Evening star. [volume], May 26, 1929, Page 5, Image 5

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
DIPLOMATIC CORPS
TO RETAIN LIQUOR
Members See Principle In
i volved Affecting Interna
tional Basis.
('Continued From First Page)_
must have been misinterpreted by the
Virginia prohibitionist.
Expressed Views Limited.
Ambassador Howard could not be
reached yesterday, but at the British
embassy it was Intimated that he had
done little more than state the orthodox
diplomatic position on immunity, with
the additional statement that any prac
tice which a host country, through the
properly constituted authorities, desig
nated as obnoxious, would be a matter
of special consideration.
The first information which the
President had of the Carter letter with
the Inclosure from Sir Esme Howard
waa obtained from the morning papers
yesterday. The correspondent was lo
cated in the State Department where it
had arrived through regular channels
and President Hoover expressed a de
sire to see the letters. He will make no j
statement until he has scrutinized the
contents. Secretary Stimson also has
made no study of the letters and de
clared yesterday that they would not
be given out at least until he has had
time to examine their contents.
The official contacts of an embassy
with the American people must be
through the State Department. It
never can be officially aware of any j
objection to its conduct unless this is
conveyed to it by the State Depart
ment. Not only has the State Depart
ment never made the slightest intima
tion that diplomatic immunity with re
spect to liquor was displeasing, but. on
the contrary’, has rendered every’ serv
ice possible to facilitate obtaining sup
plies without unnecessary red tape or
annoyance. Consequently the diplomats
have no reason to believe that the ex
ercise of this immunity is not. entirely
satisfactory to the Nation which is their
host.
Obviously, it was pointed out, if the
State Department did express an ob
jection to any phase of the exercise of
this immunity a special situation would
be created which would have to be dealt
with when it arose. The standard of
diplomatic conduct, it was pointed out.
is essentially the established standard
of conduct between gentlemen. The
American Government is the boat of
the diplomats. No gentleman ia in
clined to unduly stress his rights to the
discomfiture of his host.
Possibility of Agreement.
Thus a gentlemen's agreement might
be reached, If the State Department
expressed a desire for such an agree
ment, but it would be so framed that it
could not possibly be considered a
precedent for waiving diplomatic im
munity. On the other hand, some mem
bers of the corps intimated that such
an expression on the part of the State
Department would be well nigh incon
ceivable la the light of established
usage.
Unless there is some clearly under
stood special consideration, a diplomat
live* in the country to which he is ac
credited In eomformity with the laws
of the country he represents. He must
be Judged as a law-abiding citizen ac
cording to the laws of his own country.
If this were not the case, it was
pointed out. a lamentable confusion
would result which sooner or later
would lead to serious consequences
somewhere. Laws and customs vary
enormously throughout the world. It
would be practically Impossible for a
western nation to send a representa
tive to some oriental countries and ex
pect him to be governed strictly by the
code of those countries. Some country
might pass a law requiring a man to
have 10 wives. If the United States
required the envoy from that country
to abide strictly by Its own liquor regu
lations it could hardly expect that
country to accord the American repre
sentative the privilege of only one wife.
Yet, the envoys feel, such would be
the Implication of a precedent giving
up the rights of diplomatic Immunity
In any particular unless under
very exceptional circumstances difficult
to imagine.
If any diplomat grossly abuses bis
diplomatic immunity in respect to
liquor, to the extent of making himself
objectionable and obnoxious, it was
pointed out, the probable procedure of
the State Department would be to
signify a desire for his recall. In ac
cordance with the gentlemanly standard
obtaining between nations it is hardly
conceivable that this would be denied.
However unlikely it might be for the
representative of one nation to forego
his own diplomatic immunity, it would
be out of the question for him to make
the same concession for representatives
of other governments. A dean of the
corps, such as Sir Esme Howard, how
ever, might engineer a gentlemen's
agreement among all the diplomats sta
tioned in Washington not to take ad
vantage of diplomatic immunity under
some particular circumstances* but it
ia extremely unlikely that this would
aver be entered into as a formal agree
ment actually committing the diplomats
to anything.
Favor Retaining Privilege.
Both the Spanish Ambassador, Alejan
dro Padilla, and the Minister of the
Irish Free State, Michael Mac White,
Indicated their unwillingness to accept
voluntarily the withdrawal of the
privilege of importing diplomatic liquor.
