Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 56, Number 75, Decatur, Adams County, 29 March 1958 — Page 1

Vol. LVI. No. 75.

I K " '■ * '• i' kJaS-i -.^^■SmmKww 1 ?' H 'V "V/ ' F 1 TV TESTIMONY PILES UP— Returning to the witness stand in the — House FCC inquiry in the controversial Miami TV license <ase, ' Rosel Hyde, senior member of the commission brings with him the bound proceedings in the case. There were 22 volumes containing 8,300 pages—about 100 hours of reading material. —» —t—_______-. .. . ■

Peak's Trial Is In Recess For Weekend Folse Notarization Trial Testimony Is Concluded Friday INDIANAPOLIS (UP) — The false notarization trial of Milan attorney Robert Peak was in weekend recess today while attorneys for the state and defense prepared final arguments for a predominantly female jury. Peak, 46. has been <mi trial since Monday on a charge of falsely attesting to the signature of the non-existent “Dean Burton” on deeds to two Indianapolis backyards in the Indiana highway scandals. Testimony ended late Friday and Special Judge Norman E. Brennan halted the trial until Monday, at which time attorneys will present closing argumentsThe jury was expected to begin deliberations that day. Before he left the stand after lengthy testimony in his own behalf, Peak denied an implication by Deputy Prosecutor William T. Sharp that Peak and former highway chairman Virgil (Red) Smith planned in advance to split the profits on the two lots along the Madison Ave. Expressway route. •‘lsn’t it true,” Sharp asked, “that you and Virgil Smith planned to split the profits on the backlots after they were sold to the state?” “That is not true,” Peak said. The state contended that Smith fContlnutc vh page »lx) Series Os Dynamite Explosions In Idaho Apparently Caused By Home Made Bombs IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (If'—State and local police and about 300 civilian defense volunteers remained on call today to thwart the next move of a person who has touched off a series of dynamite explosions since Wednesday. The blasts, apparently caused by home made bombs, have injured one person. Mrs. Rowena Gosser, 24, Idaho Falls, received burns on the legs and back when a dynamite charge exploded in the back seat of her car. Five blasts were set off Wednesday causing considerable damage , to business and > residential property. Another car in Mrs. Gros Ser’s neighborhood was also dynamited Thursday. A 6th Army Ordnance disposal team from Camp Hanford, Wash., was scheduled to arrive here today to inspect blasted areas. Law enforcement officers and the volunteers planned patrols of: city streets in hopes of catching the bomber. Police Chief G. F. Perrin first attributed the bombings to juveniles. But, after the double car bombings Thursday he said “we believe the person responsible is demented.”

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMR COUNTY

Voter Registration Will Close April 7 Voters Reminded Os Deadline April 7 Persons who have moved since they last voted, newcomers to the county, and those who did not vote in either the primary or general election of 1956, must register by April 7 to be eligible to vote in toe primary May 6, Richard D. Lewton, clerk of the circuit court, said today. The clerk's office will be open from 8:30 until 4 p. m. every week day and from 8:30 until noon on Saturday, CDT. Lewton stated he would remain open until 9 o’clock Monday night April 7 to allow anyone who forgets to register to do so. April 6 is the last day a candidate may file for the primary as an independent, and it is the last day a vacancy can be filled for toe primary election. Voters too sick to vote at the polls, persons be absent because of business, school, or military service, may apply for an absent voters ballot between April 6 and May 3. There are 26 deputy registration officers throughout the county who may also register, or transfer voters. These are Bernard Clark, Junior Lake, Ralph J. Roop, Robert Butcher, Roger L. Singleton, and Dianne Linn, of Decatur; Martin F. Gallmeyer, of Preble; Hugo Boerger, of Root; Mrs. Herman Bleeke and Walter Thieme of Union; Roland J. Miller and Clarence F. Black of St. Mary’s; Menno Augsburger of French; Gene K. Hike, of Monroe; Edith V. Beer and Stanley D. Arnold of Monroe township; Ear) Sipe of Blue Creek; Dan Speicher and Richard L. Lehman of Berne; Richard Meshberger, of Linn Grove; Gail Runyon of Hartford; Cecil E. Smitley, of Jefferson: and Thurman L. Baker, Clarence E. Buckingham, Eleanor Snyder, of Geneva. These deputy registration officers may register or transfer anyone who now resides in Adams county. “You may vote if you have lived in the state six months, in toe county 90 days, the township 60 days, and the precinct 30 days.” Handley Recovering Following Operation INDIANAPOLIS (ffl — Governor Handley sat up'to his hospital bed Friday for the .first time since his 90-minute operation the day before. Doctors removed a stomach tube through which toe governor had been fed and permitted him to begin a liquid diet. Handley underwent surgery at Robert W. Long hospital for removal of his gall bladder and correction of a ruptured diaphragm. Doctors said his condition was “completely satisfactory” and that he might leave the hospital within 10 or 12 days. NOONEDITION I

