Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 53, Number 42, Decatur, Adams County, 19 February 1955 — Page 1

Vol. UH. No. 42.

HERE’S WHERE THE GOP WILL NOMINATE IN 1956 HERE’S AN INTERIOR view of the Cow Palace in San Francisco, chosen as site of the 1956 Republican national convention. It is shown with a capacity throng of 17,000 attending an Eisenhower-Nixon rally Oct 8. 1952.

Ist Saturday Session Held By Assembly State Legislature Behind Schedule, In Session Today INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — Legislators held their first Saturday session today because they are so far behind in their work. Senators held a meeting Friday night after house members complained that the house assembled Thursday night and senators enjoyed the night life. Hundreds of bills %re stymied because of short sessions and long oratory. The element opposed to Governor George N. Craig lost a battle in the house Fri’day afternoon when a motion to blast the bill hiking the gasoline tax two cents per gallon was tabled, 49 to 42. The anti-Craig forces are championing a gas tax increase to double-lane a number of big Hoo; sier highways to forestall additional toll road construction advocatedhy the governor. The motion to blast was sponsored by Republican Representative Ora 1 . Kineaid, of-Lebanon. — There was a fair prosp< it of relief for sorely-distressed cities and towns today after the", house ways and means A conftnittee voted that $7 million cojlected from the alcoholic beverage gallonage tax be distributed to municipalities in the next two'years. Republican Representative Laurence D. Baker, of Kendallville, committee chairman, said the house probably would approve the legislation but he added that he feared the senate would reject it. A similar move failed in the 1953 general assembly. — -----———i The committee took no action on the proposal of the Indiana municipal league to distribute cigarette tax monies to cities, towns and counties. The house today was faced with a school salary issue. The senate Friday voted a 12.8 million pay hike for Hoosier school teachers, by a count'of 46 to 0. The minimum salary of beginning teachers was raised $252 a year. The house next week is expected to advance two salary grab bills for legislators passed by the senate Friday. One would increase, the annual salaries of the legislators from $1,200 to SI,BOO a year and the others would establish a per diem of $lO ror expenses of solons during the current session. This allowance had been set originally at sls but it was slashed to $lO after a lot of heat from newspapers and constituents of the lawmakers. The Korean bonus issue may become hot today or Monday. The house ways and means A committee has approved a bonus for some 31,000 men who actually served in Korea, at a cost of more than $7 million.

INDIANA WEATHER Rain changing to anow and turning colder extreme west, rain and continued mild elsewhere tonight. Sunday snow extreme west and rain changing to snow elseweher and turning much colder. Low tonight 25-30 northwest to the 40s southeast.

NOON EDITION

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Indiana Democratic Editors In Session Schricker Shows Candidacy Signs INDIANAPOLIS (INS) —The biggest question before some one thousand Democrats who gathered in Indianapolis , today was whether the White Hat will be in the ring again in 19561 Former Governor Henry F. Schricker has shown signs that he may aspire to become a thirdterm governor in recent months. Many of the party chiefs would like to see him run because he is a proven vote getter but some of the younger hopefuls wish he would take a back seat because of their own ambitions. The Democrats came for the luncheon of the Indiana Democratic editorial association at noon and the Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner tonight. Some of the higns of the Schricker bid are his speech making, sometimes twice daily, his constant hand shaking, his renewal of newspaper contact at the Indianapolis Press Club, after boycotting the press during the last year of his last administration, and the fact that his faction of the party is in the driver’s seat Schricker always says he has no more political--ambitions but his grin ofttimes seems to gainsay that declaration. If the White Hat is not in the ring, a number of leaders seem eager to run for governor. Included are state senator Matthew E. Welsh, of Vincennes; Thomas Johnston, Purdue University public relations director; state senator Warren W. Martin, of Clarksville, minority floor leader, and possibly, Roger Branigin, of Lafayette. former president of the Indiana state bar association. = Democratic national " chairman Paul M. Butler, of South Bend, who was guest of honor at today’s events, has been mentioned as a possible senatorial candidate. Others talked about are Claude Wlckard, of Camden, former secretary of agriculture, and B. Howard Caughran, of Indianapolis, former federal district attorney. If former Indianapolis Mayor Phillip Bayt wins for the Democratic mayoralty nomination and election in the fall triumphantly, he is deemed a possible aspirant for either governor or senator. Clayton Fritchey, deputy national chairman and editor of the Democratic Digest, was the luncheon speaker today. T. Perry Wesley, of Spencer, retiring president of the Democratic editors, will preside. The editors then will choose officers. Butler and Governor Frank G. Clement of Tennessee will speak at the banquet tonight. Clement, at 34, is the youngest governor in the nation. He will be accompanied by a number of the members of the Tennessee general assembly. Folks says ne is a possibility for. the 1956 Democratic nomination for vice-president.

