Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 62, Number 239, Decatur, Adams County, 9 October 1964 — Page 1

VOL. LXII. NO. 239.

U. S. Air Force Colonel Kidnaped From Home In , « Venezuela This Morning

CARACAS, Venezuela (UPI) — Terrorists today kidnaped U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Smolen from his home at gunpoint after giving him 24 hours notice of their intentions. Smolen, 45, of Chandler Ariz., is deputy chief of the U.S. Air Force mission in Venezuela. He lived in eastern Caracas with his wife and four children. The kidnapers were presumed to be Farm Outlook Meet Scheduled Oct. 15 R R J. H. Armstrong The 1964 agricultural outlook meeting for Adams county will be held Thursday, October 15, at 8 p. m. in the Adams county Farm Bureau Coop building, Monroe. Jack H. Armstrong, Purdue University agricultural economist, will lead the discussion at this year’s meeting on the farm outlook. Among the important outlook questions faced by farmers in the year ahead are such things as: What will be the impact of the drought on feed grain and soybean prices? How much influence will this have on numbers of hogs and cattle fed, and their prices? Is it going to be possible to make any money feeding cattle in 1965? These are but a few of the questions that Armstrong will discuss. County agent Ernest J. Lesiuk noted that this year particular attention is being given to the longer range prospects for crops, hogs, beef, dairy, and poultry. This part of the discussion will be of interest to those who are considering longer farm investments in any of these enterprises, he stated. Some forecasters predict a continuing rise in national business activity. If this materializes, how will this affect farmers? What are prospects for increased , inflation resulting from current level of deficit financing and how , will this affect farmers? How have land values reacted to feed grain and wheat programs and • the fear of inflation? These and similar questions will be discuss- 1 ed at the meeting. Also to be discussed: Do job opportunities exist for those who want to leave agriculture? How will lower beef ] prices affect the dairy business’ What change in hog prices can be I expected if the predicted seven per cent decrease in fall farrowings materialize? 1 The meeting is designed mainly i to present factors affecting prices 1 of commodities, and economic 1 principles involved and to provide' insight into future prices. Thus, ’ persons attending can draw their 1 own conclusions as to paice and 1 income prospects and make their 1 own forecasts as conditions ’ change. 1 Not only farmers, but their wives, other businessmen, and city consumers will be especially ( interested in the discussion of the factors affecting incomes of farm- I ers. Effects of these factors on capital and operating and consumption purchases will be considered. ' Lesiuk says any interested person is invited and encouraged to attend. i

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terrorists supporting Cuba’s Fidel Castro. With Smolen when he was kidnaped by two heavily-armed youths was his immediate superior, Col. Henry Lee Choate, and a civilian driver who were not molested. Choate said an anonymous caller phoned the Air Force mission Thursday and said that Smolen would be kidnaped. The call at first was ignored, Choate said, because so many of a similar nature have been received. This morning Choate had second thoughts about the call and went to Smolen’s house. The two men started to get into Smolen’s car when two youths armed with submachineguns appeared on Smolen’s side of the car and ordered him to accompany them. They sped off and two blocks away picked up three other heavily armed youths apparently covering their escape. “Neither I nor Smolen’s civilian driver could do anything about it,” Cfiaote said. "We were on the other side of the car.” The car was later found abandoned about three blocks away and on the same street from the site where U.S. Army Col. James K. Chenault was kidnaped last Nov. 27 and released nine days later. " ’SmOlfrn tvas a fighter pitot in World War U, in the Eastern Theater of War where he won the Air Medal and three oak leaf clusters. He had 4,000 flying hours -to his dredit, about 2,500 of them in jet aircraft. He lives in a suburban area with his wife, Marian, and their children, Sandra, 18, Diane, 16, Vicky, 14, and Michael, 10. Decatur Man Hurt As Car Hits Train Wendell J. Beer, 29-year-old resident of 234 Rugg St., is in the Adams county memorial hospital today recovering from injuries suffered in a car-train accident early this morning. Beer suffered a broken arm and numerous abrasions and bruises in' the crash, when his auto struck a Pennsylvania railroad engine at the Monroe street crossing at 1:55 a. m. today. Beer was eastbound on Monroe street and told investigating officers he saw the- crossing light flashing as he approached the crossing. He said he slowed down but didn’t see a train, and proceeded to cross. As the auto came onto the tracks, it smashed into the side of the engine. Louis McDowell, 52, of 526 Nuttman Ave., was the engineer. Beer was rushed to the hospital immediately after the mishap. The train was not damaged, but damage to the car was estimated at-S3OO. Library To Close Early On Saturday A slight change in hours at the Decatur public library was announced today by Mrs. Elizabeth Zerkel, librarian, and members of the board. Because the libri.-v is lit’’* vsed on Saturday nights, the Saturday hours have oeen changed from 9 a.m. until J p Hours Monday through Friday remain unchanged from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Courthouse Closed For Columbus Day All officers of the Adams county courthouse will be closed Monday in observance of Cloumbus Day. Also closed will be the First State Bank and the auto license bureau.

