Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 46, Number 82, Decatur, Adams County, 6 April 1948 — Page 1

I VHLXLVI. No. 82.

COAL OWNERS OFFER TO MEDIATE DISPUTE

i|cept Soviet ijoiogies For Ijrlragedy I Koncel Pions For JKghter Escorts iMfror Allied Planes I Hrlin Apr HP» - The powers camelled plan* fighter escort to Berlin airliner* today as British ■ 6® marshal Viscount Montgomill the German capital with all four al- ■ ■ military commander*. B r at Britain accepted a Rua ■K apology for the incident ye* I in Which a Soviet fighter | Hl' crashed in the air with a ■ W w * 10 ,an:l airfield here, causing the <>' all H person* aboard | British ship and the Ru»*ian of the I She 1 tiited Stale* and France > followed Britain's lead BSrallitiK off fighter-escort plana IHh, promised to keep the Interair corridor leading over Soviet tone of Germany to I Hllu dear of her planes, and for the Allied nations. I Hrtiiur Henierson. British secB Ary of state for air. poured oil oil the crisis water* here telling reporters that there | A no reason to worry about the of the air corridor. - BjWeport* of eye witnesses had Rabi the Russian fighter dived on I £ British Viking transport, then ® up sharply from under g W’ 11 ir lo,,linK *ln|P* W,UI ,he "a plane and sending both *■ V m " >e >i>e i 0 eMr,h I Bwe must not prejudice the nt the incident until they I determined by a hoard of in- | Henderson said. adding s Ar* ° reM r * p ° rs * hat! the story. J Hlar-hal Vassily D. Sokolovsky I Mologized In person last night I ■ British Lt. Ger. Sir Brian RobI for ’he incident. I BAii'i "'day there was every InI Button that Russian planes had' I Hrn orJered to keep clear of the | ■rridor Both British and Unit I M Starrs air crews reaching here I ■htrted they saw no Russian i whatever. I fcfontgomvry, landing al rain J ®ept Gatow airfle’d In mid-morn I Mr arrived without fighter ee t W ,fl * p ' l< ” " ,ld they hail I no aircraft of any descrip I Mn m route to Berlin. 5 ■Thn-e other British planes ar ’ M»d at Gatow airport before I > ’ All reported their flight* I Mtlrely without incident. Al! pl | Ht* said they sighted no Russian | while passing through the I “’"'•dor I 3 Th “ British, reassured by SokoI <l ‘ y ,h “’ ,h *‘ rl * h * o1 ,TM pa * I M*" 'h™’**’’ ,h * international I Mr corridor would be respected I H lh “ Russians, set up a shuttle I of ’wo round trips dally I Berlin and Buackeberg I M th * British zone to handle prif M"r Passenger* I ■Gm Laclus I) Clay, the Ameri I commander, went to LancaaI | Turn To P. M , Five) ' Jounty Scouters To Friday Night | ■Adam* county Scouters will meet j ■rlday mght ut the Berne auditor | for the annua! fish fry, Clar I R”’ Zlner county chairman, an J ■wn ed Following the annual sup- ! M. r p!in ’ 1 W H> be completed for the I ■’ U r " county eamporee. which will I M h-id !he last of May or t he first 1 in j9M -. I r rh * time and-place for the i »mual event will be decided at the I meeting. Geurrt Bair is I lm ra “ b '" f 'amping activities and I E2 at the business see I M,* 11 In the coonty take | in the annual eamporee and I L ,b * IM ‘ f,w »’* r * “ been I M» at Shroyer s lake *«st of De j vatur The event Is a "muef foe I CL °* t * who vle n for I ' 8 *“"“««• camping trip. ! EL u to north | - Michigan aa a reward for unus I M*l scouting activity. — ? WtATMgR I I ,0 ' I ral * M wttb eeI •*”**'•• Ceelvr •» ■ tmf taaii s in* I portiee

