Evening star. [volume], April 18, 1923, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
WEATHER.
Fair and continued cool tonight,
with frost; tomorrow fair, with slow
ly rising temperature.
Temperature for twenty-four hours
ended at 2 p.tn.. today: Highest. 56. at
4:40 p.m. yesterday: lowest. 39. at 6
a.m. today. Full report on page 7.
Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 25
V" OQ QJ.O Entered as second-class matter
ANO* *.0,0-*,-. post office Washington, D. C.
BERLIN MAY OFFER
35 BILLION MARKS
FORMATIONS
Leaders of Reichstag Major
ity Declare Willingness to
Support This Sum.
GUARANTIES PROBLEM
FILLED WITH DIFFICULTY
$2,000,000,000 Believed Loan Lim
it—Fear Revolution if Stinnes
Group Gets Control.
BY (iEORGK WITTE.
Wireless to The star and Chicago Daily
News. Copyright. 1923.
BERLIN’, April IS.—lt Is said In
Borne circles here that Germany is
Quite willing to discuss 40,000,000.C00
gold marks as the basis of repara
tions to the allies. In other quarters
It is asserted that Germany may soon
offer the allies, especially France,
85.000. gold marks despite
Foreign Secretary Von Rosenberg’s
declaration in the relchstag that at
the most Germany’s offer remains at
30.000. marks.
When It became known here that
Great Britain favored the formation
of an international commission to as
certain how much Germany was
really able to pay, the writer found
that there existed a sentiment that
Germany would accept and abide by
the decision of such a commission
even if It fixed the reparations at
3;.,000,000,000 to 40.000.000,000 gold
marks.
83,000.000,000 Loan Limit.
The question of guaranties, how
ever. is of more poignancy than that
of promising payments for the next
twenty years. So far as is known In
official quarters here, neither Ameri
can nor British bankers are willing
to give Germany credits exceeding
$2,000,000,000. That sum, according to
reliable Information is the limit to
which the Anglo-American financiers
who have looked this country over,
are willing to go, unless the govern
ment pledges as securities such pub
lic utilities as the railroads and state
mines in the Ruhr and Upper Silesia
and the telegraph, telephone and cable
systems.
The only other way out of the
predicament open to the government
Is to surrender In everything but
name to the industrialist league, in
cluding Stinnes. Thyssen, Krupp,
Kloeckner, Mannesmann and fifty or
more other magnates, who among
them control about three-tfuartera as
the wealth of Germany.
But if the government yields to this
capitalistic group the communists will
undoubtedly threaten civil war. To
pome observers It seems as If the
Cuno government is doing a tight
rope walking act. On the one side
downfall looms at the hands of the
French and on the other side destruc
tion at the hands of the communists.
Control Enough Votes.
Readers of the democratic, centrist
and socialist parties assured me today
that 40.000,000,000 gold marks formed the
basis on which they were willing to
negotiate, although they believed that
this sum exceeded Germany’s ability
to pay. The 35,000.000.000 marks pro
posal was based on France’s demand
for 20,000,000,000 marks for herself
and 9,000,000.000 marks for the other
fillies, including the United States for
the costs of its army of occupation.
The social democrats and demoncrats
alone have 212 votes In the reichstag
and the centrists have 68, so that if
half of the centrists voted In favor
of submitting proposals based on 25.-
000.000.000 gold marks, they would he
certain of 251 votes out of a total of 459.
FRANCE TO STAND FIRM.
By Cable to The Star and Chicaco Dally
News. Copyright. 1923.
PARIS, April 18.—The decision of
France and Belgium to suppress the
special high commissariat installed by
Germany in the Rhineland on the day
of the signing of the treaty of Ver
sailles marks the plain intention of
I ranee and Belgium to retain the
Ruhr and the Rhineland indefinitely
unless Germany accepts the allies’
terms.
From the very first the French have
objected to the German Rhineland !
commissioner, whom they looked upon i
as the center of the resistance to the 1
enforcement of the treatly, but they !
were unable to get rid of him. first,
because of the Franco-Erltish-Atner-
Ican convention of June 28, 1919 "im
posed by President Wilson.” and sec
ond. because of Great Britain’s atti
tude.
The first German commissioner was
Von Starck who was soon accused of i
"fomenting agitation against the al- 1
lied commission.” In 1921 the British
succeeded in having him replaced by
the more moderate Prince Hatzfeld
Nevertheless, the fact remained
that the French continually felt un
able to make elTectve use of the
Rhineland occupation as a means of
pressure on Germany because they
were prevented by allied conventions
and agreements from threatening
Germany with the permanent loss of
the Rhineland unless she aid the rep
arations.
