Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 54, Number 123, Decatur, Adams County, 24 May 1956 — Page 1

Vol. tIV. No. 123.

ANGRY LAKE SWAMPS DREDGE - SEVEN DIE ' 1 — ■- ml , Jim— 1 k |g t I ♦ I w.l IHM • . ■oL'jtL .* ■ ¥ kJQHKL, «< . B THE BODY of one of seven crewmen, drowned when a huge dredge being towed into Milwaukee harbor capsized, is brought ashore from a rescue vessel. The cable supporting the boom on the barge snapped in heavy seas capaising the vessel in less than a minute as a storm lashed Lake Michigan. Two other crewmen are missing and ten are hospitalised. -

Adams County Assessed Value Slightly Higher Rural Areas Show Decrease, Cities And Towns Higher Total assessed value of pers |al property in Adams county according to the 1956 assessment Is >17,651,7Q8, as shown in a report issued today by county assessor Waiter Koos. Koos* report shows that >530,998 of thia amount was in new improvements since the 1955 assessments. The 1956 total is an increase of >393,840 in property value over the previous year's assessWith the lowered market value of farm products and fewer farms, most rural township areas showed slight decreases in assessed values. However, new improvements tn cities and towns absorbed the » decrease. , The number of households assessed this year totalled 6,188, a decrease of 176 from last year. However, the total value of property in these housholds went np to >1,896.485 irons the 1955 total of >1,847,957. There was a sharp decrease in the number of farms assessed from 2,368 in 1955 to 1,794 in 1956. The total 1956 value of farm proptty is >5,198,823 compared with >5,794,541 a year ago. The breakdown of farm property in Koos* report shows 4,085 farm implements and tractors valued pt a total >2,362.848; 17,189 milk and beef cows and other cattle, >1,347,395;- 14,631 dozen poul- ‘ try. >80,622, and 19,612 other farm animals, >307,207. The 326 Retail business places assessed this year show total inventory values of >1,780,147 and >1,016.846 in furniture and fixtures. The total assessed value of 41 service stations is >79,730. Assessors found 7,684 automobiles and trucks with a total value of >3,- - »31.212. 4 . Wabash township has the lowest assessment value of any tax unit of the county. Highest, of course, is Decatur - Washington which still showed a slight decrease from 1955. Os the township units, only Monroe and Jefferson showed increases in property value. The totals for the separate tax units include Union, >1,194,516; Root. >1.259,207; Preble, >1,352,224; Kirkland. >966,255; St. Mary’s, >857,687; Blue Creek, >905,969; Monroe township, >1,350,463; French, >1,033,112; Wabash. >491,121; Jefferson, >688,312, and Washington, >1,026.173. Assessed value of .property in corporate cities and towns show Geneva >434.230; Berne, >1,590,(JO2; Monroe • Monroe. >140,919; Monroe-Washington, >16,860; De-catur-Root, >686,316, and DecaturWashington, >2;194,300. Egyptian Premier To Visit Red China CAIRO (INS) — The Egyptian government announced today that Premier Gamal Adbel Nasser has accepted an initation from premier Chou Eh-Lai to visit Communist China. No date was set for the visit. I Egyptian war minister Maj. Gen. Abdel Hakim Amer also accepted an invitation from the war ministry tn Peiptag to tend a military Ealegatton te femmuuirt China.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

State Traffic Toll Mounts Over Night Heavy Death Toll Reported In State INDIANAPOLIS (INS)’ A Florida motorist who bent over to pick up something from the floor of his car swerved into the path of an oncoming truck, resulting in an accident that killed one and injured two. The crash was one of a number of clllsins which sent the state’s highway death toll climbing to a new high. Two of the crashes were on Ind. 37 near Bedford. Indiana state police reported that Luther V. Edwards, 35, of the Muscatatuck Village, was fatally injured in the crash which followed when Richard E. Edwards, 62, of Cocoa, Fla., leaned over to pick up something while driving along Ind. 37 Wednesday afternoon. Also hurt la the cragh wt» another passenger in the car, Lonnie D. Summers, 12, of Bedford, and Edwards. The rtuck driver, Roy W. Starrett, 30, of Bedford, escaped serious injury, in the crash, which occured two miles south of Bedford. Another Bedford area double crash Wednesday night took the life of Leo Pace, 22, of Bedford, and injured three, ne critically. State troopers said a car driven by Pace struck the rear of a truck loaded with millstones on Ind. 37, one-half mile north of Bedford. WKhile the truck driver went for help, another car hit the wrecked auto. Injured in the accident were Frank E. StiegaM, 23, of Bedford, reported critical; Brenda Pert Pettyoord, 17, of Bedford, in serious condition, and Wilman Neeley. 19, of Bedford, in fair condition. Ronald Lee Cox, 18, of Btoom(Uvutlujoo on f>hc« Six;

