Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 53, Number 41, Decatur, Adams County, 18 February 1955 — Page 1

Vol. LIII. No. 41.

REUNION IN LONDON

r * 1 ■ Jl Ik AFTER six YEARS in a Communist Poland prison and a recuperation period in Switzerland following his release last fall, Hermann Field kisses his wife at Victoria station in London as he Joined his two sons, Hugh, 11, and Alan, 9. Field, whose brother, Noel, has elected to stay in Hungary after being released from prison there, said he would return to the U. S. “by and by."

State Senators Study Salary Grab Measures Indiana Senators Fearful Os Impact From Voting Public INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — Senators toyed with fascinating bills raising the salaries of the legis- _ latora today while house administration leaders milled over floor defeats suffered Thursday. The senators were like children hesitating to take the first plunge in the old awimmin’ hole in the spring as they considered the salary grab measures. , 4 . - They feared the impact of newspaper and constituent criticisms as they prepared for special order of business thia morning on the Moldenauer senate bill to hike salaries of members of both houses from f 1,200 to SI,BOO. In the offing were two RutledgeBits senate measures. One would give a sls per diem to members of commissions and committees serving between meetings of the general assembly. House members jibed senators today because the representatives held their first night session Thursday evening while the senators enjoyed the hotel room and other nocturnal activities. There also were taunts for the senators because they spent nearly two hours on one bill Thursday afternoon while their calendar is clogged and scores of measures seem doomed to be lost in the last-minute jam. This was the C. W. Martin senate bill, a perennial loser in the past, which was passed, however, this time, 31 to 9. The measure permits the establishing of special day classes for deaf children in the public schools with state aid to purchase special equipment needed. The measure has been fought for several sessions by persons connected with the Indiana school for the deaf. Representative John Feighner, of Marion, floor leader for Governor George N. Craig,’ was defeated on three issues Thursday by a combination of anti-Craig Republicans and Democrats. The upsets included: The blasting out of committee of a bill to ban use of Kentucky rock asphalt on Hoosier roads. The refusal to accept a majority committee report amendment which would have placed the hiring of some 70 driver examiners in the motor vehicles department on a bipartisan political basis. The approval of an amendment limiting certain fees of sheriffs. The anti-Craig element today planned procedure to reactive the Korean bonus bill and to blast out of committee the senate bill clipping the wings of the Indiana toll road commission. The governor signed the Weaselman bill authorizing Vanderburgh (Continued on Page Five) Band Booster Fund Previously Reported ...„_5906.47 Ronald August (band member) 5.00 Total $911.47 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.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ' L ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Annual C. C. Dinner Held Last Evening Accomplishments, Activities Outlined More than 200 people attended the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet at the Moose home Thursday evening. The event was highlighted with a description of past accomplishments and future activities. Ron Parrish, retiring president, who received a desk pen set in appreciation of his work, pointed out the 1954 activities which included the spring festival, the amateur contest, the honoring of 4-H leaders, the Halloween window painting contest, the Gallithumpian parade, the endorsement and ..sparking of the civil defense organization, the sponsoring of the Fritz Laehr fund which netted 1,126.83, and the annual rural-ur-ban fish fry. During the past year the Chamber reorganised so that division chairmen would be elected instead of appointed. Parrish also pointed out that the new project of welcoming students of the Reppert auction school. He told of the WLW salute to Decatur, the monthly business barometer which was brought back to life, the changing of the Chamber’s constitution and by-laws and the promotion of industrial development here. / Parrish explained the industrial program which seeks to bring new industry to Decatur. He explained that more than 60 letters have been sent out to various industries and that the Chamber is now negotiating with two industries, one in Ohio and one in New York. M. J. Pryor, 1955 president, after accepting the gavel from Parrish, addressed the group • expressing the hope of future success and asking for the cooperation of all Chapiber members. Pryor stated that of the 1955 projects, the industrial development program was most important. He announced that the Chamber industrial committee has been approached by a Berne cpmpany which is studying the possibility of locating a plant in Decatur. He pointed out tnat every prospect does not mean a new indusr try but that with continued effort Decatur would some day acquire an industry that would benefit the entire community. Pryor also stated that added be placed on maintaining good relations with present Decatur industry, stepping up retail promotion, welcoming Reppert auction school students, sponsoring and encouraging civic affairs and an advertising campaign which would give education to the community in various matters. C. I. Finlayson, toastmaster for the evening, introduced several of the guests Including Louis Jacobs, new retail head; Jay Markley, new industrial chairman, and new ditContinuea on Page Two) Mrs. May Harlacher Dies At Greenville Mrs. May Harlacher, 79. former* resident of Decatur, died Thursday afternoon at the Wayne township hospital in Greenville, 0. Mrs. Harlacher was the widow of E. L. Harlacher, a fieldman for many years for the Central Sugar Co. of this city. The family left Decatur in 1941 following Mr. Harlacher's retirement. Surviving is a daughter, Mrs. William Coate of Greenville. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p. m. Monday at the Miller funeral home in Greenvile, where friends may call until time of the services.

