Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 51, Number 139, Decatur, Adams County, 13 June 1953 — Page 1

Vol. LI. No. 139.

School Board Votes Hike In Building Fund 75-Cent Levy In Cumulative Fund Approved By Board Affirmative action was taken last evening by the Decatur school board to increase the school city’s cumulative building fund levy from 30 cents to 73 cents an each SIOO of Decatur taxables, effective in 1954. Ln a resolution adopted by (he board and signed by the three members, Gerald O. Cole, president; George D. Helm, secretary and Harry Q. Irwin, treasurer, the levy could be continued for 10 years. Approval of the board's action would give the school city approximately $75,000 annually for a building fund to finance grade school construction. Decatur's needs of new elementary buildings or additions to present ones, will be determined in a survey to be made here next fall under the supervision of Indiana University educators. Based on the city’s current taxable valuation of $lO million, the 75 cent levy will more than double the 1953 receipts in the building fund, which this year will produce a little more than $30,000. The resolution states that the 30cent levy, established in August, C?-W, is inadequate and that it is xthe desire of the board to replace this lower levy with a 75-cent levy on local property. \ . Hearing on the resolution will be held by the board at the school on June 30 at 7:30 p.m. It objections are not filed, the matter will be referred to the state board of tax commissioners for further hearing, before the levy, or any part of it over and above* the 30 cents, will be certified to the tax duplicate. PTA Approves Levy The Lincoln school PTA has approved the action of the board. In a letter signed by Edward Wert, president of the PTA, to W. Guy Brown, superintendent of schools, request was made that the school board increase the tax rate of the cumulative building fund from 30 cents to 75 cents. Industrial, professional and business leaders have also given approval of the board's contemplated boost in the tax rate, Brown stated. "sot The maximum rate for the cumulative building fund is $1.25 on each SIOO of taxables. the last legislature increasing the limit from 75 cents. It was explained that although the resolution provides for a 10year levy of the 75 cent rate, it can be eliminated from the budget when sufficient funds are available to finance construction of buildings needed to meet Decatur’s growing school population. Fund Now $72,436.41 On June 1, the cumulative building fund totaled $72,436.41. Os this amount. $55,184 is invested in <■ lx>nds and the $17,252.41 received in the Junb distribution of local xtaxes will also be invested in government securities. The fund was reduced approximately $26,000 last year to defray -the cost of rebuilding the walls in the high school building and enlarging classroom space. The fund will increase with the interest from the bonds. No Building Plans school board members and authorities, citizens and civic groups have discussed school buildings, no steps have been taken in this direction. Such* plans will not be developed until the Indiana University survey is made and the recommendations filed filed with the local board. One or two buildings may be recommended. or expansion of present school facilities, could be included in the survey, it was explained.

NO PARKING Decatur residents are requested not to park all night Sunday night on Second street, south from Monroe street, or on the entire length of Mercer avenue, in order that work may be facilitated on resurfacing of the entire stretch, slated to begin Monday. State highway employes will begin work at 2 a. m. Monday sweeping Second street and Mercer avenue in preparation for the resurfacing, and cooperation of cIU-*-zens is urgently requested. Noon Edition

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Long Arm Os The Law Is Bare

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THE LONG ARM of the law is going bare in Philadelphia nowadays. Here officer Gilbert Young admires the new uniform shirt worn by officer William Park -short sleeves, open collar.

