Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 54, Number 29, Decatur, Adams County, 4 February 1956 — Page 1

Vol. LIV. No. 29.

TWO REPUBLICANS REGISTER - ■ *“■■ •-■ •—— ■ • PENNSYLVANIA'S best known Republicans show up at Gettysburg to register and one of them, Dwight D. Eisenhower, whose occupation is given as "President” smilingly displays his card which en titles him to vote in November. With him at th? Adams county courthouse, is another staunch GOP'er, Mrs. Mamie Eisenhower,. Hated as a "housewife.” .- .rk '• i.n .ri---- — ■-— - " - ■ “ ~ ’"

Landing Move By Red China Is Repulsed Report Nationalist - Garrison Repulses Landing Attempts TAIPEI (INS) — The Formosa military information service announced today that the Nationalist garrison on Kaoteng isle near Matsu has repelled a landing attempt by Red Chinese forces. The Red convoy, according to the announcement, consisted of several gunboats and a number of junks. The announcement said the convoy approached Kaoteng during the night and was fired on by Nationalist shore batteries as well as naval guns. After a thunderous 10-minute gun duel, the Reds were said to _have retreated tt> the China main lend Penichao peninsula at the mouth of the Min river opposite Matsu. It was the first reported landing attempt in many months of the Formosa strait "pocket war.” Talks Continuing In . • ■■ Westinghouse Strike Union Files Charge Os Unfair Practice WASHINGTON (INS) — Federal mediators were scheduled to meet at 11 a.m. (EST) today with union and company officials in an effort to settle the 111-day-old strike at Westinghouse Electric Corp. A night session was held Friday night, butj federal mediation chief Joseph F. Finnegan declined to say whether any progress was being made. Earlier, he had said "we are simply exploring” possible methods of agreement The talks continued as the AFLCIO international Union of Electrical Workers filed unfair labor practice charges against Westinghouse with the national labor relations board regional office at Baltimore. ‘ Finnegan said he did not believe the action would "interfere” with the current negotiations, but Westinghouse vice president Robert D. Blaster commented: "I am surprised they Would do that today." Blaster declined to make any further statement. He said, he assumed the company would conk ment formally after it studied the charges. 4 In the suit. Westinghouse was accused of refusing since last Sept. 18 to bargain on wages and time studies of day workers and of "adamantly" insisting on a new five-year contract. The union said that under the present contract, which expires Oct. 15, only the wage and time issues are open for negotiation. It said Westinghouse has also declined to furnish “information necessary for intelligent bargaining." Despite Finnegan’s silence, some (Conti"'"M "" •*«* Six) Decatur Lions Club Meets Monday Night ’• The weekly dinner meeting of the Decatur Lions club will bejield at 6:30 o'clock Monday evening at the Youth and Community Center. Von A. Eichhorn, of Uniondale. Joint state senator from Adams. Wells and Blackford counties, will ba the guest speaker.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Alabama Students Protest Negro Girl Burn Cross Near Campus In Protest TUSCALOOSA, A la - < INS > “ About 300 University of Alabama male students, protesting the admission of S negro girl to the School, burned a cross near the campus and terrified two unidentified negroes early today. TMe students were protesting the admission of 26-year-old Arthurine Lucy of Birmingham, the first negro to be accepted by the state school in its 125-year history. The group stopped a car in which a negro couple was riding as it passed the scene of the demonstration. The students rocked the car and yelled to the couple before the driver forced the car through the demonstrators and fled away students, then marched to the president's mansion and shouted for President O. C. Carmichael but his wife appeared and told them he was in New Orleans. They proeedeed over the campus shouting "bama wants white” and “we don’t want any negroes here” Several firecrackers were set off. • The demonstration, which began about midnight, lasted more than an hour The deans of men and women, other university officials and university police finally persuaded students to disband. Officials refused to comment on the demonstration but one policeman said "it’s lucky no one was hurt." Miss Lucy attended her first class today, with police stationed around her class room to prohibit any disorder. ± — ■er acceptance by the school was ordered last summer by federal district Judge Hobart Grooms in Birmingham, who based his decision on the supreme court rulingMiss Lucy and another negro woman,” Mrs. Polly Hudson, had been trying’ for three years to get into the school. Mrs. Hudson was rejected, however, for reasons of "character.” Judge Grooms' decision said simply that a person could not be denied admission to the school solely because of race. Although admitting Miss Lucy, the board of trustees refused to assign her a dormitory room on the campus and also prohibited her from eating in the dining hall Miss Lucy is a graduate of Miles (uonnsiiM Pare six) Sapp Is Candidate ■ w For Commissioner Seeks Democratic Nomination In May L. F. (Lew) Sapp, St. Mary’s township farmer and former grain and hgy dealer of Adams county today announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for county commissioner to represent the first district. The candidate, a native of Adams county, has resided In his present neighborhood, a mile and a half east of Bobo, for the last 20 years. He owns and operates his own farm, having retired from the hay and grain business several years ago. Sapp attends the Bobo United Brethren church and is active in township and county agricultural projects. While he has never been a candidate for nor held a public office, the candidate always has been interested tn the affairs of the Democratic party. He said that he planned an active campaign prior to the May primary election.

