Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 54, Number 172, Decatur, Adams County, 23 July 1956 — Page 1

Vol. LIV. No. 172.

EX-HUNOIS OFFICIAL INDICTED * * .", ', i ■■ ’’ ’ - ‘.t ' U F : O' ■■.. 1 ORVILLE HODGE, former Illinois State Auditor, appears in th« Federal Huildiix in Chicago to testify before the grand jury. Attorney WRliam F. Fulton (left) sneaked Hodge in a basement entrance io avoid seizure by local authorities. Two hours later a 54 count indictment was returned -charging Hodge and two others with misapplying >5875,677.72 of bank funds.

Recruit Says Sgt. McKeon Good Leader Survivor Os Death March Testifies At Court Martial PARRIS ISLAND. S. C. (VP) — Survivora of the Parris Island "death march” testified today they saw Marine Sgt. Matthew C. McKeon slap recruits, but they called hltn a good drill Instructor who did not intend to inflict pain but was only trying to straighten out a platoon that had been “goofing off” in training. -.- JpAP witness at tfle court-martial for ■aicKeon. charged with manslaughter In the deaths of six recruits* said the drill instructor was just like a father to him. “We All liked him. air,” said Pvt. Louis C. Leake, 17, a Newark N. J.- Negro. Sitting forward in the witness chair, lervoualy holding a loud speaker microphone in his right hand. *Leake told him he had discussed his 'problems with McKeon —much as he would have with a „ father. “Did he tell you he had confidence in you—that you were going to make a good marine—that you would make it?” softly asked defense attorney Emile Zola Berman. “Yes, air,” Leake refilled. “Was he a good drill instructorgood to you?” “Yes, sir.” The six recruits drowned last April 8 when McKeon, 31, a junior drill instructor at this V. S. marine ' recruit training depot, marched 74 men into a salt creek to “teach them discipline.” He is being triedbefore a general court-martial on charges of manslaughter, oppression of troops, and drinking in violation of regulations. Pfc. John Maloof, 19, also a member of the ill-fated platoon, told how McKeon slapped him shortly before ordering the platoon on the march. But he said the drill instructor had not intended to inflict pain but merely to bring him smartly to attention. He testified thfit McKeon was not drunk. A previous witness had ” said he saw the drill instructor take a drink of vodka around noon the day of the march. “We all felt that Sgt. McKeon did everything for us—and we let him down.” Maloof testified. “He got a knife in the back.” A third suryivor, Pvt. MelVih Barber, a 6-foot Negro from New York City, testified that McKeon was “a very right person” who never lost his temper. “Did he attempt to help you?” Berman asked. “Yea, sir,” Barber replied. “Was he abusive?" “No, sir.” "Did you ever see him beat anybody?” * "I wouldn’t say beating, but 1 have seen him smack men on the back of their head." "Would you call that physical violence?" "No, air," Barber replied. Barber testified that he gave no serious thought to a remark by McKeon before the march began that platoon members would be eaten by sharks tn the salt water of Ribbon Creek. Barber said he took the remark as “rather a joke.” Leake, who testified that he could not swim and was afraid of I water, told how the platoon went frolicking into the stream as if the whole march was a lark. He said that they were sympathetic with (Continued on Pa** Fiv*)

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT u't , ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAM* COUNTY

Huge Salaries And BoamesArelashed Huge Payments For Airplane Leaders WASHINGTON (UP) — Rep. F. Edward Hebert (D-La.) said today, be was "stunned” by some of the big salaries and bonuses paid to officials of aircraft companies making military planes. Hebert is chairman of a house armed~ services subcommittee which investigated the profits of military plane manufacturers for nearly a year. The subcommittee’s formal report made public Sunday, cleared the aircraft industry of charges that it was reaping excessive profits on government plane contracts. The report said that “on the average" the industry’s profits-ap-peared . to. be .within reason. .In some Individual contracts where profits appear to be “higher than they, qugjgt to be," the report said, the excess payments can be recovered by routine contract renegotiation. But Hebert said that the salaries and bonuses paid to some plane manufacturers were shocking. “Everyone believes in fair reward and return for effort, but I am afraid some of these salaries and incentives are more of a sop to vanity than take-home pay,” Hebert said in a prepared statement. "Where public money is involved and government contracts are involved, it (payment of excessive salaries) is dangerous business,” he said. Hebert’s statement followed a report issued by his subcommittee on its investigation. The subcommittee declared that “excessive” salaries and bonuses should not be charged to the government as costs of making military planes. .. "Why, the President of the United States and his cabinet and the White House staff don’t have an executive payroll the size of a few, of these smaller companies,” Hebert said. Subcommittee testimony showed that in many cases salaries and bonuses were charged to the government -as part of the costs of military plane contracts. The subcommittee said, however, it had found that “on the aver(Continued cn Past* Flv*) Repair Worn Paris On Generating Unit "Repair And Replace Diesel Unit Parts City utility employes worked the clock around over the weekend repairing and replacing worn parts on the diesel generating nnit at the city power plant. Work was done under supervision of Lester Mitchel, chief engineer. The diesel engine was taken out of operation last week and part of the giant engine was dismantled. A city truck made the trip to Hamilton. 6; where almost 15,000 worth of replacement parts, including several new pistons, were secured. Work of replacing the worn parts with new ones was completed early this morning and the generator was ready for use. During the shutdown. Decatur’s two steam units, the 5.0Q0 k.w. and the 2,000 k.w. generators were used. Improvement work on the steam plant will be done during the General Electric two week vacation shut-down, it was understood. The diesel generator was ready for op•ratioß early today.

