Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 53, Number 124, Decatur, Adams County, 26 May 1955 — Page 1

Vol. LUI. No. 124.

80 Dead In Three-State Tornado

SALK VACCINE PROVED ‘SAFE’ *** ■bJHH £ WMb <* £ S Jerl * M he |m r ?Xfe U. 8. SURGEON GENERAL Dr. Leonard A. Scheele (left) and Dr. Jonas A. Salk leave meeting of top medical authorities in Washington. after which Dr. Scheele said that all Salk polio vaccine except that produced by the Cutter laboratories “has been proven to be safe."

Soviet Russia Agrees To Big Four Meeting

MOSCOW (INS) — Soviet Russia formally agreed today to a Big Four chiefs of state meeting but accused the United States of trying to tprpedo the projected con.ference on world problems. Soviet foreign minister V. M. Molotov delivered identical seven page notes to the Big Three western allied ambassadors in which Russia charged that the United States was trying to exert “inadmissible pressure” on the parley. The Soviet notes said that the United States advocated the talks on one hand while doing every thing possible to foredoom them to failure on the other hand. Russia contended that U.S. secretary of state John Foster Dulles and other American leaders were compromising the possible success of the parley by making statements concerning the “popular democracies” (the East European Communist - ruled Soviet satellite nations). Molotov said that these acts constituted interference in the affairs of other nations and were incompatible with the United Nations charter. The notes were delivered just about the time that Soviet Communist party secretary Nikita Khrushchev and premier Marshal Bulganin left Moscow by plane on their official mission to Belgrade to try to improve relations with Yugoslavia, which was ousted from the Cominfosm (Communist information bureau) bloc of states in 1948. Secretary Dulles was asked Tuesday at a news conference whether the United States would favor the neutralisation of the Soviet satellite countries, east from Germany. He said that “neutrality?’ was a word that needed to be closely defined but that the United States certainly would welcome anything that strengthened the national independence of the East European countries. The Soviet note charged that the United States was advancing plans for the Big Four parley which could only result in failure of the conference. The Soviet note, which did not attack Britain or France, said the date of the talks should be agreed upon later. President Eisenhower has acknowledged that July 18-21, and Lausanne, Switzerland, were "possibilities” of date and place acceptable to the United States. Hoosier Airman Is Auto Crash Victim NEW BAUNFELS, Tex. (INS) —Airman First Class Edward L. Harper, of Akron, Ind., was killed in a two car accident on U.S. 81 about Jour miles south of New Braunfels, Tex. Six other persons were killed in the car crash not far from Randolph air force base, where Harper was stationed. 12 Pages

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

14 Airmen Die In Plane Crash During Tornado Giant Continental Bomber Crashes In Texas Storm Area STERLING CITY, Tex. (INS)— A giant B-36 inter-continental bomber crashed and burned during a tornado about 35 miles southwest of Sterling City, Tex., Wednesday night and first reports said 14 airmen were killed. The bomber, believed to be from Walker air force base, Roswell, N.M., crashed qn the Oilin 'Brennan ranch and civilian authorities at the scene said there were no survivors. At first, there were no reports of the ill fated plane’s home base, but Walker air force base officials said one of their planes was missing. Walker public information officer Maj. Alfred Barnes said that “one of our aircraft is overdue and was last heard in that area.” He said 14 airmen were aboard the B-36. The B-36 was on a routine training flight from Walker AFB. Maj. Barnes said an investigation board was sent to the crash site. The B-36's identification num(Continueu on Page Six) June Distribution i Os Tax Fund Made Total Amount Is Set At $860,168.44 A total of $860,168.44 was distributed in Adams county Wednesday afternoon by the county auditor’s office following approval of the June tax distribution settlement by the state tax board. Largest single amount of tax money went to the Decatur school corporation which received $166,017.21. The tax unit which received the smallest amount was French township which .got $904.44. Tax money sent to the state amounted to $38,278.16. The county unit received $90,592.52 as its share of the taxation revenue. Amounts.received by each of the various tax units include welfare, $25,551.70; hospital, $6,968.68; poor relief, $14,945.83; Blue Creek township, $16,331.36'; French, $904.44; Hartford, $21,045.72; Jefferson, $18,910.33; Kirkland, $1,117.54; Monroe, $1,553.56; Preble, $23,285.24; Root, $34,268.50; St. Mary’s, $20,810.42; Union, $15,981.95; Wa- ( Continued on Page Bight)

