Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 53, Number 131, Decatur, Adams County, 4 June 1955 — Page 1

Vol. till. No. 131.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS HOLD GRADUATION ?c a .T the m ® mberß of tlw senior class of the Decatur Catholic high school, taken Friaay night during the annual commencement exercises of the school, held at the high achool audi-

Manila Report Says Reds To free Airmen Newspaper Editor In India Says 11 Fliers * Will Be Freed Soon • WASHINGTON (INS) — The U.S. waited today with “earnest hope” for further word about a Manila report that Red China is about .to release 11 American airmen jailed as “spies". State department spokesman Henry Suydam said Friday that the U.S. still has “no official information" that the airmen, seized by the Chinese Reds when their B 29 was shot down, would be freed in 24 hours. The report was attributed to J. C. Jain, managing editor of the Times of India, a publication regarded as close to the government of Indian prime minister Payaharlal Nehru. Suydam said: “We most earnestly hope that the report is true but we have no official information to this effect.” Nehru and his roving ambassador, V. K. Krishna Menon, who is due in Washington next week, have sought to mediate the Far Eastern crisis. Some diplomats have credited them with helping to speed the release of four U. S. Jet pilots from Red Chinese prisons this week. U. S. intelligence officers in Honolulu, where the liberated pilots are enjoying a reunion with their families, are questioning the four on their knowledge. If any, of the Communists' intentions toward the remaining prisoners. The U. S. is permitting more than 100 Chinese students to return to their communist - held Diplomats say this could be a bargaining gesture toward release of the 11 airmen and 52 other Americans held in Red “ China. Suydam denied a London report attributed to Krishna Menon that the U. S. is restraining Chinese students who want to return to Red China. Meanwhile, two government officials told the senate foreign relations committee Friday that Red China's detention of the 11 airmen violates the Korean armistice, the Geneva convention, and the Communists' own pledge. The statements were made by defense department general counsel Wilber W. Brucker and deputy under secretary of state Robert Murphy who testified in support of early U. S. ratification of the Geneva pacts on humane treatment of war prisoners. In*a letter to chairman Walter F. George (D Ga.), secretary of state John Foster Dulles also trek ed the sehatb to ratify the Geneva agreements, but to stipulate that the U. S. rejects Soviet reservations to the conventions. Russia and its satellites claim the right to subject war prisoners to prosecution and punishment under their own laws in accordance with the principles which governed the Nuremburg war crimes trials. », , . ' ■ 1 .. American Motors To Lay Off 3,400 MILWAUKEE (INS) —American Motors Corp, will lay off 3,400 employes at its Milwaukee and Kenosha plants Tuesday. A spokesman for the company which makes Nash and Hudson autos made the announcement. No indication was given as to how long the workers would be idled. NOON EDITION

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Catholic Graduate Rises Held Friday Awards Presented During Exercises Twenty-two graduates of Decatur Catholic high school were reminded to be proud of their school and not to lose the sense of-val-ues instilled in . them by their teachers and parents. These points were pressed home to the graduates by the Very Rev. Aloysius Dirksen, former president of St. Joseph College, and now from Carthagena, Ohio, in the commencement address Friday night. Rev. Dirksen told the young men and women that they have been equipped for life through their education. That they may not be the mental genius of the Einstein type was brought out, but as long as they realized their relationship to and could orientate his relationship with God, man and the world, the graduate would be a well-rounded individual. know who he is and how he fits in the universe. His schooling has brought out (hese points and he should now take his place. A final reminder was to rememthem by their teachers and parber those things that were taught ents and never lose their pride in their school and their .sense of values. The Very Rev. Msgr. J. J. Selmetz awarded the diplomas to the members of the high school and eighth grade graduating classes. He also presented awards, to several members of both classes. The awards for the highest scholastic honors for four years of high school went to Marcella Gillig arid Thomas Titus. Honorable mention for scholastic achievement was won by Barbara Kay Bornian, Leola Ford, Ann Durkin, Anna Marie Lengerich and Kathleen Pursley. Marcella Gillig and Dolores Braun won awards for four years of perfect attendance. The “Apostle of the Word” journalism award from the Marquette university school of went to Leola ■Ford and Joan Laurent. These two will receive a year’s subscription to the .“Catholic Editor.” College scholarship awards went to Thomas Titus, St. Joseph’s College at Rensselaer; Leola Ford, St. Francis College at Fort Wayne and Barbara Kay Borman, Purdue university. Other awards included the Freedom Foundation award and the Betty Crocker homemaker award to Leola Ford, American Legion essay contest awards to Marcella Gillig, Rosemary Gase and Hazel Roberts; the order of artist typist pins to Alice Gage, Joanne Braun and Leola Ford; the order of Gregg artists shorthand pin to Anna Marie Lengerich; national poetry association honor# to Marcella Gillig, Anita Mendes, Leola Ford and Alice Gage; Gregg shorthand certificates to Ann Durkin, Nita Osterman, Rosemary gase, Leola Ford, Joan Laurent, Joanne Braun, Dolores Braun and Ataita Mendez, and chemistry honors to Kay Borman, Marcella GllHg and Charles Voglewede. The one year scholarship to Decatur Catholic high school, sponsored by the Holy Name Society and Delta Theta Tau sorority, went-to Robert Murphy and Kathleen Kohne who attained highest scolastic honors in the eighth grade. Honorable mention for eighth grade scholarship went to Angela Andrews, Michael Durkin, Patrick Durkin, Dolores Kohne, Judith Koors and Theresa Laurent. Jerry Baker, an eighth grade student, received an award for eight years of perfect attendance. Perfect attendance records for the past year were earned by Patrick Durkin, Paul Gross, Kathleen tvontinueo on Page Six)