GERMAN ORDERED OUT.
BERLIN. April 18.—M. Tirard, pres
ident of the Rhineland high commis
sion. handed Prince Von Ilatzfeldt
"Wildenburg, the German commis
sioner, a note declaring that his pres
ence was prejudicial to the commis
sion’s authority and that his mission
must accordingly be regarded as
ended. Prince Von Hatzfeldt pro
tested, saying that his appointment
had been made by the ambassadors’
conference and he did not recognize
the commission’s right to terminate
his mission.
In the meantime, acting und?r spe
cial Instructions, he has left the occu
pied territory, accompanied by his
staff.
INSPECTS RUSSIAN OIL.
BERLIN, April 18.— Mason Day,
president of the Bamsdall Corpora
tion of New York, has arrived in
Berlin after a two-month trip to
Russia, where he Inspected the com
pany's oil concessions in the Caucasus
and conferred with the Russian of
ficials In Moscow. Mr. Day said the
bolshevik! had extended his company’s
time for development and Increased
Its concession area. He left an engi
neering staff at Baku and will go to
the United States early in May to
arraAge shipments of machinery to
the Caucasus, ,
Pilotless Plane
Control Perfect
In Test Flights
By the Associated Dress.
PARIS, April 18. —An airplane
controlled by wireless and auto
matic stabilizers made a successful
test flight yesterday at Etampes in
the presence of Undersecretary for
Aeronautics Eynac.
The plane has been making in
termittent flights for the past year,
its stabilization is now said to be
entirely automatic, and the solu
tion of the few remaining problems
in connection with its operation
are in sight. ‘Although the wire
less control is described as perfect,
flights for the present will be made
with a pilot, who will be employed
chiefly as an observer that the in
vention may be developed as far
as possible.
Military observers believe that
passengerless airplanes may prove
most valuable when used as bomb
ers. However, it la proposed to
utilize them for such purposes as
the transportation of mail to
Africa.
TWO FLYERSBREAK
SIX WORLD RECORDS
Kelly and Macßeady Fly
Over 36 Hours —D. C. Man
Sets New Mark.
By the Associated Press.
DAYTON. Ohio. April 18.—Victors
j in their gruelling contest to estab-
I lish a new world endurance record
I for sustained flying. Lieuts. John A.
| Macßeady and Oakley Kelly, Army
| aviators, today were recovering from
exhaustion resulting from piloting the
1 Fokker monoplane T-2 over a 50-
kilometer course for 36 hours, 5 min
utes and 20 seconds.
The former record, held by French
men—Pilots Bossoutrot and Brouhin —
was 34 hours. 19 minutes and 54 sec
onds. Lieuts. Macßeady and Kelly
bested this record last fall flying over
San Diego. Calif., but the record was
never certified by the Federation
Aeronatique Internationale. The rec
ord-breaking Right started Monday
at 9:38 a.m.
Sets Distance Record.
Slipping out of the night into the
glare of searchlights on Wilbur
Wright Field, Lieut. Macßeady land
ed the huge ship at 9:43 o’clock last
night, after hating covered 2,541.2
miles, setting a new distance record.
The former record of 2.060 miles, held
by Macßeady and Kelly, was made
on their cross-country flight from
San Diego to Indianapolis last fall.
Four other records were establish
ed during the flight and during yes
terday three additional records were
hung up by other flyers at local
fields.
Other records made by Macßeady
and Kelly were:
Two thousand five hundred kilome
ters. 21 hours 37 minutes 3 seconds.
Three thousand kilometers, 26
hours 1 minute 32 seconds.
Three thousand five hundred kilo
meters. 30 hours 28 minutes 51.4 sec
onds.
Four thousand kilometers, 35 hours,
6 minutes 38.4 seconds.
The respective miles per hour
averages are; 71.86, 71.50, 71.20 and 71.
Morris Gets Record.
Flying over the same thlrty-one
and-one-elghth-mile triangular course
traversed by the endurance record
holders, Lieut. Harold Harris. Mc-
Cook Field, In a rebuilt Do Haviland
4-B yesterday sot new records for
1,500 and 2,000 kilometers. His time
for 1,500 kilometers was 8 hours and
9 minutes, and for 2,000 kilometers
10 hours and 53 minutes. His aver
age speed was 114 miles per hour.
Flying a naval torpedo plane, Lieut.
