Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 52, Number 56, Decatur, Adams County, 8 March 1954 — Page 1

Vol. Lil. No. 56.

• Round Up Puerto Rico Nationalists fl Bz JLJC SR g .jgM Jm| In Aj t—. ...... - IN A MOVE TO STAMP OUT the terrorist Nationalist Party, Puerto Rico police arrested Party Chief Pedro Albizu Campos and four of his followers after a three hour gun battle at Campos' apartment in San Juan, Saturday. Herb authorities remove Campos’ bodyguard Jose Rivera Sotomayer from the scene after his surrender. The action came less than a week after Puerto Rico nationalists wounded five U. S. Congressmen on the floor of the House of Representatives.

Stevenson In Bitter Attack On McCarthyism Blames Eisenhower For Appeasement Os Senator McCarthy WASHINGTON. UP — Another week of crackling political developments begins today with Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy starred again, but this time as the defender of _____ President Eisenhower and the Republican party against Democratic attacks. The Wisconsin Republican wants free radio and television time to reply to a speech delivered Saturu « day night by. Ad lai E. Stevenson to a |IOO-a-piate dinner audience - in Miami, Fla. Stevenson directly assailed Mr. Eisenhower on the issue of “McCarthyism,” implying that the President was / appeasing McCarthy against his own beliefs and principles in. strategy designed to win the 1954 congressional elections for tlie Republican party. -This speech was cut to fit Democratic national committee chairman Stephen A. Mitchell’s strategy of an all-out Democratic attack on the President. As the southern rally was gathering in Miami. Mitchell said: "It is now time to make President Eisenhower our target . « Stevenson said McCarthy had made demagoguery and deceit a national movement, that Mr. Eisenhower sheltered it for political purposes. Although McCarthy was often and caustically mentioned, Stevenson’s basic target fras Mr. Eisenhower on grounds that he was responsible for the Republican party, and all in it. Mccartny, also in Miami on a business-pleasure trip, promptly said he would demand free radio and television time next Saturday night in which to answer Stevenson. CBS televised and NBC broadcast the Stevenson speech free as a public service. Network representatives did not immediately reveal whether McCarthy would get the time. Last _ autumn he was given... free lime to answer former President Truman who, in turn, had free time to answer charges that he was responsible for promoting a known Communist government officer. Mitchell welcomed the idea of .. free time for McCarthy on grounds that it would be good for the Demo<rats if the senator could be on the air and television an hou> every day. “Now we will see,” Mitchell said, “whether McCarthy controls the federal communications commission and the broadcasting com panies. But don’t-get me wrong. I’m all in tavoy of it." The chairman was optimistic after the Miami rally. He predicted his party would regain control of congress next November. He said he knew the split in the Democratic party was healing nicely because “I haven’t been cussed out in quite a while.” The next big Democratic show will be a May 5-6 Jefferson-Jack-son Day observance here with Stevenson again _..the_ principal speaker, Mitchell said. He denied knowledge of Stevenson's future political plans, whether he will again be a candidate for tire Democratic presidential nomination, for example. Mitchell’s comments and Steven- .. son's speech did considerably more (Turn To Page Two)

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ‘ *■ . » >’i * » ■ '