Ike Confers With Leaders Os Americas •4 Conference Os Top Leaders Os America Will Close Today PANAMA CITY, (UB) — President Eisenhower meets privately today with 10 more Latin American presidents to wind up three days of "good neighbor" conferences which brought a new declaration of solidarity to the Western Hemisphere. The presidents, meeting together for the first time in history, gave enthusiastic approval to a suggestion by Mr. Eisenhower that keynoted the conference of American president A w He suggested in a speech Sunday that a special commission be established to find new ways of Inter-American cooperation for the welfare of the Western Hemisphere in peacetime. He proposed 1 - that his brother. Dr. Milton Eisenhower. "who is, weU-known to, the people of Latin America," be named as the U. S. representative to such a commission. », Chief executives from 19 of the 21 American states attended. Mr. Eisenhower met privately with President Adolf Ruiz Cortiaea of Mexico Saturday night ' and with seven others Sunday. Today he was scheduled to devote a half-hour each to talk* with the presidents of Venezuela, 1 Cuba, Bolivia, Chile, Nicaragua, ■ Ecuador, Paraguay, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic and Pan- ‘ ama. The private conferences at the U, S. embassy were scheduled to 1 open at 9:30 a.m. EDT with Vene--1 zuelan President Marcos Perez Jimenez, and end tonight with a farewell visit by host President 1 Ricardo M. Arias of Panama. The President's private plane, i leaves for the - return. ’ trip to > Washington at 11 p. m. EDT. i Most of the talks were expect- , ed to center on hemispheric eco- • nomic problems. President Perez Jimenez of Venezuela was the first to jump i to the support of Mr. Eisenhow- , er's suggestion of expanded economic development of Latin American nations. He offered to contribute $33 million to a general Pan-American economic aid fund if other Western Hemisphere nations contributed in the same proportion, according to theip national budgets. The presidents gave Mr. Eisenhower a long and enthusiastic ovation Sunday as he urged a "new era” of cooperation to improve the lot of their peoples with the help of atomic energy. Speaking in a strong voice that showed little strain despite his recent illness, President Eisenhower said the Western Hemisphere leaders should “give early thiught to ways in which we could hasten the beneficial use of nuclear forces throughout the hemisphere, both in industry and in combatting disease." He said the American countries have developed "fruitful” cooperation because they hold certain “basic spiritual convictions” in common. Crack Streamliner Derailed Sunday Ho Fatalities In Crash Sunday Night CARROLLTON, Mo. (UP)-—The Santa Fe Railroad’s crack streamliner, the San Franelsco Chief, plunged from the rails near here Sunday night, injuring 27 of the 122 passengers aboard. There were no fatalities. Eighteen of those injured remained hospitalized here today. The rest were released to continue their journey. Only one victim, Mrs. Nellie Sayre, Akron. Ohio, was reported in dangerous condition. Attendants said she suffered a skull fracture. All 13 cars, left the tracks. Many of the 122 passengers and 27 crew members probably owe their lives to the fact the train was slowing down. The Chief is the Santa Fe's second newest passenger train and is capable of speeds up to 80 miles an hour. Santa Fe officials in Chicago said the derailment apparently was canoed by a V-shaped piece of metal which lodged in a switch after falling from a passing freight. » - . , The Chief was en route from Chicago to San Francisco when it derailed at 10:30 p.m. while slow.lng down for » flag Mop Ip Carrollton., Lapdneth said.

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, July 23. 1956.

