Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 61, Number 262, Decatur, Adams County, 6 November 1963 — Page 1

VOL. LXI. NO. 262.

Democrats Sweep All Decatur City Offices

I ' LI CARL GERBER Mayor

Carl D. Gerber Leads Democrats To Clean Sweep Os City Offices

Berne, Monroe, Geneva Won By Democrats Carl D. Gerber, Democratic city councilman for the past eight years, was elected Decatur’s 20th mayor over incumbent Republican Donald F. Gage by 332 votes, 1,752 to 1,420, as Democrats swept all city offices 'in Decatur, Monroe, and Berne. One Republican was elected on the Geneva town board, along with a Democratic clerk and two Democratic members. Approximately 3,200 voters turned out in drizzly weather to cast their ballots, representing about 75% of the 4,290 registered voters this year. Four years ago, about 3.450 of the city’s 4,624 registered voters turned out for the city election and city light sale referendum. In 1955, 3,437 voters turned out, and about 3,200 in 1951. This was Decatur became a city in 1882; of the previous 24, 18 were won by Democrats, six by Republicans. The new officers will take office Jan. 1. Gerber campaigned on the issue of a new water supply and recreation program for girls. Carried Eight Precincts Gerber carried eight of the 11 precincts, losing his own precinct 2-A, Gage’s precinct, 1-A, and 1-D. Gage carried three precincts. Four years ago, in winning a disputed election by 42 votes over Robert Cole, Gage carried five of the 11 precincts — 1-A, 1-B, 1-D, 2-B, and 2-C. He carried originally 1.704 votes four years ago, compared with 1,420 this year; Gerber received' 1,752, compared to Cole's 1,704. John M. Doan, Republican, is the only Decatur mayor to be reelected since George M. Krick in 1929; Doan was reelected in 1951. Cole beat Doan, who tried far a third term ‘in 1955, and Gage beat Cole in 1959. Stutts Leads Ticket City judge candidate John B. Stults, former mayor, led the Democratic ticket 2,147 votes. He was unopposed. Close behind him, with 2,146 votes, was the unopposed Democratic candidate for reelection as clerktreasurer, Mrs. Laura Bosse. — Two newcomers led the city council ticket; Chalmer Deßolt defeated Chalmer Stonestreet by 1,008 votes, 2,042 to 1,034, running only 100 votes or so behind the unopposed candidates. Dr. R: E. Allison, popular Decatur veterinarian, ran 846 votes ahead of Decatur businessman Clarence Ziner, who lost 1,978 to 1,132. Closest Race

‘ ” »- . • ' ' - ’ «■ r-- “ - DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

JI ' gifMM LAURA BOSSE Clerk-Treasurer

Decatur Election Results for Nov. 5, 1963 ® ■- i. tj Xc%0.2 i. 2 .2 z 2 a; *f 01 w u 2 ® Q fe Q g O'S -3 "J -S ? a jx S 112? ST S =6 IS IS So gS aS tn ft £ uudOuouuO Decatur 1-A ... 226| 205 286 ' 276|! 148 ' 269 | 147|'270||'220! 212|| 199! 218 ' 198' 243 Decatur LB .... 911 135 150 151 7«| 149 I 78| 138||'1061 116'1' 93| 125| 82! 142 Decatur 1-C 110| 134j| 164 165 104 137 82 161 122* 120/|* 124 j 120' 108* 137 Decatur 1-D .... 147 13O| 159 164 124 145 115| 154|'| 132; 139|| 130; 136;' 136 139 Decatur 2-A .... 203 182 238 * 241 160 218 164 216!! 222 155|| 211/ 166 209 174 Decatur 2-B 921 127 166 | 164 j 63 1461 54! 147!, 83; 129|| 75 135 ! 76 139 Decatur 2-C .... ■ 72’1 125' 146 j 150| 61| 137 47' 149|'|' 77|* 120 H 82| UTlf 132 - ■ Decatur 3-A 147 199 245 244 122 223 112 226; 'l4B|'l9l'j 164' 183 138 207 Decatur 3-B 148! 2 16 238? 238 135* 217 103! 240 170* 182 166|* 188|| 135 219 Decatur 3-C .... 82 138 163 163' 65 150 541 161l'j‘ 96 123! 89 131 76 142 I I IT - |l I |J I II I l| I Decatur-R00t... 102 161 191! 191! 72 187 78 180 129 129 ' 81 177 93 167 , ' ' " I I' i |j I fl ■ | || | TOTAL 1420 1752 2146 21471 1132*1978 1034'2042 1505 1616! 1414 1690 1307 1811 MAJORITY I. | 332 j | || | 846|| 11008 j 111 | .276 ; 534