Some Offices Close Here Next Tuesday The Decatur post office, the First State Bank, the selective service office and the officers of the county court house will be closed all day Tuesday in observance of (George WashtngftonTs birthday. The public library and retail businesses will remain open that day. There will be no mail deliveries except special delivery.

Nationalists Resume Raids On Red Ships Nationalist Pilots Claim 10 Communist Vessels Are Struck TAIPEI (INS) — Chinese Nationalist pilots claimed they hit at least ten Chinese Communist junks today in a renewal of bombing raids against red shipping off the China coast. The pilots ran Nationalist claims in two days to a total of 33 red ships of various types sunk or damaged. In the second day of sea * air clashes off Chekiang Province, the Nationalist Air Force and Navy claimed 22 red ships, Including one red submarine, were sunk and another vessel of undetermined type probably sunk. The Air Force said the Mitchell bombers spotted more than 20 red junks this morning in the vicinity of the Taishan Islands where Friday's clashes took place. The junks, it was said, were bringing troop reinforcements and supplies to a red party which landed In the unoccupied Taehens Friday. The junk fleet was unescorted according to , the Nationalist reports and those which escaped damage from Nationalist bombs and strafing attacks fled toward the mainland. In another landing operation this morning, the Communists put a group of soldiers ashore at four small Unoccupied islands north of the Toishans near Nanchi. Nationalist sources in Taipei said the landing on the unoccupied islets was a serious threat to the security of Nanchi which lies 120 miles northwest of Formosa - Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek has announced * that he plans to defend Nanchi “at all costs” as part of the Formosa defense zone.

Five More Monday Night Farm Classes Special Speakers At Final Five Meetings Five more Monday night adult vocational agriculture classes remain on -the schedule for Decatur high school, William Journay, vocation agriculture instructor at Decatur high school, announced today. The next meeting of the class will be Monday night at 7:30 o’clock at the high school, Journay said. The Monday meeting will be devoted to a study of trench and bunk type silos. Several types of construction will be discussed at the meeting and the three men who will lead the discussion include : . Joe Holloway, Bluffton, Lester Austraw, Auburn, DeKalb county Farm Bureau, and Jess Bluhm, Preble township farmer. Joprnay said that special Speakers will attend each of the remaining sessions. The dates for the meetings are February 28, "Social security for farmers; ” March 7, “Grain storage problems”, March 14, "What is new in farm machinery”; March 21, “Agricultural chemicals and weed control.” More details of the remaining meetings will be announced later, it was announced.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMB COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Sdtur day, February 19, 1955.

