Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 46, Number 34, Decatur, Adams County, 10 February 1948 — Page 1

fVol. XLVI. No. 34.

CORN AND WHEAT PRICES PLUNGE LIMIT

|l7Room Home Is Gutted By Fire Monday Bierly Residence On Third Street Nearly Destroyed A raging fire almost completely destroyed a 17-room apartment home on Third street, directly west of the county courthouse, last evening, and for a time threatened surrounding homes and buildings G. Remy Bierly, local lawyer, real estate and insurance agent, who owned the structure and lived in one of the apartments, declined to estimate the loss today, until a further check had been made. It was considered likely, however, that the loss might range around SIO,OOO at today’s replacement prices. This estimate is unofficial. The flames destroyed one of the city’s old landmarks, a home built years ago by the late Judge Studebaker. Volunteers Save Furniture A hastily organized crew of 'volunteers from the ranks of pasIsersby did a herculean job of removing a majority of furniture iand clothing from the apartments before the mid-section of the roof caved in. Handicapped by near-zero temperatures and ice-laden flre-flght-Ing equipment, members of the Decatur regular and volunteer fire department were able to finally bring the flames under control and save a portion 'of the home’s framework, and one or two rooms. Firemen ran into their first bad “break” when a temperature-chill-ed hydrant connection at Jefferson I and Third streets snapped off and ‘ the small truck was driven to Second and Madison streets to make a connection. The city’s large truck was hocked up at Third and Madison. A huge amount of water, much of which quickly formed into icicles and covered the surrounding area with a slippery coating, was poured onto the flaming structure. The blaze had gained considerable headway before the alarm reached the local department. Four one and one-half inch lines and two two and one-half inch lines were brought into play before the flames were finally extinguished. Loss Partially Covered Mr. Bierly said this morning that the loss was covered by insurance, but that under present conditions it was considered insufficient to cover replacement loss. Mr. Bierly and his family occupied an apartment on the first floor, south side. Mrs. Justine Geimer and her young son lived on the north side apartment, first floor. Arthur Wilson and family occupied an upstairs apartment and three young men had also rented rooms on that floor. Some of the clothing and furni(Torn Tn Pasn* 2. Column 6) Q Legion Oratorical Contest To Be Held Wednesday Evening The Adams county oratorical contest will be staged Wednesday night at 8:30 o’clock at the Legion home here, it was announced by Edward Jaberg, chairman. Participants and spectators are urged to note the change in time from 8 to 8:30 p.m. The change was made to permit churchgoers to attend church services before hearing the contest. Three out-oif-town judges have been secured for the event, Mr. Jaberg stated, and two or three local persons will likely .be named to assist them. Identity of the judges is not revealed. The winner of the contest will represent Adams county in the district elimination to be held at Fort Wayne Friday night, and if successful, at the zone and state contests later. 0 WEATHER Partly cloudy tonight, becoming cloudy Wednesday with snow overspreading west portion by evening and entire state Wednesday. Not so cold west portion tonight. Rising temperature Wednesday and Wed- , nesday night.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Candidate "■* v wi J » O K 1 tar - -A. i ik # ’ II IB ‘4 D. Burdette Custer, above, Decatur attorney, today announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination as judge of the Adams circuit court, subject to the May primary election. D. Burdette Custer Candidate For Judge Seeks Democratic Nomination In May Attorney D. Burdette 'Custer, a member of the local bar since 1929, today announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Judge of the Adams circuit court, subject to the decision of the voters in the May primary. Native of this county, Mr. Custer was born at Pleasant Mills, a son of Mr. and C. L. Custer. His parents live in the latter place. Mr. Custer is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law school. He first received an A. B. degree and In 1931 was awarded his LL. *B. degree. He practiced law at New Castle and spent three years In Old Mexico and in Texas, before opening his law office in this city in 1935. A member of the reserve, Mr. Custer was among the first officers called to active duty when World War II was declared. He entered the service ae a first lieutenant in the air corps and for more than eight months was attached to general court martial headquarters at Columbia, S. C. For eight months he was engaged in the inspection of general hospitals. Consecutively, he was promoted to captain and major and in the latter capacity served 16 months as chief of termination of war contracts, with headquarters in Detroit. While oq terminal leave following the close of the war, he received his promotion to LleutenI ant colonel in the air corps. Hte active service terminated in February, 1946. Mj. Custer still malnains his rank in the officer’s reserve. Mr. Custer is married and the father of four children, three of vhom are'enrolled in, the Decatur public school. The family lives at JSB Winchester street. Fraternally, Mr. Custer is a member of the American Legion, the Elks, Moose and Knights of Pythias and the Lions club, of which he is a past president. He is a member of the First Methodist church and is one of the leaders in the Boy 'Turn Tn Past- 2. Column 5) o Legion To Observe 30th Anniversary « Bormann Chairman For Celebration Plans for the 30th anniversary of the .forming of the American Legion were announced today by officials of Adams .post 43, in this city. Vincent J. Bormann, charter member of the local post and a past local and fourth district commander, has been named general chairman of the celebration here. The date has been tentatively set by Mr. Bormann for March 18 at the Legion home. Other members of the committee in charge of arrangements and their respective assignments: H. Vernon Aurand, speakers; Adrian J. Baker, entertainment, T. C. Smith, food, and Bob Shraluka, publicity. Detailed plans will be announced by Mr. Bormann and his committee at a later date.

