Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 45, Number 149, Decatur, Adams County, 25 June 1947 — Page 1

XJ.V. No. 149.

WILDCAT PROTEST STRIKES SPREADING

L Rainfall IflireaHo boded Areas ■Missouri Building ■Up Greatest Flood ■Crest Os All Time I By United Press K Mi**M>uri river was build ■L Itu rr-atest flool crest of ■ (jgie today anil engineers Kfd that only 54 of the 250 K between Rulo. Neb., and remained intact to hold K th? *a« fK | M eex had been smashed K rH > previous foods in aa L week* Engineers frankly their task of holding K.» flood back as hopeless. Lii<tioii- <>f new rain storms Ein<d more heartbreak and Ey for the flood areas today E weather bureau said thun Egwent would burnt over Egri tonight I*id tomorrow. Eo forecast scattered thund I era over Kansas for the tree day*. . aeera estimated that 242. res of so-called "protected*’ lands had been flooded by it dike failure* along the ri. Another 700.000 acre* rotated land were under lino record Pood water* were down the tributaries of entral Kansas to jam into eady choked valley of the rl. Engineers watched fearing that the crests of A tributaries would hit the Lari at the same time the Lit item” crest was passing Ik nouths. Ihfineer Verne Alexander ■td the water from the Kan K Dreams would arrive at the Ibwri just behind the main ■ h that occurs,’’ he said. "It ll't raise the ievtd* Steal lyt |m those already predicted ItMiream on the Missouri. Rut Jviil lengthen the crest and the flood.” ■he crest was due to pass Kan ■ City on Thursday at a stage I#s feet. ■hr water rose to 19.46 feet Ist. Joseph, Mo., and lapped ■ the top of the Rosecran* levee, which was holding bite engineer*' predictions ■ the new crest would wash Hirer expert* said the flood ■•4 reach 28.7 feet at Lexing k Mo and 26 feet at Waverly, k Both would set new recF The previous highs were |(t l<exington and 24.4 at ply. P* -Missouri was showing f it earned its nickname of [ “Big Muddy." The mighty b* »as yellow with millions I bus of rich top soil ripperl [*» farms of Nebraska. lowa. F>ri and Kansas. stream stretched far out I ll ’ banks In places. So far. part, that cltisens of Hardin, k could row over the 10 miles F aaaally rode in cars to reach Hatton on the main channel. “*» and Nebraska farmers sharing the high water ■Ha along with their north and Missouri neighbor*, ’•ianteers lost their 48-hour to save a levee that Hrbed for three-quarters of a ’ ‘'“ng the east edge of Ham * *•- The levee cracked after • h'ishnabotna river hit loose ’ "tat had been piled on the •by heavy machines. ■a* water tore a hole 100 iong. inundating 175 more h * s of the town which already • three quarters under water. **' *OO families were evacuatk,*ore the levee broke. ThreeOiar* of the town's 2,200 resl- , have been forced from hbomes. * Des Moines river was ex- *** to top Its high 1944 crest ,T »rn To Page 7, Column 51 1 WIATHER *” <ly doudy with scattered .. ** r * ood thundershowers '• afternoon, ending in north !/*••* portions tonight partly cloudy with southeast portion In ***"• No decided change

