Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 57, Number 106, Decatur, Adams County, 5 May 1959 — Page 1

Vol. LVII. No. 106.

Report Light Vote Is Being Cast In Democrat Primary

Light voting was reported at each polling place in Decatur today, as Democratic voters chose from three candidates for their nominee for mayor. Local people differed on their Interpretation of the light vote: some felt that the light vote would aid the two candidates running against incumbent Robert D. Cole. Others felt that the light vote would likely indicate party regulars only were voting, most of whom favor Cole. None cf the precincts visited had approached 100 voters by noon; four years ago with the same number of candidates, more than 1,500 ballots were cast. The ballot included this year seven Democratic candidates who were automatically nominated without a vote cast in their favor; these were the five unopposed candidates for city council: Carl Gerber, Lawrence Kohne, Norbert Aumann, Clyde Drake, and Frank Braun; Mrs. Laura Busse, for clerk-treasurer, and Richard J. Sullivan, for city judge. No Republicans filed before the primary for the first time in many years. There was no Republican primary for that reason. The only ballots printed were Democratic ballots. Election results will be given at the Decatur Daily Democrat office and may be received at home by calling 3-2171, the Demo-' crat-Citizens Teleohone Co. news , numbgr.’- The polls will close at 6 p. m. find first results should be available by shortly after 7 p. m. --iSv ■■ ■ Report Indianapolis Banks Plan Merger INDIANAPOLIS (UPI) —Newspapers reported Monday that two large Indianapolis banks are negotiating for a merger which would make the combined institution the largest bank in Indiana. The banks are the American Fletcher National Bank & Trust Co. and Fidelity Bank & Trust Co. Their combined resources were estimated at 518 million dollars, compared with nearly 500 millions for Indiana National Bank, now the state’s largest.

Hoosiers To Polls To Name City Nominees

INDIANAPOLIS (UPI) — Hoosiers went to the polls in sultry weather today to choose nominees for the municipal elections next November. About half the state’s million voters were eligible to cast ballots but only a fraction of the eligibles were expected to exercise their franchise. Lack of interest in dull contests, and lack of contests in some areas, threatened to bring about an extremely light vote in some of the state’s 108 cities. However, in many cities the competition was keen and a heavy vote was forecast. Polls opened at 6 a.m. for a 12-hour ballot-casting binge. There was voting only ih the office, thus there were no priin the primaries. Hot Day Forecast The day dawned clear to partly cloudy to cloudy with temperatures in the upper 50s and 60s as the polls opened. Only a few isolated thundershowers were forecast for the voting hours, with temperatures soaring to a range of 85 to 92 this afternoon. Greatest interest was in mayor races, with secondary interest in clerk-treasurer, council and city judge contests. z Eighty-two of the 106 incumbent mayors sought renomination v and of that number 30 had a running head start by virtue of no opposition in the primaries. They were automatically nominated and assured of a spof on the November ballot. The other 52 had from one to six opponents, and in some cases the present mayors faced vigorous efforts of rivals to unseat them in sporadic anti-organization and “anti-bossism” campaigns. . A total of 471 candidates for 216 nominations for mayor were in the

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY > ; ;

