Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 53, Number 27, Decatur, Adams County, 2 February 1955 — Page 1

Vol. LIII. No. 27.

TENEMENT FIRE CLAIMS TWELVE LIVES /7' * . HI * K*wsHl s» ' . £■ -W' ■? * */'»•-<. arch gragg '** ’* **’ w I w 9jfl &wlw^''- ~ ‘ Im ’ :<• *' ■ •—W ~'• W .9: 9 -«JI I ' A<t^- m «« ■ - II ■ v W I JNMtoL J "2 H': WF &. |f Wall’ : < Wpf: ? ; ICE COVERS a tenement house in Amsterdam, N. Y„ where an exploding oil drum started an early morning fire which raced through the structure, killing II children and one adult. The children, ranging in age from six months to 14 years were members of three families.

Bill Favoring Small Schools Is Introduced Would Change State Tuition Support To Aid Small Schools INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — A school bill favoring the smaller units and a fair employment practices bill hit the house hopper today while the Indiana senate reorganized for regular business. There was speculation in the senate that the toll road ripper bill for passage now that the “so what” would be reported out of committee committee of the whole hearing on toll roads has ended. In the house. Reps. Court Rollins, Muncie Republican, and Mrs. Elsie C. Earning, Evansville Democrat introduced a * measure to revise the present state tuition support and transportation schedules. ' In the bill backed by superintendent of public instruction Wilbur Young, state tuition support would be based on 30 pupils per unit instead of the present 32 grade and 28 high school basis. Distribution Os transportation funds also would be changed to be more beneficial to smaller school units. ' 4 • The bill asks for $73.8-million for this year and $76.84-milllon A for 1956-57, not including $6-million each year for transportation. This compares with $132.7-million the last biennium. Democratic Reps. James S. Hunter, of East Chicago, and Charles T. Rachels, of ML Vernon, introduced a fair employment bill that would repeal the present law and create a state commission. It was a matching bill for a senate measure introduced last week which in essence simply puts teeth in the present law. Four other house measures were introduced dealing with workmen's compensation and 'disability payments. Only 10 of the 30 financial, legal and road-building experts summoned to appear before the committee of the whole were heard. What those 10 had to say covered many facets of toll roads, present and prospective, but at the end of the marathon session, it appeared that all their words had not changed any senatorial minds. — The pro-CTaig members still were for continuation of the present free-wheeling Indiana toll road commission, and the anti-Craig GOP and the Democrats still went to tie future toll roads to legislative approval or to garrot pay-as-you-go highways entirely. However, the Craig group can chalk up a gain in time, though not as much as they stood to get had not the fact-gathering session come to its sudden end. Democratic minority leader Warren Martin rose and said: “I’m tired of listening. It seem® to me we have some other things to do. I'd like to adjourn and go back to regular session.” Sen. Roy Conrad, of Monticello, Gov. George N. Craig’s floor leader, protested that after the remaining 20 witnesses had been so kind as to sit through the two days of the session waiting to be beard, the senators should be courteous enough to hear them. At least one of the 20 had traveled from Balti " more to Indianapolis for the ap(Continued on Page Five)

