Evening star. [volume], November 15, 1927, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
WEATHER.
itJ. S Weather Bureau Forecast.)
Cloudy, followed by rain late tonight
or tomorrow; warmer tonight: colder
tomorrow, much colder Thursday.
Temperature—Highest. 65, at noon
today: lowest, 53, at 6 a.m. today.
Full report on page 9.
Closing N. Y. Markets, Pages 14 and 15
V A ‘TO illS Entered as second class matter
iAO. J tj. post office. Washington. D C.
BLAST DEATH TOLL
RISES AS RESCUERS
DIG INTO WRECKAGE
23 Known Dead at Pitts
burgh, With 150 Still in
Hospitals.
FOUR PROBES STARTED
INTO TANK EXPLOSION
100 Reported Missing—Damage
Estimated in Millions—Funds
Given for Homeless.
B.v the Associated Press.
PITTSBURGH, Xovi nil.t r 15.—The
death toll as a result of yesterday's
disastrous gas tank blast on the lower
North Side here mounted today as res
cuers dug their way into the ruins of
homes, factories, warehouses and in
dustrial plants. "While a few crews la
bored throughout the night seeking
to clear away some of the debris, the
real work of recovering bodies did not
begin until daylight.
Digging Into the ruins of one struc
ture the rescuers brought out the
bodies of two unidentified men, mak
ing the known dead 23.
Relief Worker Killed.
One fatal accident occurred in the
district during the morning. Frank
Kuepferle, engaged in moving some
twisted steel, was killed instantly
when some reinforcing steel fell upon
him. Anthony Cayne and John Wise,
also working o# the ruins, were in
jured when struck by steel beams.
Fire department officials believed
that at least seven additional bodies
would be found, six in the wrecked
building of the Pittsburgh Clay Pot
plant and one inside the mass of twist
ed ruins that had been the mammoth
gas reservoir. One hundred persons
are reported missing.
Firemen, policemen and volunteer
workers engaged in the task of clear
ing the wreckage from the disaster
area of one square mile said it would
be at least a week before they had ex
plored all the ruins.
Os more than 450 injured persons
treated at hospitals, about 150 re
mained in the institutions today, some
In a critical condition. Many suffered
broken arms and legs, while others
had serious head injuries.
Wreckage Is Blasted.
During the night, the rescuers used
dynamite in an effort to dislodge some
Os the ruins. At daylight, they aban
doned the explosives, and the slow'
work of lifting the wreckage, piece by
piece was resumed. The rescuers
were menaced by tottering w’alls and
hanging timbers and steel beams.
Insurance experts, after inspecting
the devastated district refused to give,
any definite estimates ofthe loss, say
ing it would mount into the millions.
A survey showed that some 30 large
commercial houses and 200 homes
were hit hard by the gas blast. The
entire loss was not confined to the
immediate region of the explosion, for
hundreds of windows throughout
Pittsburgh and suburbs were shat
tered. x
One case of looting was reported
from the stricken district during the
night. Joseph Jorinski and Frank
Linshu, both residents of the wrecked
region, were arrested, charged with
entering some of the deserted homes.
Taken before Police Magistrate E. M.
Hough today, he told them “the of
fense with which you two are charged
merits a penalty more severe than a
$5O fine, which the law empowers me
to impose for a first offense. There
fore, I hold you for court.”
Homeless Cared For.
' More than 500 laborers, employed
by the Philadelphia Co., parent con
cern of the Equitable Gas Co., owners
of the tank, were sent into the dis
trict to assist in removing debris and
Searching for additional bodies.
Relief agencies, including the Red
Cross, the Salvation Army, Boy
Scouts and others, were functioning
at full blast today, caring for the
homeless and supplying food and
clothing to those left destitute. The
city council assured the Red Cross
that Pittsburgh would provide tempor
ary funds necessary for the relief
work. The council already has ap
propriated $lOO,OOO for this purpose.
Officials of the Clay Pot Co., after
a careful check, today said that of
140 workers who entered the plant
yesterday, 64 were known to have
escaped and five were killed. Seventy
one were listed as missing, but the
officials believed most of tlie.se escaped,
raced from the scene panic stricken
.and failed to report to the company.
The rear end of this plant caved in
when the blast swept death through
the district. The debris is piled al
most three stories high, and it was
the general tielief that some bodies
would be found in this wreckage.
Four Probes Started.
J. C. Allison, expert on gas tanks,
representing the Pennsylvania Public
Service Commission, arrived here to
day front Harrisburg to investigate
the explosion. He will lie aided in the
inquiry by local representatives of the
commission.
