Weather Forecast ' Fair and much colder, with lowest about W 35 tonight; tomorrow fair and mod- ^ A erately cold; strong northwest winds. ■ Temperature! today—Highest, 42, at ■ \ ■ K midnight; lowest, 28, at 1 p.m. H ■ ft From the United States Weather Bureau renoit. ft ft ft ft Full detaUs on Pase A-S. ■ _Closing New York Markets, Poge 18._ ___ w m—s A.^i.tsd .. 88th YEAR. No. 34,988.__WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1940—FORTY-SIX PAGES, *** THREE CENTS. R. F. C. Worked With N. L. R. B., Madden Reveals Arranged to Bar Funds To Concerns Cited Under Act, He Says BACKGROUND— Special House committee head ed by Representative Smith Democrat, of Virginia has been investigating National Labor Re lations Board at public hearings since December. Evidence has disclosed dissension among board members and officers and alleged partiality toward C. I. O. in dis putes with . A. F. of L. Object of committee is to recommend any necessary amendments to Wagner Act. By CARTER BlioOKE JONES. An arrangement whereby the Na tional Labor Relations Board rec ommended to the Reconstruction Finance Corp. that disbursement of authorized loans be withheld from companies against which the board had issued Wagner Act complaints was disclosed today by Board Chair man J. Warren Madden. Mr. Madden told the House com mittee investigating his agency that the arrangement had been worked out last fall after R. F. C. officials had broached the question. Committee Counsel Edmund M. Toland placed in the committee rec ord a letter revealing the arrange ment during cross-examination of Mr. Madden. The letter, from Board Secretary Nathan Witt to George R. Cooksey, R. F. C. secre tary, referred to a conference last August of N. L. R. B. and R. F. C. officials and added, in confirmation: “We will inform you whether a charge has been filed with the board alleging that the company has committed unfair labor prac tices. We will then inform you whether the board’s investigation of the charge indicates that it can not be substantiated or whether the board has issued or will issue a jomplaint based on the charge. Would Ask Ban on Funds. “In the event the board has is sued a complaint against the com pany, or will do so, we will request you to withhold disbursements un der the loan that has been au thorized. “Subsequently, after the hearing based on the complaint, we will in form you as to the board’s final decision in the case. “If the board finds that the em ployer has not engaged in unfair labor practices, we will suggest that you resume disbursements under the loan. If the board finds that the employer has been guilty of viola tions of the National Labor Rela tions Act, we will recommend that you continue to withhold disburse ment under the loan. “We will of course keep you in formed of any action of the courts which affect the board’s rulings in such cases.” Action Remains Obscure. A letter acknowledging this one in formed the board's secretary that the directors of the R. F. C. so under stand the informal agreement—that the R. F. C. was to receive this in formation in board cases. Whether the R. F. C. acted in such cases was not brought out. The committee counsel disclosed this phase of the alleged “black list ing” of companies—as he called it— after eliciting from Mr. Madden that the chairman had recommended to the Procurement Division of the Treasury Department that it with hold Government contracts from companies found by the board to have violated the Wagner Act—and In one instance, from an employer who had only been charged and had not received a hearing. Chairman Madden admitted later the Controller General held the Government had no such authority. Procurement Division Involved. In reply to the charge of Mr. Toland that Mr. Madden had tried to “blackjack” corporations in the matter of Government contracts, the board chairman said today these letters had been invited by the con tract-letting branch of the Gov ernment. In two such instances placed in evidence, Mr. Madden said, a repre sentative of the Procurement Divi sion went to his office and asked for letters. Asked by Committee Chairman Smith on what theory the Govern ment could withhold a contract from a low bidder who was charged with or convicted of unfair labor prac tices, Mr. Madden said: “I suppose as a matter of sense and common reason.” un, no, we are governed Dy stat isaid Representative Smith, a All Federal Rule Coercive, erring to two cases in which mies had been found guilty ; board, but had not complied its order pending possible