Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 47, Number 142, Decatur, Adams County, 17 June 1949 — Page 1

JjjCLVH- No. 142.

SET COAL CONTRACT TALKS FOR JUNE 22

|ublic School Lacher Staff Lnnounced 1 Five New Teachers J Hired For Decatur J Schools Next Year H-., Decatur high school will ■ a vocational agriculture Kber next for lhe f,r *‘ E, dnce 1943, Waiter J Krieg. E... n> >i ll jpin of public schools E,jn.fi taday. The new teacher K' Vaughn E. .Miller of PennK, He has a bachelor of science EZee in agriculture from Purdue ELerjity. where he held a 4-H E)hr«bi|> t« »•'">/ agriculture. KT former agricultural teacher. Ej.j,.. iven. was killed In ac’lon E a g World War 11. ■ j Cu> Brown, principal of the Ei whool. stated that approxiEZly 10 percent of the parentfl of E> ,chool students were engaged Ewi. ulture. and that 30 boys E glrin had shown an interest Kgriculturai classes. ■ four other new teachers have Et, b red for next year, the super* Keadent added, to replace those E.haie resigned or retired Mina Kr-ca Morris retired, and will be Kilned in her third grade teachKgponition by Miss Mary Jo HoffKg of Decatur. Misa Hoffman related an A. B. degree from Bail fair Tea, hers V’dlege She s« rv.-d L i r.ih«tltute teacher in the Linphi who.il the past year Mr* Kathryn Dorwin resigned Bd Patricia A. Johnson of New Intin Conn., will take her place, larking the first grade at the la oln school. Miss Johnson is a pduite of the Teachers college of Britain, where she received an IE degree She is a niece of Mrs. Lio Saylors of this city. Mlu Charlotte Vera, of Albany MU teach l.atin and English in the tach school years, replacing Mrs. ten Cowens I.ueras, who resignri to be with her husband aft'ir Barhinc here one year Miss Vara Ua had eight years of practical exiMeace, and has taught at the Miln high school for the past year te received an A B degree from Kiana Inlverslty. and did postrutuate work at the University of feflhem California. Los Angeles Miss Alice Joanne Newcombe. will replace Miss Mar|M» Ross Lust, who taught homo ssnomics the past year at the high kbuol -Miss Newcombe received a L degree from Purdue University E* attended Purdue on a 4-H scholar her work in home economics, teip She has been an assistant m club leader for the past two 'samer Other feathers returned, accord**to superintendent Krick, are: at Unctdn school, Bryce Thomas. Miacipal. Gladys Chamberlain, kinhrwten; Huth Petrie, kindergarRosen,ond Gould first grade: ®it*beth Peterson, first grade: T * t * Harris, second grade; Mary ITera T» l*aee Berea) Mance Plans For Taking Applications For Soldiers' Bonus Itfiaaapolis. June 17 —(UP»for Indiana's soldier k*»* will be received and process **'■ the basement of the World memorial, the director of th- - department of.veterans affairs 1,1,1 'May nhton Green said his depart •* hoped to begin distribute i “d processing of applications for T* Bonus July g. A 150-employ* •iministrstive unit was being awto handle the wrok * rros, income tax surtax will • *«ied itarting July 1 to pay for ** beans, estimated to cost be2** HtS.OOO.hM and 1175.9&0.W * bonus payments will be made *<ll the entire amount necessary Elected Cfsen said all bonus business he handled through th? Weather *tely cieudy tonight with light rain or drtale ** oortlon; considerable fop; Slowly decreasing dl "* M *Hh » few showart '"’turning extreme east. Warm- ” north and west portions. ‘eelght M te M: high M to M west. 7» to * east.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Record Production i Seen By Auto Firms Sales Contrast To Drop In Other Lines Detroit. June 17. — (UPI - The auto industry, freed from it* steei shortage tends. sailed ahead today toward what may be a record car and truck production year. With the demand for steel slackjenir.g from other major users, auto i producers now can get most all the I steel they need In the shape they, want it for their hungry assembly lines. Banner auto sales contrasted sharply with cutbac ks in some other major Industries. Big steel users like railroads, machine tool, stove, and refrigerator manufacturers. have had to shorten their orders to stay within teduced production schedules. Despite talk of depression or recession "storm signals," the "big three" auto makers are hiking production schedules higher each month to meet the demand. Output of cars and trucks will hit its highest weekly level in 20 ’ years this week, according to the trade paper automotive news, and there Is a good chanc-e that the hustling industry will complete more than 3,000,000 cars and trucks by June 30. With the pressure for steel off, auto makers are finding that they can liquidate their stocks of “conversion” steel. During the pinch' they bought any and all kinds of| steel and converted It to their needs. "Now we can get normal ad direct delivery of all our steel needs with the exception of cold rolled steel tn wide widths." one spokesman said. With the steel shortage a thing of the past, only serious labor trouble or a sharp drop in demand for cars will stem the drive toward record production of about •■BOO.000 cas and trucks this year. That would top the all-time peak output' of 5.358.420 set in 1929. There has been some drop off in demand. High priced cars aren't going as well. Major setback has been In trucks afid buses where the market is in a slump, due chiefly, some telleve, to high prices. Replacement parts plants also are working short weeks. Although the big three — Ford, Chrysler and General Motors — are turning out cars at an ever In creasing pace, they have their weather eye trained for recession in the market. When and if it comes, as most believe it will, quick model change.* and price reductions can be expected to entice buyers. Normally the three months be- < fore Christmas Is the time when retail car sales drop. The industry expects to experience the slump, for the first time since the war. signalling a return to prewar market conditions. latter trouble'also could cloud the generally bright auto industry • Tore Te Page Fleet Theft Victim Pays Fine For Defendant Sentence Os Young Thief Is Suspended The case of Robert Paul Huffman. charged with grand larceny, so moved those who heard It in circuit court yesterday that the victim of the alleged theft loaned < Huffman the money to pay h‘s fine apd costs Huffmsn pleaded ( guilty to taking 1120 from the Tony Eaton farm while the family , was in the barn milking the cows , on May •• He was fined »25 and posts, totaling 142 .W. «I»*n • one ' to-ten year suspended sentence, and ordered to make full restltution to the plaintiff within three ( months, by Myles F Parrish, judge of the court. 1 The defendant explained tn his confession that he purchased some I plaster-lathe from the Eatons the i day before the theft occurred, and I noticed the money lyi«« ,h< ' table Huffman explained that be wan in a troubled state of mind because of pressing home p»blems.j| •nd he thought be saw an easy . escape The money on the table I bothered him that night, so ha returned the next morning at 7:M ( o'clock, parked by the farmhouse. ( and entered the back door He saw ( Mrs. Eaton's pocketbook lying M ( (Tara 1* Fleet