Report Molotov To Ignore New York Meeting Soviet Sources Say Molotov To Proceed Directly To West UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. (INS) —Russia's V. M. Molotov reportedly intends to ignore the New York meeting of -the western Big Three foreign ministers. The allied talks are set for June 1(5, two days after the Soviet foreign minister arrives in New York aboard the Queen Elizabeth. But Soviet sources at the UN said Molotov will proceed by train to San Francisco on June IS for the 10th anniversary celebration of the UN charter signing during the week following. The Soviet informants father indicated that Molotov wilj leave tt to tiW WWW tri? to him in San Francisco and ask for a joint meeting of the Big Four ministers. The Russian evidently has been nettled by the mapping of an agreed strategy and policy with which to confront him in the west coast city. Mounting rumors from various directions insist that Molotov will resign as Soviet foreign minister after the San Francisco celebration. This would mean that his final job will be to challenge the site and agenda for the “summit” talks of the four heads of state being planned by the western Big Three in their New York session. The Russians at the UN stand on the contention that the Big Four heads must meet in Vienna and go basically into major cold war problems. ♦ They want to talk solutions of deadlocked issues causing tension, such as the rearmament of West Germany and unification of the two Germanies. They want basic decisions on disarmament and the control of nuclear weapons, along with talks on the Far East. President Eisenhower has shown a strong inclination to insist that Lausanne, Switzerland, be the site for the “summit” talks. He also has made it clear he regards the discussions as largely designed to explore and clarify east and west positions. The foreign ministers will be delegated accordance with the western plan—to get down to brass tacks on the broad lines of policy adopted, if any, by their chiefs. It seems to be a generally acuepted conclusion already that Molotov will be missing from the “summit” talks. Reports have it that his successor as foreign minister will be either Pravda editor Dmitri T. Shepilov or A. L Mikoyan, a Kremlin big shot in charge at present of economic relations and consumer goods. County Education Board Meets Today ’ The county board of education, including the various township trustees, was meeting this morning at the county court houkg’, A, mong the items on the agenda was to be the election of the county attendance officer. It was unofficially reported that Mrs. Mildred Foley, current attendance officer, was the only person 4rho has made application for the post so she was expected to be, appointed unanimously. INDIANA WEATHER Considerable cloudiness with showers and thunderstorms tonight and Sunday. Low tonight 63-85. High Sunday SMS.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAME COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, June 4, 1955.