Closest race was between Gerald Strickler, well-known auctioneer and former referee, and Harold B. Miller, with just 111 votes separating the two. Miller had 1,616 votes to Strickler’s 1.505. Strickler carried three precincts and tied one. Former Central Soya vice-presi-dent Donald Mac Lean lost to Central Soya employe Clyde E. Drake by 276 votes. Drake as elected to a third term. First Lady Candidate Lawrence Kohne was also elected to a third term over the first lady candidate for council in the history of the city. Mrs. Winefred Spaulding, wife of Decatur dentist John Spaulding, lost by 534 votes, 1,841 to 1,307, casrying only 2-A precinct, which votes at the court house, and includes Stratton place. 2-A went Republican for mayor and three of the five councilmen. Monroe Vote In neighboring Monroe', Arthur Moeschberger, Fort Wayne Newspapers linotypist, was elected to his third term as town clerk, 139 to 60, over Jack (Barlett, Jead'ing' "the ticket. On the council^*Ar-~ thur Roudebush defeated Samuel Kaehr, 119 to 80; Kenneth Hoffman defeated Gerald Tullis, 100 to 97; and Weldon Nussbaum defeated Enos Schrock, 125 .to 72. Berne Vote In Berne, city clerk-treasurer Richard Lehman defeated former Democratic clerk-treasurer Fred Von Gunten, who ran on the Re-

LAWRENCE KOHNE Council-At-Large

publican ticket, by a whopping 391 votes, 843 to 452. He carried all four precincts. For clerk, Loris D. Stucky defeated Howard M. Culp by 399, 815 to 476; for city council, Delmer Neuenschwander bested Garman McKean, 807 to 481; Gaylord Stuckey beat Willard Wulliman, 765 to 528; Roman H. Liechty beat Fred Kirsch; 820 to 466; Leslie Sprunger defeated Mennonite church janitor Max Sprunger, 673 to 620; and Maynard Lehman defeated Edward Eichenberger, 721 to 574. Geneva Vote Democats won three of the four town offices in Geneva, with one race decided by only one vote, as Thurman Baker edged Otil Buckley, 199 to 198, for council, first ward. The lone Republican winner was Gail Hodgin, who defeated Theodore Wilhoite, 211 to 185", for council, second ward. For clerk-treasurer, Mrs. Marion Smith, Jr., defeated Mrs. .Arley Sprunger, 257 to 144, and Wendel 1-ong won over Lake Glending for council, third ward, 254 to 153. INDIANA WEATHER Clearing and cooler tonight. Fair and a little warmer Thursday. Low tonight 37 to 50. High Thursday 55 to 65. Sunaet today 5:38 p. m. Sunrise Thursday 7:20 a.m. Outlook for Friday: Cloudy and mild with some rain likely. Low Thursday night in 4‘h, high Friday in 50s north and central, low 60s south.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wed November 6,1 963.

DR. R. E. ALLISON Council, Ist District

Golf Clubhouse Site Is Rezoned • Approval of rezoning for the plot where the Decatur Golf course is building its new clubhouse was given Tuesday at a rapid-fire city council meeting held during the height of votetallying. The ordinance approving the changes the clubhouse site from R-l to C-l. The site was annexed to the city at ’ the last council meeting. The council also passed an ordinance setting the salaries which the mayor, clerk-treasurer, city attorney and city engineer receive from the city utility departments. The salary amounts were unchanged from this year. The council also denied a curb cut on Seventh street A gas company which had planned to build a filling station at the intersection of Seventh and Monroe had petitioned for permission to make a curb cut on Seventh street. A petition from a number of the residents of the city had also been submitted, requesting that the curb cut be denied. It will still be possible for the new station to be constructed if the company can secure permission from the state highway department to make a curb out on Monroe street, which is a federal highway.