The Spanish Ambassador declared
that Sir Esme Howard w’as expressing
his own private views and nothing that
he wrote on the subject of his willing
ness to forego the privilege could be
accredited as any expression on be
half of the diplomatic corps.
“So far as the Spanish embassy is
concerned,” he told a representative of
The Star, “the situation is the same
as it always has been and will con
tinue to be until the President of the
United States or Congress takes such
action as to withdraw the privilege.”
The Spanish Ambassador explained
that the question is not before the
diplomatic corps and although the
British envoy is dean of the corps
by virtue of his seniority, he cannot |
commit the corps on this question.
The Spanish embassy, he explained,
Intended to take no steps unless the
matter was placed officially before the
diplomatic corps either by Sir Esme
Howard or by the President.
The Minister of the Irish Free State
was more emphatic in stating that Sir
Esma had no right to speak for the
diplomatic corps as a whole. “Certainly
he is not speaking for the Irish Free
State legation,” he said.
The Minister made it plain that the
British envoy's letter Is open to mis
interpretation as it merely expressed
Sir Esme's personal views on the matter.
“The question of diplomatic liquor,”
he said, "is solely one between the Irish
Free State government and the Govern
ment of the United States, so far as our
position Is concerned.”
He doubted the authority of a Minis
ter of a foreign country voluntarily
agreeing to cut off Importations from
his country, liquor or otherwise, without
governmental action. To do so, he ex
plained. might put his successor in an
embarrassing position in event he
wished to Import liquor.
No Communication Received.
At the German embassy the opinion
was expressed that Ambassador Howard
addressed himself as an individual to
Mr Carter. It was said that the Ger
man charge d'affaires, O. C. Kiep. had
not received a communication from the
British Ambassador nor had the sub
ject been discussed.
While declining to comment formally
on the subject, attache* at the German
eaabaw tniggTf*V -Uuut the um of
BOTH SIDES OF PROHIBITION
Effect of Law Commission's Efforts Is Discussed by Prof.
Irving Fisher, Dry, and Austen G. Fox, TAet.
When the personnel of President Hoover's Law Commission was announced
a few days ago. its province in examining the possible bearing of prohibition
on law enforcement immediately became a subject of national controversy. It
was apparent, that the activities and the later findings of the commission would
become an Important, public Issue, with both wets and drys already putting
forward their case. For this reason The Star has obtained the following state
ments from two outstanding and opposed representatives of the contending
prohibition leadership by his book, "Prohibition at Its Worst,” a thesis in favor
of the eighteenth amendment. Austen G. Fox, as chairman of the board of
the Moderation League, is a nationally known controversialist on the wet side
of the Issue.
Prof. Fisher.
NEW HAVEN, Conn., May 25—In
the sense of a wholehearted facing of
the facts, it is my belief that the Pres
ident's Law Enforcement Commission,
headed bv George W. Wiekersham, will
neither try to whitewash prohibition
enforcement nor permit the commis
sion to be used as a forum for wit
propaganda, in any attempt to show
that the eighteenth amendment is the
basic cause of all law violation dis
respect for law.
In his public speeches Mr. Hoover
has repeatedly showm that violation of
the prohibition laws is but a small
fraction of all law violation, and that
disrespect for law in this country had
obtained a fairly vigorous growth be
fore the eighteenth amendment was
adopted. , .
It has been stated that the spirit of
the administration is to educate the
people to the necessity of respect for
all law. and to win their support by
measures which would gradually re
move. through orderly processes and
not sensational drives, abuses of pro
hibition enforcement and disregard for
other laws. By this means President
Hoover hopes to get the best and
majority opinion behind the laws.
Surrey Held Proper Function.
It would be a proper function of
the law enforcement commission,
therefore, to make a survey of defects
and abuses in applying the eighteenth
amendment, thus preparing the basic
facts for a concerted appeal for lead
ership. through all appropriate agen
cies of the Nation, in correction of
abuses and in general observance of
the amendment.
Mr. Hoover has declared that his ad
ministration would oppose coercion,
bureaucratic extensions and centrali
zation. His will be the policy of in
forming the Nation, scientifically and
from unbiased sources, of the facts of
abuses. When the facts are made
known he would invoke the power of
informed leadership to remedy the
abuses and to organize voluntary ef
fort in securing general observance of
the law.
