Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 47, Number 82, Decatur, Adams County, 7 April 1949 — Page 1

iXLVII. No. 82.

WEEPING NEW FARM PROGRAM PROPOSED

Ariel Russia • lens Attack S New Pact Wells UN Atlantic «eaty Violation The UN Charter E bulletin Success, N. Y., Apr. 7 [ KB(IjP) — Overriding bitter '■ et and Polish objections, KKjn committee voted overSKlmingly today for a fullreview in the United Naof the recent church BKals behind the iron curtain. Hke Success. N. Y.. April 7-| Russia opined its attack on Mnorih Atlantic treaty in the Nations today, pact is a violation of the UN Soviet delegate Jacob A. told tin organization’s steerHe also said it was under which the United |K $ was hiding actions as an nation. -’■fisaitack on the north Atlantic came in the middle of an"ES denunciation of the western j |Hrs which he was delivering.! an attempt by Austra-j Bolivia to have the UN in- 1 the recent trials of Jo-1 |H Cardinal Mindszenty in HunK..n<! Hl Protestant churchmen! Such an investigation be an unwarranted interferin the internal affairs of HunK and Bulgaria, Malik said. 5 he shifted his attack to the S Atlantic treaty which was in Washington earlier tl is BBw should recall,” he said, "the violations of the charter o’ IX through establishment of blocs under the guise? shield, of erudite references to articles of the charter — by just one purpose." purpose. Malik added, is fulfillment of plans for world toward which the lead-' circles of the United States i;u:line themselves without any or reason." also said the United States Britain were guilty of "notoriviolations of the Yalta and agreements. was bitter against the States in his speech oppos- ! investigation of the churchtrials. United States of America ■> other states following in its 1 seek to utilize the United Na- 1 and the general assembly for of slander, inimical propaand the setting of yokes on ■ iTiim To Pmcr Fliei ■udenls Protest Bring Principal || Scottsburg Pupils ||J° Picket School students prepared to to picket Scottsburg high ■ w ' ! to prevent non-striking from attending classes. t> p strike started yesterday In IB 1 ' *■’! to the tiring of principal E ■ Butler. udents and parents p’-eseroed Protesting the dismissal ■ "’“’lt and Miss Ruby Keel. ■“/’ director, at a meetine of ’he ■" % l board Tuesday night. The BJreinstated Miss Keel but rt to rehire Butler. ■ Thj strike was highlighted by a Bln r, ' Veß,erdav in which more |B a “’lf the school’s 277 pupils J Clpa,6<l Led by the band. cor P*' ’“d a pretty drum 'J’tte. they whooped it up for praised Butler’s IKhnn’ ’paling with the students 1 “card members aereed ■..' * a ‘ d he a good teacher * Principal and sunerin’en|KL, * €re a PPr ( ”<‘hing the retire ,„/* and th «re was nobody to “ them. ■3* wan! a hunger principal ■t Bi n l alte tlle i° b of ’uperin ■ip j^ n 11 becomM vacant," ■ Ra .?’ d Sft retary Iv an Gillespie K -v,/ 015 dUty wa ’ ,0 keep Wents in the classrooms. ■fused u break the ’ trike He KnuLi 0 Wram «« on the board’s ■j" action. II e. weather H dav".’. 1 ? ,air Unl9ht ind Fr, ‘ ■ ’♦’Mur? liWl * Chanße ,em ‘

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

May 2 Is Deadline For Tax Payments County treasurer Norval Fuhrman today called attention to the fact that Monday, May 2, is the final day for paying taxes before the penalty applies. The office will be open from 8 to 11 a.tn. and from 1 to 4 p.m. for the present. Mr.. Fuhrman stated the office, at a later date, will be open during the noon hour and the time in the evening extended for the final rush, announcement of the exact hours to be made later. Report Rebels Invade State Os Guatemala Report Rebel Force Is Supported By Fighting Planes Mexico City, April 7.—(UP)— A well-armed force of 1,000 rebels supported by fighting and bombing planes has invaded Guatemala, revoluntlonary sources reported toi day.

