Evening star. [volume], December 27, 1930, Page A-2, Image 2

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

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A-2
THIRD PARTY TALK
HELD MISDIRECTED
Norris Is Not Rated Real Fac
t tor—Pinchot and Prohibi
!% , tion Put Ahead.
BY MARK SULLIVAN.
Readers distant from Washington will
have a less-than-accurate picture un
less they apply a large discount to the
frequency and violence of the explosions
about Senator Norris and Mr. Lucas
and to the size of the headlines with
which the detonations are recorded. The
truth is Washington Is not excited.
When the echoes of the battle at
points distant from Washington caused
a New York City professor of philoso
phy. John Dewey, to invite Senator
Norris to form a third party, that par
ticular repercussion impressed Wash
ington as political zero.
Washington, in its serious specula
tions about the presidential situation
in 1932, frequently includes one, or
even two, so to speak, third parties in
its calculations of possibilities. Neither
of the third parties, seriously consid
ered, however, has the faintest relation
to Senator Norris of Nebraska.
Prohibition Real Issue.
The third party or parties that arise,
if any. will have to do with prohibi
tion. Rome experienced politicians think
it possihle there may be a wet third
party, composed of Republican wets, as
suming, as is commonly assumed, that
the main body of Republicans go dry,
or practically dry. The same specu
lators about 1932 think it possible there
may be a dry third party, composed
chiefly of Democratic drys. assuming,
as is commonly assumed, that the Dem
ocratic party will go wet. Into neither
of these third parties does Senator
Norris fit.
Partly because he subordinates every
thing else to his consuming concern
with Government ownership of utilities,
Senator Norris has made himself dis
tasteful to both the drys and the wets.
The drys will never make Norris their
third-party candidate, because he voted
for ex-Gov. Alfred E. Smith in 1928 and
committed heresy from his own Repub
lican party in order to do so. The wets
will never have Norris as the leader of
their third party, because Norris sol
emnly announces himself to be—and
actually is—a dry.
It is almost exclusively in terms of
dry and wet that Washington speculates
about a third party in 1932. So far as
the public ownership issue has any
chance of giving rise to a third party,
it is not Senator Norris who would be
its candidate for the presidency. The
man assigned to that potential role is
ex-Gov. and Gov.-to-be Gifford Pin
chot of Pennsylvania. If there should
be certain developments about the rela
tion of Government to public utilities,
and if there should be certain other de
velopments about prohibition, Washing
ton thinks Gov. Pinchot might, in the
words of Theodore Roosevelt, throw his
“hat in the ring.” Washington some
times speculates about the “three P's,”
meaning "Pinchot, Power and Prohibi
tion.”
Other Factors Involved.
In any event and all events prac
tically nobody in contact with the
realities of politics, and almost nobody
in any field whatever, excepting the
professor of philosophy from New
York, has thought of Senator Norris
of Nebraska as the head of a third
party.
The truth about the whole episode
that has brought Senator Norris into
recent conspicuous public attention is
that its chief reason for existence lies
in its supplying a topic of political
news during these days when Congress
is not in session and the ordinary crop
of newß Is slight. Hardly anybody
takes very seriously the row between
Norris and Executive Director Lucas
of the Republican National Committee.
In just one respect the question wheth
er Senator Norris is a Republican, or
ought to be regarded as such, has
reality and importance. That respect
has to do with the organisation of the
new and evenly divided Senate.
When the new Senate holds its first
sitting its first action will be to vote
on two slates of officers and committee
chairmen. The Republicans will pre
sent as their slate the existing officers
and the existing committee chairmen,
with Senator Watson for majority lead
er, Senator Smoot for chairman of the
Committee on Finance, and so on. The
Democrats will present as their slate an
alternative consisting of Senator Rob
inson of Arkansas as majority leader,
Senator Pat Harrison of Mississippi as
chairman of the Committee on Finance,
and so on.
Norris May Decide Result.
Between those two slates Senator
Norris will cast his votA ' Speaking
broadly, if he casts it with the Re
publicans, the Republicans RID organize
the Senate. If he casts it with the
Democrats, the Democrats will organ
ise the Senate. The universal expec
tation is that Senator Norris will, as
always before, vote with the Republi
cans. The reason he will so vote, ac
cording to the assignment of motives
made by cynical Washington, is that
Senator Norris has a personal stake in
having the Republicans organize the
Senate.
Senator Norris is himself, under the
Republican organization of the Senate,
chairman of a most important commit
tee, the one on judiciary. If he should
vote with the Democrats, the latter
in their organization of the Senate
would take this chairmanship away
from Senator Norris and give it to their
own Benator, Ashurst, of Arizona.
Whether the new Senate shall be
organized by the Republicans or by the
Democrats is a real and weighty politi
cal question. It is about the only politir
cal reality that is affected by all the
current exchange about the orthodoxy
of Senate Norris’ Republicanism.
PAPER IN RECEIVERSHIP
Louisrille Herald-Post to Continue
Publication.
LOUISVILLE, Ky., December 27 OP).
—The Louisville Herald-Post was placed
In voluntary receivership yesterday,
with its vice president, Ben S. Washer,
appointed as receiver to continue its
publication. His bond was fixed at
875,000. He stated the paper would be
published as usual.
