Evening star. [volume], February 23, 1937, Page A-2, Image 2

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

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-i
Government Turns to 75
Indicted in Kansas City
Scandal.
8r ths Associated Press.
KANSAS CITY. February 23.—
Eleven out of the first 14 persons sum
moned to trial on cnarges of vote
fraud conspiracy awaited sentence to
day as the Federal Government turned
to the original list of 75 Indicted for
more trials.
The "score” to date is: Seven con
victed, 4 pleading no defense and
3 on which a jury was unable to
agree.
Six Democrats and one Republican
have been convicted of conspiring to
defraud more than 200 voters In two
of Kansas City’s 460 precincts by bal
lot box stuffing, ballot tampering and
Intimidation last November 3.
A jury yesterday convicted all five
defendants before It. One was John
A. Luteran, a Democratic precinct cap
tain, who was identified by his at
torney, William G. Boatright, during
questioning as a member of the "goat
faction.” The “goats” are the fol
lowers of the powerful Democratic or
ganization leader, T. J. (Boss) Pender
gast. as contrasted with the "rabbits,”
Democratic followers of Representa
tive Joseph B. Shannon. Shannon
was a witness before the grand jury.
A previous jury convicted two men
but were unable to agree on three
other defendants who may be re
tried. The three Republicans and
one Democrat who pleaded no de
fense, placing themselves at the mercy
of the court, will be sentenced Thurs
day along with the seven convicted.
Judge Merrill E. Otis’ most extreme
choice could be a $5,000 fine or 10
year sentence—or both.
“We are ready to go ahead,” United
States District Attorney Maurice M.
Milligan said as he eyed the names ol
the next group of six, three Democrats
and three Republicans.
Judge Otis, against whom Luteran
was quoted by a witness as voicing a
vague threat, gave considerable at
tention to the precinct captain in his
jury instructions.
“Luteran conducted himself in
such a manner that both Republican
and Democratic women told you they
were terrified of him,” the judge said.
Spain
(Continued From First Page.)
with an insurgent drive from South
ern Spain.)
A coastwise advance of southern
forces was reported started toward
Valencia after capture of Malaga two
Weeks ago.
(The Madrid dispatch relating to
Insurgent efiorts to take Viver was
sharply censored.)
VALENCIA IS BOMBED.
_
Damage Is Slight as Rebels Recon
noiter in City.
VALENCIA. Spain, February 23 (/P).
—Insurgent air fleets dropped incen
diary bombs on the Port of Valencia
today in two separate raids.
With an insurgent ground spearhead
threatening to break through to the
sea 34 miles north of this temporary
seat of Spanish government, insurg
ent planes droned over the port sec- j
tion of Valencia first at 2:30 a.m., then ;
at 7:30 a m.
The damage from the incendiary '
bombs which they dropped was saM 1
to have been slight, however.
Authorities believed the main pur- j
I>ose of the raiders was to reconnoiter. |
HARD FIGHTING AT BAYONNE.
‘ -
Government Claims Troops dosing
in on Rebels.
BAYONNE, Franco-Spanish Fron- |
tier, February 23 (fP).—Ovideo’s dyna- |
mite-battered garrison lunged at a
tightening ring of government be
siegers today and proclaimed itself
•‘invincible.”
Bloody door-to-door fighting raged
in the center of the Biscayan provin
cial capital, said a government radio
report.
The ancient city’s streets echoed to \
the blasting handiwork of Asturian !
• dinimateros”—raw-boned, devil-may
care miners who bolstered infantry
attacks with makeshift dynamite
bombs.
President Juan Antonio Aguirre of
the Basque national regime, said
10,000 government troops were closing
in on Col. Miguel Aranda’s compara
tively small insurgent detachment,
which has been bottled up In the city
lor three months.
Insurgent officials estimated the at
tackers’ losses at 4,000 men. The new
Insurgent radio station at Oviedo
broadcast a message from the "second
Alcazar"—recalling the 72-day siege
of 1,200 insurgents in the Toledo Alca
Ear before rescue last September 27.
It was a defiant contradition of gov
ernment reports.
The Oviedo barracks and surround- ;
Ing buildings—targets of artillery and j
planes—were smoking ruins. The
city’s bull ring, which once rang to
cheers for brightly costumed torea
dors, bristled with the guns of govern
ment captors. A city reservoir and an
asylum also fell.
Poll Taken on Authors.
A recent poll by a London literary
review disclosed the three most pop
ular authors in England are Bernard
6haw, H. G. Wells and Lord Dunsany.
--
Congress in Brief
TODAY.
Senate:
Considers reciprocal trade act ex
tension.
Joint committee studies Oovemment
reorganization bills.
La Follette Committee studies in
terferences with collective bargain
ing.
House:
Considers District of Columbia leg
islation.
