Evening Star Newspaper, December 18, 1926, Page 1

L ¢ WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Fair, continued imum temperature 12 degrees; tomor- row increasing clo Temperatur e—High yesterday: lowest, Full report on p Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 14 Entered as post office, No. 30,181. Wa Bureau Forecast.) cold tonigit; min- udiness; not so cold. 10, at § a.m. page 4. ond class matte: shington, D. C. @h WASHINGTON, D. WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION C., SATURDAY, DEC EMBER 18, 1926—THIRTY-TWO PAGES. . ¢ Foening Star, * service. (#) Means Associated Pres: The only evening paper in Washington with the Associated Press news Yesterday’s Circulation, 103,021 TWO CENTS. COALITION CABINET UNDER LUTHER Al OF VONHINDENBURG Marx’s Defeated Ministry Will Continue to Guide” Af- fairs Over Holidays. PRESIDENT IS DEEPLY OFFENDED BY CHARGES Delays Appcintment of New Chen- cellor to Give Parties Time to “Cool Off.” By the Associated Press. BERLIN, December 18.—Indica- tions are that the cabinet of Chan- cellor Marx, which resigned vest day after a defeat in the Reichstag, will continue to guide affairs of state until the holidays are over. After passing the Social Democratic motion | of non-confidence, 249 to 171, the Relchstag adjourned until January 19, and many.members left the capi- tal to be with their families for Christmas. The cabinet fell before an unnata ural alliance between the Left So- clalist and Right Netionalist factions. | either of which group outnumbers | any government party. The motion | on which the vote was taken wa introduced by Philipp Scheidemann, | Social Democratic leader, and was | supported by the Nationalists, Com- munists and Fascisti. Scheidemann Leads Attack. Scheidemann, in opening his at- tack on Thursday, charged that arms and airplanes were manufactured and hoarded in Russia for Germany | through the functioning of a secret | fund This was denied by cellor Marx. The cablnet, presenting its resigna- | tion to Dresident von Hindenburg | last evenlng, was requested to con- | tinue In office pending the formation of a new ministry. Customary pro- cedure would be to ask the Socialists | to form a government, they being the | party responsible for the cabinet's | defeat, but Nationalist leaders say ! the Pregident was deeply hurt by | Soclallst charges of irregularity in the administration of ‘the defense | forces and that he may attempt to | produce a coalition of the parties of | the right and middle. Former Chancellor Hans' Luther, whe is now returning from a trip to | Centrat and South fimm- tioned most frequently b e Right- i8ts as the successor to Dr. Marx. President Receives Chiefs. President von Hindenburg this morning * received. successively the chairman of the People’s Party, the | Socialists, the Centrists and the Ger- | man Nationalists. The "discussions were officially described as “merely informative.” It was intimated that the President | would not conimission any one to| form a new, fovernment until afte: the new year, giving plenty of time | for the parties to cool off after yes- | terday’s hectic session. Foreign Minister Stresemann, who has_been in poor health, will start next week for a six weeks' visit to Egypt. ENGLAND SEES CRISIS. Calls German Situation Monarchist- Republic Struggle. LONDON, December 18 (#).—Brit-| ish newspapers today viewed over- throw of thé Marx cabinet in Ger- many as an important crisis in struggle between supporters of the| republic and of the old monarchist regime. The Chronicle says that the real ( Chan- | issue in the present poiitical upset is ! broadly, “Democracy versus Mili- tarism,” and adds that it is hopeful that militarism will not be victorious. The Times declares that the crisis is no ordinary one, as it raises the fundamental question of who governs Germany. “The Reichstag debate,” the paper says, “has put the question of the regime and its connection with the wrmy into the foreground. The Na- tlonalists, recognizing this, have taken up the challenge and joined the Socialists in overthrowing the government, £o it may be made clear who really governs Germany—genu- ine Republicans or groups who ar working for political and military restoration.” . The Post declares that the defeat of the government has placed the whole foreign policy of Germany in doubt. * “Whether or not what has common- ly been described as the Locarno spirit will continue to prevail is still to be discovered,” the paper says. BLOW TO BRIAND SEEN. Minister’s Position With Berlin Crisis. PARIS, December 18“(#).