Denies Secretary Hobby Has Resigned Published Reports Denied By Officials WASHINGTON (INS) — The White House said today welfare secretary Qveta Culp Hobby has not submitted her resignation, but indicated the illness of her husband may force her to resign shortly. White House news secretary James C. Hagerty checked with Mrs. Hobby personally after published reports said she had resigned and a successor was being picked. After talking with her in Texas, where she is at the-bedside of her husband, former Texas Gov. William P. Hobby. Hagerty said: “We have had no resignation submitted, but his (Hobby’s) condition is critical.” Hagerty added: “I cannot at this time tell you whether that illness will fprce Mrs. Hobby, as she told the President several months ago, to leave the government.” One of the published reports said Clare Boothe Luce, U.S. ambassador to Italy, was flying home this weekend to be offered Mrs. Hobby’s cabinet post. The other report said that President Eisenhower had selected assistant welfare secretary Bradshaw Mintener as Mrs. Hobby’s successor. Hagerty, who said he had discussed the reports with Mr. Eisenhower, declared simply: “Both stories are wrong.” Mrs. Luce, asked in Rome about the report that'she would become welfare secretary, laughed and said it was “just the latest in a long series of rumors.” She said she is “very happy” in her present job as ambassador to Italy. Resists Policeman, Man Shot To Death

NORTH VERNON, Ind. (INS) — A police officer today shot to death a 29-year-old man who was reported to have grabbed the policeman’s night stick and started hitting the lawman with it. •Dead is Frederick Hess, 29, of near Scipio, whom North Vernon police say became abusively drunk and had to be evicted from a local hotel where he was registered. Two New Cases Os Polio For Indiana One Boy Benefited From Polio Vaccine “ INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — The Indiana state board of health today reported that the number of polio cases has risen to 23 up to May 21, including one six-year-old who apparently benefitted from the onedose of Salk vaccine he had received. , Two new cases were included in the report. Health officials said one was a six-year-old from Newton county,,who didn't. Indiana officials did not have full information on the Fountain county case since the boy was hospitalized iq, Illinois, and the data they have come from a reciprocal report from the neighboring-Mate. But they noted that the child showed “very minor symptoms” and was dismissed after three days with a report of complete recovery. The new total of 23 cases for this pre-polio season compares with 14 at the same time a year ago, 31 in 1953 and 16 in 1952. ~~ Meanwhile, state health director Bertram Groesbeck cautiously suggested that county health and medical officials should not postpone the second shot in the stymied National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis program any longer than it takes to get more vaccine. Marion county is to vote on such a delay to Oct. 15 at a Friday meeting. He said he saw no reason for delay, since the first shot conferred some immunity. A federal medical advisory committee has opined the immunity is sufficient to prevent provacation of a polio attack by administration of vaccine during the so called polio season, starting in Indiana about mid-July. The new totals to date for polio cases by county, are: Four each for Lake and Marion; two for Huntington, and one each for Carroll, Clark, Crawford, Dearborn, Elkhart, Fountain, Jennings, Knox, Madison, Newton, Parke, Porter and Scott,

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMB COUNTY

■■ . , Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, May 26, 1955.

