Evening Star Newspaper, March 30, 1924, Page 1

WEATHER. Partly cloudy toda: afternoon and tonight; and colder; strong Temperature for twen colder this tomorrow fair westerly winds, wo hours ended at 10 p.m. last night: Highest, 65, at 4 p.m.; lowest, Full report on page 5. at 10 p.m. he iy Star, WITH DAILY EVEXNING EDITION No. 992.—No. 29,188. Entered as second-class matter post office Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON, "9 BELIEVED DEAD IN FLOOD RUSHING DOWN POTOMAC; MIDWEST STORM TOLL 26 Cumberland Under Water, Hundreds Flee to Hills. BRIDGES COLLAPSE; DEVASTATION HEAVY Scores of Homes Swept Away In Deluge; Trains Marooned. Nine persons are reported dead many others are believed to have lost their lives, Cumberland and eral smaller cities in western Mary- ! land and West Virginia are either wholly or partially inundated and property worth of dollars has been a flood that illions destroyed in rose with Idenncss carly ggering su erday and was sweeping ¢ Potomac valley last night undiminished fury. s of homes have been half a dozen railroad br known hav collap: ~one h a train on it—live stock has been drowned and hundreds have fled to the mountains for their lives, while th of the flood is reported to be roaring castward on its m death and dev yes down t with S ion station Crack Train Marooned. The (" the Laltimore and Ohio ra aught by the swirling wi Spring Junction, a few Cumberland, however, n other enly that maroone are reporte trains were the ter ing before high ground ched and the passengers forced to into the hil With depressing_rapidity messages from marooned sections in the flood late last night brought more more reports of families caught in the swirling vortex and fear that they may Baye perished before réach- ing the safety of mountain heights Saveral automobile parties, tourists en route to and from Cumberland, were said to have been trapped. Their fates are unknown, Darkness added w was could be and its terror to tne horror of the situation. All gas and electrical plants in the water. vered of commission early in the day and when night fell the entlre section was left without light of any kind except for those supplied with lamps or candles. Confirmation of dire reports from the midst of the inundated country-side was difficult, assistance to th tranded impossible. Family of Six Missing. The deaths thus far reported from semi-official sourc re said to have occurred at Cumberland and McCoole, the latter a small town about four- teen miles west of Cumberland. There a family of six was reported to have been washed out into the violent swirl of the Potomac river when their home was caught by the water and torn from its foundation. News of the tragedy was obtained over the only telephone into the town Te- maining open. of | pitol Limited, crack western | and | the | { The other three fatalities are said | to have occurred when the Western Maryland railroad bridge, the Potomac river at Cumberland, collapsed. A heavy train, loaded with limestone; had been backed onto the bridge to help hold it down as the flood continued to pound at its foundation. A second before the big, three-span structure was. seen to careen and crash into the river three men were observed making their way over it. Many See Bridge Fall Residents of Cumberland, marooned in their homes or offices along the spanning | i river bank, witnessed the collapse of | the bridge and said they were cer- tain the men, possibly members of the train crew making their way to safety when they saw the big span was doomed, could not have reached the river bank before the crash. Their bodies would have beer washed | miles downstream in a minute and | confirmation of the tragedy can not be obtained for several days, at least. At McCoole another bridge was d stroyed a scant minute before a pas- senger train, well filled, would have crossed it. The train was brought to a stop on the very brink of the gap, but the water rose beforo the en- glneer could back to higher ground and the coaches began to fill in a minute. The passengers rushed through the last coach and found questionable shelter in nearby houses before both train and houses were completely surrounded. Other Bridges Crash. Two more western Maryland bridges near Western Port, Md., were crushed by the flood, a bridge for venicular traffic spanning the Potomac at Piedmont, W. Va., went early yes- terday afternoon and the Cumberland and Pennsylvania raflroad bridge near the same place was destroyed simul- taneously. So terriffic was the force of the on-rushing flood that as_ it destroyed one bridge it carried the debris on