- »■ v CHALMER H. DEBOLT Council, 2nd District

REDDY FEATHER SAYS: AMERICAN FIELD SERVICE "TODAY'S DECATUR BOY SCOUTS V COMMUNITY FUND rum W TOTAL IS GIRL scouts Fk $18,580.12 . CRIPPLED CHILDREN SOC. [VV LITTLE & PONY LEAGUES LAA The Goal Is J. s o $28,993 SALVATION ARMY WB MENTAL HEALTH r Y °V R _ . \W Community Fund COMMUNITY CENTER JL Still Needs AMERICAN RED CROSS $10,412.88.” Give The United Way

Soviet Union Ends Blockade

BERLIN (UPD—The Soviet Union ended a 41-hour blockade of a U.S. Army convoy today and the United States promptly sent three more convoys along the super highway through Communist East Germany to demonstrate its right to free access to divided Berlin. (In Moscow, Soviet Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev told a group of visiting American corporation heads that if the convoy had tried 1 to force its way through blockading Soviet troops, it would have had to roll “over our dead bodies” and possibly have set off a war. He said the convoy was permitted to proceed only after it obeyed Soviet control procedures, a position which U.S. officials vigorously denied.) i. i As the three new convoys—two moving westward out of Berlin and one moving eastward into Berlin—rolled across the Soviet-controlled 110-mile-long autobahn to West Germany Leaders Os Service Clubs Meet Tuesday Representatives of the Lions, Rotary and Optimists clubs and of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce attended Tuesday night’s meeting of the Decatur Jaycees. The problems of attracting industry to Decatur were the main topic of the evening. Representing the organizations were Dick Mies of the Lions. George Auer of Rotary. Tom Sefton of the Optimsists, and Gene Ziner of the Chamber of Commerce. The meeting was called to promote inter-club relations and to work toward coordination for civi • projects. Jaycee president Ralph Biggs suggested working to attract new industry as an ideal inter-club goal and considerable discussion ensued. George Auer, Rotary president and General Electric plant man- 0 ager, has served on several GE city_ survey teams and wa< able to tell the group.what an industry looks for, when it is seeking a place'to locate. He said that community attitude,- wage scales and water and power facilities are all important considerations. It was also pointed out vthat General Electric and Central Soya are not opposed to additional industry in Decatur. • Auer also offered the organization the GE City survey procedures book, so that they could check„cn the points which prospective industries are interested in and begin working to make the necessary improvements.

I "v HAROLD MILLER •t Council, 3rd District

t without delay or harassment, ; the U.S. commandant in Berlin said the latest Russian blockade i was “no misunderstanding- M . Maj. Gen. James Polk told a news conference after the blockaded convoy reached tire city- in the early hours this morning that the Soviet “are trying to call the shots on the autobahn." Then he added in an icily angry tone: “We are determined they' will not.” He said the Western Allies—the United States, France and Britain—had agreed on a uniform set of practices for autobahn control of convoys and had informed the Soviets of them on Oct. 29. He added that the rules are “reasonable" and “do not submit our troops to degradation or harassment." Polk said an earlier blockade of an American convoy in midOctober “just might possil||y have been a misunderstanding by the Soviets." “There was absolutely no misunderstanding this time," he said. s The stalled convoy of 44 men in 12 vehicles was freed at 2:14 a.m. <Bl4 p.m. EST Tuesday) When the Soviets backed down before Western Allied firmness It rolled to Berlin And entered Western territory again about five hours later, passing a second Soviet control point without difficulty. Former Monroe Lady Dies In California Mrs. Gerald W. Vizard has received word of the death of a cousin. Mrs. W. A. (Romona) Reed, 50. at her home in lx>ng Beach, Calif., following an extended illness. Mrs. Reed, who was born June 10. 1913, was a daughter of the > late Rev. and Mrs Harve Hocker, former residents of Monroe. She is survived by her husband; her stepmother. -Mrs.< Mabel Hocker of Arcadia, Calif.; Iwo sons, Donald and James Reed, both of Ix>ng Beach, Calif.; three brothers, Raymond Hocker of Gardenia. Calif., Merrill Hacker of San Bernardino, Calif., and J. M. Hocker Os Ixing Beach; Calif., and a sister. Mrs. Marvalee Moody of Costa Mesa, Cajif. Mrs. Reeed was a niece’ of Mr. and Mrs, C. E. Hocker of Decatur, and there are many other relatives in this area. Funeral services will be held Thursday in the chapel at Forest Lawn cemetery, Glendale, Calif.

