Evening star. [volume], September 23, 1937, Image 1

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

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t
WEATHER.
(V. S. Weather Bureau Forecast.) J
Fair tonight and tomorrow; slightly
warmer; gentle variable winds. Temper
atures today—Highest, 76, at 2 p.m.;
lowest, 54, at 6 a.m.
Full report on page A-21.
Closing N.Y. Markets—Sales—PageZU Yesterday’s Circulation, 140,701
_ _ _ __(Some returns not yet received >
85th YEAR. No, 34,113, SSH&cV _WASHINGTON, D. C., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1937—FIFTY-FOUR PAGES. ***on Mean. A..ociated Pr«„. TWO CENTS.
U. S. STARTS CONSULTING
ON FAR EAST “WAR” WITH
9-POWER PACT SIGNERS
Formal Invocation
Delayed for
Present.
BOMB PROTEST
REPLY AWAITED
Britain Seeking to
Bring Japan to
Parley.
J
BACKGROUND—
Nine-power treaty signed at
Washington Arms Conference in
1922 by United States, France,
Great Britain, Japan, Belgium,
Portugal. Italy, Netherlands and
China. Pact invoked by Secretary
of State Stimson during Sino
Japanese undeclared tear of 1931-2,
but‘without effect. Demand has
arisen in United States for its use
in present instance.
By the Associated Press.
The United States and other lead
ing signatories, employing as a me
dium the nine-power treaty guarantee
ing China's territorial integrity, have
begun exchanging information on
their activities with respect to the
Bino-Japanese conflict.
This was disclosed authoritatively
today while the State Department
awaited a reply from Tokio to its
sharp note of protest challenging
Japan's right to bomb large Chinese
cities indiscriminately.
Views have been exchanged the
last few days by nations most con
cerned over the Far East’s undeclared
war, but there has been no indica
tion that any intends formally to in
voke the treaty.
Presumably, such a step would in
volve a call for a conference of sig
natories to consider what joint action
might be taken in the hostilities.
Responsible quarters emphasized
that no move of that character has
been made by the United States.
If any other parties to the treaty
ere considering invoking it, this Gov-#
ernment has not been informed.
Reports from Geneva said, how
ever, that Great Britain was under
stood to be planning to invoke the
nine-power treaty as a last resort
to bring Japan to an international
conference to halt the war in China.
The treaty, signed in 1922 by the
United States, Belgium, the British
Empire, China, France, Italy, Japan,
the Netherlands and Portugal, pro
vides for consultation “whenever a
situation arises which involves the
Epplications'' of the compact.
Keep Each Other Informed.
Under that authority, the United
States and Great Britain as well as
some of the other signatories, have
been keeping each other informed of
their respective views and movements.
Reports from Geneva that Great
Britain was considering invocation of
the treaty evoked no official comment
here. But high sources pointed out
the step might involve difficulties.
Foremost among them is the fact
that the treaty, provides no machinery j
for enforcing any decisions which J
might be made by the signatories if a
formal conference were held.
Likewise, the almost certain refusal
of Japan to participate in such con- i
sultations likely would complicate the j
situation.
The difficulty of obtaining an agree
ment on a specific course of action
among signatories with widely diver- i
gent views and interests in the Far
East also is emphasized.
Proceeding Cautiously.
The one clear fact emerging from
discussions concerning the nine-power
treaty is that all governments in
volved, and particularly the United
States, are proceeding with utmost
caution. Informed sources stressed
that much preliminary “exploratory”
work must be done among the sig
natories to insure a solid front before
and if they call any formal confer
ence. Without this, it is acknowledged
there would be little hope of any
successful results.
American officials are represented
as being determined not to head
toward the diplomatic dead end which
former Secretary of State Henry L.
Stimson encountered when he sought
to call Japan to account in 1932
for its aggression in Manchuria.
At that time, Stimson solicited the
support of Great Britain in invoking
the nine-power treaty against Japan.
When that support was not forth
coming, the American Secretary's
move failed.
Reply Being Prepared.
