose toward us and J got drenched. But I guess I’m lucky to bo alive.

Senate Votes For Drafting Os Teen-Agers Highest Military Pay In History Is Offered Volunteers Washington, June s.—(VP»—The senate today offered the highest military pay in hfettory to maintain a record volunteer army but tent- j alively authorised a continued teenage draft If necessary. The house, however, probably will balk at conscripting the teenagers. It already has voted twice this year against calling them up now that the ehooting Is over. A (ompromlse will have to Im worked out by a aenate-h<MMe conference committee If the draft la wls to lie extended beyond its June 30 deadline. Senate opponents of continuing the draft had one last chance to reverse th«- picture today. Il was on an amendment by sen. Chapman Revercomb, IL. W. Va., to continue the draft law until .May 15 but forbid inductions unless congress finds it necessary in the interest of national security. Th«- effect would tie to continue on the books a draft 'aw that was completely inoperative. Before reaching the Revercomb amendment the enate voted to: 1. Extend the draft to .May 15. 2. Permit drafting of single men from IS to 45, provided the armed forces stay within anti rmced goals for the coming year. 3. Raise the pay scab* far enlisted personnel to encourage volunteering. 4 Limit every draftee to in 18month hitch. 5 Specifically exempt from the draft all fathers, scientific students and teachers and veterans with honorable discharges who already have been overseas or served six montlw in the United States. The senate approved the teen age dfaft by the overwhelming vote of 53 to 26. it was a sharp rebuff to the house which voted last March and again in Muy on a July 1 stopgap extension that the draft age should lie raised to 20. The house bill also would halt all drafting Feb. 15 an I Impose a holiday on-!ndu. lion.; u:itH o< t, 15.

_• Dick Heller, Jr. To Ranger Service Dick Heller. Jr., of thU city, will leave Thursday morning for Clarkla. Idaho, where he will rejoin the forest ranger service during the summer months. He will be stationed in a fire watch tower during the summer drought in the Idaho national forest and will return to h.t home next September. Robert Gay Elected President Os Lions Annual Election Is Held Tuesday Night Itobert Gay, Local Loan company manager, was elected president of the Decatur Lions club Tuesday night at the Knights of Pythias lodge room during an election, held as a part of the weekly meeting, Mr. Gay. who succeeds Herman 11. Krtteckeberg as head of the club, will be installed along with other newly elected officers at the last meeting of the Lions in June. Other officers are: Noah Steury. first vice president; Francis Ellsworth, second vice president; Thurman I. Drew, third vice president; William Porter, secretary; Phil Sauer, treasurer; Gregg McFarland, tall twister; Roger Kelly. Lion tamer; John Halterman and, Robert Zwlck, directors. Abe Andrews Speaks Abe Andrews, famous sportsman and conservation enthusiast, delivered an interesting address durirtg the weekly program, under the direction of Phi! Hauer. Mr. Andrews, who writes a newspaper column and has a radio program concerning conser(Tins Ta Page 4, Column 3)

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, June 5,1946.

Decatur Youth, Ex-Navy Pilot, One Os War’s Leading Heroes

The DFC Is Awarded To Simeon Hain, Jr. A young salesman, employed In his fathm-In-law's wholesale tobacco firm, went about his rounds as usual here today apparently unperturbed by the fact that his secret was out; the secret that he has liecome one of the most highly decorated war heroes In Indiana. He is eg-Lt. <j<l Simeon Hain. Jr., son of Simeon Hain, local businessman, and ’’Simmy'' to a greater portion of Itecatur’s populace, since he gained recognition with ll|e Decatur Catholic high school's basketball team before entering naval service. Simmy enlisted in the naval air forces in the summer of 11*42 and after completing his training was commissioned an ensign. In the lull of 1944 he wen overseas to the Pacific Returning to the states in the summer of 1945, he received his discharge in November. 1945. after having attained the rank of lieutenant <junior grade). That's about the extent of his naval career -according to his story, the story of a quiet, mild mannered, unassuming young man who apparently reasoned that he was just one of thousands and even millions who served their country in World War 11. And the story almost "got by" that way that is, until late Tuesday. when Lt. Vomdr. Charles W. Nisula. USNR. Inspector of naval material for the Fort Wayne district and his contract termination officer. Lt. H. W. Schlobohm. arrived here under orders from the commandant of the ninth naval