Hermann Field Relates Story Os Imprisonment Paid $50,000 By Polish Government For Imprisonment LONDON (INS) — Hermann Field, the American architect who spent more than five years in a red cell on a bugus spy charge, disclosed today that the Polish communist government paid him a $50,000 indemnity for “wrongful imprisonment.” In tearfully telling his story for the first time since his release last fall he said the Polish reds also gave him ,the equivalent 0f $1,486 in Swiss francs to pay tor his convalescence in Switzerland after he was freed. The Cleveland, 0., architect who was arrested in 1949 while searching for his older brother, Noel, who has elected to stay behind the Iron Curtain after being freed in communist Hungary, broke down and sobbed twice as he read a long statement in London. In the-home of his wife's parents, Field read to reporters a statement which was the first such revelation in what has become known as “the great Fields mystery." With his wife, Kate, and two children sitting beside him he denied that he had ever been a Communist. But he said “I found myself in agreement with certain positions the Communists professed to take before the war.” He said that he had not seen his 50-year-old brother, Noel, since 1947, two years before Noel vanished in Prague and ended up in a Hungarian communist prison. But Hermann said he spoke briefly by telephone to Noel the night before he left Poland for Switzerland last Nov. 18. "Noel's and my paths crossed very seldom since the end of the war. — _Z2Z “When 1 knew him I had np knowledge of his being a Communist, When I talked with him on the telephone we had a very bad connection. All I managed to get across to him was a few words about my health and to tell him I was leaving Poland. » “He (Noel) said he and his wife Herta had some pretty urgent medical problems and they were going to a hospital.” Noel and his wife Herta were released by the Hungarian government last Nov. 16 after the 44-year-old Hermann was released by the Polish red government. Noel and his wife received medical treatment in Budapest and early last month decided — according to the Hungarian communist government — not to return to the United States and to stay (Continued vn Page Five) Civil Rights Fight In School Program Predicts Senate To Reject Amendment WASHINGTON (INS) — Senate labor chairman Lister Hill (DAla.) predicted today that the senate will reject as “irrelevant” any anti-segregation amendment to school construction legislation. A civil rights fight with political implications appeared to be shaping up in connection with whatever formula tor ending the classroom shortage is approved by the senate labor cmomittee. Hill said that an amendment to outlaw racial segregation would “kill any bill we bring out.” But he stressed that the senate “always has defeated” anti-segrega-tion riders to school bills. He made it plain he expects the senate to adhere to its pattern in this respect. Sen. Irving M. Ives (R-N. Y.), said he is trying to work out "acceptable” language which would prevent federal aid to school districts that do not abide by the supreme court decision of last May against racial segregation. Other GOP members of the labor committee previously spoke out in favor of such an amendment. Sen. William A. Purtell (RGonn.) raised the issue Anew Thursday when he asked the spokesman for the national education association: “Do you favor an anti-segregation amendment?" “No”, replied William G. Carr, the NEA’s executive director. Purtell asked It Carr actively opposed such a rider and the NBA witness said he would have to consult his fellow officers. Purtell asked him to do so and put the information in the committee's record.

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, February 18, 1955.

