Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 52, Number 189, Decatur, Adams County, 12 August 1954 — Page 1

Vol. LU. No. 189

To Work For ‘Peace* Jv HHNH B iil! llwl AT A HEAVILY GUARDED, Communist-run new* conference, romer West German, security chief Dr. Otto John tell» reporters that he deserted voluntarily to the Rede to work for “German reunification amt peace.” During the conference, open to western correspondents, John denied he wao a Communist, saying he defected "spontaneously" after learning he was being shadowed) by American counter-intelligence agents. It was hie first appearance since he disappeared’ behind the Iron. Curtain in July.

Witness Defies Sen. McCarthy Right To Probe Worker Refuses To Answer Question On Red Affiliations BULLETIN ~ WASHINGTON (INS) —Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy (R Wie.,» threatened two defense plant workers with congressional contempt action today and had one of them ejected from a hearing for challenging the - senator’s right to gweation him. WASHINGTON (INS) — A defense plant worker refused today to say if he is a Communist and angrily charged that Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy has no right to probe his beliefs because he declared the senator himself is awaiting "trial.' The defiant witness, Louis Passikoft, of Scotia, N.Y., * shouted at McCarthy: “1 think your time has come. — the American people are ready to get you.” The turbulent’ episode occurred before McCarthy's senate investigations subcommittee which ear. Iler heard a former FBI undercover agent, Joseph Massei, identify Passikoff as a man he knew to be a “trouble shooter” for, the Communist party: The former FBI agent said that while he himself posed as a member of the Communist party for 12 years on assignment from the FBI, Passikoff was sent by the party to Pittsburgh as a "trouble shooter" and became so prominent that he was considered a rival in Communist circles of Steve Nelson, a party functionary. Passikoff, on taking the stand, demanded the right to make a "motion," which he was allowed to do. ft was a lengthy statement in which he charged that McCarthy was "conspiring” with Geheral Electric Co. to "deprive me and others of a livelihood.” He said the only purpose of the hearings was to have him fired. To questions asked by McCarthy and Sen. Henry M. Jackson (D Wash.), Passikoff refused to suy if he was a Communist. He invoked the fifth amendment claiming possible self • incrimination. The stormy outburst occurred as McCarthy resumed open hearings on alleged Communist Infiltration of the nation's defense plants. Meanwhile, the army said that on the basis of Its own investigation, It does not believe any of its officers gave McCarthy the famous two and one-fourth page classified espionage document that was a storm center In the televised armyMcCarthy bearings- The army announced It has given its conclusion to the justice department, which is studying tbe transcript of the arrnyMcCarthy hearings to determine if any perjury was committed. McCarthy said he is standing on his testimony at the hearings, which was that the highly secret document was turned over to him by a young army intelligence officer. Democrats on the army-McCar-thy committee denounced the release of tbe document to McCarthy as illegal and questioned his iCwtlntied Ob Pwe Fiver 12 PAGES

DECATUR DAIIX DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER in shams

86 Auction Students To Receive Diplomas Reppert Graduate Exercises Friday Homer Pollock of Delphos, 0., an instructor at the Reppert school of auctioneering. wiU be in charge of the graduation ceremony Friday afternoon in which 80 students of the school will receive diplomas. The diplomas will be awarded by Dr. Roland Reppert, owner and director of the school founded by the late Col. Fred Reppert. Quentin R. Chaffee of Towanda, Pa., dean of the school, will address the students and remarks will ateo be made by Clyde Wilson of Marion. 0.. and Guy Pettit of BJoottfWM. ft. ' The awarding of the diplomas will immediately follow a dinner which will take piece at 11 am. in tbe K. of P. home. The dinner and ceremony ends a three-week session of training by top auctioneer* of the country in Judging, public speaking, salesmanwhip und auctioneering. The members of the graduating class of Reppert’* auction school were further honored today by receiving rolled certificate* making them honorary colonels in the Decatur police force. The certificates. awarded by chief of police James Borders to thy graduates, were given because of the coop eration be tween students at the school and the city of Decatur. Also presented at. the same time by Mayor John Doan were keys to the city of Decatur, making each graduate an honorary citizen of Decatur. The foot-long oak keys were stamped In gold by the Decatur Chamber of Commmerce with the cooperation of Wayne Novelty. In addition to Mayor Doan’s short speech on the progress of the student auctioneers, and their fine behavior and future welcome in Decatur. Donald Parrish, president of the Decatur Chamber of Coiwmerve. introduced Robert H. Heller, chairman of this year’s cooperation committee with Rep pert's auction school, and Fred E. Kolter. executive secretary of the Chamber. M- J- Pr<or, vice - president of the Chamber, presented the keys to the city to Dr. Roland Reppert. president of the auction school founded by his father, and to Colonel Cliaffee, Pettit. Wilson, ami Pollock, members of the staff. Ricliard E. Hayes, of Monticello, a member of the graduating class, was called upon to make a short thank you speech on behalf of the auction students. Hayes pointed out that while member* of the daws ranged in age from 11 years to 64 years old, all had had e wonderful experience working together for three weeks, and would return to their communities better citizens, even if they never participated in an auction. Property And Toll Taxes Are Higher INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — State auditor Frank T. Millie, reported today that total property and poll taxes In Indiana, including delinquent taxes and penalty charges, levied thia year are *28,483,714 higher than last year. The totals are *302.300,295 and *273,816,581. The total assessed value of real estate in 1953, on which taxes are being paid this year, was *3,729,882.143, an increase of (119,187,788 over tbe valuation of *3,610,694,355 in 1962.

