Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 45, Number 82, Decatur, Adams County, 7 April 1947 — Page 1

Kj(LV No. 82.

MATION’S TELEPHONE WORKERS STRIKE

■o Primary To Re Held Here lor City Jobs 11 No Opposition To 11 Candidates; Doan I I For G 0. P- Mayor ML., tur -A.il h: ' v ‘‘ “ I' rl,nar y ■<.,on May « *i'iee there are for any of the <i*y "f - althooiilt a num , a ,Kiria-- fi initMlt.Saturday. Dfiii.at ’•*' l-ar’y ha” a comti.t.l fxi ‘-pi for 'he d-rk-|«J|Uirf.t, pot. after its lone ■Kg. dmaic va( an. y was filled |K h a la*t minute declaration, ■■y.n Republican declarations. SH, for mayor and three for conn K,, U . pct-. left the GOP with-fan-lidatu for two councilposition*. va. an-.es may be filled hy before th- November under law. Doan For Mayor >,■! M |H,.i-i. 10. al businessman is th- GOP nominee for one of those to file last MMnu'e de. laratious Thus, he he -he opjxuient of incumbent IK,. f.itr mayor .John 11. Stolts ML fall. A Krick, well known ...al ileal-r and World War HS v.t-r.in. was the last minute ratic nominee filing his of < andldat y for the as city councilman. distri.t The candidacy of Krick. who is engaged in the Kruk co,i company busiher.- with his fath»r. Frunk, been urged by party leaders |K was exp... ted throughout la-t HMrk A native of the city, lie nearly five years in the MKSt * r He has no opposition to for the fall election. Zit.er, local business and retiring president of the Chamber of Commerce. on-, of the last minute Re- ■■ GOP nominee as city council -econd district, and will he tin, f.,n by Democratic horphus 1. Drum, who previously announced AnI.I.- minute GOp mtplrant Is I. iih.-nati. local General company employe, who as councilman. fourth dint-J HM* H<- will be opposed in No-1 ■B 6 by Democratic incumbent | II Brennan. The other Republi an nominee Is Ray i |Mk>d X Snyder, also a GE ein-1 and his party's candidate for' (lerk in the 1946 election, filed fur i oiiii. ilman at large 1 BH wl!i be opposed by Democratic nShmbent Alfred K fleavers ini G. Burke is the other i nominee who Is to date ■>>""'l He is the incumbent MMcllman, first district. is a list of the candi ■■** >o file official declarations ■■■k- offices O s county c lerk Clyde MB Tfliulll< ' l before the deadline MV names * ill be certified M 3 '" m| nws for the fan election: BB For Mayor BM fen ” Ktults (D); John M 'K>■rK, f or Clerk-Treasurer Vernon Aurand (R». ■B Councilman, ICT1 CT District MMdrian G. Burke (D). ■■Councilman. 2nd District M» r,rum ’!)>; Clarence HB‘ r '&'■ Councilman. 3rd District |^B 0 ’* !), ‘ A. Krick (D). ■■Councilman, 4th District ■M^’ 11 " nr «man (Di; Herman (R>. Councilman-At-Large MT? 5 Beavers (D); Ray ’’ Snyder tR). HH| Es I CI weather , 18M... lnd c ® ol tonight, Tues »nd warmer, U’eaS’il

