Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 51, Number 121, Decatur, Adams County, 22 May 1953 — Page 1

Vol. LI. No. 121.

X* -Tjl-jH I j| &£ W K id k, of ' 4 JBSI ■■ *3 Ski Ok \ &£■ B Jr W «** zj|| ■! hl ! ’ *1 KhHp K ' W Jir H E>3 CAPT. MANUEL FERNANDEZ (left), of Miami. Fla., and Capt. Joseph McConnell, Jr., of 1 Apple Valley, <’a|., top American jet aces in Korea, are shown being awarded the ROK government’s Order of Military Merit by President- Syngman Rhee at his Seoul residence. The two pilots are now enroute home.

Storm Deaths In Three Days 'Mount To 19 Texas, Lousiana Battle Floods; Five Dead In Tornadoes By UNITED PRESS Texas and Louisiana battled floods today and violent storms whipped across the midwest on the heels of a tornado that hit a 70-mlle section of Michigan and Ontario. The -Chicago weather bureau - warned at mjd-morning of the possibility of tornadoes late today in Indiana and Illinois south of a line extending from Quincy and Danville, 111., to Crawfordsville, Ind. .One of two tornadoes, a Kansas City, Mo., weather bureau warning said, may be possible in eastern Missouri south of a Quincy. 111.-Kirksville, Mo. line and east of a Kirksville-Columbia-West Plains, Mo., line during rnidday. Storm deaths for three days already totaled 19. Five persons were killed and 39 I injured by a twister that dipped into Port Huron, Mich., and Sarnia, Ont., as it cut across southeastern Michigan and western Ontario Thursday night. That twister dissipated today over Watertown, N. Y. About 27,000 persons had -been evacuated from their homes in flood areas of southwest Lpuisi-. ana and southwest Texas. Thunderstorms and high winds plagued sections of the midwest, sweeping down through lowa. Illinois and Indiana. A wind and rain storm was believed to have caused the crash of a C-46 airplane east of Des Moines, la., today, killing two persons. The civil aeronautics administration said a violent thun•j derstorm that Jiit the area may. t have ripped a wing from the ship. The wing was found a mile from the rest of the wreckage. A windstorm struck Watseka. Ilf.. 65 miles south of Chicago about 8 a. m. -No deaths were reported but trees, telephone and pow_er lines were felled. At Indianapolis, 300 guests were forced to flee from the Antlers Hotel in their night clothes during a raging electrical storm when a smoky fire enveloped the eighth floor. Nine persons were . treated at a hospital when they were overcome by smoke.' The Chicago weather -bureau said the Ohio Valley and south- — fTam TW Pas* Kight) Two 1953 Graduates Granted Scholarships r Allen Cole, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cole of this city, has received notice that he is the winner of a scholarship to Purdue University next fall. Cole received his . scholarship, because of the grades he made Ln a competitive examination, according to school authorities. - £ Stiarlen* Lehman, also a member * of the 1953 Decatur high school graduating class and a daughter of -. Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Lehman of this city, has received a scholarship through competitive examinations • from Heidelberg college. Tiffin, 0., it was announced today at the school office#. i

H • 1 , ; " v ■ ’ 1 . i O < „ , . ■. ■ . - ■■’ ■-. ' j >.''' .. - j DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY ADAMS COUNTY