Rutledge Irvine, Anacostla naval air
station, established a world altitude
record for a single-motored ship
carrying a deadweight; load of 2,422
pounds. He piloted the ship to a
height of 11,300 feet. Lieut. Irvin©
was in the air two and a half hours.
Completing eighty-one laps of the
course. Macßeady and Kelly circled
the pylon at Wilbur Wright Field sev
eral times, and then Macßeady, who
was at the “stick,” gracefully set the
ship down and taxied to a hangar.
Brig. Gen. William Mitchell, assistant
chief of the Army air service, con
gratulated the record holders and
escorted them to the Officers’ Club,
where they were given food. After
an informal reception they came to
Dayton and retired immediately. Not
until some time today will either of
the flyers tell his story of the flight.
Both said they expected to sleep about
eighteen hours.
Not until they awake will they
know that MaJ. Gen. Mason Patrick,
chief of the Army air service, plans
(Continued on Page 4, Column 1.)
Smiling “Lone Star” Who Killed 28
In Plains Fights, Dies , Boots On
By the A«»o*l«tert Pres*.
OMAHA, Neb., April 18.—Fighting,
smiling, gray-haired old “Lone Star,"
F'red M. Hans, Indian fighter, frontier
scout and possibly the last of the
real twp-gun “cross-arm draw’’ ex
perts, met death here last night with
his "boots on.’*
But death did not come on the field
of battle where he had so often faced
It. nor on the wings of a bullet. Ho
was crushed to death in an elevator
shaft at the Omaha World-Herald
plant, where he was night watchman.
“Lone Star” was caught by the
elevator when he attempted to move
the control lever from the outside
and the lift suddenly shot upward.
Began Career at Sixteen.
“Lone Star” began his career as
plainsman at the ago of sixteen,
when he left home to search for a
brother kidnaped by Sioux Indians.
He broke Into fame first In 1876 In the
"Hole in the Wall'* country. Powder
River, Wyo„ when single-handed, he
shot and killed "Shacknasty” Jim
and his two fellow bandits. It was
“Lone Star’s” hammer fanning that
won the unequal fight.
The Indians dubbed him We-Chach-
Pe-Wan-Ge-La, which translated
means Lone Star.
Other high spots of Hans’ life were:
Shot and killed two stage coach
Wht Mtomim ifef.
J V S WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION /
WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 1923—THIRTY-EIGHT PAGES. *
PRESIDENT TO NAME
RENT BOARD SOON
Executive Convinced Present
Body Inadequate to Handle
Many Cases.
FATE OF THREE NOW ON
COMMISSION UNKNOWN
No Indication Given as to Who
Five Commissioners Will Be,
Says Senator.
President Harding will very shortly
name a Rent Commission of five mem
bers for tiie District of Columbia as
provided for in the Ball rent act of
1922. which extended for two years
the life of the commission and in
creased Us membership from three to
live.
This was learned from Senator Ball
of Delaware, chairman of the Senate
District committee and author of the
Ball rent act. following a lengthy
conference with the President at the
White House today.
More than a week ago, when Presi
dent Harding was asked directly
whether or not he would at any time
soon appoint the new Rent Commis
sion, he was represented as saying
that unless he was convinced that the
work of the present commission was
being retarded and that conditions
generally at the Rent Commission
were being hampered he would not
Increase the membership.
Studies Situation.
The President has since then per
sonally Inquired into conditions. It
Is known that ho has become con
vinced that there is little hope of
immediate relief from the Jammed
situation of the commission’s docket,
unless he appoints the two additional
members. It is lerrned that he has
been shown that the work of the
present commisslor is seven or eight
months behind am.’ that complaints
from tenants and landlords are In
creasing daily in number. It is un
derstood that there probably are more
than 600 cases now pending and that
there Is every evidence *hat the vol
ume of the commission’s work will
become greater in the succeeding
months.
Senator Ball discussed with the
President a few days before the ad
journment of Congress the matter of
appointing the rent commissioner!
and said he was told by the latter
to refresh his memory when he re
turned from his Florida vacation.
The senator today described the con
dition existing in the Rent Commis
sion and urged the President to make
the appointments as soon as possible.
No Word on Personnel.
He would not say, however, whether
or not he had received any Inkling
from the President that he was con
templating retaining the three present
members of the rent commission when
he makes the appointments. Neither
would the senator say whether or not
the chances were good for the selec
tion of all or any of the names pre
sented by himself and Edward F.
Coliaday, republican national chair
man for the District, almost a year
ago. Immediately after the passage of
the Ball extension act.
