Evening star. [volume], December 18, 1926, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
WEATHER.
(IT. S. Weather Bureau Forecast.)
Fair, continued cold tonight; min
imum temperature 12 degrees; tomor
row increasing cloudiness; not so cold.
Temperature—Highest, 39. at 3 p.m.
yesterday; lowest, 10. at S a.rn. today.
Full report on page 4.
Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds. Page 14
XT *>/\ -| Q1 Entered as second class matter
iNO. dlfjlOi. post office, Washington, I). C.
COALITION CABINET
UNDER LUTHER A1
OF VON if MORE!
Marx’s Defeated Ministry
Will Continue to Guide Af
fairs Over Holidays.
PRESIDENT IS DEEPLY
OFFENDED BY CHARGES!
Delays Appointment of New Chan
cellor to Give Parties Time
to "Cool Off."
By the Associated Press.
BERLIN, December 18.—Indica
tions are that the cabinet of Chan
cellor Marx, which resigned yester
day after a defeat in the Reichstag,
will continue to guide affairs of state
until the holidays are over. After
passing the Social Democratic motion
of non-confidence, 249 to 171, the
Reichstag adjourned until January
/It, and many.members left the capi
' tal to he with their families for
Christmas.
The cabinet fell before an unnat*-
ural alliance between the I-est So
cialist and Right Nationalist factions,
either of which group outnumbers
any government party. The motion
on which the vote was taken was j
introduced by Philipp Scheidemann. !
Social Democratic leader, and was j
supported by the Nationalists, Com- j
munists and Fascistl.
Scheidemann Leads Attack.
Scheidemann. in opening his at
tack on Thursday, charged that arms
and airplanes were manufactured
and hoarded in Russia for Germany
through the functioning of a secret j
fund .This was denied by Chan- j
eellpr Marx.
The cabinet, presenting its resigna- j
tion to President von Hindenburg i
last evening, was requested to con- j
tinue In office pending the formation j
of a new ministry. Customary pro- i
cedure v. T ould be to ask the Socialists |
to form a government, they being the j
party responsible for the cabinet’s
defeat, but Nationalist leaders say
tlie President 'was deeply hurt by
Socialist charges of irregularity in
the administration of the defense j
forces and that he may attempt to j
produce a coalition of the parties of j
the right and middle.
Former Chancellor Hans Luther/ j
Who is now returning from a trip to ;
Central and South men- j
tloned most frequently by the Right- j
tots as the successor to Dr. Marx. j
President Receives Chiefs.
President von Hindenburg this {
morning received successively the |
chairman of the People s Party, the j
Socialists the Centrists and the Ger
man Nationalists. The discussions
were otficialiy described as “merely
informative."
It was intimated that the President
would not commission any one to
form a new. government until after
the new year, giving plenty of time
for the parties to cool ofE after yes
terday’s hectic session.
Foreign Minister Stresemann, who
has been in poor health, will start
n§xt week for a six weeks’ visit to
Egypt.
ENGLAND SEES CRISIS.
Calls German Situation Monarchist-
Republic Struggle.
LONDON. December 18 UP). —Brit- j
toh newspapers today viewed . over-;
throw of the Marx cabinet in Ger- j
many as an important crisis in a
struggle between supporters of the
republic and of the old monarchist!
regime.
The Chronicle says that the real
issue in the present political upset is
/ broadly, “Democracy versus Mili
tarism,” and adds that it is hopeful
that militarism will not be victorious.
The Times declares that the crisis
is no ordinary one, as it raises the
fundamental question of who governs
Germany.
“The Reichstag debate,” the paper
says, “has put the question of the
regime and its connection with the
army into the foreground. The Na
tionalists, recognizing this, have
taken up the challenge and joined
the Socialists in overthrowing the
government, so it may be made clear
who really governs Germany—genu
ine Republicans or groups who art
working for political and military j
restoration.” «
The Post declares that the defeat
of the government has placed the I
whole foreign policy of Germany in !
doubt.
* “Whether or not what has common- j
ly been described as the. Locarno
spirit will continue to prevail is still ]
to be discovered,” the paper says. j
BLOW TO BRIAN!) SEEN.