TOKIO, September 23 UP).—The
Japanese foreign office reply to the
United States protest against indis
criminate bombing of large Chinese
cities is being prepared, and probably
will be delivered tomorrow.
The sharp United States note chal
lenged Japan’s fight to engage in
bombings like that of Nanking yester
day.
Britain Studying Pact Use.
GENEVA, September 23 (/P).—Great
Britain was understood today to be
planning to invoke the Washington
pact guaranteeing China’s territorial
integrity as a last resort to bring
Japan to an international conference
to stop the Sino-Japanese War.
Such a move would have the addi
tional advantage of bringing the
United States into full co-operation on
measures to halt the Far Eastern con
flict—a step considered essential if the
peace efforts are to meet with success.
Geneva circles considered that Ja
pan, while ignoring League of Na
tions initiatives, would scarcely refuse
a nine-power consultation under the
treaty she signed in Washington In
1922.
4 A
Gen. de Miller,
Russian White
Leader, Missing
l-1
i...—m-i ..
GEN. EUGENE DE MILLER.
'By the Associated Press.
PARIS, September 23.—Gen. Eu
gene de Miller, leader of the now
mythical ‘White Army” of Russia,
was reported today to have vanished
after a mysterious rendezvous which
the aging Czarist himself suspected as
a possible trap.
Shortly afterward the family of a
former Russian general, linked vaguely
in the affair by a note De Miller had
left, reported that he also had dropped
from sight. Police telegraphed all
frontier pasts and provincial stations
to keep a watch for De Miller, fearing
he had been abducted.
Paul Koussonsky. secretary of the
Confederation of Russian War Vet
erans. the scattered legion-in-exile
which De Miller heads, told police the
general had left a note for him yester
day before he disappeared.
ENDEAVOUR SEEN
OFF MORES
Cup Challenger 3 Years Ago
Missing Since Tow Line
Broke in Gale.
By the Associated Press.
LONDON. September 23.—Three in
dependent sources today reported that
Frederick Sigrist’s Endeavour I,
America's Cup challenger three years
ago, had been located several hundred
miles southwest of the Azores.
Lloyd’s agent at Horta cabled London
headquarters that the sloop, missing
since midnight September 13, had
been located in latitude 32 north,
longitude 39 west. Confirmation came
from the Evening News correspondent
at Horta and from Douglas Williams
of the London Daily Telegraph.
Endeavour I, now owned by Fred
erick Sigrist, left Newport, R. I„ Sun
day, September 12. under tow of the
motor yacht Viva II. Three days later
Viva limped back into port and re
ported her tow line to the racing
sloop had parted in a gale of hurri
cane force 200 miles out in the At
lantic.
Capt. Wallace Grint, master of the
Viva, reported the wind had reached
a velocity of better than 100 miles
an hour.
“The seas were too heavy for the
Endeavour to make any headway,"
Capt. Grint said, “and we didn’t see
her after the towline parted because
of the thick weather. We didn’t hear
her radio which apparently was out of
commission.”
There were fears that Endeavour
might have foundered because of the
weight of 15 fathoms of nine-inch
hawser that remained attached to her
bow after the accident.
Endeavour II Skipper Dies.
HAMBLE, England. September 23
VP).—Capt. George Williams, skipper
of Endeavour II. unsuccessful chal
lenger for the America’s Cup, died
yesterday at sea while the yacht was
being towed from the United States
to England.
His death was revealed in a radio
gram received today by his wife at
their home here. The message, sent
by Phil Williams, step-brother of the
captain and member of the crew,
stated the “captain passed peacefully
away.” No additional details were
given.
> -
China Defense Line
Reported Broken
in North.
BATTLE FOUGHT
HAND TO HAND
Anxiety Is Felt for
Five Americans
in Paotingfu.
BACKGROUND—
Japanese invasion of North
China began July 7 as result of
clash of armed Chinese and Jap
anese forces at Marco Polo Bridge
near Peiping. Japanese forces, after
capturing Peiping, Tientsin and
other northern cities, started west
ward into Shansi and Suiyuan
Provinces and southward into
Hopeh Province. Progress marked,
although fighting around Shanghai
has reached a stalemate.