FORMER D. C. WOMAN
IS MARRIED IN PARIS
Mrs. Louise Murray Weds Member
of Ancient Norman
Family.
By the Associated Press.
PARIS, April 18 —The civil wedding
of Mrs. Louise O’Hara Murray, for
merly of Washington, D. C.. and
Georges Masdusheil de Colange, a
French manufacturer belonging to an
ancient Norman family, took place
today in the town hall of the Six
teenth Arrondissement. The religi
ous ceremony will be celebrated to
morrow In the American Church of
the Holy Trinity. Dean Richard
Dobbs will officiate.
The bride was formerly Miss Louise
Putnam Nicholson and about thirty
vears ago had a career In grand opera
in Paris, Berlin, St. Petersburg and
Vienna. , ,
On her mother s side she is a direct
descendant of Daniel Boone and
through her father is related to Gen.
Nicholson of civil war fame. Her op
eratic career was cut short by im
pairment of her voice.
bandits April 12, 1877, near Valentine,
Neb.
Shot five Indians In battle of Little
Missouri, near Black Hills, August
21, 1877, saving the lives of a party
of twenty prospectors.
Killed eleven Indians with twelve
shots, using both guns, hammer fan
ning, In the battle of Wounded Knee,
S. D.. In 1892.
Killed bandit, Ainsworth, Neb., In
1878.
Shot and killed bandit at Fremont.
Neb., in 1897.
Trailed Sitting Ball.
Was official War Department In
vestigator of Custer massacre, and
followed Sitting Bull 600 miles on
horseback, inducing him and his band
to return to the reservation.
Was present at Sitting Bull's death.
1 Was chief scoutmaster for Gen.
Phil Sheridan for six years.
Was chief special agent of the
Northwestern railroad for years.
In all, Hans was credited with hav
ing killed eight white men and
twenty Indians.
“1 was never beaten on the draw,”
he often declared.
Until a month ago Hans wore a
scalp lock eighteen inches long, which
he kept curled under a skull cap as
he sat around in the Herald editorial
rooms at night, often displaying his
skill with his two guns to reporters
and visitors.
"No ope is after It now," he ex
plained when he ordered his lock cut
oft.
BUSY, BUT ixterestp:d.
SENATORS FEARFUL
OF CHESTER GRANT
Some Members Already Talk
of Possible U. S. Foreign
Complications.
BY DAVID I.AWHEVCE.
Rumblings are beginning to be
heard from the direction of the Sen*
ate on the subject of the oil conces
sions granted American capitalists in
Turkey.
When Congress meets the whole
subject Is likely to be aired and a
resolution calling for the facts in
troduced. Some of the senators, par
ticularly in the “IrrcconcUlable"
group, think there Is more chance of
foreign entanglement In the conces
sion business than In the league of
nations itself.
Secretary of State Hughes, sensing
the talk of complications—for the
European press has been full of It—
is pointing out constantly In his con
ferences with the press that there
need be no worry about entangle
ments, and that the discussing of In
tci”'!*• n.-ir,J n*’ ot ->v .r • i e
concession which has been so proml
. • -.10 .■ ss c..j .3 i,0... ,»v md
Is largely a specter of the imagina
tion.
Hughes Confident.
Mr. Hughes’ experience with legal
complexities leads him to approach
with the utmost serenity the very
highly complicated questions which
have arisen since announcement was
first made that the Turks had grant
ed the Chester oil concession. He
sees no extraordinary procedure nec
essary, no need of apprehension on
any score.
The French government has not yet
lodged any formal protest, but has
communicated Its views in a prelimi
nary way. The United States govern
ment Is not unmindful of the deep in
terest which foreign governments
will take in the affair, but naturally
feels they need have no cause to fear
inequitable treatment. For first of all
it becomes necessary to determine
what are the facts. Thus far the
American government knows only
that the concession has been granted
the Chester Interests by the Angora
government and that there have been
certain modifications since the proposal
was first brought to the attention of
the State Department.
When the text has been received
and when foreign governments have
pointed out just where their claims
conflict with the American concession,
the Department of State will en
deavor to persuade the Chester in
terests to adjust directly such ques
tions ha can be adjusted between
them and conflicting interests and
if that still loaves a conflict the pro
posal will be made that an arbitral
tribunal he appointed with full power
to resolve the points In dispute.
Fail to See Trouble.
Having In mind such a careful
legal procedure, the government here
fails to see how any enormous polit
ical embroglio can be developed out
of this controversy.
