Decatur Daily Democrat, Decatur, Adams County, 29 March 1947 — Page 1

IV No. 75.

(Bodies Are govered From Kralia Mine j Kerch Continued j Hr 17 Men Still Kaccounted For [ I.' M.-m h 2!» <ITt — ■g.. .uoket- «ho have HHg >,| ,„h.- "> blast i. ■ ex Mil,. ■ i| " |g|g l,_. .-nt -mix d millers tinlay ■K.I man > -nil all.! di«t -ii ■' *»”• a "“' <l EgH t ; r< * ,><,r * ,hr '* I r.. -ii»— hail I»-It found | (..nil-- -.u-re badly burned f|K . <plosion, he said. Their I hi. k-i- were clutched in I • 1 T h: "’ I Kto i iti lor their liven and I almo.-t instantly. A I Mon th- wrist of one of the I jK JS stopped at 3:25 p.m. | K)., ! tie < row plunged in |'JK| l i-u ,/no-i immediately to |^H ( . th- search They planned . i already 1JK...1 |.-foie moving on the ~i. th- missing men an- : entombed ■WB 1 I'Hemely doubtful that of the missing Scanlan said t tW i' ■ 1 r-ported the ' going they pushed forward I 2K : .t ’■>-wn corridors into the I iO»ii<!i"- "i the last unexplored Centralia coal mine were 142 men the mine an explosion roared through I gS&rtolo, I feet below the slir Ljgrm-dav afternoon, but 31 exshortly after the blast I Khty of the f»4 bodies found M||gl.>-. n i fined out of th- mine | '«aii yesterday and more were scheduled sot

most tinBR: M -nday as memorial day B j£L I .iiid all but essential BQ|Rx tivity Kill done down B jflt'ar. ■ i -mralia. Glenridge City and Sandoval B ' l ,f lii,. bodies [.covered Rtgß .■•<> mitltilated by the blast ■ iß' l ' l '- 1 ' s " 11 ;i "‘ '"bible to I them Mass burial serv al i high hool The hiuh school chorus the requiem B sß'‘" ''-"tie Wh.ih broke oat I the miners carrying on ■ •>■' work and the state ->f ■ -1.0 ting them appiicntly ■M • "i>-u l.t-t !ikht at lea-t time ■ ,|R’" team hail re ■ t.-rilay for three hours to K tl,.- mine because they ■ ' I'tope) pre, anti.lll, ■ hi-m? taken for their safety BB' filially resumed work. S and brought 13 bodies to T. , ■■ -her *iy after 10 o'l lock jB4jB tl ' t ' l|t The bodies included • n'u I ye terday anti one others found last night !ll '"‘' ,!< '* l “’ •talked at the B 'S* sliatt yesterday demanded B ■■ 'brei tioti <.f rescue work be ,r "» the hands of Robert B ■ tutor of the state de B R"''" of mines and minerals. ■ R"' "eir assistant director B R J '*""” B,a ’ ,! safety ■ They also demanded J-.IIH- E Jones, safety engi 188 f "' "M Ben Coal com BR of w. st Erankfort. 11l . be SeSß**'''' 1 from the disaster scene HBR** men ■ barged the work was Hl®- ' ■*' -lowly 'hat directors of * W" * , ’ rk aln ><’ B ’ left seven res behind in the dangerous B R* during one search, and that RSR* 1U bud ordered the power on I R""' * al<l ,he power! mighff another explosion E R» dl " "•‘‘d 1,1 leav, ‘ ’be pow B’W” a? '“ r “ teM * how *d the mine B W ■•■[>• .med an unsafe amount of ■ R i! ’ ompton. general counsel W R.”* " ,al ln!r "‘ r * administration « 1!IU ‘ ,rom Washington K W that Medill would remain tn B-Bt " nlM * "dissatisfaction" BBk b *'*’*n Medill and the . ■’•“-‘t ration IER ,M ' miners had asked that res b* Placed under IBS *<anlm>. Centralia dist To Bags », Celuna «) I I Parti weathkr

