Evening star. [volume], August 20, 1939, Image 1

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

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i
Weather Forecast
h From the United States Weather Bureau Report | Full Associated Press i
Full Details on Pace A-2
Generally fair and slightly warmer to- NeWS and WirephotOS
day; tomorrow, partly cloudy with after- . r
noon showers. Temperature.1, yesterday Sunday Morning and
—Highest. 80. at 5 p.m.; lowest, 70, at rn.,_ A *,
iop.m. | Every Afternoon.
No. 1,796-No. 34,809. WASHINGTON, D. C., AUGUST 20, 1939.-106 PAGES. * FIVE CENTS I TEN CENTS
_____;___ _ IN WASHINGTON AND SUBURBS1 ELSEWHERE
Slovakia Mobilizing to Assist
Reich Army of100,000 on Border;
Poland Armed, Ready for Crisis
(Territory Demands
Are Put Forward
By Bratislava
The European Situation—
SLOVAKIA MOBILIZING to co-op
erate with German Army of 100.
000 lining Polish frontier; terri
torial demand put forward by
Bratislava. Page A-l
POLAND ARMED AND READY for
critical week, expected to bring
actual war threat in appeasement
or compromise bid. Page A-l
BRITAIN'S INNER CABINET to
meet Tuesday to review entire Eu
ropean situation; decision on peace
move expected. Page A-l
1 POPE PIUS APPEALS for settle
ment of Europe's troubles which
will avert war; Postmaster Gen
eral Farley received in audience.
Page A-l
HUNGARIANS CHEER WARNING
of neutrality between Reich and
Poland; Count Csaky to resume
Rome conversations tomorrow.
Page A-4
BALTIC STATES STUDY Slovakia's
fate for clue to own fate if Anglo
I French-Soviet pact provides for
action against internal aggression
Dr> rro A-4
the Associated Press.
BRATISLAVA. Aug. 19—Gradual
mobilization of Slovakia's Army,
pledged to “co-operation” with Nazi
Germany's forces, was under way to
night throughout the little nation.
Two divisions of Slovakia's Army
of 30,000 and 300.000 reservists were
reported authoritatively to have
been dispatched to the high Tatra
Mountains, which constitute Slo
vakia's frontier with Poland
These Slovak measures were dr
scribed as "necessary for the defense
of the country.”
They were reported a few hours
after Germany took "military pos
session” of her protectorate. Nearly
100.000 German troops were strung
along the Slovak-Polish frontier with
their headquarters at the railway
junction of Zilina.
Slovaks Renew Demands.
Nazi "military possession” was ac
companied by renewed expressions
by Slovak leaders of territorial de
mands for their little country on
Poland.
Premier Josef Tiso. Propaganda
Minister Sano Mach and Dr. Moses
Kirschbaum, general secretary of the
Hlinka party, alleged in speeches at
Trnava that Poland had “stolen”
the Javorina region from Slovakia
last September.
"Slovakia has a legal right to this
region now incorporated in Poland.'’
Tiso declared. “Slovakia will per
severe and accomplish its will in
regaining this object of Polish rob
bery."
Gen. Ferdinand Csatlos. Slovak
minister of war. was still in office
today, having withdrawn his resig
nation offered last week in protest
against ordering two divisions to
the Polish frontier. The divisions
Bratislava Quiet.
Members of Tiso's cabinet refused
to make any statement regarding
Germany's "military possession" of
their country. Bratislava was quiet
tonight, and. in contrast to the
northern region, there were no Ger
man troops in sight.
Reports that Nazi soldiers also
were massed on the frontier between
Slovakia and Hungarian Ruthenia,
door to the Polish Ukraine, were de
nied 7n authoritative quarters.
“If there are any German troops
In the eastern part of Slovakia, it is
only a coincidence." these sources
said.
Travelers returning from Northern
Slovakia said that Zilina's citizens
were instructed to be ready to leave
their homes at a minute's notice.
The town of Orava was reported to
have been turned into a huge Ger
man troop encampment.
Belief That Britain
Won't Fight Is Altered
Bv LOUIS P. LOCHNER,
Associated Press Foreign Correspondent.
