Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 52, Number 33, Decatur, Adams County, 9 February 1954 — Page 1

Decatur Dollar Day—Wednesday—9:oo A. M. to 9:00 P. M. DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWBPMNM IN ADAMS COUNTY '

Vol. Lil. No. 33.

Molotov Sets Up New Plan For Security • Russians Would Be Dominant Force In Europe Under Plan BERLIN, (VP) —Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav M. Molotov blaster the United States role in European defense in a two-hour speech today and announced he would formally introduce a proposed European security pact of his own at the Big Four conference Wednesday. The western foreign ministers believed the new Molotov plan, on the basis of his speech today, would mean -Communist domination of European defense and the exclusion .of the United States from it. At today’s meeting the foreign ministers agreed to hold a secret session Thursday on Molotov's demand for a Big Five conference including Red China, and a world disarmament conference. .It was believed Molotov might’ rejdtr 4it the secret meeting, to the tentative proposal of the western ministers for a limited Far Eastern conference to discuss specify problems such as the Korean and Indochinese wars. Molotov was the opening speaker at today’s 14th session of the dead-locked meeting, originally calledto find a solution to eastwest cold war differences over Germany and to write an Austrian state treaty. Molotov was the opening speaker at today's 14th session of the dead-locked meeting, originally called to "find a solution to eastwest cold war differences over Germany and to write an Austrian etate treaty. Authoritative sources said Molotov launched into.tys lengthy, prepared statement as soon as the session was called to order. He spoke more than two hours including time consumed in translations. There was no Immediate, official announcement of the nature of his proposals. Molotov had been expected to make a verbal attack on the western arrangements for West Europe’s security, including the system of U. S. military bases in Europe and the-Near East. U. S. secretary of state John Foster DudleS. British foreign secretary Anthony Eden and French foreign minister Georges Bidault planned their strategy at a noon meeting at the British' high- —— ’Torn To Page Two) Czech Airman Asks Political Asylum U. S. Authorities To Grant Request NUERNBERG. Germany, UP — One of two Czech airmen who crash-landed a training plane in West Germany Friday has decided to remain here as a political refugee. it was announced today. . An official announcement said Cpl. Jeri Sc harm, 22. has asked U. S. occupation author!lies for political asylum and that the request has been granted. A spokesman for the U. S. high commission said the other man in the plane, a 26-year-old colonel who was not identified by name, “evidently wants to return to Czechoslovakia." The plane, an unarmed, twoengined Aero-45, landed -near, here Friday night. Its occupants told police they had run out of gas and demanded that they be returned immediately to their Communistdominated homelanjl. They were brought here while diplomats discussed arrangements for their return. - - The U. S. air force has offered since to repair the damaged lowwing monoplane so it can be flown back to its base at Pllsen. There was no official explanation of the plane’s presence over Western Germany, but it appeaerd that the colonel, who was at the controls, probably strayed off course by accident. There was no indication that the plane was equipped for night reconnaissance work, officials said. Today, however, the high cop'-' mission announced: "Jeri Schorm, a non-commission- ( Continued on Page Six)

Indians Set To Leave Korea

UN COMMANDER GEN. JOHN E. HULL (left), and Indian Lt. Gen. K. S. Thimayya say good-by after a farewell luncheon south of the demilitarized zone near Panmunjom as the Indian custodial force prepared to leave Korea. Some 9,000 Indian troops are scheduled to debark from Inchon after four-and-a-half months guarding POWe in Korea.