Grant Limited I Participation In ITU Case ' X Union Lawyer Asks For Dismissal Os Government Suit ! ~ Indianapolis, Feb. 10 — (UP) — An AFL attorney said today that the national labor relations board was invested with such broad powers that its trial board could repudiate rulings of federal courts. Henry Kaiser, chief counsel for the International Typographical union (AFL), made the statement during arguments on a motion to dismiss a government suit for an injunction against the ITU. He argued that a section of the TaftHartley act wae unconstitutional. Earlier, a federal judge granted four of the nation’s biggest labor organizations and three newspaper publishers associations limited permission to participate in the suit. “If the Y'ourt issues an injunction in this case, the trial board of the NLRB can issue an order countermanding it,” Kaiser said. He argued that this denied jurisdiction to the court. He termed section 10 (J) of the act as “flagrantly repugnant" to article 111 of the fifth amendent to the constitution. Kaiser’s partner, Gerhard Van Arkel, spoke in behalf of the union’s motion that the petition be dismissed because it was filed by a regional director instead of the NLRB itself. Van Arkel said there were numerous instances in the act which delegated power specifically to the board as a whole but not to “underlings in the hierarchy of the board.” The injunction petition was filed by Jack Evans, Cincinnati regional director of the NLRB Kaiser based his contention of the unconstitutionally of section 10 (J) on a case in 1792 (Hayburn) in which a revolutionary war veteran tried to get a pension and the question arose as to whether the federal court had a right to rule on the claim. In the Hayburn case, Kaiser said, the eecretary of war had the power to reject the soldier's claim, no matter what the court ruled. The ITU attorneys took onq hour to present their case, and judge Luther M. Swygert called a recess to 1:30 p.m. CST. The NLRB will (Turn To Paire 5. Column 7) O Zion Reformed Plans For Lenten Services Special Services To Start On Wednesday The Lenten season will be observed in the Zion Evangelical and Reformed church with special midweek services, beginning Wednesday evening at 7:30 o’clock. The pastor, the Rev. William C. Feller, has announced that there will be three sermons, each dealing with a question of vital importance to every one, and three Cathedral films, alternating on the six Wednesday evenings preceding Holy Week. February 11, sermon: "What Must I Do to be Saved?,” Feb. 18, film, “The Story of the Prodigal Son;” Feb. 25, sermon, “What Think Ye of Christ?”; March'3, film, “The Calling of Matthew"; Mar. 10, sermon, "What Shall I Do With This Jesus?”; Mar. 17, film, “The Blind Beggar of Jerusalem.” The Sunday morning sermons during Lent will deal with the theme, “What We Believe,” and will be based on the Apostles’ creed. Feb. 15, “I Believe”; Feb. 22, “The Fatherhood of God"; Feb. 29, “The Lordship of Jesus Christ”; Mar. 7, “The Holy Spirit”; Mar. 14, “The Atonement”; Mar. 21, Palm Sunday confirmation, “The Church of Jesus Christ”; Mar. 28, Easter, “The Resurrection." On Good Friday evening a candle light Communion service will be held, and the liturgy-dfctata, "The Message of the Cross” will be presented. There will be special music at all of the services. The public is fnvited to attend any and all of these services. A special invitiation is extended to all persons without a church heme to worship in this church.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, February 10, 1948