th? water.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Gen. Eisenhower To Head Columbia U. Quits Army Career For College Post Washington. June 25.-(UP)— The ’’■isenbower for president" rumors popped up again today in the wake of Gen Dwight I) Eisenhower's decision to give up his army career next year for the presidency of Columbia University. Despite the general's repeated disavowals of any political ambitions, both Democrats and Republicans looked longingly in his direction. Some ftemocrat* have mentioned him as a possible running mate for President Truman in 1948. Elsenhower received the navy distinguished service medal today for his wartime work as allied commander. Navy secretary James Forrestal presented Eisenhower with the medal. * The government declined to comment on his acceptance of the University presidency, but promised to meet soon with the press and talk about It. As an educator, it was pointed out. Elsehhower would be unfettered by the traditional restrictions that keep army brasshats from participating in politics. Maj. Gen. Floyd L. Parks, chief of the war department's information office, and liaison between Eisenhower and the press, went out of his way yesterday to emph asize that the general has no political aspirations. file reiterated to me," said Parks, ‘ that he is not interested In a political career.” However, some quarters persisted in speculating that though the popular chief of staff wanted no part of the 1948 race, he might be amenable to a "draft” in 1952. These sources said that Elsenhower's age 57 in October Is a distinct political advantage to him. If he prefers to remain on the sidelines next year, they said, he will still be young enough for consideration four years hence. Q County Ranks 85th In Soybean Output 13 Indiana Counties In First 100 Group Adam* county ranks 85th in the 100 leading soybean growing counties In the United States, the de partment of commerce announced today. , Thirteen Indiana counties are in the 100 group, based on 1914 production. These 13 counties reported 8.946.731 bushels of soybeans harvested that year. This was 35 percent of the state's 25,312,476 bushels produced. The rank and production for the Indiana counties follows: County Rank Bushel* Benton 45 Warren 52 773.471 Fountain 53 769.439 Jasper 58 753.411 Tippecanoe 63 <40.94White 65 733.777 Montgomery <» 71 Allen 79 C598.< Adams ' 85 645.64a Newton * Madison 87 580.245 Clinton 9’ ®”.975 Pulaski ’o° ' ,69 ' 182 The growing of soybeans In this county has been promoted since the establishment of the Central Soya company in this city, the third largest soybean processing plant* in the United State*. 0 ■— """" First Application Os Labor Law Recorded Dallas. Tex.. June 25 Flint application of the Taft-Hart-ley labor law was recorded here today when district judge W. L Thornton granted a temporary • junction restraining a Da "a*i uni from picketing the Southland Steel C °The judge ruled that J* o** 0 ** ,B ‘J* company's petition showed the creation of a secondary boycott ex pressly forbidden in the new. labor law He said ha waa not « n J° ln ‘“ r the AFL boilermaker, and eh ipbuilders from striking, but only from picketing.

Taft-Hartley Bill Sends Miners To Ball Game ~7 1-7 •' 1 z s ' /!■ ’ I - I //■ i I xz 9 KMr ML vdl ml 1 FibTlmM

LINED UP TO WATCH sandlot ball game in Canonsburg, Pa., are miners from the H. C. Frick Co.'s National mine No. 3 at nearby Muse. The miner* walked away from their jobs In protest of passage of the Taft Hartley lalxir bill over President Trumun's veto.

Slate Supreme Court Orders Venue Change Judge Is Mandated To Grant Petition The Indiana supreme court today handed down a decision mandating Judge J. Fred Fruchte in the Adams circuit court to grant a change of venue from the county In the suit of Lillian Schumacher, asking that she be declared the common-law wife of the late Anthony J. Schumacher, Attorney* for William Schumacher, a* executor of the estate, asked for the change of«venue last March before a scheduled hearing on the common-law petition. Judge Fruchte denied the motion, saying that "he did not believe the relator is entitled to a change of venue under the law." Then the executor of the estate asked the supreme court for a writ of prohibition to block further litigation locally until the change of venue action was concluded. The writ was ordered by the high tribunal. The executor has asked for the change of venue on the grounds that Lillian Schumacher "ha* an undue influence over the people of the county" and that "an odium attaches to the applicant." The supreme court ruling, handed down by Judge Gllklson. declare* that "the burden of proving a marriage re*ts upon the party who assert* it" and that "In the matter of the respondent'* court, the burden of proving the plleged (Turn rv> Page 7. Goluwrn 6) — O Small Town Banker Held As Embezzler Employers Said He Did Nothing Wrong Indianapolis. June 25 —(UP) A small town bank cashier was raising fund* today t" repay •43.494 he took from the bank, while his employer* tried to convince federal officials he had done nothing wrong. Robert M. McClanahan. 33, cashier In a one-story brick bank at Napoleon, Ind., surrendered on an embezzlement charge after federal bureau of investigation agents examiner! the bank's record*. “I'lk pay everything back tomorrow morning." McClanahan told U. S. district attorney Howard Caughran when he gave himself up yesterday. Director Ervin Fruchtnight said the bank director* met in a special session yesterday to give McClanahan a vote of confidence before he left Napoleon. He said they would help defend him in court. “There la nothing wrong with what he did." Fruchtnight said. "He wm buying some equipment for a business he operates and he Intended to reimburae the bank In a few days." Fruchtnight, Charl*s Stauri, president of the bank, and Edward H. '\turn To Pag* 7, Column 5)

OMLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decotur, Indians, Wednesday, June 25, 1947

July Corn Futures Mount To $2.02 Today Chicago, June 25. —(UP) —The price of com for delivery in July soared to a new all-time high on the Chicago board of trade today for the second day in a row. The Tirhe reached $2.02 a bushel. highest for a future* contract in the board of trade's 99-year-hia-tory. Yesterday’s all time high was S2.UI-H. 0 Lobaugh Indicted On Three Murder Counts Delay Arraignment To September Term Fort Wayne. Ind.. June 25 —(UP) - Ralph Uibaugh, 30-year-old factory worker, today faced three separate first degiee murder indictment* for the slayings he confessed and later denied. A special grand jury returned three indictment* against the Kokomo. Ind., punch pres* operator late yesterday. He was accused of the murders of Anna Kuzoff. Billie Haaga. and Dorothea Howard in 1944 und 1945. Ixibaugh walked into Kokomo police headquarters two week* ago and admitted the unsolved slayings. H»- later signed detailed confession* and a week later repudiated all his statements, saying he was “mixed up" when he confessed Taken to a Chicago lie detector expert for additional tests. Ix> baugh again altered hl* story and apologized to police for his repudiation. He did not appear before the grand Jury yesterday, although his attorneys earlier sough permission for him to testify. Lobaugh will be held In Allen (Torn To Page 8. Column «l

Record Motorists Demands Cause Tight Gas Supplies

By United Pres* Gasoline will be scarce throughout the middle west this summer but other section* of the country will not suffer severe shortages, petroleum expert* predicted today. The nation'* major gasoline companies said rationing ordered yesterday in 12 central state* probably would not be extended to the eaat and west coast or the south. They were positive that other states would not be placed under supply control* during the next month. The rationing order was Issued by Standard Oil of Indiana which said it would limit agents and dealers in tho*e state* to the same amount of fuel they bought last year. The state* affected are: Illinol*. Indiana, lowa. Kan*a*. Michigan. Minnesota, Missouri. Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma South Dakota and Wisconsin. None of the oil firm* In other aectlon* indicated they would follow the lead of Standard Oil immediately. A few Mid they may be forced to take aimilar action later thl* year. An official of the oil and gas

Overell Case Juror Reports On Attack Threats Related By Beaten Woman Juror Santa Ana. Cal . June 25.—(UP) —A woman juror, Mrs. Uvon Putnam. told superior judge Kenneth E. Morrison tvday that a man beat her at h«r Halbx*. Ohl., home and warned her not to convlot Beulah Overell and George Gollum of murdgr. "If you vota them guilty, this isn’t all you're going to get," she said the man said last night after beating her. 'Morrison took the woman Into his chamber* for a conference with opposing attorneys to decide whether Io remove her from the jury and replace her with an alternate. Extent of her Injuries was not immediately known. The attack raised the possibility that Morrison might order the juror* locked up between court sessions during remainder of the trial. He earlier said he would take such action onjy if there were evidence of attempt* to influence Jurors. Report of the attack delayed lhe state's calling of two mechanic* to tell what happened on the yacht Mary E. Just before It exploded. The mechanic* were among the last person* to see Mr. and Mrs. Waiter Overell alive before their bludgeoned bodies were found aboard the salvaged craft. The wealthy couple's 18-year-old daughter, and her lover are standing trial on charges that they murdered the Overall's because of an "Illicit, perverted, sa(Turn To Pag* 7, Column 2(

division of the interior department said Standard* plan to allocate gasoline “I* a pretty good indication of the genera) gasoline situation in the midwest." At Oklahoma City, in the heart of the oil producing region, official* of the Anderson • Prichard Oil Co. *ald a *y*tem of rationing may be neceMary there late in July if any other big companies follow the Standard Oil plan The Fentress Oil Co., gasoline wholesaler* at Oklahoma City, said It was on a "hand-to-mouth basis" now with some independent refiner* restricting the amount of fuel a firm can order In any one month. Standard said It* rationing system. which will continue through the summer month*, was begun because gasoline sale* recently have Increased 15 percent over those of a year ago. In the mlddleweat where the situation I* mo*l critical, the shortage apparently wa* *tlll at the producer level. Motorists had not felt the effevta tn most communities and were having little trouble (Turn To Paw» 7, Column 7)