Tell Congress Business Dip Will Reverse Economic Experts Discuss Business Outlook For Year By UNITED PRESS A number of economists told ' congress today that Americans still have a lot of buying power and are willing to use it. For that reason, the economists said, the business dip should turn into an upswing in the last half of the year. The economists, representing research or industrial groups, discussed the 1954 consumption outlook with members of the congressional economic committee. Most of them said consumer demand- remains strong but that business this year probably won’t hit the peaks of 1953. One of them, Gerhard Colm of the National Planning Assn., was critical of optimistic forecasts. He said the need is for continued economic: expansion. Prospects of even a little less business than last year is not something to be “too happy” about, he said. Other congressional news: Coffee: Chairman J. Glenn Beall R-Md.. of a senate subcommittee investigating coffee prices said his group may stlbpena customer lists of all U. S. coffee brokers. The purpose, he said, would be to find out if Brabilians who control the bulk of this country's coffee supply are also bidding up the price on the New York coffee exchange. Hesaid high prices can’t be’ attributed to any actual shortage. Mexicans: Catholic Archbishop Lucey of San Antonio opposed a measure to let this country recrub Mexican laborers forU. S. farm? without agreement with Mexico. In a letter to the house agriculture committee he said there is no point to embitter relations with Mexico further at a time when more than two million Americans are out of work. Politics: Democrats in congress objected to Republican speeches linking their party with subversion. But White House press sec-, retary James C. Hagerty said the. speech makers weren’t attacking the Democrats; they were “just giving the people the facts.” There wa-S some speculation that the sharp attacks might threaten Democratic cooperation in putting through the administration’s program. The Democrats edge the Republicans by one in the senate and are barely outnumbered in the house. Responsible Democratic leaders, said, however, that any non-coop-eration would more likely affect the'amount of President Eisenhower’s program that clears congress rather than its substance. Democratic resentment at Republican attacks on their party bodied over in both houses Monday. House Democratic leader Sam Rayburn and Sen. Stuart Symington, D-M6., urged Mr. Eis(Con tinned on Page Two)

Sale Os Monument Works Is Announced Wemhoff Works Is Purchased By Zwicks A Decatur business deal was closed today whereby Robert Zwfck, Irene Zwick, Mrs. Margaret Freeby ants Elmer Winteregg, Jr. became owners of the Wemhoff Monumental works, including the monument plant in Decatur, located at the corner of Fourth and Monroe streets, and the sales office in Fort Wayne. The sale was made by Mrs. George E. Wemhoff. The lot is, 132 feet by. 80 feet. The purchasers, who also own the Zwick furniture store and the Zwick funeral home, assumed possession today. The monument works had been in the Wemhoff family for many years. ===-===== Robert Zwick said today that the furniture store, which was closed temporarily several months ago for* remodelling would reopen., but that the business would be sold soon. He said that his firm already had several inquiries concerning the purchase of the furniture business. Winteregg, Mrs. Freeby and Miss Zwick will have charge of the new business and Robert Zwick will continue as manager of the funeral service. •' The purchase of the monument works was made from the George Wemhoff estate, Theodore Graliker, executor, and before the contract becomes final a court order is necessary, it was learned. Henry B. Heller is attorney for the estate and today he was completing the legal procedure pertaining to the sale. The Wemhoff Monument works was founded in Decatur in 1889 by Bernard F. Wemhoff, father of the late George E. Wemhoff and grandfather of the present manager, Adrian Wemhoff.* The latter said that he would have a statement concerning his future in the next few days. : • 7 The ? wicks will continue in the operation of the funeral home and also the furniture store, until the latter is sold. Car-Truck Accident Claims Fifth Life iMICHBGiAN CITY, Ind. UP — Clarence Barnes, 35, Gary, died in (Doctor’s Hospital Monday, the fifth victim of a Saturday cartruck crash on U. S. SO hear Chesterton. Slightly Colder Weather Forecast INDIANAPOLIS UP — Slightly colder weather is due in Indiana the next five days after mild readings In the 40s and 60s today, the weather (bureau said. Forecasters expected temperatures to average two to four degress (below normal from Wednesday through the weekend. An average of onetenth Inch of rain or snow was expected Sunday. (Normal readings for the five-day period are maximums of 37 to 49 degrees and minimums of 19 to 29.

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, February 9, 1954.