its crest to the next, there to use it as a battering ram against that structure. Half of Cumberland, the second largest city in Maryland and a thrivs ing manufacturing center, was under twenty feet of water at midnight Although the flood appeared to have i shipping. Highlights of Flood and Storm.Damage Ning dead in Western Mary- Iand. Four bridges swept aw: Scores of homes destroyed. Property loss estimated at millions. Hundreds seek safety Maryland hills, Twenty-six dead in storms and floods ravaging three- fourths of country. Trafic paralyzed by snow in . Paul. Cold wave expected to stop floods and save ecities in Ohio | | | i ‘ FLOOD WILL REACH CREST HERE TODAY Experts Expect Little Local Damage From Swollen Waters of Potomac. | | | ! { | | While little or no damage in or near Washington from the swollen condition of the Potomac was expect- d last night by those familiar with | the river at flood stage, the extent of the rising waters could not be judged until today, when, officials at the t Weather bureau predicted, the cre: the flood would sweep past Was ton. Last night the river was steadily rising, and at a late hour it meas- ured four feet five inches above nor- mal. Th was at low tide, howevery ing the flood reaches Washington, mented by a rising tide, the may overflow over low ground. Little Flood Likely. Those who remember the day ever, when the floods along the upper Potomac meant rowboats on Penn- sylvania avenue, anticipated no such conditions here today, The Qeeper dredging of the channel, the sea wall and the high bridges which now span the river, together with the reclaiming of land in Potomac Park, would prevent this, it is stated. Yes- terday afternoon nigh tide the water did reach above the sea wall in some places along Potomac Park, and today this may happen again, but it is not expected to overflow very far from its banks. Considerable anxiety was felt last night by the owners of shacks and summer camps along the upper Po- tomac, near Cabin John bridge. Many of these buildings—and some of them expensively furnished and equipped— are located on the low ground be- tween the canal and the river from Chain bridge up the river toward Great Falls. Sycamore Island, for instance, one of the favorite spots for campers and their clubs and shacks, probably will be flooded when the crest of the wave reaches this point. T ug- water Land Under Water. Yesterday afternoon all the land which lies between the canal and the {river at Chain Bridge was under a rushing stream, which rapidly grew in depth. This is usually a marsh which becomes dry in summer. Harbor police _anticipated little damage in the Washington channel proper, which forms an unusually safe harbor for small yachts and pleasure craft, as well as the larger Police reported that own- ers of boats had taken unusual pre- cautions to prevent them being swept away. As early as yesterday afternoon, be- fore the effect of the flood which had caused such damage at Cumberland and other points near there had been felt here, the river was full of debris— boxes, trees and some lumber. Those who see the river today, however, may gain some impression of what the flood must have meant to those who have really suffered, for to the ordinary debris will be added the flood’s toll of valuable property. THREE PERISH ON RAFT. Children Swept Into Current While Playing. CONNELLSVILLE, Pa., March 29. Three children were drowned at Mel- croft, near here, late today when thelr makeshift raft was caught in the swollen current of Indian creck and carried downstream. A fourth child saved herself by jumping. The children were paddling in the still water when a strong current swept in and whirled the raft into midstream. The victims were John Doskey, cleven; Frank Stross, fifteen, and Viola Stross, eleven. One body has been recovered. e § s AMALFI PANIC CONTINUES. New Ladslides Force Flight From Homes and an Orphanage. AMALFI, Italy, March 29.-Land- glides continue to terrify the Amalfi region on the Gulf of Salerny. Two new severe movements down the mountainsides to the sea occurred to- day a half mile from Amalfi, making necessary the evacuation of a num- ber of houses as well as an orphan asylum. v The relief work is so well organ- its channel and spread | Ohio and Mississippi Valleys Damaged In Million FIVE CHILDREN DIE IN RISING WATERS St. Paul Buried Under Record Fall of Snow; Two Fatalities. By the Assaciated Press. CHICAGO, March 29.