Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 53, Number 21, Decatur, Adams County, 26 January 1955 — Page 1

Vol. Uli. No, 21,

A Birthday Cake For Mac. '■ w~»rWHbir ML* C O' ffi*-y. Bi Jl| »'"' ■ ' ? ' .J® Ktkl Bk .'■ Hr >x <*^2'’* s '"' v**” ML-; \'£*'t^'T"'“' "Ws IN A GALA SEND-QFF at Idlewild Airport in New York, General of the Army Douglas MacArthur contemplates a 75th birthday cake, decorated with seven candles and five stars. Enroute to a mamoth civic acclamation in Los Angeles where he will speak at dedication of a statue to him, robust MacArthur was accompanied by Mrs. MacArthur. Stewardess Martha Krischuk (left) presented the cake on behalf of the airline.

Illinnk Ppcl IIIIIIvIj null Party Leader Is Convicted Is Found Guilty By Federal Jury CHICAGO (INS) < —A federal court jury today found Claude M. Lightfoot, Illinois Communist leader, guilty of violating the Smith att. Lightfoot, who made a trip to Moscow in 1935, was tried under a hitherto 'untested clause of the federal.JHatute. Thia section makes it a crime to be a member of any group plotting the overthrow by violence of the United, State* government and knowing th'at such is the organization's intent. “ Lightfoot, 45-year-oid executive secretary of the Communist party of Illinois, faces a possible maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a 110.000 fttie. The jury of seven men and five women reached the verdict Tuesday night but their finding was sealed and not opened until this morning by U. S. district judge Philip L. Sullivan. Lightfoot, an overt figure in the Communist party for 20 years is the first individual to be charged under section 2385 of the act. Os 107 Communists previously indicted under the act. all were seized in groups of five or more and accused of conspiracy to overthrow the government The defense. contended in its closing arguments that "not a line or a word” of the evidence showed that Lightfoot knew the Communist party, as an organization, advocated violence or that the de fendant had anything but peaceful intentions toward the government. Lightfoot is a Negro. The prosecution's case was directed by assistant U. S. attorney James B. Parsons, also a Negro. Parsons told the jury that the evidence had proven Lightfoot gu|lty by his own writings and teachings by the Communist manifesto and by other literature. Bride Os Day Is Accident Victim BEDFORD, Ind., (INS) — A 17-year-old bride of one-day was killed in a two-car collision on U. S. 52 about 10 miles east of -Lexington. Ky., Tuesday.— — The victim was Mrs. Delores June Woodruff Chaillie, of Bedford, Ind. Her husband, Donald B. Chaillie, 18, of North Vernon. Ind., is suffering shock. The couple was married at Bedford, Monday, stayed overhight in North Vernon, and left Tuesday for Fort Sumter, S. C„ where Chaillie is stationed with the air force. I 1 INDIANA WEATHER Snow this afternoon and evening diminishing to flurries tonight. Much colder weather overspreading the state tonight. Thursday partly cloudy and polder with snow flurries hear Lake Michigan.' Low tonight 5 below to 5 above north, slightly higher close to Lake Michigan, 5-10 above south. High Thursday 5-10 north, 15-20 south.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

General MacArthur 75 Years Old Today Los Angeles Throws Big Birthday Party LOS ANGELES (INS) — General of the Army Douglas Mac Art bur is 75 yea rft old today and the city of Los Angeles is throwing a birthday party that is a ringing tribute to the World War II military hero. The -general who led allied forces to victory in the Pacific will be honored by unveiling of his statue in a park bearing his name, by a luncheon at which he is to speak and by an American Legion dinner banquet which he will address,. r MacArthur and Ms party, including his wife. Jean, and his longtime aide, Gen. Courtney Whitney, arrived from New York at International Airport Tuesday night and after a welcome by civic and military authorities were escorted through cheering crowds to a downtown hotel. - — MacArthur, an imposing figure of a man at 75 with a brisk walk, commanding voice and of the erect bearing of a thorough soldier, was to begin his day-long birthday celebration today at MacArthur park, named some years ago in his honor. The general and his party were to attend the dedication ceremonies of an eight-foot bronze statue of the heroic commander of World War II forces in the Pacific. The statue, in the center of a niche in a ceramic tiled wall, is of MacArthur at rigid attention and staring across the peaceful lakes of the park. The work by Roger Noble Burnham will be unveiled by Mrs. MacArthur. The general was to give a 15minute extemporaneous talk at the dedication ceremony which a spokesman has said would be of “greater interest to the press” than the general”s address at his birthday dinner in the evening It was believed that MacArthur, long a proponent of a vigorous foreign policy in Asia, will touch on the current crisis in the Orient. F’rom the park ceremony the generals party goes to the 60th annual convention luncheon of the Episcopal diocese, where the general was to make a second extemporaneous talk , andbe ..PIS.:, sented with a special plaque and citation honoring him as a Christian soldier, and statesman. The birthday celebration climaxes in a lOOff-plate dinner with the general slated to give a major address at 10 pjn. (PST). A great throng greeted the World War II hero at the airport when he arrived from New York late Tuesday. Additional thousands cheered him when his motorcade wound through the suburbs and downtown streets to his hotel. It was the first visit to Los Angeles of the famed military figure since 1937. Eighteen years ago he slipped into the city quietly while enroute to a post In the Philippines as field marshal with the task of strengthening the islands's defenses. Bronze words on the MacArthur statue at MacArthur park taken from the general's own speeches describe the man: “Soldier” "Battles are not won by arms alone. There must exist above all else a spiritual impulse —a will to victory. In war there can be no substitute for victory.” "Statesman” * "Could I have but a line a century hence crediting a contribution to the advance“of peace, I (Continued on Page Five)