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Phone Workers Slay On Job In Indiana Indiana's Workers Abide By State Law Indianapolis, Apr. 7— (I'Pl — Indiana's 6,400 telephone workers lehiained on the job today despite a nationwide walkout, and a spokesman said the decision was based on an order from the National Federation of Telephone Workers. As the strike hour arrived, vicepresident James Orr of the Indiana Telephone Worker.* I'nlon, local No. 1, said the three unions of Indiana Bell Telephone Co. employes "hive orders not to walk out." The orders arrived hy special delivery letter, ho said. Orr said It was his "personal opinion" that the order to stay on the jolt was the result of Indiana's new public utilities compulsory arbitration law. The law was passed by the 1947 state legislature only a month ago. Contract negotiations between the company and the Indluna Telephone Traffic Union, whose membership of 4.500 is composed largely of women operators, were scheduled to be resumed at 111 a. m. today (CSTi. Negotiations with the other two unions, the Indiana Telephone Workers I'nion (1,600 members, mostly men) and the Indiana Telephone Clerical Union (350 members, both men and women I. were scheduled ! to lie resumed at 2 p. m. Previously, the negotiations were recessed last Friday. Company spokesmen said at R a m. that "everything Is going along as usual' throughout the Mate. They said a check of exchanges throughout Indiana show cd that all workers scheduled for duty during the first two hours of the national walkout this morning reported as Usual. This meant that intra-state communications were operating as usual. Including long distance service between Hoosier points and dial and manual service on the local level. However. Indiana patrons were unable to get (alls through to I areas affected by I lie strike in other states, except for emergency calls. Orr sari I that the decision to remain on the job in Indiana did not mean that union attorneys had agreed the anti-strike law was "constitutional." He also i said that the order not to walk i out did not mean there would be' i no strike at all In Indiana. The- ' erder might be changed at any, I time, he said. The union spokesman also exi I (Turn To Par* 1 Column 7) Commissioners In Monthly Session Ask Higher Pay To Election Workers The Adams county commission era were to complete their regular monthly session late this afternoon at the county courthouse. Business scheduled for this afternoon included action hy the hoard on an appeal for a return to higher brackets in wages of precinct election workers. Gerald W. Visard and Harry Essex, Democratic and Republican county chairman, respectively, along with county clerk Clyde O Troutner. appeared before the com ! misaionera to ask them to fix the workers wages at 112 and $9 to insure the selection of competent workers this fall. The commissioners also were to receive bids on three months' grocery supplies at the county home and spent most of the morning session allowing claims and hills against the county. You’ll Save Many Ways - - Find the help you need or the job you want, • Sell or buy through elaaoified columns in this paper. Make reading them a daily key to opportunity!

Soviet Russia Urges World Disarmament Chatlenges World To Disarm Without Awaiting Controls Irnke Success, N. Y., Apr. 7— (UP) — Soviet Russia challenged the world today to start junking arms and armies without waiting for the controls and safeguards demanded by the United States and Brilain. Deputy foreign minister Andrei Gromyko told the United Nations conventional armaments commission that disarmament must begin quickly to wipe out "the mutual suspicion and lack of confidence that exists between countries." In a major speech which clashed sharply with Anglo-American views, Gromyko said it would he harmful to wait for the throe guarantees which the western countries say must be provided by the UN before arms scrapping Is possible. These are; (1) world atomic energy- control machinery. <2> formation of the I’N'a world peace force and, (3) development of strict controls and safeguards to assure honest world disarma ment. Gromyko made clear that Russia believes In the need for some* form of international supervision of disarmament. But he insisted I that the I'N must not "prolong the preparation and implementsHon" of actual measures for paring national armed strength. The commission, he sail, should do "everything In Ms power" io work out immediate means for guaranteeing that the disarma ment measure are carried out by everyone, but this should not be used for "excuses" to delay. He foresaw "difficultles" ft\r the UN's disarmament negotiators but said It was their duty to find ; away to overcome them. Gromyko emphasized that all Soviet officials do not disagree with the I'nited States on the need for strict international control over atomic energy. His words made clear, however, that the two big powers still disagree sharply on how It should be; achieved. He commented that internationial atomic energy control was "understood hy some people in a very peculiar fashion." but that | people of the world are demand-1 Ing as a first step the Immediate' outlawry of atomic weapons. Urges Plebiscite Moscow, Apr. 7 — (UP)—Soviet foreign minister V. M. Molotov tonight proposed letting the German people decile by plebiscite . between a strong or weak central i (Turn To Page C. Column 4) 0 Mrs. Matie A. Bell Dies Sunday Night Funeral Services To Be Wednesday Mrs. Matie Albers Bell. 76, wife of Charles K. Beil, died Sunday night at 9:18 o’clock at her home.! 2512 South Anthony Boulevard in Fort Wayne, after an illness of more than a year. She underwent an operation in January of last year and for several months showed improvement but suffered a recurrence of a malignant ailment and had gradually declined until death relieved her. Mrs. Bell was a native of this city but had resided in Fort Wayne many years. She was a member of the Plymouth Congregational church. Its ladles guild. Friendship club and the Beecher club. Surviving are the husband, a son. Robert A. Beil: a daughter Mrs. C. A. Schafer of Fort Wayne, and one sister. Mrs. James T. Merryman of this cityThe body waa removed to the Klaehn funeral home, where funeral services wiii be held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. Friends may call at the funeral home attar 2 o’clock Tuesday afternoon. Burial will bo in Lindenwood cemetery at Fort Wa’yne.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, April 7, 1947

