Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 51, Number 179, Decatur, Adams County, 31 July 1953 — Page 1

Vol. LI. No. 179.

Sen. Robert A. Taft Dies Today

Prisoners Os Reds Alerted For Freedom Initial Group Os Americans Alerted To Plan For Trip PANMUNJOM/ Korea UP — _ Peiping Radio announced today the Communists ha<J alerted the first; group of American prisoners to prepare for the 200-inile journey to Panmunjom and freedom. The jofficial “voice” of Red China said British, French. Turkish and other non-Korean captives also had been advised to get ready for thertrip. The broadcast named only three of the prisoners who will ride on the first convoy. They were two Americans—Samuel S. Thomas, a medic, and a Robert Gleason — and British prisoner Elbert Campbell. Their ranks and hometowns were not jglven. They were expected to arrive in the Communiat base camp at Kaesong shortly before the scheduled Aug. 5 start of “Operation Big Switch.” the exchange of 12.000 Allied prisoners for 74.000 North Korean and Chinese held by the United Nations. The first Communist captives held by the Allies arrived in the Panmunjom area Friday under heavy guard. They were shunted into the stockade erected last April for the exchange of sick and wounded prisoners by both sides. The Peiping description of life in a Communist prison camp sound*, ed something like a press agent's copy on exclusive summer resorts. In poetic phrases, the broadcast said the first prisoners 40 be repatriated were wined and dined Thursday night. •"‘Beautifully decor at e d clubrooms were turned into dining halls,” it paid. ‘.‘The Chinese People's volunteers and prisoners of war drank and shouted “Long Live Peace” and toasted those who had worked hard for the success of the Korean armistice.

“Over dishes and glasses of beer akd wine,, captors and captives talked of the good times they had together in the camp and many other things.” The soothing language of the broadcast was in strong contrast to the Communists here who brought their complaints of supposed truce violations by the Allies to an even dozen. ' Major Gen. Blackshear M. Bry< an. senior Uj N. delegate on the military armistice commission, said the Reds’ latest protests involved alleged flights by Allied planes over the 214 mile wide demilitarized zone Wednesday night and early Thursday morning. Bryan, said both sides agreed at the one-hour and 56 minute meeting on permitting civil police ’to enter the buffer zone within 36 hours after the line of demarcation has been marked plainly. He said the Reds had asked for 1,000 police and the U.N. for 65p. Thg com mission agreed to hold its?-next meeting, the the tfiefe was signed, at 11 a.m. Saturday^!o-p. tn. e.d.t. Friday. Bryan said all w of the Communist complaints were; being checked thoroughly, even though they aprrwra T« d. ■ .■ _ . J ■ , — Installing Pipes To New City Water Well Pipes to connect the city’s new water well with the water treatment plant were (being installed today, according to a statement from John Doan. The well is intended fb give the water supply a breather .from the comparatively enormous amounts consumed during hot weather. (No difficulties were encountered anywhere along th* way and the well is considered a success. The contract to drill, between the,city and a Rockford, 0., well digging outfit, was ’approved at last week’s city council meeting. • INDIANA WEATHER Partly cloudy, a few scattered showers near Lake Michigan late tonight or Saturday morning and a few isolated snowers central portion. No decided change In temperature. Low tonight 67-74 north, 7&76 soutn. High Saturday 85-92 extreme north, 95-100 south.

DEdATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT \ 11’ ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY !

Senate Leader Dies

jwr1 < IF % iw- ; " 4'*lf" i f /WKH't lB> l| y H i’ ? Slßf B wl wb - -gMr JlSt ’ A Bar ■*’ 1 • '' * : Sen. Robert A. Taft