Senator Case Reveals Offer On Gas Bill Offered Political Contribution, Now Opposes Gas Bill WASHINGTON (INS) — A fullscale investigation shaped up today in the wake of a GOP senator’s charge that he was offered a-$2,500 “political contribution” by a lawyer favoring the natural gas bill. The disclosure by Sen. Francis Case (R-S.D.)»rocked the senate, drew angry demands for a thorough inquiry and threatened to put off a vote scheduled for Monday on the controversial gas measure. ’ It also cast doubt on the confident predictions of victory by supporters of the gas bill. Proponents said they hoped all the facts could be disclosed before a vote is taken on the measure. After a conference with top senate leaders. Case stood by his decision to withhold the name of the unidentified donor who offered the twenty-five 3100 bits a week ago. But senate Democratic leader Lyndon Johnson of Texas, and Republican leader William F. Knowland of California, planned to meet this morning to'consider the situation and decide on the next step. Demands for an investigation came from both sides in the burning gas issue. Sen. J. William Fulbright (D-Ark.) co-author of the Harris-Fulbright gas bill, said Case’s "very serious charge” left “the impression an attempt to bribe him had been made." Sen. George Aiken (R-Vt.) went further. He said the Case incident illustrates that "the whole program of controlling lobbying in the senate is shot to pieces.” Saying he favored an investigation of the entire lobbying problem. Aiken declared: "What we have on the books now is totally ineffective.” Sen. Paul Douglas (D-Ill.) like Aikep an opponent Os th# gas bill, said: "I knew the oil and gas producing industry was spending heavily inn an attempt to influence public opinion. But I never thought they would spend It to try to Influence a senator’s vote." Case disclosed the offer as the senate was nearing the end of its third week of debate on the bill “ (Continued on Face Six) Winteregg Member Os Trinity Church Elmer Winteregg. Jr., of the Zwick. funeral hothe, who announced his candidacy earlier this week for the Democratic nomination as county coroner, is a member of the Trinity Evangelical United Brethren church, and not the Zion Evangelical and Reformed church, as erroneously stated tn the news article on his announcement. Leslie Irvin Search Centers In Phoenix Bandit Tentatively Identified As Killer PHOENIX, Ariz- (INS) —A search for escaped murderer Leslie (Mad Dog) Irvin centered in Phoenix today after a bandit who held up a downtown motel was tentatively identified as Irvin. The neatly dressed but unshaven bandit walked into the Desert Sun motel Friday night, pointed a .38 revolver at desk clerk Calvin Nelson, 26, and demanded money Nelson gave him $217 and the man fled. Carl Lang, 43, of North Hollywood, who was at the scene of the robbery and saw the holdup man identified him from poljce photographs as possibly being Irvin- Both Lang and Nelson said that the thief "looked like” Irvin. However, polled, after checking closely on their descriptions of the bandit and his nervous mannerisms, were doubtful whether the man was Irvin. Still, a citywide search was on for a man answering the bandit’s descriptionIrvin escaped from the Princeton, Indiana, jail last month and has been reportedly sighted all over the nation, including New York, St. Louis, Kentucky and on the west coast He was #entenced to death for one murder and had been indicted for flv# other murders- After his escape he wrote a letter to his attorney offering to give himself up to authorities if be got a new trial but the offer was refused. ,