—Foreign Minister Briand's position, in French public _opinion, will bé slightly low- ered, Luclen Romier writes in the + Figaro, by the downfall of the Marx- Stresemann cabinet in Germany. (This is presumably based on the close contact between M. Briand and Dr. Stresemann in their plans for bettering Franco-German relation: Berlin dispatches, however, state t Stresemann w not jously Foreign Linked tacked during the Reichstag debate, | and that it was believed the fall of the government would not affect Ger- many’s foreign policy.) The other commentators , follow their usual lines in dea:ing With the cabinet crisis. L'Ere Nouvelle, organ of the Left, says it has pleased Ger- many to cry t to those leading her toward tions of deliver- ance.” “Pertinax” in the concludes that G inating forces, bure nd the army, are working ceaselessly to wash out the World War defeat, and that “all the rest is only the confusion of small interests in superficial imita- tion of the political ideas and customs of Western Europe.” Radio f‘rfig;';m—;;Page 32 Echo de Paris o LITHUANIAN CRISIS | | detat directed by Gen. Smetona has| | fon of the Slezevicius cabinet, resumed | ! his normal duties in Kovno. He has | al | 1 | | | | | | ! BLANCHE SOLOMON. | REPORTED AT END Order Emerges From Coup of | Army and New Cabinet Is Appointed. By the Associated Press. ! LONDON, December 18.—The ecrisis caused yesterday by the military cnup; come to an end, says a message re-| ceived today from Kovno by the Lithu- | anian legation. The message stated that President Grinius, after accepting the resigna- | appointed Prof. Valdemaras, premier | and minister of foreign affairs, and other Nationalists as members of the | new cabinet. These include Col.} Merkys as minister of defense and Dr. Kervelis as minister of finance. One report, through Warsaw, says there was fighting on Green Hill, near Kovno, where one regiment remained loyal to the government. : With only erratic telephoné and tele- graph communication the - situation was not entirely clear today, but it seemed established that a group head-! ed by former President Antona Smetona_and Maj. Plekhavichus was in the saddle, wielding dictatorial| power and with the army behind it.| The leaders of the coup charged that | the old government under the mode- rate Socialist premier, M. Elezevicius, had betrayed Lithuania to the Bolshe- vists ‘and- to foreign nations. They are said to have been particularly dis- sdtisfied with the governmrent's le. nient attitude toward Poland and other bordering states. 3 Advices indicate that Gen. Smetona will make the question of the Viina district a prominent part of the new regime’s political program. This dis- triet, formerly part of Russia, was awarded to Poland by the allied coun- cil of ambassadors, but Lithuania has refused to recognize the ambassa- dors’ decisfon. The present revolt, after lengthy secret preparation, was launched in the small hours of yesterday morning. The Diet was at the fag end of a long night session when troops entered. The commanding officer, Maj. Plekha- vichus, mounted the speaker's tri- bune, announced that the Diet was dissolved and its officers under ar- rest, and thai the army had assumed authority. PATRONACEGARGE 5 ORDERED PROBED Senate Judiciary Committee _ to Investigate Alleged - Selling in South. By the Associated Press. The oft-repeated Federal patronage is Southern States today was made the | special order of business for 2 meeting lof the Senate judiciary committee | next Monday. At that time a resolution by Sena- tor Harris, Democrat, Georgi de- manding a congressional investigation, will be considered. The went to the committee yesterday. : Not Member of Committee. | Senator Harris is not a member of | the committee, but has the support of several of the members in his ! stand, and Chairman Norris himself | has expressed the view that the scope | Jof the inquiry should be broadened to include other States than those of ' the South. ;A substitute for the Harris resolu- | I tion will be offered by Senator King, | | Democrat, Utah, /ho yesterflay also | | demanded a broadening of the inquiry. ges of patronage barter- ing furnished a subject of consider- able debate in the House last vear, {and Democratic members of the Southern group were vigorous in de- | nouncing ~conditions they said ob- ined in the filling of Federal of- and the activities of local po- 1 leaders in connection with ap- pointments. Suggest Rumors Probe. During the debate which preceded reference of the matter to the judiel- ary committee Senator Trammell, Democrat, of Florida suggested that inquiry also be made into rumors that assessments are made against Federal office holders “for the maintenance of | their State and national organiza- i charge that being sold in i resolution |, LITTLE GIRL BURNS T0 DEATH AS 6 ARE SAVED BY KITTEN Second Child Tossed From| Fiery Home Before Others Jump Out Window. BODY OF VICTIM FOUND UNDER GRANDPA’S BED Tragedy cn Eve of Double Birth- day Party Saddens Friends of Blanche Solomon, 6. Blanche Solomon, 6 years old, was | burned to death early this morning. Other members of the Solomon household, at 1212 Thirteenth street, probably