Foreign Affairs Committee discusses
permanent neutrality legislation.
Agriculture Committee continues
hearings on farm tenancy legislation.
TOMORROW.
Senate:
Probably will continue debate on
reciprocal trade Agreement resolution.
Joint Committee on Reorganization,
executive, 10 a.m.
Home:
Considers miscellaneous bills on
calendar.
Immigration Committee resumes
hearings on bill to protect the artistic
and earning opportunities of actors,
10:30 a.m.
District Committee meets, 10:10 a.m.
«
Washington
Wayside
Tales
Random Observations
of Interesting Events
i and Things.
REPRISAL.
HERE’S retribution in this
\ I world after all, quite a few
I persons are deciding on the
* basis of a tale going around at
cocktail and gossip parties.
The story really begins some months
ago. There was a party one Sunday
night, a quiet affair with a few
people present until an interruption
came in the form of a visit by the
police.
"You’ve been reported as disturbing
the peace,” the officer told the host.
“By whom?” asked the host, who
already knew the answer.
“Your next door neighbor,” the
officer told him.
The police looked around, decided
the whole report was malicious, apolo
gized to the victim, and went away.
The host felt like going over, poking
the neighbor in the nose and really
disturbing the peace, but eventually
decided to leave the matter to time.
Time got around to evening the
score just the other day. The man
who did the reporting, in the course
of seeking a date with a girl, hap
pened to mention that he knew Mr,
So-and-So.
“So do I,” said the girl, quickly
adding two and two, "and I was a
guest at his party when you called
the police.”
The story is being told around,
Aesop-like, as reflecting what hap
pens to those who hate their neighbors.
•r t <r
SABLES.
Mrs. John Mitchell Waters, sr.,
of Wesley Heights attended, a tea
the other day wearing the sable
cape which husband John bought
on their recent trip to Russia.
It was rather warm, and as the
crowd grew greater the heat was
more noticeable. Furs were thrown
back and still Mrs. John clung to
her cape. Some one suggested
that she take it off as it must be
very warm. "Take it off," ex
claimed Mrs. Waters. “/ should
say not. It took 20 years to get
those sables on my shoulders, a d
hot or not—there they stay!"
* * * *
SOCK.
OOMETXMES, by his own confession,
^ Prank M. Bahler is the kind of
chap who acts first and then thinks—
thinks how foolish it was.
The other night was such a time.
Coming late to his home in Arlington,
Va.. Mr. Bahler walked through a
darkened hall, planning to turn on his
first light of the night in his study.
His plan went awry, horribly awry,
however, when he saw a strange face
looking at him just at the entrance
to the study.
Mr. Bahler did not pause to con
sider the situation. He just swung
a hard right to the jaw of that face.
Not until his hand crashed against
the panel of the closed door did he
realize that the face was his own,
reflected in the dark panel in the rays
of the street light outside.
* * * *
STYLE.
A/tISS PEGGY DUNDAS of London,
1 1 England, was guest of honor at
a brilliant cocktail party given by a
Connecticut avenue matron recently.
Now Miss Peggy travels much and is
reputed to know her styles. So every
one was style conscious for that par
ticular afternoon. Mrs. George Phil
lips, one of the guests, who loves to
wear gardenias, bought two large,
white blossoms for the party. The
dress she Anally decided to wear, how
ever, had two artlflcial gardenias
under the chin—so it was Impossible
to wear two more on the shoulder.
Finally, in desperation, Mrs. Phillips
ripped o£f the artiflcial flowers and
deftly pinned the gardenias in their
place.
Miss Dundas eyed the flowers. She
looked again and after the third
cocktail those standing nearby heard
her say to the astonished Mrs. Phil
lips: "Look where you have your gar
denias and I am still wearing mine
on the shoulder. I guess it is true—
you know they say on the continent
that the American women are ’way
ahead in styles.”
She changed the position of her
own flowers, and unless she reads this
column she will never know that gar
denias under the chin was Just an
Incident born of necessity and carried
out in desperation.
* * * *
_ SORRY.
DETER CARTER sometimes says
things she never writes, we are
happy to tell you.
For instance, on Sunday she said to
Mrs. Harry Daniel:
"Where’s your party?”
“That was yesterday afternoon,”
said Mrs. Daniel. “You’re just 24
hours late.”
It turned out to be all right, how
ever, for they sat down then and there
and had a cozy Uttle party of their
own.
* * * *
SETTLED.
A New Deal family from the
Southwest arrived in Washington
and set up housekeeping in the
fashionable northwest. It was
the third marriage for the Missus
and the second for the Mr., with
offspring from each domestic ad
venture.
With the increase of popularity
which is sure to follow wealthy
newcomers who aspire to society,
the phone was constantly ringing,
to the dismay of the colored maid,
who never could remember all the
names.
