Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 53, Number 118, Decatur, Adams County, 19 May 1955 — Page 1

Vol. LII I. No. 118. MILLION HOLDUP FOILED

R' ’

THE WELL LAID PLAN of George Anderson (left) 31, disgruntled Las Vegas, Nev. policeman and his wife, Joyce (right) 24, and four others to stage the nation’s biggest postal robbery has landed all the conspirators in jail at Las Vetas. ~TOltr Plot to waylay a postal convoy of a million dollars between the Post Office and the railroad station fell through when one of the gang tipped off police and postal inspectors.

Expect Summer Halt To All Polio Shots. Expect Government To Holt Shots As Precautionary Move WASHINGTON (INS) — Officials said today the government will probably call a halt to all Salk vaccinations during the peak of the polio season beginning in late July or August. This means that no more than one out of six American youngsters will receive the vaccine’s protection against the crippling disease before the ‘‘moratorium’* is declared. A public health service spokesman said U. 8- surgeon general Leeaard A. Scheele is almost ready to announce the summer time halt .in Salk shots. The potion would bo taken purely as an extra safety measure. It was pointed out that many health experts believe that any type of injection is dangerous during the peak of the polio season because It could "trigger” into action any polio virus that might be in the bloodstream. Officials said after a check of latest production figures that all first and second graders would be able to receive their two Salk shots before the ban is ordered In about nine or 10 weeks. These children are receiving injections free under a program financed by the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. There are about nine million youngsters affected. ■ -J That still leaves about 50 million children 19 and under without the vaccine, and officials conceded that very few of them will get their shots before next tall. This situation was not materially affected by Wednesday night’s announcement that it will be next week at least before the government lifts its ban on distribution Os new vaccine. This ban has been in effect since late in April. The only vaccine cleared by the government since then were batches that had been produced before the ban — and that came to little more than 1,300,000 shots. New Vaccine LOS ANGELES (INS) — A world famous University of California virologist has disclosed the partial development of new "live” polio vaccine that may be used in conjunction with the Salk vaccine to give life long immunity in two shots. Dr. Karl F. Meyer, emeritus director of the Hooper* Foundation, of San Francisco, told a panel of polio experts in Los Angeles Wednesday that the new vaccine is made from live polio viruses modified by passing them through animal tissue. He said live virus vaccine made in this manner has two advantages over the Salk vaccine—it can be given orally and the protection it affords can be expected to last for life. INDIANA WEATHER Partly cloudy with a few scattered light showers northeast and central this afternoon and early tonight Somewhat cooler north tonight Friday fair to partly cloudy, cooler north and east portions. Low tonight 42-48 north, 49-54 south. High Friday from lower 00s northeast to mid 70s southwest 12 Pages

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Roy Conrad Breaks With Gov. Craig Senate Floor Leader On Outs With Craig INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — State senator Roy Conrad, of Monticello, floor leader'for Governor George N. Craig in the 1955 general assembly, broke with the governor today. Conrad, who led the Craig administration’s legislative battle for toll roads, announced today he favors a delay in the construction of the ftorth-south pay road, a pet proposal of the governor, "because of misunderstanding and confusion surrounding Indiana’s highway department and toll road commission.” The parting of the ways between Conrad and the governor came on the eve of a meeting of the Indiana Republican state committee Friday at which 1955 municipal election campaigns and 1956 election problems will be discussed. Conrad said: "I recommend that a new survey be carefully taken from Chicago to Indianapolis and then wait until we have the experience of completing the east-west toll road, which is costing many millions of dollars more for right of way than anticipated, before attempting another such project. The 18 months remaining in the present administration could well be spent reorganizing our present state highway department and some of the other departments.” Conrad indicated his belief that the political fortunes of Governor ‘Craig are diminishing rapidly. He said: "The end of tne present administration is in sight and it will soon be operating under the law of diminishing political returns. It now appears that former Governor Ralph F. Gates will be the general for the Jenner-Capehart faction and not later than next May he will seize control of the Republican party in Indiana, probably with the aid of ‘General Exo(Contlnued on Page Five)

