Evening Star Newspaper, December 6, 1927, Page 1

w \WEATHER. 8. Weather Burean Forecast.) m Partly tomorrow warmer, followe Temperatur vesterda 1 by Highest § lowest, 28, a 11 report on page 3. Closing N. Y. Markets, Pages 14 and 15 not so cold tonight sing cloudiness and rai ah S ¢ Foenit WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION o Star. Shiss 0. 30,534, [intereq as Kntered as second class matte: Washington, D, WASHINGT( D. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1927 - FOR'I 'Y-EIGHT PAGES. # service. (#) Means Associated Press. The only evening paper in Washington with the Associated Press news Yesterday’s Circulation, 102,641 TWO CENTS. — PRESIDENT CALLS ECONOMY VITAL)| TO CONTINUED PROSPERITY, BUT STRESSES FEDERAL OBLIGATIONS Message Problems of Welfare. FARMER LOAN FUND IS URGED Tax Slash Based on Treasury Report Approved. Encouraging though the present era of prosperity may be, America | must continue to practice “stern self-denial in public expenditures; President Coolidge declared today in presenting to Congress his annual report on the state of the Union. While advocating “constructive | economy” in Government expendi- tures, the Chief Executive made it plain that the Nation must not for- get its obligations with respect to such outstanding national problems as flood control, farm relici, ta tion and the national defense. The message reviewed, one by one, the major factors which the Presi dent considers important to the con- tinued welfare of the people, and re- jterated views previously expressed regarding legislation for the farmers, the taxpayers, flood sufferers, the Army and Navy and other groups in nced of Federal aid. Mississippi Relief Urged. Congress was urged to confine its fiood control legislation this yvear to the lower Mississippi Valley, and let other flood, navigation, irrigation and power projects “wait.” The War De- partment, it was peintéd out, will pre- sent to Congress adequate plans for preventing a recurrence of this vear’s “national disaster,” and “no required relief should be refused.” Residents of the lower valley should bear some proportionate share of the big finan- cial burden involved in controlling the Mississippi, it was enfphasized. “Price-fixing and subsidy,” the President said, cannot solve the farm problem, but can only result in disas- ter. The Government can, however, assist the farmers in marketing their products in co-operative, orderly man- ner, he explained. A Federal board, hacked with a revolving loan fund, could do much to solve the farm sur- plus problem by lending financial aid and moral encouragement by market- ing associations, he said. Proposals for assisting the farmers by reducing tariff rates on industry are not sound and would prove a disastrous boome- rang. the legislators were told. \ President Coolidge warned against drastic tax reduction at this time. De- claring that the Nation’s probable sur- plus of money for the year ending June 30, 1929, is small, he asserted “the people ought to take no selfish attitude of pressing for removing moderate and fair taxes, which might produce a defict Further reductions in taxes, he said, should be “mainly for the purpose of removing inequalities.” Favors Boulder Dam. The present “moderate” military de- fenses should be continued, the mes- sage stated, “with a very generous supply of officers and with the present base of personnel. subject to fluctua- tions which may be temporarily desir- e. -h::omltruclkm of a dam at Boulder Canyon in the Colorado River was favored by the President, who cau- tioned, however, that every other pos- sibility should be exhausted before the Fedéral Government becomes engaged in the power business. Muscle Shoals, he said, should be sold to private in- terests providing the revenues are dedicated to agriculture, through re- search for methods of more economical production of centralized fertilizer. Contending that the country had at: tained a prosperity never exceeded and therefore was in a position to enjoy some of the benefits which result from economy, Mr. Coolidge presented the specter. nevertheless, of a large na- tional debt and warned that until the revenues now directed toward its re- Auction could be diverted to internal jmprovements and national develop- ment, the people must continue to sac- rifice and the Government must con- tinue to economize. “The Secretary of the Treasury the President said, “has recommende a measure which would give us a mucl better balanced system of taxation and without oppr n produce suffi- cient revenue. It has my complete suppo! Urges Law Observance. Although but one paragraph of his to prohibition, the President emphasized the need for both the