The rebellion has been “studied and prepared for a year," these Guatemalan sources said. The army headed by Jose Tram-1 gay and Jose Ignacio Aguilar C.! crossed the border between GuateJ mala and Mexico from the rough] jungle country of Chiapas state,! it was reported. A proclamation signed by Aguilar said the rebellion calls "all the free men of our country to cooperate in the defeat of the rene-| gade tyranny” of President Juan; Jose “and to re-establish constitutional order . . ." Thg Guatemalan embassy here called the reports from Guatemala “exaggerated." but admitted that armed forces were loose in northern Guatemala. “The movement consists only of a group of armed assailants which has attacked the tewns of Ayutla and Malacatan," the Guatemalan ambassador stated. He said the Guatemalan government had sent "military detach-, ments from Quezeltenango to pursue the rebels." "It is thus impossible,” he said, "that a military garrison likei Quezaltenango has fallen into rebel hands.” The embassy said the rebels had, overpowered and robbed the cus- 1 toms house at Carmen near Mala-i catan on the frontier and “continu- ] ed their depredations against smaller towns." The rebel proclamation said that ; only those “who recognize and ad here to the liberating movement within 20 days will be able to save themselves." The revolutionary sources claim ed that rebel forces had reached the city of Quezaltenango about 45 miles inside the Guatemalan bolder. The rebels, equipped with machine guns, rifles, hand grenades, and supported by “fighting (Tgm Tn I’nitr Fisht)

Continue Hunt For Cause Os Gas Fumes Stores And Homes Bothered By Fumes The cause for heavy gas turner in basements of store building? and residences within an area bounded by Madison and Marshall streets,'within First and Third streets, was still being checked today by Northern Indiana Public Service company technician*, as sisted bv the city workmen Yesterday. Ed Ray. assistant superintendent of the NIPSC 0 (gas company* spent the w.iole day in the city, checking base ments with a gas leak indicator He was accompanied on the fume hunt by Cedric Fisher. Decatut fire chief. The indicator did not prove that the fumes were caused from nat ural gas. Fire chief Fisher stat ed that he was convinced the fumes came from gasoline or cleaning fluid that had been emptied into the sewers. Workmen for the gas company were continuing their search for the evasive fumes today. The fumes have oeen so heavy in a few of the store basements on Nonh Second and Monroe street, that warning has been given not to light (Tara Te E***"

Hospital Fire Death Toll Is Placed At 66 Southern Illinois Town Still Stunned By Hospital Tragedy iFffingham, April 7 — (UP) — This heartsick town began burying its dead today as the Catholic chancery office announced a "final" toll of 74 lives lost in the fire which destroyed St. Anthony's hospital. Mayor H. B. Rinehart, acting on a resolution passed by the city council, said he would declare next Tuesday as a memorial day for the fire victims. All businesses will close for the day. The chancery said 62 bodies had been accounted for. most of them dug from the charred ruins of the three-story hospital. Twelve victims were listed as missing and believed buried in the debris. "This estimate is considered final," said a spokesman for the chancery office. He said that 128 persons were in the hospital when the fire flashed through the old building early Tuesday. These included patients, visitors. nurses, staff members and Franciscan nuns who ran the hospital. There were 55 survivors, the chancery said, leaving 73 dead or missing. The death count did not Include a baby born dead to a mother who leaped from a window. The 74th victim was Mrs. Elizabeth Schuette, 78, who died in an Effingham home today from injuries suffered in the fire. ■Residents of this southern Illinois town of 8.000 persons still were stunned by the tragedy, which ranked among the nation’s worst hospital disasters. Grief-stricken relatives stood in little 'groups around the ruins as firemen brought cut mangled and burned victims, one by one, and took them to temporary morgues. The bright sun of a warm spring day seemed out of place. Group services tor four of the victims were to be held today. Investigators were proceeding slowly in their search for the disaster's cause. They wanted to let some of the shock wear off. State fire marshal Pat Kelly said after a preliminary inspection that there was "inconclusive” evidence of paint stored in the basement. The building was being decorated he said, and he believed the flames may have fed on paint and varnish. But nuns in charge Os the hospital said the redecorating was (Turn To lUxbt»

Filtering Systems Inspected By City City Officials On Tour Os Inspection A group of Decatur officials including all members of the council. Mayor John Doan. Ralph Roop, city engineer, and Lester Pettibone, superintendent of the light and power plant, were to make an inspection trip to Fort Wayne and New Haven this afternoon. The committee will examine three different types of water filter ing systems now in operation, with a view to installing a filtering system in Decatur. Many complaints have been registered here recently. it was learned, because of the large amount of iron in the city water, especially when the water is pumped from the new wells east of Decatur. Housewives have registered the most complaints because of their inability to keep wash and toik>t bowls clean with the large amount of iron deposit which has been in the water recently. The local committee also will examine a water softener system at Fort Wayne, and a combination filtering and softener system. The water problem here has been studied for some time by the council members and engineer Roop and it is believed that the only solution Is a filtering system. Cost and results of th ) various systems will be studied by the group this afternoon and a formal re port will be tiled probably at the next meeting of the city council.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, April 7,1949