The petition filed late yesterday by
the Herald-Post Co., publisher, of which
James B. Brown is president, stated the
paper had debts it cannot pay. It has
10 days in which to file a schedule of
assets and liabilities and the law allows
10 days more for appointment of a
trustee to arrange for its, sale unless
some other arrangement Is made with
the creditors.
The petition In bankruptcy followed
upon the closing in November of finan
cial Institutions of which Mr. Brown
Is head and his own act In going into
voluntary bankruptcy.
D. C. POLICEMAN FINED
Johan Middlethon Found Guilty in
Alexandria of Beating* Wife.
Br a Staff Correspondent of The Star.
ARLINGTON COUNTY COURT
HOUSE, Vs., December 27.—Policeman
Johan Middlethon of the fourth pre
cinct, Washington, was tried before
Judge Harry R. Thomas in Police
Court here this morning on a charge
of beating his wife and fined $25
and costs and placed under a peace
bond of SIOO for a year.
Middlethon appeared in court In re
sponse to a summons. He pleaded not
guilty, but refused to testify in his
own behalf after his wife had testified
that he had beaten her upon several
OQpasiona. Ha Uvea at Arlington.
— —— ■ i —....
JUDGE APPROVES OF WHIPPING (
' . >
1 : J " Y- ’<„
1
! RELIGION MAY BAR
1931 ARMS PARLEY
: Soviet and Turkey Oppose
Adjourning for Christmas.
1932 Date Likely.
BY REGINALD WRIGHT KAUFFMAN
By Radio to The Star.
GENEVA, December 27. —The custom
of observing Christmas holidays promises
to provide a religious factor in the
otherwise political problem of fixing
a date for the projected world dis
armament conference. This problem
must be considered at the next session
of the Council of the League of Nations,
which will begin on January 9, and al
though the Influence of mose of its fac
tors will be exerted very largely behind
the scenes, the religious aspect of the
question probably will be discussed, so
to speak, from the open stage.
It is generally granted that the gov
ernment intending to be represented at
the conference ought to have at least
nine months for preparation and docu
mentary study before they meet. Thus,
if the Council decides upon the most
immediate action possible, the date
would fall well toward next November,
as advocated by Germany and the other
states defeated In the World War. In
such event, the conference would
scarcely have begun Its labors before
most of the delegates demanded a recess
over Christmas.
Soviet Against Recess.
Against such demand the Soviets, it
is understood, are already protesting, i
their reason being that such recess
would compel their official spokesmen—
representatives of an atheist power—to
observe a religious holiday. With this
view, it appears, Turkey largely agrees,
being disinclined, as an overwhelming
Mahometan nation, to have its delega
tion observe, even by a two weeks’ ad
journment, any Christian festival.
Moreover, even a fortnight’s rest
might not suffice for all the Christians,
as some, whose state religion is that of
the orthodox church, adhere to the
Julian calendar, in which Christmas is
13 days later than in the Gregorian
calendar.
For obvious political reasons, a ma
jority of the Council of the League is
said already to be In favor of delay.
The religious and politico-religious ar
guments now being advanced seem
likely to decide the matter.
February Date Seen.
No one in Geneva now expects the
conference to be called earlier than in
February. On the other hand, officials
of the League express small doubt of
the Council’s setting some definite date.
There is a group which fears that the
termination on December 31 of the
Franco-Italian naval shipbuilding holi
day may provide no prospect of an
agreement between Paris and Rome,
that both France and Italy may then
resume their building plans and that
Great Britain may feel impelled by that*
situation to invoke the “safeguard”
clause of the London treaty of last
Spring, thus endangering the Anglo-
Japanese-American agreement on naval
limitation and virtually administering
a check to the World Disarmament
Conference before- it can begin to
function.
A larger group, however, maintains
that France will be reluctant to start
building and that Italy is financially
unable to do so.
<Copyrl*ht, 3990. Hew York Tribune,
ADMR. CHASE TO LEAVE
FOR FLEET MANEUVERS
' After Stay at Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba, His Ship Will Sail
for Pacific Coast.
s Admiral Jehu V. Chase, commander
• in chief of the United States fleet, who
■ served in Washington until recently,
• will leave the New York Navy Yard on
i January 6. aboard his flagship, U. S. S.
r Texas, for the fleet concentration in
Panama. Following this, the vessel will
proceed to the Pacific Coast, there to
be based during the remainder of the
coming year.
The Texas will touch at Hampton
Roads, Va., on her southward voyage,
s leaving there January 9, just ahead of
the departure of the scouting fleet for
southern maneuvers. At Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba, where the Texas will arrive
[ on January 14, she will be joined by
the scouting fleet. Colon, in the Canal
’ Zone, will be her next port of call, and
| she is scheduled to reach there on Feb
t ruary 6, passing through the canal to
, Balboa three days later.
The Navy Department said today that
, Admiral Chase will be host to Admiral
j Sir Michael Hodges, commander In
, chief of the British Atlantic fleet from
j February 23 to 28.
f • a
CHEER SANDINO MESSAGE
Ibero-Apierican Students Warned
of Impending Dangers.
