Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 53, Number 307, Decatur, Adams County, 31 December 1955 — Page 1

Vol. LUI. No. 307.

BIG BLOW AGAINST POLIO

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SECRETARY OF STATE John Foster Dulles joins polio victim Pamela Hunt, 6, to blow up “Polio Fighter” balloons in launching the annual March of Dimes "Polio Balloon Campaign" in Washington. The campaign is underway to raise funds for the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis.

Legless Vet Calls Charge By VA As Lie VA Hearing Board Weighs Testimony On Vet's Pension WASHINGTON (I.NS) —A veterans administration hearing board today weighed the testimony of a legless war veteran who branded as an "unmitigated lie” charges that he aided North Korea and Red China. The three — member committee concluded a one-day hearing Friday and announced that it will decide early in 1956 whether the VA should withdraw the s£29-atnK»nth disability pension of James Kutcher, of Newark, N. J. Kutcher proudly” admitted that .he has been active in the Socialist Workers’ party, but he denied that the group seeks to “overthrow.” the U. 3. government, except by constitutional means. The World War II amputee, who was accused of calling "strikes” during the Korean conflict; has been threatened with cancellation of his pension on grounds that his socialist activities bar his right to disability payments 5 Frequent clashes between his attorney, Joseph Rauh Jr., and committee chairman Peyton Moss marked the unusual hearing, which ’was open to the press on Kutcher’s demand. , Rauh, charging that VA acted out of "ignorance” and ‘‘vindictiveness’ asked for dismissal of the case on grounds that the agency had confused socialist with oettimunism. With Rauh protesting, Moss declared that "anyone who would cause a strike during war” would be guilty of aiding the enemy. Later in the hearing, Kutcher answered "yes” when his attorneyasked if these and Other charges were not an “unmitigated lie.” Moss said, however, the government .is "reluctant to invoke the forefelture provisions of the law in any honorably discharged veteran’s case, more particularly a seriously disabled combat veteran, unless the evidence shows beyond a reasonable doubt that the veteran has committed one of the offenses spe(Oontlnued On Page Five) Paul M. Butler May Run For Governor SOUTH BENO, Ind. (INS) — Democratic national chairman Paul M. Butler said Friday he will not run for senator but hinted he is considering running for governor. He said: “I am not interested in the Senate under any circumstances and am in no position at the present time. to make an announcement concerning the governorship.” INDIANA WEATHER Partly cloudy to fair through Sunday. Little change In ternperatursa tonight and Sunday. Low tonight 20-42. High Sunday 3542. -

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

■’S,",, ——■ ..y. Farm Prices Drop Again In November Strong Democratic Fire On Republicans WASHINGTON (INS) — The Eisenhower administration came under strong Democratic fire today in the wake of a new report aisclosing that farm prices have dropped seven percent in the past year. Sens, Hubert H. Humphrey (DMinn.) and John Spprkmdn (DAla.) blasted administration farm policy as “absolutely inconceivable" and called on farmers to help elect a Democratic president in 1956. ° ‘ Both lawmakers said congress must take “fast action”. in the session convening Tuesday to help alleviate the situation. But Sparkman noted that the Agriculture department itself predicts further price, drops in the new year. The latest official report said that farm commodity prices dropped one percent between mid-No-vember and mid-Dpcember — the third successive month' of tumbling agricultural prices. Declining prices for hogs, cattle and cotton were reportedly the main cause of the latest decline which pushed the parity ratio to 80/ the lowest point since Sep ? tember, 1940. The parity ratio measures the relationship between- the prices farmers receive for their products and the cost, of things they have-Ho buy. » • ■» Says Reds Seek To. Provoke Arms Race Charge Is Made By Winston Churchill LONDON (INS) — Sir Winston Churchill charged today that “Soviet leaders have done their best to provoke an arms race in the Middle East.” He commented, "This is a strange interpretation of ‘peaceful coexistence’.” Two iays after top Soviet leaders accused the, West of violating the "Geneva spirit,” the former British prime minister sent a New Year’s message to the Conservative party Primrose League. It said: "Many difficulties face us bnt I am confident we shall surmount them. “The Soviet leaders have done their best to provoke an arms race in the Middle East. This is a strange interpretation of ‘peaceful coexistence.’ “I do not believe the breed of communism which rests upon foreign domination of states and persecution of individuals ever will nrove a more attractive way of life than the national and personal freedom which is the foundation of the western world.- / "Let us. therefore,- have faith in ourselves and our ideals and right will surely triumph." —te.. f. -1- i ■ -n- j-.- m 'T . NOON EDITION < —