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Safety Violations In Centralia Mine Federal Inspector . Reports Violations — i Washington. March 29—(UP)— A federal Inspector reported today that he found 52 safety violations in the Centralia. 111., coal mine a week before the explosion which claimed 111 lives. The report was nude by Erank Pen. inspector for the Bureau of Mines, who made an inspection tour of the Centralia mine during the week of March 17-20. In a previous inspection of the same mine last November. Pert found 165 violations of federal and state safety codes. At neither time did he find that the mine was in imminent danger. Today's report. however, said that many of the violations reported on Nov. 4 had not been corrected. Pert said he found that the mine remained dusty and still con tlined gas; ventilation was bad; no test for ga.s was made before blasting; blasting methods were Improper; and the miners exposed themselves to danger by lighting matches and using open flame carbide lamps. The inspection was made under the government's contract with the United Mine Workers lAFLt. which provides that the govern-ment-controlled mines are to be operated under a federal safety code. The government has authority to enforce the code and to close any mines it deems unsafe Officials of the coal mines ad ministration told reporters that CMA had attempted to enforce safety compliance in the mine. The Pers report said 13 violations had been cleared up In four months. UMW chief John L. Ix-wls put the blame for the disaster on interior secretary J. A. Krug yester day. He accused Krug of “murdering" the dead miners through failure to enforce the safety code Chairman Hugh Buller. R.. Neb., of the ’senate public lands committee meanwhile appointed a three man subcommittee tn carry out a senate investigation of the disaster. A Bureau of Mines inspection will begin at Centralia next week. Pen found the following conditions existing at the Centralia coal Co. mine No. 5 on March 20: 1. There} was too much gas. too much coal dust and insufficient oxygen. Ventilation was poor in many worked-out sections. 2. No examinations for gas were made before or after blasting. Improper detonators were used Blasting was done while men were still In the shaft. Explosives were stored only 10 feet from tracks and power wires. .1. Timbering In many parts of the mine remained inadequate although there had been some im(Turn To Page 6. Column 4> O

Red Cross Campaign Is Near To Quota 1947 Fund Within S3OO Os Set Goal The fled Cross fund was within 1300 of going over the top at noon today, the report of the solicitors to Mrs. Ruth Hollingsworth, exe entire secretary. dlsclo-ed With contributions of 16.254 already tainiluted. the ffi.s2o goal was within sight. Donations from local stores and merchants in the up-town business diastrict have been generous, the report reveals. One of the large conLi Unit ions listed today was |2s<> from the American Ixion. Post 43. Although the drive ends Monday, It will be severs! days Itefore complete and final report* are in. Mrs. Hollingsworth estimated In nearly every district, the area worker has completed a pa't of the canvassing and when all the work is done it is believed that the total will far exceed the county’s quota The local chapter receives 521 percent of the amount and the national Red Cross. 47» percent of all donations made in the 134. drive o William Hoffman Is Reported Improved The condition of William H. Ifoffman 33 Deeatnr. who was critically hart March 33 in a throeear crash south- of Fort Wayne, is resoried much Improved today. Au.”es at the Methodist ho.pl M-.be I.

World Debate Shaping Up On Truman Policy I — United Nations To Debate President's ' Program April 7 By United Press A world-wide* debate wax shaping up today over the new ''Truman doctrine" to employ American dollars for the purpose of erecting a barricade against com* munism in the eastern Mediterranean. The issue of a 1400.006.ft00 American grant to Greece and Turkey was heading toward full- ; dress consideration by the Unitod Nations with Indications that discussion swiftly will be broaden-d tc bring into the picture such related topics as Palestine, the oil reservoirs of the middle east and the whole strategic picture of the rear east. Present plans call for the initial United Nations debate of the president's program to open April 7 before the security council, this is the identical date on whic h senate leaders hope to start senate considerations of the plan. On that date Andrei Gromyko. Soviet delegate, will bleak Russia's official silence and for the first time reveal Soviet reaction to the plan which American | spokesmen declare fa designed to ' halt the drift of the eastern Mediterranean toward communism. Gromyko held his fire when i American delegate Warren R. . Austin laid the U. S. proposals before the security council yesterday. contenting himself with a protest that the United States had presentee! a new topic for the council agenda, rather than an elaboration of the Greek frontier issue already before the UN. Although Austin did not mention Russia, communism or near cast- * ern military strategy in his statement to the UN it wax anticipated that Gromyko would take the wraps off in his statement to the I council. The security council debate, it was believed, may prove only a curtain raiser for a general United Nations examination of the whole middle eastern picture. This opportunity will arise at a special meeting of the UN general assembly, the "town meeting of the fc world." which lx alcout to Ice summoned for the purpose of liking up the Palestine question The status of Palestine is closely linked with the whole issue of dwindling British military power in the middle east and the ability of Britain to protect her "lifeline" ( to India and the great oil reserves of the middle east on which the British fleet depends for fuel Although the spotlight thus far has been on the plans for a U. X grant to Greece the Turkish end of the proposal was Iceginning to cccme to the fore. Sen. Edwin C. Johnson. D.. Colo., opened a senate campaign to bar any aid to Turkey on grounds that she "sat out" the war. Johnson also favored limit(Turn To Page 5. Column S)