* “ a. a 4 \ DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

12 British Soldiers Killed In Palestine Jerusalem. April 6 (UP)— Armed Jews raided a British army cdtnp in three speeding cars today and In a wild burst of gunfire killed the pamp commander and 11 of his men. Four Jews, riding in a sedan which was accompanied by two police-type armored cars, were reported captured by the British. One unconfirmed, report said the other Jews escaped with some supplies of arm* and ammunition. Great Britain Orders Cut In Income Taxes 400 Million Cut Announced, Hike Tax On Luxuries London. April 6 (UP) British taxpayers were given a MOff.ooo.-000-a-year income tax cut today as the labor government hailed United States aid as offering "time” to ropair Britain's wsr-hit economy Sir Stafford Cripps- <han<ellor of the exchequer, announced the income tax reductions In hi* speech tp commons presenting a reduced budget for the 1948-49 fiscal year. At the same time, however, he reinforced a warning that even U. 8. aid would permit Britons no "luxuries" by announcing increased taxer, on beer, spirits and wine, tobacco, and gambling. The tobac«’<> tax will bring the price for a package of 20 popular brand cfgarets to about 72 cents. Beer will lie up two cents s pint. Announcing the income tax reductions which h« said would coat he government 100.000.000 pounds of income a year. Cripps said: “I believe these concessions will be of great Importance In our production drive.” x He emphasized throughout his speech that Britain needed above all Increased production to provide exports to balance the Imports she must have, and especially to balance her accounts with dollar countries. Not even American aid under the European recovery program, he warned, would permit Briton* to Indulge in "luxuries.” Cripps also announced reductions in the purchase tax. which has been as high as 125 percent on some articles. He estimated that British expenditures in the 1948-49 year will be about 2fi5.000.000 pounds (about 2(20.000,000) under last year, but pledged the government not to reduce social services and to continue food subsidies at present rates. DeJense expenditures, he said, tTurn To Pag- Th wrl Petit Jury Drawn For Circuit Court April Court Term Will Open Monday The petit ,'ury for the April term of court was drawn today by jury commissioners Roy Mumma. Kd F. Berllng and county clerk* Edward Jaberg Twenty • four names were drawn, although only 12 serve. The April term of court opens ‘next Monday, following a one wsmti's vacation for Judge Earl B. Adams and sitaches of the court No grand jury was drawn this time. FWtowing it a list of names drawn for petit jury service: Charles Miller. Bern«: Bun Otis. Gedbva. Herman Calmer, Union; Truman Yoder. Jefferson; Phillip Byrd. Root; Roy Barn*, Hartford, Charles Milton Zimmerman. Kirk land; Sam Elsey. Jefferson: Irwin lech. French; Fran von Gunten. Berne; Elisabeth Gulick. St Mary's; C. F. Bucher. Washington; Frank Young. Decatur. Gause Paimer. Berne: Chari** Bailey. Union; Mario Christy, Jefferson; Minnie CUm. Unlms: Ort ha Townsend, Berne: J. H. Andrews. Washing ton; Gustav Koeneman. Preble; Otho Lobso.ietn. Monroe; Lola Vance. Blue Creek; Dore Ann Long. Geneva; Uoyd Roe. Kirkland.

Finland And Russia Sign Treaty Today Friendship, Mutual Assistance Pact Is Signed By Nations Helsinki. Apr. 6— (UP) — Finland and Russia signed a treaty of friendship and mutual assistance in Moscow tonight, the Finnish foreign office announced. Premier Mauno Pekkala of Finland and foreign minister V. M. Molotov of Russia signed the new pact at 9 p. ni. Moscow time (noon CST). The ceremony climaxed a whirlwind round of diplomatic and political activity touched off by a Soviet proposal that the two nations ally themselves. The proposal was puj to Finland by Premier Josef Stalin in a letter to President Juho K. Paasiklvl. It was dispatched to Helsinki directly after the communist coup in Czechoslovakia. The terms of the new alliance between the two countries which twice within the last decade have been at war were not made public at once. A high political source in Helsinki had said before the actual 1 signing was announced that the pact did not include permission for the Russians to establish peacetime bases in Finland. Stalin had proposed a treaty similar to that Russia had negoti- . ated recently with the Balkan countries. The Finns objected to one particular clause providing 1 for mutual assistance. Insisting ’ that ft would put the Finnish army at the disposal of the Soviet high command for use anywhere. The crucial point of negotla--1 lions was the Finnish claim to the right to decide when the pact should become effective, whether Immediately or in case of war. this source said. He indicated , Finland may have won this point. (Turn To Page Three) O Illinois Lad Wins Oratorical Contest j Miss Margene Bauer Eliminated Monday Miss Margene Bauer, Decatur Junior-senior high school student, bowed out of the national American Legion oratorical contest yesterday at Detroit in a regional elimination won by Phillip Angel off. Granite City. HI. Miss Bauer, state champion of the contest, carried Indiana's banner in the regional event to compete against Angeloff and Miss Harriet Gilmore. Ypsilanti. Mich., representing their respective states as champions. The Kentucky entrant did not qualify. Miss Bauer had previously won school, county, district, zone and state contests and supporters expressed extreme satisfaction at the marvelous showing made by the local girl in all these, as well as yesterday's contest. Mias Bauer, with her parents. Mr. and Mrs Ed Bauer, and speech instructor. Deane Dor win, were feted at Detroit yesterday along with other contestants in a dinner and .sight-seeing trips about the city. Miss Bauer and her mother remained in the auto city overnight 1 and today, while her father and Mr. Dorwin returned last night after the c<anoletjpn of the contest —22 ... Local Lady's Father Dies Near Bluffton Neil Vondersmith. 11. fled of a heart attack Monday at his home four and one-half miles south of Bluffton Surviving are his wife. Carrie; one daughier. Mrs. Leonard Ftoster of Decatur: four grandchildren: a sister. Mbs Orpha Yonder smith. Bluffton, and a brother. Ray. of Lancaster township Funeral services will be held at 2 p m Thursday at the Church of the Naaarene In Bluffton, with burial ia Elm Grove ce watery The body was removed from the Jahn funeral home to the home of Miss Vondersmith thio afternoon

