Evening star. [volume], August 17, 1939, Image 1

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

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Weather Forecast L . , ., _ . , .
. Prom the United States Weather Bureau report. m I A I OdOV S NCWS Iff lOdOY S StOP
Pul) details on Paae A-2 M ■
Mostly cloudy tonight; local showers I ° I I IT Today’s nows is tomorrow’s history
tomorrow; not quite so warm tomorrow. W all mr m___■_ _ . ..
Temperatures today—Highest, 90, at 1 V I I . ^e ^eePs y°u UP the minute
p.m.; lowest, 7i, at o a m. /^|^r ^ I with the last-minute news.
._Closing New York Morkets-Sdes, PogejO-__S-'___ _<*) M..n« Aa.ociat.d Pr,.._
87th YEAR, No. 34,806._WASHINGTON, D. C., THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 1939—FIFTY PAGES. *** THREE CENTS.
German Troops Dig Trenches
300 Feet From Polish Border
As Nazi 'Peace Price' Goes Up
A L'
Soldiers Rush Work
Along Closed
Frontier
BACKGROUND—
Germany's Campaign for the
return of the Free City of Danzig,
tinder League of Nations protec
tion since the World War, has
, been pressed vigorously since the
'' Reich’s absorption of Bohemia,
Moravia and Memel last March.
Poland, united in a customs union
with Danzig, has expressed a de
termination to fight rather than
yield on the Free City. Britain
has guaranteed to aid Poland if
she is attacked.
By the Associated Press.
GLEIWITZ, Germany, Aug. 17.—
German troops moving into the
Upper Silesian region have “dug in”
Within 300 feet of Poland's border.
A 40-mile ride along the German
Polish border today showed that
with the closing of "a section of the
Polish border” yesterday German
engineering troops have speeded up
work on an already well-developed
trench system.
From behind blinds 18 feet high
erected in the region of the village
of Schoenwald, 6 miles south of here,
came the sound of grinding con
crete mixers, the chugging of Diesel
engines carrying little material cars,
and the sucking of ground water
pumps.
In the middle of wheat and oat
fields dungaree-clad soldiers are
digging bombproof shelters and
roofing in communication trenches.
Barbed Wire Put I’p.
Driving on the Schoenwald road
to the Polish border patrol house
6-yard-wide stretches of barbed wire
were seen to extend over the rolling
- farms to the right and left.
Directly behind this maze of wire
stand rusty iron tank obstacles, in
the shape of gigantic jacks said to
have been taken from the former
Czecho-Slovak border fortifications.
So-called "Spanish horsemen,” or
concreate tri-pronged tank obstacles,
are also being placed on the border.
Heavy military trucks, residents
aav, are in service around the out
skirts of this city, also originally
Czecho-Slovak.
Border Reported Closed.
A Polish customs agent near the
town of Knurow said he had been
given no information as to why the
border here had been closed.
"Yesterday afternoon." he said,
“our border police came up here and
told me that until further orders the
border between here and Schoen
wald should remain closed.”
A second Polish customs agent on
the border at Beuthen said:
“So long as you have a passport
you can cross our border.”
Germans claimed, however, that
permission for passes for local per
sons to go from one side of the bor
der to the other to work and to mar
ket had been withdrawn by the
Polish authorities.
Polish Authorities Release
German Party Leader
WARSAW. Aug. 17 (/Pi.—Polish
authorities announced today that
Rudolf Wiesner, one of the leaders
of the German minority in Poland,
has been released from custody. It
was understood, however, that he
must be “at the disposal of the
Polish attorney general.”
Wiesner was “detained” as part of
a drive against alleged anti-Polish
activity in which a large number
of Germans of Polish citizenship
and several German citizens were
arrested Wednesday.
It was understood Wiesner was
detained only a few hours for ques
tioning and no charges were lodged
against him.
An official announcement said
“several scores” of Germans of
Polish citizenship and several Ger
man citizens also have been arrested
on charges of "belonging to an espi
onage and subversive organization
having its headquarters in the Ger
man part of Silesia.”
The grand total of these arrests
Is believed to be several hundreds,
including many at such prominent
Silesian cities as Katowice. Ger
man reports of 1,000 arrests are
sharply discounted.
