Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 52, Number 29, Decatur, Adams County, 4 February 1954 — Page 1

Vol. Ul. No. A

Sharp Increase In Shipping Os Arms To Rebels Ominous Increase In Shipments To Indochina Rebels WASHINGTON, UP—There was a sharp and ominous increase recently in shipments weapons and war equipment to the Communist rebels in Indochina, It w»s learned today. This plus increased rebel activity has prompted the feeling that the Communists may be gearing tor an all-out drive to force the French out of Indochina and end the seven-year war. I Some strategists believe that one major defeat for the French and native anti-Communist forces could he disastrous. It would coincide with rising demands in France that the French quit the bloody guerrilla war. opening the floodgates for a Communist sweep of all Southeast Asia. 'lncreased arms deliveries to the Communist-rebels are reported to have occurred after the end of the Korean war last July. There had been previous official estimates that deliveries from Red China were running at about 1,000 tons a month. Now they are believed considerably higher and that firepower has increased. The recent rise in Red military capacibilites and extensive military action have prompted' France to ask the United, States for more military equipment, including 826 light bombers and some cargo transport planes, informants said. The French request was reported coupled with an appeal for up to 400 aircraft maintenance men to service planes behind battle lines. There is every Indication that the request tor non-combat airmen win ha met—if it hasn’t" been already. Officials said the French request for more help was being given urgent attention by the nation’s top national security council. Action has been spurred, in part, by antiCommunist native forces will fight back to gain a more favorable bargaining position for any later armistice negotiations. The seriousness of the Indochina situation was highlighted Wednesday by President Eisenhower. At his news conference, the President said the situation is critical in the , sense that there is some evidence that the native Indochina population is not enthusiastic about the fight against the Reds. Launch New Attack HANOI, Indochina, (UP) —The Communists drove within 51 miles of Luang Prabang today and simultaneously launched a new attack in northern Laos, apparently in hopes of capturing both capitals of the sleepy northwest Indochinese jungle kingdom. Numerous clashes were reported on other Indochinese battlefronts during the day. There were reports of widespread treason and desertion among defending forces In southern Indochina. French authorities, raising a news blackout on the progress of the Luang Prabang offensive, announced the Reds have captured the important outposts of Muong Sai anffHannambac on the road to the royal capital. Bannambac, 51 miles north of Luang Prabang, fell to one of three Communist columns reported advancing on the city. A second column took Muong Sai. The third Red spearhead was advancing south of the bypassed outpost of Muong "Ngbi. which at latest report was still holding out. Rules Marsh Death Is Caused By Fail iM'UNOIIE. Ind. UP - The death of Olen iMarsh, 52, a manufacturing executive, was blameid Wednes- > day on a concussion suffered in a flail while coaching a church bas kebball team. _ An autopsy showed the fall and not a heart attack as previously believed, killed Marsh as he ran along the sidelines of Roosevelt School Gymnasium. INDIANA WEATHER Mostly fair extreme southwest; partly cloudy north and east portion tonight and Friday. Light snow likely' near Mlclhgan boundary late Friday; no Important change In temperature. Low tonight 2583; high Friday ranging from i the low 30’s extreme northeast'to near 50 extreme southwest. gsgr"

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Polar Bear-Tokyo Type ■ X *| M f ’ ABOUT AS POORLY CLAD for his job as he can possibly be, this rugged individualist, evidently a member of a Japanese chapter of the "Polar Bear Club" shovels his sidewalk in front of his Tokyo shop on the Ginza. The heaviest snowfall in several years brought the busy Ginza to a virtual standstill when 12 inches fell in 24 hours. Other sturdy souls are well muffled against the frigid weather which" our shorts-clad shopkeeper takes with such aplomb.

