Evening star. [volume], July 26, 1925, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
WEATHER.
(U. 9. Weather Bureau Forecast.)
Showers and thunderstorms today,
cooler at night; tomorrow fair.
Temperatures, highest, 86, at 4 p.m.;
lowest, 71, at 4 a.m.
Full report on page 5.
XT 1 ndO OO G7l Entered as second class matter
JN O. I,UOZ DlO. J . post office, Washington, D. C.
CONGRESS 10 GET
I MINER'S BIBLE
AND OATH ISSUES
Verbal Guncotton Is Seen in
Atheist’s Opening of
Two Questions.
FAILURE OF ‘DISRESPECT’
SUIT FREELY PREDICTED
Constitutional Lawyers See Puzzle
in Clerk’s Status Under
the Law.
Loren H. Winner. Treasury clerk
and devotee of philosophical inquiry,
apparently has assured W ashington of
n loquacious and argumentative sea
son. whatever the outcome of the pre
liminary hearing on his “Bible' suit
before Justice Siddons of the District
{Supreme Court Tuesday.
Wittner, it developed yesterday, has
succeeded in pushing to the forefront
two major issues, both packed with
Verbal guncotton:
t. Was it the intent of the majority
of the House of Representatives that a
clause be inserted in the 1926 District
of Columbia appropriations act with
holding the salaries of teachers who
teach “disrespect” of the Scripture?
Test of Oath.
2. Has a religious test for holding
public office in violation of the Con
stitution been set up by the Federal
statute prescribing an oath ending
with the words “so help me God" for
all who enter the Federal service, with
the single exception of the Presi
dent of the United States.
In the first case, Wittner’s suit
to restrain payment of salaries to
Supt. of Schools Frank W. Ballou
and W. P. Hay, head of the biology
and chemistry departments of the
local high schools, on the grounds
that they permitted to be taught
scientific theories and facts allegedly
at variance with scriptural statements.
Is not likely to become a new Scopes
case as far as the courts are con
cerned, defense* counsel are assured.
But it is practically certain that the
whole issue will be fought out on the
floors of the House and Senate when
the next appropriation act is under
consideration.
Fundamentalists Active.
Religious fundamentalists yester
day were reported to have approached
Senator Kenneth McKellar of Ten
nessee with the request that he or
ganize and lead a fight to have the
Summers clause retained. Repre
sentative Thomas L. Blanton of
Texas, a mej>ber of the House Dis
trict conrerfftee, has predicted that
proponents of the clause will win by
a large majority and has lined himself
definitely with them.
Washington's big “monkey show’
seems due to he staged in Congress,
not in the courts.
Corporation Counsel Frank H. Ste
phens and his assistant, Ringgold
Hart, still are studying the brief filed
bv Winner's attornies in search of
technical errors and errors in state
ment of fact, but they expect the
case to be dismissed without question
at the preliminary hearing on the
precedent of the Frothlngham case
alone. In this case the judgment
denied a taxpayer the right to ob
tain an injunction against the use
of public moneys unless a personal
damage resulting from the payments
could be shown.
Mr. Stephens announced yesterday
that he will file a short answer to
the brief as well as make a motion
to dismiss. United States Attorney
Peyton Gordon yesterday' received
the papers in the case for study be
fore the preliminary hearing. He
will defend Frank White, treasurer
of the United States, while Mr. Ste
phens will defend Daniel J. Donovan
and James R. Lusby, the two Dis
trict officials against whom the in
junction is asked.
Officials at Sea. j
The second issue raised by Yrittner
involves such a tangle of institu
tional law that Treasury offi/als and
lawyers were at sea yesterday. •
The status in the service of Wittner,
who three times has entered the em
ploy of the Treasury under an oath
from which the words "so help me
God” were stricken with a pen, by
whom it is not clear, has not been
officially referred to any legal de
partment of the Government for a
ruling. That the clerk will not be
allowed to escape without cognizance
being taken of the circumstances was
indicated by an unofficial consulta
tion between an official of the ap
pointment division and members of
the controller general's stgff. Advice
as to the procedure to be followed was
given. Just what this advice was
the controller general’s office will not
divulge, but It was stated there yes
terday that the language of the Fed
eral statutes was clear on the re
quirement of taking the oath, the text
of which is incorporated in the law.
Any one who has obtained a posi
tion without taking this exact oath.
