Evening Star Newspaper, March 12, 1926, Page 1

WEATHER. (T, 8. Weather Bureau Cloudy, slightly colder tomorrow: possibly light snow flurries tonight; minimum tem 20 degres Highest, vesterday: lowest, For el at Fntered post oflice, No. 28,900, Wa SPAIN WILL LEAVE LEAGUE IF DENIED SEAT ON GOUNCIL Definite Decision Made on Subject, Authoritative Ge- neva Report Reveals. MUDDLE, OTHERWISE, REGARDED AS CLEARER Madrid Threatens to Break Off Treaty Negotiations ~ With Sweden as Result of Row. B the from an authoritative Spain has definitely decided to vesign from the Les ations unless she 1< given a permanent seat in the coun ril rom the same source it s learned that Spaln has informed Sweden that hecause of Sweden's unfriend u- tude in connection with the Spani candidacy for a permanent seat, Spain i< thinking of hreaking off the pend- 2 tiations for commercial wreaty with Sweden, source thit Creates Nensation. This development created mous sensation in th «les where it became known today. » diplomats characterized it as un nate and harmful to the Spanish e, bringing into the league af- | menace affeet fons out- + the scope of the nish circles, how the initiative that, in view of For 8 den’s inimical attitude toward Spain, the irid government did not ¢ to transform the existing modus vi- vendi between the two ¢ “ Ar treaty of commerce. entatives of the allied #nd Germany met for two hou 1o dar and discussed the difficulties which have arisen over the plan for German admission to the league and elevation to the les e council. At the end of the on_a com munique was issued stating that vari- ons suggestions had been made by one side or another, and that the dele- gates would meet again after time for veflection. The participating states men gave the impression that the ituation was brighter. Optimistic. an enor- diplomatic ared Delegates The fact that the Germans had for | the first time joined with the allies in | ndvancing suggestions as to how the! controversy could be settled was in- terpreted optimistically by all the dele- gations, One suggestion advanced, it is 1 ed. was that Poland provisionally be given a non-permanent seat by imme. diately increasing the six non-perma nent members of the council to seven The Polish premier, Count Skrzynski fnterviewed after the meeting, sald: “I do not know the exact solution proposed, but 1 feel confident that Feason will prevail.” As for Spain and Brazil, ed in diplomatic circles th suggestions advanced today both will 1 ked 1o postpone their candidacy for permanent seats until the Septem her meeting. Afranio Mello Franco, the Brazilian representutive, has ca- bled to Rio de Janeiro for fresh in- structions. and Count Quinones v similarly is communicating with id it i report t under the same circles insist that sthe Germans will not oppose Poland's can- didacy for a non-permanent t, guch election is vested in the assem and not in the council. Another Course Open. Anoth by provisiona suggestion is that Poland, urangement. be given seat with the understs must take her chances for ion As 4 non-permanent mem- her when the halloting cecurs s Sep tember Should the Gern fonal ad & 0 b v minister. fo not earry his opps ment the wineil Jimit of prevent 1 ing under is und ued that al minimum mens s controversi between ( ing it desir in the col ciliation. “Do not dence, as plicated, after the however, Bri 1 s agree any n of Poland, ien, the Swedish for wcast that he would tion to enla ) the extreme nd from ente i1 conditions. il the allied delegates Poland should be given a non permanent place for of six This wsed on the possibility of political problems avising many and Poland, render- ble to have hoth nations 1cil, in the interests of con- rxpress the a too much confi- situation is still German delegate sais meetin; He admitted, that things looked brighter nd’s Hopes Raised. ot =aid to the news- wper men morning as he emerged from a privat conference with Chancellor Luther I Minister Stresemann of garding the League of 1 M. Paui-Boncour and Louis Lou- eheur of the French delegation were also present at the conference, which Jasted an hour. An unexpected cident today was a meeting of Sic Austen Chamberlain, British foreign ary, and representatives of the British dominions, including Ireland, for an exchange of views regarding the situation The dominion any information but it was learne Jiable authority 1 rd Downing stree ing in complete harmony, the do- minions agreeing with the funda- mental British policy that nothing must be allowed to interfere with Germany’'s entrance into the league. and delegates refused the vesterday the dominions have been work- Austrian Claims Automatic Tele- phonic Connections Possible. VI A, Austria, March ). The Neues Wiener Journal. says a secret means of ess telephonic mmunication. allowing the auto- matie connection of subscribers as in | A modern telephone exchangze, has been perfected by Btil M an’ engineer at_Moedling, near \ Trials of the apparatus are to begin s Marek transmits on wave lengths which change 20,000 times a gecond and to these the receiving ap- paratus must be absolutely attuned. full report see page 9. Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 30 h | | posed the propo: untries into ! owers | rn-| n- de ; cu- | com- | Premier | ut Forecast.) tonight and rature about at 345 pm. a.m. today. as second class matter shington, D. Wrecks Alleged Scheme to Override Foes of Larger Council. guage Use During De- bate Is Denied. BY EDGAR ANSEL MOWR! By Cable to The Star and Chi N Ably sue il Aristide A brutal but the the by m- Nations : s made on Thursday Briannd and Austen el . It was shattered o i odmirable granite ohstingey | Swedish representative, Dr. Unden. { o Todav, in the welter's opinion. will {mark the definite capitulation of the “consp ors”™ and they will stop seeking vainly vealiz nethings on their to Poland M. | Briand first ha ued the ¢ powers who et unotficially Thurs- {duy evening, asking them to elect Poland to a non-permanent place on e council simultaneous with Ger .many’s entry, although the Gern | previously had rejected such a Posal. My, Chamberlain, an effort to [jyally the council.” declared M. | Fu of in and’s solution was acceptuble. 1y half of the council membegg op- 1, but it is doubtful 1if any would have had the courage to speak, except Sweden, whe gate, Dr. Unden, exy ned for ¢h SWEDISH PREMIER’S OBSTINACY FOILS BRIAND AND CHAMBERLAIN Violent and Coercive Lan- the | the | e dele- | WASHINGTO KEYSTONE V uncil | AUSTE! AMBERLAIN. venth time vote against couneil Mr. Chamberlain declared that if Sweden would prove reasonable he would convince the Germans, where- upon Dr. Unden answered “You are trying to hully us.” Mr. Chamberlain’s nerves reacted and the two exchanged biting re- marks, whereupon the meeting closed. | Two hours later the incident. in some- (Continued on I Column 8.) his peremptory orders any widening of the ge CHINESE GUNS FIRE ONTWO JAPANESE WARSHIPS IN RIVER ! ‘. | Three Wounded in Bombard- | ment, Which Forces De- stroyers Back to Base. By the Associated Press G, March 12—While two Jap- |anese destroyers were proceeding up {the Pei River below Tientsin | they were fired on from the forts n the mouth of the river held by troops of the Kuominchun (national armies). Machine guns and field batteries were used in the bombardment. One Jap- anese officer and two men were wounded. | The Japanese decided to abandon ;lht’ attempt to move up the river and {the destrovers returned to Tangku, near the mouth of the river, where two other Japanese destrovers are {1ying. It ,returned the fire of the forts. The Japenese consul general at Tientsin s lodged a strong protest with the | Kuominchun teaders. ELS § RCHED. of Shipping Across Taku Bar Still Hampered. VTSIN, March 11 () (delayed). | —Though more steamers arrived at | Tientsin today and reports are cur- rent that the Fengtien squadron, i which is supporting Marshal Chang | Tso-lin, Manchurian leader, has dis- ! appeared from Taku bar, the move. | ment of steamers across the bar is 1l subject to private arrangement and restrictions. The Kuominchun (national armies which is carrving out the blockade | with the view to preventing Chang !army from Shantung from making a anding near Tientsin, sends a search party to each vessel before permi sion is given to enter the river. Th | party accompanies the steamer to ku. which is a few miles up the fr 15 s includir |officers of wh ture near the b of these ships suffering ? food and water, a condition it Is difti- | cultto remedy’ owing to the lack of small eraft, | The restrictions on outgoing vessels lis less severe, but ships : llowed to carry coal for export, owing lto the shortage in Tientsin. i steamers ne Chines the re reluctant to ven- It i reported some re still being h |DOUBTS LIQUOR CAUSED | FALL SECRETARY’S DEATH | Physician Questions | Finding That Poison Rum Killed Walter Abbott. | By the Associated Press. | EL PASO. Tex., March 12— Poison liquor may not have been the cause of the death of \Walter Abbott, pr vate secretary lo former Secretary of the Interior A. B. Fall, it was disclosed by Dr. Holms, who brought the viscera of the dead man { here last night. Finding of ¢ other circumstanc i man to demand { the stomach will be an- ces of poison. The cor- | oner found that Abbott’s death due to poison liquor. Abbott was found dead in an automobile near ‘Tuiarosa yvesterday. and friends of the . The Steamer in Distress. LEWES, Del,, March 12 (#).