Evening Star Newspaper, December 17, 1927, Page 1

WEATHER. 0. 8 Weather Buread Forecast.) Falr and continued cold tonight and tomorrow; minimum temperature to- night about 26 degrees. Temperatures. Highest, 43, at 2 p.m yesterday: lowest, da¥. Full report 27, at 8 on page 7. ) Closing N. Y. Markets, Pages 14 and 15 Entered post offi No, 30,545. Wa ‘MEXICAN CHILDREN WILL HONOR LINDY 6,000 Pupils to Take Part in Fete as President De- clares Holiday. AVIATOR TO TAKE CALLES FOR PLANE RIDE | | . | Their fiying field is excellent, al-| Visits Flying Field and Tries Out _@oyernment Craft With Off- | cials as Passengers. By the Associated .. MEXICO CIT December 17 Col. Charles A. Lindbergh, Americ good will air ambassador, today started an exceedingly busk week end | which will be filled with Mexican demonstrations of admiration. ! The first number on the week end program was a great popular demon- | stration in his honor this morning in the Mexico City stadium, where 30.- | 000 or more spectators gathered for & public fete arranged by tr> Depart- | ment of Education. | On the program was a series of | songs, drills, dances and tableaux by | from 6,000 to 10,000 school children of Mexico City's public schools eager to perform before the American air hero, President Calles, American Am- bassador Dwight W. Morrow and a | s large body of prominent officials. | y Holidays Called Off. Although Mexico's schools had closed | for the Christmas holidays before Col. Lindbergh's flight, the department of education issued orders as soon as the American airman hopped off from ‘Washington that all teachers and stu- dents should call off the holidays and report to their schools to prepare a great demonstration. Secretary of Education Puig Ca- saurane and Undersecretary Moises Saenz within a few days succeeded in erganizing one of the greatest gath- erings. of Mexican school children that the capital has ever seen for a public demonstration. stadium. which seats about 30,000 persons, began to swarm with people early this morning, many being there with the first streak of dawn. Groups of school children marchirg in formation from their classes and schools began to arrive several hours ::'or. the program was scheduled to n. Calles to Make Flight. President Calles of Mexico and Mex- ico's next prospective President, Gen. will enter the reglm of the airman next week when Lindbergh takes them aloft as his guests. President Calles himself first | broached- the subject to the fiyer. It was understood that he had been con- sidering making a flight with Lind- bergh ever since the Lone Eagle ar-| rived. Lindbergh immediately agreed to | the suggestion. It was then suggested that Gen. Obregon, who is the only candidate to succeed Calles, be inyifed to make a flight after the President. This was | to. “Of course I will go.” Obregon said, when told of the invitation. “I have never flown, but I will go with Lind- bergh. This is a good chance to strengthen international relations, he cal if we crash Lindbergh and T will be buried together.” _ The flights will be made in a two- seater plane borrowed from a commer- clal company. Labor Plans Parade. Labor also desires to pay its tribute to Lindbergh. The Confederation of Mexican Workers invited the flyer to attend a big labor parade tomorrow, in which 180,000 will march through the streets of the eity, paying homage to “the hero, who covered himself anew with glory.” Lindbergh will review the parade from the balcony of the National Pal- ace with President Calles and Ambas- | sador Morrow. The parade will start at noon to give Lindbergh an oppor- tunity to attend a rodeo later. One part of the proposed Sunday program - which has aroused consid- erable discussion is an invitation ex- tended Lindy to view a bullfight. More than 60 protests have been re-| ceived at the embassy from the United States against Lindbergh attending the fight. In American embassy circles the | excitement Is regarded as a tempest | in a teapot. Although Morrow would | say mothing for publication, his ati- tude was understood to be that the Ambassador has nothing whatever to do with it, that it is Lindbergh's own affairs whether he goes to the bull- fight or anything else outside his of- ficial program. Lindbergh's attitude is that he is the guest of the Mexican people and the mation, that he should not be put | in the position of criticizing one of the favorite pastimes of the people or of offending them by refusing to see their popular sport, when invited to | do s0. He announced that he might | attend it if it did not interfere with his official program. . «] think Mexico is perfectly capable of choosing her national sport,” he said. Telegrams Made