people and public officials to “observe the sanctions of this consti tutional provision and its resulting laws.” Rec t Congress and the States or two notable exceplions” have passed adequa for enforcement of the amendment, Mr. Coolidge declared that | ‘ederal authorities propos scharze their obligation for enforce ment to the full extent of their abil- clares that “eac it “Railroad consolidation is necessary re of both agriculture and | 2 d in recom mending t slatic cilitate this under the supery ree Commit He also restated his d ation which would permit him to act during coal strikes, Although the message was dev almost exclusively to domestic the Presi did inform Con; again ths ican in foreign pose of prote erty of this oted airs, the lives and prop China and 1he bellef that the controversy with Mexico over oil and land laws. by * firm adherence to our ri srupulous respect for the sove (Continued on Page 7, Column 2. Cites | | | Farm Reliei—Creation of a F revolving fund to help co-operativ Flood Control—Construction High Lights,v 9f, Brefiil,eitj_s Message cderal farm board to administer a es. of dikes, emergency spillways and aids to navigation on the lower Mississippi. Faxation—Moderate reduction as recommended by the Treasury and retention of certain excise taxes. Army—Large enough for supply of officers. Navy—More cruisers, submarines participation m a naval building ra Prohibition—Strict enforcement. Coal—Legislation permitting t national defense, with a generous nd airplane carriers, but no he President to act during strikes. Foreign Relations—Understanding with other nations toward outlawing war and negotiations of covenants not out of harmony with the Constitution. Philippines—Congressional supervision of revenue expenditures and visit to the islands every tw mittee Panama Canal—Construction for flood protection. Merchant o years by a congressional ‘com- of a $12000000 dam at Alhajuela Marine—Stop further building; turn ships over to as second line of naval defense Inland Navigation—Projection way through the St. Lawrence. \Full Text of President Cooliflge‘s Message to the The full text of the President’s message, delivered to Congress today, follows: Members of the Congress: It is gratitying to report that for the fourth consecutive year the state of the Union in general is good. We are at peace. The country as a whole has had a prosperity never exs ceeded. Wages are at their highest range, emplovment is plentiful. Some parts of agriculture and industry have lagged: some localities have~suffered from storm and flood. But such losses of the Guli-to-the-Atlantic water- | Seventieth Congress have been absorbed without serious detriment ‘to our great economic structure,, Stocks of goods are mod- erate and a wholesome caution prevalent. Rates of interest for in- dustry, agriculture and government n reduced. Savers and in- e providing capital for new construction in industry and public | works. The purchasing power of agriculture has increased. If the peo- ple maintain that confidence which they are_entitled _to have in_them- " (Continued on Page 6, Column 1.) NORRIS LAUNGHES VARE-SMITH FIGHT Nebraskan Senator Assails| Campaign Costs—Inter- rupted by Reed. The opening gun in the verbal bat- tle over the seating of Senators-elect Smith of Illinois and Vare of Penn- sylvania was fired in the Senate this afternoon, with Senator Norris, Re- publican, of Nebraska attacking ex- penditures made in the Pennsylvania and Illinois primaries last year and calling on the Senate to bar beth Smith and Vare. Senators on both sides of the is- sue have been preparing the lines of battle during the lull that has existed since the Senate convened at mnoon yesterday, and the contest began im- mediately after the clerk had finished reading the annual message of the President this afternoon. Although the case of Smith was taken up first, from a parliamentary standpoint, Senator Norris in his opening speech dwelt upon the issues involved in the Vare case also. Ready for Battle. That supporters of the two Sena- tors-elect are ready to defend the sides of the question was made &p- parent at the outset when Senator David Reed, Republican, of Pen vania, interrupted Senator Norris at the end of his opening paragraph to take issue with a statement contained in it. “There 1s practically -no dispute about what happened in the Iliinois and Pennsylvania primaries in the Spring of 1926.” Senator Norris be- an. sA! this point Senator Reed said he wanted to state that the assertions contained in the preamble of the resolution offered yesterday by Sena- tor Norris seeking to bar e from the Senate were untrue. Senator Norris replied by reiterating his be- lief in the truth of the