School Bills Are Submitted To Legislature Bi-Partisan Bill Authorizes Loans To Build Schools INDIANAPOLIS (INS) —While Gov. George N. Craig’s bid to build toll roads gained strength considered measures designed to build schools. A bi-partisan house bill, supported by the administration, would authorize loans from a common school fund to school units to build high schools for at least 100 pupils or grade schools for at least 200 pupils. The bin by Reps. Laurence D. Baker, Kendallville Republican, and Walter H. Maehling, Terre Haute Democrat, provides for loans if the school unit has at least a $1.25 tax levy and has reached at least 96 percent of its constitutional debt limit. Another school bill was introduced by Rep. Cable G. Ball, Lafayette Republican. It would* permit school corporations, after a referendum, to levy a special school tax, maximum one-fourth the state gross income tax rate. While George M. Davidson, Indianapolis Republican, and Miss Alice Mathias Brown, Highland Democrat, were introducing a measure to abolish the $1.50 poll tax in house also was "considering bills dealing with workman’s compensation and driving. Two South Bend Democratic Reps. Otto Pozgay and Jesse Dickinson introduced a bill to create a special auto license for persons whose licenses have been suspended but who must useMheir cars for work. . At the same time, William H. Herring, Linton Democrat, put in his concurrent resolution praising the conference of governors for promoting uniform traffic regulations. There were two labor bills' introduced and another amended in the house. Representatives changed a bill which would provide exemption from gross income tax payments of money received for jobless insurance and workmen's compensation. There currently is no exemption and the bill was amended to put a ceiling on such exemption of $3,000. A measure by Rep. James W. Spurgeon, Brownstown Democrat, would increase burial allowance tn workmen compensation cases from S3OO to SI,OOO. Along the same line, a bill by Democratic Reps. Jack E. Caine, of Evansville, and Charles T. Rachels, of Mt. Vernon, would increase workmen’s compensation from 55 percent of weekly wage to 70 percent and would begin such payments the day of disability instead of a week later. It also would boost death benefits from the current SIO,OOO to $15,000. Seven From Decatur Join Gallon Club 137 Pints Os Blood Given Here Tuesday Seven Decatur residents joined the gallon club of the Red Cross blood program at the visit of the bloodmobile Tuesday at the American Legion. They are Mrs. John Barkley. Mrs. George Rentz, Mrs. Ray Wai ters, Mrs. Gerald Cole, Mrs. Ed ward Deßolt. Mr. Charles F. Cook and Mr. Claude E. Dietsch. A total of 137 pints of blood, 30 over the quota, were donated in Decatur Tuesday. Officials of the Fort Wayne blood bank expressed appreciation for the blood which was badly needed to replenish the dwindling blood supply. A kitchen committee from the Zion Evangelical and Reformed church served the noon luncheon to volunteer workers who assisted with the work during the bloodmobile visit. The committee included Mrs. Rufus Kirchhofer, Mrs. Merlin Rose, Mrs. Wilbur Robinson, Mrs. Noah Roth and Mrs. Harry Frauhiger. Mrs. Wanda Oelberg. executive secretary of the local Red Cross chapter, and Mrs. Ed Bauer, county chairman of the blood program, extended thanks to Decatur residents for the cooperation in spite of bad weather. More than 150 persons offered to give blood during the visit. The complete list of donors will be announced later.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMB COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, January 26, 1955.

