Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 54, Number 81, Decatur, Adams County, 5 April 1956 — Page 1

Vol. LIV. No. 81.

HARDEST HIT IN TORNADOES PATH A DEJECTED HOUSEWIFE sits on the steps of what was once her home in Hudsonville, Michigan, suburb of Grand Rapids, where an estimated 17 of Michigan’s 20 dead were counted and 200 were injured. Most severely hit in the many tornadoes which accounted for more than 50 deaths In 11 states, Hudsonville was virtually flattened by the twisters.

Intense Study Is Underway On Russian Policy Seek To Determine What Changes Made Inside Soviet Union WASHINGTON (INS) — Almost every expert on Russia in the U.R government has been put to work on a monumental project to try to determine just what changes are taking place inside the Soviet Union. Secretary of state John' Foster hulfes already has’ received a number of reports many more are being written. These reports formed the basis for the statements by President Eisehhower apd Dulles in thcfttst two days indicating the yhad firm knowledge that internal pressures were forcing the Kremlin to lighten its grip on the daily lives of the Soviet people. The experts stressed two things of which they are certain now. The first is that the pressures of the Russian people on their rulers are not revolutionary and do shadow uprisings. The second is that liberalization of the Kremlin rule over the Russian people does not necessarily mean the Soviets are less dangerous to the West. It may mean they are more dangerous. The study is far from complete, but as one official put it: "You don’t get jfie President of the United States and his secretory of state making such positive statements as they did this week unless they know something pretty definite." President Elsenhower said that if it is true that the Soviet changes were caused by dissatisfaction with the harsh methods of Joseph Stalin, it may be ‘t‘he beginning of a forced reformation of some kind.” Dulles was more elaborate in his estimation. He said: “The Spivet rulers must know that tHe brutal ‘And arbitrary rule of the Stalin era led to a great yearning by the subject peoples for legality and personal security, for tolerance of differences of opinion, and for government genuinely dedicated to the welfare of the governed.” ~ The reports so far indicate that there Is no spirit of rebellion among the Soviet people, but that the problem facing the leaders in the Kremlin is one of giving people enough freedom so they can become efficient producers in a modern economy. • ■ In the past the Stalin police state controlled the lives and thoughts of the people so tightly that initiative and beneficial experiments were stifled In all fields. The new trend in Russia deemphasize the power of the police and Increase the power of the communist party. Albert Lona Funeral Held At Philadelphia Funeral services were held at Philadelphia’this morning for Albert Lang, 73, native of Adams county, who died Monday at the Naval hospital In that city after a year’s Illness of cancer. He was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Henry bang and left Decatur SO years ago. He was a retired naval officer. He is survived by his wiTe, and three children.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Six Persons Killed < In Two Accidents Two State Crashes Bring Six Deaths INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — Six persons were killed in two separate Indiana crashes each claiming three lives. The tragic multiple accidents occurred near Marion and Columbus. For the Marion tragedy, it wasa case of bloody history being repeated. Three residents of West ' Virginia were killed Wednesday ’ night at a highway intersection , south of Marion which also was the scene of a crash 17 months ago in which three other persons from West Virginia were slaughtered. Killed in the Wednesday night collision of an automobile and a truck were Mrs. Fonda Ball, 22. i driver of the car; Carl Brady, 13, , her brother, and Mrs. Loreina Hiady. 17, her sister-in-law. Mrs. Bali was from Beckley. W. Va., i and the other two victims were from Shady Springs. W. Va. State police said the automobile failed to stop at the intersection i of Ind. 9 and U. S. 35 and collided with a truck driven by Roy Trau- . bert. R. R. 2, Leamington, Ontario. . who was not hurt. The other triple-killing crash was on U. S.'jl, two miles east of Columbus and took the lives of Charles W. Harp, 48, of Indianapolis; Barbara Harp. 5, his daughter, and Arthur A. Kohn. 53, of Chicago. Three other persons were hurt critically in the crash. They are Mrs. Donna Jean Harp. 30. widow of Charles, and their two other , daughters. Julia Ann. 10, and Diana. 7. State troopers said a car driven by Kohn was attempting to pass another, car when the head-on collision with the Harp car occurred. A 72-year-old Terre Haute man lost his life Wednesday when he stepped around a parked delivery truck into the path of another truck. The victim was James Pavey. who died in St. Anthony’s hospital about an hopr after the accident; A 20-year-old Tennessee woman was killed and five other persons were InJ ure d today when their auto - mobile hit a bridge abutment on tConr'nueo »n Pane Etoht) Crosby Infant Dies Early This Morning Funeral Services Saturday Afternoon Kay Ann Crosby, two-month-old daughter of Charles and Ruth David-Crosby, was found dead in her bed at the home, five and onehalf miles north of Decatur, early this morning. Death was attributed to suffocation. The child was born in Decatur Jan. 29,. 1956.aadhadnotbeen ill. Surviving in addition to the parents are a brother, Charles David Crosby, and a sister. Deborah Crosby, both at home: the grandmothers, Mrs. Walter David of Fort Wayne and Mrs. Fred Crosby of Root township, and a greatgrandmother, Mrs. Sophia Hanke of Germany. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Zwick funeral home, the Rev. F. W. Droegemueller officiating. Burial will be In the It. Peter’s Lutheran ehuroh cometary Friends may call at the funeral home after ! p.m. Friday until time es the services. ' ■