City Utilities Show Operation Profit For '53 Electric, Water Departments Show Profit Last Year The electric and water departments of Decatur’s municipal utilities operated at a profit in 1953, the annual reports prepared by Edwin Kauffman, plant auditor shows. Recording a nine percent gain in business, the electric department shows a net profit of $79,647.81, a gain of 5.2 percent over 195.2's profit of $75,746.44. The .water department enjoyed a 42.5 percent gain in general customer sales, boosted its total volunin to $92,062.41 and shows a net .profit of $12.692.28, compared To a $4,779.48 loss in 1952. Lester Pettibone Is superintendent of the electric department and Ralph Roop heads the water department. Copies of the reports, have been filed with Mayor John M. Doan, the city council and the Indiana -public service commission. Compared with 19<>1, the electric department showed a net profit of $132,128.38 and also contributed $6,545.52 to the civil city’s budget. The department’s volume of business that year was $708,463.14. The water * departmen t. had sales of $67,460.03 and a net profit of $12,289.89 in 1951. The electric plant manufactured 31,438,000 KHW in 1953, compared to 28,442,000 in 1952, a gain of 10.5 percent. Last year’s volume was under 1954's 36,180,000 KWH’S. The new Diesel plant turned out 127.800 KWH. mostly used in testing. The utility purchased 1,1662,000 KWH from the Indiana-aiiehi-gan high tension line, the total output of electric current being a gain of 12 percent. In 1951, KWH's generated and purchased totaled 43,055,000. Identical gains in commercial and industrial power sales and KWH’s used in interdepartmental divisions, including power furnished the water department were made last year. They were 14.2 percent each. Next highest increase was in the rural line bracket, an 8.4 percent gain. Electric power purchased from I Mamounted to $37,243.22. Coal consumed in operating the plant was 28,877 tons, costing $185,964.62, exclusive of hauling charges. The average cost was $6.44 a ton. Oil (Turn To Pane Six> Decatur Dollar Day Wednesday, Feb. 10 Wednesday, February 10, from 9 o’clock in the morning until 9 o’clock at night has been designated as Dollar Day ,in Decatur,, according to an announcement today by Kenfieth Shannon, chairman of the retail division of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce. " All' participating stores in the city will offer special values to local shoppers and all partlcipaL Ing stores will remain open until 9 o’clock at night on Dollar Day, it was said. ;; J

Claim GOP Unfit To Govern State Democrats Point To Party Strife » ' INDIANAPO6IS, UP —lndiana Democrats today tried to cash in on a Republican factional dispute, claiming it proves the GOP is “unfit” to govern the state. The most embittered contenders in the Republican riff, meanwhile, steered clear of each omer—for the time being. Gov. Craig was in southern Indiana and Paul Cyr, newly-elected GOP state chairman, Was in Washington. Democrats jumped into the fray through their national committeeman, Paul .M. Butler of South Bend. He told a party dinner at Greenfield Wednesday night thefunctions of state government are being “neglected” while Republicans for power.” “Our state government has sunk to the lowest level of efficiency, integrity and morale of its personnel in the history of Indiana,” Butler charged. Cyr’s demand for a “harmony" conference with Craig appeared blocked until Feb. 16 or later because of the governor’s full out-of-town scheduler The Two" tangled Tuesday when Craig accused Cyr of wasting state money by calling statehouse morkers together for brief political pep talks. Their fight had deeper roots. It was a continuation of Craig's opposition to the GOP faction headed by Sens. William E. Jenner and Homer E. Capehart. Butler said Democrats —and all other Hoosiers —“have a right to expect . . . that conflict within a political organization never be allowed to affect public service." “Self-discipline is a prime requisite Os any individual or organization seeking or holding the power of public office," Butler said. “A political organization which is incapable of governing itself is unfit to govern the people.” Lt. Gov. Harold W. Handley, speaking at a Lincoln Day rally in Greensburg, took an opposite view of how things are progressing at the statehouse. —He urged a "vote of confidence" next fall by re-electing the secretary of state, treasurer, and superintendent of public instruction so the offices will "continue tn orderly fashion, safe in Republican hands." “I cannot speak too highly of the efficient administrations of these officials," Handley said. In the long-brewing Republican dispute, one reason the JennerCapehart faction advanced for opposing -Craig was that he bypassed on patronage about 2d county anddistrict GOP chairmen. ‘ > The Craig forces attempted to justify their action. They argued Craig staged an uphill fight to win the gubernatorial nomination while a large segment of: fellow state candidates, county and district chairmen and persons in state headquarters plotted against him. Why, then, their argumqflt continued, shouldn’t Craig hand: out • jobs tn those GOP delegates Who nominated him instead of to party chairmen who tried to block his nomination? • z

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, February 4, 1954.