Taffs Death Blow To GOP Administration Thin Republican Senate Majority Down To Nothing WASHINGTON UP ■—News of Sen. Robert A. Taft’s death struck tse i capital and the Eisenhower administration with sledge-ham-mer force today shortly after the senate met in early session. The thin Republican majority in the senate had dwindled to nothing. To retain control, the .Republican par|y must now depend on the frequently uncertain course of Sen. Waype Morse Ind-Ore. Morse told reporters, however, he would ypte to keep Republicans in power. It appeared that the GOP would hang on by a hair. Gov. Frank J. Lausche of Ohio is a Democrat and is expected after this session of Congress to appoint a Democrat to succeed “Mr. Republican” in the senate. If so, the count would be: Republicans: : 47 Democrats 48 Independent 1 On a showdown with Morse voting to keep the Republicans in power the senate would be tied. 48.-to-48. Vice President Richard L. Nixon would cast the deciding vote which would continue Republicans in control. The senate met early today and in an unusual mood at 10 a.m. There should have been a clamor of talk in corridors and cloak rooms of President Eisenhower’s last minute demand for an increase in the national debt limit which has jumbled adjournment plans. The talk was of Taft Political friend and foe With few exceptions in Congress recognized the senator as the ablest man of the lot, or near it. On the floor the debt talk was half beard. Senators were listening for word from a room in New York. It came at 11:44 a.m. Sen. Herman Welker R*lda. had just been speaking Os Taft although his talk had begun about the debt. “The greatest statesman I have known—” said Welker, and reminded his colleagues that no debt limit proposal would be up right now if congress had listened to Tqft on fiscal policy. “The senior senator from Ohio is having trouble in living,” Welker continued. About that time in New York Taft was dead. Acting Republican leader William F. Knowland interrupted debate to ask for a quorum call. The young Californian did hot say why he wanted all available members to <Tara T« Pan Twa)

Methodist Pastor Continues Denials Face To Face With Former Communist WASHINGTON UP — The Rec. Jack Richard McMichael, in a face-to-face meeting* with a former Communist who has accused the Methodist minister of being a Communist, denied under oath he had ever seen the man before. The scene was tne hearing room of the house un-American activities committee. The committee brought in Manning Johnson, ‘a Njegro, who had previously testified he knew McMiohael as a Conm unist. ' McMichael, looking Johnson in the eye, flatly denied that he ever knew Johnson. McMichael, 36-year-old Georgiaborn pastor of Upper Lake, Calif., demanded to cross-examine Johnson. But chairman Harold H. Velde R-111. refused to allow it. McMichael accused thp committee of “trying (o prosecute me.” Rep. Donald L. Jackson RCalls. shouted “that will be determined by another tribunal — who has perjured himself.” The second day of the committee hearing began about as uproariously as the first. He accused the committee again of trying to convict him of “guilt by association.” p | “Jesus spoke at meetings of sinners . . .” McMichael said. “Leave Jesus out of this,” committee members shouted. “It’s a little hard for me as a minister to leave Jesus out of this,” McMichael replied. At another point, McMichael shouted “. . . God is my judge, not the un-American activities committee.” ■ v “We’re not trying to judge you,” Velde but in. The 3G-year-old Methodist minister ripped the committee up and down -in a stormy all-day session Thursday. He denied he ever was a Communist and said the committee was trying to “trick and trap” him into connections with Communist&Sid Communist fronts.” Rep. Kit Clardy R-Mich. said he was “exasperated” with McMichael for being “evasive” and “contemptuous.” He said the Upper Lake, Calif., pastor would be thrown in jail if he acted that way before any court. ( Chairman Harold H. Velde R--111. served notice he would expel McMichael from the hearing if he made any further “outbursts.” McMichael told reporters the committee tactics were the same that convicted Jesus. “The whole thing is based on a principal that would have convicted Jesus — and did,” ha said, “ . . . guilt by association.” The questioning of McMichael rm To Face SUM)

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, July 31,1953.

