Evening star. [volume], April 02, 1940, Image 1

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

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Weather Forecast I _ tl
* Cloudy, followed by local showers to- FrOITI PreSS to Home
night, with minimum about 42; tomor- ...... .« •» .
row partly cloudy; slightly warmer. Within the HOUr
Temperatures today—Highest, 55, at 2
p.m.; lowest, 39, at 5 a.m. Most P«ople in Washington have The
From the United state* weather Bureau report. 8tar delivered to their homes every
_Full detail* on pa»e *-2_ evening and Sunday morning. *
Closing New York Markets, Page 18. L" * ..
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S8th YEAR. No. 35,035.^WASHINGTON, D. C., TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1940—FORTY PAGES. *** THREE CENTS.
'Moral Embargo'
Against Russia
Holds, Hull Says
Conflicting Views
Topic of Long Talk
With Oumansky
By GARNETT D. HORNER.
Secretary of State Hull made It
clear at an unusually long conference
with Soviet Ambassador Constan
tine A. Oumansky today that the
“moral embargo'* against shipment
of American airplanes to Russia is
still in effect.
Mr. Hull indicated that the moral
embargo was one of the subjects
discussed with the Soviet Ambassa
dor, explained that most of the
things about which the two nations
have conflicting views were talked
over.
He added that the conference,
which lasted for an hour and five
minutes—longer than State Depart
ment attaches could recall a foreign
diplomat talking with the Secretary
in recent years—had resulted in no
decisions or new developments.
Embargo Still in Effect.
Asked directly at his press con
ference a few minutes after Mr.
Oumansky had left the office
whether the moral embargo against
Russia was still in effect in view of
the end of the fighting between Rus
sia and Finland, Mr. Hull said that
it still was in effect against every
nation in the world that incurs the
penalty.
The moral embargo is an extra
legal policy designed to penalize any
nation whose armed forces are guilty
of unprovoked bombing of civilian
populations. It attempts to ban the
export of any American airplanes,
parts of material essential to the
manufacture of planes and equip
ment, or plans for the manufacture
of high-test, aviation gasoline, to
such nations.
Theadministration never has spe
cified any particular countries in
announcements of the moral em
bargo policy, but a statement by
President Roosevelt last December
2, shortly after Russian planes had
Started bombing civilians in Finland,
had the effect of applying the policy
to the Soviet. It previously had
operated since June. 1938, to prevent
shipment of American airplanes to
Japan.
Oumansky Is Silent.
Mr. Oumansky would say nothing
to reporters about the subjects he
discussed with Secretary Hull. It
was the first time he had seen the
Secretary officially since February
1, when he was understood to have
complained about an anti-Russian
speech made by Assistant Secretary
of War Louis Johnson. Mr. Ouman
sky said he had requested the ap
pointment with the Secretary today.
The conference was scheduled
from 11 to 11:30 am., but ran over
to 12:05 p.m., delaying a meeting
scheduled at 11:30 a.m. between Mr.
Hull and South African Minister
Ralph William Close, to sign a treaty
providing for the organization of
commissions to settle disputes that
might arise between the United
States and South Africa.
It was presumed that several other
current problems in addition to the
moral embargo were discussed, in
cluding the British blockade of
American exports to Russia, de
signed to keep goods from reaching
Germany through Russia. Mr. Hull
described it as a general conversa
tion about all phases of relations
between the Soviet and the United
States.
Short Social Exchange.
Reminded that the unusually long
conference had lasted for an hour
and 5 minutes, Mr. Hull said that
about 5 minutes of the time was con
sumed socially, and the other was
spent in discussion of current topics.
While Mr. Oumansky was talking
with Secretary Hull, Lord Lothian,
the British Ambassador, conferred
for a shorter time with Undersecre
tary of State Sumner Welles, who
soon thereafter went to the White
House for an appointment with
President Roosevelt.
The various conferences stirred
considerable speculation as to
whether there was any connection
between them.
Young's Nomination
Reported to Senate
The nomination of J. Russell
Young, for many years White House
correspondent of The Star, as Dis
trict Commissioner was reported
favorably to the Senate today by
the Senate District Committee.
Committee members were polled
by Senator King of Utah, chairman
cf the Senate District Committee.
Held on Drunk Charge,
Prisoner Hangs Self
A few hours after he had been
arrested on a charge of drunkenness
Andrew Butler, 27, of 5316 Jay street
NJE., a laborer, was found hanged
In an 11th precinct c«U last night,
police said today.