Case Against Hiss Finished By Government Jury Excused Until Monday To Permit Defense Motions New York. June 17 — (UPI — The government rested its case today in the 14th day of the Alger Hiss perjury trial. Assistant U. S. attorney Thomas F. Murphy rested at 8:43 a. in. ('ST after his 33rd witness had testified. Federal Judge Samuel H. Kaufman then excused the jury of 10 men and two women until Monday so the defense attorney could enter the customary motions. The only witness wan Benjamin H. Firsheln. a stenographer who recorded the testimony of Whittaker Chambers before the house committee on un-American activities Aug. 25. Chambers, a former courier for a Soviet spy ring who charges that Hiss gave him state department secrets in 1937 and 1938. had testified earlier in the trial that the stenographer had misquoted him w||ile he was before the committee. The point in question concerned Chambers' testimony that he visited the Hiss home in Washington "toward the end of 1938" In an attempt to persuade Hinn to "detach himsseli” from the communist party. The house committee record showed Chambers had testified the Hiss home was on Dent Place. Chambers, in testimony in the perjury trial, had said the house was on Volta Place. When defense attorney Lloyd Paul Stryker asked Chambers why 'he had changed his testimony. Chambers said lie had not changed I it. but that the committee's stenoI grapher had made a mistake. Firsheln testified that he first had understood Chambers to say "Balt Place” He said he waited until a recess In the committee hearing and then, since there was a question in his mind as to what the witness had said, had consulted with a member of the house committee staff. After the consultation. he said. "I wrote in 'Dent Place'.” Shortly after the government rested. Judge Kaufrnan adjourned court until Monday and then call<Twrn Tw Pace Sevea) Joseph Oelberg Head Os Community Fund Annual Meeting Is Held By Directors Joseph Oelberg. machinist at the Central Soya company, was elected president of the Decatur Cornmun Ity Fund. Inc., at the annual meeting of directors held last evening. Mr Oelberg succeeds Ray Leltx, manager of the payroll department at the General Electric company Other officers elected last evening are: The Rev William Feller, pastor of the Zion Evangelical and Reformed church, first vice-president. Brice Roop. General Electric employe. second vice-president. James Staley, former American Legion commander, treasurer. Arthur Heimann, teller at the First I'tate bank, executive secretary, and Miss Joan Wemboff. re-elected secretary With the following members, the officers form the board of directors: Walter J. Krick. Louis Jacobs. Earl Fuhrman and Ray Letts. I The Community Fund's budget will be prepared within the next few months and the annual drive will be made in October The exact date has not yet been set. Funds for the Boy and Girl Scouts, the Adams county cancer society, the Salvation Army, the teen-canteen and youth, recreational and playground activities are raised in the drive. Brownies Swimming Party On Saturday A swimming party for ail Browntea of Decatur will be held at the city swimming pool at 10 a.in Sat urday. weather permitting. It was announced today.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, June 17, 1949.