statements in his resolution, and then went on with his address. “It stands undisputed,” Senator Norris said, “that there was spent in the Illinois and Pennsylvania pri- maries several millions of dollars in an effort simply to obtain the nom- ination of candidates. In Penn: vania more than $3,000,000 was spent by the various contestants. Of this amount, practically $800,000 was spent for the nomination of Mr. Vare, the successful nominee; and in 1llinois, for Mr. Smith's nomination, in round numbers, more than $450.000 % spent, simply for the nomination { the Republican ricket. Assails Expenditure “These stupendous amounts ger the imaginatéon of the ordina citizen. Tt W a race where the en- tran fee debarred every man of modest means unless he was willing to mortgage his birthright to special in terests that ed in T ble legislation in our National Gov- ernmen After going into detail of both cases. Senator Norris turned to the legal points involved and argued that the Senate is the sole judge of the mean- z of the word alification’ rt of the Constitution relating to 3 He con- stag- to fa- | fon | permanentiy rvention in | fins sy for the pur-| T He defended the administration’s policy in | election or qualif Nicaragua and expressed tion on the Senate by that Constitution, which de- house shall be the | judge of the election, returns and in that | PROGRESSIVES FAIL [NCAUCUS DEMAND Senator Curtis Instructed to | Confer With Independents on Farm Relief. Senate Republicans, in a conference today, failed to accede to the demands of five Western independents that as- surances be given for a vote on ther iegislative program at this session. In an effort to reach an agreement with the five progressive Senators the Republican caucus instructed Major- ity Leader Curtis to confer with them. Senator Curtis did not elaborate on the announcement of the action taken by the conference further than to say that he would confer with the West- ern Senators as soon as the opportu- nity presented itself. It was not cer- tain whether he expegted to come to an understanding with the progres- sives or whether he would have to re- port back to a future caucus the re- sult of the peace parley. Letter to Curtis. Several days ago a_group of West- erners, composed of Senators La Fol- lette and Blaine of Wisconsin, Frazier and Nye of North Dakota and Ship- stead of, Minnesota, addressed a letter to Senalor Curtis, asking for assur- ance that votes would be had at this session on farm relief, a bill limiting the power of the court in issuing in- junctions and an investigation into the American policy in Central and South America. Senator Curtis gave the group his personal assyrance that he would do everything possible to bring the questions mentioned to a vote, while pointing out that he could not commit the majority. The Pro- gressives came back with a second communication, insisting upon more definite pledges. of this second letter that Senator Cur- tis decided to lay the correspondence before all of the Republicin Senators at the caucus today. Although leaders did not reveal what . possible proposals might be made to the progressives, the designa- ing of Senator Curtis to meet with them was looked upon as a move to bring about some understanding. Although the progressives who united in writing the letters have not said what course they would take If they do not get the assurances asked for, the final outcome of the exchange is expected to have an important bear- ing on the organization of the Senate. In view of the exceptionally close divi- sion between Republicans and Demo- crats, the defection of only a few pro- gressive votes from the Republican to the Democratic side would prove de- cisive, Officials Nominated. nated the following S for continuation in their pre tions: For secretary of the Senate, Edwin_I>. Thayer; for sergiantat- arms, David 8. Barry, and for Senate doorkeeper, Carl Loeffler. These offi- Is will have to be voted on in the enate when that body gets around to the business of completing organi- zation which is expected to be de- layed by the opening debate on the question of seating Senators-elect Vare of Pennsylvania_and Smith of Illinois. Although the Vare and Smith cases are expected to be before the Senate for several days at leasr, it | would be possible by unanimous con- 1 sent to pause temporarily at any time to complete organization nt pe fications of its own membe: urning to the question of whethe: 1% and V are entitled to be : i s of whether they in the Senate, Senator Norris said: “It is true that cnator is eworn in upon the pr ation of his certificate of election, © his right to a scat here is then contested, he remains in the Senate s a member until that question Iy is determined by the Senate, procedure is followed hecause, in the ordinary case, the only offiviai evidence that the Scnate has of the in ordinary cases a enate is the certificate of election No other evidence of an official kind -dinarily in the possession of the| Senate and ued on I when th “gluma 6,) henee. ns of one claim- ing the right to be a member of the MIAMI-HAVANA AIR LINE. Service to Operate Daily With Three Laige Ships. MIAMI, Fla., December 6 (#)— 1 3. 