Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 53, Number 202, Decatur, Adams County, 27 August 1955 — Page 1

Vol. LIII. No. 202.

Engineers Begin Cleanup In East / f w»®*£ } ' - /uRSStIESmSr ’ *** ■* - ..»■-' * tJL, ** 1 x-.- _ Iw'feAjij BEGINNING THEIR massive cleanup and rehabilitation project in the six eastern states suffering flood damage, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers went to work in Southbridge, Mass., hardest hit of the flats sections of the state. Damage in the flpod areas has been estimated at 11,600,000,000 by Corps of Engineers’ chief. #

National Guard May Be Called To Hold Order Negotiations Are Halted In Perfect Circle Argument INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — Indiana Adjutant Harold H. Doherty ' warned today that national guard units will move into the Perfect Circle strike situation if additional violence develops. The situation in the month-old strike in three cities was feared to have become more tense as a result of a break off in negotia- , tions between company officials and the CIO United Auto Workers. They met in an Indianapolis hotel Friday with State Labor Commissioner George F. Hinkle and U. S. Labor Conctlator James S. Allen. The session ended in a deadlock and no date has yet been announced for.another meeting, although Hinkle said he was endeavoring to arrange one. Hinkle said he learned late Friday of a National Labor Relations Board ruling holding that a union against which decertification proceedings are underway remains the legal bargaining agent until the proceedings are completed. This Was believed to have been one of the obstacles upon which the Indianapolis meeting foundered. Perfect Circle officials have filed petitions for NLRB elections at Richmond and Hagerstown plants to determine if the CIOUAW represents the -majority of the employes. The management did not question that the union represents the majority of the workers at the New Castle plant. Company officials were reported to have claimed they could not bargain with the UAW because they were not the valid agents. In the absence of Governor ' George N. Craig, Gen. Doherty — said he would carry Ynit the gubernatorial threat of last week to send the National Guard into the area if any trouble developed. Federal Contract Is To Remain In U.S. Transformers To Cost More Money WASHINGTON (INS) — Defense Secretary Charles E. Wilson has awarded an electrical contract to two Pittsburgh companies despite a bid from a British firm to produce the equipment for nearly a million dollars less. He said the award for six generator and three transformers for the Chief Joseph Dam in Washington State was made in order to relieve unemployment in Western Pennsylvania. The Westinghouse Electric corp, will build the generators for $6,338,491 and the Pennsylvania Transformer Co., will manufacture the transformers for $556,868. The English Export and Trading Co., had offered to supply the equipment for $5,931,326. Wilson said his action does not set a precedent for Pentagon buying but that he made the awards undef a presidential order permitting government officials to reject foreign bids where an American manufacturer plans to complete a contract in an area of un» employment. NOON EDITION

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Jefferson Faculty Is Announced Today List Is Completed By Trustee Mosser H. D. Mosser, trustee of Jefferson township, has announced members of the facutly for the Jefferson school which will open Tuesday, Sept. 1, along with other county schools. (Returning as principal of the school will be Max Stanley. Other teachers will be Nell Lee, home economics; Ed Heiman, mathematics, science and music; James Weikel, vocational agriculture; Gladys Huser, grades one and two; 'Vera Teeter, grades three and four; Ruby Miller, grades five and six, and Helen Kenney junior high. The school still lacks one teacher for English and social studies. Gail Grabill, county superintendent of schools, stated that a substitute teacher would be utilised until a regular teacher could be found. The only other new teacher on the Jefferson staff is Weikel who is a graduate of Hartford township high school and John Brown University in Arkansas. This is hie first year of teaching. Auto Marketing Is Target Os Probers Senate Group Staff Watches Car Sales WASHINGTON (INS) The Senate Commerce Committee has ordered its staff to watch automobile sales “closely” in August and September for any break in the mouning number of unsold new cars. This was revealed by Chairman Warren G. Magnuson D Wash., in a statement published in a supplement to the Congressional Record. He said the study is a follow up to an investigation of “all phases of automobile marketing, incouding the so called bootlegging of automobiles.” < Last month, a subcommittee headed by Sen. Mike Monroney D —Okla., issued an interimre port expressing “great concern" over “the record number of unsold new cars and the unfavorable trends in dealer mortality and dealer profits." ASC Chairman Warns On Form Completion Oscar T. Brown, Chairman of the Adams County ASC Committee advises farmers that it is necessary to call at the county office and i complete the necessary forms for i requesting cost-sharing for conser-j vation practices which will be com- 1 pleted in 1955 before the practice is started. Approval cannot be given i| the practice is started to signing a request The allotment clause of the regulations has been lifted and any farmer is eligible to receive costsharing payments, even though thq allotments hive been exceeded, provided the request has been signed, and the practice meets the requirements upon completion. Discount Is Made On Some Wheat Varieties The United States Department of Agriculture has announced a discount of 20 cents a bushel in 1956 price-support rates for 23 wheat varieties designated as undesirable because of inferior milling or baking qualities, Kawvale and Purkof varieties are classed as undesirable in Indiana, according to Oscar T. Brown, chairman of the Adams County ASC committee.