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, February 4, 1956

Fear Many Motorists May Be Buried Under California Landslide

Expect Ike To 1 Reject Latest 1 Bulganin Note Expected To Confer With Secy. Dulles On Russian Letter GETTYSBURG, Pa. (INS) — President Eisenhower was expected to confer with secretary of state John Foster Dulles today on adF answer to the latest letter front Soviet Premier Nikolai A. Bulgant in. The Chief Executive was spending a quietweekend at his Gettysburg farm, free of the cares of.the White House except for the unex pected communication from Moscow. The President will almost certainly reject Bulganin's latest overture in the same firm language he used to turn down the Russian leader’s first proposal for a friendship pact with the United States. His formal reply to Bulganin will probably not be drafted until he returns to Washington early next week. In the meantime, however, Mr. Eisenhower and Dulles are expected to talk over the language of the reply to Bulganin whose letter was relayed to the President Thursday at his torn). Mr’ Elsenhower has nothing else on his schedule for the rest of the weekend. He registered Friday to vote in next November’s elections, but gav no hint of whether his own name will be on the ballot. Mr. Eisenhower jokingly gave his occupation as "ex - soldier.” but then decided that it would probably be better to list himself as “president.” Although the White House has withheld its reaction to the letter, notably the reiterated plea for a 20year friendship pact. British prime minister Sir Anthony Eden stated his Views in emphatic terms. Before leaving Washington Friday Sir Anthony told a news conference that Russia "tore up” a (Continued on Ka<e Six) William P. Colchin Dies Friday Night Well Known Decatur Man Taken By Death William P. Colchin. 79. retired businessman and lifelong resident of Decatur, died at 10 o’clock Friday night at his home. 405 Winchester street. He had been in failing health for some time but death was unexpected. He was born south of Decatur April 14. 1876, a son of Peter and Magdalene Shane-Colchin. and was married to Kathryn E. Tawney, who preceded him in death. He was associated with his brother. John S, Colchin. in the restaurant and bakery business; and for a number of years operated a confectionery on South Second street. In 1920. he established the Decatur Dairy, which he operated until 1925. He then was a contractor, painter and decorator until ill health forced his retirement in 1942. Mr. Colchin was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic church, the Holy Name Society and the Third Order of St Francis. Surviving are two foster daughters, Mrs. Anne K. Smith, with whom he made his home, and Mrs. Harry Pelle Becker of South Bend, 'and five grandchildren. A foster son preceded him in death. Funeral services will be conducted at 9 a. m. Monday at the St. Mary’s Catholic church, the Very Rev. Msgr. J. J. Seimetz officiating. Burial will be in “'the Catholic cemetery. The body was remoyed to the Gillig funeral home, where Mends may call after 7 o’clock this evening until time of the services The rosary will be recited at 8 p. m Sunday.

• Europe Suffering Severe Cold Wave Only Brief Respite Experienced Friday LONDON (INS) —lcy Siberian blasts of frigid air threatened today to keep Europe in its frozen state for still more days. A brief respite was felt Friday in the severest European cold wave of the century as temperatures edged briefly above freezing But the temperatures dropped as no* cold waves came in from the ’ north. 5 k Officials feared the death toll, already approaching 100, would rise sharply if the cold set in for *a prolonged period. Temperatures in Britain were expected to drbp to 14 below zero over the weekend- The cold forced the cancellation of many football matches and horseracing events. Even the brief period of relative warmth Friday did not bring pure joy to Britain. As temperatures edged above freezing thousands of pipes burstIn Moscow, the temperatures dropped to 42 below zero. Snow has fallen as far south as Algiers and Tunis in Africa. Italy appeared to be the worst hit countryThe public health department In ■ Rome said 300,000 residents of the usually sunny city were bedridden , by an influenza epidemic. Six Italians froze tb death rfr died from storm-connedted illness. In France, 29 persons died Communications throughout the nation were paralyzed by heavy snowstorms. Even in Denmark, where cold winters are commonplace, 12 persons perished. Farm Bureau Favors Gasoline Tax Boost Increase Proposed By Budget Director INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — The powerful Indiana Farm Bureau was quick to rejoice in the support,, of Governor George N. Craig’s administration on behalf of an increase in state gasoline taxes from four cents to six cents per gallon. In addition, a one-cent increase in the federal tax on gasoline also has been discussed in Washington. Should both the federal and state proposals become law, the "total" tax on gas for Indiana, buyers w-ould be nine cents. George Doup, vice president of the Indiana Farm Bureau, declared that his organization will support the plan proposed by Donald H. Clark, state budget director, that a two-cent gas tax hike will be proposed to the 1967 general assembly. Doup said: “That is what we worked for and tried to get enacted in the last session of the legislature.” But in that ■ 1955 session, the Craig administration Successfully prevented an effort to increase gasoline taxes. Clark, in explaining the turnabout, gave two reasons. One was his belief that the tax increase was not pecessary before, but will be by 1957 if Indiana is to ante up with matching funds for federal road money that will be available then. The other was the promise of “no new or increased taxes” which the Craig administration had made in connection with the 1955 session. Clark did not go so far as to recommend how the extra two cents should be split among cities, counties and state. But the Farm Bureau resurrected a 1954 resolution it had adopted -at its state convention that year, and proposed that of the two added cents, one be used for matching federal highway funds allocated the state and the other cent to be distributed according to the present formula: 53. per cent; state; 32 counties, and 15 cities.

