Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 46, Number 272, Decatur, Adams County, 17 November 1948 — Page 1

HSIVL No. 272.

IN AGAIN APPEALS FOR SETTLING CRISIS

■th Reds ■General ■e Monday |»nmunist Labor IKders Call Port, I Ek Strike Monday K.l Nov. 17- < UP) ~ Com ' MW ■. . lenders tonight orML n atii>n-wide general port ■BL strike. t<i begin next Mon■■.{i.ikf. was called by' the rolled federation of docks after its leaders in vain with Christian of public works raise longshoretold union leaders at a |K,..,. this morning that wage were a matter of higher U,.'. be decided by the governniv after careful consideraworkers at Dunquerque alstruck in support of Mdetraiids There also have walkouts at Bordeau. La Rochelle. Marseille of other port!. general dock strike call Motib 24 hours after interior Jules Modi accused Rusits satellites of fomenting B^Kam inv strikes in France in attempt to wreck the Mil, plan. Modi in the also was under |H again from Gen. Charles De Renewing his bid for powKS| Gaulle said the nation fac■■complete political and eco■ln>lla|>s>’ unless it threw out : :1m load coalition govdays after he scored a victory in elections to ciiamiter of parliament. K..- minded general elec:be national assembly, the HHihattmm in which the legislies. wartime leader of the antisounded tne alarm towith his new demands at a press conference in the of his rally of the people The movement has Mp.’.es as sin It in the national |B|'.h. since it was not in exist■Bwl.en the last elections were his group not to joip with the third force now threading a troubled |BetwHen tlrn threat of Communtlir extreme left and the de|Bt :' De Gaulle on the extreme used the United States and of restoring a Gerwith h inevitably would with Russia for an at|K<l the west. |B*ttacked th,. Anglo-American ■'- to restore the Ruhr tnto German ownership — grave decision (or |B(i'orated insolation of the forcolonies to Italy. l 'a ked the defense plans of of western Europe, init would he ’ intolerable" defense of France to be en-tton-Frenchnten. a new global strateKg lT»r» To p #lt , rive, jßphy/nent And Pay ■ Wes Show Drop gl In Major Industries in six major Indus- ■ »as 123 percent lower than one year ago, the business barometer of the Bgkj hamher of Commerce has W*® Employes numbered 1,- !■ wober. compared to 1.712 ■>-ar M/bdustrial payroll in these in- ■ / »«s 11.9 percent lower 'Mr ago. and 1.6 percent previous month. In|B~ ot «r September were re ' 3 the number of electric r * meter? - telephones In 'r>hs. freight and express Po»t receipts and of Mrthj tQ deathg ]ajt * ‘round four to one. Ten ■LT”'* ' alued a! during October, a treincrease over the previous Owr. of $15,350. ■ we B ■ £•? ClOudireM to ■►•a Muth lnd ««» ■w mL el ® ud r Th U r» 7 “ rain B*r,, orth «n* west Mrtisat.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Little Damage Done Here By High Winds Windstorms Abate In Midwest States Gusts of wind which at times reached velocities of 50 miles an hour battered Adams county and the entire state Tuesday night, although reports today indicated this area escaped the brunt of the attack. Some rural power and telephone failures were reported in -the southern part of the county. No utility lines were downed by the powerful blasts, local power spokesmen said, although some fuses blew east of Decatur. The Liechty motor sales buikb ing, now under construction on U. S. 27 in Berne, was apparently the major victim of the winds. The entire east wall of the building was blown in. Throughout the county heavy tree limbs bowed to the fierce blasts. At the Decatur airport, where the wind’s average velocity was clocked at 35 miles an hour, four light planes which were stored out of doors, escaped damage, being tied down securely. Temporary blackouts were reported in the Fort JVayne and Angola areas during the night. Night linemen were called into service between Warsaw and Goshen. Two light planes at Hulman field, Terre Haute, were wrecked or severely damaged, and electric lines in that area went down. Homes in several parts of Indianapolis were blacked out temporarily. Windstorms Abate By United Press Windstorms abated today after causing extensive damage in the midwest and along the northern Pacific coas’. where four persons were dead and three others milsing. Winds reaching 80 miles ner hour subsided somewhat todav otter battering the coastline for 24 hours and damaging four ships. But the weather bureau said a n°w storm moving e" st ward from the Alaskan gu’f will hit th“ Pacific northwest tomorrow nigh*. In th® midwest, winds reaching 65 to 70 miles per hour <-wept in a northeaster'v direction la«t n<"ht across Missonri. northern Illinois. Indiana. Ohio. Michigan, son'hesstern Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. The rale toppl°d tehphone notes. snnnn»d communication lines, unrooted trees and damaged term hnitdjnes over a wide area. In the Pacific coast storm, three crewmen, were drowned when a t»g ran aeeonn'Net Port Renf°w. Vancouver Island, B. C„ last night. (Turn Tn Pn-r Three Persons Are Found Shot To Death Double Murder And Suicide Is Blamed Fortville. Ind.. Nov. 17 —(UP)— A 28-year-old man and his parents were found shot to death today and Indiana state police said they believed it was a double murder and suicide. The victims were Marion Jones and his parents. Mr. and Mrs. San Jones, all of Fortville. The son’s body was found in his automobile near a reservoir near McCordsville. Ind., a small town near Fortville. Later, the parents’ bodies were found in their Fortville home. A rifle police said apparently was used in all three shootings was found in the automobile beside Mar ion Jones’ body. State police said the son's body was found about 10.a.m. They believed it had been parked near the reservoir since about 10 o clock last Light. The younger Jones had been shot between the eyes. The parents’ bodies were found by a man identified by state police as Case Kimmerly. who they said went to the home to break the news to the parents about their son. Hobbyist Speaks To Lions Club Tuesday Mrs. S. E. Leonardson. local hobbyist. presented a lec’urc and a display of her button <-ollection at the weekly Lions club meeting in the K. of P. home Tuesday night. Lawrence Anspaugh was program chairman.