Alleged Ringleader Os Wire-Tapping Ring Is Arrested In New York

Seven Persons Die As Storm Hits In West Colder Weather Is Moving East, Storm Hits Midwest Area (By International News Service) At least seven persons were reported dead and 30 missing today in a blizzard that swept over Wyoming, Montana and Colorado and advanced toward the great plains states. The blizzard began lashing the Dakotas, Minnesota, lowa, Nebraska and Kansas and southward into west Texas. New snow in the great plains area fanged from one to five inches and was followed by extreme cold and gusty, high winds. While the west was paralyzed by the blizzard, northern Maine and other sections of New England breathed a sigh of relief from a heavy snowfall that had continued for 36 hours, bringing huge accumulations on the ground. Most of the deaths were caused by traffic accidents but also included several from heart failure when persons tried to shovel off walks. Nineteen persons were reported stranded aboard • Greyhound tens west of Rawlings, Wyo. Snowplows cut through huge drifts to try and reach them. Also missing were six members of a Craig, Colo., Kiwanis club who left Rock Springs, Wyo., to return to their northern Colorado homes. Five other persons were reported missing in their cars in the blizzard area. A Continental Trail ways bus with seven persons aboard was carried 100 yards’ off the road in southwestern Colorado by one of several snowslides in the area but no injuries were reported. Some mountain areas listed more than 23 inches of snow. Drifts reached waist high in other sections of the blizzard area. Vast snow accumulations were listed in northern Maine and at Caribou, the new fall was 18 inches, bringing the total on the ground to 48 inches. At Limestone the snow depth was 56 inches; it was 50 at Greenville and 48 at Millinocket. Rapid City, S. D., was hit by winds with gusts up to 69 miles an hour. Sections in northeastern North Dakota were isolated by blowing and drifting snow. Winds sweeping down the Red River Valley were estimated at from 42 to 53 miles an hour. Meanwhile, mild and rainy weather was reported over the middle west and lower Mississippi Valley. In the far west it was clear and cold in most areas with temperatures ranging from 29 at (Continued on Page six)

Two Are Indicted By Federal Jurors Grimm And Johnson Are Indicted Friday Robert E. Grimm, 20, of Decatur route six, and Charles R. Johnson, 22, also of Decatur, were among the 31 defendants indicted in a four-day session of a federal grand jury in Hammond which ended Friday. The true bills against them charge them and Paul E. Taylor of Fort Wayne with a violation of the Dyer act which is transportation of a stolen vehicle across a state line. The three were arrested in Fort Wayne July 11 and charged with driving a stolen car from Fort Wayne to Delphos, O. Johnson and Grimm also face charges in Adams circuit court arising from a breakin at the Arthur Bertsch residence in St. Mary’s township. A third defendant in this case is Raymond Fair of van Wert, Ohio.

Korea Appreciation Service On Sunday Sunday Afternoon Service At School About 400 Adams county residents who served in the armed forces during the Korean conflict will be honored Sunday afternoon at the Decatur high school gymnasium in a ceremony beginning at 2:30 p.m. The ceremony was planned by the Adams county Korean veterans’ day committee with the cooperation of civic and veterans organizations in the county. County commissioners designated Sunday as Korean appreciation day. Certificates of appreciation will be awarded to the veterans. Special posthumous awards will be given to the families of Willmott Doyle Bohnke, Edwin Fred Franz. Max Leßoy Myers and David Pollock, who were killed during the conflict. Tribute to the veterans will be paid by Edward H. Kruse, Jr./ former fourth district congressman and principal speaker for the event. • The co-chairmen of the event are the Rev. O, C. Busse and Hugh Jr (Continued on Page Six) Industries Report Slight Increase a Industrial employment at seven Decatur industries showed a total of 1,300 persons in January, figures released today by the Decatur Chamber of Commerce revealed. A year ago employment in the same seven industries showed 1,297, the report showed. Electric meter's, gas meters, water meters and telephones all showed a substantial increase compared with a year ago. Poor relief showed a decrease in numberotcases but an increase in dollars per person. Seven building permits with an estimated value of $52,300 were issued during January 1955 compared with the same number valued at $14,950 a year ago. Births and deaths both showed a decline. There were 46 births compared with 59 a year ago and seven deaths were reported in January this year compared with nine a year ago. World Prayer Day Here Next Friday Annual Observance Throughout World The theme of the World Day of Prayer is “Abide With Me”, John 15; 4. The local observance will be held at the First Christian church February 25. the first Friday of Lent. The service will be conducted by the members of the Decatur council of church

women at 7:30 p.m., with a special children's service at 3:30 p.m. at the Baptist church. The purpose of the World Day Os Prayer is to unite all Christians in a bond of prayer, and in the United States, to make an offering for interdenominational mission- projects. "In the World Day of Prayer service, Christians, as individuals, witness t<s their belief that prayer is a world power for good; as a group, they unite to strengthen this power for good in the world.” The regular annual observance began in 1887 when Presbyterian women in the United States designated a day to pray for home missions. The response was so great tfiat a day was set apart annually. Other denominations accepted the idea and set apart days for prayer. The missionaries spread the idea of a day of prayer and- in 1927 it became a World Day of Prayer. In 1942, the united council of church women took over the task of planning, printing and promotion of the program. In 1954 more than 19,000 communities in the United States and 119 countries around the world celebrated this day of prayer.