House Approves Civil Rights Bill Against Southern Opposition

Jurors Study Charges Made Against Hodge 46 Charges Against Illinois Auditor In Huge Check Scandal SPRINGFIELD, 111. (UP) — The Sangamon county grand jury to--1 day hears the state’s attorney present 46 charges against former Illinois auditor Orville E. Hodge involved in a huge check casndal. Each of the charges prepared during the weekend was based on • a state check cashed under “suf spicious" conditions. Officials estimated all such cheeks may involve close to $1 million. Today’s grand jury session came two days after a surprise indictment of Hodge by a federal grand ’ jury meeting in Chicago. He was ' charged with misapplying $875,677; in federally insured bank funds. J If Hodges were convicted on all 46 charges, he could be sentenced to a maximum of 920 years in.. , prison. Conviction on the federal , indictment could cost hfrn another' 270 years behind bars as well as . a top fine of $275,000. Included in the 54-eount federal ’ Indictment- were Edward A.’EfR t ping, HadW’S chief tiff hi at» i ditor's office, and Edward A. ■ Hintz, resigned president of the Southmoor Bank and Trust Co.'in • Chicago. • Hintz, being hunted as a fugitive by deputies in Chicago, l planned to give himself up in Springfield today, his attorney said. The Southmoor Bank is said to 1 have cashed a number of the questionable checks. Hintz resigned soon after some payees listed off state checks said they had never received payment although the checks had been cashed. Accountants began searching to-. (Continued on Page Eight) INDIANA WEATHER Partly cloudy this afternoon, tonight and Tuesday, with scattered thundershower* likely extreme south tonight and Tuesday. A little warmer Tuesday. Low tonight mostly in the 60s. High Tuesday 84-92. Sunset 8:06 p. m., sunrise Tuesday 5:37 a. m. G. E. Vacations To Start Next Friday Local Plant Closes For 2-Week Period • At the close of work on the third shift next Friday. July 27. employes of the Decatur plant of the Gen era LEle c t ric Co.will join thousands of other General Electric employes in a two-week vacation. Only a skeleton office force and njembers of the plant protection department will remain on the job during the holiday period. Many local General Electric employes and their families will vacation at Indiana and Michigan lakes, while others have planned automobile trips to almost every state in the nation. Other employes will remain at home and many have planned home improvement projects including painting, building additions and construction of garages. Fishing is still the most popular vacation enterprise and cottages and cabins in vacation areas of Indiana and Michigan -have reported "sellouts” for several weeks, now during the two weeks startirtg next Saturday. The factory shutdown will give Decatur light and power utility employes a chance to do considerable repair work on the diesel and steam generating plants. With General Electric in operation, it is difficult for the city utility to make any major repnirs op the fienrw ftiifaigbing equipment.

Ike Farm Policies T Scored By Democrats Double Cross Os Farmers Charged WASHINGTON (UP) — Democrats have published a bill o£ "72 documented particuLarsf’ against the Eisenhower administration's farm politices, including charges that President Eisenhower "double — crossed” farmers by breaking his campaign pledges. The document was issued Sunday by the Democratic Rational committee's agricultural advisory committee. It also sd hiamndeoia committee. It also said the administration "put farmers in a gigantic cost-price squeeze” and increased the cost of administering farm programs. Evidently designed as a major campaign document for the 1956 presidential the pamphlet quoted “Candidate Eisenhower" as saying at Brookings, D.S., on Oft. ' 4, 1952. “The Republican party, is pledged to the sustaining of the 90 per pledged even more than that to !cen| parity price support and it is spll Njfity, 100 per cent parity, i helping. -th® farmer obtain His > With the guarantee 'tfie price supports of 90.” It quoted Mr. Eisenhower as tell--1 ing a news conference on June Id, 11#54, had never impleed or insinuated that he f avored government support of farm prices at 100 per cent of parity. Charging the administration tried to “squeeze Out" so-called marginal farmers, 'it quoted undersecretary of agriculture True. Morse as saying on April 24. 1953, that “it would be better if the marginal farmers got out of farming and into industry.” Inspect Plans For Hospital Addition Trustees, Architect Inspecting Plans The board of trustees of Adams county memorial hospital, a representative of the state board of health and representatives of A. M. Strauss, Inc., Fort M r ayne architectural firm, met this afternoon at 1 o’clock at the local hospital to inspect preliminary plans for the hospital Improvements and add!tlbns to be made here. If the plans are acceptable to the state board and hospital trustees, the Stranss firm will be authorized to prepare specifications ahd an invitation to bid on the proposed improvements wiU be issued. After a -tentative contract is let $400,000 worth of hospital Improvements bonds will be offered for sale and following the sale* of bonds, the successful contractors will start work, probably this fall. The improvement program and the bond issue were approved several weeks ago by the county commissioners, county council and state tax board and progress on the work has been held up pending completion of plans. The improvements include remodeling parts of the present building and addition of several rooms for patients,, nurses, physicians and the public. Mrs. Dessie Reynolds Dies Early Sunday Mrs. Dessie E. Reynolds, 65, of Vera Cruz, died at 2:15 a.m. Sunday at the Wells county hospital in Bluffton following a long illness. Surviving are three daugh-, tens, Mrs. (George Zehrung of Alexandria, Mrs. Jack Hasinbille of Berne, and Mrs.' Derry Nestferoad of Montpelier: a son, Leonard Reynolds of Bluffton route 4; nine grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren. ” : Erlends may call at the Jahn. Goodwin & Reed funeral home in Bhiiftnp. Servians have nSt been arranged. •to

