Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 61, Number 65, Decatur, Adams County, 18 March 1963 — Page 1

VOL. LXI. NO. 65.

Lenten Meditation (By Rev. Sylvester Martin, pastor of Nuttman Ave. United Brethren Church) II Corinthians 10:5—“Casting down Imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. One of the greatest detriments to the cause of Chrsitianity among Christians themselves is evil imaginations. Paul admonishes to destroy all things that would work against the knowledge of God in building Christian character. Every thought should be brought into the searching power of God’s word so that even these thoughts might lead us to the obedience of Christ. Our minds should be spiritual and consequently our thoughts would be spiritual also. During the time of Lent may we endeavor to train our minds to think only of the good. May we not imagine evil of our fellow men, and may our thoughts be those which would produce good deeds. We are only able to avenge disobedience when we have been obedient ourselves. "If a man be overtaken' in a fault, we which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

Costa Ricans Are Praised By Kennedy

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (UPD— President Kennedy flew into Costa Rica today bearing his doctrine of hemispheric cooperation which he promised, would "forge ultimate victory’’ against poverty and injustice. Kennedy stepped off a helicopter to the roaring welcome of thousands of cheering Costa Ricans around La Sabana Airport on the edge of the capital. The helicopter brought him 15 miles from the El Coco Jet airfield where he landed minutes earlier from Palm Beach. Costa Rican President Francis-’ co J. Orlich and the presidents of El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama were on hand at La Sabana to give warm welcome to the first UJS. head of state to visit this tiny republic. In a speech prepared for his airport arrival, Kennedy hailed Costa Ricans as a “steadfast and courageous people” who have established a “progressive democracy which is a moc'el for the hemisphere.” For most Costa Ricans, today and Tuesday are holidays. They were making the most of it under bright blue skies. Police had estimated inadvance that nearly onequarter of the country’s one million inhabitants would be on hand to welcome the President and it seemed they were. , Flying squadrons of high school and university students had roamed the city throughout the night to make sure that no sub--versive Castroites or co < mpunist agitators could mar the occasion. Addressing himself to the main subject of the two-day meeting, Kennedy praised Central American efforts toward economic integration which is receiving full support of the two-year U.S. Alliance program. „ "In this historic conference,” he said, "we meet as neighbors to find ways of strengthening this union; remembering always that the hope of economic progress can never- be allowed to weaken our determination to extend and perfect the political liberty and human rights of our citizens. Kennedy’s main emphasis in his arrival address was to lavish

Union Rejects Strike Offer

NEW YORK (UPD—The striking printers’ unexpected rejection of a contract settlement sought by their leaders left publishers today with little hope of resuming publication this week. > Mayor/ Robert Wagner, whose settlement proposal had been accepted by negotiators for the printers and publishers, started all over again by calling both sides S meetings today. Publishers anned a meeting to consider . what steps they will take to end the 101-day-old shutdown. The stormy four-hour union meeting Sunday at which the printers voted down the settlement by a 64-vote margin was punctuated by boos and catcalls,. aimed by the rank and file membership at its international union president, Elmer Brown, who had urged acceptancce of the settlement. Warns Strikers Brown, who threatened to walk out of the meeting, warned the strikers “If you don’t follow your international leadership, you’ll be going down a blind alley and be out on a limb by yourself.” The vote, 1,621 to 1,557, actually was larger than the 2,970 printers employed by the nine newspapers affected by the strike. The total membership of ITU Local 6, IL--000, was eligible to vote, including 1,500 Observers close to the strike felt there was a chance the international union would order’a mail referendum of the entire membership of Lo-