—March pre- pared to roar out of the middle west i!ikr the proverbial lion tonight, fol- {lowing severe general storms of last inight and today extending from the |Ohio to the Mississippi valleys, | which brought death to twenty-six jor more persons, injured more than [100 others and caused damage {estimated at hundreds of thousands }of dollars. | More rain, probably turning to {snow, was forecast for sections of [the middle west tonight, while the | upper Ohio valley faced the growing menace of flood aters, i { Bight Killed in Oklahoma,, | Dead in the | cluded eight | tornado wake of the storm in- ed last night in a wnee, Okla.; four at Sh of {known dead fn southeastern Missouri | the result of a windstorm and re- :‘norte that four others had perished; |a bey killed by lightning in Kansas; |two flood casualties at Pittsburgh; six dead in Ohlo, including four {trainmen reported killed when a and tomorrow, when the full force of | freight train went through a bridge | weakened by high water near New- k, three children drowned at 1sville, Pa., and another child Johnstown, Pa. ie storm in various sections as- sumed the proportions of a tornado and elsewhere manifested itself by | driving snow and hail | with falling temperatures, marked its progress. 1 Three Towns Destroyed. Damage was widespread wherever the storm struck. In southeastern Missouri live stock valued at thou- sands of dollars was killed, while three small towns in Kentucky were reported totally destroyed by a wind- storm. Alton, 111, estimated wind and rain from many cities in Arkansas age to crops was feared in some sec- 14 DEAD, HUNDREDS HURT. Storm Damage Heavy—Winds Continue. KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 29.—The number of known dead from the se- vers storm that swept the southwest Friday stood at fourteen tonight, with total property damage running | in lars. Hundreds of persons were in- i jured. i nado that ripped across central Okla. ho'na, centering at Shawnee. Other ' ies that reported heavy property damage were Enid, Guthrie, Freder- ick, Noble, Hillis and Holdenville. The known dead in southeastern Missouri increased to five today, with one expected to die and unconfirmed reports of four others having per- ished. Two Women Vietims. The dead in Missouri include a woman at Cape Girardeau, a woman near Sikeston, an infant near Charles- ton and an unidentified negro man. Benjamin Wintroub was killed at Shelbina, Mo., today when a brick wall, left standing from a fire, blew over on him. In Kansas and Texas several per- sons were injured and considerable property damaged. Thunderstorms were widespread throughout the southwest Friday, and in many localities heavy hail and rain fell. In the wake of the sudden disturb- ances of Friday strong winds were reported today, accompanied by a drop in temperature. TRAFFIC IS PARALYZED. Complete Tie-Up in St. Paul. ST. PAUL, Minn., March 29.—Buried under a record fall of snow, Min- neapolis and St. Paul fought desper- ately tonight to open up rail aad vehicular traffic, paralyzed for nearly eighteen hours. Minnesota and North Dakota, Montana and parts of Wisconsin felt the grasp of the worst blizzard of the season and one of unprecedented ieffect in the Twin Cities and, vicinity. Rail traffic was seriously crippled— at a stardstill in many sections, while wire communication was severely handicapped, many small cities and towns being completely isolated. Street Cars Stopped. Street car traffic was at an ab- solute standstill all day, hardly a car having moved since shortly after mid- night, and all through the day every resource of the company was used in an unsuccessful attempt to get the cars moving. Down the business streets giant stopped rising at that hour and re-|;;cq that those in the danger zone |trucks pushed smow piles that turned (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) moved with little inconvenience. ), (Continued on Page 2, Column 2.) High winds, | had damaged the city $150,000, while | reports of heavy property loss came | Dam- | tions of South Dakota and Minnesota. | Southwest ! into hundreds of thousands of dol- | Eight lives were taken by a tor- | | Mountainoul ~Snowdritts Cause l \ With Nomination of | p ! ing Progress | L=} | N. 0. MESSENGER. Politicians are still hotly discues- ! ing President Coolidge's demand for | Attorney General Daugherty's resig- nation and the probable effect of the latter's withdrawal from the cab- inet. The Attorney General, in his brisk reply to the President, added ground for the taking of sides over the incident and furnished a basis for contenticn. The weight of opinion among the “practical politicians™ is that the politieal atmosphere has been cleared for the administration and the party. How long it will remain =0 is problematical, as the