So after a family huddle—Irene
Juno tells us—the good papa
took out the adoption papers which
gave one name to the entire brood
and swept a lot of names off the
name plate on the front door.
-4
I
Half of Workers in Chicago
Are Reported Already
Organized.
B!> the Associated Preu.
CHICAGO, February 23.—The "big
push" of John L. Lewis’ Committee
for Industrial Organization—union
ization of the Nation's 500,000 steel
workers—gloved nearer a showdown
today.
Lewis and his supporters regarded
the General Motors’ strike settlement
as the opening wedge of their plan
to unionize mass-production workers
and prepared to come to grips with
steel for the first big drive in the
industry since 1919.
The last concerted attempt to or
ganize steel workers failed after a
strike marked by rioting on a wide
front and mobilization of State and
Federal troops.
Lack of Unity Blamed.
C. I. O. leaders here attributed the
failure of the strike to lack of unity
among the various participating
unions and were determined to avoid
the weak spots of the 1919 drive.
Nicholas Fontecchlo, C. I. O. field
representative in the bustling Calumet
area, Immediately south of Chicago,
said the Steel Workers’ Organizing
Committee had enlisted more than
half of the region’s estimated 60,000
workers and soon would be ready tp
meet all other districts in a national
convention.
“The delegates themselves will de
cide the course, on a Nation-wide
basis,” Fontecchlo said. "I assume
they will demand recognition of their
union, shorter hours and increased
wages.
“We expect to make these demands
of the Americaq^ron and Steel Insti
tute, the parentTiody of the steel in
dustry.”
John Brophy, executive director of
the C. I. O., also said a steel conven
tion will be held soon and offered the
prediction the steel industry would
announce a general wage boost in
anticipation of the move. The in
dustry granted a 10 per cent raise
last November.
Defy Gov. Hoffman.
While plans also were being drawn
at Pittsburgh, where fully 50,000
workers are employed by Camegie
niinois Steel Corp., the C. I. O. pre
pared to organize in New Jersey despite
Gov. Harold G. Hoffman’s warning
that companies’ property rights would
be protected.
[ When Lewis formed the C. I. O. to
organize workers by industries and
I brqke with the American Federation
I of Labor over the craft organization
; issue he mentioned the steel industry
j most prominently as his goal for mass
j production unionization.
Fontecchio said the final failure of
; the 1919 strike was due to “the fact
that the unions were organized by
crafts and there were so many of them
that they couldn’t get together.”
j “SIT-DOWN” STRIKES SPREAD.
Several Settlements Reported, How
ever, in Detroit
DETROIT, February 23 (A>).—An
epidemic of Detroit strikes spread
again todav as several settlements
were reported.
Brief sit-down strikes in two plants
of the Briggs Manufacturing Co.,
makers of automobile bodies, were
t among those settled. Workers in the
trim department of the Mack avenue
, plant halted work for 43 minutes to
■ day in a protest of United Automo
i bile Workers against a “speeding up”
| of production. The company said no
concessions were made. Explanations
of the distribution of recent pay in
creases ended a brief sit-down last
night in the Highland Park plant
Thirty employes of the Star
| Terminal Transfer Co., which trans
ports liquor for the Michigan Liquor
Commission, struck today, shutting off
supplies to State stores in seven
counties.
Drivers and checkers were demand
ing 75 cents an hour. Warehouse
helpers and guards asked 70 cents.
The men said the present maximum
wage was 50 cents an hour.
At the Atlas Barrel <fc Cooperage
Co., 10 out of 20 employes demanded
wage and hour adjustments.
Settlements were announced in
four other strikes, including that in
the Fry Products Co., where Walter
L. Fry, president, “sat down” in op
position to the striking employes.
Three plants were closed by employ
ers following preparation of demands
by workers.
More ground remained to be covered
than has been traveled so far u ne
gotiators for General Motors Corp.
! and the United Automobile Workers
of America entered their second week
of conferences today.
WAGE INCREASES ANNOUNCED.
I Electric Auto-Lite Co. Signs Contract
With U. A. W.
TOLEDO, February 23 UP).—The
Electric Auto-Ute Co. announced to
day wage Increases of 6 and 8 cents
an hour for 2,0C0 employes with the
signing of a 1937 contract with the
United Automobile Workers' Union,
PEACE PARLEY TODAY.
WAUKEGAN, HL, February 23 UP).
—Solution of the week-old sit-down
strike at the Fansteel Metallurgical
Corp. rested today with conferees who
answered Gov. Henry Homer’s call
for a peace parley at the State capital
Company officials and representa
tives of the strikers departed last
night for Springfield, but the Issue
that had balked other projected con
ciliation meetings—refusal of officials
to treat with what they called "out
side organizers”—remained unsettled.