MEXICO CITY. December 27 OP).—
A message from Gen. Augustino San
dino. the Nicaraguan rebel, drew cheers
from delegates to the Ibero-American
Student Conference here last night.
Reference was made in the message to
“dangers brewing In our America more
than ever now, for the claws of the
American eagle are thrust Into the en
trails of our people.”
Nicaraguan soldiers. Sandino’s mes
sage said, are more disposed than ever
to maintain armed force for “our con
tinental independence.”
Prominent Architect Dies.
NEW YORK, December 27 OF). —
Henry Snyder Kissam, 64, prominent
architect and scion of an ancient line,
died here yesterday of heart disease.
He had been ill a year.
Kissam, a graduate of Columbia,
studied in Paris and on his return in
1895 established a business in New
York. He was the supervising architect
for the Buffalo exposition in 1899-1900.
THE EVENING - STAR. WASHINGTON, D. C„ SATURDAY. DECEMBER 27, 1930.
Seven youths at Lapeer, Mich., who
pleaded guilty to charges of petty
thievery were whipped by relative* or
acquaintances with approval of Circuit
Judge Henry H. Smith (below). Ca.*l
Bennett (left), 23, whipped his two
brothers, John, 20, and Harold, 18. He
Is shown with his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
James Bennett, discussing the punish
ment. —Associated Press Photo.
MARSHAL JOFFRE, HERO
OF MARNE, REPORTED
IN SERIOUS CONDITION’
(Continued From First Page.)
pital of Freres St.-Jean-de-Dleu In
Paris on December 19 and an operation
was performed the next day.
His countrymen had suspected that
the marshal of France was ill because
he was late in starting on his usual
Winter vacation in the south. Their
fears were lulled by denials from the
general’s family, but this morning the
old hero’s doctors announced that his
condition was grave.
He is suffering from an inflammation
of the arteries in the legs, an affliction
which began several months ago and
which suddenly became worse in the
night. The doctors’ bulletin described
his condition as "disquieting.”
Arteritis is the name the doctors give
the marshal's illness. This case takes
the form of a swelling of the arterial
membrane and it is centered in the
legs. Four medical experts, two of
whom are professors, signed the bulletin
which confirmed rumors of the mar
shal's illness.
It was so serious, the bulletin dis
closed, that a surgical operation was per
formed last Saturday by Prof. Leriche,
who has attended the patient for some
time. He was aided by Prof. Labbe and
Dr. Boulln. Prof. J. L. Faure and Dr.
Fontaine consulted with the surgeons.
There were no details regarding the na
ture of the operation, but it was be
lieved to have taken the form of bleed
ing, as in the case of Raymond Poin
care when he was attacked by a vascu
lar spasm recently.
BaUetin Is Issued.
Throughout his illness, it was re
vealed, Marshal Joffre has persistently
refused to let any word of his serious
condition reach his friends.
The physicians’ bulletin, issued today
at Paris, said:
“Marshal Joffre for several months
has suffered an Inflammation of the
arteries in the legs. This condition
suddenly became aggravated and neces
sitated an urgent intervention, which
was carried out by Prof. Leriche, who
has attended the marshal for some
time. He was aided by Prof. Labbe and
Dr. Boulin.
"After a momentary improvement,
which permitted everybody to become
hopeful, the condition of the marshal
has now become disquieting. In ful
fillment of his expressed wish, com
plete silence has been maintained up
to now concerning the illness.”
The communique was signed by Prof.
J. L. Faure, Prof. -Labbe, Dr. Boulln
and Dr. Fontaine.
Almost 79 Yean Old.
Marshal Joffre, whose full name is
Joseph Jacques Cesalre Joffre, will be
79 years old January 12 next. In the
course of his extended military career
he has successfully led campaigns in
Asia, Africa and Europe.
He was bom in 1852 at Rlvesaltes, at
the edge of the Eastern Pyrenees, of
Spanish lineage and was one of 11 chil
dren. The Franco-German War inter
rupted his studies as a youth and he
took part in the defense of Paris in
1870. I
After the loss of his first wife he ap
plied for a transfer to Indo-Chlna and
aided in the occupation of Forsoma in
1885. remaining three years at Hanoi
as chief of engineers. In 1892 he was
sent to Senegal and in 1893 led a
column on Timbuctoo entering the town
on February 12, 1894, after marching
nearly 600 miles.
He became a general of brigade in
1900 and a general of division in 1905,
and was called to the Superior War
Council in 1910. In 1911 he became
chief of staff and vice president of the
council. He took up the poet of com
mander-ln-chlef of the French Army
on August 5, 1914. Two days after
Germany declared war on France, and
thereafter for two years the history of
his life was the history of the war in
the West Itself.
Marne Greatest Victory.
His greatest victory, perhaps, was on
September 6 when he threw the Ger
mans back on the Alsne in the me
morable battle of the Marne.
With the replacement of M. Millerand
as minister of war on October 30, 1915,
by Gen. Gallleni, military governor of
Paris, Gen. Joffre received the supreme
command of all French armies. A
campaign against his leadership de
veloped and after the indecisive result
of the great allied battle on the Somme
he was made technical adviser to the
government in matters concerning the
direction of the war.
