The Washington times. [volume], February 14, 1924, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
MADE PUBLIC TALE
OFSCANDALABOUT
i MARION STAR
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FRANK A. VANDERLIP,
Who thought it was time that someone “spilled the beans” about
the sale of the Marion Star for a supposedly excessive price.
VENGEANCE
FOR GIRL
SWORN
“Butterfly’s” Brother, Nor
man Lawson, Will Hunt
Sister’s Slayers.
By International News Service.
ALVARADO, Tex., Feb. 14.
A vow of vengeance—of unceas
ing search for the murderer of his
“golden butterfly” ' sister—was
sworn ovejLJte-Jfafr of Louise
Lawson here today by Norman
Lawson, Dallas attorney, as he
looked for the last time onthe
slain guTs features just before
the funeral services.
“The murderer of Louise Law
son shall pay. We shall strive
unceasingly to that end.” This
was his statement—and the pledge
of a lifetime for the Normans
and the Lawsons, pioneers of
Texas, has been made.
Body in Bed of Roses.
Louise's body rested in a bed of
roses here today, in the freshly .
painted little church at the end of '
Main street. There the casket ;
nestled in a great bank of roses ,
before the altar.
The casket was not opened for i
the hundreds of friends and curios
ity seekers who thronged the i
church and overflowed into the I
streets for the burial services at 11
o’clock this morning.
But in the early Jiours of the day,
under shaded light) in the home of
W. B. Norman, an uncle of Louise,
the coffin was opened and the
family permitted a final view of
the cold beautiful girl that had only
last Christmas greeted them with
sparkling vivacity.
Marks of Mutilation.
There were marks of mutilation
about the head and throat.
The body arrived last night at
Cleburne, a few miles south of here,
and to avoid any repetition of yes
terday’s last minute delay was
taken overland to Alvarado at mid
alght.
Although for two days scores of
friends have driven into Alvarado
for the final services, a greater
throng than ever today milled in
Alvarado’s one street—Main street.
Every place of business was
closed.
Miss Lawson will come to final
rest in the family plot at Glenwood
Cemetery. Here a grave was pre
pared among the graves of the
Normans, grandparents and great
grandparents on her mother’s side,
among the first pioneers to pene
trate the wilderness of West Texas.
THANKS “JOHN T. KING”
FOR NEW SSO NOTE
NEW YORK, Feb. 14. Acting
Mayor William T. Collins received
a brand new SSO note recently. It
came In a cheap white envelope,
enclosed in a sheet of foolscap on
which was typed: “For the con
science Fund.” There was no
signature.
The acting mayor said to city
hall reporters:
“Maybe it was from John T.
King. I’ve been looking for him
a long time.”
BANDITS GET $2,000
IN TWO RESTAURANTS
NEW YORK, Feb. 14.—Bandits
early today held up the patrons of
two Brooklyn restaurants and es
caped with more than $2,000 in
cash and Jewelry.
' WEATHER
Fair tonight and Friday;
slightly wanner tonight.
Lowest temperature about
freeing; moderate northwest
winds.
HIGH OFFICIALS IN DOPE AND RUM RING
House Takes Up Tax
Bifl With Party
Lines Finn
Tax reduction started its haz
ardous way through the House
today.
The measure which engaged
consideration was the modified
Mellon bill, with normal tax
rates reduced to 3 and 6 per
cent, and the maximum surtax
fixed at 25 per cent. In the
background lurks the Demo
cratic plan, providing for great
er cuts on small incomes and a
maximum surtax of 44 per
cent.
It is expected the tax bill will
be passed in two weeks, but what
form it will take in the final
stages was a matter causing
grave concern to Republican
leaders today. The Republicans
are split on the Mellon bill, and
the Democrats are almost solidly
united for the Garner plan.
Only eight Democrats in party
caucus remained unpledged to
the Garner measure.
. . General debate will be the
order until 4 p. m. next Mon
day, and amendments will be
proposed thereafter.
BERLIN ORDERS
CRISIS STATE
TREND
i
Ebert Acts on Suggestion of
Reichswehr Chief, Rescind
ing Emergency Order.
By International News Service.
BERLIN, Feb. 14.—The national
state of emergency in Germany,
proclaimed when the nationalist
movement in Bavaria threatened
dissolution of the confederation,
will be abolished March 1, it was
announced officially today.
Gen. Von Seekt, commander of
the Reichswehr and norpmal dicta
tor, wrote a letter to President
Ebert suggesting that the state of
emergency be rescinded, now that
quiet has been restored.
President Ebert thanked the com
mander for the excellent services
rendered the Fatherland.
“I agree to the abolition of the
state of emergency beginning
March 1,” wrote the president.
Police KiU Striker.
STETTIN, Germany, Feb. 14.
