Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 51, Number 148, Decatur, Adams County, 24 June 1953 — Page 1

Vol. LI. No. 148.

Sweeping Purge Os East German Reds Threatened Seeking Scapegoats As Anti-Red Revolt ** Continues In East BERLIN, UP —* Threats of a sweeping purge of Blast Germany’s Red regime were made today by frightened officials seeking scapegoats for the continuing, violent anti-Communist revqjt. Red court*/down to the level of justices of the peace, were working overtime dealing out death penalties and other harsh punishment to lower-echelon Germans tagged with responsibility for the uprisings. Communist Premier Otto Grotewohl told a %nass meeting of East Berlin workers that responsibility 'for <past errors” would be fixed within 14 days and hinted broadly that high members of the governihent would bear the consequences. : V - * Indications of a bitter stfuggle for pow within the East German party i also were seen in Grotewohl’s speech, in which he revealed he had been under strong pressure to resign as premier. He said he refused. The pressure was believed to have come from Moscow-trained yice premier Walter Ulbricht, long Crotewohl’s rival for party control. Further evidence of internal confusion were seen in sharply contrasting orders, promises and directives as frantic authorities worked at cross-purpose's to cope with the spreading, eight-day-old revolt. ; i These were the evidences of official uncertainty, conflict and confusion.* Grotewohl ordered the release of scores of East Germans arrested for participating in anti-Red riots and promised that only the "genuinely guilty/ would be punished, • - • Notorious “Red Hilde” Benja- j min, the woman vice president of . the Soviet zone supreme court or- . dered extended court sessions and empowered police and justice, courts to deal out death penalties to '‘anti-Communists. In spite of jGrotewohl’s promises Communist newspapers reported continuing mass arrests that had jammed Red jails with upward of. 35.000 prisoners. Ulbricht promised workers the hated five-year plan which had bled Germany would be virtually scrapped to assure more food and Consumer goods and an improved living Standard. The Labor Ministry ordered the loss through' strikes, demonstrations and mass meetings deducted from the skimpy pay which sparked much of labor's unrest. p Soviet Berlin commandant-Maj. Gen. P. Z. Dibrova promised relaxation of martial law to permit public gatherings in East Berlin if Red city 1 officials give advance approval. Martial law was tightened in the vital uranium belt today amid new outbreaks of bloody rioting. Soviet and East German officials scheduled scores of public dances and concerts as a sop to rebellious Germans who staged hunger marches in protest of the shortages of bread, potatoes, fats and other food. But the riots and revolt spread today to new areas or erupted in fresh violence in cities already scarred by earlier uprisings. $15,000 Damage l • Suit Filed Here Sues For Death Os Husband In Accident Suit for $15,000 has been filed against Oscar T. Ray, of route 1, Monroe, as the driver of a truck in which Peter D. Bailey of Berne was killed on June 29. 1951 at the intersection of the Peterson road and U. S. highway 27. Suit was V filedby his widow. Mrs. Mary S. Bailey. • / Also killed in that wreck was Mrs. Harry Fritzinger, passenger in a car driven by her husband. Seven were injured. — Mrs. Bailey alleges that Ray was negligent in not slowing for the intersection and being the cause of the wreck. After the accident, police said the car. which was entering the federal highway from Peterson road, “apparently pulled off the country road . . . into the path of the truck.” \ Ray was ordered summoned to appear in court on September 8 for the civil suit. Mrs. Bailey’s lawyer is Hubert R. McClenahan. of Decatur.

DECATUR DAIIY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY ■■ _ . >

Pledges United Reich Vk '■ I fl ■- ' OVER THE FLAG-DRAPED COFFINS of those killed in recent East German riots. Chancellor Konrad Adenauer of West Germany (arrow), issues a warning that Germans “will not rest until the German people behind the Iron Curtain are free again and until all Germany Is united in peace and freedom.” Hundreds have been killed or wounded in the continuing riots still plaguing Soviet satellite countries. i