Local Girl Second In State Contest Karlann Striker Is Second Place Winner Mini Karlann Striker, lone two winner in the American Legion oratorical content, won second place in the state contest, held Friday afternoon ?t Frankfort Mis* Striker was awarded a cash prise of 175 and a second place medal She had previously won the Decatur junior-senior high school, the county, district and sone elimination contests. • First place in the state contest Friday went to Ernest Lee Dinwiddle of the Crawfordsville high school. He will represent Indiana in the national contest and Miss Striker, by virtue of her second place victory, will act as alternate Me. and Mrs. Cart Striker, par ants of the local girl; Christine Striker, a sister; Miss Donna Ja berg and Deane Dorwin. her structoi in speech cia-ui at the local high echooi

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY;

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, March, 29, 1947

, Greek Women Join Guerillas r — .. tja UN GREEK BORDER commissioner travels by pack mule with the aid of a woman guide ax be visits Kastanofltenk. where the world organization representatives found many women in the gueri.la ranks. The village is held by the partisans, the group act used by President Truman ax being Communist-inspired.

Reardon Case May Go To Jury Today Defense Rests In Girl Murder Trial St. Lonla. Mo.. March 29—(UPl -The juvenile court murder trial of Mary Catherine Reardon. 14.' who wears lipstick and nylon hose and had a "deep love" for her slain father, was scheduled to go to tho jury today. The defense rested after Mary Catherine testified yesterday that «he remembered nothing of her alleged "confessions" to the fatal shooting of her wealthy father. J. Vincent Reardon Conviction on the charge of "delinquency by reason of murder" would result in the girl's confine ment to a state institution for girls until the age of 21. Mary Catherine told the jury that her l<oy friend. Michael D'Arcy, 13. wounded her and shot her father in a death straggle In a speeding csr last Feh. 8. causing the car to crash and kill both the boy and her father Reardon was driving them home from a tourist cabin where they had spent the night. The girl said she was wounded because Iter "deep love" for her father caused her to straggle with D'Arcy to prevent him shooting her father. Dr. Francis M. Barnes. Jr., a psychiatrist, was the last defense ITurn To Fsge J. Column 41

Pave Way To Renew Rationing Os Sugar Two Renewal Bills Ready For Congress Washington. March 29 -(UPI— Congress paved the way today for a seven month renewal of sugar rationing and a 90-day extension of government controls on other short supply commodities. Two renewal bills were being readied for final house and senate action in time for President Truman to sign them by Monday midnight, when present controls expire. The sugar bill would continue rationing until October 31. with congress' promise that consumers' ration stamps will bring at least 2» pound, between now and then A “guarantee" proviso would order sugar rationed at the rate of 35 pounds per year. Any extra sugar would be rationed among consumers as a bonus The agriculture department will lake over all sugar controls, effective when President Truman signs the bill The measure to extend controls on other short supply items would authorise the government to continue until June 30 allocation con trois on Chlncbona bark. Manila fiber cordage, tin and .tin products, antimonyl and streptomycin; trans portation controls; export con trois on cars and trucks, and import controls on food items when certiHM by the secretaries of Mat. and commerce as "oeceesary to

Business District Chairman Reports Kenneth Runyon, chairman of the baxlnem district, from Fifth street east to the St. Mary's river, reports that six solicitors in the area collected 11.656 for the Red C-oss. The worker* and the amount collected by each one, follows: Fred Schulte. |7l; Robert Zwh-k. 6122 50; Frank Lynch. 177: Glen Oawalt. 192.5(1; Roy Kalver. 3.385; Robert lame, 4x2; Dr. Joe Morris. 4162; Dan Christen, |6I. The total has l»een Included in the amount reported in the drive today MacArthur Moves To Halt Jap Inflation I Cracks Down On Jap Economic Controls Tokyo. Mar. 29— (IT)--General Douglas MacArthur is cra< king down on Incompetent and ineffec tive Japanese economic controls to save this nation from self destruction and prevent loss of American prestige In the far cast, a reliable source reported today In his latest move to prevent a Japanese inflationary spiral, the supreme Alltel commander today asked the Allied control council for Japan to hunt for new methods of control. Yesterday it wax revealed that he hail written to Premier Shlgeru Yoshida urging immediate enfoi< <-m>-nt of eeMomlc controls.

