Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 46, Number 307, Decatur, Adams County, 30 December 1948 — Page 1

rtXLVI. No. 307.

URGES MILITARY AID TO WESTERN EUROPE

pray Seeks Inference On r|o's Program I CIO President And I Other Union Heads I Meet With Truman I Washington. Dec. 30 - (UP) - L-mannered Philip Murray said L, emerged from the White f.. w jth other CIO leaders that Cjanted some labor-management ■Lances on wages and other Egomic matters. he evidently referred to L the semi-socialistic program for Coordinated Democratic industrial Lnning" which the CIO endorsed [its convention last month, ijlurray and his associates met [th President Truman late yesLjy afternoon shortly after the [(sident's return from his Christ- [., vacation. The meeting has Enificance because the CIO wts I considerable factor in electing |t Truman last November and | e? e are political debts to be paid fjlurray told reporters he favored L labor-management conferences L r the Taft-Hartley act has 'been [pealed and the Wagner act remitted. He did not detail the other Lnomic matters in addition to Les which he thought labor and Lagement should discuss. | Bit the phrase is broad enough Lover the ClO's industrial planing program. That program itself [about as revolutionary and far Lhing a proposal as ever has Li seriously made to change the Ltionship of the owners, manLs and workers of industry. rhe plan has been described as I 'middle way" between capitalism I practiced in the United States Id socialism which prevails now ■ most of western Europe. In a Lew of the CIO program in the Lent "new republic” its parenL is traced to Walter Reuther, ke socialist-minded president of ■ United Automobile workers. Reuther made his first move tonrd the new CIO objective in the bii-16 dispute with General Mot n when the red head claimed ■res could be hUted without in rasing prices of GM products. Let figures with which to supra his argument, Reuther asked ■examine GM’s books. The corpor Bon countered with a charge that leather was trying to take over me of the rights and responsible ■ of management. The system of Democratic industhi planning now endorsed by the M would go considerably beyond k The policy adopted by the pion's convention did not spell ■ the system in any detail. But it wed that it was to obtain parti Lion of the people in making the If decisions of industry. The "new republic” analyzes it ■ way: To be specific, key decisions in ke decisions of corporation haagement on prices, production •hde*. dividend 'payments, plant teuton, rate of technological and other matters. The •augers would no longer be allow d to make such key decisions by knaelves. Unions, the federa' ■emment and other forces would • tot Into responsibility and au hity." The -whole framework of semi •dalited management of industry ••Id be topped by a national pro "tlon board. This board would ITara To Pace Mailt) please Appointment Next Monday d°hu Augsburger, president of the of Adams county commission ‘toted today that the appoint t 0 be filled by the board -d not be released until next W. mmmissioners will hold an ■~®‘**tion meeting Saturday * tln ? and then go to the county ** to assist in taking the annual 7®tory at the home and on the "bile the commissioners ' “reed on several appoint to the official appointments . be placed on record until «*day session. Mr. AugsburWEATHER ,ls and colder tonight. Fria^*' f w«rmer in after-