Senate Vote On Bricker • • Amendment Is Delayed; George Plan Unsound

West Powers Brush Aside Russian Plan Western Allies To Seek End To Stall By Russian Leader BERLIN, (UP) — The Western Allies brushed aside Russia’s booby-trap "peace referendum" proposal today and agreed to press for a straight yes-or-no answer on free all-German elections. Senior Allied officials held a morning meeting and decided to press for an end of Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav M. Molotov’s stalling on German reunification proposals. They agreed that the aims of the Western Allies now are twofold: 1. To try to break up the Molotov filibuster. 2. To press Molotov to every opportunity for a straight answer, to the west’s German election plan as outlined by British foreign secretary Anthony Eden. . Molotov promised Wednesday to comment today on the “Eden plan” and western officials hoped he finally would do so. , , ■ Eden, as chairman of the TOth session beginning at 3 p.» nt; was in a position to let Molotov make ttre next mover “ ”” There was no hope that Molotov, who called tpr an all-German referendum on a -propaganda-angled question Wednesday, would agree - to Eden’s proposal for an election to fill an all-German parliament. But the western delegations were anxious to get a point-by-point Soviet reply for presentation to world public opinion. Molotov had been expected to reply to the Eden plan Wednesday but instead he introduced the plan to stage a referendum on whether the Germans favor entering the European defense community or want unity and peace. Secretary of state John Foster Dulles, Eden and French foreign minister Georges Bidault spontaneously rejected the Molotov proposal. They accused him of giving them an "absurd” question that obviously was “loaded.” Delay Granted On Lights At Geneva INDIANAPOLIS UP — Pennsylvania railroad today was given extended time —until May 15 — to comply with an April, 1953, order of the Indiana public service commission that it install flasher signals at a hazardous crossing of the railroad and Ind. 116 in Geneva, Adams county. Commission Hits McCarthy's Probe Hampers American Propaganda Plans WASHINGTON, P —Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy today brushed aside a charge that congressional investigators hampered American propaganda efforts abroad and declared “We scared hell out of a few Commies.” The Wisconsin Republican appeared unimpressed by the complaint fired by a presidential commission. He said his senate permanent investigating subcommittee would take a new look at the overseas information agency soon. The commission said the work Os the Voice of America and other overseas information agencies was “largely offset, if. not destroyed” by congressional investigations last year. It noted the information program was investigated by McCarthy’s group and a senate foreign relations subcommittee and suggested it be “spared” further .inquiries until it has a chance to '“prove itself." "I know we scared hell out of (Continued on Pace Six>

To Ask Institution For First Offenders Gov. Craig To Ask Legislative Okay INDIANAPOLIS. UP — Gov. said today he will ask the £1955 legislature to approve conetruction of a vocational and agricultural corections institution for teen-aged first offenders. 1 The school would be for rehabilitation of boys convicted of "non- ' malicious" crimes too old for the boys’ school at Plainfield but too young to be sent to the state reformatory and state farm, he said. k -Craig announced his plan Tor seeking legislation after another surprise visit to the state farm at Putnamville, his fifth in as many weeks to the institution he called a “glorified. flophouse” in December. “It’s cleaned up now," he said. "The farm is doing its Job—for the first time. The physical setup is satisfactory and the rahibilitation facilities are satisfactory now also, provided they can be expanded to meet future needs.” “Inmates' quarters and dining rooms are clean,’ 'he said, and classification of prisoners according to age and seriousness of offenses is "progressing well.” "We are ’ sending in classification, recreation and educational officers” who. will work permanently with the inmates,” he said. "At first we borrowed from the reformatory.” He said it is hoped psychiatrists , soon will be available to work with inmates at Putnamville, a large percentage of whom are sent up for drunkenness. "We are moving in on that, too.” he said. "We have an officer there now dealing with alcoholism," a problem which Craig implied had not been attacked properly previously. “You can judge the effectiveness of an institution for rehabilitation by its number of repeaters. Some of those sent up for alcoholism have been there 40 times. One man has been back 51 times.”--The governor, who previously suggested the additional school to fill out Indiana’s correctional system for men, said it would be "purely an educational and correctional institution,” probably for those between 16 and 19 years of age. Schools offering the vocational <Tur> To Pave Seven) Report Stockpile Os Goods Lowered Pile-Up Big Factor In Economic Dip WASHINGTON UP — The commerce department reported today that the pile-up of manufacturer’s stocks, a big factor in the current economic dip. shrank by about 200 million dollars in Decemben , r Even with that drop, however, inventories at the year’s end totaled $46,900,000,000, which was $2,500,000,000 higher than at the state of 1953. — ~. Practically all of the pile-up—: $2,400,000,000 — was in durable goods such as automobiles and refrigerators. President Eisenhower in his recent economic message to congress said these mountainous inventories' were a major factor in the economic slack-off. Wednesday, in a letter to CIO President Walter Reuther, the President called the decline a "transition” and said he was confident “In the capacity of the American economy for continued growth.” At Wednesday's news conference he said the economy Is going through the sort of adjustment that always .follows an emergency such as the Korean war. The commerce department also reportei. that although manufacturers' December sales declined slightly from November, the total for the entire year climbed to 303 billion dollars, 10 per cent higher than in 1952. r— .' .... r j ".'-l ~r , . _: 1-■ — —■ „„

