Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 45, Number 274, Decatur, Adams County, 20 November 1947 — Page 1

ETSv No. 274

Jgfom Seeks To head France Out if)/ Grave Crisis

I'XSran Socialist jflH cr Peking To /Wi3 New C a k inet I In Bench Crisis (I'P* —Leon 'weiir-i'M -< >■ i;ilileadei, 1“’”\ Wi'-n: 111 attempt forma,.,w middle-of-the-road ■ "JStr 111 guide France B piVe 'W, I, nting political and ,rd W ,nd doodshed. jccepied the charge to ■ 8L,.. ....vernnu-nt from tit), Viir -at Auriol. He will B ; ..... rlc' French nationseiinldy tomorrow afternoon. ■ The socialist leader will <?E 1 K,..' Ramadier. who reijp premiership last night ""’’■■fciiv- of new strikes and ii the fourth mum taken the fa"' of a crisis-torn gJL" Blum was expected ■. ste« if Possible -a middle ‘ U KSfflreiwr'en the communists tll | rl j l ,j Sl followers of Gen. 2*«harlns ' ie (:illllle ’ s ra,ly of tlie ■jrnichßeopl* s - tn take over the time when near ‘ ■L "50,W' persons were idle in Erkes Po itmal tension was |« France. Some ■ sprvi:s,s weiP called ba< ’ k J without They recently had 1 Kn Imobolized from the con- * Bcriptfon class of 1947. HMiliftry tmd police precautions ~"Btere ■creased in all trouble |, Auriol appealed all P f, "l l, ' b to maintain older. Wpreiinmiaiy to the organization ■jfthebi'O' cabinet. Auriol began ■L j.jl m. conferring with KL/!Llers Among them were ■EocialUt independent left unionHiiK $ radical socialists. —While these conferences went ,Kn. Eniiniist-led strikers occu■pi«d th covet ninent owned Re■pauit antonioMle plant outside Karis Without interference from W.Ki,ties Workers were evacuated Citioen plant to “avoid They claimed they of theil own accord ’ ■ The conummisi-led unions had ■tailed more than 500.000 memon strikes in France’s Key todustrifs — meta), shipping, ■coal mining and milling. Heavy ■reinforcements of troops were ■moved into Marseille, France's ■‘red fapital." where the communKaln Laded city hall eight days Kgo. jn<! where now more than ■50,000 union members were strik- ■ Wha Blum, a socialist, wanted K c do was organize a cabinet that ■wouli bind together all the po■litical elements of France that ■lay between the communists on K~s~ ■ (Tin, To Page 8, Column 8) K B 0 ■Probe Disappearance ■Of Money From Bank U ■ Wayne, Ind., Nov. 20 —(UP) ■~ The Federal Bureau of Investi- ■ yation today looked into the disap- ■ of JI.ISO in currency and ■* 11,20' d ra ft on a Canadian bank S ,Slla bank cashier's window, ■■ii'-n-v disappeared Monday. «“■ M. Steury, assistant cashier of ■the lon Wayne National Bank, ■■ed the draft and JI,ISO toEi S and ,p,t tilenl in ,he savings cage. ) B Wl’ttd just received the money tom IM, e. Gurney, Kendallville manufacturer. ■Major Paul Cyr To jSpeok Here Tonight of the Talk of the Hour . mvited guests are anticithe address this evening by Paul Cyr, American war hero the European and Pacific B. . P] '' at 8 o’clock ar the juniorBjjW h -gh school. (yr wag an American spy i ■vur f ' ernian lines in Prance and ■ Billr member of General “Wild Ollov an's cloak and dagger e was sent to China and Bof th n ’ aneuver ed the blowing up I the e "° W R* ver bridge, one of ■E^ st t ildins militar y feats of B ■ UIS story of this episode | dt» pi n ' ed last year In the Satur- ■ h»»in, enins Post Club members ■ tram u - tickets for tonight’s pro“‘ch will be the last this Ila