Public. The invitation to the fight was not extended by the government, but by the management of the principal bull ring. From the Mexican viewpoint it js as if the managentent of the New York Glants invited a distinguished foreign visitor unacquainted with base ball to attend a game. The embassy made public two tele. grams of protest without giving the signatures or point of origin. They read: “Phe civilized world cxpects Lind- pergh to refuse to witness a bull-| fight, if invited. There is opportu- nity for him to further endear him- selt to his countrymen or to disap- point them if he attends. There Ix opportunity also for & lesson and example to the whole world in humanity and for greater fame for himself.” “Onderstand program for enter- taining Lindbergh includes hullfight. We certainly hope you (Morrow) will use your influence to prevent thig fight. Also please express our foelings to Lindbergh regarding any such thing. All our society a bullfight the meanest eruelty and we think every American should oppose it.” Takes Friends for Flights. While these protests were being made public Lindbergh himself was 8 b0 b Colimn 30~ {in the streets of Canton s a warning second class matter shington, D. C. { Must Overcome U Nicaragua BY COL. CHARLES A. LINDBERGH. cu MEXICO CITY. December 17.—Yes. terday was one of my most interesting | days in Mexico City, because I was able to meet some of the Mexican pilots and fly some of their planes. They are excellent pilots and have to meet some difficult conditions which exist in only a few parts of .the United Stat though 1 never saw the wind change | so fast in a short time as it does | here, probably due to the fact that | Mexico City lies in the bottom of a bowl The wind shifted as much as 150 degrees in a short | time, and it was rather bumpy. | 1 have looked forward to this visit to the flying field ever since 1 landed, for there was no time before to do any flying and 1 was glad to be able | 10 take up some of the pilots who have done some remarkable flying | over some of the worst country on the continent, Flew Over City. | Two of the men it was a pleasure to meet were Maj. Castrejon and Capt Emalio Carranza. Capt. Carranza is the pilot who flew from Mexico City to the border in a non-stop flight and who. when his engine got on fire managed to put it out by side-slipping | tiful and historical valley in Washington w . Associated service. Press Yesterday’s Circulation, 101,969 "WASHINGTON, D. C, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, LINDBERGH PRAISES MEXICAN PILOTS FOR THEIR ABILITY nusual Atmospheric | Conditions, He Finds; Expects to Visit NPROGRAM TODAY on Tour. and flying through a rain cloud which tupately came his way, I was very glad that they gave me the opportunity of taking them up. We went all over Mexico City, and this time I was able to look down upon it while I was rested and see this beau- It was not hard to imagine these days when Cor- tez fought his way into the city, al- ti.ough Mexico City no longer resem bles the home of the Aztecs. It is a beautiful valley and an ideal site for a city. It is hard to realize that it is 8,000 feet above sea level, although it was very noticeable when taking off from the field. The air is so light that a much longer run is necessary than at lower altitudes. The Mexican pilots have this to contend with in their flying, and it must be much more difficult to in pilots at such a high level, be. cause jin have to be v 1 shall stay in Mexico City now until a day or two after Christmas. The warmth of my welcome here has been uch that it would be away before then, and, indeed, 1 have no desire to leave until it is necessary 1 am enjoying every moment of the time. May Visit Guatemala First. When I leave here I shall fly to the Central American countries which have been kind enough to ask me_to visit them. My plans have not yet heen perfected, but 1 shall probably go (Continued on Page 3, Column 2) ry careful. 15 RED OFFICIALS DEPORTED BY CHINA Consul General at Hankow One of Group—19 Russians Executed at Canton. By the Associated Press. HANKOW, December 17.—Fifteen Soviet officials, including Consul Gen- eral Plitsche, were deported this morn- mg. They left aboard a Chinese steamer en route to Shanghai angd’| Viadivostok, Siberia. - | Most of the Russian and.Chines officials arrested in yesterday’s raid on the consulate and Communists ap- prehended in other parts of the city were released. Sixty persons were de- tained for further ‘investigation. 