Secy. Wilson Declares No American Pilots To Be Sent Into Indochina

Rash Os Boat Accidents In Tampa Monday Windstorm Whips •. Up Huge Waves; One Boy Is Killed ST. PETERSBURG. Fla. UP — A windstorm whipped up sevenfoot waves in Tampa Bay Monday night,.capsizing a small skiff with four boys aboard and forcing 55 passengers to flee in life rafts from a battered pleasure ship. One teenage boy was and another was missing after a rash of boating accidents climaxing festivities of the annual Casparllia celebration at Tampa. The wind with gusts up to .45 miles per hour churned up the bay as a multitude of boats set out from Tampa to return to this winter resort town across the bay. A 14-foot motor boat carrying four teenage boys was capsized bn a sand bar. Two of the boys, Larry Roberts, 15, and Chat Akins, 16, attempted to swim, ashore to. get help for their injured companions, William Griffin, 16, and Bob Caruthers, 161 Young Roberts was dragged out of the chilly waters at Tampa six hours later, exhausted and nearly incoherent. Akins was still missing today. A coast guard amphibian picked up the two youths who remained with the overturned craft but young Griffin, son of Dr. Martin Griffin, prominent St. Petersburg psychologist, died en route to a hospital. Caruthers was in “very serious” condition. The motor vessel, the 75-foot Miss Birmingham, which numbered many women and aged winter visitors among its passengers, drifted aground a mile from its wharf here when its anchor failed to h&ld in the tossing seas. All available police in the area and a dozen members of the coast guard auxiliary teamed to terry 55 passengers safely to the beach in rubber life rafts as the surf pounded the ships to pieces. The coast guard reported at least five other boat mishaps, in(Turn To Pave Threel Muselman To Head . L _ Health Committee I Berne Man Named County Chairman C. H. (Muselman, Bertie, has been named chairman Os the Adams county mental health committee, it was announced today toy Clarence W. Efroymeon, •Indianapolis, president of the Indiana association. — ~ Other officers Include: iMrs. Clarence ‘Mitchell, Wash- , ington township, vice-chairman; Leo Kirsch, (Decatur, treasurer, and (Mrs. Ralph R. Johnson, Monroe, public information chairman. (Directors of the county group will be named in the next few weeks, the state office said. The newly appointed committee will toe responsible in Adamis county for the organization of the annual Christmas- present project, which includes solicitation of Christmas presents from residents of the county for those housed in the state's mental institutions. PubHc education as to the needs of mental patients and annual solicitation of contributions will foe a large phase Os the work locally. It also is prdbaible that a local project of some nature also will toe undertaken Iby the county group. The committee will provide a point of contact between the state organization and Adams county.

—y" ■ —-— " 1 • ~ Reds Reinforcing East German Police Unrest Os Workers Reported Mounting BERLIN, UP Demands of East Germany’s Communist oppressed millions for western style free elections which would enable them to throw off the Red yoke swelled to a zone-wide chorus today, and threatened to explode into open revolt. Anti - Communist underground organizations defied a tough Red police crackdown* to distribute tens of thousands of leaflets demanding free elections and German unity. Soviet ,and Communist authorities rushed police reinforcements to larger city areas throughout their zone under orders to “keep the lid on" the spreading unrest. Workers protest meetings, factory slowdowns and widespread arrests, reported by the U. S. high commission newspaper Neue Zei-* tung, pointed up the explosive character of the unrest. Reports from major Soviet zone industrial areas said" the unrest of workers still was growing, with the Communists in some cades turning their headquarters buildings and key factories into strongpoints to’resist possible attacks. The West Berlin “Free Jurists Investigation Committee” said that alerted Communist police reinforcements were sent to all major cities in the east zone. Particularly strong units were said to hare been sent to Dresden, Chemnitz, Jena and Magdeburg. Leipzig, Halle, Alterburg, Englesdorf, Brandenburg and Hehningsdorf were described as other points where unrest could break into open revolt. * The U.S. high commission newspaper Neue Zeitung said East German police had tightened controls at all railway terminals, bus stops and highway crossings in a search ZConnnuea on Kase Mix) Otto W. Rodenbeck Dies Here Monday • Attack Is Fatal To Decatur Resident Otto W. Rodenbeck, 56, of 333 North 13th street, a salesman for the Dierkes Implement Co., died at 3:30 o’clock Monday afternoon at the Adams county memorial hospital of a cerebral hemorrhage. Mr. Rodenbeck was stricken a short time earlier while driving sou than U. S. 27and his car, out of control, veered into Decatur aifport before it stopped. He was takeh to the hospital, where he died a short time later. He was born in Root township Jan. 4, 1897, a ■son of Henry and Sophia Berning-Rodenbeck, and was married to Rachel Webster July 26, 1922. After living in ■ Uniondale for 20 years, he moved to Decatur la 1951. He served as field representative for the production credit administration in Adams and Wells counties from 1944 to 1950, accepting the position with Dierkes in 1951. Mr. Rodenbeck was member of the Moose lodge at Bluffton. Surviving in addition to his wife are two sons, Edwin C. Rodenbeck of Bluffton and Ralph H. of Wabash; two grandchildren'; four brothers, Charles of Renville, Minn., Theodore of Fort Wayne, Herbert of Sicklerville, N. J., and Henry of Pasadena, Calif., and one sister, Mrs, Edward Schleferstein of Decatur.. . Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p. m. Thursday at-the Zwick funeral home, the Rev. Harry- L. Wamsley of Upiondale officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 o’clock this evening. ■