Welcome Pilot Hero Home i' w . - w. CAPT. DICK MERRILL, famed flier responsible for the safe landnig of the Eastern Airlines’ crippled Constellation at Bunnell, Fla., is welcomed at Miami, Fla., by his wife, the former screen actress, Toby Wing, and their 7-year-old son, Richard. The commercial plane, carrying 69 passengers, lost a propeller as an engine caught fire and exploded while 80 miles at sea off the Florida coast on a Boston-to-Miami trip.

Boy Scouts Honored By American Legion Ted Wemhoff Wins Eagle Scout Award Ted Wemhoff, son of Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Wemhoff of Marshall street, last night reached the pinnacle of Scoutdom when his mother pinned on his khaki uniform the emblem symbolic of an Eagle Scout. The local youth was accorded the distinction during ceremonies held for Legion troop 63, Boy Scouts, in the annual court of honor at the Legion home. Neil Hesher and Kaye Runyon were advanced to Star Scouts and Roger Johnson to first class. Merit badges were awarded during the court as follows: Neil Hesher, safety, bookbinding, basketry; Dick Johnson, basketry and safety; Roger Johnson, safety, lifesaving and swimming; Kaye Runyon, music, first aid. metal work, firemanship, public health and personal health; Ted Wemhoff, civics, pathfinding, pioneering, firemanship, animal industry, camping, swimming, bird study, farm home and planning. Members of the court of honor, who made the awards: W. Guy Brown, chairman; Dr. Fred Pattersfin, the Rev. _ Ignatius Vichuras, Wilson F. Beery and Arthur R. Holthouse. Steve Everhart, county Scout commissioner, served as scribe. Other Scout notables in attendance: George Bair, chairman of camping and outdoor activities; Dr. Ray Stingley and John McConnell, deputy commissioners: Oscar Lankenau and Lloyd Cow(TUrn To Paee 2. Column 5) O— New Cily Directory Is Distributed Here. City's Population Estimated At 7,300 The new R. L. Polk & Company directory is being circulated in the city. The directory was compiled last year and is printed in five sections, in addition to pages of special information about the city and a list of public officials. Section one consists of an alphabetical list of names; section two is a directory of householders, occupants of office buildings and other business places, including a complete street guide. Numerical listing of telephone and section four tea classified busnumbers comprises section three, iness directory. The rural route addresses of patrons who receive their mail through the Decatur post office are listed in the last section. The city’s population is esimated at 7,300, compared to the government’s cencus figure of ~*,861 in 1940. The directory was financed through sponsorship of local advertisers.

Lenten Services At Trinity Church Midweek services will be held Wednesday evenings during the Lenten season at the Trinity Evangelical United Brethren church. The subject for the opening service Wednesday evening at 7:30 o’clock will be “The Betrayal of Christ,” presented by the pastor, Dr. Charles E. White, who will preach the sermons. Dr. White will be assisted in these Lenten services by the vested choirs of the church. People who have no church home or who are not obligated to some other church are invited to attend. o Contract Free Acts For Decatur's Fair Sign Five Different Attractions At Fair Free acts for the Decatur free street fair, to be held July 25 to 31, were contracted for last night with the Gus Sun fair-booking agency of Springfield. 0.. largest fairing booking association in the nation. Arthur Shaw, general manager of the booking company, met with the free act committee and arrangements were made for five different acts during the week of festivities. The acts will be changed on Thursday during the fair and new attractions will be brought to the fair for the last three days. A large stage will be erected in the center of activities, according to the present plans, and several of the acts will be presented at this point both afternoon and night. A high act on 100-foot ladders will be presented at another point on the midway. More than $1,500 worth of free attractions, not including bands, will be staged during the week, it was announced by Glen Hill, chairman of the free attraction committee. The changing of shows in the middle of the week is an experiment, Mr. Hill stated, and if it proves successful the plan will be adopted as a permanent policy. Among the free attractions will be clowns, bicycle riders, jugglers and the high trapeze performers. The names of the various acts, all prominent in the amusement field, will be announced later. More than half the midway space has been sold, it was reported, and indications are that this year's fair will be the largest ever held in Decatur. ' o Pruden Will Speak To Berne C. Os C. Berne, Feb. 10 — R. W. Pruden, secretary of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, will address the Berne Chamber of Commerce Monday evening, February 16 in a dinner meeting in the Marine room of the Kenson Grill. Pruden will use ae his subject, “The Importance and Why’s of a Chamber of Commerce.” Robert Lane, president of the Decatur organization, will accompany Mr. Pruden and will introduce the speaker.