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, April, 6,1948

Portrait of ‘lndependent’ Man ‘Lit yfi |9H MINER MIKE JEFFER takes life easy In Pittsburgh. Pa. area, joining other United Mine Workers' union members in Ignoring the temporary government injunction ordering them back to work and UMW Chief John L. Lewis’ letter stating the miners could end their three-week strike if they so chose.

Discuss Problem Os Parking Meters Here Mayor Doan Meets With County Board Hhouid parking meters be installed in downtown Decttur? This seemed today to lie one ol the paramount questions for i debate among local citizens. Further impetus was given the ques • tlon Monday when M l)oan appeared before the county commissioners. Mayor Doan informed the commissioner* that tile city I* considering Installation of the meters and sought an approval from the board for (daring meters around the courtiwtiaa—lf it is decided to Install them. A che< k, however, revealed aßdewalks around the courthouse to be city- property—thus relieving the commissioner* of any responsibility. The commissioners indicated their disapproval of a plan to move the sidewalk on the west side of the courthouse east of the trees —a plan suggested by the mayor to make a parking space I for courthouse employes. The mayor also informed the commissioners that the city is considering moving both parking spaces for city busses in front of the courthouse, and leaving the balance of the space on the west side of Second street between Madison and Court afreets for parking cars of the sheriff's department. The parking metes problem I* (Turn To t’aw* Flvs) 0 Says Gates To Name Lieutenant Governor Official Ruling By Attorney General Indianapolis. April 4.—(UP)— Attorney general Cleon Foust said In an official opinion today that it was the "duty" of Governor Gates tq name a succeaaor tt> Lt. Gov. Richard T. James. Foust said that • section of a 1941 law which delegated most of the powers and dutiea of the lieutenant governor, if that office is vacant, to the state auditor was unconstitutional. He also ruled that anyxwe appointed by the governor would hold office nntii the election of a new lieutenant governor In the November balloting Foust bad Informed the governor a -week ago nf the purport of the opinion bt’t It was nut handed ‘down formally until today. Gates asked for an opinion after James resigned to become Butler Univer sity vice president and treasurer The governor did not Indicate when or if he would name a sue ceeaor. State auditor Alvin Burch who under the 1941 law would have assumed the post of commissioner of agriculture and other board positloas held hy James aa lientenaa* governor, de* lined any com(Tura To Fags Flvs)

Two More Candidotes In Congressional Race Ijite filings with the secretary of state revealed two additional candidates for nomination as fourth district congressman Frederick Grelne. Fort tfayne attorney, did not withdraw from the Democratic race, as previously announced, making this a three point race with Edward H. Kruse, Jr, and Chester K. Watson. David Heaton, also a Fort Wayne attorney, filed for the Republican nomination, opposing Dr. George W. Gillie, Incttmbent. Group Os Educators Will Visit Schools Study Commission In Decatur, County A group ot educators representing (he Indiana school study commission of the state teachers association. will visit Decatur Thursday afternoon call on townships schools Friday morning at the Berne school Friday afternoon, Lyman L. Hann, county superintendent of schools, announced today. The committee of six will be guests of Mr. Hann. Walter J. Krick, superintendent of Decatur schools, und E. M. Webb, superintendent of the Berne schools, dur Ing their stay in thin city and county. The educators are: Mrs. Daisy M. Jones, director of elementpry education. Richmond city schools Joe R Craw, city superintendent of schools. New Castle. Kenneth Howe, assistant professor of elementary education. Ball State Teachers College. Muncie. Glen G. Eye. professor of education and principal of University high school. University of Madison. Wis, Horace Huddle principal, Bruceville public schools. Byron Westfall, principal, laboratory school. Indiana State Teacher* College. Terre Haute. Arrive Hers At Noon Arriving here Thursday noon, the committee on elementary and secondary education for tbe Indiana school study commission, will first visit the Decatur public schools. Following the dismissal of school for the afternoon, Mr Krick has arranged a meeting of lay representatives with the state committee at the junior-Mnior high -school Viewpoint on school operations and community Interest in education of children, will be the purpose of the afternoon confertaen with local citizens. Mr. Hann said Superintendent Krick will be host to the state educators at 8 o'clock at the high school Visit Berne Friday The six committee members will remain in Decatur over night and on Friday morning visit a number of the township school* Mr. Hann said we did not know which school* the educators would visit, but that they would try to rail on as many aa possible. Teachers were alerted for the contemplated visit of the study committee Dinner at noon will be arranged (Turn To Pegs Throe)