Russia Makes New Threat Os Blockade Move «• Threatens Reprisal In Event Separate Elections Are Held Berlin, Nov. 17— (UP) —Russia threatened today to tighten the squeeze on blockaded west Berlin by invoking stern measures of reprisal if "separate elections” are held there next month. The Soviet threat was promulgated through the army organ Taegliche Rundschau. It came as the western powers prepated in Paris to reject a United Nations proposal for a big four gathering. Russia we'comed the idea of renewal of talks by the council of foreign ministers or at a higher level—which would mean a StalinTruman meeting—a Moscow dispatch said. Some time ago Russia refused the city government’s request to hold municipal elections. The western powers granted it. Col. Alexi Yelisarow, Berlin's deputy Soviet commandant, told the Berlin government last Monday that Russia would not recognize the officials elected next month. The elections are set for Dec. 5. The armyi organ said bluntly that the elections would mean 'he “final split" of Berlin between the east and the west. Most allied and German officials believed the Russians would carry out the threats expressed by Taeg’iche Rundschau. It said subway and elevated trains and trolleys would halt at the ea e t-west sector boundaries, that all telephone service between the east and the west quarters would be cut, and that west Berliners would be barred from hospitals in the Soviet sector. It also said the Soviets would cripple the water and gas supplies of we«t Berlin. But A'lied officials doubted they could do that. Col. William Babcock, deputv American commandant here, said that since the beginning of the blockade the western sectors had produced all their own water, gas and electricity. Areas Outlined For Parking Meters Here Zones For Parking Meters Detailed The board of public works and safety unveiled its parking meter zone plan Tuesday night at the city council meeting. Except for loading areas, alleys, and already restricted places, the following streets will be lined with meters: Second street from Jackson to Jefferson streets: Monroe street from First to Third streets: Madi son street from First to Third streets: Liberty Way from Sec ond to Third streets. The plan was worked out after the board surveyed the traffic problem in the uptown district. The resolution outlining the meter areas was approved by the council. Ralph E. Roop, superintendent of the water department, submitted plans and specifications for the North sewer, which were approv »d. His report estimated labor and material costs at 11.376.1 d. The proposed sewer will not be of suf ficient depth to drain cellars, the report pointed out. although it will serve as a sanitary sewer. The council moved to inform the local selective service board that no facilities were available at the city hall for draft headquarters W. J. Bockman. board chairman, appeared at the last city council meeting November 2 with a plea for new quarters, since the present library room is only temporary. A petition signed by Everett Hutker and others was referred to the electric light committee in conjunction with the light superin tendent It asked for the, installs lion of alley lights at the ex treme south end of the alley parallel to High and Cleveland streets at the alley s intersection with Grant street, and on South Cleveland street where the alley intersects it in the 7W block.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, November 17, 1948

Star Farmer Os Year 6-B HBw s Em. 7 ■' SO z At Mb- ’ ■ - rnHSsiß KENNETH LEWAYNE CHEATHAM, 19, of Greenville, 111., is congratulated by Raymond C. Firestone on his selection as Star Farmer of America at the 20th anniversary convention of Future Farmers of America in Kansas City, Mo. From a begnning of eight hogs which netted him $135 in 1943-44, Cheatham (right) now owns farm lands, buildings, livestock and equipment valued at more than 322,000. He is married.

