Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 57, Number 107, Decatur, Adams County, 6 May 1959 — Page 1

Vol. LVII. No. 107.

12 Incumbent Mayors Beaten

INDIANAPOLIS (UPI) — Ten Democratic and two Republican mayors lost bids for renomination Tuesday as Hoosier voters ignored a near-record heat wave to cast their ballots in the municipal primary election. Rebuffed by voters in balloting which ranged from “uncommonly light** to “the heaviest primary voting in our history" were the Democratic incumbent mayors of Evansville, Marion, Kokomo, Vincennes, Logansport, Greenfield, New Castle, Bluffton, Lawrenceburg and Loogootee and Republican incumbents at Lafayette and Huntington. But 13 other Democratic mayors won their party tests along with nine GOP chief executives and qualified for the November elections in 108 cities now controlled mostly by Democrats. One of the highlights of the day was the lopsided defeat of Evansville Mayor J. William Davidson by former sheriff and Democratic kingpin Frank McDonald. Davidson, a protege of Sen. Vance Hartke, was beaten by a 2-to-l margin as Evansville voters turned out in large numbers despite 90 degree temperatures. Hartke hand-picked Davidson as his successor when the senator resigned to go to Washington last fall. At Marion, Mayor Willard Blackman lost the Democratic government in the 19305. Blacknomination to former Mayor Jack Edwards, who headed the city's man trailed Edwards by more than 200 votes in a seven-way contest. Gilbert Ont Kokomo Mayor Raymon Gilbert was left at the post by fellow Democrat John Peacock, the Howard County Coroner. Vincennes Mayor L.T. Wampler dropped a 31-vote decision to Bernard Kilfoil. But the list of mayors who gained renomination was equally as impressive as those who lost. Incumbent Democrats won out over rivals at Indianapolis. South Bend, Hartford City, Terre Haute, Decatur, Mount Vernon, Petersburg, Peru, Goshen, Anderson, Batesville Mitchell, Linton, New Albany Jeffersonville, Charlestown Bicknell, Brazil, Muncie, Bloomington, Salem, Gary, Hammond, East Chicago Whiting, Elwood, Seymour, Covington Richmond, LaPorte and Clinton. Republican mayors stayed in the running by nurdling primary foes at Columbus Cannelton. Rockport, Greencastle, Hobart, Crown Point, Rising Sun, West Lafayette and Connersville. Indianapolis Mayor Charles Boswell earned the right to try for his first full term as head of the state's largest city by defeating two opponents by a better than 2-to-l margin. His Republican opponent, former prosecutor William T. Sharp rolled up an even bigger margin. Mayor Ralph Tucker, unsuccessful candidate for governor in 1956, took a giant step toward an unprecedented fourth term with an easy primary victory over city council president Frank Doyle and two other candidates. Mrs. Mary Bercik, the state’s only woman chief ex&cutvie. got support of voters for another term as mayor of Whiting. One of the opponents she beat was former Mayor Michael B. Biastick who lost the 1955 election to Mrs. Bercik’s late husband. Five Women Lose Five other women candidates lost out in their bids for nomination. Two mayors seeking fifth terms went down to defeat. Mayor Sidney Baker of New Castle and Mayor James L. Allen of Greenfield, both Democrats, were losers. South Bend Mayor Edward Voorde and Anderson Mayor

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DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPEB IN ADAMS COUNTY ' . -