Foreign Minister’s Position linked
With Berlin Crisis. j
PARIS, December IS (A 3 ).—Foreign
Minister Briund’s position, in French
public opinion, will be slightly low-'
ered, Luclen Romler writes in the
• Figaro, by the downfall of the Marx-
Stresemann cabinet in Germany.
(This is presumably based on the
close contact between M. Uriand and
Dr. Stresemann in their plans for
bettering Franco-German relations.
Berlin dispatches^.however, state that
Stresemann was not seriously at
tacked during the Reichstag debate,
and that it was believed the fall of
the government would not affect Ger
many's foreign policy.)
The other commentators , follow
their usual lines in dealing with the
cabinet crisis. L'Ere Nouvelle, organ
of the Left, says it has pleased Ger
many to cry a halt to those leading
her toward “transactions of deliver
ance.”
“Pertinax” in the Echo de Paris
concludes that Germany’s two dom
i inating forces, bureaucracy and the
army, are working ceaselessly to wash
out the World War defeat, and that
“all the rest is only the confusion
of small interests in superficial imita
tion of the jM)liticai ideas and customs
of Western Europe.”
Radio Programs—Page 32
|
Dies in Flames
i
| v *
■
- - i ■ i. ■■■■■■ J |
BLANCHE SOLOMON.
LITHUANIAN CRISIS
REPORTED AT END
Order Emerges From Coup of
Army and New Cabinet
Is Appointed.
! - i
; By the Associated Press.
I LONDON, December 18. —The crisis
| caused yesterday by the military coup j
‘ d'etat directed by Gen. Smetona has
come to an end, says a message re
ceived today from Kovno by the Lithu
anian legation. . s.
The message stated that President
i Grinius, after accepting the resigna
i ion of the Slezevicius cabinet, resumed
! his normal duties in Kovno. He has
| appointed Prof. Valdemaras, premier
J and minister of foreign affairs, and
j other Nationalists as members of the
| new cabinet. These include Col.
j Merkys as minister of defense and
Dr. Kervelis as minister of finance.
| One report, through Warsaw, says
there was fighting on Green Hill, near
Kovno, where one regiment remained
loyal to the government.
With only erratic telephone and tele
graph communication the situation
; was not entii ely clear today, but it
i seemed established that a group head- <
|ed by former President Antona!
I Smetona and Maj. Plekhavichus was
iin the saddle, wielding dictatorial
power and with the army behind it.
The leaders of the coup charged that
the old government under the mode
rate Socialist premier, M. Elezevicius,
[ bad betrayed Lithuania to the Bolshe
! vlsts and to foreign nations. They
I are said to have been particularly dis
| satisfied with the government’s le
t nient attitude toward Poland and other
| bordering states.
Advices indicate that Gen. Smetona
will make the question of the Vilna
district a prominent part of the new
regime’s political program. This dis
trict, formerly part of Russia, was
awarded to Poland by the allied coun
cil of ambassadors, but Lithuania
has refused to recognize the ambassa
dors’ decision.
The present revolt, after lengthy
secret preparation, was launched in
the small hours of yesterday morning.
The Diet was at the fag end of a long
night session when troops entered.
The commanding officer, Maj. Plekha
vichus, mounted the speaker’s tri
bune, announced that the Diet was
dissolved and its officers under ar
rest, and that the army had assumed
authority.
PATRONAGE CHARGE
IS ORDERED PROBED
/ .
Senate Judiciary Committee
to Investigate Alleged ■
Selling in South.
I By the Associated Press.
The oft-repeated charge that
Federal i>atronage is being sold in
Southern States today was made the
special order of business for a meeting
!of the Senate judiciary committee
j next Monday.
j At that time a resolution by Sena
| tor Harris, Democrat, Georgia, de-
I mandlng a congressional investigation,
j will be considered. The resolution
went to the committee yesterday.
Not Member of Committee.
Senator Harris is not a member of
i the committee, but has the support
jof several of the members in his
j stand, and Chairman Norris himself
has expressed the view that the scope
! of the inquiry should be broadened
; to include other States than those of
■ the South.
j A substitute for the Harris resolu- '
| tion will be offered by Senator King, I
| Democrat, Utah, ho yesterday also |
demanded a broadening of the Inquiry.
