Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 57, Number 303, Decatur, Adams County, 26 December 1959 — Page 1

Vol. IVII. No. 303.

Russia Accepts Bid For Talks

MOSCOW (UPI) — Observers anticipated today agreement by the West on a new date for the Paris East-West summit conference as suggested by Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev. Khrushchev, in cordial notes to the Uriited States, France and Britain, accepted Friday the West's invitation to a meeting at the summit in Paris. But he asked the Western-pro-posed April 27 date be changed to either April 21 or May 4. A Soviet Foreign Ministry spokesman, who apologized to Western newsmen for calling them in on Christmas Day, said the April 27 date was inconvenient to Khrushchev who has to be in Moscow for the May 1 celebration marking Communism's annual international Holiday. Caused Little Surprise Khrushchev’s acceptance of the West's invitation caused little surprise here. It was foreshadowed by a spate of articles in the Soviet pressSoviet newspapers hailed the Western invitations, dispatched only five days ago, as proof that the West was recognizing the facts of international life. • They credited Khrushchev with playing the major role in arrang-

Unique Election For Steelworkers

PITTSBURGH (UPI) — A beat of drums swelled behind the carols and jingle bells in nearly 500,000 American homes Christmas Day. The rat-a-tat-tat was not rolled cut by the fumbling fingers of children, but by prof e s sio n al drum-beaters — press agent variety. sticks. in : Sn?«ll-out Ao'«bb.“vdfifel" in an' election unique Ifi the nation’3 history. In the 20 days following Jan. 6, the National Labor Relations Board will poll the country’s steel workers to get their verdict on a management proposal for settlement of a bitter wage dispute with the United Steelworkers Union. With a government injunction, which ended a record-smashing 116-day nationwide steel strike, due to expire in 30 days, the workers had their choice at their holiday tables of reading, listening to or watching union and management arguments. Negotiations in Progress Government-sponsored efforts to end the dispute through "voluntary” negotiations still were in progress. But steel management stuck to its “non-inflationary” offer of a wage - benefit package which it estimated would cost the companies 33 cents per hour per man over a 38-month period. USW President David J. McDonald and his union associates sought a package which they estimated would cost the companies "slightly more” than 22% cents an hour per man over a 20month period. The union proposal was based upon set 11 em e nt s reached with Kaiser Steel, the big can making companies and the major aluminum producers. But money on the barrel-head issues were dwarfed by the fur-nace-hot quarrel over the "local E-' ig conditions" provisions of previous labor agreement, n effect until Jan 26 under ions of a Taft-Hartley injunction. Seeks Freer Hand Management seeks a freer hand in making crew assignments, regulating working hours, penalizing workers for wildcat strikes, and setting standards of performance. The companies propose binding arbitration. The union wants a study group with its findings subject to open negotiatoinsThe issue was the "big bone"

——— . . , . Weather Poses Road Problems

United Preaa International i A wide band of rain, snow and sleet straddled the nation's midsection today, posing a hazardous driving '’problem for millions of travelers heading home from Christmas trips. The Weather Bureau said the moisture belt would stretch from border, to border and from Montana, eastern Utah and New Mexico in the West through Michigan, aqd Mississippi in the 'Meeting rain was forecast for northeast Minnesota across Wisconsin and Michigan and in parts of New England. Dangerous driving warnings were hoisted in the sleet areas. The weathermen predicted snow

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

ing the Big Four get-together. Khrushchev, in brief, identical notes to President Eisenhowejr, British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan and French President Charles de Gaulle said he was "profoundly satisfied” at the Western suggestions that East - West summit meetings be held "from time tot ime.” Credits K’s U. S. Visit The government newspaper Izvestia said the summit is the result of a "series of important events, the most important of which was N. S. Khrushchev’s historic visit to the United States.” It assessed the summit as a major victory for Khrushchev’s personal diplomacy which for more than two years argued that the men at the top alone and not foreign ministers held the necessary authority to solve vital international problems. Khrushchev suggested no agenda for the meeting. But Izvestia warned that Khrushchev Will go to Paris expecting to start where last summer’s foreign ministers conference and his Camp David talks with Eisenhower left off.