By the Associated Press.
PEIPING, September 23.—Japanese
military authorities announced today
that their army had shattered the
Chinese concrete defense line north
of Paotingfu and had driven the Chi
nese back in hand-to-hand fighting
to within a mile of that strategic base
80 miles south of here.
Sharp anxiety was felt for five
' American citizens who were believed
I to have remained in Paotingfu, which
1 Japanese war planes have been bomb
I ing daily.
Japanese declared that Kuochuang
village, three-quarters of a mile north
of Paotingfu, fell to their attack at
9:30 a m. and the capture of the city
itself was imminent.
Darkness Brings Attack.
The smashing offensive against the
strong Chinese defense line began
as soon as darkness fell last night,
the Japanese said, when they forced
the crossing of the Tsao River, 8 miles
above Paotingfu, on the trunk rail
road to Hankow, and then assaulted
the concrete Chinese redoubts that
form a virtually unbroken wall across
Central Hopeh Province.
The Japanese storm troops grappled
hand-to-hand with the Chinese in
the darkness, the Japanese announce
ment said, and after desperate resis
tance broke through the crumbling
Chinese line.
Throughout the night and early
morning the Japanese were reported
to have pushed the rout of the Chinese
back on Paotingfu. rolling up an
advance of seven miles up to 9:30 a.m.,
when Kuochuaing was taken by as
sault.
The Chinese divisions were said
by the Japanese to have fought their
retreat doggedly, giving way only a
step at a time under the punishing
Japanese advance.
The exact location of both wings of
the Japanese column attacking Poa
tingfu was unknown here, although
i an enveloping movement was believed
in progress.
Sixty miles to the east, at the other
end of the fortified Chinese line, the
Japanese were reported within 200
yards of Tsangchow on the railroad
from Tientsin to Nanking.
130.000 Reported on Defense.
The Chinese front was reported to
have been defended by 11 divisions of
some 150,000 Central government
troops, strung all the way from
Tsangchow to the southern banks \
of the Tsao River, and had been con
sidered the focal point of Chinese
resistance to Japanese efforts to dom
inate all North China.
There were no reports that the
Chinese line had been broken at any
point, except on the extreme western
flank, in the Paotingfu sector, where
60,000 Japanese were attacking.
The Americans said to be still in the
beleaguered city are:
Dr. Maud Machey, Los Angeles,
Calif., the more than 70-year-old
director of the Presbyterian Hospital,
where several wounded Chinese of
ficers were being treated, and as
sistant supervisor of the 1,000-bed
Japanese military hospital, which is
jammed with wounded soldiers;
Minnie Wither, Mount Joy, Pa., a
nurse assisting Dr. Mather:
Daisy Atterbury, New York City,
in charge of the Presbyterian Mission:
Abbie Chapin, Glendale, Calif., and
Elmer Galt, Shenandoah (State not
known), who are staying at the
mission.
Warship at Hong Kong.
HONG KONG, September 23
The United States destroyer Barker
arrived today from Foochow for an in
definite stay.
Nine-Power Pact Provisions
Lack Means of Enforcement
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.
The suggestion of the British gov
ernment that the nine-power pact
signed at Washington in 1922 to guar
antee the territorial Integrity of
China should be invoked has been
received with satisfaction in Wash
ington official quarters.
It is realized, however, that like
all pacts and treaties signed after
the World War, the nine-power pact
can offer no particular relief to the
present situation in the Far East.
Article 7 provides that: “The con
tracting powers agree that whenever
a situation arises which in the opin
ion of any one of them involves the
application of the stipulations of the
present treaty, and renders desirable
discussion on such application, there
shall be full and frank communica
tions between the contracting powers
concerned.”
Of course, this article provides for
nothing more than “full and frank”
V
communication and does not mean
that any of the signatories either in
dependently or collectively shall do
anything to enforce the pact. From
that point of view, the treaty is mean
ingless. There are no penalties men
tioned against the nation which may
decide to disregard the pact, as Japan
has done since 1931; it does not even
provide that a conference shall take
place; just "full and frank” com
munication.