Although he continued to hold the
title of commander-ln-chief of the
French armies, Gen. Nivelle received
the command of the North and North
east, and was allowed to continue the
operations of the war temporarily with
out Interference of Joffre.
Late in December, 1918, he was
created a marshal of France.
In the Spring of 1917 he visited the
■ United States, and was hailed • every
where with great affection as “Papa"
. Joffre, and “the hero of the Marne.
i Ever since the time of James Monroe
' the Governors of Virginia have lived in
i the elegant old Colonial mansion in
. Richmond , £
COURT BACKS CURB
ON HIGHWAY SIGNS
Indiana Decision Considered
of Vital Importance in
War on Billboards.
In view of steps now being taken to
provide more stringent regulation of
the billboard industry in the District
of Columbia, attention was called by the
American Civic Association today to
the recent decision of the Indiana Su
preme Court on the Indianapolis ordi
nance restricting billboard as being of
vital significance.
Recognizing the evolution in law to
the point that the esthetic factor may
now be regarded as of primary im
portance, the Indiana Supreme Court
in its decision upheld the right of the
city to prohibit the location or mainte
nance of any billboard structure, or the
leasing of any premises for the purpose,
within 500 feet of any park, parkway
or boulevard and directing that all such
existing structures within the city be
removed.
This ordinance, passed some years
ago, was attacked by the General Out
door Advertising Co. in the lower
courts and carried before the Supreme
Court of the State. According to the
decision the ordinance is a proper ex
ercise of police power, but it may not
be enforced agamst then lawfully ex
isting boards unless and until compen
sation is provided for them in accord
ance with the terms of the same legis
lation that authorizes the prohibition.
Called Vital Decision.
It is regarded that this decision is
of importance to all interested in
zoning, city planning and general
esthetics of the outdoors. It is pointed
out that “general welfare” is now ex
tended to cover “public property, con
venience and prosperity.” Further, the
decision was said to make a definite
shift in emphasis from the attitude
that esthetic considerations are auxil
iary to one where they are far from
subordinate in importance.
By the Indiana decision, it is brought
out, a new emphasis is given to the
argument that billboards are in a class
by themselves and may be dealt with as
such, without a too nice regard for the
inclusion of other businesses in the
regulation. It is, therefore, distinctly
counter to the wishes and doctrine of
billboard interests.
The decision also is regarded as sig
nificant that the Indiana case holds
that the ordinance is in accord with
the Federal Constitution as well as that
of the State. Judge Clarence R. Mar
tin, who rendered the decision of the
court, said, in part:
Sight Not To Be Offended.
"Under a liberalized construction of
the general welfare purposes of State
and Federal constitutions there is a
trend in the modem decisions (which
we approve) to foster, under the police
power, an esthetic and cultural side of
municipal development—to prevent a
thing that offends the sense of sight in
the same maner as a thing offends the
sense of hearing and smelling.”
The decision further points out that
"w'hether an advertising billboard is a
disfigurement or a desirable addition to
a community depends upon the charac
ter of the surroundings in the community
as well as upon the billboard advertis
ing itself. But the determination of
such a question and the determination
of what regulation or what prohibitions
within certain areas there shall be of
.billboards under the police power is—
subject to the limitations hereinbefore
stated —for the legislative body of the
city.
“As social relations become more com
plex, restrictions on individual rights
become more common. Restrictions
which years ago would have been deemed
intolerable and in violation of the prop
erty owners’ constitutional rights are
now desirable and necessary, and zon
ing ordinances fair in their requirements
are usually sustained.
Validity of Zoning Law.
“A zoning law and ordinances enacted
thereunder have been in effect in this
State and in municipalities thereof for
eight or nine years, and their consti
tutional validity has never been ques
tioned in this court. Under laws and
ordinances of this character many
regulations and limitations of struc
tural design and property use have been
upheld which boar no closer relation
to• the public safety, healtlf morals
and general welfare, or public com
fort, convenience and prosperity (which
latter terms are also Included in the
recent cases) than does the ordinance
concerning billboards in the instant
case." «
The District Commissioners at present
are marking time on the billboard sit
uation. It is doubtful if they will give
any further consideration to the pend
ing regulatory bill until Maj. John C.
Gotwals, Engineer Commissioner, ren
ders a final report to the board.
Lieut. Col. U. S. Grant, 3d. director
of the Office of Public Buildings and
Grounds, it is understood, has not been
consulted about the proposed legislation
since last Spring, when he made cer
tain recommendations. Some of these
were Incorporated in the amendments
now being proposed. Col. Grant was in
favor of the bill stipulating that public
hearings be held on any regulations
which would be established under the
law. "It seems to me a good way of
getting the reaction of the public,” he
said today.
Has Not Seen Draft BUI.
Col. Grant explained, however, he
had not seen the new draft of the bill
and therefore did not feel inclined to
discuss that part of the measure which
would give the Commissioners the right
to keep billboards in a state of repair.
Miss Harlean James, executive sec
retary of the American Civic Associa
tion, was insistent that without public
hearings the public generally would be
unaware of what changes the Commis
sioners, or perhaps the billboard inter
ests. would seek from time to time in
the regulations. “It is a safeguard to
the public which should be contained
in writing in the law,” she declared.
chicagobulldings
ROCKED BY BOMBS
Apron Factory and Restaurant Tar
gets for Blasts Almost
Simultaneously.