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

high priase on his Costa Rican hosts. “It is appropriate that we meet at one of the brightest and most hopeful places touched by the sea (the Caribbean)—the Republic of Costa Rica,” he said. "For here a steadfast and courageous people have established a progressive democracy which is a model for the hemisphere.” As the President arrived for the historic meeting with the six Central American presidents, at least two of the chief executives were reported to be in revolt against U. policy in Cuba. J. William Rentz Is Taken By Death J. William Rentz, 82-year-old retired florist who made his home with a son, George, 210 South 13th St., died at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Adams county memorial hospital. He had ben in failing health for the past year. Born in Peru Dec. 16, 1881, he was a son of Jacob W. and Elizabeth Buehler - Rentz, and was married to Emma N. Huck Nov. 26, 1903, in Peru. His wife preceded him in death March 10, 1951. A former Peru florist, he was associated with Rentz Florists in this city until retiring in 1961. He then moved to Bradenton. Fla., returning to Decatur after he became ill last August. Mr. Rentz was a member of the Zion Lutheran church. Surviving are two sons, George W. Rentz of Decatur, and Norman V. Rentz of Rochester; two daughters, Mrs. Paul (Miriam) Seibel of Muskegon, Mich., and Mrs. James (Ruth) Doty of Marion; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren, and one sister, Mrs. Herbert Hom of Peru. Funeral rites will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Zwick funer home, the Rev. Richard C. Ludwig officating. Burial will be in St. John’s Lutheran cemetery at Peru. Friends may call at the funeral home until time of the services.

• cal 6. i Other complications developed ■ when the Photoengravers’ Union ■ threatened to strike four newspa- ■ pers today if a new agreement is not reached by 4 p.m., EST. • But the Stereotypers and the ■ New York Daily News and New s York Times Guild units voted to I accept the new contract proposi als given their unions. Other Guild i units will vote today on the $4.13 • settlement offer to extend their I contract another five months beyond the present Oct. 31, 1964 to i coincide with the other newspaper • unions. Cites Strike Benefits I Brown told the boisterous meet- ’ ing that they were getting strike t benefits far in excess of the other , nine unions involved in the dis- ■ pute. “How long do you expect them to stay out without the benefits you are getting?” he asked. : Printers are getting a total of slls > in benefits from the state and the • union while some, like the Guild • members, are receiving only SSO : from the state. Local 6 President Bertram Pow- ' ers, who had urged approval of the i settlement while admitting he was i not fully satisfied with it, said he I expected negotiations to resume. Powers said he believed the ' membership turned down the con- : tract, calling for a package ini crease of $12.63 because of “their i resentment of the attitude of the i newspaper publishers in this city ■ for the past 10 years.”