The charges of patronage barter
ing furnished a subject of consider
able debate in the House last J-ear,
and Democratic members of the
Southern group were vigorous in de
| nouncing conditions they said ob
i tained in the filling of Federal of-
I ttces and the activities of local po
| litieal leaders in connection with ap
j pointments.
Suggest Rumors I’robe.
During the de-bate which preceded
reference of the matter to the judici
ary committee Senator Trammell,
Democrat, of Florida suggested that
inquiry also be made into rumors that
assessments are made against Federal
office holders "for the maintenance of
their State and national organiza
tions.”
“1 have no direct proof upon that
subject,” said Senator Trammell, "but
jt is a matter that is pretty commonly
rumored that postmasters, for in
stance, after they once get into office
have to make contributions to main
tain the State Republican organiza
i tions and to maintain their national
1 committeemen here in Washington.”
Wftt lEtomitm SWaf.
\ J V WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION \^/
WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1926-THIRTY-TWO PAGES. • *
LITTLE GIRL BURNS
TO DEATH AS 6 ARE
SAVED BY KITTEN
Second Child Tossed' From
i i
Fiery Home Before Others
Jumn Out Window.
!
•
: BODY OF VICTIM FOUND
UNDER GRANDMA’S BED
j Tragedy cn Eve of Double Birth
day Party Saddens Friends
of Blanche Solomon, 6.
Blanche Solomon, 6 years old, was
burned to death early this morning.
Other members of the Solomon
household, at 1212 Thirteenth street,
probably owe their lives to the little
girl’s pet kitten, Grapes, who
aroused her uncle by clawing at his
! face.
Tho uncle, Meyer Rosenblatt, and
j little Blanche were sleeping in the
| same room when fire started at about
3:30 a.m. Mr. Rosenblatt rushed to the
other rooms to aw r aKen his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Rosenblatt; Mr.
and Mrs. Arthur F. Solomon and
Blanche's 4-year-old sister, Sylvia.
Then he rushed back to get Blanche,
but flames blocked his path.. The
! older survivors were forced to jump
! from second-story front windows into
| the arms of neighbors, after tossing
I Sylvia to safety from the same place.
All slightly burned or injured by
I the jump, the dazed families watched
while firemen subdued the flames.
Then the search for Blanche began.
Cut-led I’p Under Red.
They found her curled up beneath
her Grandfather Rosenblatt’s bed, as
though seeking protection from the
searing flames that closed in upon
her. Awakened by the frantic screams
of parents and other relatives, ap
parently, the child had battled her
way through the burning hall to her
grandfather’s room. With escape
through the windows blocked, she
probably had crawled under the bed,
thinking it would halt the fire’s prog
ress until help arrived.
Police of the second precinct took
Blanche’s body to Emergency Hos
pital, but physicians there said life
was extinct. Gabriel Rosenblatt, the
grandfather, was treated for burned
arms, and Mrs. Soloman, the mother,
was cut and bruised. Young Rosen
blatt was slightly burned. After re
ceiving medical attention, all w’ent to
the home of relatives a few blocks
away.
Tomorrow- was to have been a gala
day in the Solomon home. It will be
Sylvia’s fourth birthday. Blanche
passed her sixth just a few days ago,
and a dual celebration in honor of the
two great events was to have been
held. A big cake was ready and little
friends had been invited to the party.
But those playmates who dall will go
just to say good-by to Blanche.
Store Escapes Flames.
The rear of the house was nearly
destroyed by the fire and most of the
front was damaged. The store on the
first floor escaped with only damage
by water. The flumes ate their way
through a wall into the neighboring
home of Charles Gerson, a tailor.
The blaze there was cheeked, how
ever, before it did much damage.
What became of Grapes? Well, no
member of the family knows yet.
Some persons remembered seeing the
kitten leave the house and prowl
among the crowd until Blanche’s body
was discovered. Then Grapes disap
peared, only to revisit the scene of
the tragedy for a brief moment later
in the morning and then again to
leave.