Swaps House For “Three Squares” ■Mp "'i HOUSING SHORTAGE FOR 34-year-old Mrs. Jennie Rossi i» over with the "gift" of a two-family Albany. N. Y.. house from William H. E’lkenhiser. M, who deeded the property to her providing she will furnish him with “three square ninals" a day and do his laun.lry for the rest of his life. ElkenhiMr. who samples some of Mrs. Rossi's cooking (almve), claims he made the deal rather than go to a home for the aged. mr ‘ ' ' ' 11 .11— -r -I ,

Easter Sunday Is Observed In City High Winds Hamper Easter Paraders Decatur and community returned to a state of normalcy today after observing one of its moat unusual Easter observances--from a weather standpoint. True to the weatherman's predictions. the Easter parade waa not hampered by low temperatures. but wearers of new Easter finery found a new challenge—an extremely high wind. Winds of 40-mRe an hour proportions and gusts reportedly reaching near 60 miles per hour, made walking and driving inconvenient and uncomfortable. The gusts created some damage to utility lines, trees, roofs, etc., and It made Easter paraders hang onto hats, corsages and other special evidence* of the occasion. Decatur's devout and faithful flocked to churches of their choice at various hours Sunday, beginning j in one or two instances at sunrise.; I to attend special services marking the Resurrection. In the afternoon, hundreds ofj kiddies, many accompanied by their parents besieged the B. P O. Elks lodge, where the annual Easter egg hunt was staged. Some 65 live rabbits were given to finders of espe< sally marked eggs and to winners of various contests. Hundreds of brightly colored Easter eggs were rewarded a majority of the participants. Students in the public schools (Turn To Page 4 Column 71

Search For Local Lady’s Body Enters On Seventh Day Today

Today, an the seventh day of the search for the body of Mrs. Minnie DeVor. 41. wife of a local dentist, was begun, authorities revealed that they have been and still are investigating every theory — official and unofficial — which has been advanced concerning her probable drowning In the St Mary's river. These include: The fact that she might have walked into the river (as evidenced by tracks and her right shoe stuck in the mudi; struggled as she entered the cold water, and after splashing In the stream for any distance was able to walk out on the other side. Police have searched along both banks, aided by planes, without finding any trace of her. The fact that she was coatless, clad only In slacks and a blouse, would have attracted attention at this late date and resulted In a report on her whereabouts. they said. That the might have gone down to the bottom at almost the same spot where she entered the water

— Firemen Are Called To Service Station Firemen were called to the Decatur Super Service on Monroe street, shortly after 7 p.m. Sun day. when a stoker motor “shorted" . and began to blaze. Slight damage | resulted. Dr. Harold DeVor Escapes Drowning Thrown From Boat Sunday Afternoon The St. Mary * river nearly claimed the life of a second mem her of the Dr. Harold V. DeVor family Sunday afternoon, police authorities revealed. Dr. DeVor. who has been one of the most persistant searcher* for the hody of his wife. Minnie, 41, believed to have drowned in the stream near Pleasant Mills last Tuesday, was miraculously saved from drowning, himself. The few eyewitnesses to the Incident credited Albert "Beach" Beery, local GE worker and a brother-in-law of the local dentist, with the rescue. They said DeVor and Beery were In one of two outboard motor boats patrolling the river in the search for the hody when the dentist sud-' denly fell backward out of the lx>at as the swift current gave the boat a twist. Beery grabbed one of the doc tor’s legs as he slid over the side DeVor, clad in a heavy jacket to' protect him against the cold and (Turn Tn pace &, Column S»

—a theory advanced by experienced searchers, who claimed that a drowning person going down for the third time would not be great ly affected by the current and Is almost invariably found within ' 250 feet of the original location. That the cold water would have a marked effect In preventing decomposition of a hody. thus stretching the period in which it would rise to the surface from a customary three days In warm weather to as much as three or more weeks In colder weather and waler. That her Iwdy might have moved downstream and entered the quarry near Pleasant Mills. A loaf of bread and other objects were placed In the water and their route of movement downstream thoroughly observed. That her liody might be "snag ged" near the bottom and near the original scene — since much debris, including old auto parts, rubbish, wire and tree limbs have (Turn To Page «. Column 1)