51 Will Graduate At Berne May 21 Berne-French high school will graduate 51 seniors at annual commencement exercises May 21, 8 p.m., at the school auditorium. The commencement speaker will be Dr. Reuben A. Strauss, pastor of the Congregational Christian church in Huntington. Dr. Strauss will speak on "A Pocketful of Dreams.” Candidates for diplomas are: Kathleen Amstutz, Mary Eicher, Elaine Gould, Fern Hackenjos, Kay Jones, Sandra Kiefer, Janis Lantz, Bonnie Lehman, Louise Lehman, Marilyn Lehman, Una Liechty, Janet Ludy, Magery Moser, Anita Neuenschwander, Judy Farr, Rozella Pfister, Sharon Reinhard, Anita Schindler, Rozanne Sprunger. Maxine Steury, Rosemarie Stout, Patsy Taylor, Ina Woodruff, Joyce Wulliman, Gloria Yoder, Wayne Amstutz. Leslie Augsburger, Terry Augsburger, Gerry Bailey, Mike Bauserman, Leonel Bixler, Mike Collier, Jan Elzey, Dave Hartman, John Hartman, David Klopfenstein. Ron Lautzenheiser, Neil Lehman, William Lehman, Curtis Liechty, Keith McAlhaney, Wayne Miller, Keith Minger, Tom Reynolds. Richard Smitley, Dave Solano, Steven Sprunger, David Stahly, August Watanabe, Michael Zehr, and Marvin Zimmerman. Flood Victims Sue City Os Fort Wayne FORT WAYNE. Ind. (UPI) —Attorneys served notice on the Citg of Fort Wayne Monday that they will file suits for about $86,000 in damages on behalf of about 30 residents of two subdivisions who blamed the city for floods last February. Attorneys Merl Barns and Robert McCain said residents of Bella Vista and Fern wood additions contend that the city did nothing to correct a situation which permits Fairfield Ditch to overflow periodically and damage their property.

running, but nearly 80 of the nominations were uncontested. 24 Have No Contests There were no mayor contests on either Republican or Democratic tickets in 24 of the 108 cities, and in some of those cities no contests developed for any offce. thus there were no primaries. Mayor races were absent in Auburn, Beech Grove, Berne, Boonville, Butler, Columbia City, Delphi, Dunkirk Franklin, Kendallville Ligonier, Madson Montpelier, Plymouth, Rochester, Shirley City, Tipton, Union City Winchester, Tell City, Garrett, Nappanee, North Vernon and Rensselaer. Polls will close at 6 p.m., and results of most of the contests were expected to be known within minutes, in some cases, and a few hours at the most in others. Tests of Strength Chief significance of the primaries was a test of strength of party organizations and popularity of inc'umbent mayors, whose offices are fraught with sometimes petty problems trying to keep the electorate happy with city services. Generally speaking, organiza-tion-backed candidates appeared to have the inside track. But if the usual pattern is followed, a handful of the mayors seeking new four-year terms wfil be rejected by the voters while the bulk of them will triumph. A last-minute development in Indianapolis, the state’s largest city, found William H. Warren withdrawing from the Democratic mayor race and throwing his support to Judge John C. Christ, who hoped to defeat Mayor Charles Boswell. ——-v

Herter Reports To Senate Committee

WASHINGTON (UPI) — President Eisenhower said today a Big Four summit conference later this year is * almost a foregone conclusion if the forthcoming Geneva foreign ministers’ meeting provides anything in the way of enlarged hope for settling tensions. . .. He made the statement at a news conference as Secretary of State Christian A. Herter went before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to report on Allied strategy for the Geneva sessions starting next Monday. Eisenhower was asked if he believed the foreign ministers would make progress at Geneva. He replied that he could not talk in specific terms at this time, but that he did hope there would be some progress. He then went on to express the opinion that a summit meeting u<s virtually certain if the foreign ministers create a better basis for East-West discussions on peace. " Hie President promised that Herter, in his radio-television report to the nation Thursday night, would. discuss in some detail the U.S. and the Allied attitudes and proposals for the Geneva meetings. On other items of international interest, the President said: —He doubts he would be willing at present to make a renewed offer to help President Nasser of the United Arab Republic to build the Aswan Dam, even if the Russians withdrew their offer of assistance. —The United States is trying to be fair with all countries in the Middle East, including Communist threatened Iraw. It wants them to realize that their own aspirations can be achieved better in freedom and independence than by getting into too close association with Russia and the Communist bloc. —The United States still is unaware of the fate of 11 flyers still missing from the 17-man crew of an unarmed Air Force transport Soviet fighters shot down over Russian Armenia last Sept. 2. He knows of no reason to believe the 11 are Russian prisoners. He told the U.S. ambassador in Moscow Monday to make new representations to secure more information on their fate. James V. Hurst Dies Monday At Hospital James V. Hurst, 29, of northeast of Berne, and a native of Decatur, died at 8 o’clock Monday night at the Adams county memorial hospital, following a heart attack suffered Saturday. He had suffered from rheumatic fever since 12 years of age, and had been in failing health since February. He born in Decatur Feb. 11, 1930, a son of Vernon and Ruth Baumgartner-Hurst, who reside at 104 North 15th street in this city. He was married to Rowena Mattax Jan. 1, 1952. Mr. Hurst was employed in the accounting department of the Fort Wayne Transit Co., and was also studying at both Indiana and Purdue extension centers in Fort Wayne. He was at member of the Spring Hill Methodist church and superintendent of the Sunday school. ’ Surviving in addition to his wife and parents are two children, Scherry, 4%, and Tamyra, 1%, and one brother, Thomas K. Hurst of Decatur. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p. m. Thursday at the Spring Hill Methodist church, the Rev. Riley Case officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. Friends may call at the -Yager funeral home in Berne after 7 o’clock this evening.