19 RUSSIANS EXECUTED. - Shot i Public as Warning te Com- munists at Canton. SHANGHAT, December 17 (fi)—‘ Ninefeen Russians have been executed to those who turn to Communism, ad- | vices from Hongkong stated today. The registration of all Soviet sub-| jects by December 23 has been ordered | by the Nanking Nationalist govern-| ment in its campaign against Com- munism. The registration will be car- ried out throughout the territory over which the Nanking government rules. Those who do not register will be ex- | pelled. At Jeast six Russians of the Soviet consular staff were executed. Others | were lodged in_the city jail. 1t was| said they would likely share the fate | of their unlucky compatriots. Lined Up and Executed. Thirteen other Russians were exe- | cuted Thursday. Condemned as Reds, | they were lined up outside the en-| trance to the bureau of public safety | and shot by a military squad. The | execution was carried out openly, | apparently the authorities having in | view the salutary effect which this (Continued on Page 4, Column 1) e SMITH GETS HEARING HERE ON JANUARY 7| Special Semate Campaign Funds | Committee Also to Give Samuel Insull Right to Testify. By the Associated Press. Frank L. Smith of Illinois, who has been denied the oath of office by the Senate, will be given an opportunity to present his case to the special cam- paign funds committee, beginning on Januvary 7. { In fixing this date the committee today also decided to permit Samuel Insull, Chicago public utilities official, and his personal attorney, Daniel T. Schuyler, to appear at the same time and purge themselves of contempt. This was in response to their requests. Insull's heavy contributions ' to Smith’s primary campaign fund in 1926 figured largely in the decision of the Senate to refuse him the oath pending a further hearing. Insull told of his contributions to both Smith and George Brennan, the Demo- cratic candidate for the same, but de- clined to disclose the names of per- sons to whom he gave around $40,000. Schuyler took a like position. —a Pirate Victim Loses Leg. | HANKOW, December 17 ().—Capt | Lalor, who was captured and held for ransom by pirates who raided the British steamer Siangtan, has been taken to a hospital here. His leg was amputated below the knee hecause of | By Calfe to The o | | But even.greater than | ! ! created by FRANCE AND [TALY AR SEEKING PEACE Welfare of Europe Hinges on Conference Now in Progress. BY PAUL SCOTT MOWRER. s we. “Copprisht, 10050 DuIY PARIS, December 17.—All Europe is eagerly watching the secret nego- tiations which have been begun be- tween France and Italy for the pur- pose of allaying the growing rivalry between these two “Latin sisters.” The negotiations will probably last for months. They will be conducted through diplomatic channels without publicity. If they succeed Dictator Mussolini of Italy and Foreign Minis- ter Briand of France will meet to con- secrate the agreement in a public amity celebration, and what every one | has considered to be one of the gravest dangers to European peace will have been removed. Tranquility will be restored In both the Balkan and the Mediterranean re- ions, The peril of Italy joining Rus- sia, Germany, Hungary and other lesser states in a federation of mal- contents to undermine the existing political order will have been elimi- nated. Hostile Groups Forming. I the negotiations fall it will be an evil day for Europe. Already two hos- tile groups have been forming. Under rench influence are Jugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Rumania and Belgium. Under Italian influence are Bulgaria, Hungary, Albania and Spain, and perhaps even Lithuania. The bit- ter diplomatic competition which has been proceeding for months in the Balkans, the Mediterranean region and in North Africa would be likely to spread to still other regions, The Italians say the problems are not local, but Furopean, and that no European peace is possible unless an agreement is reached. The moment is therefore decisive. According to ‘Dictator Mussolini the problem under consideration, while not insoluble, is delicate. But the very fact that a so- lution is at least being sought arouses hope. One of the principal obstacles in the way of an understanding is psycho- logical. France is rich and Italy is poor. France is underpopulated and Ttaly is overpopulated. France is the oldest national state on the continent and Italy is one of the newest. France is perhaps the most democratic coun- try on the continent and Italy now is perhaps the least démocratic. France is satisfied with the present distribu- tion of the world’s territory and wants 1o see it maintained, while Italy is dis- jsfied and intensely ambitious Italy is jealous of France and France has been perhaps somewhat contemp- tuous of Italy. Krance feels that Italy is trying to disturb the peace, and Italy feels that France is trying to block and thwart Italy’s legitimate | expansion at every point. Claims of Italy. these psy- chological difficulties is the obstacle the fact that while France has nothing to ask of Italy, the latter is asking nearly everything of France. The government-controlled Fascist press has gone so far as to claim for Italy the French provinces of Nice, Corsica and Savoy. Nobody outside of Italy takes these claims seriously. Italy's serious claims, so far as is known now, are as follows: 1. France shall cease trying to naturalize 130,000 Italians living In the French colony of Tunis. 