The body, a sweater tied around
the neck, was discovered swinging
from a rafter, investigators de
clared.
British, 7 Nazi Planes
Sighted Over Belgium
Br the Associated Press.
BRUSSELS, April 2. — Intense
aerial activity over Belgium con
tinued. today as an official count
listed one British and seven Ger
man planes sighted over Belgian
territory in two days. Belgian pur
suit planes chased the invaders.
Hie government announced that
Germany had agreed to pay an
undisclosed sum as indemnity for
the death of a Belgian air squadron
leader killed while pursuing a Ger
man plane March 2.
Hie government announced that
protests had been sent'to both Lon
don and Berlin.
Northeast Woman First Here
To Greet Census Taker
Here is the scene being enacted all over Washington and
the United States today. The enumerator is Walter H. Henson
ready to write down the answers given by Mrs. Mary O’Brien.
—Star Staff Photo.
When the enumerators began
knocking on doors in Washington
today to launch the city's decennial
census, it was found that Mrs. Mary
O’Brien of 23 K street N.E., the first
person approached in District No. 1,
was willing to answer all the ques
tions.
Smilingly, Mrs. 'O’Brien answered
the knock of Walter H. Henson, the
census man. Apparently not sur
prised, she invited him in and said
she would not object to answering
the many queries on the big sheet
he carried in his big black portfolio.
With Census Enumerator No. 1
Henson was his immediate chief.
Brady Bishop, squad leader, whose
headquarters are at Police Precinct
No. 1 Mr. Bishop had gone with
his No. 1 man. to make the first call.
Both were pleased with their re
ception.
To a Star reporter, who happened
to be along. Mrs. O'Brien explained
she had lived in the neighborhood
for more than 40 years, and still liked
it. Her husband, John Aloysius
O'Brien, died 10 years ago. Her
family caaisists of four persons—
herself, one son. William H. O'Brien,
<See CENSUS, Page-a-4.)
England Intensifies
Economic Warfare
Against Reich
ChambtHain Warns
Neutrals, Announces
New Trade Pacts
By the Associated Press.
LONDON. April 2.—Great Britain
intensified her economic war on
Germany in a threefold drive to
day and cautioned neutral nations
that aid to the Reich might render
them “liable to the hideous fate
that has overtaken previous victims
of Germany policy.” >
Prime Minister Chambers de
livered this warning to ne dS in
a statement in the House Com
mons in which he annou ^ed that
the British stranglehold on Ger
man trade was being tightened by:
1. Control of the sea, with the
navy already having taken “certain
practical steps to interfere with pas
sage of German cargo ships from
Scandinavia” and halting Russian
ships in Far Eastern waters.
2. Trade agreements with neutrals
surrounding Germany under which
Britain outbid Germany for vital
products.
3. A warning to neutrals that
their imports from the Empire
would be cut down unless they limit
their sales to Germany.
Neutrals’ Exports Limited.
Mr. Chamberlain disclosed that
all of Britain’s new war trade agree
ments “contain stipulations regulat
ing the exports of neutral countries’
own domestic produce to Germany.”
Triumphantly he announced
agreements with Norway, Sweden,
Iceland, Belgium, the Netherlands
and Denmark to balk German deals
in these rich dairy and steel lands
(See CHAMBERLAIN, Page A-S.)
Covering the Field
In the Afternoon
Most people in Washington
read The Star in their homes
every evening and Sunday
morning. That the merchants
are aware of this is shown by
the way they use The Star’s
advertising columns.
The Star’s circulation in the
afternoon (not including fore
noon editions) is greater than
that of the afternoon editions
of the two other newspapers
combined.
Yesterday’s Advertising
(Local Display)
Lints.
The Evening Star_35,144
2nd Newspaper_15,718
3rd Newspaper_13,515
4th Newspaper_10,483
Yesterday’s Circulation
The Evening Star
Monday, April 1, 1940, *158,781
Monday, April 3,1939, *154,026
Increase. 4,755
•Returns from newsstands not deducted
and no samples Included.
K
Nazi Planes Repulsed
In Raid on Convoy,
British Report
English Attack on Sylt
Patrol Boats Failure,
Germans Say
By the Associated Press.