Ike Deciares Recession Has Come To Half Optimistic Report From Eisenhower On / Nation's Economy WASHINGTON (INS) President Eisenhower declared today in an optimistic report on the state of the nation’s economy that the recession "has pome to a halt." The Chief Executive tiicked off a long list of eppnomi^/stalls tics to substantiate his statement that the economic slump which worried the administration more than any other problem during the early part of the year la now at an end. The report reflected open Jubilation by presidential advisiors over what they feel is the collapse of the recession issue as Che Democrats’ most potent weapon in the fall congressional campaign. The President reported that unemployment in July amounted to 5.1 percent of the total civilian labor force, compared with 5.5 percent at the start of the year and emphasised the rate of unemployment “has shown some tendency to diminish of late" He did not report any specific unemployment figures but the latest government report estimated the jobless total in July at 3,346.1 000, a drop from the previous month. He cited this as one of numerous signs of economic improvement and also listed these encouraging indications; 1. Retail sales are on the rise. 2. Business expenditures on capital expansion and Improvement are continuing at a high rate. 3. New construction contracts are running "well above” the level of a year ago. 4. The stock market has been displaying ’’great strength." 5. Merchants' inventories have been reduced and are now in better adjustment to current sales. 6. “The level of buslMss and consumer confidence in the economic future is high and improving.” — . The Chief Executive’s detailed report, part of it couched in economic language, also dealt at length with such economic bellwethers as gross national product, the level of personal income and bank debits. He declared that an analysis of such statistic* suggests “s higher even sn improving • state of economic welfare.” Mr. Eisenhower also lauded tbe administration's economic program being enacted by congress, balling it as a "milestone in constructive legislation." He said it will “help to reduce unemployment and stimulate business." The President's report noted that the federal reserve index of industrial production, the most reliable barometer of overall economic condition*, has shown only a very slight drop since the first of the year. The index stood, at 124 in May and June, compared with 125 in January. - Industrial production, be noted. (Twrw Ta Pace Five) 14 Wholesalers 01 Dope Are Arrested Widespread Raids By Federal Agents NEW YORK (INS)—Fourteen of the nation's top dope wholesalers who handled the distribution ot *25,000,000 worth or business annually were arrested by federal agents today in a series or widespread raids. James C. Ryan, district supervisor of the U.S. Bureau of Narcotics, said the 14 "supplied the greater portion of dope peddlers in tbe United States." A young unidentified narcotics undercover agent tfhb worked closely with the ring at a great personal risk and who bought *25,000 worth of dope from the group while gathering evidence, led to the arrests. Ryan identified the alleged "top violators" as Sebastiano Bellanca, 50, a laborer, of Fort Lee, N. J„ and Peter Beddia 47, of White Plains, N. Y. They were seized Wednesday night by two agents who narrowly escaped death when Bedla tried to run- them down in his car after they had passed one kilo of pure heroin, worth *IOO,OOO on the retail market. Agent* fired two shots into Beddla’s car in an effort to halt him. His flight endad when be crashed Into the federal ogeot’s car which blocked hl* way.

Decatur, Indiana, Thu&day, August 12, 1954. .