In his administrative work the Presi
dent had invariably offered co-opera
tion to representative groups of men
and women in States and local com
munities. By applying the principle of
decentralized organization, leaving the
execution of details to local autonomy
and to volunteer committees of lead
ing citizens, Mr. Hoover succeeded
largely in regulating the food supply
of scores of millions of people in Eu
rope during and after the war; by this
method he conducted the United States
Food Administration and reorganized
the Federal Department of Commerce.
His methods are those of an engineer,
of first assembling the facts, for which,
in this case, he relies upon Mr. Wick
ersham's committee, which will also
centralize ideas about the facts: then
of decentralizing their execution through
organized leadership in the State* and
communities.
Facts Will Be Best Ally.
I note that already leading radio
chains have volunteered their services
to the President in behalf of programs
for law enforcement. I believe the
President realizes keenly, from his own
experience in the war canvasses for
conserving foodstuffs and materials
needed at the front, that public appeals
through the press, the radio chains and
the movies and sound pictures can
bring about rapid changes in the habits
of the people, and he has about him a
corps of men and women who have be
come veterans in executing plans that
affected the voluntary action of whole
nations.
Os course, he ia also the head of the
law enforcement agencies of the Na
tion. and he haa already notably
strengthened them. But I am assured
that In this matter his most important
ally will be the facts, impartially gath
ered by the commission, and the power
of public sentiment in remedying de
fects and in making the eighteenth
amendment more fully effective.
(Copyright, ltlt.)
liquors by the diplomatic gorps is.
after all. of minor importance in so far
as the subject of diplomatic immunity
is concerned. Restriction of the privi
lege or withdrawal of the immunity
would, It is felt, concern directly the
larger subject of the status of foreign
governments. In view of this, the Ger
man embassy was represented as
doubting that any such request as sug
gested by the Virginian would come
from the American State Department.
On the other hand, it was said that
the diplomatic corps probably would
accede to such a request, but not with
out considerable discussion and per
haps a definite understanding as to
the extent of such a development.
The whole subject was received some
what amusedly and while respecting
the spirit of Ambassador Howard's
letter to Mr. Carter, it seemed to be
the consensus of attaches of the Ger
man embassy that the matter rests
with the American State Department
and further, that the State Department
will not make such a request.
At the Cuban embassy and the Cana
dian legation it was said that there
w’as no comment forthcoming.
Question Called Delicate.
The whole question of the importa
tion of liquor by embassies and lega
tions in Washington is a "very delicate
matter," according to attaches of the
Japanese embassv. It was stated at
the embassy yesterday that Ambassador
Debuchi would make no comment upon
the statement attributed to the British
Ambassador, since it was based entirely
upon a private letter.
What the attitude of the Japanese
might be, in the event of a suggestion
from the American Government that it
would like the members of the diplo
matic corps to surrender the liquor
privilege, no one at the embassy was
willing to predict, although it was ex
plained that, of course, the Ambassador
would consult the government at Tokio
before making reply.
Ambassador Tellez of Mexico de
clined to make any statement in the
absence of instructions from Mexico
City. An attache of the embasy inti
mated unofficially, however, that if the
matter should be brought to the at
tention of the Ambassador by the Gov
ernment of the United States, it
might meet with approval, in view of
the recently announced dry policy of
President Portes Gil of Mexico.
At the Swedish legation it was stated
that Minister Rastrom would not have
anything to say. unless the matter
should be broached by the American
Government in some manner.
No concerted action has been taken
by diplomat* in Washington on the
question, it was explained at the Chilean
embassy, nor is any such action in sight
at this time, so far as known. The
Chilean Ambassador. Senor it
was added, has received no suggestion,
official or otherwise, from the United
States Government about the liquor
question, and under the circumstances
preferred to make no statement.
In the absence from this country of
Minister Van Royen all comment was
withheld at the Netherlands legation.
No comment was made at the Italian
embassy, where it was stated that Am -
I baasador Martino had given no con
sideration to the questAep raised in Mr
Carter's letter to Sir Etjhe Howfrg.
THE srXBAY STATE TVASHTXOTOX, T>. C„ MAY 2(T. TR2fl-T'AKT T.
; Austen G. Fox.
NEW YORK. May 25 —There Is per
haps nothing in English or American
history that stands out more clearly
than the refusal of the English and
American people to bow down to the
recurring demand by constituted
authority that the people must respect
all laws without limitations of any kind.