Senate Groups Favor Eisenhower Proposal For Hein To Formosa

Secy. Wilson Says Situation Merely Ripple Defense Secretary Statement Amazes Nation's Leaders WASHINGTON (INS) — Defense secretary Charles E. Wilson said today that “the Formosa situation is just a little ripple” and "nothing to get overly excited about.” But Adm. Arthur W. Radford, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, told newsmen that “it isn’t going to be our choice whether it is a ripple or a splash.” Radford, asked whether he agreed with Wilson's assessment of the Far Eastern situation, said that “it might be or it might not be just a little ripple.” Wilson's interpretation of the Far Eastern situation before the house armed services committee was termed “an unfortunate use of words” by Rep. Dewey Short, Mo., top Republican member of the group. Short told newsmen: “It’s more than a little ripple . . . It could lead to a full-scale war ...” Several other committee members also expressed surprise over Wilson's characterisation of the Formosa situation. Rep. F. Edward Hebert (D La.), said “Lt’s the- most surprising statement I ever heard.” Wilson, talking with newsmen after the hearing on the administration’s military program, said that President Eisenhower’s request for authority to use U. S. forces .to defend Formosa is not the result of an unforseen emergency. The cabinet member explained that it is an attempt to “create stabilized peace out there.” He added that the Formosa situation “is just a problem ... being handled sensibly.” The secretary told the committee that Nationalist China's huge standing army on Formosa reduces the need for the U. S. to build up its own army. Congress appropriated funds last year to providfl for armed forces of 3,032,000 meh on June 30, 1955. Wilson said, however, the administration’s objective now is to cut to 2,934,000 by that date. Wilson testified that when he asked congress for funds last year the situation in Korea and IndoChina made it imperative that the defense department be provided with "a little cushion” of man(Contlnued on Page Eight) Monroe Girl Wins In Music Contest Sandra Cramer Wins Federation Contest Sandra Cramer, of Monroe, a pianist, won first prize in the annual county music contest sponsored by the Adams county federation of women’s clubs Tuesday at the Lincoln school. Sandra, daughter of Mr. and Mrs, George Cramer, won in competition with 11 other pianists and vocalists. Second place went to Lynn Messerd, a tenor soloist from Pleasant Mills. He was accompanied by Mrs. Helen Ehrsam. Adams county young people from 9 to 18 years of age were eligible to compete. The county winner will be entered in the state contest, which will be held in Muncie Feb. 12. The state winner will receive 10 days free schooling at Indiana University. Judges for the local contest were David Embler and L. B. Pursley-of Decatur, and Mrs. Gladys Neuenschwander of Berne. Arrangements for the contest were made by Mrs. Roy Friedley and Mrs. Frank Crist of the federation and Mrs. Alva Lawson of thfl county home demonstration chorus.

Polio Fund Dance Thursday Evening Tickets Available At Door Thursday Cliff Brewer, general chairman of the polio benefit dance which will be held Thursday at 9 p.m. at the Sunset park, has announced that tickets will be available at the door. A donatioh of $1 per person to the polio fund entitles the donor to a ticket. Music for dancing will be presented by an orchestra formed of local musicians. The orchestra will play free of charge as a service of the union transcription fund provided by the American Federation of Musicians. Prizes will be awarded during the dance and each lady will receive an orchid. A special roses dance "has been planned for the ladies. The auction which was a feature of last year's polio benefit dance will not be repeated since it is so time-consuming. All proceeds of the dance will be turned over to the March of Dimes drive in Decatur. The annual drive is conducted to raise money to finance polio research and relief on a local, state and national level. Half of the money collected here remains in this county to aid local polio victims. Root Township A complete canvass of Root township by the local committee for the March of Dimes polio campaign will be completed Thursday, Irma Owens and Fred Kunkel, cochairmen of the drive, said this morning. The drive will be completed ahead of schedule because of the danger of bad weather setting in, and slowing down the drive, they added. The following ladies are helping in the campaign to raise polio funds: Mrs. Lee Fleming, Mrs. Russell Fleming, Mrs. Dick Moses, Mrs. Richard Harkless, Mrs. Dal Brown, Mrs. Jim Rice, Mrs. Rufus Kirchhofer, Mrs. Robert Hammond, Mrs. Frank Jacquay, Mrs. Charles Graves, Mrs. Dale Liby, Mrs. Burl Fuhrman, Mrs. Nevin Miller, Mrs. Robert Rice, Mrs. George . onner, Mrs. Bill Boerger, Mrs. Paul Fuelling, Mrs. Mary Casanova, and Mrs. Wilson Bflltz. Mrs. Robert Johnson is serving as treasurer. Adams County Home Inventory Reported Slight Decrease In Value Os Inventory The inventory taken Jan. 1 at the Adams county home showed, total assets valued at $29,205.20, a slight decrease from the inventory ■wade a year -ago. —y— A breakdown of the tota'l assets includes cattle and hogs, $7,790; grain, hay, feed and poultry, $7,488; farm implements and supplies, $,- 152; equipment, tools and other supplies, $2,809, and household supplies, $4,966.20. The 1954-inventory totaled $29,948.70. The county home assets have increased considerably since 1945 when the total Inventory amounted to only $18,990,13. This year's inventory was taken by Harold Sherry and B. F. Bremen appraisers appointed by the county commissioners. George Fosnaugh is superintendent of the county home. At the present time. 19 men and seven women are residents of the home. Avert Fire Disaster At Home For Aged MACON, 111. (INS) —Fire roared through a wing of the Eastern. Star sanitarium for the aged near Macon Tuesday night, but none of the 66 patients in the institution was injured. Damage to the two-story brick wing was estimated at $75,000. Mrs. Martha Livingston, superintendent of the home operated by the women’s Masonic order, was cited for her alertness in averting a major disaster.

