Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 45, Number 81, Decatur, Adams County, 5 April 1947 — Page 1

j, XLV. No. 81.

HO PROGRESS IN AVERTING PHONE STRIKE

■rust Fund For ■ne Victims' Bamilies Urged Il Illinois Solon To introduce Bill To ||Set Up Trust Fund £&■■ —- ""* ■Lhlngton April 5. Charles W Vursell, R-. Ill- ■■ l(1( |ay that he planned to In 1.-giflat.on next wrek •" BK I( , a |;ooMO trust fund for the (■Bow- and orphans of the coal ML killed ill the Centralia disr and the Pineville. Ky. ex■ML,ter Vnr-ell's plan, the money would he the |7OO.<NNI ■E...d a* a fine against the United ■, Workers for (ontempt of PMW president John L. requested its use for that at a house labor commit M meeting Thursday and sev-l ~,remittee members indicated who represents the distrh t in which the Cenexplosion occurred, said fin help was seriously needed dependents of the HI Cen victims and the 21 miners at Pineville. wen- these other confrexdevelopments as both the ■K t( . and house continued tin weekend recess: craves Hup. Richard M Bjk I! Cal. a member of the Ku- imAmerl.an activities com demanded that the justice publish a list of all it considers sublist would not be completed other month and that it nill Dot been decided whether to it public. Nixon said it was fair ’ for the government to employes know what organ! they may join without be fired tinder President Truman's directive. r A new tentative draft of legislation wax prepared for ■nideration by the senate labor [■ytnittee next week It includes to authorize use of Injuncagainst strikes in vital InThis authority would be of n overall plan Io improve and bargaining proceand at the same time provide ■Khinery for handling critical *beti peaceable methods RAtes Hope all i n! t vanished ■ 3 hetminng lower withholding on duly I but there was KB a Possibility that an income ■J* 111 would tie make retroactive ■■*ben. Chairman Eugene I). BO 1 * I ' l of the senate finance com■B* laid May 1 wax the earliest reduction lull could reach the ■w !f "‘air. A treasury official KB ,hal rren with prompt action ■■ would be too late to prepare ■B. withholding rates by July 1. — ‘ Column 7> J Bonese Voters gßst Ballots Today Apr -S—(UP)- Japanese S'* east ballots today in the BB tol ' al '■■'“■’ions ever held to ■U”’ more than 10.000 local eB” election wax ■gR. month, culminating in 01 * n,w ~au" "“i ‘R'-i ■a» uunent 1 substantial turnRjß ** r, 'Bi*b n-<| in orderly votJ Hunt For I Bencerville Bandit - AprH 5 T<UP>~ sX. t helped authorities ■ Ksim r l v" h Knox ' 2< ff »rmrrly ■LL?” " "““P* l ,n 8 l>unk robbery at Spea reU “’®’. Knox had I WraX “ OMn th ” Merchants iBlIleT ? »«*«•• I B ft"Li “ a> '* beter « the rob- : a H |< for Wa * '’""“‘d ytmter*rreKt,rnia'lOn leadlnK to 1 Icio a WE *THER I^Bw« U r. y ’”' , d C««a»ional »* sSw t. ’ aR " C * , «r »«- I Kiui. °"’ orrow mostly cloudy

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT OHLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

