Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 45, Number 86, Decatur, Adams County, 11 April 1947 — Page 1

jviiTxiV No. 86.

rORNADO’S DEATH TOLL MOUNTS TO 151

■oris To End ■one Strike [logged Down llcompony Offer To IlArbitrate Issues I (Rejected By Union Apr 11 i' I ',! _ |^B. ri | effort* settle the five MB*"*" b,,Kg '" l today Rut ■M ;,ud tie- governor in tin ■X- took action i" walkout IMB. h , nr.a.le.l < ommunlca MHI from X mK, M E Thompson of Geor-■JiHt.ru'ii-l in lb" «trik«' 1,1 hIH «|Z. i.y viiiniiioiiiiii: southern It' ll Co. official" to a con- | w;ll< assumed that ■ ~ t. who t.ivors arbitration ,B «i<- -trike issues on a national IK. would '>«"• hi * SffVheH Its ■ K * !.r-ey a court lest was oil the new public ■ ■ffl'y ali i-trike law under which ■ Z Mft'-'l E Driscoll ordered K-aL,.. of telephone facilities. |K.. women leaders of New Jerii.ishi striking telephone ■■SHkors pleaded innocent and released in 8599 bail for ■ ■ <om:< fed. they would be t. maximum penalty of fine and I" days in jail for J day tile strike continues. bKi officials charged that the was unconstitutional. They they would fight through courts. ■■>der.>l Him illation efforts down here when the NatFHeration of Telephone Biwrlo-r-< r‘ je< ted a company offer six major issues phase of the strike affecting ■ Mho long distance employes of Anu ri< an Telephone A- TeleCo. offoial- had Imped for an ■Eg' ■■men- in the long distance w Idih would provide a for settling the whole Bi»k'- But the NFTW turned ■ , »mpany' offer because ideil for arbitration on a basi-. The union demands arbitration. ■ Mllil- ' "la illation offi< iais dowhat to trv next, the union op. nto th" public nego s " ik " " f 3 - r ’""" w. ik. rs continued. Ser■B mi rails r.quiring operators' reduced to as much as 20 per of normal in places. Mw'' 1 ' h'''’-*’' ll ‘"iii illation efforts' bogged down, the Nat , SM*' I - ' <b-ration of Telephone proposed the new apTo Pago <S, Column St Ba o !■*- William Feller i pc Rotary Convention Rev William Feller, pas"f the Zion Evangelical and I By 1 "* 1 ' >‘itr< h. and newly elect EBmbl.nt of the Decatur Rotary bus been named ioo.il deleKLB* ,o ,bp International Rotary KMvention it! San Francisco. June 12 KB*' Feller is considering ntak ■ W the trip in a trailer, if the BBW 1 'I*' 1 *' <an be leased. Mm. FelBB **" •"'■‘"opany him to the Ky‘ -n,ion <ity Rev. Feller Is KBninating his term as Rotary iMfci *7 r *' !ary 4,1( i will succeed ®K Fuhr, " an “* President in I Biberling Rubber I Workers On Strike kr, ’ R - 0., Apr. H_(UP) — BK"" r' 00 " worl<er » 'be HeibKB* t1,1,, ’" r <,< ’ ,s Rarberton, (). K lIL. ,<Klay af " >r refusing ‘7-’ the cents an hour I B 7. a * ree<l by Ihp b,K I It? ' """‘Pahies -Goo.lyear p,r ««tone and (I. 8. ,H,Ran af,er union l Bi l^ n . i ‘ llV,|< ,ne ’ workers rem, 1 . ,? r ,hp ' , »rly "hist anti I.K) hero t 0 *'ay out of the Ml —o I | . WEATHER I ■«t u e r 7 i ’’’ ‘"d cool,r IB> y * ir with <*«noe