It was stated, probably has entered
the service illegally. "Whatever ac
tion is taken will not affect the pay
"Wittner already has received, since
he has performed the work for which
the salary' is compensation.
May Offer New Oath.
If Treasury officials decide to pro
ceed on this basis it is probable that
"Wittner will be offered an opportun
ity to take the prescribed oath, and
In case of refusal the only alternative
will be separation from the service.
In this event he would be in a posi
tion to raise in the courts the issue
as to whether the oath is constitu
tional.
Local constitutional lawyers ques
tioned yesterday saw scant prospect
of an easy answer to this point. Until
there is some official action in refer
ring the case to them, legal officials
of the Government are loath to dis
cuss publicly the possibilities, but
they’ obligingly tried to locate prece
dents. without success. The oath ap
parently has been taken as a matter
of course.
The one precedent upon which Witt
ner might work, however, is celebrat
ed in American jurisprudence.
The original oath prescribed by'
Federal statute contained the addi
tional clause —“that I have not borne
arms against the United States.”
These words made it impossible for
veterans of the Confederacy to take
this oath, and consequently barred
them from the Federal service, al- j
though presumably ail their civil
*TContinue<i on Page Column. 24- .
Congress Lacks Power to Ban
Evolution , Aroused Editors Say
Proposed Laiv Would Be Intolerable ,
Illegal Invasion of Rights , Survey
' by The Star Indicates .
There apparently is no disposition
throughout the country to take seri
ously' the suit brought in the Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia to
restrain payment of salaries of local
school officials on the ground that
they have taught or permitted the
teaching of theories which involv
ed “disrespect for the Holy Bible.”
The general opinion seems to be that
the suit is ill-founded and that it will
be dismissed when it comes to a
hearing.
But the proposal that an attempt
shall be made next Winter to have
Congress write into the Federal stat
utes the substance of the Tennessee
anti-evolution law, applying it not only
to the public schools of the District
of Columbia but to land-grant and
other Federal-aid colleges as well and
possibly to the National Museum and
other agencies of scientific research
supported in whole or in part by Fed
eral appropriations, is regarded as a
very different matter. Announce
ment that such legislation will he at
tempted already has provoked wide
discussion and speculation as to where
such a movement might lead.
Following are the views of some
of the leading newspapers and news
paper editors of the country, tele
graphed to The Star in response to an
inquiry as to how seriously’ they be
lieved the proposal should be taken:
Curtailed Research
Would Blight Nation.
ST. LOUIS, July 25.—That Con
gress would prohibit the teaching of
evolution is inconceivable. Such leg
islation is an unwarranted interfer-
MINE OPERATORS
LOOK TO COOLIDGE
Observers Believe Owners
Would Want President to
Choose Mediator.
By the Associated Press.
ATLANTIC CITY, July 25.—1 f in
tervention in the coal negotiations
should become necessary’ the opinion
of well posted observers here is that
Gov. Plnchot of Pennsylvania would
l»e the anthracite miners' preference
as the mediator, whereas the Coolidge
administration would be the choice of
the mine owners. While neither min
ers nor operators have expressed
themselves officially in any way, one
of these observers said today the lat
ter would not be eager to accept again
the friendly’ offices of Gov. Plnchot,
whose efforts in 1923 resulted in a 10
per cent wage increase.
“Hint as to where the operators’
real affections lie,” this man said,
“was conveyed last week in the terms
of the arbitration plan proposed by
the operators and rejected for the
time being by’ the men. The opera
tors proposed that both sides agree
to arbitrate any otherwise insuparable
differences arising in the present ne
gotiations and that the arbitration
be left to ‘three impartial persons,’
chosen either by the two sides them
selves, or, failing that, by President
Coolidge.’’
Strong for Pinchot.
The miners do not conceal their re
gard for Gov. Pinchot. The latest
official utterance by Philip Murray’,
their international vice president, re
ferred to him as “our distinguished
governor.” The miners already have
definitely stated they regard anthra
cite coal problems as a "Pennsylvania
matter.”
However, it is the opinion here that
there is no reason to suppose the
miners' preference would carry’ them
to the point of rejecting any one else
in favor of the Pennsylvania gov
ernor. If they could not deal with
Pinchot, there is no reason so far
apparent that they would refuse to
deal with any one else, it was said.
Attempts to feel out miners’ senti
ment toward Federal agencies reveal
the miners are puzzled. For lack of
official governmental utterances they
so far do not appear to have drawn
any conclusion from the contradic
tory reports dispatched from the vari
ous official Summer centers.
