Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 54, Number 9, Decatur, Adams County, 12 January 1956 — Page 1

Vol. LIV, No, 9.

HEAVY SNOWS BURY BRITISH MIDLANDS I ft 1 L/l AN OPTIMISTIC British motorist tines hl€ car as a bulldozer bucking three-foot snowdrifts as heavy snowfall struck the north and midland districts of England. Many outlying villages were cut off from supplies and communications and ‘helicopters are making emergency food-drops. .. -.W?-7 ever ’ R.Vii*>'■»■• ■■ ■ — - . ........■■ g

'■ifr.':...'. TlaiiiiriTi. ir.- • - -- Senate Group Hears Benson On Farm Plan Senate Committee Opens Hearings On Proposed Soil Bank WASHINGTON (INS) -*■ Agriculture secretary Ezra Taft Benson said today government pay- ., ments to farmers for taking land out of production must be “generous" if the proposed soil bank is to be successful. The cabinet member was the opening witness as the state agriculture committee Jteegan Jiearings. on President Eisenhower's ninepoint program for restoring prosperity to the American farmer. Benson praised the program as one that would dispose of prjpe<iepreßsing farm surpluses through' "the front dt»r" while the proposed soil bank “reduces what comes tn the back door.” He declared that "broad par ticipation" in cutbacks of surplus crops through the soil bank “is _ necessary to assure success of the program.” Benson testified: "The inducement offered farmers would have to be generous. Before farmers would com ply they would have to feet that their net incomes would be at least as high as if they planted their alloted acres." The secretary did not give in his opening statement 'any hint as to what the payments would be per acre or how they would be determined. But he answered congressional criticism that the new program would provide no immediate boost in farm income. He said the soil bank is both an immediate and long-range method of expanding farm income. Benson explained that cutbacks in surplus crops were desigped as a current "shot-in-the-arm” to fagging farm He said another part of the soil bank, under which land previous ly used for any type of production would be put into fertility building grasses, was a long range measure. Os the proposed sti r plus crop! cutbacks, Benson said: .“Quick ac tion can make the soil bank oper-ative-for 1956 crops. A month or two of avoidable delay might cost., us a year’s time getting the/pro gram launched. He said redaction in surplus xrops would “bolster jfwtees, W pecially of hogs and cattle.” At the same time, he disclosed that the government’s purchase of hogs is Jto be stepped up. This is in line with demands of house Republicans seeking to boost farm income in the corn belt. Benson stuck to the adnjinistra tion’s position that the soil bank should be voluntary. Senate agriculture chairman Allen J. Ellender (D-La.) has said It must be “mandatory” to be successful. Os the President’s entire farm program, he said: “It is a sound, logical attack on our most urgent , (Continued on Page Five) „> ■ •. ’ ’' ■. ■" ’ "ft r " Circulate Petitions For Sen. Kefauver INDIANAPOLIS (INS) —Petitions to put the name of Sen- Estes" Kefauver (D of Tenn.). la Indiana’s first presidential preference primary next May 8 were being circulated in the state today. But Kefau-ver’s campaign manager, Joseph Donohue, was quick to say that the circulation of the petitions did , not mean the Tennessee senator has decided ot enter the primary;