Southern Democrats Fight Civil Rights Filibuster Threats Made By Southerners Washington, Nov. 17 — (UP) — Southern congressmen warned | President Trunijn today they will fight to the finish against his promised civil rights program. With angry threats of filibusters, the southerns made it clear that Mr. Truman could hope for no congressional “honeymoon" so far as civil rights legislation was concerned. Mr. Truman invited the test of strength with southern Democrats yesterday when he announced he would ask congress once again for anti-lynching, antl-poll tax and fair employment legislation. Southerners, who are especially opposed to the fair employment proposal. had indicated a willingness t o enter into a no-filibuster compromise if Mr. Truman would press only the other two measures. The, president's decision to go all-ottt brought quick war declarations. Tn contrast to the civil rights reaction. there was only praise for Mr. Truman’s statement that there will be no bargaining with Russia on Berlin until the Soviet blockade is ended. Sen. Scott W. Lucas. D., 111., said Mr. Truman's position was "absol(Turn To l-Hce Two* ‘ Suggest Tobacco Tax To Pay Vets' Bonus Farm Bureau Leader Suggests Bond Issue Indianapolis, Nov. 17—(UP)— A bond issue financed by a tax on all form of tobacco was advanced by an Indiana Farm Bureau official today as a means of financing a veterans’ bonus. Anson Thomas, tax and legislative director of the Farm Bureau.! said the plan was suggested in reply to Gov.-elect Henry Schricker's request for suggestions from “interested" groups on methods of financing a soldiers' bonus. Thomas said the bond-tobacco plan would provide a bonus “without waiting." He said the 1949 gen eral assembly could create a governmental "subdivision" called the “veterans authority.” In turn, he «aid. the “subdivision” could issue revenue bonds to be retired through collection of the tobacco tax without violating a state constitution provision prohibiting bond issues by the state. • Thomas estimated that tke bonus would coat Indiana ncarly $150,000,000 and said that amount could be issued in bonds and ro-j tired in 10 years through the tax. which he said probably could net around $15,000,000 a year. He said the base of the present cigaret tax could be broadened to include ■ Tara Ta Page Tml

BULLETIN Cairo, Nov. 17. —(UP) —Cairo had an air raid alert of 70 minutes late today during which heavy anti-aircraft fire was heard. Coupon Wai Waged By Grocery Stores Housewives Rush To Buy Bargains Indianapo is. Nov. 17 — (UP) — Indianapolis housewives rushed to s'ores today to take advantage of a $2,000,000 “coupon war" being waged by chain grocery store; and independent proprietors. A local chain Tired the first Kun in the battle by mailing every metropolitan home a book of coupons worth $5.20 in trade. Most of the coupons were worth 10 cents toward the purchase of a single item. Independent grocers retaliated by offering to honor the chain's coupons. One stocked up on the bargain-type .items and waged an intensive campaign to latch on to ’he cus'omers enticed by the chain. Another chain joined the fight by cutting its prices outright 10 cents on all coupon items for one week. “Why monkey with coupons’" the second chain asked in an advertisement. ‘‘We’H give you the coupon price right over the counter.” It was estimated today that the value of coupons floating around the city had reached $2,000,000. Harvey Hagelskamp, secre'ary of the Indiana Retail Grocers and Meat Dealers association, said the coupon plan to increase sales was given an impetus about six months ago when ample stocks of food and household supplies were restored after wartime and postwar shortages. He said one issue of an Indianapolis newspaper on Nov. 4 contained coupons worth a total of sl.lO. Independent grocers criticized manufacturers 4>f products advertised on the coupons. They said the coupons might violate fair trade laws prohibiting manufacturers from favoring one outlet over another. The independents charged that manufacturers apparently made a special deal with a firm which distributes the coupon books. If so. the independents said., they may he able to use the fair trade laws to force the manufacturers to redeem the coupons on the same basis a« they would for the coupon distributing firm. Harry Adler, owner of an independent supermarket, said he had stocked up on 36 coupon items. “We've got a fortune tied up in coupons." he said. "Bbxet and boxes of them.” Housewives were taking advantage of the scrap between the chains and the independents by (Tara Ta Tage Two)