LONDON. April 2.—British and
German warplanes roaming the
North Sea engaged in a series of
brief, sharp fights in the past 24
hours, which reached a climax this
afternoon in a German raid on Brit
ish convoys, which the Admiralty
announced had been driven off.
Although at least 10 bombs were
dropped, the Admiralty said, the
Nazi raiders were repulsed without
damage.
The Air Ministry announced Brit
ish planes last night bombed Ger
man patrol boats near Sylt, German
island aviation base in Helgoland
Bight.
One British raider failed to re
turn from we fray, the ministry
acknowledged. Germany discounted
the raid, however, and said all of
25 bombs dropped had missed.
Returning from a search for Ger
man naval vessels, a British plane
encountered a German Junkers
over the North Sea last night and
forced it to flee with a damaged
fuselage, the British said.
An early morning engagement be
tween three British planes and two
German bombers, part of the time
flying only 20 feet above the North
Sea, was described by a British an
nouncement, which said one British
plane landed near the coast after
its pilot sustained a slight leg wound.
British planes chased off a plane
which appeared to be German as it
approached the Southeastern Eng
lish coast.
English Plane Shot Down
In Sylt Raid, Nazis Report
BERLIN, April 2 (JP).—Germany
today reported a British attempt
to raid German patrol boats pro
(SeePLANES, Page XT)
Two Changes
In Wagner Act
Are Approved
Majority's Right to
Bargain Upheld in
Compromise Move
By CARTER BROOKE JONES.
The House Labor Committee
moved swiftly today to report a bill
designed to compromise with foes
of the National Labor Relations
Board by approving two proposed
amendments to the Wagner Act and
seeking a suspension of rules in the
House preventing members from of
fering further amendments from
the floor.
The committee approved these
new proposed amendments:
1. Providing the right of a ma
jority of the employes of any craft
in an industry to recognition as a
collective bargaining unit.
2. Providing the right of employ
ers to petition the board for an
election among workers to settle
disputes among unions.
The committee previously had ap
proved a proposed amendment in
creasing the N. L. R. B. from three
to five members.
Will Meet Again Tomorrow.
Chairman Norton said the com
mittee would meet again at 10 a m.
tomorrow and probably complete
consideration of amendments and
instruct her to draft a bill imme
diately.
The amendment allowing crafts
mustering a majority of votes at a
plant to bargain for themselves, re
gardless of other unions in the fac
tory, was sought by the American
Federation of Labor and opposed by
the Congress of Industrial Organi
zations, which has urged plant-wide
elections.
Mrs. Norton denied, however,
that this amendment necessarily
would give the A F. of L. an ad
vantage over its rival, which has
mostly horizontal industrial unions,
though she admitted "some people
might so construe it.”
At. the executive session totiav,
it was revealed, Representative
Welch, Democrat, of California,
moved to instruct the chairman
to ask the Speaker to bring up the
amending bill under a suspension
of rules. This would mean the meas
ure would not have to go to the
Rules Committee, but could, if
Speaker Bankhead chose, be brought
up at any time. It also would have
the effect of shutting off further
amendments from the floor. *
This is intended to forestall the
anticipated effort of some members
to move substitution of the more
drastic amendments recommended
by the Smith Investigating Com
mittee, including abolition of the
present board and substitution of a
new three-man board and complete
separation of the prosecuting and
judicial functions of the board.
Ramspeck Hits Move.
After the meeting of Mrs. Norton's
committee, one of the members
Representative Ramspeck, Demo
crat, of Georgia, said of Mr. Welch s
motion and its adoption: "It's the
most asinine thing I ever saw a
committee do.”
‘‘It has been done before,” Mrs
Norton retorted, smiling.
She explained to newspapermen:
"We are authorizing a bill in
tended to iheet the complaints
which have been made against the
board and enforcement of the act.
Those of us who are interested in
labor feel that these amendments,
and perhaps one other which has
been adopted, tomorrow will take
care of the situation without de
stroying the Wagner Act.
“We are taking into account com
plaints which have been brought
out at the Smith Committee hear
ings.”
The board already has adopted,
as a matter of policy, the right of
crafts to organize themselves,
though there has been pressure to
make this clause a part of the act,
and a majority of the Smith Com
mittee recommended a similar
amendment.
Would Add to Section.
The amendment which the Labor
Committee approved today would
add to the collective bargaining sec
tion of the act:
“Provided, however, that in any
case where a majority of employes
of a particular craft shall decide,
the board shall designate such craft
as a unit appropriate for the pur
pose of collective bargaining.”
