Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 46, Number 212, Decatur, Adams County, 8 September 1948 — Page 1

Vol. XLVI. No. 212.

BERLIN AIRLIFT THREATENED BY RUSSIA

Over 80,000 ' Are Idled By w Disputes I Total Expected To rSfell To 100,000 t Nation Thursday F t’nifed Pres* HttPS than 80.0te workers were Idled by labor dispute* in Amerl / |M Mphirio today and the num MfMtod lik-ly to hit 100,000 Th* Mlkout of >7O plant guard* in * *Mtra> > dispute with the I'EmEP ißmfscturing Co at Detroit stoped the work of 25.000 in turn, automobile MtoffMtos announced plan* to lav 1 w|tli ‘ n ,hp 24 Briggs make* bodies for the Chrysler and Packard automobile OfMaadaa. Packard informed em __ that <'.ooo would be laid off at noon today, and Chrysler order ■■■HMtive layoff* in Chrysler. Plyatotith and Dodge plant* which wilt Mb Jl.ooo more. fPM Walkout* already were in program lon the eant and went coasts, With about 58.500 participatlAff. Th(-v were the walkout* of oil Marker* and longshoremen oa th* want coast and truck driv ers tn N«w York and New Jersey Walkout* threatened in the telephoo* and flour milling industries. RiggMt of the Impending strike* was that of 85.000 CIO commtinlcalions Maipment workers in 45 stataa, Mt for Sept 17. N*Mlljtors for the union and th* W<M*rn Electric company met in Chicago today in an attempt to avait the strike. The union has •aid ItvWill strike unless a new eontltet agreement J* reached Western Electric Is the supply division for the Hell Telephone ecat|N*y. The union claims that a strike would tie up communics tioaa tltoughout the nation, since Other Veil workers would respect Its piekst line* AFL [grain processor* in the Twin Cities of St Paul and Minne apoli» W*r> set to strike this after toon. ,'Thf 1.860 workers voted oVerwhjiminriy last night to strike met their demands fi>i a SwCent wage boost. A Makesinan for General Mills iMe • I of the companies involved wl M a strike would “shut down tight" th. Twin Cities milling In Oh fte west coast, five Califor nig a® grislucers agreed to resume aegUtafikm* with the striking CIO oil worker* at a day long session yesterday between the union and th* Ikpll Oil company. Neither MMahuld make concessions. Th* 'oil industry was making H*M tor a voluntary rationing nro gram, to allocate oil products first to ssdMtial services, and then— U any was left—to motorists *u la* Angeles, the transit lines reported that fuel supplies would !n*l;M!y about a .lay and a half Ail at San Francisco, the bus line eeOiflyd that Its supply of gasoItaaWhUlil run out Tuesday stations did a rushing aa motorists kept their uMßbks brimming while gasoRMSb available. MjJjWbH*. 80.000 striking mem b*M «( the CIO Longshoremen* taking a to dtKrmlne whether their lead iroJjhould sign non-Coinmunists and whether they should ■ iTars Te Peer sis I , jKart Head Os ■Bl Arch Masons SBLun Lenhart was elected high the annual tenquet and •MMbn of officers of Decatur Roy ’ MW'' Masoaa, chapter 112 held ' nßHay night at the Masonic hail officers include Russell Owgte king Fred Dane her. scribe. WKn Raumgerdner. secretary; Rurdg. treasurer; Floyd captain of the host. Rrlce BMM. principal aojurner. Dr Joe Royal Arch captain. dinner was served by a*M*ers of th* Eastern Star, pre MM the business meeting The committee Included Albert WHwiller, Roger Kelley and Dick WEATHER this afternoon and ■tot an* south portion* to■■M- Caster tonight. Thuds*w clearing an* seel.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Council Continues Budget Discussion Expect To Finish Budget Work Today Hoard members and the director of the Adams county welfare department explained to the county council, which has been reviewing budgets since yesterday, that the department's rate was based on the county's valuation aval able last June Miss Bernice Nelson, director. Elmer Baumgartner, chairman and Joseph laiurent, a member of the Ix.ard, appeared before the county councilmen and informed the fax offl< lais tha* the later valuation. which l« about four millon dollars, would enable a reduction in the department's proposed rate. When the budget was prepared last June the valuation figure used was 131.270.318. The correct total following the compilation of assessments by the county board of review Is |35,232.159. The department •estimated n 15cent levy on the former valuation A rale of either 13 or It cents will nroduce the $46,428 needed to finance the county's share of the 1201.440. Following curtom, the councilmen will not make any changes In the department's budget, hut probalbv wi I reduce the rate, which the board members feel 'ould he done without endanger Ing i s finances. Al noon today the councilmen had not finally acted on anv of the appropriations. Preliminary cuts li«ted yes’erday by the councilmen totaled $6,000, which include* the elimination of the inpronria'ton for the county service office. The councilmen have given much study to the Adams county memorial hospital's budget The tedaet submitted totaled $166,000 ind estimated income was listed ut $120,000. leaving a difference it $46,000 to lie provided by the onntv. Indication* are that the budget nay be reduced bv the council to approximately $140,000. or a leficlt between Income and operating expenditures of $20,000. This would require a tax rate of ihout six cents, county officials estimated. From headway already made, it was Indies:* * that the councilmen would do enough pruning on ■pproprialion* to lie aide to reduce the county's propos •.’ rate fom the 49 cent figure, nlus a reduction In <he hospitals levy The member* of the council announced that they would comniete their work late today, rhris Stah ev. sixth member of 'he council who was unable to atteryl yesterday’s session. was present today. County officials appeared lu fore th* council In the interest of •he budgets. Virgil Bowers, county surveyor, explained the need for appropriations to finance the (Tare Te Peer Sesewt Dilch Hearings Are Studied By Board Commissioners In Monthly Session Ditch hearings and other de'kiis pertaining to the cleaning out ind construction of drainage projects In the county took a share of the county commissioners' time at the September meeting The viewers report of assessments on the Gilbert Ehlerding ditch in Kirkland township, will tie henrd on Oct. 6. A similar report on the Henry P. Graber ditch. In French town ship, one of the largest drainage projects for this year, will be heard on Nov. 1. Two new petition* for ditch clean-outs wer* filed with the commissioners and referred to the county surveyor. They are the Smith Shoemaker drain in Jaffer son township and the Harvey U Sipe ditch In Bine Creeh township. The minutes of an organisation meeting of the landowners aaaeeeed for construction of the Fred Weidler levee In Wabash township were Ried with the commissioners and ordered placed on the docket Fred Weidler is chairman of the group of property owwrs. who will operate th* dam The commissioners received a tax exemption for $76 86 from th* company that furnished the police short wav* radio to th* connty.