Mayor Donald Gage Seeks Second Term

Jig Donald F. Gage Mayor Donald F. Gage announced today that he is a candidate for a second term as mayor of Decatur. In announcing for reelection, Mayor Gage stated that he is proud of the improvements that have been made during his administration, but even more proud that the light plant sale money has not been “squandered,” and that there still remains on hand practically the same amount (over $1,200,000) as the net proceeds of the sale. Gage explained that the city improvements have been through the interest received from the investing the principal The Republican mayor said, “I am proud to have been a part of planning and constructing the new water lines, new sewers, new water towers, fine trucks, fire station building, new improved street lights, and the additions and improvements to equipment of the various departments. "However,” he explained,” I want to emphasize that these additions were made possible by the complete cooperation of the city council, cleark-treasurer and department beads. “I want to publicly thank the elected and appointed officials for their many hours of devoted work to make our town a better place to live,” the mayor continued. Elected To Council Gage was elected a city councilman in 1951 and served four years as a councilman and a member of the board of public works and safety, under the late Mayor John M. Doan. In 1959 Gage won a “squeaker” over Robert D. Cole, winning the mayor’s race by four votes. Cole filed for a recount, and the result increased Mayor Gage’s margin. Gage was the only Republican elected, the clerk-treasure and all five council seats being won by the Democrats. ' Served With Marines Gage served in the Marine Corps as a non-commissioned officer during World War 11, being with the third amphibian branch of the Marines in the Pacific theater. He is a member erf the American Legion, V. F. W., Moose and Knights of Columbus. Gage, who formerly was a machinist with the local General Electric, is a partner in the Gage Tool & Machine Shop, located at 11th and Dayton Sts. in Decatur. Hie mayor is married to the former Mary Jane Fritzinger, and is a member of the St. Mary’s Catholic church. Mayor and Mrs. Gage reside in their home at 1057 Part View drive. Wheeler Funeral Rites Wednesday John Wheeler, 80-year-old retired farmer of Geneva, died Sunday at the South View nursing home near Bluffton. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Chester Slump of Geneva, and Mrs. Francis Bauer of Van Wert, O„ and four grandchildren. Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Hardy & Hardy funeral home in Geneva, with burial in Woodlawn cemetery near Farmland. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. Monday. Decatur Temperature Local weather data for the 48 hour period ending at IT a.m. today. Saturday Sunday 12 noon 42 12 midnight .. 58 1 p.m 44 1 a.m 58 2 p.m 46 2 a.m. 58 3 p.m 46 3 a.m 56 4 p.m 48 4 a.m 54 5 p.m. ~.50 5 a.m. 54 6 p.m :52 6 a.m. 54 7 p.m. —. 54 T a.m. 55 8 p.m 54 8 a.m 55 9 p.m 56 9 a.m 58 10 p.m 57 10 a.m 6il 11 p.m. 57 11 a.m 58 Sunday Monday 12 noon 54 12 midnight .. 42 1 p.m 54 1 a.m 42 2 p.m 54 2 a.m 42 3 p.m. 52 3 a.m. 42 4 p.m 50 4R m TIJ 6 p.m 50 5 a.m 38 •6 p.m 46 6 a.m 36 7 p.m 44 7 a.m... 36 i 8 p.m 44 8 a.m 85] 9 p.m 42 9 a.m. * 40 10 p.m* 42 10 a.m 4«2 11 p.m 42 .11 a.m 44

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, March 18,1963.

Half Million Fire Damage At Gas City GAS CITY, Ind. (UPD — Fire swept a row of downtown business buildings in this Grant County town today, causing damage estimated at $500,000 and injuries to six firemen and touching off an arson investigation. It was the town’s second big fire in a week. The first last Monday destroyed the Twin City Chevrolet Co., with a loss estimated at $150,000. Fire Chief Harold Smith said the two fires started at the same time of night and in a similar manner. Both started in buildings across the street from City Hall. The blaze apparently broke out in a supermarket and spread to a hardware store and men’s shop, destroying all three. It damaged a drug store, and smoke and water caused further loss in a 5-to-$l store. Five firemen were treated at the scene, mostly for smoke inhalation, and a sixth was sent to Marion General Hospital with a possible elbow fracture. Fire Chief Harold Smith said the blaze appeared to have broken out in the rear of Cox’s Supermarket. He said it may have started in a trash bin from a spark from a nearby refrigeration unit. It spread to the Glaze Hardware Store and Tom’s Clothing Shop, then to a drug store. The supermarket and hardware store were destroyed and the clothing store and drug store badly damaged. Flames threatened to spread to two other buildings and a filling station. Firemen from Center Twp., Jonesboro, Marion Mill Twp. and Upland were called to help the local firefighters. Most of the visiting firemen were the same ones who helped put out the auto sales company blaze a week ago. The row of Main St. buildings involved in the latest fire were in the same area as the building which burned last week. The fire chief said the flames spread quickly and defied control because the buildings had been remodeled many times since they were built in 1892 and were honeycombed with false ceilings.