2. France shall accord frontier rectification to the Italian African colony of Lybia at the ex- pense of the KFrench colony of Algeria. 3. France shall support the Italian a wide infeciion of wound he received in the raid. claim to a share in_the administra- (Continued on Page 2, Column 7. | By the Associated Press, ST. PETER, Minn., December 17.— More than a half century after leav, ing the Union Army, & Civil War vet- eran, confined (o the State Hospital here, has heen identified and granted | the Federal pension accorded those | honorably discharged. He is Charles W. Beals, 83, who has been under a mental cloud virtually since finishing Civil War duties with Company 1 5th New York Field Ar- |tillery, He has been at the hospital Hyears . . .. = I Union Army Veteran Granted Pénsion 50 Years After Leaving Civil War Unit Beals formerly resided at Redwood Falls, Minn., where he lived alone as a hermit, frequently donning his uni. form and telling of wir service. but unable to tell what his command had been Eventually. Julius Schmuhl, State treusurer. took an interest in the case and began to delve into the rosters of Union Regiments. Identified as an honorably dis- charged veteran, Beals has received a check for $3,672 for back pension and will get $72 per month. His condition makes it necessary that he remain here, hut relatives plan to keep the mobey in trust Loy his benelty landing a mew pilot would | hard to get| () Means Associated Press. TWO CENTS. SIMMONS HOLDS SENATE WILL RAISE - TAX CUT FIGURE Democrat, at White House, | Expects "resident’s Hope Will Be Unfulfilled. \PARTY LINES FORMING FOR FIGHT ON SLASH Oldfield Scoffs at Veto Possibility. Hearings May Be Delayed. President Coolidge need not look to | the Senate to save the administr tion's tax reduction program, accord ing to Semator Simmons of North Carolina, ranking Democrat on the Senate finance committee, who wa: one of the President's callers at the White House today. The North Carolina Senator ex | pressed the confident belief that the Senate will not only refuse to trin the by the House, but will probably pro vide a greater reduction than that. “ He personally would like to sec taxes reduced $400,000,000, if that be poseible, and said that during the con sideration of this legislation by the Senate he will do all in his power 1 make as large a slash as can b consistently done Veto Seen As Possibility. Senator Simmong' view on the tax legislation and his predictions, regard- ing what the Senate will probably do in the matter are especially inter- esting at this time, inasmuch as the President, after expressing keen disap- pointment at the size of the cut voted by the House, was represnted as counting on the Senate to bring the size of the reduction wtihin what he considered reason. ‘While discussing the matter with friends yesterday the President, with- out giving any reason for it, said he felt hopeful that the Senate would pass a tax bill that would be of a size not to threaten the Treasury sur- plus. Already the President has hinted that, if the tax bill when it finally reaches him for his signture, provides a reduction which he considers danger- ous and unwarranted, he will vteo it. He expressed himself as being of the opinion that it would be far better to leave the tax rates as they are now than enact a bill carrying the peril of a cefiict. The President's hint of a threat to yeto an unsatistactory. tax bill is not taken by his friends as a political gesture, but as being prompted by the honest conviction of the Executive that the reduction should not go be- yond the $225,000,000 cut as w recommended by the Treasury Depa ment after'a careful consideration of the whole subject. Wopld Eliminate “Nulsance” Tax. Senator Simmons said at the White House that he would like to see the inheritance tax and the so-called nui- sance taxes repealed entirely, and that he approves of the elimination of the automobile tax, as was provided by the House in its bill, and that he would like to see the tax on corpora- tions reduced even lower than 11 per cent, the amount provided for in the House bill. He said that he has rea- son to know that there is a sirong sentiment in the Senate for abolishment of the nuisance and in- heritance taxes and that there is not the slightest doubt about the Senate voting in favor of the repeal of the| automobile tax. The minority leader of the Senate finance committee was most emphatic in_his_declaration for_a_$400.000.000 (Continued on Page 5, Column 4.) CO-ED BANK ROBBER 1S GIVEN 14 YEARS Husband’s Insanity Plea for! { Annapolis to the breaking point. Wife Fails as Jury Finds Her Guilty. By the Associated Press. LAGRANGE, Tex., December 17.