All Resources Os Government In Flood Area Loans To $20,000 Are Now Available Without Approval WASHINGTON (INS) — The government continued today to press its program Tor the rehabilitation of the flood stricken northeastern states. All available federal resources were thrown into the campaign to up and rebuild disaster areas in Massachusetts. Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Administrator Wendell Barnes of the Small Business Administration, estimated that as many as 7,000 applications totalling S2O million might be made tot disaster loans. This is four times greater than the number of requests filed last year after hurricane Carol, Edna and Hazel struck the Atlantic Coast. Loans up to $20,000 may be made without having to be referred to Washington. Emergency offices have been opened in the following cities: Putnam, Torrington and Waterbury, Conn.; Woonsocket, R. I.; Flemington and Trenton, N.J.; Worcester and Springfield, Mass.; Port Jervis and Kingston, N.Y.;Stroudsburg, Scranton and E&ston, Pa., and New Bern and Wilmington, N.C. The Army announced that 35 Diesel electric locomotives are being leased to two railroads to replace engines damaged or isolated by floods. Twenty are being loaned to the New York, New Haven and' Hartford Railroad and 15 to the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western. The Army said the railroads will pay for taking them out of storage at Marietta, Pa., plus a “reasonable rental.” , ’ - „ ■ ' ' Substitute Pastor At Pleasant Mills Rev. John Knight, representative of the Baptist state convention will speak at Pleasant Mills Baptist church Supnday morning at 9:3ff o’clock. He will substitute for Rev. James ißeffett, who was injured in a recent auto mishap. Employes Hopeful In Labor Dispute Many From County Out At Harvester Hopes were still high among Adams county International Harvester employes that the strike at the Fort Waiyne plants would be settled so on. Foremen and professional employes were permitted to re’enter the strikebound plants yesterday. More than 200 Adams county people are affected by the shutdown which became effective last week, it was estimated. Several Decatur and Adams county men. who are classified as foremen and managerial already have been called back to work. The strike is general throughout the nation against Harvester and labor and management representatives from each factory have been meeting in Chicago in a frantic effort to work out a compromise which would end the tie-up.

ONLY DAILY NIWBPAFIR IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, August 27, 1955.

Ohio Axle Tax To Be Studied . By Delegation 12 States Enter Monday Meeting To Map Reciprocity SPRINGFIELD, 111. (INS) — Representatives of 12 midwest states and one Canadian province will meet in Chicago Monday to decide what to do about Ohio’s ini sistence on an axle mile trucks. William B. Westbrook, chief clerk of the Illinois Automobile Department, predicted offlc/ila attending the meeting will recommend that the group reject Ohio’s demands. Ohio has cancelled its reciprocity agreements on truck fees and taxes, but notified the states that it will continue to exempt the trucks from all fees except the axle mile tax. Meanwhile, Ohio asked the states individually to agree to new pacts" which would specify that truckers from those states are not exempt from an axle mile. The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that existing agreements did exempt them from the new tax. Several states already have complied with Ohio’s request and have signed new agreements. G.O.P. Convention Held At Geneva Full Ticket For Fall Election Named GOP CONVENTION Mrs. Francis Beirly. Geneva was nominated for the post of clerktreasurer as Geneva Republicans met Friday night in convention to fil Itheir ticket for the November town elections. -•— Three councilmen also were nominated. They include: Don Windmiller, north ward; Chester Werst, First ward and William Shepperd, middle ward. With the G. O. P. convention at Geneva, both the towns of Monroe and Geneva will have town elections this coming November. Republicans will contest the incumbent Democrats at Monroe and both parties have full tickets at Geneva. The towns will conduct their own elections and will set up machinery to count their own ballots. Decatur and Berne elections will be under the supervision of the county board of election commissioners. BULLETIN The Rev. James Reffet of Macy route one, pastor of the Pleasant Mills Baptist church, was Injured in an accident in Central Indiana, according to word received here today. It was learned that the minister is hospitalized but further details were not available at noon today.