owe their lives to the little girl's pet kitten, Grapes, who aroused her uncle by clawing at his ace. The uncle, Meyer Rosenblatt, and little Blanche were slecping in the ame rocm when fire started at about 3:30 a.m. Mr. Rosenblatt rushed to the other rooms to awaken his parents, fr. and Mrs. Gabriel Rosenblatt; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur F. Solomon and Blanche's 4-year-old sister, Sylvia. Then he rushed back to get Blanche, | but flames blocked his path. The older survivors were forced to jump from second-story front windows into the arms of neighbors, after tossing Sylvia to safety from the same place. All slightly burned or injured by the jump, the dazed families watched while firemen subdued the flames. Then the scarch for Blanche began. led Up Under Bed. They found her curled up beneath her Grandfather Rosenblatt's bed, as though seeking protection from the searing flames that closed in upon her. Awakened by the frantic screams of parents and other relatives, ap- parently, the child had battled her v through the burning hall to her randfather’s room. With escape hrough the windows blocked, she probably had crawled under the bed, thinking it would halt the fire's prog- ress until help arrived. Police of the second precinct took Blanche’s body to Emergency Hos- pital, but physicians there said life was extinct. Gabriel Rosenblatt, the grandfather, was treated for burned arms, and Mrs. Soloman, the mother, was cut and hruised. Young Rosen- blatt was slightly burned. After re- ceiving medical attention, all went to the home of relatives a few blocks away. ‘Tomorrow was to have been a gala day in the Solomon home. It will be Sylvia’s fourth birthday. ~ Blanche passed her sixth just a few days ago, and a dual celebration in honor of the two great events was to have been held. " A big cake was ready and little friends had been invited to_the party. But those playmates who call will go just to say good-by to Blanche. Store Escapes Flames. The rear of the house was nearly destroyed by the fire and most of the front was damaged. The store on the first floor escaped with only damage by water. The flames ate their way through a wall into the neighboring home " of Charles Gerson, a tailor. The blaze there was checked, how- ever, before it did much damage. What became of Grapes? Well, no member of the family knows yet. Some persons remembered seeing the kitten leave the house and prowl among the crowd until Blanche's body was discovered. Then Grapes disap- peared, only to revisit the scene of the tragedy for a brief moment later in the morning and then again to leave. [ ti RALROAD BULDING PURCHASEOFPOSED Gen. Lord Sends District Measure .Back, Saying It Conflicts With Policy. The Bureau of the Budget today| temporarily halted the plans of the| District Commissioners to acquire the Southern Railway Building, at Thir- teenth street and Pennsylvania ave- nue, for additional quarters for the Municipal Building. Brig. Gen. Herbert M. Lord, direc- tor of the bureau, returned to the Commissioners the bill drafted by | them for the acquisition of the bulld- | ing, with a report that it would be in conflict with the financial program { of President Coolidge pending the| final outcome of the measure authoriz- | ing the purchase of the privately | owned land in the triangular area south of Pennsylvania avenue, which has passed the Senate and is now be- fore the public buildings committee of the House. The 'Commissioners recommerided the purchase of the Southern Railway Building only as an alternative to a plan for the acquisition of property directly south of the District Build- ing, on which it was proposed to build an addition to the municipal bullding. This site has been designated in the public buildings program for the Gen- eral Utilities Building. In view of the report by Gen. Lord the Commission- ers are expected to resume efforts to acquire this property for the District Building extension. STUDENTS EXPELLED. CAMBRIDGE, Mass., December 18 (P).—Two students at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have been ex- pelled, two suspended for a year and 13 others disciplined as a result of tions, “I have no direct proof upon that subject,” said Senator Trammell, “but jt is & matter that is pretty commonly rumored that postmasters, for in- stance, after they once get into office have to make contributions to main- tain the State Republican organiza- tions and to maintain their national committeemen here in Washington.” disorders in connection with the cele- bration of field day at the institute on November 4. The men expelled are John L. Dodson of New York and Willlam E. King of Boston. Among students placed on proba- tion are Erling S. Matthleson, Eu Claire, Wis.,, and Prescott Crouly Milwaukee, ll’ EMPEROR'S DEATH 1S EXPECTED SOON Japanese Report His Condi- tion Unchanged, But Say ‘Annéuncement’ Is Coming. By the Associated Press. TOKIO, December 18.