Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 62, Number 85, Decatur, Adams County, 9 April 1964 — Page 1

VOL. LXII. NO. 85.

aLvi ■'? Ik 1 M | < ' I JM Hl i "•'■*'•, t<Q JjK v. jh K 'JO. ■ * JOYFUL REUNION of mother and daughter after being separated 23 years took place Monday in Chicago between Mrs. Katie Lehr, of Union township, and her mother, Mrs. Sara Wiebe, who was finally granted permission to leave the Soviet Union. The mother and daughter were separated during the early days of World War 11, in 1941, when the Germans waded Russia, and Mrs. Lehr did not learn of her mother’s location again for 19 years. The first word she received was through the Internationa) Red Cross, and the local Adams, county chapter of the American Red Cross in 1960. Since then she has been working with the Red Cross and government agencies to get her mother into this country. — (Photo by Cole)

United With Mother After Over 20 Years

Mrs. Katie Lehr, former refugee brought to this country by the Immanual Lutheran church with her husband and son in 1952, was made very happy this week by the arrival in Decatur of her mother, Mrs. Sara Wiebe, 69, of Russia, whom she’s not seen since 1941. In fact, from 1941, when the Germans swooped down on the area where she was vacationing, Mrs. Lehr did not hear from her , mother again until Nov. 30, 1960, when the American Red Cross, through the local'‘chapter here, informed her of her mother*# address. Husband Killed Mrs. Lehr’s husband, Fritz, was electrocuted accidently in a tragic accident in 1954, while moving a shed to the rear of their property on state highway 101, in Union township. She and her husband met and were married in Germany, and had a son, Hans, who was two years old when they came to America. Today, Hans is a 14-year-old freshman at Decatur high school, and is quite busy now learning German so that he can talk with his grandmother. When a little boy he spoke German, but after his father died, and his mother went to work, he'spoke English English with his baby-sitter, and

Ted Kennedy Backs Rights

WASHINGTON (UPD—Senate Republicans debated privately today possible amendments to the civil rights bid’s employment section while the measure was warmly endorsed on the Adams County Blood Program Honored The annual meeting Wednesday noon of-the Fort Wayne regional blood program of the American Red Cross recognized the Adams county chapter, and the people of Adams county, for their record in obtaining 104.6% of its blood quota during the year. Mrs. Ferris Bower, blood program chairman, and Mrs. Robert Johnson, staff aide chairman, represented the local chapter, and received the thanks of the regional officials for the county’s fine job. If blood is not available when it is needed, those needing it may die. Therefore, •hose chapters who regularly provide their share are deeply appreciated by the counties m the district. Doug Hadley, region public relations chairman spoke on the subject, “How to -fail in public relations without really trying.” Hadley is an employe of radio and TV station WKJG. Alfred Schell, administrative director of the blood center, conducted the business part of the meeting, in which 22 counties were represented. The meeting was held at the regional blood center this year.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ' ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

then English at church and school. The Lehrs are devoted members of the Lutheran church, and Mrs. Wiebe was sustained through her many years of absence from her daughter by her Mennonite faith. Since her husband’s death, Mrs. Lehr has kept employed, and is presently on vacation from the Wayne Novelty to be with her mother. The tiny little lady missed her daughter very much during the 23 years that they were separated. After her husband died, she lived with other family members*'working in the home. Word In November Word was received in November that Mrs. Wiebe would be granted an exit visa from the Soviet Union to come to the United States and live with her daughter. Various complications kept her from leaving until this week, and she arived in Chicago Sunday evening, and following clearance by, health authorities, came to Decatur Monday. mother, and thanked the Red Cross happy over the arrival of her Mrs. Lehr was radiant and for its aid in locating her, and in assisting in preparing for her mother’s exit from Russia and arrival here.

floor in an emotional speech by Sen. Edward M. (Ted) Kennedy, D-Mass. Kennedy, 32-year-old youngest brother of the slain president, said Senate passage of the bill would give greater meaning to the life and death of the late chief executive. It was Sen. Kennedy’s first major speech in the Senate. His voice b/oke once as he recalled his brother’s dedication to the legislation. Young Kennedy took the floor while Senate Republicans were debating GOT* Leader Everett M. Dirksen’s amendments to the fair employment section of the bill in a nearby conference room. Duripg a brief break in their session for a quorum call, members said there was some strong feeling that changes were needed in the House-passed measure. In his speech, Kennedy’s voice broke with emotion when he .reached a part recalilng President John F. Kennedy’s devotion to civil rights and President Johnson’s own plea that Congress enact the bill in memory of the assassinated president. INDIANA WEATHER Fair and warmer tonight Friday mostly fair. Low tonight in the 30s. High Friday 48 to 58 north, 55 to 64__ south. Suifset today 7:17 p.m. Sunrise Friday 6:16 a.m. .-Outlook for Saturday: Fair and mild. Lows in the 40s. Highs mid 60s north and central and low 70s south.