1D:\H_v passenger service between Mi- {aml and Havana will be inaugurated | about December 25 by the Cuba-Ameri- n Air Line, Inc., of New York, ac- cording to an announcement today by T- Duncan Just of Miami, president, Three 16-passenger planes, will be {operated on a schedule which will al- llmv passengers to make the round trip in a day, with several hours for | business or sightseeing in Havana, | Mr. Just said. Tri-weekly sailings from Palm Beach | were also planned and a- New York { Havana schedule is ultimately to be i u‘:rhd out. |Foreign It was as a result| « The Republican caucus also nomi- | officials | il [ Nevertheless, he felt called upon to .~ (Continued on Statement Void of Startling Comment. ADEQUATE NAVY TERMED A NEED Relations | Given Only Pass- ing Notice. BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG. President Coolidge's message to Congress today is void of anything startling or actually new in presi- dential comment or recommenda tion. | If any one had been anticipating | something different or unusual from | Mr. Coolidge, probably because of his announced decision to not be a candidate to succeed himself, or even | because of the approaching 1928 na- | tional campaign, they were disap- pointed. While he did advocate a moderate | expansion of the Navy to include | authorization for some new cruisers, and liberality in extending relief to the Mississippi flood area, and adop: tion of an adequate plan for prevent- | ing a recurrence of disaster in that section, and a few other though lesser important things, which were not included in his 1926 mesage, they were merely reiterations of his al- ready known attitude toward these subjects. Follows Former Style. Otherwise, the President’s message varied very little from his former messages. It was a well prepared. carefully worded presentation of facts, figures and comment. There was virtually no departure from his customary manner of making known his views upon the state of the Union and upon the more important subjects which should come before this Congress. It was, in brief, typical of the Coolidge idea of presenting such mat- ters to the attention of Congress. In style and (reatment, the message was “Coolidgesque”—as the writings and utterances of the President deal- ing with domestic and world affairs have long since been termed. Mr. Coolidge reported gratifyingly of the general prosperity of the land, which prosperity, he ventured to pre- dict, would surely continue if the people maintained that confidence which he contends they are entitled to have in themselves, in each other and in America. The general tone of his paper was one of serenity and hopefuiness. He discussed the vari- ous problems of the country and the Government {n a manner which can- not help but convey the impression that there is no occasion for alarm or uneasiness and that there is rea- son to feel secure, comfortable and happy. Stresses Deficit Danger. f evinced very little concern about the internal affairs of thi courtry or this Government's re- lations with the other countries of the world, other than his concern abbiit the possibility of a defict if Congress becomes too reckless in ap- propriating money and in reducing taxes. 5 As for our foreign relations, the President gave only passing attention to this subject, confining his remarks on this generally important subject to | not more than 400 words, and assign- ing it a place near the very end of his message. This can be taken to in- dicate that the President has no wor- ries so far as our intercourse with other nations is concerned. He thinks our differences with Mexico are heing ironed-out to a nicety, and that our Chinese and Nicaraguan policies are working satisfactorily. He again gave assurance of a desire to consider proposals for promoting peace of the world, but he did not ex- press himself as heing especially opti- mistic in _this particular. In his opinion, peace comes only from honesty and fair dealing, from modera- tion, and a generous regard for the rights of others, and he has little faith in securing peace through treaties Emphasizes Economy. The President indicated that he has great faith in the ability of this Con- B to work out the