*»_!• L /*_• •_
ruiun ^uM/mioj/urrc(
Back in Danzig Post
DANZIG, Aug. 17 (&).—Marian
Chodacki, Polish commissioner gen
eral, returned today after a quick
?>vernight trip to Warsaw, and well
n formed quarters anticipated an
other meeting with Danzig's Senate
President. Arthur Greiser.
The close secrecy which has sur
rounded the efforts of Prof. Carl J.
Burckhardt, League of Nations high
commissioner, to bring Polish and
Danzig officials together continued
today.
Chodacki and Greiser conferred
yesterday in what was described as
a "friendly atmosphere” and Burck
hardts office said the meetings
would be resumed, but set no spe
cific time for further talks.
Observers said it seemed obvious
that Chodacki had gone to Warsaw
to consult his government on some
phase of yesterday’s discussions.
Free City police reported last
flight that a volley of shots was
fired over the Polish border near
Dirskhao at an automobile on Dan
eig territory occupied by Danzig
newspapermen.
Rhode Island to Observe
Thanksgiving Nov. 30
By the Associated Press.
PROVIDENCE. R. I., Aug 17_
Rhode Island's Thanksgiving Dav
will be November 30, presidential
edict to the contrary, Gov Wiiiinm
H. Vanderbilt said today.' strong
opposition to the change in date
by jewelry and textile manufac
ture™ he said have led him to the
conviction that any change would
hurt rather than help business. ^
i
Danzig's Return Not Enough,
High Nazi Circles Hint
t
Time Is Held Ripe for Settlement
Of Polish Corridor Issue
By the Associated Press.
BERLIN, Aug. 17.—Guarded hints
were thrown out today that Germany
has left the door open to Poland for
direct negotiations over Danzig, but
that a bigger issue than mere un
conditional return of the Free City
to Germany is at stake.
Informed Germans said, however,
no signs were discernible today that
Italian warnings to Poland to nego
tiate with Germany had been heeded
The :ituation remained “unchanged.'
it was said.
The press indicated Germany
would prefer direct dealings with
Poland, and denied reports that an
other “Munich” settlement involv
ing other powers was in prospect.
Circles close to the government
said they considered the time ripe
for the settlement of issues involv
ing the fate of more than 1.000.00C
nationals living in Polish regions
bordering on Germany.
These well-informed sources said
the viewpoint is rapidly gaining
ground that Danzig is not enough
and that Germany should increase
its demands. Danzig was described
as no bargaining point at all.
Semi-official and controlled press
comment was to the effect that it
was nobody 's business but Germany 's
and Poland's to solve the problem of
Danzig and Pomorze—the strip of
land known as the Polish Corridor,
which separates German East Prus
sia from Germany proper.
A conference with any one over
Danzig, government spokesmen said
plainly, could be only to discuss the
method of handing over the Free City
unconditionally to Germany.
Circles close to the foreign office
(See GERMAN, Page A-4.)
Industrial Leaders
Invited to Assist
In Tax Inquiry
Acting Secretary Hanes
In Letter Asks for
'Public Tax Opinion'
By the Associated Press.
Ranking leaders in all divisions of
the Nation's commerce and industry
were invited today by Acting Secre
tary John W. Hanes to join with ,
i the Treasury in compiling a record
of “public tax opinion" to help Con
gress in revising tax laws next ses
i sion.
I
Mr. Hanes wrote numerous of
i cials of labor, financial business, in
dustrial and agricultural firms and
organizations that the Treasury
would like to get their views on tax
problems preliminary to the formal
study which a House Ways and .
Means subcommittee will begin No
vember 1.
“This is our common problem.”
he said in a letter made public at his
press conference, “and a success
ful effort toward its solution will
depend largely on our mutual and
sympathetic understanding of the
questions that confront both the
Government and the taxpayer.”
Leaders Sent Invitations.
While all those to whom the invi
tation was addressed were not dis
closed, it was learned that among
them were the following:
Edward R. Stettinius. jr„ chair
man of United States Steel Corp.:
William S. Knudsen, president of
General Motors Corp.; William A.