Court Order Requested By Eisenhower Prevents Atomic Plants’ Strike

■■■■ —'' »ii "■<* Quote Dr John ? As Warning On Reds’ Methods Says Reds Engaged ■ In All-Out Effort To Bolshevize All FRANKFURT (INS) -Dr. Otto John, the West German security chief who deserted to the Reds,, w-as quoted today as having stated recently that Russia was engaged in "tremendous monster-like efforts to Bolshevize all of Germany and the world.” The West German interior ministry in Bonn released contents of a “staff study" written by John Shortly before he entered East 'Berlin July 20. *Phe ministry action come in the midst of hitter West German newspaper criticism of chancellor Konrad Adenauer’s regime, it was intended as a partial answer to the question of bow John was able to fool his superiors who believed him to be a firm anti-Communist. John, who Wednesday told some 300 eastern and western reporters that he went over to East Germany voluntarily to fight against re-Nazificatlon and proposed West German rmurmment, also wAa quoted AS hiiftht Waffled AftMßßßtabout all-out Red efforts “to infect and pollute the West German population with the virus of Commit. ntstn." John also was quoted as having expressed concern about "the lack of public alertness against subtle Communist methods to plant a radical anti-democratic ideology” in Germany. A ministry spokesman said that these statements were contained (Ceatiaiaed Ob Page Five) Former St Mtiry's Rectory Being Razed The Martin Wrecking Co., of Fort Wayne, has started to rate the former parsonage at St. Mary’s church on Fourth street. The parsonage was vacated last December when the Very Rev. M«gr. J. J. Seimetz, pastor, moved into the rectory of the new church. The parsonage was built in 1885. The *lte will be cleared and made into a parking lot and playground. 39 New Polio Cases Reported Last Week Brings State Total To 140 For Year INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — The Indiana elate board of health reported today that 39 new polio cases were recorded in the state last week to bring the total to 140, including four deaths, tor 1954. „ The total is below last year’s 196 and lew* than one-third of the epidemic year of 1949 when 494 cases had l>een reported by Aug. 7. The 140 po|lo cases this year cover 41 counties, with St.~ Joseph’s 16 the largest number. That represent* an increase of three illnesee* for St. Joseph. Allen county, with five new cases. now lias 15; Lake also recorded five additional onslaught* for a total of 13. Marion county's four new caeee brought its total to 12. The only additional death this week was reported by lake county. CountiM Hating an outbreak for the first time this year were Fayette and Howard, each with one case, and' Miami with two cases. Other new case*, and the revised total for the year, were: Bartholomew, I and 2; Clark. 1 and 2: DeKalb. 2 and 4. Elkhart, 3 and 8; Huntington, 1 and 3; LuPorte, 1 and 5; Madison, 2 and 5; Montgomery. 1 end 3; Porter, I and 5; Steuben. 2 and 4: Tippecanoe. 1 and 4; Vigo, 1 and 3. and Welt*. 1 and 2.

I Lively Is Indicted 1 For Hotel Slaying Marion County Jury Votes Indictment ’ INDIANAPOLIS (INS) —The ■Marion county grand jury today indicted Victor iH. Lively, 25, for the dresser-drawer murder of 18-year-old Dorothy Poore of Clinton, Ind. The jurors charged first degree murder and prosecutor Frank H. i Fairchild said he would demand the death penalty for the defendr whose home is in Bennmont t Tex. Lively, who was captured near St. Louis on July 23, confessed h 4 strangled the young woman because she fought 'off his sex advances in a Claypool Hotel room in Indianapolis July 16. There were two counts in the indictment. One charged murder •by strangulation and the other murder “by means unknown to the grand jurors." Ferdinand Samper, of Indianapolis, new attorney for Lively, prepared to seek a writ of habeas corpus. He has announced that if a hearing is held under the petition, he will subpoena “everybody” connected with the case, including ■the St; •Louis county deputy sheriffs who arrested Lively along a highway. Samper said he i* convinced TAvaly had an accomplice ia the staying -btrt th* defendant’* final confession did not bear out this theory. tA. mysterious woman named “Rutfc" accompanied Dorothy to the hotel death room but left before the murder occurred, according to the confession. Police have been unable to find her. Lively eaid he had been drinking gin for many hours before the murder and vas in a drunken condition at the time, 'Police said Dorothy probably went to Lively’s room in hope* of obtaining a job which she had sought for several days in Indianapolis. She had been in contact (Csatiasea Ob Paoe Five) Luther Yager Asks Convicts Removed State Representative Asks Men Removed BERNE, Ind. (INS) —- Governor George N. Craig was asked to remove state reformatory convicts from the Wells county state forest in a letter written by Republican representative L. Luther Yager, of Berne, today. , . ' Charges of sex and liquor parties involving prisoners and teen-agers have been hurled but the governor ha* said he has found no legal Yager said that residents of Bluffton have been using the forest as a park, adding: “In the name of common sense and economy in government, 1 implore you to use your influence to have these prisoner* removed from Wells county as soon as possible.” | Yager said that if the state insists on having convicts engage in fish and wildlife conservation work, it should set up a fish and game preserve on rocky portions of the reformatory ground* unsuited for farming. 1 LATE BULLET/NS | WASHINGTON (INS) —The senate defeated an attempt to- , day to kill a proposal aimed at ( Communist-dominated unions , and moved toward approval of , the meaaure which i* part of the administration’* anTi-Red - , program. gWASHINGTON (INS) -Pre*- i ident Elsenhower directed today that four million dollars in ( surplus agriculture food stock* < be made available for emergency flood relief In Sovlet-oc- i cupled East Germany a* well < aa In Austria and West Ger- 1 many.