In the meantime, three other probes
were under way. Coroner \V. J. Mc-
Gregor was investigating for the
county; a committee of the council
for the city and officials of the Equi
table Gas Co., owners of the tank.
r operty owners today sought to
estimate the cost in dollars. No
responsible official or business man.
however, could make a more accurate
guess than that the loss would run
into millions of dollars. The damage
to the gas tank which exploded and
the two beside it is in excess of
$1,000,000. All about the tanks, fac
tories and houses, is a twisted mass
of wreckage Plate glass worth
$50,000 was shattered, some of it sev
eral miles from the scene of destruc
tion.
c Is Unknown.
The secret of the blast may rest
with the 13 men, employes of the
Ititner-Conley Co., who were at work
overhauling one of the three tanks
when the explosion occurred. The
entire repair crew was believed to
have met death.
This tank had been empty for
j jnths. The men were working with
blow' torches and it is thought that
a residue of gas was ignited, result
ing in a minoi explosion which ignited
great quantities of gas leaking from
rents made by the first blast in the
other tanks.
t Witnesses said a great ball of fire
floated hundreds of feet into the air.
They heard the explosion, and flames
dropped to earth. The w hole sector
# tWouUnucd on Page 2, Column 3.J
FAMOUS FLYERS REVEAL PLANS
FOR OCEAN CONQUESTS IN 1928
Here for Lindbergh Tribute, to
Fly Seas Again Next Year; Thousands
Cheer as "Lindy 1 Gets Medal.
’ The Spring, Summer and Fall of
1928 will witness the revival of trans
oceanic flying that lias no parallel in
the history of the world.
Discussing today his talks with the
distinguished group of transoceanic
aviators who had luncheon yes
terday at the White House with
the President and later attended the
presentation of the Hubbard Medal
to Col. Charles A. Lindbergh at
the auditorium last night, Wil
liam P. MacCracken. Assistant Sec
retary of Commerce, declared that
192 X will see literally "bushels” of
flights across the ocean, with most of
(be transoceanic flyers hopping across
the Atlantic. Plans for further flights
across tlie oceans are in the minds of
virtually all the aviators who were
gathered in Washington yesterday,
i Mr. MacCracken was told. Many
| flights will start from Europe and oth
ers will initiate in tlie United States.
Weather conditions over the Atlan
tic and adequate forecasting of the
weather over the sea. play a major
part in transoceanic flights. Mr. Mac-
Cracken said. The meteorological con
ference held yesterday at the Com
merce Department, at which 12 avia-
A. F. OF L. TO SET
STRIKE PROGRAM
Committee Named to Give Aid
to Miners —Politicians’
Plot Charged.
By the Associated Press.
PITTSBURGH, November 3 5.—A
plan of action by which the American
Federation of Labor will carry out its
announced policy of rendering aid to
85,000 striking miners in central and
western Pennsylvania, was in the
hands of a committee of 38 labor lead
ers today to be shaped into definite
form.
The committee, headed by W.. L.
Hutcheson, president of the Carpen
ters’ Union, was named yesterday at
the open session of the conference of
heads of national and international
unions, called to consider the coal
strike situation in Pennsylvania, Ohio
and other bitumionus districts, with
particular reference to the political
phases of the situation in Pennsyl
vania.
Appointment of tne committee,
which also fhcluded William Green,
president <-f the labor federation,
was made after leaders of the miners’
union had pictured to labor leaders
conditions as they found them In the
mining camps, and had charged that a
conspiracy existed on the part of “cer
tain politicians of Pennsylvania,’’ co
operating with non-union coal com
panies and big business interests, “to
destroy the union.” Philip Murray,
vice president of the miners’ union, in
charge of strike activities here, also
was named on the committee, which
will submit its report to the confer
ence this afternoon.
Gov. John S. Fisher was the sub
ject of attack by the miners’ leaders
for a policy of commissioning coal
and iron policemen, paid by the op
erators, and was named as the vice
president, attorney and director of
the Clearfield Bituminous Coal Cor
poration. identified as a “strike
breaking” subsidiary of the New'
York Central Railroad.
Gov. Fisher, in Harrisburg, said
when he took the oath of office he
(Continued on Page 4, Column 6.)
NATIONAUSTCOIORS
FLYING OVER HANKOW
Russian and British Concessions
Are Reported Preparing
for Defense.