BERLIN. Aug. 19.—A week of in
tense German newspaper war upon
Poland closed tonight without action
es yet following Nazi "last warnings"
vthat Poland must come to terms on
Adolf Hitler's demands for posses
sion of Danzig and at least a broad
avenue through the Polish Corridor
to East Prussia.
It seemed to neutral observers as
If everywhere in Europe everybody
in authority was hoping the nerves
of the other fellow would crack first
and that thereby the onus for forc
ing a decisive turn would be tagged
on him.
How long such a condition could
endure was anybody's guess.
A week ago talk In high Nazi
• < See BRATISLAVATPage A-6.)
Tardieu, French Premier
3 Times, Seriously III
Er the Associated Press.
MENTON, France, Aug. 19.—An
dre Tardieu, three times premier
of Prance and last living French
signer of the peace treaty ending
the World War, was disclosed to
night to have been seriously ill
since July 22.
A bulletin issued by his physician
said, however, "his general state
has now become satisfactory." But
added that “absolute rest for sev
eral weeks” is necessary.
M. Tardieu retired in 1936 to wage
a vigorous private campaign for re
form of the French political system
which he characterized w? "rotten."
His illness began with a nervous
breakdown so severe he mils uncon
scious for 24 hours.
k i
*-- <
British Ministers Expected
To Act Tuesday on Peace Move
Inner Cabinet to Meet to Review
Entire European Situation
By the Associated Press.
; LONDON. Aug. 19.—British minis
ters watched the German - Polish
;'dispute with increasing concern to
night and were expected in political
quarters to decide Tuesday whether
the government should intervene
now to attempt a peaceful settle
ment.
Prime Minister Chamberlain
planned to break his fishing holiday
in Scotland Monday to return for a
meeting of ministers the next day to
review the entire European situa
tion. which was regarded in all
quarters to have reached a danger
ous stage with a peaceful solution
daily becoming more difficult.
Great Britain, pledged to stand by
Poland in resisting any aggression
threatening her independence, has
stood aloof from the German-Polish
quarrel over Danzig. Prime Minister
Chamberlain has declared it was a
matter to be settled between the two
countries involved.
May Move to Avert War.
Despite this, it was felt in some
political quarters that the situation
had become so grave the Prime Min
ister might decide upon some move
to try to break the deadlock and
avert any possible war.
How to do this without indicating
a weakening of the British pledge to
Poland and to other countries asso
ciated in the British-French system
of alliances and guarantees was the
: problem confronting him.
Hungary's position also was a
matter of concern in London as a
; result of the visits of Count Csakv,
Hungarian foreign minister, to Ger
many and Italy, where it was be
lieved in London diplomatic quarters
; that he was subjected to pressure to
ally his country definiteV with the
Rome-Berlin axis powers. Hungary
has good relations with Poland.
By a coincidence, Tuesday's meet
ing of the ministers is on the *ame
day the labor opposition sought be
fore Parliament recessed two weeks
ago to have it reconvened for a
short session because Qf expecta
tions of a crisis by that time.
Halifax Commuting.
Prime Minister Chamberlain,
however, refused to agree to what
he regarded as a move to bring
Parliament back as a "watch dog'
on his foreign policy.
Lord Halifax, foreign secretary,
who has been commuting between
his country home in Yorkshire and
London to keep a close watch on
European developments, was at the
foreign office this afternoon.
Tuesday's meeting of ministers
was to include Mr. Chamberlain,
Lord Halifax. Sir John Simon,
chancellor of the exchequer, and
Sir Samuel Hoare. home secretarv.
the four comprising the inner cabi
net. and several other ministers. It
will not. however, be a full cabinet
■ meeting.
Pope Pius Appeals
For Settlement to
Avert European War
Puts Trust in Rulers to
Avoid Force; Farley
Granted Audience
By the Associated Press.
CASTEL GANDOLFO. Italy, Aug
19.—Pope Pius XII implored a set
tlement of Europe's critical troubles
that would avert war today in ad
dressing Italian pilgrims just before
he received United States Postmas
ter General James A. Farley in
private audience.