Seven Arrested In* _ Nine Bank Holdups Confession Is Made By Fort Wayne Man FORT WAYNE. Ind. UP — Seven arrests -have been made in a series of nine bank holdups in four states confessed by Bernard E. La Clair, 31. who turned to crime when his used car business failed. La Clair s admission to one of the holdups exonerated Lawrence D. Howley, 35. who was sentenced to 10 years in prison when six persons identified him as the lone bandit who robbed a Berlin. Conn., bank 14 months ago. Howley, though Innocent of the crime of which he .was convicted, faced the prospect of going back to jail for another holdup police said he staged, Howley is an ex-convict with a record dating back to 1940. He may be released from federal custody only to go behind bars again in a New Britain, Conn., restaurant robbery. Howley had denied the 125,000 Berlin bank holdup all along claiming he was home listening to the radio at the time. He has a wife and two young sons; — The FBI said today La Clair has not added any holdups to the list in his statements since Saturday, when he told of getting about $165,000 in bank robberies in Indiana, Ohio, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Mrs. Shirley Albino, Avon, Conn., a sister of La Clair, was released by Fort Wayne police after she denied any connection with the holdups. She was held for questioning tor hours Friday night and Saturday. The seventh arrest was that of Mrs. Helene La Clair Martin, East Hartford, Conn., mother of one of five men held in the robberies. Special agent Leonard Blaylock of the FBI said Mrs. Martin was arrested at Hartford on a charge of receiving part of the loot from a Springfield, Mass., robbery in jvbich her son. John Martin 111, 20, is accused of participation. Also held were Donald Arthur La Clair, 25, Windsor. Conn., a brother of Bernard; Sylvester Morrison, 44. Hartford, and George Milleiv2B, Fort Wayne. Other holdups La Clair admitted were at Berlin,. Conn., Ada, Forest and Dunkirk. Ohio, and Hamlet. Bourbon and Evansville, Ind. The same bank at Evansville was held up twice.' The FBI said La Clair staged eight of the holdups alone while accomplices waited in getaway cars but implicated Martin in the Springfield robbery. Only $12,000 of the loot was recovered, most of it in an old country house La Clair had remodeled and refurnished near Fort Wayne. ■' . - J • Charles E. Slater Speaks At Luncheon < Charles E. Slater, manager of labor relations, general purpose component motor department, General Electric Co., Fort Wayne, was the guest speaker at the monthly luncheon of the industrial division of the Chamber of Commerce at noon today. In the absence of Robert Bradtmiller, prealdent, George Laurent .presided and introduced the speaker. Representatives of local intur tries attended the luncheon, and heard the Interesting address: "Current anti immediate future labor trends.” • ...

United States And Japan Sign Defense Treaty Will Make Possible Withdrawal Os U. S. Troops From Japan TOKYO UP — The United States and Japan today signed a mutual defense assistance pact that will rearm Japan with American-made guns and make possible withdrawal of American troops. The two nations also signed three economic; agreements that will permit Japan to buy surplus American wheat with Japanese yen, sell home-manufactured supplies to other Asiatic nations in the Western camp and accept American investments in private Japanese industry. The pact and the agreement will pump upwards of 100 million dollars into the Japanese economy. In winning strategic and potentially powerful Japan to the side of the west, the United States scored a major victory in its drive against the ambitions of Asiatic Communism. / ' U. S. ambassador John Allison and Japanese foreign minister Katsuo Okazaki signed the agreement and three related economic agreements. The pact pledges U. S. aid for accelerated Japanese rearmament. Its aimis to make-Japan capable of defending herself and to permit gradual withdrawal of U. 8. forces based here under the 1952 security treaty. In signing the Allison noted that “this agreement takes us one step nearer the time when the Japanese people will not need to rely on American forces for protection.” “It takes us one step nearer the time when the United States can withdraw its forces from Japan. “The greatest contribution Japan can make to the security of the free world is to strengthen her own security and be in a position to assure her own-people that they will be able to live and develop their own ideas and their qwn culture in their btvn wajf and-not be* come subject to an alien dictatorship. » “A strong, free and enlightened Japan can contribute much to the peace and stability of Asia and the world.” No dollar price tag on U. S. arms aid and no time limit on it was attached to the agreement. Japan will decide bow fast it wants to expand its defense forces, and submit annual requests to the United States for guns, ships, planes and other equipment. The pact and accompanying agreements, will be presented immediately to the Japanese diet parliament for. ratification as treaties. U. S. congressional ratification is not required as the agreements were negotiated under terms of the ’Mutual Security Act. Delay Deliveries Os Girl Scout Cookies Decatur* Girl Scout leaders announced today that delivery of Girl Scout cookies to persons who ordered them last week may be delayed Tor a few days. Salee by the Decatur Scouts exceeded expectations and more orders had to be placed, thus causing a likely delay in delivery of some orders.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, March 8, 1954.