Justice Dept. Predicts New Indictments More Indictments Are Expected In Surplus Ship Deals WASHINGTON, UP — Justice department sources predicted today that new .indictments will be made as a result of its widespread investigation of fabulous surplus ship deals. These sources indicated that, like the indictment made public Monday, formal charges already have been brought before the courts by grand juries, but have remained sealed and unavailable to the public pending the arrest or surrender of some of the defendents. it was intimated that some of these defendents are not now in this country. To disclose that they are under indictment, these sources said, would hamper chances of pver bringing-them into a court. The first major indictment in the department’s surplus ehip investigation was opened Monday. .It -accused nine persons and six corporations of conspiring to de- ’ fraud the government and to file false statements with the government in connection with the post* war purchase of surplus vessels. Among those Indicted were former Rep. Joseph E. Casey, DMass., and Aristoteles S. Onassis, , wealthy Greece —-born shipbuilder and operator who owns Monte Carlo Casino. • • • Arraigned promptly before Fed- . eral Judge Bolitha Laws, Onassis ! pleaded innocent and was released . in Ilfl.OOO ball. ♦ i Casey, who served in congress from 1936 until 1943, was reported to be on a "roving vacation” in Florida and unavailable for comment. Casey figured prominently in an investigation q£ the senate’s permanent investigating committee into postwar tanker purchases. The committee charged that Caseyheaded a group that profit of $2,250,090 on a “get rich quick” tanker purchase ond re-sale deal that required only a 1101,900 orig- ' inal investment. The indictment against CaS^y,_ s ' Onassis and his fellow defendants 1 charged that they conspired to represenUto the maritime commission and its successor, the maritime administration, that compa(Caalinaed oil Pace FIwO ~ Scout Honor Court Held Monday Night Honor Court Held For Rotary Troop A court of honor was held by Rotary troop 61 at the Boy Scout cabin in Hanna-Nuttman park last evening. Parents of the honored scouts were guests at the ceremonies. W. Guy Brown was the commissioner in charge of the court. Other memfofcrs were Gene Rydell, commissioner first class; M'. J. Pryor, commissioner second class, andi the. Ror. WilHam Feller, commissioner for merit badges. Awards were made to: Larry Hofftpan and Roger Blefoerick, first class; James Corah, Pat Franklin, Nick Conrad, Larry Hofftnan, Bill Jacobs, Jerry Scheiman, . Jack Dailey, Ronnie Feller, second class; Roger Bleberick, merit badges. Luncheon wad served at conclusion of the program. The vent was staged in observance of Boy Scout week.