Negotiators To Resume Steel Talks Tuesday Renew Bogged - Down Negotiations Over Contract Tuesday PITTSBURGH (UP) — Steel strike negotiators picked up their own ball Sunday and agreed to resume bogged-down contract talks to end a 23-day industry-wide walkoutr Bargainers for the steel industry and representatives of 650,000 striking United Steelworkers agreed to meet in New York City Tuesday. They had broken off negotiations here Saturday. John A. Stephens. U. S. Steel Corp, vice president and chief industry spokesman, and USW president David J. McDonald arranged the meeting in an informal telephone conversation Sunday. U. S. mediation director Joseph F. Finnegan said in Washington the government had “nothing, at all to- do" with the revitalized talks.. But Finnegan and other top federal officials hailed the new meetings and expressed hope that a “mutually sa’imactory agreement” would be reicaed quickly. .1 > . Shortly before both sides agreed to resume discussions, the union released its answer to a company charge that a big wage increase for miilworkers would touch off another “inflationary spiral." The USW said pricing policies of the steel industry were responsible for any inflationary tendencies in the nasion’s economy. Stephens, took -tne Initiative in arranging the New York talks. He telephoned McDonald Sunday aftlernoon and the two agreed to meet. McDonald then cancelled his flight to Chicago, where he was to begin a week’s tour of USW picket lines at steel plants in the Midwest and East. Finnegan viewed the resumption | of negotiations fts “a most encouraging sign.” He said he played no part in getting the talks started again and would not take an active role “unless requested to do so by the parties or events indicate the (Continued on Pair* Five)

Mrs. Lillie Hammond Is Taken By Death Funeral Services Tuesday Afternoon Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon for Mrs. Lillie May Hammond; 68, of 128 South Third street, who died at 10:40 o’clock Saturday morning at the Adams cJinnty memorial hospital. She had been ill for seven weeks of carcinoma and in critical condition for three days prior to her death. She was born in Allen county Jan. 4, 1888,.. a daughter of Abraham and Ida Smith - Whitwright, arid was married to Fred Hammond in November of 1904. Her husband proceeded her in death. Mrs. Hammond, a resident of Decatur> mostvof her life, was a member of • the Bethany Evangelical United Brethern church, the Pythian Sisters and its Needle elub, and the Women of the Moose. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Reiva Byerly and Mrs, (Ruth Strickler, both of Decatur; one son, Robert Hammond of Monmouth; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild, and a half-sister, Mrs. Mae Johnston of New Carlisle. One son and four brothers proceeded her Tn death. Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Black fun? eral home, the Rev.Benj. G. Thomas officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetary Friends may call at the funeral home until time of the service*.