There is always the possibility that
as a result of these communications
some concrete action will be taken
by the other powers, if they stick
together. But in view of the fact that
the League of Nations is little in
clined to adopt the same measures
which it had adopted against Italy
in 1935 and that other pacts have
been allowed to be trampled under
the feet of the militaristic nations, the
invocation of the Nine-Power pact
In Itself is nothing else, at the pres
ent moment, than an empty gesture.
i
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-T
REGATTA PAGEAN1
10 DRAWING
Fair Weather Is Fprecast
for Program at Water
gate Tonight.
With a promise of fair weather,
thousands are expected to throng the
shores of the Potomac tonight in the
vicinity of the Watergate, where the
spectacular re-enactment of the battle
between the Bonhomme Richard and
the Serapis, and the assault on Fort
McHenry, will be the curtain-raiser
for the power boat races of the Presi
dent’s Cup Regatta, starting tomorrow.
Tlie Watergate pageantry will start
at 8:30 o’clock with the arrival of the
regatta queen. Miss Mary Louise Col
bert, and her maids of honor. The
royal party will board a Coast Guard
cutter for the trip to the scene of the
display, and will be accompanied up
the river by a gaily decorated convoy
of yachts.
At the last minute. Conrad Nagel
of screen fame was forced to cancel
his appearance on the program, and
his role as narrator for the pageant
will be taken by Charles Colfax Long,
the historian. Nagel came to Wash
ington Tuesday to take part, but was
forced to return to New York for a
radio engagement.
Colorful Display Promised.
The naval engagement—as well as
the attack on Fort McHenry—will be
re-enacted with one of the most col
orful fireworks displays ever witnessed
here Navy barges have been rigged
up to represent the American and
British vessels which made history
158 years ago today. Between these
two features, Marian Chase dancers
will present dances of the Colonial
era on a large barge at the Water
Gate.
A public address system, sponsored
by the Greater National Capital Com
mittee. will keep spectators fully in
formed on tonight's events. Gordon
Hittenmark of WRC and “Radio Joe''
Kaufman will man the “mikes.”
Special traffic arrangements go in
effect at 6:30 o’clock tonight in a
wide area around the Water Gate, and
in an added effort to handle the
crowd, the 5th Battalion, Fleet
Marine Reserve, will aid the Metro
politan Police. No traffic will be
permitted south of Virginia avenue
after 6:30 p.m., except vehicles go
ing to Naval Hospital and those
with stickers for reserved parking
space. Parking will be banned south
of Virginia avenue, west of Twenty
sixth street, but may be permitted
east of Twenty-sixth street if space
is available.
Special Bus Service.
Official cars—carrying stickers—
will move through Seventeenth street
to the park for parking space.
There will be special bus service
from Seventeenth and K streets and
Fifteenth street south of.the Treasury.
Potomac Park street cars will move on
six and eight minute schedules.
The night program tomorrow, wind
ing up the outboard racing card, calls
for street dancing along Pennsylvania
avenue, at several spots between
Seventh and Seventeenth streets. Miss
Colbert and regatta officials will travel
over this route, starting at the Raleigh
at 8:30, and visiting the Willard,
Madrillon and Mayflower. Several local
bands will play for the dancers, under
arrangements being completed today.
It is also planned to present the two
trophies for the' best decorated busi
ness houses in the downtown section
tomorrow night.
The aquatic contests which always
form a part of the regatta program
will be held at the Shoreham at 7:30
tomorrow night.
The outboard races start, at 11:30
in the morning and run until 5:30.
The inboards race Saturday and
Sunday, with the President's Cup race
featured.
FILENE IMPROVED
Boston Merchant Is in Paris Hos
pital With Pneumonia.
PARIS. September 23 O'?).—Physi
cians reported that the condition of
Edward A. Filene, seriously ill of
pneumonia, was slightly improved to
day.
Filen<s secretary said the vigor dis
played by the Boston merchant when
he went chamois hunting in the Alps
two weeks ago .was expected to carry
him through the crisis in two days.