Takes Stand In Spy Trial -a ■L A AT Xm, r ; ; O :vf - -' --X'p JUDITH COPLON, former Justice department employe accused of taking government Information for transmission to Russia through Valentin Gubetchev, a former member of the I'. N. Soviet delegation. Is questioned by her attorney Archibald Palmer of New York, a* she took the stand In her own defense in Washington.

Asks Congress Give Support Plan Trial Asks Support Pay For Hog Raisers Washington. June 17. —(UPI--Agriculture secretary Charles F. Brannan today asked congress to give his controversial farm-subsidy plan a trial run by authorizing direct price support payments to hog raisers. As for the whole plan — und-sr which the government in effect would subsidize both the produc-r* and eaters of food - the signs were that the administration will wait until thel9so congressional election year to push it in the bouse and senate. Brannan told a senate agri< ulture subcommittee that pork prices are falling steadily. He asked emergency authority to pay farmers the difference between prices they get on the market and the government's hog support price. The alternative under present law. he said, is for the government to buy pork on the market when it fails below the support price. The trouble with that, he said, is that it puts the government in the position of keeping up the price to consumers. And. he added, it saddles the government with a lot of pork It will lose money on. Other congressional developments: -Economy -Sen. Harry F. Byrd. Va., den«un<-e-.l the military retirement system. He said too many officers retire after 20 years service with 50 per cent of their mase pay to take high pay jobs in industry. Atomic - Sen Bourke B. Hickenlooper, K. la., accused the atomic energy commission of wasting public money by ordering construction for a 110.000,000 gas pipe line to supply the Oak Ridge. Tenn . Atom ic works with fuel. Bonus - chairman John C. Rankin. D., Miss., said bis house vet erans committee may start work soon on a multiblllion-dollar tens* bill tor world war II veterans. He said it should quiet demands for continuation of the ”52-20 club.” Proviaions of the Gl bill of rights, under which Jobless ex-servicemen can draw |2o weekly for up to 52 weeks, expire July 25 for most veterans But Rankin said the legislation to be taken up by his group should solve this and some other veterans problems. The bonus bill carries payment i of 53 a day for world war II military service la this country and 14 a day for overseas duty, up to a maximum of 15.M0 Rankin, however. pointed out that "tboae figures are subject to change"

Five Are Drowned When Motor Fails Paducah Ky, June 17. — (UP)— Failure of an outboard motor led to the drownings of five Illinois residents on • lake near here, the McCracken county sheriff’s office said today. The dead were identified as John tesak. who lives on a farm between Benton and West Frankfort, Hi.. Dean Edward Lasuk, 17. John's son; Fred Rich, and Miles Baker, West Frankfort, and J. W. Morin. Herrin. 11l Hint Babich Seeks To Shield His Wile State Is Seeking To Shake Youth's Story Milwaukee. June 17 U (UP) — The state hinted today that Milton Babich. 19. was trying Io “shield" his 18-year-old wife in bi* testimony stent the fatal shooting of her younger sister. Babich, who was voted the “outstanding senior" of hl* high school class, is charged with killing Ifiyearold Patricia Birmingham last Feb. 10 to silence her from spreading gossip ateut the pregnancy of her sister, Kathleen. 18. Babich and Kathleen eloped two days before Patricia's Issly was recovered from the Milwaukee river last March 20. The handsome. dark haired youth testified In his own defense that he had tried io ' frighten" Patricia, and that the gun discharged accidentally. On cross-examination, the state tried today to shake his story that he took the gun along on his fatal automobile ride with Patricia the afternoon of Feb. 10 because he planned to elope with Kathleen that night and would need the gun to protect his life savings District attorney William McCauley hammered at Babich In an attempt to show that he had no plan* for elopement that Bight "You didn't even have your clothes packed, did you ” McCauley charged. "Yea. we did.” the youth answered calmly. The prosecutor brought out that Kathleen had packed summe* clothes, and Babich admitted it. "Summer clothes in midwinter ” McCauley thundered. Babich said she had packed her summer clothing, but "Intended to wear winter clothing" on the trip. "Who else are you shieldipg In Ibis incident?*' McCauley snapped "I'm not shielding anyone." Ba bich replied McCauley apparently ws* trying to show that Katb.een knew of her sister’s slaying, and had pack ed clothing to carry out the appearances of an elopement that night.