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Italy Reports New Violence Outbreak Striking Peasants Clash With Police Nov. 20—(UP)—Striking peasants armed with rifles, machine guns and spades clashed with police today in a fresh outbreak of violence at. Gravina in ‘ Bloody Puclia’’ province. Reports from Gravina, 40 miles southwest of Bari, said police were forced to barricade themselves in their headquarters after the peasants attacked. A showdown in the countrywide violence led by communists appeared near. The government warned last night that it was ready to use force. Palmiro Togliatti. Italian communist leader, replied today in a signed editorial in the communist organ Unita: “I am not surprised that the partisans with anxiety seek their arms.” "Difficult days are coming . . . and we have no faith in the intentions of our adversaries,” minister of interior Mario Scelba said last night. As minister of interior, he is responsible for keeping internal order. Scelba’s No. 1 lieutenant, chief under secretary of interior Achillen Marazca. told the national assembly: “We know’ nothing more than what the papers have said about a coup d'etat. But we have heard lots of rumors about it. We have also heard rumors about a lot of hiilden arms. “We believe nothing will happen because above any ideologv. the spirit of the fatherland will prevail. If this should not be the case, the government has enough power in its hands to meet any situation which may arise.” So far, military forces and police were under orders not to shoot directly at any mobs. This was the 15th day of the trouble. Yesterdav. the communists set up road blocks in Siena province, at the same time as a general strike, and organized “fascist pianhunts” around a dozen towns. —— -o Youth Is Killed Bv High Tension Wire Tell City, Ind., Nov. 20 — (UP)— An accidentia! grab at a high tension wire carrying 7,200-volts of electricity yesterday proved fatal for Ralph Dixon. 22, of Cannelton. Witnesses said Dixon, working on a rural electrification project in the northern part of Perry county, was killed instantly on top of a utility pole when he accidentally grasped the wire carrying a heavy charge of electricity. o— Mrs. Lydia Shamp Is Taken By Death Funeral Services Saturday Afternoon Mrs. Lydia A. Shamp, 78, lifelopg resident of Adams county, died at 11 o’clock Wednesday night at the Adams county memorial hospital after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage yesterday evening. She had been in failing health for several years. She was born in Adams county Nov. 26, 1868, a daughter of Jacob and Mary Yager. Her husband, Samuel Shamp, died nine years ago. She had made her home for several years with a brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Hite, of 323 South Third street. Mrs. Shamp was a member of the First Baptist chujch. the Pythian Sisters and the Historical club. Mrs. Hite is the only near surviving relative. One sister and one brother preceded her in death. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Black funeral home and at 1:30 o’clock at the First Baptist church, with the Rev. Carey R. Moser officiating. Burial will be in the Detfatur cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 o’clock this evening.

Negro Admits Second Murder At Indianapolis Negro Truck Driver Confesses Slaying Prominent Resident