Japan Assures If Will Stand By Free World Give Assurance To United States Os Anti-Red Feeling WASHINGTON (INS) — Japan assured the U.S. today it will stand by the tree world in the eold war with Communism. The assurances were of a semiofficial nature by Japanese foreign officials who rushed to the American Embassy in Tokyo and explained away statements made by a top leader of prime minister Shlgeru Yoshida's party. American diplomats in Tokyo informed the state department they were satisfied that the statement of Hayato Ikeda, secretary general of the Liberal party, reflected no decision to break Japan's close tie with the west, or to cooperate politically with the Communist bloc. News'reports of the Ikeda statement quoted him as saying that the U. 3. had completely failed in its efforts to "roll back" Communism in Asia and therefore the Japanese would have to reappraise their entire attitude toward America and Red China. - ,' State department officials received a full text of the Ikeda statement from ambassador John Allison in Tokyo and after study* ing it said that Ikeda was not nearly as definite or harsh as first reports indicated. They also pointed out that Ikeda made his statement at a Liberal party meeting Immediately after Yoshida had declared that Japan contemplated no change in foreign policy. U. 8. military officials consider Japan the most important free world bastion in the Far East. They also are certain that the island empire, with its highly developed industry is the most coveted of Soviet targets in Asia. Military men made it clear that in their view the U. S. would be obliged to take whatever steps are necessary, no matter how harsh, to prevent Japan from swinging into the Communist camp or from turning neutral. To Elect Red Cross Officers On Tuesday The (Red Cross board of directors will meet Tuesday at 7:30 p. m. in the Red Crone office. The purpose of this meeting is to elect new pfficers, including a new chapter chainman. Roscoe E. Clendenin*. current chapter chairman and an officer of the board for more than 20 , years, has announced that he will not be a candidate. Poor Relief Rate Is Unchanged Here ' *1 < Washington Twp. ’ Levy Is Unchanged • .« ■ No increase in the poor relief 1 rate in Washington township will be necessary for 1955, the taible of < proposed tax rates in the county I auditor's office shows. i The current rate is 12 cents on i each 3100 of taxable*, which applies to Decktur and Washington town- 1 ship and the same levy will be made next year. Increases in poor relief are shown in St. Mary's, Jefferson and 1 Wabash townships. Hartford and ’ Kirkland townships will not levy any tax for poor relief. In Preble township the rate is cut from 2 cents to one cent on 1 each 3100 of taxables. The township poor relief rates , are compiled by the county audltoj and are included In the county . budget tax form, which will be published next week.