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, May 5,1959.

Launch Talks Today On New Steel Contract NEW YORK (UPI)—Top spokesmen for the United Steel Workers and U. S. Steel Corp, said today they hope to reach a satisfactory contract in the steel industry without government intervention. R. Conrad Cooper, chief negotiator for U. S. Steel,/ expressed the sentiment of both/sides when he said: “We would very much like to do our job burselves. It is our responsibility and we will try to discharge it” David L. McDonald, head of the USW, said his union ‘‘will work diligently to affect an agreement prior to the July 1 deadline.” Agty< on Need Cooper ana McDonald made the statements to newsmen who told them of President Eisenhower's news conference discussion of the Bge picture. Eisenhower the steel negotiations in- ! entire American public hation’s economic welland McDonald agreed on of achieving a nonry contract but disagreed i how this could be done, - In formal presentations made at the opening session of contract talks. Cooper again proposed a one-year extension of the present contract. McDonald, who rejected this proposal month, told reporters' today “our position has not changed one iota.” Industry and union statements on the eve of the talks indicated it would be difficult to reach agreement before the June 30 contract expiration deadline. Bargaining teams representing the steel industry and the United Steelworkers of America have until then to reach a new agreement covering 500,000 steelworkers and avoid a nationwide strike. The preliminary bargaining talks commenced against a background of record steel production and sorairig company earnings, and a firm industry stand against any increase in wage costs. Present Formal Demands A bargaining team representing employes of U.S. Steel Corp, meets this morning with company officials to present the union’s formal contract demands and to hear the company’s position on the matter of wages and such fringe items as pensions, shorter hours of work and overtime. In afternoon sessions, union negotiators planned to meet separately with Republic Steel, Bethlehem Steel and Kaiser Steel. Individual talks with eight other steel companies are slated to begin Wednesday and Thursday. Upon completion of these preliminary sessions, give-and-take negotiations between four - man bargaining teams representing labor and management will begin, possibly within a week. Decatur Lions Club Visits G. E. Plant Highlights in the various steps necessary to produce fractional horsepower motors at the Decatur General Electric plant were explained to the visiting Decatur Lions club Monday night. The Lions ate dinner at the G.E. cafeteria Monday while the merchants showcase was being assembled at the Decatur Youth and Community Center. After the dinnner a one-hour tour of the two GE buildings was made. It was conducted by Lipns Clark Mayclin, Russell Owens, and Walter Stoppenhagen. The maze of conveyors that move the parts from one operation to another was noted. Testing of the finished product was explained, and then the packing operation was observed.