Operators Offer To Meet Lewis; Walkout Spreads Into Anthracite Fields •

Top Republicans In Wisconsin Primary First Crucial Test For 1948 Campaign Milwaukee. April 4- (UP) — Three top Republicans collided today In the Wisconsin presidential primary election, which can make or break a candidate's political ambitions. The Wisconsin balloting la the first crucial test of the 1948 presidential campaigns for candidates Harold E. Stassen. Gen Douglas MacArthur, and Gov. Thomas E. Dewey. As the polls opened. MacArthur supporters were confident. Some of Dewey's backers were doubtful. Stassen predicted he would come out on top. i The hot three-cornered race was expected to bring out 70D.000 voters a* compared with the 514.000 who cast ballots in 1944.sThe forecast was for cloudy weather with Mhowera in the south part of the state. The votes were cast not directly for the presidential candidate* but for delegates to the GOP national convention. The convention candidate* were pledged to one of the three presidential aspirants. The state will send 27 delegates to the Philadelphia convention In June. Four years ago Dewey ran away with 17 delegate* and swept on to the Republican nomination Stassen got four and MacArthur three. MacArthur's backers estimated that he would win at least 18 delegates in today's balloting and perhaps all 27. Stassen predicted he would pick up at least 14. Some (Turn T» Page Two) Set Pay Rate For Election Workers * I Other Action Taken By Commissioners Preparations for the comlfig May primary took another step toward completion Monday in action by the county commissioners. The commissioners set the following wage* for election workers: inspectors. >2O; clerks and Judge*. 89; sheriff*. |4. Workers are to be allowed 82.50 for three meals. Thia is a boost of 25 cents from the amount allowed during the city election last year. Inspectors' duties ln< lude work done the day before and the day after the primary. The commissioners also approved the purchase of three new voting booths, each to accomodate three persons, for use in the three new Decatur precincts. The janitor is now making boxes for the new voting places. The board ap proved voting places as announced several days ago. The contract with the City Bus Line for parking busses in the county garage overnight was termi nated for the summer months at the request of tha-bus operator. The commissioners approved a request to place stone on the Weidler levee from the west end to the pump house. They set a hearing on the Cook ditch. Root township, for April 19 at 2 p m. The Berne IGA store was award ed a three months contract for furnishing groceries and tobacco at the county home It was the only bid submitted. A fleet insurance policy covering county highway equipment was □ warded Kenneth Runyon, local insurance agent. A petition was filed for the Ben Bixler drain In Wabash township and by Dr. W. E Smith and others for a drain tn French township Phil Strahm and Chauncey Sheets were named viewers for a drain, pet tloned for by John Geels and others. Dick Boch was authorized to make an estl(Turn Tu Pag* Five)