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Big Price Cuts In Basic Foods Shown Grocers, Butchers Make Drastic Cuts By United Press Grocers and butchers have slashed prices of basic foodstuffs drastically during the last six months in line with a corresponding decline in wholesale food prices, a survey of 25 cities revealed today. The statistical firm of Dun and Bradstreet reported yesterday that i wholesale food prices dropped more than 14 percent in 1948 as result of a 23-week decline from the all- . time high reached July 13. The Dun and Bradstreet index , for the week ended Dec. 28 stood , at $6.21 compared to the July 13 peak of $7.36. Today’s survey, conducted by United Press, showed that retail prices generally have kept pace with wholesale prices on the decline. The only item to show an increase in the average retail price was milk. But even in this case, the increase amounted to only four-tenths of a cent. Here is a table showing the /.verage prices on various food items today as compared with July 13: Tooday July 13 Hamburger (per lb.) 53.9 cents 62.4 cents Lamb .... 66.8 cents 76.6 cents T-bone .... 83.7 cents $1.07 Bacon 67.1 cents 75.9 cents Butter .... 73.9 cents 87.6 cents Potatoes 5 lbs.) ... 24.7 cents 26.6 cents Milk (qt.) . 20.9 cents 20.5 cents Some retailers said they expect the trend to continue into the new year. Fred Smith, assistant manager of a chain store (A. & P.) at Springfield, 111., said he expects even bigger price declines in January "when people haven't got so much money to spend.” He said that, prices on most of the food items on his shelves had "generally declined." Several store operators pointed out that dairy food prices are not as "sensitive" to general trends since in many localities they are fixed by law or through marketing agreements. At Los Angeles, for example, the price of milk was increased by state order from 19 cents to 20 cents a quart during the six month period. A Des Moines chain store manager said the wholesale price of butter had no bearing on the current retail price in that city. Butter retailed there today at 59 cents compared to a wholes?.'.'' price of 68 cents. On July 13 butter sold at re(Turn To Pnge Two) City Prepares For Holiday Observance Suspend Business Here On Saturday Residents of Decatur and Adams -ounty will usher in the new year Friday night in the ustia: stark conrast between revelling and reigious observance Parties in homes, lodges and tav>rns will draw those who wish to -elebrate the passing <»t an eventul 1948 with paper hats, horns, ■alloons and dancing. Others will spend the night in houses of worship, where the tralitional watch night observances will be held. Among the organizations spending New Year s Eve parties are the Elks. American Legion. YFw. Eagles and Knights of Columbus Most of these even s will lie restrnted to members and their guests or amilies. , Those who seek the confines of taverns for their New Year's Eve elebrating will be forced to lea'e at the stroke of midnight, under S ‘ County offices in the court house will close at 11:30 a m FTiday. and Mty offices wil shut down at 3 p.nt The Dailv Democrat will publish appearing Monday afternoon. Busi ness generally will be suspended all dav Saturday. There will be only moderate Os county officials, who will be called in early New A ears Dw for meetings and <he swearmz h. I ceremony of newiy elected off cex. Sports enthusiasts will have t Oj I (Tr-« To •’•■e T "*’

Mild Quakes Rocking Reno For 4th Day Divorce Capital Os Nation Shaken By Mild Earthquakes Reno, Nev., Dec. 30 — (UP) — Mild earthquakes gently rocked this divorce capital for the fourth day in a row today, and many uneasy visitor already had ’eft town. Some residents were taking the tremblers in stride, but others apparently were jittery. Last night the city was rife with rumors. One story, the origin of which nobody knew, had it that a major quake was expected at 10:42 a.m. today. Police and newspaper offices were swamped with telephone calls from anxious residens. » : Holiday travel made it difficult to tell how many visitors had cut their visits short to seek steadier ground. But a city-wide survey of hotels, airlines and railroads indicated that a few hundred had left in fear of a major quake. George Galvin, district manager of United Airlines, said there were indications that some of the anxiety had passed, however. Prof. Vincent Gianella. seismologist at the University of Nevada, i reported his seismograph still rei cording tremors, four days after the | first began to be shaken by earthquakes. There had been no great damage or loss of life. “We're getting occasional quivers and every once in awhile a stiff jolt that can be felt in downtown Reno," Gianella reported, many | Reno residents reported feeling gentle shakes about 4 a.m. “This continuing earthquake actij vity is still so unusual I don’t know what to think of it," Gianella said. Despite the fact that Reno sits on top of a net work of earth faults and is surrounded by similar ays- ! terns, not even the oldest resident could recall a time when quakes continued for four days. ■Hotels in general declined to admit how many visitors actually checked out. The checking station on highway | 40 at Truckee, Calif., reported “we noticed an unusual number of west-1 hound cars with non Nevada license plates." A good many people, a checker said, "told us'that the | Reno earthquake business was too j much for them.” No instance could be found where a divorcee had packed her bags! and departed from earthquake-proof homes. Most of them pointed out! , that a six-weeks stay in Reno in-; (Turn To Piu;e Eight)