Harriman. president of the Union
Pacific Railroad; John L. Lewis,
head of the Congress of Industrial
Organizations; William Green, heaa
of the American Federation of La
bor, and Martin W. Clement, presi
dent of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
The letter also was sent to officials
of these groups: United States
Chamber of Commerce, National
Association of Manufacturers, Farm
Bureau Federation, American Bank
ers' Association, National Retail
Federation and various organiza
tions representing small business
grouos.
Mr Hanes asked those to whom
he wrote whether they were inter
ested in getting their tax views be
fore Congress and advised them he
would like to arrange for them pre
liminary hearings before Treasury
officials
Text of Harnes’ Letter.
The text of his letter:
“The subcommittee of the Ways
and Means Committee of the House
of Representatives has been in
structed to make a thorough study
of internal revenue taxation during
the recess of the 76th Congress.
"The chairman of this subcom
mittee. Mr. Jere Cooper, is desirous
of having all pertinent material
ready for presentation early in the
next session of the Congress.
“With the approval of his commit
tee, I am writing to ask your co
operation in this effort to work out
a tax revision prog’-am which will
further improve the laws relating to
individual and corporation taxes,
the regulations derived therefrom
and the administrative procedure in
their collection.
“If you—or any organization with
which you are connected —should be
interested in having your views
placed before the committee in full,
1 shall be glad to arrange—at a time
convenient to you before November
1—a private hearing before the
Treasury staff assigned to compile a
record of present public tax opinion.
Your views will receive every con
sideration and I shall appreciate
your help.
“This is our common problem and
a successful effort toward <ts solu
tion will depend largely on our mu
tual and symparhetic understanding
of the questions that confront both
the Government and the taxpayer.
“I shall await your answer with
interest.”
Yanks Leading Natsr
2 to 1, in 2d inning
By a Staff Correspondent of The Star.
NEW YORK, Aug. 17.—Joe Kra
kauskas, Nat hurler, was wild in the
opening inning of the first game of
a series here this afternoon and the
Yankees were leading the Griffmen
2 to 1 at the end of the second in
ning.
Donald was the Yankee hurler.
Van Nuys Says 15
Democratic Senators
Reject Third Term
Declares Roosevelt
Could Be Renominated
But Not Re-elected
By the Associated Press.
A prediction that at least 15 Dem
ocratic Senators would refuse to
support President Roosevelt if he
were nominated for a third term was
made today by Senator Van Nuys,
Democrat, ol Indiana.
Senator Van Nuys, who some
times has opposed New Deal legis
lation, told reporters:
“It is not unlikely that the Presi
dent may cudgel another nomination
from the Democratic Convention,
but if he does I do not believe he
will be re-elected.”
The Indiana Senator said he
would work against renomination of
Mr. Roosevelt within the party, and
that if the Chief Executive again
were the nominee, he would remain
Inactive in the campaign. He did
not name the 15 other Democratic
Senators whom he predicted would
follow a similar course.
Believes in Tradition.
Senator Van Nuys reiterated a
previous statement that he "would
not support Mr. Roosevelt or any
body else for a third term, because
I believe if the sacred tradition
against three terms is broken, it will
be the end of the Republic.”
Although saying it might be pos
sible for Mr. Roosevelt to be renomi
nated, he added that the Hatch law
curtailing political activity of Gov
ernment employes “will put a little
quietus" on any third-term effort.
The Senator said he thought the
President's recent assertion that he
would have no part in a campaign
for a “conservative” or "lip service”
Democrat meant:
"If he doesn’t get the nomination
himself or if one of his choice is not
nominated, he will bolt the Demo
cratic ticket."
Supports McNutt.
If Vice President Garner should
get the presidential nomination.
Senator Van Nuys said, “then I
think Mr. Rosevelt would bolt.”
A candidate chosen by the Presi
dent might be elected, he added, “if
Mr. Roosevelt doesn't try to pick up
one of these political capons that
make up part of his administration.”
While declaring he would support
any Democratic nominee other than
Mr. Roosevelt, Senator Van Nuys
continued:
“It would be pretty hard for me
to throw my hat in the air for any
one of a half dozen men who have
been heard of in the Democratic
party only since 1933.”