Nearly 300,000 Workers Out, Disrupting Normal Long Distance Services - - ■ ■ ■ . — i •

Fast Train Wrecked At Columbia City 40 Persons Hurt In Wreck This Morning Columbia City. Ind.. April 7— (I'P)--Forty persons were injured today when the Pennsylvania railroad's crack Gotham Limited struck a switch obstruction in its dash for New York City and jumped the tracks in the residential district. Six remained In St. Joseph's hospital at Fort Wayne, Ind . 19 miles away, late this morning The others were released after first aid treatment by physicians at the wreck scene and in hospitals at Fort Wayne. There were no deaths. Railroad officials said the train slowed down to pass a standing freight at the west edge of the city. The first 13 cars of the 15car train jumped the track at 12:35 a m when the engine struck i "some obstruction" in the cross . over switch, officials said. None of the cars overturned, al-1 though some were leaning at 45 degree angles in a ditch. Some 275 passengers occupied the coaches. The injured were tak- i < n to Fort Wayne in 10 ambulances ' from Columbia City and Fort I Wayne. Others were taken to Fort Wayne in a convoy of buses' sent to the wreck scene from Fort Wayne. .Many of the injured, suffering only scratches and bruises, were given first aid in a filling station near the tracks. Mrs. Joseph Schneider. 61. (4784 (typress Avte.), Pittsburgh. Pa., suffered head injuries and a brok-, en nock. Her daughter, Miss Annie t turn To Page ( Column 4) Decatur Lions Club To Entertain Ladies The weekly meeting of the Decatur Lions dub will be held Tuesday evening at 6:30 o'clock at the Zion Lutheran church. Ladles night will ho observed by the club and the Aeolian choir of the local General Electric will 1 present a musical program. 0 . Miss Anna M. Yager Dies This Morning I Prominent Decatur Woman Dies Today Miss Anna M. Yager, a member of a prominent Decatur family, i died In her sleep at 10 o'clock this morning at the Yager home. 246 South Second street, following an extended illness. The daughter of the late Leopold and Christine Wall Yager, the de- : ceased was born in Tiffin. Ohio, 1 i on September 28, 1863. In 1865. her parents came to this city. Her ’ father was for many years one of the leading furniture dealers and I cabinet maker* here. Miss Yager made her home with her brothers, two of whom survive. They are, John and lam ' Yager, the latter being the presi j dent of the Citizens Telephone I company. Two brothers. Herman ■ and laiuia Yager, preceded her in death. A lifelong member of St. Mary's Catholic church. Miss Yager was a member of Its societies, the St. Agnes soladlty and the Third order of St. Franci*. Funeral services will be held at 9 o'clock Thursday morning from St. Mary's church, with the Very Rev. Msgr. Joseph J. Selmetz, pastor as celebrant of the requiem mass. Burial will he in the Catholic cemetery. The body will he moved from the Gillig and Doan funeral home to the Yager residence, where friends may call after 7 o'clock Tuesday I evening.