Gregg McFarland Is Renamed To Board Council Reappoints School Board Head T. Gregg McFarland, president of the city board of education, was renamed to the hoard for a period of three years by the city council Tuesday night, meeting In regular session at the city hall. Mr. McFarland was unopposed for the position and was named by acclamation of the council after his application was read by city clerk-treasurer H. Vernon Aurand. A petition for a sewer along Fifth street, from Elm street, north to the first alley, sought by G. Rambo and five other property owners, was referred to the street and sewer committee. Petitions for rural electric light line extensions, sought by Harold Thieme of route three and Ned Johnson, near federal road 27 in Root township, were referred to the light committee of the council. An agreement covering use of rural line extension to the Harry R. McClure property was approved and placed on record. Special Meet Tuesday A special meeting of the city council will be held next Tuesday night to take further steps toward annexing the Hl ration Place addition, now under construction, east of Decatur. John R. Worth(Turn To Page S. Column 1) o Hit-Skip Driver Is Under Arrest Here To Be Arraigned On Friday Morning A second alleged hlt-klp driver is to be arraigned In city court here, following hU arrest last night by officer Robert Hill ot the city police. Estll Coronet, of this city, U charged wf»h Keing the driver of a cpr. bearing an out-of-state llccimo plate, which collided with a parked vehicle fn the 100 block on South Second street Saturday night and then left the scene, Officer HUI said. His arrest last night followed an Intensive Investigation. police said. In an effort to locate the alleged hit-skip driver. Coronet is to ap(Turn To Page J, Column «)

■■■■■■■MMfl I KX_\ ■ Simeon Hain, Jr. district. They revealed the fact tiiat some time ago, Simeon Hain. Jr., had received the air medal and with them they brought the distinguished Flying Cross, a gold star in lieu of a second DFC, gold stars In lieu of second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh air medals. The awards were his for his achievements in a navy Liberator crew in the Philippine sen frontier. ax a member of VPB-111. which Is officially credited with 28 ships sunk. 23 damaged or prole ably sunk and scores more never officially chalked up, as well anumerous strafings and bombings of ground Installation of the Jap (Turn To Pag# 2. Column 6)

BULLETIN Washington, June i.—(UP)— Ths senate banking committee today stuck by its decision to and prices controls July 1 on meat, dairy products and poultry. 0 Expect 15-Day Truce In China Civil War Give Broad Powers To Gen. Marshall Nanking, - June 5. (t’Pl — A 15-day truce between the Chinese nationalists and communist* will be signed tonight or tomorrow probably giving Gen. George C, Marshall broad powers to settle China's civil war, It wan reported tonight. The exact scope of the powers which Marshall will u» given by the contending faction* t > resolve their dispute still was under discussion. However, it appeared virtually certain that the truce pact would be signed within the next 12 to 24 hours and that a breathing spell will follow In which Marshall will seek to arrange an <nd -to the Chinese civil war. Communirit leader, Chou En-Lal. r.a'itl that the 15-day truce represented a compromise between Gen Chiang Kai-Shek who desired a '•day truce and the communists w»ho wanted a 30-day breathing spell. Chou said that Chiang had attached five condition* to the truce. They were: 1. That a definite time limit be fixed for carrying out the agreement. 2. That reorganization of the government and army as provided by the earlier nationalist-commun-ist agreement lie carried out. 3. That communication* between communist and nationalist areas lie restored. I.—That Marshall he empowered to make final decision* In event of disagreement and receive generally greater power* to Impose a Chinese settlemnt. s.—That Marshall pledge himself that the communist* carry out their end of the agreement. DEMOCRAT THERMOMETER TEMPERATURE READINGS 8:00 a. m. 55 10:00 a. m. 62 Noon 67 2:00 p. m. 74 WEATHER Fair end warmer tonight and Thursday, except little change In temperature extreme south sast portion tonight.