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Winter Wheat Crop Largest In History 100 Million Bushels Above 1946 Yields Washington, April 11.—(t’Pi Prospects of the biggest winter wheat crop In history today strengthened thia country's potential ability to pour needed grain into world shortage areas. The agriculture department's latest forecast said the winter wheat crop, constituting about 75j percent of the total wheat crop, will reach an estimated 97.1,000,000 j bushels, 100,000,000 bushels more than last year's record >73.000,000 bushel yield. The association of American railroads said it would do everything in its power to move the grain from farm to market. The railroads said they hgd broken all grain movement records in the last 13 weeks despite a boxcar i shortage. • The nation has already exported i 400,00ft,000 bushels of wheat to war-torn nations this year. American farms were left with the lowest stocks of wheat since 193 K. The agriculture department experts estimated the combined winter and spring wheat crops at about 1.212,000.000 bushels or slightly leas than last year's total 1 record crop. The crop prospects were not all goo<l. Progress in farm work was low during March in two thirds of the country. The western crop conditions were best, varying from ‘normal to early in the mountain' states and well advanced in the Pacific northwest. Meadows and pasture were slow to start, providing little feed thus far. Adverse weather conditions and a shortage of nitrogen fertiHsrr cut down the prospects of a high yield of barley and oats in the south. Other crop prospects were: rye, S 8 percent of normal: pasture, 79 percent of normal: early Irish’ potatoes, 77 percent; flaxseed, 70 percent larger than last year; soybeans, six percent increase. over last year; spring vegetables, up ‘‘considerable;'’ fruit and nuts, average; peach crop large; cu- 1 • cumbers, eggplant, onions, green peas, green peppers and tomatoes. 75 percent of last year; cabbage, onions and watermelons, less! acreage. 0 Few Changes Made In County Salaries County Surveyor Receives Per Diem ' A survey of legislation by the I recent general assembly disclosed today that little changes have heen made affecting salaries of Adams county officials. . The surveyor’s office has been i I added to the list of those receiving I the increase of 11.75 per diem. allowed by the 1945 legislature. Other offices receiving the per diem include auditor, assessor, clerk, sheriff, recorder, judge and treasurer. The sheriff and chief deputy also receive 85 cents mileage per day, as was the case previously. In the case of county council- ! men. they are allowed 110 extra per day in session, not to exceed three days per month. The M cents per diem given county coinmisaioners, now a matter of contention here, is cluinged by the 1947 acts. The new law states that the commissioners are to be paid the per diem for each day they act in an official capacity, whether in joint session or individually. A suit Is now pending in circuit court here, to determine whether or not the 1945 acts provided for a 50 cents per diem for every day they were in session or every week day of the year. School Corporation Meeting Saturday The public meeting called by the township trustees to decide whether or not a county school corporation will be formed here, will be held at 10 s.m. Saturday in the courtroom* of the county courthouse.

Half Os Soft Coal Output Is Tied Up Government Seeks Evidence On Lewis In Safety Strike Washington, Apr. 11— (I’P) — The government was searching for evidence today to determine i whether John L. lewis' "safely" ; shutdown of solt coal mines was a violation of the supreme court's I no-strike mandate. Assistant attorney general John F. Sonnett indicated his interest In any "written and oral" communications that le-wis had sent to his district heads in connection with the safely strike. Federal district judge 1* Alan : Gohlsboroiigh yesterday granted Bonnett's request for a twteweek delay in return of (2,809,900 in contempt fines to Lewis' United Mine Workers pending search for evidence. The supreme court had . directed that the union's original j fine of 1.1.500,000 he reduced to 1700.000 on condition la-wis can- , cel his April 1 strike order. | Although the order was can- ' celled. Goldslwirough said there was evidence that Lewis and the union had taken advantage of the situation created by the Centralia. 111., mine disaster to stage a strike as they originally plannetl Government figures showed that i Plaint half the nation's soft coal production still was tied up by the safety walkouts despite a steady back to work movement by the miners. The safety strike began last Monday as an extension of the six-day "mourning" walkout in commemoration of the Centralia disaster, which cost 111 lives. The interior department reported that soft coal production yesterday had reached 51 percent of normal. A total of 1,692 mines were reported in operation and production was estimated at 1.215,200 tons compared with 1,0.16. 926 the day before. Nevertheless, the steel Industry continued operation on a sharply curtailed basis pending guarantee of ample coal supplies. In Cleveland. the Chesapeake & Ohio rail- ■ toad said an estimated 10,000 emi ployes would he furloughed unless ■ production increased considerably ; by Saturday. Alutut 155,723 miners were rei ported back at work yesterday, 28.000 more than the day before. Os the total some 100.000 were I'MW miners, an increase of Jg.ooo over the day before and (Turn To Page 5. Column 7) _O Search For Woman’s Body Heightened Teach Twig Expert* Reports New Strike The search for the body of Mrs. Minnie DeVor took a new twist today, when the Fremont "peach twig expert” claimed a new strike, laite Thursday afternoon. Glen Brown. 62,0 f Fremont, who claims to he able to locate drowning victims with the aid of a peach twig used in the manner of a divining rod. declared he had made a "strike." Searchers today were concentrating their efforts in the area of his purported strike, about one and one-half miles northwest of the place where she is believed to have entered the river. Although most authorities placer! little credence In the claims of the Fremont man. they were willing to concentrate the search In that area. The number of searchers is expected to be boosted considerably Saturday when members of Adams post 43. American Legion, will meet at the Ixtgion home at 7 a.m. to assist in the hunt. Post commander T. C. Smith has issued a call for all Legionnaires to volunteer for work at that time and bring usable equipment. such as boats, outboard motors, grappling hooks, etc. The missing woman's husband. Dr. H. V. DeVor. Decatur dentist, is a member of the local post.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, April 11, 1947