Four Local Pupils Placed In Top 10 Finish Among Best In Chemistry Test Four Decatur young people, three of 'Decatur Catholic high school and one of Decatur high, placed among the first 10 winners of the recent chemistry test given by the northeastern Indiana section of the American chemical society. Kay Borman, Decatur Catholic senior, won second place; Marcella Olllig, D.C.H.S. senior, placed fourth; Charles Voglewede. also a D.C.H.S. senior, was awarded sev-, enth place, and David Übriok, a senior at Decatur high, took eighth place. The local Catholic school was the only school to place more than two in the top 10. First prise was won by Neil S. Snider, a student at Elmhurst high school. * The top 10 will be honored at the dinner meeting of the section at Baer Field May 31. The prises Include a SSO bond, first; $35 bond, second; the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, third; a year's subscription to the Chemical and Engineering News, fourth to sixth place, and honorable mention, seventh to 10th. , 'Competing In the contest were 297 students from 36 high schools tn the section. Sm. M. Agnes Therese, C.8.A., is chemistry instructor at Decatur Catholic and Harry Dailey teaches chemistry at Decatur high.

Denies Danger Os If S. Losing Air Supremacy Secretary Talbott Denies Supremacy Os U. S. In Danger WASHINGTON (INS) —Air secretary Harold E. Talbott said today the United States is not lndanger of losing air supremacy to Russia. Talbott made the statement as he entered a closed door session of the senate military appropriations subcommittee with Gen. Nathan Twining, air force chief of staff, to testify on Pentagon reports of gains in Soviet air strength, The air secretary said the only threat would come if this government were to ‘‘sit still"-and he made it clear that the U. S. is not marking time in military aviation. Two congressional committees are concerning themselves with the question of whether Russia has grabbed the lead in'air power. Talbott and Twining also are scheduled to appear before an atomic energy subcommittee at a closed meeting next Tuesday. Both hearings were arranged before official Washington became publicly concerned ever the Pentagon’s announcement that Russia has made tremendous studies in jet aircraft. • President Eisenhower applied a dampener at his news conference Wednesday to a warning by Sen. Stuart Symington (D M 0.,) that the U. S. has “lost control of the air.” The President, Who personally approved the Pentagon announcement, said this is “just not true.” But Symington fired back that “the American people have the right to know the facts.” He was backed by Sen. Henry M. Jackson (D Wash.,) chairman of the house senate atomic energy subcommittee which heard army testimony Wednesday on development of nuclear warheads for (Cozutlnuad P«» House Group

Okays Budget For Commerce Budget Os Billion Dollars Approved After Some Cuts WASHINGTON (INS) —The house appropriations committee approved a billion dollar commerce department budget today after slicing 244 million dollars from administration requests. The appropriation voted by the committee totaled $1,103,560,000 for the 19}6 fiscal year beginning July 1. 1955. At the same time, the group approved $16,300,000 for the Panama Canal and $1,575,000 for two independent agencies, the St. Lawrence seaway development corporation and the tariff commission. The biggest cuts in the commerce department budget came in funds for highways, air lines, and maritime activities. in addition, a SIO,OOO request by commerce secretary Sinclair Weeks for entertainment funds was stricken from the budget without comment. An administration recommendation that $66,980,000 be appropriated to complete the inter-Ameri-can highway from the U. S. to Panama in three years was reduced to $8,000,000. The group said it favors completion of the highway "within a reasonable time," but is opposed to doing it on a “crash basis." Proposed federal grants in aid to airports were increased by $9.000,000 on the committee’s conteneion that there is a need for adequate airports throughout the nation. The appropriation voted was $20,000,000, Another request for $23,000,000 for air navigation facilities was pared to $18,500,000. Administration requests for payments to air carriers were cut by $23,000,000 to a total of $40,000,000. The Civil aeronautics administration got $18,500,000 for operational and regulation expenses. Funds for federal aid to highways were reduced by $80,000,000 to an approved total of $800,000,000. Similarity, the committee cut appropriations requests for forest highways to $18,500,000, a reduction of $6,500,000.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Thurs day, May 19, 1955.