demo- crats are already giving evidence of intention to “go after” other mem- bars of the cabinet. President Coolidge gained some delegates last week, ranning his score up to 246. This week promises to yield another crop, as district delegates will be selected in several VETO OF AUTO TAX LAWMAY BE ASKED Citizens Decide on Plea to Coolidge Unless Original Measure Passes. Unless Congress passes the gaso- line tax bill in the form in which it was originally submitted by the Com- missioners, the Federation of Citi- zens' Associations will seek to have it vetoed by President Coolidge. This was decided upon at a special meeting of the federation at the Dis- trict building last night, called for ! the purpose of making a final appeal to the Senate and House to eliminate the personal tax on automobiles in adopting the gas tax. Against Revenue Measure. A resolution adopted last night set forth that the gasoline tax was asked for by the Commissioners, not to raise more revenue, but to form a basis for reciprocity with Maryland. Con- gress, the federation declared, is seeking to convert the bill into 2 medium for raising’unnecessary ad- ditional revenue by retaining the personal tax and creating the ;;asl tax also. H The resolution, which was pre- sented by William S. Torbett and! Jesse C. Suter, was.as follows: “Resolved, That the Congress of the United States is hereby called upon to respect the only. political right vouchsafed the people of the District of Columbia—that of peti- tion—by enacting into law the bill prepared and submitted by the Com- missioners of the District of Colum- bia, for the purpose of effecting mo- tor vehicle reciproeity with the state of Maryland, and to refrain from enacting legislation which only inci- dentally effects that object and which, in' its primary aspect, is to raise revenue in a manner subversive of’ the emphatically declared will of the people.” \ = ‘Want First Bill Or Nome. Before the resolution was adopted }an amendment was added by Delegate J. W. Murphy “informing Congress that if it intends to pass anything other than ' the. Commissioners’ bill, the federation -wants no legislation at all. . . After the final appeal to the legis- lators had been passed on Willlam McK Clayton brought up 'a motion plegging, the federation to seek a vefo it the bill as enacted violates ™ way the 60-40 ratio between Continued on Pagé 13, Column 1) r i DAD'S NEW RADIO SET. PLATFORM FOR COOLIDGE NOW ENGROSSES LEADERS President Regarded as Certain, Thought Turns to Hold- ives in Line. states known tory. The li to be Coolidge terri- of delegates he has won_up to date follows: Colorado, 15; Georgia, 3, with 15 to come; Idaho, 11; Jowa, 29; Kansas, 21, with 2 to come: Kentucky, 26: Louisiana, 13: Minnesota, Mis- sissippi, 12; Missouri, 10, with 29 to come; New Hampshire, 11; New Mexico, 9; North Carolina, 14, with 8 to come ; North Dakota, 13; South Carolina, 11 ; Tenneasee, 2, With 25 to come; Virginia, 17; Philippines, 2; total, 246. * * ® Republican leadérs at the Capitol apd In the party councils outside are ivihg thought to the framing of the party platform at the Cleveland con- vention commencing June 10, There seems to be a disposition to lean to- ward a pronounced progressive plat- form, even some of the “old guard™ and “standpatters” realizing that 1924 will’ not_be (Continued on I’ ge TODAY’S STAR PART ONE—38 Pages. General News—Local, National, Foreign. National Poljtical Survey—Page 4. Schools and Colleges—Page 22. Maryland and Virinia News—Page 23. Radio News and Gossip—Pages 28 and 29. Campfire Girls—Page 33. Financlal News—Pages 34 and 35. Parent-Teacher Activities—Page 36. PART TWO0—I16 Pages. Editorlals and Editorial Features. Washington and Other Society. Tales of Weil Known Folk—Page 10. Serial, “The Mystery of Lynne Court"— Page 11. At the Community Centers—Page 12. Girl Scouts—Page 12, D. A. R. Activities—Page 13. Boy Scouts—Page 13. The Civilian Army—Page 14. Veterans of the Great War—Page 14, News of the Clubs—Page 15. Army and Navy News—Page *15. Spanish War Veterane—Page 15. PART THREE—I2 Pa; Amusements—Theaters and the Photo- play. Music ‘in Washington—Page 5. Notes of Art and Artists—Page 5. Motors and Motoring—Pages 6 to 9. Reviews of New Books—Page 10. Around the City—Page 10. Fraternities—Page 11. PART FOUR—1 Pages. Pink Sports Section. PART FIVE—S8 Pages. Magazine Section—Fiction and Features. PART SIX—8 Pages. Classified Advertising. GRAPHIC SECTION—S8 Pages. World Events in Pictures. COMIC SECTION—4 Pages. Mr. Straphanger; Reg'lar Fellers; Mr. and Mrs.; Mutt and Jeff. TRAIN WRECK FATAL. One Man Killed, Two Others Hurt in Crash. - FRANKFORT, Ky., March 29.