Unemployment Is Apparently Leveling Off Labor Department Official Sees Ease In Unemployment WASHINGTON (UP)—A high Labor Department official said today that unemployment apparently is leveling off and may decline slightly next month. He said this was indicated by Friday’s Labor Department report that a downward trend in both new and total claims for unemployment compensation contiued last week. This trend, plus a sharp monthly increase in farm income reported by toe Agriculture Department, brightened toe recescion picture somewhat. Labor Department said toe number of new unemployment benefit claims filed last week dropped by 6,000 to 404,500, reflecting a slowdown in layoffs. Total Drops This was the smallest number of new claims for any week of this year, but even so, was nearly double the 208,400 reported in the same week of 1957. The total number of workers drawing unemployment pay also was down. This figure stood at 3,264,000 as of March 15, a drop of 10,700 from the previous week The figure at this time a year ago was 1,614,000. Department officials said the declines indicated that unemployment has reached a high plateau after climbing sharply since last fall. Farr ■.come, toe Agriculture Depa"* .tnt reported, rose 4 per cent m the month that ended March 15—the sharpest monthly increase since February, 1951. Seek New Program 1 In another development, congressional Democrats launched an effort to develop a program '■ for helping jobless workers ! broader than President Eisenhower’s. They acted after being told 1 that 1,400,000 unemployed would * .get W 1 plan to extend jobless benefits. This statement was made by 1 Labor Secretary James P. Mitch--1 ell Friday when he appeared before the House Ways & Means Committee to urge swift action on the President’s plan. It would extend toe period of present state unemployment benefits by 50 per cent. . ... Spokesmen for state and public welfare agencies testified toe President's plan does not go far enough. Union Good Friday Service Is Planned Three-Hour Service In Decatur April 4 The annual union Good Friday services, conducted by toe Decatur ministerial association, will be held at the First Methodist church next Friday, April 4, from 12 noon until 3 o’clock. The association’s special committee announced today that the service will be opened with a 15■ninute organ prelude, to enable worshippers who are working in local stores to arrive before the invocation is pronounced. Meditations on the Seven Las' Words of Jesus from toe Crosr will be given by the local ministers. All members of the Decatut ministerial association will have a part in the service. The Seven Last Words of Jesus will also be presented in song by members of toe Music department of the Decatur Woman’s club. The meditation periods will be ■nterspersed with organ interludes and ushers are being instructed ti oermit worshippers to enter an* leave the sanctuary only during these interludes. Further details of the service will be announced next week. The committee in charge of arrangements is composed of toe Rev. Lawrence T. Norris, chairman' the Rev. Huston Sever, Jr., and the Rev. William C. Feller. Most Decatur business houses will be closed during the threehour period. Youth Plan Sunrise Service For Easter The annual Easter sunrise service, conducted by the youth of the Decatur churches, will be held at 6 o’clock Easter Sunday morning, April 6, at the Zion Evangelical and Reformed church. Details of the service will be announced I later.

■ i ; ■ lt . > r kA.- ■<>.,» y Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, March 29,1958

