Evening star. [volume], February 05, 1940, Image 1

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

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Weather Forecast .
Cloudy, with rain or snow tonight-and tSiODIISn£G 111 1032.
tomorrow; not much change in tem
perature; lowest tonight about 34 de- Most people in Washington have The
grees. Temperatures today—Highest, gtar delivered to their homes every
47, at 2 p.m.; lowest, 34, at 6:45 a.m. evening and Sunday morning.
From the United States Weather Bureau report.
Full details on Page A-*2.
* _ _J MM___
Closing New York Morkets, Pnge 14. _______ __Uf) m««"» Associated Pre»»._
88th YEAR. No. 34,978. _ WASHINGTON, D. C., MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1940-THIRTY-TWO PAGES. *** _THREE CENTS.
Liquor Inquiry
Including A.B.C.
Board Ordered
Drafting of Bill
To Allow Appeals
On Permits Directed
By JAMES E. CHINN.
A thorough investigation of the
whole liquor situation in Washing
ton. including activities of the
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board,
was ordered today by the House Dis
trict Committee. A special subcom
mittee of five members will be
created to conduct the inquiry.
Action was taken after Thomas E
Lodge, chairman of the A. B. C.
Board, and Mrs. Agnes K. Mason,
vice chairman, had been questioned
by members about the board's
handling of several cases, particular
ly the one of Leo J. Rossiter. pro
prietor of a seafood restaurant at
4132 Georgia avenue N.W., whose
license to sell liquor by the drink
was not renewed February 1.
In addition to ordering the in
vestigation the committee directed
Corporation Counsel El wood H. Seal
to draft a bill amending the liquor
control law which would empower
the Commissioners to review- appeals
from actions of the A. B. C. Board.
Liquor licensees under existing law
have no right of appeal in cases
where the board does not renew a
permit.
S. R. O. Sign Out.
Disclosure several days ago that
members of the A. B. C. Board had
been asked to appear before the
committee attracted a record-break
ing attendance. Spectators over
flowed the committee room into a
corridor and also into an adjoining
office used by the clerk of the com
mittee. Some stood on chairs.
Representative Ambrose J. Ken
nedy. Democrat, of Maryland, at
whose request Chairman Randolph
called the A. B. C. Board members
to the committee meeting, made the
motion for the investigation. It
was adopted without a dissenting
vote.
The committee devoted most of
its time questioning Mr. Lodge and
Mrs. Mason about the board's fail
ure to renew the liquor license of
Mr. Rossiter. which expired Jan
uary 31. Mr. Rossiter was present,
but was not called on to testify.
Mr. Lodge strongly defended his
action in voting against renewal of
the license, but pointed out that
the Rossiter case is still pending be
fore the board and that another
hearing would be held this week.
Need for Promptness Stressed.
Several committee members, in
cluding Chairman Randolph and
Representatives Kennedy and Nich
ols, Democrat, of Oklahoma, stressed
the urgency of a “prompt” re
hearing of the case, pointing out
that Mr. Rossiter’s business is suf
fering.
Mr Kennedy, at the outset of
the meeting, explained he had “no
feeling" with respect to the liquor
situation in the District, but in view
cf the number of complaints he had
received it seemed “there's some
thing wrong somewhere.”
He also explained that Mr. Rossi
ter was one of his constituents in
Baltimore some years ago.
Mr. Rossiter. Mr. Kennedy told the
committee, has conducted his busi
ness in Washington “in a proper
manner" and there had been no
complaints against his estab
ment, but in view of a split vote on
the A. B. C. Board his liquor license
was not renewed February 1.
Board Called Arbitrary.
Subsequently Mr. Kennedy de
clared Mr. Lodge had “made it his
business" to go to the Interior De
partment and have a protest made
in the case of an applicant for a
liquor license who wanted to open
an on-sale establishment near the
Riversid° Stadium.
“I was told by a reputable attor
ney this morning he could furnish
me with information about 100 other
cases in which the board has been
arbitrary.” he declared.
Mr. Lodge told the committee he
opposed renewing the Rossiter li
cense and Mrs. Mason had voted to
grant it, but that the third member
of the board at that time, the late
Isaac Gans, did not vote.