One Os Nation’s Great Leaders Dies Today In Hospital In New York

Survivor Says American Plane Downed By Reds American B-50 Shot Ddwn Off Coast Os Siberia Wednesday a TOKYO, (UP)—First Lt. John Ernest Roche, only known survivor of an American Bad lost off the coast of 'Siberia, said today his plane was shot down by Russian fighter aircraft. ■Roche, co-pilot of the plane which crashed in the Sea,of Japan Wednesday yvith a crew of 17 aboard, said the American bomber* was at least 40 miles off the Soviet coast when it was attacked. The Washington, D. C., airman was interviewed at Far East air force headquarters here by FEAF ‘commander Gen. O. P. Weyland. •Moscow claimed the “violated” Soviet territory near Cape Gamov in the Vtadavostok' area, and admitted pursuit planes 4 tired on the ship. It contended, however, the American plane opened fire first. The state department in Washington is expected to protest vigorously to Russia over the shooting down of the plane. Roche suffered bruises around being picked up by a navy ship southeast of the Soviet air and set arsenal of Vladivostock. Weyland said Roche was in good physical condition, despite 11 hours in the water And 11 hours in a lite boat dropped by a U. S. air force rescue B-29. Roche suffered brunses around the head and face when he bailed out of the crippled bomber, Weyland said. I The general said (he other 16 crew members aboard the bomber apparently were lost. Search for the missing plane has been aban- **>>*■ T» Pace Bisat > Auction School To Open Here Monday Three-Week School Opens Next Monday The auctioneer’s gavel will sound its echo around Bellmont park during the next three weeks beginning Monday to open another session of the nationally and internationally famous Reppert auction school. Students are already beginning to pour into town to enroll in the exhaustive and detailed course of study, that will follow. Most of them are new to the rigors to follow, others repeaters who think their earning power in their different fields can be enlarged by further study. , But many familiar faces will be on tap to grind their hardcome knowledge into the skulls of the novices.Col. Quentin R. Chaffee • will again assume the duties of dean of instruction and manager of sessions. A new face will be added this year to the activities of Bellmont park, not, however, to auctioneering. Dr. Roland Reppert, wellknown physician, lately retired, of Decatur. Dr. Reppert, now active president of the school, traveled for years with his famous father, Col. Fred Reppert, In many states and in Canada from the time he was a youngster until he began his practice as a doctor in Decatur. He was in on tbe operation of the duct ion school from its very inception. (Tara Ta Face uia)

Byrnes Confirmed ? As Delegate To UN Senate Confirmation Voted To Delegates WASHINGTON, UP—The Senate today confirmed the nomination of Gov. James F. Byrnes of South Carolina to be a delegate to the United Nations general assembly. The White House turned a deaf ear to protests against Byrnes’ selection. The senate also oßnfir|med the appointments of flenry Cabot Lodge, Jr., permanent delegate to the U. N„ Reps. P. Bolton. R-Ohio. and James P. Richards. D-S. C., to comprise the nation’s delegation. “If I wanted someone to represent the American viewpoint at the United Nations, I couldn’t think of anyone better than Jimmy Byrnes,” commented one high administration official. // Byrnes was secretary Os state *m tirFTruman cabinet when the United States adopted Its “get tough” policy with Soviet Russia arfter World War 11. He later broke with former President Truman and supported President Elsenhower in the 1962 election. The inference around the White House was that Byrnes, his wealth of background in legislative and diplomatic experience, could be expected to stand firm and out-maneuver Soviet delegates in any moves they might make in the forthcoming U. N. meeting. The source and the nature of. the protests .against Byrnes’ appointment carried little weight at the (Tarn Ta Pace Five) Barn Destroyed By Wind Last Evening * Barn Near Berne Is Hit Thursday Night Nature repeated herself Thursday evening on the David J. Schwartz farm, one and one-quart-er miles north of Berne on U. S. highway 27. The whole fury of a lightning and thunderstorm cut a half-mile swath through the area and blew down the Schwartz barn, crippling a calf, meanwhile playing havoc with barn doors and trees in the vicinity. 1 The same thing happened to David J. Schwartz 29 years ago during a similar visitation that wrecked his large dairy barn. In the barn at the time —about 7 p, m.—were 500 bushels of wheat, 32 tons of baled hay. 1 ; one tractor and five young cattle, one of which was crippled and had. to be shot. Most of the grain could be salvaged, said a source, and the tractor is thought to be in good shape although it is still buried under tons of grain and debris from the barnj Schwartz had just turned out a dairy herd to pasture when the winds came shortly before 7 p. m. and down came the barn. The structure is of the large dairy type and constructed of wood beams and boards. • The storm was of such a localized nature that it cut only h halfmile swath through the .area, dropping one and one-half inches of rain in the area most severely affected. In the surrounding territory only ,74 inches Cell, according to informed AH the rain that tell came during a 45minute period. Oddly enough. Decatur, a few miles away, was not aware of what was going on in the south part of the county. There were no high winds heret and no rain.