— Mrs. Rebecca Bradley Rogers was found guilty by a jury here today of robbing the Farmers National Bank of Buda, Tex., and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. The former University of Texas co-ed gave no sign of emotion when the verdict was returned. She main- tained her calm when the jury was polled and each juror said his verdict was guilty. Sentence was fixed by the jury, com- posed of men. The charge against Mrs. Rogers was robbery with fire- arms. Her husband, Otis Rogers, young attorney, had pleaded that she be given the death sentence rather than sent to the penitentiary. Under Texas law the maximum pen- alty for the offense is electrocution, while the minimum is five years’ im- prisonment. Mrs, Rogers held up two officials of the bank at the point of a pistol last December and obtained $1,000, which later was recovered. The defense pleaded she was insane. The day before the Buda robbery the 2 ar-old girl was alleged to have burned a house at Roundrock, Tex., in an unsuccessful ruse to rob a bank there. At her trial several months ago on an arson charge the jury disagreed. PATROLMAN SUSPENDED FOR WINKING AT PARTIES By the Assoclated Press. MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., December 17.—A patrolman who fails to take note that his neighbor Is violating the law is negligent In duty, the Civil Service Commission has ruled. The commission upheld the 80-day suspension imposed by the chief of police on John W. Freberg, patrolman, Other neighbors testificd that parties were held every night in one neigh- bor's_ house until the police morals squad raided thep lace on a liquor charge. ). 0,000,000 cut of the bill passec | the | 2\ i /I / NAVY T0 ABANDON ARMY GAME PLANS Academy Will Make No Fur-‘ ther Effort for 1928 Contest, | Admiral Nulton Says. | By the Associated Press. ANNAPOLIS, Md., December 17 The second bombshell in the Arm: Navy foot ball controversy thrown today when Rear Admir Louis M. Nulton, superintendent of the Naval Academy, announced that| the Naval Academy contemplates tak- ing no further steps toward an Army-| Navy game for 1928 | Admiral Nulton in his statement ex- plained that this year was the Navy's year to write the contract covering the game, and included in it was the three-year eligibility rule, in accord- ance with the policy of the superin- tendent of the Naval Academy a: announced in Jume, 1927, The au- thorities of the Military Academy, feeling that they could not accept the eligibilly condition, returned the con- tract unsigned and the Navy authori- ties will take no steps for plans for a 1928 foot ball game. Admiral Nulton's statement today came as the answer to Maj. Gen. k. B. Winans, superintendent of the Mil- itary Academy at West Point, who flatly declared yesterday that Army authorities would not adopt the three. ar eligibility rule for membership on athletic teams. ARMY STAND FAVORED. Department Approval Indicated as Davis Issues Statement. By the Associated Press. War Department support for the ac- tion of the West Point authorities in having rejected proposals of the Naval Adademy to adopt a three-year eligi- bility rule for players on the foot ball team of the two service schools was strongly indicated today, although Sec- retary Davis declined to express an opinion until he had more complete knowledge of the reasons of the Naval Academy in urging adoption of the rule, \ A formal statement lssued by the War Department said that Secretary Davis hoped the question of arrange- ments for the annual interservice foot ball classic would be “left, as heretofore, entirely in the hands of the authorities of the two institu- tions.” This expression was taken as indicating the unwillingness of Mr. Davis to intervene in'the eligibility rule dispute, which has brought foot ball relations between West Point and “The present foot ball relations of the academies are based upon a con: tract for four years of competition,” Secretary Davis’ statement continued. “That contract does mot contain any provision Jimiting eligibility of pla ers. The Secretary desires to refrain from any expression until he knows more