Senator Van Nuys is supporting
Paul V. McNutt, Federal Security
administrator, for President. He
said Mr. McNutt “has made consid
erable progress" with his campaign
since he returned from the Philip
pines this summer.
Murphy Spoke
At Bund Rally,
Kuhn Says
Official Talked 10
Minutes in Detroit
In 1936, Quiz Told
BACKGROUND—
Special House committee, head
ed by Representative Dies, Demo
crat, of Texas, roas set up more
than a year ago to inquire into
subversive activities in this coun
try. Hearings were widely pub
licized, and at one point com
mittee was rebuked by President
Roosevelt, who criticized its man
ner of taking testimony. How
ever, additional funds were voted
for continuance of investigation.
By the Associated Press.
Fritz Kuhn, leader of the German
American Bund, told the Dies Com
mittee today Attorney General
Murphy addressed a bund meeting
in Detroit in 1936.
Mr. Kuhn made the remark vol
untarily at the conclusion of the
committee's meeting session on un
American activities.
‘‘I tell you something.” he said.
“The General Attorney, Mr.
Murphy, he once talked at our
meeting.”
Do you mean the Attorney Gen
eral?” asked Representative Thomas,
Republican, of New Jersey, who had
been questioning the bund leader.
In Detroit in 1936.
“Yes,” Mr. Kuhn replied, nodding
his head forward.
“Where did he speak?” Represent
ative Thomas inquired.
“In the German house in Detroit.”
“When?"
“In 1936.”
“Did he speak?”
“He was invited and came and
spoke about 10 minutes.”
“What did he talk about?”
“About German citizens.”
“Did he praise the Bund?”
“Oh, no.”
Chairman Dies then rapped the
gavel for a recess.
Mr. Murphy was elected Governor
of Michigan November 6. 1936. for a
two-year term. The bund leader
did not indicate whether the
Murphy speech was before or after
the election.
Mr. Kuhn at one point during the
morning questioning grabbed his
brief case as if to walk out on the
hearing, after the committee refused
to let him have a lawyer.
“You sit right there.” Chairman
Dies ordered the bund chieftain, who
had slid forward to the edge of the
witness chair, protesting in his Ger
man accent what he called “unfair” '
4ucatxwi3.
Questioning Resumed.
Mr. Dies apparently soothed him
with an assertion that the commit
tee wished to be fair and Repre
sentative Starnes. Democrat, of Ala
bama resumed the questioning.
Mr. Kuhn previously had demand
ed unsuccessfully that he be given
a chance to obtain a lawyer, after
Committee Counsel Rhea Whitley
had attempted to trace Federal re
lief money into a $3,000 fund the
witness collected for winter relief
' in Germany in 1936.
“So these unemployed members
contributed money that the United
States Government gave them for
relief for you to take over and turn
over to Mr. Hitler for winter relief?” .
asked Mr., Whitley.
“Yes,” the witness replied and
then, apparently realizing the im
plications of the statement, he de
manded “How do you know that?” j
Under questioning by Mr. Whitley j
the bund leader agreed there were
many unemployed members of his
organization who, as American citi
zens, were entitled to relief. He
said the bund made no attempt
! to provide aid to these members
itself, although he collected funds
for German relief needs.
Earlier Mr. Kuhn had denied
I tensely_that the influence of his
(See UN-AMERICAN. Page A-3.)
Boy Hero of Rescue
Dies From Burns
By the Associated Press.
CRISFIELD, Md., Aug. 17.—Burns
suffered in an explosion after he
had aided in the rescue of 10 per
sons from a blazing boat caused
the death last night of Eugene Mar
tin, 12, of Saxis, Va.
He died in the hospital here, where
his father, Parson Martin; Capt.
Herbert Drummond of the Virginia
Fisheries Patrol boat Richard C.
Armstrong and Prentiss Bull, who
W'as a passenger aboard the Arm
strong, are receiving treatment for
burns. All are expected to recover.
Summary of Today's Star
Page. Page.
Amuse- Obituary ...A-12
merits _ C-4-5 Radio _._C-5
Comics . C-10-11 Society_B-3
Editorials ..A-10 Sports_C-l-3
Finance_A-19 Woman’s
Lost, Found __C-7 Page.B-6
Foreign.