FIVE HURT IN CRASHES.
Four Are Victims of Collision Be
tween Two Autos.
Four persons were slightly injured
when an automobile operated by Mil
ton Barrett. 30, of 1230 K street, col
lided with another machine operated
by Samuel Yeater, 812 Four and One
half street southwest, at Eighth and
H streets southwest, yesterday after
noon. Isadore Leabitte, 48; Jake
Yeater, 34: Annie Yeater, 12, and
Florence Lynch, 12, passengers of
Yeater, all of 813 Four and One-half
street southwest, were treated at
Emergency Hospital, returning home
later. , .
An automobile truck operated by
August Baghochinni of 610 Maryland
avenue southwest, ran into a loading
platform on Fourteenth street at
Park road, throwing the to
the ground. He was treated at Gar
field Hospital for a broken toe and a
sprained ankle.
ij Gardens of Beauty j
in
Washington
I The National Capital, re- :
j garded the most beautiful in j
I the world, is studded with :
j wonderful private garden j
I spots.
: These have been sought out j
i and stories telling of their :
| preparation and development j
: written for The Star.
: The first of this interesting :
: series will appear in
The Evening Star
Ijj agiaagaggit
she Jmncku ptuC
* * ' WITH DAILY EVENING EDITION
WASHINGTON, L). C., SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 26, 1925.-NINETY PAGES *
enee with the constitutional rights of
a citizen and assumes a jurisdiction
over a department of life never con
templated or dreamed of. The study
of evolution or of any other recog
nized science is the teaching of his
torical fact, and as a matter of educa
tion and knowledge is essential for
the greatest human development. The
discouragement of any scientific study
or research would have a blighting
effect on 'a nation.
E. LANSING RAY,
Editor Globe-Democrat.
Suspects Congress
Might Welcome Row.
DETROIT. July 25. —When one re
members that the ablest scientific
intellect to be found in all the human
race is but a feeble, crawling insig
nificance compared with the power
that made the grass grow, the sun
to shine and the stars to swing
through their courses;
W hen one remembers that among
the most learned and renowned of
the students of the Bible there is and
always has been an irreconcilable
difference as to means and interpre
tations of the inspired word, show
ing that these learned and renowned
are merely human and subject to hu
man limitations; when these things
are so, it is not at all surprising that
Congress in its assumed omnipotence
should dare to restr.ct and propose
further to restrict the teaching of
such small store of truth and theory
as mankind has been able to glean
from the vast amount it does not
know.
( hristian faith, which accepts the
( reator as all wise, can accept with
complacence any and all truths dem
onstrated to be truths and can look
(Continued on Page 4. Column 2 )~
DRY DRIVE DELAYED
UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1
Shake-Up In Force and New
Grouping of Districts on
Fresh Program.
By the Associated Press.
Defeated in his plan to set a
reorganized machine at work August 1
to enforce prohibition, Assistant Sec
retary Andrews, the Treasury's pro
hibition field marshal, took a fresh
start yesterday in developing a pro
gram with which he hopes he can
dry up the country's wet spots.
September 1 has now been fixed
tentatively as the date on which the
revamped enforcement organization
can be set in motion, and it will start
vith a division of the country into
districts along different lines than
were at first contemplated. Announce
ment of the changes in boundaries of
six districts and the transfer of head
quarters of two other regional areas
was made.
Force to Be Shaken Up.
U also was announced that all of
the unclassified employes of the field
.f' ,U aut °matically be out of
their jobs not later than October 15
Some of them probably will be re
named but merit will be the yard
stick by which the employes will be
measured in their selection for places
under the reorganization.
Accompanying Mr. Andrews’ an
nouncements was a formal statement
by Acting Secretary Winston giving
specific details of the delay in building
the new enforcement structure.
It has been found desirable,’’ said
Mr. Winston, “to put the prohibition
l plan previously an
nounced into effect as a whole
throughout the country, Instead of in
one district at a time. This modiflea
tl.°^ln.plan re< iulres a brief extension
of the August 1 date, tentatively given
as the date when the plan might be
come effective, for about 30 days to
on or about September 1. The addi
tional time will permit the department
to complete the administrative details
so that the machinery may operate
smoothly from the start."
Blair Asked Changes.