Police fired upon riotous striking
dock workers here today killing one
and wounding seven. One police
man was wounded.
DEBT COMMISSION MAY
CALL FOR PAYMENTS
A meeting of the Amercian Debt
Funding Commission, at which it
probably will be decided to send a
“dunning” letter to the nations that
owe the United States some $7,000,-
000,000 in unpaid war debts, was
called tdoay for next Monday.
The commission has not had a
formal meeting in months, and ad
ministration officials are becoming
restive because debtor nations are
taking no steps towards adjusting
their debts. France, owing $4,000,-
000,000 and Italy, owing more than
i $2,000,000,000, are the chief debtors.
VERLING HARRIS FINED
; FOR POSSESSING LIQUOR
Pleading guilty to illegal posses
sion of whiskey Verting Harris was
sentenced by Judge Gus A. Schuldt
In Police Court today to pay a fine
of SSOO. After pronouncing sen
tence the court reduced the fine to
S4OO upon the recommendation of
Assistant District Attorney David
A. Hart, who interceded in behalf
of the defendant because of the
plea of “guilty.”
When arrested Harris is said to
have had in his possesion one hun
dred' gallons of rye whiskey and
forty gallons of corn whiskey.
WAIRBMIIiMES
NO. 12,850 g WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1924. "WREE CENm~~|
KIRBY NAMED BUREAU HEAD
£ * ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ *
‘Butterfly's' Brother Vows Vengeance
£ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Oil DEAL DEEMED ILLEGAL
OFFICIALS
IN DRUG
RING
Special Investigator Said to
Have Given Police Sen
sational Information.
A vast liquor and dope ring
involving men and women in
every walk of life in Washington
may be uncovered by the police
within the next few weeks.
Information of a startling na
ture has been placed in the hands
of the police. A hasty inquiry
has revealed most of the infor
mation to be true.
Members of Congress, Govern
ment officials, messenger boys,
women clerks, employes of Con
gress, and possibly members of
the police force will be involved,
it was said today.
Investigators Busy.
The names and addresses, occupa
tions, and past conduct of eighty
one persons connected with the
bootleg syndicates were turned over
to police yesterday, and the infor
mation has been placed in the
hands of special investigators.
Seven hotels, including four fash
ionable hostelries, drug stores and
numerous kinds of business houses
are understood to be the rendezvous
and storehouses of the liquor and
dope rings.
Capt. Charles Backsy, the mysteri
ous investigator who lives in the
Wardman Park Hotel and appears to
be very prosperous, is said to have
gathered the information now in the
hands of the police.
Just how the police will proceed
in the case placed before them has
not been definitely determined. Com
missioner James F. Oyster, Major
Daniel Sullivan, members of the vice
squad and a headquarters detective
were in conference today discussing
a plan of procedure.
Backsy Not to Take Part.
It was established, however, that
Captan Backsy will neither take
part in the police inquiry or in any
raids which may be decided upon.
Considerable mystery surrounds
Captain Backsy. He contends, it Is
said, that he is in the employ of
"the railroads,” but he has not
named any of the railroads he repre
sents.
There are rumors that He is either
an operative of the special intelli
gence unit of the Treasury Depart
ment or an agent of the Department
of Justice. Officials of these two
departments, however, deny any of
ficial connection of Backsy with the
Federal Government.
Police, it is said, are convinced
that Captain Backsy knows the
liquor and dope situation in Wash
ington and that he is in possession
of first-hand information regarding
the activities of those engaged in
selling liquor and dope.
Another List to Come.
The list of eighty-one persons will
be followed up by a second list al
most as large, it is said. This list
probably'will be turned over to the
police in a few days.
Bootlegging of liquor by the
syndicate is said to have been car
ried on with the aid of Pullman
porters and conductors, these rail
road employes bringing whiskey into
Washington from northern and
southern states.
Several druggists are said to be
connected with the dope ring. .
Police have several times ar
tested men believed to be with the
“ring.” These men have been put
on bond, and, police believe, re-
(Ctmtlnued on Page 2, Column <J
N. Y. World Publisher
And Wife Seek
Paris Divorce
By lateraatianal Mews gervieo.
PARIS, Feb. 14.—Ralph Pul
itzer, president of the Press
Publishing Company,, which
publishes the New York Morn
ing and Evening World, and
Mrs. Pulitzer have filed suit in
the Seine Tribunal for a mutual
divorce, it was learned from an
authoritative tcurce today.
Under the French laws di
vorce actions arc kept secret
upon the request of counsel
representing the interested par
ties.
Pulitzer, who is a son of the
late Joseph Pulitzer, of New
York and St. Louis, was mar
ried to Miao Frederica Vander
bilt Wobb, of New York, in
New York, October 14, 1905.