Book Rental System For County Schools Rural Schools Will Adopt Rent System County schools in Root township, Adams Central, St. Mary’s, Blue Creek. Jefferson, Wabash and Hartford townships will begin a book rental system this year on newly adopted text books, county super'intendent Gall Grabill has announced. The rental will not be mandatory if parents or students wishtp buy rather than rent the books. Books and workbooks not included in the rental system may be purchased at the regular book stores. A book list will be given to each pupil on organization dqy specifying books oq the rental plan and giving’ both purchase price and rental fee. Grabill has announced that the teacher list for county schools is nearly complete with only four high school vacancies still needing to be filled. These (vacancies are two at Jefferson, one at Hartford and one at Pleasant Mills. When these have been filled the complete list will be released. Organization day for county schools is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 1, and classes will begin Tuesday, Sept. 7. A principals’ meeting, a teachers Institute and an elementary workshop will pre-, cede the formal opening 61 the schools. Other highlights of next year’s school calendar are the teacher trustee party Oct. 14, teachers institute Oct. 21 and 22, the county music festival Dec. 9. Christmas vacation Dec. 23 to Jan. 3, aud final day of school May 6 for eight and a half mouth schools and May 20 for nine month schools. Sheppard Attorney Charges Prejudice Cleveland Judge Will Rule Friday CLEVELAND (INS) — Common Pleae Judge Frank J, Merrick heard nearly two hours of testimony today on an affidavit of prejudice filed by attorneys’ for accused wife - slayer Dr. Samuel Sheppard and said that he would return a ruling Friday morning. Chief defense counsel William Corrigan filed the affidavit, charging that Gerehom Barber was “prejudiced” and not qualified to preside at the 30-year-old osteopath’s preliminary hearing on a first degree murder charge. Barber, Bay Village council president, testified at the affidavit hearing, however, that he is “definitely not prejudiced," and that he has "no feelings of 111 will against Dr. Sheppard." Five witnesses took the etanrt in Judge Merrick's court —two for the state and three for Corrigan — to argue the point. The h&ndeome doctor, who it» accused of budgeoning ids pretty wife Marilyn, to death on. July Fourth, waa present at the court seMion. nattily dressed in a charcoal gray suit with a. white shirt and blue -tie. He set quietly listening to the testimony, occasionally twiddling his thumbs. If Judge Merrick rules in favor of Corrigan, the preliminary hearing will be transferred to another mayor'# court or to Cleveland municipal court. Should he deny the affidavit, the hearing probably will be held later Friday at Bay Village city hall, with Barber presiding. . Shortly before today’s hearing, police chief Frank Story reported that police have strengthened their cose against Dr. Sheppard with evidence given by a Call fomia doctor who was a house guest of Dr. Sheppard. Chief Story said that Dr. Lester T. Hovweten, a friend of "Dr. Sam’’ who stayed at the Sheppard home for three days prior to the murder, wan recalled to Cleveland when the Sheppard family and at(Tara Ta Pace Six)

a Price Five Cents

Federal Judge Halts Strikes At Two Plants Taft-Hartley Act Injunction Issued In Federal Court KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (INS) — A r strike scheduled to begin today at r ’ vital pl&iX-s* iit O«ik j Ridge, Term., and Paducah. Ky., > was halted late Wednesday night > by a federal court injunction requested! by President Eisenhower. A union official, apprised that . Federal Judge Robert L. Taylor forced an 80-day strike delay by issuing Bn injunction under the Taft-Hartley act, declared: “Well, that stops it for now. We’ll have to wait and eee what happens.’’ The threatened strike involved some, 3,200 members of the CIO / United Gas, Coke and Chemical , Workers at Oak Ridge and an- . other 1,000 at Paducah who originally demanded wage hike* of from . 15 to 21 cent® oa hour and later scaled down the figure to 15 cents. ! The Carbide and Chemical Co.. . a private company operating the . plant* for the atomic energy commission, offered a ett-cent wage ‘ .Werbers a* the two facilities currently earn hourly wages ot ’ from 3153 to 32.40 an hour. Also r at issue in the strike were complaints about living conditions in ’ the company’s so-called "atomio s villages." 1 The federal roadblock of the ’ strike was ordered by President Eisenhower and carried out by three federal attorneys under the direction of attorney general Herbert Brownell. The President, in ordering the action, said the atomic energy development program is one in which the nation cannot allow work stoppages. In Washington Lewis L. Strauss, chairman of the atomic energy commission, supported the President’s stand and issued a statement in which he mid: ' “In the opinion of thAAEC. the srtike imperilled- the national safety. The facilities affected by the strike constitute a substantial part of the atomic energy industry. "They include all factlitiee subject to the jurisdiction of the United States of America capable of producing subatantall amount* of uranium-235.” Uranium-235, also called U-235, Is a basic atomic fuel material. Judge Taylor issued the injunction shortly after justice department attorneys Warren Burger and Edward H. Hickey arrived in Knoxville from Washington, D. C.. to begin proceedings. Berger and Hickey were accompanied by Robert Lowenstein, assistant ABO general counsel. Officials of the union were summoned hastily to an emergency session in the federal court in Knoxville. They accepted service of the injunction on the spot. Later, the union head* sent a telegram to their subordinates to halt the strike and urge that union members report to their Jobe today at both the Oak Ridge and the Paducah facilities. wul , ■ Showers Forecast Tonight Friday * INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — The Indianapolis weather bureau today predicted showers for Indiana tonight and Friday, but added that the cool temperature* would continue. Temperatures were near the 50 mark in many parts of the state M’ednesday night. The marks were from five to 10 degrees below normal. INDIANA WEATHER InereMtag cloudiness with showers beginning late today and continuing tonight and Friday. Not so cool tenlgnt Low tonight 60, high Friday 75.