GOP Leaders Seek To Force * Action On Tax . Rep. Reed Opposes Any Extension Os Excess Profits Tax By UNITED PRESS *siou«e Reimbliewt -teaders mobilized today (or an attempt to force a vote, on President Eisenhower’s request for a six-month extension qf the excess profits tax. Opposing them was a stubborn man who refused to budge because, he said. “I’ve taken my position and I’m right; I am not going to take the responsibility for putting this immoral extension law on the books.’! The subborni man is Rep. Daniel A. Reed R-N. ■¥., chairman of the house ways arid means committee. The President wants the profits tax continued for the $800,000,000 revenue involved. He tried personally to win Reed over at a White House meeting on Saturday. He tried again by telephone Tuesday. Reed, who contends the Republicans won the presidential election by promising tax cuts, stood his ground. He refused even to let his committee meet. So President called his congressional leaders* to the White House today. Afterward, Speaker Joseph W. Martin Jr., announced he will use “every posslblje means” to get the extension bill to the house floor for a vote. He will have to work fast. The excess profits tax is scheduled to die June 30. j Other developments: Price hikes? Chairman Charles A. Wolverton R-N.J. said the house interstate commerce committee will start hearings July 1 on recent increases in the price of gasoline and heating oil. He said “we have received many protests” about the boosts. Joint chiefs: The house government operations committee voted 16-14 to send President Eisenhower's defense reorganization plan to the house for a showdown vote. When the plan comes up, a committee majority is prepared to fight it because orie of its provisions would increase powers of the chairman of the jpint chiefs of staff. <T»r» To Pace Ptvei L > Homer Brown Dies At’Home In Poe Homer B. Brown. 87. died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Mildred Weber of Poe, Tuesday at 9:45 p.m. He resided in foe. where he owned and operated a grocery store for 35 years. He later worked for the Old Central Grocery store of Fort Wayne. He was a mdmber of the Modern Woodmen of America. Survivors are two daughters, Mrs. Weber and Mrs. Mafie Schubert of Fort Wayne; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The body has been taken to the Ake and Son funeral home in Poe, where friends call after 7:30 o’clock this evening. Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock at the fffneral home, with the Re{. .Seng officiating. Burial will be in the Poe cemetery. ' ■ i

To Hold Festival During 4-H Fair Plan Entertainment Festival In August The entertainment festival will again be held in connection with the 4-H fair at Monroe, August 4, 5, and 6, states county agent L. E. Archbold. It is expected that the state fair will again conduct an amateur contest. If such be the case, all acts will be judged for district oem petit ion. The entertainment festival is a responsibility of the township extension leaders. Entries should be tendered to these people: Hartford — Mrs. Charles Weikel and David Alberton; Union — Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Grote; Preble — Mr. and Mrs. Waldo Conrad; Root — Mrs. Omer Merriman and Hugo Boerger; St. Mary’s — Mrs. Darrell Clouse and Carl Frey; Washington — Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Bluhm; Kirkland — Mr. and Mrs. Richard Arnold; French — Mr. and Mrs. Menno Augsburger; Monroe — Mr. and Mrs. Benj. Mazelin; Blue Creek — Mrs. Harrison Miller and John Sipe; Jefferson— Mrs. ‘Robert Stuber and Orison Stolz; Wabash — Mr. and Mrs. James Lybarger. > All the 4-H clubs of Adams county are encouraged to present fourminute acts. No more than four people may take part. Acts may consist of pantomine, plays, dialog, dances, and/o(j music. 4 Acts running minuses be penalized. Any and aft members of rural organizations regardfess of age are eligible to put on a 10 minute act. Any number of people may take part. Both four-minute and 10-minute acts will be considered as candidates for the district festival contests. If necessary, acts will be auditioned in the township in order to choose which acts will represent the township on the 4th and sth of August. SSO in prizes will be awarded each night as follow's: 4 minute acts —Ist, $8; 2nd, $5; 3rd, $4; 4th, $2; and sth, sl. 10 minute acts: Ist, $10; 2nd, $8; 3rd, $5; 4th, $4 and sth, $3. Amateurs are those people who make a substantial part of their livelihood in other than the entertainment field. Laniel Is Asked To Seek New Cabinet PARIS, UP —President Vincent Auriol asked Independent party leader Joseph Laniel today to try to form a new French cabinet followin refusal of businessman Antoine Pinay to seek the long-vacant premiership. Laniel, 64, a little-known conservative, was the 10th man approached by Auriol in his effort to end the five-week crisis and form a government in time for the Bermuda Big Three conference. Proclaims July 4 Day Os Penance, Prayer WASHINGTON, UP —President Eisenhower has proclaimed July 4 as a national day of penance and prayer." The proclamation was in conformance with a 1952 congressional resolution calling on the president to set aside a day each year for national prayer.

Decatur; Indiana, Wednesday, June 24, 1953.