Among the "outside organizers”
named by President Robert J. Altchl
son of the corporation was Meyer
Adelman, an organizer for the Com
mittee for Industrial Organization.
MARTIAL LAW LIFTED.
INDIANAPOLIS, February 23 —
Gov. M. Clifford Townsend today
signed an order lifting military rule
from the labor-tom City of Anderson,
automobile accessory center, effective
at 3 p.m. (Central standard time).
The order provided for the with
drawal of 170 National Guard troops
from Anderson at that hour.
SIT-DOWN IN SHIPYARDS.
GROTON, Conn., February 23 C4»).—
A "sit-down” strike was called today
at the shipyards of the Electric Boat
C^ The Electric Boat Co. has buUt
mjjmy submarines for the Navy and
at present is engaged In construction
of gbar underseas craft and has con
tract for thrarmore.
Francis X. McCann of New York, a
union organiser, said the strike was "In
full effect.” Company officials denied
thg strike was fully organized.
r.
Honored
RECEIVES DEGREE FROM
ROLLINS COLLEGE.
HARRY M. WARNER,
President of Warner Bros.
Pictures, who received the de
gree of doctor of humane let
ters from Rollins College,
Florida. The degree was con
ferred in recognition of his
contributions to culture and
science through the medium
of the motion picture.
EVIDENCE DELAYS
RUBINOFF SUIT
Miss Garcia’s Attorney
Wires Judge of New De
velopments in Case.
BT the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, February 23.—Trial
of Peggy Garcia’s $500,000 breach of
promise suit against Dave RubinofT,
the violinist, was postponed today until
tomorrow morning when neither Peggy
nor her counsel. Bernard H. Sandler.
: appeared in Supreme Court, where
the trial was to be resumed.
The adjournment was granted by
Supreme Court Justice Salvatore A.
[ Cotillo when he received a telegram
i from Sandler, In Roanoke. Va.. stating
that he would return tomorrow with
evidence and witnesses ’’materially
beneficial to plaintiff’s cause."
The telegram read:
"Have been pursuing my investiga
tions here in Garcia vs. Rubinoff. Have
unearthed valuable evidence and wit
nesses materially beneficial to plain
tiff’s cause. Have appointment with
Dr. Rucker who brought plaintiff into
world, thus proving her age as 12 at
time of first marriage, which is void
under Virginia law. In the Interest
of Justice, please grant plaintiff an
additional day’s adjournment and will
proceed with trial Wednesday morn
ing."
Denied Previous Marriage.
Last Friday, under cross-examina
| otm by Abraham J. Halprin. Peggy
; steadfastly denied she had ever been
i married in Virginia, declaring that
her only ceremony In which she en
gaged was six months ago to Michael
La Rocca, a young Manhattan busi
ness man.
Before she became Mrs. La Rocca,
th- blond ex-check room girl charged
in her suit, Rubinoff seduced her
after promising to marry her.
It was while Halprin was cross
examining her that word was received
from Roanoke by Halprin, telling of
her marriage to Taylor Vance Guinn,
a Roanoke taxi driver, in 1925. De
spite this. Peggy continually denied
the marriage, saying that a girl
adopted by her father had used the
same name in a wedding ceremony.
She continued to deny the marriage,
even though Justice Cotillo spent sev
eral minutes in a whispered confer
ence at the bench in which he warned
her of perjury.
The latest development in the case
disturbed Justice Cotillo, who, after
granting the adjournment, added
tartly: "If necessary, we’ll sit out
from 10 o’clock tomorrow until 12
o'clock tomorrow night. It is not
fair to those concerned. The defend
ant is a man of professional reputa
tion in the community and has been
put to much inconvenience.”
La Rocca Not Under Arrest.
Before leaving the bench Justice
Cotillo said:
“I want the press to correct one
false impression. La Rocca, the hus
band of Miss Garcia, is not under ar
rest, and no action of that sort is con
templated.”
La Rocca and Eugene Finnegan, an
assistant district attorney of New
York County, spent more than an
hour with Justice Cotillo in his cham
bers today. Finnegan had previously
said that he was investigating pos
sible perjury and bigamy complaints
against Peggy.
It is expected that Peggy’s birth
certificate and testimony by her
father and other members of her
family will prove the high lights in her
attempt to substantiate her previous
stories on the stand, when the -trial
resumes tomorrow.
COMMITTEE 0. K.’S
REVISED COAL BIEL
Compliance Tax Increased
to 19V2 Per Cent by
House Group.
B> (hi Associated Prcu.
Legislation to revive Federal regu
lation of the soft-coal Industry won
its first major test in the new Con
gress yesterday.
The House Ways and Means Com
mittee voted, 1# to 6, to approve ft
revised version of the invalidated
Gulley-Vinson control law.