—The German steamer Adolf Leonhart, Ca- tania, Italy, for New York, is in dis- tress off the Virginia Capes, having lost her propeller, according to a wireless message received here today. The Norfolk division of the Coast Guard Service has sent a cutter to the steamer's assistance. Noted Painter Dies. ANTA BARBARA, Calif., Rudolphe W. Brougier, landscape artist, March 56, died i | S 12 ). portrait and here yesterday. He :was a native of Switzerland. He studied art in Ger- many and France, where he won fame for both landscape and portrait work. 'y s not clear whether the Japanese | Coroner's | New Gold Strike In Alaska Starts Rush for Claims | By the Associated Press NOME, Alaska, March 1 ports of a gold strike near about 60 miles east of here, caused many persons to mpede from here yesterday. Dog teams were in great demand, Bluff, c pectors believe the strike same kind of beach digking as found in the vicinity of Nome tinues up and down coast. for many An 18inch pay streak averaging $3 a 1 was said to heen found. Merritt & Chidic, owners of placer property in the district, r 0-foot tunnel in from the They first obtained cents a pan, ranging to $3. LEGISLATIE PLANS President Approves Revamp- ed Program Shaped by Willis and Tilson. BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG. Following several conferences dur- Ing the past week between President Coolidge and Republican leaders of the Senate and House the latter now have a fairly accurate idea of what the President expects to be accomplished between now and the end of the ses. sion and they are shaping their legis- lative course according Realizing that it is possible for Con- gress to adjourn between the middle 1last day of May, the President has cored (o impre caders at the Capitol his certain pending le; sire to see these measures passed with- out unnecessary delay. Also he has insisted that the leadership of both the Senate and the Hou nge their original programs so as to save the more important legislation from the t-minute jam. Sees His legislative conferences today were first with Senator Willis of Ohic member of the Senate steering com- mittee, and then with Representative Tilson of Connecticut, Republican leader of the House. During these talks a final program was drafted and assurance was given to the Ex- ecutive that his wishes would be car- ried out so far as is possible. It was said that President Coolidge, when convinced that it would be im- possible for Congress to adjourn be- fore June 1, agreed to call a special session of the Senate to try Federal Judge English of Hlinois if the jurist is impeached by the House, It was pointed out that if this impeachment trial were held hefore adjournment much time would he consumed, and | the House would be required to re- main in session without any husiness to transact. Impeachment of Judge English on charge of high misdemeanors in office has heen recommended by the House judiclary committee, but the Touse has vet to act on it. interest in ion and his de. is and Tilson. Legislative Program. According to Senator Willis and Mr. Tilson, the revamped legislative pro- gram will include the following major measures: ;L. The general public huildings bill, authorizing $165.000.000 to cover a pe- d of five years. Of this amount i $50,000.000 will be spent for the erec- tion of governmental buildings in the District of Columbia at the rate of $10,000,000 2 year for five vears. | 2. The Watson-Parker railroad bill, i which abolishes the Railroad Labor Board. 3. Approval of the terms for the set- tlement of the Italian war debt and others pending. 4, Coal legislation that will embody the President’s recommendations for a commission. 5—Muscle Shoals—Some agreement for the disposal of this property. Little hope could be held ‘out to the President for legislation to sepa- rate the Shipping Board and the Emergency Fleet Corporation. Sen- ator Willis stated that the prospects are not good for the proposed rail- {road consolidation bill, which is ad- vocated by the President, and Mr. Tillson s very positive that the bill would have no chance in the House. Reorganization of the executive departments was not included among (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) GIVENT0 CODLIDGE: upon the party | WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION D. €., FRIDAY, 2y LAFOLLETTE GETS PLACE IN' INQUIRY INTARIFF BOARD Named as Progressive Mem- ber of Group to Start Probe Next Week. WADSWORTH AND REED TO REPRESENT G. 0. P. | | o | Robinson and Bruce Are Demo- crats—Former May Be Chairman. Ta Tollette, Republican, was named today hy Vice President Dawes as the “progressive Republican” on the special commit tee which is to investigate the Tarift | Commission. | The other members of the commit- tee were named as follows: Senators Wadsworth of New and Reed of Pennsylvania, | licans, and Robinson, Arkansas, Bruce, Maryland, Democrats. The committee will select its own chairman and s expected to hegin the inquiry next week Senator La Follette is the only Sen- ator listed In the Congressional Di- a “progressive Republican.’ are half a dozen others who generally designated that way in | debate in the Senate. Senator Wisconsin York and | ostered by Robinson. There was speculation as to who would be selected as chairman of-the committee. Senator Robinson of Ar | kansax, Democratic leader of the Sen- ate, ix the author of the resolution providing for the inquiry. It was sug wested that he probably would be elect- | ed chairman. | The alternative would be the elec- on of one of the Republicans, pre | sumably either Senator Wadswe | or Senator Reed of Pennsylvania. he personnel of the committee was vegarded as particularly strong and | well qualified to carry on the investi- gation. The investigation, it was pre. | dicted, would probably require consid- [ exable’ time and might even run into the Summer. Campaign in View. This probably would not suit either enator Wadsworth, who is up for re- electfon this year, or Senator La Fol- lette, who is counting on getting into the campaign in_support of progres- sive candidates for the Senate and House. | The appointment of the junior Sena- tor from Wisconsin as a member this investigating committee, eslected as he was from the whole group of Re- publican progressives, was considered |as no small distinction. He is, as it happens, particularly well qualified to estigation. Tarift N, a4 progressive. {take part in the i Commissioner Costig: “(Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) UTILITIES HEARINGS 1$4,000 in Appropriation Bill Is $1,000 Less Than Need- ed, Covell Explains. Public hearings of the Public Util- ities Commission will have to be cur | tailed to some extent unless Congre: adds $1.000 to the commission's inci dental expense item in the District appropriation bill, according to Maj. W. E. R. Covell, assistant engineer commissioner, assigned to public utilities, As reported to the House the ap. propriation bill provides $4.000 for the incidental expenses of the commis- sion, §1,000 less than the minimum amount required to conduct hearings and pay for reports and other items, Maj. Covell explained today. The appropriation last year was $5,000, Maj. Covell said, and this amount just barely will meet the expenses up to June 30, despite the fact that rigld economy has been practiced. Public hearings are abso- lutely essential, Maj. Covell explained, as the commission would have no legal right to issue an'order unless they were held. Through combined hearings at which two, three and four petitions were considered on the same day, Maj. | Covell said, the commission has been able to economize, and keep within its $5,000 appropriation. The services of a stenographic reporter and photo- static copies of his transcript are ex- pensive items, he declared, and by con- sidering two or more applications on the same day the cost of the short- hand reporter is not Increased as he receives the same compensation re- gardless of the amount of time he Covell, as well as other officials connected with the commission, indi- cated that they were elated over the ftem in the appropriation bill provid- ing a salary for a counsel for the com- mission While the bill does not specifically state that the counsel shall be a peoples’ counsel the officials belleve that he could be used for that purpose and that the salary provision was included in_anticipation of the passage of the bill now pending in Congress which would reorganize th.e commission and create a people’s ounsel. e Corporation Counsel Francis H. Stephens, who now serves as the com- mission’s legal adviser, will not lose his status in this capacity, according to commission officials, if the reorgan- wzation bill is enacted. The commis- sion now pays Mr. Stephens a salary of $1,000 a year for his services, which added to his stipend as corporation counsel, makes an annual compensa- tion of $6,000, the same amount as provided for the proposed people’s counsel. Radio Programg——l’nge 37. ) MARCH Repub- | th | of | took up with the Jate Senator La Fol- MAY BE CURTAILED public | stenographic | 12, 1926 —FIFTY-FOUR ¢ Foening Star. PAGES. * service. Yesterday's (R S AT \WOMAN APPOINTED DRY PROSECUTOR ers. Greathouse, Lawyer Less Than Year, Promoted Over Other Aides. Mrs. Rebecca Greathouse, wife of Lucien H. Greathouse of 1434 Harvard street, appointed lwst October as an assistant United States attornev in the office of Maj. Peyton Gordon. was today officially assigned to Policf | Court, where she will take charge of the prosecution of violators of the pro- hibition laws. The transfer calls for a $300 in- {crease of salary, which was recom- I mended by the District attorney sev- {eral days ago and approved by the United States Attorney General. This gives Mrs. Greathouse $3.000 a vear, a larger salary than