After the audience, Mr. Farley
said he was convinced of the pon
tiff's anxiety for world peace and
that the pontiff was doing every
thing possible to maintain it.
The Pope told his hearers in the
public audience that he maintained
his trust that those who govern the
nations would refrain from an “ap
peal to force." He kept his hope,
i he said, that “feelings of modera
tion and objectivity would serve to
avert a conflict.”
Found Pope in Good Health.
He made his fervent plea in im
parting his blessing on more than
2.000 Italian pilgrims who came to
his summer palace for the 25th an
niversary of the death of Pope
Pius X.
“The holy father recognizes the
seriousness of the situation and the
burden he must bear in striving
for peace." Postmaster General
Farley said, “but I found him in
good health and am confident he
will measure up to his task by con
tinuing to counsel for an amicable
settlement of European problems.
“The Pope is in a position,” Mr.
Farley added, “to make a great con
tribution towards the maintenance
of peace because of his knowledge
of the world through his travels,
especially to the United States and
South America.”
Striving to Prevent War.
in ms puonc aucuence me fope
recalled that he had been striving
to prevent war ever since his elec
tion to the papacy last March. His
remarks were published tonight in
L'Osservatore Romano, Vatican
newspaper.
"In the present hour, which re
news acute anxiety and trembling of
heart.” he said, "we ourself, from
the first day of our pontificate, have
attempted and done what was in our
power to ward off the danger of war
and co-operate in the attainment of
a solid peace, founded on justice,
which would safeguard the liberty
and honor of peoples.
"We have even, within the limits
of possibility and so far as the
duties of our apostolic ministry al
lowed us, laid aside other tasks and
other preoccupations which weigh
on our minds,” the Pope continued.
Trusts in Rulers.
"We have imposed prudent cau
tion on ourself, in order not to make
more difficult or impossible for us
in any way the work for peace, con
scious of all in this field that we
owed and owe to the children of the
Catholic church and all humanity.
"We do not want nor do we have
the heart to give up the hope that
feelings of moderation and objec
tivity will serve to avert a conflict
which, according to every forecast,
would exceed even the past in de
struction and material and spiritual
ruin. We do not cease to trust that
the rulers of peoples in decisive
hours wifi refuse to assume the in
expressible responsibility of an ap
peal to force.
"But above all, human hopes rest
~7< See POPE. Page A-4.)
Radio Programs, Page F-3
Complete Index, Page A-2
I
Two Dead, Property
And Crop Damage
Heavy in Storm
$100,000 Loss Reported
By County in Northern
Neck of Virginia
Two persons dead, an undeter
mined number injured and property
and crop damage that ran high in
the thousands were counted last
night, as the result of the heavy
rains and high winds that for 24
hours had beaten along the upper
Atlantic seaboard, ending the three
month drouth.
More tragic consea.uences prob
ably were averted late in the day
when the crack Blue Comet, the At
lantic City-New York express of the
Central Railroad of New Jersey,
was derailed on storm-weakened
tracks in Southern New Jersey.
Rain and cloudy was the forecast
over a part of the area today, but
the outlook locally was fair and
slightly warmer, with showers pre
dicted tomorrow.
The two deaths came in the
Lower Chesapeake Bay section.
Miss Julia Richardson. 70. was
killed by falling timbers when her
home on St. Jeromes Creek, about
30 miles south of Leonardtown. Md.,
collapsed in the height of the storm
early yesterday. Her brother
Thomas, sleeping in an adjoining
room, w:as trapped for more than
two hours before he was able to dig
out of the wreckage.
Man Swept Overboard.
Raymond Campbell, colored mem
ber of the crew of the freighter
Seven Brothers, was swept over
board while the vessel was in the
bay near the mouth of the Potomac
River.
The heaviest property damage—
$100.000—w’as reported from Fleeton
and Reedville, Northumberland
County, in the northern neck of Vir
ginia. where the "twister,” as it was
described, first struck shortly after
midnight Friday. The post office, an
ice plant and a fish factory were
among the structures wrecked. About
a dozen persons were injured and
more than a score left homeless.