Northern, Western Coal Owners To Meet Lewis; Reject Pact Extension

Union Rejects Offer By Southern Owners To Extend Contract Until August 15 Bluefield. W. Va. June 17—(I’Pl John L. U-wis' mine union today rejected tin offer by the Southern Coal Producers Association to a vert a soft coal strike by extend Ing the present wage contract from June 30 to Aug. 15. Rejection of the southerners' offer left the union-management negotiators just about where they were when negotiations began here early this month. The operators made the proposal — and the union turned it down — just before the negotiators broke up for a week end recess. They planned to meet again Tuesday. The southern operators said the northern wage talks will at least give them an Idea of tew is' demands for a new coal contract. The present agreement expires June 30 — less than two weeks from now. The mine workers will end their week-long "stabilizing" work stoppage in the southern mines and elsewhere on Monday. In a telegram yesterday. Lewis ordered his 450.000 miners back to the pits for one weeks work before beginning their annual vacation period. Lewis was expected to try to obtain the best possible contract from northern producers and then force the southern operators to accept the same terms He has used this bargaining strategy several times in the past. While fearing the Lewis technique, the southerns nevertheless hope that a northern conference may draw the union out on its wage demands. Joseph E. Moody, president of the southern asso< iation, said that so far union negotiators here have given no Inkling of what the miners want In a new agreement. "We have asked them what they want." Moody said. "They've suggested that we raise the bld But there la also an asking price in here somewhere. How can you bargain when you don't know what the other side wants?" He said the union's failure to make age demands In 10 days <>! closed liargaining Is "deliberate evasion.” Bendix Plant Strike Negotiations Stalled Union Plans Vote On Fact-Finding Board Indianapolis, June 17.—(I'Pi — Negotiations In the 59-day-oid Ben dix Aviation Corporation strike broke up early today and the union announced it would take a vote on whether a fact-finding board should enter the dispute. The latest attempt at settling the dispute which has idled 7.500 workers at the Routh Bend plant failed with both sides deadlocked on what should be the power of a fact find Ing board if one were appointed Bendix local No. 9 of the United Automobile workers thought the board should be empowered to set tie the dispute. Management thought the board should only have power to make recommendations Suggestion that the board be ap pointed was made by Gov Henry Schricker. who tried to settle the strike after all other attempts had failed

Both the union and the company issued statements after the eighthour meeting broke up. Ravmond Berndt. UAW regional director, and Stanley tedd. local No 9 president, said that since "management has not accepted the governor's proposal in the spirit which It was offered ... we be lieve acceptance or rejection of the proposal must be left to our mem bersbip " The company negotiators handed out a counter statement Millard E Stone, director of In dustrlal relations, and Dugald Black, assistant to tbe vice president. maintained that "any later (Ten. Te Pape El S bl>