Strikes Spreading Into Hard Coal Fields; Steel

Industry Cuts Production

Slight Employment Drop Reported Here Business Barometer Is Issued By C. C. A "business barometer” Issued by the Decatur Chamber of Commerce discloses a 1.3 percent drop In employment during May. 1947, compared to the same month a year ago— and a 2.9 percent decrease from April, 1947. The report lists 1.739 on Industrial employment rosters during May, £947; 1,791 in April, 1947 and 1.761 in May. 1946. Seven Industries are included In the report. The Industrial payroll In May. 1947, amounted to $373,719; In April. 1947 It was $378,298 and In May. 1946 it was $339,895 This is a drop of 1.2 percent from the previous month but an increase of 9.9 pmcent over the same month a year ago. The same report shows 4.022 electric consumers for May. 1947 against 4.007 for the previous month and 3.009 for May of 1946 The number of gas consumers also increased. They totalled 1.730 in May. 1947; 1.720 In April, 1944 and 1.583 In May. 1946. Water con sumers in May 1947 totalled 1.999 against 1,993 in April, 1947 and 1.866 In May. 1946 Poor Relief Varies Poor relief rolls In Washington township, according to the report, are higher than a year ago, but lower then a month ago In May. 1947. there were 15 cases Including 57 persons at a cost of $219. In April. 1947 there were 17 cases with 74 persons on the roll* at a cost of $286. while in May. 1946 there were 12 cases involving 47 persons at a cost of $238. Fourteen births were reported during May. 1947. along with six deaths In the city, compared to 27 births and seven deaths In April. 1947. and 16 births and five deaths in May. 1946. Carloading In May, 1947 totalled 2.683; In April. 1947 they totalled 2.550 and In May. 1946 they totalled 2.271. Railway express shipments amounted to 2.195 in May, 1947: 2.297 in April. 1947 and (Turn To Page 2. Column 3> 0 Two Arrested For Disorderly Conduct Railroad Workers Are Arrested Here Two Erie track gang workers were to be arraigned late this afternoon In city court on disorderly conduct charges—ir they recover sutftciently from knockout punches they received early this morning. The pair—James Bata, 31. Houston. Tex., and Edwin L. Cline. 25. of West Virginia allegedly threw a bottle through the plate glass door of the Palace Bar on Monroe street about 1:15 am. today. According to officers Roy Chflcote and Robert Hill, who investigated. the pair were ordered out at closing time and when they refused to leave were forced outside. They tossed the bottle, according to the story given the officers. and quickly fled on foot. William Huffman, proprietor of the tavern; his father. Herman, and several others gave chase, the officers were told. The two were caught in the alley near the city hall and there a battle ensued. The officers said both men were unconscious and bleeding when they arrived. Charges of disorderly conduct were played against them by Prosecutor Myles F. Parrish on an affidavit, signed by the tavern proprietor. They were to answer to the charge before Mayor John B. Stults.

GOP Threat To Return Tax Cut Bill To Truman Knutson Submits Measure Vetoed By President Truman Washington. June 25—(UP)— A Rebtiplican threat to fire Its vetoed income fax reduction bill right back' at President Truman got a curt brush-off from the administration today. Secretary of the treasury John W. Snyder, the administration's top fiscal official, said he was still against cutting taxes at this time He told a press conference he wants to know the facts “before we reduce taxes." Rep. Harold Knutson. R„ Minn., yesterday relntnwluced the vetoed tax reduction bill — with one change. It would make tax cut* effective next Jan. 1. Instead of July 1. 1947. Other congressional developments: Republican congressional leaders rejected a proposal by Rep. Howard Smith. D.. Va., to extend the government’s plantmine seizure authority In order to prevent a coal strike. Smith's bill would permit government operation of the soft coal mines beyond the present June 30 deadline. But speaker Joseph W. Martin. Jr.. said there would he no further labor legislation of any kind at this session. Bills Congress will get Mr. Truman's derision on the wool price support hill tomorrow or Friday and on the rent control extension bill early next week. He is expected to veto the wool bill Jlefense Top military leaders urged the house foreign affairs committee to approve a bill auth orizing President Truman's pro gram for inter-American military cooperation. Housing—Sen. Robert A. Taft . R.. 0., said he hoped congress would approve "some kind of a housing program" before It ad journs next month He Is co-author of the Taft-Ellender-Wagner longrange housing bill. Prices - Two Democratic house members called for Immediate congressional action to combat high prices. Reps. Helen Gahagan Douglas, Calif., and John W. McCormack. Mass., said in a joint statement that "there should Ire a bipartisan effort to meet this (Turn Ts Put" 7. Column 4) O Two Persons Unhurt In Auto-Truck Crash Vehicles Collide Near Geneva Today Two persons escaped serious Injury about 9:10 o'clock this morning In an auto-truck collision, one and one-half miles north of Geneva Mrs. India Bump, 50. of Geneva, route one. was attempting to make a right turn Into the driveway of her home as she was proceeding south, Sheriff Herman Bowman was Informed. A loaded stone truck, driven by James Bunn, 21. Huntertown, route one, started around the passenger car as the crash occurred. He told sheriff Bowman that he saw the lady pull her vehicle to the left and that he started around on the right side. Both vehicles were badly damaged The sheriff estimated damage to the passenger car at $375 and that to the track at S3OO. Traffic was almost completely blocked at the wreck scene for about an hour.