Disarmament Plan Includes Chinese Reds Stassen Says U. S. Includes Limit On Red China Forces LONDON (INS) —Harold E. Stassen said today the new U. S. disarmament plan included a limitation on Red China's armed forces because geography eud power, not political structure, must be the true basis for real disarmament He also indicated that If the U.S. draft plan was finally adopted and put into force by the members of the United Nations disarmament the Peiping regime would be incited to join the "armaments regulation organ isati£B».’< ’ > ’ s V Stassen, chief U. 8. delegate to the subcommittee, held a news conference at the U. S. embassy in London preparatory to another closed meeting of the five subcommittee members.. He was expected to reply at that meeting to several points raised by Soviet Delegate Andrei Gromyko. The Russian requested clarification of several points in the flexible step-by-step plan which the U. 8. has submitted. -Stassen was asked by reporters to explain how, since the U. S. does not recognize Red China, the latter country was included-under the phrase “armed forces of China”—in the U. S. proposals. The American plan called for an ultimate limitation of the armed forces of the U. S., Russia and Red China to 2.5 million men. Britain and France would be allowed 750,000 men and other nations smaller numbers. The U. S. representative explained that the government felt China, no matter what is government, must be included as one of the three most powerful countries. Stassen noted further that the American plan first provided for the effective limitation of arms and armed forces by the 11 members of the full UN disarmament commission. - * I When they achieve, that goal; Stassen said, they will “invite other states having a significant military potential to join the armaments regulation oragnization." Stassen told the reporters that the U. S. regarded as scientifically (Contmuwa on Page Five) Fewer Millionaires Reported In Nation WASHINGTON (INS) —Government reports indicate this country may be getting short an millionaires. ' ” The internal revenue service said there were only 148 persons reporting income of more than a million dollars in 1952 compared with 171 in 1951 and an ail-time high 0f’219 in 1950.' ~,,.,1,', ' Six New York City Firemen Are Killed NEW YORK (INS) --Six New York City firemen were killed and six others were injured Wednesday night when a blazing Bronx building collapsed on them. . Five commissioner Edward E. Cavanagh Jr., depot}- commissioner George F. Maud, and a number of newsmen narrowly missed being trapped by the falling wall. , 12 Pages

-t * Wi Jtf v ’ j- /'sf. ,: W • ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMB COUNTY . £ 1