TTnripr mipctinninp’ Mr T.nricrp py
plained his chief objection to voting
for renewal of the Rossiter license
■was a change of sentiment in the
neighborhood against the granting
of the licehse since its renewal a
year ago. He admitted there had
(See A. B. C. BOARD, Page A-3.)
Murphy Takes His Seat
In Supreme Court
(Picture on Page A-4.)
Taking the judicial oath to ad
minister justice impartially. Asso
ciate Justice Frank Murphy today
assumed his place in the Supreme
Court.
The former Attorney General
the fifth New Deal appointee to the
court, was sworn in before a cham
ber crowded with his friends. Scores
of other court visitors unsuccessfully
sought seats to witness the cere
mony.
Justice Murphy had taken the
constitutional oath, which actually
made him a member of the court,
at a White House ceremony on
January 18.
As the court was seated today,
Chief Justice Hughes announced the
appointment and the justice’s com
mission was read by Charles Elmore
Cropley, clerk of the court, who then
administered the oath.
The marshal, Thomas E. Wagga
man, then escorted the new justice
to his seat on the extreme left of the
bench. There he was greeted by
Associate Justice Frankfurter, at
whose side he took his seat.
The ceremony was witnessed by
Harold Murphy of Detroit, the jur
ist’s brother, and a large group of
Michigan friends of the justice.
The court then proceeded with its
customary business.
*
Milk Prifce Cut I
7 Cent; Schulte
Bill Attacked
A drop in the ^retail price of milk
of 1 cent a quart in several of the
larger consumer outlets and an at
tack by Senator Tydings, Demo
crat, of Maryland on the Schulte
bill, which would permit local im
portation of milk from sources out
side the District fnilkshed, were new
developments in jWashington's milk
situation today.
Two large chain grocery stores
announced the reduction in milk,
effective this morning.
Senator Tydings, speaking at the
annual banquet of the Maryland
Virginia Milk Producers' Association
at the Willard Hotel, predicted Rep
resentative Schultes bill would not
be passed by Congress. He de
clared:
"This bill is nojt in the interest of
Washington, but in the interest of
producers wherever located—and
not in Maryland gnd Virginia."
Commenting that the bill was an
attempt to break down present milk
regulations in the District which
had caused nearby dairy farmers
great expense to meet. Senator
Tydings said. "We are not going
to change from tne present system
and I'm sure this statement meets
with the approval of others who
know the facts.”
The reduction followed a cut in
the wholesale price from 12 to 11 \2
cents a quart on the part of Chest
nut Farms-Chevy Chase Dairy, ef
leciive mis morning, ana oy inump
son’s Dairy, effective tomorrow. The
retail price in the stores was cut
from 14 to 13 cents a quart.
Stores in which the 1-cent slash
was put into effect included all
Sanitary and all A. & P. establish
ments.
Cream prices, increased 3 cents a
: pint generally last week when a new
! Agriculture Department agreement
i became official, remained un
! changed.
Three Red Attacks
Repulsed North of
Ladoga, Say Finns
Much Booty Taken and
500 Are Killed,
They Declare
NAZI DRIVE REPULSED with
hand grenades, French report;
prisoners captured in action east
of Biles River. * Page A-4
$60,000,000 GOLD. British loan, de
posited in Turkey; Ankara gov
ernment now able to stabilize or
| revalue currency. Page B-2
BALKAN STATES REAFFIRM in
tention to remain neutral; en
i tente is extended for seven years;
parley fails to provide guarantees.
Page A-4
Bv the Associated Press.
HELSINKI, Feb. 5. —Finnish
forces northeast of Lake Ladoga
killed more than 500 Russian sol
diers and captured much booty in
repulsing three new Russian at
tacks. the Finnish Army declared
in today’s communique.
Two of the Russian attacks were
against island positions; the third
was against shore positions on the
lake, the communique said.
“Our troops captured another
enemy stronghold, killing the ma
jority of the defenders," the com
munique continued. “The enemy
aeaa numQerea over ouu. oeven
! tanks, four guns, large quantities
of other arms, more than 30 auto
j mobiles of various types and other
I war material fell into our hands.”