Postal Pay Increase Measure Is Vetoed By President Eisenhower

Terms Nation Unprepared For Bomb Attacks Senate Committee Calls On Ike For Civil Defense Plan WASHINGTON (INS) — The senate armed services committe declared today that the nation is unprepared for an H-bomb attack. It called on President Eisenhower to develop an "adequate civil defense program. The statements were made in a report approved by the full armed services group. The report was prepared by the civil defense subcommittee under Sen. Estes Kefauver (D-Tenn.) » The report declared that the nation is becoming increasingly vulnerable to atomic and hydrogen attacks, but no adequate plans have been developed for evacuating cities nor for feeding evacuated populations. It called on the President to “assume the personal responsibility for providing the leadership which will develop an adequate civil defense program.” The committee also asked that the President “frankly tell the American people what would hap- 1 pen to our target areas In the event of a successful H-bomb attack, and then state in plain terms what the federal government intends to do to meet this responsibility.” The critical report asked that the federal government take the responsibility for evacuation, mass feeding and the care of people in case of an attack, declaring these jobs are beyond the capacities of states.

Amos Stonebumer Dies This Morning _ ■Funeral Services Saturday Afternoon Amos K. Stoneburner, 75, of 113 South Fourth street, well-known Adams county man, died at 5:50 a.m. today at the Adams county memorial hospital where he had been a patient for the past six weeks. Stoneburner was a member of the road contracting firm of Macklin and Stoneburner from 1918 to 1925. He was then employed as a field man for the old Holland St. Louis Sugar company until 1930. He served as abstractor for the Indiana state highway commission from 1930 until he retired in 1950. Born in Kirkland township April 16, 1880, to Jesse and Sarah Kist-ler-Stoneburner, he resided in that township until the year of his retirement, when he moved to Decatur. He was married in 1906 to the former Leona Stoutenberry, who survives. He was a member of the /’leasant Dale Church of the Brethren. Other survivors are three daughters, Mrs. 'Ralph Ernst of Fort Wayne, Mrs. Vaughn Schlagenhauf of the V. A. hospital at Downey. 111., and Mrs. William Hoover of New Parts, O.; two brothers, Floyd of Kirkland township and Miles of Albion; three sisters, Mrs. O. V. Dilling, Miss Victoria Stoneburner and Mrs. John Arnold, all of Kirkland township; six grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren. One son is deceased. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 pm. Saturday at Zwick's funeral home, with the Rev. John Mishler and the Rev. L. T. Norris officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant Dale cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 10 a.m. Friday until time of the services.

Seven Hew Polio Cases In Indiana 15 None Involve Child Receiving Vaccine INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — Seven new cases of polio were reported today in Indiana for the week ending May 14. None involved a child who had received a Salk polio vaccine shot. The new total for Indiana now is 21 cases, compared to 14 last year, 29 in 1953, and 15 in 1952 at the same time. Two deaths have occurred, but both were of persons stricken during 1954. Because of a delay caused by federal order to re-check production of the vaccine, most of Indiana's first and second graders have received only one of two scheduled shots to be given under a National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis program. ■ . Medical autnoritles say some protection results from the first shot, but that the second shot is required to bring the level of antibodies in the bloodstream up to the preferred protection point Under the plan proposed by Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed the vaccine. the second shot would have been given four to five weeks after ' the first. A third booster shot about seven months later has been ; recommended. i Delay appeared inevitable today. J although federal public health i spokesmen said the NFIP program ■ for two free shots to first and second grade children wbuld be completed before an expected moratorium is called on summertime administration of the vaccine. Meanwhile, Indiana counties waited for word that would release supplies of the vaccine from Eli Lilly & Company, so that they might complete the two-shot program. The new polio cases reported today ware in Dearborn. Huntington. Madison, Marion and Porter, one each, and two in Lake county. Only one instance has occurred in Indiana of a vaccinated child later becoming ill with polio, and in this Jennings county case, physictahs said the *vaccine was not a factor since the child already was in the incubation stage of a normal polio illness. (Continued on Pare Bight)

Winners Are Listed In Essay Contest Legion Auxiliary Sponsors Contest “One Nation, Under God," was the title of thia year's essay contest sponsored by the American Legion auxiliary unit 48. It carries out the theme of the change in pledge of allegiance, which the president signed June 14, 1954. The Legion and auxiliary have al ways fostered the “Back to God" movement In the nation. > Miss Margaret Biting, Americanism chairman for the auxiliary, today announced the winners In the contest. There were three high schools, Decatur, Decatur Catholic and Monmouth, and four junior high schools, the above three plus St. Peter's, whose students submitted essays. Students in the Decatur Catholic high wrote 97 essays, Decatur public high 42 and Monmouth, 40. In junior high, St. Peter’s had 14. St. Joseph's of Decatur 28, Decatur public 30, and Monmouth 20. Miss Frances Beckmeyer, freshman in the Decatur Catholic high school, and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Backmeyer, won first place In the high school division. She was second In the JuntContlnued ea Pa** Eight) BULLETIN NEW YORK (INB — Gen. Alfred M. Gruenther declared today the Soviet Union le engaged In a gigantic peace offenelve to lull the free world Into letting down Ite guard while It bullde up a massive war potential

