Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 53, Number 50, Decatur, Adams County, 1 March 1955 — Page 1

Vol. UH. No. 50.

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AT A MEETING of the Senate Finance Committee in Washington, Treasury Secretary George Humphrey (left) studies the House-pass-ed S2O-per-person Income tax cut which he later blasted as an "irresponsible gesture.” With the secretary are committee chairman Sen. Harry Byrd (D). Va.. (center) and Sen. John Williams (R), Del.

37 Killed In Battle Between Egypt, Israel Three-Hour Battle In Border Region Kills 37 Persons CAIRO (INS) — Thirty-five sol diers and two civilians were reported killed today in a pitched three • hour battle with Israeli forces in the Gaza border region. In Jerusalem, the United Nations truce supervision observers said a preliminary check showed that the Israeli armed forces "violently attacked’’ an Egyptian military position near the Gaza railway station. The UN commission added that •‘Molotov bocktails,” hand grenade?. mortars and automatic weapons as well as a large quantity of explosives were used by the Israeli attackers, A foreign ministry spokesman said Egypt would lodge a strong protest with the United Nations and call for an urgent meeting of tne security council to consider the incident. He added that foreign minister Mahmoud Fawzy hud summoned the diplomatic envoys of nations having members on the UN security council. The spokesman said that the government was giving the incident due attention but was “unperturbed.” . 7— In London, the Israeli embassy issued a statement declaring that “the assault made Monday night by Egyptian forces on Israel territory ... is a grave incident and characterizes the increased tension recently prevailing on the border, which in turn imparts Egypt s increasing hostility towards Israel -in other fields also." The Egyptian high command communique describing the incident said an Israeli armed force launched a surprise attack but the Egyptians succeeded in driving the attackers outside the area. The communique added that “there were losses of life on both sides.” In Tel Aviv, a military spqkes man said Israeli troops suffered a number of casualties in the "fierce fighting." He claimed the incident began on Israeli soil and ended on Egyptian. Lt. Col. Salah (Gohar, director of Palestine affairs in the Egyptian war ministry, said the incident was the “most serious” since the 1949 armistice ended the ArabIsraeli war. An emergency meeting of some members of the' revolutionary command council and the army high command was held this morning. An emergency dabiuet meeting was set for tonight. Official sources said the government was expected to take the explosive issue to the UN Security Council rather than make the routine protest to the mixed armistice commission. In Jerusalem, the headquarters of the UN Truce Commission said observers were enroute to , the scene. Egypt’s government of youthful army officers faced a difficult situation. Public reaction to the incident undoubtedly wilt be heated. .There will be retAlia* t ion. .|-■ - » 7 -. ■ . I <; t .. ... April Draft Quota Only 175 In State HiNDHANAPOLIS (INS) —lndiana’s share of the April draft quota was listed today as 175 men. This was the lowest figure asked since the selective service system became effective.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

BLASTS TAX CUT

Korean Bonus Bill Is Passed By House Payments Only For Service In Korea INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — The Indiana house of representatives paused a geographically - limited Korean bonus bill, 81 to 12 Monday night. The measure now goes to the senate. The passage of the bill was preceded by a vivid outburst of criticism, including a Charge from the general assembly’s only Korean war veteran, Rep. Donald E. Foltz, Clinton Democrat, that: "You can’t make cash handouts and draw the line arbitrarily on who will get them. The veterans’ organizations will be back in 1957 for a handout for the rest of the Korean veterans.” The bill, as passed by the house, would pay a bonus to veterans who were in the Korean theater or who won Korean campaign bars between June 27, 1950 and July 27. 1953. at the rate of sls per month of service in the area. The original bill, co-authored by Reps. Ralph G. Hines. Portland Republican, and Rep. Car Son King Boggstown Democrat, would have paid a bonus to all Indiana servicemen during that period, but this was cut down geographically to include only those in the Korea area. Also included in the bonus bill are S6OO .payments to totally disabled veterans and next of kin of those who died, and for veterans disabled 10 percent or more, an added SIOO above their monthly rate. Rep. George M. Davidson, Indianapolis (Republican, and one of the 12 opponents, argued that the bonus measure “is a vicious political attempt to tie commercialism with patriotism” and sought to dedicate the funds instead to construction of armories. The armory amendment went down, 12 to 74. Davidson argued in vain: “One way by which we are weakening ourselves in the face of possible attack is by spending ourselves to death.” (Continued on Page Five) Otto Keuneke Dies At Home In Germany Word has been recevied here o! the death of Otto Keuneke. 86 former Fort Wayne resident, at his home, in Dortmund, Germany, las week. He came to Fort Wayne in M2H and returned to Germany It years later. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs •Bertha Eifrid of Fort Wayne; three sons, Frederick Keuneke of near Decatur, Otto of Fort Wayne and Albert of Ohio City, O.; 28 grandchildren and 39 great-grand-children. — LATE BULLETINS WASHINGTON (INS) — The house passed and sent to the White House today a bill providing a $7,500-a-year pay raise -for members of Congress and similar increases for federal judges. The roll call vote was 223 to 113. , TAIPEI (INS) — Chinese Communist big guns shelled Quemoy today as Maj. Gen. William. Chase, commander /he American military ad? * vlsory group on” Formosa, was visiting the Nationalistheld. outpost Isle just off the Red China mainland. WASHINGTON ( (INS) — Harvey M. Hatusow Invoked the fifth amendment today and refused to tell senators whether he testified truthfully before the Texas Industrial commission I n December, 1953.