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT X 4 ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Gid Scouts Assist In March Os Dimes Hold Balloon Sale In City Saturday “ ~ Decatur Girl Scouts will be stationed in the business district of Decatur Saturday morning and afternoon for their annual polio fighter balloon saleAll proceeds from the sale of the balloons will be added to the fund collected here in the 1956 March of Dimes campaign by the local chapter of the National polio foundation. One thousand balloons will be sold by the girls. Mrs. Byron Smith Is chairman ot the project. She will be assisted by Mrs. Don Cochran and the leaders of the four participating troops The balloons will —be- inflated with pumps donated by Murphy’s and Newberry’s dime stores. The work will be4<me at the American Legion home, which will serve as headquarters for the Girl Scouts during the day. — Working from 9 a. m. to 1 p. m will be troop six Jtnd Mrs. William Tutewiler and troop 18 under Mrs. Ben Eichenauer. From 1 to 5 p. m.. the balloons wil be sold by troop 19 under Mrs. John Mays and troop five under Mrs. Joe Azbell. Teams of girls will be stationed at the Fit st State bank and at the A & P, Kroger and Standard food markets. _____ ' . Other projects being planned for the polio drive in the near future include a peanut sale by Decatur teenagers Saturday, Jan.2l, and a skating night at the Happy Houts roller rink at Clem’s .take Thursday, 1 Jan, The i>eanut sale will..be conducted on tjie business- 4 streets. In charge of the project ft. Ralph Thomas, president of the teen advisory council in Decatur. Students from Decatur high and Decatur Catholic high schools will participateJerry stiller, owner of tlie roller rink, has designated Jan. 19 as “Skat Others Can Walk" nightaKp proceeds from ,ihe public night will’be turned tb the polio fund. AnotftSr projecKipUnried is the sale of Indiana automobile license number 1956. Mrs- Dale Death, manager of the license bureau, has reserved this license number. It ■will'lie auclßfneff - arid' sold to the higheslj bidder at the annual polio dance, kwhfch will be scheduled sometime) before, the end of January. / A polio toll booth has been get up at the Monroe street bridge in front of the Decatur Youth and Community Center. All motorists using the bridge are asked to contribute to the March of Dimes. The booth is a trailer donated by Paul Strickler of the Adams county trailer sales. In charge of this project are the four sororities in Decatur, Delta Theta Tau, Beta Sigma Phi, Tri Kappa and Psi lota XIUrge Provisions For Portable Hospitals INDIANAPOLIS (INS) —A state official has urged provisions be made for at least 200-bed portable hospitals in Indiana's civil defense structure. ~ Dr. Jean V. Carter, state civil defense representative for the Indiana state medical association, said the two hospitals, which would cost $25,000 each, are the minimum needed for defense — = ■ ... CD leaders attending Wednesday’s quarterly meeting of the advisory council also' studied preliminary plans for taking part nl the 1956 operation alert, a national CD test 12 Pages ... - J; r - --- -r m f

Ike Proposes Federal Help To Education Five-Year Program To Relieve Critical Shortage Os Rooms WASHINGTON (INS) — President Eisenhower today proposed a five-year, two billion dollar program of federal aid to education to relieve the critical shortage of school classrooms across the nation. In a special message to congress, the President asked for. .s2s(l.million a year for the next five years in direct federal aid to the “neediest” school districts. He also proposed making $750 million available for federal purchase of local school construction bonds when school districts cannot find bpyers at reasonable interest rates. The direct federal aid would be matched by states, but on a sliding scale which would require wealth ier states to put up more money than those less able to meet their school needs. The program marked a sharp departure from previous administration proposals for deallng wlth the school problem, which stressed maximum state and local responsibility with a minimum of federal assistance. “ The President emphasized in today's message that “the responsibility for public education rests with the states and the local communities.” But he said that the federal government must pitch in and help when states and conynunities “cannot solve the full problem or solve it rapidly enough.” ... His proposals included a fiveyear program of advances to help provide reserves for bonds issued by state school financing agencies. An estimate of $l5O million was put on this recommendation. Also proposed was a five-year S2O million program of matching grants to states for planning to help communities and states overcome obstacles to financing of school construction Mr. Eisenhower suggested a three-point system for determining how much individual states should contribute under the matching program : age child should be alloted to states 1. Larger P er schoolwith lower income per child. 2. States with lewer income should not be required to put up as large a -pretmrtloa -of funds as higher income states. 3. In the distribution of funds, the highest priority should be given io school districts with the “least economic ability” to meet their needs. The President expressed hope that the states would also give Increasing attention to the “taproot oC all education”—seed teach ers and good teaching. To put the grant program into operation as soon as possible, Mr. Eisenhower proposed that local school districts be permitted to put up the matching funds during the first year. This would make ft unnecessary to waff for action by state legislators. He said he will appoint a committee of distinguished educators arid private citizens to study the special problems of higher education. . .. .. INDIANA WEATHER Meetly fair tonight end Friday. Colder tonight. Low tonight 16-22. High Friday 32-35. f

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, January 12, 1956. IIMWIIIM II nil I , ’ ■