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, November 15.—An Ex
change Telegraph dispatch from Han
kow today said that the colors of the
Nanking Nationalists were flying over
the public buildings and other build
ings there. _ “*
The former Russian and British con
cessions prepared to put up a strong
defense in event of an attack by Nan
king troops moving down the river.
Evacuate Hanyang.
HANKOW, China, November 15 (A 3 ).
—Troops of Gen. Ho Chien. who took
over the command Wuhan—the
composite capital composed of Han
kow-, Hanyang and Wuchang—on the
retirement of Gen. Tang Seng-Chi,
have evacuated Hanyang. At present
there are no Chinese troops in Wu
han.
It is reported that the vanguard of
flic Nanking Nationalists, before
whose advance Tang fled, is march
ing across the country from Kichow,
about 75 miles from Hankow on the
south bank of the Yangtse River.
They may enter Wuchang tomorrow.
The situation in Wuhan is quiet.
Historic Chancellor House Destroyed
By Fire as Civil War Shells Explode
Special Diepatrh to The Star.
FREDERICKSBURG. Va.. Novem
ber 15.—Historic Chancellor House,
the renter of the battles of Chancel
■ lorsville and the Wilderness in 1863
: and 1564, was destroyed by fire last
i night after a gasoline lamp in one of
■ the wings exploded.
' The blaze caused the explosion of
several shells left on the battlefield
• after the bloodiest battle of the war
| between the States, which were stored
in the cellar. Three of these were
■ found this morning several hundred
! yards away.
i The house was owned by J. H.
- Rowley, who was away at the time
of the fire. His son, James Rowley,
• who recently returned from duty with
• the Navy, rushed into the flaming
' building to save his naval uniform
j. and escaped just as the heavy roof
timbers crashed and the shells in the
■'»&! - iTWT.i W
©k Mkrana JMaf.
V s Jr V WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION V-X
WASHINGTON. D. €■■ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1927-FIFTYTWO PAGES. *
’ j tors who have succeeded in making
. or have tried transoceanic flights, is
expected by Mr. MacCracken to .mark
a definite forward step in prevention
of the air tragedies that have marked
! the conquest of the Atlantic this year.
: Col. Lindbergh, 25-year-old national
. hero, left today for the seclusion of a
, Virginia hunting preserve, carrying
with him the highest decoration of the
’ National Geographic Society and the
[ Hush that comes with hearing one’s
self dubbed by the President of the
■ United States "a courageous, elear
. headed apostle or aeronautics.”
With the characteristic modesty
that has made him the exemplar of
sterling American manhood, "Lindy"
avoided all admirers, while he packed
in a suit case the precious Hubbard
medal bestowed on him last night by
President Coolidge and slipped away
to Bolling Field to hop off for Rich
mond as the guest of Gov. Byrd.
The cheers of ihe notable audience
of 6,000 persons who tilled the Wash
ington Auditorium for the inspiring
ceremonies still must have echoed in
his ears as he hurried to depart. The
unstinted adulation came not only
from the President and Mrs. Coolidge,
members of the cabinet and a legion
of foreign dignitaries, but from an
admiring coterie of fellow- flyers
J (Continued on Page 3, Column 2.)
MW OFF
ON FLIGHT TO INDIA
Flyer. Accompanied by Pilot,
Hopes to Break World
Distance Record.
By the Associated Press.
IJPAVON, England, November 35.
—Capt. R. H. Mclntosh, who made
an unsuccessful ntt(Rnpt to fly from
Ireland to New York this Summer,
:ook off for India shortly after 1
o clock today on a non-stop flight in
in effort to break the world's long
distance record
Capt. Mclntosh was accompanied by
Bert Hinkler, test pilot, who created
i world's long-distance record for light
planes in a recent non-stop flight from
London to Riga. Latvia.
Weather conditions were excellent
when the Fokker monoplane J»rineesa
Xenia, the same plane which Capt.
Mclntosh used on his attempted trans
itlantic flight, took the air after a
run of about half a mile and gradually
lisappeared with its escort of six Royal
Vir Force machines.
The Princess Xenia carries 800 gal
lons of ghiblthe.- The British airmen
plan to make their first landing gome
w-here in India, at least 4.000 miles
from their starting point. Their pro
visions consist of sandwiches, biscuits,
concentrated meat extracts, candies,
coffee, tea and cold water.
Caf)t. Mclntosh, accompanied by a
navigtor, hopped off from Dublin in
;he Princess Xenia on a transatlantic
flight last September 16. After flying
more than a hundred miles and head
ing out to sea, he was forced hack
by unfavorable w-eather and landed
safely at Ballybunnion.
poeitMcrlks
SAVED BY STATUTE
‘lndiana Grand Jury Power
less to Act on “Startling
Crimes.”