Honored jßy South Korean Leader

Graduate Exercises Held Last Evening Missouri School Head Is Speaker Speaker at last night’s commencement exercises of Decatur high school Was John L. Bracken, superintendent of schools of Clayton, Mo., a speaker with a quick wit and happy faculty of capturing an audience with little ado. y Sixty students, and more than 1.000 persons; parents. friends and those who wished to share the happy minutes, heard Bracken talk on “Futures Unlimited.” To the students he said, “Ybu have done much more than complete four years, of high school; you have completed 12 years of education unlike anything elsewhere under the shining sun. "Your contribution is yet to be made; you have still to make your mark in the wdrld. “To you who intend to go on to college, congratulations . .it is your chance to repay your debt to society . . . America that has made it possible for you to have the free education you are completing tonight.” Bracken injected a number of anecdotes into the openly serious parts of his speech and raised chuckles too numerous to count. While telling the off-the-cuff jokes, however, Bracken also included gems of wisdom that are not easily shaken off. and kept a critical audience’s attention for what seemed like only five minuies, but was. actually much more, fl He told the throng thatLWhere formerly five percent of finance went for education, now three are paid. “ißut.” he added. “Decatur has done better, and must dq better yet to contribute to a happy world.” ■JI ' Z ' J He asked the students to give thanks that they' are in a country where a graduation night such as they were attending was possible . . “nowhere else in the world does a similar sight take place,” he said. , Continued the speaker, “ . . . Fraternity and cooperation\are the ways of America . . .1 believe in both the church and the state, but I also believe that there must be a separation ,of the two,” 'he asserted strongly. Bracken spoke on a current note of national affairs and lashed out at conformity of thought that is the enemy of free thought and a foe of democracy. - He lauded local school superintendent W. Guy Brown and the Decatur board of education and advised that Decatur’s educational reins were in good hands. To the heavy strains of “Pomp and Circumstance” the procession of the graduating class of Decatur high school 1953 followed closely behind W. Guy Brown and the school board. The invocation then followed, delivered by the Rev. W. G. Vetter, pastor of the Immanuel Lutheran church. Thp high school choir, under the direction of Miss Helen Haubold, supervisor of music. Decar tur public schools, then gave their rendition of three inspiring songs: "Where In the wiorld But In America,” ‘‘You'll Never Walk Alone,” and “I Love Life.” Then the graduates sang the school song, DHS. 'Principal Hugh 4 J. Andrews then presented the graduating class to school bogrd member Gerald Cole, who then gave out bound diplomas from the stage. The benediction was given by To Pute Six)

Dulles Chills Hopes Os Big Power Parley Doubts Results Os Big Power Meeting To Be Beneficial WASHINGTON, UP —President Eisenhower’s unitj promoting conference with ' British and French leaders next month will not lead to a Big Four meeting with Russia while the Communists are promoting aggression, secretary of state John Foster Dulles made clear today. ~ I / Dulles chilled hopes of at least British prime minister Winston Churchill for a later big j power conference with Russia in talking to reporters at a news Conference in New Delhi, India. “L doubt that any important results could come out of a highlevel conference which included the leaders of Sovie| 'Russia so long as the Soviet Bloc'is promoting war and aggression in Korea, against Laos and in Indochina, and as long as in Europe.they refuse to withdraw occupation troops from a small, inoffensive country like Austria.” Dulles said. That is the theme that has been voiced by Mr. Eisenhower. The President wants concrete evidences of good faith and actions to promote world jleaqe on the part of Russia before sitting 3 down with Soviet leaders. ' j Administration officials said ,Mr. Eisenhower’s primary purpose in getting together with British arid French leaders in Bermuda next month will be to forge three-pow;er unity where dangerous splits are developing. Operation Planned For Decatur Child Shirley Harmon In St Louis Hospital ST. LOUiliS UP — Neurosurgeons (prepared today to perform another operation bn 4-year-old Shirley Harmon, who lies in Missouri Baptist hospital here wondering why her parents never come bo see her. Shirley hasn’t ibeen told that ! h*> mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Len ‘Ray Mannion, Decatur, Ind., were killed in an auto-train crash in which Shirley was injured May 1 9. Hospital chaplain Paul Strickland said he spends as much time as possible with Shirley, but she wonders iwhy all the faces she sees are strange. An uncle and aunt, Mt. and Mrs. Wiliam Bell, Greenway, Ark., plan to care for Shirley when she is released from the hospital, but zo far they .have (been unable to vixit St. 'Louis. 'Shirley suffered a head injury in the collision near Cypress, 111. Her 5-year-old (brother Joe was less seriously hurt, and has gone to live with another uncle and aunt in Decatur. Chaplain Strickland said there may ibe as much harm from the emotional shock which Shirley is undergoing az from her physical injuries, so he has ordered the same nhrses and attendants to care for her as much as possible. That way, the world will seem full of fa-miliar people again.

Decatur, Indiana; Friday* May 22, 1953.