fully the reasons why the Naval Academy desires to depart from the existing contract, which was only entered into last year and still has three more years to run.” RADIO APPOINTMENTS ARE SENT TO SENATE President Seeks Confirmation of Caldwell, Lafount and Pickard as Commissioners. President Coolidge sent to the | Senate today the nominations of Orestes H. Caldwell of New York, Harold A. Lafount of Utah and Sam Pickard of Kansas to be members of the Kederal Radio Commission. Mr. well was one of the original mem- bers of the commission appointed by the President following its creation last Winter, but his appointment was not confirmed prior to the adjourn- ment of the Senate, and he has since been serving on the commission by reason of a recess appointment. Mr. Lafount and Mr. Pickard also have been serving as members of the commission by reason of recess ap- pointment, the former succeeding John F. Dillon of California, who died several months ago, and Mr. Pickard succeeding Henry H. Bellows of Min- nesota, who resigned two months ago. The President has not yet filled the vacancy caused by the recent death of Admiral Willam H. G. Bullard, chairman of the commission. Garland’ 8. Ferguson of North Carolina was nominated to be a Federal trade commissioner. Doctors to Deny Service to. Patients Who Neglect Bill Dak., December ! who are in the habit of neglecting payment of bills for professional medical service had better keep healthy after January 1. for such service will be denied them in at least eight southeastern South Dakota towns. tirred to action because of the increasing number of patients who change from one doctor to another to avoid paying for services, 18 ¢sicians in Avon, Tyndahl, Springfield, Wagner, Tripp, Del- mont Tahor and Scott have joined hands in keeping this class of pa- tients to a minimum. Notices signed by the physicians warn that after January 1 services will be declined to all those whose accounts are in arrears and who have not mads arrangements for a further extension of credit. CAPONE GOES HOME WITH ARMED GUARD Chicago Gang Leader Defies Police as He Returns for Holidays. By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, December 17.—Undis- | mayed by police commands to keep out of Chicago, “Scarface Al" Ca- | pone, once a- gangster, but now a | tourist, was home toda He spent the night with his mother | unmolested by police. Accompanied | by six bodyguards he arrived in Chicago by automobile after posting sufficient bonds to obtain his release from the Joliet police force, the mem- bership of whieh had constituted a reception committee for him when he alighted yesterday from a Santa Fe train. The gangster-tourist, who took hasty leave of Los Angeles when a police-newspaper-citizenry combina- tion demanded that he do so, left Joliet at 6 p.m. yesterday in an armored car, surrounded by his henchmen, proclaiming defiantly to all who were interested: “Certainly, I am going back. I was having a nice time in California, but Chicago is my home and I am home- sick. It's the best town in the world, and although the police are hound- ing me for no reason at all, I won't be driven out of jt. Christmas at home—that goes for me and the fel- lows with me." Police on Hand. And he dared Mayor Thompson and all of his Chicago policemen to keep him—a taxpaying citizen—from coming home. Capone had heard of the reception which Chief of Detectives William O'Connor had planned for him, so he arranged to leave his train at Joliet and complete the rest of the journey by automobile. But the Joliet police were there—every one of them—and Capone was arrested, found to be armed with two pistols, and booked on charges of carrying concealed weapons. Mike Sponzi, who was ac- companying him, and five others, arm- ed with sawed-off shotguns, also were booked. The five had brought the car trom Chicago for his homeward ride. Leaving a newspaper reporter in charge of headquarters, Chief of Po- lice Corcoran and Capt. McCanna of the Joliet force called the reserves. As Capone stepped to the platfornt, the captain and his men advanced. “You're Al Capone,” he said. “Pleased to meet you," said the gang, leader. Then he and his companions were locked In a cell until freed on bond. Police Chief Relents. Chief O'Connor who had ordered Ca- pone_jailed if he ever showed up in ~(Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) JARDINE 0PPOSES " CHANGE IN TARIF iSecretary Warns New Policy ' Will Hurt Rather Than ' Help U. S. Farmer. | By the Associated Press. | NEW YORK, December 17.