—A bulletin issued by the household department at 8 o'clock tonight said the condition of Emperor Yoshihito was “virtually unchanged.” This is the first official report from the sick room since noon. Although no one outside the royal family, members of the cabinet and their attendants know what is hap- pening in the carefully guarded chamber of the royal villa at Hayama, where Emperor - Yoshihito is dying, the outside world today began to hear whispers of the ruler’s passing. News- paper correspondents have been told that an “important anrouncemwnt’ 18 coming. Cabinet Visits Sickroom. The natlon is stilled with that ex- pectancy which always precedes such an .oecasion in the imperial palace. e cabinet has made its visit to the bedside. Battleships ride at anchor almost within sight of the villa. Day and night, princes and princesses of the blood remain faithfully near the sickroom, and other members of the royal family are at hand. Six physiclans remain with their ruler, working with the determination that marks the unwillingness of their kind to capitulate to death. Oxygen, saline solutions and every known ele- ment for combatting the perniclous fliness which besets the ruler have been resorted to in the effort to save him. He has bronchial pneumonia. Despite the whisperings and the fact that the emperor has been grave- ly ill for two weeks or more and losing vitality everytime the doctors make a report, the latest word is that Yoshihito still lives. Yoshito still is a young man so far as his span of years is concerned—47. But he has been ailing since 1921, when the cares of state were lifted from his shoulders and set upon the stronger ones of his eldest son, Crown Prince Hirohito. Two Attempt Harakiri. The emperor has been confined to his villa for several months, the lit- tle villa, an hour’s ride from the capi- tal, was chosen by him as a place in which to seek health. But his health never returned. Grad- ually he lost vitality until even the ordinary galety of the village was forbidden, lest he should be disturbed. From that time on he grew steadily ‘weaker. Two attempts at harakiri, the Jap- { anese name for self-destruction, have been noted in the village in the last few hours. '~ One of the nurses at- tempted to slash ‘her throat with a razor, and a minor public official also attempted suicide. This is taken as a demonstration of grief for their ruler, The latest bulletin showed the em- eror’s .temperature to be over 101, but the bulletins from the sick room are coming with less frequency than heretofore. ‘Whether the ruler’s death will be officially announced at Hayama, in case death overtakes him there, or whether he will be returned to the imperial palace at Tokio before the announcement is made is a matter of conjectyre. Heretofore custom has required that death be announced only when the body lies in the palace. SHAW ADMITS “GUILT.” Says His Writings Have - Been Means of Separating Couples. LONDON, December 18 ().— George Bernard Shaw Is quoted by the Daily Express as pleading guilty to having been instrumental in sepa- rating husbands and wives, Speaking to a fellow guest at a luncheon given by Lady Beecham, the famous dra- matist is said to have remarked: “I am supposed to haye had a bad effect on my age. I write plays like ‘Candlda,’ and unknown women write to me and say I have inspired them to leave their husbands. “Sometimes 1 meet them afterward and ask them whether their decision was justified. Thev usually say ves, and 1 feel less gullty.” Onij;-S More Days Christmas Will Be Here SHOP NOW! R . The long public career of Cuno H. Rudolph as District Commissioner was crowned with a testimonial dinner in his honor last night at the Willard Hotel which, for magnitude and sin- cerity of manifestation, was unprece- dented in ‘Washington. It was an epochal farewell tribute to a man from the people whom he served for almost a decade and who x?ld him in the highest of esteem upoh retire- ment from office. Eight hundred men, leaders in every walk of life in the Nation's Capital, were there to do him honof. Among them were foreign diplomats, high officials of the Federal Government, captains of finance, business men, professional men, civic representatives and a number of Mr. Rudolph's most loyal assoclates in the District Build- ing. In word and song Mr. Rudolph's devotion to service and his qualities FIVE HOURS OF EULOGY MARKS RUDOLPH TESTIMONIAL DINNER Leaders in Officizll. Business, Social and Civic Life Join in Paying Tribute to Retired Commissioner. of character were extolled by men who knew him best, men who are familiar with the onerous duties of a District Commissioner and the fidel- ity with which he discharged them. He was held up as an exemplar of all that is best in a public servant. President Coolidge added to this with a letter of