Br the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, December 27. Two
bombs exploded almost simultaneously
on the North Side last night, one of
them being the fourth directed against
“big business” within recent weeks.
One bomb blew in the steel door of
an apron factory owned by Carson
Pirie Scott & Co. and damaged brick
masonry, broke windows and shattered
plastering in an apartment across an
alley. Three persons in the apartment
were sUghtly injured. Police and fire
men formed lines to hold back the
Sthering crowds. The explosion was
ard In Evanston, more than 10 miles
; away.
Another bomb damaged a Chinese
, restaurant Ten occupants were not
injured, but four of them, In a card
s game, were knocked off their chairs.
. The proprietor said he had no trouble
> or warnings.
Last Wednesday night the Merchan
dise Mart the largest building in the
world, was bombed. The Furniture
! Mart second largest building, and the
i main plant of Sears, Roebuck & Co.
i were bombed recently at the same hour
and In similar manner, *
HOOVER TO DEDICATE THIS MEMORIAL
' ' , »■' -yy—-" '
♦ ■ ’ • . • •
j ...... ' l^i^ji^i
The memorial to President Harding, which will be dedicated by President Hoover and former President Coolidge.
It is located near Marion, Ohio, President Harding’s home.
FRANCO-BELGIAN
ALLIANCE IS TARGET
Pressure Exerted in Europe
to Abrogate Defensive
Agreement.
(The certainty or uncertainty of peace
In Kurope Is Involved In the current
attempt to set aside the Pranco-Belclan
military agreement. Paul Scott Mowrer
says in the following special weekly
cable.)
By PAUL SCOTT MOWRER.
By Cable to The Star.
PARIS, Prance, December 27.—Con
siderable effort Is now being made to
detach Belgium from its defensive al
liance with Prance.
The immediate question is whether
the Franco-Belgian staff agreement of
1920 should be abrogated. A big de
bate on the subject is expected in the
Belgian Chamber of Deputies during
the second week of January, beginning
with a statement of the government’s
views by Foreign Minister Paul Hymans.
This statement will undoubtedly be
favorable to maintenance of the agree
ment on the following grounds just put
forward by Minister of State H. Carton
De Wiart:
The agreement is not really an al
liance, but a technical arrangement as
to how the French aifd Belgian armies
shall co-operate m ease either country
is a victim of unprovoked aggression.
De Wiart adds that it would be dan
gerous and naive to denounce the
agreement just now, when evacuation of
the Rhineland by French and Belgian
troops is proved by Adolf Hitler’s suc
cess in the German elections not to
have had the pacifying effect which
had been hoped.
Opposition to the agreement comes
mainly from the Flemish Autonomists,
Catholics and Socialists and is support
ed morally by German and Dutch Na
tionalists and by certain elements In
Great Britain.
Provoked by Press Articles.
To some extent the present flurry in
Belgian foreign policy may be said to
have been provoked by two vigorous
articles in the London Daily Telegraph,
written by Dr. Maurioe Gerothwohl,
who is said to be a confidant of David
Lloyd George and whose articles are
noted for their proletarian and anti-
French tendencies. Dr. Gerothwohl
urges Belgium to model its foreign
policy on Britain, not France.
He sees three dangers to European
peace—the German-Polish frontier, the
Italian-Jugoslav frontier and the
Franco-Italian naval rivalry in the
Mediterranean. He seems to foresee that
in case of an Italian attack on France
or Jugoslavia or of a German attack on
Poland, the Council of the League of
Nations will disagree regarding respon
sibilities and Great Britain will remain
neutral.
He admits, however, that if Belgium,
as France’s ally, should be drawn in,
it would be difficult for Great Britain
to stay out. He therefore proposes
abrogation of the Franco-Belgian mili
tary agreement.
These articles were widely reproduced
in the Belgian press and Immediately
started a lively discussion. Emile Van
dervelde. Socialist leader, seems more
or less to adopt Dr. Gerothwohl’s views.
The Locarno treaties and the Kellogg
pact, he asserts, make Franco-Belgian
staff co-operation unnecessary, and he
intimates that the Socialists will vote
against the 300,000,000-franc credits the
government is asking for the defense of
Belgium’s eastern frontier.
Called Vassal of France.
This view is stoutly seconded by Van
Cauwelaert, Flemish Catholic burgo
master of Antwerp, who accuses the
government of making Belgium a mere
vassal of France.
Behind the argument looms through
out the bitter interior political struggle
which is going on between the Flemish
speeking Flemings and the French
speaking Walloons, among whom the
country is about equally divided. Flem
ish extremists, who have already won
full administrative equality; for the
Flemish tongue, seem now to be aiming
at nothing less than Flemish autonomy.
Moreover, the French-speaking parts
of Belgium are precisely those nearest
the German frontier which suffered
most in the last war and would be most
exposed if another war occurred. Wal
loon Socialists, therefore, seem not to
agree with Flemish Socialists on foreign
policy.
Hope to Renew Entente.
Partisans of the Franco-Belgian
agreement say that they have already
tried several times and will always be
glad to make with Great Britain an
additional agreement similar to that
with France. What they still hope for
is renewal of the Franco-British entente.