Farmers Seek To Halt Major Break In Marts By Withholding Stock

Communists' Party Secretary Arrested John Williamson To Face Deportation i Washington, Feb. 10 —(UP) — The justice department announced the arrest in New York today of John Williamson, national labor secretary of the Communist party of the United States. Williamson, the department said, will be held for deportation to his native Scotland. A department spokesman referred to the arrest as “the most important Communist arrest so far.” Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation had been watching Williamson for some time, the justice department said, and picked him up at 9 a.m. EST “on upper Broadway.” Immigration agents participated in the arrest. Williamson, who sometimes uses a couple of middle names, too — “Blake” and “Beattie” —was arrested under the act of 1918 which bans immigrants hostile to the U. S. form of government and dedicated to its overthrow by violence. He is being held without bail at Ellis island pending an appearance i before an immigration inspector in deportation proceedings. The justice department described Williamson as a member of “the top echelon” of the American Communist party. It said he "had lied all his life” about his citizenship, claiming to be a native resident. Williamson’s story, whenever questioned, has been that he was born in San Francisco before the earthquake and that his birth papers were destroyed in the fire that followed the quake, the department said. But recently obtained information, the source of which the department would not divulge, proves (Turn To Pasre 2. Column 3) _____ o 'Save The Shades' Campaign Launched Committee Named For Legion Post Adams county’s official “Save the Shades” campaign was launched here last night by Adams post 43. American Legion. The Rev. Otto Carl Busse. St. °aul Lutheran church pastor at Preble, and a member of the local Legion post, has been named general chairman of the campaign by post commander Charles Morgan. The “Save the Shades” campaign A a movement to pay for the state ourchase of a privately-operated t,300 - acre tract of virgin timber in Mongomery county near Crawfordsville. The tract will become a state)wned and operated park of natural rnauty. • The state goal has been set at the purchase price of $300,000. No deal goal has been set to date, Rev. Busse stated — but will be announced after further plans for the campaign have been completed. A few nominal contributions have been made previously at the First State bank here, but no official campaign had been launched for contributions until last night. The Legion post gave first impetus to the campaign by approving a $250 donation during last night’s meeting. 0 Presbyterian Church Meeting Wednesday The annual .gongregational meeting of the First Presbyterian church of Decatur will be held Wednesday night following a carryin supper scheduled for 6:30 o’clock. The meeting will be held at the church. Various groups will make their annual reports and officers will be elected for the year.