as the steel workers downed their holiday fare with their' families or toasted each other in the taprooms of the mill towns. The management publicists coupled with catch - words such as “efficiency” and “featherbedding” in their bid for the workers’ favor. The union leaders CSWJteeed-wtth "Mnion busting" ana a l fiat charge, "If the companies 'get their way, 110,00 steel workers could be knocked out of their jobs by a » per cent speed up.” Next month's vote, under the law, would not prevent the calling of a new walkout even if the workers plump for management’s final offer. But should the workers turn their backs on their union leaders, the “no confidence” vote virtually would proscribe a strike. That is the companies’ bet And they’re backing it with a high-powered campaign. i , Advertising Index Advertiser Pa s* Adams Theater * American Legion 3 Beavers Oil Service « Bower Jewelry Store — — 3 Burk Elevator Co. - — 5 Butler Garage — • Briede Studio " Citizens Telephone Co. 3 Fred Corah Insurance * Decatur Super Service 5 Decatur Readymix Inc. 6 Ehinger’s "Boston” Store 4 Fairway —- ® Harry Frauhiger » Green Belt Chemical Co. 6 Holthouse Furniture Store —— 3 Halflich & Morrissey - — 3 Kent Realty & Auction Co. 5 Klenks . — 5 Kiddie Shop - 4 Moose — — 3 Schafers 4 L. Smith Insurance Agency ... 5 Smith Drug Co. —4, 5 Sheets Furniture Store 4 Shaffer’s Restaurant - 3 Al Schmitt — 5 Teeple 5 Yost Gravel-Ready mix, Inc. ... 6 Zintsmaster Motors —...— 3 Church Page Sponsors 2 MOON EDITION

for parts of the central Plateau, northern Rockies and northern Plains. Light rains were predicted over the rest of the Plains, Midwest and iarts of the Ohio Valley, with a few showers forecast for the far Pacific Northwest . Light rain and snow fell Christmas night from Arizona and New Mexico into Montana. A few drizzles were reported from Northern California to the Canadian border, from Texas into the central Plaips and from the Gulf to the Ohio River. Scattered snow flurries !■ dotted central New England. Temperatures warmed as much as 30 degrees over the eastern

15 Homes Destroyed By Plant Explosion WARSAW, Ky. (UPI) — Police and volunteer workers cleaned up today from an explosion in a bottling plant that rocked this little northern Kentucky community Christmas Day, destroying an estimated 15 homes and severely damaging 30. At least 11 persons were taken to hospitals with injuries and one was critical, state police said, but eight had been released., Fire chief Elmer Alexander estimated damage to homes at two million dollars, and to the Jack Smith Pens! Cola Co., a soft drink bottling and beer distributing plant $400,000, The blast early Friday afternoon was caused by propane gas leaking from a furnace, according to the owner of the plant, Jack Smith, Covington, Ky. Smith, in St. Elizabeth hospital in Coving-' ton, Ky., was most seriously injured. He was in the plant at the time. The Red Cross set up a field station to feed and house some 200 workers who came from surrounding communities. East Chicago Plant Destroyed By Fire EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (UPI) — An Illinois man was injured seriously in a spectacular fire which destroyed an acetylene manufacturing and bottling plant here Friday. Harry Siegfried, 64, Calumet City, HI., was taken to St. Catherine’s Hospital with burns over most of his body. The fire, fed by a series of explosions, demolished a building of the Linde Co., a of the Union Carbide Corp. Firemen from East Chicago, Whiting and'Hammond battled the blaze for more than four hours before bringing it under control and succeeded in preventing it from spreading to a nearby hydrogen bottling plant. estimated unofficially at more than $300,000. East Chicago assistant fire chief Walter Gargus said the blaze apparently was touched off by acetylene gas leaking from a tank on a loading platform, and, fed by chemicals, spread rapidly through the building. Witnesses said the containers of gas exploded like roman candles and sent huge balls of flame through the roof of the building. Democrat Chairman Predicts Victory INDIANAPOLIS (UPI) —Democratic State Chairman Charles Skillen today predicted an “overwhelming victory” for his party in 1960—both in Indiana and the nation. Writing in the Indiana Sentinel, generally considered the party’s official, mouthpiece, Skillen said there won’t be a dull moment in the activities of both parties during 1960. “I predict the Republican theme will continue to be peace and prosperity,” he said. “The Republicans will be depending on their eight-year administration and they will do this with tired slogans and Madison Avenue showmanship.” Democrats, he said, will talk about “the real issues,” which he said include unemployment, rising cost of living, fading gold reserves, loss of American prestige throughout the world, our failure to keep abreast of the scientific accomplishments of Russia, our inadequate military situation, the Republican record of small business failures, and the "worst farm slump in American history." "Again I predict an overwhelming Democratic victory in 1960,” said Skillen.