IN THE CROWD— President Johnson repeatedly plunged into the crowds to shake hands during his Thursday appearance at Indianapolis. — (Photo by Mac Lean) ■ “ ' ' L ’ Presidential Visit Series Os Headaches

By Mike Thoele A presidential visit, at least from one point of view, is a big series of headaches. Monurn -nt Cir He in Indianapolis was bright and sunny late yesterday morning, and only a little damp around the edges from showers earlier in the day. The gathering. crowd folded up its umbrellas as the clouds passed. Souvenir vendors did a land office business. It was a peaceful enough scene. Or so it seemed. But the hectic undertones were there. On the north steps of the Circle the semi-orderly choas which always precedes large events was in full bloom. Wires were being strung everywhere. Carpenters put finishing touches on die red, white and blue-bedecked speakers’ stand. Television cameramen and newsreel photographers elbowed each other for position on the small, ten-foot-high camera platform. Telephone company representatives made final connections nn the rows of telephones which newsmen would use to phone stories back to the wire services and networks. The Ball ‘■'tate band, with a chorus line of leggy letter girls and majorettes, filtered through the struggling technicians, formed on the steps of the manument and, inevitably, played “Back Home in Indiana.** Traffic Mocked Barricades blocking traffic around the circle and on the streets leading into it had been in place since early morning. As the streets filled with spectators, the sawhorses, made of rough two-by-eight planks, were reinforced at ten foot intervals by city and state police. Secret service men, some of them identifiable by tiny red and white lapel pins, mingled with the crowd and snooped around the speakers' stand and press tables. Many of them looked only upward, their gaze reaching to the tops of the encircling buildings, where policemen with riot guns and radios patrpled nervously back and fourth, watching the growing crowd as it overflowed onto North Meridian street. By order of the secret service all buildings fronting on the Circle sOlere sealed early in the morning from the second story up. People working in the buildings were given theft 1 choice of leaving or staying inside until the president had departed. No windows were to be open. The ladies’ sewing circle of Christ Church, on the Circle, just

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Decatur, Indiana, 46733, Friday, October 9, 1964.

across the street from the speak-1 ers’ platform, was in busy ses-i sion during the morning, evident-1 ly planning to close up shop just in time to catch the big show.! They were still inside when the’ building (which has only stained glass windows) was sealed. It took a call to police headquarters to get them out. But all the headaches were not to be found on the Circle. Indir" ■■ • '• •**"* " ’* ----- -, f ■... JP I' . SENTINELS— P dice officers equipped with riot guns and radios patrolled the roofs of the buildings on Indianapolis’ Monument Circle during the President’s appearance Thursday. — (Photo by Mac Lean) anapolis news media and Democratic party headquarters had their problems, too. At the Indianapolis News, state desk editor Nick Jones sweated out a series of long distance phone calls to Gary — he was having trouble locating his man who was supposedly traveling with the Johnson party. At Democratic, headquarters buildings on Capitol avenue' and on Washington street frantic secretaries and aides rushed around completing last minute details and issuing press passes to news men fortunate enough to have their names on the secret serviceapproved list. Back at the Circle the crowd

•ggrew thicker as H-hour approachged. State office employes were S dismissed to attend the affair and hundreds of office girls, all wear--5 ing LB J emblems, joined the 'jl crowd. Colorful Scene Placards, emblems, stetsons and buttons, at an average of what must have been three, per person added color (and a little more confusion) to an already colorful scene. But the headaches were just beginning. The presidential party arrived at 11:30. True to form and contrary to plans, President Johnson avoided the unI crowded route to the platform and chose to skirt the edge of the Circle, shaking hands and kissing babies in the throng that threatened to topple both the barriers and the reinforcing police officers. Eviently that wasn’t enough. (Continued on Page Six) i Weekends In Jail Ordered On Youth An 18-year-old Berne youth has been ordered to serve 15 weekends in jail by juvenile court Judge Myles F. Parrish. Authony Taylor, who became 18 years of age today, and resides at 166 Dearborn St., Berne, was ordered by Judge Parrish to begin the first of 15 weekends at 6 o’clock this evening. Taylor was cited into juvenile court on a petition stemming from a party at his home that began the night of June 28, and ended the following morning. His parents were not in town at the time of the incident. The juvenile petition, among other things, charged Taylor with disorderly conduct, being a minor in possession of alcoholic beverages, and resisting arrest. Hie juvenile court session, which began last week, concluded today with Judge Parrish sentencing the youth to 60 days in jail. He suspended 30 ’days of the sentence, * and ordered the Berne youth to serve the other 30 days on weekends at the jail. The youth will serve two days each weekend, from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Sunday. In addition. Judge Parrish ordered Taylor placed on probation for one year and to be finger printed and photographed for identification purposes.