Hence, I take as the subject of this
statement "The President's Commis
sion and the Limitation of Law.”
The subject is by no means new.
Even a cursory reading of the history
of the English and American peoples
shows that often they have rejected
the doctrine of the autocrat, that there
Is no limitation to the duty of obedience
to any and every law, and that they
have insisted on the great truth that
law has its limitaions. no matter how
free it may be from successful attack
on the grounds that it is unconstitu
tional.
The most recent public statement of
that truth was made in August, 1922.
before an audience at least as well
fitted to appreciate its force as any in
the country, the American Bar As
sociation. The speaker of “lie day had
chosen as the title of bia address. “The
Limitation of Law.” He was not only
a member of the bar, but he was the
immediate predecessor of Mr. Hoover
in the office of President of the United
States. With characteristic terseness,
Mr. Coolidge summed up the plain his
toric truth.
Quotes Coolidge Statement.
“In a republic,” he said, "law reflects
rather than creates the standard of
conduct. To dragoon the body when
the need is to convince the soul will
end only in revolt."
Mind the word “only.” Mr. Coolidgp
did not say that such a course "mav
end.” but rather that it “v;UI end only
in revolt.” It was against the inevit
able, not the probable consequence of
such legislation that he uttered those
pregnant words. Let the present law
enforcement commission, selected by &is
successor, disregard at their peril the
solemn warning of Calvin Coolidge in
1922.
Contrast the words of President
Coolidge with those spoken on the
floor of the Senate by Senator Jones
of Washington when he offered the
act that bears the Senator's name:
“In a republic there is no such thing
as liberty.” Already we see our juries
refusing to convict citizens indicted
for violations of this law that changed
overnight a misdemeanor into a felony,
and permitted cruel and unusual pen
alties.
Mr. Hoover filled his Inaugural mes
sage with assertions of the duty of
obedience to each and every law. This
is nothing new in the mouth of
authority, but the people of this country
have shown no more than one occasion I
that they do not share this view’.
“Force” Laws Lack Respect.
Fugitive slave laws, prohibition laws
and the force laws enacted in the
effort to enforce the fourteenth and
fifteenth amendments are all alike.
The fugitive law of 1850 “made every
man in Massachusetts liable to official
summons in aid of the return of es
caped slaves” (Emerson’s Diary, May
3. 1851). Each instance was an illus
tration of what Preaident Coolidge
called “the limitation of law.” In the
case of the “force" laws the Govern
ment found that even with the aid of
the Army laws could not be enforced
and at last gave up the attempt. Once
again the Executive and Congress will
find that laws which do not reflect “the
standards of conduct in the republic"
are unenforceable.
Within a few days the daily press
has carried accounts of attempts by
prohibition agents to hire undergradu
ates in Harvard and Brown universities
as spies to "snoop” on their brother
students and betray them to the Gov
ernment for pay. For all such conduct,
unless disavowed and disapproved, the
sanction of the Chief Executive is fairly
to be assumed.
Speaking in 1791 on Mr. Fox’s Ybel
bill. Ersklne, England's greatest advo
cate. said: “I consider the Jury as the
commons house of the judicial sys
tem —the balance for the people against
the prerogatives which it is necessary to
trust with the crown and its magis
trates, but W’hich will often, when un
balanced, degenerate in to oppression.”
Charges “Grave Abuses.”
Judge Crane of the New’ York Court
of Appeals, in a public address, said
recently:
“The jury is the last vestige of pure
democracy that remains.” No matter ;
whst the President s commission may
report, no matter what Presidents may
say, the American people will continue
to refuse to respect law’ which is not re
spectable, and juries will refuse to con
vict in cases in which the Government
stoops to Ignoble methods.
The American people are still capable
of righteous indignation at the un
broken series of “grave abuses” of which
the President is quite well aware.
(Copyright. 1829 )
POLICEMAN MAKES PLEA
FOR PRISONER AT BAR
“Pleasure to Arrest Him,” Allen
Tells Judge McMahon in
Police Court.
Policeman R. J. Allen of the third
precinct again adopted the role of
protector of the prosecuted yesterday
in Police Court, when he requested j
leniency of Judge John P. McMahon |
for a man whom he had arrested.