- "'■■■ - two-third of the nation. The mercury shot from near zero to around 30 through New England during Christmas Day and Belle Fourche, S.D., reported a freak reading of 54 after the temperature rose 18 degrees, from 30 to 48,'during 15 minutes early in the dayThe Weather Bureau said temperatures would continue to rise today in the Great Lake states, the Ohio Valley and parts of the Central and Southern Atlantic states. But cooler weather was predicted from Nevada into eastern Montana, southern Idaho and the northern Plains.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN jIMM COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, Dec. 26,1959.

Highway Death Toll In Nation Goes Over 200 Mark, Caution Urged

Holiday Death Toll Is 11 To Date In State I United Press International Traffic accidents killed at least 11 persons in Indiana during the first 30 hours of the long Christmas holidays, turning the traditional season of cheer and good fellowship into one of mourning and tragedy Jor many Hoosiers. Eight persons were injured fatally in three accidents within six hours after tie holiday period be- , gan Christmas Eve and three , others died Christmas day. The highway slaughter boosted the 1959 death toll to at least 1,095, 36 more than the 1,059 persons killed during all of 1958. A head-on collision on U. S. 421 north of Indianapolis Thursday night killed three persons, and four others were killed in a one-car ; crash near Madison only hours later. Mrs. Shirley Jane Beamer, 23, Indianapolis, her 15-month-old son, Bart Neal, and Mrs. Helen Shasserre, 54, Cuba, Mo., were killed and Mrs- Beamer’s two other children were injured in a head-on collision north of the Capital City Sheriff's deputies said Mrs. Reaauto and it swerved into. the path i. of the Shasserre car. ' Walter L. Arthur, 45, Indianapolis; his wife, Mary, 30; Dale L. Beech, 38, Chicago, and Miss . Emma Ferrell, 18, Monticello, Ky. were killed about midnight Thursday when their auto missed *$ curve on Ind. 7 north of Madison, plunged down a steep embank- > ment and wrapped itself around a tree. They were enroute to Monticelo to take Miss Ferrell home after a visit with the Arthur family. Another accident Thursday night killed Omer H. Harlow, 70, of near Vevay. Harlow was struck by an auto as he was standing behind his own car on Ind. 250 in Switzerland County west of Allensville. PhiUip Edwards, 23, R. R. 1 Wingate, was killed Friday when his car was struck head-on by another auto on a Fountain County road east of Centennial. The other vehicle, police said, was driven by Violette Moran,- 14, of near KingmanA head-on collision on U. S. 6 near Kendallville early Friday killed James Arthur Rowe, 22, Wolcottville, and Donald Criswell, 26, Rome City. The multiple-death crash near Madison catapulted Indiana into first place for several hours as the nation’s holiday fatality leader. Jefferson County Sheriff Harold Raisor, who said liquor was found in the wreckage, said it was the worst smash-cp he had ever seen. "It was so bad you couldn’t hardly identify the car,” he said. Mrs. Arthur’s body was hurled from the car into Middlefork Creek, which was filled with about a foot of water. Authorities feared that Indiana's highway death toll might surpass the 1,100-mark by the time the 78hour holiday period ends Sunday night, especially because of dismal weather conditions. Light drizzle and fog was reported in many sections around Hoosierland this morning. One Christmas Baby Is Born At Hospital A Christmas baby daughter was born at 8:18 p.m. Friday to Joe' D. J. and Margaret Eicher Schwartz at Berne, at the Adams county memorial hospital. The little girl weighed 8 pounds and nine ounces. Only the one birth was recorded at the hospital this Christmas. INDIANA WEATHER Continued cloudy tonight and Sunday with rain beginning { late and continuing Sunday. Taming ©elder late Sunday. Lew tonight lower 46a. High Sunday tower 46s north to I near 66 south. Outlook for Mondayt- Meetly cloudy and colder, w