Reds’ Assault Smashes Allied Front Position Battle Rages After Greatest Artillery Barrage In Korea . SEOUL, Korea UP — Two reinforfced Communist battalions smashed the Allied line in four places on the east-central front today in a raging battle that followed the greatest artillery barrage of he Korean war. ‘Capitol iHillifs very probably in enemy hands," an eighth army briefing officer said tonight, explaining official reports from the flaming battlefront still are frag «nentary<* . The latest 2,500-man assault followed 12 previous futile Red attempts to win high ground along a 30-mile front strewn with the bodies of Chinese infantrymen. Eighth army said the Communists fired 118,000 artillery anl mortar shells in support of their troops’ efforts to gain strategic positions before the shooting is called off at Panmunjom. Three Russian-built Communist tanks joined in the Rattle for Capitol Hill, but were not reported at close quarters. Allied artillery spotted the enemy armor, and damaged one tank. An eighth army briefing officer said the showed no signs ol exploiting hoses they had driven in the line defended by South Korean troops. The eneifiy was reported poised in front of the ROK shock forces rushed to the '-area to stop the Communist* from rolling on. Despite initial . successes, the Reds were reported suffering tremendous Casualties. Incomplete early reports said seme 620 Reds •were killed or wounded in attacks Friday nigl|t. 'Meanwhile, the fifth air forte announced 'U. S. Sabrejets destroyed or damaged 11 Communist IMIG’s during tne week. (No iSa'bres were lost in air to air ibattles with the enemy but two were lost to Red anti-aircraft fire. The eighth army spokesman said the qjd record of 107.58? rounds was established over a 21hour period. -> • Allied trenches and rugged slopes of the mountainous central front battleline were littered with Chinese dead. •Eighth army headquarters estimated at least 8,000 Chinese swarmed recklessly against the U. S. 3rd division on the Allied line. The heaviest assault was' made on Outpost Harry, where the Americans had piled up Chinese bodies t as fomorary “sandbags." A force of 3,000 Reds rushed the outpost in the face of heavy pointblank artillery fire. The cannoneers had hauled up “big.xight-inch guns to the front to meet the It was estimated the Chinese had suffered 2,100 casualies, not counting Friday night’s dead, in trying to take Harry. Thg enemy gained only one precarious foothold on the east central front-Capitol Hill. The «th ROK division was hit by 1,600 Red infantrymen in five separate battles The South Koreans lost part’of Capitol Hill to the Communists but repulsed a Red drive against Finger Ridger, ’ South. oKreans also stopped a battalion of Communists at White Horse and a company-sized diver-, sionary assault to the east.

Kidnaped Legislator Is Feared Murdered I Chicago Legislator Abducted Thursday CHICAGO UP —Po 1 i e-e and ward workers alike today feared that a kidnaped state legislator would be found dead in a ditch —a Victim of the sixth political assasination in five years in this toughest of all political arenas. Civic leaders deplored the “tragic link" between crime and politics that has plagued the Windy City since the days when bathhouse John and Mike Hinky Dink Kenna’s followers ran the First Ward with bourbon and bullets. \ Republican State Rep. Clem Graver, whose 15th district Includes the teeming Maxwell Street open air market, was abducted by three men Thursday night as he returned from a ward rally. Graver’s son. Norman, told newsmen he got an anonymous call Friday night that the 53-year-old lawmaker was safe. But police said the call had not been reported to them, or monitored by the telephone company, and may have been a crank’s hoax. Graver was an acquaintance, and possibly a close friend, of Charles Gross, 31st ward acting committeeman who was shot down in gangland style in February of 1952. Gov. William G. Stratton ordered all. available state, police and the state crime laboratory into the case. “We haven’t got a clue, we haven’t got a tip?— ipot a whisper,” said deputy chief of detectives John Walsh. Many police officers doubted that Graver was kidnaped by members of the Capone syndicate. The underworld’s kill-for-pay gunmen almost always slay their victims on the spot and flee. And the racketeers would not dare kill another politician at this time, some detectives believed. Such a only stir another civic uproar like v (hat which followed the Gross staying, possibly touch off another city (Tnra To P«ae Six) Mrs. Reid Erekson Named Top Actress Decatur Lady Named Tops In Fort Wdyne Mrs. Reid (Evelyn) Erekson of this city, won the “Oscar” as the outstanding actress in the Fort Wayne Civic Theater season, which closed Thursday night. Sponsored by the Fort Wayne Junior Chamber of Commerce, accolades were awarded to Mrs. Erekson and three other actors and actresses in the annual Anthony awards night program, for outstanding performances during the past season. Mrs. Erekson’s stellar performance was given in the play. "Elizabeth the Queen,” in .which she played the part of this fabulous character. Cam Applegate, her support actor in the role of Lord Essex, won the Tony for his part. Other Anthony award winners were Taps Hines and Lee Filson, best supporting actress and actor in productions given by the Civic Theater players. Mrs. Erekson has appeared before several local audiences in presenting the historic role of Elizabeth the Queen. She was acclaimed as the outstanding actress in the Civic Theater repertoire for the 1953 season.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday June 13, 1953.