Slight Improvement In Pope's Condition Most Restful Night Since Becoming 111 VATICAN CITY, (UP) — The Vatican announced a slight improvement in the condition of Pope Pius XH again today and high sources said there was hope the acute stage of his illness was over. The Pope walked about his spacious bedroom this morning and this afternoon. He sat for a time in his arm chair, given to him by a group of Roman Catholics at Buffalo, N. Y., and read the Rome newspapers, The Pope spent the most restful night since he became ill, Vatican sources said. It was learned also that the Pope told his physiciati, Prof. Riccardo Galeazzi-Usi, that the burning sensation in his stomach had diminished. The sources stressed that the Pope continued to remain in a very weak condition, but his doctors hope the slow but steady improvement in the gastric condition which has kept him in bed for the past 19 days may enable him to eat more easily. ■ \ For a while the Popo had been unable to retain liquids fed to him, but last Saturday he absorbed medicated milk that was administered drop by drop. His condition showed more improvement over the weekend and he gained strength as his ability to retain food increased. The Pope moved about his bedchamber Monday for the first time since his confinement to his ; apartment On Jan. 26. INDIANA WEATHER Partly cloudy tonight Wednesday considerable cloudiness and turning colder. Low to-, night 22-30 north, 30-35 south. High Wednesday 36-42. Annual C. C. Dinner Thursday Evening Some Tickets Made Available To Public _ The few remaining tickets for the annual dinner of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce scheduled s o’clock Thursday night at ' ttfe Moose home are now available to the general public, the committee in change of the ticket sale announced today. . Tickets can be obtained from any Chamber director or at the offices on South Second street from Fred Kolter, secretary. The capacity of the dining room at the Moose home is 359 and the ticket sale will be limited to that number. J. Dwight Peterson, president of City Securities Corporation of Indianapolis and former Decatur resident, will be the principal speaker. Robert Heller, Decatur real estate and insurance man, will preside at the program following the dinner. Heller will introduce the speaker. A group of Indiana University school of music students, known as the University Opera Workshop, will present excerpts from four popular operas. All of the music will be in English, One of the features will be the one-act opera “The Telephone” by Menotti. This opera has been successful with a long run in New York and throughout Europe. Wolfgang Vacano, instructor in opera at Indiana University, will have charge of the program and Marvin Phillips will be the technical director. New Chamber officers for 1954 will formally assume their duties during the annual dinner meeting. Ronald Parrish, office manager of Bellmont Trucking Co., is the new president, succeeding Ralph Habegger.

Price Five Cents

Secretary Is Optimistic On War Situation State And Defense To Sending Pilots WASHINGTON UP — Defense secretary Charles E. Wilson declared emphatically today that no American pilots will he sent to tight in Indochina. , " Wilson also told a nejks conference a military victory over the Communists without direct American intervention is "both possible and probable." He did say, ' however, that Lt. Gen. John W. O’Daniel, commander of U.S. army forces in the Pacific, “might be sent” to Indochina. Presumably he would head a new U. S. military mission. But • Wilson was vague in discussing what O’Daniel will do after completing conferences here with the joints chiefs of staff andhigh civilian officials. Wilson's statement that no American pitots will be sent to Indochina followed disclosure that France had asked yiis country for ' transport pitots to bolster its air communications in the battle with 1 Caommunlst rebels—a move that s would have put American airmen A closer than ever before to actual oombat operations to the Indochina War. State and defense department officials were understood to have ,ralsed strong objections on grounds the action might commit this country too deeply in the Southeast Asia struggle and produce serious political -repercua sions. «■ In a generally opitinlistic appraisal of the Indochina situation, Wilson said a military victory Is “perhaps both possible and probable.” But he said there is a “Question of who shows up,” a reference, to possible aid from Red Chink. That, he said, would “delay” victory and post a “different problem.’ He then said that Red China’s ability to supply Communists in Indochina is /‘very limited*’ because of poor rail and water transport. .... The war in Indochina is going "fully as well as we expected it to at this stage,” Wilson said. Reds Near Capital' HANOI, Indochina UP — French defense minister Rene Pleven arrived in Indochina today, armed with "full powers’’ to take whatever steps are necessary to halt a slashing Communist drive which has rolled to within artillery range Luang Frabaag, the ancient cap- — ital of Laos. i FrQnt Mne dispatches, handed Pleven on bls arrival at Saigon, Informed him the Red spearheads, pushing down the left bank of the mighty Mekong River, were only 6 to 12 miles from the beleaguered city. Pleven, who rushed here from Paris by plane, was expected to survey with 13. 3. military author(Twra T® Pm® F«®r> Three County Offices Open Late Saturday The offices of county treasurer, county assessor and. county auditor will remain open until 4 o’clock on Saturday, February 20, and Saturday, February 27, to accommodate Adams county residents whoare regulred to get tax statements prior to obtaining automobile license plates. The change of hours for the two days was decided on today by the three officials. Frank Kltson, auditor, Waldo Neal, treasurer, and Albert Harlow, assessor, as a service to those who era unable to get to the court house except xjn Saturday afternoons. The auto II . cense deadline Is February 28.