Ike Answers Charges From Kremlin Boss United States Will Continue To Work To Aid Enslaved KEY WEST. Fla. (INS) — President Eisenhower was Tinding out once again today Ijow hard it is for the President of the U. S. to take even a brief holiday from the cares of the White House. The . warm Florida sunshine wasf proving to be just what the doctor ordered for the exercise needed to put him back into peak physical condition. But even on sundrenched Key West there was no escaping the chill breezes of the cold war, stirred up” by Kremlin boss Nikita Khrushchtev. Mr. Eisenhower took time out from his holiday and an important conference on the state of the union message Friday to draft an answer to Khrushchev’s charge that he had violated the "Spirit of Geneva.” To avoid dignifying the accusation with a personal reply, the White House statement was issued under the name of news secretary James C. Hagerty. It informed the Kremlin in blunt language that the U.. S. will continue to worj for’the ‘ “peaceful liberation” of the erftlaved peoples behind the iron' curtain “until success is achieved.” There was no immediate White House reaction to the more conciliatory tone adopted by Soviet premier Nikolai Bulganin in his Interview with Charles E. Shutt, Washington manager of Telenews, the .International News Service affiliate. > The President looked the picture of good health Friday as he spent 90 minutes working out with his golf clubs on the baseball diamond across from his quarters at the Key West Naval base. ..y— _ — Guatemala Approves Outlawing Os Reds GUATEMALA CITY (INS) — The Guatemalan constitutional assembly has approved a new constitution outlawing Communism and all forms of totalitarianism. The new charter will go into effect in March; simultaneous with the opening of a new congress. Harvey Malusow's Troubles Increase Link New Yorker To Apparent Conspiracy WASHINGTON (INS) — The troubles of turnabotit witness Har v vey M. Matusow piled up today as senate probers of communism linked the 30-year-old New Yorker to an “apparent conspiracy to obstruct justice.”The senate internal security subcommittee recommended a federal grand jury investigation of the alleged plotters and edntempt of congress action against others, plus disbarment of four unnamed New York lawyers. In a 104-page report to .the senate judiciary committee, the group ’also asked the veterans administration to determine whether Matusow “falsified his claim for compensation” for a World War II injury. In addition, the subcommittee proposed that attorneys appearing before federal and agencies and congressional committees be required to sjgn non-Communist affidavits. One member. Sen. Thomas C. Hennings (D-Mo.) said he was “forced to take exception" to “a number of basic matters” in the effort. He said he will make a statement’ "in the next week or, ten days.” The report was based on 12 days of public hearings last spring in which Matusow swore he had, lied for profit as a “ professional witness” against Communists in court trials and in congressional investigations in 1950. Matusow has been sentenced to three years in prison for contempt of court at EL Paso, Tex., as a result of recanting testimony which helped convict Clinton E. Jencks, an official of the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers, on perjury charges. He is free on bond pending an appeal in the case. Matusow, a self-described “perpetual, habitual liar,” is also swatting trial tn New York for perjury for "allegedly reversing his testimony against second-string Communist leaders three years ago.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, December 31, 1955.