mighty destiny | of America, at least for the moment. He dwell at considerable length upon the need for governmental economy and the exerting of extreme care if a Treasury deficit is to be averted. As might have been expected, he dis- played his customary apprehension of a possible deficit by warning Congress of what to expect in the form of a deficit and its disastrous financial consequences, if that body fails to co- operate with his economy program. He punctuated this admonishment with the reminder that without con- structive economy in Government expenditures this Nation would not now be enjoying such a widespread and highly le prosperity. I resident empha sized what has been accomplished dur- ing the past seven years in reducing the national debt and again he sound- ed the great need for continued reduc- tion of this debt. He made it quite evident that he would infinitely pre- fer 1o see the Treasury surplus ap- plied to the debt and let the tax rates remain as they now are, rather than enact a revision bill carrying the peril of a deficit. However, he approves of another cut in the taxes, such as has been recommended by the Secre- tary of the Treasury, but he appealed to Congress o approach this subject in a broad, but cautious and nonparti- san spirit.” He assured Congress that all of those who participate in finding a reasonable solution will be entitled to participate in any credit that ac- crues from it without regard to party. In other words, the President is hon ge 7, Column §) KING AND AKERS NAMED N COURT 0il Case Defense Asks Why| Two Who Talked to Juror Were Not Accused. United States Attorney Peyton Gor- don today was called on for the sec: ond time by defense counsel in the | Sinclair-Burns contempt se to an- swer why Don T. King, I refbricr and J. Ray Akers were not cited for contempt in approaching Edward J. Kidwell, jr, teapot Dome juror. In making this demand, E. C. Branden- burg, attorney for Sheldon Clark, one of the six respondents, declared the real basis for discharging the triul jury in the Teapot Dome case was the contact formed with Kidwell. “Instead of fighting the parties re- sponsible for this offense,” said Bran- denburg, “we are brought into this court to answer charges against per- sons absolutely innocent of forming any contact with a sinxle juror.” Holds Contact Unnecessary. “It was evident to the defense,” Mr. Brandenburg declared, “that the United States Attorney's office had brought in the Burns operatives as an afterthought and a dragnet to proceed against these defendants.” Brandenburg brought up the Kidwell affidavit by stating that the United States feit and believed that the foundation of discharging th v fas that Kidwell had been af.pre “Was it the Burns operatives who approached him the attorney de- manded. He questioned the motive of King and Akers who interviewed Kid- well as set forth in the Government's affidavit during the criminal trial. It would have been sufficient if the re porter alone had formed the contact with Kidwell, the attorney declared, but a second person was brought in to_substantiate the fact. Declaring that the United Sttaes at- torney, he believed, would bring in a rule dismissing the charge against lark, who id, had no part in the jury shadowing, Brandenburg toid the ‘court it was common knowledge that when the United States was a party in a trial it orders a surveilance of t “It stretches forth its long arm with all the power that the Government can hand it and puts its inspectors on the track of the jurors,” said Brandenburg. Says Prosecution Did Same Thing. “Then why is it wrong for these defendants to do this when it is not wrong for the Government?” he de- manded. Brandenburg charged deliberately that the Government itself had taken part in shadowing the jurors through William J. MecMullen, the former Burns detective, whose testimony will be used in the contempt case to support the charge that he was in- duced to swear to a false affidavit regarding the shadowing of one of the jurors. “Is it not a ca following anothe enburg. The attorneys for Clerk reiterated what others had declared previ-! ously, that no contempt of courtj had been committed by the acts of the operatives in trailing the trial jury. This surveillance, he declared, did not violate the dignity of the court, nor ohstruct the administra- tion ot justice. Gordon Opens Argument. Brandenburg was the last of the de- fense attorneys to argue for dismissa of the charges, and when he concluded | George B. Hoover, one of the counsel for Harry K. Sinclair, arose to tell the court that Martin W. Littleton would prove for the defense that the United States attorney had concluded. Coun- sel for Sinclair, he stated, adopted