Tidelands Bill Signed By Eisenhower—One Os Campaign Pledges

Slight Hike In ' Cost Os Living During April Government Index j Shows Increase In; J April Living Cbst * WASHINGTON UP — The government reported today the cost of living edged up slightly in April to a point one half of 1 per cent below the all-time record set last November. The bureau' of labor statistics said “market basket” prices rose by 0.1 of 1 per cent in the period between mid-March and mid-Aprii. The increase put the new consumer’s price index at 113.7 per cent of 1947-49 prices. This was the second straight monthly Increase in the index after it had fallen in the three previpus months. No major labor contracts were to this new index. The bureau said prices of goods and services showed a slight increase. while food and clothing prices fell off slightly. However, food prices for the last half of April, not covered by this index, started up again with ah Increase of nearly 1 her cent. Cost of medical care climbed 0.6 of 1 per cent. The April index was 0.7 of 1 per cent higher than a year ago and 11.7 per cent ribove prices just before the start of , the Korean war. Among the food costs, dairy products fell 1.2 per cent as milk prices showed "sizeable reductions.” Butter was down as well as prices of coffee, eggs, and fats and oils. Meats, poultry, and fish also declined as »beef and veal prices dropped by about 2 per cent. Housing costs were up 0.2 of 1 per cent. Residential rents increased fractionally. Prices were higher for dry cleaning, laundry and domestic services. INDIANA WEATHER Partly cloudy to cloudy, a few showers or thundershowers north and east portions early tonight, cooler extreme south portion tonight. Satur* day partly cloudy, warmer north and central portions, a little cooler extreme south. Low tonight 5058. High Saturday 64-70 north, 70-78 south.

High School Graduates Royally Entertained

By JACK SCHREIBMAN (Dally Democrat Reporter) A sleepless night is rarely anything to crow about, especially at 5 a.m. But last night was kind of different, as all but the cold in heart and blin<| in spirit know. It’s probably the first time in the lives of the students lately graduated from the venerable confines of old Decatur high that they have had permission to go forth the whole night long for one big extended whoopee. Whoopee, indeed! Whatz transpired at the Elks home following the delirious\ joys of the graduation dance had to be reported, ’cause the reporter was sacked out piddling around with the nightmarish thought of arising at the ungodly hour of 3:30 a.m. All the same, reports have it that the Elks did the thing up in fine shape. Two hours spent chomping on a fine buffet with the fleeting w|sh that the past four years of academic to-do could begin all over again. If there’s ever a time when thoughts are diverse, it’s right aftet graduation from high school. The immediate impulse is a one - The occasion is fojr rejoicing, with all one’s classmates whose energies are now given over to taking free breaths after what seemed to be a long, long grind. Then there are

12 Acts Tonight On Amateur Show r ■ l j • Final Contests To Be Held Saturday Twelve acts are on tonight’s last semi-final amateur program . sponsored by Decatur merchants f in the tent on Liberty. Way. WinI ners of each of the five nights and - also second and third place win- * ners will battle it out, Saturday 1 night in the finals for the top priz- , ear , Gene Hike, clerk-treasurer of I Monroe will preside (ppight as master of ceremonies and. Miss Helen\Haubold will be the piano accompanist. Following is the Friday program 1 scheduled to start at 8 ci’clock: 1 ~v Judy Stauffer, piano solo. ' Mike 'Riccdrdi, comedy song and dance. , Ann Cutshall, Avilla. -|»lano solo. Tony Pallbone, Fort Wayne, vocal solo. - i Rex Rankins. Willshirb, 0., gui- ' tar solo. I, Uife ’ Sheila Ahr, vocal solo. Dick Reidenbach, vocal solo. Alyce Lankenau and Kathleen 1 Smith, baton twirling act. Karen and Mara Dee Striker. : vocal duet. > Georgeanne Mcßride, . accordion SOIO. ' p Dan Simerman. accordion solo. f > Beverly Ann Schemnann. Ralph Scheumann, Elaine Fueling Mon- > roeville, accordion trio. ?‘The Melodiers.” ’ Thursday Winners County agent L. E. 3 Archbold acted as master of ceremonies at last night’s third amateur contest and reports the first prize of $25 went to David Shepard for his vocal bit, "'I Love Life.v Second prize went tp a mixed quartet singing hillbilly tunes. They kept |l6 and were Oswald Bultemeier, /Mariann Selklng. Werber Hoffman and. Norman Schumann. - j Third prize was awarded to a quartet of Berne girls called the seniorettes. Archbold Reports a gbod tqrfiout for the event spon--sored by the Decatur iperchants and the first two of the winners named will get a crack at the finals Saturday night. | Tax Collections In Spring Are Increased County treasurer Riqhard D. Lewton today announced’ the tax collections for the first payment in 1953 as <671,383.63, more than 160,00(7 than was collected in a like \ period last year. The figure for the first half of 1952 was $605,872.90.