Korean War Enters On Fourth Year; New Red Attempt Is Awaited

Ike's Trouble Shooter Seeks Rhee Revision Report Robertson Carrying Secret Promise From Ike TOKYO, yUP—President Eisenhower’s personal trouble shooter goes to Korea Thursday, as the war enters its fourth year, in a new attempt to persuade South Korean President Syngman Rhee to accept an armistice. Bitt th4 7'B-year-old Rhee plans to greet him with a 1,000,000- person anti-truce demonstration. Barbed wire barricades w-ere erected in front of United States eighth army and fifth air force headquarters in Seoul in event that mobs try to storm them. Assistant secretary of state Walter Robertson arrived here today, on his way to Seoul, on a secret mission' from Mr. Eisenhower. It was reported that he carried a promise that the United States will enter a security pact with South Korea if Rhee agrees to the truce. The promise was said to be contained in a personal letter ’ Rhee from secretary of state John Foster Dulles. There was one slight softening in the South Korean attitude. Ko-, foreign minister Pyun Yung Tae, one of the most clamorous, opponents of the armistice, skid Rhee might accept if the political conference after the truce is limited to “three or four months.” ■Rhee himself. In a United Nations supreme cohimander Gem Mark W. Clark, promised to notify him in advance If he withdraws South Korean troops from the U. N. command. The Communists observed the last day of the third year of the war by loosing a 6,000-man attack on United States and South Korean positions. American Sabrejets shot down six Russian-made MIG4S jet fighters. . It was indicated that there may be trouble in Seoul Thursday when Robertson arrives and Rhee turns loose his demonstrators, whom he plans to address. Ruffians today beat up Chough ITwra T» Face ~

Governor Os Texas 1 Asks Federal Aid Parched Southwest Sees Little Relief By UNITED PRESS The parched southwest today balked in one of the iworst early heat waves in history, and Texas Goy. Allan Shavers appealed’ to President Eisenhower for federal aid. The big cattle-cotton area was also suffering its fourth summer of crop * wilting, grass - killing drought, and weathermen said they law no sign of general, heavy rains in the near future. •Meanwhile, rainstorms soaked thousands off acres of the central and upper midwest and an apparently isolated tornado ripped into Lindsay, Mont., “like an explosion,” injuring one persofi. The U. S. weather bureau reported “there was little in the way off weather” in other parts of the nation, with temperatures mostly moderate and skies generally clear. For the 46th day this year autf the 36th consecutive day, the mercury soared past ICO degrees somewhere in Texas. On I'l days this year, including Tuesday, at least one weather station has reporte l 110 degrees or more. Wind, rain and electrical storms hit scattered midwest communities Tuesday night, and heavy ball Stones did crop damage at Pocohontas, la. £ A three-year-old boy was killed <Ter» Te Peace Five)

Senate Group Votes |ood Control Bill Senate To Consider Measure Next Week WASHINGTON UP — The fc«>nate appropriation committee! »ap.jpoved a bill providing for flood Control and navlgatidn projects and other army civil functions during the 1954-fiscal tear starting July 1. .The committee recommendations totaled $57,371,300 more than Was voted by the house but iw>4llt $25,000,000 less than the Eisenhower administration requested; The bill tentatively is scheduled tor senate consideration Week. . ’ j ’ Major items in the bill add ijpito 13’12,186,000 for river, harborj/ahd Rood control projects. An additional $51,433,000 is earmarked !ii|for flood control activities on the Mississippi river and its tributaries. In a report Tuesday, the committee said it wanted none ofijtlie money provided for the Garics or. Dani in North Dakota |*> obtain land above an elevatiort' s of 1,840 feet or to build protective works near Williston N. D., dr 4»e Buford-Trenton and {’’lark Irrigation districts. . Ttty committee said its action wm not intended to prejudice! a final decision on the proper 41evation for the project | j

Board Os Review To ‘Jr.! ’ End Hearings Friday Session Scheduled To Close July 13 ;ji The annual Adams county pojird of review has been in session at the county assessor's office at the county courthouse since and has completed soldiers and mortgage exemptions, and a of all assessments, personal, qnd real estate. ; i ' ( Hearings op assessment grievances, going on at the* office tor almost two weeks, will end ’Friday. Secretary of the Board by virtue of his office, auditor Frank Kltson, advises that all perttohs who may have missed out on thqir regular assigned township days, may call at the office, nevertheless, for a hearing. Kitson said there have jbeen possibly less than 15 hearing^!’in, the last two weeks, as compared to the loads of people who l|ned up at the courthouse years ago to complain they had been treated unfairly. He ascribes the improved situation to the fact that the state’has come up with a foolproof index for evaluating property, real estate in particular, ♦ ■’ iii'! It is done by the point system. So much for each improVen)Spt, installation, Convenience, and so forth. The only fault he hasjbein able to find, said Kitson, has been in the comparatively unimportant definitions taken by assessors in the townships. He points out jhgt some assessors termed foileddraft heating systems air conditioners and a rectification was necessary since they are not.* l , Otherwise, avers the auditor, the board of review is mating along at a smooth clip with .Ta minimum of snags to hold up its accelerated schedule, whicf is due to end, tentatively, July Salvation Army Dies Suddenly Today; NEW YORK UP —The national commander of the Salvation Xrmy. commissioner Ernest I. Pugßfre, died suddenly today of a heart attack, the army announced. : l Pugmire, 65, was appointed head of the Salvation army in the United States in ; 1944. He formerly was eastern territorial commander and had served in the army for 46 years both in the United States, Canada and in the Orient.