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Action Delayed On New Lateral Sewer Street Committee To Review Plans Action on the Twelfth street lateral sewer, which will cost approximately 364,000, was postponed by the city council until the sewer and street committee, headed by councilman Don Gage, can review the project. Councilman Gage stated in the regular meeting Tuesday night that there is a possibility that more persons can be reached at a minimum cost by delaying parts of the proposed project and connecting in areas of North Twelfth street that were not covered in the original plan. The plan presented last night called for a 24 to 30 inch sewer starting at the main pipe at Dayton and Eeleventh street, running west to Twelfth, then south along Twelfth to Jackson, with six laterals. measuring 8 to 18 inches carrying waste to the main Twelfth street sewer. \Councilman Gage proposed breaking down the cost estimates on each of the six laterals, and adding a lateral going north to take care of an area where there are presently no sewers. The project would then be built as funds are received. Most of the actual expense of the sewer is borne by the owners of the land which is drained, and they are assessed according to the area being drained. This gives the city a revolving sewer fund, and. allows annual improvements where needed. A petition for a' water line extension, which will be paid for by the petitioner, was introduced from Paul and Martha Urick, of High street. It was referred to the water committee. A petition for an electric power line for Fred Brokaw was referred to the electric light committee. An ordinance approving the purchase of two Burroughs utility billing machines for the city utilities, costing $8,158.6(7 after tradein of three old pieces of equipment was approved. M. J. Pryor, president of the Chamber of Commerce, appeared before the coqncil and briefly explained the five-point program of the Chamber this year, emphasizing the civic affairs program, which will include a representative of the Chamber’s executive committee at each session of the council. Pryor also asked what action ■was presently being lakes on the street light program for ,Thirteenthi street, and L. C. Pettibone, superintendent- of the- light and power company, stated that as soon as a cost breakdown was established, a canvass of the owners along the area to be lighted would be made, to see exactly what wtls desired. The question arose as to whether this project should be paid for as others have been in (Continued on Page Eight) MARCH OF DIMES Previously Reported --.-$3158.08 Mothers March of Dimes Addition' 11.00 American Legion Auxiliary- 10.00 March of Dollars Doughnut Shop —— 39.00 Wabash Twp. • Geneva & Geneva Schools Mrs. Arley Sprunger & Mrs. Mari... Garet Fe.nstermaker, z Chr 516.58 Monroe Twp • ijwu, Dan Striker, Chairman i_.-— 174.05 Rotary Club ............ 68.70 Lions Club <68.70 TOTAL $4046.11

At Least 25 Persons Dead In tornadoes Two Communities In Mississippi Are Hit By Tornadoes TUNICA. Miss. (INS) —Rescue workers searching for more victims dug through two tornadowrecked Mississippi communities today where at least 25 persons, many of them school children, were killed. The twister which cut a deadly swath through the northern part of the state along the Mississippi River was the worst of a series of tornadoes which also struck Arkansas and Albania Tuesday. The violent storm brushed the west bank of the Mississippi river at Bruins and Felton, Ark., then hopped -over the water, sweeping through the historic Leatherman plantation at Commerce Landing, Miss., and demolished a school at Olive Branch, Miss. Os the dead, 22 ware killed on the plantation at Commerce Landing and three others at the Olive Barnch school. More than 100 persons were injured by debris, and some of the 85 taken to the little Tunica hospital were in critical condition. The Arkansas and Mississippi tornado struck at midafternoon while the Alabama Twister, which lifted the roofs from several homes at Huntsville, hit Tuesday night. At Commence Landing, the deadly winds smashed 39 buildings, smost of-them the homes of Negro plantation workers, disintegrated a school building and ripped apart a cotton gin. Bodies of children in the school were tossed as far as 2,W0 feet by the powerful wind. The victims, covered with mud and watel", were picked out of nearby cotton fields. At the Olive Branch school, two pupils and a teacher were killed and 15 children injured. Heavy rains and hail lashed the stricken areas just before and in the Wake of the tornado. HUnter Chittom, manager of a plantation on the Arkansas side of the river, described the ominous black funnel-shaped cloud as being a quarter of a mile wide at the base. W. F. Pierce, a op the ravaged -Leatherman plantation, was in the company's office when he felt the sudden change of air pressure heralding the approach of the storm; Pierce declared: '"I thought I was going to faint for awhile-I couldn’t hear anything.” Then, he said, he saw 30 buildings in the vicinity blown down and automobiles picked up and hurled about “like tin cans.” D. T. Petty, a commercial fisherman, said his home was “raised and went over like a ferris wheel, spinfling in the air." National guard troops, called by the Mississippi highway patrol, aided in rescue operations. The Red Cross sent disaster units to (Continued on Page Eight) INDIANA WEATHER Mostly cloudy tonight and Thursday followed by snow south Thursday night. Not much change In temperature. Low tonight 10-15 extreme north, 15-20 south. High Thursday In the 20s.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, February 2, 1955.

Eisenhower Declares ✓ * ' • No Need For Ground Troops In Formosa * . ’i'-r • ..' '* ."