Stamp Plan Is Urged To Give Food To Needy Senator Anderson Doubts Legality Os Administration Plan WASHINGTON. UP —Sen. Guy M. Gillette (D-Iowa) urged the administration today to work out a stamp plan for disposing of butter and other fool surpluses by giving them to needy Americans. Sen. Clinton P. Anderson (DN. M.) meanwhile challenged legality of the government’s present high-price butter-buying program which is accumulating tremendous surpluses while grocery prices remain at 80 cents a pound or more. President Eisenhower said Wednesday that he wants butter prices cut. Gillette wrote three cabinet members — agriculture secretary Ezra T. Benson, labor secretary James P. Mitchell, and welfare secretary Oveta Culp Hobby — urging the administration to come up quickly with legislative proposals for a stamp plan. Meanwhile, Benson announced that the administration is determined to put in effect its program of flexible and lower farm support prices for major crops. Testifying before the congreseTbhar ecohdmlc 'committee, Benson promised there will be no abrupt sharp slash in support prices if congress goes along with administration proposals to let present* mandatory high supports die as scheduled at the end of the year. The secretary added that if congress passes no new farm legislation, "the greater part of this administration program would become operative.” Benson described as- “serious” the 17 percent drop in farm prices since February. 1951, and the two-bilHon-dollar drop in farm income last yearVrom_the 1951 level. Rut he asserted “real progress . . . has been made in the past year in stemming the price decline.” Benson denounced the present mandatory 90 percent of parity support prices for cotton, wheat, corn, rice, and peanuts.'He_ said these high fixed price guarantees lead to surpluses and unwanted (Continued on Pare Eight) Davison Funeral Services Friday Services fbr'Mont E. Davison, will be held Friday at 2:30 p.m. at the Thoma Funeral home in Bluffton. The Rev. Matthew Worthman will officiate. Mr. Davteon was a brother of Mrs. Robert Fritzinger of this city. Solomon Lindermott • I 1$ Taken By Death Funeral Services Saturday Morning '' ’ . . ■ Ma, Solomon Monroe Lindermott, 85, retired St. Mary’s township farmer, died at 1:15 o’clock Wednesday afternoon at the Davis nursing home at Bluffton. He had been ill since last Septenniber. — He was born in Vtai Wert county, 0., Sept. 21, 1868, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Lindermott, and had never married. IMr. Lindermott made his home •with Henry Miller, one-half mile West of Bobo. There are no near surviving relatives. Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Zwlck funepat bfflfte. “ft* H OV - William Ensmlnger officiating. Burilal will be in the Greenbriar cemetery east of Wlllehire, O. Friends may call at the funeral after 2 p.m. Friday.