Chinese Nationalists Claim Sinking Os 22 Communist Warships

Manila Pad Nations Meet At Thailand To Discuss Plan Os Far East Defenses; , Dulles To Attend WASHINGTON (INS) — The nation’s highest policy makers took steps today to shore up defenses and make better allies in Southeast Asia — considered by U. S. experts to be Red China's main target for future conquest. Secretary of state John Foster Dulles leaves Washington at 4 p.m. (EST) to fly to Bangkok. Thailand, for a meeting with the foreign ministers of the seven other Manila pact members to discuss defense measures for that area of the Far East. The President held an urgent conference late Thursday with Dulles and under secretary of state Herbert Hoover, Jr., on the tense Formosa situation and Communist threats to the free countries of Southeast Asia's great land mass. It was learned 8 authoritatively that the President has been warned by his high foreign policy advisers that Red China's persistent and bellicose threats toward the Nationalist China stronghold of Formosa may be only a major diversion. They believe that Southeast Asia is the Communist’s real target of aggression. The Formosa crisis is expected to be closely linked with proposed Southeast Asia defense discussions as the StEATO foreign ministers ( meet for three days beginning next Wednesday in Bangkok. The location of the conference itself in Thailand's capital focuses attention on Red China's threat, since Thailand is in the immediate path of any further push southward from Communist-held positions in Indo-China. Duties will have the opportunity at Bangkok for intimate private conversations With British foreign secretary Sir Anthony Eden on various proposals Britain has put forward in an effort to bring about a cease-fire in the Formosa strait. Dulles and Eden will meet with the foreign affairs leaders of France, Australia. New Zealand, Pakistan, Thailand and the Philippines. The ostensible reason for the ‘Continued on Page Elaiit) Atomic Test Blast Delayed Three Hours High Winds Cause Atom Test Delay • VEGAS, Nev. (INS)— High winds of gale force sweeping across the Nevada desert caused atomic scientists to postpone the blast scheduled for 10:30 a.m. (EST) to 1:30 (EST). A weather briefing an hour before the first atomic explosion of the 1955 test series was to be fired caused postponement of the shot for three hours. In Las Vegas, winds howled through town and skies were overcast. The unfavorable weather, which has caused postponement of the test five times so far, caused the atomic energy commission to schedule an “alternate” shot to be dropped from a high-flying bomber. The original test was to be fired from a 500-foot tower. The bomb will be dropped by a plane from the 4925th test group of the atomic special weapons center at Kirkland air force base, N. hi. ‘ The tower shot was put off until later because it was feared that winds that have prevailed all week would blow radio-active dust’ into populated areas. An air drop does not pose that danger because the bomb explodes at a high enough altitude not to suck any dust up into the atomic cloud.

Sen. Morse Joins Democratic Party Oregon Senator On Democratic Ticket PORTLAND, Ore. (INS) — U. S. Sen. Wayne L. Morse of Oregon L going to run for re-election in 1956 as a Democrat. He made that announcement to hundreds of cheering Democrats Thursday night in Portland only a few hours aftep he had changed his registration at Eugene from independent to Democrat. Neither action was unexpected. But both caused considerable excitement in political circles nonetheless. His switch in registration merely pwt the official Democratic stamp on his actions because he had voted with the Democrats -on most major matters tor dome time. He also helped them organize the 1955 senate and was rewarded with several important committee assignments, including the foreign relations committee, which he liad sough for years. •Morse was elected to the senate first in 1944 as a Republican and was re-elected on the same ticket in 1950. But he bolted the party in 195-2 after Dwight D. Eisenhower was nominated for the presidency/He subsequently campaigned for election of the Democratic nominee, Adlai Stevenson. Later he changed Iris registration from Republican to independent. His re - registration Thursday gave the Democrats a 49 to 47 lead over Republicans in the senate. ■ In his speech before the Multnomah county Democratic central committee rally in Portland, Morse said his decisions had been made “because I have become convinced that I can make my best contribution to a legislative-pregram that will best serve the people or Oregon, and the nation, under the banner of the Democratic party. I now announce my intention to run (Continued on Page Five)

Industrial Arts Teachers To Meet Teachers Os County Host Meeting Here The seven industrial arts instructors of Adams county high schools will act as joint hosts at an all-day meeting of the Indiana industrial education association Saturday, it was announced today. The visitors will meet at Decatur high school at 9 o’clock tomorrow morning to start the all-day session. Hosts include Amos Ketchum, Decatur high school; Fred Johns, Pleasant Mills high school Burney Jackson, Hartford high school; Russell Weller, BerneFrench high school; Doyle Collier, Adams Central high school; Jim Arnold, Monmouth high schol, and Vern Huffman, Geneva high school. The guests, after registerring -will visit the Decatur high school shop to inspect the facilities there. Everett Hutker, member of Decatur school board and traffic manager at Central Soya Co. in this city will act as host on a tour through Central Soya's Decatur plant. A dinner will be served at noon for aH guests by the ladies of Bethany Evangelical United Brethren church. The afternoon session will include a trip through the Wayne Novelty plant here as guests of Robert Bradtmiller and later a visit to the Adams Central high school at Monroe. Several’Visiting high, school superintendents and principals als'o are expected to attend the sessions here along with their industrial arts instructors’. School board members of several northern Indiana school cities also have been Invited. The one-day conclave will adjourn Saturday night. INDIANA WEATHER Cloudy with occasional rain tonight and Saturday. Warmer tonight Low tonight 35-42, high Saturday 45-55.