either David Hart |or Thomas E. Lodge, assistant District |attorneys, who have been in charge of the handling of liquor cases for four {and three vears, respectively. Mr. { Hart receives a salary of $2300 per nnum and Mr, Lodge $2,4 aduated Last Greathouse une. wa graduated the Washington Col- Mrs last June from lege of Law. and was admitted to the {bar a short time before her appoint- | ment ax an assistant United States at+ Htorney in October She prepared for |college in Berlin. Germany, graduated from Smith College with the degree of A. B. in 1915, graduated from the | Cirrie School of Expi |in 1916 and became Hunter College, New York Cit She went overseas with the Y. ) A. in 1918, and from September, 20, until she taught glish at College. In' 192 he was married. She then took up the study of law. With one exception, that of Ralph Given, Mrs. Greathouse now becomes lthe highest-paid assistant United States attorney at Police Court. Mr. Hart has served the District i Government for 14 vears. Prior to his appointment as assist ant United States attorney he was an inspector for 10 years on the board of ndemnation. He served overseas for G mopths with the Ist Division dur- ing the World War. He is married and has one child. Mr. Lodge prior to his appointment three vears ago served the Govern- (Continued on Page 3, Column 4.) GRADE CROSSINGS T0 BE ELIMINATED Commissioners List Five, Including Lamond Station, in Reply to Sen- ate Committee Inquiry. Answering a request of the Senate District committee, the District Com- missioners today advised Chairman Capper that they contemplate elim- { inating five rallrcad grade crossings, one of which has already been pro- vided for at Lamond Station. Another of the five, that on Mich- igan avenue northeast, is covered by a separate bill now pending in the Senate, and the other three are: Fern street, a viaduct to take the place of the present grade crossing at Chestnut street, estimated cost $275,687, of which the railroad com- pany’s share would be $80,447; Var- num street, a viaduct to replace the Bates road crossing, $87.000, raliroad share, $43,750 and Eastern avenue, viaduct to replate Quarles street crossing, $152,852, railroad company’s share, $76,426. The cost of the La- mond viaduct already appropriated for is estimated at $84,000, and the Michigan avenue viaduct would cost $226,000. The Commissioners told Senator Capper that there are other crossings at Slige Mill road, at Queen Chapel road and at River road, which are spanned by wooden bridges maintain- ed by the rallroads. The Commis- sloners do not propose to replace these because they are located over a line not heavily traveled and are kept in a substantial state of repair. There also are grade crossings at Pennsyl- vania avenue, Howard road, Sumner road, Portland street and Magazine road, east of the Anacostia River, the elimination of which is not being con- sidered because of the infrequent use of that trackage. The Senate committee already has reported favorably the Michigan ave- nue project and probably will con- sider the information relating to the other crossings at its next meeting. | | MRS REBECCA GREATHOUSE. MEXICAN OFFICIALS SLAIN AT CHURCH Number Injured, Including Girl, in Riot After Clos- ing Order. | By the Associated Press. TEPIC carit, Mexico, March 12, —Three representatives of the state of Nayarit are dead. a number of people injured and one girl near death as the result of a disturbance oc when orders for closing a church were met by armed opposition from church followers. The immediate cause of the tragedy was in the neighboring town of .J quello, where a Catholic priest h failed to comply with the closing law of the government, and was standing his ground against presidential orders with the backing of his flock. Upon the arrival of the representa- tives of the government, consisting of Congressman Porres, and a friend, Sr. Ortega, at Tepic, they were met by an infuriated mob of men, women and children which demanded their withdrawal. a BEAUTY SHOP PATRONS PROTECTED BY POLICE Rate-Cutting War in Fashionable South Park, Chicago, Leads to Gun Shooting. By the Aseociated Press. CHICAGO. March 12.