In St. Marys County, Md„ the
damage was estimated at $50,000.
several tobacco barns being blown
down and much farm machinery in
outbuildings damaged by falling
timbers.
As is usually the case, the storm
produced its freak mishaps.
Garage Blown 100 Yards.
The garage at the home of former
Representative L. C. Dyer of Mis
souri, in St. Marys County, was
blown 100 yards into a shallow lake,
dousing two colored families sleep
ing in the building, but otherwise
leaving them unharmed.
A 40-foot cruiser occupied by Paul
Crandall, Washington real estate
operator, Mrs. Crandall and their
three children was blown more than
a mile in St. Marys River, but was
i See STORM, Page “a“10.)~7~
Removal of Pontoons
From Squalus Begun
By the Associated Press.
PORTSMOUTH, N. H., Aug. 19.—
Navy salvage workers today began
removing pontoons attached to the
sunken submarine Squalus, indicat
ing that the third lift toward shore
might be made through compressed
air pumped directly into the $4,000,
000 vessel’s hull.
Rear Admiral Cyrus W. Cole,
director of salvage operations,
earlier has said that procedure
might be followed.
The vessel, which sank in a 240
foot depth during tests last May,
lies in 92 feet of water 4 miles off
shore and 9 miles from Portsmouth.
ii
Actual WarThreat
Expected During
This Week
By the Associated Press.
WARSAW, Aug. 19.—Armed Po
land held herself in readiness to
night for developments generally
expected in Warsaw to bring a
decisive turn soon—possibly within
a week—in European affairs.
Feeling grew that "pressure'’ by
the Rome-Berlin axis would be
intensified in the dispute over Ger
many’s demands for the Free City
ol Danzig, which Poland holds to
be a "lung" of her economic or
ganism.
Week of Crisis Seen.
"The forthcoming week," read a
headline in the evening Warsaw
newspaper Czas. "will be a week
of crisis—to decide peace or war."
The German propaganda cam
paign already has been described by
the Polish press as "bordering on
madness.’’
Official comment was lacking on
military moves in Slovakia. German
protectorate over which the Nazis
have established "military posses
sion."
Polish circles said the Polish Army
had been aware since last March
of possible German "attacks" on
Slovakia. It was stated bluntly
that "Poland is ready."
War Threat Seen Ahead.
In general the Polish view was
that the forthcoming week would
see the actual threat of war launch
ed in a new bid for an appeasement
policy and compromise.
German propaganda, in this Polish
view, was expected to continue "the
effort to isolate Poland, provoke
Poland, and establish Poland as an
aggressor nation."
Man Killed, Second Hurt
In. Army Plane Crash
By the Associated Press.
GRAHAMSVILLE. N. Y.. Aug 20
(Sunday i.—One man was killed and
another critically injured last night
when their airplane, carrying Army
markings, crashed on Denman
Mountain near this Ulster Comity
village.
State Police Sergt. Thomas J.
Mangan. said the dead man was
identified from papers in his cloth
ing as John Brennan Smith, about
19. of Lowell. Mass. Papers on the
second man. Sergt. Mangan said,
bore the name of Second Lt. Willard
G. Ewing. Post Field. Fort Sill. Okla.
The plane, first heard flying low
over Monticello at 9:50 pm. crashed
10 minutes later ini/' the trees on
Denman Mountain, p .ir yf the Cat
skill range, and bankeO into a
meadow.
Johnny Weissmuller W'jd
In After-Midnight Rite
Ey the Associated Press.
GARFIELD. N. J.. Aug. 20 <Sun
dayi.—Johnny (Tarzani Weissmul
ler, the swimmer whose divorce from
Lupe Vglez became final last Wed
nesday. and Miss Beryl Scott, San
Francisco society girl, were married
here early today.
Two ceremonies were performed,
the Rev. Frank MacDonald of Clif
ton performing the first upstairs in
the home of City Counsel Henry L.
Janowski to please the bride, and
Mayor John M. Gabriel performing
the second downstairs to please the
newsreel cameramen.