He was taken ill on his way to Lon
don last Saturday after a tour of
Europe and was brought to the Ameri
can Hospital here.
Dr. Mann’s Ship Brings Animals
Never Exhibited Before in U. S.
Storm-Tossed Wild Cargo Enjoys Re
spite at Halifax—Lamps Warm Crates
to Save Tropical Creatures.
BY WILLIAM H. SHIPPEN. Jr.,
Stan Correspondent ot The Star.
HALIFAX. Nova Scotia. September 23.—The seagoing zoo was ready to
shove off again today after a night in this hospitable port brought refresh
ment to man and beast.
The monkeys, the birds and their fellow- fruit-eaters got all the fresh
bananas they wanted, while the giraffes nibbled happily at new-mown
hay in their tall cages lashed on the deck of the Silverash.
Meanwhile Dr. William Mann and his expedition came ashore to discuss
LilC ill at iciiiU II1CI1U LI1CJ littU CtTTil ill’
six somewhat sea-weary, weeks. The
voyagers unanimously chose sea food,
and after dinner they went back aboard
ship to look at the animals. Not that
the animals were not worth looking
at, for they embrace a variety of rare
and valuable species, collected from
Australia to Africa, but there were
those of the shore party who feel
the expedition members might welcome
a brief respite from the world of zo
ology. Such, however, was not the case.
The giraffes were Dr. Mann's chief
concern. He had cherished their health
since the Silverash took them aboard
in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. The
captain of the freighter. H. Rowe,
helped save the giraffes when the ship
ran into a storm off the North Ameri
can coast several days ago.
The deck was awash and the crates
on their platforms shifted and threat- \
(See ZOb~TPage~A-57)
STUDENTS START
_
Western High Drive to Be
Memorial to Leech
and Hays.
(Pictures on Page B-l.)
A youth-inspired drive for traffic
safety for school children was en
thusiastically but sadly launched at
Western High School today in memory
of tw'o Western High graduates w-ho
died in a traffic accident a few weeks
ago.
Hundreds of Western students, four
out of five of them auto drivers them
selves, thronged the auditorium to open
the movement for safety impelled by
the deaths of James Leech and Elmer
D. Hays. jr„ in a collision of their car
and a bus just outside of Baltimore
while on their way to Dartmouth Col
lege.
The story and purpose of the pro
posed traffic safety league, were told
the youthful audience by speakers, in
cluding Allen Brown, Western alumnus
at the University of Maryland; Rich
ard M. Ham of the American Automo
bile Association and two school lead
ers, and a few minutes after the session
was dismissed student leaders from all
the white high schools met over a
conference table in the A. A. A. offices
to lay concrete plans for the first steps
in the safety club activities.
Urges Tragedy Be Lesson.
A close friend of both “Jimmy” and
“Elmer,” Brown urged that the trag
edy be a lesson to all of them.
“We are here to take cognizance of
the pathetic heedlessness for such
accidents," he said, “and to realize
that it could have happened to any
one of us.”
Brown called for a show of hands
in the packed hall of all who drove
cars, “to bring home” the closeness
of the problem to them, and like a
Fascist salute practically every hand
in the room was raised.
Dr. Elmer S. Newton, principal of
the school, who introduced the speak
ers, classed Brow-n’s speech as “one
of the best I have ever heard from
this platform.”
Program Is Mapped.
Ham told of the success of traffic
clubs in other cities and indicated
that the program of the new club
would probably include speakers, radio
addresses and films on traffic acci
dents.
Helen Bell and Adrian Recinos,
student leaders at the high school,
both urged the gathering to make
the movement a credit to Western.
In closing the meeting, Dr. New
ton introduced the representatives of
the other highs present and Miss
Marion Wade Doyle, 2nd, daughter of
the president of the Board of Edu
cation. who, he said, “is the most
active person behind the movement.”
The plan for the safety organiza
tion to be based on the discussion by
the student leaders in conference
today is expected to be followed by
club formation at all the high schools
in the .interests of traffic safety. The
movement follows close upon the
heels of School Board approval of
the formation of the Capital Safety
Club of Washington, safety organi
•zation for the elementary schools.