Flood Threatening North Idaho Town Hundreds Battling Idaho Flood Water BONNERS FERRY, Ida. (INS) —Hundreds of army infantrymen and engineers, national guardsmen and civilian volunteers battled on early today as they awaited the zero hour in their fight to save the north Idaho panhandle town of Bonners Ferry from the flood-swollen Kootenai river. The murky flood waters are held back by dikes in 14 of the areas* 16 flood districts. Dikes in the other two districts already have been breached, letting the Kootenai flow over more than 6,000 acres of lowlands, including valuable farming properties. At stake now is the Bonners Ferry business district as well as some 34,000 acres of farm land and hundreds of acres of residential properties. The Kootenai was at 36.6 feet, about a foot and a half below the point where its sullen waters would flow over the dikes, and take over the town. Flood fighters said they considered the next few hours the critical period. If they can continue to hold the Kootenai in check today, they said, they believe Bonners Ferry is safe for the time being. Meanwhile, in the outlying areas some 406 persons have abandoned their homes and moved to higher elevations. Aaothsr 4,000 persons in the Bonnerp Ferry vicinity have been alerted to flee at any moment.

Declines To Give Evidence To Committee Former Air Force Lieutenant Charged With Aiding Reds WASHINGTON (INS) — A former air force lieutenant refused to testify today whether h„- made world-wide broadcasts from Red China in 1952 accusing America of psing germ warfare and jellied gasoline bombs in Korea. Louis Wheaton, 38, of New York City, invoked the first and fifth amendments repeatedly rather than tell the hquse un-American activities committee whether he actively engaged in the Rod Chinese propaganda. The witness would »-*iher confirm or deny that he accused American servicemen of herding 300 Korean women and children into a building, pouring gasoline on them and then setting them afire. ‘■Committee counsel Richard A.rens cited similar cases in which the World War II air force officer allegedly aided the Reds in spreading misinformation about America's role in Korea. Wheaton declined to say whether he had ever betrayed Amer ica and Rep. Gordon Scherer (ROhio) flatly charged: “This man was guilty of treason.” Wheaton was identified in testimony Wednesday by former red. William Wallace, as a Communist party member. Wheaton refused to say whether he knew Wallace. The committee is investigating the Red conspiracy to sabotage the U. S. passport system, which denies passports to Communists and -other subversives. A third witness scheduled to appear was Dr. John A. Kingsbury, also of New York, chairman of the national council of AmericanSoviet friendship. A witness Wednesday, Dr. Willard Uphaus, got into a Biblequoting dispute with committee counsel Richard Arens. Uphaus, wno lists himself as a Methodist, repeatedly referred to the scriptures in refusing to name persons who went to Moscow with him and in upholding his defense of Soviet propaganda moves. Arens answered with Bible quotations. ' T Chairman Francis E. Walter (D-Pa.) warned Uphaus, however, not to “hide behind 'religion.” He branded such action "cowardly.” Retail Stores Close For Memorial Day The retail division of the Chamber of Commerce announced today that Decatur retail stores wit be closed all day W'ednesday, May 39, which is Memorial Day, and will also follow their usual custom of closing at noon Thursday, May 31. for the balance of the day. ju t • Ravelings Will Be Distributed Friday Announcement was made today that printers of the Ravelings, Decatur high school yearbook, have promised that the books will be ready for distribution Friday. Students of the high school and junior high school are asked to bring their receipts and unpaM balance when they report to »eheol Friday afternoon for their final report cards. - ’ • ‘

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, May 24 z 1956.