“Dad" Cross, Formerly Os Geneva, Honored Guest

W. D. Cross, Jr., vice president and Central District manager for Sinclair Refining Company, was honored Friday (August 26) night at a testimonial dinner in the Bismarck Hotel, Chicago. The occasion marked his completion of 25 years with Sinclair and 35 years in the oil business. Attending were 175 Sinclair executives from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan. Wisconsin, and Ohio, the marketing area under his jurisdiction. Cross is known to thousands of oilmen in a score of states as “Dad.” He acquired the nickname when a small boy for reasons lost in family history. When he moved with his parents, brother, and sister to Geneva, Ind., about 50 years ago, the tiny village in the heart of Limberlost swamp country was riding the crest of an oil boom. Although the rigs and other evidences of teeming oil field activity disappeared from the arect long ago, oil still dominates bis life. A portly, gruff, and vigorous man of 58, with a thatch of gray hair and • a twinkle in his eye, Cross rules his domain with justice and tolerance. He will not ask anyone to do anything he would not do himself. Neither will he condone shoddy work or shirking on the job. When exhorting his staff to produce more sales or increase efficiency of operations, his speech often Is pungent and punctuated with short expletives. That his

Explosion And Fire At State Refinery Whiting Rocked By i Tremendous Blast WHITING,'Ind. (INS) T tremendous gasoline explosion today at the Standard Oil Company of Indiana refinery in Whiting rocked a 20 mile area. A pilot on a Trans World Airlines flight to New York from Chi cago’s Midway airport reported to >the airport tower, that dark smoke (was up to about 6,000 feet. He also said flames were shooting 500 feet into the air. Telephone lines in W’hiting, serving 12,000 persons, East" Chicago Ind., and the Robertsdale section of Hammond were knocked out by ; the gasoline explosion. All available fire fighting equip--1 ment in the area was rushed to the scene. There were no immediate reports on the casualties. A Standard OU spokesman in 1 Chicago said he understood there were four separate explosions in rapid succession. a three mile square area were broken, homes shaken land residents awakened. Mrs. James Srncik, who lives 12 blocks away froth the scene of the blast, eaid: “I was sleeping when a terrific explosion shook the house. AH I saw was flames and smoke." John Metura. whose home is a half mile away from the scene, reported his bed was shaken with such force that it woke him up. Elmer Sass Os Steger, 111., about 20 miles south of the blast scene, said heavy clouds of smoke were rolling towards Chicago Heights i and other communities south of Whiting. The explosion occurred in the heart of the gasoline refinery area, -about 15 miles south of Chicago. Flood Relief Fund I Rises To Over .S3OO Response Is Good For Flood Victims i - Mrs. Wanda Oelberg, executive . secretary of the Adams county Red . Cross chapter, announced today . that the Red Cross emergency flood i relief fund here has jumped to - $376.59. She Reported that $25 has* been , collected in Berne and that the . other small towns of the county , have not yet turned in donations. Much of he total has been brought in by individual donations and by contributions though the Girl Scouts who are stationed at the First -State Bank and Adams Theaer. The quota for this county in the emergency drive is S6OO and it is hoped that more than this amount can be raised. In order to aid the stricken flood area in the east, expenditures amounting to millions of dollars will be necessary.

formula yields results is indicated in the fact that since he took over Sinclair's Central District threeyears ago, sales have risen to the extent that his district won the President’s Cup for top sales achievement. To accomplish such results, Cross sets for himself a work schedule and travel itinerary which would fell a lesser man. Last year, for example, in ad3ttion to thousands of miles of auto travel through his territory, he logged 150,000 miles in his private plane, a Lockheed Lodestar. This is equivalent to six times around the world. When speaking of the Chicago area, which he frequently does at industry meetings, his language verges on the poetic. He describes the region as “the heartland of America," and predicts that Chicago soon will emerge as the greatest seaport and industrial area in the world. Actually, Cross began his career in the oil business as a small boy. When his family moved from his native Lima, Ohio, his father opened one of Indiana’s first Ford agencies in Geneva which he <At erated in connection wtih an oil field equipment business. When he was 11 years old, and large for his age, Cross’ job was to taxi oilmen around the territory, and to periodically drive new cars in from Detroit with hla father, - As a youngster, he often drove Mrs. Gene Stratton Porter, a OOontlMied on Page Six)