C. C. Secretary -' L- % R. W. Pruden. of Michigan City, will become executive secretary lof the Decatur chamber of Commerce April 21. officials of the ’ business organization announced j Imlay. Michigan City Man New C. C. Secretary R. W. Pruden Named To Decatur Position R. W. Pruden. Michigan City, has accepter! the post ax secretary of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce and will take over the fulltime duties of that position April 21. Robert Holthouse, president , of the local business group announced today. j Mr. pruden win succeed Paul ( 1 IWeFnnl. ' Decatur's first full-time secretary who will leave next j week for a new place as secretary ,' of the Washington business men's association. He tendered his rexig- , nation-here three weeks ago. Mr. Pruden is 28 years of age and a graduate of high , school and South Bend college of ' commerce. He has served as as- . siatant secretary of the Michigan , City Chamber of Commerce for . four years and as secretary of the retail division of that organization. He served five years in the army entering in 1»41 ax a private, and , being discharged In 1946 as a captain in the finance department. He Is a member of the Michigan , City Lion club. American Legion. > reserved officers association, [ American association of musicians and Knights of Columbus. I Mr. Pruden is married and has a , two-year old daughter. He stated 1 (Turn To Page 3, Column 7> I -— ——o— One Indiana Mine Is Declared Safe Terre Haute. Ind. April 5 —(UP) I —One Indiana shaft coal mine to--1 day was declared "safe for opera--1 tion" and Ite 209 employes ordered ' to report to duty Monday. > A United Mino Workers committee and the management of the Little Betty mine near Linton. Indsaid they agreed lhat the soft coal mine met federal and state safety specifications. —- -o John Scherry Dies Al Muncie Hospital Funeral Services Monday Afternoon John W. Scherry. S 3, a native of J Adams county, died Friday afternoon at the Ball memorial hospital in Muncie after a two-day illness of a heart ailment. A resident of Redkey, he hadIreen employed In Muncie. He wax a member of the Evangelical and Reformed church. Surviving are the wife. Lydia: one son. Alvin Scherry of Buchanan, Mich.; one daughter. Mrs. Edna McCune of Geneva: four i brothers, Edward and Charles I Scherry. both of Decatur, the Rev. Otto Scherry of New Bavaria. Oand Henry of Mulberry, and a sister. Mrs. Lewis Kruetzman of Decatur. Funeral services will be hel<T at 2 o’clock Monday afternoon at the Jahn funeral home in Bluffton, with the Rev. Mathew Worthman officiating. Burial will be in the Magley cemetery.

Five Marines Die In Raid By Chinese Reds 16 Others Wounded In Reds' Raid On Ammunition Dump Peiping, April S.—(UP)—U. S. , marine headquarters announced that the Chinese raiders who killed five marines and wounded 16 during an attack on the Tangku ammunition dump before dawn today had been identified ax Com- ' munixtx. Identification wax established through papers found on the Chinese soldiers left dead on the Tangku battlefield. Marine headquarters said the Communists had captured little ! or no ammunition In their raid. The dump is situated outside Tangku, about 30 miles east of Tientsin and the main port for American troop movements in northern China. It was the second Communist j raid at Tangku to seize American ammunition. A similar attack was driven off last October. One marine wax wounded then and one Communist soldier killed. A marine investigation team was carrying out an investigation of I this morning's raid, staged hy a force of unknown strength. The attack apparently wax a well coordinated attempt to surprise the small guard at the marine ammunition depot at Sutaochiao. five miles northwest of Tangku, according to unofficial message from Tletsin. ' The attack from different direc- ' tion* blocked the relief route from Tangku. One of two marine columns dispatched from Tangku apparently ran into some trouble at the village of Hsinho before ' reaching the depot and repelling the main attacking force. The Tangku area billets about 1.000 marines. Marines drove off the attackers after a predawn battle of more than four hours. The fight began at 1:15 am. in a clash between marine sentries and raiders trying to sneak into the dump. By 5:30 1 a tn. the marines had beaten off the raid and were pursuing the at(Turn T<i Pag* 5, Column ")

Charges Negligence In Mine Disaster Centrolia Hearing To Conclude Today Centralia. 111., Apr. 5—(UP)— A senate subcommittee seeking to fix responsibility for the Centralia mine disaster in which 111 miners died was expected to com : plete its hearings today A union official, testifying last night, charged that secretary of the Interior J. A. Krug. Robert Medlll. who resigned recently ax director of the llllnoix department of minex and minerals, and the mine operators were guilty of negligence in not enforcing safety regulations. Driscoll O. Scanlan. Centralia area mine Inspector, testified that he and two other mine inspectors believed the mine explosion wax caused by a blast which contained more than the normal amount of powder used to blast cosl. Ax a result of the overcharge, he said, the shock emitted flames which ignited coal dust in the air. causing a dust explosion In the mine's corridors. The union official who testified was Hugh White, president of district 12 of the United MineWorkers. He echoed recent char : ges by UMW leader John L. U'W Is that there was "criminal negligence on the part of Mr. Krug who was responsible for the safety of the men In this mine. “He should resign." White said. "Coal miners' lives are more important than the tenure In office of a man who is guilty of such negligence." White charged that the operators of the f»!ne were "gul.ty of not carrying ost recomaaendatlonF of federal and state inspectors" (Turn To Pags I. Colums 4)

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, April 5, 1947

Rescue In Mt. Clemens Fkxid

/ - <r ' '. * _ L ' ■ - 11 11 ? ..