II Persons Victims 01 Indiana Traffic Five Are Killed In Three - Car Smashup By UNITED PRESS At least 11 persons were killed in Indiana weekend traffic accidents, including five in a threecar'smashup near Chesterton, and a teenage girl in a drag race on an Indianapolis street. Two cars collided head-on on four-lane U. S. 20 then a third car smashed into the wreckage. Killed were James Campbell, 24, driver of one car, and Ronald Searfoss and Norbert Smorin, both 21, all of South Bend; and lames Doyle, 21, and Walter Krozcka, 22, both of Chicago. Six other persons were injured. At Indianapolis, Rena Manning, 15, Indianapolis, was crushed to death when a convertible speeding in a drag race went out of control, threw her out and rolled over on her. Her two sisters and the 19-year-old boy driver were injured. David Mattson. 14, Gas City, was killed Sunday near Jonesboro when a car driven by Wilfred Eakins, 16, Gab City, skidded « on the berm, rolled over twice and hit a tree, state police said. Agnes A- Sweeney, 64, Whiting, was killed near Rochester on U.S. 31 Saturday. Police said seven persons were hurt, when _ car rirtTen by David Francis, 19, Whiting, skidded and was hit by an auto driven by Elmer Durham. 46, South Bend. Randel Keeton, 23, West Liberty, Ky„ was killed north of Kirklin Saturday in an auto accident. A car ran off Ind. 52 near Huntington Saturday, hit a tree and overturned, killing John Szabo, 30, Fort Wayne. At Churubusco Saturday, Ellis Hockensmith, 34. Orrstown, Pa., was killed when his speeding car ran off a road into a house. Special Session Os Council Thursday Make Preliminary " City. Budget Study A special meting of the city

council has been called for Thursday night at 8 o’clock, ii was announced today. In addition to making a preliminary study of the budget, which is the first order of business, the councilmen also will consider an ordinance which would increase the rental cost of water hydrants which the city pays the water department. The latter was suggested recently by the Indiana public service commission, after a study of local water rated. The alternate action, to make the water department self supporting, would be to reduce theamount of water used by each consumer in compiling the monthly minimum charge. The gallonage reduction plan was frowned on by the state governing body. Some time ago the council and water department petitioned the commission to review rates charged here and increase rates if such action was proper. No official order has been issued by the commission and the increase in hydrant rentals was an informal suggestion received by city officials last week. It the ordinance is passed increasing hydrant rental it is believed likely that the public service commission will approve the action and then write a formal opinion concerning the local water situation. Father Os Six Is Drowning Victim ROCHESTER, Ind (UP) — Lester Louis Hurlburt, 46, Lucerne, drowned In Fletchers Lake in Volton county Sunday. State police said be stood up ta a boat as he was fishing and be fell out. Hurlburt was father of six children.

Six Cents

Bill Appears Doomed To Die Before Senale Adjournment Rush, Filibuster Threat May Prevent Action WASHINGTON (UP) —The house approved the administration’s civil rights bill today over southern opposition. But the measure was almost certain to die in the senate. The roll call vote was 279 - 126. A powerful coalition of Republicans and northern Democrats drove the bill to final passage. A “baby filibuster” staged by the out-numbered Dixie bloe delayed passage for a week. Barring a major upset, the bill will die in the senate where it is not expected to get past the senate judiciary committee. The rush toward weekend adjournment and threat of a southern filibuster will almost certainly prevent senate action. final vote came after the Wiuse beat down a southern veto to kill the bill by sending it back to the judiciary committee. The roll call vote was 275-131 against this move to “recommit” the tjjll. The bill would create a commission to investigate charges of civil rights violations. And it would, arm the attorney general with additional legal powers to punish violators. President Eisenhower had appealed tor passage of a civil rights bill. The measure was recommended by Atty. Gen. Herbert Brownell Jr. Backers of the legislation termed it a “moderate” approach. But southerners roundly denounced it as “vicious” legislation. They said it was a politically inspired attempt on the part of Republicans and northern Democrats to woo the Negro vote in the fall election. Southerners conceded they could not prevent house passage. But they contended their “baby filibuster,” which kept the measure before the house for a week and a day, killed the bill for this session by ruling out any chance of senate action. The measure generally follow-

ed the recommendations laid down by the Eisenhower administration. The bill would: 1. Create a bi-partisan' commission of six members to investigate alleged civil rights violations, including “unwarranted economic pressures” because of color, religion or nationality. f The house last wek tentatively approved amendments to empower the commission to investigate economic pressures resulting from a person’s sex and requiring the commission to follow “fair p’ay" rules of procedure in its investigations. — - 2. Establish ■■ a new division within the department of justice under an assistant attorney general to handle civil rights cases. 3. Authorize the attorney general to bring civil suits 'directly in federal courts to protect citizens* rights. 4. Strengthen existing federal (Continued on Page Sight) Complete Work On Highway This Week Work on U.S, highways 27 and 33 from the corporation limits to the Monmouth road intersection' northward out of Decatur will be completed this week, it was learned today. v A new black-top surface is being which has been, regarded as dangerplaced on the stretch of road, ous for several years. This particular part of the road north was not included a year ago in the rebuilding program from the Monmouth intersection for some 18 miles. Work which started last week, has been done without closing the highway to traffic. One lane use of the highway has been guided by flasmten and caution signs have been erected.