NEW YORK, Feb. 14.—At the
offices of the Ne# York World
it wes announced that Pulitzer
is now in Pans and that, in
his absence, there is no one
authorized to discuss his per
sonal affairs.
TIMES SAVINGS
PLAN LIKED
BY BOYS
Say They Find It Easy When
They Explain Idea to
Neighbors.
“Education in thrift” —these three
words hold the keynote to the fu
ture prosperity and life of this
country.
Where will the best results be
realized from the teaching of the
maxims of better business and
thrift? There is but one answer —
among the boys of this generation.
By starting its Savings Club
Plan, The Washington Times is
attempting to do its bit toward the
teaching of this lesson. Bank offi
cials and business men of this city
have given their firm support to
the plan and urged all fathers and
mothers to give it their support
also.
Among the Members.
Among the boys who have an
swered the call of the club are
Walter Pettit, 226 Fourteenth street
southwest, and Edward Chambers,
Jr., 147 North Carolina avenue
southeast.
Walter, who is just within the
age. limit of the club but is, at
heart, a real business man, has
secured fourteen subscribers among
the people in his neighborhood since
he Joined the club.
When asked if he had any diffi
culty In securing subscribers for The
Times, he said:
"No, when I tell them about the
club and what The Times is doing
for the boys of this city they are
always glad to sign up with me.
“Gee, but won’t I be glad when I
get my $75 next December. I'm
going to put It In a bank and save it
so that when I get older I will have
some money to go to school with
and everything.
’I should think all the boys here
would want to come in on the club.
The branch manager is great and
treats us so good that we have a
dandy time while we are carrying
our papers."
Edward, whose father is a branch
manager for The Times, la an older
boy.
Finds Plan Popular
“It is so much more fun to work
when you can think that you are
going to get $75 in addition to your
regular earnings. It seems to give
you an awful lot of’•pep.'
"One of my best sales arguments
is telling my prospects what The
(Continued on Pago 2, Column 2 J
MAJ. KIRBY
TO HEAD
BUREAU
Named by Coolidge At Acting
Director in Hill’s Place “To
Restore Morale.”
Major Wallace W. Kirby, of
the corps of engineers, United
States army, officer in charge, of
the engineer neproduction plant
at Washington Barracks, today
was detailed by Secretary of War
Weeks to be acting director of
the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing, succeeding Louis A.
Hill.
Coolidge Makes Announcement.
Announcement was made in be
half of President Coolidge to this
effect:
“The Bureau of Engraving and
Printing is an essential part of Gov
ernment operations. For the past
two years its organization has been
disturbed, and it is not now func
tioning with smoothness.
"After consultation with the Sec
retary of the Treasury, I have asked
the Secretary of War to detail as
acting director of the bureau Major
Wallace W. Kirby, of the engineer
corps, United States army, who Is
an expert in the work done in the
bureau, and who served with dis
tinction in the American expedi
tionary forces in France, in charge
of battle maps and map making.
“Major Kirby will retain his com
mission in the army, and after the
bureau is put once more in good
working order, a permanent direc
tor will be appointed. The pres
ent director’s resignation will be
accepted without prejudice to his
consideration for reappointment.”
The last sentence of the Presi
dent’s announcement left open the
possibility that Director Hill may>
later return, if his superiors see
at.
To Restore Morale.
Major Kirby’s appointment is
solely for the purpose of reorganiz
ing the bureau and restoring the
morale which has been shattered
since the dismissal of former Di
rector James L. Wilmeth and
twenty-eight other officials in I#2l.
Formal announcement of the ap
pointment was given at the con
ference of newspapermen with Sec
retary Mellon, who stated that the
order detailing Major Kirby to the
bureau had been issued by Secre
tary Weeks today.
The new bureau chief had re
ceived no official announcement of
his detail when notified by tele
phone after the conference.
"I’m an army man,” he said,
“and I’ll go where I'm sent, but
I won’t give up my commission in
the corps of engineers for the di
rectorship of the bureau or for
anything else."
It was explained to him that he
would retain his rank. He said he
would wait until he received hlu
orders before making any further
statement. The appointment is ef
fective at once.
Expert in Methods.
Major Kirby is an expert in re
production processes and methods.
rliH experience covers twenty-three
years’ work in commercial establish
ments, engaged in plate printing,
lithography, type printing and photo
engraving. He has also served in
the Coast and Geodetic Survey and
the United States Geological Sur
vey. For eighteen months, he was
superintendent of the photo-litho
graphic section at the Bureau.
Major Kirby received his com
mission in the corps of engineers
at the outbreak of the World War.