United Nations Leaders Make New Appeal Today To Russia, West Powers

Two Bank Robbery * Suspects Arrested Charge Robbery Os Same Bank Twice St. Paul, Minn.. Nov. 17. —(UP) — The federal bureau of investigation today announced the arrest of two men suspected of twice robbing the Virgil (Ill.) State bank. E. N. Notesteen, assistant agent of the St. Paul office, said Spencer Clement Peterson, 26, and Louis Rabenburg,24, were apprehended last night at Worthington, Minn. He said the two men are wanted in Chicago on warrants charging they robbed the Virgil bank of $5,000 last Oct. 20. They also are suspected of taking $2,000 from the same bank on Nov. 13, Notesteen said. The FBI here said it had no addresses for Peterson and Rabenburg but that they are known to have relatives in lowa and Minnesota and are believed to have operated in southern Illinois during the last two years. The men were apprehended, Notesteen said, on a tip furnished by a person who overheard them "talking loosely" and observed them “spending a , lot of money" in a southern Illinois city the day after the second robbery at Virgil. He said the two will be removed to Chicago within a few days. Notesteen said both men were welders by trade and were known to have been employed recently at Batavia. 18. He said the men were accused of stealing a 1941 car at Aurora, 111. and using it in the Oct. 20 robbery. One man carried a ,32-caliber automatic and the other a seven-inch hunting knife during that robbery, he said. The car was abandoned at Aurora the day after the robbery. For the second robbery last week, Notesteen said, the two men stole a 1948 car at Aurora. This time both carried automatics, he said. The stolen car was abandoned at Montgomery, HL, pn Nov. 14. Notesteen said the two started (Turn To Pnnr Throe> Sgf. Sheets' Body Relumed To Stales Raymond E. Sheets Body Enroute Home The body of Staff Sgt. Raymond E. Sheets, son of Mr, and Mrs. Noah T. Sheets, 915 Dierkes street, has been returned to the states for burial, it was announced today by the department of the army. Sgt. Sheets’ body is one of 7.572 Americans who lost their lives during World War II returned aboard the United States army transport Carroll Victory. The Decatur veteran was killed in action in France Oct. 9. 1944 while serving with Company G of the 319th infantry. He entered the service July 15. 1942. and was sent overseas in June of 1944. A graduate of the Decatur high school. Sgt. Sheets was employed by the Decatur Floral company at. ’he time he entered service. Surviving «in addition to th» par J ents are four brother*, Dovle and Robert Sheets, both of Fort Wayne, and Richard and David, both at home, and three sisters. Mrs. Clarence Morgan. Mrs. Don Harmon and Mrs. Lloyd Reef, all of Decatur.’ Reserve Officers And Enlisted Men To Meet I All reserve officers and all reserve enlisted men are requested to attend an important meeting at the American Legion home in this cl’v Thursday evening at 7:30 o'clock. At this meeting, a schedule for officers and enlisted men will be worked out In order that they may •earn the necessary points to apply on their retirement fund.