—One man, Fireman - William Jones, was [killed and two persons geverely in- jured when a passenger train on the Beattyville branch of the Loulisville and Nashville jumped the track at Trumbo, about three miles east of here, late today. LA FOLLETTE STILL GAINS Physicians Are Pleased With Sena- tor's Progress. An - improvement was noted by physicians yesterday in the condition of Senator La Follette of Wisconsin, who is fighting an attack of bron- chial pneumonia. . The senator, it was added, had had a good day and the physicians were pleased with his progress. > D. C, SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 30, 1924. —-NINETY-EIGHT PAGES. AGREE TO REPEAL OF TICKET TAXES Senate Committee Favors, With Modifications, Pro- posed Board. The Senate finance committee yes- terday agreed to the repeal of the 10 Per cent admission tax on tickts sell- ing for 50 cents or less, as voted by the House, and approved with some modifications the proposed board of tax repeals. The admission tax for theaters and entertainments was the first of ghe rate schedules in the revenue bill, agide from the income tax, taken up by the committee. Further study of the' estimates and probable surplus avallable for tax reduction will be made this week before completing the | various schedules. Chairman Smoot has' invited Secretary Mellon to ap- pear before the committee in this con- nection Tuesday. A motion yesterday by Senator i Walsh, democrat, Massachusetts, to double the admission tax on tickets j selling for $1.50 and over was defeat- v Mellon had recommend- {ed repeal of this tax entirely which he estimated would have reduced rev- enue about $70,000,000 annually. The proposed reduction is estimated to cut down receipts from admissions about $23,000,000. Would Reduce Receipts. Chairman Smoot repeated yester- day, in referring to the Treasury esti- mates, that the revenue bill as passed by the House would bring about a considerable reduction in receipts. This would have to be remecdied, he declared, through revising the mis- | cellaneous and excise tax rates, many of which were repealed or reduced by the House, In this connection, Representative Frear, republican insurgent, W n, assailed the estimates of Chair- soldier bonus bills yesterday on the fioor of the House. “The press was recently informed,” |Mr. Frear declared, “by a distin- guished gentleman from a western state that gave Mr. Taft half of his cight electoral votes that the House tax bill we passed would cause a def- icit of $100,000,000. Secretary Mellon more recently testified before the Senate finance committee that any deficit from the bill we passed would reach only $55,000,000 and this was ! con- | man Smoot, both on the revenue and | The Star is Earth Tremors 1,600 Miles Off Reported Here Farth tremors described as “very sharp” were recorded on the seismo- | graph at Georgetown University to- night, beginning at 7:25 p.m. and con- tinuing about thirty-five minutes. Director Tondorf of the university observatory estimated the distance from Washington at 1,600 miles and sald the direction indicated that the quake may have occurred in Mexico. SEATTLE, Wash, March 29. Violent earth tremors of long du ltion were recorded today by the sel |mograph at the University of Wash- ington here. The shocks started at 3:16 p.m. and lasted for more than an hour. The center of the disturbance ! was estimated to be ahout 450 miles | distant. FAVOR CURTAILING DAUGHERTY PROBE Committeemen to Decide Further Action Tomorrow. More Charges Aired. | i | One mrore public session of the Sen- ate Daugherty investigating commit- tee was held yesterday, but an execu- tive session of its members was call- ed for tomorrow, to consider the ques- tion of the inquiry's duration and direction. The sentiment of committee mem- bers, as developed since the resigna- tion of the Attorney General, was that a way had been opened for cur- tailing, if not concluding, the flow of charges which has run through the proceedings. . New Charges Made, A general charge that “the anirt-‘ ment of Justice is functioning as an | {aid to crooks,” made to Mr. Daugher- | ty by H. F. Scaife, a former special | investigator in government employ, as he resigned in April, 1922, and a hint of another $100,000 whisky * were the high spots in yesterday's' | public hearing. W. J. Burns, head of the bureau of investigation, who | had been summoned to appear with | his files for the day, was excused to | wait for the committee's executive session tomorrow. The question of access to the de-| partment’s files, which the committee | sought from Mr. Daugherty and! which he refvsed, was settled for the time being by its decision to grant| the request of Acting Attorney Gen- | eral Beck that the matter be 18ft| open until a new head of the de partment takes office. i Scaife’s story, which had wide ram- | ifications, indicated that he had been | “blocked” in attempting to bring| about prosecutions for alleged air-| iplane frauds. Going to Thomas B.