Chiang Agrees To Evacuation From Tachens Cabinet Agrees To Evacuation Under Fleet Protection TAIPEH (INS) — The Chinese Nationalist cabinet decided today to evacuate its troops from the Communist-menaced Tachen islands under protection of the U.S. seventh fleet. The decision to support the redeployment plan advanced by President Eisenhower for the defense of Formosa was made at an emergency cabinet meeting called by President Chiang Kai-Shek. Reliable sources said Chiang received assurances from Vice Adm. Alfred M. Pride, seventh fleet commander, that the Formosa defense line —bulwarked by four U.S. aircraft carriers—will include islands such as Matsu and Quemoy. Matsu lies 100 miles north of Formosa and Quemoy 100 miles to the west just oft the China mainland. Retention of these two small islands in the defense perimeter was calculated to offset any ill effects which evacuation of the Tachens might have on Nationalist morale. The Tachens, exposed to constant threat of Communist invasion, lie some 200 miles north of Formosa and have in effect been declared not worth fighting for by the United Nationalist heavy bombers were active this morning in the hot-spot Tachen area and returning pilots reported they probably sank a 1,500-ton Chinese Rqd warship 40 miles north of the main Tachen island. The warship was set afire and appeared to be sinking. Other Nationalist planes attacked Red-conquered Yichangshan island, eight miles north of Tachen, in three waves and scored hits on troop positions and a Red command post. Some 300 planes of the seventh fleet were also active north of Formosa in what appeared to be a show of strength as a prelude to evacuation of the reported 10,000 Nationalist troops from the Tachens. Hazards of the Tachen troop evacuation were underlined by Nationalist reports telling of a big buildup of Communist strength on the mainland Chekiang province and on nearby islands within artillery range of the Nationalistheld islands. The Reds, however, were silent about their plans, if any, to interfere with the projected troop evacuation. ! Peiping radio continued Tuesday - (Couunu«a <m Fag« Five) Frank MillisWill Speak In Decatur Annual Lincoln Day Banquet February 5 Fratyr Millis, long time prominent in state Republican circles, forirer state auditor and state representative, will be the principal sneaker at the annual Lincoln day banquet to be held at the K. of P. home in this city Saturday night, February 5. The announcement was made today by Harry “Peck” Essex, Adams county Republican chairman, and the annual dinner will be sponsored by the Adams county Republican central committee. Dinner will be served at 6:30 o’clock and the speaking program wfll follow. The public is invited to attend the annual event. Millis, originally from Orange county, has resided in Indianapolis the iMt 20 years. He has served in ' numerous capacities for the state and for the Republican party. He has always been a favorite at G.O.P. gatherings in northern Indiana.