Reuther Charges Probe Os Kohler Strike Used As Political Campaign

Spring Storm Blusters Over Three States Two Tornadoes Hit West Texas, Snow And Hail Reported By UNITED PRESS A spring storm blustered across western Nebraska, Kansas and Texas Friday, bringing tornadoes,thundershowers and up to seven inches of snow to plague cattlemen. Two tornadoes hit West Texas, one of them flipping five house trailers at New Home, Tex., and tearing shingles from a farm house roof- “Ham” radio operators told the Weather Bureau that hail three inches deep piled up 10 miles north of Brownfield, Tex., /.here the other twistet touched earth. A quarter-inch of hail battered the Amarillo area and winds blew down a four-plane hangar near Brownfield. The Weather Bureau said the storm front would move east today and blow itself out after dumping rain over the mid-Missis-sippi River Valley. Temperatures Were expected to drop aTathe ‘ storm front passed. Sbmv fell over most of Colorado, southeastern Wyoming and northeast New Mexico, and federal officials issued warnings to cattlemen to prepare shelters for the herds. Motorists were advised to drive with caution. In the Nebraska Panhandle, 30-mile-an-hour winds accompanied the heavy, wet snow to give Hill City, Kan., a new accumulation of three inches, Sidney, Neb., two inches and North Platte, Neb., and Goodlahd, Kan., one inch. Heavy rains fell further south at Russel, Salina and Wichita, Kan Shortly after midnight, a thunderstorm struck the Fort Worth-Dallas. Tex., area lashing it with winds up to 60 miles an hour. Fort Worth got 3.04 inches of rain. Most of the nation, however, enjoyed either fair, clear weather or light spring rains. The Atlantic seaboard, the Great Lakes area and New England reported fair skies, while scattered rain fell on the northern Pacific Coast. Close Assembly Line To Adjust Inventory LINDEN, N. J. (W — General Motors Corp, will shut down its huge Buick-Oldsmobile-Pontiac assembly line next week for “inventory adjustment.” Edward Bracken, eastern regional manager of the giant company, said car dealers’ inventories have been too high recently. The shutdown is hoped to result in a closer match of production with consumer demands. About 2,600 production workers will be idled.

. Lenten Meditation "WJBBHI ■ (By Rev. Robert Jaeger, assistant pastor, St. Mary's Catholic Church) “THE ONLOOKERS” "And so he made his entry into the temple at Jerusalem. Then he looked keenly at everything.”—(Mark 11:11) Jesus Christ enters the temple. The crowds are still shouting their allegiance to Him. "Hosanna, to Israel’s King!” He looks around at the faces of these creatures. He sees these men and all of us who were created “in him, through him, and for him.” (Col. 1:16) He reads in some of the faces a total acceptance of Him. They show signs of a growing realization that He is King, that He does have rightful dominion over all men. But in other’s. He sees the countenance of the angry, righteous traitor. These sit growling and grumbling at this Jesus who constantly undermines the age old foundations of their religious indifference. Battling their insecurity they cry out in their hearts: “He seizes this power by violence. He usurps it.” These events set the stage for the first Holy Week. Now as then on that first Palm Sunday we, Christ's people, can again face Him. .We know where we stand. "He who is not with me. is against me.” (Luke 11:22). We know that we are able to take our choice. We can swear allegiance to either of the opposing camps. But we know just as certainlv that only those of us who accept Christ totally, who assent to His Teaching, and His sanctifying power, who live prepared to join Him on Calvary as well as on Palm Sunday, will share Hie unrestrained joy and perfect happiness this Easter and forever.

Plane Crashes Into / .. North Carolina Home Pilot Killed, Home Occupants Uninjured CHARLOTTE, N.C. (UP) — An Air Force T 33 jet, low on fuel and groping through thick fog for an emergency landing, crashed into a dwelling with a noise “like thunder” today. The pilot was killed but nine occupants escaped the flaming holocaust without injury. ‘ .The p’ l :* was Ist-Lt. Wendell Ritchie ?’uier, 24, son of Clancey Miller Salisbury, N.C. His widow, living at Eiua, ukia., is expecting a .baby. The jet, on a flight from Palm Beach, Fla., ran into “sour weather” He radioed the Charlotte airport that he was low on fuel and would have to try an emergency landing despite the fog which cut visibility to l-16th of a mile. He missed the runway on his first approach and circled low for another try. Unable to see the ground, he smashed into the house about two miles north' of the airport. The plane struck a high tension line, smashed two sheds in the rfear of the house and caromed into the home of G.A. Ledford at about 4:45 a.m. Ledford, his wife, Inez, 29, their ’ children, Peggy, 10 and James, 9, and Mrs. Ledford’s mother, Mrs, Velma White, 50, and her children, Herbert, 21, Tony, 11, Beatrice, 16, and Jane, 10 months, all escaped- through the falling, flaming debris. Mrs. White said she ran through the house screaming an alarm when the plane hit. Ledford said everyone ran out the front door, on the opposite side of the house from where th jet struck- He said his mother-in-law grabbed up the baby, Jane, and fled. A neighbor across the street, W.E. Graham, said he heard the crash and rushed outside. “The house was already burning when I got out,” he said. Firemen rushed to the scene to combat the blaze. Eisenhower Visits Gettysburg Farm Ike Makes Leisurely * Inspection Os Farm GETTYSBURG, Pa. (IP) — President Eisenhower put aside work today to make the first leisurely inspection of his farm in three months. The weather was fair; the temperature, moderate. He had no appointments, even personal ones, other than participating in a bit of quiet advance celebrating of the 10th birthday of his grandson and namesake, David Dwight Elsenhower 11. The President passed up golf, his favorite recreation, because of the soggy condition of the local (Continued on page »ix)