Second Atomic Test Delayed By High Wind Initial Test Held Friday Afternoon; Today's Postponed SECOND ATOMIC

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (INS) — An attempt by weather-harried atomic scientists to follow up Friday's first A-bomb blast of the 1955 series with a more powerful tower '‘shot" was postponed today because of high winds that swept over the Nevada proving grounds. A 2:00 a-m. (PST 5 a.m. EST) weather briefing resulted in the fifth postponement of the scheduled pre-dawn explosion because of strong winds across the desert. The atomic energy commission announced that if the tower shot had been fired this morning it would have required the evacuation of the main control bunker and the two armed forces camps on the desert site, Mercury and Desert Rock. Another weather briefing will be held later today to decide whether the test will be held Sunday, However, AEC officials said they doubted if weather conditions would change sufficiently to allow the tower shot to be fired next week. The initial atomic device to be fired in the new series of testa, “Operation Teapot”, was dropped over the Yucca Flat proving ground from a B-36 intercontinental bomber at noon Friday. The opening detonation •—a "substitute” for the postponed tower shot — was carried out despite wind and low clouds' that minimized its impressiveness to observers in Las Vegas and on 9,000-foot Angel’s Peak, about 50 airline mines from the test site. The AEC reported, however, that official observers described the bomb as having “medium blast and sound.” The most potent atom devices tested in Nevade since 1951 have had considerably less than the kick of 100,000 tons of TNT, so it was assumed that the “medium” bomb packed a wallop equivalent to less than 50,000 tons of TNT. The “shot” was heard clearly at Caliente, Nev., about 91 miles northeast of the test site, as the bomb burst into a short - lived, half -moon - shaped fireball about 1000 feet above the desert. In La» Vegas the blast appeared (Continued on Page Six)

Mrs. Ada M. Hower Dies This Morning Funeral Services Monday Afternoon Mrs. Ada M. Hower, 57, a resident of Decatur most of her life, died at 2 o'clock this morning at the Adams county memorial hospital. eight hours after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage at her home, 1109 West Patterson street. She was born in Ohio July 28, 1897, a daughter of William and Irene Montgomery-Hakes, and was married to Carl Hower Nov. 4, 1916. Her husband preceded her in death. Surviving are five daughters, Mrs. Georgia Johnson, Mrs. Irene Klinetop, Mrs. Esther LaTurner, Mrs, Catherine Mendez and Mrs. Sarah Mendez, all of Decatur; five sons, Joseph, Brice, Benjamin, Dale and John Hower, all of ’Decatur; 35 grandchildren; two brothers, Walter Hakes of Elkhart and Harrison Hakes of Decatur, and one sister, Mrs. Earl Hilyard of Decatur. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday at the Black funeral home, the Rev. H. J. Welty officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 p.m. Sunday until time of the services.