(The Chicago Daily News cor
respondent in Stockholm reported
word had been received there
from Helsinki to the effect that
between 18.000 and 25,000 Russian
troops have been cut off by the
Finns at the end of three weeks
of fierce fighting east of Sortavala
and just north of Lake Ladoga.
It is reported that one Red di
vision, believed to be the 18th
Division, has been encircled and
deeiftiated by artillery and ma
chine gun fire and that its sur
vivors have been forced to sur
render.)
The Finns said Russian attacks
also were repulsed at Summa, on
the Karelian Isthmus in the ex
treme southeast, and at Marka
jarvi, the north near the Arctic
Circle.
They said nine Russian planes
were known to have been shot
down and four more probably were
downed in the air war.
Summa. Attack Yesterday.
The attack in the Summa sector
(See FINLANDTPage A-5?)
Farley Pleads
For Democratic
Harmony
Chairman Moves to
Head Off Third Term
Demonstrations
BULLETIN.
Philadelphia appeared to be the
probable choice for the national
convention as the Democratic Na
tional Committee resumed its
session this afternoon. A reso
lution praising President Roose
velt and pledging fidelity to his
program will be laid before the
National Committee before it
adjourns. The expectation is
mention of the third term will
be omitted.
By G. GOULD LINCOLN.
In the midst of a wave of Roose
velt third-term excitement, the
Democratic National Committee met
at the Willard Hotel today to make
plans for the Democratic National
Convention, which is to be held some
time next summer.
Chairman Farley, Postmaster Gen
eral and the man who has twice
managed presidential campaigns for
Franklin D. Roosevelt, made an ap
peal for Democratic harmony and
a united effort to carry the coming
election by a big vote.
aii me picpiticu tupy ui ms ttn
dress, the national chairman praised
highly the accomplishments of the
Roosevelt administration.
In eulogizing the work of the
Democratic national organization,
reaching down to the very roots of
the party, Mr. Parley took oc-.
casion to thank Vice President
Garner, vice chairman of the Na
tional Committee, referring to
him as “Stalwart John Nance Gar
ner.” The Vice President attended
the meeting of the National Com
mittee. on which he is a repre
sentative of Texas.
Seeks to Avert Demonstrations.
Apparently in an effort to head
off any third-term demonstrations,
Chairman Farley said during his
address:
“Officially, the Democratic Na
tional Committee can, of course,
take no part in the preliminary
struggles. We all have, of course,
our individual preference and preju
dices. But the guiding principle
must always be that the Demo
cratic National Committee is for
the candidates selected by the Na
tional Convention, unc.ualifiedly en
thusiastically, militantly.”
This was interpreted as a plea
for support of whatever presidential
nominee the convention produces.
A major question at today’s meet
ing was the selection of a conven
tion city. Philadelphia, San Fran
cisco and Chicago are leading con
tenders.
The national committee will select
the convention city at its meeting
today, but will leave to Chairman
Farley the job of fixing a date for
the convention. A resolution au
thorizing the chairman to fix the date
will be submitted, along with all
other resolutions referred to a com
mittee on resolutions. One of the
first acts of the committee today
was to adopt a resolution providing
for the reference of all resolutions
to a committee on resolutions.
W;th Chairman Farley authorized
to fix the date for the national con
vention, it is confidently expected
that the convention date will follow
the Republican National Conven
tion. It may be fixed by Mr. Farley
as late as the middle of August.
r~xuxaucxpxxxa, txxc occxxc ui tile
Democratic National Convention of
1936, was regarded as a likely con
vention choice unless Chicago comes
forward with a substantial monetary
bid.
Vice President Garner, vice chair
man of the committee, introducing
Chairman Farley, said:
"Fellow members of the commit
tee, it is my privilege to present to
you one of the most distinguished
and one of the most efficient na
tional chairmen ol any political
party in the last half century. It
is almost impossible for me to intro
duce him to you. You know him as
well as I. I doubt, however, whether
any of us knows him completely. He
is a real American, most efficient
and one of the most agreeable fel
lows I ever knew—Jim Farley.’’
Mr. Farley’s speech was frequently
interrupted by applause. At its con
clusion the committee took a recess
for luncheon, to meet again at
2 p.m.
Third-Term Talk.