court Is, Representative Routzohn, olican, of Ohio said: "In other i. you were trying to coerce companies .into complying your orders by blacklisting with the Government?” s board cnairman said he sup i every Government regulation coercive. * am shaking of your re « mat no Government con s be awarded these companies," the committee member, re ig particularly to the Rem n-Rand case. presentative Murdock Demo of Utah interposed: it not a fact that the law ies a contract shall be award e lowest responsible bidder?” so understand it,” said the nan. d would a company that had violated a Federal law be regarded *s responsible?” ^Mr. Madden said he did not think Mr. Toland excused Mr. Madden for the time being” and called (See LABOR BOARD, Page A-4X U. S. Ships Touching Gibraltar 'Fair Victims;' Nazis Contend . Stand Taken* in Explaining Sinking Of Dutch Liner Heading for Downs By the Associated Press. BERLIN, Feb. 14.—Any American ship touching a British port such as Gibraltar, either of its own voli tion or for forced examination by the British contraband control, would be, from a legal point of view, a “fair victim” for a Ger man submarine, authorized German sources said today. This statement was made in ex planation of the situation sur rounding the sinking last Saturday of the 6,853-ton Holland-America liner Burgerdijk 15 miles south of Bishops Rock, off the southwest ern tip of England. (The Burgerdijk was en route from New York to Rotterdam. Great indignation was aroused in the Netherlands, where the owners charged that a German submarine sank the vessel with out giving any reason. The Netherlands government was re ported planning a protest if orig inal reports should be borne out.) Sinking Defended. The authorized German spokes men stoutly defended the “legal propriety” of the sinking of the Burgerdijk, despite the fact that 90 per cent of her cargo was re ported consigned to the Netherlands government. They repeated their assertion of yesterday that the es sential consideration was that the ship was heading for an English port, which it intended to touch before proceeding to the Nether lands. The Netherlanders’ contention that the submarine commander re fused to examine the ship’s papers to determine whether the cargo was contraband does not alter the case, in view of the fact the vessel was sailing for The Downs English Channel control point off the south east coast it was stated. Same Rule Would Apply. The Germans said the same rule would apply to an American ship. “An unfortunate situation has been brought about by the English insistence upon taking ships into English ports for examination,’’ it was explained “It’s a deliberate British policy aimed at causing trouble between Germany and neu tras.” It was asserted that there was no information yet from any German source that the Burgerdijk was sunk by a German submarine, but it was said that if this was the case the le gality of the sinking was beyond doubt. It was explained that a Ger man submarine commander does not make a report on his activities until returning to his home port, (SeeSHIPS, Page A-4.) Blockade Hampered By Nazi Air Power, Britain Admits Arming of Fishing Craft As Defense Measure Hinted by Churchill By the Associated Press. LONDON, Feb. 14.—Britain’s first lord of the admiralty, Winston Churchill, indicated in the House of Commons today that Germany’s air power was keeping the British blockade at a distance from Ger many’s shores. Answering a question as to whether the naval patrol was efficient, Mr. Churchill said: “I think no one would expect us to be able to maintain a close patrol or a close blockade off the German coast having regard to the enormous development of shore base aircraft since the late war.” Mr. Churchill said that Britain was working to increase her protec tion of British trawlers and fishing boats. Questioned about increased Ger man attacks on fishing boats and trawlers, in which Col. Josiah Wedg wood. Laborite, said Germany was “murdering unarmed seamen.” Mr. Churchill said he hoped that with in a month or six weeks “a very great measure of protection will be afforded to our men” in the North Sea.” All May Be Armed. In some quarters this was taken as an indication that every British vessel in the North Sea soon would be equipped with anti-aircraft guns for defense against German bomb ers and aerial machine gunners. Prime Minister Chamberlain told the Commons he considered publica tion of a white paper less effec tive “than the present methods” of informing the public abroad of