Indianapolis, Nov. 20 —(UP) — A 25-year-old negro city truck driver, indicted for murder yesterday in the slaying of Mrs. Mary Lois Burney, today confessed to slashing the throat of Mrs. Mabel Merrifield, prominent Indiana clubwoman, on Halloween eve. Robert Austin Watts was indicted by a hastily summoned grand jury yesterday on a two-count murder charge after his confession Tuesday to the shotgun slaying of Mrs. Burney in her pretentious suburban cottage last week. Police said Watts early today signed a confession to the Merrifield murder in his cell at Marion county jail. Sheriff Albert Magenhelmer said the Indianapolis street department truck driver had been subjected to five hours of grilling following the finding of a blood-spattered sports shirt hidden in the* city asphalt plant last night. Watts said in his latest confession that he’was working with a city road gang on Indianapolis’ south side the day Mrs. Merrifield was found on a day bed in her secluded home, a knife wound in her throat. The young negro, who roamed I the city at will in a municipallyowned truck, said he parked before the Merrifield home about noon, Oct. 30. He went to the back door, he said, cut the screen with a knife and smashed a window. He kicked his way in when he was unable to unlock the door. He said Mrs. Merrifield, prominent in Indiana club work and leader of several women’s organizations, was not at home. From a window, he saw her returning home from a bus stop and left the house to meet her in the yard. “I told her the house was on fire,” Watts said. In the dining room, he said, he cupped his hand over the woman’s mouth. She struggled to free herself and snatched a butcher knife lying on a table. In the scufle, he said, Mrs. Merrifield was stabbed in the throat. He said he called a doctor and that the woman was sitting on the edge of the daybed when he fled the house. He said Tuesday that he gained entrance to the Burney home on the pretext of wanting to use the (Turn Tn Page 6. Column 5) O Discuss Proposed Consolidation Plan Meeting Held Last Night At Monmouth A good-sized crowd of residents from three northern townships in Adams county participated Wednesday night in a discussion concerning a proposed school consolidation at, the Monmouth school. Officials and residents of Union Root and Preble townships took part. Lyman L. Hann, county school superintendent, was the chief speaker previous to the round table discussion. Mr. Hann explained possible steps that could be taken in event the consolidation was approved. No action was taken, of course, but sentiment of those present was expressed. Those in attendance at the meeting stated that they believed a majority of residents of Root and Preble townsfiTps would favor a consolidation, but that some sentiment against the proposal was advanced by Union township residents. A majority of Union township transfers of students are sent to Decatur, it was reported. The township still operates two oneroom schools. Preble township transfers students to Ossian, Hoagland, Decatur and Kirkland, it was stated. That township has one oneroom school still operating. The Monmouth school is filled to capacity, it was stated, and it is believed that many residents in that 'vicinity favor receiving transfers from the two adjacent townships andE> the construction of an addition to the present school. A meeting to discuss consolidation in that area has been called at Monroe tonight

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, November 20, 1947

Meyers Tells His Side Os Story

Si CAPITOL NEWSMEN examine papers exhibited by Maj. Gen. Bennett E. Meyers (seated right), former Air Forces procurement chief, during recess at Senate war investigating committee’s hearing on charges that the general made “immnse profits" by using his wartime post to his own advantage.

Admits Killing Os Business Companion Illinois Insurance Agent Under Arrest Lincoln, 111., Nov. 20 —(UP) — A Princeton. 111., insurance agent admitted today that he shot and killed a business trip companion during an argument near here Tuesday. Logan county sheriff C. L. Kief said that B. H. Turner, 49, said he shot Wesley Rhody, 40, a Lincoln truckline operator, aflfar Rhody made him drive from Ma,'comb. 111., to near Lincoln at the point of a gun. Turner told Kief that Rhody “just went crazy.” Turner said he wanted to stay with a friend overnight at Macomb but that Rhody said ‘like hell you will” and pulled a pistol from his pocket. Turner and Rhody. friends for 12 years, were on a business trip together. About two miles from Lincoln. Turner said Rhody grabbed the steering wheel of the car and pulled it over on the shoulder of the road. Turner told Kief that he then made a grab for the gun. He said he wrestled it away from Rhody and fired two shots. He said Rhody got out of the car. got back in, and then got out again. Turner said when he drove away Rhody was standing on the side of the road. Rhody’s body was found about 9:30 p. m. Tuesday by a group of hunters. He had been shot through the neck and cheek. Turner was arrested at West Point, la., last night. Kief said (Turn Tn Pau* l R. Column 4) o Notre Dame Proxy Warns Os Dangers Says Citizens Must Realize Problems South Bend, Ind., Nov. 20 —(UP) —“Our country and our way of living” are in more serious danger than the American people, as a whole, seem to realize, the Rev. John J. Cavanaugh, president of the University of Notre Dame, said today. At exercises marking the presentation of a bronze plaque to Notre Dame by the navy department this morning, Cavanaugh said that Americans “must realize once and for all the basic fact that the United States is the sole remaining major bulwark between world peace and world wide despotism and tyranny.” "There is a grave possibility that whether we like it or not, our country may become involved in another war with a totalitarian aggressor nation or 'group of such nations,” the Notre Dame president stated. “The United States and Soviet Russia are the two strongest nations in the -world today. interest clash in many parts of the globe. Soviet Russia does not want war at this time and certainly the United States does not want war at any time,” Cavanaugh said. “But (Turn To Page 5, Column 7)