House Group Approves Hike In Debt Limit Acts Swiftly To Approve Request From Eisenhower WASHINGTON, UP—The house ways and means committee, approved with lightning speed today President Eisenhower’s request to increase the* national debt limit by $15,000,000,000. j The vote was 17 to 6 (o approve the increase. ■ ,' j Fourteen Republicans and three Democrats voted for the measurje. Five Democrats and one Repubji can voted against it. I'fwo Demoycraks—tßeps. Ncible J. Gregoryt Ky. and A.> Sidney Camp, Ga. -j—---did not vote. j With, ad nlng high, the committee acted less than 24, hoars after Mr.'Elsenhower sent a special message to congress asking that the, limit be raised from 1275,000,000,000 to $290,000,000,000. The President said the national debt is expected to exceed $275,000.000,000 before the scheduled return of congress next January. House leaders were prepared to call the bill up quickly for action on the house floor. House speaker Joseph W. 'Martin, Jr., said he was‘sure the house would approve the measure. The situation was different in senate, however. Many senators. including some Republicans, said they were determined to oppose the President’s request. There was some question about whether the senate finance committee would approve iL The senate finance committee, where there was strong opposition to increasing the national debt, planned an afternoon meeting to take up the proposal Some Republicans indicated they would side with the Democrats to oppose the measure. Senate Democratic leader Lyndon B. J6hnson called the President’s request “startling” and complained because it was made /Tara T» fob* bioo Raymond L Stetler Dies Last Evening 1 Funeral Services Sunday Afternoon Raymond Lee Stetler, 63. retired farmer and carpenter, and a lifelong resident of Willshire, O„ died Thursday evening at Fort Wayne, shortly after leaving a hospital where he had been receiving treatment for a heart ailment.

He was typrn in Van Wert county, 0., Oct. 10, 1890, a son, of David and Alice Stetler, and was married to Jessie Erhardt. Surviving |n addition to his wife are four daughters, Mrs. Murray Dearmond of Fort Wayne, Mrs. Carey Knittie of Decatur, Mrs. Leon Huffine and Mrs,. Arlo Poling of Willshire; one son, Doyle Stetler of Willshire; 12 grandchildren; two half-brothers, Wilbur Cully of Rockford, 0., and Glenn Gully of Fort Wayne, and a half-sister, Mrs. Gladine Hileman of Lansing, Mich. A half-brother preceded him in death. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Willshire Methodist church, the Rev. Wallace Turner officiating. Burial will be in the Willshire cemetery. The body will be removed from tbe Cowman A Son funeral home to tbe residence, where friends mdy call after 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

Senators Approve Oil Leasing Bill Fight To Earmark Funds Is Defeated WASHINGTON UP —The long fight to earmark offshore oil revenue for education was defeated Thursday night when the senate approved an oil leasing bill for the continental shelf without the school proviso. The senate passed and senji to the White House a compromise bill setting up federal leasing mqchinery for mineral resources of oceanbottom lands lying seaward oil the state-owned tidelands. yr • The comproipise was approved. 45 to 43 ,fater senate Republican leader William F. Knowland Calif, warned that (ts rejection might mean no continental shelf bill at this session. The bill was on the “must” list. Backers of the “oil-for-education” proposal fought to reject the comSise measure and force the e to vote bn the acwooi r» B « idment. I The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Lister Hill D-Ala. and 34 other senators, was added to the leading bill, on the senate floor. The house did not include the provision and hous j conferees refused to accept it. The-bill as passed gives the federal government exclusives control and, all the revenue from the submerged lands of the continental shelf. These laiids have been estimated to contain between $40,000,OOO.fJOO* and $250,000,000,000 worth of petroleum resources. The measure followed up the socalled tidelands bill which gave coastal states title to submerged /*Tbv* T» Powe Blsktt t “ I ' ■ ; y . • Monmouth Submits Bid For 4-H Fair Offer Facilities For Fair In 1954