the inhumanity of German attacks on British and neutral shipping and lightships as reported by Britain. Mr. Churchill, asked how five Ger man merchant ships now loading at Rotterdam had escaped detection by the British blockade, said the ques tion was not in accord with his in formation, but that in any case the House must be aware that the coasts of Germany and Holland are contiguous and that it is not be cause of a lack of British zeal or thought that any German ship had escaped. Oil Problem Discussed. The British and Rumanian gov ernments are discussing the vital Rumanian oil exports question in all its aspects, R. A. Butler, parlia mentary undersecretary for foreign affairs, told the House. Mr. Butler said, however, that he was not yet in a position to make a statement on the situation, which concerns German demands for in creased supplies of Rumanian oil, much of which is produced by Brit ish and French owned companies. Asked by Geoffrey Mander, Liberal member, whether the Prime Minister would publish corresponaence be tween Britain and Czecho-Slovakia after the Munich Conference of Sep tember, 1938, concerning a guaran tee of Czecho-Slovakia s integrity, Mr. Butler replied that the foreign secretary would consider the sug gestion i» any further publication of correspondence on British-German relations. D. C. Woman Is Killed On Way to Father's Burial Tragedy was added to tragedy today for the children of J. W. Smith, 77, for whom funeral serv ices were held here yesterday. His daughter. Miss Gladys Mae Smith, 50, of 620 Otis street N.W. was killed, and two of his sons, H. L. Smith of 1015 Flower ave nue, Takoma Park, Md., and H. H. Smith were seriously injured in an automobile accident near Colum bus, Ohio, today. Tt iy were on their way to burial services for Mr. Smith in Marion, Ohio, at the time of the accident. The Associated Press reported that their injuries were received when another automobile ran into the Smith car head-on. Word of the accident that in jured H. L. Smith was withheld from his wife. She is seriously 111 in her Takoma Park home. Enough of China Won To Set Up New Order, Japanese Say Job Done, Army Asserts As It Calls on Chiang To Surrender By the Associated Press. HONG KONG, Feb. 14—The Japanese Army tonight issued a proclamation that it now had won ‘‘sufficient areas in China for estab lishment of the new order in East Asia,” and urging Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek to surrender. Further Chinese resistance is “useless,” said the proclamation, issued by Japan's South China com mand and addressed to Gen. Chiang and his government. The recent Japanese campaign in Kwangsi Province, in the South, has brought the new situation about, the proclamation stated. supply routes to unungxing WHAT& A POOR / k qiRJL lo Do V | St Valentine's Day, 1940! Elective Council For D. C. Refused By Commissioners Will Not Revise Their Reorganization Plan As Asked by Randolph The Commissioners today flatly refused to revise their plan for re organizing the municipal govern ment as asked by Chairman Ran dolph of the House District Com mittee, to provide for an elective rather than an appointive citizens’ advisory council. Replying to Mr. Randolph, the Commissioners said: “Your letters dated January 29, 1940. and addressed to each Com missioner individually, have been given most careful consideration by the board. “The reorganization plan of the government of the District of Co lumbia as submitted by the Board of Commissioners is a plan for internal reorganization and based on existing constitutional and legal require ments As to the election of the members of the proposed advisory council, the board believes that the members should be appointed. We know of no instance whereby purely advisory bodies are subject to elec tion. Suffrage Basic Question. "The board believes that the ques tion of suffrage is a basic one which must be determined by the Congress. It also believes that in the event suffrage is granted some of the board's recommendations as to in ternal organization would neces sarily be subject to amendment. “As to the proposed advisory coun cil reporting to Congress, you will note in the Commissioner's reorgan ization plan as submitted to Con gress a provision making it manda tory upon the Commissioners to sub mit to Congress any recommenda tions made by the advisory council. “The Commissioners appreciate your letter and thank you for bring ing your suggestion to their atten tion.” The letter was signed by George E. Allen, as acting president