In that letter ho warned the Japanese government that it must tighten its economic control, curb the black market and eliminate unequitable distribution of foodstuffs or It cannot expect Allied aid. A high American official told the i'nitel Press "there is nothing subtle about the developments of the last two days.” The general's letter to the control council warned that the economic situation may get bey >nd control unless something Is done He asked the council to consider at its meeting next Wednesday the problem of staldlixing the wage price relationship. Many quarters here think MacArthur's expressed interest — the most open and intense he has displayed to date presages some draatic action in the near future. The action may be Initiated hy Allied headquarters or by the Japanese government under Allied inspiration. o— — — St. Mary's Church To Observe Palm Sunday Palms will be blessed and distributed at St. Mary's Catholic church during the 10:15 o'clock high mans tomorrow, in obaarvaoco of Palm Sunday. The Ixrrd'a Paaaion will be read at all the maaaea Palm Sunday vahara In Holy Week and the special services will hajia with the obaeevanca of Holy Thursday fol

Charge Communist Party In United States Seeks To Overthrow Government

State Police Head Irked By Budget Cut Near Resignation After Budget Cut Indianapolis. Mar. 29 —(UP)— The new superintendent of the Indiana police thought about resigning after six weeks of service but decided to stay because he liked and respected the men with whom he worked. Co' Robert Rossow. who replaced Hupt Austin It. Killian in January, said today that he wax disconcerted when the 191“ Indiana general assembly cut |756.0(Ht from the stale police budget He raid the money would have provided salary increases for 272 state troopers and three-way radio| equipment in all police cars, an I; would have enabled the department to hire sft more troopers. Rossow told the United Press he had no quarrel with Governor Cates, who asked him to head the department after a series of resignations, demotions ami discharges! reduced its efficiency and morale The superintendent said he wax assured of funds sufficient to car ry out his department improve ment program but that the legislature turned thumbs down “I'm certainly peeved at the legislature." Rossow said, adding that he wax ready to quit when he learned that the lawmakers were not going to honor his request for more money for the department. "But I didn't walk out because I've gotten to love the men and to respect their sacrifices and loyalty In behalf of the department. Everyone of those troopers can get a better paying Job elsewhere " Rossow wanted to mid to the fcrce of troopers "I asked for s<» more men but I could use another Jftft." R-tssow said “We need two men in every pa(Turn Tn Pnir* 3. Cnbiwn

Electric Service Disrupted Friday Electrical service on a Decatur circuit was disrupted for more than an hour laet evening when a Unit* fell across a primary line on Jefferson street near Fifth The line started burning and the fire alarm was sounded l.iglit and l»ower on the ci-cult had to Ite turned off while the tine was spliced by a city light department crew No damage was done by fire, members of the fire department, who answered the alarm, reported. District VFW Meet Held Last Evening Limberlost Post Is Host For Meeting A large crow I from in posts in the district jammed the local Veterans of E'oreign Wars post home here Friday night to attend the district meeting Commander Harry Martx of the local Limherloat post was in charge of the meeting Fred Rice, district commander, opened the business session Commander Rice Informed the mem tiers that the district number has been changed from third to fourth to conform with the congressionai numlier State officials at the meeting luclu led Hair Beck, departnu nt inspe<tor; Richard Raudenlmsli and Jrmes Butter*, department service officers Other visiting notables: Gary Goshorn. commander of the Fort Wayne post; Melvin Curtis, con-mander-elect ot the Fort Wayne poet; Ray Malone, past comman der of the Ligonier post; Walter Snyder, commander of the South Whitley post; Otto Keller. Ed Drew and Everett Pennington, all officials of the Fort Wayne poet, and Donald Lebrun of the officials' staff at South Whitley rnl!nrf»» the busineas session