“It was a pleasure to arrest him.” de
clared Allen when testifying to the
events which led to the arrest of Wil
liam Smith, colored, of the first block
of F street northeast, on a charge of
intoxication.
According to the evidence, Allen ar
rested Smith when patrolling his beat
at Twenty-second street and Pennsyl
vania avenue. He said Smith was "prac
tically inebriated" and "totally unable
to navigate.”
“However.” said Allen, “he conducted
himself in such a gentlemanly manner,
acted so well and was so agreeable as
well as being willing to accompany the
arresting officer, that I think he should
receive clemency."
Smith told of stopping to watch a
friend fish on the Potomac and of im
bibing a small quantity of ardent spirits,
but denied being "practically inebriat
ed.”
Despite Allen's plea for his prisoner
Judge McMahon Imposed a >lO flnp.
Graduation
Presents Here
Large assortment bar pins,
scarf pins, also complete line of
standard watches.
Shop at the friendly atore—
you're alw’ays greeted with a
smile—with no obligation to buy.
Charge Accounts
Invited
M. Wurtzburger Co.
742 Ninth St. N.W.
Sperlallrlng In Purl.rt Diamond*
! ENDURANCE RECORD
FALLS TO 1 TEXANS
Question Mark’s Time Beat
en—Pair Set 200 Hours
as Flight Goal.
_ (Continued From First Page >
that he had already operated' it for
500 hours and that it had been usetk
before he purchased the monoplane
! second-hand.
I "I know everything about the motor
1 as it is.” he told representatives of the
[ manufacturer, "and I like it. If it was
! rebuilt it might be a better motor, but
I wouldn't know how to coax it as well
as I do. It’s been going good and I’m
afraid to take a chance by changing
it.”
In the sixteenth refueling operation
110 gallons of gasoline with food and
oil were transferred. Robbins and
Kelly wore broad grins as they took on
their cargo and indicated in pantomime
that the motor sounded as if it would
run forever.
The crowd seemed much interested
in the refueling contact, which was ac
complished above the flying field.
Several worn parts were replaced, but
no attempt was made to rebuild the
motor from the block up.
A factor in the smooth performance
in the grueling test is the provision
made by Robbins and Kelly for greas
ing the rocker arms. Once a day Kelly
climbs out under the nose of the plane
and from his precarious perch applies
the grease.
Refueling Ship Ready for More.
Worn rocker arms caused the failure
of one of the three motors of the Ques
tion Mark and forced the plane down.
The fifteenth refueling of the Fort
Worth was accomplished this morning,
and K. K. Hoffman and H. S. Jones,
who handle the supply plant, made
preparations to continue servicing the
endurance ship for another 60 hours.
A large crowd gathered at the air
port today to watch the final phase of
the assault of the record of the Ques
tion Mark, whirh far surpassed any
other mark for sustained flight. Wives
of both of the pilots were on hand.
Lady Heath arrived by plane today
and went up alongside the Fort Worth
to catch a glimpse of the endurance i
flyers.
For establishing a new’ world's record
Robbins and Kelly each will receive ■
$5,500 from the Fort Worth Association
of Commerce. Hoffman and Jones will
receive $2,500 each for their efforts in
operating and refueling the plane.
Morning Refueling Difficult.
This morning's refueling was one of
the most difficult of the flight. A low
celling and bumpy air forced the pilots
to fly 40 miles to the northwest before
they could make contact and even then
the air was bumpy.
The flyers were increasingly jubilant;
as the zero hour for the world's record i
drew near. Back and forth across the
field the plane swooped. The pilot off ;
duty was standing in the rear cockpit,
dancing, waving at friends and giving
every evidence of overwhelming happi
ness.
Pilots expressed amazement at the
fact that Robbins and Kelly, with prob
ably less detailed preparation than any
other big flight has had, were apparently
so far from the end of their rope.
Record Planes Compared.
The Question Mark w’as thoroughly
tuned, carried a five-man crew so that I
there w’as time for every one to sleep, j
had a refueling crew which had prac- !
ticed the operation carefully, and its i
own crew also had practiced refueling.
The Fort Worth, on the other hand,
had only a 15-minute trial hop the
morning of the take-off and neither
the refueling crew nor the crew of the
Fort Worth ever had refueled the plane
In the air. The first actual refueling
occurred almost 24 hours after the flight
was under way. The only practice
either crew had was two experiments
in which a hose was lowered from the
refueling plane and caught by the
Fort Worth. No gasoline was lowered.