As the committee members as
sembled. the corridors were filled
with Roosevelt third-term talk. It
was on the lips of representatives
from the South, the North, the East
and the West. Whether it will be
(See DEMOCRATS, Page A-4.)
Summary of Today's Star
Page. Page.
Amusements, Obituary ...A-10
' B-16 Radio_B-12
Comics ..B-14-15 Sports ..A-ll-12
Editorials ...A-8 Society__ B-3
Finance_A-13 Woman’s Page,
Lost, Found.B-12 B-10
Foreign
Gandhi and viceroy fail to reach ac
cord on independence. Page A-l
British minesweeper, damaged in
Nazi raids, sinks. Page A-l
Three Russian attacks repulsed,
Finns report. Page A-l
Balkan states reaffirm intention to
remain neutral. Page A-4
$60,000,000 gold, British loan, de
posited in Turkey. Page B-2
National
Hook defends action on "Pelley” let
ters before House unit. Page A-l
Plans for Navy fleet maneuvers in
Pacific announced. Page A-l
Democratic Committee hears Farley
plea for harmony. Page A-l
Straus says country needs 9,000,000
dwelling units. Page A-2
Five die when honeymoon plane
crashes in swamp. Page A-2
1,100 U. S. warplanes delivered to
I French and British. Page A-7
a <
Washington and Vicinity
Belvedere Apartment fire routs score
of residents. Page A-l
Thorough probe of D. C. liquor situ
ation is ordered. Page A-l
White House meeting on Blue Plains
set for Wednesday. Page A-l
Isaac Gans funeral to be held on
Wednesday. Page A-5
Women’s conference at White House
hears plea for idle. Page B-l
Editorial and Comment
this and That. Page A-S
Answers to Questions. Page A-S
Letters to The Star. Page A-S
David Lawrence. Page A-S
Frederic William Wile. Page A-S
Jav Franklin. Page A-9
Charles G. Ross. Page A-S
Alsop and Kintner. Page A-8
Miscellany
Nature’s Children. Page B-l
Bedtime Story. Page B-H
Crossword Puzzle. Page B-H
Letter-Out. Page B-H
Winning Contract. Page B-15
Uncle Ray’s Corner. Page B-15
a „'w
Minesweeper,
Damaged in
Nazi Raid, Sinks
54 Believed Lost
On British Ship,
46 Are Saved
By the Associated Press.
LONDON. Feb. 5.—The British
minesweeper Sphinx, badly dam
aged by German air raiders Satur
day. sank today as she was being
towed toward port in heavy weather.
Four officers and 45 men were miss
ing and believed lost.
One officer and four men were
known dead additionally. Forty
four men and two officers were
saved.
The tow-line broke and the ship
capsized as she entered port.
The Sphinx was one of at least 11
vessels attacked by Nazi raiders
Saturday in a damaging sweep along
Britain's east coast from Scotland
to the Humber estuary.
One other vessel, the 629-ton Nor
wegian steamer Tempo, was sunk,
and several others were damaged
badly, but were able to make port.
The 875-ton Sphinx was completed
in December, 1938. at a cost of about
$500,000. Normally she carried a
complement of 80 men, but more
were aboard for war duty.
Two Steamers Feared Lost.
Meanwhile, two Scandinavian
steamers were feared lost, according
to a dispatch from Oslo.
The 1.387-ton Norwegian ship
Segovia was reported missing with a
crew of 22 and 1 passenger on a
voyage from Portugal to Norway.
She was last heard from in the Bay
of Biscay, January 20.
The other was the 1,357-ton
Swedish steamer Andalusia, re
ported sunk and her crew of 21;
lost.
Labor Leaders Gather.
Trade union leaders of the engi
neering industry gathered today at
the call of Labor Minister Ernest
Brown to help find ways of speeding
tip munitions and arms production
One government objective was to
increase the number of plants
working around the clock. Another
question was whether 1,000,000
women in the war indus^ies would
receive pay equal to that of men in
similar jobs.
Fred Smith, general secretary of
the Amalgamated Engineering
Union, said the Government's pro
gram for armaments exnansion was
the most ambitious evA seen and
a great amount of new tabor would
be required.
Sinking of the 1,064-ton British
steamer Portelet by mines over the
week end was disclosed today when
nine survivors landed at an east
coast port. Two of the ship's crew
were killed.
