The Washington times. [volume], February 10, 1922, HOME FINAL EDITION, Image 1

About The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939

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Today
Who Owns the Air?
Tha Sad Sea Cull.
A Ladies' Qecalogue.
1,200 Psr Cent Not Nsw.
?By ARTHUR BRISBANE.
(Cop/right. 111*.)
Who owns the sir?
That question must 4m offi
cially settled. The American
Telegraph and Telephone Com
pany hopes it will be settled in
favor of the American Tele
graph and Telephone Company.
There are "air lanes" above
your head, as there are ship
lanes on the ocean. Messages
sent haphazard by rado collide
and interfere with each other,
like ships wandering in fog.
Regulations must be made as
to "tuning" of wireless instru
ments, hours at which "air
lanes" may bo used. The pub
lic will await with interest the
decision as to air ownership.
Below Albany on the Hudson
river, where big Icehouses
stand, a sad sea gull stood on
the river, lroxen from shore to
shore. It was a little after
seven in the morning. The gull,
a young bird, hatched last year,
deeply discouraged, doubtless
thought to itself:
"Well, this settles ME. The
water has suddenly turned solid.
No more swimming or fishing
?ver."
That is how we reason when
things go wrong, for we also
are birds born last spring. We ,
see war and conclude that it
will last forever. We see hu
man selfishness governing, ex
ploiting, robbing the weak, and
think that will last forever.
But it won't.
Far from the sea gull, on the
west bank of the river, men were
cutting ice, to store it away,
while it lasted. In the East the
sun was rising, with plenty of
power to melt that ice.
On this earth, the industrious
profiteers are cutting and storing
Ice as rapidly as they can. But |
the sun is rising.
A good lady has written "The
Women Voters' Decalogue."
Number 2 tells ladies they must
belong to a party; "A free lance
gets nowhere."
Bad judgment. The free lance
gets everywhere. Napoleon was
a free lance, defying all tradi
tions and parties. He got on
the throne, then on St. Helena.
John Brown was a free lance.
He landed on the gallows.
Christopher Columbus was a
free lance. He landed in America.
The Wright brothers, of Ohio,
were free lances of the air, they
"got. somewhere." with a venge
ance.
Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo,
Newton were all free lances of
the intellect. You would not say
that they "got nowhere."
They will be honored when all
workers in all political parties are
completely forgotten.
The lady voter's decalogue
?ays, "Let us try to make our
party right, then support it
whole-heartedly."
How are you going to make
It right? \ party often is like
a carpet?the best thing for it
is a beating.
Parties begin in enthusiasm,
honesty, good intentions. They
end in the hands o ? corrupt
"conservative" grafters, anid are
like ships that need to be taken
out of trie water and scraped.
Tarties need to be taken out
of power anfi chastised.
Usurers in Bolshevist Mos- I
cow charge as much as one
hundred per cent a month?
twelve hundred per cent a year.
Horrible, but mild compared
with what some of the prof
iteers did to their Uncle Sam
In the war.
And the interest rate that
Moscow usurers charge is mild
compared with interest that
many young men pay on their
own foolishness.
Ten foolish, sleepless nights,
with nervous strain, have cost
many a man ten years of life,
and more.
That is more than twelve
hundred per cent.
You have read discussion
sbout new and unpleasant taxes
to be imposed to pay the sol
diers' bonus.
A tax for a special purpose,
whatever the tax may be, will,
of course, antagonize the pub
lic and make the bonus unpop
ular.
Is anybody interested in mak
ing the bonus unpopular?
You didnt notice the imposi
tion of any plainly labeled ob
noxious tax in order to give
hundreds of millions to the rail
roads, did you?
That was done on a fine, pa
triotic, "Hurrah, boys" basis.
But when it comes to paying
soldiers that lost their jobs, the
public is to swallow a disagree
able dose of tax medicine.
Why?
Discussing prohibition, keep
this in mind: .
Many are marked for death tn
the United State? now; thou
sand* that do not know it. Whis
key labels are counterfeited,
bottles, corks, everything is imi
tated by the bootleggers. Men
drink, not knowing what they
drink. Bootleg whiskey has
varying degrees of deadlines*.
Sometimes it blinds and kills you
In twenty-four hours, sometime*
six weeks. For the great ma
jority, the effect is * low.
Thousands have already suf
fered injury that, can never be
repaired, and will drop off into
| ;ha,grave prematurely.