Buller Places Issues Before People Today Truman Speech To Highlight Meeting Os State Democrats FRENCH LICK. Ind. (INS) — Democratic National Committee Chairman Paul Butler warned President Elsenhower today that if he runs again he will be subjected to a “tremendous frontal attack." Butler said that the Democrats would take off their gloves and assail Ike’s policies with vigor. He announced that former President Harry 8. Truman would start the attack in his scheduled “give ’em hell” speech at the banquet of the Indiana Democratic Editorial Association tonight. Butler charged the president with “administrative irresponsibility” and indicated that the bulk of the assault would be on the president’s domestic policies. Decreasing farm prices, while the general cost of living has increased in July and August, will be a major issue, according to the Democratic chairman. He charge# khat the president has favored the "big farmer” and has let the farmers in general down after promising 90 per cent of parity. Butler said that along that line there will be a strategy meeting of a Democratic advisory committee on agriculture in Chicago on Sept. 19 which will be headed by former Secretary of Agriculture Claude Wickard. Also attending will be former Agriculture Sec. Charles Brannan. Butler said that, Truman will bo a great help in the 1956 campaign but scoffed at the statement of Alabama Gov. James Folsom that Truman might try to be president again. Butler reported that he had visited 30 states in recent months and found that Truman, is tremendously popular adding: “Mr. Truman can do us a lot of good.” The Democratic chairman said that other campaign issues would be: ■ 1. The reversal of President ElsI enhower on his promise to support ' the Tennessee Valley Authority. I 2. The president’s taxation proi gram which Butler said had benefitted the corporations chiefly. 3. Ike’s school aid and highway proposals, which Butler maintained would have been “a bonanza for bankers.” 4. The corruption in public office, including the Dixon-Yates power issue, "Talbottism” and the use of high public office for personal gain and scandals in military procurement. 5. The age of President Eisenhower. Butler said that his reference in the last connection was a fear that Vice President Richard Nixon might succeed Ike. He denounced Nixon as “the least popular vicepresident in my memory.” Butler said that Truman would attack the president’s foreign policy in a special before the Chicago executives club on Sept. 9. Butler said he would not make any statement on the Democratic attitude towards the president’s foreign policy before that time. INDIANA WEATHER Partly cloudy and hot today, fair tonight. Sunday fair and hot. High today 93, low tonight 66; high Sunday 93.

Cloudy Skies Help Hold Heat Down Forecast Still For Hot Weather A heavy screen of clouds which covered the sun most of this morning was a welcomed visitor to Adams county and the forecast of temperatures in the 90’s had not materialized at noon. State weather forecasters still stuck by their guns, however, and said k temperatures in the entire state' would go above 90 degrees. Hot and fair weather was still forecast for Indiana and southern Michigan for the week-end. Early morning temperatures were in the low 60’s and at 10 o’clock this morning the Daily Democrat thermometer recorded an unofficial 74-degrees. This was up four degrees in the hour. Forecasters gave a ray of hope to heat sufferers by saying that night temperatures would be considerably.: lft*s thau tbe. forecast daytime highs. n The pollen count was around 260. .

NIPSCO Gels Award By Safety Council Stand-out Record Is Made In 1954 The National Safety Council has named Northern Indiana Public Service company an “Award of Merit” winner for its excellent safety record in 1954. Combination gas and electric utilities from all sections of the country competed for this top award. In brief ceremonies held this morning at the company’s main cffice in downtown Hammnd, Dean H. Mitchell, NIPSCO president, accepted the award from George McDonald, public utility representative of the National Safety Council. In receiving the award, Mitchell said, “I'm both happy and proud to accept this ‘Award of Merit’ from the National Safety Council on behalf of all employes at our company. The award indicates our employes are keenly aware of our safety mottb — “The greatest responsibility for an employe’s safety lies directly with the employe himself.” The award is an incentive not only to maintain our present excellent safety record but to achieve better records of safety in the years ahead.” NIPSCO qualified for the high award by meeting strict safety standards set up by the council. The council established an accident frequency severity average for NIPSCO based on the threeyear period 1951 through 1953. This average was below the national accident frequency rate for combination gas and electric utilities. In 1954 NIPSCO’s accident frequency rate was 40 percent below and its accident severity rate 17 percent below the 1951-1953 average. NIPSCO carries on a complete year 'round safety program. Each employe possesses his own safety manual containing upto-date safety information. The “Safety Scope”, an employe publication, features case histories of accidents, why they happened, and how they can be prevented. In addition, NIPSCO divisions, departments, and plants vie for the “Dean H Mitchell” safety award presented each year to the department or plant showing the greatest safety improvement record. Periodic safety meetings also form an important part of the company's over-all safety program. The “Award of Merit” Is mounted on a one-half inch beveled panel of Africa limba wood measuring 10% inches by 13 inches. A one-eighth inch plexiglass panel fastened with rosette screws covers a silver certificate containing an embossed design in black, white, and green colors. The citation, lettered in bold type, completes its modern design appearance. The total number of gas and electric utilities to win the “Award of Merit” for 1954 have not been determined. However, only seven out of 161 combination companies reporting to the council won the award in 1953. Sheep Raisers Okay Promotion Program Vote Returns Are In Favor Os Plan WASHINGTON (INS) — Preliminary returns on a national referendum indicate that sheep growers approve a plan to give some of their wool incentive payments to government for a wool and lamb promotion program. Agriculture Secretary Ezra Taft Benson told a news conference Friday that, frankly, he has some reservations about the government, collecting funds for such a purpose and then turning them back to a private industry. The provision, however, was written into the National Wool Act passed by the 83rd Congress. Benson said his misgivings are based in part on the fear that other segments of agriculture will come along demanding the same treatment. Wool, he explained, is a special case in which the national policy is to encourage production in excess of current domestic demand as a means of building up the supply of a strategic commodity. Tabulations on the balloting thus far indicate that growers owning more than 9,100,000 sheep voted in favor of the program and that owners of slightly more than three and one half million voted against it. The margin of approval thus was better than 72 per cent —considerably more than the two thirds majority needed to put the program into effect - Final results wtH be determined early in September when the eligibility of challenged ballots will (Ctoattaueu on Page Five)

