Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 45, Number 158, Decatur, Adams County, 7 July 1947 — Page 1

A> Vol. XLV, No. 158.

lewis, Coal Owners Still jControct Language Demands By Lewis Delay Agreement WMf&ton. July 7 —(UP) — John Li Lewis ami northern s<»ft <o*l oJpators were Mill dead locked aver contract language today IMS than 12 hours before a MrtMHdde strike deadline. Hm deadlock had held for 48 Kover a demand by intract language In- j •e the United Mine L) from liability for under the TaftIhe operators at ill ed after three more uaalon today Both nderstood to have n ** w proposed clauses when the meetings were resumhis •ormur The UlW’m 20man wage policy committee han been awaiting a final agreement in order to ratify it. But Lewie' spokesmen left for Bench at their usual hour without indicating that thia de veiopment was near. The dead lock put big question marks <® earlier hopes that at least the northern half of the soft coal induatry would be under a going?peontract before the 400.000 miners end a 10-day vacation at midnight tonight. The miners do not Work without a contract. But there Mill wax a chance that thOfrwment could be sign Lewis ’and the northern group 11T Wil* resume their efforts to conclude the "tentative wage pact they reached last week. But 1,0 11 in ,i,nP ,o any of the miners back to work quarters saw Lewis’ a move So spearhead labor's resistance to the new strike-control law They expect Other AFL and CIO unions to make similar demands on in dostry If Lewis succeeds in getting an agreement that would relieve bls miners from damage suits and unfair labor practices under the new statute. once the deadlock with the northern mine operators is hrokLewis still must negotiate terms with (our other groups of operaUNß from Illinois, Indiana. tML fairWeMern states and the south, ■pformed sources believed the result would be full or partial shutdown of the mines at least through this week. Lewis! and the northern operators — representing northern coSMSerclal mines and the "captive" pits owned by steel comfor seven hours yea terday in a futile attempt to break the deadlock. Sources close to the Mffot'a, tioas Mid the parties also were in dMpeemcnt on adminlstra tlon of’;.the union's health an.l welfare fund. The fund has f 25. contributed under govern■seat iteration. Lt will receive •a 180.000.000 under contract estar, HsMtt'W 10 cents a ton contrihuBoa to the fund. wßHßhas agreed to one operMw i Wild one Impartial third (Turn To Page 5? Column ~>

Midwestern Flood Damage Is Estimated Over Hall Billion

(tiH*! note: Midwestern ag ricnHara suffered ■ beery blow In Uml- Scent flood* which rolled dMMnheat section* of lowa. mKHHr Misaouri, and Illinois. The 'lifted Press ha* totaled up the denote by compiling inform* tfaM firm army engineers, flood «MiMt expert*, state agricultural departments farmers, relief agencies, and others. The findings In thM survey by a dozen U. P. buHMUMi follow.) I By United Press | CToefcl which rolled down over the mMwestern corn belt for more thM a f month left behind crop and soil damage estimated today at more titan a half billion dollars. Flood j waters. which still covered many rich bottomland areas, cut deeply into crop prospects and washed away millions of tons of the world’s finest topsoil. * A anrvey of the flood dama<e In lowa, Nebraska, Missouri and HtfeUdadhe four stales hardest hit

DECATUR DAILV DEMOCRAT

Petrillo Threatens To Halt Recordings Says Musicians Not Making Fair Living BULLETIN Washington. July 7.—(UP)— Jams* C. Petrillo, president of the AFL American federation of musicians, revealsd today union plana to shut off next year AFL muelcal recordings and all musical broadcasts transmitted over national networks. Petrillo told a House labor subcommittee his union will refuse to renew its recording and network contracts at the end of thio year. The network broadcasting would be cut off on Feb. 1, 1948, ho said. Washington July 7.—(UP)— Music czar James C. Petrillo said today members of hie American Federation of Musicians will make no more recordings after this year unless the unloif Itself can go Into the business. "We feel that the best thing we can do is to stop making them,” Petrillo said; He told a house labor subcommittee investigating his activities that he “might change his mind” because "no one can say what will happen between now and Dec. 31.” Petrillo told the subcommittee that the musicians are "dissatisfied” with the entire recording business because they are being displaced from too many jobs. He said the union was examining the anti-trust laws to see whether it could go into business Itself. “If we can do it without getting Into trouble with the courts of the nation, we might take It serious,” he said. "But we would rather remain a labor union. That is what we are organized for.” He explained that recordings have been made since 1943 under contracts which grant the union a royalty on each record. By the end of 1948. be said. 82,000,000 had been collected under this arrangement. At present he said, there are seme 550 such contracts all Os which expire at the end of thia year. The last AFM convention gave the executive board power to renegotiate the contracts or let them lapse, he said. At present, Petrillo said, the employment situation among musicians Is "good.” But he said this was due to "war conditions." Petrillo was questioned by subtynmittee Chairman Carroll D. Kearns. R. Pa., himself a musician and a member of the AFM. Kearns assailed Petrillo as a monopolist who has limited "freedom of religion and education." He asked Petrillo how many musicians now were employed. “There are 30 percent of the musicians making a living; and 30 percent making not quite a living and 20 percent who have quit (Turn To Paa* t. Column •) ■ ——o Mrs. Sophia Dent Is Taken By Death Mrs. Sophia Dent. 78. widow of Byron A. Dent, died at 10:20 a.m. Sunday at the Methodist hospital in Fort Wayne. She was a native of Willshire, 0.. but had lived in Fort Wayne since 1903. Survivors include four stepchifiTren and six grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Wilson funeral home in Fort Wayne, with burial in the Decatur cemetery.