| Felder, a friend of Mr. Daugherty, | with his story, he said, an interview | | with the former Attorney General| was arranged at which he presented | { general and extensive charges as to | non-prosscution of frauds against the | { government. | Bosch Magneto Case Drawn In., ! The matter was dropped. he added. | | although Felder wrote him a letter | tendering him “a retainer in the| Bosch magneto case.” This case, hei | asserted involved a concern “seized | {by the alien property custodian dur- | ing the war and sold for a ml)“ inadequate sum,” to Martin Kerns, | identified as “a friend of A. Mitchell | Palmer, then alien property custo- | dian.” Hornblower & Weeks, a Boston | banking firm. from which, Senator | Jonmes, republican, Washington, put| in, Secretary of War Weeks “retired | some years ago,” was named as being | a factor in the magneto concern sale | and reorganization. Nicholas Cimino, a New York res- taurant man, told of “interceding” | with Howard Mannington, a friend of | Mr. Daugherty, in an endeavor to| obtain appointments, but specifically and repeatedly denied suggestings that money had been passed. He did assist two New York eteno- graphers, whom he named as “Price” and *“Moore,” to obtain contracts for reporting federal court proceedings, Continued on Page 12, Column 1.) | | Fritz, a big German police dog, had his day yesterday. But it was a day in court and Fritz signed his own death warrant. ‘Last night he was sleeping fn what might be call- ed “murderers row’ at the city pound, for he occupied & cell reserv- ed for the dogs condemned to die. Perhaps he dreamed, in his troubled sleep, of a day when dogs roamed | where they willed and bit whom they chose—of a day when there were no such things as city ordinances, police courts or indignant human beings arrayed against him as witnesses. It was a bad day for Fritz. He loved his master, Lewis A. Payne, 3410 Lowell street northwest, and there's no doubt his master loved him. But that had nothing to do with it. There were fourteen wit- nesses, including a perfectly good policeman, arrayed against him, who charged he was a “dangerous and vicious dog.” There was an attor- ney to fight for him, but ¥ritz took the ‘stand in his own behalf. He couldn't be cross-examined, so he tes- tified to his own good character as best he could. His testimony con- sisted in behaving himself perfectly, submitting to caresses and petting ['by strange folk and altogether mak- ing & good impression on everybody who saw him. Breke Down Under Strain. But the strain was too great, and “Fritz,” German Police Dog, Awaits Death With Stoical Indifference (Continued on Page 12, Column 2.) Fritz broke under it. His master had just taken the' stand and was plead- ing only as a man who loves his dog can plead. Sitting on the outsido of the bar Lawyer Neil, a colored at- torney, was watching the trial. Fritz was watching him and for some unknown reason he left the floor in a single bound and leaped at the! lawyer. : Eye witnesses say Lawyer Neil | performed a slight of hand trick. | It consisted in placing a chair be-| tween himself and the dog without | visible effort or movement. One sec- ond Neil was sitting in the chairs Another “second Neil was standing | behind the chalr, and nobody saw | how he did it. Luckily Fritz had a | leash on his collar and friends pulled him oft. But it was enough. Fritz had confessed. Death Sentence Passed: Judge Gus A. Schuldt ordered him put to death. Policeman H. F. Corn- ! well of sub-T station, who had in- ! vestigated the case and produced | fourteen witnesses who said they had been bitten by the dog, accompanied Mr. Payne and Fritz to the pound. There Mr. Payne declined to sign the form which is known as the “owner's release,” consenting to the animals execution. So Fritz, an aristocrat despite his failings, was put in a cell to await a formal order from the lcourt for his execution. | this “From Press to Home Within the Hour” delivered every evening and Sunday morning to Washington homes at 60 cents per month. Telephone Main 5000 and service will start immediately. FIVE © ENTS. JUSTICE A.P. RUGE OFFERED POST OF ATTORNEY GENERAL Chief of Massachusetts Su- preme Court First