RAILROAD BUILDING
PURCHASE OPPOSED
Gen. Lord Sends District
Measure .Back, Saying It
Conflicts With Policy.
The Bureau of the Budget today
temporarily halted the plans of tho
District Commissioners to acquire the
Southern Railway Building, at Thir
teenth street and Pennsylvania ave
nue, for additional quarters for the
Municipal Building.
Brig. Gen. Herbert M. Lord, direc
tor of the bureau, returned to the
Commissioners the bill drafted by
them for the acquisition of the build
ing, with a report that it would be
in conflict with the financial program j
of President Coolidge pending the J
final outcome of the measure authoriz
ing the purchase of the privately
owned land in the triangular area
south of Pennsylvania avenue, which
has passed the Senate and is now be
fore the public buildings committee
of the House.
The Commissioners recommended
I the purchase of the Southern Railway
I Building only as an alternative to a
j plan for the acquisition of property
directly south of the District Build
ing, on which it was proposed to build
an addition to the municipal building.
This site has been designated in the
public buildings program for the Gen
eral Utilities Building. In view of the
report by Gen. Lord the Commission
ers are expected to resume efforts to
acquire this property for the District
Building extension.
STUDENTS EXPELLED.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., December 18
UP). —Two students at Massachusetts
Institute of Technology have been ex
pelled, two suspended for a year and
13 others disciplined as a result of
disorders in connection with the cele
bration of field day at the institute on
November 4. The men expelled are
John L. Dodson of New York and
William E. King of Boston.
Among students placed on proba
tion are Erllng S. Matthieson, Eu
Claire, Wis., and Prescott Crou%
Milwaukee.
sdaser
EMPEROR’S DEATH
IS EXPECTED SOON
Japanese Report His Condi
tion Unchanged, But Say
‘Announcement’ Is Coming.
By the Associated Press.
TOKIO, December 18.—A bulletin
Issued by the household department
at 8 o'clock tonight said the condition
of Emperor Yoshihito was "virtually
unchanged.” This is the first official
report from the sick room since noon.
Although no one outside the royal
family, members of the cabinet and
their attendants know what is hap
pening in the carefully guarded
chamber of the royal villa at Hayama,
where Emperor Yoshihito is dying,
the outside world today began to hear
whispers of the ruler’s passing. News
paper correspondents have been told
that an “important announcement”
la corping.
Cabinet Visits Sickroom.
Tlje nation is stilled with that ex
pectancy which always precedes such
an occasion in the imperial palace.
The cabinet has made its visit to the
liedside. Battleships ride at anchor
almost within sight of the villa. Day
and night, princes and princesses of
the blood remain faithfully near the
sickroom, and other members of the
royal family are at hand.
Six physicians remain with their
ruler, working with the determination
that marks the unwillingness of their
kind to capitulate -to death. Oxygen,
saline solutions and every known ele
ment for combatting the pernicious
illness which besets the ruler have
been resorted to in the effort to save
him. He has bronchial pneumonia.
Despite the whisperings and the
fact that the emperor has been grave
ly ill for two weeks or more and
losing vitality everytime the doctors
make a report, the latest word is
that Yoshihito still lives.
Yoshito still is a young man so far
as his span of years is concerned—47.
But he has been ailing since f 921,
when the cares of state were lifted
from his shoulders and set upon the
stronger ones of his eldest son. Crown
Prince Hirohito.
Two Attempt Harakiri.
The emperor has been confined to
his villa for several months, the lit
tle villa, an hour’s ride from the capi
tal, was chosen by him as a place in
which to seek health.
But his health never returned. Grad
ually he lost vitality until even the
ordinary gaiety of the village was
forbidden, lest he should be disturbed.
From that time on he grew steadily
weaker.
Two attempts at harakiri, the Jap
| anese name for self-destruction, have
! been noted in the village in the last
j few hours. ' One of the nurses at-
I tempted to slash ’her throat with a
razor, and a minor public official also
attempted suicide. This is taken as
a demonstration of grief for their
ruler.
j The latest bulletin showed the em
| peror’s temperature to be over 101,
I but the bulletins from the sick room
| are coming with less frequency than
j heretofore.