Nazis hoisting price of peace to
Poland. Page A-l
German troops dig trenches near
Polish border. Page A-l
League group rejects British Pales
tine plan. Page A-2
Woman killed, 20 hurt at British
launching. Page A-2
Mexico offers three plans for settle
ment of oil claims. Page A-3
Peace plea to governments is urged
by Fish at Oslo. Page A-4
Japan reported directing military to
respect Americans. Page A-4
National.
Murphy gave talk at Bund meeting,
Kuhn testifies. Page A-l
Trainman killed as Alabama flood
inundates town. Page B-2
Washington and Vicinity.
National Guard drives back “invad
ers" as maneuvers end. Page A-l
Conciliator hopes for truce in sand
and gravel strike. Page A-l
'I
I
Union officials protest P. W. A. per
sonnel cut here. Page B-l
Sports.
Tough luck grips Leonard as he
bows to Yanks. Page C-l
Redskins may regain injured Meade
in three weeks. Page C-l
Young golfers are hope of D. C. in
U. S. amateur. Page C-2
Tidball, Mako may reshuffle Yank
Davis Cup squad. Page C-3
Editorial and Comment
This and That. Page A-10
Answers to Questions. PageA-10
Letters to The Star. PageA-10
David Lawrence. PageA-11
Alsop and Kintner. Page A-ll
Preston Grover. PageA-11
Warren Hapgood. Page A-ll
Constantine Brown. Page A-ll
Miscellany
Service Orders. Page B-2
After Dark. Page B-5
Nature’s Children. Page C-7
Bedtime Story. Page C-10
Crossword Puzzle. Page CIO
Letter-Out. Page C-10
Winning Contract. PageC-11
Uncle Ray’s Comer. Page C-U
PEACE?'
PEACE,
LET US |
HAVE,
PEACE.'/
(WrtoiT
THAT FELLOW. \
l^lwy
4H\
'No.hktham
ISOLATIONIST
WHOM UtCLlSM
MUST NOT MfDOii
IN EUROPEAN /
AFFAIRS!*/
'Lost Company' Found, Enjoying
Life as Prisoners of 'Blacks'
Pennsylvania Guardsmen Rest in Shady
Barnyard, Awaiting End of 'War'
By ROBERT A. ERWIN,
Star Staff Correspondent.
BRISTOW, Va„ Aug. 17—The
“lost company” of the 103d Medical
Regiment, Pennsylvania National
Guard, was found this morning
leading a life of contentment in
captivity.
It was Company F, from Ligonier,
Pa., quartered in two shady barn
yards at Buck Hall, in the country
occupied by the “enemy” Black
forces of the Regular Army. The
medicos are part of the 28th Divi
sion, which, with the 29th, is fight
ing the Blacks.
“They are friendly enemies." com
mented a Regular Army officer at a
road junction just below Buck Hall,
the “hot spot” of today's windup
battle between the Blacks and the
Blues. “They are like some of the
German prisoners of the World War,
who liked American food better than
their own.”
■ a ■ a. ■
A tour of the barnyards revealed
the medicos, however, had been
sending their “captive" ambulance
through the lines since their cap
ture yesterday morning to bring
back food from their own camp.
The company’s men weren’t sure
why they hadn't been sent back to
28th Division headquarters, since
prisoners aren't supposed to be kept
very long in this game of war. They
were sure of one thing, though. They
didn't want to go back to the 28th
until the war was over. Under shady
trees and in the shade of the barn
yards they stretched on the green
grass with the utmost tranquillity,
read papers, joked and occasionally
hiked around the farm where blue
denim-clad Regular Army men were
in retreat before the Guardsmen.
“We don’t want to go back.” ex
claimed one medico who rested
(See COMPANY, Page A-7.)
namngion Places
Ban on Politics
For W. P. A. Workers
Commissioner in Letter
Interprets Relief
Appropriation Act
By the Associated Press.
W. P. A. Commissioner F. C. Har
rington has interpreted the latest
Relief Appropriation Act to require
the discharge of any W. P. A. ad
ministrative or supervisory employe
who gets in politics even to the ex
tent of managing a campaign for
constable.