—— • ■ I : Day Too Short To See Washington

By Dick Heller, Jr. - How many sights can you see in just one free day in Washington, D. C.? That’s a question we tried to answer on Monday, the day before the 1964 UPI editor and publishers conference officially began. In our walk down to the Wash 4 ington monument Sunday evening we had seen numerous posters marking the parade route of President and Mrs. Diosdado Macapagal. and Pres, and Mrs. Lyndon Johnson on the tormers’ arrival in Washington at noon on Monday. So we planned our sightseeing so that we wou’d end up near ihe White Heus? to see the paraie. We got up »arly so we could have breakfast over before 9 o’clock, when most offices first open in Washington. About that time we headed for the Capitol building. See Capitol Building The Capitol, as everyone knows, is the seat of our national legislature - congress, Since congress adjourned last week, it was fairly empty, except for civil service workers lined up for their pay when we got there. (Fortunately, one of them was helpful enough to warn us what the line was for, or we might have been standing in line expecting to see one of the sights!) For 25 cents each you can take an hour's tour, which includes the main sights in the building, its murals and paintings, and both houses of congress, the senate and house oi representatives, and how you can tell when they are in session. From the Capitol we went across the street to the senate office building, where Sen. R. Vance Harke has his office. We went to that office, met his secretaries, and were courteously shown around. We even got a photo of the senator’s private office, which is quite small compared to, say, the governor’s office, although the senator’s sal-i ary is twice as large. The senator, of course, has to maintain two or three homes — one in Washington D. C., one in his home-town of Evansville, and a third in the state capital of Indianapolis, plus Indiana offices and staffs. Os course both Sen. Hartke and Sen. Bayh, whose office is across the street in the new senate office annex, were back in Indiana, campaigning to reelect Senator Hartke, and to elect President Johnson and Sen. Humphrey. * Supreme Court From the senator’s office we went to the supreme court building, where our nation’s highest court sits in session. The supreme court is the protector of the constitution, the rights of the individual and the rights of the states. While in some periods of history the supreme court has acted as a brake against legislative changes, at other times, as in the present, it has been itself an effective tool of reform. The line to visit the court was extremely long, the longest by far of any we had seen. Quite obviously most of those interested in the court were Negroes, and thfose of foreign birth or extraction who were also waiting patiently to see the famous "Nine 01 d Men," headed by the former Republican governor of California, Earl Warren. Library of Congress It was just a short walk then over to the library of congress, where we saw the original drafts of the constitutional and the bill of rights, before they were engrossed (the first engrossed copies are in the National Archives building, also on public display): there were also mementoes an' 1 letters to and r rom all of our presidents; n Gutenburg Bible and a Great Bible of Mainz, the former one of the first printed works, he latter, the last famous Bib’? copied ty hand. From the Library of Congress we took a taxi to the national gallery of art. It was now about 11:15, and just 45 minutes until time for the parade. National Gallery We knew we had to hurry, so we went straight to the visitor’s center, and got a map of the building. The map showed, starting with gallery 1, and following through to gallery 90, every type of art on display. We made it through the first 50 galleries, covering of the main flooi of the building, in 45 minutes, and looking, briefly, at every painting and statue! That took real timing! In most of the galleries a list of paintings, and heir background, was available. We gathered these sheets for later reading. The gallery is famous for its Italian, German, Flemish and French paintings as well as its American paintings.

; We then headed out of the ibuildintf, and for the White House. We caught a cab, and he took us to the parade route, where bands and the color guard

Communist Sniper Kills U.S. Pilot

SAIGON, South Viet Nam (UPI)—A U.S. Army pilot was shot and killed by a Communist sniper today when his helicopter was forced down during a battle 360 miles' north of Saigon. His death brought to 202 the number of Americans killed in action in Viet Nam since 1961. The name of the dead American will not be disclosed until his family is notified. But an American military spokesman said the officer-pilot was shot in the chest by the sniper as soon as he stepped out of his downed aircraft. Two rocket - and - machinegun firing helicopters and a company of government troops rushed in to rescue three other American crew members. They were flown to safety. The helicopter was taking part in a sitaall government operation in the notorious Communist nest around barren Marble Mountain when the pilot was forced to land because of a loss of oil pressure. The latest American fatality came as Premier Nguyen Khanh told newsmen in Saigon that South Viet Nam is capable of bombing Communist China and North Viet Nam if they continue their stepped-up held to 1 the Communist Viet Cong guerrillas. At a news conference, Khanh said such a decision to extend the war to the North would be “too loaded with diplomatic and political complications to be taken hastily." ' But he added that “we have the capability” of doing so. He 1 declined to say when or how 1 such a mission might be car--1 ried out. i'