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, April 5, 1956. — . -—

Government To Crack Down On Racketeers In Labor Following Attack

FBI Announces j Arrest Os Red Leader In U. SJ Active Communist Leader Is Arrested Today In Montana WASHINGTON (INS) — The FBI announced the arrest today in Butte, Mont., of 34-year-old John Cyril Hellman, described as an active Communist leader for more than a decade. The justice department said FBI agents took, Hellman into custody without incident. He was charged with violating the section of the Smith act which makes it illegal to be a member of the Communist party knowing its alm is overthrow of the government by force and violence. vrHellman was the 139th Communist party official to be arrested • on Smith act charges since July, , 1948. ■ FBI director J. Edgar Hoover said Hellman has been a Commu- . nist party organizer in the agriI culture and mining areas of Mon- [ tana and Idaho for more than 10 t years. The FBI said Hellman has writ- „ ten articles and given speeches in support of the Communist cause s akd once described the Korean . conflict as “mass murder on the , part of the United States.” Hellman was born Dec. 28. 1921, in Columbia Falls, Mont., and attended public schools in that state t before spending a year at a business university in the state of . Washington. <. < " . He is married and has two children and has been employed in a 1 variety of jobs. Including book- ' keeper, mechanic and butcher. Dedicate Indiana ' Toll Road Sept. 17 f INDIANAPOLIS (INS) —The northern Indiana toll road will be i dedicated Sept. 17 at South Bend. I The road will be dedicated by i sections as each section is opened • tc traffic but the overall commemoration will take place at South i Bend. ' Grand Rapids Area Plans Rebuilding Five> Storm Injured Reported As Critical I GRAND RAPIDS,’ Mich. (INS) —Stunned residents of the Grand Rapids, Mich., area staggered, to their feet today in the quiet following the tornado and began to bury their dead and make plans for rebuilding. The twister that swooped through parts of western Michi, gan Tuesday night left an official death toll of 17—seven women,, six children and four men. Sixty-two of the more than 300 injured were still in hospitals today. five in critical condition. About 700 persons were home-less-most of them young people with children. > Meanwhile, Congressman Gerald R. Ford (R-Mich.) announced that both Kent and Ottawa counties had been designated disaster areas by the small business administration, enabling stricken residents to obtain government loans for rebuilding. Governor G. Xfehnon Williams said representatives of the U. S. army corps of engineers, the civil defense administration and the health education and welfare de.partments will make a survey of the damage areas today and help set up a relief program. Damage estimates, which ran ’ as high as 911 million, have been lowered to about 96 million outside Grand Rapids. The loss in Allegan county, south of Grand Rapids, was estimated at <IOO.OM.

Youthful Slayer Is Convicted By Jury ! 14-Year-old Youth Is Convicted Today WHEELING, W. Va. (IN’S) —An all-male jury convicted 14-year-old Tommy Williams of first degree murder today in the slaying of uine-yearold Cub Scout David Powell. Prosecutor Joseph Gompers had asked for life imprisonment in view of the defendant's age. The verdict was considered a surprise, since it disregarded testimony bj doctors at Weston state hospital that Tommy "was and la absolutely insane.” The jury, inreaching Its decision, concluded that Tommy knew right from wrong when he bludgeoned the young Cub Scout last Feb. 9. Dr. H. Sincleair Tait, superintendent of Weston, had pictured Tommy as a classic ease of insanity. He said the youth “bad to kill” and murdered David as a symbol of Tommy’s own father. The jury deliberated from 4:45 to 9:30 p. m. Wednesday with an hour cut for dinner, and then was locked up for the night when it failed to reach a decision. Deliberations resumed at 9 a.m. today and the verdict was announced an hour and a half later. Gompers had argued that Tommy, member of a weird pigeonkilling dub on , Wheeling Wand, where he lived, had Slain the neighbor boy to get sls he thought David possessed. David had been selling tickets to a Cub Scout presentation of “Frankenstein’s Monster." but all of the money and tickets were accounted for after his body was found beneath the porch of Tommy’s, The jury had five possible verdicts and returned the strongestguilty of first degree murder with a recommendation of mercy, that • is, life impi'ieonment ratner than death. (Continued or. Fare Eight) Red Cross Campaign Extended In County Two Week Extension Announced By Board At a meeting of local Red Cross officials Wednesday at the Decatur Youth and Community Center, it was decided to extend the 1956 fund campaign o April 15. The drive was originally to have ended March 31. The reason for the extension of the drive is to attempt to reach the 111.000 goal set for the campaign. This goal is an increase over previous years but it is necessary because of the extra need for disaster funds resulting from the tornados and hurricanes. Plans were made to station volunteer staff workers in the De catur, Berne And Bgnevn bank* on . Saturday, April 7, and Saturday, April 15, to solicit funds for the Red Cross. Carl Braun, county charlman of the drive, also explained that the time extension who give an opportunity to solicitors who have not yet turned in reports to do so. He said that soliciting may have been delayed because of the bad weather durlng'March and because of the ■Easter season. .., He also repeated his appeal that every adult in the county enroll in the Red Cross membership. This can be accomplished by the donation of |T. These memberships will be available at the three banks on the next two Saturdays as well as at the county Red Cross office in Decatur/ It was emphasised that if each adult in the county would give sl, the SII,OOO goal would be reached. INDIANA WEATHER . Increasing eloudlneea and mild tonight and Friday. Ihower» and thunderstorms developing Friday. Low .tonight 4050, High Friday 70-75.