British Press Anger Rises.
The anger of the British press rose
against what newspapers termed
"murderous” German attacks on
North Sea shipping.
The attack on a 10th vessel
Saturday was disclosed today by
Edw'ard Mullender of the trawler
Willa, w'ho said two German planes
flew over his ship “so low that we
could have hit them with a stone.”
"We dived into the galley, where
we heard bullets spattering on the
ship like peas on tinplate,” he said.
"We found no damage and shortly
after the planes left heard ex
plosions as they apparently attacked
a large steamer in the distance.”
Germany called the raids a
“counter-blockade,” and Berlin's
communique yesterday declared 14
ships were sunk Saturday at a cost
of three German planes.
The communique said, in part,
that scouting planes “attacked Brit
ish men-of-war and armed or con
voyed merchant ships and, despite
the heaviest anti-aircraft and
counter-attack defense, sank a mine
sweeper, four outpost boats and nine
merchantmen.”
British sources called the German
claim “absurd" and said it would
have been impossible for the attack
ing planes—12 “at most”—to have
done so much damage.
Attacked Ships Listed.
The British acknowledged attacks
on the following ships with bombs,
or machine-guns, or both:
British minesweeper Phinx. Five
known lost, 49 missing and feared
dead. 46 saved.
British steamer Harley, 400 tons.
The crew of eight was reported
brought to port by a fishing boat
guided to the scene of the attack
by a Royal Air Force plane.
British steamer Kildale, 3,877
tons, bombed with reported loss of
six lives. Earlier reports said the
Kildale sank.
British steamer Corland, 3,431
tons.
British collier Yewdale, 823 tons.
British trawler Rose of England.
223 tons.
Norwegian steamer Tempo, 629
tons, sank after machine-gun at
tack killed at least 4 of 14 crew
men.
Greek steamer Nicolaou Zografla,
(See MINESWEEPER, Page A-5.)~
Director of Census
On Radio Forum
William L. Austin, director of
the census, will be the guest
speaker tonight on the National
Radio Forum over WMAL at
10:30 o’clock.
Discussing “A Hundred and'
Fifty Years of Census Taking,”
Mr. Austin is expected to tell of
problems connected with count
ing the country’s population and
also to review some of the ques
tions which will be asked this
year.
The National Radio Forum is
a program arranged by The Star
and is heard over a coast-to
coast network of the National
Broadcasting Co.
\
i: but what\
I tune are you r
GOING To PIAYU
MEETICS®
©IF
©^DWm
JAS.A.FarlB
CHAIRMA
John NGarne^
Vice-Chairman
—^r—
Depositors of Franklin Bank
To Get $100,000 Tomorrow
More Than 17,000 Will Share in
Fourth Dividend Payment
More than 17.000 depositors in the
former Franklin National Bank whl
receive a dividend amounting to
$100,000, beginning tomorrow, at the
office of the Franklin Liquidating
Trust. 945 Pennsylvania avenue N.W.
This was announced today by
Samuel M. Thrift, executive secre
tary of the trust, for the three trus
tees, William F. Kelly. Lindsey P.
Rawley and Henry J. Sterzer.
Doors of the office, in room 22
in the building formerly occupied bv
the Franklin Bank, will be open
daily from 9 a m. to 5 pm. except
Saturday, when the hours will be
from 9 am. to noon, Mr. Thrift ex
plained.
In order to get their checks de
positors must bring in their "par
ticipating certificates.” it was said
The $100,000 will be the fourth
dividend paid by the liquidating
trustees on the participating cer
tificates. It is a 10 per cent divi
dend and will bring the payments
up to 80 per cent of the certificates
or a total of about $800,000.
Depositors, however, had received
in April, 1934, through the City
Bank of Washington, a payment of
about $1,850,000, which was 65 per
cent of the deposits in the bank
when it closed in February. 1933. For
the remaining 35 per cent of their
[ claim depositors were issued partici
pating certificates of a total face
value of $1,000,000.
With this dividend depositors will
have received a total of about
1 $2,650,000 from their Franklin ac
counts.
The dividend of 10 per cent of
the face value of participating cer
tificates amounts to 314 per cent of
the face value of the deposit when
; the bank closed. This will bring the
grand total of dividends to 93 per
cent of the deposits.