Senate Investigators Demand Two Top Red UN Officials Ousted

Ike To Fight z 1 For Approval 1 Os Legislation Eisenhower Plans To Continue Fight J 1 For Must Measures 1 WASHINGTON (INS) —The' White House made it known to- < day that President Eisenhower is I determined to fight to the last for 1 approval of his legislative pro- < gram. ! White House aides made it clear that Mr. Eisenhower is not dis- 1 couraged in the least by some i congressional setbacks to recoin- < mendatlons he made in his state i of the union message last January. ' Ass’jstwt White Louse news I sec.Biary Murray Snyder said of i ;he President’s hopes for congres- i sional approval of his. recommendations before congress adjourns: i “The President has given up on ; nothing.” The President is keeping in his desk drawer a “must” list of legislation which he considers “highly important" for the nation’s welfare. The assistant news secretary disclosed the President's "must” list as containing: 1. International grouping —mutual security funds including longrange economic aid and foreign military aid; U. S. membership in the organization of trade cooperation; customrs simplification and immigration: atomic ship; and national security, including military career incentives. 2. Government grouping —postal rate increase; pay increase for top grade civil service officials and presidential appointees. 3. Economic grouping — farm bill; nationwide highway program; farm credit legislation; and world development program. 4. Welfart grouping — school construction: housing program; health program; labor legislation, and civil rights. 5. Hawaiian statehood. Report Increase In U. S. Living Costs Auto Workers Will Receive Cent Boost WASHINGTON (INS)—The government reported today that the U. S. cost of living advanced i slightly in April and more than one million auto workers will get a one cent-an-hour pay raise in June. The labor department said that the living cost index edged up twotenths of one per cent in April, I due entirely to a six-tenths of one per cent rise in food prices. The April index was 114.9 per i cent of the 1947-49 average. This i is sixt-enths of one per cent higher i than a year ago and one-half of one per cent below the all-time, i high of October, 1953. 1 Commissioner of labor statistics I Ewan Clagne said he saw no pros- 1 pect of a drop in the index for the • next several months because food < prices are expected to move up I still further. The pay raise for the auto workers results from escalator clauses in work contracts tied to the cost • of living index. The increase comes because the index has moved up since the last wage adjustment was made in (Continues on Page Five) Joseph Rahrig Dies 9 At Fostoria, Ohio Mrs. Ralph J. Roop received a ' telegram this morning of the death ot her uncle, Joseph Rahrig of Fostoria. O. Mrs. Rahrig was the tormor Celia Parent Zeser. Amoral services will bs bald Saturday morning at 11 o’clock. The body will be brought to the Doeatur Catholic cemetery for burial.

Nike Demonstration Impresses Newsmen i Army Officers Proud f Os Nike Performance WHITE SANDS PROVING GROUNDS, N.M. (INS) — Army officers are too polite to say so today but they feel that critics of the Nike missile program should jut up or shut up. That feeling prevailed at the army’s guided missile training center at Fort Bliss, Tex., and at the White Sands Proving Grounds following a two-day demonstration of the Nike and other missiles to 120 newsmen and photographers. Newly trained anti-aircraft battalions Wednesday destroyed two small Aerobee radio • controlled drones with each of two rounds of Nike guided missiles. The demonstration of the Nike, this country's only operational surface - to - air guided missile, was staged over the New Mexico desert while a controversy raged in Washington between the army and the air force over the effectiveness of the Nike program. Army officers said that even though this missile is good, better ones are being produced, including the Nike B. One of the drones shot down Wednesday was intercepted some 25 miles from where the Nike was launched. Newsmen, visibly imjjresaed by the demonstration, estimated the guided missile traveled more than 1,360 miles an hour. The army put newly trained Gl’s on display along with the heretofore secret weapons to prove that anti-aircraft battalions have the capabilities of defending the nation against any possible air attack. • « Adults To Help In Party For Seniors All Night Party for High School Grads The names of adults who will participate in the project to entertain graduates of Decatur high school in an all night party tonight have been announced by the sponsoring organizations. Representatives of the four sororities who will be in charge of a buffet luncheon at the Decatur Youth and Community Center from midnight to 2 a.m. include Mrs. James Kocher, Jr., and Mrs. Robert Worthman of Tri Kappa. Mrs. Paul Handler and Mrs. Lawrence Anspaugh of Psi lota Xi, Mrs. Leo Seltenright and Mrs. William Affolder of Beta Sigma Phi. and Mrs. H. R. Frey and Mrs. Frank Lybarger of Delta Theta Tau. Following a private showing of a movie at the Adams theater through the courtesy of Roy Kalver, the graduates and their dates wil go to Legion home to conclude their party with entertainment and a breakfast given Jby the Lions club. The club’s entertainment committee includes Lawrence Anspaugh, chairman, aiyl Herman Krueckeberg, Ron Parrish and Ernie Atkinson. The decorations committee, with Paul Hancher as chairman. Is composed of Roger Gentis, Clark Smith, Fritz Ellsworth, Thurman Drew, Merlin Seiling and Glen Manlier. Table waiters for the breakfast will be Dick Evans, Don Stover, Jay Markley, Ralph Smith, Jr., Merle Affolder, Cliff Brewer, Ray Heller, Robert Zwick, Glenn Hill, (Continued on Page Five) Two Sisters Perish As Home Destroyed MARTIN’S FERRY, O. (INS)— Two sisters, fearful of leap'ag from the. second floor room in which they were trapped, perished Wednesday night as fire raced through their home in Martin’s Ferry. Firemen said that eight-year-old Mary Ann Bennett and her 11-year-old slater, Wilma Elizasbeth, ware overcome by smoke.

