Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 54, Number 191, Decatur, Adams County, 14 August 1956 — Page 1

Vol. LIV. No. 19L

CALL TO ORDER fi T4 1 (SB**' ,"" dE ' ■/** Hl. “ : % ■'■'l'v .■ **l ! " 1 Kl . ---*’*•—a*--*. • —iix. to . >t -i-frrftwMrW DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CHAIRMAN Pau! M. Butler calls the convention to order a few minutes after noon Monday. Terrific behind the scenes maneuvering kept all but a few party big-wigs In their respective smoke-filled rooms until well after the opening session got under way.

Gas Explosion In Case Kills At Least 13 -... Blast Rips Through ’’■'Crowded Utah Case During Dinner Hour s MONTICELLO. Utah (UP) — A natural gas explosion crumpled the crowded Lariat “like an egg shell" Monday night, killing 13 to 17 persons and injuring possibly 60. The blast ripped through the case at dinner time, about 7. p.m. Monday. Everyone in the crowded uranium mining town case was killed or injured. The Red Cross counted 13 bodies. Sheriff Seth Wright said 16 persons were killed. One victim, ■who may not be included in the sheriff's total, died en route to a hospital in Cortez, Colo. Estimates of the total number of diners ranged from 45 to 75. Steve Hazelwood, who was “just fixin’ to turn the corner when the case blew up,’’ ran from his pickup truck with a wrench to turn off a valve at the broken end of the newly installed gas line in front of the case. “It was just like you had put your fist inside an egg shell Imd opened it up.” Hazelwood said. “It raised the roof but it came straight back down. The front went out first, blown across the street. All four sides were flattened. “I ran back to my truck and got a wrench and turned off the gas. I was afraid somebody’d light a cigarette and blow the whole darn place up.” Hazelwood said the case was built in this uranium boom town about a year ago. The case’s owner, Mrs. Irma Ransdall, was one of those crlticaly injured. One of the known dead was Nancy Adams, 18, a waitress. The sheriff said the explosion in the town’s downtown business section was caused by natural gas, just conected to the case Monday. Wright said it was believed the gas had accumulated in the basement. Wright reported that the blast dug a hole 20 to 30 feet deep where the middle of the $50,000 cinder block and wooden case had stood. _ No other building was damageod- Windows were broken over a block-wide area. Everyone in town heard the rumbling blast. Hospital Patient Is Killed By Train r WESTVILLE, Ind. (UP) — Herman Woh), 66. a patient at Beatty memorial hospital here, was run over by a Baltimore and Ohio railroad train Monday as he crossed the tracks. ductor on another train, found the Andrew FC Hoilis. Garrett, conmangled body about two hours after the accident in Laporte county near Alida Tower.

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Tucker Refuses To Make Commitment Refuses To Reveal Choice Os Nominee CHICAGO (UP)—The center of attention in the Indiana delegation shifted today to Mayor Ral p h Thicker of,Terre Haute as "both leading candidates for the presidential nomination courted his favor. Tucker refused to reveal whom 1 he would support for the nomina--1 tion. He said since there was a ’ split of sentiment in the Hoosier delegation, he did not think he should indicate his preference. Tucker, the party's candidatejfpr governor, has conferred with Adlaf Stevenson and former President Truman, a backer of Averell Harriman. He said he made no commitment to either man. Among other leading Indiana delegates, former national Democratic chairman Frank McKinney and former natronaT committeeman Frank McHale were in the Harriman camp, while state chairman Charles Skillen supported Steven- , son.. When the Indiana delegation holds its first formal caucus Wednesday morning. Tucker said he would present a resolution calling for a secret ballot. The delegation chairman would cast the 26 Indiana votes without a public poll of the delegates under this plan. There was some dispute about the number of votes Stevenson and Harriman would get from the Indiana delegation on the first ballot, but McKinney said there was little doubt that Tucker could swing a majority to either man. Tucker was reported in pre-con-vention estimates to favor Stevenson, but he has never publicly announced his choice. Barr Is Appointed By Governor Craig INDIANAPOLIS (UP)—Governor Graig Monday appointed Joseph W. Barr, a Democrat, to the state board of public harbors and terminals. Barr will fill the unexpired term of E. Joseph Bannon which ends July. 1559, Craig recently named Bannon to the Prudue University board of trustees. Tennessee Delegates To Vote For Clement ..CHICAGO (UP) — Tennessee Democrats today voted to give the state’s 32 Democratic convention votes to Gov. Frank G. Clement for president. The delegation shouted and cheered as Clement was proposed — not as a favorite son but as a ■“serious, fighting candidate” by former State Sen. Douglas B. Haynes. A short time later the proposal wus approved a murmur of protest from the small handful of supporters of Sen. Estes Kefauver (D-Tenn).