Report Rhee Wavering In Stand Against Korea Armistice-Rush Work

Increase Is Expected In Steel Prices Price Boost Likely To Follow Increase For Steel Workers PITTSBURGH UP — The steel Industry was expected today to ati« nounQ a price boost soon to offset an BVi cents an houi* general wage increase granted to 1,200,000 members of the United Steelworkers CIO. Industry sources said, a price increase of at least $4 a ton would be needed to finance the wage boost which was reached Friday in an agreement between the industry and union. Average steel prices now are about slls a ton. There was no immediate indication of the effect of a steel price raise upon consumer items. •However, John Bugas, vice president in charge of industrial relations at Ford Motor Co., said “something will have to be done somewhere if steel prices go up again." U. 6. Steel Corp, fulfilled its traditional role of industry pace-set-ter by coming to terris with the union after only seven bargaining sessions which opened May 14. The pattern was adopted quickly by four other members of the in? dutry’s “Big Six.” Jones and Laughlin ( Corp., No. 4 producer, signed 20 minutes later. By nightfall Bethlehem Steel, No. 2; Republic Steel, No. 3. and Youngstown, No. 6, had swung into line. Only the signature of Inland 'Steel was needed to make the agreement unanimous. Inland which employs 16,000 USW members, will meet with the union Monday. The wage agreements signed so far affect about 400,000 of thq union’s membership. The increase granted by the companies Friday gradually will be extended throughout the entire steel Industry. The BVi cents increase for U. S. Steel’s 200,000 production workers was the core of a package agreement which will cost the giant producer about 10 cents an hour' because of the elimination of- the north -south differential. U. S. Steel employs a/bout 17,000 workers in plants of its subsidiary Tennessee Coal and Iron Division in Alabama. The five cent spread between northern and southern ,pay scales will be halved next Jap. 1 and the wages will be equalized six months later. Republic, which also operates furnaces in the south, will be <Twn» To Pave Six) Lions To Entertain Minstrel Members To Entertain Cast Next Tuesday Night Preparations for the annual “minstrel appreciation night” have been completed and the Decatur Lions club is ready to go Tuesday night at Clem’s Lak£ roller skating rink. Frank Lybarker is in charge Os the project this year and extended invitations to all members of the cast of the February minstrel ■how regardless of whether or not they are Lions. In store for the cast, girl friends, boy friends and wives and husbands, are round and square dancing, a smorgasbord and even roller skating for those who wish it. Lybarger asks all Lions who were assigned to contact guests get in touch with him at 32273 no later than Monday night. He added that in case any members of the cast were not contacted, they are invited all the same. The party will, begin promptly at 8:46 p.m. and end about 11:45 p.m. The Tuesday night affair will take place of the regular* Lions meeting, said Lybarger.

20-Month-Old Girl *'r : ’ J Rescued From Well Dog Is Termed Hero In Rescue Os Child ELK CITY, Okla. UP -P An unnamed, unwanted dog was the hero today of the rescue of.a 20-modth-old girl who was trapped In a well L 5 feet underground. The whole countryside near here was mobilized by party line telephone and an oil field radio! communications system Friday after littie*Karren Daniels was found trapped. Three hours and 25 fnin. utes later sbe was pulled from the well through a hastily dug rescue shaft. •She was blue and unconscious, bqt she was alive. Thirty minutes later she sat up bright-eyed on a hospital bed and asked for a cold drink. During the ordeal, a welder pumped oxygen into the well to keep her alive. The child's uncle, J. D. Pyeatt, said Karren somehow fe!ll feet first into the abandoned well, dug at her parents' farm in the bottom.of a trench silo. Dr. W. E. Seba of Leedey, Okla., slid (he nameless, part-collie dog. recently'abandoned at the farm of Karren’s parents, Mr. and ’ Mrs. Aufora Daniela, discovered the eMld. Mrs. Daniel was rrrtiking nearby. She heard the dog barking, went to the well and heard her baby’s screams. Mrs. Daniels ran to a neighbor. The Leedey telephone operator sounded the alarm over her party line. The radio communications . system used at the huge Elk City oil field brought dozens of trucks speeding to the Daniels* farm. Some 290 men worked to rehch her in time. ; « Mother, 3 Children Are Burned To Death • Die As Lightning Hits Farm Home SPAiRTA, Wis.. UP —An expectant mother and her three children burned to death early today asiher husband tried vainly to save them from their lightniiig-struck farm home. •‘j t “Everything was so black, I couldn't find them,” Arnold Leis, sobbed in a hospital. He was in critical condition. » J The victims were Mrs. Beverly Jean Leis, 23, Diane, 5, Barbara.'4, and Stephen, 2. Lightning apparently hit the home about 1 a.m. today, setting fire to the home. The husband said his wife woke him up. “By that time the house was so full of smoke, I broke a window and tried to drag my wife with me,” he said. “I fell out of the window of the first-floor ,bedroom and reached inside for her. But I couldn’t find her. I went in through the window, but everything was so black I couldn't find her?’ ’ Leis ran to the home of a neighbor, Spencer Crocker, who phoned the Sparta fire department and ran back with Leis. "When I got there I dould hear a child screaming inside. But [we couldn’t save them,” Crocker said. :->■ .i ? ■ ■ y.i’ t \- Girl Scout Day Camp Opens Monday Morning Here is the schedule for the Girl Scout day camp which begins Monday morning. The bus will mate lt 8 first stop at 9:10 at Gay's Service station, i then at . Master Drive, Miller's Grocery, aqd the Methodist church. At 9:30 ajn. in the southwest part of town, the bus will stop at the corner of Rusell and Winchester street, the north entrance of the Homestead, the corner |©f -High and Grant street, Hite's GroeeFy and Stratton place. 7 T , i:

Secret Orders For Clark If Truce Defied Instructions Sent Gen. Clark In Case South Korea Defies WASHINGTON, (UP)—The administration has sent Gen. Mark W. Clark secret instructions on the action, he should take in case South Korea uses force to defy a truce. But officers refused to believe they would be necessary. Although they conceded anything was possible, they remained convinced President Syngman Rhee' would in the end stop short of violence. ji The instructions to Clark were kept under heavy secrecy wraps. But informed sources said he had been told to see that order is maintained throughout his U. N. command. At the moment, this includes the South Korean troops Rhee would have to depend upbn in any play of force. There was speculation here that the ROK command — which has steadfastly resisted any embroilment in Korean poHtfci—might be unwilling to leave the Allied command to back a go-it-alone policy. Undisclosed was the extent to which Clark has been authorized to go In maintaining order iff the ROK froces actually did pull out of the command and attempt to keep up the fight against the Communists. Military authorities indicated he would 'be allowed to take whatever action would be necessary for the security of Allied troops. They indicated he would have some latitude to decide how far it would be necessary to go. The pressure on Rhee to bow to the truce terms mounted as Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru sent President Eisenhower a message praising his “leadership” in -Obtaining the prisoner of w a r T» Pace six) — ■ | ’ 'J''■■ '' ' Lesser 0. Hileman Is Taken By Death \ WHlshire Native Dies At Hospital j Lester O. Hileman, 63, of Whitefish, Mont., a native of near Willshirs, 0., died at 1:40 o'clock Friday afternoon at the Van Wert, 0., county hospital. He had arrived only Monday far a irisit with friend? and relatives and became ill shortly after arrival. Death was caused <by bronchial asthma. He was born in Willshire township Jan. 9, 1860, son of John L. and Harriet DulLHUeman, and was married to Mabel Gensman. He had .been employed as a railroad engineer for the Great Northern railroad for the past 41 years. Surviving are his wife; three sons, (Robert L. of Libby, Mont.,7 Alvin C. of Seattle, Wash., and Walter E. of Isabella, CalK.; six grandchildren; four (brothers, E. A. Hileman of Rockford, 0., W. A. Hileman of Fort Myers, Fla., J. F. Hileman of St. Petersburg, Fla.. and C. C. Hileman of Mt. Pleasant and three sisters, Mrs, W. O. Black of Wren, 0., Mrs. Frank (E. McKee of Alma, Mich., and Mrs. Lewis Oechsle of Van Wert. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Zwlck funeral home, Vhere friends may call after 7 o'clock thts> evening. The body will be taken to Whjtefisb, Mont., I for (burial. INDIANA WEATHER Generally fair south, partly . eloudy north tonight and Bunday. Little change in tempera* tore. Low tonjght 9*74, high Sunday 87-92 north, 92*98 south.