Tom Lyon Asks For Withdrawal Os Nomination Withdraws Name As Director Os Bureau Os Mines For U. S. WASHINGTON UP — Tom Lyon today asked President Eisenhower to withdraw his nomination to be director of the bureau of mines. The Salt Lake pity geologist made the request after he lost his Republican backing in the senate. His testimony Tuesday that he receives a $5,000 annual pension from Anaconda Copper Co., was the final blow to his nomination. John L. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers, opposed Lyon’s nomination. Lewis, who had been prepared to testify against Lyon this morning, thus won his battle Without uttering another word against him. . Lyon took the advice of Sen. Arthur V. Watkins IbUtah, one of his original sponsors, in asking that his nomination be called back Secretary of Interior Douglas Me Kay sent the request to Mr. Eisen bower. "I am accepting thia request with regret,” McKay said. “I feel Mr. Lyon would have been an excellent appointment. He has served the government for the past 29 tnonths in a position of high trust and great responsibility.” Lyon is now deputy administrator of the defense materials procurement agency. “I am today requesting President Eisenhower to withdraw the name of Tom Lyon from the senate." Democrats also had demanded that Mr. Eisenhower take the nomination back. They cited his pension and his statement that he is not in sympathy with the federal mine safety law he would have to enforce. Mrs. Nettie Zehr Dies Last Evening Funeral Services Friday Afternoon Mrs. Nettie Zehr, 71 died at • o’clock Tuesday evening at her home, 817 Russel street. She had (been ill since Feb. 6. : I She was born in Adams count? Jan. 27, 1-882, a daughter of Phill'p and Elizabeth Rutledgedrwin, and was* married to .David Zehr in 1901. Her husband died March 18, 1943. <She had resided in Decatur since 1920.

Mrs. Zehr was an active and faithful member off the Nuttman Ave. United Brethren in Chrht church. Surviving are a son, Raymond Zehr, at home; one brother Manley P. Irwin off Decatur; two sisters, Mrs. Edward Foreman off Berne and Mrs. Amiel Schaffner of Van Wert, O.; and two half-sisters, Mrs. Clint Charleston of Geneva and Mrs. Herbert Arnold of Bryant. Two brothers preceded her in death. _ ’•» ‘ * Funeral services will be conducted at the home at 1:30 p.m. Friday and at 2 p.m. at the Nuttman Ave. United Brethren in Christ church, the Re< A. B. Neuenschwander officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. The body was removed to the Zwic* funehal home, where friends may call after 7, o’clock this evening until do a.m. Friday, when the body will be removed to the residence. . INDIANA WEATHER Generally fair south, partly cloudy north with scattered showers extreme north tonight. Thursday partly cloudy, scattered thundershowers north and central portions. . Low tonight 64-72 north, 70-78 south. High Thursday 90-96.

Air Force Cancels Kaiser's Contract Ends Contract For \ Plane Production WASHINGTON, UP — The air force today canceled its contract with the Kaiser Manufacturing Co. for the production of C-119 cargo planes at Willow Run, 'Mich. Industrialist Henry J. Kaiser has been testifying before senators in defense of the initial cost of the big cargo planes. Senators have called their cost excessive. In cancelling Kaiser C-119 contract, air force Harold E. Talbott also announced the termination of the contract for the production of C-123 transports by the Chase Aircraft Co., 49 percent of which is owned by Kaiser. Talbott said his action was "taken completely independently” of the present senate committee hearings into Kaiser’s j production of the transports. Kaiser the initial cost of C-119 planes produced hy Fairchild Corp., ran about $4,339,000 ekch. He said this put the cost of the first planes turned out by Kaisqr—about $1,200,000 each — “in a very favorable perspective.’ Fairchild now is • producing th< planes tor about $230,000 each Fairchild is the original produce] of the plane. There was no immediate esti mate of how much would be saved by cancellation of the C-119 and C-123 contracts. . i Kaiser’s defense of his initial 1 costs was made as he went before a senate armed services subcommittee for a second day to testify. Banter Funeral To Be Held Thursday Funeral services for Mrs. Sarah Banter, who died Monday night, will be held at 2 p. m. Thursday at the Asbury Chapel church, southeast of Bluffton, the Rev. Sharp officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friepds may call at the Black funeral home here until noon Thursday, when the body will be taken to the church to lie in state until time of the services.