The changes made in the district
boundaries resulted from recommenda
tions by Commissioner Blair of the
Internal Revenue Bureau, w’ho,
though having turned over most of
the job to Mr. Andrews, retains im
portant enforcement functions delegat
ed by law. Mr. Andrews previously
had said that no suggestions for
alteration of the original administra
tive districts had come to him from
outside of the Government, and Mr.
Winston said yesterday that the
changes were solely in the interest of
efficiency and better administration.
There has been opposition to va
rious phases of the plan, however,
from various quarters and Mr. An
drews has received visits from half
a dozen members of Congress and
political leaders, so the decision to
change the lines came as no surprise
to many observers here. It was re
iterated at the Treasury officially,
nevertheless, that no pressure had
been exerted on the department exec
utives in behalf of the change, ex
cept from within the organization.
Chief among the changes for which
an outside demand had been pro
nounced was t£e removal of Michi
gan from the lame jurisdiction with
Indiana and the linking of Virginia
with West Virginia, by which the
latter State was automatically with
drawn from a jurisdiction with Ohio.
Senator Watson, Republican, In
diana. and Postmaster General New,
also an Indianian, had opposed the
districting of Indiana and Michigan,
as did others of that State, while
C. Raseom Slemp, former secretary
to the President and Republican na
tional committeeman from Virginia,
had entered objection to having his
State aligned with Maryland. Dela
ware and the District of Columbia.
Whatever actuated the change, the
announcement yesterday Bhowed Vir
ginia and West Virginia in one dis
trict, Michigan and Ohio in another
and Indiana joined with a part of
Illinois and part of Wisconsin.
Another important change was the
lifting of Kansas from the district
with Nebraska and lowa and the
substitution of South Dakota in that
group. Kansas was placed with Mis
souri and th“ southern end of Illinois,
while a part of Wisconsin not in
cluded with Indiana was included in
(Continued on Page Column Ai
$500,000 WINE PLOT
LAID TO DRY CHIEF
AND 8 IN ILLINOIS
Nine “Higher-Ups” Indicted
m Huge Rum Probe by
Capital Agents.
EXCLUSIVE CLUB RAID
NETS BIG LIQUOR HAUL
Former Prohibition Head Also Is
Named—Further Action Is
in Prospect.
By the Associated Prct-s
CHICAGO, July 25.—Maj. Percy j
Owen, prohibition enforcement direc-1
tor for Illinois, was Indicted for Kraft
and Indefinitely suspended from office
today. "With him were indicted Ralph
Stone, former prohibition director;
Bernard Rumps and Albert Bennett,
former prohibition agents; George R.
Bruce, former State Senator; Harry
Schlau, a salesman; Louis Abelson,
wine dealer; Dr. Louis Quabairi, head
of a wine company, and Morris Zim
broff, a wine dealer.
All are accused of complicity in
the withdrawal of more .than 500,000
gallons of wine in connection with
which more than 100 lesser persons, i
mostly wine dealers, are already under I
indictment.
Washington Investigators.
With news of the indictment came J
the statement that special investiga-1
tors from Washington who have been i
working on the wine inquiry', have !
now turned their attention to unlaw- |
ful dealings in beer and alcohol run- j
ning, with prospects of still further j
grand Jury action when all their evi-;
dence is collected.
In the meantime prohibition agents '
swooped down on the Kish Fans’ Club, j
an exclusive North Side club, with !
quarters in a large boat in Lincoln j
Park, smashed open hundreds of lock- j
ers. seized liquor stored there, arrest
ed Richard Mazer, former aldemanlc j
candidate, and then announced that j
this raid is merely the beginning of a ;
drive against country clubs, athletic;
associations and golf clubs in and j
about the city.
Hair Million Graft.
In the wine graft cases in which j
indictments were returned today, the I
accused are alleged to have collected I
half a million dollars from wine deal- i
ers for improper permits to withdraw I
wine from bond.
Maj. Owen, former State adjutant I
of the American Legion, and support- j
ed for the post by that organization,]
took office nine months ago, under j
auspicious circumstances and with as
sertions front prohibition officials that
he was “graftproof.”
His appointment came after the re
moval of Roscoe C. Andrews, former
director, who was indicted in connec- j
tion the distribution among
stockholders of Grommes & Ullrich of
liquor valued at thousands of dollars
when that concern went out of busi
ness, the liquor distributing having
been agreed to by Andrews. Maj.