I
ROOSEVELT TALKS
jTO PARTY LEADERS
Confers With Horner and
Cochran at Chicago.
Train Speeds West.
Text of the President’s state
ment announcing formation of a
foundation to unify the fight on
infantile paralysis will be found
on Page A-15.
By the Associated Press.
ABOARD ROOSEVELT TRAIN EN
ROUTE TO SEATTLE, September 23.
—President Roosevelt, during the first
day out on his West Coast trip, con
ferred for more than an hour today
with Illinois and Nebraska party lead
ers as his special train was switched
through Chicago.
Govs. Henry Horner of Illinois and
R. L. Cochran of Nebraska boarded
the train at the Root street yards as
a small crowd gathered to catch a
glimpse of the Chief Executive.
Mr. Roosevelt did not appear but
Mrs. Roosevelt stood on the steps of
(See ROOSEVELT, Page A-3.)
HOI OWNER HELD
IN PROBE OF BUST
AT HISJESIDENCE
Two of Arlington Garbage
Contractor’s Employes
Also in Custody.
THREE ARRESTS FOLLOW
FIRE MARSHAL’S INQUIRY
Warrant Accuses Roger Daniels
of Hiring Workmen to
Set Off Explosion.
By a Staff Correspondent orThe Star.
ARLINGTON, Va„ September 23.—
Arlington County police today arrested
Roger Daniels, 414 South Edgewood
street, who has a county garbage col
lection contract, and two of his work
men, William Steam, labor foreman,
and Edgar Heishman, truck driver, in
connection with the explosion at Dan
iels’ home on Labor day eve. Daniels
was released under bond of $2,000.
Warrants were sworn out by Sheriff
Howard B. Fields charging Daniels did
"counsel, hire, procure, aid and abet
one William Steam and one Edgar
Heishman feloniously to bum the
dwelling house of” Daniels "with in
tent to injure and defraud'the insurer,
the Potomac Insurance Co. of Wash
ington. D. C.”
Daniels’ house was insured against
loss by fire by the Potomac Insurance
Co. for about $2,600, police said.
Fire Marshals Investigate.
The arrests followed an investiga
tion In which State Fire Marshals Dan
iel Steiner and L. R. Travers and Ar
lington County police took part. The i
warrants against Heishman and;
Stearn charged arson. Daniels has
made no statement, police said, but his (
two workmen have signed written con
fessions. according to authorities.
The two workmen were charged with
burning the dwelling while it was un
occupied, an offense which investiga
tors say, carries a sentence from two
to ten years.
Two other men who also work for
Daniels are being held as material
witnesses. They are Eddie Honesty,
colored, foreman, and Robert Shorter,
colored, truck driver.
Blast Hocked Neighborhood.
Sheriff Fields said he was informed
Heishman and Steam entered Daniels’ j
home with two 2-gallon cans of gaso- 1
line and a 2-gallon can of kerosene.
Fields added that Heishman and
Steam told him they poured the fluid
around the basement and in other
parts of the house. Fumes from the
fuel. Fields asserted, evidently caused
the explosion.
“It’s a wonder to me,” Fields said,
“that either of the men is alive. One
of them was blown through a window
and the other was blown out the
rear door.”
He also revealed that a barber in
South Washington, Va., treated one
of the men for severe burns of the
face. Sheriff Fields would not re
veal the barber’s name.
The explosion on September 5
rocked the neighborhood for blocks
around the vicinity of Daniels' home
in Arlington.
One sidewall of the building was
blown apart, the kitchen, stairway and
upper hall were destroyed by fire
which followed the blast.
Investigators at the time declared
there was no evidence of escaping gas.
Daniels was away at the time.
- 1 ■ •
SOVIETS EXECUTE FOUR
MOSCOW, September 23 (/PI.—Four
employes of the Red Cross Gas De
fense Corps at Leningrad were exe
cuted today on charges of poisoning
sailors of the Baltic fleet. They were
condemned as “Fascist terrorists.”