The committee, members .said, in
corporated in it even sharper en
forcement teeth than the old act con
tained. It increased a so-called com
pliance tax from 13% per cent to 18%
per cent. This tax would apply to
the sale price of coal at the mines
of producers violating the act.
Excise Tax Reduced.
The committee reduced from 1%
per cent to % per cent, however, an
excise tax designed to provide funds
for administration. Coal experts said
this would save the industry approxi
mately $8,000,000 annually, compared
with the cost of the former law. All
producers would be subject to the %
per cent tax.
Price-fixing lies at the heart of the
new measure. It provides creation
of 23 district price-fixing boards em
powered to establish minimum prices
for coal produced in their areas. Such
prices would be subject to review by
the National Bituminous Coal Com
mission, which also would be em
powered to fix maximum prices If
necessary to protect consumers.
In place of the labor-regulating pro
visions of the original Guffey act, on
which the Supreme Court based its
Invalidation of that statute, the new
bill contains simply a statement of
collective bargaining policy.
Goes to House Next
From the Ways and Means Com
mittee it will go shortly to the House
floor.
Chairman Charles F. Hosford, Jr.,
of the National Bituminous Coal Com
mission termed the revised bill much
stronger fian its predecessor.
Under it, so-called “captive” coal
(produced by a concern for its own
use* would be exempt from the opera
tion of a soft coal code and producers
of It could not be subjected to the
penalty tax. However, Hosfortl told
reporter* thia exemption would apply
only where the corporate entity of
the producing and consuming com
pany were Identical.
“The provisions of this law cannot
be evaded simply by resorting to the
device of a subsidiary corporation,”
he declared.
C. E. Smith, another commissioner,
said this would mean the Bethlehem
Mines Corp , a subsidiary of the Beth
lehem Corp., would be required to
comply with the code or pay the “com
pliance" tax.
Split Along Party Lines.
Although the names of committee
members who voted against the bill
were not made public, some said the
split was largely on party lines
Representative Crowther, Repub
lican, of New York, said the opposed
the bill not only because he was
doubtful of Its constitutionality, but
because he regarded it as a forerunner
of an "Infestation” of such laws and
bureaucratic government.
Representative Vinson, Democrat, of
Kentucky, co-author, asserted:
"I believe the bill meets every test
of the law."
Chairman Neely of a Senate Inter
state Commerce Subcommittee named
to study the bill, said his group prob
ably would be called together today
or tomorrow to consider action on it.
La Follette
(Continued From First Page.)
Saginaw and Flint during the recent
strike was described by Joseph B.
Ditiel, another U. A. W. member,
who told of members of a union dele
gation being attacked by vigilantes
In those cities.
Recounts Experiences.
Ditzel took the stand first to recount
some of his experiences as a member
of the General Motors Works Council
in a Chevrolet plant In Toledo. After
the management refused any real bar
gaining, Ditzel said, and rebuked him
for a suggestion that men be paid
extra for Sunday work, he quit the
council. . In 1935, Ditzel continued,
he Joined the automobile union.
During the recent strike, Ditzel said
he was sent to Saginaw to work. Go
ing over to Bay City with a union
delegation, Ditzel then told of being
threatened by a vigilante group and
being escorted by police back to Sagi
naw. Among the vigilantes, the wit
ness testified, was a Chevrolet fore
man, Jack Carpenter, from Toledo.
Back in their Saginaw hotel, still
with a police escort, Ditzel said one
of the union group was beaten up
and kicked In the hotel lobby while he
was hit with a blackjack.
Finally, he said, the group was put
In a taxi and taken to Flint with a
police escort. With vigilante cars
Ideal Farm-Factory Community
To Be Built in Georgia by Ford
Br the Associated Press.
WAYS, Oa., February 23.—In this
South Georgia community on the
banks of the Ogeechee River, Henry
Ford will carry to fruition his dream
of an ideal industrial community sur
rounded by farms able to sustain It.
As part of his broad program for
this little town 18 miles from Sav
annah, Georgia’s chief seaport, the
Detroit automobile manufacturer an
nounced today, an automobile parts
factory will be erected.
“Well have an Industry here," he
said. ‘‘A draftsman Is at work now
cm preliminary plans. Automobile
parts will be manufactured, but we
haven’t determined what kind. It all
depends on what fits."
The plant will employ the people
of this community, which formerly
knew farming, fishing and lumbering
as its chief source of Income, and will
be closely affiliated with Ford’s newly
completed manual arts school here.
“We will aim, as we do in our other
plants, to have the proper proportion
of people of all ages,” said the manu
facturer, whose Winter home cm
nearby Richmond Plantation was fin
ished a few days ago.
“We won’t have to Import anybody
either. Folks right here will have
plenty of skill. Everybody will have
a part In farming whether he owns
a farm Jointly or in his own name.