Asks President For Help Ww ng w - 11 jt- • -*EEikVl' k. Bkf mMB k AN APPEAL has been sent to President Truman by a French war bride whose husband. Russell G. Bird, was whisked from his Mishawaka, Ind., home and taken to Frankfurt, Germany, leaving her and their two small children a'one and without funds. She is Mrs. Jacqueline Bird, who deplored the secrecy surrounding the .detention of Bird, former civilian manager of an Army post exchange in Frankfurt. He is held in connection with alleged black market cigaret dealings. Mrs. Bird, shown with her husband and children, told the president in her letter that he was her "last hope.”

China Peace Talks Are Near Collapse Communists Demand Outright Surrender By United Press Negotiations to end China's 22-year-old civil war faced collapse today under a stiff communist ultimatum for outright surrender of nationalist forces by April 12. A reliable source said the communists warned that they would start an immediate offensive across the Yangtze and envelop ail China if the government refused to accept the surrender demand by next Tuesday’s deadline. “From present indications," the source said, “the Peiping peace talks are doomed to failure because the communist demands are totally unacceptable to the government." He said the surrender terms were “shockingly sweeping and drastic," even going beyond the original eight hard conditions laid down by No. 1 communi t Mao Tze-Tung on Jan. 14. Mao’s conditions called for punishment of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek and other war criminals, scrapping of the constitution and reorganization of both the communist and nationalist armies. One of the new surrender terms was understood to be es’ablish(Turn Tn Paur Kight)

Implicate Seven In Spinster’s Murder One Missouri Man Confesses Murder Albany. Mo., April 7—(UP)— Seven men were implicated today in the almost-perfect murder of an SOvear-old spinster for her bucketful of outdated gold certificates. Freddie McQuinn, 34. of Stanberry. Mo., made a written state ment in which he admitted beating Mary Hammer to death with her crutch. C. E. Ernst, county attorney. said he would file murder charges against McQuinn. Tommy Beal. Earl Enrich and Columbus McCrary were charged with larceny and Raymond Pettey with receiving stolen money in connection with the slaying. Sheriffs deputies were enroute to Corpus Christi. Tex., to return Harold Enrich here for questioning. Sheriff Everett Bowman said McQuinn's statement implicated another man. not yet questioned All the suspects were from Stanberry. Miss Hammer's body, her brok (Tara Ta Page 9Ut

BULLETIN Washington, April 7— (UP) — President Truman today nominated Stephen T. Early, former White House secretary, to be undersecretary of defense. Price Reductions In Steel Products Accentuate Cut In Nation's Steel Bill Pittsburg, April 7 — (UP) —(Now pries reductions in several finished steel products today accentuated an overall shrinkage in the nation’s steel bill. • The Carnegle-lilinols Steel Corp, and the National Tube Co. announced price reductions of $2 and $1.25 a ton in galvanized steel products. The U. 8. Steel Corp, subsldar les said the reductions stemmed from a S2O a ton decrease in the price of zinc used in steel coating. The drop amounts to approximately $1.25 a ton. depending on guages involved, on Carnegie’s galvanized sheet products, and $2 a ton on National Tube’s galvanized pipe. . The National Supply Co. also announced a $2 cut on its galvanized pie of one-half inch and larger sizes. Price cuts have been appearin’ in an increasing number of steel products lines recently, marking the return of competition to the steel market. Furloughing of workers was reported hy a number of fabricators, the firms that turn raw steel into finished products. The lavoffs have resulted from lack of orders. In the light of lessened demand, producers have been forced to reexamine their catalogs with an eve to price reductions. In general, the composite price of all steel products was reported off from 50 cents to $1 a ton.

Ayrshire District Show During Fair A third open cattle show to be held In connection with the Decatur free street fair July 25 to 30 was announced today by Clarence Ziner. chairman of the 1949 event. The northern Indiana Ayrshire breeders' association has accepted an invitation to have its annual show here this year. Previously, associations representing guernsey and Jersey breeders accepted invitations to have their annual show in connection with the Decatur fair. Charles Backhaus. well-known Adams county fanner, represented the local Avrshire members and extended the invitation for the street fair association.