—disclosed these estimates. Crop damage—l2l6,ooo,ooo. Soil loss—lloo 000.000. Land flooded—l,ooo.ooo acres. Number of persons made hpme-less-14,811. Number killed—ll. The figures told only part of the story, and gave only a hint of the suffering, hardship and financial loss felt by farmers and townspeople in the flood-stricken areas. The floods, which surged down the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and their numerous tributaries In one record-breaking erect after another, destroyed 47 homes and damaged 4. IM. The Red Cross estimated that Ml farm and factory buildings were destroyed and 7.M1 damaged. Fifty-two Red Cross shelters in 10 communities housed about 1.000 homeless persons during the height of the floods. The Red Cross said it fed 1,000 persons, more than half of them levee work- " (Tara Te Page t, Celupa f>, •

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JANE CAMPBELL, 17, of Chillicothe. Ohio, exhibits an unidentified mechanism which fell from a balloon and landed on her father'a farm. The father, Sherman Campbell, said the vaned object, through optica) illusion, may have caused some of the reports of "flying discs.”

Lad Missing For 60 Hours Found Sunday Boy Went On Hike For Water For Doll Barwtow. Cal., Jaly 7—(UP)— Three-year-old Wayne (Butchla) l-owers could not get excited today * aitout his 80 hour hike through the San Bernardino mountains to get his doll a cup of water. “But I don't like those big dogs I saw" he told his "daddy.” Marine S/Bgt. Claude M. Bowers, stationed at the marine corps repair and supply depot here. The tracks of mountain Hons and l»9ara were found near his too'prints. The youngster was found asleep late yesterday six mils away and 1.000 feet up the mountainside from the marine recreation camp at Big Bear Lake, Cal., from which he strayed while hi* mother fixed breakfast Friday morning. A few minutes after his tear-fully-nappy mother. Mrs. Helena Bowers, took him from the arms of Pvt. Salvadore Hernandez, who found the sleeping child, they left the camp for their home here. They had been due to leave, anyway. Bowers. Fourth of July holiday was over and he had to report for duty at the depot thia morning. A frantic, three-day search by more than 300 vacationers, ma rlnes, forest rangers and sheriff’s officers ended when llernar.dez, 17. of San Francisco, spotted the sleeping youngster, still clutching a plastic cup he carried when he went looking for a drink (Turn To Page !, Column S) O Seeks Appointment As Justice Os Peace Floyd Hunter Files Application Today The possibility of the apointment of a justice of peace in Decatur to serve Washington townahip was seen today. The application of Floyd Ik Hunter. Decatur, for appointment to the position waa received this morning by the Adams county board of commissioners in the regular meeting of the board at the courthouse. The commissioners were expected to take action on the application before the close ot the day's business. Most of the mornipg was taken up with the payment of bills and other routine business. It was pointed out that under the la* Washington township Is entitled to two justices of peaoe, bat that the township has been without the services of a justice for several years since the resignation of Walter J. Bockman. The justice of peace post is considered part-time work and he may hear minor civil suits, hold court on traffic counts and other misdemeanor criminal charges. Mr. Hunter is a city employe and a former local and state excise police officer. He resides at 821 North First street.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, M onday, July 7, 1947

May Be “Flying Disc”