, Whether the ruler’s death will be
officially announced at Hayama, in
| case death overtakes him there, or
1 whether he will be returned to the
! imperial palace at Tokio before the
announcement is made is a matter
of conjectpre. Heretofore custom has
required that death lie announced only
when the body lies in the palace.
SHAW ADMITS “GUILT.”
Says His Writings Have Been
Means of Separating Couples.
LONDON, December 18 C4>).—
George Bernard Shaw is quoted by
the Daily Express as pleading guilty
to having been instrumental in sepa
rating husbands and wives. Speaking
to a fellow guest at a luncheon given
by Lady Beecham, the famous dra
matist is said to have remarked:
“I am supposed to have had a bad
effect on my age.. I write plays like
‘Candida,’ and unknown women w r rite
to me and say I have inspired them
to leave their husbands.
"Sometimes 1 meet them afterward
and ask them whether their decision
was Justified. Thev usually say ves,
and I feel less guilty.”
Only S More Days
Ciirtsitmasi
Will Be Here
~ SHOP NOW!
J Jkni Bmly in the Day
FIVE HOURS OF EULOGY MARKS
RUDOLPH TESTIMONIAL DINNER
Leaders in Official, Business, Social and
Civic Life Join in Paying Tribute
to Retired Commissioner.
The long public career of Cuno 11.
Rudolph as District Commissioner was
crowned with a testimonial dinner in
his honor last night at the Willard
Hotel which, for magnitude and sin
cerity of manifestation, was unprece
dented in Washington. It was an
epochal farewell tribute to a man
from the people whom he served for
almost a decade and who held him
in the highest of esteem upon retire
ment from office.
Eight hundred men, leaders in every
walk of life in the Nation's Capital,
were there to do him honor. Among
them were foreign diplomats, high
officials of the Fi»deral Government,
captains of finance, business men,
professional men, civic representatives
and a number of Mr. Rudolph's most
loyal associates in the District Build
ing.
in word and song Mr. Rudolph's
devotion to service and his qualities
TRIANGLE ACTION '
DUE WEDNESDAY
House Building Committee
Expected to Approve $25,-
000,000 Purchase.
The House committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds probably will
meet Wednesday to take favorable
action on the Underhill bill authoriz
ing an expenditure of $25,000,000 pur
chase of all privately owned land in the
triangle south of Pennsylvania avenue
to the Mall, the four reservations be
tween Pennsylvania avenue and B
street north and B street and Mary
land avenue south.
The House bill will also include the
Southern Railway property, betw-een
Thirteenth and Thirteen-and-a-half
streets north of D street.
May Include Other Squares.
Several squares north of Pennsyl
vania avenue, v r hich will be required
when B street is extended under the
authority carried in the Arlington
Memorial Bridge act, and the pro
posed site for the Botanic Garden
south of Maryland avenue to Canal
street, may also be included in the
House bill.
Mr. Underhill, Republican, Massa
chusetts, a member of the House
District committee, wdio has for four
years been fathering legislation to
acquire the property now contem
plated and to square up the Mall, and
to remove the eyesores of Chinese
places and fortune tellers just west
of the Capitol, expects to have a con
ference with Secretary Mellon the
first of the week.
He was in conference today with
David Lynn, architect of the Capitol,
regarding the way in which the park
way development north of the Capitol
grounds to Union Station, and includ
ing the new avenue from Union Sta
tion to Pennsylvania avenue, will fit
in with the triangle development and
Just which squares north of the Ave
nue will be needed.
Confers With Lynn.
Mr. Underhill was also in confer
ence with Mr. Lynn regarding the
proposed new r site for the Botanic
Garden, w'hich is now covered in an
other bill, but which may be
in the Underhill bill.
Mr. Underhill is urging for another
hearing before the public buildings
and grounds committee next Wednes
day at which he will be able to lay
before the committee a very definite
statement regarding how much land
should be included in his bill and the
unqualified support it carries from
the Treasury Department.
Next Wednesday is the day on
which Congress is to adjourn.
Will Be Made Bishop.
ROME, December 18 04*). —Pope
Pius has decided to appoint Mgr.
Charles D. White, rector of St.