Witness Tells Os False Story In Lamb Case Repudiates Some Os Testimony In Publisher's Case WASHINGTON (INS) — Another key government witness threw the Edward Lamb case into a turmoil today by publicly repudiating some of his previous testimony linking the mililonaire publisher - broadcaster to alleged Communist activities. Lowell Watson returned to the witness stand to declare that he gave "false testimony” at the urging of government lawyers. Watson, an Olathe, Kans., dairy farmer, and a justice department consultant on Communism, declared : “I want to state with all the sincerity at my command that I did not testify falsely of my own free will. “It was the result of constant and consistent coaching, conditioning and misleading conversation on the part of commission personnel.” — Watson, an admitted ex-Commu-nist, was the second key witness in the Lamb hearings to repudiate testimony against the publisher and broadcaeter. Eariier, Mrs. Marie Latvig of Miami Beach. Fla., repudiaed all of her testimony linking Lamb with Red causes. > * HP* Mrs. Natvig, who also said she was coerced into giving false testimony, was found to be a “completely incredible” witness by Herbert Sharfman, the examiner in the case. At issue in the 40-day-old proceedings is the renewal of Lamb's license for TV station WICU at Erie, Pa. He also owns several other broadcasting, publishing and manufacturing enterprises. Lowell was prevented from reading all of a statement he had prepared in advance, in which he accused FCC lawyers of coaxing him to bear false witness. His statement said: "Some of the material things I have testified in this hearing previously were false. . . “I am now thoroughly convinced that the personnel I have named have condemned Edward Lamb first and then set out to rephrase, distort and make additions to my testimony to fit their preconceived opinions of guilt.” When Watson attempted to ex(Continued on Pa«e Eight) Three Badly Burned In Indianapolis Fire Three Are Critical In Apartment Fire INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — Three persons were reported in critical condition today in Indianapolis general-hospital as the aftermath of an apartment house fire. Other occupants fled unhurt. William B. Smock, 2d, who heroically came to the rescue of his mother and his nephew, was one of the three listed as critically bhrned. The others are the mother, Mrs. Alice Smock, 58, and the nephew, Carl Smock, 2. Smock left the burning building once, then returned with an unidentified friend after he learned Mrs. Smock and little Carl had be.en trapped when a door jammed. The two were able to smash down the door and rescue the child. Firemen then rescued William Smock and his mother. The fire was blamed on an oil stove explosion, and was the second of two Indianapolis fires in which dramatic rescues cocurred Thursday. Nathaniel Foreman backed into a flame-sheather room to snatch his one-year-old granddaughter, Phyllis Williams, from her crib. j Neither was hurt seriously.

Navy Continues On Hunt For Submarine U. S. Navy Planes Keep Up Sub Hunt JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (INS) — Navy planes continued to search today for an unidentified submarine sighted off the Florida east coast, not far from a U. S. guided missile base. A spokesman for the 11th air wing at Jacksonville said planes had been in the air almost constantly since the report was received Wednesday night, but gave no indications as to the results of the hunt. He added that the planes were “fully equipped” — presumably with radar and other detection devices — and would find the sub “if it's out there." The submarine was sighted by two coast guardsmen aboard a 40foot launch dispatched from Fort Pierce after city policemen patrolling the waterfront noticed an “orange” light offshore. Fort Pierce is 30 miles from Cocoa, Fla., where the air force has a guided missile base. One of the men, boatswain’s mate first class Clifton W. Benson of Wilmington, N. C., told International News Service that he sightde the sub a few miles off shore and had a good look at It. He said: “I Could see about 100 to 125 feet of the sub. Its deck was awash and it had no markings and the conning tower appeared to be oblong. It was not mqre than a quarter of a mile away at the most.'' Benson related that he and engine mate 2-C Charlie J. Jones watched the submarine move across a moonbeam on the water. He continued: “As he began to move out of the light we maneuvered around to a position where we could see him agate. We had eboot half of hie hull in the moonbeam the second time.” V Benson said that he lost sight of the submarine when clouds covered the.moon but Jones picked up its wake. He added: "We cruised for a quarter to a half mile before coming to the end of the wake and we figured he went down there." Benson said he and Jones continued to patrol the area but were unable to sight the sub again.