Hundreds Forced To Flee Flood Waters

By United Press International Floods forced hundreds from their homes from Wisconsin to Virginia today. Another winter storm brewed in the Rockies. Ice-melting temperatures and thunderstorms sent flood waters rushing through the low areas of Erie and Cattaraugus counties in western New York. Fifty persons fled their homes when an ice jam burst on Cattaraugus Creek. A cofferdam buckled and collapsed on the Hudson River near Troy, N.Y., Saturday, killing one and injuring three. Officials blamed the contact of the icy waters against the steel beams. Ice gorges broke up on the Allegheny River in western Pennsylvania Sunday night, and flood waters threatened several towns. In the Meadville area, about 300 families were alerted to be ready to evacuate as civil defense workers kept a watch on French Creek. The Allegheny rose about one foot at Oil City, Pa., when the ice moved through early today, but the river was still about two feet from flood stage there. Rains Batter Virginia An ice jam on French Creek at Cambridge Springs, Pa., backed up about four feet of water. In flood-battered southwest Virginia, heavy rains sent streams THR MIGHTY MIDGET WANT ADS WORK 20 Words—3 consecutive days, $2. See page 5.

Indiana Lawmakers Face New Roadblock At Special Session

Alexander Funeral Here On Thursday Mrs. Marie Alenander, 63, of Highland, native and former resident of Decatur, died at 1:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Margaret hospital in Hammond. She had not been ill and death was unexpected. She was born in Decatur March 25, 1899, a daughter of George and Edna Odle-Wertzberger. Her husband, Thomas Jack Alexander, preceded her in death Dec. 17, 1955. She moved back to Highland two years ago after residing here for some time. Mrs. Alexander was a member of the Baptist church. Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Hans (Dixie) Hilton of Highland, Mrs. Shirley Hilton and Miss Mary Alexander, both at home; iwo sons, George Alexander of Highland, and Gerald Alexander, with the U.S. Army in Germany; nine grandchildren; one greatgrandchild, and one brother, Walter Wertzberger of Hammond. Final rites will be held at 2 p. m. Thursday at the Zvzick funeral home, the Rev. Robert McQuaid officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 10 a.m. Thursday until time of the services. ~ - Bloodmobile Unit fc At Berne Wednesday f The Red Cross bloodmobile will be in Berne from 11 a. m. to 5 p. m. Wednesday. It will be at the Berne-French school auditorium. Mrs. E. Gordon Liechty will be the chairman of the day.

swirling over their banks again. More than 50 houses were damaged and 100 families left their homes in the Big Stone Gap, Va., area. Kentucky Gov. Bert Combs made a television appeal Sunday for clothes, bedding and money for east Kentucky flood refugees. Waters dropped late 1 Sunday from new weekend floods at Harlan, Ky., on the Cumberland River and Hazard, Ky., on the North Fork of the Kentucky River. A crest 10 feet over flood stage was predicted at Barbourville, Ky. today, and a crest of the Ohio River at 8.8 feet above flood stage was expected at Louisville Wednesday. At least eight families fled their homes at Madison, Ind., and Vevay, Ind., in the face of the rising Ohio. Three persons drowned Friday night when their motorboat capsized in the backwaters from an Ohio River flood near New Albany, Ind. Annual Spring Rampage In Wisconsin, the Pecatonica River went on its annual spring ramaage, flooding the main street of Darlington and closing four highways. The Kickapoo flooded between Soldiers’ Grove and Ree town, Wis. A fast moving storm dumped 1.51 inches of rain on Los Angeles Saturday night, then pelted the city with hail Sunday night. Four inches of snow fell at Flagstaff, Ariz., and six inches at Bryce Canyon, Utah. Fog closed Boston’s Logan International Airport, diverting jej i flights as far south as Philadelphia. Tornadoes touched down in Alabama, Georgia and Arkansas. Four farms were damaged near Stamps, Ark., but no one was injured. At Centreville, Ala., a woman was hospitalized and her husband and son were hurt when a twister destroyed their small frame home. Tornadoes cut a path four miles long inear Villa Rica, Ga., but property damage was light and there were no injuries.