By the Associated Press.
INDIANAPOLIS, November 15.
The Marlon County grand jury has
evidence of political crimes as startling
as those in which indictments already
have been returned, but is powerless
to act because of the statute of limi
. tations, Special Assistant Prosecutors
John W. Holtzman and Emsley W.
Johnson said in a final report submit
. ted today.
This evidence has been examined
carefully and indicates that "other
crimes have been committed in In
! diana for which no indictmefits have
; been returned, but such crimes were
committed more than two years be
fore the facts were discovered and the
prosecutors and grand jury were un
able to find sufficient evidence of ac
. tive concealment of such crimes by
; the persons who would be charged
> therewith to remove the same from
. the effect of the statute of limita
* tions,” the report stated.
, Johnson and Holtzrnan were vir
: tually dismissed from further duty
* before the grand jury today, hut it was
explained that the political investiga
’ tion had not ended. It was indicated,
* however, that the inquiry w-as prac
■ tioally completed. '
, The report delved into the famous
! ‘‘black boxes,” ow-ned by D. C. Stephen
. son, former grand dragon of the Ku
. Klu.x Klan and now a life prisoner in
Michigan City State Prison.
cellar exploded. William A. Shultz,
a neighbor, aided members of the fam
ily in saving some of the furniture
and valuables from the lower floors,
hut all were forced to flee when the
flames neared the basement.
The house was used by the Confed
erates as a base hospital and head
quarters during the two battles and
it was heio that Stonewall Jackson
was brought whence was wounded a
few hundred yards away. The place
where he lay while awaiting trails*
portation back of the lines, where he
died, was marked on the floor of one
of the rooms. Gen. Hooker while
watching the battle from the porch
was stunned by a cannonball. The
building bore countless marks of bul
lets and shells. It was at this house,
the only one standing after th» battle,
May 4, 1863, that Gen, Lee tallied his
victorious troops, . .
, PRESIDENT BACKS
, SEPARATE AIRPORT
MEASURE FOR D. C.
: Low Estimates of District
; Corfimissioners Seen as
Reason for Separation.
i
■ ARMY FIGURES COST
AT ABOUT $1,400,000
; City Heads Planned to Ask $150,-
| COO for Starting of Gravelly
1 Point Project.
President Coolidge, who has favored
, the establishment of a municipal air
port at Gravelly Point, on the Poto
; mac. from the very first, was repre
i seated today as deeming it advisable
’ to have Congress enact a bill author
izing such a project rather than pro
viding for ita inclusion In the next
District estimates to be submitted to
i Congress.
Because of this attitude on the part
of the President it was learned from
reliable authority at the White House
today that the District Commissioners
have agreed to proceed along the lines
suggested and will therefore withdraw
the airport item from their estimates
and will at once set to work preparing
the sort of legislation Congress will be
asked to act upon.
Cost Is Determinant.
The President, it was explained,
thinks it is best for Congress to au
thorize this project principally because
the cost as originally estimated bv
the Commissioners, which was s7so*-
000, has been found to be just about
one half of what the project wilt ul
timately cost. Advices received by the
President are to the effect that a
survey made by Army engineers, puts
the cost of this project as high as
$1,400,000. Therefore, because of the
estimated cost of the Gravelly Point
airport will run more than a million
dollars, the President is represented
as being of the opinion that the mat
ter should be left with Congress. Also,"
there are other matters involved, in
cluding the question of what pro
portion of the expense, if any. the
Federal Government should hear
which the President would like to
have threshed out by Congress. Al
though he personally is understood to
be fairly well convinced that the pro
posed Gravelly Point site is preferable
to any of the other sites sug
gested, he is inclined to think that
it would be a good idea to have this
question also decided by Congress.
President Coolidge. has on a num
ber of occasions since the question
of an airport for the Capital was
first proposed expressed himself as
being genuinely interested In the
proposition arttf Otr more than one oc
casion has made it clear that he per
sonally was anxious for the Capital
City to have such a port. Through
out his administration he has always
strongly advocated Government as
sistance in the development of com
mercial aviation and has expressed
himself to the extent of hoping to
see commercial airports established
at every large sized city in the
United States.
Lord Watches Program.