—A | change in the American protective | tarifi” would harm the farmer more | than it would aid him, W. M. Jar- | dine, Secretary of Agriculture, told | the Republican Club today. “The time is approaching,” he said, | | “when tariff protection will be more important to agriculture than to in- dustry in this country, since agri- culture is becoming less and indus- try more dependent on foreign mar- kets.” Agricultural products, he declared, have been for many years a dimin- uy's agriculture, Export Values Grow. The total value of agricultural ex- ports increased 122 per cent for th period 1900-1904 to the period 1922 26, he said, while the value of all other exports increased 338 per cent. nce agriculture is becoming less an industry more dependent on the foreign market,” said Secretary Jar- dine, “it is becoming increasingly im- portant to agriculture that protec- tion should be maintained against foreign competition. in our markets. 'hose who, unthinkingly or in a pirit of political revenge, would | wreck our protective system in the | alleged interest of agriculture should stop to think what it would really mean. Competition of foreign agri- cultural oducts in our markets would be keenly felt by our farmers and agriculture would surely suffer with the rest because of that in- stability ‘of commercial relations which drastic tariff changes would create.” Greatest Free Trade Center. Another factor essentlal to a fair appraisal of the tariff policy in its relation to agriculture, he said, is that the United States today is the world's largest free trade market. He pointed out that in this country there are no trade barriers such as exist in Europe. “In addition to commercial free- dom,” he asserted, “we need stability of commercial relations. This we shall achieve in proportion as we learn to control economic forces, to the mutual advantage of all economic groups. The tariff, I believe, has done much to maintain commercial confidence and a fair degree of busi- ness stability in this country in re- cent years. This, 1 am confident, is so important that any effect which the tariff has or may have on the price of this or that commodity must not be thought of as comprising the whole tariff question. Any changes in our tariff system which would throw into disorder our commercial relations could not help our agri- culture.” PRICES NOT BAROMETER. Brand Holds Food Rates Fail to Indi- cate Farmer’s Condition. Prices paid for farm products fail to indicate the true economic condi- tion of farmers, in the opinion of Rep- resentative Brand, Republican, Ohio, who has charged Secretary Jardine with disregarding “other and more accurate” measurements of the true conditions of the farms in order to present a rosy picture to the country. “The real economic condition of the farmer is not indicated by the price he secures unless you also take into consideration the amount of the product he produces and thereby secures his revenue,” said Brand. “In 1924 the index number of farm pu: chasing power was 83. In 1926 the index rose to 85. But the net income of capital invested in land in the United States fell from 3.2 per cent in 1924 to 2.7 per cent in 1926.” By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, December 17.—Chicago stick-up men did $100,000 worth of Christmas shopping vesterday, furs, jewelry and cash to that amount being taken in nine robberies. Destructive Fire in Buenos Aires. BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, De- cember 17 (#).—Much damage, in- cluding destruction of the treasury of- fice, was caused in a fire today at mel University of Buenos Aires, Slugging seemed the preferred “shopping” method. Emil Ginder, wholesale jewelry salesman, made the heaviest contribution with $50,000 in sample gems. He was robbed on a street car by three men, who escaped in an aktomobile. C. W. Hudson, real estate dealer, do- . Chicago Robbers Do $100.000 “'Shopping,” Mostly by Slugging, in Nine Hold-ups nated $25,000 in jewelry, clothing and valuable rugs, which were taken from his home. Mrs. Minnie Winner, wife of a hos- pital superintendent, gave up a $1.000 fur coat and jewelry valued at $3,000. She was slugged over the eve and several stitches were required to sew up_the wound. Other hold-ups on the streets and in stores brought the total to $100,000. Radio Programs—Page 28 |Wire Compaii.es’ ishing part of America's exports, and { agricultural exports are becoming a|alleged diminishing percentage of the coun- total domestic production in FLEGRAP CHECK FALS T0 REVEAL LUSH FUND DAT Officials Testify in Probe of Hearst Reports. AVILA IS SUBJECTED TO TYPEWRITING TEST | Witness Who Obtained Documents 1s Recalled by BSenate Committee. By the Asoristed Press A group of telegraph and cable offi- lala followed «ach other to the wit- o tell the Senate 5 the Hearst- fund documents that uld be found