UN Secretary Leaves Friday On Peace Move Security Council Okays Hammarskjold Middle East Trip UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. (INS) —Dag Hammarskjold launched today a round of private consultations with mideastern and western diplomats before leaving Friday on his mission to prevent an ArabIsraeli war. The UN secretary general conferred with Syrian delegates Ahmed Shukairy and Rafik Asha prior to his news conference at which he will spell out his “approach” to the Middle East, crisis. Later he will meet with U. S.ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge and other western representatives. Hammarskjold's consultations will. continue in (Rome where he will meet with the UN chief truce supervisor in Palestine, Maj. Gen. E. L. M. Burns of Canada. Hammarskjold and Burns will confer for several days on the entire mideastern situation and the UN chief's mission to find ways of easing tension in the area. The security council approved Hammarskjold’s peace mission by •a unanimous 11-tod vete RueSfa waived the veto. The council's endorsement of a mandate to Hammarskjold was a personal triumph for U.S. ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge. Lodge had introduced ten days ago a U.S. resolution firmly spelling out the powers and rights under which the UN chief would take up with Arab and Israeli leaders reduction of tension and war threats. Lodge worked tenaciously to counter Soviet efforts to incite the Arabs against the U.S. resolution. The Russians apparently feared the Hammarskjold probe might expose Soviet arms sales to the Arabs and Moscow agitation as primary causes of Middle East unrest. Lodge called Soviet delegate A. A. Sobolev's bluff at the last minute in the council by declaring that the U.S. resolution had to be approved intact or not at all. Sobolev voted for the resolution by explaining that the Arabs and Israel accepted it. Key Witnesses To Face Probe Recall Demand Testimony In Immunity Law WASHINGTON (INS) — House un-American activities committee chairman Francis Walter (D-Pa.) said today he will recall key fifthamendment witnesses and demand that they testify under the immunity law. —~ ~— Legality of the statute guaranteeing immunity from prosecution for persons testifying on subversive activities was upheld last week by the supreme court. The Pennsylvania Democrat also hit out at federal judges who fail to mete out heavy sentences to persons held in contempt of congress. — r - . Walter told newsmen: “What we need now Is a little, more cooperation from judges. Too many of them are giving minimum sentences.” Under the immunity law, a witness who refuses te testify in regard to communist activities and associations after being offered immunity from prosecution can be found guilty of contempt. Walter declined to say which former witnesses he is considering recalling. *>•' Former committee chairman Harold Velde (Bill.) however, proposed that convicted perjurer Alger Hiss be offered immunity to testify on alleged red underground activities in government. (Continued on FM* MgM)