‘ r fil “ I I ► I

FIREMEN FIGHT a stubborn blaze following a trenendous blast which demolished the Brach a Son* Candy Co., plant on Chicago's west side. Four areknown d' ad. four suffered a« rious injury and il are missing. Th« explosion was heard over a two-mlle radius.

Stassen Assails Truman's Record G. 0. P. Campaign Is Officially Opened Detroit. Hept. B—(UP)- The publican party made it dear today that il would base Its presidential campaign on what it termed President Truman's "record of fMlures at home and abroad ” The Republican campaign., was opened officially by former Minnesota Gov. Hand* E. Stassen last night In an address before a crowd of 3.000 persons In the Masonic temple. Bta*sen. an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination. refuted President Truman's claim that he was the champion of lahor and claimed the workingman was tetter off under lhe TaftHartley law than under the “narrow" lalior policy of the administration. Stassen's speech was in direct rebuttal of President Truman's Labor day speech. “Hince the new later law took effect In August. 1947. later has fared better than it did before.* he said. "It has at least kept abreast Both wages and prices have increased approximately seven percent under the law.” Stassen made II plain that the GOP would feel free to criticize the administration's foreign policy by pointing out that the President Journeyed to lhe Potsdam conference three years ago wlhout taking a representative of the Republican party with him. "even though the bipartisan foreign policy had been well established.'* He accused the President of trying to create disunity and set class against class to win the later vote In November. He said the (Tare T« Paee Seveat Young Woman Killed As Truck Hits Tree Six Others Badly Hurt This Morning Michigan City. Ind.. Hept. 8 — (VP* —A young woman was killed and 11 persons were Injured today when a truck left Michigan highway M6O a short distance across the state line from Michigan City and crashed into a tree All 12 occupants of the truck were teen-agera ami young adults enroute to California to recruit Syrian fighters for Palestine, one vouth told authorities Roslyn ixHT. 22. ixrng Beach. Cal., was killed In the crash. Heven Injured persons, six of them listed as "critical” were thkea to a Niles. Mich , hospital Four more were brought to Ht Aathoay's hospital here Listed as critical in lhe Nile* hospital wore: David La Vine. 11. Detroit Rally Owoh'. IT. Winnipeg. Caa ad*. Marvin Lerner. If, Bronx. NT Ruth Marks. IT. Detroit Dennis Kannsn 17 Winnipeg (Tara te Ta»e Twa)