When the matter of the Gravelly
Point site was brought to the Presi
dent’s attention while in the Black
Hills last Summer, he Indicated that
he would be willing to leave the mat
ter in the hands of the Commission
ers and said that he would be willing
to be guided by their judgment. It
i was explained on his behalf today
that probably the suggestion to the
Commissioners to take the item out
of the District estimates for next
year w'ould not have been forthcom
ing from the White House had It not
developed that the Commissioners’
estimate of the total cost of the proj
ect was virtually $750,000 below what
the Army engineers estimated.
It is known that the President has
been kept advised as to the prelimi
naries incident to the starting of the
establishment of a Washington air
port by Brig. Gen. Herbert M. Lord,
director of the budget. The latter, fol
lowing a conference with the Presi
dent today, indicated that while the
, District estimates have not been put
in final form by the Budget Bureau, he
felt very certain that the District
Commissioners W'ill ask Congress for
’ the authorization for the airport
rather than endeavoring to obtain the
i appropriations in the budget esti
, mates.. The item which was in the
. Commissioners’ estimates providing
for the commencement of the work on
I this proposed project called for an
, appropriation of $150,000. Whether
or not this will be the amount Con
, gress will stipulate for the beginning
, of the work if it should pass the
authorization is problematical.
ALTITUDE RECORD
CREDITED TO GRAY
Barograph of Officer Who Died in
Ascent Shows Height of
1 42,470 Feet.
’ A altitude record for balloons
and all aircraft was credited today to
Capt. Hawthorne C. Gray, who lost
his life recently after having ascend
ed 42,470 feet.
Porter Adams, president of the Na
tional Aeronautic Association, an
, nounced the mark after Capt. Gray’s
barograph had been studied by the
Bureau of Standards. The mark ex
ceeds all previous records by nearly
a mile. Recognition of the mark will
be sought from the Federation Aero
nantique Internationale.
The previous world altitude record
for balloons was 35,424 feet and was
established by a German balloonist in
1901.
POLAND SIGNS PACT.
IT. S. Loan Agreement Obliges Com
mercial Treaty With Germany.
Br Cable -to The Star and Chicago Dai).v
Newa. Copyright. 1827.
MOSCOW, November 15.—Poland
has been compelled to conclude a
commercial treaty with Germany un
der a secret clause In the latest Amer
ican loan agreement with Poland, ac
cording to dispatches received here
from Warsaw'. The explanation
given Is that American Investors fn
the securities of both Poland and
Germany insist on nn end of the pres
ent controversies between the two
countries. _ .. r ,
tv.. ' J.*. -ill .1*7./I|>iii»
sew
GEN. JADWIN FAVORS GREATER
FEDERAL AID FOR FLOOD AREA'
*
———— r
Army Expert May Urge Stronger Levees
and Emergency Outlets/ With U. S.
Bearing Larger Share of Cost.
By the Associated Press. *
ST. LOUIS, November 15.—Flood
control and. waterway development
proposals of Maj. Gen. Edgar Jadwin,
chief of Army Engineers, and United
, States Senator Harry B. Hawes were
laid before the ninth annual conven
tion of the Alississippi Valley Associa
tion here today.
Hawes' “Missouri plan” would au
thorize a $100,000,000 expenditure an
nually for 10 years by the Government
and place jurisdiction in a five-member
commission, composed of two Army
engineers, two civilian engineers and a
member chosen- for executive ability.
The two speakers agreed that con
sideration of flood control, navigation
development, conservation, water
power and other problems were vital
in harnessing the waters of the Na
tion's great inland rivers and lakes.
Walter S. Dickey, published of the
FOUR NATIONS SIGN
SUGAR TRADE PACT
Cuba, Germany,' Poland and
Czechoslovakia to Ap
portion Exports.
By the Associated Press.
PARIS, November 15.—An agree
ment among four of the important
sugar-producing countries of the world
to apportion exportation in order to
restore the balance between production
and consumption was signed here to
day by representatives of the sugar
interests of Cuba, Germany, Poland
and Czechoslovakia.
The contract is for one year, renew
able for another year, and is looked
upon by Its signers as a means of
avoiding a crisis in the sugar indus
try and enabling producers to hold
on until consumption catches up with
the capacity for production. It is es
timated that this will happen in from
three to five years.
The agreement provides for an in :
ternationai sugar committee, com
posed of two members from each of
the signatory countries, to apportion
experts. The agreement is open to
any other sugar-exporting country
that wants to come in, and Holland
will be invited to. bring tlie Javanese
sugar interests into the arrangements.
It was the Cuban plan for control
of the industry, as presented by Col.
Jose Tarafa, head of tho Cuban sugar
defense committee, that formed the
basis of the agreement, bu tthe heads
of the European delegations express
themselves as completely satisfied
with the outcome of the negotiations.