— —" " ,-mi, ~t l Jessup Discloses He Made Personal Probe Os Reported Bribery

For Addition To Hospital Need For Hospital Improvements Cited At Initial Meeting The campaign to secure the signatures ot 3,009 Adams county freeholders on a petition tor a bond issue to finance improvement of the Adams county memorial hospital was outlined and officially opened at a meeting Wednesday night at the Decatur Youth and Community Center. Attending the meeting were captains and solicitors in the carhpaign, who will make a door-to-door canvass of the county to secure the signatures. They were given detailed instructions as to the legal procedure of circulating ' the petitions and on the reasons behind the proposed improvement-.. , ' 7 Organized under the hospital Board of trustees and Thurman Drew, hospital administrator, the campaign is headed in Decatur by Mrs. Roy Kalver and in the rest of the county by Wendell Macklin. They have appointed captains who will in turn be assisted by several workers. Xccording to law. those who are circulating the petitions are also freeholders. It is hoped to gain the signatures of at least 3,000 Adams county freeholders or persons who own real estate in the county. A fact sheet outlining the need for hospital improvements and other information is being given to each solicitor. These will enable them fb"ask the Questions of the signers. Hospital Obsolete The fact sheet indicates that the hospital, dedicated in 1923. has become obsolete in equipment and facilities and is no longer adequate to handle the growing population of the county. Among the rooms that must be improved are the X-ray room, the laboratory, kitchen and dining facilities, the operating room, the delivery room, the emergency Toom and administrative offices. All of these are too small and obsolete for present day and future needs. Also emphasized was the. need for additional beds. Patients must frequently be cared for in the hallway?. All of these inadequacies have been noted by inspectors from the office of the state board of health. The state board has indicated that unless rhe situation tw corrected in the near future, the hospitals will not be licensed. The (Continued on Page Five) Detroit Newspaper Agreement Reached Expected To End Six-Week Walkout DETROIT (INS) —The Detroit Newspaper. Publishers Association and three striking unions announced agreement on two-year contracts expected to end the sixweek walkout > The settlements Subject to ratification by the mailers, printers and stereotypers at separate meetings Saturday, will run from the date publication resumes until Nov. 30, 1957. Union sources said the publishers of the News, Times and Free Press hoped to get out a paper Monday, although no definite date has been set In an earlier announcement for the three unions, George Robinson, head of the stereotype™ whose walkput Dec. 1 started the tieup, said the agreement calls (or a pay increase of $3 75 weekly until Dec. 1, when $275 more will he added. The publishers aYe still negotiating with three other non-striking unions — the teamsters, photo-en-gravers and newspaper guild.

Aid Plan Proposed Lukewarm Reaction To Dulles Proposal WASHINGTON (INS) — Secretary of state John Foster Dulles’ renewed bid for a long-range foreign economic aid program won only lukewarm reaction on Capitol Hili today. But administration leaders hoped time would kindle support. This was the consensus of a series of interviews with key senators. Several Republicans admitted that despite an endorsement by the U.S. delegation to the United Nations. the proposal would have a hard time getting through congress. ■ - — — • Senate foreign relations committee chairman Walter F. George (D-Ga.) who has announced he is not in favor of any long-term foreign aid action, said he would “wait and see” what the administration reports. But Sen. John Sparkman (DAla.) 1952 Democratic vice presidential \ nominee and foreign relit-, t ion s rheifiber. said a long-range approach is good, and would have his Support Sparkman added: “It’s high time the administration ig getting busy on this kind of program. The Democrats have been talking this language for a long while.* The UN delegation, |n a statement approved by President iSisoehower and made public by Dulles, warned that America must “wake up” to the importance of our worldwide economic contest with Soviet Russia. Dulles declared the important factor is not the amount of economic aid, but its continuity. He said the world hank and other give help to needy countries if U. S. assistance is handled on a year(Continued on Page —Fiv-H Jobless Pay Claims Increased In State INDIANAPOLIS (INS) —the Indiana employment security division today reported an increase in jobless claims for the period ending Jan. 7. Director William Stalnaker said seasonal influences and the beginning of the new quarter increasing eligibility accounted for the increase from .30.404 to 33.926A total of 46,295 claims were filed the same week a yeir ago. ...— - —- -r, Seek Consolidation Os Jefferson School Report Petitions Being Circulated Petitions are circulated In Jefferson township seeking consolidation or merger es the Jefferson school with the Wabash township school at Geneva. Reports indicate that more than 75 signatures have already been obtained. In event sufficient signatures are obtained and no remonstrance is filed,the consolidation will become affective automatically. However, if .there-is a remonstrance, a vote by referendum in the township will be necessary. The Jefferson township trustee. Hugh David Mouser, and advisory board members have made no official statement on the proposed consolidation. However, because of financial difficulties and a shrinking enrollment, the township likely will be forced to take early action on the problem. - k Some township residents prefer retaining the school as long as possible. others favor consolidation, and still others favor transfer of students, some probably to Geneva and some to Berne. Jefferson’s enrollment this year is approximately 175, with 45 in the high school. In event the consolidation is effected. a new school building would likely he erected ia Geneva, as present facilities would net accomodate all the Jefferson students.