Details of the offenses were not
announced, but the food which made
the sailors ill. none fatally, was be
lieved poisoned by chemicals used in
experiments or anti-air raid drills.
Poisoning, explosions and “Trotzy
ist activities” have resulted in the
executions of more than a score, in
culding women, at Leningrad since
August 20.
HAMILTON FAVORS
MIDTERM PARLEY
OF G.O.P. LEADERS
Spangler Claims 94 Per Cent
of Voters in Poll Back
Plan.
“REAL GRASS ROOTS”
MOVEMENT REPORTED
Executive Committee Asked to
Call Conference Soon as Sug
gested by Hoover.
BY JOHN C. HENRY.
John D. M. Hamilton, chairman
of the Republican National Commit
tee, threw his support today to the
proposal for a general party •'con
ference" in 1938 as the suggestion
was brought before the Executive
Committee in session here by Harri
son E. Spangler, national committee
man from Iowa.
Pointing out that he had advo
cated such a meeting of Republican
leaders throughout the country as
long ago as last March. Hamilton said
he would favor holding such meet
ings annually.
"Plenty of political developments oc
cur every 12 months to make an an
nual Summer party conference worth
while," the chairman said. "I am in
favor of any such meeting that would
bring a fair representation of all
thoughts and all groups within the
party with opportunity for full dis
cussion of all issues."
Action Is Delayed.
Occupied with routine business all
morning, the Executive Committee de
ferred until this afternoon discussion
of the proposal. Several members, in
cluding Representative Martin of
Massachusetts, have declared them
selves opposed to the idea for 1938 on
the ground it might interfere with
congressional campaigns.
The conference suggestion, made
some time ago by former President
Hoover, would be for the purpose of
drafting a declaration of fundamental
party policy, Spangler explained, and
uniting the efforts of the party behind
it.
•nciuizuig me existence or some op
position within the Executive Com
mittee to the project, Spangler was
counting on the results of a quietly
circulated poll and the modified plan
by which the meeting would be more
of a conference than a convention to
swing support to his side.
Spangler Claim* Support
In taking the poll questionnaires
wtre sent to 11,047 officers of Repub
lican clubs and well-known Repub
licans outside the actual party organi
zation. To date, replies have been re
ceived from 5,692. Broken down on a
percentage basis, Spangler said, the
results showed 94.24 per cent in favor
of the conference. 3.14 per cent opposed
and 2.62 per cent non-committal.
Republicans circulated in the Dis
trict of Columbia favored the confer
ence idea by a ratio of 89 to 11.
In addition to Chairman John Ham
ilton, those attending today's committee
meeting were Spangler, representing
Iowa; Mrs. John E. Hillman, Colo
rado: Mrs. Marjorie Scranton. Penn
sylvania: C. B. Goodspeed, Illinois:
Henry P. Fletcher, Rhode Island;
Robert P. Burroughs, New Hampshire;
Mrs. Paul FitzSimons, Rhode Island;
Daniel E. Pomeroy, New Jersey; J.
Will Taylor. Tennessee: Mrs. Horace
H. Sayre. Oklahoma; R. B. Creager.
Texas; Ezra R. Whitla. Idaho; Earl
Warren, California, and Representa
tive Martin.
commenting briefly before entering
the session. Representative Martin
predicted the President *ould avoid a
special session of Congress rather
than face possible embarrassment on
the alleged Ku Klux Klan membership
of Justice Black.
Spangler, one of the prime movers
in the Grass Roots Convention of Mid
dle West Republicans, declared prior
to today’s meeting that he felt the
off-year conference idea had met
“with an extraordinary response.”
“The demand for such a conference
comes not only from many party lead
ers, but from the rank and file over
the whole country," he added. “It is a
real grass roots movement and springs
from a general and sincere concern of
the people over the attempts being
made by the present administration to
destroy our American form of govern
ment based upon liberty.”
nopes lor committee Meeting.