Compromise Is Submitted To Reserve Bill Civil Rights Plan Offered In Effort To Save Program BULLETIN WASHINGTON (INS)—The house postponed indefinitely today further action on President Eisenhower’s military reserve program because of a dispute over a civil rights -amendment. WASHINGTON (INS) — A southern Democrat - Republican compromise on civil rights was offered in the house today in an effort to save President Eisenhower’s military reserve program. The compromise was submitted by chairman Carl Vinson (D-Ga.) of the arihed services committee, which is sponsoring the legislation to establish a trained, organized reserve of ground troops. The Vinson amendment has a two-fold purpose: 1. It would eliminate an amendment by Rep. Adam Powell (DN.Y.) to bar assignment of reserves to segregated national guard units and, 2. Do away with language authorizing the defense department to assign reserves to national guard units. ' - Great pressure was brought on Powell by the White House and Republicans and Democrats to agree to the compromise. The Negro congressman said he had been told that the bill would be defeated if his amendment remained.

Assistant Republican leader Charles A. Halleck, Ind., who helped work out the Vinson compromise, bluntly told the house that retention of the Powell amendment meant defeat for the bill. The house was called into session at 10 a.m. (EDT) today, two hours earlier than usual, as leaders sought to complete action on the legislation, which has already been debated for two days. The bill is designed to establish a trained, organised reserve of 2.900,000 ground troops by 1960. It would allow 17 and 18 year-olds to volunteer for stx months of basic training, followed by seven and one-half years in the “ready” reserves. But even Rep. Car! Vinson (DGa.) chairman of the house armed services committee which drew up the bill, admitted it would be defeated if the Powell amendment is not rejected. At his news conference Wednesday. Mr. lEisenhower delivered a strong plea for congressional pas(Oontlnued on Pa** MgM) Open Ticket Sales For June 20 Meet Initial Banquet In Community Center Five hundred tickets for the first banquet to be served in Decatur's Youth and Community Canter wept on sale today. The dinner is scheduled for Monday night, June 20, as part of dedication week for the new building. Lowell Harper. Monday night chairman, said that tickets had been placed in the following places: First State Bank. Daily Democrat, Holthonae Drug Co., Smith Drug Co., Kohne Drug Co., Chamber of Commerce office, Beavers Oil Co., Saylors Motor Co., Bag Service. Central Soya, General Electric, Decatur Casting Co., Krick-Tyndall Co., The Schafer Co., and the office of the county agent. Tickets will sell for |2 each and attendance at the dinner will be limited to 800, Harper said. AR committees for the event will bo announced in a day or two, the chairman said.