Price Five Cents

New Hurricane Still Harmless In Movements Ships Are Warned On Approach Os Latest Menace MIAMI (INS) Hurricane Edita venting 75 miles an hour winds* , plowed slowly and harmlessly at sea early today 990 miles east of Palm Beach, Fla. Edith, the third hurricane of the month and the seasons fifth tropical storm, is moving slowly toward the north northwest at about seven mph. The storm is expected to continue this course and speed for the next 12 to 18 hours. However. the Miami Weather Bureau warned that there may be in tensification of the storm and cautioned *ll shipping in the hurricane's area to exercise care. Edith’s 75 mph winds exist In squalls near the center with galea extending outward 150 miles to the north and east and 75 miles to the southwest. Over in the Oulf "of Mexico, a small tropical low pressure system has swelled tides three to four feet above normal from Pensacola, FJa. to New Orleans. '* The low pressure area moved over the Mississippi Sound and passed inland during the night and at 6 am. EST was centered 50 miles northwest of New Orleans. The New Orleans Weather Bureau said the disturbance is expected to continue moving west northwest at about 12 15 mph, dumping heavy rains on south and central Louisiana today. Rural Youthers Will Be On Radio Program Shirley Gerke, secretary of the Adams county Rural Youth club, and Roger Kbeneman, president, with county Leo Seltenright > wiU appear ,bn Jay Gould’s Little I Red Harn program' Tuesday at ■ 6:16 a. m. They will discuss the i - activities and program of the local / ■ Rural Youth group. 1 ■ Two Motorists Held On Speeding Charges Two arrests, one by city and one by state police, were made yesterday. George C. Daniels, Pleasant Mills, was arrested for speeding on Mercer avenue. David W. Linnemier of Deoatur, .was arrested six miles south of town on U.S. 27 for excessive speed. Linnemier was fined five dollars and costa amounting to 19.75 by Justice of the Peace, Floyd Hunter. Local FFA Team To Judge Livestock The Adams Central Future Farmers of America chapter livestock team will compete in state judging of beef, sheep and hogs at the state fair Aug. 30. The team includes Larry Lautzenheiser, Phil Moser, Arlen Mitchel and Dorn Bailey. It is coached by Martin Watson, vocational agriculture instructor at Adams Central. To be eligible so? the state fair event the team won county and district contests. They competed against 24 teams from 12 counties in this district. Labor Secretary At President’s Retreat Routine Talks Are Reported At Confab DENVER (INS) — Secretary of Labor James P. Mitchell is scheduled to call on President Eisenhower at the summer White House today for a “routine”’ conference on his department’s problems. The secretary arrived in Denver late Friday as Mr. Eisenhower was returning from a day long fishing trip in the Rocky Mountains. Mitchell is the second member of the cabinet to fly to Denver for a meeting with Mr. Elsenhower, who Is enjoying a long work and play vacation away from Washington’s summer heat. Interior Secretary Douglas McKay met with the President Thursday. The talks on labor problems were-set to start at 10:89 am. . (EST). ' - The President may relax in the afternoon with a golf game.