9,000 Troops To Participate In Atom Tests Series Os Atomic Tests Scheduled Within Two Weeks WASHINGTON (INS) — The defense department announced today that 9,000 troops will participate in a series of atomic tests to begin in about two weeks at the Nevada proving ground. The announcement on the project, known as “operation teapot,” said: “An atomic explosion against hypothetical enemy forces is included in the marines coordinated air-ground exercise at the test site.” . , Describing other maneuvers scheduled for the series, expected to include about a dozen explosions, the announcement said: “The armed forces special weapons project will conduct a series of technical anu scientific experiments designed to evaluate the effects of new and improved nuclear weapons and to ascertain factual information required for the maintenance of up-to-date plans vital to the security and defense of our nation . . "Under simulated atomic combat conditions military personnel will receive training in essential physical protection measures and in assault tactics relating to atomic warfare as well as indoctrination training in the effects of atomic explosions on military equipment." The troops scheduled to take part include 4,300 officers and men from the army, 2,100 navy and marine officers, and more than 2,000 air force officers and men. the Lions will meet jointly with Rotary on Thursday night, Feb. 10, at the Moose home for a program honoring the Boy Scouts. (Continued on Page Eight) Six More Atomic Cannons To Europe WASHINGTON 2 (INS) . — The army announced ioday that it is sending six more atomic cannons to Europe, bringing the total of the super weapons available there to 36. The guns are capable of firing an atomic shell a distance of 20 miles. Farm Problems Are Outlined To Lions Ray Heller Speaker At Weekly Meeting Some problems which a farmer faces in feeding his livestock were explained to Lions club members Tuesday night by Ray Heller, February program chairman. Heller explained that some farm animals, such as chickens and hogs, have one stomach, and others, including cattle and sheep, have four. Each type presents a different problem, as bacteria are necessary in the stomachs of cattle, but dangerous for chickens and hogs. Also, a calf Is borne with one stomach, which changes to four later, necessitating a change in feeding habits. Each animal is kept on a rigid feeding cycle, with changes in feeding necessary at different periods of growth. This allows the farmer to develop the animal in the minimum time at minimum cost, and plan to sell when the market is highest. Heller stated that next week and In three weeks the Lions club will hold joint meetings on Thursday nights with Rotary club, and that in two weeks the program will include a recital by music pupils of Sherman Nyffeler. Ernest Atkinson was introduced as a new mem)>er, recently transferred from Van Wert, O. There will be no Lions club meeting next Tuesday night, president Ben Webster announced, and

Boy Scout Banquet Here February 10 Sonny Grandelius Principal Speaker “Sonny" Grandelius, one of the top Michigan State backfield stars and now a member of the Michigan State coaching staff, will be principal speaker at the annual Boy Scout banquet Thursday, Feb. 10, at 6:30 p. m. in the Moose . home. Plans for the banquet, which is . being arranged by the Decatur i troop sponsors, were announced > today. A committee composed of members of the sponsoring org- . animations is in charge of arrange- • ments. This committee includes Char- , lie Morgan of the American Legi ton which sponsors troop 63, Ray Heller of the Lions club whWJt sponsors troop 62, George Ljtchi field of Rotary which sponsors i troop 61. and Gene Rydell of the Elks, which sponsors the Explorer post. All Decatur Boy Scouts are invited to the banquet, which is given to honor them and extend recognition to the Scouts- and their leaders. Among those attending will be several Scout executives of the Anthony Wayne council. The banquet Is Decatur’s project marking national Boy Scout month, which is February. The national observance? honors the scout movement and those who serve in it. During his talk. Grandelius will show a film on the 1954 Rose Bowl game. Ward Calland will serve as toastmaster and group singing will be led by Leo Kirsch. Reservations for the banquet are being handled by Ray Heller. All Boy Scouts and Scout leaders who plan to attend the affair are asked to contact him. Annual Elks Cancer Party February 12 Further Details Os Party Are Revealed Gran Schultz, exalted ruler of the Decatur Elks lodge, has announced further details of the Elks cancer party, which will take place Saturday, Feb. 12, at the Elks home. Featured at the party will be a smorgasbord prepared and served by the Emblem club, entertainment and a dance. The smorgasbord will be served beginning at 5:30 p.m. Entertainment Is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. and dancing will follow at 10 p.m. " Schultz expressed appreciation to Decatur merchants who have donated the prizes which will be given away during the entertainment portion of the program. The merchants have generously contributed some fine merchandise for these prizes. The cancer party is planned as a part of the Indiana Elks cancer fund project, which is headed by Thomas Burke of Lafayette. A goal of'sloo,ooo has been set by the state for this year. The project has been carried by Indiana Elks since 1948 and since then has provided $228,300 for cancer research at Indiana University and $58,250 for research at Purdue University. Last year the universities received a total of $40,000 from the state Elks association. The Decatur lodge has participated each year in the project and (Continued on Page Six) Death Toll Os 73 Up To January 30 INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — The Indiana state, police today reported that 73 persons died in state autq- crashes through Jan. 30th compared to 79 during the same time last year. Supt. Frank Jessup said: “Speeds too fast for driving conditions continue as a leading contributing cause to multiple death accidents.”