the moments alone. It happens with all of them; at least once duving the evening there's no one around to share the laugh and spark the inertia. Some become frightened. They are suddenly cut loose and are faced with the terrifying prospect of looking the world in the eye. a world they’ve been told is a cold one, an unyielding one that exacts a price for'a treasure. But, soon, the confidence returns and with it the determination never to give up at anything, and to match each hope with maximum effort. I After the Elks party the studets took a happy hop over to the Adams theater where a musical to match their mood awaited. This must have been the most disquieting two hours of all, For though there was plenty of company, each was alone in the dark with his own thoughts; chances were weighed, poor V thoughts disregarded and a herculean try applied to separate the meat from the chaff. The movie over, most of the class hustled over to the American Legion post where they had heard the Lions club of Decatur had prepared a tasty session to round out the enchanting evening. They weren’t disappointed. (By this time the. reporter roused and dragged his miserable drowsy hulk fTwra Te Face six)

New Proposal On Truce To Be Given To Reds 'Final' Proposal By z United Nations To i Be Discussed Monday MUNSAN, Korea UP — The text of the United Nations’ "final” proposal for ending the long war prisoner was believed to be in this Allied truce camp today. Lt. Gen. William K. Harrison, chief U. N. negotiator, will present the proposal to 'the Communists at nearby Panmunjom next Monday when the eight-day recess in the truce talks ends. Harrison was still in Tokyo conferring with Gen. Mark W. (Clark and negotiators here refused to comment on terms of the proposal which is expected to resemble the Indian plan adopted by the U. N. General Assembly \ln New York last December. While the truce delegation awaited the return Saturday or Sunday of Harrison, the Allied camp watched for developments in places far from Panmunjom. In India, secretary of state John Foster Dulles brought up the truce crisis In talks with Premier Jawaharlal Nehru, whose country would serve on a five-nation neutral commission accepted by both sides, _ \ Miller Acquitted By Jury In City Court Jury Deliberates Only Short Time After a 25-minute deliberation a jury of 10 men and two women returned a verdict of “not guilty” to driving under the influence, a charge placed against Richard Miller May 3 when he was arrested on Tenth street. The .tail-end of the state’s case was contained in two witnesses called early Thursday afternoon, state trooper Ted Biberstine and sheriff Bob Shraluka. Shraluka testified that Richard Miller was brought to the county jail Sunday evening, May 3, and booked for DD, a short designation for "drunk driving.” Shraluka told the court Miller asked, "how can T geL out of here,” following which Shraluka said he told Miller he would have to post bond but could not accept it and would have to have it posted by a judge. Shraluka said Miller used the telephone and got a lawyer. Vnder cross-examination Shraluka said he didn’t think Miller was drunk. 'trooper Biberstine testified for the state that he saw Miller at the jail on May 3 and said his walk was "unsteady,” and he “slurred” his words. Biberstine said he believed Miller was at that time under the influence. Under cross-examination he said he hadn’t been on Tenth street at the time of the arrest. Richard Miller, for the defense, said he wasn’t under the influence while driving on Tenth street and was on the sidewalk in front of his home when an officer (Hill) came up from behind and said ‘‘whit a minute,” following which came the arrest. Miller said he was subject to dizzy spells and reddening of the* eyes because of a “nervous” ailment that sometimes made him appear drunk Miller’s sister, Ireta. said Miller came to the Motel that night and gaye her instructions ‘on rooms and reservations after' which he said he was going home. Mrs. Miller then took |he stand and said she was a registered nurse and had been misled at times when she thought her husband was drunk when he wasn’t, due to the illness Miller mentioned.

Memorial Speaker Kb ■ ’zjbl l zl Rev Lawrence T. Norris Plan Memorial Day Services May 30 Vet Organizations To Hold Services The Rev. Lawrence Norris, pastor of Union Chapel Evangelical United Brethren church, will deliver the address at the Memorial Dav program. May 30, in this city in front of the Peace Monpment on court house squarejoint ritualistic services will be held during the day by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American veterans, and the auxiliaries, Leo Ehinger, of the program committee announced today. £, ,\ ■ The VFW will be in charjUt of the services at the monument, with Leslie Hunter, commander, presiding. u z The military rites begin at 9 a.m. with visits to the Decatur and Catholic cemeteries. Accompanied by post commanders, members of the firing squad, color guard and the auxiliaries, the Legion post, under the command of Don Cochran, will visit the Catholic cemetepy. The VFW will conduct grave services at the Decatur cemetery. The Memorial day parade will start from the VFW home on Third street at 10 a.m. The formation will march to the Monroe street river bridge in honor of the members of the navy and then proceed to the monument on Third street. 1 Wreaths for all dead, including the Korean conflict, will be, placed in front of the monument. A