Russia Refuses To Guarantee Blockade End Insists On Strings On Any Agreement To End Blockade Paris. June 17— (UP) A Russian refusal to guarantee the west ern powers unqnalified access to Berlin is the major point of dea<i lock in the big four council of i foreign minlstres, it was learned today. Authoritative sources said foreign minister Andrei Vishinsky insisted upon attaching strings to an agreement which would allow Russia to reimpose the Berlin blockade any time. The west was as insistent that any agreement reached here must include Soviet acknowledgement of the west's right to be and stay in Berlin, and guarantees that the blockade never will be imposed again. Informants said the western proposal now under study called for Soviet acknowledgement of the right of the west to normal use of railways, highways and canals between Berlin and the west. The only promise Vlshhisky was willing to make was that normal use of such communications would be "facilitated for the purpose of promoting trade." That was- interpreted to mean that any time Russia thought western use of the communications was not facilitating trade, tile Soviets could stop the traffic. After a session running beyond midnight, the foreign ministers recessed until Sunday. They decided to end their conference Monday. whether or not any agree-m<-nt Is reached. The ministers have been meeting In super secrecy for a week Details of their discussions began to seep out today. In addition to the deadlock on access to Berlin, the ministers were far from agreement on the following points: 1. Russia's insistance upon setting up a German commisrion with power to cisirdinate trade and financial relations for all Germany Soviet-dominated east Germany would have a 50 percent represen tat ion on that body. 2. Russia's claims to German assets in Austria. The tene of contention was how much of the oil exploration properties and <Tn-« Te Fase KlsbO County Health Nurse Is Rotary Speaker Miss Jean Shockley Discusses Duties Miss Jean ShocLvey, Adams county health nurse, guest speaker at the weekly meeting of the Decatur Rotary club Thursday evening, presented a highly interesting and inatraetive discussion of the duties and work of a public health nurse Miss Shockley, who has served as bounty health nurse since the first of January, outlined the services performed by her office In the improvement of the health, both as to individuals and on a commun-ity-wide basis. Cooperation with physicians and with other agencies, such as the tuberculosis association, are stressed In the county health program, the nurse stated Refuting a belief often expressed by many persons, the county health program is not one merely of welfare. Miss Shockley pointed out. but her services are available to any individual or organisation In the county. W. Guy Brown was chairman of the program and Mrs Brown, sec retary of the Adams county tuberculosis association, was a guest.

Price Four Cents

Will Open Contract Negotiations With Lewis Next Week In West Virginia

Pittsburgh. June 17 (I’Pi —Soft coal producers in the northern and western coal fields today agreed to meet John L. Lewis in contract negotiations on June 22 at White Sulphur Springs. W. Va. This bargaining group represents producers of 2'»0.o0<».000 tons of coal annually In western Pennsylvania. northern West Virginia. Kentucky. Ohio, Indiana. Illinois and a few scattered states west of the Mississippi. The meeting time and place was named in a telegram to Lewis signed by Ezra Van Horn, chairman of the bituminous coal negotiating committee. The telegram said the soft coal producers were willing to discuss negotiation l of a new coal contract to replace present pacts expiring June 3u as demanded by Lewis in a letter to the northern and western producers last Tuesday. The operator* met here today to conclude plans on the fourth* front of 1949 miner's contract negotiations with the assurance that the men will be back at work next Monday at the scheduled end of the current wetklong "stabilization” walkout. At the same time another large coal producers group, the steei company operators of the so-called "captive mines," were holding a separate top level conference. Niue large coal producing associations were represented at the northern and western operators conference. They were the central Pennsylvania coal producers, the western Pennsylvania coal producers, northern West Virginia coal producers, the Ohio coal association. Indiana coal operators. Indiana coal producers association, the Illinois coal operators, Somerset county coal operators association. and the Consolidated Coal co. of Kentucky. Van Horn, executive vice president of the Ohio coal a-<*o< iation. is a veteran of coal negotiations with Lewis. He also is •» trustee of the miners health and welfare fund. Lewis. Imck-ttework order from the one-week "stabilization" stoppage was issued yestt rday and assured the Industry of at least one week of production before present contracts end June 30. Some 450,otm UMW members walked out last Monday. George II Ix>ve. president of the huge Pittsburgh Consolidation Coal Co. called the northern and west- < rn commercial producers Into session. In his four-front battle with operators. Lewi* already is bargaining with southern producers at Blu» field. W Va . ha* met with U S. Steel's captive mine operator*. and has scheduled a meeting with Pennsylvania anthracite mine owners July 7 The northern and western producers probably will select a meeting date today A tewis directive - tiding the oneweek shutdown was sent to all field offices of the UMW "All members." the telegrams <T«ra Tu Paar Flvrt Evansville Banks To Operate Five Days Indianapolis, Ind.. June 17 —(UP| — The Indiana bankers asso- iation said today that Evansville banks would lie the first to take advantage of a 1949 state law which permits bank* to operate on a fiveday week Evansville banka wifi operate from 9 a tn. to 2 pm. Monday through Friday They also will '>e open from 6 pm. to 8 pm on Friday nights when stores are open that night 20 Coses Os Polio In State Capital Indianapolis. June 17 —(UPI — The state hoard of health reported todav that 2»» cases of poliomyelitis, five in the first two weeks of June, have l»een reported this year. Dr. J W Jackson, director of the comI munieable disease division, said 3d I cases of infantile paralysis were reported in a similar period last year.