FCC Member Defends Taking Expense Money Bartley Admits To Accepting Expense Pay From Industry WASHINGTON (UP) — FCC Commissioner Robert T. Bartley told House investigators Friday it was legal and “entirely appropriate” that the broadcasting industry paid part of his expenses when he traveled to their conventions. Bartley, a nephew of Speaker Sam Rayburn, said he was "proud” of his record as a commissioner and believed it would stand ,the “closest scrutiny.” Appearing before the House subcommittee on legislative oversight, he freely testified that he allowed broadcasters to give him some expense money for official trips to conventions and other functions. But he said he regarded such payments as “a form of honorarium” permitted FCC commissioners under the law. On each occasion, he said he either took part in panel discussions or made speechesAs a matter of fact, he testified, “I lose money nearly every time I go on a trip.” He said th government allowance of sl2 a day was generally insufficient to cover his expensesMeantime, Public Service Television, Inc., winner of an FCC award of TV Channel 10 in Miami, Fla., urged the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to refuse to turn the case back to the FCC for reconsideration. The FCC has asked that the controversial case be sent back. Appeals against the commission's ruling and handling of the case are pending before the court. Hubert J. Smekens Dies Al Bluffton Local Lady's Father Is Taken By Death Hubert J. Smekens, 76, father of Mrs. Joe W. Kelley of Decatur, died at 4:20 a.m. Friday at the Cooper rest home in Bluffton. He had been bedfast for the past two years and was in serious condition four days. Death was attributed to a stroke. A resident of Wells county for the past 45 years, Mr. Smekens was a retired blacksmith and a former Bluffton employe. He was a member of the St. Joseph’s Catholic church and the Hob Name Society. Mr. Smekens was born Dec. 3, 1881, in Brussels, Belgium, to Charles and .Victoria Ninite-Sme-kens. He was married June 13. 1904 at Antwerp, Belgium, to Henrietta Rosilia VanDeLeur, who survives. Survivors in addition to the widow and daughter are a son, Clemen Smekens, Bluffton; two other daughters, Mrs. Kay Bayless, Bluffton; and Miss Victoria Smekens, at homei 13 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. A son, Henry V., a daughter, Josephine, and a brother, Charles, are deceased. The body is at the Jahn, Goodwin & Reed funeral home in Bluffton, where friends may call after noon today. The recitation of the rosary will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday at the St. Joseph’s Catholic church, the Rev. Robert Traub officiating. Burial will be in Fairview cemetery. INDIANA WEATHER Increasing cloudiness today with rain tonight and Sunday. Not much change in temperature. Low tonight from the 30s to 40. Highs Sunday from 44 to 48. Outlook for Monday: Partly cloudy and Warmer.