Auto Workers Resume Contract Talks With Ford ,General Motors

Senate Group Favors Dollar Minimum Wage Labor Committee Chairman Predicts Passage By Senate WASHINGTON (INS) ~ Sen. Lister Hill (D Ala.), predicted today the senate will pass a Democrat plan to raise the 75 cent national minimum wage to one dollar an hour, effective Jan. 1. .. <' The senate labor committee chairman made the forecast after a labor subcommittee approved a 25 cent wage boost affecting an estimated two million workers employed by firms doing business across state lines. F" In taking the action, the subcommittee by-passed President Eisenhower's proposal for a 90-cent wage floor and put off until next fall the heated question of extending coverage of the law to additional workers. Hill told a newsman he hoped to bring the bill before the full committee as soon as possible to “obtain quick action by both the committee and she senate" at this sesston. Mr. Eisenhower had requested a rise to 90 cents to offset increases in the cost of living since 1949 when congress last changed the fair labor standards act. However, AFL, CIO and other union leaders had demanded a >1.26 wage floor to provide what they -regard as a “decent” wage level for workers affected by the law. Sen. Paul Douglas (D Ill.), chairman of the subcommittee which handled the bill, said the |1.25 proposal was rejected by a three to two vote with Sens. Matthew Neely (D W. Va.), and Pat McNamara (D Mich.), supporting the union backed figure. , Mrs. Joseph Wheeler Dies This Morning Local Man's Mother Is Taken By Death Mrs. Joseph B. Wheeler, 70, died unexpectedly at 1:15 o’clock this morning at her home on Bluffton route 2. She had been blind for 40 years and in failing health for six years. Mrs. Wheeler was a member of the Old Salem Evangelical United Brethren church, west of Linn Grove. Surviving are her husband; two sons, Forest Duane Wheeler of Decatur and Herbert Wheeler of Linn Grove; one daughter, Miss Ruth Elizabeth Wheeler of Indianapolis; five grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Otto Strahm of Bluffton route 2, and three half-brothers, Charles Gentis of Tocsin, and Everett and Raymond Gentis, both of Ossian. The body was removed to the Yager funeral home at Berne, where friends may call after 9 o’clock Sunday morning. City Officials Are Ordered To Hearing Robert Anderson, city attorney, today received a registered letter ordering city officials to attend a hearing of the stream pollution control board Thursday, June 16. The letter stated that the .question of pollution of the St. Mary's river will be considered and whether an order should or should not be made ordering the city to acquire a plant for the proper disposal or treatment of matter which is contributing to the pollution. A story was released to the newapapers Thursday stating that Decatur was to be ordered to attend the hearing. The letter received today by r the city was the first official word to be sent. ~ •

FY? • to for

President Pleased At New Farm Trip Adds New Angle To Plans For Politics WASHINGTON (INS) — President Eisenhower’s “commuter” plane for quick trips from the White House to his Gettysburg farm added a new factor today to the wilt be run again guessing game. The Chief Executive was as tickled as a boy with his first bicycle Friday as he discovered that the small twin engine craft would, whisk him from Washington to Gettysburg in less than a half hour. But that didn’t make it any easier to return to the grind of the White House after a carefree afternoon at the farm, where his chief concern was whether a raccoon was stealing his duck eggs. As Mr. Eisenhower put it when it came time to fly back to the capital: “Well, it’s about time, I guess, to go back to the salt mines.” The speedy, four • passenger plane, which can land on a cow pasture airport, means the President could spend a lot more time on his farm during a second term in the White House. But it .could also help hhn grow Wuched to the farm in f coming months that he will prefer Gettysburg'to Washington. It was the first time a President of the United States has ever flawn in a light plane, marking an important milestone for the safety conscious aviation industry. The President was obviously enjoying himself Friday as he chatted with farmers who came from three states to present him with an assortment of livestock, including a cow, a calf, a heifer, and a 300 pound sow. He asked dozens of questions about such matters as how to raise the best pigs and whether a Black Angus cow gives more milk than Herefords. He smilingly decided the sow phould go into the farm’s “Maternity ward” when its donor, 18-year-old Elden Holsapple, of MitCounty Is Included In Operation Alert Civil Defense Meet Held Friday Night Plans for Adams county's participation in "Operation Alert—l9ss” were discussed at a meeting of the Adams county civil defense organization Friday night in the Decatur Chamber of Commerce office. The test alert, which will be a national civil defense project, will be held June 15 and 18. Public participation will not be requested here. Adams county's activity in the alert will be on a paper basis only. This county will be expected to act as a support county for Fort Weyne, which is a critical target area and one of the cities in which an Imaginary bomb will be dropped. In Fort Wayne, civil defense personnel will be activated during the test although the general public will not take part. Purpose of this alert as in previous alerts will be to acquaint civil defense workers with the problems arising from a disaster and to point out the weaknesses in local organization.) Reports were made by the radio amateurs, the sheriff’s division, the disaster service under Mrs. Wanda Oelberg and the pilots under Josephine Ivetlch. Mrs. Oelberg reported that the local Red Cross now has five Instructors qualified to teach workers in disaster services including mass feeding, clothing and sheltering, registration, and survey. At the end of the meeting, refreshments were served through the courtesy of civil defense members, who donated coffee and sandwiches.