CALIFORNIAN SEEKS RECORD. |
Weather Conditions “Good” For Flyer
After Sol# Endurance Mark.
METROPOLITAN AIRPORT, Los
Angeles. May 25 C4*).—Herbert J. Fahy, |
attempting a new record solo endurance
flight, passed his sixteenth hour in the
air at 9:09 p.m. today.
Weather conditions over the San
Fernando Valley, where the aviator was
flying, were described as "good.” Fahy
started at 5:09:29 o'clock.
Fahy, chief test pilot for the Lock
heed Aircraft Co., was circling over this
section of Southern California with
every indication of beng able to carry
on for the required time.
To win a new solo endurance record,
he must hurdle three previous records.
First he must pass the mark which Col.
Charles A. Lindbergh set on his New
York to Paris flight. This was 33 ' 2
hours. Then he must beat the time of
35 hours 24 minutes and 59 seconds set
BUSHES
Sale Will Continue^J^^^^.
An Unusual Opportunity to Obtain W \ W
Large Bushes Reasonably Priced ■"
Peony Plants—Perennials
Shrubbery
For Sale at Our Greenhouses
Good Hope Road S.E. Frederick Pike
n«ar Rockvillr, M-i.
7:30 AM. to 7:30 PM.
A. GUDE SONS CO., Inc.
bv the late Roval V. Thoma* at Roose
velt Field, May 3, 1928.
The third obstacle is the record of 35
hours 33 minutes and 21 seconds made
by Martin Jensen at Roosevelt Field last
February 6.
Fahy will have to stay up until 4:42
p.m.. Pacific Coast time, timorrow, to
equal Jensen’s record.
Under the National Aeronautical As-
I sociation rules, a record to be beaten
■ must be excelled by one hour.
That would mean that Fahy would
have to fly until after 5:42 p.m., Pacific
i Coast time, tomorrow.
The Lockheed-Vega monoplane Fahy
is using was loaded with 435 gallons of
gasoline, nine gallons of oil and other
supplies sufficient to last 40 hours.
Plenty of sandwiches and coffee was
taken. Also one rabbit's foot went
along. It was the same good lurk charm
used on the Armv plane Question Mark
w hen It set the first world's endurance
record for all aircraft.
PLANE STARTS IN KANSAS.
Two Commercial Pilots Take Air In
Wichita. Seeking Endurance Record.
WICHITA, Kans., May 25 <>P>. —'The
Cessna monoplane Miss Rangers,
which took off here this morning on a
refueling endurance flight, .was going
smoothly at 9:54:30 o’clock tonight
after 13 hours of flying.
Two contacts were made tonight with
the supply plane. Owen Haughland,
Roblnsdale, Minn., and Gene Shank,
Minneapolis, the flyers aboard the craft,
were In high spirits.
The aviators took off from the air
port. here at 8:45 o'clock this morning
and the motor of the plane w’as func
tioning perfectly late today.
Instead of flying over a small area.
Haughland and Shank plan to In
corporate several long cruises into their
flight. After two refuelings, one this
evening and another tomorrow morn
ing. the commercial aviators plan to
spend a day soaring over their home
State, Minnesota. Then they expect to
return South, flying to Ranger, Tex.,
bv way of Wichita. A refueling ship
will accompany them on the proposed
trips and if they are successful in their
attempt, the aviators will complete the
flight here.
Shank and Haughland took off in
their single-motored monoplane despite
forecasts of probably unsettled weather
Haughland, w’ho holds a transport
pilot’s license, is from Minneapolis, and
Shank, rated as a limited commercial
flyer, conducts a flying school at Robins
dale. Minn.
The motor of the endurance plane is
equipped to permit a complete change
of oil w’hile the ship is in flight.
In addition to the regular fuel tanks,
the plane carries an auxiliary tank in
the cabin, giving it a total gasoline
capacity of 140 gallons.
Both flyers left Instructions, before
taking off. to have reports on the en
durance flight of the Fort Worth given
them.
ARMY RECEIVES REPORT
ON CLEVELAND DISASTER
Coroner's Statement to Chemical
Warfare Service to Be Basis
of Laboratory Tests.
By the Associated Press.