WEATHER
Rata lata tonight or
Saturday, warmer; lowest
temperature tonight above
(r?et lng. moderate south
erly wind*. Temperature
at C a. m., M
?hcBaibi&tpn ffimcs
FINAL EDITION
NUMBER 12,160. WASHINGTON, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 10, 1922. oAuS^ftm THREE CENTS EVERYWHERE.
SMALLER BEAMS SUBSTITUTED,
THEATER BUILDER DECLARES
Mabel Normand To Be Grilled
Mack Sennett Figures
in Movie Slaying
Mystery
MUSTTELL
OFTAYLOR
NIGHT VISIT
Mary Miles Minter to Be Ques
tioned by Prosecutor?Mys
tery Woman Hunted.
Famous film star* are convert
ed Into beasts at Hollywood's
wild dru( parties. What are
these parties like? See Pace 3
for a minute description.
By CHARLK8 K. Hl'ollPS.
International !tnn hntff.
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 10.?
Mabel Normand, world famoas
actress, whose face is better
known to 60,000,000 "movie"
fans throughout the world than
the most widely known" [WUlluf
personages, is scheduled to be
thrust forward today into an even
more important role than she has
hitherto occupied in the probe of
the mystery of William D. Tay
lor's death.
To Face Prosecutor.
Miss Normand, who, so far as is
known, is the last person to have
seen Taylor alive, is expected to go
before District Attorney Wool wine
during the day and tell him ill she
knows concerning Taylor.
The actress collapsed at the
funeral of Taylor on Tuesday and
was In a serious condition that i
night, it was said today. She is j
now much Improved, and while her ]
friends say she is still nervous, they I
told the International News Service j
they believed she could undergo the I
ordeal of a long quesUonlng by the j
investigator, who is noted for his
rigid crosa-examinations.
District Attorney Wool wine this
morning Issued a denial that Miss
Normand bad made a signed state
ment to the authorities in which
she had admitted she went to the
Taylor home the night of the murder
to get letters and telegrams she had j
written to the director.
At Miss Normand's home two of
her friends also denied that she had
ever made such a statement.
Woolwlne is in possession of the
letters, which had been reported us
m.sslng for several days, but which
were found in a boot at the slain <11
rector's home when assistants of the
public administrator were searching
the director's effects.
Nothing Important In Notes.
The district attorney said he had
examined the missives, but failed to
find anything of particular signifi
cance relative to the mystery.
An unconfirmed rumor was In cir
culation today to the effect that
Mary Miles Mlnter. another film
star who was friendly with Taylor,
bad been interrogated by represen
tatives of the district attorney
three days ago.
It was said at the district attor
ney's office that Miss Mlnter prob
ably would be interrogated by Wool
wine at the conclusion of Miss Nor
mand's statement.
Miss Minter has been in seclusion
at her Hollywood home for several
days both she and her mother de
clining to meet any of the newspaper
men who have called there.
John O. Mott, Miss Mlntcr's per
sonal attorney, was quoted as de
clining to comment upon the rumor
that the star had been at Woolwine's
office, but was reported to have said:
"Miss Mlnter Is co-operating in
every possible way with the officials."
Ma)' Trace Gun Purchaser.
At Police headquarters It was re
ported this morning that police In
vestigators believe they have Im
portant clues in connection with the
revolver with which Taylor was slain.
It was stated that information which
came into their hands just before
dawn is regarded as very important.
It was declared the detectives may
develop leads as a result of this
Information, that will show where the
revolver was bought and reveal the
identity of the purchaser.
If this proves true, the detectives
said, the oficlals may he on the verge
(Continued on Page 2, Column 4.)
The greatest figure In Ireland to
day is Michael Collins, Idol of the
Kmersld Isle. Read his personally
written story, "How Ireland Was
Freed and How Ireland Will Be
Governed," exclusively In The
Washington Times Sunday Morning.
DETECTIVES AT WORK AT SCENE
OF CALIFORNIA MOVIE MURDER
//Vr??MAT/a#AL Mwrro
Group of detectives minutely inspecting the scene of the murder of William Desmond Taylor,
film director. Detectives believe that behind the slaying is a story of love and jealousy, possibly
involving some of the brightest stars of the cinema world.
FILL INTENDS I
TO RETAIN SEAT
WITH CABINET
Interior Chief Adds That He
Has No Intention of Quitting
Harding Family.
Hy International Nffwi S?rr1p?.
"I have not resigned, I have not
been asked to resign, and I have no
Intention of resigning," said Secre
tary of the Interior Albert B. Fall,
tn response to a published story that
he wns about to leave the Cabinet
becauuae of dissatisfaction with the
policies of the Harding Administra
tion
Secretary Fall also took occasion
to deny that he is contemplating
going into the oil business, as re
cently reported.