British Roll Os Unemployed Mounts Daily Thousands Forced Off Jobs Because Os Railroad Strike LONDON (INS)—In a grim reminder of the depression years In the ea,rly thirties, British workers forced off their jobs by the rail and dock strikes began lining up at unemployment offices throughout the nation today. The number of unemployed in the gravest industrial crisis facing Britain since the general strike of 1926 was already well in excess of 250,000. The figure was expected to reach one million sometime next week. The rail strike took a turn for the worse when the Communist dominated Amalgamated Engineering Union ordered its 20,000 members to leave their jobs. Early reports indicated only 50 repairmen have obeyed the union order. But should the majority comply, government officials fear all trains will stop rolling within • wNk. . - The week long strike of 70,000 locomotive engineers and firemen for a “prestige” wage increase forced many firms to take drastic steps. Hundreds of companies deprived of steel, coal and other essentials were closing down or placing workers on short time with a warning of no work if the strike continues through next week. The dilemma of prime minister Sir Anthony Eden's government continued to be acute. The Conservatives were confronted with the knowledge that some labor unions not presently involved in the strikes, especially other Red dominated unions, were ready to. call walkouts if the government .tried to break the strike by the use of emergency powers. The emergency power was granted the government this week by Queen Elisabeth. The prime minister will make a radio broadcast to the nation Sunday night, appealing to the people to face the emergency calmly and urging the railwaymen to end the strike. The walkout has been termed by the British press a "senseless" struggle that no one can win. Mrs. Lila Sprunger Is Taken By Death Funeral Services Monday Afternoon Mrs. Lila Sprunger, 68, a native of Monroe township, died at 2:20 o'clock Friday afternoon at the Clinic hospital in Bluffton, following a heart attack suffered at her home in that city Thursday night. Mrs. Sprunger had resided in Wells county since 1926 and was a member of the First Evangelical and Reformed church in Bluffton. Her husband, Otto Sprunger, preceded her in death. Surviving are five sons, Orison Sprunger of Berne, Fredrick and Adrian Sprunger of Bluffton, the Rev. Vaughn Sprunger of Portsmouth, O„ and Curtis Sprunger, at home; ,13 grandchildren; three brothers, Amos Lehman of Monroe, Mennas Lehman of Angola and Wilbur Lehman of Berne, and a sister, Mrs. Eli Baumgartner of Berne. The body was removed to the Thoma funeral home in Bluffton, where friends may call after 5 o’clock this evening. At noon' Monday it will be taken to the First Evangelical and Reformed church tor services at 2 p. m., the Rev. Matthew Worthman officiating. Burial will be tn the MRE cemetery at Berne.