Eisenhower Asks Top Senate Republicans To Tone Down Tax Slashes

Secy. Stevens Concerned On Army Morale Morale Battered By Secretary's Row With Sen. McCarthy WASHINGTON UR — Army secretary Robert T. Stevens is seriously concerned about the way his row with Sen. Joseph R. McQart-. thy has battered army morale, a high administration source said today. The embattled secretary is con, vinced he won the “fair play” principle he was fighting for in the dfspute o;er McCarthy’s alleged mistreatment of an army general. But he also feels, the source said, that the army he heads does not understand this, that it still doubts he came out on top. As a result, there has been a sag in morale which he feels must somehow be restored. Just what steps he might take are uncertain. But in recent talks with friends he made several points In an effort to show that the “browbeating” he said MeQarthy gave Brig, Gen. Ralph -W* Zwicker at a hearing of his investigating subcommittee will not be repeated. Stevens told how a hearing scheduled for New York last week was shifted to Washington at the request of subcommittee members, how Republican and Democratic members attended the sessions here to prevent one-man hearings, and how the White House “recommended” action to improve committee investigating methods. Stevens’ feelings about armymorale were disclosed amid a series of other developments in the controversy. The highlights: -1. Sen. Karl E. Mundt R-S. D. said in a radio interview that McCarthy used some “unfortunately strong language” in questioning Zwicker but that Stevens “took the wrong approach" in barring further testimony by army officers in retaliation. 2. McCarthy lashed out in Miami against Adlai Stevenson’s charge Saturday night that he had assailed the army's integrity and loyalty in investigating the honorable discharge of Maj. Irving Peress, New York dentist whom Me? Oarthy called a . “Fifth Amendment Communist.” Stevenson feels the exposure of Communists in the army is a “great scandal,” said the senator, “not because they were in the army but because they vere exposed." 3. Sen. Henry M. Jackson DWash., a member of McCarthy’s subcommittee, said in a television interview that the group to his cnowledge has not uncovered a ingle “new Communist” in government. .He also said the only vay to control McCarthy's “contact” as chairman is for the Republicans to exercise their “party esponsibility” but that so far they jave not done so. 4. Senate Republican leader (Turn To Page Five)

Gotten ‘lftecUfatiM •(By Rev. Robert W. Contant, assistant pastor, St. Mary’s CJatholic Church) — Problem Os Pain • An elderly person in great suffering with his life slowly ebbing away Is hot a pleasant sight. In fact for one who does not. believe in God pain and suffering are totally useless. However, Lent is meant to teach the usefulness of pain. For this season commemorates the suffering and death of Our Lord —not ae things that were totally rather as the most useful things that evey occurred —for by His suffering and death Christ redeemed us. For one who believes in God —who believes that the soul will live forever —pain has a real meaning. It can make us see how very important Is the Salvation of our soul and how unimportant in comparison are'the many things with which we have busied ourtelves. . Yet should we not work for the removal of pain and suffering from the world? Certainly we must, yet It seems that there is always some new suffering to afflict man. This would not be Understandable unless we realized, that even pain and suffering has its value. “ _

Truman Steers Clear Os Republican Fight Praises Stevenson For McCarthy Stand BOSTON UP —Former President Harry S. Truman said today ““there aren’t an eyeful of Communists in the whole country and I’m not afraid of them.” .Mr. Truman dropped his“nonpqlitical" role briefly at a press conference preceding a luncheon speech in connection with his campaign to raise 1% million dollars for a library to house his state pdperji. “Some day I’ll answer all the questions you want to ask,” he told newsmen, “but I'm here for another purpose.” The 69-year-old former President steered clear of the "family fight” In the Republican party over questioning of Brig. Gen. Ralph Zwicker by Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy R.-Wls. "It never pays for a man to get into a family fight. He usually unites the family against him,” Mr. Truman said. He was asked to comment on a published report that Zwicker was acting under a directive Mr. Trumen issued while President six years ago forbidding members of the executive branch front comijjenting except to the White House cm irfatteVs of security.’ 'f ‘That was during * the Korean unpleasantness and a necessary procedure,” he said. How-ever, he would not comment on whether the directive should continue in force “because 1 haven’t got the information before me.” Mr. Truman praised Adlai Stevenson tor his speech accusing President Eisenhower of yielding to “McCarthyism.” “He’s the head of the party and I follow his lead,” Mr. Truman said. He said “Os course, I will” When asked whether he would campaign for Stevenson if the latter again is a candidate for the presidency, adding, “if he wants me to.” Before he left New York Sunday night, Mr. Truman declined comment on the current dispute between army secretary Robert T. Stevens and Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy R.-Wis. But Mr. Truman did endorse the statements of former Democratic presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson at Miami, Fla., Saturday night. Stevenson “stated the Democratic attitude as clearly as could be done,” the former president said. “He covered the ground ... I endorse Mr. Stevenson’s speech entirely. “He hit it right on the nose. He has away of expressing himself that's in a class by itself.” Stevenson had accused a “group of political plungers” of persuading President Eisenhower to go along with the policies of Sen. McCarthy as "the best Republican formula for political success.” Two Boston detectives were ordered to accompany Mr. Truman during his stay here. INDIANA WEATHER Fair tonight. Partly cloudy and a little warmer Tuesday. Low tonight 22-28 north, 26-34 south. High Tuesday 45-50 north, 50-55 south.