commendation. Tributes Last Five Hours. For nearly filve hours Mr. Rudolph listened to these superlative tributes, and then in a voice apparently choked with emotion, responded with a state- ment that it was the greatest honor he had received in his life. “The memory of this night will never fade,” he said with gratitude. The salient tribute came from the lips of Right Rev. James E. Freeman, Episcopal Bishop of the diocese of Washington. Mr. Rudolph’s colleague on the board of Commisisoners, Lieut. Col. J. Franklin Bell, followed him in turn. And then Otis Skinner, star of (Continied on Page 4, Column 2.) TRIANGLE ACTION DUE WEDNESDAY House Building Committee Expected to Approve $25,- 000,000 Purchase. The House committee on Public Bulldings and Grounds probably will meet Wednesday to take favorable action on the Underhill bill authoriz- ing an expenditure of $25,000,000 pur- chase of all privagely owned land in the triangle south of Pennsylvania avenue to the Mall, the four reservations be- tween Pennsylvania avenue and B street north and B street and Mary- land avenue south. The House bill will also include the Southern Railway property, between Thirteenth and Thirteen-and-a-half streets north of D street. May Include Other Squares. Several squares north of Pennsyl- vania avenue, which will be required when B street is extended under the authority carried in the Arlington Memorial Bridge act, and the pro- posed site for the Botanic Garden south of Maryland avenue to Canal street, may also be included in the House bill. Mr. Underhill, Republican, Massa- chusetts, a member of the House District committee, who has for four years been fathering legislation to acquire the property now contem- plated and to square up the Mall, and to remove the eyesores of Chinese places and fortune tellers just west of the Capitol, expects to have a con- ference with Secretary Mellon the first of the week. A He was in conference today with David Lynn, architect of the Capitol, regarding the way in which the park- way development north of the Capitol grounds to Union Station, and includ- ing the new avenue from Union Sta- tion to Pennsylvania avenue, will fit in with the triangle development and just which squares north of the Ave- nue will be needed. Confers With Lynn. Mr. Underhill was also in confer- ence with Mr. Lynn regarding the proposed new site for the Botanic Garden, which is now covered in an- other bill, but which may be included in the Underhill bill. Mr. Underhill is urging for another hearing before the public buildings and grounds committee next Wednes- Aay at which he will be able to lay before the committee a very definite statement regarding how much land should be included in hfs bill and the unqualified support it carries from the Treasury Department. Next Wednesday is the day on which Congress is to adjourn. Will Be Made Bishop. ROME, December 18 (#).—Pope Pius has decided to appoint Mgr. Charles D. White, rector of St. Joseph’s Preparatory Seminary in Grand Rapids, Mich.,, as Bishop of Spokane, Wash., at the next com- sistory, | MERCURY HITS 10, LOWEST OF SEASON Skating on Reflecting Pool Is Believed Likely Tomorrow. Weather to Stay Cold. ‘Washington will continue to put frozen cream in its breakfast coffee for the next day or so. . Early this morning the mercury went down to its lowest point for the year, 10 above zero. It will be almost as cold tonight, the Weather Bureau announced, forecasting a minimum of 12 above zero. There will be little temperature increase, even under the bright sunshine of early afternoon. Warmer weather is not definitely in sight. Tt will continue cold tomor- row, although not quite so cold as today. Rain or snow has passed out of the forecast and good clear, crisp weather is expected, with possibly a slight clouding up tomorrow. Ice skaters besieged the park police today for permission to inaugurate the skating season on the Lincoln Me- morial pool, but they were put off un- til “probably tomorrow.” The surface of the pool had frozen to a thickness of 2% inches today, and by tomorrow it is expected the coating will be strong enough for devotees of the sport. 18 BELOW I EW YORK. Coldest Weather Reported Upstate Near Watertown. ALBANY, N. Y., December 18 (#).— The second cold wave of the present Winter gripped northern New York today. Watertown, which yesterday was buried under snow in a heavy storm, which covered cnly a comparatively small area, reported a minimum tem- perature of 13 degrees below zero in the city and readings of 16 to 18 below in the outlying sections. Malone, with a reading of 16 be- low, was one of the coldest spots in the' State. Saranac Lake reported 12 below and Oswego, on the shore of Lake Ontarlo, experienced a tempera- ture of 1 to. 3 degrees below. In Albany the minimum reading at the Federal Weather Bureau was zero. NEW YORK, December 18 (#).