Choice to Succeed Daugherty. FRIENDS FEAR JURIST MAY DECLINE OFFER Is Considered One of Foremost Lawyers and Public Men in New England. President Coolidge has offered the appointment as Attorney General of the United States to Arthur Prentice Rugg, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, it was learned last night from an authorita- tive source. Official announcement of this fact it is explained, is waiting only word from the Massachusetts jurist whether or not he will accept this offer. Massachusetts friends of Justice Ruggs in Washington when ques- tioned about the probability of his acceptance were unable to forecast his attitude. It is understood that efforts are being made to prevail upon him to assume the head of the Department of Justice and give his ability and experience to the Pres- ident at this time, Has Distinguished Record. Justice Rugg has been a member of the highest court of Massachusetts for more than eighteen years and has frequently been mentioned a possible appointee to the SupremesCourt of the United States. He has had a wide ex- perience as a lawyer in Massachusetts and is generally looked upon as one of the outstanding legal figures of New England. Aside from the nature of the serv- ice Justice Rugg would give to the administration, according to those who know him, the selection would be most happy and fortunate from other angles. In picking this long- trained lawyer and jurist the ques- tion of political gain and vantage would be removed. Also, because of Mr. Rugg’s record, he could not help but be readily confirmed by the Sen- ate. May Dechine Offer. Justice Rugg's hesitancy in accept- ing this honor is not difficult to un- derstand by his friends and others familiar with the situation. His pres- ent high place carries with it great honors and satisfaction and it would take much courage and patriotism to give these up to take charge of the Department of Justice at a most diffi- cult time. There is some beliet that by cepting the attorney generalship at time “Justice Rugg would no doubt be appointed to the United tates Supreme Court in the event of a vacancy there within a reasonable time. ac- Has Large List. Provided Justice Rugg does not ac- cept, the President must look about for some cther available candidate, and he will again turn to the list of those he has noted down mentally | since it became evident to him that the portfolio would have to be filled sooner or later. The general requirements that Mr. Coolidge will demand are that the man be one in whom the country will | have confidence, and that he have an [ unquestioned knowledge of law and a capacity for administration. In work- ing toward more detailed qualifica- tions he consulted yesterday some of his closest advisers and Judge Fred- erick E. Crane of the New York court | of appeals. The list of those to which the Presi- | dent probably will go in seeking a new Attorney General to meet the re- quirements determined upon is large. White House officials refused to give any inkling as to those on the list, but from many urces it was learned that it includes, in addition to Justice Rugg, Secretary Hughes, Senator Borah of Idaho, Harlan F¥. Stone of New York, Judge William S. Kenyon of Towa, Gov. Alexander J. Groesbeck of Michigan and Senator Pepper of Pennsylvania. Cheiee May Be Difficalt. There was no indication that from such a lengthy list as even this the President would be able to find a man who would accept the place or meet exactly the requirements he is laying down. Geographical considerations, while not considered of primary im- portance by the President, may elimi- nate some at the outset. Judge Kenyon's nomination, is be- ing urged on the President by some of the republican leaders from the middle west and west, They point to his record as a progressive republican in the Senate, and his eariier record as assistant attorney genmeral when he was in charge of “trust busting™ cases In the department. His nomi- nation would be hailed by the coun- try, they say, as a step to place the Department of Justice, which has been under fire for a long time, on a high level. On the other hand, some of the President's advisers are strongly ¢o- posed to Judge Kenyon. They fear, it is said, that he might start soma litigation that would attack busi- ness in a vital way, that he might revert to his old trust-busting habits —a course, they say, not all to be de- sired with the campaign now getting under way. Opposed to Kenyon. There are interests, in other words, who are desirous of having a more “conservative” man in the office off (Continued on Page 12, Column &)