Co-Chairmen Appointed For Spring Drive David J. Schwartz, Gordon Liechty, and Roy Aschliman have been named co-chairmen for the annual spring Adams county Friendship Acres drive, according to the county Christian Rural Overseas Program committee, which met at the Mennonite church in Berne Wednesday morning. Liechty, who formerly worked overseas and knows the value of CROP food distributed by various Christian workers in Africa, Asia and other needy areas, was chosen to succeed Brice Bauserman as CROP board chairman. Bauserman will serve as vice chairman and treasurer. Officers Re-elected Mrs. Elmer C. Beer was reelected secretary; Karl Kipfer was chosen commodity manager, and Dick Heller was chosen publicity director. Names for township chairmen throughout the county were proposed, and they will be contacted soon. Among those attending the meeting were Wayne Dubacti, Brice Bauserman, Menno Augsburger, Erwin Bauman, William Almandinger, Liechty, Schwartz, and state CROP director Rev. 1 Gerald L. Wilson. Friendship Acre Explained A Friendship Acre is an acre set aside by a farmer to help feed hungry people overseas. For example, in Hong Kong, if a worker makes less than $5 per family member per month ($25 a month for a family of five) he may apply, to a Church World Service sponsored agency there, and receive a ration card, permitting him to receive food for his family. Farmers who* are interested may dedicate an acre at this time, tend it carefully during the growing season, turn over the yield to the local CROP committee in the fah. Sometimes a young farm animal is given and raised for CROP. City. people may give a Friendship Hour of work. “When your Friendship Acre grain is harvested, or when your animal is ready for market, it should be marketed in the regular way, and the proceeds turned over to the county CROP treasurer, Brice Bauserman.” Friendship Farms In many/ counties, including neighboring Wells county, farmers have gotten together and rented a Friendship Farm for CROP, on a share basis, turning over the workers’ share to CROP in the fall. This was especially effective in Elkhart county last year, and four farms are planned there this summer Last year there were 625 Friendship Acres in the state, a real growth from the two in 1959. Almost $1 Million And Adams county can be especially proud of its part, with 60 Friendship Acres, one-tenth of the state total. Last year Adams county was second in the state in the CROP drive, and Indiana was first in the nation, with $203,664.77. Os this, $40,455 went to transporting and distributing government surplus foods. Thus. Indiana farmers alone sent 18,932.940 pounds of food overseas through government surplus channels in 1963. Their $40,455 contribution distributed $966,874 worth of food, nearly $1 million worth! This was one-fifth of the entire national Church World Service contribution — just from Indiana farmers, and Adams county ranked second in Indiana. Northwest School Roundup Tuesday The pre-school roundup for the school year 1964-65 will be held at the Northwest school Tuesday from 8 to 9 am. Children who will be five years old on or before September 30 are eligible to enroll in kindergarten this fall. This is a change from previous years. Children living north of Monroe street and in the rural area will attend the Northwest roundup. Each child will be given a free examination by one of the local doctors and should have a large towel or robe to wear. Parents are to bring the child’s birth certificate, have information available as to the diseases he has had, and the dates of his immunization shots. Parents bringing the children to the school for the roundup, are asked to use the front entrance. This is the last roundup scheduled for the children living in the North Adams community school district, and anyone unable to attend this one is asked to call the elementary principal in the area concerning the child.

Decatur, Indiana, 46733, Thursday, April 9, 1964.