Government’s Leaders Warn Against Honeyed Statement Os Bulganin

—, , , J Gen. Marshall [ Is Honored On 75th Birthday Eisenhower Leads Free World Honor To Gen. Marshall WASHINGTON (INS) — Presi- , dent Eisenhower led the free world today in paying tribute to soldierstatesman Gen. George C. Marshall, on his 75th birthday. Congratulatory messages flooded his winter home at Pinehurst. N.C.. where the former secretary pf state and World War II army chief of , staff spent the day quietly. From Western Europe, where his name is synonymous with America’s postwar economic aid, came a host of greetings signed by military, government, business and labor leaders in pipe NATO countries. Marshall viewed his milestone with equanimity and declined to risk any predictions about ‘the chance of world peace or the course of future events. The man who has been described by ex-President Harry S. Truman as “the greatest living American,” and by Sen. William E. Jenner (R Ind ), as a “living lie,” said whimsically: . -■ • v "Besides, anything I might say about the state of the world would just stir things up, and I don’t want to do that.” Marshall reported that he is in good health. "I feel very well," he sajd: “I enjoy life." From Key West, Fla., came “warm personal regards” from the man whom Marshall picked for the top World War II allied command which brought him fame and the presidency. , ‘Said Mr. Eisenhower: “This year it is a deeply felt privilege to send congratulations on another yearly milestone in your brilliant career of service to our country.” .The Jive-star general, who was born at Uniontown. Pa., in 1880, was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 1953 for his authorship of the Marshall plan. f Since retiring as secretary pf defense during the Korean conflict, Marshall’s only connection with Washington officialdom has been as chairman of the Americap battle monuments commission. Marshall’s gift to history as he reached the three-quarters of ft ’ century mark was to confirm proposed publication of his life story a project he had long rejected. City Officials To Take Oaths Today Democrats To Take City Offices Sunday For the first time in 20 years, all Democratic city officials will receive their oath of office at 2:3(T o'clock this afternoon from Ed F. Jaberg, county clerk, apd Mayor Robert D. Cole, clerk-treasurer Mirriam Hall and five Democratic councilmen, ,Ed Bauer, incumbent. Carl Gerber, Norbert Aumanh, Clyde Drake, and Lawrence Kohne, will assume their four-year terms of office legally effective January 1, 1956. The oath taking ceremony was set for this afternoon because January 1 comes on Sunday this year, i The Rev. William Feller, pastor of Zion Evangelical and Reformed i church, Decatur, will deliver the invocation and the only other formal part of the ceremony will be tfie induction by Jaberg. An informal reception then will be held for an hour In the council i chamber on the second floor" at i city hall. The public is invited to i the ceremony. Along with the elective officials, i John DeVoss, new city attorney, t also will receive his oath of office. 1 Oaths are not required from heads i of departments. „ i 4

» • • . . . . , 1 • 'Allocates Million ’For Flood Relief B • Eisenhower Makes Initial Allocation KEY WEST (INSJ — President Eisenhower made an initial allocation of $1,000,000 from his disaster fund today for flood relief in California. He acted oh the advice of tftvil defense administrator Vai Peterson, who asked .the amount as a starter toward supplementing local apil state rejief operations. ’’ Mr. Eisenhower designated flood- ! counties of (\alifornia as «a major disaster area free. 23 and .gave “blank check” authorization for emergency federal aid. ' The initial allocation may be followed with additional federal funds on the recommendation of Civil Defense officials on the scene. Flooded sections, of Nevada and Oregon have also been designated as disaster areas by the President. Gov. Goodwin J. Knight of California was informed by telegram df today’s action, announced-at the President's vacation headquarters in Key West, Fla. Israel Charges Two Workmen Are Killed Another Injured In Ambush From Arabs . JERUSALEM ‘ (INS)—An Israeli army spokesman reported today that two Israeli workmen were killed and another one was injured when, they were caught Friday in an Arab ambush. , The spokesman said the incident occurred in the. Wadi Raman region of the Negev when a road repair vehicle was ambushed. He said a fourth workman reported escaping. United Nations truce observers were en route the’scene to check the Israeli complaint. In Egyptian-held Gaza near the Mediterranean an Egyptian spokesman claimed that Israeli patrols crossed 1 into the Gaga Strip area near Khan unis and killed an Arab civilian. He said two other were wo.unded by Israeli troops in another action. /j spokesman said that UN truce observers were - investigating the incidents. Westinghouse Co. And Union Meeting Saturday Session Is FirstJn Weeks PITTSBURGH (INS) —Bargainers for both sides built up hopes slightly today by holding the first Saturday negotiating session in several weeks in the wake of-sev-eral outbreaks of violence in the 11-week-old Westinghouse Electric Corp, strike. The last Saturday bargaining talks attended by both management and the International Union of Electrical Workers was before Thanksgiving. " ■> In, Sharon, a hearing will be held next Thursday on charges'brought by the company that several IUE strikers violated an anti • mass picketing injunction at the big transformer division. Seven men have been arrested on the Sharon picket lines within the last two days. The company said that the latest incident at the plant was''the stoning of-15 automobiles in which supervisory employes were approaching the gates. The IlTE’s 44.000 members IP_29 Westinghouse plants have been striking over wages *and the issue of the company’s plans for time studies since Oct. 17. The unaffiliated United Electrical Workers union i» not scheduled to resume its own negotiations until next Friday. It has had more than 10,000 additional workers on strike since Oct. 25. i ;