The act contained amendments
which were born in part of charges
of undue politics among W. P. A.
personnel in political campaigns.
Col. Harrington ruled, in a gen
eral letter published today, that a
W. P. A. administrative-supervisory
employe would lose his job if:
"Such person is a candidate for
any Federal, State, district, county
or municipal office in any primary,
general or special election or who is
serving as a campaign manager or
assistant thereto for any such can
didate.
“Such person is holding an elec
tive office, the duties of which would
necessitate being absent from a
W. P. A. position during regular
working hours or to which a salary,
per diem, or other compensation is
attached, provided that under no
circumstances shall such person
hold any public office through
which such person would be in
volved in political management or
political campaigns.
“Such a person is a member of a
party committee or organization,
the duties of which are concerned
with political management or polit
ical campaigns.'’
Justice Butler Is III;
Patient at Garfield
By the Associated Press.
Associate Justice Pierce Butler of
the Supreme Court is a patient at
Garfield Hospital here.
This was learned today, but hos
pital authorities declined to give any
information concerning the condi
tion or ailment of the 73-year-old
justice, and an attending physician
was said at his office to have “gone
to the country” for the day. This
was taken as indicative that Jus
tice Butler was not in immediate
danger.
At the same time, it was learned
that he suffered an illness shortly
after the close of the court term
in June. He left his Washington
home then for a farm he has de
veloped in Howard County, Md.
Mrs. John Coolidge
Has Second Child
By the Associated Press.
NEW HAVEN, Conn., Aug. 17.—
New Haven Hospital authorities dis
closed last night that Mrs. John
Coolidge, wife of a son of the former
President, was convalescing there
following the birth of a daughter
earlier this week.
I
Regulars Are Forced
Back Four Miles
By Guardsmen
Superior Numbers Count
Heavily in Final
Battle of War
By JOSEPH S. EDGERTON,
Star Staff Correspondent.
MANASSAS. Va.. Aug. 17.—Smash
ing through all opposition in a mag
nificent frontal drive along an entire
corps front between Manassas and
Occoquan Creek, the Blue 28th and
39th Divisions had driven an "in
vading" Black Provisional Division
of Regular Army troops nearly 4
miles today when an official arm
istice was signed at 11 ajn. ending
the "war."
The drive was marked by a num
ber of daring and skillfully ex
ecuted exploits by Blue troops and
by spectacular raids by tanks and
armored cars of the Blacks, which
created havoc among Blue ranks, but
failed to halt the dogged advance of
24 battalions of National Guard in
fantry, supported by field artillery
and howitzers.
It was a final test of the solidity
of the World War division, with its
heavy infantry backbone, against the
mobility of the highly mechanized
provisional army division created for
the exercises, which officially clased
with today's armistice after two
weeks of the most strenuous field
training for the 17,000 National
Guard troops, including the whole
District Guard.
Guards Press Forward.
With the Guard divisions throwing
their whole weight into the attack
against less than 7.000 regular
troops, even the smashing effect of
massed tank and armored car at
tacks failed to hold up the advance,
even though columns of tanks ripped
through the rear echelons of the
Guard brigades at 40 miles per hour
One of the sharpest fights of ihe
day occurred in dense woods 2 miles
south of Buckhall Church, when the
111th Pennsylvania Infantry, com
manded by Col. 3. A. Warner, ad
vanced undetected through 2 miles
of thick forest on the Blue left
flank and swept over elements of the
Regular 3d Cavalry and 16th Field
Artillery. The action ended with
an artillery-infantry duel at point
blank ranges, which was stopped by
umpires to avoid possible injury to
the opposing troops.
Caught Cavalry in Column.
The regiment, officered largely by
World War veterans, caught part of
the 3d Cavalry in column, theo
retically wined out a whole troop
and drove the remainder of the
squadron along a narrow W’oodland
road toward Buckhall. This left
the guns of the 16th Field Artillery
without support.