Secretary Wirtz Works Feverishly To Prevent National Rail Strike

WASHINGTON (UPD—Labor Secretary W. Willard Wirtz, striving feverishly to flag down a national railroad strike one minute after midnight, co nferred with union and management leaders today and reported “both want an agreement very badly.” But the railroads announced they were imposing a freight embargo at 12:01 a.m. EST Friday in anticipation a strike will be called by the rail unions. % Wirtz met for more than an hour with representatives of the five railway unions who have threatened a walkout if the railroads impose their controversial new work rules at the * midnight-plus-one (local time) deadline. He then huddled with managment representatives at a separate session. Both Want Agreement In between the meetings, Wirtz told newsmen that it was “impossible to measure” any progress toward averting the showdown. But he commented: both want an agreement and want it very badly.” On Capitol Hill, Sen. Wayne

Rail, Mail Service Will Continue Here.

I Decatur residents still have an effective voice in matters affecting their welfare, as letters, telegrams, messages, and officials poured into the city to reassure local people that plans to stop late-night mail service, and curtail morning passenger service, in Decatur, have definitely been dropped. An editorial in the Decatur Daily Democrat, and a letter - writing campaign by the members and officers of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, brought a change of heart and flood of letters and visits. First word of the effect of the publicity on the proposed change, suggested to the regional post office in a letter from the president of the Erie-Lackawanna railroad, came in a telegram received early Wednesday from the assistant to the president of the railroad. Assistant Superintendent Shortly before noon, H. A. Dean the assistant superintendent of the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad Co., Chicago office, arrived with the local station agent, W. B. Bumgerdner. Dean made it very clear that the Erie - Lackawanna railroad was in the transportation business. and that they want to do everything they can to increase business, including passenger and mail service, and to give better, more effective service. Dean explained that at present Decatur is a regular stop for four trains: 1,2, 7 and 8; and that trains 5 and 6 stop on request made in advance through the local agent. It had been proposed to make train 1, which is now scheduled to arrive at 5:44 a.m. westbound, a conditional stop, or flag stop, and to stop mail pickup by train 2, the eastbound night train arriving here at 12:01 a.m. at present. It was feared locally that if mail pickup were stopped by train 2, it would also be made a conditional stop, as no railroad savings would result otherwise. — The railway officials are very pleased that Decatur citizens appreciate their stopping here, but feared that the number of letters they were receiving might snowball, and asked that future objections be worked out through the local agdntf* Bumgerdner. Assistant President A leter received by the newspaper this morning from George C. Frank, assistant to the Erie president, stated in part, “Presumably you have received by telegram of yesterday indicating that Trains 1,2, 7 and 8 will continue to stop at Decatur as heretofore. Happily, our operating people received word today that the post office department has changed its mind about alternate mail service, which means that there will be no change as far as

Morse, D-Ore., appealed to both sides to settle their and prevent their prolonged dispute from being subjected to “the cauldron of legislative politics.” Last session. Congress, confronted by a similar threat-of a coast-to-coast tie-up, enacted the first peace-time compulsory arbitration law but the legislation expired on Feb. 25. Morse said both the unions ■ and management should try to work out a fair solution to their dispute on a voluntary basis. He recalled his opposition to the arbitration bill but added that if the unions and carriers “pull down the transportation system .. . Congress will resort to legislation.” The government’s regular • remedies for preventing a railway strike have been exhausted during the 4%-year battle. Wirtz told newsmen h e planned to work right up to the deadline without letup to try and win agreement on a procedure to halt the threatened strike. A union walkout against the Illinois Central early Wednes-

Decatur is concerned. We hope jt will be possible to continue the present arrangement.” Post Office Reply Meanwhile, Decatur postmaster John Boch received the following communication on a routing slip from the director, transportation division, schemes and route branch, regional post office, Cincinnati, O.: “We were advised today from the Erie - Lackawanna Railroad company that Sala and Chi 1 (the night train) will stop at Decatur, Ind. Mail will be dispatched from train 1 to your office and clerks in train 2 will continue to rob (collect mail from) the letter box at the station.” Public Service Commission W. Guy Brown, executive secretary of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, received a letter from P. Morton Stanley, chairman of the public service commission of Indiana, acknowledging his letter of April 3, and stating: "I discussed this matter with Mr. L. A. DeJean, Director of the railroad department of the public service commission, and he h a s advised that he knows of no anticipated change in passenger or mail service of the Erie - Lackawanna railroad in the state of Indiana. In the event there is a change of schedules of passenger and mail service by the ErieLackawanna railroad, an investigation will be made by the railroad department as to the feasibility of this change.” Maintenance and Operations L. E. Anspaugh, president of the Chamber of Commerce, received the following letter from G. W. Maxwell, vice president for operations and maintenance, Cleveland, O.: “There is considerable misunderstanding as to what was intended to be done. The mail service people have notified us that , they were making certain internal changes which would make unnecessary our stop at Decatur on No. 1, the Phoebe Snow. Because of this, we had intended indicating at Decatur what we call a conditional stop for No. 1, in order to service passengers, either entraining or detraining at Decatur. A ‘conditional stop’ is one 1 that is made only when there are passengers either entraining or detraining and the arrangements to stop the train are made by the agent at Decatur. This, would have, caused no inconvenience to our Decatur people as our agency would be open during the day and we also have night employes on duty. “I understand today the mail people have changed their mind and wish to have mail pickup made on our No. 1 and therefore we are making this a regular stop on No. 1 which means that there will be no change in the schedules insofar as Decatur is concerned on the trains, stopping at Decatur.”