Spangler intended, he said, to place
a broad program before today's com
mittee meeting with the hope that the
Executive Committee would authorize
the calling of a full session of the
National Committee in which is
vested the power to direct any na
tional conference.
The Iowan said he believed a plan
ning committee of 50 or 100 party
members “of all shades of thought”
should be named as soon as possible
to prepare a tentative declaration of
party policy for submission to the
proposed national conference. On
such a committee, he said, he would
suggest the presence of such leaders
as former President Hoover, Alf M.
(See REPUBLICANS, Page A-3.)
Colored Catholic
Is Named Black's
Messenger Boy
By the Associated Press.
The Supreme Court has selected
Leon A. Smallwood, a colored Catholic,
to serve as messenger to Justice Hugo
L. Black.
Black can veto the selection if he
desires. A colored messenger is as
signed to each justice.
Smallwood has been connected with
the Supreme Court marshal's office.
Miss Ann Butt, who was associated
with him while he was Senator from
Alabama, has been picked by Black
to serve as his secretary.
He has yet to appoint a law clerk.
That will complete the staff for the
new position he will assume when he
returns from Europe.
1
Summary of Today's Star
Page. ’* Page.
Comics _C-6-7 Radio _C-4
Drama _C-2-3 Serial Story B-10
Editorials_A-12 Society _B-3
Finance _A-19 Sports_D-l-3
Lost & Found D-4 Woman's Pg. C-5
Obituary _A-14
WAR IN FAR EAST.
U. S. starts consulting with 9-power
pact signers. Page A-l
Chinese concrete defense line reported
shattered. t Page A-l
TJ. S. missionaries undaunted by Sino
Japanese war. Page A-3
Canton air raids kill or wound 2,000
Chinese. Page A-4
FOREIGN.
Troncoso facing sub theft conspiracy
count. Page A-2
Hitler will welcome II Duce at Munich
Saturday. Page A-4
Paris and London seek Italy's aid in
European situation. Page A-4
NATIONAL.
Roosevelt speeds West on trip to sound
opinion. Page A-l
Legion reaffirms stand against com- ]
munism and fascism. Page A-2
W. P. A. last of emergency agencies
still in operation. Page A-5
Federal airways system to be extended
over 11 new routes. Page A-14
A. F. of L. snubs Secretary Perkins in
convention program. Page B-2
WASHINGTON AND VICINITY.
Arlington men held in probe of blast
which wrecked home. Page A-l
Fair weather promised for regatta
pageant tonight. Page A-l
Dr. Mann bringing animals new to
U. S. Page A-l
Three additions to Catholic University
staff announced.. Pag* B-l
k
Suit challenges constitutionality of
D. C. business tax. Page B-l
Drive for $100,000 for school lunches
is launched here. Page B-l
SPORTS
Capital well represented in President's
Cup Regatta. Page D-l
Giants see pennant as certain after
defeating Cubs. Page D-l
Ross, Montanez, Apostoli and Escobar
seen as ring victors. Page D-2
Dozen big grid games on card as grid
teams get big start. Page D-3
EDITORIALS AND COMMENT.
Editorials. Page A-12
This and That. Page A-12
Answers to Questions. Page A-12
Stars, Men and Atoms. Page A-12
David Lawrence. Page A-13
H. R. Burkhage. Page A-13
Mark Sullivan. Page A-13
Jay Franklin. Page A-13
Delia Pynchon. Page A-13
FINANCIAL.
Corporate bonds down
(table). Page A-19
Upturn in steel orders slow. Page A-19
Cheaper auto models
shelved. Page A-19
Stocks again sag (table). Page A-20
Curb shares lower (table). Page A-21
Clearings rise sharply. Page A-21
MISCELLANY.
Nature’s Children. Page B-7
After Dark. Page B-12
Dorothy Dix. Page C-5
Betsy Caswell. Page C-5
Cross-word Puzzle. Page C-6
Bedtime Stories. Page C-6
Letter-Out. Page C-7
Winning Contract. Page C-7
Shipping News. Page D-8
City News in Brief. Page D-8
Traffic Convictions. Page D-8
Vital Statistics. Page D-8
I