the arguments of Daniel Thew ‘Wright, Douglas and Brandenburg as their own. When Brandenburg had concluded, Maj. Gordon opened his arguments for the prosecution, and this will in- clude practically all the time of the afternoon session of the court. He was in the concluding stages of his argument against the motions of the respondents that the petition be dismissed and the rule discharged this afternoon. Referring to that por- tion of the respondents’ motion that the petition does not allege facts ade- quate to constitute an offense, Maj. Gordon reiterated his charges that| the Burns detectives were employed | for the purpose of spying, bribing and | intimidating the jurors to the end that a mistrial or verdict for the de- fendant in the Teapot Dome triul might be gained. Cites False Affidavit. “Are not these things contempt?” he asked, and then he declared: “Is it not contempt to present a false affi- davit to the court that one of the jurors was communicated with by per- sons of the Government? 1 have an (Continued on Page 4, Column 6.) Radio Programs—Page 36 e of one:detective " declared Brand- African Finch, Held Most Voluble Bird, Speaks 300 Words By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, December 6.—The African finch, reputedly the most voluble member of the bird king- dom. doesn’t sing—it talks, Dr. William M. Patterson, who is doing research work at Columbia Uni- versity, told the New York Branch of the American Psychological As- soctation. The finch has an alphabet of 24 letters and symbols and a_vocabu- lary of about 300 words, Dr. Pat- terson said. He asserted his study of the bird showed it spoke in prose comparing to sanskrit, Chinese, the language of the Hopi Indians and English, AUTO BANDIT GETS | 900 FROM RUNNER Thug -Drives Alongside of Bank Employe’s Car and Waves Gun. | | | | A daylight bandit, traveling in an automobile, held up a runner for the District National Bank at the point of a pistol shortly before noon today and got away with $900 in cash. The runner, Francis E. Jameson, 20 years old, was in an automobile and was driving along Eighth street between T and Florida avenue, en route from the Industrial Savings Bank, where he had made collections, to the Prudential Bank, 717 Florida avenue, when an automobile driven by a white man, about 30 years old. drew alongside. Bandit Points Gun. The strange driver asked the run- ner the direction of the ball park. The runner pointed the way, and when he glanced back toward his questioner he found a pistol pointing at him. “Hand over your money,” the ban- dit demanded, in a low tone, keeping the pistol shielded by his coat from the sight of passersby. The bank messenger denied that he had any money. “Oh, yes, you have,” insisted the bandit., “I know that you've been making collections at the banks; hand it over.” Jameson, who was unarmed, gave the cash, which he carried in his pockets, to the bandit, who stuffed it in his coat and drove off. ¥ Bank officials stated that the bandit had evidently planned the hold-up in advance and had followed the runner, waiting for a comparatively deserted stretch of street before committing the crime. Police Open Probe. Headquarters and Eighth Precinct detectives began an immediate inves- tigation, but were unable to obtain the license number of the bandit's machine. Jameson has heen employed by the District National Bank for the past four months, his superidrs stated. He was making his customary collection tour, visiting the Industrial and Pru- dential banks. The bandit used a green sedan, and was described as being of medium build, wearing a light brown overcoat. He was smooth shaven. Detectives E. E. Thompson and Nally are investi- gating the hold-up. SINCLAIR AND DOHENY GET INSTITUTE BERTHS 0il Magnates Reported to Have Been Chosen for Board of Di- rectors Despite Opposition. By the Associated Press, CHICAGO, December 6.—Harry F. Sinclalr and Edward L. Doheny were among the 32 candidates for the board of directors chosen by the councilors of the American Petroleum Institute today, it was unofficially reported. The selections are not made public until presented to the general assem- bly of the institute, consisting of 2,500 delegates, for final consideration. Sinclair's name was approved by the group of directors at large, and the foreign trade section of the board of councilors again chose Doheny. Both Doheny and Sinclair have heen directors since the institute was CIGAR FIRM HITS FINE ARTS' POWER Builders of New Store Chal- lenge Right of Federal Agency to Supervise Plans. Raising the direct issue of Commis- sion of Fine Arts jurisdiction over private buildings adjacent to Govern- ment owned and developed property, the