The following letter was received in the extension office Thursday of this week, states county agent iJ* -E. Archbold. ‘Mt is the understanding of the Root township board of education that the Adams county 14-H clubs and extension exhibits? as of -the present, do not have a place to hold the 1954 4-H club fair. “We, the advisory (board and trustee of 'Root township, ! hereby extend an invitation to the county extension cominittee, the use of buildings, grounds, and other facilities, at a nominal fee, for the year 1954. Hugo Boerger, president • W. L. Gerke, secretary Martin Aumanm August Selking, Root township trustee. In commenting on the invitation iSelking said “We h,ave a fine large gym that wiil house the girls* exhibits in fine .style. Our new large well lighted shop would be a fine place in which to exhibit the wildlife and conservation exhibits. The school lunch kitchen would be available and suit the food committee to a tee.” Hugo Boerger, president of the board said, "We have 20 acres of land In our tract, which will permit placing of tent exhibits, arid plenty of parking space.” W. IL. Gerke, stated that plenty of electric current would 'be available. He said too, that it was desirable to make greater use Os such facilities. (Martin iAumann stressed the fact that their water supply was ample and that the grounds and] building would nicely accommodate the 4-H club show.

Trice Five Cents

NEW YORK. (UP) — Robert Alphonso Taft of Ohio, one of the great figures in the history of the United States senate, died today of malignant tumors at the height of his career as a public servant, The : 63year-old “Mr. ißepublican” >hose party thrice denied, him his highest ambition-Jto run for the: presidency his fattier JVilllam Howard Taft had held —-dijed? quietly at 11:30 a. m. (9;30 CfeT)’ in S|ew York hospital. r ' I Taft died without pain, the hospital bulletin said. At the were his four sons. His wife Martha ,— the vivacious, phrasemaking member of the political tpam of “Bob and Martha” — was in Washington. j A wheel-chair invalid. Mrs. Taft; who suffered a stroke three years ago, visited her husband Tuesday; but returned home. Her own illness prevented her from bearing the strain watching her husbahd’s life slip away gradually: Taft, whose illness first, made itself apparent with pains in the leg last April, entered the hospital here July 4,and underwent an ex-’ ploratory abdominal operation tout duy- rwwAitton. suddenly i took a turn tor the worse late T!|ursdUy. v ! 'He fell into a coma shortly before 11 p. th., and apparently never rallied from it. ■ -7- 1 iDrj Claude E. ForknelC the attending physician who is a specialist in leukemia, said in the death bulletin that the disease “progressed relentlessly of the application of alUi the therapeutic weapons available to v modern science.” L ' ' • j ■ '

“His death,” the bulletin said, “was the result of widespread, highly malignant, rapidly growing turners.” The senator devel-' oped a Severe anemia requiring many-transfusions. i y. “However, the disease cpuld not be controlled permanently,’’ the bulletin added, ’ J On® of the first to express sorrow was former President Truman, whose “Fair Deal” Taft had. fought but whose friendship he had retained. yTaft’s death removed from the political scene the key figure supporting President Eisenhower in the senate and a tower of strength In the first Republican administration since the early--1930'5. / ' The President, who little more than a year ago had beaten Taft, in the Ohioan s third bid for the GOP presidential, nomination, had sent word he fanned to come in person to the f bedside. But the press of congress* closing days prevented the trip. 'IT Taft was well enough to sit up for breakfast Thursday. At 6 p.m. his condition was critical and at 11 p. m-. he went into a coma. ? At 2:45 a. m. today, the hasp tai reported: “Senator Taft is still in a coma.” His breathing was labored, and he was j being / given oxygen. At 5:40, the bulletin said only that his condition critical. ' | Three of his sons gathered for an all-night watch, Howard 111, 37, U. S. ambassador to ’lreland who had flown here from Dublin Thursday; Robert Jr., 35, and Idoyd Bowers, 30. The fourth son Horace. 27, this morning from Los Alamos, N. M. It was learned that some time ago, while Taft was on crutches in Washington, a .prominent doctor informed him of the nature of his illness and he replied to this effect: ' . ,4 You will find me the most willing guinea pig you ever had.” Beginning in 1938. Taft waa elected to three consecutive senate terms. He scored a notable victory on his "third bid. He was reelected overwhelmingly in the face of all-out opposition by organized labor, whose leaders resented his Taft-Hartley ad* The oldest child of William /Tmm Te F*®e miabt) J