Joseph’s Preparatory Seminary in
Grand Rapids, Mich., as Bishop of
Spokane, Wash., at the next con
sistory,
of character were extolled by men
who knew him best, men who are
familiar with the onerous duties of
a District Commissioner and the fidel
ity with which he discharged them. l
He was held up as an exemplar of
all that is best in a public servant.
President Coolidge added to this W’ith
a letter of commendation.
Tributes Last Five Hours.
For nearly five hours Mr. Rudolph
listened to these superlative tributes,
and then in a voice apparently choked
with emotion, responded with a state
ment that it was the greatest honor
he had received in his life. "The
memory of this night will never fade,”
he said with gratitude.
The salient tribute c'ame from the
lips of Right Rev. James E. Freeman,
Episcopal Bishop of the diocese of
Washington. Mr. Rudolph’s colleugue
on the board of Commisisoners, Lieut.
Col. J. Franklin Bell, followed him in
turn. And then Otis Skinner, star of
(Continued on Page 4, Column 2.)
MERCURY HITS ID,
LOWEST OF SEASON
Skating on Reflecting Pool Is
Believed Likely Tomorrow.
Weather to Stay Cold.
Washington will continue to put
frozen cream in its breakfast coffee
for the next day or so.
Early this morning the mercury
went down to its lowest point for the
year, 10 above zero. It will be almost
as cold tonight, the Weather Bureau
announced, forecasting a minimum of
12 above zero. There will be little
temperature increase, even under the
bright sunshine of early afternoon.
Warmer weather is not definitely
in sight. It will continue cold tomor
row, although not quite so cold as
today. Rain or snow has passed out
of the forecast and good clear, crisp
weather is expected, with possibly a
slight clouding up tomorrow.
Ice skaters besieged the park police
today for permission to inaugurate the
skating season on the Lincoln Me
morial pool, but they were put off un
til "probably tomorrow.” The surface
of the pool had frozen to a thickness
of inches today, and by tomorrow
it is expected the coating will be
strong enough for devotees of the
sport.
18 BELOW IN NEW YORK.
Coldest Weather Reported Upstate
Near Watertown.
ALBANY, N. Y., December 18 (/P). —
The second cold wave of the present
Winter gripped northern New York
today.
Watertown, which yesterday was
burled under snow in a heavy storm,
which covered only a comparatively
small area, reported a minimum tem
perature of 13 degrees below zero in
the city and readings of 16 to 18 below
In the outlying sections.
Malone, with a reading of 16 be
low, was one of the coldest spots in
the State. Saranac Lake reported 12
below and Oswego, on the shore of
Lake Ontario, experienced a tempera
ture of 1 to 3 degrees below.
In Albany the minimum reading at
the Federal Weather Bureau was zero.
NEW YORK, December 18 (.4»).
King Winter today gave New York its
coldest weather of the season. To
(Continued on Page 2, Column 1.)
Mud-Slinging Politicians Face Prison
And Fine if Ohioan s Bill Is Passed
Fine and Imprisonment for eleventh
hour "mud‘slinging” ]M>liticinns Is
sought In a bill presented to Congress
by Representative Thompson, Repub
lican, Ohio.
His bill would make it unlawful to
attack the personal character of a
candidate for Federal office within 18
day* of election. A fine of SI,OOO, one
year imprisonment. or both, are
named as the penalty.
The only evening paper
in Washington with the
Associated Press news
service.
Yesterday’s Circulation, 103,021
(/¥>) Means Associated Press. TWO CENTS.
Ferdinand’s Trip
To Paris Uncertain
In Political Crisis
By the Associated Press.
BUCHAREST, Rumania, Decem
ber 18.—Although it has been de
cided to send King Ferdinand to
Paris for radium treatment of his
intestinal disorder, opposition by
the Rumanian cabinet now has
made it uncertain whether the trip
will be. attempted.
The King himself, whose desire
to go to Paris for medical treat
ment was largely inspired by a
wish to see his son, former
Prince Carol, has wavered in his
determination to make the trip.