Animals, Eccentrics, Quirks From Life Highlited Human Interest News In '4B

Lots of big tilings happened in 1948. Harry Truman, the underdog from independence, was re-elected to the presidency. Princess Elizabeth gave birth to a bouncing mon-arch-todie. The cold war raged unabated. And the cost of living and dying zoomed, it was a big year. Lots of little things happened in 1948. too. News about just plain folks — news with a chuckle or a t ea r — news that often got buried when the really important stuff got too thick. Do you remember— The time when Mike Riccardi, the plasterer, ate the most expensive meals of his life. Plastering a four-room house rear Decatur, he was invited by the owner to take his meals there, to save time an J money. When Mike presented his bill .or the S3OO plastering job. the gracious home-owner retaliated with a bill for six meals, at $25 per. The fireworks in Berne when four local youths were accused of terrorizing some Amish lads and their horses after a party, by firing sho's in the night. The sheriff probed the case, discovered the shots were from a cap pistol, realized the Berne boys were irate because pranksters had deflated their <ar tires, and called it a confused day. The problem the sheriff had in June A 72-year-old man from the southern part of the county had been incarcerated in the county jail for five weeks on an insanity charge filed by his son In law. The medics said the gent was as sane as the son-in-law. But the sheriff Ididn t have the heart to turn him

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, December 30, 1948

11 ■ .1 , . - - ——— Back To Work Despite Weather X. "'sSBSK • • i-i-BL; 4. * t ' jT ■ ■' •?»*' I PRESIDENT TRUMAN aligh's from tile presidential plane "Independence" at Washington airport, ready to return to his official duties. Well equipped with reading matter Mr. Truman apparently didn’t mind being forced to circle the airport for 43 minutes because of bad weather at the end of his journey from Kansas City. His plane made a war-time “GGA” (ground controlled approach) landing.

Telephone Company Directory In Mail 1949 Directory Is Placed In Mails The 1949 directory ot tne Citizens Telephone company was in the mails today, containing 88 pages of alphabetical and classified listings from AAA to 7/Wick, Patrons who fail to receive their new directories tomorrow were asked to contact the company’s business office, whose number is 160, A rough count of the Decatur I pages found the Miller clan in the lead, with 38 Millers listed. If your I name is Smith, Schmidt, Schmitt, or Schmitz, take heart. AH together you comprise 41 subscribers. Other frequently found names are 'Meyer (17), Myers (18), Thieme, I (19), Johnson (19), Baker (26) ami | I Andrews (17). The Browns are out(Turn To Pnge Eight)

t out of the cozy jail suite, since the ; | county home turned him away ami I his relatives refused to support -1 him. Punk called him “my prob--1 lent child." ■ [ The animal stories. Gyppolalee II Abraham Hoff-Brau. Gyppet for I short, was the dog of Jim Murphy, i affectionate. well-bred and distini guished among canines. His passi ing at the age of 11 brought sorrow I to the many who knew him. [ Horses got into the news in mid-1 April when the late Willie Reed. , truck gardner. purchased a SO-year- - old nag named Mack from John i Trout. Mack was blind and appar- > ■ ently deaf hut Willie wanted to • 1 save him from the fate of most I steeds. He outbid the glue factory i with a $lO offer. • Snakes, too. Dan Thomas, a local 1 Cub scou’. repotted to police that j > 17 snakes from his collection were stolen. None of the reptiles was of r the deadly variety, he said, but it ■ sort of put an end to his hobby. r Pretty rough on the kid. losing his i pe s that way. > There weie memora'de state- » ments. too. • i "That was aliout th- 12th time > he wanted out." said the Adams r' county woman who chased her pedestrian husband in and out of a ■ field in the family auto in the wee • hours one night. No. she didn't 1 want to kill him. only give him a . hard time If he kept it up. they'd i r never get home from their beer- ? drinking soiree in Willshire, she ex- » plained f “It was too close and hot in i there — I needed some air," said

Dr. Albert Einstein To Undergo Operation New York, Dec. 30 — (UP) — Dr. Albert Einstein, woild renowned iphysicist, will undergo an abdominal operation tomorrow to correct a "long standing condition," his physician said today. The operation will be performed at Jewish hospital, where Einstein has been under examination. Dr. Rudolph Ehrmann said Einstein’s condition was not malignant. Auburn Man Killed When Hit By Auto Auburn, Ind., Dec. 30 — (UP)— Morris Reichard. 59, Auburn, died in Souder hospital here today of injuries received when he was struck by an automobile here last night. it was Auburn's fifth traffic death ! since September after the city went i lor eight years without a single j traffic fatality.