Senators Ask More Data On Need Os Draft Senate Committee Calls Armed Forces Leaders To Testify Washington. Apr. 6 — (UP) — Senator* decided today they want more information about the need for a peacetime draft and universal military training The armed services committee voted on this army day to call top officials of the three armed force* for further secret questioning before acting on the administration's latest defense proposals. Chairman Chan Gurney. It S. D . abandoned hi* Friday dead line for committee action on the draft and IMT He said the group would be “lucky” If It could get a bill out by the first of next week. With both houses meeting on routine business, developments Included: Rein — Chairman J. Parnell Thomas said hl* house (inAmeri can activities rnmmillw hopes to prepare by tomorrow some "very drastic" legislation to pul a tighter rein on American communist* He gave no details, but said the legislation will 'be "very broad, very illuminating and quite dra*41c." Air Power —A house armed services subcommittee asked Pre*l-| dent Truman to step up air force strength from 55 to 70 groups lmm<> liately. The subcommitteeadopted a resolution calling on the administration to submit budget estimates for making the recommended increase In fiscal 1949. Emergency. Yes-No? — President Truman told Rep. Lyndon B Johnson. D., Tex., in a letter that If there were “a liftle les* emerg ency talk and a little more ac tivlty” by congress international problems could lie solved He' asked Johnson to work for pas* (Turn To Psge Three) (p. Charles Nyffeler Is Taken By Death Funeral Services Thursday Afternoon Charles F Nyffeler. 84. a retired G. E. employe living four miles southeast of Decatur, died al 1:35 pm. Monday at the Adams county memorial hospital after a six weeks illness of complications He was born In Switzerland Dec 5. 1881, a son of Charles and Rosl na Ruessener-Nyffrier He was employed at the Decatur G. E for 24 year* until his retirement in lanuary. 1947. He was a member of the Pleasant Mills Methodirt church and the Red Men lodge Surviving are his wife, formerly ’annie Dutcher; two daughters. Mrs. Naomi Garwood of Wren. 0., □nd Mrs. Helen Tinkham of Blue "reek township four sons. Earl of Kokomo. Robert L. of Decatur. Kenneth W. of Preble and Sherman W., at home; one sister. Mrs. "harles Bracht of Fort Wayne; •fva brothers. Otto of Yoder. IxiWle >f Fort Wayne. Edwin of Berne. .William of B»-ech Grove and Oswald of Monroe, and nine grand children One son and one sister preceded him In death Funeral services will be held at 1 JO pm. Thursday at the home and at 2 o'clock at the Pleasant Mills Methodist church, the Rev F. J. Kleis officiating Burial will be In the Decatar cemetery The body will be removed from im Zwick funeral koma to the rest deaca at 2 pm Wednesday

Price Four Cents

Cool Owners Act In Accord With Order Os Court; Strike Continues Spread Washington. Apsil 6 (UP) — Soft coal operator* offered today to meet with John L. 1-ewls at 3 pm. ('ST to negotiate on the penata® dispute which has caused a 23-day .strike by miners. The operators acted in accostante with a federal court order which directed Lewis and the operators to meet on the pension issue. The court also ordered to call off the strike, but he has taken no action to do so. In fact, the walkout was spreading. The operatone told Lewis in a letter they were ready to meet with him at 4 o’clock th!* afternoon. “You are hereby notified and advised that pur*uant to the order of the United States district court the undersigned will meet with you and your representatives," the operators said In their letter. This development came a* the coal strike spread to the anthracite field* Thousand* of hard coal miners in Pennsylvania walked out in sympathy with the soft coal strike. A* the strike spread. Lewis made no move to obey the injunction ordering him to <all off the soft coal walkout. The anthracite walkout appeared to he a reaction to the threat of contempt action against Lewis If lie falls to obey the injunction Meanwhile, government official) declared that a breakdown is Im minent in the nation'* coal-fueled economy. The court order was issued last Saturday night by federal judge Matthew McGuire at the request of the justice department. McGuire ordered l,ewi» to < all off the (trike ■forthwith." There was no immediate indication of whether l.ewis would accefff or reject the coal operators’ offer to meet with him on the pension issue. Three federal agencies prepared to issue new conservation orders to railroad* and power companies if Lewis chooses to fight a temporary court order directing him to end the walkout But the miners' chief gave no indication that he intended to re s*pond to the order. Government lawyer* had expected him to ask U. 8. district court today to dismiss the temporary order issued Saturday night. They said that would be the ne< cwnary first »tep to challenge the order and con stltutionallty of the Taft-Hartley act under which it was issued. If I.ewi* does not make that move, however, contempt action presumably would follow. The hardnial strike developed after rumor* circulated last night that no UMW members would work wh|Je faced litigation over the soft <-<■« walkout. Before the morning was well started nearly 7.0(K) anthracite miners had walked off their jolsi. shutting down more thana dozefl mines. The movement was spreading quickly. An official hinted that if Lewis and the union failed to respond to the temporary order in any way hy tomorrow, the justice department may move speedily to cite them for contempt c< court. Lewis and the I'MW paid 8710. MW in contempt fines last year tor defying another court order. • Meanwhile, the steel Industry announced new cutbacks in operations tu conserve its rapidly-dwind-ling coal supplies and Ahe Baltimore A Ohio railroad laid off 8.500 more worker* Some 100.000 persona. In addition to the 400.000 striking miners', have now been idled by the dispute over pensions for miner* The Carnegie • Illinois reported new shutdowns ft took out of production 17 open hearths at iu homestead works, three rolling mills in the Pittsburgh district, aa electric furnace at Duquesne. Pa.. end three more blast furnaces at Clairton. Pa. It already had dosed four blast tarnacuo. (Turn To Psg« Thrs«>