"I have accepted no offer, nor am
I considering any offer with any oil
concern," he said.
TWO MEXICANS HELD
FOR AMERICAN'S DEATH
Mexican authorities have arrested
two men in connection with the
shooting to death of Walter Swin
ney, an American trapper, near
Neuva Laredo, last Sunday, accord
ing to advices to the State Depart
ment.
Swinney wis reported to have been
on the Mexican side of the river
when shot.
Complete Words
And Mnslc
of
"LINCOLN"
A Patriotic Song
Dedicated To the Memory of
The Martyred President,
By A. <>anise.
Will Be Given Away With
Hit Washington trims*
Sunday Morning
This brand-new, high-class
composition is especially time
ly and appropriate, Sunday
being the anniversaray of
Abraham Lincoln's birthday.
Its melody la delightful and
Its lyric pays eloquent tribute
to the memory of the Great
Emancipator.
HARDING WILL ADDRESS
SENATE ON TREATIES
President Harding probably will go
to the Senate late today to deliver a j
personal message along w.th the con
ference treaties which he will submit I
at that time, It was indicated at the
White House this forenoon.
The President canceled all engage
ments prior to the Cabinet meeting |
this morning and spent the time
working on his message.
The Cabinet meeting was post
poned from 11 o'clock until 11:30 to
give the President an extra half hour
to work on his address.
The President finished his message
at 11:30 o'clock and went into the
Cabinet meet.ng. The message is un
derstood to be about 3,51)0 words in
length.
CIVIL SERVICE BOARD
ACCUSED BY SENATOR
Opposing an Increase In the sal
aries of members of the Civil Service
Commission from {5,000 to $6,000 a
year. Senator Caraway (Dem.) of Ar
kansas, charged in the Senate today
that the commission was "prosti
tuting Its duties."
"The Civil Service Commission has
been lending'itself to positive fraud
In my State," Caraway declared. The
grades on papers of certain appli
cants have been raised from 60 to 70
and 75 per cent after politicians re
viewed the decisions of examiners."
Senator Warren (Rep) Wyoming,
defended the increase, saying the
work of the commission had "ma
terially Increased."
NAVAL BOARD TO CHOOSE
BETWEEN BATTLESHIPS
A special board of navy officers,
headed by Rear Admftral George
McKlroy was convene^ today to
make a study of the ' battleships
Washington and West Virginia with
a view to recommending which one)
will be completed under the naval
treaty.
By the terms of this treaty the
United States may retain two ships
of this claBS, of which the Colorado j
Is one, and the second will be!
either the Washington or West
Virginia. The board will determine
which ships will be most suitable.
IRISH RAILWAY STRIKERS
SEIZE CORK STATION
LONDON, Feb. 10. ? Railway
itrlkers at Cork have seized and are
holding the railway station there,
according to a Central News dis
patch.
"The Rook of Magic" tf> be given
away with The Washington Times
Sunday Morning Is more wonderful
than ever. It contains many Val
entine Day novelties and lots of
BRITISH LEADING
ULSTER'S FIGHT
ON FREE STATE
?
7,000 Men Mobilized on Fron- J
tier Said to Include Many
War Veterans.
By International New* Her vice.
BKLFANT, Feb. 10.?One police
man wiu killed when ? parly of I
thirty armed Minn Felner* ambush
ed a detachment of I'ldter specls!
constables at flaudy, near the Ty
rone-Donegal county line, today.
There was a brink exchange of
allots.
DUBLIN, Feb. 10.?An army of]
7.000 men, commanded by former
British army officers, has been!
concentrated on the Ulster side of
the frontier in the sector of the
Armagh-Tyrone county line, accord
ing to information reqplvcd here
this afternoon from the north.
The Ulster army is said to be
composed of special police, members
of the constabulary, volunteers and
ex-soldiers.
Republican leader* in the north
ern part of Lelnster province pro
fess to fear an attack by the Ul
sterites, or Orangemen.
Both Armagh and Tyrone coun-1
ties are In the southern part of
Ulster province. Armagh Joins the
boundary of the free state.
The Sinn Felners in the southern,
part of Ulster have established
headquarters at Carn, in Donegal
county. These forces are reported
to be taking steps to meet an at
tack by Ulaterites that are said to
be moving southwestward through
the province.
LONDON, Feb. 10.?The threat of
border warfare between Irish Re
publicans and Orangemen along the
Ulster frontier was somewhat al
layed today by a pacific anhounce
ment by Arthur Griffith, president
of the Dall Eireann and a power in
the Irish provisional government at
Dublin.