No Action To Stop Price Rise | 7. Lt L 1 I JBL • Bk ,”'W' ' ■tv/ * JOVIAL SPIRITS are apparent as (from left! Commerce Secretary W. Averell Harriman. Dr. Kdward 0. Nourse, economic advisory council chairman, and Agriculture Secretary Clinton P. Anlerson leave the White House following u special cabinet meeting. Though a full-dress discussion of the nation's economy was the subject, no Immediate government action to bait the current price rise was decided ujuin at the official conference.

Geneva High School Graduates Listed Annual Graduation Exercises On May 2 Twenty-two seniors are listed ax candidates for graduation at the annual commencement exercises of the Geneva high xchool, 11. O. Hunt, principal, announced to-i day. The Geneva exercises, firxt to, be held in Adam* county, will be held at the xchool auditorium Fri-j day night. May 2. The class valedictorian will he Mixa Joanne Meyer, daughter of I Mr. and .Mm. Ed Meyer of Geneva.! who hax a four-year average of 94.29 percent. Mixx Bernadlne Amstutz, daughter of Mr. and Mrx. Homer Amstutz of Geneva route 1. with o four-year average of 94.20 percent, will be the class, salufatorian. Other seniors with an average of more than 90 percent are W. Carl Miller. Anna Mae Cline, James Gardner and Sue Schlagenhauf. The complete list of candidates for graduation follows: Joanne Meyer. Bernadlne Amstutz. Carl Miller, Anna Mae Cline,! James Gurdner, Susan Sehlageii-i hauf, John Zurcher, Iva lam Mll-i ler, Sherman Roth. Violet Boice,' I’eggye Reynolds, L. I). Neuen-* xchwander, Harold Johnson, Thomas Potter, Bill Doherty. Jane Farlow, Maxine Pyle. Richard Mathys, Lexter Stanley, lUchel Burry, Gene Nelson and Loren Affolder. o | Lottie Lockman Is Acquitted By Jury 'Good Samaritan' Os Dupont Freed Madison, Ind. April 11 —<lTP>— A jury decided eary today that MrsLottie Lockman. 63. the "good Samaritan" of Dupont, Ind., did not put poison in the food of the invalid she was hired to nurse. Spectators In the tiny county court i oom broke Into applause when they heard the verldct announced shortly after 1 a.m. The jury had been out for 14 hours. Tears streamed down Mrs. Lockman's kindly face. Her voice choked. and she could not speak at firstThe verdict cleared her of chares that she attempted to murder by mercury poisoning Mrs. Mayine McConnell. 57, invalid wife of a wealthy Dupont. Ind , businessman. Conviction would have sent Mrs Lockman to prison perhaps for the rest of her life. The charge carries an automatic twodo-ten year prison term. "I don’t know what to say." Mrs. laickman sobbed, "I'm so overjoyed. Truth always prevails.” During the trial, chief prosecutor Silas Klvett charged that (Turn To Page 8. Column 7)