I , Mzflghk CLYDE DRAKE Council, 4th District

GOP Captures 62 Os Cities

INDIANAPOLIS (UPD— Indiana Republicans ended eight years of frustration in city elections Tuesday by capturing 62 mayor offices to 49 for the Democrats. ' Although they lost the biggest prize—lndianaixilis — the GOP broke loose from a deadly Democratic stranglehold on the state’s most populous cities and made their greatest showing in these heavily unionized industrial areas. , The present mayoralty lineup is 71 Democratic, 37 Republican Former State Police Supt. John J. Barton won Indianapolis ' for the Democrats with a 5,000vote triumph Bver former state purcWhsing agent Clarence E, Drayer, while independent Sam Unger ran third. But outside of a few die-hard Democratic cities in Lake "County »and other' areas, the GOP swept a broad path through 17 of the 25 largest, taking such usually elusive places as South Bend, Muncie. Anderson and New Albany, and winning such others from the Democrats as Fort Wayne, Richmond, Lafayette, Elkhart, Marion, Michigan City, Mishawaka, Bloomington, LaPorte. Columbus and Vincennes. Welsh Hometown GOP . Governor Welsh's hometown of Vincennes was among 41 < ities which switched from Democratic to Republican. Former Democratic Gov. Henry F. Schricker's hometown of Knox also shifted. The election was •an upheaval from start to finish. Despite the Democratic" losses, which included such traditional cities as Jasper and Sullivan, 1 that party made some surprising achieveClarence Merryman V. Dies Al Huntington Clarence E. Merryman, 57, of Huntington. former Decatur resident until about 1940. died at 3 25 a. m. Monday at. the Huntington county hospital where he had been a patient since last Saturday when he suffered a heart attack at his home*. He had beeji in failing health for several months. An employe of Sealtcst Foods Division of National Dairy Products, for more than 30 years, he was born in Marion July 12. 1906, to Leonard and Laura Niccum Merryman. He was married' in Decatur to Gertrude Chronister September 4, 1920. He worked at the Decatur General Electric plant, and at the old creamery. He was a member of the First EUB church in Huntington, where he had been a resident for the past 23 years. Surviving are the widow;"three sons, the Rev. David E. Merryman, Indianapolis, Daniel B. Merryman, Huntington, and 'Dean N. Merryman, Huntington: two daughters, Miss Mary Alice Merryman, Modesta, Calif., and Rebecca Arine Merryman, at home: four grandchildren; two sisters. Mrs. Robert Stevens, Sr., Huntington. and Mrs. Winifred McIlfresh, Ix>ng Beach, Calif. A brother, Leonard, is dead. Friends may call at the Robbins funeral home, Huntington, where funeral services will be held at 3 p. m. Thursday, the Rev. Robert E. Seitz officiating Burial will be in the Gardens of Memory cemetery.

SEVEN CENTS

~ ?■-. ofMb f WjMkO l. JOHN STOLTS

- ments including triumphs in West Lafayette and Rensselaer for the first time in history and Bedford where no Democrat had won since 1938. All in all, 18 cities changed from Republican to Democratic. Thirty-seven incumbent mayors were pitched out into the street from the city halls where they now preside over local government. These included 27 Democrats, 7 Republicans and 3 independents. The three independents included two Democrats and one Republican who lost in last May’s primaries, so the net loss of incumbents was 29 Democrats and 8 Republicans. 25 Mayors Reelected In 1951. the Republicans won 70 mayor seats to 33 for the Democrats. But the Democrats held sway in both 1955 and 1959 —“—(Continued on Page Three! I Leaders Are Named On Christmas Gifts Preparations for the 1963 Christmas gift project for patients in Indiana state hospitals and schools began today in Adams county with the appointment of various chairmen in the county by Mrs. Sherman Stucky, president of the Adams county association for'mental health. , Mrs. Robert Boch, Decatur, will serve as chairman of Decatur ar.d north Adams county. Miss Dorothy La Rue, Geneva, and Mrs, Paul Zurcher, Monroe, are co-chairmen of their towns and of central Adams county, and Mrs. Roger Von Gunten, Berne, is chairman of Berne and south Adams county. Mrs. George Murphy, state chairman of the annual Christmas gift collection program of the Indiana association for mental health—and 1961 Mrs. America, said, "In accepting the chairmanship of the Christmas project of the Adams county association for mental health, these women have the responsibility of organic ng the complete campaign throughout the county which will enable the patients at our state hospitals and schools to share with us some of the joys of the holiday season. “I call on all of the citizens of Adams county to support this humanitarian program." Each year, sororities, church groups and civic organizations seek gifts from their members and other interested contributors. Gifts collected locollay are distributed to patients at wan! parties at Richmond state hospital. 462,780 gifts have been contributed by Hoosiers since the program was started by the Indiana association for mental health in 1951, so one half million mark should be exceeded this year. " , What does the figure 462,780 mean ta you? It could represent a number of smiles. It could represent the number of times someone was made a little happier. It could represent the compassion of Hoosiers. Actually it means all these things and many more because this is the number of Christmas gifts collected by the Indiana association for mental health since 1951 for patients in our state hospitals and schools for the retarded. This year this number will exceed one-half million Special honors will be given to the contributor of the one-naif millionth gift.”