The King’s condition is steadily
improving as a result of the last
operation which he underwent in
Bucharest. Radium treatment will
be used eventually, but it is pointed
out in court circles that this can
be given as readily at Bucharest as
at Paris, while the political results
of his absence from his kingdom
might be serious.
SMITH FIGHT QUIET,
APPOINTEE SILENT
Won't Have Anything to Say
Until Necessary, Says Il
linois Senator-Elect.
By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, December 18.—Quiet
reigned today in the Washington and
Illinois sectors in the fight center
ing abound Gov. Small’s appointment
of Frank L. Smith to succeed the
late Senator William B. McKinley
for the four months of the short ses
sion of Congress.
The Senator-elect, who came to
Chicago with Mrs. Smith for a
Christmas shopping tour, said he had
“nothing to say” regarding his ap
pointment and would “not have any
thing to say until I feel it is in
cumbent on me to do so.”
In Washington the issue was tem
porarily cast aside by the Senate,
pending word whether Col. Smith
i would accept the commission.
Asliurst Defers Action.
The Senate lull came when Sena
tor Ashurst, Democrat, Arizona, an
nounced that he would defer action
on his resolution to prevent Mr.
Smith from taking the oath “if and
until Smith presents his credentials.”
This stopped Republican leaders,
who were prepared to fight consider
ation of the resolution until Col.
Smith made known his decision.
Col. Smith planned to return to
his home in Dwight, 111., today after
explaining that he had not received
either the commission to the short
or to the long term, but that they
probably had been forwarded to his
office at Dwight in his absence.
Asked point blank, “Are you going
to accept the appointment?” his re
ply was a smile.
Refusal Is Rumored.
While the Senator-elect was un
communicative, Senator Deneen of
Illinois said at Washington he would
not be "surprised” if Smith declined
the appointment because of the con
dition of his health. Senator Dineen
stated, how r ever, that he had not
communicated w r ith Col. Smith.
Washington dispatches indicated a
new element ir. the situation in re
cording that a number of Senators,
particularly those from the South,
were inclined to proceed cautiously,
because a refusal to accept Smith’s
credentials might strike a blow at
the theory of State’s rights.
PERU SAID TO AVOID
0. K. OF TACNA PLAN
Reply to Kellogg Proposal to
Give Province to Bolivia
Asks Plebiscite Data.
i
By the Associated Press.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, De
cember 18. —La Nacion’s correspond
ent at La Paz, Bolivia, hears that
the Peruvian reply to Secretary Kel
logg’s proposal in the Chilean-Peru
vian controversy over Tacna and
Arica will avoid any reference to the
transfer of the provinces to Bolivia,
as suggested by Mr. Kellogg.
It wdll urge a statement from the
arbiter, President Coolidge, regarding
the report made by Maj. Gen. William
Lassiter as chairman of the Tacna-
Arica plebiscitary commission last
June, in which he declared a plebi
scite impossible under existing condi
tions.
The reply will maintain, the cor
respondent understands, that a solu
tion through negotiations should be
sought only if it is impractical to
hold a plebiscite.
Secretary Kellogg’s memorandum to
Chile and Peru, November 30, em
phasized the futility of attempting
further to adjust the trouble between
them by diplomacy or arbitration, and
urged that the disputed provinces be
ceded to Bolivia. Chile and Peru
would, under his plan, settle by direct
negotiation the question of dividing
any cash compensation received from
Bolivia. The territory w r ould be per
petually demilitarized and the city
of Arica made a free port.
Chile, in a note to the State Depart
ment on December 5, accepted the
proposal in principle.
Increasing bitterness of personal at
tacks on candidates, particularly in
congressional campaigns, Thompson
said, prompted him to introduce the
bill. The wet-and-dry issue has in
stigated many of these eleventh-hour
attacks, he added, expressing the view
that "the majority of these sallies
are timed to leave the accused no op
portunity for redress before the voters
go to the polls."
LANGLEY PAROLED
AFTER SERVING 11
MONTHS OF TERM
Former Kentucky Represent
ative Was Given Two Years
for Dry Law Violation. '
WIFE WON HOUSE SEAT
IN NOVEMBER ELECTION
Place Had Been Held by Husband
Since Sixtieth Congress Until
He Resigned.