Install Rev. Feller As Rotary President The Rev. William Feller, pastor of the Zion Evangelical and Reformed church, will be installed as president ot the Decatur Rotary club next Thursday at the weekly luncheon meeting. He succeeds Earl Fuhrman. Rev. Feller returned over the week-end from San Francisco, Cal., where he attended the convention of Rotary International. He was accompanied to the west coast by Mre. Feller and their son. 0 Gales Asks Aid In Rent Control Setup Asks Leading Mayors To Set Up Boards Indianapolis. July 7—(UP)—Governor Gates today asked city mayors In 22 Indiana defense areas to help set up a "home rule" organize tion to administer the new federal rent control act. Gates took the step after getting a letter from the national housing expediter in Washington, advising of the procedure necessary to put the new act into effect in Indiana. National houaing expvdiler Frank* R. Creedon must appoint local advisory iMMrdx in each defense area, on recommendation by the governor. Gates wrote letters to the mayors of "capital cities" in the areas, asking them to call other mayom in their areas and chairmen ot town boards to meetings for the purpose of recommendation the personnel of advisory boards. The governor asked that the meetings be called within the next week and tbe recommendations sent him by July 15. He suggested a five-member bipartisan board in each area of five counties or leas. Only two of the Indiana areas take in more territory than three counties. Columbus is the hub of one of these and Anderson the hub ot the other. Advisory boards appointed in the varioua areas will make recommendations to the housing expediter on such subjects as decontrol ot the defense rental areas or any (Mirtlon thereof, the adequacy of the general rent level, and operations of the local rental offices with particular reference to hardship cases. Board members serve without pay but are provided office space and stenographic service. Gates said tbe workability of the new law would “depend upon the fairness with which It is administered.” "I believe undue gouging would in all probability bring a return of legislation providing for strict control.” the governor said. “On the other hand, if It is allowed only to correct the abuses which exist within the rental field, it might easily serve to bring about an incentive for private construction of homes, which could eaatiy serve to reduce the housing shortage.” The capital cities of Indiana’s 22 defense areas are Bloomington, Frankfort, Crawfordsville. Columbus. Mt. Vernon. Princeton, Richmond. Valparaiso, Evansville. Fort Twn To Ps** • Cni«iJ, WEATHER Clear and cool tonight; Tuesday fair with little change in temperature.

President Truman Back In Washington President Acts As His Own Chauffeur Washington, July 7—(UP)—President Truman was back at the White House today after setting some kind of a Presidential record for speedy automobile driving. Returning from a July 4 holiday weekend at Charlottesville. Va„ Mr. Truman acted tw his own chauffeur yesterday and once had his big Cadillac convertible coupe going close to 85 miles an hour. Hix s|>ee<i was reported by a Virginia state police car which preceded the President’s top-down convertible. For the most part, Mr. Truman’s speed was about 50 miles an hour -the limit allowed by state law. The top speed was reached shortly after the President left Charlottesville and there was little traffic. Mr. Truman made the trip back in two hours and 45 minutes. It took his official chauffeur 15 minutes longer to make the trip to Charlottesville, where the President dellveied a July 4 address assailing Russia's objections to the Marshall plan. o July Corn Futures Again Break Record Chicago, July 7.—(UP)—For the fifth successive trading day. July corn futures hit an all-time high on the Chicago board of trade today. The July delivery opened at 8114 Mi a bushel, which was cent higher than the previous alltime high set Saturday. July corn dosed at 2.16% after hitting a high of 82.17%, . oFord Foremen End Strike Os 47 Days Vote Work Return Without Any Gain Detroit July 7—(UP)— Some 3,000 foremen at tbe Ford Motor company, members of the Foremen’s Association of America, ended their 47-day strike today without winning a single concession they demanded when they quit work May 21. > The foremen voted 10 to 1 to return to work at a mass meeting yesterday. Robert Keys, president of the independent union, told the foremen “the battle for a new contract will be carried on from inside the plant.” A back to work movement last week, when between 150 and 350 foremen returned to their jobs, influenced the heavy vote to discontinue the strike. Originally about 3 800 foremen were involved in the walkout. The FAA demanded a new contract granting it exclusive bargaining rights for supervisory employes and provisions for grievance procedures. The company rejected all demands and notlflw’ the FAA it no longer considered It the bargaining agent for supervisory employee. Settlement of the strike brought virtually complete industrial peace to Detroit's automobile plaate for the first time la awatha.