HER BABY SON is handed down by Mrs. Htephen Anderson to her 14-yearold son, Jimmie, ax the Ind with his friend. Harold Heller, row lheir Imat over this water-filled street of Mt. Clemena, Mich. The Clinton river has Inundated many highways and Isolated such lowland homes as this.

Seeks Settlement Os Utility Strike Indianapolis City Council Intervenes ■ IS * Indianapolis. April 5—(UP)— City council president John A. Schumacher today asked the manager of the City’s Gas company and the heads of a CIO union to attend a special meeting Monday to attempt settlement of a three-day strike at the utility. Schumacher said he would subpena Thomas Kemp, manager of ' the Citizens Gas and Coke utility if necessary. Kemp has refused' to recognize any dispute between the United Gas. Coke, and Chemical workers and the company. Union leaders, claiming that 350 employes were on strike, said they 1 would attend the special council. session. Attorneys for both the union and the utility will meet In a circuit court room today to renew a battle over a company petition for a permanent injunction against the union. A temporary restraining order kept picket lines a blocs away from the two gas-producing units involved but failed to halt the walkout. There has been no curtailment of service to industrial or home consumers. The utility said it expected to keep both plants operating with non-striking; employes and supervisory workers. Schumacher said he hoped the

(Turn To I'aite 5. Column •) O Today Deadline For Candidates To File Vacancies Remain For City Primary Today Is the last day for candidate* to officially file for nomination to city office* in th>> scheduled May primary. And ala late hour thia morning It appeared possible that the primary might not be held, since there not only were no races for office — hut neither party had filled its ticket. The Democrats still lacked a candidate for councilman in the third district and clerk-treasurer. John IS Stull* for mayor, Dorphus Drum for councilman, first district; Adrian Uurke, second; Joseph Brennan, fourth district and Alfred K. Beavers for councilman-at-large had been the only ones io file. The Republicans bad a lone candidate — H. Vernon Aurand. for city clerk-treasurer. One man had been prominently mentioned as a candidate for the vacant Democratic councilman poet, but at a late hour his declaration was still not in the hands of the county clerk. While today is the last day tor candidates to file official declarations. the deadline for registering or transferring registration in order to vote does not come until Monday evening, county clerk Clyde O Troutner reminded citiaens today.

Cloudy And Colder Is Forecast For Easter Indianapolis, April 5 —(UP) — Hoosier Easter paradetx probably won't get their finery dampened tomorrow, but strong winds may threaten their bonneta and cool temperatures may make them shiver. The weather bureau s early forecast today predicted clearing skies tonight, ending the threat of rain. But tomorrow will be mostly cloudy and coider. with strong shifting winds, the biirMau said. o— . — Justice Department Tags AYD As Reds Youth Organization Tagged Communists Washington. April 5.—(UP)— The justice department has officially tagged the front organization known as American Youth for Democracy as an arm of the Communist party of the United States. That should interest parents and educators in the District of Columbia and 14 states where AYD maintains 60 chapters, or thereabouts. Some say more, some say fewer. Director J. Edgar Hoover ot the federal bureau of investigation has been hollering foul at AYD for a long time. Hoover's FBI lx part of the justice department. But the department has taken the position that the department, itself, may not officially advise the public of the list of subversive organizations contained In Hoover's ample files. The way AYD got tagged was like this: Dr. David D. Henry, president of Wayne University. Detroit, Mich., asked the department whether American youth for democracy was or was not a Communist front outfit. The department replied over the signature of an assistant attorney general, who. it developed, had never seen the letter and was In fact, out of the city when it was written and dispatched The reply said the department had no evidence that AYD was subversive or was an auxiliary of the Communist party. It was written and signed by a department under-officer who has been cleared of all blame except of writing a letter on a subject he knew nothing about. "Our faces are red," said Douglas W. McGregor, speaking for the department, when newsmen were called In yesterday to hear an explanation ot how a notorious Communist front had been whitewashed by the department of justice. McGregor said the letter to Dr. (Turn To Pa»« *■ Column 4) 0 Dotes Are Set For S. S Conventions

The Adams county Sunday school association has announced thetollowlng dates for the annual spring township Sunday school conventions: Union-Root April 20; Mon-roe-French April 20; Freble-Kirk-land April 27; Blue Creek April 27; Hartford April 27; Washington May 4; Wabash May 4; St. Mary's May 11; Jefferson May 11.