Methodists To Consecrate New Site

Hie Methodist church of Decatur will officially break ground and consecrate -the site for the new sanctuary, which is already under construction, Sunday, during the 10:30 worship hour. The Rev. Melvin R. Seeger will be speaking on the theme, “Uliless lhe Lord Builds the House.” "Although the contractor wanted to begin work immediately to keep ahead of- the weather, the congregation still wanted to par- ' ticipate in this historic event in the life of the church which they have been praying for and dreaming about for many years, since this is a symbolic act in which the congregation covets with God in a very significant experience of building a house of worship. For most people this privilege of participating in the building of a new church only happens once in a lifetime,” said Rev. Seeger. Hie worship commission, with Ralph Smith, Sr., chairman, has planned the program Sunday and invited all members of the congregation who choose to participate by themselves turning a shovel of dirt. They have planned for a number of key persons in the life of the church to participate in the opening portion of the ground-breaking exercises. Carl Gerber, chairman of the building planning committee, will turn the first shovel of dirt. Then the shovel will be passed to John Parrish, one of the oldest resident members who was present when the cornerstone was laid in the present building in 1881. After he turns a shovel of dirt, Tim Singleton will represent the coming generation as president of the Metho-

f. . — - L REDDY FEATHER SAYS: "TODAY'S DECATUR AMERICAN FIELD SERVICE COMMUNITY FUND y BOY SCOUTS TOTAL IS GIRL SCOUTS $6,673.35 crippled children soc. The Goal Is fgA UTTLE & PONY LEAGUES $29,834 u s 0 YOUR SALVATION ARMY Community Fund MENTAL HEALTH Still Needs W' COMMUNITY CENTER $23,160.65 AMERICAN RED CROSS Give The United Way

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were forming. We rushed up to the parade area, and fortunately, down by the color guard there were still some front-row (Continued on Page Eightl

The only immediate reaction from the American Embassy was confirmation that Communist infiltration has . increased. The United States supplies the bulk of South Viet Nam’s armaments. The Johnson administration has always left open the possibility of extending the war. But in the recent past it has soft-pedaled Khanh's threats of a "march to the north.” ' The only concerted actiqn against Communist North Viet Nam has been’ by the United States, in the series of air raids Aug. 4-5, against North Vietnamese torpedo bases in retaliation for attacks on U.S. destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin. Khanh told a news conference today that a decision to extend the war would be "too loaded with diplomatic and political complications’’ .to be taken hastily. “We have the capability of transporting one-ton, two-ton or three-ton bombs with our means into military installations and industrial installations of North Viet Nam or China,” he said. “The thing is, we must do it in the right place and at the right time. This is the question.” Khanh said, “I cannot answer directly when we will do it and how we will do it but we have the capability of doing it.” Khanh made his declaration after reporters asked if he intended to retaliate against in•ersssed Communist M&ich both be and AriS»ricai». omcibls say fS on th* upswings-/

dist youth fellowship. Ed Beevers .chairman of the trustees; Mrs. Lloyd Ahr, president of the Woman's Society, will represent the women of the church. Robert G. Smith, lay leader, followed by Bill Brown, chairman of the official board, will also turn shovels of dirt. After this formal act the pastor, Rev. Seeger, will give a dedicatory prayer followed by the choir who will sing, “Praise Geel , from whom all Blessings flow.” After the benediction all members will be invited to form three lines and participate in the groundbreaking. V The first portion of the service will be held in the old auditorium and the congregation will march to the new church site singing, "Onward Christi v Soldiers.’’ The complete service will be broadcast over station WADM from 10:30 to 11:30. Contract* Signed The contracts with the three low bidder contractors were officially signed Wednesday ‘morning. Construction is moving ahead rapidly to trp to keep ahead of the er. Construction is to be completed in eight months. INDIANA WEATHER Colder tonight with extensive frost and freeting temperatures. Saturday sunny and yrarmer. Low tonight 28 to 36. High Saturday in the 50s north and the 60s south. Sunset today 6:15 p.m. Sunrise Saturday 6:50 a.m. Outlook for Sunday: Sunny and warmer in afternoon. Lows upper 30s. Highs upper 60s north to mid ~ 60s south.