—Women of the fashionable South Park quarter enter beauty shops under police pro- tection today. Detectives were de- tailed to guard a number of shops as a precaution against further outbreaks in what was termed a rate-cutting war. Attacks on two shops last night were attributed to the dispute. Plate glass windows were shattered by a rain of bullets, and the woman pro- prietor of one shop and her small son escaped possible injury by dropping to the floor. One owner said she and many other shop owners on the South Side had been threatened with business extinec- tion unlesg they raised prices to the level charged by another group in the same area. She pointed out that the rates of the threatened shops were about half the scale of the others. Parade to Mark “Big PRESIDENT READY Keeps in Constant Touch i With Condition of Parent, Seriously Il By the Associated Pr President Coolidge himself in readiness today to speed to Plymouth, Vt. where his father is | serfously ill. but there was no indic tion when he would leave Washingtan. In direct touch by telephone with developments at Plymouth, Mr. Coolidge has received | bimself and what plans he has made based on this information have ot been disclosed. It was understood at |the White House, however, that a | special train to take the President to Vermont could be quickly assembled. Mr. Coolidge retired last night holding was ing reports from Plymouth that his father was resting comfortably. Mem- bers of the White House staff, how- ever, remained on duty all night to receive any further messages, BETTER EARLY TODAY. Condition, However, Is Regarded Serious by Physician. PLYMOUTH, Vt.. March 12 (®) | Col. John C. Coelidge's condition was | improved this morning, after a night in which he was reported to -have lost ground. Mrs. May Johnson, nurse to the President’s father, told Dr. Albert W. Cram, the patient's physician, that the outlook seemed more encouraging. Dr. Cram received the information his home in Bridgewater as he s preparing for the trip over the snow-covered roads to the Coolidge homestead here. Johnson. who has nursed Col through several seve kept vigil at the bedside throughout the night. Angus Ma Aulley, who has guarded the farm- house since last Summer. when the President’s father first became ill, was another watcher. Dr. Cram expects to spend most of the morning with his patient. Dr. Cram admitted that the 80-vear- old patient was in a serio dition. ‘The White House was kept in touch with developments and Dr. Cram & in communication with AMaj. | F. Coupal, physician to the President. Maj. Coupal came here last November when severe attacks of heart block made Col. Coolidge’s condition alarm- ing. Col. Coolidge rallied from his at- tacks last Fall sufficiently to go out- doors, but in December circulatory trouble, which was considered an aftermath of his heart trouble, caused him to lose the use of his legs. Since that time his physical status has re- mained generally unchanged until this week, when a gradual loss of strength and appetite was observed. This vesterday developed into what was considered a relapse and Dr. Cram was hastily summoned. Gangs of men labored to clear the snow- blocked road from Plymouth Notch, the site of the Coolidge place, to Lud- low. the nearest raflroad contact, in case President Coolidge comes here. Shippers Warned of Icebergs. YOKOHAMA, March 12 (#).—C; toms house authorities have warned shippers of the growing danger from icebergs in the North Pacific Ocean. 1t is officially reported an iceberg fiva miles long drifting 25 miles from Nemuro, Hokaido, northern Japan. Pm"ceps Taken From Abdomen. CHARLESTON, Ill., March 12 (®). —Mrs. Emma Mock, 63, is improved following an operation to remove a pair of eight-inch forceps left in her abdomen in an operation two years ago. Tim’s” Return From Prison Planned in Chicago By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, March 12.—“Big Tim" Murphy, former president of the Gashouse Workers' Union, may be cheered to learn that when his fol- lowers stage a reception and parade for him on March 26 upon his re- turn from Leavenworth Prison, Fed- eral marshals will not bother him. “Blg Tim” on March 25 will com- plete his four-year sentence for the Dearborn Ralilroad Station robbery, which netted the robbers $325,000, in 1921, He still is under indictment in_connection with the $100,000 mail robbery at Pullman, but United States District Attorney Olson said he would not ask Murphy's arres. He said he wanted to talk to “Big Tim,” however, and it was under- stood at the Federal Building that Murphy would be placed on informal probation. Murphy's wife has been looking after his union interests since he went to prison. She says Murphy has been trying to improve his mind and reading “a lot of high-brow ma, azines and taking a speaking course. (#) Means Associated Press. T0.GOTO FATHER the messages | shortly hefore midnight after recefv- | James | The only evening paper in Washington witl Associated Press news the Circulation, 103,832 TWO CENTS. GOADED BY RIVALS' TAGTICS, DRYS PLAN COUNTER OFFENSIVE McKellar Ready to Fire First Gun for Liquor Foes in Speech Today. SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT TO BE ASKED TOMORROW Prohibition Backers to Call for Chief Executive's Aid in Strengthening Law. “Drys.” in Congress and out, aroused by the daily attacks of the | “wets" on Capitol Hill and elsewhere, today prepared to take the offensive. Senator McKellar of Tennessee, strong