Residence In City Wednesday Harold Harner Home Destroyed By Fire Here On Wednesday Fire left another Decatur family homeless Wednesday afternoon. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Harner and children at 815 North 12th street was destroyed by a blaze which resulted from an overheated stove. The fire was discovered shortly before 3:30 p.m. by Mrs. Harner. She and the children who were .home escaped withouj. injury. The small frame house burned quickly and firemen were unable to save it. The back of the house was completely gutted and all of the furniture in the house was ruined by fire, smoke and water. Harner was at work in Fort Wayne at the time his home was burning. The house is owned by Adolph Reinhard of Bluffton. - Mrs. Harner stated that their furniture was only partially insured. The family will stay with Mrs. Harner’s parents, Mr. and Mrs,. Mervin Stahl of Master Drive. The Harners are the third family in a week’s time to lose their possessions by fire, Like the other two they are in need of emergency assistance to help them until they can recover 1 their losges. - Especially pressing to the family is the need for clothing. They saved only what they were wearing. The local Red Cross, under the chairmanship of the Rev. Benjamin Thomas, is sponsoring a drive to secure, clothliig tor the. Harners. The children are Sandra, age 10; Pete ; age eight; Pamela, age four and Deborah, age 2, Any person who is able to give good used clothing for the children of the parents is asked to take it to the Stahl residence at 1216 Master (Continued on Page Five) Survey Completed ' For Proposed Lake Limberlost Group Will Meet Monday v Walter Gilliom. engineer, this week submitted a . final draft of the survey for the proposed lake to be constructed between Geneva and Ceylon in Adams county by the Limberlost Association, Inc. The survey indicates there will be 90 lots available for sale on the northwest corner and the south side of the lake which will be approximately 65 acres in extent, in addition ’to considerable public park area. The Limberlost Association, Inc., will hold a special meeting next Monday evening at Geneva, to consider final approval of the project. The survey proposes to increase the height and repair on old Beaver dam, uirich originally contained a similar body of water. In order to pay for the project it is proposed to sell lots on the lake, which will run from S7O(F to SI,OOO each. L. A. Mann. Geneva real estate agent, has been employed by the association to sell the lots when the project is approved. Plans orlgjnyt’ly, had been sent to state boards and changes have been incorporated in them to conform with regulations. A water service and drainage is to be provided, . BULLETIN WASHINGTON .(INS) President Eisenhower asked congress today for $60,616,000 to cover the cost of federal —■ hurricane and disaster relief in 1955 and build up his depleted disaster fund. Moat of the money represents funds spent by the federal government for relief operations in floodravaged northeast states last summer.