"We are sadly handicapped at the
present time," said Mr. Griffith,
"Until the bill (submitted to the
House of Commons yesterday)
passes, we bave little executive
power, but we will do our utmost
to maintain order and discipline. We
do not admit that the Irish Republi
can army was responsible as an of
ficial body for the disorder* on the
Ulster border. I am fully confident
that a successful settlement will be
reached,"
Bandit Gang, With New Equip
ment From U. S., Repelled
by Obregon Regulars.
Br Inf rrnatloiMtl X?w? Dtrrln.
EL PASO, Feb. 10.?An ex
pedition of thirty-flve heavilj
armed Mexicans crossed the bor
der from Texas into Mexico last
night and attacked the express
from Mexico City.
Attack Beaten Off.
The attack which had been care
fully planned, and wai made after
wrecked bridge! had halted the
train, wae beaten off easily by the
raimry xMard of the train. Caval
ry detachment* jpiahed ly Oen. .1 one
MeiKiem, Commandant at Juarez,
freaKly mounted while the bandit
prnnK had been hard ridden, pursued
the attackers and was expected to
overtake them.
The leader of the band was Iden
tified by a railroad station agent as
Nicolas Rodriguez, who Is out on
bund, following his arrest on charges
of collecting arms and plotting
against the Mexican government In
El Paso.
This station agent, who had op
portunity to view the gang and its
equipment, closely, declares it had
new saddles, cartridge belts, rifles,
canteens, etc., most bearing United
Btatea marks.
Financed In U. S.
"I am convinced the outfit was
financed from some American city,
very probably New York," said Con
sul General Senor Montes de Oca.
"No hostile group of Mexicans in
the West has money enough to un
dertake such a move, and no way
of getting the money unless financed
by people who have financial inter
ests in seeing such an attempt suc
ceed."
For other news of plotting
against the Mexican government,
abetted by International bankers,
see Page t.
MACK BENNETT,
Producer of tin world famous
comedies and sponsor for the
Bathing Beauties, ap popular
wherever films are shown, who
la the newest fihn loader to be
mentioned In the inovie murder
mystery. Mr. Bennett Is confined
to his home, seriously 111. A spe
ctal guard of private detectives
keeps watch at his Los Angeles
residence. But a short time ago
he signed a million dollar con
tract with Mabel Normand, also
prominently mentioned in the
case.
MEMORY LOST IN WAR
RECOVERED IN COURTROOM
ST. PAUL. Feb. >0.?Frank U.
Durwarde, who disappeared from his
parents' home on Riverside Drive,
New York, four years ago, while suf
fering from the effects of shell shock,
recovered his memory In St. Paul
police court today when confronted
suddenly by his brother.
The police had arrested the young
man on a vagrancy charge, but the
charge against him was dismissed in
court. His brother, O. V. Durwarde,
a Montana rancher, had come to
court to pay the fine of one of his
cowboys, who had imbibed too freely
of moonshine.
It was said that the Durwarde
family had spent thousands of dollars
in searching for the war veteran.
CLERGYMEN URGE DIVORCE
REFORM IN ALEXANDRIA
By HARVEY L. COBB.
(Copyright, II!!, by The Washington Tlrn<>? Company.)
A resolution asking that the Virginia State assembly
take a hand in the Alexandria divorce scandal, "abate
the evil, and relieve Alexandria of the stigma which rests
upon us," was adopted at a meeting of the Alexandria
Ministerial Association yesterday afternoon and for
warded to the legislature.
Frefliction was made, this mnrnng
by a member of the legislature over
long-distance telephone to The Time*
that the State Assembly would mnke
art Independent probe of conditions
In Lilttle Iteno.
Judge J. K. M. Norton, a member
of the Investigating committee mak
ing the probe for the Alexandria
Bar Association, at the behest of
citizens and the ministers' associa
tion, went to Richmond yesterday
to recommend legislation to prevent
the evil and put a check on the
wholesale divorce business of Vir
ginia.
Much of the data which the probe
committee has found to date, In
dicating Irregularities In the enforce
ment of the law, was given to the
members of State Assembly, who are
conducting the bearing on the Hall
anti-divorce measure.
Cases of irregularities were cited
by Judge Norton and conclusive
proof, It was said, was given to the
members of the 8tate Assembly com
mittee on the anti-divorce hearing
of these irregularities.
"Judge Norton yesterday ap
peared before our committee," Mr.
Halt stated over long-distance Ihis
morning, "and told lis of conditions
as they exist In Alexandria.