The full diplomatic support of the
American government is given when
legitimate claims are made by Amer
ican Interests. The question of wheth
er Americans have valid rights must
be determined first before there can
be given the backing of the govern
ment.
But even then the hacking Is a
matter of moral support and strong
(Continued on Page 2, Column 6.)
3 KILLED WHEN AUTO
STRIKES STREET CAR
Cincinnati Packer and Oueets
Meet Death in Head-On
Collision.
By the Associated Press.
CINCINNATI, Ohio. April 18.—Trav
eling at a high rate of speed, an auto
mobile driven by Roland A. Meyer, sec
retary-treasurer of the H. H. Meyer
Packing Company of this city, collided
head-on with a street car early today,
killing Meyer, Dr. William Kratz of
Norwood, Ohio, and Mrs, William Ben
der, formerly of Dayton, Ohio.
Miss Margaret Nebbergall of Charles
ton. W. Va., fourth occupant of the
machine, sustained scalp lacerations
and probable concussion of the brain.
There were no passengers on the street
car. The motorman and conductor es
caped by Jumping.
According to Miss Nebbergall, the
party waa returning to the city from a
roadhouse in the suburbs when the ac
cident happened.
Prisoner Carries
Sick Captor 100
Miles to Hospital
By the Afiwvlstprt Press.
ANCHORAGE. Alaska. April 18.—
While taking an Indian accused of
murder from Fort Gibbon to Fair
banks recently. Deputy United State.v
Marshal E. B. Webster was stricken
with appendicitis.
The marshal’s prisoner placed him
on the sled with which they had
been traveling and mushed more than
a hunderd miles with hint to a hos
pital. where an operation was per
formed.
MOVIE MONOPOLY
IS CHARGEDESY U. S.
Big Corporations Summoned
to Bar for “Conspiracy to
Kill Competition.”
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE.
For the first time In the history of
the "movies.” the United States gov
ernment has opened fire on the vast
motion picture Industry, which is
alleged to be under monopolistic con
trol.
The Federal Trade Commission
charges a powerful group of corpora
tions and Individuals, including the
Famous Players-Lasky combination.
Adolph Zukor. Jesse L. Lasky and
Jules Mastbaum, with using "unfair
methods of competition in commerce."
.They are charged with violation of
section 5 of the act of Congress under
which the Federal Trade Commission
was created. Months of investiga
tion In Hollywood, New York and
other "movie" centers having con
vinced the commission that "proceed
ings in respect thereof would be to
the Interest of the public,” the de
fendant group has been formally
summoned to the bar. Hearings will
begin on the premises of the Engi
neers’ Societies In New York city
April 23. They will he conducted for
the government by William H. Ful'er,
chief counsel of the Federal Trade
Commission. Paul D. Cravath of the
New York bar is principal attorney for
the defense.
The companies and persons against
whom proceedings lie are; Famous
Players-Lasky Corporation. Realart
Pictures Corporation, the Stanley
Company of America. Stanley Book
ing Corporation, Black New England
Theaters. Inc.; Southern Enterprises,
Inc.; Saenger Amusement Company,
Adolph Zukor, Jesse L. Lasky, Jules
Mastbaum, Alfred S. Black. Stephen
A. Lynch and Ernest V. Richards, Jr.
Charged With Conspiracy.
The above-named defendants are
charged with unduly hindering com
petition in the production, distribution
and exhibition of motion picture films
in interstate and foreign commerce.
They are further accused of "conspir
ing and confederating to control,
dominate, monopolize or attempt to
monopolize, the motion picture In
dustry.”
After reciting in detail the actual
methods by which film companies
produce, “release” and exhibit motion
pictures, the Federal Trade Commis
sion’s complaint narrates how so
called "first-run” and "repeat-run”
picture theaters are conducted. "First
run” houses are those In which occur
the Initial presentations or pictures
In certain generally defined ter
ritories. Approximately 50 per cent
of the revenue from a film Is derived
from "first-run” showings within six
months from the date of Its release.
The remaining revenue comes from
second and repeat ’Tuns” In other
theaters, extending over a period of
two or three years.
It Is alleged that In the spring of
1916 there were three corporations—
Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Com
pany of New York, Famous Players’
P’llm Company of Maine and Bos
worth, Inc., of California—engaged In
producing films In competition with
one another. There also existed the
Paramount Pictures Corporation of
New York, the principal agency en
gaged exclusively in distributing and
leasing pictures to exhibitors and
which made Its trademark, "Para
mount Pictures,” well known through
out the picture-theater public.
Combinations Formed.