Coroner A. J. Pearse of Cleveland
yesterday placed before Maj. Gen.
Harry L. Gilchrist, chief of the Army
Chemical Warfare Service, his com
plete report on the recent clinic dis
aster in Cleveland.
Maj. Gen. Gilchrist, who personally
investigated the disaster, will examine
the data and forward them to the
service's laboratory at Edgewood Ar
senal. Md.
The general said he believed thp
material would be "highly valuable” in
assisting the laboratory in the experi
ments and Investigations which it is
making into the prevention of such
disasters in the future.
Coroner Pearse said he would have
forwarded the material by mall, hut de
sired to consult the general and point
out the more important findings w’hich
had come to his attention.
- ■ 9
German automobile manufacturers
fear hard times.
Save Money on All
of Your Building Needs
* W . New Lumber
nechingerCo New Millwork •
/'ROCK-BOTTOM PRICES J
3—Branches—3 New Plumbing
MAIN OfriCE-6 , -“&C.S(».S.W. _ _ _ _ _ _
BRIGHTWOa>SK| F G«.M.N.W NCW ShsH & DOOFS
TEXAS COWBOY, TIRED OF RIDING
BRONCOS, WINS FAME IN PLANE
Kelly, One of Pair to Set Rec
ord. Learned to Fly 90
Days Ago.
Robbins, Ex-Auto Mechanic,
Learned to Pilot Ship
Without Teacher.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
FORT WORTH, Tex., May 25—A
West. Texas cowboy, tired of the hum
drum of everyday life aboard the hur
ricane deck of buckim? broncos, plung
ing over the plains of the Texas Pan
handle, and an automobile mechanic,
who “simply never learned to fly,"
climbed into the cockpit of a rebuilt
monoplane at Meacham Field. Fort
Worth, Sunday morning. May 19, and
began another colorful chapter in the
romantic story of American aviation.
One hundred hours later —almost
five days and nights of continuous
flight—these strange partners aboard
their bronco of thp air had brought
to America, from France, one record.
Soon after, only 50 hovirs later, they
had surpassed the record established
by the United States Army's tri
motored Question Mark.
Robbins a “Barnstormer.”
Less than 90 days before he entered
the cockpit of teh plane Fort Worth,
Jim Kelly left a West Texas ranch,
came into Fort Worth and began
to study for a pilot's license. He
was given his license but six weeks
ago, and at that time bid farewell to
his cow-ponies.
In Fort Worth he met “Reg" Rob
bins, a commercial pilot, who “never
learned to fly.” Robbins originally
was an automobile mechanic. He took
up flying as a pastime, but refused to
take instructions from professionals.
He simply purchased his own ship, be
gan flying, and became one of the most
popular barnstormers in the South
west.
Thirty days ago Robbins and Kelly
decided they would undertake an en
durance flight, at the instigation of the
aviation department, Fort Worth
Association of Commerce. In the
course of events, it was naturally pre
sumed by the sponsors that Robbins
and his cowboy pal would demand a
new plane—at least a new motor.
Robbins Sure of His Ship.
Robbins insisted that his monoplane,
having cruised the airways of the
Southwest for many months, carrying
hundreds of passengers without an ac
cident, most certainly would withstand
any test he contemplated. He finally
agreed to rebuild the ship, however.
When the question of a new motor
developed. Robbins’ characteristic de
cision was. “That motor has carried this
ship over 50,000 miUs. I know that
motor. I wouldn't know a new one.
We'll take this one.” And they did
Among the peculiar questions arising,
almost eclipsing in dangers that of re
fueling. was the method by which
Kelly, the cow-puncher, serving as me
chanic. could make repairs on the motor
while in the air. Changes of spark
plugs, greasing rocker arms, and similar
operations were necessary, but impossi
ble from the cockpit of the plane.
The two devised two “cat-walks,”
leading from their cabin to the motor—
a walk 8 inches wide without guards.
Cowboy Riding “Herd" on Plane.
During the course of the flight, the
former cowboy could be seen 2.000 feet
above the airport, standing on the cat
walk, making some motor adjustment
while the plane was speeding through
the air at 60 miles an hour or more.
For the first three days the strange
partners refused to be bothered with
parachutes. Friends, however, com
municated with them and caused them
to realize that it would be compara
tively easy for Kelly to slip off the “cat
.walk" and be hurled through space. (
“REG” ROBBINS.
ogli ilf mi
WSB jKHHfc
JIM KELLY.