_The N. L. R. B. also has approved
(See WAGNER ACrTPagI~A~4T~
Commissioners Order Thorough
Probe of 0 Street Fire
BULLETIN.
Three District officials have
been summoned to appear at 3
o’clock this afternoon before the
Police and Pire Subcommfttee of
the House District Committee,
which plans an immediate in
vestigation of charges that a
number of “fire traps” have been
allowed to exist in Washington.
The inquiry was ordered as a
result of the disastrous fire yes
terday at the White Court Apart
ment in the 2100 block of O
street N.W.
A complete and thorough investi
gation of the O street apartment fire
which killed three persons and in
jured five others yesterday was or
dered today by the Board of Com
missioners.
Maj. Patrick H. Tansey, Acting
Engineer Commissioner, was named
to head the investigation. Maj.
Tansey immediately ordered a meet
ing of representatives of the fire
marshal, building inspector, police
and coroner’s office at 2:30 p.m. to
day.
Three Questions Propounded.
The Commissioners suggested that
the investigation first find the an
swer to three questions:
Were the plans under which the
burned building at 2131 O street
N.W. was remodeled from a stable
into an apartment in 1925 approved
by the building inspector?
Was the building remodeled ex
actly according to the plans sub
mitted to the building inspector?
Did the plans comply with the
building code which was in effect
in 1925?
Fire Marshal Calvin Lauber and
Building Inspector John W. Oeh
mann were summoned before the
Commissioners to make personal re
ports on the status of their investi
gations.
Roof Built Over Court.
The Commissioners were informed
there was reason to believe a roof
had been built over the inner court
of the building and this would hatfe
violated the building regulations.
Neither Mr. Lauber nor Col. Oeh
mann was willing to state positively
that the roof had been put over the
court, but both pointed out that the
wreckage gave evidence of such a
roof. They promised to investigate
further.
The fire marshal has not com
pleted his investigation and said
he was not in a position to make
any statement on the exact cause.
Two men from the Building In
spector’s office have been assigned
to aid the investigation. Thomas
(See FIRE, Page A-2.)
Wisconsin Is Voting
Today in Big Test
Of Thitd-Term Issue
Roosevelt-Garner and
Vandenberg-Dewey
Slates Entered
ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS SPLIT
over primary battle. G. Gould
Lincoln finds. Page A-*
Bv JOHN C. HENRY.
Wisconsin voters were helping the
Nation choose its next President to
| day in a primary that has drawn
| more speculative attention and
analysis than ts likely to be accord
ed any test before the big show
of next November.
For the first time two of the “hot
favorites" in the Republican run
ning are asking for a measure in
ballots of their comparative popu
la.ity. Senator Vandenberg of Mich
igan and Thomas E. Dewey heading
G. O. P. slates. And on the Demo
cratic side a double-jointed issue
was being posed: first, a presidential
oreference expression with President
Roosevelt and Vice President Gar
ner offered, and, second, a choice of
three convention delegations with
two of them backing Mr. Roosevelt
and a third being for Mr. Gamer.
Out of it all should come the
clearest indication thus far on how
the electorate feels about the third
term issue.
Progressives Silent on Strategy.
Contributing greatly to the ad
vance uncertainty about Wisconsin
sentiment has been the careful fail
ure of leaders of the Progressive
party to commit themselves or even
to hint what their strategy will be.
Faced with no primary questions of
their own and free to vote in either
of the other parties', the organiza
tion headed by the La Follette
brothers polled some 353,000 votes
in a losing gubernatorial race in 1938.
Unless split into too many directions
today, a bloc of this size can have
powerful effect on a primary race.
But Wisconsin was not holding
the day's entire political interest.
The following claimed their share:
1. A bluntly implied threat that
John L. Lewis would throw a third
party element into next November’s
race unless the Democrats select a
candidate and a platform satisfac
tory “to labor and the common peo
ple.”
2. Entry of Senator Taft of Ohio
in the New Jersey Republican pri
mary against Mr. Dewey, to be the
first clash between these rivals for
G. O. P. favor. The primary comes
on May 21 .
3. A New York primary today with
a Roosevelt-Gamer fight going on in
only four congressional districts in
New York City. In one, Alfred E.