United Cigar Stores Co. today threw down the gauntlet to the com- mission, declaring that it does rnot now intend to change in any way the plans for its new building at the cor- ner of Fourteenth and E streets. The Fine Arts body has not replied to the direct challenge of the cigar compeny, intending to let the matter rest until the monthly meeting Thursday. At that time an answer will be given to the issue raised by the private builders. - Only yesterday the commission was asked by the Public Buildings Com- mission to consider the matter of Jjurisdiction by some Government agénvy over privately constructed buildings abutting on adjacent to Government property. ithe intention being to establish 1 of type of structures to be ell on the north side of Pennsylvania venue in a Government supervisory agency. Sen- ator Shipstead of Minnesota intro- duced in the Senate last Winter a bill designed to place jurisdiction over such structures in the hands of the Commission of Fine Arts and the Na- tional Copital Park and Plannipg Commission. Construction work on the new United Cigar Stores Building has already begun. B.0.P. CHIEFS MEET 10 VOTE ON NEXT CONVENTION CITY Rivalry Intense as Various Delegations Urge Selection of Their Home Towns. KANSAS CITY APPEARS "TO HAVE BIG ADVANTAGE Butler's Declaration Aids Mis- souri Metropolis—Chairman Makes Address. BY G. GOULD LINCOLN, Republican chieftains today settled to the job of selecting a convention city for 1928, Amid an atmosphere of intense rivalry, the advocates of the various cities which have issued invitations to the Republican national committee to hold the national convention within their confines began their arguments. The meeting of the national commit- tea in the Willard Hotel, the first since the days of the 1924 campaign, was opened with an address by Chairman Willlam M. Butler of Massachusetts, who made a strong appeal to party leaders to present a united front. President’s Name Cheered. ‘When Mr. Butler mentioned the name of DPresident Coolidge, the members of the committee rose and cheered. There are many members of the committee who still have hope of renominating Mr. Coolidge, not- withstanding his “I do not choose” statement. The President at 5 o'clock this afternoon will receive the com- mittee, men and women, at the White House and will deliver an address to them at that time, As the committee assembled for its first session today, Kansas City, Mo., appeared to have the inside course in the race for the convention. Chair- man Butler, it had become known yesterday, looks with faver on the Missouri city. His preference has undoubtedly had a strong affect, ac- cording to committeemen, some of them favoring other cities. Prediction was made by an influen- tial member of the committee that a bitter fight would be waged with the choice resting between Kansas City and San Francisco. Some of the pro- ponents of other cities, including Cleveland, Detroit and “Chicago, are hopeful that a deadlock will arise be- tween the two and that a compromise will result, At the White House.today Presi- dent Coolidge let it be known that he himself has not undertaken to throw his influence to Kansas City or to any other city in the convention race. Reports have been published to the effect that Kansas City was to be se- lected in furtherance of the effort to draft the President for the Republican nomination, 11 Citles in Race. Roy O. West, secretary of the com: mittee, read invitations from 11 cities which desire the national con- vention, San Antonio, Chicago, Seattle, Omaha, Minneapolis, Denver, San Francisco, Clevelanl, Detroit, Plans Held Detrimental. A week ago the commission wrote the cigar stores company that the de. sign submitted by the a:chitects of the building is “radically and funda- mentally unsuitable to tna location; and that the building, if constructed ac- cording to present plans. will ve a detriment to the appearance of Penn- sylvania avenue, both present and fu- ture.” The commission added that any modifications in the design might be considered with the architect at the meeting on Thursday. Plans for the cigar store building were submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts after a meeting in New York a month ago of representatives (Continued on Page 5, Column 4. FIGHT DIE IN FIRE AT BOARDING HOUSE Victims Trapped by Flames in Upper Story of Burn- ing Building. By the Associated Press. WILLTAMSON, W. Va., December 6.