day led the railroads to announce they would impose new work rules at 12-01 a.m. local times Friday. Union leaders have declared this would bring an immediate strike. Seven-Hour Recess Wirtz resumed his emergency mediation efforts after a seven hour recess. Talks Wednesday night broke off in the wee hours today because two top union leaders had not been able to get to Washington to join the meeting. H. E. Gilbert, president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, arrived today to join the meetings. Charles Luna, president of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, was expected about noon EST. High officials of the Engineers, Conductors and Switchmen’s unions already were here for negotiations. A nationwide rail strike would seriously disrupt the economy and imperil free collective bargaining, Wirtz warned when he began his peacemaking efforts Wednesday night.. local Lady's Uncle Dies At Fort Wayne Funeral arrangements are not yet jcopipleto far Edward J. Raidy, 81, Fort Wayna, an imde of Mrs. Bernard Clark erf Decatur. Mr. Raidy died at 9:50 a.m. Wednesday at the St. Joseph’s hospital in Fort Wayne. A native of Fort Wayne, and a brother of Mrs. Clark’s father, he retired in 1938 from the B & O railroad as a clerk to the general supervisor. He was a member of St. Jude Catholic church, its Holy Name society, and the Elks. He was formerly a member of the Knights of Columbus at Akron, O. Surviving are two sisters, the Misses i Josephine and Lillian Raidy, both of Fort Wayne, and several nieces and nephews. The body is at the D. O. McComb & Sons funeral home. House Okays Farm Bill By 8 Votes WASHINGTON (UPI) — The House, in a long and often hectic session, approved President Johnson’s controversial farm bill by a bare eight votes early today to give the Chief Executive a double legislative victory. Passage of the wheat - cotton measure, which now goes to the White House, came only a few hours after the House approved, 229 to 189, the President’s proposal to expand- -the food stamp program for the needy. The vote on the farm bill was 211 to 203. and it climaxed a 13-hour session that lasted past midnight and featured loud and cutting debate, ruffled tempers, and parliamentary fencing of a nature seldom seen. Both bills were passed by votes that generally followed party lines. Voting for the farm bill were 201 Democrats and 10 Republicans; voting against were 36 Democrats and 167 Republicans. On the food stamp measure, 216 Democrats and 13 Republicans voted for the bill; opposed were 26 Democrats and 163 Republicans. The wheat-cotton bill would give wheat-growefs who limit acreage higher price supports through use of redeemable marketing certificates,, thus heading off a predicted S6OO million drop in farm income this election year. It also provides payments to cotton farmers who limit planting and indirect subsidies to U. S’. textile mills. The food stamp bill would expand nationwide an experimental program now providing some needy families with stamps to be used for buying food. It now goes tq, theJsenate where no action has been scheduled and none is likely for some time because of. the civil rights debate.

Jaycees To Conduct Air Needs Survey In cooperation with the aeronautics commission of Indiana, the Decatur Jaycees will conduct a survey of the area’s air transportation needs, it was announced this morning by William Zwick, chairman' in charge of the Jay-* cee project. Zwick, who will serve as survey director, pointed out the survey is an uncomplicated, com-mon-sense approach to the task of determining the community’s place in the fast-growing era of “general aviation.” The survey is aimed at developing facts at the local level which will be brought together in a “feasibility report” by the aeronautics commission staff. No Tax Coat James J. McManus, aeronautics commission director, was* quick to point out that the survey will be made at no cost to the taxpayers. “We believe no city, town or county should build an airport until the extent of need has been clearly demonstrated,” he said. McManus told local officials that general aviation aircraft outnumber the airlines 35 to 1. He said the smaller, personal airplanes last year flew a total of 1 13 million hours and carried 45 million passengers. He explained that about half of 1 that flying was done by business and corporate aircraft, and added that when business and industry begins to look for new plant sites, one of the chief considerations is the availability of com-munity-owned airport facilities.