Russia Warns Egypt Consent Is Necessary Russia Considers Consent Necessary . On Any Settlement LONDON (UP) — Soviet foreign minister D. T. Shepilov arrived for the London Suez talks today with a blunt warning that Russia considers Egypt's consent “necessary” for any settlement of the dispute. “The Soviet delegation will do everything possible to seek ways for settlement of the points at issue through agreement by all the states concerned, with the necessary participation of the state of Egypt and on the basis of the ,full sovereignty of Egypt..Shepilov said. He accented the “all the states concerned”—an apparent hint that Russia will start the talks off with a demand for veto power. The Big Three want majorfty rule. It took three transports to bring Shepilov’s delegation of 50, in addition to the two plane loads that arrived Monday. U. S. secretary of state John Foster Dulles arrives Wednesday with last minute instructions from President Eisenhower regarding the United States stand in the dispute. In Washington, Dulles said after a final conference with Mr. Eisenhower that he believed a formula can be found for “international operation” of the Suez Canal consistent with Egypt’s rights and dignity. f The last two days before the start of the important conference found British prime minister Sir Anthony Eden under Increasing criticism by his Labor party opposition. *- Labor party leader Hugh Gaitskell demanded . assurances . from. Eden that Britain would not use force if the conference falls to resolve the Suez ■ Gaitskell called at the prime minister’s official residence today with deputy party leader James Griffiths and foreign affairs expert Alfred Robens. They also asked assurances Britain would ndt-aet outside the United. Nations. They called on Eden before an afternoon session of the British cabinet. Eden was, faced with a split in national unity over the (Continued on Page Six) Hodge Moved From Jail To Hospital Deposed Illinois Auditor Is Moved SPRINGFIELD, 111. (UP) — Orville E. Hodge, deposed state auditor who pleaded guilty to embezzling $637,000 from the state with phony checks, was transferred to a hospital from a jail Monday night for treatment of shattered nerves. Hodge was jail Monday to await sentencing after he pleaded guilty to 48 indictments in circuit court here. He had been expected to Bs>end most of the weekend in jail, but was taken to St. John’s hospital shortly after being examined by a psychiartrist, Dr. Paul M. Cadwell. * Meanwhile, the former dapper businessman was stripped of all his possessions. Attorneys for Hodge, at a conference in the office of the state attorney general, turned over assets totalling about $663,000 in partial restitution for Hodge's estimated $1,000,060 raid on the state treasury. Sangamon county sheriff Arthur A. Gross placed Hodge under 24hour police guard at the hospital. Cadwell, who had been treating Hodge for a “nervous and emotioned reaction” to the check scandal, said his patient seemed ”a little shakier” Monday than a week ago. Cadwell attributed stodge’s worsening condition probably to his jailing Hospitalization of the free spending politician also cast doubt whether Hodge would make an appearance in federal court at Chicago Wednesday to enter a plea on federal indictments accusing him of mis-epplication of bank funds. •A writ was issued by Federal Judge John P. Barnes directing the deliverance of Hodge by federal and state authorities to Chicago Wednesday. Hodge originally was scheduled Tor afralgnmehf W day, but Barnes granted a 24-hour postponement after his jailing hens.

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ONLY DAILY NKWSRAPIR IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Ti