of the Board ol Commissioners. Vote Measures Pressed. Chairman Randolph moved yes terday to get early action by the Judiciary Committee on resolutions pending before it to enfranchise the voteless residents of Washington. Mr. Randolph conferred with Chair man Sumners of the Judiciary Com mittee about the status of the reso lutions. “I had a very enlightening con ference with Representative Sum ners,” said Mr. Randolph. “He agreed with me that ii one of the resolutions before his committee to grant national representation to the District can get to the House it would be a contribution to legisla tive history.” Pennsylvania to Push 6.0. P. Convention Bid By the Associated Press. HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 14.— Pennsylvania's two members of the Republican Nalional Committee were instructed today to bend every effort toward bringing the party’s presidential nominating convention to Philadelphia. Gov. Arthur H. James and State Chairman James F. Torrance dis closed they were leaving to the com mittee members the job of “carrying the ball in behalf of Pennsylvania.” Gov. James said Mrs. Worthington Scranton, long a party leader would represent him at the com mittee meeting in Washington Fri day. “I’ve held off from personally pushing the idea because I felt my motives might be misunder stood,” Gov. James said. Torrance said he would not be in Washington for the committee meeting, adding, however, that Mrs Scranton and G. Mason Owlett, the other committee member from his State, would press Pennsylvania’! case. State committee sources said they were informed Philadelphia has supplanted Chicago in the mindr of some national leaders as the logical site for the convention. The Democrats have selected Chicago. One of the reasons behind the switch, it was said, was the “natural" opportunity for a July 4 celebration at Independence Hall as part ol the convention program. Company to Raze Building to Get Parking Space By the Associated Press. SYRACUSE, N. Y„ Feb. 14 — Plaster Manufacturer Arthur N. Johnson warned during a traffic regulations drive: “If the police tag another car parked in front of our office, we’ll tear down a building and make a place to park.” The police tagged another car. Today Mr. Johnson gave or ders for demolition of a three story brick building owned by the firm and adjoining the of fice. President Sees Hull, Then Departs lor Vacation Cruise Discord Denied Over Sending Welles On Trip Abroad By JOHN C. HENRY. President Roosevelt departed for a : southern vacation cruise this after noon after a last-minute consulta tion with Secretary of State Hull over the world's wars and our pos sible contribution to an “eventual restoration of peace.” Their meeting came immediately ! on the heels of a declaration by the State Department head that he and the President have been as nearly in accord on foreign affairs as any two ever to occupy their respect ve positions. , Remaining m his living quarters at the White House, the Chief Ex ecutive had only one other appoint ment prior to his departure, con ferring briefly with Senator Vag ner, Democrat, of New York. With Undersecretary of State Welles, who is due to leave Satur day for a Edropean trip and a study of wartime conditions abroad, still confined to his home with a cold, the President was believed to have dis cussed details of the Welles mission with Secretary Hull, the latter to pass along any final instructions before the Undersecretary departs. Answers Story of Discord. It was the imminence of this mis sion which prompted Mr. Hull’s declaration on his agreement with the President's foreign policy. Ac tually, the Secretary was answering a newspaper story printed this morning to the effect that the Welles appointment had been made without State Department knowl edge or sanction and had aroused opposition from Joseph P. Kennedy, Ambassador to Great Britain, and William C, Bullitt, Ambassador to Prance. “This news item,” Mr. Hull said, “seems to me to be one more at tempt at trouble making. I think the President and I have agreed on (See PRESIDENT, Page A-5.) State Police Calm Eastern Shore-Mob; 2 Women Saved Four Troopers Force 1,000 Men to Give Up Pair Taken From Jail Special Dispatch to The Star. SNOW HILL, Md., Feb. 14.