Sen. Knowland To Recommend Tax Cut Veto Keyserling Backs Democrat Proposal On Income Tax Cut WASHINGTON (INS) —Senate GOP Leader William F. Knowland said today he will recommend that President Eisenhower veto any tax bill passed by Congress with a provision for a $24)-a-person income tax cut. Knowland's statement came as former President Truman’s economic adviser labeled as “utterly indefensible” the administration's charge that the tax cut would be hi flatlonary and irresponsible action. Dr. Leon H. Keyserling, called by the Democrats to support their tax cut proposal before the senate finance committee, testified the reduction is desperately needed to combat a “severe slack” in the nation’s economy. Knowland and other GOP will intention after a meeting between Republican congressional leaders and the President which concentrated on strategy for defeating the Democrats' tax cut plan. The Californian predicted that the treasury department might join him in recommending a presidential veto despite the loss of government revenue that might be involved. The measure also provides for a one-year extension of more than two billion dollars in excise and erporate income tax rates which now are scheduled to expire April 1. If Mr. Eisenhower should veto the bill. Knowland said, new legislation would "obviously” be introduced in an effort to extend the corporation and excise taxes. Knwland and other GOP Will defeat the tax cut proposal if it is offered as an amendment on the floor. The senator also said he was "hopeful" that the finance committee would strike out the houseapproved tax cut, but he appeared less certain b! this. Knowland said he based his prediction cr a possible veto recommendation by the treasury on treasury secretary George M. Humpnrey’s violent opposition to the proposal in testimony on Capitol Hill. Hi? declared: "I believe the treasury believes so strongly that it would be detrimental to the entire revenue picture, that I wouldn’t be surprised if it would recommend a veto.” The Republican leader all but ruled out any possibility of compromise with the Democrats on the tax cut issue. Meanwhile, the Democrats conceded that their cause is a lost one. so far as the finance committee is concerned. Party sources said they are just trying "to make a record” that would help their showdown fight on the senate floor to save the tax cut provision. Miss Hulda Bleeke Dies This Morning Funeral Services Friday Afternoon MISS HULDA BLEEKE Miss Hulda Bleeke. 68, a life-, long resident of Union township, died at 10:20 o'clock this morning at the' Adams county memorial hospital. She had been in failing health for the past two months. - She was born in Union township Oct. 1, 1886, a daughter of William and Louise Holle-Bleeke. Miss Bleeke was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran church in Union township and the ladies aid and missionary society of the church. Surviving are three brothers. William and Richard Bleeke, both of Union township, and Adolph Bleeke of Fremont; and three sisters, Mrs. Emma Heuer of Decatur, Mrs. Amanda Heuer (f. Root township and Mrs. Christ Bohnke of Union township. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p. in. Friday at the Zwick funeral home agd at .2 p- nt. aSTtfeft Immanuel IJTOieran church, the Rev. Walter C. Vetter officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 o'clock Wednesday evening until time of the services. Ah' - - - - INDIANA WEATHER Partly cloudy tonight and Wednesday. Colder tonight. Low tonight 25-34. High Wednesday 40-50.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, March 1, 1955.