While the record-breaking pilots are
“colorful” in every sense, progress of
the flight depended naturally upon suc
cess of refueling in the air.
For this work, Robbins and Kelly
selected as their aid K. K. Hoffman, a
veteran pilot, whose training dates back
to the war and the days he spent in
Mexico flying pay rolls from city to
city.
Rich Oil Man Helps.
While refueling the plane of the en
durance flyers and Hoffman were within
20 feet of each other from time to
time. The refueling ship is owned by
H. S. Jones, wealthy Texas oil man,
Jones became so interested in the proj-
I Thirty-seven Tears at the Same Address
A. KAHN INC., 935 F Street
First Time Offered
at So Low a Price!
Exclusively at This Store
Vi-Hour Westminster
Chime Mantel Clock ji
$37' 50
We repeat it—this is the FIRST TIME a Seth
Thomas Chime Clock has been offered at this low
price. It is a clock of great beauty—solid mahog
any two-tone case, guaranteed in every particu
lar. We consider ourselves fortunate in being in a
position to make this extraordinary announce
ment. A beautiful gift for the June Rride.
Solid ;
This beautiful dock of colonial wfwm&g&wM
design lias a tine eight-dav West- , d
minster five tubular hell chime HI I
movement. Westminster chimes ** *
are tendered on every quarter; J^rap|BßHßfiak
self-adjusting movement. Mean-
ti f ill dial, with raised numeral'. ■■
Ih>or tilted with beveled glav>. % SskIiIhHIB
—The dimensions of this solid Hon- - ' "»'%.
inches; width, 21 inches; depth, IS JH "*
inches. BBF*’ 7
ofc.oKa/in Q?nc. \
37 Years at
JEWELERS 9s\S F Street PLATINVMSMITHS |
7 hirty-seven 1 ears at the Same Address
PARIS TO HEAR U.S. OPERA
Eleanor Painter to Appear in Lead
ing Role of Harling Work.
NEW YORK. May 25 (A>).—Eleanor
Painter, prima donna of the Philadel
phia Grand Opera Co. of which Mrs.
Mary Louise Curtis Bok is chairman,
has been engaged to sing the leading
role in “The Light From St.. Agnes. - ’ an
opera in the English language by Frank
Harling. American composer, which is
to be presented in Paris June 19. She
will .sail for France Wednesday.
The opera was presented by the
Chicago Civic Opera Co. last season,
with Rosa Raisa in the leading role.
It is being given in Paris by the Ameri
can Opera Co. recently formed by
Jeanne Gordon. Chicago opera star, to
give only the works of American com
posers.
Miss Painter, a former light opera
star, made her American debut in
Philadelphia last season in ‘ Carmen.”
ect that he served throughout the flight
as an assistant, to Hoffman, and lowered
the refueling hose, oil, food and com
munications.
By a prearranged system the two
planes at times of refueling headed
directly for some particular point upon
the horizon. It was necessary that
neither swerve during the operation
and that neither lose or gain altitude.
Kelly was married six weeks ago
Robbins is also married. Wives may
find something of interest in the fact
that Mrs. Robbins and Mrs. Kelly, dur
ing the flight, visited their husbands
twice daily. The "visits" were arranged
by other planes, which carried the
wives at the same altitude as the en
durance plane, and there they were
permitted to signal.
At the time of the 100-hour mark
Robbins and Kelly had claimed from
France the endurance record of a
single-motored ship, carrying two men
The previous record was 96 hours.
Weather Doesn't Hurt Flight.
One of the important phases of the
flight was atmospheric conditions pre
vailing over Fort Worth. The men
were not molested in any manner by
weather during the early days of the
test and enjoyed moonlight nights.
Robbins and Kelly found a rainbow
at the conclusion of the flight, estab
lished by the business men of Port
Worth, who pledged themselves to a
fund of $15,000 to be paid the flyers
for breaking the 152-hour record of
Question Mark.
BLUE Af\
SPRUCE^rUC
Or 3 for $1.00—6-in.
Hunter’s Nursery
r.ilmontton. Near rivaltsTtllc
Well* Ave. and 4th St.
Phone Hyattsville IJg-J
Open Sundays Alter 2 30 PH.
Open All Day Decoration Dev
1
5