INDIANAPOLIS (UPD — Indiana's lawmakers, summoned back to complete in a special session what they failed to do in a regular 61-day meeting, were confronted by a new roadblock to budget agreement today. The Senate Finance Committee was advised at a Sunday night meeting that a compromise tax plan which seemed to have considerable bi-partisan support probably is unconstitutional. The plan combines the present gross income tax with an adjusted net income tax. The committee had requested an opinion from Atty. Gen. Edwin K. Steers, who told them the measure would be subject to legal attack because it does not give equal treatment. He gave as an example two hardware stores, one a corporation and the other individually owned, and noted that under gross income one would pay a tax even though he lost money and the other would pay nothing. Sen. Wendell Martin, R-Indian-apolis, leaders of a Republican group backing a modest hike of not more than SBS million in new taxes, said more than 400 messages urging a no-new-taxes stand were received by legislators and some of those who sent messages would appear at the Statehouse this afternoon to j emphasize their position. Don Tabbert, president of Americans for Conservative Action, said the organized demonstration would not be like one staged recently by property taxpayers. Chairman Charles Maddox, ROtterbein, said the committee also received figures from the Indiana State Tax and Financing Policy | Commission showing that a 2 per cent sales tax on hotels, motels and restaurants would produce $23 million a biennium, or sl2 million if restaurants were excluded. A 2 per cent utilities tax would produce $26 million a biennium.

No Decision Made Maddox said no decision was made on any tax program and explained he plans to confer with chairman John Coppes of the House Ways and Means Committee to see if the GOP representatives will accept any plan other than the sales tax it enacted in the regular session. Meanwhile, as the special session convened the legislators faced the same four major problems they faced when the regular session began Jan. 10. Democratic Governor Welsh called the special session last Tuesday, a few hours after the 61-day regular session ended in a stalemate on the subjects of a biennial budget and a tax program to finance it. Welsh added to the legislators’ problems over the weekend by vetoing bills calling for immediate legislative reapportionment and allowing the Indiana Port Commission to spend up to $600,000 of its own money for preliminary work on a proposed port at Burns Ditch on Lake Michigan. Lawrence L. Diehl Dies Last Evening Lawrence L. Diehl, 74, Adams county farmer most of his life in the Peterson community, died at 7:40 o’clock Sunday evening at his home in Bluffton. He had been an invalid for nearly five years. Mr. Diehl was a member of the Linn Grove Evangelical United Brethren church. Surviving are his wife, Goldie; five sons, Lester Diehl of Ohio City, 0., Millard Diehl of Fort Wayne, Forrest Diehl of Preble, Wendell Diehl of Markle, and Russell Diehl of Bluffton; three daughters, Mrs. Clarence Frohn of Lafayette, Mrs. Eugene Johnson of Bluffton, and Mrs. Meric Affolder of Decatur; 31 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one brother, Ervin Diehl of California, and one sister, Mrs. Lewis Egley of Bluffton. Two brothers and two sisters are deceased. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Prospect Methodist church, the Rev. Fuhrman Miller officiating. Burial will be in the Prospect cemetery. Friends may call at the Elzey funeral home in Ossian until time of the services.