Battery C and the Headquarters
Battery, hastily limbering up, were
caught in march column in the road
by unseen infantry in force on both
flanks. Both batteries were awarded
to the exultant Eastern Pennsyl
vania Guard battalions, officered by
Maj. Joseph Michael Reilly, 3d
Battalion, and Maj. William Bergey,
1st battalion. The 2d Battalion had
been detached to operate directly
(See TROOPS, Page A-«J
U.S. Conciliator Hopes
To Halt Strike of
Smoot Employes
Colvin Will Seek to
End Tieup of Large
Construction Jobs
(Picture on Page A-2.J
Conciliator Howard T. Colvin of
the Labor Department said today
! that he will attempt to halt the
strike of employes at the Smoot
Sand & Gravel Co., at least tem
porarily, when the warring factions
meet with him this afternoon, in
I order that vital concrete construc
; tion projects in the city can proceed.
Concrete work on millions of dol
lars' worth of Federal and District
construction jobs was abandoned
this morning when the Smoot com
pany, principal source of concrete
materials in Washington, shut off
deliveries completely.
"I hope we will be able to get
these men back to W'ork to relieve
the construction tieup,” Mr. Col
vin stated, “with the agreement that
negotiations between the union and
management will follow immedi
ately.”
The conciliator explained that ne
gotiations necessarily would take
time, and that the immediate con
cern is to get the employes back
at their posts while parleys progress.
“I don't know how far we will get,
but that's what I hope to do to
day,” he added.
Little Hope Held Earlier.
v/uuau utwuu uiiiumis unuugnoui
the city earlier had expressed little
hope that the grave situation would
be relieved for days.
Empty concrete forms were
; spaced around the half-completed
: base of the Thomas Jefferson Me
morial. The K street widening proj
; ect was idle, as were scores of other
street-paving jobs in the District.
Test borings and excavation wcrk
continued at the site of the new
Lafayette Building, future home of
the Reconstruction Finance Corp.,
but pouring of concrete pilings
ceased. Engineers there admitted
their work would be halted in its
entirety within a few days unless
concrete materials are made avail
able.
Minor Outbreaks Reported.
Company officials complained of
minor outbreaks of violence over
night at the Smoot concern's main
plant in Georgetown. They claimed
yesterday that violence caused post
ponement of a negotiation meeting
and ultimate shut-down of the plant.
Union leaders—all members of the
newly formed Sand and Gravel
Workers’ Union, No. 22075, an affili
ate of the American Federation of
Labor—insisted, on the other hand,
that any outbreaks were caused
through individual differences and
not picket line activity, and that the
plant closed because materials were
exhausted.
“In fairness to builders and con
tractors in the city,” a union spokes
man said today, “we did not attempt
to stop deliveries of materials on
hand. We had hoped the strike
could be settled before this crisis
was reached. It wasn’t and the
plant was forced to close."
The company spokesman stated
that the concern did not wish to
jeopardize the lives of those who
wanted to work and some employes
in the picket line for whom “the
company has high regard.”
Highway Work to Halt.
The union claims that more than
200 employes walked out on strike
and that few more than a score
remained on duty.
Capt. H. C. Whitehurst, director
of highways in the District, said
yesterday that concrete work in
his division would come to a halt
almost immediately. This means a
delay in construction on the Taylor
street bridge, the Pennsylvania ave
nue bridge and the K street over
pass in addition to the projects al
ready mentioned.
Union spokesmen say they are
asking for a "living wage,” better
working hours and a "preferred”
shop. A company spokesman said
negotiations were progressing fa
vorably until the “issue of the
closed shop” was introduced. The
walkout occurred Monday.
Among other important local proj
ects affected by the strike are the
new Social Security Building, con
struction at Naval Hospital and the
Navy Yard, the National Gallery
of Art, the Municipal Center, several
District schools and a number of
private construction jobs.
Body of Woman
Found in Trunk
Senf From D. C.
Victim Discovered
In Baggage Room
At Atlanta
BULLETIN.
Tire trunk which contained a
woman's body when opened in
Atlanta this morning was taken
to Union Station baggage room
here by two men in a truck about
9:45 p.m. Tuesday, Inspector Ber
nard W. Thompson said detec
tives learned this afternoon.
The partially clad body of a dark
skinned woman was found in At
lanta, Ga., today, jammed in a
cheap trunk which had been checked
on a train in Washington.