of money nd telegrams which were have passed between Mexi d the United States. | James . Bresnahan, tor the West Union; Thomas Dowd, for the | Postal, and R. J. Hewitt, for the Al America Cables, were calied in the commitiee’s attempt to determine the | authenticity of the documents whic, Miguel Avila claimed to have obtained from Mexico City and the Mexical consulate in New York for William | Randolph Hearst. | WBresnahan did find messages to | Arturo. M. Elias, the Mexican consul eneral in New York, but the signa- tures were different from those held by the committee, and he reiterated no money was paid on them. The committee apparently was de- termined to tes: the veracity of Avila, and he was asked to write on a type- writer in the office of Chairman Reed. The typing was introduced into the record without comment. Bresnahan, the first witness, was asked if he had any record of the transmission of money from Mexico to Arturo M. Elias, Mexican consul gen;grnfil in New York, in the Summer of 1926. v Mexlcan no record purported to | ern Messages Checked. The files of all telegrams sent and received prior to December, 1926, have been destroyed, Bresnahan declared. { From December Bresnahan went over | the record of messages held by the | committee. ! “One message supposed to have been sent to Elias we find no record of,” he stated. “Another message supposed to have been sent Elias by Pani (former Mexican minister of the treasury) we have no record of. “We cannot check on the messages sent prior to December, 1926.” Going over the committee Jist of the dates named. ‘The messages were supposed to have been from the treasurer general of Mexico to Elias for the National City Bank and to J. P. Morgan and the messages and could find mo record whatever of these messages. “I want to tell you gentlemen we find no messages signed by the treas- urer general. There were messages to Elias signed by other persons,” Bresnahan said. Tells of Messages. Chairman Reed asked for the names in the name of the Senate. “One was signed by Gonzla and the other by Pini,” the witness said. “You are sure the name was mnot spelled ‘Pani'?" Reed inquired. “No, it is spelled Pini,” Bresnahan said after closer inspection of the message. These messages were dated March 26 and 27, 1927, the dates on which as was supposed to have received messages from the treasurer general. ‘The messages were in Spanish and Bresnahan said he had no translation. “Was any money paid on account of them?" asked Senator Robinson of Arkansas. “None was paid.” Telegram in Code. TReed called attention that one was in code, but the witness repeated no money had been paid on account of it. Bresnahan was called after Miguel Avila, the man who obtained the docu- ments which William Randolph Hearst presented to the committee and which named four Senators as proposed re- cipients of Mexican funds, had failed to answer when called. Continuing his testimony, the wit- ness said a message held by the com- mittee as sent to Elias December 15 was not signed by the persons shown in the committee telegrams. He could find no record of a message supposed to have been sent Elias on September 12, this year, signed by “Estrada.” “Do you find any other telegrams ag)nearm;: to be within the intent of t August 4, 1926, a telegram was sent to Elias transmitting $1,200,000 or any other sum?" Senator Robinson, Democrat, Arkansas, asked. No Record of Money Transfer. “I have no knowledge of that. Such a transmittal would be unusual,” Bresnahan replied. He said he had not asked New York employes whether such a message or messages had been received, but he had had never heard of it. “Theré is a possibility that there may be some other record in the treasurer’'s (W. U.) office in New York.” Bresnahan said. “That is why I do not want to com- mit myself on that." Hresnahan said the search in ths Western Union files had been only for the messages described in the com- mittee subpoena. The search had ex- tended to New York and Dallas, Tex. Johnson Queries Witness. Replying to Senator Johnson, of Cal- ifornia, the witness said the ledger ac- counts of the company would show whether Elias had a “running ac- count” with the Western Union and would carry records of charge mes- sages. He could not say whether the ledgers had been searched. “If the Western Union received dur- ing the year 1926 a sum like $1,200,000 to be paid to Elias would the perma- nent records of the company contain a record?” asked Senator Robinson. “I would say."” “So far as your files go no such transfer occurred 3 “That is correct.” Dowd said his company did not transmit money from Mexico to the a_letter he wrof (Continued on Pa; * in_Senator Reed , Column 5.)