All express the opinion that the agree
ment will enable the sugar industries
everywhere to hold on until condi
tions become more favorable, and, in
the long run, will prove beneficial to
the consumer In preventing a crisis
with higher retail prices at the end
of it.
FORD IS DEFENDANT
IN $6,000,000 SUIT
Action Results From Purchase of
Lincoln Motor Company in
1922.
By the Associated Press.
PONTIAC, Mich., November 15.
Henry Ford was named defendant in
a chancery suit involving $6,000,000
filed in Circuit Court here today by
Henry M. Leland and his son, Wilfred
C. Leland, in behalf of nearly 2.000
stockholders in the old Lincoln Mo
tor Co.
The suit grows out of the transac
tion in February, 1922, whereby Air.
Ford bought from the Lelands for
$8,000,000 the Lincoln Alotor Co., then
in the hands of a receiver. The bill of
complaint filed today charges Mr.
Ford failed to keep a verbal agreement
to buy the outstanding stock of the
active stockholders in whose behalf
the Lelands are suing. Henry M. Le
land was president and Wilfred C.
Leland vice president of the Lincoln
company. The suit is brought under
a power of attorney granted them by
the stockholders,
Kansas City Journal-Post, and a pio
neer* in promotion of river develop
ment, presided over the session.
Gen. Jadwin’s recommendations to
the next Congress for the Mississippi
River Valley probably will include, he
said, the following:
"Strengthening the levees and prob
ably raising them slightly.
"Mere bank protection.
’’Spillways in the Tensas and Atcha
falaya Basins.
"Possibly safety-valve spillways to
limit the damage incident to crevasses
in case a flood should occur even larger
than is being provided for.
“An increase in the proportion of
the cost to be borne by the Federal
Government.”
Within limits, protection by levees
Is the cheapest method of restraining
flood waters that has been used suc
cessfully by engineers the world over,
said Jadwin.
"Improvement >f waterways.” con
tlnued the Army Engineer chief, "can
(Continued on Page 4, Column 2.)
PRESIDENT AGAINST
ANY CUT IN TARIFF
Mr. Coolidge Fails to See Aid
for Farmer in Proposed
Reduction.
Although President Coolidge may
have an open mind in the matter of
suggested forms of farm relief, he is
satisfied that revision ‘of the tariff
downward, as has been proposed,
would not help the American farmer.
While discussing the recent report
of the National Industrial Conference,
headed by former Secretary of Com
merce Nagel, which suggested for the
improvement of the farm situation a
reduction in tariff. President Coolidge
w-as represented today as saying that
from his study of- the problem it is
impossible for him to see how agricul
ture could be- helped in this manner.
He made-iF plain that he would op
pose any effort to effect such a re
vision.
Instead of lowering hte tariff, the
President was represented as thinking
it would be far better for agriculture
if a well organized movement to stim
ulate tire market in this country was
made.
He is of the opinion that experience
has shown that the policy of the Gov
ernment should be to encourage legiti
mate business of all kinds, and to do
everything possible to increase home
consumption.
That part of the conference's report
which recommended revision of rail
road rates as an added means of
assisting the farmer, met with the
approval of the President. He has
frequently expressed himself as favor
ing rate revision not only for the pur
pose of assisting agriculture, but to
benefit the carriers.
The President reminded those with
whom he was talking that he had
approved .the Hoch-Smith resolution,
passed at the last session of Congress,
providing for a general survey of rail
road rates.
— 1 > ■
“Lindy” Memorial Drive Opens.
ST. LOUTS, November 15 (A 3 ).—A
drive for the collection of funds to
build a memorial here In commemorat
ing Col. Charles Lindberg's flight
across the Atlantic began here today.
The design of the memorial has not
yet been determined.
Expulsion of Varsity Stars Follows
Hair Clipping of 300 Louisiana Freshmen
By th# Associated Press.
BATON ROUGE, La., November 15.
Clipping of 300 freshmen’s hair at
Louisiana State University has al
ready exacted a toll of three varsity
foot ball players and five other stu
dents, and a probe into violation of
the school's anti-hazing pledge pro
ceeds, with indications from President
T. tV. Atkinson that still more stu
dents may be asked to leave.
The eight men dismissed yester
day for •’participation in hair clip
ping” were.expelled on "definite infor
mation furnished by other students,”
the university head declared. The
outlawed students entered formal pro
test that they were "given no oppor
“From Press to Home
Within the Hour ”
The Star’s carrier system covers
every city block and the regular edi
tion is delivered to Washington homes
as fast as the papers are printed.