Reds May Ask Study Os All Asia Problems Soviet Sources In Hint Os Acceptance Os UN Invitation UNITED NATIIONS, N. Y. INS —Soviet sources hinted today that Red China may reply to the UN security council bid to join Formosa cease-fire talks by demanding that all Far East problems be included. The sources said Premier Chou En-Lai undoubtedly would submit counter-proposals calling for inclusion in the debate of Red char- : ges of alleged U. S. aggression against Red China and demands 1 for American military withdrawal 1 from Formosa. It also was held ■„ possible that Chou might decide to come to the UN but to discuss only the Soviet proposals for a Formosan cease- ( fire based on U. S. evacuation from the Nationalist island bastion. The Russian proposals were shelved by the council in favor of the New Zealand truce item. An authoritative informant said Soviet delegate A. A. Sobolev ‘pretty well” indicated that Chou’s reply to the council’s invitation would be "other than’ a straight negative" rejection of the bid. This appeared to foreshadow a lengthy exchange between UN headquarters and , Peiping before the Communists finally decide whether to accept the -offer to appear before the 11-nation group.Meanwhile, there were these other developments in the Formosa situation: 1. Diplomatic sources in Washington said the U. S. and Chiang Kai-Shek have been in complete agreement for several weeks on the steps now to be taken to defend Formosa. 2. Chinese and American sources indicated the timing of the evacuation of the Tachen islands depends on when the U.S. seventh fleet ft ready for the operation. 3. A Nationalist evxcuation ship with 538 civilians aboard arrived in Formosa after a hazardous week-long voyage from the inva-sion-menaced Tachens. 4. Well-informed sources in Taipeh said the U. S. would oppose bitterly any move to create “two Chinas” as a solution to the Formosa crisis. 5. President Eisenhower reportedly has assured legislative leaders he would “never” let the U.S. get involved again in a "sanctuary" war where American forces were unable to strike back an (Contlniu<e«j on Page Six) 91-Year-Old Man Is Taken By Death Michael T» Scarry Dies At Hospital Michael Thomas Scarry, 91-year-old Willshire, 0.. resident, died Tuesday morning at a hospital in Toledo following an illness of many years of arterio sclerosis. He was a native of England, born there April 19, 1863, to Patrick and Mary Lilly-Scarry, but came to the United States When only four years old.Mr. Scarry was a former merchant in Willshire. His wife, the former Emma Catherine Hupp, died in 1916. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Fern Dull of Willshire; two sons, Loyd A. Scarry of Steubenville, O.; and Thomas Scarry, address unknown; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. One daughter, one brother and one sister are deceased. Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a. m. Thursday at the Cowan & Son funeral home in Van Wert, 0., with burial in the Willshire cemetery.