Proposes Permanent High Price Supports, Subsidy To Give Consumers Break

Potential Enemies Warned By Truman Would Not Hesitate To Use Atom Bomb Washington, April 7—(UP)— Potential enemies of the United States were on notice today that President Truman would not hesitate to use the atom bomb again if he believed the welfare of the democracies was at stake. But the President solemnly told a gathering of congressmen: “I hope and pray that that will never be necessary.” He recalled in a speech last night that soon after he became President in 1945, he was called upon to authorize use of the atom bomb against two Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. "Now I believe,” he said, "that we are in a position where we will never have to make that decision again. But if it has to be made for the welfare of the United States, and the democracies of the world are at stake, I wouldn’t hesitate to make it again.” Mr. Truman said he hopes the north Atlantic security pact “is a step that will prevent our having to make a decision of that sort.” The chief executive may be asked to elaborate on his remarks at i his press conference later today. The dinner was arranged by the Democratic national committee in an attempt to establish closer relations between the White House and freshmen Democrats in coni gress. The 81st congress has been somewhat cool thus far to the President’s legislative program. But Mr. Truman made no direct references In his off-the-cuff speech to political issues. After a few humorous remarks about the days l when he was a newcomer in the! senate, he plunged into a deadly serious discussion of the U. S. role in world affairs. “The welfare of the wofld is now our responsibility,” ‘he sal d. “Whether we like it or not, we| have been forced into that position | by two world wars, both of which | could have been avoided if we had | < Hirn To I’nge Eight)

Immunization Need Os School Children Health Roundup At School Completed The two-day health round-up completed Wednesday at Lincoln school disclosed that smallpox and diptheria immunization is the most widespread medical need of Decatur children. After 179 children had been examined Tuesday. ISO more preschool and elementary grade school cnildren received medical checking Wednesday. Eye examinations will be completed Friday. Doctors and mothers donated their services during the clinic, which was sponsored by the Lincoln Parent-Teachers Association. Medical supplies were donated by the Kohne Drug store. This is the last year school children will receive free medical examinations. Future clinics will include only children eligible to enter kindergarten the following (Tara Tn Paqr Kl(k() Dean Baughman To Head Eagles Lodge Dean Baughman was elected president of Decatur Eagles Lodge 2653 at the annual election held Wednesday evening at the lodge hall on Second street. He succeeds Philip Courtney. Other officers elected are vice presid-nt. Vernell Haliegger: chaplain. Ray Kramer; secretary; Lofton Rich: treasurer. Kenneth Barker; conductor. Maynsrd Habegger; three-year trustee. Earl Geyer: inside guard. Bobby Dorsey; outside guard. Chalmer Walters. All new ofDcers will be installed during the first meeting in June