Stevenson’s Hopes Os ■ ' ' ’KT *' Early Victory Running Into Some Roadblocks

North Florida Coast Warned Os Hurricane Miami Area Spared As Hurricane Betsy Approaches Coast MIAMI (UP) — Hurricane Betsy spared Miami today in a thunderous approach toward the U.S. mainland with winds of 120 miles an hour. a The mighty storm at 11 a.m. EST was centered 230 miles east of West Palm Beach and was lumbering through the Atlantic on a northwest course that Was expected to bring it ashore late tonight or Wednesday morning. All coastal residents had been warned well in advance of dangerous tropical storm. Tourist - packed Miami, which had been busy preparing for its first full blown hurricane in five years, got the welcome news that ail warnings had been relaxed from West Palm Beach southward. But at the same time the weather bureau advisory increasida coast. A hurricane watch was ordered north of to St. Augustine and extended as fwf « north as Brunswick, Ga. A "watch” is ordered for areas expected to be hit inside of 48 hours. The late morning advisory said Betsy still was powered by 120-mile-an-hour winds over a small area near the center. The worst winds were on the ocean side of the storm, with winds of more than 70 miles an hour whirling out for 70 miles from center on the northeast quadrant. Gales howled for 150 miles in the northeast direction and 75 to 100 miles in other directlonz. A continued northwest movement at 14 miles an hour was (Continued on Page Eight) Error Is Found In Decafur Tax Rale Proposed Tax Levy Is $5.25 For 1957 Decatur - Washington’s proposed I tax levy is $5.25, six cents less I than the amount reported earlier in an unofficial statement. This 1 levy is also one cent less than i the 1956 tax levy for Decatur- i Washington. The six-cent error was made by < including the Washington township six-cent library levy in the i total levy to be paid by DecaturWashington residents. Residents | of Decatur pay their own library j levy, which is a proposed 16 cents > in the 1957 tax situation. The six- , cent levy will be paid only by • Washington township residents outside the city of Decatur. ( The proposed $5.30 levy for De- 1 catur-Root still stands since Root j township residents are not affected by a library levy. . ( Proposed 1957 levies for all tax- ( ing units of the county, with the exception of Decatur-Washington. ' show increases over the 1956 ’ levies. If they are approved by ' the county council and state tax board the levies will include Berne, $5.35; Decatur-Root. $5.30; j Decatur-Washington, $5.25; Geneva, $4.96; Monroe - Monroe, $4.49, and Monroe-Washington, $4.58. Proposed tax rates in the town- 1 ships of the county according to unofficial tabulations are Blue Creek, $2.75; French, $3.60; Hartford, $3.07; Kirkland, $3,55; Jefferson, $3.13; Monroe. $3.52: Preble, $2.33; Root. $3.10; St. Mahr’s, $3,14; Union, $2 68; Wabash, $3.31, and Washington, $3.66. Hartford, Jefferson, Preble, and SU ” lownslfipß sBW " creases. All other proposed levies are higher than the 1956 tax rates.

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August 14,1956.

Kefauver Available As Vice President Willing To Accept Running Mate Spot SHICAGO (UP) —Sen. Estes Kefauver (D-Tenn) today told a cheering throng of his enthusiasts that he is available for the vice presidential nomination. But Adlai E. Stevenson carefully avoided telling the Kefauver •uppofrters what they wanted to hear 1 -— that he wants Kefauver as his running mate on the Democratic ticket. Kefauver and Stevenson went before a noisy, cheering crowd of Kefauver supporters in an attempt to hold them In line for Stevenson for the presidential nomination. Kefauver claimed he had 259 delegates (many with half votes) before he withdrew from the presidential race in favor of Stevenson. Kefauver forces estimated that about half of those delegates now are supporting Stevenson. The joint effort of Kefauver .Stevenson was not completely successful. At one point the meeting broke up into competing chants of “We want Stevenson” and “We ’want Harriman.” _ - ... Z j But the Kefauver supporters •were unanimous in wanting the Tennessee Democrat on the ticket for'Vice president. ...... n A delegate in the audience, reflecting the question on the crowd’s mind, asked Kefauver if he was interested in the vice presidential nomination. “If offered the place, I will accept it,” Kefauver declared. / Asserts Democrats „ To Replace Skillen Report Statement Made By James Koons FORT WAYNE, (UP) — Charles Skillen will be replaced as Democratic state chairman a "few days after the national convention, a Fort Wayne radio station reported todpy. Ray JAmes of WOWO played a recorded telephone interview with ; 4th district chairman James Koons of Avilla in which Koons said j there would be a “reorganization of the Democratic state committee i immediately following the conven- j tion.” ; Koons said no one was an "active candidate” to replace Skillen, of Winamac, but the new chair- 1 man will be a man “not hooked up with any of the factions in Indiana.” , “It’ll be somebody who can unite the party solid,” Koons said. Koons, one of 52 delegates to the national convention, was asked if other party leaders felt that Skillen was not working for the election of Terre Haute Mayor Ralph Tucker for governor. — “All candidates on the state J ticket felt that for the good of 1 the party the change will be ’ made,” Koons said. Skillen was reelected to a third ‘ two-year term last May. Since ’ then he has tried to straddle the fence in party factional fights and claimed neutrality in the June 29 1 state convention that nominated 1 Tucker. But observers figured Skillen 1 preferred S. Hugh Dillin of Petersburg, one of the losers to Tucker. 1 Koons said the reorganization 1 would take place “within the next four or five—days following the convention.” ' INDIANA WEATHER ' Partly cloudy tonight and Wednesday with chance of 1 widely scattered thundershowers extreme north tonight and north portion Wed- 1 — nesday. Not quite so warm extreme north Wednesday. Low tonight 68-72. High Wed- ’ nesdzy 85-92, except taw 80s extreme north. Sunset 7:43 < p.m., sunrise Wednesday 5:57 a.m. - I