Smith, jr., tops a Gamer slate. New
York observers, the Associated
Press reports, concede Mr. Roose
velt the State’s delegation of 94 if
he is placed before the convention;
Mr. Dewey is expected to win 82 of
the 92 Republican votes with the re
maining 10 going to Frank Gannett,
Rochester publisher.
Kansas City Voting.
4. A Kansas City election today In
which a “clean government” group
of independent Democrats, Repub
licans and non-partisan civic groups
(See POLITICS, Page A-3.)
Driver Wrecks His Cab
To Thwart Passenger
Edwin Barbee drove his taxi
through a red light downtown short
ly after midnight this morning and
wanted a policeman to come after
him. He whizzed past stop signs
and through more red lights, but
still no officers appeared. Finally
he crashed his cab into a parked car
near Eleventh and H streets N.W.,
evoking a pistol shot from his pas
senger, and was triumphant—two
detectives rushed to the scene.
Mr. Barbee, who lives at 2701
Fourteenth street N.W., was neither
intoxicated nor foolhardy. He just
didn't like his colored passenger,
especially after the young man thrust
a pistol barrel at the back of Bar
bee’s neck and said, "If you don’t
do what I say, you’ll never see your
wife and family again.”
Luckily, Detective Sergt. Tom
Sweeney and Detectye R. E. Williams
were & block away when the cab
crashed and the shot was fired. They
saw Barbee bravely pursuing the man
who had fired at him and joined
in a successful chase. The colored
passenger, who told his captors he
was 22 years old and a resident of
Philadelphia, was being held for
investigation today.
Water Faucets
Pour Oil, to
Town's Dismay
By the Associated Press.
ORLAND. Calif., April 2.—After
trying for a long time, they struck
oil in Orland, but it poured out of
everyone's water faucet and nobody
was very happy about it.
Somehow, a supply of crude oil
got into the city's main wells and it
wasn't long before things were pretty
badly gummed up. The city’s 1.500
residents thought the April fool's day
incident was in bad taste.
Laundries which started boiling
clothes before the oil was discovered
found the clothing looked worse
afterward than before. Housewives
turned on faucets for water and got
oil.
The city council called an emer
gency session but decided nothing
could be done until the mains were
cleaned out.
City Engineer Fred Pratt said he
believed rising subterranean water
levels had floated an oil pool up into
the city wells.
i
A. B. C. Vice Chairman
Opposes District
Dispensaries
Revenue Would Drop and
Unemployment Rise,
Mrs. Mason Says
By JAMES E. CHINN.
Mrs. Agnes K. Mason, vice chair
man of the Alcoholic Beverage Con
trol Board, today told the special
House Committee Investigating the
District Liquor situation it would be
"a great mistake” to substitute a so
called dispensary system for sale of
liquor by the bottle for the existing
private license system.
She also opposed a suggestion
made several weeks ago by Police
Supt. Ernest W. Brown that the law
be changed so a man could stand up
at a bar and drink his liquor.
Mrs. Mason declared the present
plan of allowing the sale of pack
aged liquors by private stores is
“working well,” while adoption of a
dispensary or “monopoly" system,
which would put the District gov
ernment in the liquor business, would
force a number of persons out of
employment and deprive the munci
pality of revenue in real estate and
personal property taxes from the
present 400 class A liquor dealers.
More Revenue Derived.
A study of the dispensary systems
in various States, made by a former
attache of the A. B. C. Board, Mrs.
Mason pointed out, showed that
with the exception of one State, the
District is deriving more revenue
from liquor at less cost.
“There is more chance for boot
legging under a monopoly system,”
she declared. “There is very little
bootlegging in the District except
(See LIQUOR, Page A-5.)
' -—
Susquehanna Flood
Recedes, but Towns
Strengthen Dikes
Tension Eased as Crest
Passes Wilkes-Barre
And Sunbury
By the Associated Press.
WILKES-BARRE, Pa., April 2 —
Indications that man was winning
the fight against the flooding Sus
quehanna came simultaneously to
day from Pennsylvania’s two chief
“danger spots”—Wilkes-Barre and
Sunbury.
With thousands temporarily
homeless or prepared to flee, the
water fell slightly there from over
night crests barely below those of
the disastrous St. Patrick's Day
flood of 1936. It was the 1936 dis
aster that put valley towns from the
New York to Maryland borders on
guard against the river.
Meanwhile, tension eased some
what at other points along the 150
mile stretch of swollen stream from
Wilkes-Barre in Northeastern Penn
sylvania west and south past Harris
burg, the State capital.