Warns U. S. To End Hysteria On Spies Warning Issued By British Scientist LONDON UP —A British scientist said today that United States “spy hysteria’’ is apt to give Russia undisputed leadership in the atomic field. Prof. E. E. Simon of Oxford University said. "It is quite clear that the recent developments in the United States are not conducive to their retaining leadership in the nuclear field." “If someone intended to draw a red hearing -across the trail of atomic progress he could hardly think of anything better than creating a spy hysteria," he said. Simon noted that this "hysteria" is dangerous for two*reasons: 1. It creates a false sense of security for those who think that Russia can make progress only with the help of "stolen secrets,” whereas in actuality Russia has plenty of good atom scientists of its own. 2. Super-security leads to “sterility" in America’s own atom research. . Simon added that the Russians “seem to have surpassed the Americans in the output of scientists and technologists, and although nothing is known about theirtquality, tp judge from the results at does not seem to be poor.”"The real danger,” he continued, “is tel the Russians may overtake the Western countries by quite legitimate means.” Simon noted that “completely free exchange of information is naturally bound to clash with what is somewhat misleading called security.” “However," he said, “100 per cent of this kind of security means 90 per cent sterility and thus some risks have to be taken. This was, of course, a most serious matter during the early years of the bomb. Now, since the Russians have caught up with the Western countries in the design of bombs, many of the regulations appear to be highly anachronistic. “The Russians must be t very pleased indeed; not only does the hysteria strike most effectively at the roots of the American atomic energy project but it also diverts attention from the real danger points. - Public Emergency Ordered In Chicago Three More Bitten In Mad Dog Attack. CHICAGO UP — A public emergency was declared today after a rabid dog bit a dentist, a mother ? and her child in the second spectacular mad dog attack in 16 hours. Meanwhile, health authorities searched for victims of the first attack, in which 16 .persons were ibitten by a single dog, and warned they face a "horrible, anguished death” unless they are treated. . 'Sheriff John Ralbto declared the emergency and ordered his men “to capture or destroy" every stray dog in quarantined areas of Book county, which includes Chicago and many suburbs. Chicagoans were awakening to the critical nature of the rabies epidemic here;“Wtrtch has taken the life of one child. In the quiet hours between midnight and 3 am. today, eight persons reported dogbites to the board of health and asked for treatment. Baibb authorized his men to shoot down strays if necessary and to protect themselves, “One human life is more important than all the animals in the country,” he said. The victousnesa of the latest mass attack made the three victime almost helpless. The mongrel jumped 4-year-old Peter O’Brien in the Beverly Hilla neighborhood on the far south side, biting him over the right eye and (Turn T» Paa* Six)

Price Five Cents

GOP Seeking Substitute To Bricker Bill George Substitute To Bill Rejected By Administration By UNITED PRESS Republican leaders practically gave up hope today of getting a final vote on the Bricker amendment before week, after next. The Republicans have been trying- to draft a substitute which .would be acceptable to President Eisenhower, Sen. John W. Bricker R-Ohio, and Senate Democrats. Mr. Eisenhower has said Bricker’s proposal - would dangerously weaken presidential powers to conduct foreign affairs. A proposed substitute by Sen. Walter F. George D-Ga, was rejected by the administration - when Atty. Gen. Brownell Jr. said it would jeopardize "some of the powers of the President.” Bricker himself offered a substitute for his original amendment but said he would “never surrender on the basic principles involved." It is to those principles that President Eisenhower is “unalterably opposed,” • • . '. Senate GOP leader William F. Knowland Calif, said after looking the situation over that there la, little chance of final action thia week. The senate has agreed to do no major business next week because a lot of Republicans will be out making Lincoln Day speeches. Other congressional news: Postage: The house post office committee voted to hike postage on out-of-town first class mail from 3 to 4 cents an ounce. The boost would add about 150 million dollars a year to postal revenues. Alaska:.. The senate interior committee voted 14-1 to admit Alaska to the Union. It previously approved a Hawaiian statehood bill. Democrats will try to merge the two bills op the senate floor. The administration favors the Hawaiian bill but not the Alaskan measure. Taxes: ißep. Herman P. Eberharter D-Pa., said treasury experts figure the administration’s would cost $2,914,500,000 a federal revenue. Their estimate, Eberharter said, is more than twice that. of their boss, treasury secretary George M. Humphrey, who had said the loss would be only about $1,200,000,00. Saddles: House investigators said the armed services last year sold surplus military goods for 6 percent of their $1,225,000,000 cost. But surplus material is piling up faster than it can be disposed of. For example, the investigators said, the army still is saddled with Spanish-American war sad■dl«f. "Smelly”: Sen. Alien J. Ellender (D-La.) said there is some<Tbtb To Page Seven) Retail Division To Elect New Officers Postal, card ballots for election of 1954 officers of the retail division of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce were by all members of that division today. The election will be closed February 8 and announcement of the pew officers will be- made on that day, Kenneth Shannon, present chairman said in the accompanying letter. Elmer Winteregg, Cliff Brewer, "William Schuße and Ed Heiman have been nominated for the post of chairman for 1954. The man receiving the highest number of votes will be chairman and the runner-up will be named chairman.Two candidates have been placed in nomination for treasurer. They are John Halterman and Paul Hendricks. Miss Mildred Nibliek and Mrs. Evelyn Kingsley have been nominated for secretary. Ballots are to be returned to Shannon and the new officers will assume their duties February 15, the retiring chairman said. - - ■ j