Senale Group Opens Voting On Farm Bill Senate Committee Begins Voting Today Over Farm Measure WASHINGTON (INS) — The Senate agriculture committee begins voting today on election-year legislation designed to raise farm income. Chairman Allen J. Ellender (D La.), said the bill will include numerous “gadgets,” including a multimillion dollar soil bank, in an effort to narrow the cost - price squeeze which has plagued farmers. Today’s votes are tentative. Final decisions will be made on Wednesday and Thursday when the group votes on the bill as a whole. Ellender predicted the committee will restore 90 per cent price supports on wheat, cotton and other basic crops." The administratioil wants to retain flexible supports which range from 75 to 90 per cent of parity on 1956 harvests. Ellender made his forecast of high, rigid price props after the administration jmveiled its plan to pay farmers for “banking" land, instead of using it to raise crops. Agriculture ujider secretary True D. Morse told the committee Friday that the soil bank would cost from 800 million to one billion dollars in the first year of operation. He said a typical corn and wheat farmer could receive as much as Farmers would be paid for reducing cotton, wheat, corn and rice below the allotted acreage. Payments would be based on the average yield of the past five years, multiplied by 50 per cent of the support price of the crop which is cut back. This is the so-called acreage re- ■ serve program under which the administration hopes to take from 19.f*tb 26.3 million acres out of production at a cost of 455 to 650 millltin dollars a year. Morse said the payments under the soil bank’s long-range conser *vatioji» program would amount to '5lO an acre on the average throughout the nation. The payments would be based on past productlv(Continued on rage Six) Frederick Wagner Dies Last Evening Funeral Services Wednesday Morning Frederick E. Wagner, 64, a resident of Adams county most of his life, died at 8:10 o'clock Friday evening at his home on Decatur rural route 4. following an illness of five months. He was born in Adams county Nov. 12, 1891 rs a son of Nicholas and Elizabeth Wagner. He was employed as a metal worker. Mr. Wagner was a member of St Mary’s Catholic church, the Holy Name society. Third Order of St. Francis, the Moose lodge, and the father’s auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Surviving are his wife,"'Margaret M.; one son, Samuel Wagner, serving with the U. S. at Naples, Italy; one daughter. Mrs. Paul Bogner of Cleveland, O.; two grandchildren; two brothers, James and Stanford Wagner, both of Fort Wayne, and one sister, Mrs. Lydia Myers of Hobbs. N. Mex. Two brothers and one sister preceded him in death. Funeral services will be conducted at 9 a m. Wednesday at the St. Mary’s Catholic church, the Very Rev. Magr. J. J. Seimetz officiating. Burial will Ke in the Catholic cemetery. The body was removed to the Gillig ft Doan funeral home, where friends may call after 6 o’clock this evening. The rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Candidate Herman Moehering Herman Moellering Surveyor Candidate Incumbent Runs On Democratic Ticket Herman Moellering, well-known . Preble township farmer ‘ and ’ Adams county surveyor, todhy an- , nounced his intention of being a candidate for reelection to that office, subject to, the decision of ' voters at the Democratic primary election next May. . js Moellering, a native of Adams \ county, has owned and operated his own farm in Preble township for many years. Prior to becoming i county surveyor, the candidate was a member of the county highway department and has had several years of experience in road construction and maintenance and also in ditch maintenance. The Moellerings are members of Friedheim Lutheran church and Moellering has been active in civic and agricultural projects in Adams county for many years. He stated that he would make an active campaign for the position he seeks. Monthly Financial Report Os Hospital Shows Reduction In Operating Balance The Adams county memorial hospital spent a total of 821.807.61 against January cash collections of 818,546.81, showing a reduction of the operating balance of 83,260.80, the monthly report filed with the board of trustees reveals. The balance remaining as of February 1, however, is 818,898.07 and this will be supplemented by collection of several accounts from estates^,it was pointed out. There were 25 adult and sevep, baby patients on the first day of, January and during the .month there were 171 adult and 58 baby patients. During the month, 153 adults were- dismissed; 57 babies were dismissed and seven patients died. On the last day of January the hospital had 36 adult patients and eight babies. Os the babies delivered during the month, 27 were boys and 31 were girls. , . . ' The report, filed by business manager Thurman Drew, was accepted and made a matter of record by the trustees. INDIANA WEATHER Mostly cloudy tonight and Sunday. Low tonight 26. High Sunday 34BULLETIN Mrs. Sephus Melchi, 81, wife of the retired former Decatur police chief, died *t 11:20 o'clock this morning at the Adams county ndbmorial hospital following a long Illness. The body was removed to tne Gillig A Doan funeral home. Funeral arrangements have not been completed. ~