Release Os Mpre Polio Vaccine Near Some Manufacturers Voice Opposition To New Standards WASHINGTON (INS) — Re-’ lease of more Salk vaccine for mass polio inoculations appeared close at hand today despite oppose tion from some manufacturers to new government production safety standards. perts, including Dr. Jonas Salk, named Wednesday to take up clearance of several million “frozen” doses of the polio balking vaccine, holds it first meeting today. There is a good prospect tlat it will release some of the antipolio shots “soon.”* ■ Meanwhile, manufacturers were showing some dissatisfaction with new government safety standards for the production of the vaccine. The public health service, however, was virtually ignoring their opposition, emphasizing that the government, which holds the power to licenses producers, will insist on standards it considers necessary. «U. S. eurgeon general Leonard A. Scheele said the new rules apply to both manufacturing and testing and entail some "additional” safety tests. He declined to give details. The reason for the new safety rules was evident in a public health service statement Wednesday which said 92 children inoculated with the Salk vaccine have since contracted polio. It said 60 of these had received shots mad 9 hy the Cutter Laboratorlei of Berkeley, Calif., 22 from Eli Lilly Co., and the rest from the Wyeth Laboratories and Parke Davis & Co. The first sign that the six licensed producers were unhappy over the new safety measures came from Homer C. Fritsch, executive vice-president of the large and influential Parke Davis & Co., of Detroit. He told newsmen after a closed door meeting, at which the producers were told of the new standards, that the requirements were (Continued on Page Six) Starts Survey For Air Force Center SOUTH BEND, Ind. (INS) — St. Joseph county engineer Bert McClellan has started a survey of property that would be available for an air force reserve center in the South Bend area. The county was chosen as site of one of eight centers the air force plans to build in Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. The air force seeks a 25-year lease at a nominal fee on land owned by federal, state, county or municipal governments.

Describes Horrifying Destruction In Udall

(Editor’s note: Patrolman John Nail from the Sedgwick county sheriff’s office, Wichita, Kas., was one of the first persons to arrive on the scene in tornado battered Udall, Kas., shortly after the town was struck. In the following story he tells of the horrifying scene of destruction that he saw.) By PATROLMAN JOHN NAIL (As Told to International News Service) UDALL, Kas. (INS) — I got to Udall about 45 minutes aftei* the tornado hit the town and the first thing I thought was “My God, the whole town is flattened.” It was about one o’clock this morning and pretty dark, but I could still see the dead and the injured. There was debris all over. We heard cries for help, but there was no panic. I think the people were just too shocked to do anything hysterical. To say it was a horrible sight is putting it mildly. I saw people mangled to bits. One boy had been smashed up against a tree. We couldn't find his head. His arms and chest were gone and there was a two by four inch board right through the lower