Ralph Ferguson were other easy winners.' A host of former mayors and legislators also won the right to take their cause to the voters in November. Among former mayors seeking election were Noland Wright, ex-GOP stat? chairman, at Anderson; Glen R. Henderson at Connersville; Vernon Anderson, Governor Handley's former administrative assistant, at Hammond; Tom Boyd at LaPorte; Herbert L- Ransdell at Lebanon; Sherman Cox at Peru; Donald L. Heiwig at Seymour; Paul Hodges at Warsaw, and Edwards at Marion. Former legislator Court Rollins gained the Republican nod at Muncie, as did Richard B. FisherIng, also a former GOP lawmaker, at Fort Wayne. Farmer Alcoholic Beverage Commission chairman H. DeWitt Owen lost his bid for GOP recognition at Terre Haute. Former Evansville Mayor H.O. Roberts was sidetracked in his attempt to gain the Republican mayor nomination in the Pocket City, losing to councilman Donald B. Ingle. Bluffton Mayor Robert Venis lost out to Charles W. Decker Jr., the chief of the volunteer fire department. Peru Mayor John Devine won the five - man Democratic nomination by only 21 votes over his nearest rival and will oppose former Mayor Sherman Cox in a repeat of the municipal election four years ago. Cox beat eight other candidates on the* Republican ticket, including 89-year-old Jonas Hostetler, the oldest mayoralty candidate in the state. New Castle Mayor Sidney E. Baker was last in a field of three in his bid for a second term and W. Robert Fleming, who barely lost to Rep. E. Ross Adair in the 4th District congressional election last fall, was defeated by Paul Burns in Fort Wayne's Democratic primary. Bums, a former candidate for mayor, will oppose Richard B. Flshering. At Lawrence, Republican Morris Settles won the right to oppose Democrat James D. Porter in November, providing the Indianapolis suburban town decides to become a city at a referendum the same day. Os the 106 incumbent mayors, 82 chose to seek renomination. Thirty of those were nominated without opposition from within their parties and won automatic right to a place on the fall ballot. There were no mayor contests an either Republican or Democratic tickets in 24 of the cities. The mayor races took top billing, but most cities also elected clerk-treasurers, city councils and city judges. Voting was generally light as thousands of Hoosiers chose not to venture forth in the oppressive heat. But spirited battles in Evansville, Richmond, Marion and a few other cities brought unexpectedly heavy turnouts. INDIANA WEATHER Scattered showers and thunderstorms probably ending and' turning cooler north and west central tonight. Thursday partly cloudy and cooler north and west central, scattered »showers and thunderstorms ending and cooler south and east central. Low tonightly 50s northwest to near 70 extreme southeast. High Thursday 60s northwest to middle 70s extreme southeast. Sunset today 7:43 p.m. Sunrise Thursday 5:39 a.tn. Outlook for Friday: Partly cloudy and cooled. Lows 50s north to around 60 south. Highs low 60s north to low 70s south.

Renominated Robert D. Cole Good Attendance Al Showcase Opening Approximately 1,500 persons attended Tuesday’s opening of the third annual Merchants Showcase at the Decatur Youth and Community Center, Fred E. Koller, executive secretary of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, said today. Opening day attendance was slightly higher this year than was recorded last year. About 1,100 spectators viewed the many displays on opening day last year at the second annual event. It has been estimated that for the three-day event, about 10,000 persons will pack the Center to view the new merchandise being featured on display by more than 50 local merchants. During last year’s second annual event, about 8,000 persons viewed the Merchants Showcase. No charge for parking or for admission is being taken to attend the festivities. The retail merchants have extended a welcome to all area residents of all ages to attend this year’s event. Doors are open from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., and will continue uhtß Thursday night at 9 o’clock. 36-Hour Stoppage Os Work Is Settled GARY, Ind. (UPI) —. Fourteen Hundred workers on the day shift went back to their jobs at U.S. Steel’s American Bridge Division plant today after a 36-hour work stoppage. A company spokesman said plant representatives and officials of United Steelworkers Local 1117 met to discuss grievances immediately after the day shift reported. The plant was closed Monday night when 19 men walked out and established picket lines.

Fallout Danger To U. S. Is Stressed

WASHINGTON (UPD—New evidence before Congress indicates the United States may have more to fear than any other major country from radioactive fallout produced by nuclear explosions. Fallout mainly from Soviet nuclear tests promises within a few months to double the amount of radioactive Strontium 90 in a belt centered on 40 degrees north latitude, which passes through the middle of the United States. The evidence was placed before the joint congressional subcommittee on radiation by the Atomic Energy Commission Tuesday during the, first of four days of hearing on the fallout problem. Hie charts shwing that: —ln 1957-58 radioactivity from Russian tests for the first time exceeded the combined total for the United States and Britain. Nearly three-fourths of the Soviet total wds spewed into the stratosphere during teste last October. —The rate of testing by all nations during the two years exceeded by 75 per cent the ahnual maximum recommended to the subcommittee by a panel of scientists in 1957. —The Northern Hemisphere is four to five times ..more radioactive than the Southern Hemisphere. All of the Soviet test fallout and two-thirds of the U.S. radioactivity from Eniwetok falls in the Northern Hemisphere. Even with the big increase, the Atomic Energy Commission does not think the radioactivity created so far will have “statistically significant” effects that would be apparent from observations to the average man. Fifty to 100 additional cases of cancer per year—a possibility — would constitute individual tragedies but would be lost statistically among the average of 700,000 can cer patients under treatment in

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, May 6, 1959.