—Kight persons met death in a fire which destroyed a boarding house here today. Six of the victims were residents of the Dingess section of Mingo County, several of them here to testify in the murder trial of Elijah Wellman and his rhree sons. The fire originated in a hallway be- tween two sections of the rooming house about 6 a.m and spread so rap- idly that the eight were trapped when the flames cut off the stairway at the front of the building. Another stair- way at the rear, intended as a fire exit, was blocked and prevented es- cape in that direction, it was said after the fire, All the bodies were found in a bath- room on the upper floor, to which the victims had fled from the advancing flames It was apparent that some of the victims had sought to wrap their heads in water-soaked blankets. ‘Those burned to death were: Mrs. Will Hampton, her three chil- dren, Goldie, Wade and a 6-week-old baby: Pearl Johnson Browning and Deputy Sheriff John L. Marcum of the Dingess section, and Bob Ireson and his son Albert, who conducted a cafe on the ground floor of the Ltuilding and lived above it. The origin of the fire was uncer- tain, but firemen believed that it start- ed in a trash pile. Deputy Marcum Kansas City and Philadelphia. It was announced, however, that Omaha and Denver had withdrawn. The invitations indicated that the cities were prepared to meet all ex- penses of the committee and the con- vention during the convention period. Several of the cities pledged $125,000, including Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, and Philadelphia pledged $200,- 000. When the roll of States was called California was the first. Wililam H. Crocker, Republican national com- mitteeman, asked that San Francisco be passed temporarily in order to per- mit him to bring Mrs. Kahn and Senator Shortridge before ‘the com- mittee to argue for that city. There was an immediate “No, no, in the rear of the committee room. “Thank you,” began Mr. Crocker in a sarcastic tone. Chairman Butler arose and poured oil on the troubled waters with a statement that he hoped every city would be given ample opportunity for proper presen- tation of its case. By unanimous con- sent the committee agreed to pass San Francisco temporarily. The next city reached on the list was Chicago, and National Committee- man Allen F. Moore opened the argu- ment for the Windy City. He was fol- lowed by former Representative Goode of Illinois, who strongly urged that at this time the Republican party hold its national convention in that part of the country which has always been strongly Republican. Before arguments for the privileze of holding the convention were begun, a rule was adopted by the committee, limiting each city to 30 minutes. The committee took 2 recess at 1 o'clock and resumed its session at 2, intending to run until 4:30 o'clock this afternoon. The opinion was ex- pressed by Chairman Butler that a session would be necessary tomor- row morning to complete the argu- ments for the convention. When all the cities have been heard from, the ballot. committee will immediately begin to A call of the roll of the national committee showed a large attendance. Former Senator Ernst of Kentucky, as chairman of the committee on cre- dentials, reported favorably on a num- ber of new members of the national committee, selected to fill vacancies which have arisen since the commit- tee last met. The committee promptly elected these new members. They are George L. Mallory, Arkansas; Benja- min J. Davis, Georgia; Allen F. Moore, Ilinois; Joseph W. Simpson, Maine: Mrs. W. Reginald Baker, New Jersey: Charles A. Jonas. North Carolina; Mrs. Wilma_Sinclair Lavan, Ohio; George 8. Vitts and Mrs. Harry Thomas, Wisconsin. Subcommittees to Be Named. On motion of Charles G. Hilles, New York, vice chairman of the commit- tee, the chairman was authorized to appoint five subcommittees—one to prepare a call for the national eon- vention, a second to prepare tributes to the memory of deceased members of the committee, a third to investi- gate all contests which may arise was belleved to have lost his life be- cause of the time it took him to at- tach an artificial leg after the danger established eight years ago. For the past two vears there has been an agitation to drop them from. the directorate, because of their connec- tlon with the Teapot and Elk Hills naval reserve oil leases, became known. A companion occupy- ing the same room with Mrs. Hamp- ton escaped. The uppér part of the building was virtually destroyed before firemen got control of the flimes and prevented spread of the flames to other buildings, -~ prior to the ‘meeting of the national convention,” a fourth to recemmend rules as may be necessary for the national committee to performn properly its dutfes, and a fifth to make all arrangements for the national con- vention, including contracts, the lection of a temporary chairman and the_employment of all n Rary A (Continued on Page 4, Column 2)) 2 S L asa