Decatur Housewife Wins Safety Award Mrs. Gainess Brown Wins Second Award Second winner in the courtesy sweepstakes this week is Mrs. Gainess Brown, a Decatur housewife of 322 Stevenson street. Mrs. Brown is the proud possessor of a $5 check from the Chicago Motor Club for showing chief James Borders, not heretofore considered a gentle critic of driving habits, that she knows her stuff on the road and thinks of the other person. k . “I didn’t know what to think when he stopped me (on Third street), all I could gasp was. ‘what have I done’,” said Mrs. Brown of her brief but pleasurable encounter with the law. Mrs. Brown said the chief tagged her just north of the Erie railroad tracks and followed her into town, finally hauling her over on Third street. i( The second winner (seven to go) is the mother of one girl and has been driving tor 15 years. Mrs. Brown testifies she hasn't gotten into a scrape in all that time. Says she was tanght by her husband and now will consider him the very best of teachers, especially with a “found" check for $5 heating the inside of her purse. Not all the .winners in this annual courtesy contest are going to be drivers; pedestrians can also get into the act, $5 worth. Not jay-Walking will coant, which is Jo say you should cross only at the corners. Minding the lights, especially the ones at Monroe and Second, ought to earn some lucky pavement pounder a fin.

Price Five Cental

U. N. Forces G . ■ .. . Tensely Await New Red Push • • ■;'/ : j Communists Bring Third Year Os War To End In Blaze SEOUL. Korea, Thursday, UP-— The Korean war entered its fourth year today with the United Nations forces’tensely awaiting a. new Commuhist attempt to smash their line before a truce is signed’. ; The Conflmunists brought the third year of the war to a blazing end Wednesday by losing a 6,000man attack on United States 3rd infantry and Republic of • Korea positions. Allied troops crushed both attacks. At dusk, there was only - harassing fire, from the Red lines. But it looked as if the Communists Would strike again today. - I United .States fifth air force Sabrejet pilots marked the anniversary (by shooting down six Russian-built MIG-15 je| fighters Wednesday afternoon and damag-' ing one. From 5,000 tp 6,000 Reds drove into American and-South Korean defenses around bloody SnipeRidge and * Boomerang Hill just west of Kumhwa. . ~ < . One attack failed under strong American resistance, bat the second assault lasted past sun up. The new Communist assaults ended a five-day “little armistice” that followed completion of the truce agreement reached at Panmunjom. In the air war, fifth air force Sabrejets shot down six.MlGs during the morning and damaged another while fighter bombers hit Communist front-line positions. The western and eastern fronts remained quiet as more than 24 hours of rain turned the battleground into a sea of mud. One spearhead of I.SOO Communists liolted into a position occupied by the 7th infantry regiment ' of the U. S. third division at the .Boomerang. American defenders surged JoV- ' s ward with the support of tanks and drove off the Chinese before dawn.y Another spearhead of 1,560 Chinese struck another position on Boomerang. South Koreans of the 9th ROK division killed or wounded 727 Communists ’in hand-to-hand fighting. Five or six miles to the east, at Ridge, another Red regi- , ment hit 9th ROK positions and the fight continued in daylight. The main force of the Sniper Ridge attack involved 2,500 Chinese. About 500 Reds attacked outposts at Jane Russell Hill and Sandy Ridge.

Siftman Installed i As Lions President i New Officers Are Installed Tuesday. Walter Sittman took his place as president of the Decat&r Lions club Tuesday night at installation ceremonies at the K. of P. home together with 10 other officers, for the 53-54 season. Others installed were: Paul Hancher, first vice-president; Dick Macklin, second vice-president;. Frank Lybarger, third vice-preai-dent; Merritt Alger, secretary; Norman Steury, treasurer; Fretl Corah, Lion tamer; and Bob Worthman, tail twister. Named to the board of directors were i Harry Knapp and Bob Zwick. Installing officer was Dr. N. A. Bixler, one of the two remaining charter members of the Decatur Lions. ; Plans werk completed for the annual Lions family picnic next Tuesday night at Hanna-Nuttman park. Which will be the finale to the club’s acticities until neit fall.