Cole Renominated For Mayor By 200 Votes In Democratic Primary

Dies Tuesday Night Os Gunshot Wounds Paul Fry, 66 a tool room operator for 19 years at the Fort Wajme G.E. plant and a native of Adams county, died at 9 p.m. Tuesday in Lutheran hospital of gunshot wounds in the head. Although the coroner’s report was not completed, officials indi-, cated that the wounds were selfinflicted in the bathroom of the family residence early last evening. Mr. Fry had been in failing health for several years. Police officials said a .22 caliber revolver was used to inflict the wounds. Surviving are his wife, Berona; four daughters, Mrs. Theola Poling, of Decatur, Mrs. LaVionne Baxter, Fort Wayne, Mrs. Romaine Smith, Van Wert, O„ and Mrs. Wanda Jean Lahrman, Fort Wayne; one son, Niles Fry, of Fort Wayne; two brothers, William Fry, of Monroeville, and Cleveland Fry, of Churubusco, and 13 grandchildren. Friends may call at the ChalfantPerry funeral home after 7 p.m. today. Final rites will be at the funeral home Friday, with the Rev. J. Luther Seng officiating. Burial will be in the New Haven IOOF cemetery. Jet Fighter Skids Into Safe Landing BUNKER HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Ind (UPI)—An F-89 jet fighter interceptor with a faulty landing gear skidded to a safe landing on a foam-greased runway at this base Tuesday afternoon. First Lt. Walter McCuUis, piloting the craft, reported shortly after takeoff that his landing gear failed to retract. A runway was foamed for an emergency landing, and McCullis came to a normal stop 11,000 feet from the point where he touched down. McCullis and Ist Lt. Charles Pisano were unhurt and the plane was not damaged. „

the United States. The north latitude localization of stratospheric fallout, previously thought to be uniform over the world, was described as the most important of the several disclosCity Funds In Bank Reported To Council The Decatur city council met Tuesday night in the council chambers for a routine meeting. A letter from a group of citizens requesting a street light on the north end of 1057 S. Park View Drive, was forwarded to the city power and light commissioner. After the perfunctory reading of the bills, which the council approved as a matter of record, Miriam Hall, clerk-treasurer, read the statement from the First State Bank of Decatur, indicating the amount of money the city has on hand as of April 30. In the general fund, $211,208.40; Barrett law, $2,251; electric light depreciation, $254,428.49; electric utility bond fund, $18,045.01; firemen’s pension fund, $12,496.64; light meter department, $18,362.64; parking meter, $7,742.84; police pension fund, $8,241.68; sewage works depreciation, $4,000; sewage works sinking fund, $16,951.25, and water depreciation, |l9, 556.08. Councilman Clyde Drake also requested that action be taken concerning outdoor plumbing facilities in the city. Drake said that several complaints had recently been called to his attention. Mayor Robert D. Cole said that notices were being sent out to persons directly concerned with the situation.

Urges Steel Wage Freeze

NEW YORK (UPI) — Inland Steel Co., seventh - ranked steel producer of the nation, today , called for a one-year wage freeze to help combat inflationary pressures in the economy. William G. Caples, Inland vice president, told negotiators of the United Steelworkers that steel workers "rr° envied by workers all over .the W~rld, including those of other industries of the United "Caples’ arguments were similar to those made by 11 other major steel companies in contract talks with the union. Industry leaders have contended that steel work- '■ ers’ wages now are much higher , than thSe paid employes in almost all other industries. Union officials countered by saying it is "nonsense” to say . steel workers do not deserve a wage increase simply because workers in other lines are paid less money. David J. McDonald, president of the USW, told reporters the union today would present evidence to the companies countering arguments that rising wage costs were pricing American steel products out of the world market. Companies Run Ad In an advertisement printed in newspapers here, the stdel companies listed five reasons why the best solution in the present wage negotiations is to "hold the line in ’59.” The ad said that the major cause of inflation has been a rise in employment costs, that employment costs have forced up prices, the present steel worker earns $3.03 an hour which is 84 cents more an hour than the average U.S. manufacturing, steel companies face foreign competition which has resulted in unemployment and profits are necessary to create jobs. The union met individually this morning with U major steel companies. President Eisenhower warned Tuesday the government "cannot stand still and do nothing" if both sides do not take statesman-like action. Administration officials said they believed Eisenhower was trying to build up public opinion against a wage increase that would lead to higher steel prices. Negotiators for both sides pledged to seek a non-inflationary agreement, but their positions dimmed hopes of avoiding a strike after the three-year contracts, covering 500,000 workers in the basic steel industry expire June 80. Says Strike Likely The weekly magazine, The Iron Age, said nothing short of a miracle seems likely to prevent a long and bitter strike. It said the USW might strike some companies and let others work. In that case. Iron Age said, the companies have provided for a mutual assistance plan under which operating firms would turn over part