Ike Flies South Sunday For Rest

WASHINGTON (UPI) — President Eisenhower, after a quiet Christmas at home, flies south Sunday to rest and put the finishing touches on major reports and recommendations to the returning Congress. The Chief Executive and Mrs. Eisenhower plan to leave after 11 a.m. e-s.t. church services for the Augusta, Ga., National Golf Club, one of the President’s favorite spots for getting away from it all. Eisenhower wants to rest from hfs arduous 23,00 mile, 19-day "peace and friendship" tour of Europe, Africa and Asia, He returned to Washington last Tuesday. But the vacation won't be all play. The President must complete his State of the Union message, the budget for the fiscal year starting next July 1 and his report on the nation's economic health. « All three will be submitted to Congress shortly after it returns Jan. 6. In addition, Eisenhower will receive reports on the unresolved steel dispute and will be kept advised of international developments. The President’s Christmas holiday; was; interrupted a nfessage *c>m Soviet Premie? Nikita >S. TChruahchev agreeing to a Western proposal for a summit conference but suggesting other dates. Eisenhower was given a translation of the message. But the White House had no immediate comment. If he folows past practice, Eisenhower will spend a few hours each day working in an impro-' vise office above the golf pro’s shop at Augusta. He and Mrs. Eisenhower will stay in “Mamie’s cottage” near the club house The President and the first lady spent a quiet Yule and gay holiday decorations at the White House. The shouts and laughter of children which have echoed through its rooms on past Christmases were absent. Death Auto Driver Is Facing Charges CROWN POINT, Ind. (UPI) — Lake County authorities Friday held Alexander Anderson, 39, East Gary, on preliminary charges of involuntary manslaughter and drunken driving. Officials said Anderson was the driver of a car which struck and killed Richard Edmondson, 8, East Gary, Thursday as the boy walked along a city street.

, . «. . n ■■ I I■ I ■■ ■ — ; — w • I ’ • ■ -I I . ’ ■ " I ■. *'" ' 'W, ill ax m •.’’i* mF • , !' j '*M -■’ —••■■■«;?!““■ rJSiw^sysr'"’ I i* - ' pgsr. J'&Jsfi Xs | | - .' ! Hlßgfciflfcwiife ' L • I S. .’ • .' I ■ V I * >— - ZZ M X -———————l ■«; !. J L ,u h —4 < KVHBKrJ k ■ for the visitations, which will take place the last week of the eight-week campaign.

Although only in the second week of organization .of its eight-week church building fund drive, committee members from the Church of God indicate that the campaign is rolling on smoothly. The minimum goal set by the committees is $45,000, the Rev. Huston Bever, Jr., said this morning. Rev. Bever said that a visitation will be made during the eighth week by Paul Strickler’s committee. Strickler is heading the group which will contact the members of the Congregation for their threeyear pledges.

Anderson Store Is Robbed Friday Night Alan Baker, son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Heller of Decatur, was the Eavey’s store assistant manager in the Anderson armed robbery at 8:35 p.m. Christmas. Baker, who with his wife, Barbara, the Hellers, and the grandfather, Fred Kolter, spent Christmas in Decatur, left early Christmas evening to return to the store. The store was closed all day Christmas, but three people were working and the manager was gone, so Baker returned to make sure everything was all right. As he and James Farmer were there, three armed bandits broke a padlock at the rear of the store, and surprised them. The three med, armed with two .32 calibre revolvers and a sawedoff shotgun, then tied up the two, placing a sack over Baker’s head, and a shirt around Farmer's head. They then moved the 400-pound stfiTYrom of - the to the fre&zet and smashed it open, taking between $17,000 and $lB,000 in cash. Officials reported that they missed $4,000 in cash, and ignored SIO,OOO in checks. Baker called his wife at 5 o’clock this morning, and reported that both of them,were all right. The three bandits wore stockings over their faces. Two suspects were arrested a short time after the robbery near Huntsville, about five miles south of Anderson on highway 67, but were released after questioning. Baker did not have time to give the detail's in his escape from the bandits, nor tell how the two were about to notify the police. Funeral Today For Local Lady's Sister Mrs. Lena L. Bailey, 88. died Wednesday night at an Auburn nursing home after a long illness. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. O. K. Moody of Portland,. Ore.; a son, William A. Bailey of Minneapolis, Minn., and two sisters, Mrs. Lizzie Laswell of Kansas City, Mo., and Mrs. Hannah Holhmeyer of Decatur. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. today kt the Gerig funeral home in Auburn, with burial in Woodlawn cemetery.

Robert Strickler, general chairman, said that he hopes the initial construction will begin in the spring of 1961. Preliminary plans for the building program calls for the building of the new church in the now empty lot between the parsonage and the present church on Cleveland street. After the completion of the new house of worship, the educational plant will be added. The facilities in the educational plant will house the Sunday school classes and other meeting rooms. Rev. Bever said.