Many persons have failed to call
for their money in the past, Mr
{Thrift explained. The liquidating
trust is eager to pay out the checks
I which have been drawn for past
dividends and still are resting in the
safe. There are more than 5,000
checks uncalled for, he said, of an
1 indeterminate amount of money.
Most of these checks, however, are
i small.
Edwin 5. Smith Says
Proposed Changes -
Imperil Labor Act
Favors Study, However,
Of Removing Power
To Settle Disputes
Bv CARTER BROOKE JONES.
Edwin S. Smith, member of the
National Labor Relations Board, |
I today told the House committee
i investigating his agency that pro
posed amendments to the Wagner
! Act would be unworkable and de
; stroy the main purposes of the law'.
He said he thought the suggested
j amendment to remove the board's
I authority to settle interunion dis
putes deserved careful considera
j tion, but that other proposed
amendments would be dangerous.
| The essential feature of amend
i ments proposed by the American
| Federation of Labor. Mr. Smith
said, was to make it mandatory on
the board to establish a craft unit
for collective bargaining whenever
a majority of the members of a
craft desired it.
Mr. Smith said the record wiould
show he had not favored the Con
gress of Industrial Organizations at
the expense of the A. F. L. in
employe disputes. He said he dis
sented in 48 of more than 600 such
cases, but that.only 24 of his con
trary opinions involved C. I. O.
A. F. L. quarrels.
The problem of rivalry between
craft unions, the type generally
favored by the A. F. L., and indus
trial (plant-wide) unions, sponsored
by the C. I. O., transcends the row
between the two labor groups, Mr.
Smith added.
The A F. of L., he pointed out,
has many industrial unions. So have
numerous independent unions, he
added. The board often has been
called on to decide whether a craft
or an industrial union was entitled
to bargain collectively with the em
ployer in cases in which there was
no A. F. of L.-C. I. O. issue, he said.
“Do you think the board has
usurped the power which Congress
has to settle these disputes?” asked
(See LABOR BOARDTPage A-3.)
Dutch Army Chief Quits;
Policy Dispute Reported
B» the Associated Press.
THE HAGUE. Feb. 5.-Oen. I. H.
Reynders resigned today as supreme
commander of the Netherlands land
and sea forces after having served
five months, reputedly in disagree
ment with the government over
military policy and reduced ex
penditures.
Gen. H. G. Winkelman, who has
been a lieutenant general in charge
of the vital Utrecht-Soesterberg
air defense region, succeeded him.
The resignation came quickly
after that of the Belgian command
er in chief, Gen. van der Bergen,
but was said to have had no con
nection with it. The Belgian com
mander resigned January 31, after
asking to be assigned to other
duties.
European War to Play
A Part in Pacific
Fleet Maneuvers
Tests Starting in April
To Be Based on Current
Developments
The United States Fleet, during
its forthcoming maneuvers in the
Pacific Ocean, will consider tactical
problems based on current European
naval warfare developments.
More than 130 ships and over 350
airplanes will be used in the maneu
vers. which are designed to test
efficiency of this country's armed
sea forces. Announced on the West
Coast as fleet problem 21, the war
games will be umpired by Admiral
James O. Richardson, new com
mander in chief of the fleet. They
will last two months, beginning early
in April.
The two opposing forces will be
led by Admiral C. P. Snyder, battle
force commander, and Vice Admiral
Adolphus Andrews, scouting force
chief.
Area Is Far-Flung.
Claimed to be a naval secret, exact
location of the maneuvers was not
revealed. However, with such a
large concentration of ships and
men, it is known the problems will
concern possible frontal attacks on
the West Coast. The front would
include tha spearhead formed by a
line from Alaska to the Hawaiian
Islands to Panama. Somewhere
within this area the theoretical bat
tle will be fought. Long-range air
craft are expected to play a vital
part. The high command is ex
pected to pay particular attention
to their value.
The most powerful of the Navy’s
scouting planes are expected to be
I given a thorough workout both as
observers and as fighters.
The original announcement of the
maneuvers said they would cover
TSee FLEETTPage A-3.)