Freak Winds And Rain Cause Heavy Property Damage Monday Night

Atomic Bomb Is Exploded In Third Test Atomic Bomb Bursts In Double Fireball Over Nevada Desert LAS VEGAS, Nev. (INS) — An atomic bomb that burst in. a double fireball exploded over a mock battlefield today on the southern Nevada desert in the third detonation of the current series of nuclear weapons tests. The bomb, with an estimated potency of 20,060 tons of TNT, exploded at 5:30 a.m. PST (8:30 a.m, EST) atop a 300-foot steel tower over an area in which some 20 preces of military equipment, including dummies wearing service uniforms, had been stationed. A corps of 600 troops huddled, eyes averted from the awesome atomic fireball, in deep trenches at an undisclosed distance from the tower, waiting to move into the blasted area behind radiological safety teams to Inspect the atomized equipment. A force of 46 aircraft participated in the test, including eight ZF--84 Republic Thunderstreaks which whined in over the Yucca Flat firing range, 70 miles north of Las Vegas, to simulate delivery of “baby A-bombs.” This phase of the test was tak-' en to indicate that the blast was an exercise in the use of atomic weapons in close combat. The flare of the explosion was seen clearly in Los Angeles, 300 miles southwest of the test site, and in Las Vegas. Observers atop’ 9000-foot Angel's Peak, 55 miles from the test site, said the bomb burst in a golden fireball that flashed brilliantly, appeared to fade out and then flared anew. This same double fireball effect was observed in the previous tower “shot” of this test series, dubbed "Operation Teapot.” At that time, the atomic energy commission said it was the expected result. Jhe shock wave from the blast was not felt in Las Vegas, but the Angel’s Peak observers said they felt it distinctly. They also said the blast appeared more powerful than the previous tower “shot.” The pre-dawn darkness hid the smoke column and the now familiar mushroom-shaped cloud from observers in Las Vegas,. where many residents tumbled from their beds to watch the atom flex Its muscles. The exact distance from which the 600 troops watched the show of nuclear strength was not revealed by the AEC. In the past, it has been announced that the fighting men were stationed in trenches 4000 yards from “ground zero” the area directly below an atomic detonation. This time, however test personnel. without explanation, declined to discuss in advance where the troops would be located. They were to proceed into the blasted area as soon as danger(Continued on Page Five)

Lenten Meditation (By Rev. Ralph R. Johnson, Monroe Methodist Church) “A DEEPLY BUILT SHIP” “It la good for me that I have been afflicted? that" I might learn they statutes.’’ — Psalm 119:71 A young and successful insurance broken.in an Indiana city was* stricken'ilt, qwhe suddenly. After having Been. cbfiffiietito his bed for many weeks, one d a >' he confided to his pastor: “You know, preacher, some of the things that I used to do as business practice lam now beignning to wonder "about. You know I’ve had a lot of time to think lately. In my work I felt justified in misrepresenting the facts if it made a sale. In my own thinking I justified my actions by telling myself that I was selling this man something that he really needed for the proctection of his family. The end justified the means. But I see it differently now.” It is unfortunate indeed that some must com under great affliction to learn the lessons of God. . Many have been humbled under affliction, and taught to know themselves and humble themselves before God, that probably without this would never redeemed. Affliction sanctified is a great blessing, unsanctified is an additional curse.

Candidate

M I

H. Vernon Aurand

H. Vernon Aurand Seeks Reelection First Candidate To Announce In City H. Vernon Aurand, Decatur clerk-treasurer, today became the first candidate of either political party to announce his intentions of seeking reelection. Aurand said, that he would be a candidate for reelection at the Republican May primary election. The candidate is a veteran of World War I, having been one of Adams county’s youngest enlistees in the U. S. navy. Following the end of the war. Aurand returned to Decatur and has resided here always......' 7 ■ He is a member of Adams post, American Legion, joining that organization when it first received a charter. He also is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Decatur and the 46 and 8 organization at Fort Wayne. First elected in 1938, Aurand has served as clerk-treasurer continuously since 1939. He has Caused several modern book-ke«ing methods to be adopted by the*city and always is one of the first clerk-treasurers in Indiana to file his annual reports with the state board. ~ Mr. and Mrs. Aurand reside at Homestead in Decatur. They have one son. Don Aurand, a member of the United States marines. -Aurand said that he planned to make as active a campaign as the duties of his office would permit. Some two years ago, Aurand underwent an appendix operation and was absent from his office for two weeks. This is the longest absence he has had in more than 15 years of service to the city. Pedestrian Killed When Struck By Car BEDFORD, Ind. (IN’S) —Hayden Silvers, 48, of was killed Monday night when he was struck in Bedford city limits by a c/r driven by John Fields, 19, of Springville. Authorities said Silvers was walking south on the wrong side of the road.