One Killed, Seven Injured In Crash Fort Wayne. Ind.. Apr. 11 — (UP)—One person wax killed and seven Injured in a collision between two semi-trailer trucks and an automobile east of Fort Wayne last night. State police identified the victim ax Ralph Henry Bailey. 41. Royal Oak. Mich. 0 Six Million Dollar San Francisco Fire Buildings Destroyed On Treasure Island San Francisco, Apr. 11—(UP)— Fix once-glittering showplaces of the golden gate exposition of 1939 40 on Treasure Island were charr cd ruins today after San Francis co firemen struck out their great ext fire xince "the big one" following the 1906 earthquake. Gone wax the biggest war-time restaurant in the world, a mess hall where thousands of sailors ate their last meal before sailing . for the Pacific war theater. Also destroyed were five other structures, valued at an estimated ; $500,000. However, the Treasure Island commandant said electronics equipment destroyed would boost the damage to between $5,000,000 and $6,000,000. No one was killed, although at the height of the conflagration more than 5,000 civilians and navy men helped battle the flames. At least 33 persons were injured. but aside from fractured limbs the bulk of the casualties was minor. The flames raged uncontrolled tor three houM on the Island, an artificial expanse of land connected by a slender causeway to historic Yerba Buena Island. Before traffic wax shut off. motorists on the bay bridge could feel the intense heat. Flames shot 200 feet Into the sky and could, be seen vividly from both shores. Smoke rose a half mile and drift ed in thick volume 20 miles down the bay. When it was over, six square blocks of-the peacetime tourist fairyland and wartime navy mobilization center were destroyed. o —— Butter Prices Cut By Memphis Stores Memphis. Tenn . April 11—(UP) —A grocery chain here today advertised Tennessee Valley butter at 59 cents per pound, six cents less than last week and 10 to 20 cents less than butter prices advertised by competitors. Owner Fred Montesi said his Liberty Cash Grocery Stores were selling the butter at cost “to cooper; te with President Truman's plea for lower prices." "There's plenty of butter," Montesi said, "and the price should be forced down."

Water Famine Increases 1 Hardships Os Stricken Storm Area Residents

Business Leaders Challenge Truman Government, Labor Aid In Price Cuts •smaaw * Washington, April 11.—(UP) — American business demanded today that government and labor accept their ■'bare of responsibility for the spiralling coat of living and cooperate toward lower prices. The wage-price crisis Is developing rapidly here. Business and industry spokesmen reacted sharply to President Truman's statement that further wage increases would be warranted if prices did not come down. The President said, in effect, that it w.-s up to business to turn the price tide. Spokesmen of private industry challenged instantly, complaining that the government. Itself, was supporting prices in the field In which the consumer has been taking the worst beating of late in the cost of food. They said prices in large degree reflected last year’s round of wage increases. Chairman Robert A. Taft. R., 0., of the senate Republican policy committee, said he would summon the joint congressional economic committee to meet next week to consider the price situation. Washington speculated on the possibility that Mr. Truman's price-wage statement would encourage further wage demands on industry. There also was speculation whether the administration would back industry against union wage demand, if prices begin shortly to fall. There was particular Interest in the impact of his remarks tt|M>n the steel industry. Contract negotiations are all but stymied there The unions want more money and the administration wants a steel price cut. Spokesmen for I'. S. Steel announced no price cut would be considered until the labor contract had been signed and wage costs were known. (Turn T-> Page 6 ('olumti S) - - ii———' ' -Q-— ~ ■ J. Ward Calland Speaks To Rotary Farm Products Use By Industry Told Industry's use of farm products in the chemurgic development of plastics, wearing apparel, automobile parts, cigarette papers and medicines, in uddltion to edibles, was graphically described by J Ward Calland, agronomist for the| Central Soya company, before the Rotary club last evening. Mr. Calhnd dealt with the many: products produced from soybean* and stated that although great progress had already been made, manufacture of kindred lines wms in its Infancy. "Through the combination of alert and progressive industry, geneticists, power and chemurgic engineers and labora-i tor research, the future holds un-| told miracles in the processing of many products from soybeans,! corn. wood, flax and other basic products grown on the farm.” he said. Among the latest chemurgic developments are the making of apparel from feathers, nylons from corn cobs, cigarette papers from flax, and countless fabrics and plastics spun from grains raised on America's farms, the speaker said. "One look «t the towering silos in the north part of the city is evidence of the great growth that industry ha* made in these developments in the past 10 years," Mr. Calland said. It was announced that next week's meeting would be ladies' night. Carl C. Pumphrey has the program. William Scbnepf was chairman of last evening's program,*