— King Winter today gave New York its coldest_weather of the season. To- (Continued on Page 2, Column 1.) Ferdinand’s Trip To Paris Uncertain In Political Crisis By the Associated Press. BUCHAREST, Rumania, Decem- ber 18.—Although it has been de- cided to send King Ferdinand to Paris for radium treatment of his intestinal disorder, opposition by the Rumanian cabinet now has made it uncertain whether the trip will be, attegipted. The King himself, whose desire to go to Paris for medical treat- ment was largely inspired by a wish tg see his ergant son, former Prince Carol, has wavered in his determination to make the trip. The King's condition is steadily improving as a result of the last operation which he underwent in Bucharest. Radium treatment will be used eventually, but it is pointed out in court circles that this can as readily at Bucharest as <, while the political results of his absence from his kingdom might be serious. oo gt dio, SVITH FIGHT QUIET, APPOINTEE SILENT Won’t Have Anything to Say Until Necessary, Says lI- linois Senator-Elect. By the Associated Pre CHICAGO, December 18.—Quiet reigned today in the Washington and Ilinois sectors in the fight center- ing abound Gov. Small's appointment of Frank L. Smith to succeed the laté Senator William B. McKinley for the four months of the short ses- sion of Congress. The Senator-elect, who came to Chicago with Mrs. Smith for a Christmas shopping tour, said he had “nothing to say” regarding his ap- pointment and would “not have any- thing to say until I feel it is in- cumbent on me to do so.” In Washington the issue was tem- porarily cast aside by the Senate, pending word whether Col. Smith would accept the commission. Ashurst Defers Action. The Senate lull came when Sena- tor Ashurst, Democrat, Arizona, an- nounced that he would defer action on his resolution to prevent Mr. Smith from taking the oath “if and until Smith presents his credentials.” This stopped Republican leaders, LANGLEY PAROLED AFTER SERVING 11 MONTHS OF TERM Former Kentucky Represent- ative Was Given Two Years for Dry Law Violation. WIFE WON HOUSE SEAT IN NOVEMBER ELECTION Place Had Been Held by Husband Since Sixtieth Congress Until He Resigned. Former Representative John W. Langley of Pikesville, Ky., sentenced to a two-year term in Atlanta Peniten- tiary for violaticn of the prohibition laws, was paroled today on the com- pletion of 11 months of his sentence, it was announced by the Department of Justice. Langley was convicted in connection with withdrawal: of liquor from Gov- ernment bonded warehouses, being charged with aiding in obtaining per- mits for the illegal withdrawal of large .stocks held in Pittsburgh. He entered the Federal Penitentiary at Atlanta after fighting his conviction to the Supreme Court of the United States. Sargent Grants Parole. Paroles are granted by the Attorney General and do not have to go through the White House. Attorney General Sargent acted on the recommendation of the parole board. Langley was elected from the tenth Kentucky district in the Sixtieth Con- gress and served in each succeeding session until the present, Tesigning after his conviction. He was suc- ceeded by Andrew J. Kirk, but in the last eletcion Mrs. Langley made a successful contest for her husband’s seat and will take office in the new Congress, starting March 4. Langley started serving his sentence January 15 last. He was eligible for parole September 14, after having served one-third of his sentence. Al- lowances for good behavior would have terminated his sentence on Au- gust 23 next wear. He will be 59 years old next January. In addition to his service in Con- who were prepared to fight consider- ation of the resolution until Col. Smith made known his decision. Col. Smith planned to return to his home in Dwight, IIl, today after explaining that he had not received either the commission to the short or to the long term, but that they probably had been forwarded to his office at Dwight in his absence. Asked point blank, “Are you going to accept the appointment?” his re- ply was a smile. Refusal Is Rumored. ‘While the Senator-elect was un- communicative, Senator Deneen of Illinois said at Washington he would not be “surprised” if Smith declined the appointment because of the con- dition of his health. Senator Dineen stated, however, that he had not communicated with Col. Smith. ‘Washington dispatches indicated a new element in the situation in re- cording that a number of Senators, particularly those from the South, were inclined to proceed cautiously, because a refusal to accept Smith's credentials might strike a blow at the theory of State's rights. PERU SAID T0 AVOID 0.K.OF TACNA PLAN Reply to Kellogg Proposal to Give Province to Bolivia Asks Plebiscite Data. By the Associated Press. BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, De- cember 18.