Explosive New Turn In Rubinstein Case Probe Os Telephone Tapping Is Underway NEW YORK (INS) — An explosive new development in the Serge Rubinstein murder case came today with the disclosure that investigators are tracking down a “Wire-tap Inc.” believed capable of illegally tapping every telephone in New York. The probe was touched off by the multimillionaire draft dodger's own use of wire taps and secret government devices to check on business rivals and girl friends. The New York Journal-Amerl-can said as a result of this phase of the investigation into Rubinstein’s murder, police staged a secret raid last TYfday oir a "wholesale" wiretapping center in an apartment on East 54th Street near Third Avenue. The flat was believed to have been just a "part” of an underworld network of listening posts covering every exchange in all five boroughs. „' ' ■ Tape recordings of tapped con-' yersations seized in the east side apartment, according to the news(Contlnued on Page Eight) BULLETIN WASHINGTON (INS) — The state department today eaid flatly that the U.S, government is not Interested In attending another international conference to settle the Formosa question If the ground rules are set by Soviet Russia and Rod China.

Furious Naval And Air Clash Reported Today Red Submarine And 22 Surface Ships Are Reported Sunk TAPPER (INS) —The Chinese Nationalists claimed the sinking of 22 Chinese Communist war vessels, including one submarine, today in a furious eleven-hour naval and air clash off the China coast. The Nationalist air force- which was sent into action to help naval units in the battle off the Chekiang province coast was credited with sinking the Red submarine. 'Nationalist Navy units reported the sinking of 21 Red surface ships — five gunboats, eight landing craft, each carring aboift 200 men, and eight armed and motorized junks. A Nationalist communique, issued at 9 p. m. Taipeh time (8 a. m. EST) reported a smashing Nationalist victory in the biggest naval clash ever staged between the Nationalists and the Communists. This was the first, time in the memory of observers that a submarine has been reported sunk in Nationalist - Communist conflicts. The air force communique said ewarms of Thunderjets scoured the seas in the Taishan area to hit remnants of the Red fleet. The battle began about 9 a. m. (8 p. m. Thursday, EST) when the Red fleet was spotted on the move in the area of the Taishan Islands more than 100 miles northwest of Formosa. Before noon, the Nationalist defense ministry reported, seven Communist landing craft were sunk, three Red gunboats probably sunk and an eighth landing craft set afire. The Nationalists estimated that between 1,500 and 2,000 Red troops were killed in the forenoon. The intent of the Red fled was not immediately apparent. The Taishaqs are located 63 miles north of Nationalist Matsu which lies about 100 miles northwest of Formosa.

Nationalist military spokesman Colonel Lu Ta said Nationalist warships opened fire immediately when the Red craft were sighted about 9 o'clock this morning (5 p. m. PST Thursday.) The spokesman first said the battle wash token off before noon but then corrected himself on the basis of later information and reported it was stMl raging in the afternoon. The Nationalist air force sent large squadrons of bombers to pound the Red ships and assist surface units. Nationalist warships engaged in the furious battle included two of their largest — the destroyers Hanyang and Loyang — former American ships given to Chiang Kai-Shek in 1944, Taipeh sources sair no ships of the U. S. seventh fleet were engaged in the battle since the scene was somewhat north of the American patrol routes in the Formosa strait. „ Colonel Lu Ta said the Communist force included qt least eight gunboats and eight landing craft. The spokesman said the landing ctaft, with about 200 men aboard each one, were apparently heading for the Taishans to reinforce Red garrisons. The size of the Nationalist fleet which engaged the Reds was not disclosed and no Nationalist losses were reported. Court House Clock Again Telling Time After several weeks of “rest” the town clock atop the county court house 1 will start (harking the hours today. The clock and chimes have been undergoing repair for the past two weeks. The contract for the repair job was awarded by the county commissioners to Don and Bob Gage and Jesse Sutton. John Kintz, county commissioner, was a volunteer assistant on the job.

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