He was given full charge of equip
ing and operating the map repro
duction activities of ths army. He
(Continued on Pago 2, Column 8 J
WIFE OF ENGLISH LORD
LIKES LABOR
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Kir
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MRS. J. R. CLYNES,
Wife of the new lord privy seal, likes labor in reality as well as in
politics. She is shown kneading dough in her kitchen in her Lon
don home. Like Queen Mary, she knows the value of good house
keeping.
Harding and Ralston
Focus of Interest
By WILLIAM HARD.
Two themes gripped Washington today—one of intense per
sonal interest out of the past and the other of intense per
sonal interest leading into the future. The first was the ex
panding inquiry into the late President Harding’s personal
financial affairs.
Ths second was the political con-'
sequences of the extraordinary re;
ceptlon given in the Senate to the
maiden speech of Senator Ralston of
Indiana, Democrat, leading dark
horse and tallest stationary light
ning rod for the Democratic Presi
dential nomination.
The day was devoted thus to the
alleged speculations of a dead Pres
ident and to calculations of the sud
denly increased political strength of
a possible future President.
Back of the assertions made by
Frank A. Vanderlip, banker, of
New York, regarding an alleged ex
cessive price paid to the late Presi
dent Harding for his newspaper,
the Star, of Marion, Ohio, there lies
a long line of charges, it was
learned today, regarding alleged
dealings in speculative securities
not necessarily by President Hard
ing himself, but by close associates
of his in White House circles dur
ing his administration. •
Walsh Was Reluctant.
This writer can state out of his
own personal absolute knowledge
that Senator WsJsh .of Montana.
Democrat and leading senatorial oil
inquirer, has beeen extremely re
luctant to bring these matters into
public view and that he was hold
ing his hand about them regarding
(Continued on Fags 2, Column SJ
HOME
MNHagSWMMHMHMMMMI■■■■■■Mi
EDITION
POPE PIUS RECEIVES
VISITORS; ILLNESS DENIED
ROME, Feb. 14.—Pope Pius XI
received visitors as usual during
the morning, completely refuting the
report published by the newspaper
Epoca that he was ill.
GET IN ON THIS
MONEY • •
The Washington Times and
Herald are offering S2OO in
cash prizes, to want-ad read
ers and advertisers this week.
SIOO to Readers
SIOO to Advertisers
If you are in either class you
have a chance to get some
of this money.
For further details, turn to
today’s Classified Advertising
Section.
CALL THE
TIMES-HERALD
Main 5260
STANDARD
HELD UP
610 FOR
LEASE
’ Attorney Sutro Says Company
Acted on His Opinion—Fall
Informed, He Adds.
i Sensation followed sensation to
day as the Senate oil investigators
dug deeper into the morass of
amazing circumstances underlying
the leasing of the great naval oil
reserves to Sinclair and Doheny
interests.
John C. Shaffer, owner of a
string of Western newspapers, ap
peared before the investigating
committee and revealed that as
; early as March, 1921. only * mat
iter of days after he had been
; sworn in as Secretary of the In
> terior, Albert B. Fall was ne
gotiating with Harry F. Sinclair
! for the lease of Teapot Dome,
i The contract was not consum
mated for more than a year later
—in April, 1922.
Gift of 1125,000.
Shaffer revealed, too, that he him
self received $125,000 out of the set
tlements which Sinclair made In
satisfying rival claimants to the
Dome area. Under gruelling queo
tionlng by members of the com
mittee, the publisher once admitted
that It had the appearance of “a
gift,’* although he defended it on
the ground of his prior claims nnd
the fact he had spent considerable
money In developing adjoining
property.
Standard Banner Bld.
The Standard Oil Company did
not make any effort to secure the
contracts for construction of oil
storage tanks at Pear Harbor
(Hawaii) because, in the opinion of
its chief counsel, Oscar Sutro, the
entire project was illegal, according
to Sutro’s testimony today at the
resumption of the. oil investigation
by the Senate Committee on Publio
Lands.
These storage tanks were later
constructed by Doheny interests,
under the contract which gave
them the lease on Elk Hills re
serve in California, and within a
few months after Doheny had
loaned ex-Secretary of the Interior
i Fall SIOO,OOO “in a satchel.”
Sutro Explains Reasons.
Do you recall advertisements
, issued by the Navy Department for
construction of storage tanks at
Pearl Harbor?” asked Senator
Walsh.
“I do, yes."
“Did you company bld?” ‘
‘I think not.”
"Why didn’t your company bid?”
“The proposal was referred to me
to ascertain its legality. I did not
think the proposal was legal or
would be a good contract.
Was Not Authorised
**l rendered a written opinion to
the vice president of the company
that I could not approve it.”
In his written opinion Sutro said:
“I am clearly of the opinion that
the naval leasing act does not au
thorize the proposal of the Navy
Department."
Sutro pointed out that thi word
“exchange” in the act did not au
thorize exchange of royalty oil from
1 the naval reserves for storage tanka.