Sen. Jackson Lashes Wilson F Over Control Accuses Wilson Os ( Thought Control On Military Leaders , WASHINGTON (INS) — A member of the senate airpower investigating subcommittee accused defense secretary Charles E. Wilson today of ‘thought control” and declared it could endanger national security. Sen. Henry M. Jackson (D Wash.), referred to Wilson’s statement Tuesday that “it might be -a little dangerous**.for the next Pentagon men who “stick their head up" by airing the controversy ovet army, navy and air force roles it the hydrogen bomb age. Jackson told newsmen that this is "thought control.” He said it will mean that Pentagon officials “will not be in a position to give honest professional advice to congress without having their heads chopped off.” Thtf senator declared that the airpower investigations subcommittee, of which he is a member, should “look into what Wilson meant by his remark.” The senI ate group isUeadqd by Sen. Stuart Symington (D. Mo.), who served as air force secretary during tha Truman administration. President Elsenhower Wednesday declared that inter - service arguments are a good thing, provided they are kept within the bounds of discipline. The Chief Executive told his news conference he would be “frightened indeed” if military leaders did not argue with each other in view of tremendous changes demanded by the atomic age. Senate GOP policy chairman Styles Bridges, N.H., said in a separate interview that he favors a congressional study of the interservice feud but declared it should be confined to one committee. Two have announced probes. Ostrander Is Taken To Michigan City Begins Serving Os 20-Year Sentence Charles William Ostrander, 37yearold Bluffton man. who entered a plea of guilty Wednesday to the charge of an armed rape attack on a young Decatur girl, was taken this morning to the Indiana state prison at Michigan City to begin serving a 20-year sentence. He was taken to the prison by sheriff Merle Affolder, deputy sheriff. Roger Singleton and city police chief James Borders. The man, who was sentenced to 20' years byJudge Myles Parrish, will not be eligible for parole until he has served at least 12 years and six months of his sentence. j. Ostrander's accomplice, 15-year-old Kenneth Thompson of Bluffton, was found guilty in juvenile proceedings and is now at the Indiana state boys school where he was sentenced until he is 21 years of age. Both admitted guilt in the attack April 12 when the young Decatur couple was kidnapped and taken out into the country, where the boy was robbed and the girl was raped. They were arrested April 18 in Decatur as a result ot vigilant nightly patrols by local authorities after the attack. INDIANA WEATHER Fair to partly cloudy and not so cool north and west tonight. Friday partly cloudy and warmer with chance of a few showers northwest. Lew tonight 44-50. High Fridsy In the 70a 14 ■ PAGES

Compromise Farm Measure Up To Ike Secretary Benson Approves Measure WASHINGTON (INS) — The compromise farm bill was at the White House today awaiting hopedfor approval from President Eisenhower. The measure was finally sent to the Chief Executive Wednesday after the house approved it during the afternoon by a 304-59 roll call vote. The senate had already passed the omnibus bill ono Tuesday. This is the second time a farm bill has gone to the White House this session of congress. The first pegging price supports at 90 per one —a Democrat-sponsored bill cent of parity — was vetoed by Mr. Eisenhower. The compromise version has the approval of agriculture secretary Ezra Taft Benson and is expected to be signed by the President sometime this week. It contains the White House-ap-proved soil bank provision allowing the administration to pay farmers to take their cropland out of production. It does not, however, give the President the authority he requested to give farmers some of their soil bank money this year.