wreath will also be placed in memory of all unknown soldier and sailor dead. Boy and Girl Scouts and the Catholic high school band will march in the parade, Ehinger announced. The Rev. Otto C. Busse, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran church, Pre ble, will give the benediction at the conclusion of the service. President Urges Observance President Eisenhower urged Americans to join on Memorial Day in prayers for world peace.. Mr. Eisenhower formally pro claimed May 30 as Memorial Day and a fitting occasion for Amer-| icans to “join in united prayers tc almighty God for peace on earth.’ He asked that the day be one of two-fold dedication. “Let us reverently honor thos< who have fallen in war,” he said, "and rededicate ourselves through prayer to the .cause of peace, tc the end that the day l may come when we shall never have another war — never another unknown soldiers.” ’ —— • Hoosier Writer Is Speaker At Rotary < Mrs. Esther Kem Thomas of Lebanon, popular Hoosier writer and after-dinner speaker, entertained the Rotarians and their lady guests last evening'at the K. of P. home. i • - [ ’ f Mrs. Thomas recited several homey stories and poems to the delight of her audience. A mother of two children, she wove family incidents and happenings in the home into her interesting recitations. Clarence Ztner was chairman of the program.

Price Five Cents

Gives Coastal States Title To Oil Rights President Opposes Giving Oil Rights Beyond Boundaries WASHINGTON, VP —President Elsenhower signed the controversial tidelands bill into law today, but served notice he opposes giving states offshore oil rights, beyond their historic boundaries. The new law gives coastal states title to offshore lands out to their historic boundaries. Mr. Eisenhower said in a statement that the new law recognizes the "ancient rights of the states in the submerged lands within their historic boundaries/ But, he added, offshore lands beyond the historic boundaries, "should be administered hy the federal government and income therefrom should go into the federal treasury.” Historic boundaries for most coastal states is three miles out to sea. But they go out about miles for Texas and the west coast of Florida. Mr. Eisenhower was “pleased" to sign the so-called tidelands; bill because ■ “recognfrtng the states’ claims to these lands is in keep* ing with basic principles of .honesty and fair play.” “As I have said many times f deplore and I will always resist federal encroachment upon rights and affairs of the state.” he said. Mr. Eisenhower signed the measure at a White House ceremony attended by 46 Republican* and Democratic members of congress. In signing the measure, Mr. Eisenhower made good on one of his ,lf>s2 election campaign promises and wrote a new chapter in a great legal struggle that began eight years ago. His opposition to giving states, offshore oil rights beyopd their historic boundaries was- voiced 6ven as a new battle was being waged before the senate Interior committee over a folldw-up bill. /li l- ——_ ' - Officers Nominated

For Disabled Vets Annual Election To Be Held June 18 Nominations for officers of Adams, county chapter number 91, Disabled American Veterans for 1953-54, were made at the regular meeting of the organization Thursday night at the home in Decatur. Incumbent Rufus Sommers and David Smith, were placed in nomination for the post of commander. Election of officers will be held June 18. Other nominations inchide: Senior vice-commander, James Halberstadt. First junior vice - commander, Victor Steiner. Second junior vice-commander, Guy Allen, Martin Huser. Treasurer, Herald Hitchcock. . Chaplain, Ed Zeser, Robert Dorsey. I, Officer of day, William Jones, Guy Allen. Sergeant-at-arms, Fred Scheimann, George Daniels. /Trustee, thfee years, Arthur Meyer, Martin Huser. i Trustee, one year, Martin Huser. Further nominations may be made at the June 4 meeting and following that date the list will be closed and the election for all officers will be held June 18, followed by a luncheon. Delegates to the state convention at Evansville June 11. 12 and 13 were named nt last night’s meeting. They include: Rufus Sommers, chairman; James Halberstadt, Martin Huser, Gordon Brodbeck, Anthony Bonflglio, Myron Putman, Robert Dorsey, James Cochran and Fred ScheL mann.