Bun Keller Retires As Standard Agent Bernard J. (Bun) Keller, of 403 Jefferson street, retired May 1 as .bulk agent for the Standard Oil company after an association of nearly 36 years with the business firm. Charles Houk, of route four, Decatur, and former rural commissioned agent, has accepted the position formerly ocupied by Keller, and will maintain the bulk agency for both the city and rural areas. Leroy Walters, of rotite three, Decatur, will replace Houk as rural carrier. Houk has been affiliated with Standard Oil for eight years as a rural carrier. Keller first began his duties with Standard Oil, Labor Day, 1923, as a service station salesman, at the Standard station located at Five Points, now owned and operated by Adrian Burke. Later, Keller became service sta- ; tion manager, and accepted the 1 position as bulk agent, in 1926, at which time he -transported fuel 1 with a model T truck. Until about 12 years ago, Keller j maintained both the city and rural areas. In 1947, areas were divid- , ed into two divisions, with Keller J taking care of the city users, while Jess Daniels worked the rural , Communities. In looking back, Keller pointed ( out a few major changes that have , developed since he first started ( with Standard Oil. In 1923, when Keller first became bulk agent, i kerosene and tractor fuel, two of 1 the biggest items at that time, ] were hand carried instead of load- i ed by the pumping units now used < in loading and unloading, both at homes and at the bulk station. ■ Keller stated that at that time, ■ five gallon buckets were used to carry the gas and oil products. With the hand carrying process, unloading or loading approximately 1,000 gallons of fuel in 12 hours, was a good day's work. Now, 7,000 or. 8,000 gallons of pumping in a day is no trouble at all, according to Keller. ? Another major change, he statged. is that until the past few years, •the bulk agent furnished the city ■users, the farm trade, and the serfcice stations located in both comjtyunities. Now service stations are supplied by truck transports from district plants, and rural users are supplied by one agent. A farewell party will be held in June in honor of Keller and Howard Sprunger, Berne bulk agent, who will retire effective June 1. Although Keller has no definite plans for the future, he and his wife, the former Frieda Black, will live at 403 Jefferson street, where they have lived for 22 , years. Mr. and Mrs. Keller have ( two daughters, Mrs. Norma Elzey j of Fort Wayre, and Mrs. Maxine 1 Hakes of route five, Decatur; and ; five grandchildren. Florida Students Return To Classes TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (UPI) - Students at Florida A&M University returned to class today, ending a one - day “passive resistance” strike aimed at dramatizing the rape of a Negro coed. Four white youths are accused of assaulting the girl. Student President Clifford Taylor called off the Negro classroom strike after the county grand jury was called into special session to consider charges against the white youths. But Taylor said the demonstration is “far from being over.” Circuit Judge W May Walker ordered the Leon County grand jury back into session to consider charges against the four white men, aged 16 to 24, who admitted raping the 19-year-old girl. Walker called the jury to meet Wednesday at the request of State’s Atty. W.D. Hopkins. The Negro students, classmates of the rape victim, staged a daylong “passive resistance” classroom walkout Monday to dramatize the case. They sang hymns and spirituals, prayed, and listened to speeches outside on the quadrangle. Leaders also stuck to their plan to spend the day fasting, but most of the others did not. More than 1,000 ate breakfast in the school cafeteria and the crowd dispersed completely for an hour at lunch time. Taylor said nightly student assemblies will continue. But he : added, “We thnik we have achieved victory. The officials now are saying the guilty will be punished.” Investigators said the four , youths all admitted abducting the ( coed early Saturday, forcing her into their car and raping her. They were identified as OIHe 1 Stoutamire, 16; David I. Beagles, 18; Pat Scarborough, 20; and William Ted Collingsworth, 24, a ! telephone company lineman and ( the only one of the four who is i married. • i