No Letup in Fight.
But wary river folk, who have
known the Susquehanna to hit an
apparent crest and then start re
ceding—only to rise again beyond
the first high point—continued the
fight with no letup, heaping sand
bag reinforcements to levees and
moving household goods from the
lowlands.
As word that the crest was pass
ing swept downstream from town
to town where damage already has
run into many thousands of dollars,
this was the picture on the third
day of high waters:
The river stage: Both upper
branches of the Susquehanna were
receding, rapidly along the West
Branch that twists down from the
North Central Pennsylvania high
lands past Towanda and Williams
port: slowly but perceptibly along
the hard-hit North Branch dotted
by some of the State’s most popu
lous towns.
Wilkes-Barre Dikes Hold.
The danger spots: Wilkes-Barre
reported a high mark of 31.6 feet
before the river dropped shortly
after dawn to 30.8 feet. Flood stage
for the nearby lowlands is 22 feet.
In the 1936 floods the water went to
33 feet, but a 9-mile dike system
built since then held Arm and the
stream would have to rise higher
than in 1936 to inundate the busi
ness and riverbank residence sec
tions. Sansbury: With part of the
business district, in this city 70 miles
below Wilkes-Barre, under water
from Shamokin Creek and Spring
Run, backed up by the Susque
hanna at the confluence of the
North and West branches of the
Susquehanna, floodwaters appar
ently were subsiding from a high of
20.14 feet. By dawn the river stage
was 19.8 feet still going down. Work
to reinforce dikes continued through
the night.
Relief: With six drowned and
(See FLOOD, Page A-3J
Summary of Today's Star
Page.
Amusements,
A-12
Comics .B-18-19
Editorials ..A-10
Finance ...A-17
Lost, Found, B-15
Obituary_A-8
Page.
Radio .B-18
Serial Story B-Il
Sports ..A-14-16
Society..... B-3
Woman’s Page,
A-13
Foreign
“Moral embargo” against Russia still
prevails, Hull says. Page A-l
Nazi planes reported repulsed in
raid on convoy. Page A-l
Rumania to draft 4,000,000 youths
for farm army. Page A-2
Reynaud cabinet test delayed until
April 9. Page A-5
Intercepted freighter scuttled by
Nazis, British report. Page A-5
Notional
Dies witness testifies Pelley planned
march on Washington. Page A-l
House group approves two Wagner
Act amendments. Page A-l
Presidential candidates get first big
test in Wisconsin. Page A-l
Primary battle tips Democratic party
in.Illinois. Page A-2
Transit strike action awaits arrival
of Lewis. Page A-3
Cromwell hints Senate race while
holding Ottawa poet. Page A-5
Washington and Vicinity
Census takers begin Interviewing
D. C. residents. Page A-l
Commissioners order probe of yes
terday’s fatal fire. Page A-l
A. B. C. Board vice chairman opposes
dispensaries. Page A-l
Bishop Corrigan consecrated in
stately ceremony. Page B-l
City heads ask bill to revise local
parole law. Page B-l
President Roosevelt to inspect Ken
wood cherry blossoms. Page B-l
Sports
Nats’ squad, due heavy pruning, may
be smallest in years. PageA-14
Golf dates to keep Mid-Atlantic pros
busy till November. Page A-15
Isemann bowling classic Saturday
winds up major stakes. Page A-10
Editorial and Comment
This and That. Page A-10
Answers to Questions. Page A-10
Letters to The Star. Page A-10
David Lawrence. PageA-11
Alsop and Kintner. PageA-11
G. Gould Lincoln. Page A-ll
Jay Franklin. PageA-11
Constantine Brown. Page A-ll
Miscellany
Nature’s Children. Page A-9
Service Orders. Page A-6
Bedtime Story. PageB-19
Cross-word Puzzle. PageB-18
Letter-Out. Page B«18
Winhing Contract. Page B-18
Uncle Ray’s Comer. PageB-19
Vital Statistics. PageB-80
Pelley Planned
Capital March,
Witness Says
Woman Agent Tells
How He Was to Be
Made 'White King'
By the Associated Press.
A blond secret agent for a former
House investigating committee testi
fied today that William Dudley Pel
ley, the Silver Shirts leader, told
her he planned to lead a march on
Washington and become the “White
King” of the country.