The French press has extensively
commented on these Belgian discus
sions. In the main, French writers
content themselves with pointing out
what they consider anomalies in the
position of their Belgian opponents. It
is curious, they observe, that whereas
German Socialists never do anything
serious to hinder German military
policy, Belgian and French Socialists
seem systematically to oppose the idea
of national defense. Why, they ask,
when neither Italy nor Germany seems
in the slightest degree inspired by the
Locarno spirit, should Belgium, intrust
its safety to this spirit?
And, finally, they Intimate that the
aim of the Germans, Italians and Rus
sians in clamoring for disarmament is
merely to weaken those countries which,
like France and Belgium, stand for the
upholding of the peace treaties, in order
thus to increase the relative strength of
those countries which like Germany,
Russia and Italy, want to overthrow
t these treaties. .
(Copyright. 1930.). __ 1
HOOVER TO ATTEND
HARDING CEREMONY
EARLY IN NEW YEAR
(Continued From First Page.)
emn duty of giving the Harding me
morial a suitable dedication.
Shortly after election the memorial
association, at its annual meeting in
Marion, took similar action. It ensued
upon the motion of Harry M. Daugh
erty, a trustee of the association, form
er Attorney General of the United
States and President Harding’s closest
friend. The resolution was of con
siderably more vigorous tone than that
passed by the Republican State con
vention. It contained some very di
rect criticism of persons in high posi
tion, who had been holding back about
participating in any dedicatory cere
monies.
President Hoover, his friends say, has
never been disinclined to take part in
appropriate exercises at Marion, but
when the question of his participation
was plunged into the Ohio political
arena and made an issue, he deter
mined that he ought not to go there
under the circumstances. Another ex
planation of the President’s delay in
coming to a decision on the subject
was a feeling on his part that while
the Federal litigation growing out of
the oil reserve affairs was still pend
ing it might seem somewhat inappro
priate for the Chief Executive to speak
at the memorial. All of these Inhibi
tions haws now vanished. Mr. Hoover
intends to proceed to Marion relatively
early in tha new year, the exact date
depending on various conditions.
Expect Coolidge There.
One of these conditions is the con
venience of Calvin Coolidge. President
Hoover is of opinion that the former
Vice President and President, who took
office with Mr. Harding in 1921, should
join him at the memorial ceremony.
Apparently it is not yet definitely known
at the White House whether Mr. Cool
idge is in full accord with this pro
posal, but there is no reason to doubt
that he will be.
Confidence on this score is all the
greater because, a year or so ago, it was
the Vermonter’s suggestion that. Mr.
Hoover, not himself, was the proper one
to go to Marlon for the purpose in ques
tion. Mr. Coolidge’s first “reaction” in
the matter is understood to date from
1928, when his position was that, in the
midst of the presidential campaign of
that year, it might be thought a “po
litical move” to rivet the country’s at
tention on Ohio at such a moment.
President Hoover conveys to his asso
ciates the impressipn that he will speak
at Marion unhesitatingly and in a
spirit of genuine regard for the man
who gave the Californian the latter’s
real chance to distinguish himself as a
Federal executive —in the Secretaryship
of Commerce in the Harding cabinet.
Hoover Was Opposed.
It is an established piece of political
history that Herbert Hoover was ap
pointed to that cabinet by Harding in
the teeth of a good deal of stalwart
Republican opposition. One man now
very high in the party’s councils is on
record in writing against the desirability
of giving a portfolio in the 1921 admin
istration to a Republican who, only a
year and a half previous, was under
consideration by the Democrats as their
presidential candidate.
Mr. Harding ignored these remon
strances. He yielded instead not only
to his own high regard for Mr. Hoover’s
capacity, but to what Harding knew to
be a Nation-wide demand for Hoover’s
inclusion in the cabinet. On countless
occasions, both during President Hard
ing’s life and following his demise, the
man now in the White House paid trib
ute to the Ohioan’s worth and services
to the country. The Marlon ceremonies
will be broadcast by the Columbia
Broadcasting System.
(Copyright. 19*0.)
AWAITS HOOVER’S MOVE.
Memorial Association Will Take No
Further Action.
Marion, Ohio, December 27 OP).—
Any plans for the dedication of the
Harding Memorial here will await word
from President Hoover, Hoke Donithen,
secretary and executive officer of the
Memorial Association, said today.
Donithen said that the association
will send no further invitation to the
President and that no special meeting
will be held by the organization to dis
cuss the subject.
The President, Donithen said, has al
ready received formal invitations to
dedicate the memorial as well as hav
ing the matter brought to his atten
tion by Secretary of the Treasury Mel
lon and other administration repre
sentatives.
The memorial association definitely
brought its overtures to a close at its
annual meeting here October 6 when a
motion to suspend all efforts to arrange
for the dedication and await the word
of the President was carried by unan
imous vote, Donithen said.
Donithen added that the association
has done absolutely nothing in regard to
the dedication since that meeting and
that its decision to leave everything up
to President Hoover remains unchanged.
Donithen said he had received no
official notice of the President’s de
cision to dedicate the memorial and
that news reports brought his first in
formation of the developments at Wash
ington.