Dulles Warns Latin America On Red Menace Urges Conference Adopt Resolution For Joint Action r CARACAS, Venezuela ttP" — Secretary of state John Foster Dulles today warned Latin American nations —and Guatemala in particular — against letting the “poisonous air” of Communist despotism turn freedom into slavery in the Western Hemisphere. Dulles, addressing the 10th interAmerican conference, spoke in support of a United States resolution for joint action by the American republics against the Communist menace. He pointed out that Guatemalan foreign minister Guillermo Toriello, in opposing any anti-Commu-nist action, had asked in his opening speech: “What is international communism?" “I thought that by now evary foreign minister of the world knew what international communism is,” Dulles said. “It is disturbing if the foreign affairs pf one of our American republics are conducted by one so innocent that he has to ask that question.” , Thus Dulles set the stage for a conference fight with Guatemala, which American spokesmen have called Communist influenced if not Communist dominated. Despite the expected hitter Guatemalan opposition, Dulles is confident that his resolution will get an overwhelming majority when the showdown vote comes. International communism, Dulles said, is a “far flung clandestine political organization” operated by Soviet Russia. Since 1939, he said, it has brought 15 once-independent nations “into a state of abject servitude,” through a hard core of agents operating throughout the world. Under the Red program, he said, loyalty of satellite leaders to Russia “shall take precedence over every other obligation including love of country, obligation to family and the honor of one's own personal conduct.” Russia, he said, seeks to destroy all the "beacons” of freedom that have burned brightly in the Western Hemisphere. “These beacons must not be (Turn To Pace Six) Mis. Hubert Ehrsam Dies Unexpectedly Funeral Services Tuesday Afternoon Mrs. Mary R. Ehrsam. 48, wife of Hubert Ehrsam, one mile north of Pleasant Mills in St. Mary’s township, died at 6 o’clock Saturday evening at the Parkview hospital. Fort Wayne. Death was unexpected and resulted from a heart attack following surgery. She was born in' St. Mary's township Feb. 27, 1906, a daughter of Wilson and Elizabeth MorganUUTIck. and was married to Huber! Ehrsam April 11, 1937. Mrs. Ehrsam was a member of the Pleasant Mills Methodist church, the WSCS of the church and the St. Mary’s home ecbnomics club. Surviving are her husband and one son, Roy E. Ehrsam, at home. One daughter is deceased. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p. m. Tuesday at the residence and at 2 p. m. at the Pleasant Mills Methodist church, the Rev. Harley T, Shady and the Rev. Harley Davis officiating. Buriarwin be in the Decatur cemetery. The body was removed from the Zwick funeral home to the residence, where friends may call until time of the service.