Report China Government To Move To Canton Greatest Battle Os Chinese Civil War Raging At Suchow Nanking, Nov. 17 —(UP) —Authoritative sources reported today that the Chinese government was preparing to move to Canton on the south coast of China if the communists capture Suchow. around which the greatest battle of the civil war has been raging I for eight days. Topmost nationalist leaders were reported to have asked T. V. Soong, governor of Kwantung province where Canton is situated, to get ready for the possible accommodation of the government. Informants said, however, that despite the preliminary moves looking to the possibility of evacuation of the government, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek himself had not made or considered seriously any plans to leave Nanking. At the same time foreign minister Wang Shih-Chien was reported to have told the cabinet that three shipments of U. S. arms and ammunition were on the way to China. The chief of the Chinese technical mission in Washington, Pei Tsu-Yee, is negotiating for still more help from the United States, Wang said. The government claimed that the threat to Nanking wafs eased by nationalist victories east and west of Suchow. the north Kiangsu rail hub 200 miles northwest of the capital. On the other hand, the communists broadcast claims of no less impressive victories, and the contradictory reports obscured the true situation. The government admitted that Suchow had been isolated by a communist flanking drive which cut the trunk railway south of the city. Official sources reported that nationalist forces were striking at the communist claw across the railway from both north and south. One column was reported pushing down the railway southward from Suchow while another headed northward from Pengpu. a rail station midway between Suchow and Nanking. The drives are expected to reopen the rail line soon, government reports said. The cutting (Turn To Pnce Tno) Thomas Secretary Pleads Not Guilty Arraign Woman On Conspiracy Charge Washington. Nov. 17—(UP) — Helen Campbell, former secretary to Rep J. Parnell Thomas, pleaded innocent today to charges that she conspired with the New Jersey Republican in a payroll fraud scheme. The 63-year-old gray-haired secretary entered a."not guilty” plea in a barely audible voice—before federal judge Richard B. Keech. Keech ordered her to stand trial with Thomas on Jan. 10. Thomas, chairman of the unAmerican activi ties committee, already has pleaded innocent to charges of violating the "flase claims” statute. Pending trial. Miss Campbell was allowed to remain free on SSMO bond Thomas is free on SSOO bond. If convicted of the consniracy charge. Miss Campbell is liable to a maximum penalty of two years imnrisonment and SIO,OOO fine. Thomas, who was indicted by a federal grand jury on four counts, is liable to 32 viars in prison and a $40,000 fine if convicted.

Price Four Cents

Statement Issued Few Hours After Russia Blamed For Continuing Dispute Paris, Nov. 17 — (UP) — Top United Nations leaders appealed again today to Russia and the western powers to settle the Berlin orisis with “the least possible delay.” Their new appeal came in a statement issued only a few hours after the big three western nations had blamed Russia for the continuing Berlin dispute and had rejected flatly all suggestions for direct negotiations with the Soviet Union until the blockade of the German capital is lifted. The United States, in its note, said that direct negotiations under duress of the blockade would “rtidanger the peace of the world” but compromising the UN charter principle that force “shall hot be used for attainment of national objectives." But UN secre’ary-general Trygve Lie and general assembly president Herbert V. Evatt were not dismayed by American, British and French negative replies to their letter suggesting “immediate” four-power conversations to solve the Berlin crisis. Believing that their letter had started a “chain of events" which might soon lead to at least a truce in the cold war. they issued a prompt statement in which they noted “with satisfaction" that all the great powers in their rep’iei “indicate in one form or anothet their desire to reach a settlemer.l of the Berlin question.” The notes were sent in reply to an appeal from the two high UN officials to the big four powers to begin “immediate" direct conversations seekign a settlement. Russia replied yesterday, inferring that the Soviet government would be receptive to the idea of four-power conversations, but indicating no cb.ange in the adamant Russian stand against lifting the blockade as a prelude to direct negotiations. The replies of the United States, Britain and France were delivered to the UN officials today. They varied somewhat in wording, but all were firm in reiterating the stand taken by the western powers throughout the dispute—that they will not negotiate "under duress” of the Russian blockade of rail, road and barge traffic to the western sectors of Berlin. All the notes laid the full blame for present world tension squarely on Russia. They rejected direct negotiations as a method which had been tried and had proved unsuccessful. This was an apparent reference to the series of Kremlin conferences in August and September from which the western delegates emerged with the belief they had reached a set'lement of the dispute, only to see t.he apparent agreement break down in negotiations at the level of the four military governors for Germanv. The United States. Britain and «T»r« To Pmr Th roe 4

November Election Cost 52 Cents Per Vote In This County Conductipc the general election November 2 cost Adams county 15.129.05. or roughly 52 cents for each vote cast, figures released by county auditor Thurman 1. Drew revealed today. I-ast spring’s primary was a more expensive affair for the county government. running up a bill of $5.922. But since only 4.679 votes were cast in May. compared to 9.912 this month, the cost per vote was more than double this month's figure—--11.26. Included in the election costs are such i'ems as salaries of election workers, canvassing boards and the “lection commissioners; election supplies meals for election workers: rental; and registration expenses. Apnroximatelv 90 perrent of the registered voters exercised their franchise Novemlier 2*