- "Everything hinges around the
school and the future of those edu
cated here. Well turn out skilled
mechanics and their services will be
sought eagerly by others.”
Boys and girls will be taught agri
culture and industry in the manual
arts school as part of their academic
training.
Hundreds of persons now are at
work on various projects the motor
car manufacturer has under way in
this section. He Is actively In touch
with the work dally and Is personally
acquainted with those on the job.
. A community house containing 30
guest rooms, a large ball room, lounge
and dining room for use of the school
children and their parents has been
completed.
Roads are being graded, ditches
opened, landscaping Improved and
buildings of many kinds erected.
He said he considered the location
for the plant ideal from every stand
point.
“Look at this growth of timber," he
said, waving his hand In the direction
of tall pines. “It’s a great source at
fertiliser, power and revenue. We’re
near the railroads here, too.”
He said he did not know when the
plant would be completed and he pre
ferred not to estimate the probable
cost
€
Boy, 3, Sees World Alone
Johnny Starts on Tricycle, Changes to
Bus to Go to Mount Vernon.
Johnny Lumsden, jr., 3-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John
R. Lumsden, who celebrated Washington’s birthday anniver
sary by making a long pilgrimage tQ Mount Vernon while his
parents sought his whereabouts. —Star Staff Photo.
IS tricycle lost during the
course of an unannounced pil
grimage to Mount Vernon
yesterday, 3-year-old Johnny
Luma den, Jr., climbed into hl> red
wagon today and solemnly promised
his parents he’d make no more holi
day tours without permission.
Playing in the yard of his home
at 814 Independence avenue south
west yesterday, Johnny suddenly was
overwhelmed with the desire to travel.
So without a word to his mother, he
set out on his tricycle.
As he neared the A. B. & W. bus
terminal at Eleventh and D streets,
however, he decided to continue his
tour by motor, so dismounted.
Aptly enough, for George Wash
ington’s birthday he chose a Mount
Vernon bus. Providence stepped in
to aid the young pilgrim, for he en
tered simultaneously with a mother
and her small son. Johnny Joined the
unsuspecting party and since he is too
young to require a fare, the driver—
also unsuspecting—allowed him to
continue.
When the bus arrived at Mount
Vernon, however, Johnny remained
steadfast in his seat while the mother
and her son alighted.
The driver called to the woman that
she'd left her son.
"He’s not my boy,” she replied.
With this turn of affairs the driver
took charge, and Johnny was returned
to the Washington terminal. The bus
station’s responsibility didn’t end at
once, however. Johnny ate ice cream
and bananas, but wasn't very helpful
about where he lived.
Then the police were called, and
the truant, delighted with his adven
tures, was soon in the arms of his
anxious parents. i
trailing them, Diztell testified that
the union car finally was side6wiped
and three occupants badly Injured.
Two of them still are in a hospital,
he said, nearly four weeks after the
occurrence.
Travis Is Quisled.
Travis was brought to the stand
next, with questioning first directed
at the Chevrolet strike in Toledo in
1935, the occasion on which Assistant
Secretary of Labor Edward F. Mc
Grady was shadowed by Pinkerton
detectives working for General Motors.
Remarking that the committee had
been left In a "mystic maze” by Oen
1 eral Motors officials on the real re
■ sponsibility within the corporation for
j framing and applying labor relations
I policies. Senator La Follette asked
Travis if local plant managers had
completed agreements with the union
in any instances. Tra-cited several
cases of local officers being forced to
submit even minor issues to Detroit
headquarters of the company.
Charging that cteneral Motors
espionage cut union strength in Flint
in 1935 from 26.000 to 122 paid-up
member*. Travis told the committee
that he then was forced to carry on
organization work in such secrecy
that he met workers in unlighted
rooms at night.
Recess Likely ror ic uays.
The committee hopes to complete
its open examination of General Mo
tors labor policies In today’s sessions,
with a recess planned for about 10
days before opening new inquiries
with the increased appropriation.
Yesterday the committee concen
trated cm anti-union practices inq
Fisher Body plants m Baltimore, hear
ing testimony of intimidation from
Michael Gallo, William Pearlman,
Glenn Rowland and Peter De An
gelis. all of whom are members of
the United Automobile Workers.
In substantially the same stories,
each of the four told of being threat
ened by fellow workmen with knowl
edge of officials of the plant and
finally of being escorted off the prop
erty by company guards. Although
the point was made in each case
that the men were not deprived of
their employment badges, they re
ceived notices from Personnel Director
Walter J. Canavan not to return to
work after the strike ended.
Gallo and Rowland both quoted
Ray N. Wismec. plant manager at
Baltimore Until February 1, as say
ing he would "not tolerate” unionism
In his plant, and Gallo told of the
manager warning him that some of
the union men would be “taken for
a ride.”
Atlanta Operative Heard.