Way Cleared For Passage By House Os New Bill To Cut Income Taxes Jan. 1

Indiana's Holiday Death Toll Is 18 12 Highway Deaths Lead State's Toll By United Press Indiana’s accident death toll reached IS during the three-day Fourth of July weekend. Indiana state police reported 12 highway fatalities, four drownings and two deaths from other causes. The toll lacked only two of reaching the 20 Indiana deaths predicted by state police at the start of the long holiday. Jackson C. Rayburn. 20 of Evansville, was killed Saturday night when the car In which he riding skidded out of control and crashed into a viaduct railing at Evansville. Roy Bergstrom. 18. of Nashville, Tenn., was killed Instantly when he lost control of his automobile and overturned near Princeton Sunday afternoon. Police said Bergstrom and his family was re turning to Nashville from a vacation trip. Two persons died when the motorcycle they were riding was struck by an automobile on U. S. 31 near Kokomo Sunday evening. The victims were identified as Estel Williams. 18 Kokomo, and Ruth McCarty. 18. Sharpsville. The automobile was driven by James Chism. Kokomo. The crash occurred in front of the new Kokomo speedway. The drowning victims included 33-year-old Elza Butrum of Evansville, who was drowned in the Ohio river near Mt. Vernon while attempting to rescue a woman, and Walter J. Hile of Larwill, who was drowned when he fell from a boat while fishing in l«ake Wilson near Columbia City Saturday afternoon. A fall down basement steps and burns received in a fire made up the state's two "miscellaneous" deaths. Mrs. Lou Riley 76, of Birmingham. Ala., died of injuries suffered when she fell down the base ment steps at the home of a son. Sgt. Leseston Riley, of Indianapolis. Sylvester McCarthney, 57. Richmond. was bruned fatally Saturday when fire gutted the four-room frame home of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Perclfield of Columbus. McCartney was visiting the Perclfield family. o Four Youths Escape Drowning At Lake Local Lads Rescued From Near Drowning Four Decatur youths are reported to be recovering from shock and exposure when they narrowly escaped drowning Friday afternoon at Lake James. Their boat was submerged by waves from pacing speed boats and they were trapped in the craft until rescued by two other boats, one manned by Clyde Butler, also of Decatur. The four are Donald Schmitt. 17; Robert Braun. 16; Thomas Miller, 18, and Ronald Smitb. 17. all of in and near Decatur. Mr. and Mrs. John Houk. Fort Wayne, who were riding In a nearby boat, went to the scene as the back end of the capsizing craft containing the motor went under water. The boys were unable to climb into the small Fort Wayne ciaft and hung onto the sides. The Miller lad, only one of the four unable to swim, lost his grip and slid under the water but was pulled back to the surface by his companions Mr. Butler beard the cries for help and pulled Donald. Robert and Ronald into his motor. The Houks took Thomas into tbei s. The latter was unconscious when he reached shore and waa treated by life guards for shock and exhaustion. Tbe lads were spending the holidays at the cottage of Mrs. Amelia Christen as the guests of Ronald. The boys all issued an expression of appreciation for Mr. Butler's work of rescuing them, and towing their submerged craft to shore. Air pockets in the boat kept It from sinking completely.

Holiday Death Toll In Nation Near 600 Mark Total Is Heaviest Throughout Nation Since Prewar Days By United Press Nearly 600 persons died In holiday accidents during the long Fourth of July weekend which ended today. The total was 590 — heaviest since prewar days. Traffic accidents killed 261 persons; 173 drowned; 149 died in miscellaneous accidents; and seven were killed in fireworks explosions. The deaths began mounting late Thursday ax vacationists jammed the nation's highways en route to resort areas, and ended early today as they returned to their homes. The national safety council had predicted that 275 persons would lie killed in automobile accidents. No or airplane accidents swh as occurred during the Memorial Day weekend, marred the Independence Day telebratlon, but several persons died in plane crashes. At Quincy, Mass , a navy hell diver liomber plane crashed through a house ami plunged into an apartment building yesterday, killing the pilot and seriously injuring a gunner who wax riding with him. A woman resident of the apartment also wa: seriously injured. Sixteen per sonx fled to safety from the two buildings, both of which were demolished. A gasoline-burning pop corn machine exploded during a sand'ot baseball game at Omaha, Neb., yesterday, injuring 15 persons, four of them seriously. The operator of the machine, Ervin Nerad. 16, was reported in critical condition One woman was trampled by screaming children attempting to flee the Hazing area and 13 others were burned by flaming gasoline which sprayed over a large portion of the crowded grandstand For a time during the early part of the long weekend, the number of drownings almost equalled the number of traffic fatalities, but the latter took a wide lead when vacationists be- i gan streaming home. New York led the states with 47 deaths, 16 of them drowning*. | 15 due to traffic accidents, and 16 from other causes. California was next with 46 deaths, including 29 on the highways and seven drownings. In Michigan, 34 per ions were killed. 18 of them on the highways. Pennsylvania had 27 deaths; . Texas. 27; Illinois. 24; New Jer sey. 22; Florida and North Carolina. 21; Ohio. 20; Indiana. 18; South Carolina. 18. and Virginia, 17.