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, September 8,1948

Chicago Candy Plant Blast Kills Four

Candy Plant Blast Death Toll Mounts Chicago, Sept. 8 - (VP) — The number of person* killed In an explosion and fire at the Brach candy plant rose to eight today when four victims died In hospitals. Milton Seidel. 54, engineer at the plant. Anthony l«eon. 39. George Van Winkle. 29. and Pasqualp Palumbo. 35, were the latest victims. School Enrollment Figures Announced Catholic Schools Figure Unchanged Almost complete reports from rural and city schools indicated today that 3.942 teys and girts are attending pub’ic and parochial grade and high schools in Adam* county this year. The wave of war babies « ffect ed enrollment In many of the schools, and fir*t grade reglstr* tion generally wa* high A kindergarten class nf 137 Ave-year olds wa* underway at the Lincoln school today Two hundred forty-eight pupil* enrolled in the Ht. Joseph grad>r.chools. the same number us last year The Catho'lc high school's enrol ment wa* up to 124. an In crease of 10 over last year. Grade by grade, the Catholic school enrollment follows: Flr’t grade 48 second gn><te 30; third grade 30; fourth grade 24; fifth grade 26; sixth grade 28; seventh grade 25; eighth grade 37; total In grade school 248. Freshmen 39: sophomores 25; funlors 36; senior* 24; total In high school 124. The Berne-French school reported a total enrol'ment of 552 students. There were 312 students In the first six grides, 89 In the Junior high school, and 151 in the high school. Decatur public schools yesterday reported enrollment at 1.161. with. 567 students In the Lincoln school and 457 In the junior-sen-ior high school Folh.wins are enro'lment figures at other Adams county school*. Msnv of the flgnrea rep re»ent only first dsv registration and mav be lower than the final enrollment. Monmnuth: 126 in the grade* 117 In high school, total of 241 ►indents. Decrease of nine from last year. Monroe; 114 In the grades. I*9 in high school, total of 263 aludents. Increase of 17 students from last year. Hartford Center: 132 In the evades. 5* In high acbool. total of 182 students. Decrease of 19 Jefferson: 141 In the grades. I* In high schoo', total of 189 stu dents. Increase of 14. Geneva: 870 In the grades. 145 in high school, total of 515 stu dents Increase of 41. Pleasant Mills. 61 In the •rides. 126 la the ienior-senior high school, total of 187 students Kirkland: An estimated 118 In the grade* 50 In hfth school, trade school* reported stu estimated total of 161

sioaiv* t»wi»shlns fwr rural dent* enrolled.

Herriot Refuses To Form New Cabinet French Government Facing New Crisis Paris. Kept. B—(l'P)—Edouard Herriot. called the grand old man of French politics, today refused a request by President Vincent Auriol to try to form a u»w government. The refusal by Harriot, 76. ailing president of the nationnl assembly, blocked the first at tempt by Auriol* to haul France out of the grave crisis which was renewed last night by lhe fall of Premier Robert Hchuman's coa'llion cabinet. Auriol'* office annoumed that Herriot. several times premier before the war. refused on ‘‘•rounds of 111 health He has been crippled with phlebitis for some time, and Is almost deaf. Herriot called on Auriol at 3 p. m He was one of the many party leaders who paraded through the president's office during the day as the search for a prime minister went on. Auriol began consultations with party leaders Maurice Thorez and Jacques communist chieftain*, appeared first to reiterate their party’s demand for government leadership. Then Auriol saw the popular republicans. social!*!* und radicals He told all of them there was no time to waste, and he hoped by tonight to name someone to make one more try at forming a | government that could cop>- with the nation's crisis. Along wttn tne name of Her riot was mentioned that of an other radical. Rene Mayer, former finaiee minister. Still another possibility was »een that Andre Marie, whose short lived govern(Tore Te Fewe Twe) Plan Improvement Os Macadam Road Offer Made By Farm Owners Is Declined The two mile stretch of macadam road running west from the Erie railroad crossing at West Monroe street, will be graded and improved with stone, lhe county commissioners announced today. The commissioners decline* the offer of eight farm owner*, represented by John Kintz, to donate s2.<»<W) toward the cost of black topping the road, which wa* one of the first plank roads ever built in the county The highway department does not have available fund* to black top the two-mile stretch, the commissioners explained They estimated the cost at more than $5,000 a mile. The commissioners explained that the highway department had approximately 706 miles of road under Its supervision and although they wo«M like to black top or hard surface everv mile, that limited iwm* prevented the carry ing out of the program