SenafeG.O.P. Heads Seek To Cui Aid Bill _ ( Nourse Statement On Economy Needs Cited By Leaders Washington. Apr. 7 — (UP) — ! Senate Republican leaders turned ( a statement by President Tru- . man's No. 1 economist into ammunition in their battle to cut. ( foreign aid. , This turn of events threatened I the administration’s drive to wind I. up senate debate on the $5,580,- , 000,000 Marshall plan renewal bill . by tonight. i The statement being turned against the administration was made by Dr. Edwin G. Nourse, , chairman of the president's council of economic advisers. He said i the United States should revise! defense and foreign spending. plans in view of expenditures it will have to make if it arms Atlantic treaty nations. Senate GGP leader Kenneth S. Wherry, who had tried unsuccessfully to get the recovery program cut 15 percent, said Nourse’s eall for caution "completely explodes” administration claims that the $5,580,000,000 foreign aid figure is a rock bottom minimum. Other senatorial economizers! saw in Nourse’s warning a weapon for their campaign to trim the budget generally and thus fore-! stall either tax boosts or a federal j 1 deficit. Other congressional develop- 1 ments: Social security—Secretary of labor Maurice J. Tobin asked congress to boost social security bene- , fits and expand the law.'s coverage. Espionage— The administration 1 came right out and said its pro- ! posed new espionage bill is aimed-' jat communists. But justice de- ' j partment officials couldn’t tell con- ! gress how many communists it , I would catch. Until American com- ‘ munists are defined by law or the ( courts as members of a "foreign ] political party,” they said, it will ] I be impossible to arrest them for ( ■ mere party membership. Electoral college—The house ju(Turn Tn Page !ttu» , Mrs. Bari Shraluka ; 11 Dies This Morning ; Funeral Services • I ( Saturday Morning . ~ 11 Mrs. Bertha Shraluka, sa, wife of Bart W. Shraluka. died at o’clock this morning at the Luth-1, eran hospital in Fort Wayne after ( a several months illness of car- j cinoma. Mrs. Shraluka was born in Blue, Creek township April 29, 1893. a daugh er of Emanuel and Eliza . beth Tricker, and resided in Ad- , I ams county and Decatur until 35 ■ I years ago. The family resided at ( i 1835 Wheeler. Fort Wayne. She| ( I was married to Bart W. Shraluka j, 1 Nov. 22. 1911. 11 She was a member of the Em maus Lutheran church in Fort, ■ Wayne. i i Surviving in addition to her husband ar? a son. Robert W. Shra- i luka, of Decatur. Adams countydeputy sheriff; a daughter. Mrs i I Jerome Meyer, also of this city: three grandchildren: two broth-, ers.' Edward Tricker of Adams : I county and Elmer Tricker of Stur- I gis. Mich , and two sisters. Mrs. Roy Young of Adams county and 1 Mrs. William Warner of Muncie Private funeral services will be ' held at 11:30 a. m Saturday at j the Klaehn funeral home In Fort Wayne, the Rev. A. E. Tepke of- | ficiating. Burial will be in the i Tricker cemetery near Salem. j

Price Four Cents

Secretary Brannan Discloses Program At Joint Meeting Os Ag Committees Washington, April 7 — (UP) — The administration today proposed a sweeping new farm program of permanent high price supports, coupled with government subsidies to give consumers a break. Secretary of agriculture Charles F. Brannan unveiled the program before a joint meeting of the senate and house agriculture committees. He said its aim is to help avoid a "farm led and farm-fed depression." The administration program was offered in place of the Aiken law ■which becomes effective on 1950 crops. Under the law, passed by the Republican-controlled 80th congress, price supports for key crops next year probably would drop 10 to 20 percent below present high wartime support levels. The administration last year generally endorsed the lower supports of the Aiken law. The program offered today was designed (1) to appeal to farmers | who want high supports continued and who don’t mind government production controls; (2) to win consumer support: (3) to aid in shifting production away from surplus crops to livestock and dairy products by providing extra high supports for these items. Brannan admitted the program “will cost money.” He didn’t say how much. The administration plan calls for: 1. Bigger and better price supi ports for virtually all basic commo- ! dities would be higher than maxiI mum price props permitted unde: ! the Aiken law. Suport emphas.l would be shifted to livestock an I dairy products. For the first time, there would lie permanent and very high supports for all major meat animals as well as for milk, eggs and chickens. 2. Guaranteed farm income — price supports would be calculated to privide a "minimum farm income." The old "parity price" concept would be scrapped. Supports would insure that farmers get a purchasing power equal to that of a recent 10-year period. To make up for inflation, the system would set supports for the farm commodities next year 25 percent higher than the average price at which each commodity sold during 1939-48. The following year, the base period would be 1940-49. In 1952, the base period would be 1941-1950. 3. Consumer angle — The high price supports offered to farmers for meat, milk and eggs would tend to bring about a big increase in the production of these commodities. The increased supply would be expected to drive prices down. And the government would let prices fall, thus giving consumers a break in the form of more meat, milk and eggs at lower prices. It would not attempt to hold up prices by taking these products off the market. Instead, it would pay farmers the difference, if any. between the support price and the average market price. 4. Family-sized farms — A specific limit would he ret to the amount of production for wSich any farmer could receive price support. The limit would be the same in ail cases, roughly about s2s,<M>o a year gross output. Brannan said this would promote family-sized farms and insure that price supports wouldn't encourage concentration into large farming units. Less than two percent of the nation’s farms would be effected by this limit, he said. 5. More government controls — io be eligible for any price support, producers would have to comply with all government production adjustment and soil conservation procrams Authority to call for acreage allotments and marketing quo'as on additional crops was requested. Brannan recommended that "first priority" support be given to at least 10 commodities He included fonr of the basic commodities — corn, wheat, cotton and tobacco, ilii list also took in tlx others (Tara Ta Pape ElghO