Plane Crashes Trailer Park, Five Are Dead Three-Man Crew And Two Civilians Are Killed Last Night LAKE CHARLES, La. (INS)— A B-47 stratojet crashed in flames into a Lake Charles trailer park late Monday night, exploded and killed five persons. Flaming debris from the sixengine bomber set fire to four houses and two trailer homes. The plane was attempting to land at the Lake Charles air force base six miles away when It plunged to earth. The victims included the three crewmen aboard the stratojet and two civilians. Albert Morgan, 24, and his wife, Kate, 20, were burned to death when their house was destroyed by fire. T. Sgt. James Sapp, stationed at Lake Charles AFB, received second and third degree burns when his trailer home caught fire. The military personnel killed were identified as Capt. Clarence Wilson. 34, California, Pa., married and the father of four children; Co-Pilot Capt. Mark Beck, 35. Downieville. Calif., married and the father of two children, and Capt. Elwyn Mcßee, 38, Fort Worth, Tex., married and the father of two children, the observer. The pilot of the Stratojet had made contact with the observation tower at the base after a night training missing and radioed for instructions before making his final approach for a land’’“g when the crash took place shortly before midnight. “ The crashing plane - knocked down power and communications lines. Firemen had difficulty bat(Continued on Page Five) Mary L. Singleton Is Suicide Victim Funeral Services Thursday Afternoon Mary Letitia Singleton, 66-year-oid native of Adams county and a resident of Monroe route one near the old Riniger school house, drowned herself in the .school's cistern Monday afternoon at about 2 p.m. The woman, who had been in poor -health .for the past year and was failing mentally, talked to! her daughter-in-law at 1:30 p.m. and gave no indication of intention to commit suicide. She was found in the cistern at 4:30 p.m. by George Strickler, who, with members of her family and others, had been searching for her about an hour. It was the second suicide within a week and a half [n Adams county. John A. Stuckey took his life Feb. 20 by hanging himself at his farm home in Hartford township. Sheriff Merle Affolder, deputy Charles Arnold and coroner Harmon Gillig were called when the body was discovered. Coroner Gillig stated that she had been dead for a couple of hours. Born in Adams county March 15, 1888- to William and Abigail Warner-Singleton, she was a lifelong resident of the county and a member of the Church of God. Surviving are her son, Luther Singleton of Mqnrpe route one; two brothoeW. Jes««r-S]ngrelon»of Decatur and John Singleton of Albion and four grandchildren. One brother is deceased. ... < The body has been taken to the Gillig and Doan funeral home in Decatur where friends may call after 7 o’clock this evening. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at the funeral home, with the ißev. W. H. Kirkpatrick officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery.