BULLETIN Washington, Nov. 20. —(UP) —The Association of American Railroads today placed an embargo on most freight shipments destined for Canada. The embargo was issued after the Canadian government announced last Monday that it was restricting imports to conserve its dollars. The Canadian restrictions apply primarily to consumer goods and luxury items. 0 Ask Mediation Os Railroad Dispute Railroads Ask For Board To Intervene Chicago, Nov. 20 — (UP) — Spokesmen for the nation’s railroad said today they had asked the national mediation board to intervene in their dispute with three operating employes’ unions. The railroads announced that they had withdrawn their offer to increase wages 15% cents an hour and to grant “reasonable concessions” on rules changes demanded by the unions. The spokesmen said the offer made to the brotherhood of locomotive engineers, the brotherhood of locomotive firemen and engineman and the switchmen’s union was similar to one accepted last week by Fwo other operating unions. The brotherhood of railroad trainmen and the order of raflroad conductors last week signed the first contract ever reached between the carriers and the railroad without the help of the mediation board. Negotiations between the railroads and the operating unions began here on Oct. 7. The unions had demanded a 30 percent wage boost and 44 changes in working rules. A similar demand for rule changes precipitated a two-day rail strike in May, 1946. The railroads’ negotiating committee said the carriers were “surprised and disappointed” that the three unions had refused their settlement offer. They also contended that the unions had “departed from the spirit of the railway labor act” by their announcement from Cleveland yesterday that a strike ballot would be taken. The announcement should not have been made while negotiations were still in progress, the committee said. The committee said the carriers made "reasonable concessions” on some of the rules demands and offered to continue negotiations on others. The remainder, which the companies refused to consider, included “feather bed” rules and "subterfuges” for pay increases that were “wholly unwarranted.” the committee said. The offer of a 15-% cent an hour wage increase was the same as that awarded 1,000,000 non-operat-ing railroad employes by an arbitration board early in September and the same as that accepted by the conductors and trainmen last week. WEATHER e Cloudy and mild tonight and Friday with occasional rain be-i ginning in northwest portion late tonight and overspreading north and west portions Friday- »

Meyers Denies Reaping Lush War Profits Denounces Charges He Secretly Owned Subcontracting Firm * Washington, Nov. 20. —(UP) — Retired air force Maj. Gen. Bennett ! E. Meyers today denounced as “entirely false" charges that he reaped lush wartime profits through secret ownership of a subcontracting firm. Justice department spokesmen, however, said that they may seek criminal indictments against Meyers and also against his associates in the Aviation Electric Co. This is the firm that Meyers owned secretly. The chubby former chief of the air force’s material command testified before a senate war investigating subcommittee which had heard testimony that he: 1. Netted more than $131,000 during the war from the Aviation Electric Corp, of Vandalia, 0., partly as a result of $1,053,000 in subcontracts he allegedly got for the company. 2. Bought $4,000,000 worth of war bonds on one percent margin and made a paper profit of $90,000 in one deal. Meyer had given this testimony himself. 3. Gave Robert Cuse, president of the Vimalert Co., Jersey City, N. J., a $470,000 air firce engineering contract after Cuse loaned him $25,000 for war bond speculation. Cuse said he has got back only $3,000 so far. Meyers vehemently denied testimony about his alleged ownership of Aviation Electric and “kickbacks” therefrom which had been given by B. H. Lamarre, who said he got SSO a week as the firm’s president, and T. E. Readnower, its $25-a-week vice president. “I will state without equivocation that Lamarre and Readnower’s , testimony is entirely false except ! for the repayments of loans from 1 the corporation—loans that I made on notes from it —and except for personal repayments of loans made to Mr. and Mrs. Lamarre prior to Dec. 31, 1940.” Concerning Lamarre and Readnower, the moustachioed general said: “If I am guilty of any wrong doing, then they are centainly equally guilty. It is inconceivable that they would be content with their small salaries and never receive anything from the Aviation Electric Corp.” Justice department sources, in this connection, said they were making a sweeping inquiry into the activities of “everyone connect-