The committee also heard James T.
Johnson, who once worked for Pink
erton In Atlanta, and Harry Dorsey
tell of their activities in the Commit
tee of "Loyal G. M. Employes.” Both
denied that the management knew
of this group’s formation in advance,
although Dorsey testified that Edgar
C. Malpas, present plant superintend
ent, lent him the key to the station
ery on numerous occasions _ so he
might have cards printed and ad
dressed to employes in support of the
"loyal” group’s activities. Dorsey
also testified that he spent about «180
for post cards and stamps for such
notices.
Called to the stand for a second
time, Malpas admitted knowing that
Dorsey was soliciting employs* in the
"loyalist” cause.
Farnsworth
(Continued prom Pirat Page )
attorney during the hearing, inter
rupted to ask Hughes if he did not
t.hint that pressure was exercised on
him by letting him believe for seven
months that his plea would be not
guilty and then "painting an entirely
different picture at the last moment.”
Justice Proctor told the attorney he
need not answer, and then said: “I
don't think any showing has been
made to justify the court in permitting
the withdrawal of the plea. The de
fendant's motion is overruled.”
When Farnsworth asked Justice
Proctor to advise him If he had any
appeal from the ruling, the jurist told
him to consult an attorney, but later
said he would have Farnsworth’s ex
ception to his decision recorded so
that it might form the basis to an
appeal.
Justice Proctor instructed Assistant
United States Attorney Samuel F.
Beach to submit a statement contain
ing the history of the case not later
than tomorrow, and to have a copy
of it served on Farnsworth in his Dis
trict Jail cell. He said he wanted
such a statement to guide him in im
posing sentence.
Farnsworth Indicated he intended
to retain other counsel and appeal.
Garnett Tells of Conversation.
One of the high lights of the hear
ing was an account furnished by
United States Attorney Leslie C. Gar
nett of a conversation with Farns
worth after he had pleaded "nolo
contendere.”
Garnett said Farnsworth asked per
mission to see him and was brought to
his office.
“I told him I was willing to assume
that excessive alcoholism had weak
ened his moral fiber so that he ac
cepted $20,000 from the Japanese gov
ernment," Garnett declared.
“ ‘Well, that's $5,000 a year,’ Farns
worth replied,” Garnett continued.
"I told him we had proof that he
got 23 $100 bills in one day to cover
his expenses from Ohio to Washing
ton, and he said ‘No, it was $3,000.’
He left my office in perfect good
humor and seemed satisfied with his
i plea.”
When the hearing began, Leahy
asked permission for him and his
associate, Hughes, to withdraw from
the case. Justice Proctor, however,
refused to allow the withdrawal until
Farnsworth said he had discharged the
attorneys.
Beach recounted the history of the
case since Farnsworth's arrest July 13,
and said the defendant was thoroughly
aware of all details of the charges.
He presented an affidavit by Deputy
United States Masha 1 Robert L. Bon
ham, who was present during the con
ference in a court house witness room
a week ago yesterday, at which Farns
worth, Leahy, Hughes and Hughes’
secretary, Caroline Wlmsatt, were
present.
Ab I1U bill 1C. BWiuwui
either of the attorneys or the secre
tary try to get Farnsworth to plead
“guilty” or "nolo contendere” because
of the disgrace a public trial might
bring to his family. The court at
tache said neither of the attorneys
even mentioned Farnsworth’s family.
Beach concluded by charging that
Farnsworths petition for permission
to change his plea was "merely a trick
in the hope he would catch the Gov
ernment unprepared. He is trifling
with the Government and he is trifl
ing with the court.”
Farnsworth explained that the let
ter he wrote Justice Proctor last week
asking to be allowed to withdraw his
plea was caused by publicity given his
case, although he had been assured
that it would receive “only routine”
mention in the newspapers. He said
he was not blaming his attorneys so
much for his plea as he was his family.
He told the court that members of his
family had said the publicity of a
trial would interfere with the chances
for promotion of a brotbfr-in-law
who is in the Navy. He said he had
never doubted his plea would be “not
guilty” until the day before he was
brought into court.
“When my attorneys came to me,
I told them that I wouldn't plead
‘guilty’ if the President of the United
States asked me and I had to serve
only one day in Jail,” Farnsworth said.
Referring to Leahy, Farnsworth
declared: "I didn’t hire him. He
was hired by my family to save the
family name at my expense. Now I
am going to save it myself."
Asserting that he was not a spy, but
had merely represented himself to be
one in order to sell a story to the
Hearst newspapers, Farnsworth said
that if put on the stand he would
prove “80 per cent of the things the
Government claims I did.” He added
there was no need for bringing a great
number of witnesses here lor his trial.
▲
Asks Woman’s Party to
Withdraw Aid on Eve of
Appeal in Patricide.