Soviet Russia Rejects French Saar Demands Molotov Refuses French Proposal To Separate Saar Moscow. April 11. (UP) Soviet foreign minister V. M. Molotov todiy rejected an insistent French demand that the J council of foreign ministers Immediately separate the Saar from ' Germany and place It under a French economic and financial system At the same council meeting Molotov n-vealed that ut the Tehran conference the late President ■ Roosevelt had suggested dividing Germany into five different states, and that it wis not until Potsdam tlrnt the Idg three completely abandoned the Idea of dismembering Germany and agreed upon unification. Time and again throughout today's meeting French foreign minister Georges lildault having obtained support of secretary of state George ('. Marshall and British foreign minister Ernest Kevin for hi* Saar plan pressed Molotov for tin Immediate decision. Molotov kept insisting that the Soviets would have to study the proposal and was equally insistent that the other powers discuss the | Soviet proposal for a special fourl>ower regime to control the Ruhr before deciding on the Saar. lliduult had proposed creation of a Big Four commission to work out details at once of a plan for separating the Saar from Germany and creating a politically autonomous state. "France wants the Issue settled at once," Bidault said "What reply L there on the Soviet proposal for the Ruhr?" Molotov asked. Bidault said the council meeting today w.is the place for discussion of the Ruhr, "but we want a decision on the Saar." "The Soviet delegation will have ' to study the Saar issue," Molotov I : replied. Molotov opened today's meeting with a statement on Germany's western frontiers. It Included another attack on the merger of the British and American rones aj "unilateral action” which was almI (Turn T > Page <>, Column 7) April Court Term Will Open Monday To Open New Term Os Circuit Court The April term of the Adams circuit court opens next Monday for a nine we?ks period and attaches today were busily engaged I in completing plan* for the openi ing. Judge J. Fred Fruchte will like , ly call the docket for the term about mid-week. A number of cases have been carried over from I the February term, which was 1 concluded last Saturday. Member* of the petit jury panel are expected Io go to work early. A jury trial has been scheduled for next Wednesday. The jurors, whose names were drawn Monday, are to hear the damage suit of Charles Dinger against the Confection Cabinet company -one of several widely publicized "popcorn" cases. In the suit, the plaintiff asks damages for popconi which he allegedly raised under contract with the defendant company and they failed to pay. Several other civil action* which attracted considerable attention during the February term are expected to be t]i«d.

Price Four Cents

Dazed, Sorrowing Woodward Prepares Mass Funeral For Tornado Victims Woodward. Okla.. Apr. 11 — (UP) — Dazed and sorrowing WoodWfertl prepared today to bury its tornado dead at mas* funeral ! services, as fatalities In the Tex- . as-Oklahoma border area rose to 151. Grave diggers were put to work in the municipal cemetery after a special session of the mayor and j city council. Afterward. Mayor R. A. Mosi-li announced plan* for mass funeral services probably within the next two days.depending on the weather since no j building large enough for indoor : services I* available. The council deci led also to condemn additional acreage adjoining the cemetery tract. The mayor said burial of the storm dead would fill up or overflow the . present acreage. Meanwhile, water famine In- ; creased the hardships of citizens I ami rescue worker*. Partial electric service was | restored during the night, ami 2d long distance telephone lines were placed in operation to alleviate the virtual communications blackout that had existed since ; the violent wind struck. Kmerg--1 ency filtration equipment, flown here by the fourth army, was expected to place Hie municipal water system back in operation during the day. Meanwhile, teams of Red Cross and Salvation Army workers began a systematic cheek of morgues ami hospitals in the twostate area in quest of accurate i lists of casualties. A I'nited Pres* check of morgues gave the following death account Woodward- 79 known deal. Bft missing, 425 hospitalized. Gage. Okla Five dead. Mooreland. Okla Three dead, all from the Woodward tornado. Shattuck, okla Seven dead. Oklahoma City One deal, a woman Injured in the Woodward . storm. Higgins. Tex—43 dead. Including 37 Identified Glazier. Tex. —13 dead. Disaster relief workers pressed effort* to identify the remaining dead They sai l there was a possibility that some of the dead held at Gage and Shattuck had been killed at Woodward <>• in rural communities nearby. The 425 hospitalized from the Woodward storm included "dozens" in critical condition, and Red Cross official* feared the toll here ; would continue to grow possibly ; for several weeks. Business, at almost a complete standstill yesterday, showed signs of life today as rehabilitation effort* went forward. Banks, with restored electric light service In their vault*, reopened. Five hundred to I.mm persons were fed at mobile field kitchens set up in Woodward this morninc. The Electra, Tex., "chuck wagon gang" arrived with a mobile feedI ing unit last night and helped the army and Red Cross in meeting the demand for food Virtually all of the 2,890 homeless found shelter last night with friend* and relatives In Woodward. A number of tents were set up. but these were u*ed prln- < inally for rescue workers. Water wan being trucked In (Turn To Page <. Column C) O_——_____ Classes Resumed In Home Nursing Instructions in home nursing will he resumed this evening at Red Cross headquarters by Mrs. Harold Hoffman, registered nurse. Due to illness In the Hoffman family. no ilasses were held this week. An organization meeting will be held in Berne Monday night for those who wish to join home nursing class in that place. Mrs. Huffman will complete her Instructions here next week. OB