(Turn To Page 8, Column 8) o Spiritual Emphasis Week Opens Sunday Decatur Protestant Churches Combine Spiritual emphasis week, with all Decatur Protestant churches cooperating, will open Sunday night at Trinity Evangelical United Brethren church at 7:30 o’clock, it was announced today by Dr. Charles E. White, pastor of Trinity church and president of thb Decatur ministerial association. The speaker for the week of united church meetings will be Bishop Grant Batdorf, Dayton, 0., an official of the Evangelical United Brethren churches of Ohio. Bishop Batdorf will speak each night at various local churches where the meetings are scheduled. Dr. White also stated that Prof. Paul Halliday of Manchester college again will lead the singing and a union choir will be organized next Sunday to present special music during the week. All persons, of any denomination, interested In joining the union choir are asked to meet next Sunday night at Trinity church at 6:45 o’clock with Prof. Halliday. The same plan of rotating the meetings in various churches will again be used and the first two sessions. Sunday and Monday night, will be ' heltj at Trinity church. The meeting places for the balance of the week will be announced later as will the presiding pastors at each meeting. * The general public is invited to each of the meetings. A year ago the capacity of local churches was taxed at almost every meeting and it was then that the local ministers decided to make the week an an"•’(iTtfttfTtf Ratals, Column 8)

Royal Couple Is Wedded Today In Colorful Rites

Senate Group Plans Study Os Curb On Prices Banking Committee Will Open Hearing Monday On Plans Washington, Nov. 20 —(UP) — The senate banking committee chairman today promised “to do something" right away to try to halt price rises. It voted to start hearings Monday on some of President Truman’s proposals to curb inflation, particularly reinstatement of consumer credit controls. But it decided, as had Sen. Robert A. Taft’s joint economic committee, to shelve for the time being the president’s request for hold-in-re-serve power to impose price, wage and rationing controls on critical scarce commodities. The senate, meanwhile, expected to start debate Monday on the administration's $597,000,000 emergency relief program for France, Italy, and Austria. Passage was predicted some time next year. But Sen. Joseph H. Ball, R.. Minn., charged that the foreign aid program — both stop-gap and long-range — was shaping up as a “gigantic blank check.” He said there was general agreement on the need for immediate aid. But he predicted a fight over the amount. The house foreign affairs committee, meanwhile, began drafting its own emergency European aid bill. Both Sen. Charles W. Tobey. R„ N. H., head of the senate banking committee, and the senate Democratic policy committee called for a bipartisan approach togprice legislation. The Democrats said, however, that they would leave the initiative to the majority party. With both house and senate in session, there were these other congressional developments: Cooperatives — Former Rep. Jerry Voorhis, D., Cal., charged that a few “powerful profit corporations” are trying, through the national tax equality league, to destroy cooperatives. The league has asked the house ways and means committee for legislation wiping out cooperatives’ tax exemptions.