Concentration Os Police For Traffic Safety Emergency Action In Effort To Hold Down Holiday Toll CHICAGO (INS) —One of the 1 greatest concentrations of police manpower went into emergency action on the nation’s highways and city streets in an attempt to keep the Jfew Year’s weekend holiday death toll at a minimum. The action was taken after the . national safety council, tor the i second time in one weke, pleaed [ for safer driving over the three day holiday. Nevertheless, the [ council still grimly predicted that [ 430 persons will be killed injtraffic mishaps beween 6 p. m. Friday . and Monday midnight. in the first nine hours of the , holiday period, scattered reports i show 10 persons have.been killed in traffic accidents, a rate much lower than predicted. Officials expressed cautious hope that newspaper, TV and radio pleas have had some success in encouraging safe driving habits during the danger period. . Council president Ned H. Dearborn appealed to individual drivers and pedestridhS to“ exercfte extra caution and to cooperate with all law enforcement agencies'. He declared; “This L isa national emergency. Authorities do “only so much. In the final analysis, we must de- ' pend on the good sense and re'spen- ' sible behavior of every American.'" .State, county and municipal authorities have waged an almost ! endless campaign against traffic accidents, which over the Christj mas holiday claimed the Hves of 609 persons, an all-time record. (Continue un Page Five) Annual Banquet Os C. Os C. Jan. 12 To Install Officers At Annual Meeting Herman Krueckeberg Will serve as toastmaster for the annual Chamber of Commerce meeting and banquet Thursday, Jan. Ajl, at 6:30 ' p.m. at the Decatur Yutnand Com'munity Center., The program for the evening will feature the installation of 1956 officers, entertainment and, a speaker who will be announced in the near future. " ■*- Dr. James Burk is general chairman of the committee in charge of arrangements fot-Phe event. He is being assisted by Roy Stewart, Lyle, Mallonee, Ronald Parrish, M. J. Pryor and George Stultz. The new officers to be* Installed include Robert Helelr, president, succeeding Pryor; Joseph Kaehr, . first vice-president; _Dr. James ' fiurk, second vice-president, and Adolph Kolter, treasurer. New di rectors who begin a thrfee-year 1 term this year are ’torn Allwein. ( representing industry; Louis Ja- , cobs and Cliff Brewer, representing ( retailers, ahtl Dr. R. E. Allison, ( .representing the professions. Stoneburner Rites Sunday Afternoon Funeral services for John B. Stoneburner, former Washington township trustee, who died late i Thursday nigh|. will be held at i 2:30 p. tn. Sunaay at the Monroe i Methodist chur<\. The Rev. Ralph IT. Johnson wilF obiGiai/ and bur- ’ ial will be in the Decatar ceme- ; tei-y. i .Friends may call at the Zwick i funeral home until 1 p. nv Sun- < day, after which the body will i lie in . state at the church until i time,of the services. The- Scot- < tish Ritd will conduct services at i the funeral home at 7:30 o'clock i this evening. . <