The bride, wearing a periwinkle
blue dress with hat to match and a
corsage of deep purple orchids, was
attended by Miss Jean Trawan of
New York, a cousin. The bride
groom. who hastened here after his
last performance at the New York
World's Fair last night and plans to
return to the show tonight, wore a
blue business suit.
Mrs. Weissmuller gave her age as
23 and Mr. Weissmuller as 35. Sher
man Billingsley, New York night
club operator, was best man.
Included in the wedding party
were Ethel Merman, musical comedy
singer; B. O. Roos. Mr. Weissmuller's
manager: Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Scott,
parents of the bride, and Stubby
Kreuger and Pete Des Jardines,'
swimmers.
Chamberlin Arrested
Because of Plane's Noise
By the Associated Press.
MADISON, Wis., Aug. 19.—Col.
Clarence Chamberlin, the trans
Atlantic flyer, was free tonight on
$.“>0 bail after being arrested on a
charge of violating the city's anti
noise ordinance with his huge twin
motored biplane.
Police Chief William H. McCor
mick, who signed the complaint,
said he acted -after receiving “nu
merous" complaints from Madison
residents. Col. Chamberlin has been
here since Wednesday conducting
sight-seeing flights over the city.
He is the first pilot who crossed
the Atlantic carrying a passenger.
Europe Hears Broadcast
Of Indian War Chants
Bj the Associated Press.
GALLUP N. Mex., Aug. 19.—
Fierce war chants of the once
feared Southwestern Indians were
broadcast to tense European cap
itals, the United States and Can
ada today over a hookup from the
intertribal Indian ceremonial.
Large crowds saw and heard the
colorfully bedecked tribesmen send
their throbbing, rhythmic chant and
blood-curdling yells into “the big
wind that talks."
About 7,000 Indians representing
19 tribes attended this year's cere
monial.
k
It s a Good Act, but It s Hard on tne Spectators
17 Persons Injured
As Train Is Derailed
In N. J. Storm
Five Cars Leave Tracks;
Fire Breaks Out, but
Is Extinguished
By thf *sfiociatf*d Ptpse.
CHATSWORTH. N. J . Aug. IP -
Seventeen persons were injured late
today, three of them seriously, when
the “Blue Comet." crark Central
Railroad of New Jersey Atlantic
City-New York flier, was derailed in
southern New Jersey's pine wilder
ness during a heavy rainstorm.
Most of them were in the observa
tion car. last of five which leaped
the rails, and were pitched back and
forth with furniture as the cars
bounced 500 feet down the ties be
fore breaking loose from the loco
motive.
On either side was a drainage ditch
for a cranberry bog. Cars tilted at
dizzy angles, but none went over.
Railroadmen had no explanation
to offer, but others said the water
from the bog. level with the rails
as the storm raged, apparently had
weakened the track.
Rescue squads from a score of
communities in four neighboring
counties had to carry the injured
three miles along the tracks to this
crossroads community. Uninjured
passengers, after spending two to
four hours in the derailed coaches
to escape the downpour, had to lug
their baggage the same distance to
meet a relief train, prevented from
coming to them by the Blue Comet 's
locomotive, which was stalled with
a derailed tender a mile beyond the
coaches.
Seriously injured and taken 20
miles to the Burlington County Hos
pital at Mount Holly were:
Mrs. Joseph Gilligan. 50. Wilkes
Barre. Pa., back injuries.
Richard Kelly. 41, Philadelphia.
Joseph Coleman. 45. New York,
colored dining-car attendant, scalds
and possible broken legs.
Others were treated at the scene
by physicians rallied from the coun
tryside.
Fire broke out in the dining car,
but was quickly extinguished. Win
dows here and in other cars were
broken.
Forty-nine passengers were re
ported aboard the train. Several
women and children were hysterical
by the time they reached the Chats
worth station
The train was running under
“caution’’ orders and the crew re
ported to division headquarters at
Long Branch that they were going
only 30 or 35 miles an hour instead
of double that speed.
Derailment of the train occurred
about 4:30 p.m. i Eastern stand
ard time), the time the train was
due in Chatsworth. The relief
train left at 9:26 p.m„ for Jersey
City, where New7 York passengers
transfer to Hudson River ferries.