Companies Rush Plans To Give Stop-Gap Service In Strike Scheduled Monday

Erect Fence Across River To Trap Body Search Continued For Woman's Body Officials pressing the search for the Itody of Mrs. Minnie DeVor. believed to have drowned in the St. Mary's river, moved their equipment further downstream ax they began the 97th hour of the hunt at noon today. Despite the fact that officials more experienced in searching for drowning victims have reiterated their belief that the woman's body would be near the spot where she entered the water, most of the probing parties started working northward. A major portion of the units moved about 500 feet further north late Friday and today Others, acting upon the recorn mendation of sheriff Herman Bow man. stretched a fence across the river, just south of the east bridge in Decatur, which they hope might serve ax a not in trapping her Itody if it floats downstream. The ' peach rod expert'' from Fremont arrive-! here late Friday and participated in the search. He told authorities that he had a “strike" and some intensified their grappling in that vicinity. The efforts were futile, however, and the Fremont man declared that he belefved the body had la-en moved from that position and began moving downstream. Despite the laborious task, inclement weather and constant disappointments. workers have been continuing their efforts in a zealous fashion. Several ladles from near Pleas ant Mills have been carrying food and hot coffee to the searchers at various intervals throughout each day. A near tragedy occurred Friday afternoon when one of the searching boats toppled over In the water. The two workers, unofficially identified as Jack Erwin and Glen Everett, were rescue! as they hung onto a line running to their boat. The boat itself wax swirled downstream and finally captured by the state police lioat near the Pleasant Mills quarry. O February Term Os Court Ends Today Hearing Slated On Habeas Corpus Writ Activity in lhe Adams circuit court reached a brisk pace today, the last day of the February term. A hearing on the writ of habeas corpus filed In the Insanity proceedings against Helena ffehnepp by Oliver Schnepp will lw» held this afternoon to climax the term activities. A suit for damages has b<en filed by John W. Linn against Eugene Gilbert as the result of an auto accident on state road 121 near the Weils county line The demand is »1.4(H» The plaintiff charges that his auto, a 1942 Ply mouth sedan, wax worth 12.200 l>efore the accident and 1800 after the crash. Samuel J. Kagan Is plaintiff's counsel. A petition for a drain in Adams and Jay counties has been filed by William I. Journey and others. Burl Whiteman lx attorney for the petitioners. The divorce case of George against Grace Massonne was dismissed anti the costs paid. An ejectment suit was filed by Beatrice Miller Black and Thelma Miller Davis against George Womack. Ray Eicher, and Bonnie Eicher. Plaintiff's attorney is G. Remy Bierly. The divorce ease of Florence against Ray Melvin Kirkpatrick was set for trial on April 25 at (Turn To Fags 4 Column 7)

Yugoslavia In Demand Austria Pay Reparations Demand Current Industrial Output Be Used As Payment Moscow. April 5-(UP)-Yugi-slavia's vice premier Edward Kardelj today demanded that Auxi tria's current Industrial production be used to fulfill Yugoslavia's demands of 2150.000.000 worth of repara»l-»ns from Austria Kardelj coupled his demand with a press conference statement bitterly attacking Austria on twice being a tool of German imperiall*tn and charging that she may become snch a tool again. He demanded that Yugoslavia's reparations claims be paid for out of Austria's industrial production. That coincides with the Soviet Union's current fight in the German treaty to get reparations In industrial goods. Kardelj announced his demand today-two days after conferring with Soviet foreign minister V. M. Molotov after arriving here. Austrian reparations of any kind ' would contavene the secret Moscow protocol which said that no reparations would be extracted from Austria. Today's demand on Austria was centered on the possibility that Austria again wax being used as a base for attack on the Yugoslav people. Kardelj said twice in the last 40 years "Austria has served ax a tool In the hands of German Imperialism for quelling the resistance of Yugoslav peoples who were striving to independence and free d«m We regret to note that no | changes have even now occurred l in the political life of Austria which would Justify the hope that the Austrians will never again assume such a role in the future." Kardelj charged that former Fascists and Nazis were still ba- \ ing given power in Austria "under Allied protection" over those who i fought during the war for the t allies. In submitting his claims against Austria to the press he today denied that Yugoslavia wax prompt ■ ed by a feeling of hatred toward the Austrian people. Kardelj listed six Yugoslav demands on Austria: <l* Imposition of conditions which would prevent "German imperialists and pan-German ele- ’ ments" from ever again wielding t political and economic influence I in Austria. (2) Cession of Carinthia to Yugo(Turn T<> 6. Column 4) City Health Board Issues Statement Signed Complaints Required By Board Mrs. Annbelle Heller, secretary of the city board of health, issued a statement today, concerning the Imard'x position regarding complaints which it had received. Mrs Heller said that the board thia week received an unsigned complaint con< erning alleged unsanitary conditions at a house on ' Eighth street. Since the card was not signed and the exact location of the house was not listed, the (ward can take no action, she said Mrs. Heller said that the board was anxious to cooperate in such matters and mebers ate anxious to eliminate any unsanitary conditions. However, she said, complaints must be made in a bonafide manner and the identity of the complainant made known to the board members