Most Os Soft Coal Miners On 'Safety Strike' "" — Most Mine Union Members Extending Memorial Walkout Washington. April 7. (UP)—i A majority of the I’nited Mine Workers* 406<x»0 members In the i nation’s soft coal fields began a I "safety strike" today, it caused the sl-iel Industry to curtail operations slightly and the Pennsylvania railroad laid off 1.500 employes. John L. Lewis, the mine work-j era’ chieftain who la under court | injunction not to strike against the federally-operated coal mines, appeared to have done just that without formally ordering a walk-i out. And the government seemed to he stumped as Io what to do about it. Moat of the soft coal districts reported that the NMW members were extending last week s "memorial" shutdown into a safety walk--out. They were obeying the implicit wishes of I,ewfs who demanded i that the government keep the 2.500 soft coal mines closed until they are reexamined by federal in- . spectors and found safe. That request the government firmly rejected as "arbitrary." That put the next move up to the mine leader And la>wis. by doing nothing, had in effect achieved a strike. There were mines operating in some states, particularly Alabama. ■ Kansas and Missouri. But most mines were idle in the great coal producing areas of West Virginia. Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania The interior department, Lewis’ adversary in the safety controversy, was finding it difficult to check the situation in the coal fields because of another strike the telephone walkout. ; U. S. Steel reported it had cut I blast furnace production to 80 percent of normal. Republic Steel shut down a blast furnace at Birmingham. Ala., because of a coal shortage. The Pennsylvania railroad at Pittsburgh laid off 1,500 employes because of the dwindling shipment of coal. ( Turn To Page S, Column S) o Truman Campaign Is Off To Bold Start No Challenger In Sight As Nominee Washington, April 7—(UP)— President Truman's campaign for a full White House term of his . 1 own is off to a bold start today on , a platform of deht reduction, pro- . tection of oppressed peoples ( abroad and no immediate tax cut at home. He is sharpening his veto pencil for some Republican > legislation. | ] In this last week of his second year as President. Mr. Truman', finally has become the acknowledg , ed leader of his party. More than j that, he Is the psrty's candidate , for presidentisl nomination and efection next year. No challenger l ( is in sight. Mr. Truman ha M been | building up for some months to his, < new position of great party pres- * tlge. The new President Truman appeared Saturday night as chief j spokesman of Democrats who were I dining in scores of communities in commemoration of Jefferson Day. He talked and acted like a man who enjoys his job now and feels a hie to handle it. Here Mr. Truman addressed (Turn Tu P«g« 4, Column <) '

Price Four Cents

Nationwide Strike First In Country's History; Desperate Efforts To Mediate Washington. Apr. 7 — (UP» — Nearly 300.000 telephone workers struck today in an unprecedented coast-to-coast walkout which disrupted normal long distance and local non-dial telephone service In all but scattered parts of the* country. With President Truman "watching.” federal conciliators tried desperately to end the walkout. But there were no signs of a settlement on the horizon. The countrywide strike, first in : the nation's history, started at 6 1 a m. In the various time zones. Dial telephone service, newspaper teletypes, and major radio network wire communications were not affected. Management supervisors everywhere tried to handle as many , "emergency" calls as possible. The National Federation of Telephone Workers said teletype reports showed at least 294.<Wtu workers on strike. It said i2tt.obo are striking in the eastern region, i 88,t*oo in the central, 58.000 in the southern, and 29,000 In the west* ern. It did not have complete figures on how many Independent union metulters Joined the walkI out. laibnr department officials, i aware that disruption of service ' would he likely to get worse if automatic systems broke down for lack of repair, attempted In negotiations here and throughout | the country to wring a hack-to-work agreement from the disputing parties. White House aides said President Truman was keeping an eye on the strike. But for the time being, at least, he was not Intervening personally in the non-stop efforts of his labor department officials. The Republican congress alsv was watching the communications crisis. Secretary of laltor la*wis B. Schwellenbach failed in night-long efforts to wrest an agreement from the National Federation of Telephone Workers and the American Telephone Ik Telegraph Co. The union rejected his request for a 48-hottr strike postponement . But the conciliation efforts did not end. Hours after the strike started, assistant secretary of labor John W. Gibson and conciliation director Edgar 1,. Warren kept representatives of long distance workers and the A T. X- T. in session. The strike hit long distance service the worse. Telephone company officials In New York reported that only 712 of a normal force of 2.996 long distance operators across the nation had re* (Turn To Page 4, Column 4) — — _. o Earl Adams Named To Election Board Earl B. Adams. Decatur attorney and prom inant GOP worker, is the new Republican member of th« Adams county l>oard< of election < oinmlMioners. His apfatintment was announced late Saturday by Harry "Peck" Essex, county GOP chairman, following the resignation of Amos Burkhalter, of Berne, who has served In that capacity through several elections. Severin H Schuiger, also a local lawyer, ie the Democratic member of the board, while county clerk Clyde O. Troutner s-rvea in an ex-officio capacity. NEW SERIAL TUESDAY "Tomorrow it Will Re Fair.” by Raymond Dujardin, a ling love story of three women and the men they loved, will start in Tuesday’s edition of the Dally Demos-rat. It is one of the best stories of the year, according to critics.