Army Pilots On Search F<or Mysterious "Flying Saucers”

By UNITED PRESS Army pilots were ready today for another air search (or the mysterious "flying saucers" now reported seen in 31 states and parts of Canada as practical jokesters added to lhe confusion. Equipped with telescopic cameras. 11 army planes searched the Pacific northwest yesterday without finding any trace of the flying discs which had been reported over scores of communities the preced ing two days. At Sioux Falls, S. D.. a coast guard plane already In the air was ordered to investigate a silvery disc with a short tail which Gregory Zimmer said he saw shoot across the heavens. The pilot found nothing but empty sky The army “camera pa’roi’’ over the CMcade mountains yesterday included eight P-51 pursuit ships and three A-26 bombers. Theie was growing belief that the concentrated asrial search would show the saucers to be optical illusions ot the work of practical jokesters magnified by arous-

Price Four Cents

Revived Reduction Bill Up To House j Vote Tuesday And Senate By Saturday Washington. July 7.—(UP)—The way was cleared today for House passage of the revived 11.060.000,000 tax-reduction bill tomorrow. And Senate approval Is forecast for Saturday. Itn proponents expect another veto, but assert they can ove rlde It this time. The House rules committee approved the bill for action tomorrow with a set of rules banning time-consuming debate. That meant the measure probably would go to the Senate tomorrow night. And Chairman Eugene D Millikin of the Senate finance committee predicted passage in that chamlwr on Saturday. The bill Is just like the one President Truman killed with a veto except for the effective date, which would be next Jan. 1 instead of last July 1. It would rut personal income taxes 10.5 to 30 percent, the largest percentage reducthAts applying to the smallest Incomes Rep E. E. Cox. D., Ga„ predicted Itoth House and Senate would override a veto this time The House failed last time by two votes and the Senate did not vote on the veto. Other congressional developments: Unification The Senate opened deltate on the armed forces unlflcution bill with Republicans predicting passage by both houses before adjournment late this month. The hill would set up a secretary of national security under which the army, navy, and air forces would have co-equal status. Universal tialning former sec letary of navy Josephus Daniels op posed President Truman's plan for universal training with the declaration It would produce "ail the coats and imperialism'’ of Napoleonic France and Hitlerian Germany. Islands The Senate foreign relations committee unanimously airproved a United Nations agreement giving this country sole trusteeship over the Marshall. Marianas, and Caroline islande 'n the Pacific. The island* formerly were mandated to Japan Refugees President Truman in a message to congress asked quick action on a hill to permit a "sub-, stantial number" of European war refugees to enter thia country from Germany. Austria and Italy. Republican House leaders saw little chance of enactment of the measure this session. Vote Fraud Sen. Homer Ferguson, It. Mich., will try azain next week to get his Senate judiciary subcommittee to approve an Investigation of a justice department inquiry Into alleged vote frauds in Kansas City The committee "failed to agree" on the psoposal today, he said. In vest iga t ion — President Truman, head of the exec utive I ranch, signed a bill setting up a 12-tnember bipartisan commiMion to investigate* the executive branch. The commission would look into all operations of federal departments and agencies and report to the next congress. The military unification debate was tbe dxy's Idg businetw In th* (Turn To Page- ."i. Column 5)

ed imaginations. The Rev Joseph Brasky. a Catholic priest of Grafton. Wls., reported that a metal disc IS inches in diameter with “gadgets and wires’’ around the hole in the center crashed into his yard with a mild explosion. He announced thaf~he was holding it for the FBI. but after close examination found the lettering . . . “steel, high carbon 100 jtereent steel.” and decided that It was a circular saw blade. A number of "discs" whirled over rooftops in East St. Louis. 111., yesterday J. T Hartley, a locomotive engineer, gathered some of them up and found they were made of pressed white paper, 11 Inches in diameter and with a two-inch hole in the center. Railroad workers said they looked like locomotive packing waehers. A radio announcement that discs were flying over Lewiston, Ida., yesterday sent hundreds into their yard* for a look. Weatherman Krezak said the objects were (Turn To Page 2, Column I)