Owens’ attorneys issued a statement
saying that he will prove hi? in
nocence of the charges.
In addition to Mazer, two other
employes of the Fish Fans’ Club were
arrested and a truckload of fine
liquors seized from lockers was con
fiscated. The raid was directed bv
Washington prohibition officials said
to have been sent here by the Fed
eral prohibition director.
At about the same time prohibi
tion agents also seized a carload of
beer in the New York Central freight
yards, which had been sent from the j
Ackley Milk Co. of Corning. N. Y., and
was addressed to J. Schultz. Chicago.
It was the fourth carload of beer to be
seized here in four days.
ANGRY MINERS ATTACK
BRITISH CHURCH DEAN
I
Pastor Is Mobbed by Crowd After
Former Premier MacDonald
Concludes Speech.
By the Associated Press.
DURHAM. England. July 25.—The *
Right Rev. James Edward Welldon, I
Dean of Durham, was mobbed by an- I
gry miners today. J. Ramsay Mac- j
Donald, the former Labor premier, !
had just finished addressing an open- ‘
air demonstration of the Durham Mtn- j
ers’ Association, when Dean Well* j
don. who was billed to address a sub- i
sequent temperance meeting, was !
recognized by the crowd. He was
immediately attacked with shouts of
"To the river with him!”
The dean was pushed in the direc
tion of the river and badly jostled:
his hat was knocked off and his stick !
was tom from his hand. He was j
rescued by the police, who took him :
away in a motor boat. He suffered
no great bodily injury.
The attack on him seems to have 1
been occasioned by some local quar |
rel between .the miners and the
clergy, who were supposed to be ex
posing their wage demands.
GERMAN-POLE CONFLICT
IS APPROACHING CLIMAX
Berlin Government Determined to
Enforce Reprisals Equal to
Polish Measures.
By the Associated Press.
BERLIN, July 25.—The conflict be
tween Germany and Poland is ap
proaching Its climax. The German
government seems determined to en
force reprisals in a degree equal In
severity to the measures adopted by
Poland In expelling from territory
ceded to Poland those Germans who
chose Germany as the country to
which they wished to belong.
It is estimated that 27,000 Germans
vdll be expelled from Poland, but it is
difficult to arrive at the exact figures.
In accordance with the Vienna agree
ment. the Germans and Poles to be
expelled are divided into three cate
gories as to the date of ejection,
namely: August t. those owning land
ed property; August 11, those owning
properties within fortification areas
or in a 10-kilonieter radius of the
frontier, and all others by July 1, 1920.
August 1 will see the expulsion from
Poland of 20.000 Germans. 2,500 more
will follow on November 1 and the re- j
jnalplng 4,51 fl by J
—BUT STILL ON THE WARPATH.
PLAN NINE-DIVISION
EMERGENCY ARMY
War Department Orders Re
serve Officer Force to
Inactive Units.
By the Associated Press.
New mobilization plans announced
yesterday hv the War Department call
for the assignment of enough reserve
officers to inactive units of the Reg
ular Army so that the full nine-divi
sion strength of the Regulars could
be recruited up to war footing with
a minimum of delay in the event of
a war emergency.
The project is another step of the
post-war national defense policy and
represents a final decision to retain
the three active divisions of the Reg
ulars as they are for war service and
not to split them up for expansion.
Orders Issued.
Orders have been issued to all corps
area and branch commanders to work
out the tables of reserve officers neces
sary to bring the present peace
strength of the Regular Army at
home —three divisions and six rein
forced brigades—up to the full nine
division strength they would have in
war. Only reserve officers of World
"War experience are eligible for these
assignments, as the forces probably
would be called quickly into action.
A limited number of Regular Army
officers also will be assigned to the
inactive units, together with non
commissioned officers for essential
key positions. It is assumed under
the project it would be possible to
fill these organizations up quickly
in a war emergency with volunteers,
the great majority of whom had had
actual war service in the ranks or
previous peace-time service in some
combatant branch of the Army.
All Branches Provided For.
In addition to the six Infantry divi
sions to be rounded out with reserve
officer personnel, corps and Army
troops, including heavy artillery. Air
Service commands, a division of
Cavalry and all the trains, supply and
maintenance units, harbor defense
railway batteries and the like that
would go with a full nine-division
strength will be similarly provided
for.