Some Soulhem Leaders Fear Possible Bolt Civil Rights Plank In Party Platform Causing Troubles CHICAGO (UP)—Some southern leaders feared today that Democratic platform writers are ready to risk a possible southern bolt and draft a civil rights plank endorsing the supreme count's antisegregation decision. Former Gov. John S. Battle of Virginia, a member of a platformwrtiing subcommittee, told reporters he believes southerners are losing their fight to keep mention of the supreme court out of the platform. He hinted that a southern bolt might result. “I don’t think we could live in the Democratic party with one (a civil rights plank) approving the supreme court decision,” Battle said. But party moderates intensified efforts to draft a compromise civil rights plank. Sen. John J. Sparkinan said "he believed tfcby would succeed. “ 11 v The , 16 member platform sabcommitted’“Beared a ehWdown on the civil rights Issue. It agreed Monday on other planks pledging the Democratic party to a five-billion-dollar cut in personal income taxes and expanded economy with jobs for all. The platform drafters proposed that income tax exemptions be increased from the present S6OO to SBOO. This would mean a reduction of S4O for each taxpayer, plus another S4O for each dependent. Other platform declarations agreed upon call for 100 per cent of parity for farmers, a stepped-up-federal welfare program featuring more social security, and a balanced budget. The key point in the struggle over the civil rights plank was whether it would specifically approve the supreme court decision outlawing segregation in public schools. Southerners have vigorously opposed such an endorsement. Northern liberals have been just as vehement in insisting that it be in the plank. George Wallace, an Alabama member of the full 108-member platform committee, said “we are not going to take” a civil rights (Continued on Page Eight) Two More Cases Os Polio Are Reported Total In Decatur Area Is Now 13 Polio cases number 12 and 13 in the Decatur area have been reported to city and county health officers. Linda Schindler, four and a half year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Schindler of 107 North 13th street, was taken to the Lutheran hospital at Fort Wayne Monday evening. Her illness has been diagnosed as bulbar polio. Her condition is reported serious but definite paralysis has not, yet been no|ed. She first became 111 Sunday, Aug.. 3. The child received one vaccine shot after she became 111 but it was too late to be of any value in’ warding off the disease. . The other person reported suffering an attack of the disease is Mrs. Laura Rauch, 28, who resides on a Hoagland rural route in Adams county. She became ill Saturday night and was taken to St. Joseph’s hospital in Fort Wayne Monday evening. It is reported that she has paralysis in both legs. She had not received the polio vaccine shots. None of the area victims have had the polio shots. The total includes five residents- of Decatur and eight persons who reside, in Adams county in the north part of the county near’Decatur.