advocate of prohibition, was ready to deliver a speech in the Sen- {ate eulogizing the effects of prohibi- tion in the United States and criticiz- |Ing those who are in favor of repeal or modification of the law. Some of the “dry” leaders outside of Congress have arranged to confer with President Coolidge at the White | House tomorrow, among them Wil {liam M. Forgrave of Boston! Dr. Ar- |thur J. Barton of Kansas City and | A. H. Briges of San Francisco. Plan Counter-Attack. The wide publication of the results | of the straw vote on prohibition and | its modification, which has been | by members of Congress on the | side, has brought about a determina- | tion on the part of prohibition leaders { to conduct a counter-offensive. | _The “drys" hope to win the support ,of the President and will seek his | backing for legislation to strengthen, |rather than modify, the existing ! prohibition law. The Senate judiciary committee this {afternoon announced the appointment | of a subcommittee of five to consider | the advisability of holding hearings {at this session on the various pending i measures for modification of the Vol | stead act. The subcommitteg consists of Sen- tors Means, Republican, of Colo | rado; Goff, Republican, of West Vir zinia; Harrold, Republican, of Okla- {homa: Reed, Democrat, of Missouri, jand Walsh, Democrat, of Montana. The prohibitionists, it appears, are | more and more inclined to attack officials of the government who have | been placed in charge of prohibition enforcement under the pressure of criticism alleging failure to enforce the law | Banker's Letter Read. ! The debate in the House vesterday was enlivened by the reading of a let- | ter by Representative Tinkham of Massachusetts, which, he said. had been received by Representative Up- shaw, Democrat. of Georgia, from M | B. Wellborn, governor eof the Federal Reserve Bank at Atlanta “Drinking is almost universal in al- most every town in Georgia and throughout the South,” the letter said adding that it not always good __| Scotch, but native corn.” The letter read hy Mr. Tinkham and | signed by Mr. Wellborn, said, in full: { My Dear Mr. Upshaw: I am in | receipt of yvour telegram of March 3 | requesting “that T wire you general | statement concerning ‘improved con- ditions in business, morality and so- { briety in Atlanta and Georgia since barrooms were banished.” Your tele- gram came during my absence from Atlanta, and as yvou expressed a wish to have the information by noon on | Ma 3. 1 thought it useless to tele- { graph you. so am writing instead “When I came to Atlanta 11 yvears 1ago to be with the Federal Reserve I Bank I found here many saloons that old beer exclusively. This appeared to me to be a very good solution of the prohibition question. and I was very much surprised that within a short {time afterward the State legislated | these heer saloons out of existence. They were well conducted and no drunkenness or excessive drinking re- sulted from these saloons. ! Sees No Improvement. | “Regarding business, morality and | sobriety In Atlanta during these vears, T have seen very little improve- ment in that respect. I may say that from what I learn, drinking fs almost universal, not only'in Atlanta, but in every town in Georgia and throughout the South. My observa. tion {s that it is not confined strictly to the rich and well-to-do, but nearl: every family has whisky in its home. “It may not be high-priced Scotch whisky, but it is a very strong qual- ity.of native ‘corn’ that is produced in great volumes throughout this sec- tion of the country. “I_have seen statements published (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) ——y MUSSOLINI WILL SELECT OWN CHAMBER IN 1929 AlESTT Italy Will Have No Election Until Then, When an All-Fascist Group Will Be Named. By the Associated Press. CREMONA, Italy, March 12— Ttaly will not have political elections until 1929, when an all-Fascist Cham- ber of Deputies will be elected. This announcement is made by Secretary Farinacci of the Fascist party. present chamber, he said, has car- ried out its work so well that it will i be continued until 1929, “Then,” he added., “the elections will be held much differently than they have been in the past. The gov- ernment and party will select the candidates from among the most de- serving of the present deputies and from those party members who, while eminently fitted for the task, never have been interested in becoming deputies.” P T MINERS GET FIRST PAY. $12,000,000 Put Out in Wages Since End of Strike. WILKES-BARRE, Pa., March 12 (#)—Coal miners in the anthracite dis- trict are having their first pay days since they returned to work last month after their record strike. It is estimated that a total of $12,000,- 000 will have been distributed when the window of the last pay car ratties down on March 18.