The move contemplates that the
three active Infantry divisions now
maintained would be immediately
available to move out, needing only
the recruits to fill the units to fuil
war strength. As volunteers with
previous military experience can be
relied upon to fill up these commands,
the policy contemplates that these
three divisions will always be avail
able for actual front-line duty when
needed, the remaining six Regular di
visions to follow them up as soan as
possible with mobilization of the Na
tional Guard and Organized Reserve
divisions to proceed in order there
after.
In the World War. when the Reg
ular Army began its mobilization,
the policy followed practically
amounted to breaking up each exist
ing regiment into its three constituent
battalions and then recruiting each
battalion up to regimental strength.
The result was that virtually no unit
of the Regulars was immediately
available for service.
Basis of Expansion.
The new policy, which »was dis
cussed at the general staff conference
called by Maj. Gen. Hines before the
July 4 defense muster, is aimed at
correcting that defect and holding a
substantial part of the Regulars ready
for instant service, with only such
recruiting of experienced enlisted vol
unteers as is necessary to go from
peace to war strength. The regiments
would be ready to give a good ac
count of themselves, even without
that recruiting, should the need arise.
Reserve assignments to the inactive
regular units will be made largely by
corps area commanders responsible
for those units. The instructions
provide that the colonel and all other
field officers of each Infantry or Ar
tillery regiment or its equivalent in
special troops shall be Regulars, the
other officers to come from the Re
serve Corps. The 3ix present rein
forced brigades of Infantry form the
basis of the expansion, each to be
developed into a full division, with
the brigade commanders assuming
command pending other assignments.
Corps area commanders were directed
to expedite their recommendations as
to selections of reserve officers, the
instructions adding;
“The policies governing promotion
of reserve officers for the above pin
pose will be announced after your
recommendation* have been re
ceived,”
TODAY’S STAR.
PART ONE—32 PAGES.
General News—Local, National and
Foreign.
News of the Clubs —Page 18.
Serial, “Wrath to Come” —Page 21.
Around the City—Page 22.
Veterans of the Great War —Page 22.
District National Guard—Page 23.
Boy Scout News —Page 23.
Radio News and Programs—Page 26.
Current News Events —Page 28.
Army and Navy News —Page 29.
PART TWO—I 2 PAGES.
Editorials and Editorial Features.
Washington and Other Society.
Tales of Well Known Folk —Page 10.
PART THREE—IO PAGES.
Amusements —Theaters and the Photo
play.
Music in Washington—Page 4.
Motors and Motoring—Pages 5,6, 7
and 8.
Fraternal News—Page 9.
Reviews of New Books—Page 9.
PART FOUR—4 PAGES.
Pink Sports Section.
PART KIVE—B PAGES.
Magazine Section —Fiction and Fea
tures.
The Rambler—Page 3.
PART SIX—I 2 PAGES.
Classified Advertising.
Financial News—Pages 9, 10 and 11.
GRAPHIC SECTION—B PAGES.
World Events in Pictures.
COMIC SECTION—4 PAGES.
Betty; Reg'lar Fellers; Mr. and Mrs.;
Mutt and Jeff.
“LINE-STAFF” FIGHT
BREAKS OUT ANEW
Appointment of Successor to Ad
miral Robison Stirs Dp Old
Navy Argument.
By the Aesociated Press.
The impending appointment of a
new chief of the Navy Bureau of
Engineering has developed another
situation in which officers of the line
and staff find themselves in disagree
ment.
It was indicated today that the
question, still to be decided, whether
the line and staff should have similar
designations in their ranks, has be
come further complicated by Admiral
Kberle, chief of naval operations,
recommending to Secretary Wilbur
the appointment of a line officer to
succeed Rear Admiral J. K. Robison
when the latter's term as chief of
, Bureau of Engineering expires Sep
tember—3o.
Admiral Robison is a line officer
and engineering officers have filed
representations with the Secretary
urging that the head of the bureau
be selected from one of the technically
trained engineers. Admiral Robison
has applied for retirement before his
four-year term expires in September,
but his request is yet to be acted upon
by thl President.
Rear Admiral C. W. Dyson, inspec
tor general of engineering, who will
retire on account of age this Fall, is
leading the officers urging the selec
tion of an engineer for the post and
contends the appointment for a four
year term of another line bfficer to
head the bureau would establish a
precedent difficult to set aside. He
has solicited the support of the en
gineering profession of the country in
his efforts, which, he says, are aimed
to obtain recognition for the service
specialists.