Zone Updating Hearing Set

A public hearing on the updating of the Decatur zoning plan will be held at 4 p. m. Monday, April 27, in the Adams county court room, Mayor Carl D. Gerber announced today. The announcement followed a three-hour fpeeting Wednesday of the Decatur plan commission with the city’s planning consultant, Harry Sheridan, of Metropolitan Planners, Inc. Available Tuesday Copies of the newly proposed ordinance on zoning, which will include a number of minor changes, as well as certain zoning changes, will be available after next Monday in the office of the city engineer, Decatur city hall. Maps showing the present zoning, and the proposed changes’, will also be made up by that time, Ralph Roop, city engineer, stated. They will not be available until next week, however, because several changes were made by the city plan commission yesterday. In addition to the hearing on the proposed zoning changes, the hearing will also cover a proposed “improvement location permit” ordinance. This will replace the present building permit. The plan commission has been plagued by troubles through the present system, pf building permits. because once the permit is granted, there is no provision to check to see that what is actually constructed conforms with what was proposed and licensed. Inspect After Building s Under the new plan, an improvement location . permit will be issued in the place of the old building permit. Then, when the building is completed, and before it is used, an inspection is made by the inspector,' and. a certificate of occupancy is issued. Under this system, if a person asks for a permit to build a garage, and then suddenly turns up living in the building,- he will o be in violation, and the plan commission will be able to check and enforce the city ordinance. It will protect the guilty party’s neighbors from having someone

SEVEN CENTS

Whether Decatur should become an integral part of the nationwide success story of general aviation remains to be seen, according to McManus. “Hie survey will tell us many things we must know to make reasonable judgments,” he said. Among the items the survey results will show are: 1. If a need exists. 2. The extent of that need in terms of airport type and sije. 3. The potential use of the airport in terms of aircraft operations and economic value to the community- 4. Possible means of financing the airport. 5. Existing airport facilities and their relationship to the community. 6. Alternate sites for construction of the publiclyowned airport. Information gained in the survey will be made available to the public. “We believe the public must be fully informed from the beginning,” Zwick said. He added that “We are digging into an area that could be vital to this area’s economy. We want every- . body to know what we’re doing —and why.” *4 In preliminary meetings, McManus and Donald R. Houterloot, the commission’s chief engineer, explained that the state offers no direct financial aid for local community airport projects. But, Houterloot pointed out that guidance in a step-by-step procedure aimed toward possible public airport facilities is an important time and money-saving service Os the aeronautics commission. The engineer said Decatur Is on the national airport plan, and therefore is eligible for matching funds under the federal aid airport program. “There is a great deal of planning to be done, even beyond the survey stage, before we can talk about cost,” Houterloot said.

apply for a permit for one use, and suddenly turn up “in business’-’ with another use. You Should Attend Any person who desires to find out more about the proposed changes is invited to inspect the map, and the written changes, and to appear in person at the hearing. The original {dan, which was approved in 1949 after publication in full, is now 15 years old, and needs revision, the plan commission explained. The plan will be updated to include the experience of the commission and the planning consultant during the past 15 years, and changes in the city and in the uses that people are making of their property. Only Decatur Affected The proposed hearing will in no way affect those living outside of the city of Decatur. The present zoning plan is the one proposed by the city plan commission, not the one proposed by the county plan commission, which has at least a year of planning ahead of it before it is presented to the public. The hearing was scheduled for the county court room through the courtesy of Judge Myles F. Parrish. Mayor Gerber stated, because the. usual, city, rooms .upstairs in the city hall will prob* ably be torn up for reconstruction by the end of the month. Change Proposed One change mentioned previously—the rezoning of Oak street as commercial rather than residential—has been dropped, the plan commission stated, at the request of the ‘Arnold Lumber Co., when some of the neighbors suggested expansion in another direction, toward Winchester street. The area on 12th street to be rezoned residential includes ohly lots with houses on them at the north ehd of the street, theplanning group also clarified. Previously, the newspaper had mentioned six lots, but had not specified their location at the north end of the street.