Stevenson Seeking 50 Kefauver Voles Insist No Talk On Second Ticket Spot CHICAGO (UP) — Adlai E. Stevenson called on Sen. Estes Kefauver today to help him corral an estimated 50 former Kefauver delegates still unpledged in the Democratic presidential scramble. The Tennesseean summoned his delegates and supporters to a rally to "discuss convention strategy" designed to line up the presidential nomination for Stevenson. Kefauver recently withdrew from the battle for the nomination in favor of Stevenson. Stevenson strategists met with Kefauver in the Illinois candidate’s hotel headquarters Monday to go over the delegate picture. The Stevenson camp figures Kefauver had 200 convention votes when he withdrew. Os these, 100 now are claimed by Stevenson, and his lieutenants give 50 to Gov. Averell Harriman. Fifty others tire regarded as still undecided. ” Kefauver and Stevenson both insisted there had been no talk about the vice presidential nomination for Kefauver in exchange far ■ his- support, of Stevenson. “I couldn't commit myself publicly to any candidate,” Stevenson told a Wisconsin caucus Monday night But when asked if he’d oppose Kefauver for the No. 2 position on the November ballot, Stevenson replied “certainly not.” Stevenson got a boost on the labor front Monday when CIO President Walter Reuther said publicly that “everybody knows that I'm for Adlai E. Stevenson.” Reuther’s words were expected to carry weight with the Michigan delegation, now pledged to a favorite son, Gov. G. Mennen Williams. Sen. John L. McClellan (D-Ark.) huddled Jtor 1% hours with Stevenson Monday night and emerged to tell reporters he still was "not completely" in agreement with Stevenson on civil rights. Gains Claimed By Harriman Backers Predict Surprise As Delegates Vote CHICAGO (UP) — Supporters of Gov. Averell Harriman today 1 claimed that “less than 75 votes” 1 now separate their man and.front- ' running Adlai Stevenson. Michael H. Pendergast, New J York Democratic state chairman, 1 said latest tabulations by Harri- 1 man forces showed the governor with between 375 to. 400 first bal- ' lot votes and Stevenson with between 435 and 450. A United Press 1 poll of delegates showed 528% for * Stevenson and 238% for Harri- 1 man. Loyd Benefield, national cam- 1 paign manager for Harriman, and Carmine De Sapio, top political 1 advisor to the governor, joined ’ Pendergast in predicting a "surprise.” “We are going to surprise the i experts when the delegates start 1 voting for.a candidate Thursday,” I they said.- "We have known polls to be wrong before.” An afr of confidence, which has < prevailed in the Harriman camp 1 finee former President Truman i gave hia blessings to the gover- , nor’s . candidacy, * continued to \ grow among Harriman’s workers. , “On what do you base this confidence?” Pendergast was asked. ; “There are some things in this campaign that we cannot reveal at this time and that is one of them,” he replied. The Harriman men did admit, however, the struggle over a strong civil rights plank in the party's platform was a major part of their strategy. They are convinced Stevenson will be unable comea to a decision. z « Representatives of the governor (Continued on Pavo Five)

Favorite Son Booms Slowing Down Stevenson Holdout Delegations Also Slowing Down Stevenson's Drive CHICAGO (UP) — Adlal E. Stevenson’s hopes for early victoryin the Democratic presidential swepstakes ran into some roadblocks today in the form of new favorite son booms and holdout delegations. The former Illinois governor was still front runner in known delegate preferences and was still the best bet for ultimate victory in the second day of the 1956 Democratic national convention. But his drive for the added 100plu delegates he needs ran into a growing determination by some southern states to hold back Anal commitments until they see whether the convention adopted a civil rights-integration plank they will accept. The Arkansas delegation voted formally to do just that. Tennessee, meanwhile, voted to give its 32 votes to Gov. Frank G- Clement. the young spellbinder who wowed the convention with a fierf keynote speech Monday night. Georgia was reported considering a favorite son nomination. All this was in line with southern strategy to hang on to votes until the civil rights chips are down. The convention is scheduled to adopt a platform Wednesday night. There could be a floor fight by northern liberals to beef up the civil rights plank if the platform committee conies up with one they consider t<jb mild. Such a fight could hurt Stevenson in Thursday night’s balloting. But as of today he had survived the first assaults of the atop-Stevenson forces and had abetter than 2 to 1 margin in sure delegate strength over GOv. AverellHarriman of New York. Despite former President Truman’s endorsement of Harriman, Stevenson was slowly picking up power outside the holdout states. There was evidence of considerable absenteeism — among delegates and spectators when temporary chairman Frank G. Clement, governor of Tennessee, gavelled the third session to order at 12:01 p.m. CDT. There were big patches of empty seats on the floor of convention hall assigned to the delegates. A few of the delegates were seated and several clusters of delegates st pod in the aisles, but a great majority were absent. They apparently were meeting at their respective delegation headquarters. The galleries virtually were empty. As it was Monday, the real politicking was going on in the delegates- and candidates* hotels, not at the International Amphitheatre in the stockyards where the convention is going on. The amphitheatre schedule featured a “Ladies' Day" session devoted to afternoon speeches by . (Continued on Page Six) Ed Wolpert Quits Police Department Ed Wolpert, a member of the Decatur police force since Jan 1, 1954, has submitted his resignation from the department effective at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. In letters of resignation sent to the Decatur board of works and police chief James Borders, Wolpert stated his reason for quitting was that “my income is insufficient to cope with the cost living” and that he had secured employment elsewhere. Wolpert stated in his letter that he sincerely enjoyed working in the police department and that he appreciated all that had been done on behalf of the police officers. He announced today that he has accepted aaoftSir to become manager of the Yetter Manufacturing Co. warehouse located at 12® East Oak street in Decatur.

Six Cents