Says German Reparations Plan Failure Big Four Deputies Told Reparations Program Failing BULLETIN Moscow, Mar. 29 —(UP) — British foreign minister Ernest Bevin asked the big four today to demand the return to Germany by Dec. 31. 1948. all German prisoners of war still held by the Allies. — Moscow. Mar. 29 —(I'PI —The : German reparations program is a worse failure than the reparations 1 debacle after the first worl I war. Jacquou Rueff. president of the interallied reparations agency, re ported today to the hlg four deptt | ties. Rueff. in proposals made to the council deputies at their first meeting since March 2ft. called for: I A complete reorganization ot reparations mat hinery 2. A vast speedup in repara lions delivery before the im en five to collect Is dissipated. .3. Reestablishment of the fourpower inter-allied reparations com mission ax an organ of the council of foreign ministers 4. Creation of a new “repara i tlonx office" within the German control administration Comparing the r< pa rations »itu at ions after the two world wars. Rueff recalled that after the first world war Germany wax to pay 2ft.ftfto.ftoft.o6ft gold marks. She defaulted in two years, but in the Interim did pay tt.itmuHm (too marks "How fortunate were the repar ation commission and Germany's creditors!" he exclaimed "We at the end of 1946. 2ft months after the end of hoslilitie* have , received in 19-3* values ..ppsoxftnaiely I2.om'.t»'»u pounds (torrent ly S4x.ttott.mai) for shipping and tii.mMt.nmt reichsmarks for plants "We are far removed from what history has called the 'failure' of tl*e first German reparation pol Icy ” Rueff said only "paltry results" had Iteeti obtained under the e pa rat lons policy He especially criticized the Anglo-Amerlcar stoppage of reparations deliverie last spring because of Franco Soviet opposition to Hie economir unity of Germany. Rueff's agency represents, itaddition to the big western pow r-rs. all the xmall western powers entitled to reparations from the wexte n zone of Germany. While secretary of state George Marshal! sought to speed the work of the conference, the possibility was reported that the Soviets might In- ready to agree on several German issues if the western (Tnre Tn Pav« 5. Palnmn it o Roger Schnepf Wins Discussion Contest Is District Winner In Rotary Contest Roger Schnepf. of the Decatur junior-senior high school, won th* district Rotary discussion contest at Warsaw Friday night in an event staged before the Rota-y club members of that <ffty He had previously won the local rontfol. staged b’fore the Decatur Rotary cluh. and hy virtue of win nine the district contest will enter the zone event This has been tentatively set for April 14 before the members of the Fort Wayne Rotary dub tn that city. Subject <4 the addresses is Rotary's" contribution toward a world peace.

Price Four Cents

House Committee In Formal Charge Party Is Acting On Order From Moscow Washington. March 29—(UP)— The house unAmerican activitieh committee charged formally today that the American Communist party, acting on direct orders from Moscow, seeks to overthrow thn U. S government ax part of an international Soviet <-onxpira<:y. In a minutely documented. 2ff.* mm word report to congress, tlio comiqjttee said the American Communist movement is only one of 67 similar groups throughout the world which carry out the order* of the Communist executive committee in Moscow. The committee said that when the time came. American Communiats might even be able to reduce "the effectiveness of our armed forces." "We must recognize,” It said, "that in dealing with Communism we are dealing' witli a world-wide revolutionary movement which ix being dire< ted by a foreign government." Chairman J. Parnell Thomas. R. N J., said the report was issued to "drive home" to congress and tho people a realization that "the Communist party in this country is a fifth-column pawn of Moscow " The committee hid conducted hearings all week on legislation to curb communist activities or to outlaw the American Communist party outright The report recommended no specific method for dealing with Amteri<-an Communist- Reliabio sources, however, said the committee had decided to give up any’ thought of outlawing the p.<rty and to concentrate instead of bills to blot k specific subversive a< tivities. Members were said to feel that outlawing the party altogether would drive Communists under* ground, making them harder to apprehend There also was a, question whether such legislation would be upheld hy the supreme court.

The committee said the American Communist movement, once ignored as Iw-ing of little <-ons<-. quence had firmly established its “totalitarian bridgehead” in labor unions, government, political parties. newspapers, radio and schooU and col leges Because of this influence. th<» report went on. the American Communist party might be able, in case of national emergency, to cripplo America's war production seriously and humstring the army ami navy themselves, q Says Shooting Os Trooper Accident Murder Trial Goes To Jury Next Week Columbus. Ind . .Mar 29 (|‘p»— Tlie trial of two teen-age youths accused of fatally shooting a stabpoliceman will enter its fifth week Monday and the case was expected to go to an all-male jury a few days later Both defendants have testiflel at length and one of them. William Johnson. 17-yearold AWOlriddier. was on the stand yesterday when the trial was recessed for the weekend. He will resume testimony Monday His buddy William Price. 17. testified earlier Both related similar versions of the slaying of trooper Herbert Smith last Dec. 5 near Shelbyville They agreed that the shooting was “an accident ” Johnson, who said he was two days overdue at Camp Campbell. Ky . the day of the shooting, said they planned <o shoot a tire on the |m>l iceman's car. Attorneys did not indica'w whether or not the two Imbby-sox sweethearts of Johnson and Price would Im- called to the witness stand The girls. Vera Hamhaek, Iff. Anderson, and Mary Ruth Ward. 15. Evansville, have sat In the ■ c-urtroom since the trial began Marek 3. The two couples were "foyriff