al r ' STEEL TALKS BEGIN— U. S. Steel’s negotiating team chairman R. Conrad Cooper (left) chats with David J. McDonald, president of the United Steelworkers of America in New York, just before steelwage contract negotiating talks began. The union led off with demands for substantial wage increases and other contract changes, despite possible government intervention to prevent a further wageprice inflationary spiral. '

of their revenue to those hit by walkouts. Eisenhower and leading economists have expressed fear that an inflationary agreement in steel could touch off a new wage-price spiral in the nation. A steel agreement will set the pattern for wage talks' in other basic industries such as aluminum and can making. The union began individual bargaining talks Tuesday with U.S. Steel, Bethlehem, Republic and Kaiser Steel. It met separately today with those four firms and seven other basic steel companies. The last of the industry’s Big 12 will join negotations Thursday. Upon completion of these preliminary “sjund off” meetings, possibly jearly next week, fourman bargaining teemo of each side vyill open toe actual give-and-take, talks. Positions Unchanged Union President David J. McDonald and his top aides presented to company officials Tuesday reams of statistical data to support their claim that substantial wage and fringe increases are warranted this year and can be absorbed by the industry without price hikes. R. Conrad Cooper, chief negotiator for U.S. Steel and the entire industry, countered with a document claiming that increases in employment costs are not justified and could not be absorbed by the industry. The statistical sparring was a stand-off. It left the basic position of both sides unchanged from the pre-negotiation haggling that set the stage for the pessimism that pervades the talks. Cooper, after hearing the union's arguments, • reiterated the industry’s position that a one-year extension of the present contract is the “only sure way” of avoiding inflationary pressures. McDonald again declared that the companies’ sharp increase in productivity was evidence of their ability to grant raises without resorting to "inflationary price increases.” Only One Os Six Women Wins Tuesday INDIANAPOLIS (UPI)—AII this talk about the possibility of a woman president in the near future falls on deaf ears when told to Mrs. Eleanor Morris of Noblesville, Mrs. Mary K. Morgan of Decatur, Mrs. Mary M. Muccolini of Terre Haute, Mrs. Marjorie L. Wray of Logansport and Mrs. Adda Hernly of New Castle. The five, all Dehiocrats, lost bids for mayor nominations in Tuesday’s municipal primary. The only successful woman mayor candidate was Mrs. Mary Bercik of Whiting, who already is mayor.

Spring Squall Brings Lillie Heal Relief United Press International A spring squall of high winds and hit-and-run tornadoes rum bled eastward Wednesday, bm brought little relief to the sweltering midwest. The squall line was expected to stretch from eastern Texas into the northern Great Lakes, but the U.S. Weather Bureau predicted an ebbing of the storm. Scattered showers and thundershowers were forecast oyer tne northern Plain states. Four tornadoes skipped over the Mississippi River into Wisconsin Tuesday, but none of the funnels apparently touched ground. Earlier, twisters or tornado-like winds were reported in Texas, Kansas and lowa, where they ripped through farms, toppled trees and power lines and snatched an ornament from a gilt dome atop the lowa capital at Des Moines. The weather bureau said the turbulent weather was touched off by a clash of hot, humid air in the east and cool, dry air in the west. In the no-man’s land between the fronts, tornadoes and thunderstorms wove a random, destructive path. Both heat and humidity produced an August-like hot spell rind broke records in many Midwest cities. Temperatures soared past 90, breaking records in Louisville, Ky., Evansville, Ind., Traverse City, Mich., and in several Ohio cities. It was the second straight day of tornadic activity and the fifth straight day of murky heat across the Midwest. Several small streams in northeast Kansas, lowa and Nebraska left their banks behind the urging of as three-inch, six-hour rainfall at Council Bluffs, lowa, and downpours measuring 4.5 inches in Nebraska and 3m94 inches at Junction City, Kan. The rains diminished during the night, but Omaha, Neb., received over an inch -with other locally heavy showers reported in Nebraska and Kansas. West of the squall line, temptratures in the 30s were reported from North Dakota through Montana and light snow fell in North Dakota and the northern Rockies.