Soviet Attempt Made To Ground Berlin Airlift By Aerial Maneuvers

Parking Meters Are Favored By Council Ordinance Passed On First Reading City coun< II Tuesday night took the first *tcp toward adding Dr <atur to the cyer-growlng Hut of Indiana cities using parking meter* to solve their traffic problems. An ordinance which would bring the coin catchers to Decatur was passed on find reading la*t night, with councilman Al Beavers the only dissenter. Il will be brought up for second reading at the council's next regular meeting. September 21. after public sentl ment ha* been determined. I'nder the parking meter plan, certain tone* In the city would be designated by the hoard of public works and safety. In these zones, individual parking spaces would be marked and meters Installed, with the board deciding what time* of day the meters should be used, and the extent of the tariff Trucks would be given 20 mln utes free in a meter zone, In which to accomplish one loading or iinloadltig After the 20 mln utes a violation would be charged Overtime parkers would lie ticketed by city police and fined not m«e than $lO. Persons < aught tampering with the devices or In sertlng "slug*'' might face a $5 to SIOO fine and up to six months In Jail. What to do with the money when it starts to tltrkle In may raise a major problem. Almost $860,000 in parking meter revenue accrued to a dozen Indiana cities last year The money may be turned over to the general fund, to be re-appro-prlated to efforts in the traffic abatement line, or a special fund conceivably could be set up with profits from the meters. Other Matters Covered Chief of police James Border* submitted the report of the Decatur irnlice department for August The pat nd car covered 3.763 miles <luring the month. 12 criminal In vestigations were launched and six completed, 13 criminal arrests were made, and 194 calls ami com plaint* were received, the report said in part. Emergency appropriations total (Tarn T* Psae Sixt Dewey Will Launch Campaign Sept. 20 Opening Speech To Be Made In lowa Albany, N. Y.. Sept B—(VPi Gov Thomas E. Dewey will open his campaign for the presidency at lies Moines, la. Sept. 2<». it was announced t<aiay ’ The Republican presidential candidate will speak In Drake stadium over the Columbia and Mutual broadcasting networks from 9 to 93c pm. CDT The topic of his opening speech was not disclosed. Political observers considered Dewey's move to open hi* cuml>aign in lowa significant inasmuch as it is one of the states where a Republican Rirumbent senator it facing a stiff battle for reelection Sen. George A. Wilson is seeking reelection. Dewey will speak in the Hawk eye state Just two days after President Truman opens his west era tamguiign tour. Mr. Truman Is scheduled to talk at Dexter. I*. 40 miles from Des Moines The governor's special 14 car campaign train will leave Albany Hept 19 and pro<eed directly to Des Moines It was understood that the governor **pei t« to be in California around Sept 24 Dewey, who has been working on campaign speeches with his chief political writers, hopes to force President Truman on the defensive with blistering attacks on his domestic sad foreign policies Dewey was ssid to be pleased'' st ths reaettos te Harvi* staaeeo * tTwre Fen* Ktabtt

State Funeral Is Held For Eduard Benes Beloved Leader Os Czechs Is Mourned By Fellow Citizens Prague. Sept 8 IVPI — Gun toting Communist workers und police guarded the state funeral to day of former Czechoslovakian president Eduard Bene*, who fought all hi* life for de:i* ra< v and peace While thousand* of armed men stood ready to put down violently any anti-Communist demonstration* among the hundred* of thousand* who fl<a ked to Bene*' funeral, the Red leaders who overthrew lhe government he built *hed croccallle tear* at hl* bier. Behind the lines of rifle-carrying Communist action *quad members and police, the people of Prague stood silent, many of them weep inz for their fallen 64-year-old lead er. whose heart saw broken by the Red coup of last Februsrjf. and who subsequently resigned rather than place bis Mtamp of approval upon it. No such denionstratioua as those of last night, in which some 2(10 persons were arrested, developed, hut the crush of the crowd was such that police lines occasionally wavered or broke Hours liefore the brief ceremony liegan tat !• u 5 am CDT). thousands upon tbouimnds of person* jammed Wein-ellaus Square. out*ide the national museum where Benes' lardy lay. und lined the streets along which the cortege was to pass, ultimately to reach Benes home at Sezimo.o i’stl, south of Prague, where he will Ire buried Friday lb his ireloved garden. Action squads <<f Communist workers, yifle* slung over their shoulders, stisal arm to arm along the streets Police squads were poKted in upper stories and lofta of building*, and »l strategic inter serf ions. Spectators were barred from window* and drrorway*. Heavily guard**, president Kle ment Gottwald, premier Antonin Zapotockp. und parliament speaker Oldrich John entered the museum a few minutes after 4 pin. <9 am CDTi. signaling for the service to begin. The pushing and shoving caused, tile lines of police and armed work era straightened, and the only Hound was the mush and the slow tolling of the city's church tells. Zapolochy was the only speaker He u«rd the occasion to warn 're actionary elements ' not to "mis «Tura Te Page Kight > Some Stores Open All Day Thursday Decatur Stores Are Divided On Closing lawal retail stores are divided on whether they will close Thur* day afternoon or remain open te cause of being e’osed Monday for lalair Day. The usual custom is to dose all retail store* each Thursday at noon, excepting holiday week* Robert Holthouse, chairman of the retail committee of the Cham ter of Commerce, said that hi* committee would meet tonight However, Mr. Holtbo'ise said most store owners, with the ex ceptlon of the four men's doth ing store*, have signified their in tentions of remaining open Thurs 1 day aftei*oon. The clot blag stores will dose, it was learned, so employes could attend either the Van Wert or Indiana state fair If they cared te. Several neighborhood stores will remain open an* unlees a different polity is adopted to nlkht. roost of th* stores In the bssftcxs dUtrlU wIC be ?pet! their regular hours