In Illinois Primary No Objections To Stratton's Action WASHINGTON (INS) — Plans to enter President Eisenhower’s name in the Illinois presidential primary cheered most Republicans today. They also put a new squeeze on the 1956 aspirations of senate GOP leader WiHiam F. Knowland. The California Republican, who has been determined to announce his own candidacy if Mr. Eisenhower does not declare his intentions by the end of January, declined comment on the Illinois development. Gov. William G. Stratton stirred the political pot briskly by announcing he will move to place the President’s name on the April 10 Illinois primary ballot. The White House, with Mr. Eisenhower’s approval, quickly made It clear the development has no bearing on whether the President will or will not seek reelection. But the statement registered no objection to Stratton’s action. Significantly, Stratton's announcement came shortly after , Mr, Elsenhower had been declared in "excellent’’ health by three of his doctors who rechecked his recovery from his Sept. 24 heart attack. Many Republicans in congress, in a series of interviews, hailed both the Stratton action and the medical report as “good news” spelling another Ike race. Sen. Everett Dirksen (iR-111.) declined to comment on the President’s own plans but said of Stratton’s move: “I have no doubt that if his name is submitted it will re'ceive resounding approval.” Sen. James • Duff (R-Pa.) said in an Interview with INS-Telenews, that odds are “real good” the President will run. Duff added: “I think I know enough about him to know that if he made up his mind that he was not going to run that he would not keep anybody in suspense. He would say so.” Sen. John W. Bricker (R-Ohto), said he thought the favorable med(Con tinned on Pane Five) Albert Hendricks Dies This Morning Albert (Bert) <’Hendricks, 84, a resident of near Monroe most of his life, died at 3 a. m. today at the home of a son, John Hendricks, at Gaines, Mich., where he had resided fbr some time. The body will be returned to the Lobenstein funeral home at Monroe- Funeral arrangements have not been completedBloodmobile Unit Is Short Os Quota 11 Pints Short Os Announced Quota Decatur fell 11 pints short of Its 110-pint quota for Wednesdays visit of the Red Cross bloodmobile at the American Legion home here. A total of 99 pints were collected from 118 persons who offered to give blood. Two persons, Wilbur Petrie and Paul Kohne, became gallon club donors Wednesday, and Mrs. William Lose, Jr., reached the two gallon mark. Twenty-four new donors were signed up by the Red< Cross during the Visit. The complete list of donors will be published in Friday's edition of the Decatur Dally Democrat. — Mrs. Ed Bauer, county chairman of the blood program, expressed appreciation to all of those who visited the bloodmobile Wednesday and to the physicians, nurses, stiff aides and others who assisted with the work of collecting the blood. She explained that one of the reasons for falling short of the quota was the fact that none of the persons who gave blood at the last visit was able to give this time. Yesterday’s visit of the bloodmobile was two days before th# end of the waiting period required between donations.

Five Cents

Stale Police Head Taking Craig Off Hook f Police Head Tells Newsmen He Made Probe Os Report INDIANAPOLIS (INS) —Supt- of state police Frank Jessup apparently took Governor George N..„ Craig off the hook todiy by explaining that he personally- conducted gn Investigation of a report that state auditor Curtis Rardin had sought to bribe toll road commission director Albert J. Wedeking, last April 18. I Jessup disclosed to newsmen after an appearance today before • the Marion county grand jury i which is investigating the bribe > report that he personally conducted t a secret probe of Wedeking’s • charge against Rardin. Craig had • been criticized for keeping the incident secret- The alleged attempt • was not disclosed until last week. r He said that bls investigation 1 was even kept secret from bls own c top state police officials with the ■ exception of Buford Cadle, Dem- • ocratic member of the state .police board, who in. some unexplained ■ way learned of the probe and asked Jessup about it I The dramatic disclosure by the state police head aroused speculation that the Entire probe might end without anyone getting hurt. Jessup declared that he began his probe on April 19-the date after.Rardln allegedly asked Wedeking for a cash consideration in '* , order to switch fats vote oh a fund transfer important to the toll road ’ commission. The state police bead said he , closed his probe April 27 with a , report to Gov. Craig. Jessup said: “i did not find any additional criminal evidence and reported ’ that to the governor- For that reason I dropped it (the investigation).’’ Jessup said he felt he had no,, evidence he could go to prosecutor John Tinder with and therefore did not notify him of the prbbe He said, in reply to newsmen, that if anything was done about the report, it was up to the grand Jury. Rardin himself has not appeared before the grand jury, although he has been Invited to testify Monday. However, the auditor has said that he had sought only to test the ethics of the Indiana toll road commission in a one-man probe. Rardin admitted that Wedeking did not fall into bis trap. However, Rardni did switch his vote and permit the transfer of $67,000 state highway funds last May to a toll road survey. Supt. Jessup said he was Informed of the bribe attempt by Gov. Craig the same day that the governor learned of it from Wedeking. The police head explained that he rented a Claypool hotel room next door to Wedeking and implied that Wedeking’s room, might have been “bugged” (wire recording equipment installed) in anticipation of a second meeting between Rardin and Wedeking which didn't occur. Jessup displayed an expense vouched showing paid rental of th# hotel room next to Wedeking for’ April 25-36. He Said he didn't know ihere would be any further meeting between Rardin and Wedeking but had asked the toll road official to notify him if there were. Asked about installation Os wire recording equipment, Jessup replied only: “I don't like that word ‘bug- , ged-’ * i / He said he had no written report of his probe, but had made notes. He declared that he conducted the investigation “to the best of my ability’*. Jessup added that he trussed his top state police foficials but did not inform them. , “It was my judgement to carry on by myself. The more people who know about such an investigation, the less effective it is.” Weatlnuea on Sight)