23-Story LaSalle Hotel Scene Os Worst Tragedy In City's Hotel History Fire Leaps From Elevator Shaft Flashes Through J-ower Floors . Os Hotel — Many Os Victims Die As Result Os Near Hysteria, Panic Following Fire - rhicAtro limp 5— (UP) Fire leaped from an elevator frhaft early today and flashed throushT'lX fLr!^\r th.i Hotel where 5» pemne died in the wornt h “ ,el <-Xi n r death tot) oSieiahy at 57 and -aid many of them dint as the result of mags hysteria and panic. Many lea|>ed to their death from windows high above the crowded streets of Chicago’s loop. ..... . .nd Twelve hours after the fire started there were 54 Ixxlies at the county morgue and three at St. Luke’s hospital. .. .... at • i Fire commissioner Michael J. Corrigan also said many of the deaths were tragically unnecessary. tn O n adtnln.

Monarchy Is Renounced In Italian Vote Officials Announce King Humbert Out; Will Form Republic * ' Rome.. June 5—(UP) —An official announcement said today that Italy has voted to become a republic, throwing King Humbert II and the House of Savoy out of power. The ministers of war and aviation announced jointly that the rational referendum had given the republic a majority over the monarchy. They said the votes remaining to be counted could not change the decision. The majority for the republic wax aliout 1.890,000 votes, Vice Premier Pietro Ncnnl announced that the cabinet met to "plan the king's departure.*' War minister Manlio Broxio appealed to the nation to take the news calmly. The nation's rejection of the monarchy ended the reign of King Humbert just 26 days after he formally mounted the throne. He succeeded his father, King Victor Emmanuel, who abdicated ard went Into a life of voluntary exile in Egypt. Humbert had been lieutenant general of the realm, carrying on his father's duties, since Victor Emmanuel retired In 1944 after the allied capture of Rome. The new king made a "campaign" tour of the country during his short reign, trying to convince the people they should retain the monarchy. This failed principally liecause the heavy voting populace In the north was (Turn To Pugs 4. Column 3)

Heart Attack Fatal To Frank Troutner Funeral Services Friday Afternoon Frank Troutner. 75. lifelong resident of St. Mary's township. died at his home Tuesday afternoon at I o'clock. Death resulted from a heart attack He had been 111 only a few hours. Mr. Troutner was born In St Mary'.i township January 14, 1871. a son of George and Catherine Avery Troutner. Surviving is a brother. Gnelly Troutner of Willshire. ()., Four grandchildren also survive. His wife, Cora, preceded hlrn in death. Funeral of vices will be held at the Church of God n Willshire Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, wjth Rev. A. L. Davis officiating. Burial will be at the Willshire cemetery. The body will be removed from the Cowan & Son fune-al home to the residence Thur.iday evening, where friends may call until 2 o'clock Friday afternoon, when she body will he removed to lhe Church to He in state until time of the services.

The flamex spread from an elevator shaft to an adjoining cocktail lounge and within seconds turned the ornate lobby into a fiery death trap. Modernistic leather upholstery in the bar ignited almost instantly and soon the expensive wood panelled walls of the lobby were enveloped in flames. While thousands of spectators jammed the streets and hamjiered firemen outside, hotel guests fought through smoke filled halls. Many failed to make it. One sailor chose 'to jump from the 18th floor to certain death. Others leaped - from lower floors.