Lutheran Schools Plan Graduation Graduation Rites On Sunday Evening The Lutheran schools of the Lutheran church-Miraourl synod *n the Decatur area will conduct graduation services at 8 p.m. Sunday in St. Paul’s Lutheran church, Preble, for the eighth grade graduates. Schools participating are: Bethlehem, Ossian, the Rev. Harry Behning. pastor, M. ißeisenbickler, principal; Immanuel Lutheran school, Union township, the Rev. W. C. Vetter, pastor, B. Schultz, principal; St. John’s, Bingen, the Rev. O. C. Busse. vacancy pastor, and William Uffeltnan, principal; St. John’s Flatrock, the Rev. Henry Abrams, pastor, W. J. Ehlen, principal; St. Haul’s, Preble, the Rev. O. O. Busse, pastor, F. C. Schmiege, 'principal; St. Peter’s, Fuelling, the Rev. F. Droegemueller, pastor, T. (*. Grotrian, principal; Zion Friedhefaji, the Rev. A. A. Fenner, pastor; Emmanuel, Soest, the Rev. Otto Muejler, pastor, E. Yunghans, principal. These schools have an enrollment of 420 children. The commencement address will be delivered by" the Rev. Henry Abrams, pastor of St. John’s Lutheran church of Flatrock. The graduates are: Emmanuel (Soest) Jean Lepper, Beverly June Oehler, Beverly Ann Schaudroff, Jerry Wayne Schaudroff. Immanuel (Union) — Janice Badenhop, William Bischoff, Barbara Bleeke, Leonard Bleeke, Marlene Bleeke, Martha Bleeke, Annette Lehrman, Leonard Thieme. St. John’s (Bingen)—Kay Sharon Bultemeyer, Donna Jean Conrad, Gwendolyn Arlene GaUmeier, Ggrnlta Eileen Hartman. Kenneth Krauss, Carol Rose Lepper. Essie Louise Neuman, Karen Ann Reiter, Roger Allen Scheumann, Jeanette Schroeder, Shirley Ann Zelt. dFtadnehop •. St. John s (Flatrock) — Harold F. Bleeke, Kathryn R. Bohnke, Janet M. Grotrian, Thomas W. Grotrian, David E. Hockemeyer, Carolyn L. Melcher, Ralph E. Scheumann, Donald H. Schlemmer. St. Paul’s (Preble) ■— Jerry Gallmeyer, Ronald Hoffman, Larry Schaekel, Carol Schuller, Ruth Ann Selking, Jesse Venable, Delores Weber. St. Peter’s (Fuelling) — Larry Lee Busick, Beverly Kay Fuelling, Donald Arnold Fuelling, Alice Ann Hockemeyer, Kenneth Wayne Linker, Lillard James Wietfeldt. Zion (Friedheim) — Alyce Jane Eichler, David M. Gallmeyer, Gene David Kalthoff, Mary M. (ReifSteck, Dwight Fred Schaefer. - j INDIANA WEATHER ' Partly cloudy this after- 1 noon. Occasional showers and thunderstorms tonight and ! Friday. Warmer tonight. , Low tonight 55-60 north, 60-65 south. High Friday 75-80 ‘ north, 80-85 south.

part of his body. I’ve never seen anything like it. Many of the bodies wbre stripped of all clothing. Udall couldn’t have been more leveled had a bulldozer gone on .a. rampage through the town, I counted only two buildings on the fringe of town left standing. • A big grain elevator was demolished and there wasn’t anything left of the railroad station. All the sidewalks were torn and the cars were stacked up like pancakes. There was no electricity in the town and we went in there with searchlights to look for the injured and dead. Even though they had been through this terrible experience, those Udall citizens who were able to help joined us. As we rounded up the injured, the ambulances began picking them up and took them to hospitals itv Wichita, Winfield, Wellington and a make shift hospital at the high school in Mulvane. As the toll of victims mounted and the injured were taken to the hospitals, I thought to myself: “This is something absolutely worse than could have ever happened.” . <

Virgil Smith Is New State Highway Head Governor^ Appoints Smith As* Successor To Resigned Godwin INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — Gov. George N. today named Virgil “Red" Smith to succeed Neil Godwin as chairmatjjof the Indiana highway commission. The appointment is effective immediately. Godwin. of Franklin, submitted his resignation to the governorlate Wednesday. He gave failing health as his reason for stepping down. His 48-year-old successor, Smith, is a life long resident of Milan, and first was associated with the highway department in 1927 when he worked in the maintenance division. In 1929, when Democrats came into power, he left the department and since has been in trucking and insurance at Milan. He has been a member of the commission since June 5, 1954. Horace Coats, tlie governor’s executive secretary, said the commission vacancy left by Smith’s elevation to the chairmanship probably won’t be filled for several days. Candidates tor Smith’s job included Jack Mclntyre, of Bloomfield, personnel director of the state highway department; State Rep. Wayne Kellams, of Edinburg, who is seventh district Republican chairman, and Roscoe Freeman, of Franklin, former state budget director and ex-member of the public service commission, who recently was named to study salaries of county Officials tor a legislative survey. INDIANAPOLIS (INS) -Governor George N. Craig was on the verge of naming another top state official today after he received the resignation of Neil Godwin, of Franklin, as Indiana state highway commission chairman. (Godwin said he had handed his resignation to the governor, but declined to release a copy of it, saying that should be done by the (Continued on Page Six) Complete Program For June 20 Dinner Initial Banquet In Community Center The complete program for the Monday night, June 20, banquet at the Decatur Youth and Community Center to be held in connection with the week of dedication ceremonies of the new building has been announced by Lowell Harper, Monday night general chairman. Harold W. McMillen, chairman of the board of Central Soya Co. will preside as toastmaster. The music preceding the dinner will include organ music by Robert Ehrman and instrumental music by ‘Ron Robinson and his Combo. The Rev. William C. FeUer will offer' the invocation. The entire ' audience will sing the Star Spang- ' led Banner led by Joe Seabold,Napoleon, 0., well known singer and music director. During the dinner, instrumental music will be led by Ron Robinson. ■ Following the banquet, distinguished guests will be introduced and a girls’ trio including Sheila Ahr, Dana Dalzell and Anita . Smith, accompanied by Mrs. Harry Dailey at the piano, will enter- , tain. Dr. Kenneth McFarland, well known educator and speaker, founder of a college In Kansas and now associated with (General Motors, will be the guest speaker. , Those who have heard Dr. McFarland say he is one of the’ outstanding speakers in the nation today. Following the McFarland address there will be group singing directed py Joe Seabold and accompanied by Robert Ehrman. Tickets for the event are on sale in several downtown stores or they can be obtained by calling O. M. McGeath at the Community Center. Attendance at the first dinner to be served at the Center will be limited to 500 and the tickets are available at $2. More than half of the reservations already have been made, Harper said tody. I