Recall Gojack For Further Testimony Refuses To Answer i If Party Member WASHINGTON (INS) — A Hoosier labor leader was recalled for further testimony by a house un-American activities subcommittee today after refusing to say Monday whether he had ever beeif a .Communist. The witness. John T. Gojack of ort Wayne. Ind., district 9 president and international vice president of the Independent United Electrical Workers Union, invoked the first, rather than the fifth, amendment in refusing to talk. The UEW. ousted from the CIO six years ago on a charge of Communist domination, claims 194,000 members, many of whom are engaged in critical defense work. Gojack contended that the first amendment gave him the right to challenge the subcommittee’s' right to probe his "political beliefs.” He also charged that the session was "not a legislative investigation for a bona fide legislative purpose?’ . In addition, he based his stand partially on Harvey Matusow's claim of having falsely identified persons before congressional committees as Communists. Exchanges between Gojack and subcommittee members were fiery from the moment the short, blond labor leader took the stand. Rep. Gordon Scherer (R-Ohio,) told the witness he was in contempt when Gojack declined to answer the question: “Were you ever a member of the Communist party?” Gojack hotly, shouted: "We haven’t reached the point in this county yet where a McCarthy or Scherer can tell you who is in contempt.” • At another point, the union leader declared: “The first amendment gives me the right to challenge this committee's unionbusting and its use of this paid (Continued on Page Five) National Red Cross Drive Is Underway WASHINGTON'(INS) —The national Red Cross drive was underway with the direct help of President Eisenhower. The chief executive launched the (campaign* which will continue throughout March, with a brief film message to be used on television shows across the nation. Mr. Eisenhower described the Red Cross as a “big brother" which typifies the spirit of the godd neighbor for Americans. Fort Wayne Student Oratorical Winner Linnet Sprunger Os Geneva Wins Second Miss Shirley Shroyer, student at Fort Wayne Central high school won first place in the fourth district American Legion oratorical contest, held Friday night at Fort Wayne. Miss Linnet Sprunger, of Geneva. winner of the recent Adams county contest, was awarded second place, and Miss Guilia Mae Bryant, of Ossian, was third place winner. Other contestants were Mary Lee Grawcock of Albion, Pat Scott of Angola and Marilyn Poe of Churbusco. . Miss Shroyer, awarded sls for first place, will represent the -fourth district in the zone contesit; »egt month at foiss" Sprunger* received slff and Miss Bryant $5. ■« Judges of the contest were Lewis L. Smith. Decatur, Adams county prosecuting attorney; the Rev. O. C. Busse, pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran church at Preble; Alfred Moellering, Fbrt Wayne attorney; Eugene Kitt, Washington school principal at Fort Wayne, and Lloyd Bryan, principal of Anthony Wayne school at Fort Wayne.

Store Windows Blown In And Trailer Upset Trailer Residents Uninjured As Wind Overturns Trailer Freak winds played havoc in Decatur and the surrounding area Monday night during a violent rain storm. No damage was reported from lightning but the wind and water took a high toll in property damage. Worst incident during the storm occurred when the house trailer of Chuck Schafer was blown over in the trailer camp on 13th street. . . . Schafer and his family, who were in the trailer at the time, fortunately escaped injury but extensive damage was caused to the interior and exterior of the trailer home. The Decatur fire department was called when it was discovered that an oil stove was still burning inside the trailer but no blaze resulted. The winds chose the Sudduth market farther down on 13th street as another target The two big plate glass windows in the front of the building were blown out and groceries were swept into the water-filled street. Groceries inside the store were also damaged by the wind and rain. Earl Sudduth had not been able to estimate the total damage to his market this morning. * Capricious winds also attacked the court house where- a window was blown out of the-sheriff's office, the A. and P. store on Monroe street which had a big front window blown out, and .the - j K. of P. home on Third street, which also lost a window. The rural area north of Decatur and the town of Monroe were without lights tor a while Monday night when wind blew down electric light poles. The Citizens Telephone Co. reported only three lines down. Lightning caused several fuses to blow out and the wind brought down many television aerials. According to Sherman Kunkel, official weather observer, 1.4 inches of rain fell during the storm. The rain pushed St Mary’s river to slightly over 17 feet, which is two ' feet above flood stage. The basements of many Decatur homes were flooded during the heavy rain which poured down faster than sewers could carry It away. Water backed up into some basement's so high that it reached the furnace level causing the homes to go unheated. (Continued on Page Five) Rotarians To Meet At Noon Thursday The Decatur Rotary club will hold its weekly meetfng at 12:15 o’clock Thursday afternoon at a luncheon with the' district 4-H adult leaders who will attend the . 16th, annual training conference, co-sponsored by Purdue University and Rotary clubs. The luncheon will be served at the Zion Evangelical and Reformed church. Rotarians who are unable to attend the noon meeting are requested to check in at the K. of P. home at the usual time Thursday evening for attendance record. There will be no evening meeting of the club. Band Booster Fund -■i. „ «... gta Previously Reported $1119.9? Music .Lover 1.59 Mr.. Mrs. Walter Summers 10.00 TOTAL _ $1131.47 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.

Five Cents