Huge Slide On Pacific Coast Highway Friday Avalanche Occurs During Rush Hour Os Traffic Friday SANTA MONICA, Calif. (INS) —Men and heavy equipment dug through mountains of earth today, seeking possible victims of a monstrous landslide that roared down on the Pacific coast highday in Pacific Palisades, north of Santa Monica. The avalanche occurred midway between Santa Monica canyon and Sunset boulevard shortly after 5 p. m. Friday during the home-going rush and led to fears that it may have buried a number of cars and their occupants. Officials said the slide, which broke away from a 350-foot cliff, buried the highway for a length of 600 feet to a peak depth of 50 feet. Thousands of tons of earth boomed down with such force that i it swept across the 120-toot. six--1 lane highway, smashed a guard ,- rail and cascaded over a six-foot a embankment onto the beach, t Officials said it may not be unf I til noon Sunday before it is defiy nitely known whether any rnotorM -tats -were<trapped, « They added that the area will J, bp closed at least until Sunday ? night. The highway Is one of the * main routes between Los Angeles 5 and San Francisco. Workers labored throughout the • night beneath huge flood lights as 1 more than a dozen, pieces of 1 equipment were moved into the area, which is part of West Los f Angeles, for the clean up and pos--1 slble rescue operations. c Skip-loaders and clamshell shov- ’ els loaded earth onto trucks. The 1 earth was dumped onto the beach " because of the emergency. West Los Angeles police said a motorist who was 75 feet away when the avalanche let go told them he was almost positive that all cars cleared the slide area before the full brunt struck the highway. General Ridgway Called To Testify L. House Group Calls Former Army Chief (INS) — The hduse military appropriations subcommittee has called former army chief of staff Gen. Matthew Ridgway to give his views next week on defense policies and the 1957 military spending progrdtn. The meeting Wednesday morning behind closed doors will mark the returned general’s first appearance ; on Capitol Hill since he stirred up i a bitter controversy by charging i that military needs were being aubordinated to domestic politics. The allegations appeared in the story of his Tife being published in the Saturday Evening Post. He commented in the article: “The tendency, which was manifested many times during my tour as chief of staff, of civilian secretaries making military decisions on a basis of political expediency, constituted a danger to this country.” Ridgway’s blasts were criticized by both President Eisenhower and defense secretary' Charles E. Wilson. Ridgway’s principal argument against present military policies is that the administration is relying too much on air and nuclear power. H* declared in his article that the army should be weldedinto a “streamlined, hard - hitting force." armed with nuclear weapons -.-in—, adequate numbers and with greatly improved non-nuclear weapons.’’ NOON EDITION

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