Truman Backs Ike's Foreign : • Aid Program By NORMAN G. CORNISH United Press International WASHINGTON (UPl>— Former President Harry S. Truman urged Congress today to make sure America’s foreign aid program was “carried through to a photo finish for the welfare of the world.” Testifying before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Truman advised congressional critics of foreign aid to cut their own salaries rather than skimp on assistance to the Allies. He said it was of “absolute, vital v importance” in the fightagainst communism and advised f against cutting either military or economic aid. Truman said conditions outside the Iron Curtain since the program was launched in its present form in 1948 were “very much better.” “Inside, they are worse,” he said, “and that’s just what we want.” He said it would be “playing with dynamity” to cut President Eisenhower’s $3,900,000,000 request as a number of members of Congress have threatened to do. At the same time, Eisenhower rejected any suggestion that he had been “too timid” in his approach to foreign aid and had not recommended enough money for economic assistance. The President dold a news conference that every time he had sent mutual security recommendations to Congress they had been cut down by the House and Senate and not carried forward as vigorously as the international situation required. Although Truman’s message was a serious ‘one, the hearing had its light moments. At one point, Rep. Marguerite Stitt Church (R-IU.) asked him if “dollars alone” could do the job cut out for foreign aid. Truman thought she said “Dulles,” meaning John Foster Dulles. “1 don’t want to get into personalities," he said. When Mrs. Church pointed out what she had really said, Truman grinned and quipped: “Mrs. Truman says I need a hearing aid.” Truman said it should be perfectly obvious that in the struggle against communism, America must have as many friends and as few enemies as possible. He said Congress should increase the authorization for the development loan fund, not slash it. Further, he said, this shouldn’t be done by skimping on military assistance to friendly nations.

Orientation For Pupils' Parents The Decatur high school faculty will present an orientation session at the school auditorium Thursday at 7:30 p. m. for parents of next fall’s incoming freshmen. Included. on the agenda will be information oh high school curricula, dated on the use of summer school facilities and other information pertinent to eighth grade parents. Invitations haVe been mailed to those parents with children in the eighth grade and more than 200 are expected to attend. An informal coffee hour will follow the regular orientation period, with all members of the teaching staff available for answering questions. Principal Hugh J. Andrews and Deane T. Dorwin. teaching counselor, are making the arrangements.

Merchants Showcase Is Opened

The third annual Merchants Showcase opened today at 1 p.m. at the Decatur Youth and Community Center, and is expected to attract over 10,000 persons during the three-day event, Earl Sheets, chairman, said today. The annual event, sponsored by the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, will be held today, Wednesday and Thursday. Displays may be viewed between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. Local retail merchants have been busy during the past two days preparing displays and booths of merchandise and products for the home, farm, auto, land, water, etc. Over 50 local retail merchants have displays in the 54 booths> available at the Youth Center. A large display of mobile homes is located in the circular drive in front of the Center, and a tent to the rear of the building features displays of new model automobiles, and boats. In the lobby, refresh-

B H B B ■'•■ •" I B , Mr* w ’ "3mBHHH| * r aF w t<r_ftewßr bi. JiMMi i lIF rwwk RIIWJI .. ~i - _ 1..T2 2xJ PASSIVE RESISTANCE— Hundreds of students at Florida A. & Ml, University at Tallahassee mass in the school quadrangle with signs bearing their complaint, as they staged a spiritual—and hymn singing "passive resistance” demonstration which kept them away from classes in protest of the rape by four white youths of a negro co-ed. The white youths, one of whom is married, admitted the crime and are being held for the June 1 term of the Grand Jury.