PROBE CAPONE VENTURE
Gangster Believed Interested in
Lower California Casino.
CHICAGO, December 27 (jP).—The
Chicago Herald and Examiner said to
day that Federal agents who are inter
ested in Alphonse Capone’s financial
ventures because of a plan tb indict
him for income tax invasion, were in
vestigating reports he had become in
terested in a mlllkm-dollar casino proj
ect in Ensenara, Lower California.
The newspaper added that it had
learned that a report of Capone’s con
nection with the venture had been re
ceived at the Federal Building here
through the prosecuting attorney of
San Diego County, Calif.
EVICTIONS START
MONDAY AT MILLS
i Union Prepares to House
! Strikers Ordered Out of *
1 Virginia Dwellings.
. Special Dispatch to The Star.
DANVILLE, V*., December 27—Con
; stable R. M. Foster announced today
! that he will begin Monday morning
evicting strikers who have been ordered
1 by law to yield possession of houses
L owned by the Riverside and Dan River
i Cotton Mills. It was stated the pro
-1 ceeding will be delayed if it is raining.
It is reliably understood that most of
! the 14 families will move voluntarily,
i but that some few are expected to ln
; slat on being “set out in the street” for
; propaganda purposes.
The union has arranged to house the
evictees in houses occupied by strikers,
! and by the process of doubling up there
■ will be no additional drain on the
; financial resources of the union. If the
; doubling-up process takes place in
, homes owned by strikers themselves or
in houses rented privately, the situa
tion will be met, but if those about to
be evicted find quarters with other fam
. ilies occupying mill property, the ques
tion of further eviction notices will be
• precipitated anew.
Nothing new developed in the strike
situation today, and the Christmas lull
continued.
It is reliably understood that there
. will be no demonstrations at the min
, gates Monday when it is reported that
, many more workers will enter the mills
for work. Interest today centered in
the appearance on Tuesday of William
Green, president of the American
Federation of Labor, who, union officials
say, will have an announcement of
“tremendous importance" to make.
It is reliably learned that union
leaders have been engaged in a well
defined campaign in Northern States
among influential customers of the
local mills with a view to presenting
the picture of the strike from the
union standpoint.
The first fatality incident to the tex
tile strike here occurred early today
when Lieut. Robert F. Johnson, Com
pany A, 116th Virginia Infantry, of
Bedford, died at Memorial Hospital
from injuries he sustained on the night
of December 23 when struck and
crushed by a street car at Schoolfield
while on patrol duty with his squad
of soldiers in the strike zone. It was
said death resulted from internal in
juries and toxemia. The remains
were sent to Bedford today for burial.
CUBA CLAIMS DEFEAT
OF REVOLUTION PLOT
Former Cabinet Member Sent to
Prison as Plans for Coup
Are Frustrated.
By the Associated Press.
HAVANA, December 27.—The Cuban
government claimed today to have
thwarted a revolutionary plot which
aimed to overthrow the administration
of President Machado Christmas eve.
The stage was set for the coup, an
announcement by the authorities said,
but the plotters learned that the
secret police knew of their plans and
canceled their arrangements.
Col. Aurelio Hevia. a leading figure
in the Nationalist Union, opposition
party, and secretary of the interior in
former President Menotal’s cabinet, has
been arrested, with other of the con
spirators, and has been sent to Cabanas
fortress.
The government announcement said
that arms and ammunition had been
secured and a demonstration had been
set for Christmas eve. A number of
Nationalists and Communists are as
serted to have been involved alotfe
with some university students.
regarded'as threat
TOKIO, December 27 (/P). —Police to
day held a man here pending investi
gation of a disturbance yesterday as
the Emperor was riding In a coach to
open the Diet session.
The man, whose identity was not
published, started running through the
crowd toward the coach in an effort to
present the Emperor a petition regard
ing a personal* grievance.
A spectacle case fell from his pocket,
giving rise to the rumor that it was a
revolver and that he Intended to shoot
the Emperor. This was denied by po
lice.
Wedding Ring Lost
In Lake 23 Years Ago
Returned to Owner
By the Associated Press.
OMAHA, December 27.—Twen
ty-three years ago John Chadek
lost his wedding ring while swim
ming in an lowa lake.
Today it was back in his pos
session, having been returned to
him by Ned Goodwin, whose
younger brother found it while
swimming in the lake in 1912.
Coining upon the ring dp an old
jewelry box the other dag, Good
win noticed the initials **P. V. to
J. C., 11-27-’Oe.” By cheeking
the marriage license recohfij in
old newspaper files he discovered
its owner, to whom he proiAtly
took ft. T
■ "tgnu—— y
SENATE TOM
BANKING SITUATION
' '+ % * >
—j
Special Committee, Headed
by Glass, Is Assembling
• Data on Subject.
(Continued From First Page.)
Is not yet available, but it la known
that national bank failures in that 12
months were 82, with other failures
probably at a corresponding level
For the calendar year of 1930, the
suspensions and failures have been esti
mated to run above 1,000, with some
thing over 100 national banks Involved.