Russia Charges U. S. Cause Os World War II Claims Captured German Documents Show Money Cause Moscow, Feb. 10 —(UP) — The Russian government said today it soon would release captured German documents proving the United States was responsible for the second World War by rearming Hitlerite Germany with a “golden rain of American dollars.” Britain and France were equally guilty, Russia charged, by completing a series of separate pacts with Germany which broke down the European policy of collective security against a German resurgence. A statement issued at a press conference by the Soviet information bureau said Russia would publish "shortly” documents captured by Soviet troops to prove these charges. The Soviet statement was made in answer to the U. S. state department's publication of secret 1939-1941 Russian-German diplomatic documents. These charged the Russians and Germans with a conspiracy to conquer and divide the world. The statement, 6,000 words in length, wßs described as only the “first half” of the Soviet accusations. The second half will be released later, the Russians said, and then the documents proving the accusations will be published. The Russian statement was titled "falsifiers of history—a historical note.” It charged the U. S. state department was faking history by publishing only selected documents. Other secret documents showing the guilt of the western powers have been concealed, Russia charged. The statement said these are the documents which Russia will publish. (Radio Moscow began broadcasting the Russian accusations simultaneously in English and German at 3:30 a.m. GMT (10:30 p.m. est), London reported.) The Russians asserted that World War II would have ended in the first year with Hitler’s defeat if Germany had not been bolstered by American capital and Anglo-French appeasement. “It was the golden rain of Arneri(Turn To Pace 6. Column 7) O Bockman Named By Insurance Agents Elected President At Annual Meeting Walter J. Bockman, local insurance dealer, was elected president of the Adams county insurance agents association at the annual election of officers h'eld last night, following a dinner meeting in this city. Mr. Bockman succeeds Glenn Hill, who seryed as head of the group in 1947. Leo Ehinger was elected vice-president of the county organization and David Heller was re-elected secretary. The county association is cosponsor with the city of Decatur and several civic groups in fire prevention week held each year and also is a sponsor of the safety council which operates in Decatur and Adams county. The new officers were installed following the election and will serve until February, 1949. The association meets each month, alternating at Berne and Decatur, and the members discuss the various problems arising in their business.

Price Four Cents

Corn, Wheat Drop Limit For Fourth Time In Six Days; Stock Prices Drop Chicago. Feb. 10 —(UP) —Corn and wheat prices plunged the permissible limits on the nation's grain exchanges today for the fourth time within six days. In afternoon trading, all grain futures at all the nation’s exchanges were down the limit decline with the exception of May rye on the Minneapolis market. i Meanwhile, farmers sought to halt a major break in the livestock market by holding their cattle and hogs on the farms, but prices slipped lower. May and July wheat dropped the full 10-cent limit on the Chicago board of trade and all corn futures were off the eight-cent maximum. At Kansas City, May I and July wheat was down 10 cents a bushel, and May corn was down eight cents. At Minneapolis. May wheat was off 9% cents a bushel. Butter prices dropped % to two cents a pound in the New York wholesale market. Cotton at New York was down almost $3 a bale at New York. Challenge Critics Meanwhile, sceretary of agriculture Clinton P. Anderson challenged congressional critics to name a single speculator who profited in last week's grain market break from "advance inside information.” Chairman August Andresen of a special house committee investigating speculation had charged that one speculator, who apparently knew in advance that the government was curtailing grain purchases for export, made an estimated $400,000 last week from the market break. At Chicago, Sen. Robert A. Taft charged as a news conference that while President Truman talked about cutting prices, every government department was doing what it could to keep them up. Despite sharply reduced hog shipments, the livestock market at Chicago was slow with a few early sales on weights under 230 pounds about 50 cents below yes terday’s average. Hogs were off 50 to 75 cents at the interior lowa markets in extremely slow trade. At Kan sas City, hog trade opened slow ■with sales steady to 25 cents lower. Cattle sales were about steady. At South St. Paul, Minn., hog (Turn To Pag-o fi, Cnlum* 6) . _o_ £ LATE BULLETINS St. Johns, Nfld., Feb. 10.— (UP) —Fire, fanned by, a 50-mile-an-hour wind in zero weather, the hull nursing home today. Health department officials after a check said that 34 aged and infirm persons died in tye blaze, which was started by explosions of an oil stove. Firemen earlier had said 35 were killed. Rehoboth Beach, Del., Feb. 10 —(UP) —The south end of the Charles Cullen suspension bridge between Bethany and Rehoboth beaches collapsed today. Three persons were killed and six others were reported missing. The foundations and cement blocks supporting the span were torn loose by ice jams and fell as a truck and private automobile were traveling over the single lane span. Salonika, Greece, Feb. 10— (UP) —Greek guerrillas pitched 75-millimeter and mortar shells into this city of 250,000 for 90 minutes early today in the most daring foray of the hostilities in Greece. One shell scored a direct hit on a British guard post. It killed a British private and seriously wounded a corporal and another private.