The witness, Miss Dorothy Waring
of New York, appeared before the
Dies committee with Representative
Dickstein, Democrat, of New York,
who testified that Pelley had been
tied up with certain Army officers in
a Fascist effort to overthrow the
Government.
Explaining that she once had been
a secret investigator for a House
committee, Miss Waring said she
had met the Silver Shirt leader
while she was working as a secre
1 tary in the New York headquarters
of "The Order of '67,” an organiza
tion now disbanded.
She was on good terms with lead
ers of the German-American Bund;
she said she lived on Park avenua
in an atmosphere of wealth. ■
Appeared in Uniform.
One evening in April. 1934, she
related, Pelley came to her apart
ment dressed in uniform dn'd wear
ing black boots. Bodyguards came
with him, she said, but after satis
fying himself that they were not
needed he dismissed them and re
moved two guns from his person.
"Thinking I had a great deal of
money,” she continued, "he took two
and a half hours trying to interest
me in supporting the Silver Shirts
He explained that eventually the or
ganization would march on Wash
ington—that he would be the dic
tator of the country.”
Miss Waring said strands of her
hair had been burned in a test,
which she passed successfully, to
determine whether she was 100 per
cent Aryan.
"Pelley told me,” she testified,
that his legionaires were armed."
Powers Ordered Cited.
Meanwhile, by vote of the House,
George Powers, Pittsburgh Com
munist leader, was ordered cited
] for contempt of the House for re
fusing to answer questions of the
Dies Committee.
Powers, secretary of district 5 of
the Communist party in Pennsyl
vania. was the second Pittsburgh
Communist to be so cited within a
week.
James H. Dolsen, also from the
Pennsylvania city, was ordered to be
cited to the United States attorney
here a few days ago.
Among questions which both re
fused to answer were those con
cerned with the identity of a Pitts
burgh Communist who used "Frank
lin D. Roosevelt” as his party pseu
donym.
About the time the House cast its
voice vote on the powers of con
tempt citation Chairman Dies of
the committee investigating Un
American activities announced also
that similar action would be asked
by the committee against a third
Communist, Dr. Albert E. Blum
berg, party secretary for Mary
land and the District of Columbia.
Blum berg likewise refused to answer
various committee questions.
Representative Dickstein, vice
chairman of a former House investi
gation of un-American activities, ap
peared voluntarily before the present
investigating group to declare:
"I charge that he (Pelley) was tied
up with a number of Army officers,
and I have evidence to prove it.”
Calls Pelley “Jew-Baiter."
Declaring Pelley. Asheville <N. C.)
publisher, was a "Jew-baiter” and a
self-styled "American fuehrer” who
had spread more hate than any one
else in this country. Representative
Dickstein asserted that Pelley’s aim
was to replace the present United
States Government with one pat
terned after the Hitler regime in
Germany.
“I charge Pelley with being a mo
tivating force behind the Fascistic
desires on the part of Army men
Ilk- Gen. Moseley to lead a revolt
backed by Army men against the
Government,” he said in a formal
statement to the committee.
<MaJ. Gen. George Van Horn
Moseley, u. S. A., retired, was de
scribed by the Dies committee
last year as being active in con
nection with various so-called
.patriotic organizations. He tes
tified about his activities before
the committee.)
Mr. Dickstein also presented to the
committee letters which he said
Capt. Samuel J. Rubley of Detroit,
identified as a National Guard
medical officer, had exchanged with
lieutenants of Pelley.
One letter, bearing Capt. Rubley's
name and dated in October, 1933,
said a “Mr. Weber” had agreed to
turn over to Capt. Rubley for
military training men recruited for
the Ku Klux Klan.
Mr. Dickstein had Representative
Kramer, Democrat, of California
Identify documents which he said
“(See UN-AMERICAN, Page A-2.)
Baltimore Doctor, 79,
Found Gashed by Ax
By th- Associated Press.
BALTIMORE, April 2—Dr. Hen
ry J. Berkley, 79, retired psychia
trist and brain specialist, was found
unconscious today at the bottom
of the main stairway of his home,
his head gashed by a small hand-ax
which lay beside him.
He was taken to Maryland Gen
eral Hospital, where he remained
in a coma and his condition was
said to be critical.
Police Lt. Oscar Koch said in
vestigators were unable to deter
mine whether the former Johns
Hopkins physician had fallen down
the stairs or had been attacked.
He said he learned the ax usually
was kept In the hallway by Dr.
Berkley “for protection.”