Secretary Wilbur has stated that he
would take no action in the matter
until after his return to Washington
next month from his vacation. He
may hold a hearing on the question
before he takes final action.
Youth and Size of l/. S. Gobs Fail
To Impress Sydney , But Navy Does
By the Associated Press.
SYDNEY, N. S. W., July 26 —The
newspaper Truth in a long “leader”
this (Sunday) morning, comments
that the United States Navy im
presses the Australians, but that
the American sailors do not.
The newspaper expressed sur
prise that the "Navy is com
posed -of youngsters instead of big,
broad-shouldered, deep-chested sail
ormen.” It further stated that
Australians had not expected to
lind “so many ranges of color
amongst the ranks.”
‘‘3j|e cobs do not Impress ut,“
“From Press to Home
Within the Hour ”
The Star is delivered every evening and
Sunday morning to Washington homes at
60 cents per month. Telephone Main 5000
and service will start immediately. *
GP) Means Associated Press.
MOHR GEIS LIFE
FOR POISONING SON
Mrs. Anna Cunningham
Found Guilty in Gary,
Ind., Case. r
By the Associated Press.
CROWN POINT, Ind.. July 25.
Mrs. Anna Cunningham of Oary, Ind.,
today was found guilty of murdering
her 10-year-old son Walter, and was
sentenced to life imprisonment.
The case was given to the jury
shortly after noon yesterday. Mrs.
Cunningham is under indictment in
connection with the death of two other
children. She was accused of poison
ing the trio.
Mrs. Cunningham's attorneys filed
notice that an appeal would be taken
from her conviction.
Suspicion first rested on Mrs. Cun
ningham in connection with the mys
terious deaths of five members of her
family in six years when David Cun
ningham, jr., 24, became ill suddely
in Gary and was removed to a Chi
cago hospital for treatment last April.
Chicago Coroner Acfs.
Oscar Wolff, coroner of Cook Coun
ty (Chicago), investigated on informa
tion given by George Arnold, 25, a
cousin of David Cunningham, who
said the Cunninghams had lived prin
cipally on insurance paid on lives of
the five deceased members.
The investigation continued as David,
jr., remained critically ill from what
physicians said was internal poison
ing. Mrs. Cunningham was arrested
in Gary April 11. The charge fol
lowed an examination of the vital
organs of the bodies of Walter. 10,
and Harry, 23, her sons. Physicians
found traces of poison in Walter's
organs, but none in those of Harrv.
Deaths in the family began on July
2. 1918, when the father and husband
died. Isabella died December 31, 1920;
Harry on October 13. 1921: Charles
September 21, 1922, and Walter Sep
tember 26, 1923.
David, the last to become ill, is par
tially paralyzed, but gradually is re
covering.
REGRETS GERMAN REPLY.
Austen Chamberlain Sees Failure of
Conference of Nations.
BIRMINGHAM, England. July 25
MP).—Austen Chamberlain, secretary
for foreign affairs, speaking here to
night. expressed regret that the Ger
man reply to M. Briand on the secur
ity proposals was of a character mak
ing it inevitable, in his opinion, that
written communications should con
tinue instead of a conference of the
nations concerned to work out an
agreement. He recognized, however,
Germany’s sincere desire to pursue
the negotiations to a successful con
clusion.
•
PEACEMAKER INJURED.
Man Cut Trying to Break Up Knife'
Battle.
Acting as peacemaker in a knife
battle between two unidentified col
ored men in front of 2130 Eighth
street last night. Samuel R. Robinson,
colored. 35. of 1818 Sixth street, was
cut on the chin by one of the com
batants.
He was treated at Freedmen s Hos
pital, but his condition was pro
nounced not serious.
Immediately after the cutting of the
peacemaker the fighters adjourned to
a more secluded spot, according to
reports in the neighborhood, and fin
ished the altercation without further
interference.
Police are investigating.
the newspaper concluded. “But
the visit of the fleet does.”
Admiral Samuel S. Robison, com
manding the contingent of the fleet
visiting here declared at a ban
quet of the Commercial Travelers’
Association last night that navies
were used to finish wars, not to
start them.
"You can search history," he
asserted. “We have never fo
mented war. We naval men re
s'HM't the customs of other peoples,
and we are called upon when
racial and religious prejudice tank*
war to finish the job.”
FIVE CENTS.