the 40-year-old Geneva man who tossed a chair through a couple of windows in the office of Dr. Roy Andress, where he was a patient. No charges were filed, because the perspiring Genevan said he’d pay the $75 to fix the place. “Just like the pony express." sighed Ken Boley. Daily Democrat carrier l»oy. He was trading in his pony for a bike. Subscribers along . his route complained he played havoc with their lawns while delivering papers from his trusty mount. “It sure was a stupid thing to do." said Marion Dey. a former Decatur resident, when he started the long road to recovery in a Columbus. 0.. hospital. Finishing work on a huge electric sign, he hit his head against a $.900 volt high tension! line and was nearly electrocuted.' The shock from the less powerful wire he fell to must have started his heart beating again, doctors said “Utterly fantastic.” said authorities about the macabre news July i 7. Burial services were to be held for Mrs. Relo-cca Ann I'hrick. of Berne. But she had been dead exactly a year, her Itody reposing tn a pickling vat at I. t’.'s medical la'>s. Iler relatives here, who ap-, parently torgot altout her when she was admitted to Easthavea hospital. could of'er no explanation Wars, plagues and earthquakes may keep bobbing up through the years, but it's still the little things in life — funny, sad or just unusual — that make this wor d go round, j

Secretary Forrestal In Plea For Aid As Bulwark To United States Defense

Four Attorneys To Form Association Joint Law Offices Here First Os Year Four well-known Decatur attor-1 neys will be associated together in I the law offices of Nelson, DeVoss, I Smith and Macklin, and starting January 1, the group will have offices on the second floor of the DeVoss building on South Second street. The entire second floor, with the exception of two rooms, which will be occupied as now by John Stoneburner, Washington township trustee, will be used by the four men. Each will have a private office and all four will share a library and conference room. The reception room will be in charge of Miss Vivian Beam. The rooms have beeq redecorated and several partitions have been changed, to utilize more of the second floor space. Nathan Nelson, Senior member of the group, has practiced law in Decatur for more than 20 years. He is a veteran of World War I and came to this city from Geneva 25 years ago. He has served as prosecuting attorney and Democratic county chairman. John DeVoss has practiced law in Decatur for 14 years. He is a former prosecutor and veteran of World War 11. He was graduated •from Indiana University law school and is the son of the late Judge H. M. DeVoss, who served as judge of the Adams circuit court and the Indiana appellate court. Lewis Lutz Smith is an Indiana University law school graduate: former prosecutor and World War II veteran. He has practiced law in Decatur for more than six years. David Macklin, youngest member of the new firm, was graduated from Indiana University law school in 1948 and recently passed his state bar examination. He is a World War 11 veteran and member of the Naval Reserve. Walter J. Bockman, insurance and real estate dealer, who has occupied a suite of rooms in the DeVoss building for several years. • (Turn Tn Pairr Two) 1 " —. • Sam Bentz Named As Court Bailiff Other Appointments Made By Judge-Elect Sam Bentz, former deputy sheriff and well-known Adams county man. will become bailiff of Adams circuit court January 1, it was announced today by Judgeelect Myles Parrish, who also takes office as judge of the Adams circuit court on that day. Mr. Bentz will succeed Fred Koi ter. who has served as bailiff for several years under the late Judge J. Fred Fruehte and his successor. Judge E. B. Adams. Mr. Bentz resigned a few months ago as deputy sheriff after having served In that capacity for more than five years Miss Winifred Kltson was reap pointed court reporter by the judgeelect. Miss Kltson has served in several federal and state secretarial positions and also has served as icporter under the late Judge Fruehte and also Judge Adams. Miss Kltson has achieved a record for accuracy, according to those who have served with her C. H. Muselman, Berne at’orney and printing concern executive, who has served several years as county probation officer, also was reappointed by Judge-elect Pan ish All three of the new judae’s staff will assume their duties Saturday morning. January 1 at 1» o'clock. : when Ed Jalierg. county clerk, ad ministers the oath of office to the new judge. The judze-elect stated that ap pointment of two jury commissioners would be made in about two weeks and that they would start their terms of office at the start of |tbe next term of court.