Poppy Days Here Friday, Saturday Legion Auxiliary To Conduct Sales Friday and Saturday will be Poppy days in Decatur and throughout much of the naiton. with millions of Americans wearing bright red poppies in tribute to those who have given their lives in defense of the nation. The flowers of remerbrance will be distributed throughout the streets of Decatur by volunteer "flower girls” from the American Legion auxiliary and cooperating organisations. Poppy day activities will start early Friday morning when the corps of volunteers organized bv Mrs. Frances Monahan, the auxiliary’s poppy chairman, will be out with their baskets of popples to greet citlsens on their way to work. They will continue to work throughout the day, covering outlying business centers as well as the downtown district. Contributions will be received by the Poppy day volunteers for the auxiliary’s work for disabled veterans and the needy children of veterans. These contributions form the major source of support for the auxiliary’s rehabilitation and child welfare programs. Mrs. Monahan pointed out that since the auxiliary’s poppy program is carried out by volunteers, all the money contributed, above the cost of materials and the wages paid the disabled veterans who make the popples, goes for the disabled and children.

The poppies to be worn here were made by disabled veterans at at the Marion Veterans hospital, who have been enabled to earn much needed money for themselves and families. The little flowers are made of crepe paper, with wire stems, and take their pattern from the wild poppies of France and Belgium, which bloomed in the World War battlefields and cemeteries of those countries. To Receive Bids On High School Repair The Decatur board of school trustees will advertise its intentions this week to seek an appropriation of >1.500 for the purpose of roof repair work at Decatur high school. The appropriation request will be considered at the June 8 meeting of the board and if thGre art no objections the Jatttr will go to the state tax board for final action.

Ask Exoulsion iifWWiirlWP / Os Delegates For Actions ■ WF.|I ■”■ ■■F Demand Expulsion For Forcing Soviet Sailors To Return * WASHINGTON (INS) - Senate investigators demanded today that Russia’s two top United Nations officials be expelled from the U.S. for using “force and duress” to get five refugee Soviet sailors to return to the U.S.S.R. The internal security group, headed by Sen. James O. Eastland (D-Miss.,) made the recommendation in a report sharply as sailing American officials for their handling of the case. They charged that Arkady Sobolev, chief Soviet delegate to the UN, and his staff "exceeded Che authority granted to them .. .and abused the hospitality of the United States. , .in their efforts to induce the nine sailors to return home.” Four of the nine, crewmen of the Soviet tanker Tuapse which tfas captured by the Chinese Nationalists off Formosa in 1»54, spurned "pressure” which included a personal appeal by Soviet, ambassador GeorgJ Zaroubin. They are ? ti« in the U.S. of “coercion” in the successful effort to “induce” the other five to redefect last April 7, the subcommittee recommended: “1. That the state depatrment ask for the recall of chief delegate Sobolev and first secretary (Konstantin) Ekimov of the Soviet delegation to the United Nations. “2. That ambassador (Henry Cabot) Lodge pursue his protests to the United Nations and ask that international body to make efforts to prevent Soviet personnel at the United Nations from subjecting human beings who seek asylum here from force, coercion, duress and violence.” A request for recall is tantamount to expulsion of diplomats from a host country. The state department took such action last April 25 with respect to two leseer Soviet UN aides who figured in the case and also demanded that Sobolev and his staff “adhere to their recognized functions" in the future. In tis report, the subcommittee made public its closed door questioning May 4 of unidentified state department and immigration and naturalization service officials familiar with the case. The FBI knew, acordlng to the report, of “many of the events involving” two other sailors who were ivsited at their home in Paterson, N. J., on April 6 by two Russians who apparently scuffled with the defectees prior to leaving with them. The immigration service spokes(Continued on Page Five) Msgr. Durkin Named Rector Os Cathedral The (Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thomas L. Durkin, a native of Decatur and pastfr of Sacred Heart Catholic parish in Fort Wxyne, has been appointed rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in that city. His appointment was announced today with other clerical assignments of the Fort Wayne diocese in Our Sunday Visitor. The appointment is effective June 8. The appointment was made by the Most Rev. Leo A. Pursley, apostolic administrator of the'diocese. Also announced was the appointment of the Rev. Robert J. Hoevel, a former assistant pastor of St. Mary's Catholic church in Decatur, to the pastordiip of St. Henry’s parish in Fort Wayne. Another former Decatur assistant, the Rev. Joseph J. Hennes, has been appointed chaplain of St. Vincent’s home for the aged at Ligonier, which will be opened dune 1 by the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood.

Six Cents