Pocket Vetoes For 17 Bills

INDIANAPOLIS (UPD—Governor Welsh completed executive action Saturday on bills passed by the Indiana Legislature during its 61-day regular session, signing 21 bills and 2 resolutions, pocket vetoing 17 and permitting one to become law without his signature. Among the pocket vetoed bills, which were killed and cannot be reconsidered by the legislators, was the only Burns Ditch port measure to pass the assembly, permitting the Indiana Port Commission to spend up to $600,000 for preliminary studies and surveys and allowing advance payment of tolls by potential users of the port. The bill which became law without signature allows operators of marinas or boat liveries-to gain tax exemption on gasoline purchases. Other pocket vetoed bills included one calling for delivery of absent voter ballots at polls at 10 a.m. on election day, and others mandating the State Highway Commission to complete the Tri-State Highway in Porter County, prohibiting the sale of wild deer meat, exempting from taxation buildings leased for conservation purposes, and permitting school building corporations organized under a 1947 law to refund outstanding bonds when such would reduce interest costs. Bills signed ..included these which would: —Permit construction of an Ohio River port in Vanderburgh County. —Correct abuses in the mechanics’ lien law. —Give the conservation and health departments more control over subdivisions built along manmade channels running into lakes. —lncrease the maximum weekly Three Youths Held For Juvenile Court Two boys, 14 and 13 years of age, have been referred to the juvenile court concerning a breakin in Decatur. The two youths broke into the Community Gas and Oil. Seventh and Nuttman Ave., Friday night, and were apprehended over the weekend. The two have been cited into the Adams county juvenile court. Another Decatur youth .aged 16, has also been cited into juvenile court as the Decatur city police have cleared up a burglary at the Myers Firestone store that occurred one year ago today. The youth broke into the Firestone March 18, 1962, and stole an estimated SI,OOO in merchandise, which included radios, watches, and various other items. Most of the stolen items have beeen recovered . The burglary remains under investigation a sthe possibility remains that an adult also had "a part of the crime.

r™,... t■. z ' i ' * v '■'V -If A ”*♦ V ' ,4 \ S ' FORCE OF COLLISION— TotaIIy demolished auto bears witness to the force of a 100 m.p.h. collision in Rio Vista, Calif. Two youths stole a highway patrol car and crashed into this auto at a roadblock, killing a deputy sheriff standing_,beside the vehicle, and injuring themselves. ” ’•*”

SEVEN CENTS

benefits for workmen’s compensation and occupational diseases from $39 to $42. —Set the minimum pension for retired teachers with 30 years experience at $112.50 a month, including state and social security funds. —Allow election by districts of reorganized school corporation board members. —Amend the 1959 School Reorganization Act to give the state more leeway in approving districts which do not quite meet minimum standards. , —Give concurrent jurisdiction to sheriffs or the Gross Income Tax Division to execute alias warrants for delinquent gross income taxes. —Amend school reorganization law to clarify school corporation jurisdiction transfers, replacement of committee members if reorganization plan is not completed within the prescribed time. —Make body tattooing illegal. —Amend school reorganization law by providing a request for a special election on formation of a school corporation, eliminating a provision which would set up such corporation by petition. Former Decatur Lady Dies At Fort Wayne Funeral services will be held Tuesday morning for Mrs. Russell M. (Helen) Hemmelgarn, 46, 3215 Middle St., Fort Wayne, who died at 7:25 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph’s hospital, where she had been a patient for seven weeks. A native of Decatur, she has resided in Fort Wayne 10 years. Mrs. Hammelgarn was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic church. Surviving in adition to her husband are one son, William Hemmelgarn of Harlan seven daughters, Mrs. Robert Mabee and Mrs. Raymond Lopez, both of Fort Wayne, Mrs. Larry Schaffer of Harlan, and Misses Doris, Kaye, Linda and Wanda, all at home; two half-brothers, Donald Borne of Poe, and Darrell Borne of Monroe, and eight grandchildren. Services will be held at 8:30 a. m. Tuesday at the D. O. McComb & Sons funeral home and at 9 a. m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic church Msgr. Stanley L. Manoski officiating. Burial will be in the Fort Wayne Catholic cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home until time of the services. INDIANA WEATHER Cloudy, rather windy and warmer tonight with rain and scattered thundershowers likely by late tonight. Tuesday showers and scattered thundershowers and warmer. Low tonight 35 to 40 north, 42 to 50 south. High Tuesday in the 50s. Sunset today 6:55 p. m. Sunrise Tuesday 6:51 a. m. Outlook for Wednesday: Partly cloudy to cloudy, no important temperature changes. Lows in the 30s. Highs 45 to 55.