—Heav ily-armed State police poured into this Eastern Shore community to restore calm after a night of wild disorder climaxed when four State troopers rescued two colored women from a mob of 1.000 men. After hours of milling around the antiquated Worcester County Jail, the men smashed a window, ripped a cell door from its hinges and made off with the women who were held for investigation in the slaying of an elderly Stockton (Md.) farmer, Harvey Pilchard and the wounding of his wife Sunday night. Sheriff J. William Hall said to day he had identified 40 men in the mob but contemplated no charges. State police were reported to have fired several shots in effecting the rescue and Sheriff Hall said one man. believed a member of the mob, w.« found with a bullet wound in the leg at the Pocomoke City Hos pital. Escape Mob at Store. The screaming women, Martha Blake. 31, and her daughter, Lillian Virginia Blake, 14, were questioned for a short time in their cell. They were then taken to the vicinity of Stockton to point out the possible hiding places of suspects in the mur der. En route, police said, the mobsters decided the women's shoes were unfit to travel in the woods and a stop was made at a Stockton shoe store. The proprietor was awakened and in the excitement the two women escaped through a back door. There they were met by the four State troopers, who attempted to lead them to a waiting police car. The escape was discovered and the mob streamed through the back door, where they encountered the police men. Sergt. William H. Weber was struck in the head with a bottle. One spectator was shot and the police escaped to their automobile with the prisoners. Directed by Lt. Ruxton Ridgely, the automobile dashed for the Dela ware State line, 50 miles away. Gov. Herbert R. O’Conor dis closed there were 53 State troopers in the vicinity of Snow Hill. Twenty three were stationed yesterday at Salisbury. Cambridge and Easton. Thirty more were sent to the vicinity when the mob began to form. The town was reported quiet. Taken to Bel Air. The two colored women and two other colored men suspects in the slaying were brought to the Bel Air Jail on orders of Gov. O’Conor, who (See MOB, Page A-5.) Blum Sees Welles' Mission Aiding Third-Term Decision By the Associated Press. PARIS. Feb. 14.—Sumner Welles’ mission to Europe is intended to help President Roosevelt decide whether to seek a third term as head of the United States Govern ment, former Premier Leon Blum wrote today in his newspaper, Le Populaire. Mr. Blum, head of the French Socialist party, wrote that he is con vinced Mr. Roosevelt does not de sire a third term, but that American popular opinion may urge it upon him as a “duty” because of war in Europe. Before making a decision, Mr. Roosevelt wants to know the prob able effectiveness of action which the United States “might one day be induced to undertake for peace,” Mr. Blum said. Mr. Welles, United States Under secretary of State, is scheduled to leave New York Saturday to visit Paris, London, Berlin and Rome. To See Mussolini. Prime Minister Chamberlain told a questioner in the British House ol Commons yesterday that the gov ernment would take Mr. Welles “fully into their confidence.” Mr. Welles is expected to see Premier Mussolini in Rome, where Foreign Minister Count Galeaoc Ciano conferred yesterday with United States Ambassador William C. Phillips on the forthcoming visit. M. Blum, in his discussion of the possibilities of Mr. Welles’ trip, said, “There is not the slightest chance today of making the tyrants of Germany and Russia” accept a peace founded on “justice and inter national morality with guarantees against aggression,” but added that a “real peace” never could be “con sidered premature." Traitors to Be Tried. On the war front, French military authorities ordered the radio broad casting “traitors of Stuttgart” to surrender on treason charges, or be tried in absentia. The two, Paul Derdonnet and An dre Obrecht, are accused of making German propaganda broadcasts in French from Stuttgart, 50 miles within Germany. To the accompani ment of ruffled drums, the charges will be read Sunday in the villages where they formerly lived, and s military trial will start 20 days later The air raid alarms in Paris have been used so rarely of late that police have decided to test them at noon tomorrow. If a real alarm should come at that time, the sirens will sound four minutes, instead of the 20-second test period. -- " ■■■ ■ II Gales and Snow Sweep Eastern Part of Country Pittsburgh Fall Sets 38-Year Record; 47-Mile Wind Here BULLETIN. Hundreds of Government em ployes were expected to leave their desks early on account of the storm. The Treasury an nounced that those living at some distance would be excused at 3:30 or 3:45 where transportation conditions made this