Former Representative John W.
Langley of Pikesville, Ky., sentenced
to a two-year term in Atlanta Peniten
tiary for violatU n of the prohibition
laws, was paroled today on the com
pletion of 11 months of his sentence,
it was announced by the Department
of Justice.
Langley was convicted in connection
with withdrawal! of liquor from Gov
ernment bonded warehouses, being
charged with aiding in obtaining per
mits for the illegal withdrawal of
large held in Pittsburgh. He
entered the Federal Penitentiary at
Atlanta after fighting his conviction
to the .Supreme Court of the United
States.
Sargent Grants Parole.
Paroles are granted by the Attorney
General and do not have to go through
the White House.
Attorney General Sargent acted on
the recommendation of the parole
board.
Langley was elected from the tenth
Kentucky district in the Sixtieth Con
gress and served in each succeeding
session until the present, resigning
after his conviction. He was suc
ceeded by Andrew J. Kirk, but in the
last eletcion Mrs. Langley made a
successful contest for her husband’s
seat and will Lake office in the new
Congress, starting March 4.
Langley started serving his sentence
January 15 last. He was eligible for
parole September 14, after having
served one-third of his sentence. Al
lowances for good behavior would
have terminated his sentence on Au
gust 23 next wear. He will be 59
years old next January.
In addition to his service in Con
gress Mr. Langley had served two
terms in the Kentucky Legislature,
was twice a delegate from his dis
trict to the Republican national con
vention and a delegate at large to
the Republican national convention
in 1916. * '
Mr. Langley was a teacher shortly
after completing his early education
in Kentucky and, coming to Washing
ton, studied law here and had con
ferred upon him the degrees not only
of bachelor of law and master of
laws, but also of doctor of the civil
law and master of diplomacy. At
one time he was an examiner In the
Pension Office, a member of the
Board of Pension Appeals, a law clerk
in the General Land Office, and dis
bursing and appointment clerk of the
Census Office.
44 CAPITALAUTOISTS
LOSE RIGHT TO DRIVE
Revocations Prom Dec. 1 to Dec. 15
Show Decrease From Previous
Two Weeks.
Automobile drivers’ ‘permits were
taken aw-ay from 44 motorists between
December 1 and 15, according to the
semi-monthly report of Traffic Direc
tor Maurice O. Eldridge, submitted
today to Maj. Edwin B. Hesse, super
intendent of police. Nine permits pre
viously revoked or canceled were re
stored during this period.
Twenty-six permits w r ere taken up
on a charge of driving while intox
icated, six each for reckless driving
and leaving after colliding, four for
bad records and one each for speeding
and lending a permit.
The 44 revocations and suspensions
represent a reduction under the pre
ceding two-wreek period, when 70 per
mits were taken up. 43 of which were
for driving while drunk.
MISSIONARIES FREED
AFTER CHINESE SIEGE
Eight-Month Battle for Possession
of Shensi Province Capi
tal Ends.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
LONDON. December 18.—The Bap
tist Missionary Society today received
a cable message from China stating
that the eight-month siege of Sian
fu, capital of Shensi Province, has
been terminated and six British mis
sionaries liberated.
Fearful conditions in Sianfu, in
cluding the buying and eating of hu
man flesh to ward off starvation,
caused by factional fighting there,
were described in Peking dispatches
of December 9.
The information reaching Peking
said that the streets of Sianfu were
strewn with dead and that the na
tives had been robbed of all food
stuffs by the soldiers. At last reports
there were 19 foreigners, including
several Americans, in the city.
The Baptist Mission in Peking re
ceived a letter dated Sianfu, Novem
ber 19, from the British missionary
Clement Stockley, telling of terrible
conditions in the city and stating that
foreigners could hold out for only a
short time if allowed to keep the little
food they had.
SINCLAIR SUIT DISMISSED.
NEW YORK. December 18 (A*).—
Suit brought by H. Leslie Parker of
Wyoming against Harry F. Sinclair
for an accounting as to Sinclair’s dis
position of a holding corporation,
known as the Salt Creek Oil Field, in
Wyoming, alleged to be worth 9100.-
000,000, was dismissed In United States
District Court today.