On the eve of court action at
Wise, Va., next Monday on her ap
peal from conviction of the murder
of her father. Edith Trigg Maxwell
has shaken up her defense counsel. It
was learned today.
Under the new set-up, Charles
Henry Smith. Washington and Alex
andria criminal lawyer, will act as her
only attorney.
She has asked the National Wom
an's Party, which has been assisting
her since her conviction, to drop its
legal efforts In her behalf. As a re
sult, former State Senator M. J. Ful
ton, who was engaged by the party,
has been withdrawn from defense
counsel. *
Miss Maxwell’s uncle, A. T. Dotson,
also has withdrawn.
These changes, reported at Rich
mond, were confirmed by Smith at
Alexandria today. Smith, engaged in
a case now being heard in the Alex
andria Corporation Court, said that he
had been advised of the changes by
telephone and that he has not had an
opportunity to talk to his client since
the defense realignment was made.
"Until I have an opportunity to go
to Richmond,” Smith said, “there is
nothing much that I can say about
the case. It is true that the National
Woman's Party has been asked to sus
pend its activities m behalf of Miss
Maxwell and that its attorney and
Mr. Dotson have withdrawn.”
Smith Indicated that he will go to
Richmond upon conclusion of the
present case in the Corporation Court
to make final arrangements with Miss
Maxwell tor the proceedings Monday
at Wise, Va.
The court there will be asked to set
aside the verdict and to grant Miss
Maxwell a new trial and a change of
venue.
Sit-Down
(Continued Prom First Page )
been amicably settled by both parties
and work will be resumed at 8 o'clock
Thursday morning.
“All parties have agreed to refrain
from making any further statements
or discuss the terms of the settle
ment.”
President Walter L. Fry, who be
came the Nation’s No. 1 boss sit
downer in retaliation for a strike of
his employes last Friday, tumbled onto
his cot in his office to get some sleep
immediately after the settlement was
announced.
Fry declined to answer any ques
tions, but Glancy said the company
president would end his strike and
leave the plant later in the day. Some
of the 110 employes who participated
in the sit-down already have left the
premises, Glancy said, and the rest
would- leave during the day.
Glancy, who resigned last Decem
ber as chairman of the Michigan
State Public Trust Commission, de
clined to elaborate on the settlement
statement or to identify the employe
representatives who paricipated in the
conferences.
Fry said yesterday he had refused
to deal with organizers of the United
Automobile Workers of America, but
declared he was ready to meet with
his own workers at any time. The
union said then that Fry refused to
meet the employes if they were ac
companied by a U. A. W. A. repre
sentative.
The plant employes 350, mostly
girls and women.
In starting his sit-down Fry told
the strikers:
“If you wont work, then I won’t
go out and get orders to provide you
with work. Something must be done
to curb sit-downs. The uncertainty
has the whole country on edge.”
Comment from union officials end
individual employes was not available
immediately.
Begins .ncauuons.
Glancy began his role of volunteer
mediator only yesterday. He said he
had heard about the strike while In
Cleveland on a business trip. On his
return to Detroit Glancy called on his
old friend. President Fry, "to see exact
ly what a sit-down strike looked like.”
Glancy said he began contacting
people and "soon we had them into a
conference. Now the strike is settled."
The strike started last Friday and
yesterday the U. A. W. A. made public
an open letter to Fry, which said:
“Our girls who have been slaving
for you at 33 to 36 cents an hour
want a minimum of 60 cents an hour.
The boys who have slaved for 33 to
65 cents an hour want a minimum of
75 cents an hour.
"We want an eight-hour day, a 40
hour week, time and one-half for over
time, seniority rights, the right to col
lectively bargain through a union of
our own choosing, and weekly pay
instead of twice a month.”
Fry said the company went on a
piece work basis at the employes' re
quest last November, when a wage in
crease was granted. Employes of his
company, he said, make from 36 to
68‘2 cents an hour. Most of the
workers operate sewing machines. The
Fry plant operated on a reduced basis
during the General Motors strike and
the sit-down began the day it re
opened on full time shifts.
"I think that industry will have to
come to its senses and stop these
strikes. I’m trying to show my work
ers—and all people—the other side of
the picture. The shoe’s on the other
foot now. They’ve got to make indus
try work for them.”
The idea of a boss staging a sit
down strike may be funny to some
people, but I’m sorry to say that I
can't see anything funny'about it.
"I’m sitting here because I would
feel cowardly if I ran away under
existing conditions. I’m staying here
to protect my property and to find out
what my people want.”
LENTEN SERVICE
Under the Auspices
OF
The Washington
Federation of Churches
Epiphany Episcopal
Church
TOMORROW AT 4:45 PM.
Preacher:
DR. EDWARD H.
PRUDEN
First Baptist Church
THE PUBLIC IS INVITED
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