By United Press International Millions of holiday motorists began their homeward journey today under a National Safety Council warning that only extra caution would prevent another Black Christmas. The highway death toll shot past 200 early today — meaning that Christmas travelers were killing themselves at a rate of better than seven an hour. The safety council, which earlier warned of a possible death count of 530, said the final toll could pass that figure. At 8 am. e.s.t., United Press International figures showed at least 243 persons killed in auto crashes, 13 dead in fires, 3 victims of airplane crashes and 42 killed in miscellaneous accidents for a total of 301 since the holiday began at 6 p.m. Christmas EveCalifornia led the states with 20 traffic deaths. New York State reported 18 highway fatalities, followed by Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas and North Carolina with 14 each and Indiana and Mississippi with 11 each. Death Records Threatened A continued rate of highway blood-letting would eclipse the total of 523 traffic deaths during the last three-day Christmas nollday, in 1953. But it would leave the total mercifully short of tne all - time holiday record of 712 killed during the four day "Black Christmas” of 1956. “We are faced with a combination of treacherous roads, uncerrxftsssrs can only 'appeal,- that motorists will drive with extra care." • Multiple-death accidents took a terrible toll. Eight persons were killed and three critically injured when an overloaded car slammed into a concrete stanchion near Haverstraw, N.Y. Police saad the car was "smashed to bits." Kills 6, Hurts 27 Six persons lost their lives and seven others were seriously injured in a grinding head-on collision on a stretch of highway near Yazoo City, Miss. Police said one car apparently swung into the wrong lane Five New Yorkers died on slippery highways near Kitty Hawk, N.C., when their car skidded through a bridge rail and plunged into Currituck Sound. A Louisiana boy and four Texans were kiled in la head - on smashup near De Quincy, La. Three persons were, kiled when their car hit a Continental Trailways bus near Weslaco, Texas. Four persons died in the collision of a tractor-trailer and a car near Nashville, Tenn. Among the dead was Charles Henkel, 27, of Caledonia, Wis., the father of three little girls. Henkel died in an auto crash while wearing the red Santa Claus suit with which he planned to surprise and delight his children.

General chairman Strickler also announced the chairmen of the other various committees, who the: Mrs. Willard Landis, ladies brigade; Mrs. Kenneth Watkins, hostess committee; Mrs. Earl Geyer, fellowship dinner committee; Clarence Strickler, listings committee; Earl Geyer, publications; Clarence Stapleton, follow-up and monitor committee; and Paul Strickler, visitations committee. In discussing the proposed construction, the minister spoke beam- ' ingly of the organization of the project. “We did not receive one

Pope's Annual Message Calls On Peace Hope VATICAN CITY (UPD — Pope John XXIII gave his annual message to “the people of Rome and the world” Friday and called on them and their statesmen to erase from their minds "the myth of force and nationalism.. .which has poisoned the common life of nations.” The 78-year«old Pontiff gave his blessing to thousands massed in St. Peter’s Square, on a cold but sunny day. He spoke for eight minutes before imparting his benediction. He told the thousands who knelt for his blessings he hoped they would enjoy “peace in your families, peace among nations and in the entire w0r1d...” “We spoke of this in our radio message before Christmas but we greatly desire to wish it to all of you,” the Pope said. He spoke from the balcony dVer the main entrance to St. Peter’s. Despite the sunshine, the Pontiff was dressed warmly, with a heavily-embroidered red stole and red and ermine cape over his shoulders. Millions of Italians watched on 4 television as the* Pope W W - throngs in St. Peter’s Square: “Christmas for us means the sweetness of the truth of His Christ’s doctrine, in the practice of love.” He said the roots of the evils undermining relations between countries must be cut out before there can ever be genuine peace. “Peace is the gift of heaven which is offered on earth to sincere men of good will,” the Pontiff said. Prior to his appearance on the balcony in the square, the Pontiff celebrated Christmas mass for about 20,000 persons inside the vast St. Peter’s Basilica, the largset church in Christendom. Indiana University Graduate Suffocated BRAZIL, Ind. «UPI) — Clay County Coroner Oscar Weddle has returned a verdict of accidental death for a young Indiana University graduate student-and physics department instructor who died of suffocation. Authorities said Robert E. Fugate. 22, suffocated after pulling a small plastic bag over his head. His body was found in the bathroom of his home Thursday by his mother.

negative reply in our requests for committee chairmen and committee members. This is part of the work that is actually thrilling, as you can see the men and women of the congregation working side by side to make the project a success,” he said. ( , - The 46-year-old frame church building will be replaced by a stone edifice, designed by Richart and Johnson, architects from Anderson. The preliminary drawings were submitted by the church’s planning office at the main headquarters in Anderson.

Six Cants