The locomotive, dragging behind
it a tender with one truck crash
ing along the ties, rolled more than
a mile up the track before it
could be stopped. From there the
engineer and fireman ran into
Chatsworth and summoned help.
Blockaded Tientsin Area
Flooded by Hai River
By the Associated Press.
TIENTSIN. Aug. 19.—This war
harassed area faced a new terror
tonight—flood waters of the Hai
River, which poured through block
aded foreign concessions and sur
rounding territory occupied by Japa
nese.
The Japanese blockade of the
British and French concessions, in
effect since June 14, was virtually
forgotten in the stress of new
danger.
Two feet of water in one section
caused residents to evacuate. Busi
ness firms vacated lower floors. Vast
sections of farmland were submerged
and thousands of peasants fled.
Boat Passengers Saved
ST. IGN^CE. Mich., Aug. 19 (^P).—
Eight passengers who jumped into
the water when the launch Pilot II
caught lire in the Straits of Macki
nac were rescued today by the State
ferry City of Cheboygan.
The Pilot II, a 60-foot gasoline
launch, is used to transport passen
gers between Mackinaw City and
Mackinac Island.
-V
Probation Bars
Pendergast Bets
For Five Years
By ihe Associated Press.
KANSAS CITY. Aug. 19—For five
years after Tom Pendergast leaves
Leavenworth Prison he may not visit
the headquarters of his Democratic
organization.
Hp may not gamble or bet on the
races.
He must stand in line once a
month to tell a probation officer how
he has been behaving himself.
Federal Judge Merrill E. Otis set
those terms for the erstwhile "boss's"
probation today in a document filed
with the clerk of the Federal Court.
The document was a history of
the Missouri Fire Insurance com
promise case. Pendergast and R.
Emmet O'Malley, former State in
surance superintendent, were sent
. to Leavenworth for failing to pay
j income taxes on money they re
| ceived for putting the compromise
! through.
Pendergast was sentenced to 15
months and O'Malley to a year and
a day.
Griffs Give $40,C33
To Minneapolis for
Shortstop Pofahl
Third Highest Sum Ever
Paid Here; Right-Hander
Boasts .303 Average
The Washington ball club's death
less quest for righthanded batting
strength landed a young American
Association shortstop, it was an
nounced yesterday by President
Clark Griffith, and for what report
edly is the third highest price ever
paid by the Nats for a ball player.
Emphasizing that he had outbid
the Chicago Cubs and the Boston
Red Sox, Griffith revealed that
Jimmy Pofahl. 22-year-old shortstop
star of the Minneapolis Millers, had
been purchased for $40,000, half to
be paid immediately and the other
$20,000 to be paid to Owner Mike
Kelley of Minneapolis in the spring.
Pofahl, whose batting average has
slumped to .303 during the last
month while playing with a sprained
left wrist, has been one of the main
sparkplugs in the Millers' unex
pected strong fight against the
Yankee-owned Kansas City Blues
for the American Association pen
nant. He will be delivered next
spring at the Nats’ training camp in
Orlando, Fla.
Third Most Expensive Nat.
In costing the Washington club
$40,000, Pofahl becomes the third
most expensive player ever pur
chased by Griffith. Only the $65,000
paid for Joe Kuhel in 1930 and the
$50,000 paid for Outfielder Earl Mc
Neely in 1924 topped the Pofahl
price tag.
The purchase of the shortstop
created a wave of rumor around
town, concerning, chiefly, the status
of Cecil Travis, present regular
shortstop. It generally is believed
tContinued on Page E-l. Part 4.)
|_
University President
Is Killed in Crash
By the Associated Press.
DANVILLE, 111., Aug. 19— Dr. Da
vid Edwards, 67, president of Friends
University, Wichita, Kans.. was fa
tally injured today when his auto
mobile skidded on wet pavement
and struck a concrete abutment.
His wife and a daughter, Phyllis
Jane. 17, suffered serious injuries.