Price Four Cents

More West Sector German Police Are Seized By Soviet Soldiers By Ruse Ber in. Sept tl'Pl— Eastwest relations here dipped to a new low today a* Russian planes wheeled over Berlin and the western air corridor*, endangering the aerial flow of supplies to this blockaded citv The Russian's received a vigorous protest against the selsur* by treachery of I'* German policemen in the last phase of the battle of the Berlin dty hall. Promised safe conduct, they were betrayed. Gen. Pierre Koenig. French military governor. pretested dired'y to Marshal Vassily Soko!ov«kv. The Soviets served notice o* Idg scale air maneuvers which would po«e a hazard to the western air run Into Berlin Promptly. American pilot* reported slghiIng II Russian fighter* In formation 3.000 feet over lhe I'. S. corridor. Authoritative t* S. sources sa'd a number of Russian planes were active over Berlin at hlg I al'itudes Four power agreements forbid formation flights or maneuvers over Berlin at any altitude. The Soviet attempt to ground the Berlin airlift was dis< lose* in an official notice to V. S air force headquarter* here that large scale air maneuver* now are being carried out over Berlin on the three western air corridor* American airmen reported this afternoon that thev saw II sing's engine Soviet fighters flying is formation along the I'. S air corridor in a westerly direction at I.IMMi fret. Air force officers said that altitude was used by V. R. cargo planes flying to Berlin, and such flights as reported were right In tlie fa< e of American eastbound traffic. The Soviet maneuver* started on Sept 6. lhe notice said, and will continue for another week until Sept. 15. The Soviet maneuver* over the city were scheduled despite fourpower air »afely agreement •, signed by Russia, which forbid formation fights or maneuver* over Berlin at any altitude The weekold conference of Germany’s fotw military governor* on lifting the Soviet blockade was receaaed for the time be Ing. reportedly becauae of exce* sive Soviet demands. Il was understood that committee report* on the main problem* of the Berlin crisis- the blockade <nd trade and currency question* — had been referred back to Washing'on. I-ondon. Paris and Mo*«-ow for new direct- re*. Although no definite date tor the next governors' meeting wa« set. an Informed source said the* probably would hold ‘hetr eight | session tomorrow The western Ber'ln command ants meinwhlle demanded an ex < Fere T« r*«» sis I Decatur Lions Meet After Summer Lull Members of the Decatur I.ions clul> got together In an atmosphere of Joviality Tuesdav night at Worthman field in their first mee'lng since the summer lull A five-inning soft tell game was the entertainment feature, although the score was either disputed or forgotten. The refreshment committee provided a highly praise* dinner, consisting of fried chicken and all the trimmings Regular Tuesday evening meetings at the K of P home will te resumed nett week. Evelyn Gerke Wins 4-H Congress Trip Evelyn Gerke. of t'nion township, has been awarded a trip to th* national 4-H club congress In Chicago by plx inx s*cond in the girts' Judging contest at the Indiana state fair Miss Gerke was first in judging canned goods and second In the entire group bv scoring 4X4 of a poeeiMe 6M nofat- she earlier placed first tn 'he Adams coenty costaw* te ths Fort district contest