Plan Dedication Os Kingdom Hall Dedication Is Set For June 4 And 5 Dedication of Kingdom Hall, corner of Monroe and Ninth streets in Decatur, was announced today by the Decatur congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The ceremonies will be held June 4 and 5, with open house scheduled for Saturday, June 4, from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., and again on Sunday, June 5, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Other services are planned during the two-day program and the public is invited to attend any part of the services. The bunding, constructed of brick on a concrete i foundation, has been completed by members of the congregation. Only paid labor, according to the building committee, was for the concrete foundation. Following., is the two-day program: Saturday 9 a.m.—The Day’s Text, H. Davis. Magazine Day, C. Steele. 9:30 a.m.—Field Service. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.—Open house. 2 p.m.—Advertising Service, W. Peary. 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.—Open house. 7 p.m.—Songs and Welcome— P. Gerber. 7:15 p.m.—Building an Educational Center for New World Living—C. Steele, R. Steele, V. Harmon. 8 p.m.—The Fight for Freedom to Preach World-wide—F. Payne. 9 p.m.—Concluding announcements. Sunday 9:30 a.m.—Day’s Text—F. Dellinger. 10 a.m.—To the Field. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.—Open house. 2:30 p.m.—Music. , 3 p.m.—Dedication Discourse, "A People With A Purpose” S. ’ “ - avals 4 p.m.—lntermission. 4:15 p.m.—Watchtower Study— C. Steele. 5:15 p.m.—Concluding announcements. Snapshot Contest For Father's Day Youngsters To Take Snapshots Os Dad Every boy and girl in or near Adams county is going to have the chance to prove to the world that “Best Man is Dad” in a countywide snapshot contest that starts next week. And the best thing about it is that there will be loads of prizes, and each one is going to be something that will make a fine present for Dad on Father’s day, Sunday, June 19. The .contest will be easy to enter and easy to take part in. The only requirement will be that the snapshot must be actually taken by a boy or girl of 12 or under, and it must be a picture of Dad in action., doing something for the kids. Nobody has to have an expensive camera to take part in the contest. It is possible to win a prize with any kind of a camera. But it is important to begin right now to get ready — get out the camera, load it with film and get flash bulbs, if it’s going to be an indoor picture. Remember, it may take several shots to get the one you want. Most important of all, get Dad to show you how to operate the camera, so you can submit the best possible photo? ’ Then watch this newspaper for further details of the contest. The '•Best Man is Dad” snap-shot contest is sponsored by the "Let’s Meet Our Town” merchants of Decatur, including the following business firms, who know that every boy and girl wants to have a nice present for Dad on Father’s day: J. J. Newberry Co., Holthouee Drug Co., Equity Dairy Store, G. C. Murphy Co., Halflich and Morrissey Shoes, Begun Clothing Store, Gerber’s Market, Blackwell Dept. Store, Niblick and Company, Kroger Company, Goodyear Service Store, Holthouse Furniture Store, MiHer Jones Co., Lord’s Dress Shop, Bowers Jewelry Store, Wylie Furniture Co., Lee Hardware Co., Myers Home and Auto Supply, Kiddie Shop, Decatur Music House, Schafer Store, Ehinger and Kortenber, Adams Theater, Maxelln Heating Service, The First State' Bank, Uh rick Brothers, Smith Drug Co., Knapp Service, Parkway 66 Service, The Family Restaurant, Ashbaucher’s Tin Shop, Haugk’s, Fairway Restaurant.