Forest Fire Destroys
Community in West,
600 Homeless
22 Blazes Raging in
Washington State;
Damage Heavy
By the Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO. Apg. 19
Smoke billowed above Pacific Coast
forests from central California to
British Columbia todav. marking
scattered fire sectors where thou
sands of men fought to halt de
struction of timber.
A lumber mill fire destroyed the
tiny forest community of Pine Ridge,
35 miles north of Klamath Falls.
Oreg.. leaving approximately 600
persons homeless. Managers of the
lumber company said the loss prob
ably would range between one and
two million dollars. The mill and
about 200 buildings were razed.
Firebugs, wind and intense heat
; created a critical situation in the
I Northwest. Twenty-two fires in
| Washington alone caused one official
■ to declare conditions there "the most
! critical in 22 years."
Logging, mining and recreational
activities were stopped by official
; order on Vancouver Island. British
Columbia. Flames fed on timber in
Western areas of the province.
In Oregon, where logging opera
- tions in certain districts were halted
more than a week ago. a 40-mile
wind defied attempts of nearly 1.000
fighters to control the Chetco fire,
which had lapped over into the
Siskiyou National Forest, near the
State's southern boundary. Fire
crews attempted to hold the blaze
within a 12.000-acre area.
A string of fires attributed to in
cendiarists burned along a front of j
2'2 miles near Elkton. Southern
Oregon. Telephone lines were down
here and 120 men battled the 1.000
acre blaze.
Other fires, some of them out of
control, burned in the Tillamook
area of Oregon and near Index in
Northwestern Washington.
California fires, which had caused
two deaths, approached full con
trol. Largest of the three major
blazes, all in the Los Padres Na
tional Forest, was the 18.000-acre
Machenso fire in American Canyon.
San Luis Ooispo County, which 800
C. C. C. and civilian fighters hoped
to conquer tonight.
Michigan Governor
Presses Gaming Drive
By the Associated Press.
LANSING. Mich.. Aug. 19.—Gov.
Luren D. Dickinson, foe of high
life drinking and gambling, ad
dressed letters today to a number
of Michigan sheriffs in whose juris
dictions State troopers recently
seized slot machines.
"You know what the law is: please
explain why it wasn't enforced,"
the letters demanded.
At the Governor's office it was
said there would be "follow-ups"
on the letters. "We will insist on re
plies,” said Emerson R. Boyles, the
Governor’s legal adviser.
Meanwhile Gov. Dickinson indi
cated his approval of an announce
ment by Attorney General Thomas
Read that he would petition the
Wayne County i Detroit > Circuit
Court for a grand jury investiga
tion of gambling in the Detroit area.
The furore over allegations of po
lice connivance with gamblers in
Detroit followed the suicide of
Janet MacDonald, who left a group
of letters charging that a man who
jilted her had been a “go-between”
for gamblers and certain police offi
cers.
Simultaneously a group of Detroit
citizens petitioned for a grand jury
inquiry of the gambling situation.
Water Gate Concerts on WMAL
A full hour of the 12th of the season’s ‘‘Sunset Symphonies”
by the National Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Guy
Fraser Harrison, guest conductor, will be broadcast over a Nation
wide network by the National Broadcasting Co. this evening.
Through the co-operation of the National Broadcasting Co. and
The Star the program will be heard locally over WMAL.
Tonight's program will be broadcast from 9 to 10 o’clock. By
all means attend the concert tonight if you can. The music and
the setting provide a combination that you shouldn’t miss. If you
cannot attend, tune in the concert on WMAL at 9 o’clock.
In arranging these broadcasts the National Broadcasting Co.
and The Star are co-operating with the Summer Concert Com
mittee of the Symphony Orchestra in its effort to further appre
ciation and support of the orchestra which contributes so greatly
to the musical life of the Nation's Capital.
Ticket* for the concert can be purchased at the Water Gate
tonight.
I *
Plumbers Join
Building Tieup
Tomorrow
Walkout Is Ordered
As Peace Is Sought
In Smoot Dispute
BACKGROUND—
Principal supply of concrete
building materials in Washington
uas shut off completely Thurs
day when Smoot Sand & Gravel
Co. ceased operation three days
after employes struck for “better
working conditions. ’ Work on
big Federal and District building
projects has been slowed almost
to standstill while warring fac
tions have been attempting to
settle differences under guid
ance of a Labor Department con
ciliator.