NEW ARMS PARLEY
NOPE OF COOLIDGE
BEGINS TO WANE
Apathy of Nations to Project
Cherished by President
Disappoints Him.
WILL LET MATTER DRIFT
UNTIL AUSPICIOUS TIME
Support of Public Is Assured in
Coal Strike Crisis. Ham
mond Says.
BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG.
Staff Correspondent of The Star.
SUM MER WHITE HOUSE.
SWAMPSCOTT, Mass., July 25.
Those who have talked with President
Coolidge recently regarding the hold
ing of another Washington arms
conference of the larger world pow
ers have gone away with the feeling
that he is beginning to lose hope, at
least for the present.
The impression has been gained
that President Coolidge is becoming
well aware of what his advisers de
scribe as an adverse attitude on the
part of the European countries where
diplomatic feelers have been made
by representatives of the United
States.
The President is understood to
have been advised that these efforts
to engage the powers in another con
ference to. bring about further re
duction in armament and armed
forces have met with little success.
Word received here is that those
powers are not manifesting any in
terest in such a conference as has
been hoped for by President Cool
idge.
President Disappointed.
President Coolidge, while not dis
turbed over this development, is un
derstood to be disappointed. He has
not abandoned hope, however, and al
though he might let the matter drift
for the present, his intimates feel
sure that he will make another at
tempt to bring about the materiali
zation of this conference.
The President in his first really im
portant speech following his acces
sion to the Presidency declared that
his ambition was to convene a second
arms conference as soon as the na
tions of the world were ready for it.
He reiterated that desire In his mes
sages to Congress. He had hoped
that they would he ready for a cali
by him this Summer following the
conferences held at Paris and Geneva.
The fact that they are uninterested
in his program becomes known con
currently with the revelation that the
European nations today have over
6.000,000 men under arms, probably
the largest armed force In peace time.
It also follows loaning of vast
sums of American money which was
calculated to enable them to put their
houses in order.
It was said here today In official
circles that not since the Washington
conference, which stripped the
United States of the great naval su
premacy she then enjoyed, has a sin
gle suggestion for a further confer
ence to reduce naval or military
forces been made by any European
or other world power.
Hammond Sees Confidence.
John Hays Hammond, who was
chairman of the President's fact-find
ing coal commission in 1923 and who
last week conferred with the Presi
dent regarding the threatened anthra
cite coal strike, while In Swampacott
today said that if by any chance oc
casion should arise for President
Coolidge to exert his influence in an
effort to compose the present contro
versy he believes that the President
could rally public support as few
other Presidents could have done.
According to Mr. Hammond’s opin
ion, Mr. Coolidge enjoys public confi
dence and affection such as no other
Chief Executive has enjoyed since the
days of James Monroe and the “era
of good feeling.”
Should the time come to act, Mr.
Hammond believes the President will
find all political parties united behind
him on the principle that the public's
right to a continuous supply of fuel
transcends the private right of either
capital or labor.
Mr. Hammond has informed the
President that he feels very hopeful
that the operators and miners will
compose their differences, but if they
don't he does not think a strike will
be one of long duration.
Bliss Reports on Sweden.
Robert Woods Bliss, United States f
Minister to Sweden, reported condi
tions in that country to President
Coolidge today at White Court. He
spent over one hour making his ob
servations upon the progress of
Sweden and its advances financially.
He also told the President what he
thought of the ability of the debtor
nations to pay their obligations to the
United States.
The relations between Sweden and
the United States are as happy as
possible, Mr. Bliss said, upon leaving
the President.
DRY LEADER MURDERED.
W. R. Hamilton of Knoxville Is
Stabbed by Negro.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., July 25 OP).—
William R. Hamilton, 50, former pres
ident of the Tennessee Anti-Saloon
League, was staVbed to death tonight
by James Evans, negro.
Mr. Hamilton met death after an
altercation with the negro, who he
had called to repair a puncture to his
automobile tire. The stabbing occurred
on a leading residential street of
Knoxville.
Mr. Hamilton was prominent in
Knoxville as a civic and church lead
er. He was president of the East
Tennessee Automobile and Tire' Com
pany.
30 Hurt in Crash.
MONROVIA. Calif., July 25 OP).—
Thirty-one men were injured, tour
seriously, when a section of the out
door amphitheater on Point Lookout
collapsed tonight during the holding
of the semi-annual eeremonla of the
dramatic order, Knights of Kborassan,
a. Knights of Pythias organization.