World Cooperation For Space Problem

UNITED NATIONS (UPD-The United States called today for world cooperation <to solve problems of outer space through the United Nations. U.S. Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge gave the keynote speech at the first meeting* of the U.N. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. The committee was established by ghe General Assembly last Dec. 12 even though Russia had warned that it would boycott its work until an agreed balance between Communist and Western members was achieved. Russia, Czechoslovakia and Poland, although elected to the committee, were absent from today’s meeting. So were India and the United Arab Republic which took the neutralist view that nothing important could be accompolished in Russia’s absence. But Lodge told the 13 member nations attending that toe space age demanded immediate international cooperation. He said the committee could chart a course for the United Nations in this vital field. "In no field of endeavor is cooperation among nations more appropriate or more necessary,” he said. "When we go about the business of exploring the universe the rivalries of men and nations really do look petty and ridiculous. The job is far too big for any one nation, no matter how big or how advanced in technology that nation may be.”

Mayor Robert D. Cole was renominated tor mayor with a plurality of 200 votes over his nearest rival, Adrian T. Wemhoff, and a majority of 135 in the three-way race Tuesday. Mrs. Mary K. Morgan, first woman in the history of Decatur to run for mayor, received 65 votes. A newcomer to politics,i Mrs. Morgan was undaunted by the defeat, and felt that she learned a great deal about city government just by running. Cole received 810 votes, and carried seven of the 11 precincts. Wemhoff received 610 votes, carried three precincts, and tied Cole in one precinct. Mrs. Morgan failed to carry any precincts. — The first precinct to report was 2-B, at 6:5a p.m. Last to report was 1-B at G. 15. It took the election officials only 45 minutes more to tally the results in the Democratic primary than in the electric plant election three weeks ago. Cole increased his vote over that in the primary four years ago, when he received only 647 votes. Wemhoff ran better than Bernard J. Clark, who received 531 votes that year, or Boyd Rayer, who received 377 votes in 1955. Wemhoff carried 1-A, won by Clark in 1955, 1-D, won by Rayer in 1955, and 2-B, carried by Cole in 1955, and tied in 1-B, carried by Clark in 1955. A total of 1,485 votes were cast this year for mayor in the Democratic primary, as compared with 1,555 four years ago. This was a higher total than most people expected. Mrs. Laura A. Bosse led the ticket among the unopposed candidates, garnering 1,004 courtesj votes fop city clerk-treasurer. Others unopposed were: Rict|rrd J. Sullivan, for city judge, 914; Carl D. Gerber, first district councilman, 1,000; Norbert Aumann, second district councilman, 935; Lawrence A. Kohne, third district councilman, 914; Clyde E. Drake, fourth district councjlman, 872; and Frank Braun, councilman-at-large, 875. A total of 33.6% of the registered voters turned out for the Democratic primary, despite the general silence that reigned before the election. The city’s largest precinct, 3-A sent 216 of its 520 registered voters to the polls. A small crowd waited in the Democrat office to hear the results as they were telephoned in from the precincts by the election workers. A total of 1,380 telephone calls were received at 3-2171 by those interested in finding out the results.

Forget-Me-Not Day Planned In County The Adams chapter 91 of the Disabled Veterans of America will sponsor its 11th annual "Forget-Me-Not Day” fund drive Friday and Saturday in Decatur, Monroe, Berne and Geneva. Proceeds collected by members of the DAV and its auxiliajy will be used in the rehabilitation of the veterans in hospitals and for their families. ‘ The canvas will be started at the industrial plants on Friday while members will be stationed at the local banks on Saturday to accept contributions. Auxiliary members will also collect from persons as they walk through the business district on both days. Morton Railing, drive chairman, said that the bulk of the contributions would remain with the chapter for financing rehabilitation projects for disabled veterans. Railing also added that the "for-get-me-nots” are purchased from disabled veterans in hospitals, thus making the entire campaign useful for the tiAV.

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