Ike Calls For Common Sense

WASHINGTON (UPI) — President Eisenhower today called for 1 good sense, wisdom and labormanagement statesmanship in the steel industry wage negotiations lest the federal government be forced to step in. The President said in reply to a news conference question that, however deplorable the prospect of government intervention, the steel negotiations involve the entire American public and the economic well-being of the nation. He said that the entire country must look to steel management and the United Steel Workers for wise conduct of their contract negotiations. Otherwise, in the long run, the government could not stand still and do nothing about any agreement that promised to be clearly inflationary. Warming to the subject, Eisenhower suggested that all Americans make it clear that they are deeply concerned over the longrange effects of the steel negotiations and will not stand idly by if they are to be damaged. Against a Retreat Other news conference highlights : —Eisenhower said Lewis L. Strauss should not retreat under the Senate attacks on his nomination as secretary of commerce. Speaking with obvious feeling, the '■ President said the nation would come to a sad state of affairs f ' personal antagonsms reach the : point where highly qualified men could not be confirmed for federal office. —He made a plea for congressional support of his foreign aid program, saying that current hearings in Congress on the subject should not be approached on a partsan basis. —He said he was perfectly ready to have the people of the country decide whether to repeal the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution prohibiting a president from serving more than two terms. Eisenhower added that he himself did not feel too strongly on the necessity of repealing the amendment. Wants Gas Tax Boosted —He said a summer summit meeting would be a foregone conclusion if the May 11 foreign ministers’ meeting in Geneva produces tangible hope lor reducing tension in Europ< . —He express-0 every confi-

ments may be purchased from the snack bar. Tables and chairs have been arranged for the use of persons wishing refreshments. Many Displays Assisting Sheets as co-chairmen are Bill Lose, Paul Uhrick, and Ralph Sauer. They announced previously that no charge will be made to the spectator planning to INDIANA WEATHER Scattered showers and thundershowers and not much temperature change tonight. Wednesday showers and thunderstorms ending and turning » cooler. Low tonight 62 to 70. High Wednesday mostly in the 80s. Sunset today 7:42 p. m. Sunrise Wednesday 5:41 a. m. Outlook for Thursday: cloudy and a little cooler. Lows upper 50s north to mid 60s south. Highs near 80 to mid 80s elsewhere.

Six Cent!

dence that the Federal Bureau bf Investigation and Mississippi authorities will find some way of punishng those responsble for the lynchng of a Mississippi Negro accused of raping a white woman. Eisenhower said, however, that he did not think the Poplarville ease necessitated any stronger federal statutes on the subject. > —He expressed hope that the Republican 1960 presidential candidate will carry more southern states than he did in 1956. —He said Congress would have to find some way of meeting new deficits in the general fund of the ■ treasury if the House and Senate ■ fail to approve his recommended gas tax increase of cents a gallon. A Basic Matter The subject of the vital steel contract negotiations came up when a reporter noted that the union wants a wage settlement based on steel company profits in the first quarter of this year. The reporter said profits during the first three months of this year were at a record high. He asked the President whether he saw any possibility of economic controls if the negotiations produced a contract that would bring a new round of inflation. Eisenhower said first that he did not necessarily accept the statement that steel profits reached an all time high in the first quarter. Then he added that, quite aside from a technicality as to the record-making aspects of steel profits, the problem involved a basic matter affecting 175 million Americans. He said their interest would be preserved, damaged or possibly advanced by the decisions reached in the negotiations. Pupil Convicted Os Assaulting Teacher SOUTH BEND, Ind. (UPI) —. City Judge Pro-tem Lewis Pomush found Washington High School pupils Jack E. Holbert, 18, guilty yesterday of assaulting a teacher. Holbert, who pleaded innocent to the charge, was fined $66 and given a suspended 10-day jail sentence. He was accused of assaulting David P. Hinkley in a school hall April 15,

attend the extravaganza for admission or for parking. Prizes valued at more than $2,500 will be given away to lucky persons who register at the local stores or at the exhibits. Diamond rings, radio-phonographs, mattresses and springs, enough paint to redecorate a room, electrical appliances and many more prizes are a few of the free gifts that are included on the prize list. During last year’s second annual event, over 8,000 people viewed the Merchants Showcase. This year a larger number of specters is expected to view the displays of new color, new fashion, and new styling of merchandise and products. Being a family event, the Showcase officials have extended a welcome to area residents of all ages to visit with, the retail merchants and to become more familiar with the newest merchandise available that makes for “comfortable living.”