Boy Scout Camporee Saturday, Sunday County Camporee At Site Near Geneva Plans have been completed for the Adams county Boy Scout camporee Saturday and Sunday near Geneva, according to an announcement by Glenn Bills, chairman of camping and activities in the county Scout organization. The camporee will begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday with registration, inspection and instruction at the Geneva school playground until 9 a.m. Gene Rydell will be in charge of this. z Camp site preparation will be made until 11 am. after the troops have hiked from the school to the camping grounds east of Geneva on state road 116. After the erection of tents and preparation of garbage pits, cooking facilities and other comforts of camping inspection will be conducted by the unit leaders. Each patrol win prepare its own lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. This activity will also include inspection by Junior leaders and explorer Scouts. The advancement program under the direction of Jay Markley will be conducted by unit leaders, junior leaders and advance Explorer Scouts from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Following this will be aa hour of scoutcraft games and contests under the direction of Steve Everhart. ißetreat will be conducted at 6:16 p.m. Saturday and following this will be the evening meal and clean-up. A nature scavenger hunt and a campfire program have been planned for Saturday night with Lowell Smith in charge. Taps will be sounded at 10 p.m. Sunday activities will begin with reveille at 6:15 a.m., followed by breakfast and clean up. Church services for the Protestant boys will be conducted at the camp at 8 a.m. by the Rev. Roger Lautzenheiser of Geneva. The Catholic scouts will attend the 7:30 a.m. mass at St. Mary's church near Geneva. Drills and a dress parade will be featured at 9:16 a.m. Sunday, followed by camp clean-up and final inspection at 11 a.m. The camporee will conclude with a basket dinner for the parents begin(ConSnuM on Pace Five) Home Badly Damaged By Fire Wednesday Vincent Hanni Home Is Badly Damaged A severe fire, fed by exploded fuel Oil tanks, ravaged the rear portion of the Vincent Hanni residence at 416 Patterson street, Wednesday evening. The cause of the original fire is unknown, but the burning fuel was the source of most of the damage. The first signs of the fire were detected by the Hanni’s son, who was the only member of the family at home at the time. The boy smelled smoke and located a small fire burning near the fuel tanks at the rear of the house. He ran to the neighbors to call the fire department, but the tanks exploded while he was phoning. The force of the explosions blew a drum head and a spigot to Adams street a block and a half away. The fuel spread the fire over most of the back part of the house, but through prompt action on the Decatur fire department, the blase was confined to the outside of the home. The worst of the fire was about out when firemen noted smoke billowing out of the roof. Roofing was torn off, and a new blaze was found in the, attic roof. Richard Girod, volunteer fireman, was slightly injured by the pick end of a fire axe. The fire was reported at 6:50 p.m. and was completely extinguished by about 7:30. Damages to the house were estimated at 83,500 to 83,000, with the only interior damage coming from smoke and water.

Price Five Cents

Vetoes Postal Pay Increase As Tax Burden Veto Expected As Higher Than Ike Request WASHINGTON (INS) — Pres!dent Eisenhower today vetoed the bill to provide an average 8.8 percent pay increase for the nation's 500,000 postal workers. The President said that the bill, which would have added 179 million dollars a year to the postal payroll, imposed a "heavier bur* den upon the taxpayer” than necessary to give postal workers a fair pay raise. His veto had been expected . since the administration served notice during debate on the measure that he would not approve a wage increase greater than 7.6 percent. Mr. Eisenhower told his news conference Wednesday he had not studied anything “more earnestly in a long time." He gave three reasons for his veto, including the unnecessarily heavy burden on taxpayers. The bill, the President said, creates new discriminations or inequities which would affect many thousands of postal employes. In addition, he said, it creates grave administrative problems such as the establishment of thousands of individual pay rates. The President noted that he recommended a five percent pay raise plus other adjustments which would have brought the total increase to 6.5 percent, at an annual cost of 129 million dollars. He said these increases were substantially greater than the rise in the cost of living since the last adjustment in postal wages and would have placed postal salaries In "proper relationship" to pay tor similar work * nearly all cities. Mr. Eisenhower asked congress to “quickly consider and enact" a pay bill that will be in the public interest and fair to the half million postal employes. He expressed regret at what he described as the necessity of having to veto the bill, but declared: "There can be compromise with the principle of fairness, and any pay legislation must be fair to all to whom it applies. It must be workable administratively and must not be excessive in cost.** The President also emphasized the "imperative need” for higher postal rates to put the post office on a self supporting basis. He said: “We can not longer afford to continue a costly deficit operation paid for by millions of ' taxpayers in amounts out of all proportion to the postal services that they as individuals receive." House post office committee chairman Tom Murray (DTenn.) who expected a veto, said he will immediately introduce legislation calling for the 7.6 percent figure. The house first rejected a committee approved 7.6 percent increase and voted an 8.3 percent increase. The senate voted a 10 percent figure. The final 8.8 per cent measure was a compromise between the two versions. The house accepted the compro(Oonthrava on Paars Ugnt) Poppy Day Sales Friday, Saturday The ladles auxiliary of Adams Post 43. American Legion, will conduct Poppy day sales In Decatur Friday and Saturday. Mrs. Herman Dlerkes, Poppy chairman, has issued a call for volunteers to aid In the sale of the memorial popples, to be worn in honor of the nation’s war dead. All contributions for the little red flowers are used in the auxiliary's program for <W to disabled veterans and needy children of veterans. Women wishing to volunteer their services for this cause are asked to call Mrs. Dlerkes, 84M7.