Suggests Wallace As i UN Representative I Sen. Pepper Favors Wallace For Post WuMhlngtou, June 5 (UP) - Ben. Calude Pepper. D . Flu. |oday xuggcHied uecfetary of commerce. Henry A. Wallace for (he "enor moiiMly important" post of U. S representative on the United Nations security council. Pepper lx a member of the senate foreign relations committee.' which eventually will paxx on President Trumaii'x choice ot a aucceaaor to Edward It. Stettin-; lux, Jr., who resigned Others mentioned prominently In senate speculation over Mr Truman's selection Included John Foster Dulles, advisor to secretary of state James F. Byrnes at the: London conferrtoe, John <l. Win ant. former ambassador to Great Britain; Sumner Welles, former (Turn To Page 4, Column 5) n Child Drowns In Fall Into Washing Machine Morristown, Ind. Juno 5 (I P) : -—Coroner (', J. Price today said two-year-old Billy Bob Talliert drowned when he fell from a chair Into a swirling washing machine while his mother was out of the ! room. The youngster was v.atching hlx mother, Mrs. Robert Talbert, waeh ‘ In the liauetnent of their homo yesterday afternoon. When she stepped upstairs. h» apparently climbed i on a chair and watched the churni Ing electric machine.

Eyewitness Tells Os Horror At Scene Os Hotel Tragedy

(Editor's note: United Press staff cdrrespor{h-tlf Claire Cox was passing the LaSalle Hotel when the first flames shot out of the windows Her eyewitness story follows.) ■V CLAIRE COX Chicago. June S—(UP)—I saw the fire break out at the LaSalle Hotel. I also heard it. At almost the same moment that flames licked across the sidewalk In front of the hotel, the screams of hotel guests echoed down LaSalle street cavern of skyscrapers. The screams wore frantic and hysterical. I was on a streetcar on my way to work. I rushed to the front of the car. and Jumped eff to see the entrance of the hotel burst into flames. I rushed to a telephone to call the United Press office and then remained at the scene of the fire watching what seemed to be an endless procession of guests leaving the hotel, many of them on stretchers. The shouting continued until

Price Four Cents

Fire department officials investigating the cause, found that the fire apparently started in an elevator shaft below the street level. They believed it started in a signal cable beneath an elevator car. e John Fenn, deputy fire marshal in charge of fire prevention, disclosed that he had sent hotel officials a list of 10 violations of city fire prevention ordnances on May It). Ho said tho violations had not boon corrected. Whether any of them contributed to the fire he declined to say. Despite the panic there wero stories of heroism Mrs. Julia Barry, a telephone operator, told the assistant manager she was going to "slick It out because I might do some good here at tho switchboard."' She died In the flames. As firemen fought their way up from floor to floor the death toll mounted Bodies of suffocated victims lay in the corridors and rooms. At least 299 persons were injured or overcome by smoke. , Among them were 3D firemen. One fireman was killed. Mayor Edward J. Kelly said he ■ would call a special city council session, probably Friday, to consider recently reported violations of fire and building ordinances in Chicago Kelly said he understood that Chicago hotels have a 'bad habit* of putting out their own fires and said he understood that this casewax "one of those" where they failed to call the fire department In time. He also observed tltat itt was a miracle, with careless guests and other factors, that there were not more hotel fires. (Turn To Page 4. Column 5)

the fire had been brought under control. Firemen said six people Jumped In fright. One was a woman with a baby. Guests who had outside rooms e'ther opened their windows or broke them. One man suffered a badly cut wrist when he broke his window. .Several persons stood on ledges outride their rooms. Many persons waved sheets, frantically trying to gef the attention of firemen who moved ladders slowly up the side of the building. Most of the guests slowly waned down the fire escapes. The lobby and entrances were ablace. Nearly all those coming from the rooms wore pajamas or night gowns. Many were harefoot. Their faces were blackened with smoke and they gasped for air. Then came an endless procession of stretchers. Most of the people on them were alive. J»nt many stretchers bore lifeless forms, with sheets, blankets or (Turn To Page 3. Column »)"”