Indiana Highways Heavily Patrolled Early New Year's Drive For Safety INDIANAPOLIS (INS) —Some .420 state police automobiles and hundreds of other cars of local officers patrolled Indiana roads this afternoon in an early New Year’s Eve drive against drunken motorists. As Indiana's 1955 highway death toll reached startling totals, Governor George N. Craig urged all Hoosiers to drive carefully. He pointed out that last Dec. 31 was Indiana's most disastrous single day for traffic deaths In 1954, with a total of 18. The governor applauded plana ot many Indiana police officials to jail immediately every inebriated driver, but added: ‘‘Police will not be able to keep our roads clear of all bad drivers. For that reason, Indiana drivers must adopt the principle that every second they are on the road,’they are vulnerable to Injury and death.” Three persons died on Hoosier roads on the eve of the holiday. Harry Foley, 72, of Anderson, died of injuries suffered Saturday when he was struck by an automobile in down tow n Anderson. Another Anderspn resident. Miss Doris Ann Lawsoh, 20, met death when a car driven by her finance. Robert Maddox, 20, of Anderson, overturned four miles west of Anderson. He wa's injured serjously. Carl J. Schaffner, 53, bf Indianapolis, was killed when he was thrown beneath, his truck after it went out of control off a curve on Road 44, seven miles east of Martinsville. Higher Temperature In Most Os Midwest CHICAGO (INS) — The coldest Arctic air will remain generally northeast of the midwest today, with some penetration of lower temperatures into northern Michigan. The rest of the area will have a westerly flow of mixed Pacific and Arctic air with higher temperatures. Only moisture in the picture will be that picked up from the Great Lakes arid cloudy skies with a few snow flurries are expected to continue today .and Sunday through most of Michigan. Annual Report Made By Highway Head Files Report, Asks Road Improvements True ‘/Tabby” Andrews, sub-dis-trict state highway superintendent, today filed his annual report with the state highway commission and his request for. state road improvements next year. Andrews said he wanted to thank the city officials of Decatur and the state police of this area for their fine cooperation with his department all through this year. During 1955, more than 70 miles of state road were black-topped in this district, which includes Adams, Wells, and parts of Huntington, Grant and Blackford counties. More than 150 miles of roads were sealed in the district and in addition “all state highway streets ■ through cities and towns were cleaned daily. The Bluffton * sub-district, of which Andrews has charge, is regarded as one of the best operated in the state. In making public his report. Andrews sajd that his requests for next year would include more mileage to be black-topped and sealed. He asked that the location of the proposed improvements not be made public until his requests had been acted on by the commission.

Five Cents

Scoff Al Red Peace Offer In Cold War Refuse To Accept Bulganin Answers As Honest Effort WASHINGTON (INS) — Soviet premier Nikolai A. Bulganin today made a new and well-hedged offer to attend a second meeting “at the summit” but his proposal aroused little enthusiasm in Washington. Bulganin declared in a New Year’s message that a follow-up to this' year’s Geneva conference “can be fruitful” under certain conditions. Washington officials expressed interest in the Soviet premier’s statement that possession of the hydrogen bomb by both the East and the West does not “automatically" exclude the threat of a “thermonuclear war.” Bulganin said in this regard! “Naturally the fact that in predent- . day conditions atomic and hydrogen weapons cannot be used with inipunity exerts a certain restrictive influence upon those circles which would like to unleash a war with the help of the means of .mass annihilation.” ** J However, government and congressional leaders refused to accept the comparatively mild new year’s statement as an honest offer < of peace in th ecbld war. Sen. Hubert Humphrey (DMinn.,) said “the Soviet Union is bent on a program of economic and poltical aggression and the sooner we understand it, the better off we will be.” A high state department expert on the Soviet Union said the West could expect more honeyed words from the Communists as. time goes on but that the free world must not permit Itself to be beguiled. --. The Soviet premier triade his holiday statement in answer to questions submitted a month ago by Charles E. Shutt, Washington manager of Telenews, the International News Service television affiliate. • ' Among the points BMulganin made were: 1. If the big powers in the world ‘really strive” to ' lessen tensions and establish mutual trust; then real progress can be made during 1956 toward ending the cold war. , 2. “New efforts” must be made to reach agreement to outlaw atomic weapons and end the armaments race. 3. The Geneva spirit remains an force for peace in the world. 4. “International cooperation and trust" can be achieved ‘in our times.” 5. Another Big Four “summit” meeting “can be fruitful If . . its participants approach the consideration of urgent international questions with due regard to the interests of all parties concerned.’’ -' Ohly once did Bulganin hurl the familiar barbed accusations at -the U. S„ and then not by name. He said there are “cirin the world '’which would like to unleash a war” with atomic weapons of “mass annihilation.” He seemed to be referring directly to the American policy of massive retaliation when he said: “It is from these circles that dangerous assertions are being spread that peace can allegedly. 'be maintained by building up 'atomic might’ and continuing the armaments race.” Except for that one reference the Bulganin statement was remarkably- temperate compared with the harsh attack Communist party boss Nikita S. Khrushchev made on President Eisenhower r.lfrursday. Khrushchev charged the Presi- *•” dent with “rude” interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states, because he told the Com(Oontinued On Page Five)