Probers To Query Has Manufacturer Graft Hearing To Continue Tuesday WASHINGTON (INS) — Senate investigators will climax a search for graft in military procurement next week by question* ing Harry Lev, a Chicago capmaker accused of giving bribes. Senate investigations subcommittee chairman John L. McClellan (D-Ark.) told newsman the manufacturer will appear when hearings resume at 10 a.m. (EDT) Tuesday. Friday* force Capt. Ray mohd Wool, of Shelby, Ohio, stuck to his denial of a charge that Lev gave him >50,000 in return for a two million dolalr contract to make 6,823,000 white sailor hats in 1953. Wool, a former procurement officer in New York, said his income rose that year because of a prosperous dress business he and his wife operated as a sideline in Madison, N. J. However, two salesgirls who used to work for him said the shop was "dying” and the man who bought the firm confirmed this. Mrs. Melia Hort, who was Wool’s subordinate as a contracts administrator in 1953, has admitted getting two MtfU worth fiM, plus 12,000 in cash, from Lev. She insisted the money was Lev’s investment in her husband's chemical business. She also complained that Lev “reneged” on a promise to give more. Mrs. Hort firmly denied a charge that she tried to “blackmail” Lev tor >15,000. Witnesses testified Wednesday that the navy is trying to get back some >149,000 on the hat contract, most of it representing money Lev saved through "deviations” in carrying out the work. Monthly Report Is Gven By Hospital Operating Profit Is Shown In May Adams county memorial hospital showed an operating profit of >664.77 for the month of May, according to figures compiled by hospital officials and made public today. Total May Income, Including >19,853.56 received from patients, was more than matched by the payroll of >13,435.25 and general expenses of >5,753.54. Distribution of spring taxes totalling >6,968.68 was not taken into consideration in the figures but will be added to the hospital operating fund. There were 41 adult patients and 10 babies on May 1. During the month there were 181 patients admitted and there were 56 new babies. On the last day of the month there were 31 adult patients and four babies. During the month, only two deaths were reported at the hospital. The records also reveal that of the 56 new babies —29 were boys and 27 were girls. The hospital board accepted the report and following that made a record of several important actions. Reluctantly the board accepted the resignation of Miss Mary Meyers, R. N. and thanked her for her fine service while employed at the hospital. Miss Meyers was married today and will move to California. Miss Eloise Fennel, R. N., was granted a vacation during which time she will be married. Miss Feasel said that she would return to her hospital duties after her wedding trip. Mrs. Eleanor Meeks, R. N., who has been on a leave of absence because of illness for several weeks, will return soon. It was reported at the board meeting. Return of Dick Hakes, R. N„ only male nurse at the hospital, was announced. Hakes has mean in the army and was discharged (Continues oa Wage Eta) "/

Price Five Cents

Hope Is Raise# For Settlement Os Wage Issue Aura Os Optimism Pervades Sessions On Wage Contracts DETROIT (INS) — The CIO United Auto Workers Union resumes contract negotiations with Ford and General Motors today under an aura of optimism. Today’s sessions were slated for 19 a.m. (EST) with Ford and for 12:30 p.m. with GM. An indication that talks between the UAW and the two companies might ba going well came Friday from CIO and UAW President Walter Reuther. At Friday’s Ford session, Reuther wisecracked with newsmen, jumped in the air and clicked his heels. He remarked when the parties returned for the last of the day’s three meetings: "You guys get better looking everytime I see you.” Because of the continued news blackout. over the Ulka, the outward appearance of negotiators was about the only barometer for the trend of the aisatopC The obvious good humor of Reuther — chief union bargainer — raised hope that if a settlement is not reached by the Sunday midnight deadline for walkout, the old contract may be extended as it was earlier this week. Meanwhile, negotiations between the UAW and General Moton, the nation's largest auto maker, also quickened in tempo as separate closed door talks went on in the General Motors building. The GM pact covering 350,000 workers ends midnight Tuesday and a meeting of the UAW’s 1 national GM council has been called for Monday morning. The council * will decide on either a strike or extension of the GM agreement However, observers agreed that the Ford parley holds the key to the UAW’s demand for a guaranteed annual wage. Ford was said by an unnamed member of the UAW bargaining team to have bowed at least half way on GAW. The Ford proposal, which brought a four day reprieve in a threatened walkout, reportedly involves a >55 million trust fund, built up over three years at the rate of six cents an hour per worker. Chailes Patterson Dies Friday Night Local Lady's Father Dies At Fort Wayne Charles Patterson, 77, died at 9:30 o’clock Friday night at his home, 1302 West Jefferson street. Fort Wayne, following an illness of approximately four years. ' He was a native of Bluffton and a farmer until retiring 10 years ago, when he moved to Fort Wayne. Mr. Patterson was a member of the Evangelical United Brethren church. Surviving are his wife, Elisabeth; five daughters, Mrs.. Vera Kats and Mrs. Doris Schemerhorn, both of Denver, Colo., Mrs. Mary Welch of Lancaster, 0., Mrs. Esther Franklin of Decatur and Mrs. Mabel Avery of Fort Wayne; two sons, Roger C. Patterson of Fort Wayne and John Patterson of Cleveland, O.; two brothers, Roll Patterson of Moberly, Mo., and Bert Patterson of Bluffton; 14 grandchildren and eight greetgrandchildren. The body was taken to ths Tom Mnngovan funeral home, where friends may cal! after 7 p.m. Sunday. Funeral arrangements have not been completed.