Price Four Cents

Nationwide Strike Os Phone Employes Scheduled To Open Monday At 6 a. m. Washington. Apr. 5 — (UP) — Telephone companies across the nation rushed preparations today to maintain stop-gap service during the countrywide telephone i strike set to begin at t> a. m. Mon-* j day. A United Press survey xhowed I that companies in major cities , were setting up cots and laying in . foo<i for supervisory personnel who have been detailed to take I over the jobs of striking workers. Many companies planned to service all emergency calls, and ax many routine local and long distance calix as possible. Local dial service was not expected to suffer. Meanwhile government conciliators held bargaining sessions night and day in an effort to settle i the dispute before the strike dead- : line. Union and management representatives, however, were reported "still very far apart" and administration officials feared that even If a settlement fotmills wax reached it would come so close to the deadline that some disruption of service would be inevitable. High government officials considered seizure highly unlikely, although attorney genera! Tom C. 1 Clark said President Truman had authority to order it under the war power provisions of the federal communications act. President Joseph Beirne of the National Federation of Telephone Workers (Ind.) sai<l that by such an interpretation Clark wax "stretch ing the law to the breaking point " laibor department conciliation conferences were scheduled for this morning between the Ameri- ■ can Union of Telephone Workers ' (NFTWI and the long lines department of American Telephone & Telegraph Co. Conferences alJ so were to be held between the ; Southwestern Telephone Workers Union (NFTW) and the Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. A survey showed the strike might affect as many as 60.000 workers in the Pacific coast area: 40.000 In Missouri. Arkansas. Oklahoma. Texas and Kansas; 1.5.000 In Ohio: 8.000 in Wisconsin: 3.00 d in Nebraska: 20.000 each In Illinois and Michigan; 6.000 in Iowa: I 2,700 in and about New Orleans. anti 3.000 In Georgia. The NFTW said that New YorU and Pennsylvania unions als> would join the strike, although i they arc not NFTW affiliates. NFTW officials conceded that. I the effectiveness of the strike , might he Impaired in states with laws against public utility work stoppages and in certain areas where union-company contract* extend beyond Monday's strike deadline Beirne said the union would "resist actions of states that deny us rights guaranteed under federal law." Informed sources said the walkout might lead to a legal test of the constitutionality of stale antistrike laws. Virginia state officials expected no strike there becauce of a 1947 law requiring five weeks notice of a walkout and authorizing state ! seizure. Violations carry a fine of up to 210.000 a day. Charles Kerr. Indiana state ialtor commissioner, said an Indiana law enacted three weeks ago would force workers to remain on the job there. New Jersey officials were prepared to seize teelphone facilities under a 1946 enabling law. The Texas legislature was working on a bill to prohibit, picketing of public atiliUtw — —o- —' Coal Mines In Ruhr Resume Operations Essen. April 5 — (UP)— AU coal mines In the Ruhr resumed normal operation* today after a twoday stoppage. The 300.000 miners In the area went hack to work without demonstrations. The mines were shut down by a one-day strike protooting the food shortage, and by the Good Friday holiday.