The Federal Trade Commission con
tends that Adolph Zukor and Jesse L.
Lasky, through the Famous Players-
Lasky Corporation, conspired to ac
quire the capital of the producing
(Continued on Page 4, Column
300,000 WILL TRAIN
IN SUMMER CAMPS
All Arrangements Made by
Army to Drill Civilians
Under Arms.
More than 300,000 men will be "un
der arms” this rummer in various
Army camps, undergoing Intensive
military Instruction, according to es
timates compiled today by the War
Department from reports from com
manding officers of the nine corps
areas They have volunteered large
ly from civil life, and many will "fall
In” for the first time as a “rookie’’ In
khaki, subject for the time being to
the rule* and regulation! of the mili
tary establishment.
It Is estimated by the War Depart
ment that 223.000 men will attend the
National Guard. Organized Reserves,
Reserve Officers' Training Corps and
tho citizens’ military training camps.
About 30.000 officers and men of the
Regular Army will assist In the train
ing for instruction and demonstration
purposes;
The remaining troops of the regular
forces have been provided with a
program of their own to be followed
during the summer at the scattered
posts of the country and in Panama,
Alaska and other territorial stations.
The training period will begin in
June and extend to October. The
National Guardsmen will begin tak
ing the field in June and continue
through September, with each unit al
lowed two weeks. Their attendance
Is expected to be about 176,000 officers
and men.
The majority of the Reserve Officers’
Training Corps units will be in train
ing from June 14 to July 25. Each
unit of this organization will be given
six weeks' instruction.
l ° tal at tendance Is estimated
at 9,000. The citizens’ military train
ing camps will be held from June 25
to September 1, each unit being en
camped one month. Provisions havo
been made to accommodate 30,000 men
in this way.
Gen. Pershing has issued letters of
Invitation to all senators and repre
sentatives to visit the various camps
and “observe what is being accom
plished by the training’’ program.
"The instruction will be adapted
to the requirements of each of these
categories (camps),” the letter says,
"and will include not only physical,
disciplinary and basic military train
ing, but also talks and lectures and
quizzes on good citizenship, its rights,
duties and responsibilities.”
presidenTsTour
TO EMMIS
A partial Itinerary for President
Harding’s western speaking trip,
which has been prepared at the White
House, provides for his departure
from Washington about June 15 for
a swing which will take him through
St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver and
Salt Lake City to San Francisco. He
also is to speak In Portland, Ore., and
will return by the northern route
through Chicago.
St, Louis First Slop.
As the plan now stands, the Presi
dent will make no stop east of St.
Louis on his way westward. On the
return trip his last address probably
will be delivered at Chicago, where
ho has not spoken since his nomina
tion for the Presidency. It is possi
ble, however, that he may decide to
make a speech in Ohio just before his
return to Washington.
The President also plans to make
a number of speeches in the east be
fore the western trip begins. Today
he took under advisement an invi
tation to go to New York May 10 to
address the annual meeting of the
Chamber of Commerce of the United
States, and should he do so he may
speak on the same day at a meeting
there In honor of Oen. and Mrs. Bal
lington Boopi. It was said today
at the White House, however, that he
had accepted neither of these invita
tions definitely.
It Is understood also that Mr. Hard
ing hopes to go to Milford, Del., some
time in May to deliver an address
and to be initiated Into the Tall
Cedars of Lebanon, a social organiza
tion.
The plans thus far made for the
western trip, during which the Presi
dent hopes to be able to go to Alaska,
have not yet taken final form, and al
terations may be expected In minor
details. It is understood, however, that
all of the principal points to be vis
l ited have been selected. In all he
will make about twenty set speeches
In addition to probable shorter talks
from the rear platform of hia train.
“From Press to Home
Within the Hour**
The Star’s carrier system cover*
every city block and the regular edi
tion is delivered to Washington homes
as fast as the papers are printed.
Chinese Eating
Human Beings;
Children Sold
BY WILLIAM R. GILES.
By Cable to The Star and Chicago Dally
News. Copyright. 1923.
PEKING, April 18.—No rain has
fallen In two months, resulting In
failure of SO per cent of the wheat
crop, and cannibalism Is being
practiced In Shensi province, ac
cording to reports reaching the
Peking government.
Bark-eating practices and the sale
of children also have been resorted
to by the starving natives, but
famine conditions have been made
worse through instances where
human beings have been slain for
their flesh.
President Ll Tuan-Hung is mak
ing efforts to raise relief funds for
the stricken province and also for
other districts In north China,
where famine conditions are re
ported.