House Passes Ike's Foreign Trade Bill Expansion Program Faces Senate Fight WASHINGTON (INS) — President Eisenhower’s foreign trade expansion program faced an uncertain fate in the senate today after surviving a severe test in the house. Ben. Walter F. George (D Ga), said the senate probably will give the president power to cut tariffs, but he would not rule out the possibility that some charges would be made in the legislation. In the wake of house approval by a 295 to 110 vote, the senate finance committee is expected to meet Wednesday to make plans for hearings on the bill. The house-passed measure extends until June, 1958, the Presii dent’s authority to lower tariffs without getting prior congressional i approval. He is empowered to reduce most . tariffs five per cent in each of the next three years and he can cut • tariffs on some imported goods by i as much as 50 per cent in return I for concessions by other countries. The measure emerged intact in the house only after Mr. Eisenhower and speaker Sam Rayburn (D Tex.), made strong pleas for passage and a GOP-sponsored attempt to clip the President’s tariff powers was beaten by seven votes. Leas than tan minutes after the house action, the President voiced his gratification in a formal statement. He said) “This program is of tremendous significance to the economic health and security of the United States and our friends in the free world." Prior to the final vote, Mr. Eisenhower, in a letter to minority leader Joseph W. Martin Jr. (R Mass.), threw his personal support behind the measure. He pledged that “no American industry will be placed in jeopardy” and If U. S. business were in any way harmed “we would undermine the ideal for which we have made so many sacrifices and are doing so much throughout the world to preserve." One Is Injured In Wreck Early Today Reckless Driving Charge Is Filed ............ Paul R. Ortiz, 21, of Hicksville, 0., a passenger in a car driven by Richard Moreno, 24, of Fort Wayne, was injured in an accident at 12:30 a.m. Saturday on North Second street. Ortiz, who is a patient in the Adams county memorial hospital? suffered lacerations on both sides of his head when the Moreno vehicle went out of control at the curve in the 900 block of Second street The car rolled over into a parked car owned by Thomas R. Kollman of 915 North Second street. The Kollman car was pushed into another parked car owned by Helen Kollman of the same address. Extensive property damage was caused by the accident Damage was estimated by city police at SBOO to the Moreno car, $450 to the Thomas Kollman vehicle and $l5O to the car belonging to Helen Kollman. Moreno was arrested on a charge of reckless driving and will appear in justice of the peace court at 3 p.m. today. County Ministers Meet Here Monday The Adams county ministerial association will meet at 9:30 a. m. Monday at the First Baptist church in Decatur. Mr. Tomko, filed representative of the social security administration, will discuss social security for ministers. Devotions will be led by the Rev. Stuart Brightwell, pastor of the Baptist church. —. . _

Ringleader And Assistant Under Arrest District Attorney Orders Arrests Os Leader, Assistant NEW YORK (INS)—The alleged ringleader of a telephone wiretapping ring and hit! chief assistant were arrested today on the orders of New York district attorney Frank Hogan. The pair, both suspended emi ployes of the New York Telephone i Co., were identified as Carl R. Ruh, of the Bronx, and Walter Asmann, of Queens. They were booked early this i morning on a charge of malicious mischief and will be arraigned later today in felony court.’ Rub, the reported boss, and Asi mann were found in a midtown, east side apartment with their tap- , ping equipment when police and ( agents of the telephone company raided the premises Feb. 11. j Hogan ordered the arrests after . questioning ten witnesses in his 1 office into this morning’s early . hours. According to the district attar- , ney’s office, Rjih charged $350 a week to tap a telephone line from ’ which tape recordings were made . of conversations. Ruh. it is alleged, paid Asmanrf $35 a week. In a statement issued at 1 a. m. (EST) Hogan said the persons he had interrogated had provided him with grounds on which he could act. The.veteran D.A. hoped to complete his examinations of witnesses by Sunday, and present eviHogan’s investigation was set off by the disclosure of a Feb. 11 raid during which no arrests were made. Police had no warrants to carry out the search which uncovered SIO,OOO worth of tapping equipment. Hogan said today that contrary to published reports the men operating that apparatus were tapping only three exchanges, not the original report of six. The six exchanges mentioned include telephones in private homes in some of the city’s most fashionable residential districts and in the offices of major business concerns. Concurrent with Hogan’s action in the case, the Federal Bureau of investigation launched their (Continued on Page Six) Two-Year-Old Twins Perish In Flames PHILADELPHIA (INS) — The two-year-old twins of Mrs. Dorothy Washington perished today in flames that swept their south Philadelphia home and another son, Ronnie, 7, was severely burned. Mrs. Washington, 32, told police she was visiting with friends and returned to find smoke coming from the children's bedroom. The intense heat and smoke prevented her from entering the room, she said. BULLETIN LOAMI, 111, (INS) — The wreckage of an airplane was found, today on a farm north of Loami, 111., and first reports frorp the scene said several persons were killed In the crash. • Band Booster Fund Previously Reported —5911.47 Connie Baxter (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 Debater high school band.

Five Cents