Yesterday’s Circulation, 103,031
W Means Associated Press. TWO CENTS.
'KIDNAPERS ROUTED
BYANGRYMOTHER
Woman Attacks Intruders
With Butcher Knife —Saves
Two-Year-Old Son.
Arming herself with a butcher knife
a stouthearted mother last night drove
two burly colored men from her apart
ment after she had surprised them in
the act of abducting her 2-year-old
baby boy.
Mrs. George Ilavercamp, 33 years
old, was in the kitchen of her apart
ment at 1209 O street at 8 o’clock pre
paring food for 2-year-old George, jr. f
and his 3-month-old sister, Orioler Re
lay Havercamp, who were in an ad
joining room.
Suddenly she heard above the music
of a phonograph, which was playing
in the children's room, a faint voice
call, “Mamma, mamma.’’
Stabs Intruder With Knife.
Running into the room she was just
in time to see a colored man, weigh
ing about 190 pounds, whom she had
noticed several times before loitering
about the house, with her boy in his
arms, while another negro was tying
a blanket about his arms and feet.
They had pulled a coverlet over the
infant’s face, who was in her crib.
Grabbing a butcher knife, she ran
at the two men, who dropped George,
jr., and fled, escaping through an
open French window in the rear of
the first-floor apartment, but not be
fore the yifuriated mother had stuck
the point of the knife between the
shoulder-blades of the larger man.
He twisted the knife away and drop
ped it on a bureau as he passed
through the rear room.
The baby, a blonde, merry boy,
laughed as his mother drove his
would-be kidnapers away and the
phonograph played “It Was Only a
Sun Shower.”
As the negro whom she stabbed
jtrmped through the window he
called:
“I’ll get you yet.”
Mrs. Havercamp recalled this morn-
Ing having seen the negro passing
(Continued on Fhge 5, Column 3.)~
german-austrian
UNION TALK REVIVED
Advent of Marx and Stresemann in
Vienna Cause Much Specula
tion Among People.
By the Associated Press.
VIENNA, November 13.—With the
advent here of Chancellor Marx and
Foreign Minister Gustav Stresemann
of Germany for a friendly visit there
has been a revival of the talk among
the people of the possibility of a
union between Germany and Austria
and speculation whether the visit of
the two officials has anything to do
with such a project.
If there is any such idea in the
minds of the statesmen, however,
there has been nothing in any expres
sion or act on the part of the partici
pants at the official welcoming func
tions to lend color to the report.
At a banquet given in honor of the
German visitors last night Chancellor
Seipel of Austria heartily indorsed the
policy of general conciliation among
the countries of Europe. Chancellor
Marx responded by expressing the be
lief that under the practical idealism
described by Seipel the German people
of both Austria and Germany w r ould
walk along a path leading forward
and upward. There was no expression
from either, however, which Indicated
the desirability of a union between
the two countries.
tunity to answer tin* efcarges."
Rumors of a sympathetic “strike"
were discounted by President Atkin
son, who expressed the belief that
the student body in the main would
aid the authorities in upholding col
ledge discipline, which in this instance
is based on an anti-hazing vow all
entrants have been required to make
since 1925. .
Coach Mike Donahue of the foot
hall team sought to discourage any
demonstration among ( the students
saying: “The student body could only
make matters worse by attempting
any forlorn action.”
Radio Programs—Page 35.
!OIL CHARGES CAUSE
SIDDONSIO START
CONTEMPT INQUIRY
Affidavits of Burkinshaw,
Shea, King and Akers Are
Basis of Action.
COMMITTEE APPOINTED
TO INVESTIGATE MATTER
Lawyers Will Determine if" Crim
inal Guilt Was Back of
Mistrial.
, •*'
An Investigation to determine
whether a criminal contempt* of the
District Supreme Court has been com-
Tnitted as a result of the Jury fixing
charges that brought about the Tea
pot Dome mistrial was ordered today
by Justice Frederick L. Siddons, the
trial judge in the Fall-Sinclalr con
spiracy case.
Justice Siddons’ course was based
on the four affidavits submitted to tha
court November 1. by Government
counsel. In stating the reasons for th*
inquiry Justice Siddons’ order de
clares: “It appears that there is rea
sonable cause for inquiring whether
a criminal contempt of this court ha*
been committed and if so for taking
appropriate proceedings in respect
thereto.”
Committee to Investigate.