The December report of th? Federal
Reserve Board shows, for the first 11
months, 981 suspensions, which means
“closed to the public permanently or
temporarily.” This included 111 national
banks, all of which are members of the
Federal Reserve system, and 18 State
bank members. This figure is tentative,
in so far as it includes the November
totals, of 236, when 25 national banka
were listed as closing.
System Was Blamed.
Early in the present decade there was
a tendency to lay part of the banking
ills of the country to insufficiency of
the .national banking system.
As a result, in 1923 H. M. Dawes, then
controller, instituted a survey that was
responsible, three years later, for the
McFadden act, which broadened the
charter powers of the national banks
and, according to the records, brought
about some improvement in conditions,
but which, according to the last re
port of Controller J. W. Pole, has not
accomplished its purpose of bringing
about parity between the National and
State systems.
In 1927, when he reported 831 fail
ures. including 142 of national banks.
J. W. Mclntosh, then controller, said:
“I believe that failures of many
banks could have been averted ana
would be averted if the directors would
give closer attention to affairs of the
ibank.”
Again he said: "A large number of
failures in the years 1924 to date have
been in some measure due to the too
liberal policy of granting charters, espe
cially during the inflation period.”
This question of superfluity of banks
also was touched on elsewhere in a
controller report, when it was said that
applications for charters showed that
“there is too often a desire to organize*
new banks in localities where the com
munity is amply served by present
banking facilities, and which would not
support new institutions with a likeli
hood of fair measure of success.”
Praised Act in 1927.
In his report for 1927 Controller Mc-
Intosh sounded an optimistic note over
the operation of the McFadden act, then
in its infancy, saying it had checked tbe
drift into State banking systems of
national banks which sought a field
where the charter powers are broader
and, consequently, offered more lucra
tive prospects. Because, however, the
national banking system, inferentlally.
offered a more stable foundation, this
new legislation was deemed by that
much to have aided the general finan
cial structure of the country.
The following year, however, J. W.
Pole, the present oontroller, was grow
ing skeptical of the results of the Mc-
Fadden law, his report indicated, and In
1929 he flatly said it needed amend
ment.
Proceeding on the premise that the
rural banking system is the “weak sis
ter” in the financial structure of the
country. Controller Pole said that he
would attempt no detailed analysis
other than to say that “the economic
movement away from a large number
of independent local utility and indus
trial operating units toward p stronger
and more centralised form.' of opera
tion in the large cities has curtailed
the opportunities of the country bank
for diversity and extension of busi
ness while broadening those opportu
nities for the large city bank.” r
Suggested Amendment.
This suggested to him the advisability
of amending the McFadden/act "to per
mit national banks, with tbe approval
of the controller of the currency, to
establish branches within the - trade
areas of the cities In which such banks
may be situated.
“These trade areas may in some cases
be coextensive with the Federal reserve
district lines,” he said; “in other cas.s
they may be of a more limited extent,
but in my judgment they should not
extend beyond Federal Reserve district
boundaries, except to take care of a few
exceptional cases where a trade area
may extend from one Federal Reserve
district into another, nor should a bank
be permitted to establish a branch in
another city in which there is a Fed
eral Reserve bank or a branch thereof.
“Under such a system of branches
there would gradually be extended to
the agricultural communities from the
large city bank's a safe-and-sound sys
tem of banking, which would render
remote the possibility of bank failures.
There would, however, be no compulsion
upon unit banks to enter a branch or
ganisation.
"These suggestions for branch bank
ing are made not with the Intention
primarily to deal with the question if
the decline in the number of national
banks through defection from the na
tional to the State systems, but rather
as a remedy for what appears to be a
serious and fundamental weakness in
our systems of banking, both national
and State. Such a grant of power to
the national banks would, however, give
them such an outstanding operating
advantage that it would seem reason
able to expect that the exodus of banks
from the national system would prac
tically cease, and that many now under
State supervision would return, to the
national charter which they have for
saken."
No Action Taken.
Nothing, however, has ever been done
in this connection.
An interesting commentary on the
powers of the Federal Reserve Board
also was incorporated in this report.
"There have been no general finan
cial panics in this country since the
war—thanks to the Federal Reserve
System,” he said.
“Any bank can have access, directly
or indirectly, to the benefits of the Fed
eral Reserve System to the extent of its
sound* commercial and business loans
and the decline of the country banks
has taken place notwithstanding the
valuable assistance rendered by the
Federal Reserve System. A Federal Re
serve bank is not charged with the re
sponsibility of preventing bank failures.
It is beyond the power of, the Federal
Reserve System, as it is beyond the
power of any governmental agency, to
stand between these banks and in
solvency.”
TRADE UPTURNS EARLY
IN 1931 ARE FORECAST
Symposium of Experts Anticipates
Gradual Recovery, With Normal
Conditions by End of Year.
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, December 27.—A mod
erate upswing in business during the
early months of 1931 is forecast from
a symposium of experts by the National
Industrial Conference Board.
“Since it seems obvious that recovery
will probably be very gradual and may
be upon us before we are aware of it,”
the statement says, “it would be well *
for business to adjust Itself for a long
pull on the road to recovery."
Defining the term “normal” as an
average between the bottom of the de
pression and the peak of the recent
prosperity, the statement adds: “It is
this kind of normal that we may hone- C
tm aspect to* the Krtotmy*- _*-