UE Signs Five-Yegj Contract With 6. E. Announcement Made In New York City Announcement was made in New York City last night that the United Electric Workers Union (independent) has accepted a five-year contract with the General Electric Co. Both the company and union praised the contract as providing a number of major improvements. The five-year pact provides a 414 to 17-cents-an-hour increase for the first six months and a three per cent increase per year for the next four years. A cost-of-Hvipg adjustment clause is also included. General Electric said in a statement that the terms were the same the company had offered last August. "UE-represented employes Dave lost nearly two million dollars in missed pay increases and far more in extra benefits passed up as a result of the 7’4-month delay of the UE committee In reaching agreement,” the company said. Virgil B. Day, GE manager of union relations, said, "we are glad that our UE-represented employes may now join more than 200,009 other Genera! Electric employes in enjoying the outstanding pay and benefit Improvements which 'we have been. able, to make available." Most of the GE employes are now represented; by , the Interna, tional Union of Electrical Workers' (AFL-CIO). The UE announcement of the settlement, which technically must be ratified by the membership, said it hovers about 20,000 GE employes, The new contract is retroactive to April 2. The'UE is the bargaining agent for the employes of the General Electric plant in Decatur.. Expect Farhi Bill Agreement Friday Congress Conferees Enter Home Stretch WASHINGTON (INS) — House and senate conferees enter the “home stretch” today in their attempt to hammer out a compromise farm bill. Final agreement is expected Friday. Sen. Alien J. Ellender (D-La.) < hairman of the 10-man group, said that “we will stay in session Friday until we have buttoned up” a hill. Legislation agreed to in conference must go back to both chambers for approval. The house is expected to take it up next Wednesday. President Eisenhower, who repeatedly has urged the conferees to improve the farm bill passed by the senate, indicated at his news conference Wednesday that he might be willing to accept a compromise. But_ he said, the legislationstill contains amendments that are "clumsy” or “even wse." Rep. Clifford Hope (R-Kans.) said he thinks the conference has "improved the bill." He told reporters: “It te the best program that can be worked out at this time. I ho'pe the President will sign the bill.” Ellender, in an obvious slap at agriculture secretary Ezra Taft Bejiaon. told a news conference that “If the President had the bill explained to him by someoYie who was not biased dr prejudiced. I’d guarantee he would sign it.” The Louisiana Democrat suggested that if Republicans such as Hope or Sen. Milton R. Young, N. D., explained it to the President rather than Benson, the bill would become law. However, Ellender added that he still thinks Mr. Eisenhower will sign the farm legislation. The President at his news conference said he wants to see the finished bill before deciding whether to accept it or not. But he said he was never one to believe that “you must hold up good things in order to attain perfection.”

Five Cents

Labor Writer Is Blinded By Acid-Thrower Justice Department Declares War On Labor Racketeers NEW YORK (INS)—Syndicated labor columnist Victor Riesel was blinded today by an cadi-throwing attacker and the U. S. justice department Immediately declared r “all. out war” on labor racketeers. U. S. attorney Paul W. Williams announced he is throwing every available FBI agent into the fight and is immediately issuing subpoenas for top-flight labor racketeers for questioning about the attack. i,/. Williams disclosed that Riesel. 41 —who was given only a 50-50 chance today of regaining his sight —had given him “specific information" and was a “potential witness” before federal grand juries probing racketeering in the garment and trucking industry. “This attack.” Williams declared, “couldn’t be a clearer attempt at intimidating witnesses and preventing them from coming to me “with information. “We protect our witnesses and people who write—newspapermen who hem us. If these lawless ele- K ments want war. we'll give it to them.” Riesel, whose hara-nitting column 1s syndicated In nearly 200 newspapers throughout the country, attributed the early morning assault outside famed Lindy’s restaurant on Broadway to a broadcast he made Wedhesday night. On the broadcast he attacked labor racketeering on Long Island, and talked about labor big snots Joey Fay and William C. Dekoning Sr. The two men, recently freed on parole after serving terms for extortion from building contractors, will be among those subpoenaed, Williams said. The attorney said the federal government was stepping into the case because “intimidating witnesses is a federal offense.” ■ 1 Fay was the center of » big political scandal in 1953 when it was disclosed that he was receiving visits in his Sing Sing jail “office" from high ranking labor and governmental officials. The acid-thrower, described as around 26 years of age and cleancut, also hit Miss Betty Nevins, 23, of Englewood, N. J., who was with Riesel. She was not injured. A few drops of the acid splashed on Miss Nevins' legs, police said, causing runs in her stockings, but* not burning the skin. Dr. Justic C. Terra said Riesel had been burned on the * eyes, nose, mouth, chin and hands. The attack occurred at 3 a. m. soon after the writer and Miss Nevins, who assists Riesel on his radio and television programs, hade goodnight to a friend, Abe Savage, musician’s union press agent. * As Riesel and the young woman started toward his car, police said, the assailant, a slim man about five feet eight inches tall, stepped from the shadows and hurled the acid. Dekoning recently was paroled and is said to be in Florida. , +- Operating engineers of Local 138 are led by Dekoning’s son. William, Jr., who was forced to spend a year out of Long Island under a court order which gave him a suspended sentence on a coercion charge. * A fight is underway with the union now over the Riesel was taken to the eye, ear, nose and throat division of St. Clare's hospital for specialized treatment. The newsman told reporters at the hospital his assailant "must have had a car. He followed me. He knew me. He galled out to me.” ■( ' After phoning his wife from the (Continued on Fagw iSlgtrt;