A committee consisting of Peyton
Gordon, John E. Lasky and Jame*
S. Easby-Smith, members of the bar
of the court, was appointed and di«
rected to proceed as “expeditiously a*
posible” to prepare, file, present and
prosecute in the court against sucU
person or persons charges of crimi
nal contempt of court.
The four affidavits were made by
Neil Burkinshaw and Walter M. Shea*
assistant United States attorneys!
Donald Key King and J. Ray Aker*.
The affidavits filed by the United
States attorney's office were used a#
the basis for issuing complaints oharg*
ing Harry F. Sinclair, Henry Mason
Day and Sheldon Clark, officials ol
the Sinclair company, with com
spiring to influence the action and
decision of the trial Jury. Shadowing
of the trial jurors by Burns deteo*
tives, declared to be employed by Day,
is charged in the two Government
affidavits.
King, a Herald reporter, and Aker*
a street car conductor informant, set
forth in their affidavits that Edward
J. Kidwell. Juror number 11, had dis»
cused the trial with them and had
boasted he had expected to get S
"car as long as a block.”
Action Is Surprise.
Justice Siddons’ action came some*
what as a surprise thi* morning be*
fore the grand jury convened to wind
up its Investigation of the charged
that brought about a mistrial in th«
Fall-Sinclair case. He called newspa*
per men over to his office and handed
them copies of his order.
There is pending before Justice Sid*
dons an application by Juror Kidwell
denying the charges made against hini
and requesting that both King and
Akers be cited for contempt of court*
The text of Justice Siddons’ ordef
follows:
“By reason of the statements com
tained in four certain affidavits mad*
respectively by Neil Burkinshaw, Wal*
ter M. Shea, Donald K. King and J,
Ray Akers, submitted to the court oil
November 1, 1927, by counsel for thi
prosecution In the pending criminal
cause of tho United States vs. Harry
F. Sinclair and Albert B. Fall, num*
bered 43324 on the criminal docket
of this court and filed in said caus*
on said day. it appears that there jj
reasonable cause for inquiring wheth*
era criminal contempt of this courl
has been committed, and if so, for tak*
ing appropriate proceedings thereto,
and therefore it js by the court thii
15th day of November, 1927.
"Ordered, That Messrs. PeytoO
Gordon. John E. Laskey and James S.
Easby-Smith, members of the bar o|
this court, be, and they are hereby,
designated, appointed, authorized, cm*
powered and directed to forthwith pro*
ceed to inquire whether there is rea*
sonable cause to believe that a crira*
inal contempt of this court has been
committed, and, if so, by what person
or persons, and if upon inquiry s<j
made such cause is found to exist, t«
proceed as expeditiously as possible
to prepare, file, present and prosecute
in this court against such person of
persons charges of criminal contempt
of court, to the end that the authority
and power of the court be vindicated,
sustained and enforced. And for thii
purpose they shall invoke and us«
all appropriate means available to
them.”
Kidtvell Wants Hearing.
Attorney S. McComas Hawken,
counsel for Kidwell, the alleged talka*
tive juror, today served notice on Maj,
Gordon that he will set down for hear*
ing next Friday before Justice Siddond
in Criminal Division 2 the motion of
Juror Kidwell for a contempt rule on
Akers and King.
Kidwell, in his petition for a hear*
ing as to the charges against him
contained in the affidavits of the two
men, submitted to the court by Gov*
ernment counsel, denied the accusa*
tions find asked for a hearing by tha
court on the charges. He set out in
detail what he said were the true
facts in regard to the street car con
ductor and reporter, and asserted if
any contempt was committed it was
by them in persisting in talking about
the case after he had advised them of
his instructions from the court.
The elder Burns, head of th 9
detective agency, accompanied by his
son Sherman, later appeared at the
courthouse to await their opportunity
to go before the grand jury. Both
men were unusually non-communica
tive. They had lost all their debonair
manner of previous days and were
satisfied with contending simply that
they have evidence which will refute
the charges made by McMuUin. In
the meanwhile McMullin waited all
morning in the anteroom outside Maj.
Gordon’s office.
The first person to go before the
grand jury today was Charles G.
Ruddy, chief of operations in the
shadowing of the jurors. . Ruddy was
before th£ body for more than an hour,
but Burkinshaw did not state why
he was put on the grill. There was
some conjecture as to whether the
appearance of the Burns lieutenant
had anything to do with the new
“mystery man” who is figuring in the
Investigation.
Burkinshaw' today said it was eni
tirely up to William J. Burns and hiii
two sons, Raymond and ShermanJ
(Continued on Page 4,Column~Lj