Large numbers of destitute
villages are camping outside the
walls of Peking clamoring for
food. These now are being guard
ed by the gendarmerie, pending re
lief measures. Many wealthy
Chinese are demanding protection
from the military.
FIVE SifIPSABLAZE
ON POTOMAC RIVER
Quantico Marines Rush to
Rescue of Former U. S.
Wooden Vessels.
Five of a fleet of wooden ships be
ing transferred up the Potomac river
from the Shipping Board storage base
in the James river were practically
destroyed by fire today, according to
a report received by Marine Corps
Headquarters from Quantico. Four
other vessels were reported badly
damaged.
Within two hours after the fire
was reported pictures of the scene
were available for inspection by Ma
rine Corps officers here and were
sent by them to the Shipping Board,
which recently sold the fleet to a
commercial firm for scrapping. The
officer of the day at Quantico saw
the fire and Immediately dispatched
a force of marines to the scene, sup
plementing them with an airplane,
which was to report the situation to
him and take photographs.
Having accomplished Its mission the
aviator headed for Washington, where
the pictures were developed and sent
to the government officials Interested.
NORFOLK. Va., April 18.—The naval
tug Owl, en route from Norfolk to
Washington, was ordered to proceed
with all possible speed to the assis
tance of the vessels on fire.
ask Own
TO HELPRUM FIGHT
Proposal at Santiago Seeks
Laws to Curb Illegal
Liquor Traffic.
By the AMorlited Press.
SANTIAGO, Chile, April 18.—A pro
posal whereby the American nations
would assist the United States In
keeping alcoholic liquors out of that
country has been submitted to the
hygienic committee of the pan-Amer
ican conference at the instance of the
United States delegation.
The resolution, which Is offered as
part of the committee's report, says:
"Whereas certain American states
have prohibited alcoholic beverages
or have manifested an Interest In the
progressive diminution of their use,
and whereas the exportation of such
beverages from a country where re
striction by legislation does not exist
to another which has adopted a pro
hibition policy tends to make difficult
Its internal problems,” It Is resolved
"to recommend that each American
state adopt measures Induclve to pro
hibiting without special authorisa
tion the exportation of intoxicating
liquors to any country where their con
sumption Is prohibited.”
Jose Austria of Venezuela, to whom
the drafting of the report has been
entrusted, has proposed adoption of
the resolution, making It applicable
to “wet" countries. He has suggested
progressive taxation upon commerce
In liquor and the enactment of leg
islation to prevent fraud In Its manu
facture and sale. The discussion of
the resolution has been postponed.
The technical experts attached to
the delegations of the A. B. C. na
tions at the pan-American conference
were called into action today for the
first time to renort on the new Chil
ean proposal for limitation of the naval
armament maintained by Latin Ameri
can countries to a total of either
60,000 or 80,000 tons. Chile is content
with the former figure, and even
though It would allow her to acquire
another modern battleship like the
Almlrante Latorre It Is Indicated that
she does not propose to do so.
The 60.000-ton limitation would
virtually maintain the status quo, as
far as capital ships are concerned, as
the tonnage of Argentina's two bat
tleships approximate that figure,
while Brazil, with a total of 40.000
tons, would not be left sufficient mar
gin to acquire a modern big gun
fighter without scrapping one of her
pair of old ones.
It Is believed Argentina will not
opposite the 60,000-ton limit, but con
ference circles are jn doubt as to
whether this figure will satisfy Bra
zil, which, it Is generally understood,
desires to acquire at least one mod
ern capital ship. It is intimated In
some quarters that It was with the
Brazilian program In view that the
80,000-ton alternative was Included in
the Chilean proposals.
The Chilean proposal recommends a
treaty to run five years, during which
no capital ships could be acquired
which would bring the tonnage in
excess of the limit fixed. The treaty
would expire May 1, 1928. but would
be automatically renewed for five
years unless denounced by a signa
tory-nation one. year In advance.
Yesterday’s Net Circulation, 96,339
D. k R. CANDIDATES
FIRE BIGGEST GUNS
AS ELECTION NEARS
Political Pot Seethes as
Fight for Highest Offices
Grows Hot.
NOMINATIONS TONIGHT;
TO VOTE TOMORROW
Mrs. Cook Looms as Choice Over
Mrs. Hanger for Presi
dent General.
The Thirty-second Continental Con
gress of the Daughters of the Amer
ican Revolution, virtually pledged to
merciless campaign against pacificism
and radical propaganda in the United
States, today began to consider se
riously the selection of a new pres
ident general capable of leading
American womanhood In Its battle
against bolshevism on this continent.