Price Five Cents

50 Killed By Storm In One Kansas Town Twisters Rain Death And Destruction On Southwest States WICHITA, Kas. (INS) —Tornado ravaged Udall, Kas., counted at least 59 dead today in the wake of twisters which rained death and destruction on three southwestern states and took some 80 lives. Reports on the number -of’•tor--' jured range up to 1,500 from Wednesday night’s tornadoes which ripped through portions of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, causing damage estimated at more than 320 million. Udall, virtually wiped oft the map by the tomadic winds, listed at least 50 dead, including 40 at a home for the aged. Some 400 others were injured, thus making almost every person in the small town of 500 a storm victim, when the community was leveled. Blackwell, Okla., also hard hit by the tornadoes, listed 17 dead. Reports on the number of injuredranged up to 1,000 with 100 persons listed as seriously hurt. Fourteen ail rmen were killed, when their B-36 inter-continental bomber crashed and burned near Starting City, Tex. The giant plane was caught and tossed about like a toy over the tornado hit town 50 miles from San Angelo, Tex. It crashed 35 miles from Sterling City. \ At least two other persons were killed in Oklahoma, at Cheyenne, when one of 16 separate tornadoes struck Wednesday night. Udall suffered the most damage ta any of the storm hit areas. , The small town was asleep at 11 o’cfock wfteh tfe tornado swooped down and in a matter of minutes . took a devastating toll of Itffe and property. It may be several days before the exact count of casualties is completed. First reports said that bricks from destroyed structures were “piled as high as your head.” The entire business section was demolished. Homes were ripped apart by the tornadic winds. Cars were strewn about the street. Communication facilities were destroyed as well all public utilities. CivH defense disaster units, national guardsmen and state highway polled set up an emergency center in the towa square. •Ambulances, doctors, nurses and first aid supplies from surrounding cities rushed to the community and returned with emergency cases. Hospitals in Wichita received litter cases, some of whom were transported from Udall, some 40 miles away, by automobile. A cry went up from the devastated city to Wichita authorities for all available supplies of embalming fluid. ivonunuea on Page Six) May Procession Al Church Sunday Night Crown Queen Os May . At Catholic Church The annual May procession and crowing of the Queen of May will be held Sunday evening at St. Mary’s Catholic church. Dolores Braun, a senior at Decatur Catholic high school, has been chosen to place the crown on the statue of the Blessed Virgin. She will be attended by Hazel Roberts, Joanne Braun, Marcella Gillig and Kay Borman, all members of the senior class. Catherine Koors, a member of the First Communion class, was chosen as crown bearer. Four senior boys, Walter Mowery, Charles Voglewede, Tom Titus and Ed Drum, will carry the Virgin Mother's statue in the procession. Also participating in the procession will be the Very Rev. Msgr. J. J. Seimetz, pastor of the church; the Rev. Robert Contant, his assistant; other members of the clergy, the altar boys, the First Communion class, the seniors in caps and gowns and the remaining student body of the Catholic high school. The Litany of Loreto will be sung during the procession and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament will conclude the ceremony.