course ad visable. and customarily all other agencies follow the Treasury’s lead under such circumstances. By the Associated Press. A St. Valentine’s day storm, whipped by gale-like winds, tight ened winter’s grip on most of the East today as rain, sleet and snow brought reports of “worst condi tions of the year” from many com munities. In New York City, scores of per sons were injured in falls on ice coated streets, with walking made more precarious by high winds that all but blew pedestrians off their feet and sent hats skirling. Accident calls became so numer ous that four major hospitals adopt ed emergency rules to send am bulances on only the most serious cases Storm warnings were hoisted from Delaware Breakwater to Boston, and the Weather Bureau reported gale winds off the coast. 15-inch Snow in Pittsburgh. Snow fell from Southern New England to Washington, while Pitts burgh reported the heaviest snow fall in 38 yeais, 15 inches deep in the downtown area. Highway and air traffic was crippled throughout Western Pennsylvania and hun dreds of automobiles were marooned. Philadelphia experienced rain, sleet and stiff winds. In the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, 22 inches of snow fell. •Cleveland reported the heaviest snow of the winter in Southern Ohio generally, 10 inches deep, with hun dreds of automobiles abandoned on the icy hills of Cincinnati and the temperature at 18 degrees. In Eastern Ohio, 3,000 miners were kept from work by drifts 20 feet high in some places, and sev eral communities closed schools due to the intensity of the storm. Western Maryland reported falls ranging from 2 to 6 inches, "still falling.” 31-nlile Wind in Boston. In New England 6now of 3 to 5 inches was recorded. A 31-mile wind harried shipping in Boston Harbor. Upstate New York had an over night snowfall as deep as 13 inches, leaving highways hazardous and forcing motorists to abandon their cars. Strong Northeast winds ac companied the storm. Two feet of snow covered the highways in Al legheny County. In the Pittsburgh area industrial operations were slowed up at mills and mines. All elementary schools in Pittsburgh suspended classes, re leasing 150,000 pupils. Thousands of persons were late for work. At Erie, where only five inches of snow fell, a 45-mile-an-hour wind whipped up drifts four feet deep. Traffic was paralyzed in that area. The Pittsburgh Automobile Club warned motorists not to attempt to leave the metropolitan area. Train Kills Pedestrian. In Pittsburgh, telephone lines were jammed with calls for help to j taxicab companies and railway of fices. As many as 10 persons crowded into each cab to reach the downtown section. A Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Rail road train killed an unidentified pedestrian, who apparently nad been blinded by the snow. The man wore six pairs of socks and several sweaters. Power lines were dbwn at many points in the Altoona-Johnstown district, where as much as 18 inches of snow fell. 47-Mile Wind Lashes City During Snowstorm Winds of gale force—which at times reached a velocity of 47 miles an hour—whistled through Wash ington streets today, bringing rain, snow and the prospect of a cold night. The temperature dropped rapidly shortly after 9 am. today, when the storm gathered force. The Weather Bureau said Washington was hit by the center of the storm, which was lashing the Eastern seaboard. Heavy rain fell last night, one-half inch being recorded at the Weather Bureau, and was accompanied by temperatures in the low 40s. During the morning, the storm which had been hovering southwest of the city started to move. Winds picked up and within a few hours gusts in excess of 40 miles an hour were lashing the city. Gale force is set officially at 39 miles an hour. The temperature dropped from 42 at 9 am. to 34 an hour later. Shortly after noon, the Weather Bureau reading was 28 degrees—a fall of 14 degrees in three hours. The rain turned to snow with the drop in temperature. The precipita tion will stop later in the day, the forecaster said, and will be followed by a cold night. He said the low to night would be around 25 degrees. Tomorrow, fair skies and more moderate temperatures are forecast. Localized Artillery Action Reported on West Front B» the Associated Press. PARIS, Peb. 14.—German artil lery lire in the Bitche area on the Western front was reported today to have drawn return fire from French batteries. The German fire was localized, and military sources said it started without any immediate apparent reason.