When the congress convened this
morning the race for the presidency
general has practically narrowed
down to a final struggle between Mrs.
G. Wallace W. Hanger of this city
and Mrs. Anthony Wayne Cook of
Pennsylvania, with the possibility of
a western dark horse being entered
at the eleventh hour should those two
become hopelessly deadlocked after
the polls open tomorrow morning.
Nominate Tonight.
The first real skirmish on the floor
of the congress will begin tonight
when the delegates are called upon to
place In nomination their candidates
for all national officers. Including
president general, seven vice presi
dents general, chaplain general, record
ing secretary general, organizing sec
retary general, corresponding secre
tary general, registrar general, treas
urer general, historian general, re
porter general, librarian general,
curator general and three honorary vice
presidents general.
With the exception of the vice
presidents general and the honorary
vice presidents general, all of the
national officers will he voted on
simultaneously with the president
general.
Mrs. Cook Favorite.
Mrs. Cook probably will go to the
post tomorrow morning a slight fa
vorite over Mrs. Hanger by virtue
of the support she has been prom
ised by the strong delegations from
New York, Pennsylvania, Massa
chusetts and Missouri. Those dele
gations are said to have been pledged
to her virtually solid. In addition,
her friends claimed this morning to
have support of the District of Co
lumbia, Maine, Minnesota, New Hamp
shire, Tennessee, Vermont, Washing
ton state and Wisconsin.
Mrs. Hanger, however. Is expected
to carry the more or less “solid
south,” which will give her some
large delegations. Including those of
Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Texas and Kansas.
Friends Confident.
In addition Mrs. Hanger's friends
expect her to carry the bulk of the
vote from California, Connecticut.
District of Columbia. Florida and
Illinois, and Maryland, Michigan. Ohio
nnd New Jersey are believed to be
equally divided, while the other
delegations have steadfastly refused
to commit themselves one way or
the other until the voting begins.
Mrs. William Cumming Story was
still officially in the ring, but it was
expected by many delegates that she
would swing her votes either to Mrs.
Hanger or Mrs. Cook after the first
ballot. Should neither of those two
then succeed In being elected on the
second ballot, new nominations would
be In order and the opportunity for
a dark horse would have arrived.
It is not expected the president
general will be elected on the first
ballot at least, as the. rules require
the winning candidate to have at
least one vote more than half of the
total registered delegates. By this
evening more than 2.000 delegates
are expected to be registered, and
neither Mrs. Hanger nor Mrs. Cook
claims to have half of that number of
votes In advance.
Tactics Assailed.
The political pot was literally
seething behind the scenes this morn
ing, and some of the delegates were
openly charged with using question
able tactics. An anonymous letter
was finding Us way around Memorial
Continental Hall attempting to make
capital of Mrs. Hanger’s campaign
announcement. In which she said the
president general of the D. A. R. was
more entitled to be called “first lady
of the land" than the wife of the
President of the United States.
Americanism was still the foremost
theme before the congress today and
may have the most Important bearing
upon the selection of the new presi
dent general. Since President Hard
ing, Secretary of State Hughes and
Mrs. Minor, the president general, de
livered their patriotic inaugural day
addresses the delegates have been
closely examining the Ideals of the
/various candidates. This theme found
expression In the congress again to
day when the resolution committee
brought out with a unanimously fa
vorable report the resolution aimed
at radicalism Introduced by Mrs. Eva
V. M. Blssell and Mrs. Minnie F.
Mickley yesterday. Amid intense en
thusiasm It was unanimously adopted
by the congress.
See Radicals at Work.
The resolution declares that "where
as the Institution, tradition and Ideals
which have made and maintained
a mighty nation are now assailed by
the forces of communism, socialism
and other forms of destructive radi
calism." the D. A. R. resolve “that it
is the duty of all patriotic women to
be prepared to play their valiant part
In the struggle to save America from
the attacks of false friends and open
foes by informing themselves thor
oughly by reading, study and other
means of Information concerning the
philosophy and essential principle of
American government.”
Mrs. Alice Bradford Wiles, chair
man of the committee on legisla
tion In the United States Congress.
In supporting her annual report,
presented recommendations for the
reiteration of support by the congress
to the erection of the archives build
ing for the storing of government
records in Washington. The thirty
first congress of the Daughters adopted
a similar stand last year.
These recommendations were In
cluded In a series of resolutions
which were presented at the coo
(Contlnued on Page 4, Column 4.i
TWO CENTS.