The trunk had been put on a
Seaboard Railway train that left
here at 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, investi
gation revealed, by a person who
bought—but apparently did not use
—a day coach ticket to Atlanta.
It arrived in Atlanta at 3:55 p.m.
yesterday and was opened today by
police, after employes in the baggage
room at the Terminal Station there
noticed a peculiar odor. The body
was clad in a slip, brassiere and
bloomers and was lying face down
in a pool of blood.
The trunk had been tied with a
piece of rope. Newspapers were
stuffed around the body. Police said
the victim had been dead several
davs.
Murder Declared Obvious.
Atlanta Detective D. L. Taylor,
after viewing the body, said the’vic
time possibly was a light-skinned’
colored woman about 30 years old.
Washington police advised Atlan
ta authorities by telephone the
evaluation slip on the trunk was
signed "Joe Smith.” It placed the
value at $5. Shipment cost 82 cents.
A photograph commonly known
as a "penny picture” was found
adhered to the lid of the trunk.
The photograph was that of a well
dressed young mulatto woman with
bobbed and kinky hair, possibly the
victim.
It had been cut in half, as If to
cut away the picture of some one
who had posed whth her.
Frank Donaldson, an employe in
the baggage roorw, told The Star in
a long-distance conversation that
he had discovered the trunk. He
summoned police, who broke it open.
There were numerous bruises on
the body and Mr. Donaldson said he
estimated, the w oman had been dead
for three or four days.
Washington police immediately
made a check of the Missing Per
sons Bureau here. Detective Sergt.
John Wise of the homicide squad
was sent to Union Station, where he
questioned employes of the baggage
room in an effort to determine
whether any of them remembered
the person who checked the trunk.
Early this afternoon, police here
were ordered to question all owners
of express trucks who employ col
ored drivers to ascertain if they de
livered a trunk to Union Station
about 9:45 p.m. Tuesday.
The order went out from Inspector
Bernard W. Thompson, chief of de
tectives, to all precinct commanders,
who were instructed to tell their
men to telephone detective head
quarters immediately if they learned
anything about such a delivery.
1*0 nomen Missing Here.
The police public relations squad
here reported that two women in
their 30s had been reported miss
ing from their homes recently. One
woman disappeared on August 5. the
other August 7. Police refused to
reveal their names pending investi
gation.
“There was no sort of identifica
tion apparent,” Mr. Donaldson said.
"The trunk was a cheap fiber trunk,
not new. It is about 3>2 feet long,
perhaps 18 inches deep by 20 inches
wide.
"The woman has dark hair and
dark skin and appears to be about
30 years old. We cannot be definite
about this, however.
"There are a number of bruises
on the body.”
No Name Given.
W’hether by accident or design,
the shipper had managed effectively
to conceal his or her identity. The
train on which the trunk was
checked carries many passengers,
making it difficult for the ticket
sellers or baggagemen to remember
individuals.
It was learned that the ticket—
the number of which police ob
tained from the baggage check—
was not taken up when the con
ductor went through the train. This
would indicate that the shipper,
who had to pay fare to check the
trunk, did not accompany the body.
Sergt. Wise ordered one of the
employes of the Union Station bag
gage room to come to Washington
from Baltimore this morning. The
detective questioned this man,
thought to be the employe who
handled the trunk when it was
checked here, for some time but
would not comment.
Two Messenger Boys
Injured in Traffic
Two Western Union messenger
boys were injured this afternoon
within a few blocks of each other,
one seriously, when knocked from
their bicycles by automobiles at
about the same time.
Both accidents occurred near Sec
ond street N.W.
Robert L. Vaughn, 17, of 1201 B
street N.E., suffered what may be a
fracture of the skull, concussion and
scalp wounds when thrown from his
bicycle at Second street and Consti
tution avenue N.W. His condition
was described as undetermined at
Casualty Hospital.
Shortly later, James Gindle
spenger, 19, of 1708 R street S.E.,
was hit by a delivery truck at Sec
and street and Massachusetts avenue
N.W. He also was taken to Casualty
Hospital, where he was treated for
injuries to his left arm.
A
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