—La Naclon's correspond- ent at La Paz, Bolivia, hears that the Peruvian reply to Secretary Kel- logg’s proposal in the Chilean-Peru- vian controversy over Tacna and Arica_ will avold any reference to the transfer of the provinces to Bolivia, as suggested by Mr. Kellogg. It will urge a statement from the arbiter, President Coolidge, regarding the report made by Maj. Gen. William Lassiter as chairman of the Tacna- Arica plebiscitary commission last June, in which he declared a plebi- scite impossible under existing condi- tions. The reply will maintain, the cor- respondent understands, that a_solu- tion through negotiations should be sought only if it is impractical to hold a plebiscite. Secretary Kellogg's memorandum to Chile and Peru, November 30, em- phasized the futility of attempting further to adjust the trouble between them by diplomacy or arbitration, and urged that the disputed provinces be ceded to Bolivia. Chile and Peru would, under his plan, settle by direct negotiation the question of dividing any cash compensation received from Bolivia. The territory would be per- petually demilitarized and the city of Arica made a free port. Chile, in a note to the State Depart- ment on December 5, accepted the proposal in principle. Mud-Slinging Politicians Face Prison And Fine if Ohioan’s Bill Is Passed Fine and imprisonment for eleventh- hour “mudsslinging” politicians s sought in a bill presented to Congress by Representative Thompson, Repub- lican, Ohio. His bill would make it unlawful to attack the personal character of a candidate for Federal office within 18 days of ele A fine of §1,000, one year imp e or are named as Increasing bitterness of personal at. tacks on candidates, particularly in congressional campaigns, Thompson said, prompted him to introduce the bill. The wet-and-dry issue has in- stigated many of these eleventh-hour gress Mr. Langley had served two terms in the Kentucky Legislature, was twice a delegate from his dis- trict to the Republican national con- vention and a delegate at large to the Republican national convention in 1916. AR Mr. Langley was a teacher shortly after completing his early ed in Kentucky and, coming to Washing- ton, studied law here and had con- ferred upon him the degrees not only of bachelor of law and master of laws, but also of doctor of the civil law and master of diplomacy. At one time he was an examiner in the Pension Office, a member of the Board of Pension Appeals, a law clerk in the General Land Office, and dis- bursing and appointment clerk of the 44 CAPITAL AUTOISTS LOSE RIGHT TO DRIVE Revocations From Dec. 1 to Dec. 15 . Show Decrease From Previous Two Weeks. Automobile drivers’ ‘permits were taken away from 44 motorists between December 1 and 15, according to the semi-monthly report of Traffic Direc- tor Maurice O. Eldridge, submitted today to Maj. Edwin B. Hesse, super- intendent of police. Nine permits pre- viously revoked or canceled were re- stored during this period. Twenty-six permits were taken up on a charge of driving while intox- fcated, six each for reckless driving and leaving after colliding, four for bad records and one each for speeding and lending a permit. The 44 revocations and suspensions represent a reduction under the pre- ceding two-week period, when 70 per- mits were taken up, 43 of which were for driving while drunk - e MISSIONARIES FREED AFTER CHINESE SIEGE Eight-Month Battle for Possession of Shensi Province Capi- tal Ends. Special Dispatch to The Star. LONDON, December 18.—The Bap- tist Missionary Society today received a cable message from China stating that the eight-month siege of Sian- fu, capital of Shensi Province, has been terminated and six British mis- sionaries liberated. Fearful conditions in Sianfu, in- cluding the buying and eating of hu- man flesh to ward off starvation, caused by factional fighting there, were described in Peking dispatches of December 9. The information reaching Peking sald that the streets of ‘Sianfu were strewn with dead and that the na- tives had been robbed of all food- stuffs by the soldiers. At last reports there were 19 foreigners, including several Americans, in the city. The Baptist Mission in Peking re- ceived a letter dated Sianfu, Novem- ber 19, from the British missionary Clement Stockley, telling of terrible conditions in the city and stating that foreigners could hold out for only a short time if allowed to keep the little food they had. T S SINCLAIR SUIT DISMISSED. NEW YORK, December 18 (#).— Suit brought by H. Leslie Parker of Wyoming against Harry F. Sinclair for an accounting as to Sinclair’s dis- atiacks, he added, expressing the view that *‘the majority of these sallies are timed to leave the accused no op- portunity for redress before the voters g0 to the polls.” position of a holding corporation, known as the Salt Creek Oil Field, in ‘Wyoming, alleged to be worth $100,- 000,000, was dismissed in United States District Court today.