South Bend Reports Zero Temperatures South Bend Records Lowest State Mark INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — The bottom fell out of the thermometer at South Bend today and the entire state reported sub-freezing readings. The zero reported at South Bend was the lowest received by the U. S. weather bureau in Indianapolis. Lafayette, which had a high of 18 Tuesday, had a four early this morning. Fort Wayne had a low of six, Indianapolis reported 10, and Evansvilte~2l. Evansville reported 43 degrees Tuesday for the highest in the state. Weathermen said it has warmed up considerably throughout the State since about midnight and highs today should read 23 to 36 degrees. Tonight's lows will flop below freezing again ranging from five to 20. It is expected to be increasingly cloudy today followed by snow in the north and central sections of Indiana this afternoon and over the entire state tonight, diminishing to flurries in the north late tonight. Little hope is . seen for an immediate thaw in the blanketing of snow and ice that has dafised a flurry of falls, smashed fenders and at least one fatal accident. Mrs. Jean H. Startzman, 34, of Indianapolis, was killed Tuesday when her car stalled in front of westbound New York Central train at the east edge of McCordsville. Road* Slippery INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — The Indiana state highway commission today reported slippery roads through most of the northern twothirds of Indiana. (Oontinwd on Page Six) Librarian Speaks To Decafur Lions Fort Wayne Man Is Speaker Last Night Five reasons for the great economic and social changes of the last 50 years were given by Fred Reynolds, of the Wort Wayne public library, to members of the Decatur Lions club Tuesday evening. Reynolds was introduced by Dr. N. A. Bixler, a member of the local library board, and program chairman for the month. Reynolds pointed out that the principal change is the great development of the middle class. In 1900 the average annual wage for a working man was $417; in 1929. 71% of the American people made less than $2,500 a year; yet today, more than one-third 61 the people make between $3,000 and $5,000 a year. The dynamic logic of mass production, as developed by Henry Ford and the automobile industry, was given by Reynolds as one of the reasons for the great standardization of America—that the employe of the millionaire wears the same kinds of shoes and drives almost as good a car as the big boss himself. Other reasons were the income tax, which equalizes incomes; trade unions, which have advanced the worker to the middle class; the great spread of education to the masses; and the development of American culture. President Ben Webster congratulated the members of the Lions club for their contributions this month to the March of Dimes program. County agent Leo Seltenright was introduced as a guest of international councillor Roy Price. Frank Lybarger, chairman of the major activities committee, announced that the light bulb sale sub-committee would meet this week and make final plans. Roy Price announced that the Decatur club would have a headquarters room at the district convention in Fort Wayne March 20.

Senate Action Expected Soon On Aid Plans Proposed Changes Are Rejected By . Two Committees WASHINGTON (INS) — The senate foreign relations and armed services committees approved today, 26 to 2. President Eisenhower's “save Formosa" resolution after overwhelmingly rejecting proposed changes. Chairman Walter F. George (D Ga.), said he will bring the sweeping resolution to the senate floor tomorrow and hopes action can be completed this week. Voting against committee approval were Sens. William Langer (R N. D.), and Wayne Morse (Ind. Ore.) Langer charged that the proposal “is a step that would involve us in a third world war.” Morse will take the senate floor this afternoon to explain why he voted against the me&ure. He has opposed unilateral action by the U.S. on Formosa. The joint committee rejected two attempts to change the President's resolution, egch by a 20 to 8 vote. One was an amendment by Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey (D Minn.), and the other a substitute by Sen. Estes Kefauver (D Tenn.) Humphrey's proposal would have limited U. S. defense action to Formosa and the Pescadores, excluding other islands off the China coast. Kefauver's measure would have turned the problem over to the United Nations. As the resolution went to the ate, Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy (R Wis.), offered an amendment • which would halt financial aid to any country which ships good to Red China or furnishes goods for such shipments. McCarthy told the senate: “If this is not adopted, we will again find ourselves in the tragic position of having American boys killed by ammunition we indirectly sent to Red China." The house passed the resolution by an overwhelming 409 to 3 vote after barely three hours of debate, while the senators were busy questioning the joint chiefs of staff on its full import. - The joint chiefs were questioned about the possible use of land forces if a shooting war develops over defense of Formosa and the Pescadores but reportedly were not asked directly about A-bombs. Several members said there was no question in their minds that nuclear weapons could be employed under the resolution. George told reporters,: "I don't think there was any advocacy of the use of land forces, but there was no effort to minimize the allembracing character of the President's resolution. It does affect all the armed forces." Sen. Homer Capehart (R Ind.), a foreign relations member,, said: “If we go in, we have to go in to hit them. I always assumed we would use atomic weapons in war." A highlight of the seven hours of closed door testimony was a reported frank statement by Gen. Matthew Ridgway, army chief of staff, reiterating his opposition to cutting army strength while not reducing its military responsibilities. He was said to have warned (Continued on Page Six) Band Booster Fund Previously Reported $742.47 Julia Ellsworth (band member)—lo.oo A Booster 2.00 T0TAL...5754.47 Contributions can be made by sending any amount to Band Booster fund, care of Hugh J. Andrews, principal of Decatur high school. All money received will go toward the purchase of new Uniforms for the Decatur high school band. '

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