Eisenhower Heads For New England To Receive Honorary Degree At Dartmouth CUSTER STATE PARK, S. B. UP — President Eisenhower heads England today after happy hours of trout fishing and jn sooty initiation into an honorary Indian tribe. Mr. Eisenhower/who spent two nights on the oUI trout fishing grounds of Calvin Coolidge, was scheduled to take off from the Ellsworth Air Force Base for Lebanon, N. H. The President came out of the I Indian celebration Friday night ? christened Chief Zuyu Ohitika, !“Brave after a “ceremony" in which he literally didx't know what ty? was talking about. \After dining at the South Dakbta state gam e lodge with state GOP leaders, the President decided to drop in on a meeting of Black Hills Tepee .Number One of the singing tribe of Wahoo, “honorary Indians." The Braves and chiefs of the tribes were deep.in initiation rites for White House reporters in their 'brightly lighted wigwam, a canvas tent in the lobby of a resort inn. when they received the electrifying word the President was about tn join them. They quickly turned aside the lower ranking candidates for tribal membership and, in a tom-tom thumping welcome, heralded the advance of the Great White Father. "While the drums thumped and a •paleface in full Sioux tribal regalia sang of the charms of the Black Hills, the President repeated a long and gagged-up oath swearing eternal allegiance to the chiefs and princesses of the Wahoo tribe. The President will not tour the tornado -— sticken Massachusetts area around Worcester, as h e had contemplated, but may fly over the area on his way to New England. After landing at Lebanon late today. Mr. (Eisenhower will go by auto to Hanover. N. H., wher e he ■wilKbe the overnight guest of Dr. John Dickey, president of Dartmouth (College. The chief executive'-will receive an honorary degree at the Dartmouth commencement Sunday, XTxra Te rive) BULLETIN WASHINGTON UP —Justice Robert H. Jackson today refer red to the full U. S. Supreme Court a new plea by doomed atom spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg for a stay of execution. Threat Is Made To Bomb Judge's Home Judge Kaufman Home Is Closely Guarded NEW YORK, UP — A threat was made today to bomb the residence of Federal Judge Irving R. Kaufman, who sentenced atotfi spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg to death. More than a score ot police converged on the Park Avenue apartment building whei-e Kaufman resides but failed to find the bomb which an anonymous telephone caller had said would “explode within an hour.” However, a detail of two uniformed police and a detective was assigned to the bhilding “for the time being.” , Police said the] bomb threat was received at the 23rd Precinct at 1 1:10 a.m. The telephone i who a desk officer said apparently i was a young man, said: ~~ 1 "I am calling to inform you that I a bomb has been placed at 1185 < Park Avenue and in one hour the < Rosenbergs will blow up Judge I Kaufman and his family.” Police said *>« special police i guard would remain at the build- i ing "for the time being” to pro- 1 teet Judge Kaufman and his fam- I Hr- <

Price Five Cento

Says Signing Os U. S. Pact Would Be Aid Mutual Security Pact With U. S. Is Sought By Korea SEOUL, Korea UP — President Syngman Rhee wavered today-.in his stand Against an armistice American staff officers at Pan- • munjom rushed work on„a ceasetire to stop; the slaughter on the central front. - Rhee said in reply to questions y, submitted by a Scandiavian war correspondent the immediate signing of a U. S.-Korean mutual setcurity pact would make an armistice more acceptable. “I need Something concrete to - show the people that our security has been guaranteed and that will , help,” Rhee.’s reply said. But the aged South Korean leader said his people have “very , little confidence” in President Has* t enhower’s promise to conclude the . defense treaty after the armistice , is reached with the Communists. Developments in the Korean j situation included: ¥ Washington: It was disclosed the government has sent secret a instructions: to Gen. Afark W. I jClark. United Nations supreme ! commander,, on the action he , Should take in event South Korea uses force to defy a truce. Custer State Park. S. D.r Presiy dent Eisenhower in a message to Indian prime minister Jawaharlal 1 Nehru expressed hope the agreement reached with the Communists on repatriating war prisoners Vill lead not only to an armistice and a “just peace” in Korea but to “a relaxing of world tension.” Nehru, whose country will be one of five neutral countries to supervise anti-Communist war prison- ~ ers. congratulated the President on his leadership in effecting the repatriation agreement and said Hie hoped it “will lead- to peace, not only in the Far East, but elsewhere.” . | I Bern: The Swiss government formally announced its acceptance ot membership on both the prisoner commission and a commission to supervise enforcement of an armistice. The acceptance was announced after the receipt of “clarifications” and "assurances.” a Bern communique said. Originally Switzerland had said it would act only if South Korea as well as other' belligerents invited it to. It was announced here that South Korean Premier Too Chin PMk arrived # in Switzerland Friday on "certain important instructions” from Rhee. Paik attended the coronation In London, then went to Rome. He was on his way to France, to sail for the United States, when he got Rhee's , instructions. He plans to see President Eisenhower in Washington July 2. {' Acting Prime Minister Pyu,n Yung Tae announced after a threehptir and 30-m|nute meeting of the cabinet with Rhee that South Korea already had decided whether to oppose an armistice. > \ i “Whether we carry out our decision depends bn developments at the armistice folks,” Pyun said. Anti-armistice mobs got out df » (Tara w* p«»o «tx) Funeral Held Today Far Striker Infant \ Services were held early this afternoon at the Black funeral home, the Rev. W. C. Feller officiating, for Gregory James Striker, sort of James and Ellen Hart-Strik-er, 330 North Ninth street The infant was stillborn at the Adams county memorial hospital Friday erasing. Burial was in the Decatur chmetery. j Surviving in Addition to the parents are a brother, William Lee. at home, and the grandparents, Mr and Mrs. Clifton Hart of Decatur’and Mr. and Mrs. Dan Striker at near Borne.