Gandhi and Viceroy
Fail to Arrive at
Independence Accord,
Hindu Leader to Leave
New Delhi Before End
Of Moslem Talks
By the Associated Press.
NEW DELHI. India. Feb. 5 —Mo- ■
handas K. Gandhi and India's Vice
roy, Lord Linlithgow, failed today to
reach an agreement on Indian de
mands for independence.
Wrapped in a shawl over his thin
cotton robes, the Hindu leader left
the conference today hinting he
would leave New Delhi tomorrow
without waiting for the results of
the Viceroy's talks with the Moslem
faction. *
Assurances Repeated.
A communique indicated Britain
had only offered an oft-repeated
assurance to consider India's de
mands for independence “when the
time came"—this time presumably
being after the European war.
Gandhi, the communique said,
made it plain that the British pro- j
posals did not meet the demands i
of the Congress (Nationalist) party
“He (Gandhi) suggested and the
Viceroy agreed that in the circum
stances it would be preferable to
defer for the present further dis
cussions with the object of solution
of difficulties which have arisen,",
the communique reported.
Dominion Status Aim.
The essence of Gandhi's argu
ment is that Britain must extend
to India the same democracy for
which she professes to be fighting
on the western front. The British,
in reply, have avowed a determina
tion to give India dominion status
as rapidly as possible in view of de
lense and commercial problems and
the questions of minorities and
prince-ruled states.
d n m rl V>i nnwtn f ft f Ko 1 ziorov a C t ho
sole envoy of the Congress (Na
tionalist) party, whose platform
calls for complete post-war Indian
independence with the power to
frame a new constitution.
The question confronting the con- !
ferees was how some working agree
ment could be reached which
Gandhi would regard as consistent
with his party's aims and yet not
violate reservations which the Brit
ish say stand in the way of orderly
Indian independence.
Talks Secretly Arranged.
The talks, which may continue
with the Moslems for a week, were
arranged and carried out in secret i
without public comment or reports
on their progress.
Gandhi normally observes Mon
day as a weekly day of silence.
The Indian leader arrived in New
(See GHANDI, Page A-3.)
Rain or Light Snow
Predicted Tonight
Rain or light snow—with temper
atures staying above the freezing
point—was in prospect for the Dis
trict tonight.
The Weather Bureau, thawed out
during a Sunday which saw the
temperature rise to 45 degrees, pre-:
dieted a continuation of the mod
erate weather. The mercury stood
at 32 at 5 a.m. yesterday, but has
not reached the freezing point
since.
The low today was 34 degrees, at
7 am. *
Mrs. Roosevelt Will Discuss
Blue Plains Wednesday
Mrs. Roosevelt will meet with the
District Commissioners, the District
Committee and welfare officials at
the White House Wednesday at 5:30
p.m. to discuss the conditions she
found at Blue Plains and two other
District institutions.
She explained to her press con
ference today that she had been
asked to testify before the commit
tee last Saturday night, but, because
she was to be in Hyde Park, invited
the group to tea Wednesday as a
substitute.
She said she would be glad to
testify, if asked, during the hear
ings on the Home for the Aged at
Blue Plains, the Industrial Home
School and the Children’s Receiving
Home, all of which she criticized
after previously unheralded visits
to the institutions.
Mrs. Roosevelt said she had not
yet made up her mind about visit
ing other District institutions, but
would do so if she found time.
Her comment, made after her Blue
Plains visit, that practical suffrage
would be a good thing for the Dis
trict was reinforced, she said, by her
later visits to other institutions.
“I am more convinced about Dis
trict suffrage than ever before.” she
said, “because I feel having suffrage
would remove an excuse.”
She termed the Industrial Home
School "antiquated,” but praised the
efficiency of the personnel, particu
larly the nurses. The Receiving
Home she found "appalling.”
She explained that since she
thinks the future more important
than the past, the conditions at the
Receiving Home hava more implica
tions than those at Blue Plains since
the Receiving Home deals with youth
and the future.
k
took Refuses
[o Yield on
Pelley' Letters
Even If Forged, Rules
Were Not Violated,
He Tells House Group
BACKGROUND—
Controversy over Dies Com
mittee took a new turn when
charges were made that an effort
was on foot to discredit its work
of disclosing subversive activities
with foreign sources, by linking
the chairman. Representative
Dies. Democrat, of Texas with Sil
ver Shirts, a "Fascist" organiza
tion. whose head, William Dudley
Pelley, long has been sought by
the committee for questioning.