Social security—Sen. Wayne L. Morse, R.. Ore., introduced a bill to permit domestic and farm workers and state and city employes to take advantage of social security act coverage if they (Turn To Pag'p K. Column 4) 0 — Urges American Air Arm Be Strengthened Five Billion Dollar Program Suggested Springfield, 111., Nov. 20—(UP) —William B. Ziff, author and air power advocate, proposed today that President Truman and congress initiate a $5,000,000,000 program for rebuilding American air strength. Grass roots support for the plan was sought from the national aviation clinic by the man whose book, “The Coming Battle For Germany,” forecast in 1942 the role air power would play in defeating the Nazis. Explaining his proposal in an interview. Ziff said overcoming the “serious weakness” of American air power should receive priority over the Marshall plan for bolstering Europe against com munism. “Defense . is not obtained through backing of socialized governments or the Greek and Turkish armies but through our own ability to strike hack.” said the president of th< Ziff-Davis Pub’ishing Co. “He who can’t protect himself can’t be protected.” Ziff, a clinic delegate, also con(JUfn To Page 5. Col u tri? 6)

Price Four Cents

Princess Elizabeth Weds Newly-Created Duke Os Edinburgh In London Ceremony Westminster Abbey, Nov. 20— (UP)—Princess Elizabeth today spoke a tremulous “I will in ancient Westminister Abbey and with those words the future queen of Britain became the wife of the new-ly-created Duke of Edinburgh. Speaking before the great of Britain’s Empire, the handful of monarchs who still reign, and the ambassadors of foreign lands, Elizabeth gave to Philip Mountbatten her pledge “to love, cherish and to obey, till death do us part.” Like her illustrious great-great grandmother, Victoria, Princess Elizabeth promised to obey because she wished to solemnize her marriage as a woman rather than as the future queen of Britain When the ceremony was over and the young couple entered the fabulous glass coach for their ceremonial progress back to Buckingham Palace, Philip seized Elizabeth’s hand and squeezed it as she smiled back at him. • Despite post-war austerity and slate-colored skies it was the most brilliant occasion Britain had known since the days before the war. The young couple spoke their vows in the sanctuary of Westminister in tones the same as countless young couples have spoken before. Elizabeth’s words were tremulous, quick and eager. Those of Philip Mountbatten, only last night created Duke of Edinburgh by his then father-in-law to-be. were low but firm. A million persons lined the historic streets of London—the Mall. Whitehall, Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square—for the spectacle. They broke into cheers when the royal couple, smiling and excited. emerged from the ancienl Abbey. Many had W’aited through tbl night beside campfires and huddle\ in blankets to hold favored positions in the front row. Hundreds of persons fainted or collapsed in the crush, particularly around the i Cenotaph war memorial in Whitehall. As the royal couple made their formal progress from the Abbey back to Buckingham Palace they bowed and smiled to the crowds and Elizabeth w’aved gaily in response to the cheers. The ceremony was carried through with clock-like precision. Within the Abbey Elizabeth, radiant in her glittering wedding gown, was the center of all eyes. Like many brides before her sha had a little trouble with its fabulous 15-foot train. Once it snagged briefly on a huge candelabra but the Princess’ little page boys. Prince Michael of Kent and Prince William of Gloucester, managed to free it. Philip, obviously nervous as any bridegroom, watched the train anxiously as the couple made their progress out of the Abbey, but no more mishaps occurred. The Carillon of Westminister Abbey rang out in the joyous tones of “God Save the King” as the ceremony was completed and the royal processions started back to Buckingham Palace, where the wedding breakfast was held. For the first time the royal wedding ceremony was carried to every part of the British Empire as well as to the United States by (Turn T'n Pqg’p 7 Onbimn O Rumor Os Decatur Election Recount Dispelled Today Rumors of a posibe recount in the recent city election were definitely dispelled today, since Wednesday was the last day under election law to file a petition for the recount. It had been reported that Mayor John B. Stults and some of his followers were planning to ask for a recount in the mayoralty contest, which the incumbent lost to Mayorelect John M. Doan. Since the petition was not filed in the offices of the county clerk before closing time Wednesday, the deadline has been passed. Mayorelect Doan won the election November 4 by a 35-vote margin. Mayor Stults was out of for the past few days on a northern hunting trip, but was reported to have arrived honje late Wednesday.