More than 300 plumbers are sched
uled to go on strike tomorrow in a
city-wide walkout, further compli
cating Washington's building con
struction program already brought
almost to a standstill by the week
old sand and gravel tieup. The Star
learned last night.
Ernest S. Ott, business agent for
the Plumbers Union. Local No. 5,
.)i»iu a sunn i inti v* no 11V1U
day between representatives of the
Master Plumbers Association, lead
ers of the International Union of
Journeymen Plumbers and Steam
Fitters and local officials, after mem
bers of the local had voted in favor
of the strike last Wednesday.
“Work will cease Monday,” Mr.
Ott said the joint conference de
cided. “Only a few small jobs under
way with contractors who have
signed satisfactory union contracts
will continue."
Mr. Ott explained that the union,
an American Federation of Labor
affiliate, is asking tl per day in
crease over the $12 wage, which
"has prevailed for 10 years.”
Federal Projects Affected.
Plumbing work on all Federal
projects and most of the major mu
nicipal and private construction
will cease, Mr. Ott said.
An agreement between the union
and the Plumbers’ Guild, an or
ganization of plumbing contractors,
expired August 1. a guild official
explained earlier, and negotiations
for renewal have been in progress
since June 1.
Mr. Ott said most of the men have
been notified of the strike decision
of the conference and that he will
dispatch a letter to the Conference
Board of the guild today explaining
“the action of the union and agree
ing to meet for further negotiations
at the guild's convenience.”
A general walkout of plumbers
will complete the virtual halting
of building construction, already
slowed by the sand and gravel tieup,
as their work mu«t progress from
the foundation up along with the
rest of the construction.
The international organization
was represented at yesterday's con
ference by Michael Garrett, general
organizer, and Thomas E. Burke,
secretary and treasurer of the inter
national union.
Mr. Ott explained that contracts
already signed with individual con
tractors will be abrogated if they
are not in accord with the general
agreement with the guild, when, and
if, the latter is completed.
Smoot Peace Sought.
Meanwhile, the Labor Department
conciliation service continued to
work overtime in an effort to put
the 200 striking employes of the
Smoot Sand & Gravel Co. back on
the job. at least temporarily, to re
lieve the concrete material shortage
which has tied up work on millions
of dollars' worth of Federal and
District construction projects and
made idle hundreds of workers
throughout the city.
A favorable adjustment was an
ticipated within the next few days
after company officials and nego
tiators for the striking Local No.
22075 of the Sand and Gravel Work
#rs' Union, also an A. F. of L. affil
iate. indicated qualified approval of
a temporary back-to-work agree
ment yesterday.
Such an agreement has been
sought in conferences with nego
tiators by Howard T. Colvin. Labor
Department conciliator, who said last
night that "prospects are much
brighter for an early settlement of
the dispute.”
Mr. Colvin conferred separately
yesterday with union leaders and
(See STRIKE, Page A-10.)
Justice Douglas Not
Presidential Aspirant
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. Aug. 19 —William O.
Douglas, youngest member of the
United States Supreme Court, said
in an interview at the New York
World's Fair today that any one
who mentioned his name as a pos
sible successor to President Roose
velt "must be talking about some
other Douglas.”
"I'm just plain Bill Douglas of
Yakima. Wash.,” he said
Here to attend Whitman College
(Walla Walla, Wa«h.) day at the
fair, he met about 100 graduates of
the college and natives of Wash
ington State.
The justice said 300 cases were
pending in Supreme Court and he
planned to study some of them on a
vacation trip to the Thousand
Islands.
Referring to the pending cases,
he said:
"I feel just like an oyster. They
get just what the tide brings in, and
that’s just the way we are."
ALBUQUERQUE, N. Mex., Aug.
19 (/P>.—Senator Wheeler, Democrat,
of Montana said in an interview
today he intended to seek re-election
to the Senate in 1940 and wasn't in
terested in the presidency. He
voiced belief that President Roose
velt “will not insist on renomination"
for a third term.
A