Renewed Fight In Palestine Is Near End Week-Long Battle Is Termed Victory For Jewish Forces By United Press The renewed burst of lighting in southern Palestine was about over today. Jewish military circles‘said the week-long battle was a success for Israel. An Israeli foreign office spokesman said there would be no cause for further filing in the Negev desert area by the time that the United Nations security council's, ceasefire order arrives, probably today. The spokesman denied British reports that Jewish forces had driven 25 miles inside Egypt. He admitted, however, that Jewish planes were attacking Egyptian . positions outside Israeli territory, i Other foreign news included: Batavia, Java — Dutch army headquarters reported the capture of the rich Djambi oil district in i south central Sumatra. Nanking— Generalissimo Chiang I Kai-Shek and Premier Sun Fo met top nationalist field commanders ‘ for the second straight day to deI cide the question of peace or war. Chinese press reports indi<'at>/i that the communists have seized a 35-mlle stretch of the Yangtze 1 river 75 miles from Nanking. Vatican City —The consistorial congregation of the Roman Catho lie church announced the exeoni(Turn To I’nur I’luhts I Observe Universal I Prayer Week Here Plan Union Service Wednesday, Jan. 5 Universal Prayer week, observed annually by Protestant churches throughout the world, will be sponsored locally by the Decatur ministerial association, it was announced today. A union service lor members ot all churches will be held VVednes day night, January 5, at 7:30 k o’clock at Union Chapel Evangeli- ■ cal United Brethren church, two , miles northeast or Decatur, with the Rev. A. C. E. Gillander. pastor , of the First Presbyterian churc 1 here, delivering the message. Several other local ministers, members of the ministerial association. also will have part in the program. The local group decided ’o combine the week’s observance into a one-night meeting. The theme for the week will be ’The Dynamic Leadership of the • Holy Spirit." A booklet will be circulated to all interested pt-l-sons, giving daily topics for tne ! week’s observance. Several of the local churchts are providing transportation to ■ the Union Chapel church for the i meeting, and the public is invit-,1 - to attend. I

. MANY WORTHWHILE GIFTS AWAIT THE » First Baby Born in 1949 t I i sI:E PAGE 6 and PAGE 7 » For Complete Details and List of Awards to the Luckv Winner. t f

Price Four Cents

Defense Secretary Also Urges Change For Armed Forces Unification Law Washington. Dec. 30—(UP)— Defense secretary Janies Forrestal called today for a program of military aid to non Communist western Europe as a means of strengthening our own seeuirty. At the same time, he urged congress to make six major changes in the armed forces unification law to strengthen central control over the army, navy and air force. One of these, he said in his first annual ! report, should be creation of the . I new post of defense under score- , I tary. His report also warned that the . | atom bomb alone does not guar- , ■ antee the United States victory in . | any future war. , i Forrestal admitted that military aid to non Communist western Europe would requite "hard decisions" in view of the billions already be- ! ing spent for the Marshall plan and j for defense at home. i But, he said, our security is di- ' j rectly related to Europe's self-re-1' liance and “we must do everything 1 in our power to re-create the con- ■ fidence and hope of Europe." This, he said, does not mean we ' must start with a "vast" military ‘, program. But by beginning it in 1 “modest proportions," lie said, this country can show it is determined > to “follow through the actions inI volved in the European recovery ’ program." " "This is not. in my opinion, squandering our substance," he II said. I Forrestal said the nation has ■ “grown stronger" in the first 15 months operation of the armed II services unification law. In the field of new weapons, lie said, “the - United States has gained acknowledged supremacy " Hut he admitted frankly that interservice rivalry and disputes over the division of funds remain sharp, especially between the navy and air force. His re<•omm end a 11 on s for strengthening the military establishtm nt were closely akin to those made earlier this month by a "task force" of tlie Hoover commission on government reorganization. Besides calling for a new undersecretary of defense, Forrestal said: 1. The secretary’s powers should he bolstered by having the law 1 state clearly that he shall exercise "direction, authority and control" over the three services. The ( law now says lie shall establish ; "general policies" and have "gen--9 eral direction" 2 There should be a single “re- ’' sponsible head” for the joint chiefs of staff whose members now are r on equal footing He also proposed I that the chief of staff to the president lie dropped from the joint • chiefs. That post is now held by ' | Adm William D. Leahy who re- '■! portedly plans to retire soon. II 3 The "joint staff.” a sort of '■ j secretariat to the joint chiefs, ■ should be enlarged. It is now "' limited to 100 members. c I 4 The defense secretary should i' | be made the only armed services representative on the national sei- curity council. The secretaries of I army, navy and air force are now s I members. ~ 5. The secretary’s authority to ■ deal with personnel problems I should be "clarified ” and his staff ■ Turn Te Page Hight)