"Plot" charge has drawn vigorous
denials.
BULLETIN.
Representative Starnes. Demo
crat, of Alabama declared with
emphasis today that the Dies
committee had never accused any
member of Congress of “a plot”
against its continuance.- He
spoke before the House Rules
Subcommittee which dug into the
career of David Mayne, a Wash
ington man whom the Dies com
mittee once employed to hunt for
William Dudley Pelley and now
stands accused of forging letters
which linked Representative Dies
to the missing leader of the Sil
ver Shirts.
Representative Hook. Democrat, of
Michigan refused today to “concede
mything” as to the invalidity of
etters purporting to link Chairman
Dies of the House Committee In
’estigating Un-American Activities
o William Dudley Pelley, Silver
Shirt leader.
Mr. nous ioiu a nuusc rtuics ouu
:ommittee that even if the docu
nents were forged, their inclusion
n the Congressional Record did not
violate the House rules.
He was the first witness before
he subcommittee, considering a
-esolution by Representative Hoff
man. Republican, of Michigan to
;xpunge the material from the
record.
Mr. Hoffman, speaking in behalf
of his resolution, told the committee
that, even assuming the documents
were genuine, Mr. Hook's remarks
were improper because they reflected
Dn a member—Mr. Dies—who was
not on the House floor at the time
and was confined to his home by
illness.
Public Opinion Cited.
Mr. Hoffman said the remarks
connected Mr. Dies with trickery
and with "subverting” the power
given him by the House when It
authorized the investigation.
He contended, too, that remarks
published in the Congressional Rec
ord frequently were given "undue
weight" by the thousands of persons
throughout the country who read
them “and so countered any good
that the Dies committee may have
done ”
In the background of the "Pelley”
letter furor was discussion of a din
ner at the home of Gardner Jack
son, legislative representative of
labor’s Non-Partisan League, where
a “plot” against Mr. Dies allegedly
was cooked up.
Mr. Hook said today he thought
the date of the dinner was Janu
ary 16.
“You discussed ways and means
of stopping this resolution (for con
tinuance of the Dies Committee)?"
Representative Cox, Democrat, of
Georgia, asked.
“Yes,” Mr. Hook replied.
“Did you make this speech for the
purpose of stopping this commit
tee?” Mr. Cox asked, referring to
Mr. Hook's remarks at the time he
inserted the letters in the Record.
“I certainly did,” Mr. Hook an
swered.
Not Yet Proved, Hook Says.
“Do you think a member should .
use forged documents-?” Repre
sented Dempsey. Democrat, of New
Mexico started to ask. Mr. Hook
interrupted to retort, "Well, it ha a
not been proved yet that those
documents are forged.”
“Will you tell this committee that
those documents are genuine?” Mr.
Cox asked.
Mr. Hook said that question was
for handwriting experts to de
tprminp
After Mr. Hoffman's initial state
ment, Mr. Hook resumed testifying
and declared "the integrity of the
House has not been violated."
Speaking of the letters, Mr. Hook
said:
“Say they were forged, and I do
not say they were, still they do
not impugn the motives of the
House or a member of Congress.
As a legal proposition and from a
moral standpoint, it is not unlawful
for any one to be a member of the
Legion of Silver Shirts. It is not
unlawful for any one to associate
with any one who is a member of
the Silver Shirts.
No Impugning of Motives.
"This (Dies) committee was ap
pointed by the House. Certainly no
one can say that it is possible for
this committee to make a thorough
investigation of every organization
throughout the United States.
“This committee has been in exist
ence some two years. No legislation
has been proposed making asso
ciation with members of any Silver
Shirt organization or making mem
(See~DIES, Page A-5.) '
General Manager Brady
Of Laurel Track Dies
Special Dispatch to The Star.
HIALEAH Park, Fla., Feb. 5.—
Word was received here today that
General Manager Frank Brady of
the Laurel (Md.) race track had
died this morning in New York from
a throat ailment.
Mr. Brady, who has been ill for
several months, also was general
manager of the Empire City (N. Y.)
track.