Three Crewmen Die As Bomber Crashes 825 Bomber Crashes Near Oklahoma City OKLAHOMA CITY (UP)—Three crewmen have perished in the crash of a 825 bomber approximately five miles west of here. A highway patrol plane circling over the wreckage said it had sighted three bodies. Tinker Air Force Base here said the plane was flying from Randolph Field, Tex., to Vance AFB at Enid, Okla., when it crashed in a bad rainstorm Friday night. Tinker said three crewmen were aboard the planeThe plane crashed in a muddy field, but did not burn, patrolmen reported. Clash trucks on the way to the scene from Tinker Air Force Base are having difficulty reaching the wreckage because of deep mud. Tinker said the plane was last heard from around 9:30 Friday night in the area of Yukon, Okla., 14, miles west of here. The plane radioed the Will Rogers tower for landing instructions during the storm. That was the last time it was heard from. Will Rogers field, a commercial airport, is located on the west edge of Oklahoma City. Tinker Air Force Base is on the eastern fringe of the city. Oklahoma City police had to furnish escort service for Tinker crash trucks to make it through > the heavy metropolitan traffic. Easier Egg Tree On Display At Library Public Invited To Inspect Egg Tree The Easter egg tree is in lull bloom in the Decatur public library. It blooms annually regardless of weather conditions on the first day of spring. It is more Joeautiful this year than (href Before and has grown to be a very large tree. Painted eggs have come from many states of the union, international eggs have been received, and the custom of the egg tree handed down from the Pennsylvania Dutch has become a tradition in this community. Os all the! seasons of the year Easter is the most joyous as it celebrates the Resurrection. The painting of the egg dates back to 5000 B.C. but with the advent of Christianity die ancient egg superstitions took on new spiritual significance. During the Victorian era, blown glass eggs were painted with sprays of flowers and Easter greetings in gilt. They became very fashionable gifts. Many were made in the Pittsburg glass factories. "Perhaps in your family you will find one that has been handed down from generation to generation. From Germany came beautifully decorated paper eggs in two parts, containers for candies and other gifts. “From the Pennsylvania Dutch came the custom of the Easter egg tree which was beautifully described by Katherine Milhous in her book ‘The Easter Egg Tree,’ published in 1950 and for which she received the Caldecott Award in 1951. £»ince that time the tree has bloomed annually in Decatur. It is now known all over the country bringing interesting letters and eggs from many states. “Any hobby becomes fascinating but we doubt if any brings the joy and happiness and enthusiasm as the Easter egg tree with all the Easter lore. You are cor(Conllnued on page six) Auto Stalls On Rail Crossing, Man Killed JEFFERSONVILLE (IP) — A speeding Baltimore & Ohio Railroad passenger train smashed into a car at a Clark County grade crossing near here Friday, killing Fred Isaac Wolpert, 59, New Albany. Authorities said the car apparently stalled on the crossing. '

Six Cents

Terms Conduct Os Republican Solons Disgrace Unusual Saturday Session Is Called By Probe Chairman WASHINGTON (UP)—President Walter P. Reuther of the United Auto Workers (UAW) charged today that Republicans on the Senate Rackets Committee are turning its investigation of the Kohler strike into a "political campaign.” As he returned for a third day of questioning Reuther told newsmen the GOP senators* conduct was a “disgrace.” He said it was “a lot of nonsense” to tie up a group of senators on the four-year-old Kohler strike "at a time when America has very real problems.” Chairman John L. McClellan (D-Ark.) said he called the unusual Saturday session in hopes the committee might finish with tiie Kohler strike today- The committee is scheduled to turn to the 1956 Perfec Circle strike Monday if the Kohler investigation is wound up In time. Congressional Democrats 1 launched an effort to develop a program for helping the unem--1 ployed broader than the one proposed by President Eisenhower. Chairman Wilbur Mills (D-Ark.) of the House Ways & Means Committee urged critics of the administration’plan to draft a proposal of their own for submission when the committee meets after the Easter recess to shape a bill. Mills made the suggestion after state and local public welfare agencies complained that the President’s, program is inadeI quate. Secretary of Labor James . P. Mitchell told the committee • 1,400,000 of the nation's jobless i would get no help from the Presl-j ; dent’s plan to extend unemploy-: i ment benefits. The joint congressional atomic subcommittee on international ' agreements called for testimony from Secretary of State John Foster Dulles on whether the administration’s atomic weapons sharing plan would affct U.S. disarmament efforts. Other Contresslonal news: Economy: The House used a legislative short cut to speed the huge anti-recession highway construction bill to a House-Senate Conference Committee. Backers hoped the measure could be passed by both houses before the April 4 Easter recess. Fram: The House Appropriations Committee rejected an administration request that It cut some farm programs Instead, it called for higher price supports on grounds that economic slumps always begin on the farm. Investigation: FCC Commissioner Robert T. Bartley told the House subcommittee on legislative oversight it was legal and “appropriate” for him to accept money from the broadcasting industry to help meet costs of official trips to their conventions and conferences. Bartley said he was "proud” of his record as a commissioner. Civil Righto The House Appropriations Committee voted 8750,000 to finance the governments new civil rights commission. The action, delayed for a month, cleared the way for House approval of a 15-million-dollar appropriation bill to run the White House and other executive offices in fiscal 1959. Eichhorn Candidate For State Senator Von A. Eichhorn, of Uniondale, is the Democratic candidate for state senator from Adams, Wells, and Blackford counties. Througt an error in yesterday’s Decatur Dally Democrat, his name was omitted from the list, and the names of Burl Johnson, Democrat, and L. Luther Yager, Republican, candidates for joint representative for Adams and Wells counties, were listed as candidates for the state senate in gome of the papers.