Price Four Cents

Shipyard Workers, Striking Foremen At Ford Promise Labor Law Tests Washington. June 25 —(UP) — The government today tacitly conceded It* Impotence to deal vlth the spreading coal strike — despite a supreme court no-*trikc mandate against the miners and despite the untested powers co.* ft-rred upon It by the Taft-Hart-ley labor law. Wildcat strikes in protest against the new law Hpread from the country'* *oft coal fields, where nearly 225.0 M miners walked off their jobs, to Pennsylvania'* anthracite diggings. And 40.006 east and gulf coast shipyard worker*. and 3,800 striking foremen employed by the Ford Motor Co., were promiring further test* of the TaftHartley act's effectiveness. While the steel industry cUt production Ix-cause of the coal strike*, federal agents went Into the coal fields seeking evidence a« to whethar the walkouts violated the supreme court man late which forced UMW president John L. Lewis to withdraw a strike notice last fall. But a national coal mine* administration spokesman said It was "routine" for FBI agents to make a checkup on work stop page* in government -operated properties If the wildcat strikes sweeping through the coal state* could be construed a* ’’concerted action." stemming from the union. a cave for violation of the supreme court mandate migh’ Immade. But union official* Insisted the stoppages were genuine wildcat actions without unltgt authorization. The soft coal miners start a 10-day |>ail vacation on Saturday and this also would complicate any government efforts to stop the present walkouts. The striker* a* Individuals made no mystery of their motives. They were protesting against the Taft Hartley act. The hard coal miner* in joining the walkout* could point to the fact that the act outlaw* their welfare fund* a* now set up. Both I'. S. Steel and Youngstown Sheet A Tube reported they were shutting down furnace* as the coal strike continued, and further production cuts were forecast in the next 24 hour*. The shipyard strike—unless a • miracle" produces an agreement today will start at midnight tonight. Charles Leone, chairman of the CIO Shipbuilder* Union, said "were ready to test the Taft Hartley law." Striking Ford foremen, represented by the Foremen's Association of America asked 90,000 CIO Ford production workers to honor their picket lines. FA A president Robert II eyes said his union waa fighting the TaftHartley act. which forbid* unionization of unfons In Sa»annan. Ga, members of the AFL Boilermakers Union and the International Association of Machinist* (Ind t bowed to the Taft-Hartley law They called off a jurisdictional strike banned by the act. after the Savannah Machine and Foundry Co. threatened to go to court. In Pittsburgh, president Philip Murray of the CIO United Steel Worker*, called an etneigency Ixiard meeting for next Wednesday He wa» said to have warned that there will be no change in union policy until after the meeting That wa» construed as meaning that the union oppose*, at least for the time being, any protest strikes against the new labor law. In congress, meanwhile. Rep. Hubert S. EHi*. R-. W. Va.. blamed President Truman for the coal strikes He said Mr. Truman's denunciatory veto me** sage on the Taft Hartley measure was "an Indirect Invitation for all lalior to go on strike." Under th* circumstance*. (Turn To P»g* t. Column 3)