Continue Crackdown On Puerto Ricans Federal Machinery Moves On Fanatics NEW YORK UP — Federal criminal machinery moved today against New York’s splinter-group ot Puerto Rican fanatics, while on their home island a crack-down against revolutionaries netted six top Communists and two more Nationalist leaders. The arrests in Puerto Rico were made Sunday night. Police in San Juan held six top Communist leaders and launched an islandwide search for four others. Late* they announced the arrest of two Nationalist leaders. In New- York, the FBI, working swiftly among the city 500,000 Puerto Ricans, issued numerous subpenas for appearance before a federal grand jury later in the day. The grand jury presumably was probing into revolutionary plothatching in the wake of the firing on members of congress by fanatics a week ago. Probe In Chicago CHICAGO UP — An assistant U. S. district attorney today announced the opening of an inquiry by the federal grand jury into activities of the Puerto Rican Nationalist party here. Irwin Cohen, assistant U. S. district attorney, said decision on the inquiries was made at a Washington conference during the weekend. Deputy marshals served 20 subpenas on persons allegedly connected with the party early today. Inquiry will be made under the seditious conspiracy statute and under the Smith act which outlaws conspiracy to overthrow the government., Cohen refused to give the names of those subpenaed, but said they included men rounded up by the police last week shortly after members of the Puerto Rican Nationalist party wounded five members of the house of representatives with gunfire. Two Persons Hurl In Traffic Crash Six Cars Involved Sunday Afternoon Mrs. Casper Miller, 56, Decatur, and James Clauser, 14, Fort Wayne, are recovering in Adams county memorial hospital from injuries suffered Sunday afternoon in a pile-up of six automobiles on U. S. highway 27 two and a half miles north of Decatur. The mishap occurred where the Monmouth road intersepts U. S. highway 27. Five automobiles, all headed south on U. S. ?7, had stopped to permit another vehicle to make a left turn onto the Monmouth road. A car driven by Casper Miller, 59, Decatur, failed to negotiate the stop and crashed into the rear of an automobile driven by Joseph Clauser. 47, Fort Wayne. The Clauser car struck the auto in front driven by, Arthur Garner, 55, Decatur. Mrs, Miller received a fractured left leg and severe head injuries. Miller was shaken up considerably but not seriously injured. James Clause.r received a deep cut tn theleft side of hishead arid other cuts and bruises. Other occupants of the vehicles involved were shaken up but not seriously Injured. The Miller and Clauser automobiles were badly damaged and the rear of the Garner car also was damaged considerably. The accident occurred about 3:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon and state trooper Walter Schindler and sheriff Robert Shraluka investigated. The two officers said today that investigation would be continued this week. An automobile driven by Franklin Spleth, 17, Monroeville, turned over several times and was completely demolished on the Clem’s lake road east of Decatur about , (Turn To Page Two)

- - - Prim Five Cent*

Asks Leaders To Tone Down Cut In Taxes Tough Political Task Is Assigned To GOP Leaders By UNITED PRESS President Eisenhower today assigned to senate Republican leaders the tough political task of toning down a one-billipn-dollar excisq tax relief bill the house is preparing to pass. The bill is due for a house vote Wednesday and- is virtually assured of passage there. It would cut federal excise (sales) taxes on admission tickets, telephone tolls, furs, jewelry and other "luxuries” to a flat 10 percent. They now range from 15 to 25 percent. Speaker Joseph W. Martin Jr. Mass., said Mr. Eisenhower told GOP congressional leaders at a White House legislative conference that he feels the house bill goes "a little too far” and he wants i ‘.he revenue loss trimmed. Apparently convinced there was no hope of heading off such a • popular measure in the house, ► where all nwipbers are up for re-, ■ election this year, Mr. Eisenhower *- ■ asked senate leaders to work for modification of the bill when it ~ reaches that chamber. Informed sources said secretary of treasury George M. Humphrey has suggested to senate GOP leaders that tire excise taxes on ”iux- * uries” be cut to 15 percent instead of 10 percent. That would reduce the revenue loss by about half. Other developments: Unemployment: Secretary of labor James P. Mitchell told a senate appropriations subcommittee that the 1955 fiscal year beginning July 1 probably will bring "a higher level of unemployment” than the current 1954 fiscal year. Unemployment during the current fiscal year has ranged from less han two million last summer to about 3,068,000 at latest report. Mitchell apparently meant- that next year’s average will be higher than this year’s average, and was not necessarily predicting a boost over the present figure. Highways: The house moved toward expected passage of an ad-ministration-backed • bill to increase federal contributions tor highway building from 555 million lollars to 875 million dollars a 'ear. Hospitals: Speaker Martin foreast house approval Tuesday of an administration bill authorising fedral aid to states and cfties for instruction of non-profit hospitals .nd nursing homes. Statehood: Republican leader William F. Knowland predicted he senate would complete action this week on legislation to make Hawaii the 49th state. He was hopeful the chamber would defeat i Democratic move to admit Alaska to the union as part of the ■ame measure. FEPC: Chairman H. Alexander 3mith, R-N. J., said his senate abor qommittee will consider its new version of a -fair employment iractlces commission bill Wedneslay. Labor: Smith also announced his ■ommfttee Is planning a broad In- " * miry into union welfare and re‘irement programs. In the house, he labor committee rejected ®lB to 6 a proposal by Rep. Wint Smith (Turn To Paar Six) Community Center 3ids Are Received Bids from contractors for connruction of the Decatur Community Center will be opened after 3 o’clock this afternoon at the First State bank. The tabulations will be submitted to lift Decatur Memorial Ihih S, " ' ~ Inc.. directors Wednesday even-, ing. Action will be taken on the proposals at that time, members of the board stated.