Reds May Ask

Lincoln Speaker \ Frank Minis former slat, auditor and now state director of finance, will speak at the annual Lincoln day banquet Saturday at the K. of P. home. The meal will be served at 6:30 p. m., and Minis will speak at approximately 7:45 o’clock, Harry Essex, Republican county chairman, announced. The public Is Invited. Two Shiploads Os Nationalists Are Evacuated Report American Warships Patrol Evacuation Route TAIPEH (INS)—Two ships carrying Chinese Nationalist civilians from the Tachen Islands arrived safely at Formosa today amid reports that American warships have already begun patrolling the evacuation route. The Taipeh English - language newspaper, China News, said that qt least one American destroyer escorted a 3,000-ton landing ship which arrived at the north Formosa port of Keelung this morning with 538 Tachen refugees and 15 Communist war prisoners aboard. A U. S. Navy source said the seventh fleet is not doing any escort work—pending orders from Washington—but added a destroyer may have been on the evacuation route "by coincidence.” It was explained that many destroyers have been patrolling the area several months. Officially, movements of the fleet are under a security blackout. The gun crews of both evacuation ships reportedly beat off attacks by Communist gunboats. The China News quoted a number of evacuees as saying they “knew an American destroyer was nearby, apparently to protect us.” Those aboard the first ship reported four Red gunboats “threatened” their vessel while those on the second evacuation craft which had about 500 aboard said three Red gunboats menaced them. Arrival of the civilians at Keelung stimulated speculation that evacuation of Nationalist troops from the Tachens was imminent. U. S. Ambassador Karl L. Rankin conferred with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek for an hour and a quarter this morning and a high American source reported "everything was in the bag” for the military evacuation. This source said a statement from President Eisenhower is expected to clarify America’s part in protecting the redeployment of Nationalist troops in a new Formosa defense zone. A Nationalist government announcement said civilian evacuation from the Tachens was started to "avoid unnecessary casualties from Communist wanton bombing"' in the islands which have been under periodic attack by Red planes and ships and by artillery on nearby outposts. * The Nationalist air force announced that its continued bombing Communist islands near the Tachens through Tuesday.— A communique said Red gun posts on Yichangshan island, captured last week by the Reds, were bombed heavily throughout the (Continued on Page Eight)

Five Cents

Affirms Stand On Reduction Os Army Force President Parries Most Questions On Crisis In Formosa WASHINGTON (INS) —President Eisenhower said today he does not foresee the use of American | ground troops in defending Formosa and has no intention of - changing his decision to reduce the • strength of the army. 1 . The Chief Executive parried most questions on the Formosa situation at his news conference, noting that the United Nations is attempting to arrange a cease-fire between the Chinese Nationalists and Red China. Anything he would say akiAhis time, he declared, could do no more than muddy the water. Mr. Eisenhower was asked what he thought of recent testimony by Ges. Matthew B. Ridgway, Army Chief of Staff, that the scheduled reductions in the army would jeopardize the security of the nation. The President said Ridgway had a duty to state his own opinions, but declared firmly that his decision to cut army strength by 140.000 troops in the next 17 months has not been altered. He added that at this moment he sees no chance of it being altered. Mr. Eisenhower said there has been no recommendation to him oy . military chiefs that any American . ground troops be commltted to the defense bt Formosa. The President also indicated that and negotiations aimed at a dftasefire to permit evacuation dithe — I Tachen Islands by Nationalist forces should be wfth Chiang Kai-Shek rather than the U. ' S;' '' Soviet foreign minister Molotov indicated in ah interview last week with publisher William Randolph Hearst, Jr., and Kingsbury Smith, European general manager of International News Service, that Russia might be willing to take up with Red China the question of arranging A Bi»aßb.frf6.-irTlieTJ: S. wanted such action. Mr. Eisenhower eaid he knew nothing about this, but pointed out that it is the Chinese Nationalists who are occupying the Tachens, not thhe U. S. He said the purpose of Amerr can policy in the Formosa area is to remove any doubt in the minds of a potential foe that we are determined to defend the island chain which is a barrier against Communist aggression. -We are attempting honestly and hopefully to avoid war, he said, without being truculent.* Mr. Eisenhower declined te hazard a guess on the prospects of a permanent peace between Red China and Chiang Kai-Shek’s Nationalist, declaring that only time can tell. Stressing the importance of making our determination to defend Formosa clear to the Communists, he pointed to the Korean War aa tn example. " — - ” He saiu ne oeileves we were forced to goto war in Korea partly because of our failure to make if" clear that we would go to the defense of that country if itw ere invaded. The President’s news conference was filmed for the second time and news secretary James C. Hagerty will decide later what, it any, portions will be released for television and newsreel showing. Band Booster Fund Previously Reported ——- $814.47 Jerry Kaehr, band member 2.00 TOTALS $816.47 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.