"From what Judge Norton told
the committee there Is no doubt in
'the minds of those who heard him
that there are gross Irregularities
, (Continued on Pas* t. Column U
MURDOCK FIRMLY OPPOSES
FIXING WHEAT PRICES
Government fixation of prices on
wheat and o^her cereals was opposed
today before the House Ajrrleulture
Committee by Federal Trade Com
missioner Victor Murdock.
"My experience on the Federal
Trade Commission for several
years," said Murdock, "causes me
to look with suspicion and disfavor
upon any plan of Government fixa
tion of prices unless a real emerg
ency exists and the life of a great
Industry depends on such Govern
ment action. In such an emer
gency I would favor price-fixing."
The wheat market is a world
market, Murdock continued, and it
should be kept open and free.
Chairman Gaskell and Assistant
Counsel Dr. W. H. Stevens, of the
Federal Trade Comm sslon, testified
before the committer along lines
similar to those of Commissioner
j Murdock.
A startling trail of tragedy and
misfortune follows a certain string
of pearls. Who owns them? You
ran find out hy reading a special,
! Illustrated feature article in The
I Washington TUuea bun?la> Morn
io^
DISTRICT
INSPECTOR
GAVE 0. K.
TO CHANGE
Blame for Disaster Is Shifted
by Architect and Truss
Maker.
Frank L. Wagner, who con
structed the Knickerbocker Theater,
stated at the coroner's inquest to
day that he had not determined the
cause of the accident. He said he
had not had any experience at thea
ter building until he constructed the
Knickerbocker. He also said that
since then he had built the Metro
politan Theater.
Admits Specifications Chance.
Wagner admitted that some of
the steel beams used in the oon
struction of the theater roof were
n%t thoae called tor In tfca original
specifications and plans. '
He said that J. 41. Kord suggested
that aotne of the larger sections
called for in the plans could ? not be
gotten without some delay, and that
he had at hand some steel that
could be utilized as a substitute. ,
"Mr. Oeare conferred with Mr. J
Ford and the plans were then
changed so the sections Mr. Ford
had on hand could be used in the
roof of the building," said Mr. Wag
ner. "The changed plana were sub
mitted to the building inspector's
office and were approved."
Bolts Were Used.
Reginald W. Oeare, the architect,
who drew the plans and specifica
tions for the knickerbocker, and who
supervised the work of construction,
recalled to the witness stand, ad
mitted that bolts, instead of rivets,
were used in bracing the steel and
iron frame of the root.
Mr. Oeare also declared that on
several visits of inspection of the roof
of the building he had noticed a pro
nounced vibration of the trusses and
beams, caused, he said, by the street
cars crossing Eighteenth street and
Columbia road, at a point near the
theater.
"I made this discovery last sum
mer," said Mr. Oeare. "I think it
was In June, when I was on the
flooring above the celling and under
the roof."
The architect left the Inference
that this alleged vibration may have
in some way been responsible for the
loosening of some of the supports
and the collapse of the theater
roof.
Oeare, however; heiferated his
statement of yesterday that one of
the beams was defective, that he
believed it was defective before
placed in the roof. He further sug
gested that this portion of the beam
be sent to the Bureau of Standards
for analysis.
"That will be done," rejoined
District Attorney Gordon.
Cross-examined by Assistant Cor
poration Counsel Hart, Mr. Oeare
was asked why he had permitted
the use of belts Instead of rivets in
bracing some of the beams.
"Do not the specifications plainly
state that rivets were to be used?"
Did Not Tell of Change.
"Yes. sir," replied Oeare, "but the
building code does not forbid the
use of bolts."
"But did you notify the Building
Inspector that you were using bolts
Instead of rivets as the specifica
tions called for?" asked Mr. Hart.
"I do not believe that I did," re
plied the witness.
"Which are believed to be the
stronger?bolts or rivets?" asked
Mr. Hart.
"I do not know, but I have been
told that one is about as strong as
the other."
"As a matter of fact," questioned
District Attorney Gordon, "is It not
true that rivets are considered
about 20 per cent stronger than
bolts."
"I don't know, but I think bolts
are Just as good if they don't be
come loose."
Commissioners Refused Change.
"Is it a practice for contractors
to use holts instead of rivets with
out notifying the Building Inspec
tor?"
"Yes, there Is nothing In the
building regulatlonna which denies
the use of bolts."
It also developed from Oeare?s
testimony that the District offi
cial* refused to allow Oeare to
change the original plans for a
building lower than that called for
He wild he wanted to make a
lower building, but lh(s was' re
tms4 Ma aald also that objection