Evening Star Newspaper, September 20, 1928, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Fair tonight and tomorrow: not much change in temperature; gentle to mod- erate south or southwest winds. ‘Temperature—Highest, 68, at 10:15 p.m. yesterday: today. Full report Closing N. Y. Markets, Pages 14 and 15 : lowest, 58, at 7:45 am. on page 9. ch I No. 30,823. FLORIDA' REFUGEES RIOT; 285 BURIED; DEATHS ESTIMATED AT 600 N STATE ','Roads Being, Washed Out, Hampering Relief Work in’ Okeechobee Section—Food | Movement Gets Under Way BODIES ARE PILED UP "IN STRICKEN LAKE AREA Compilation of Lists of Dead De- terred by Emergency Funeral Measures Necessary—Governor Goes to Scene After Calling on Citizens to Contribute. Airplanes to Survey Isolated Areas Swept by Florida Hurricane By the Assoclated Press. MIAMI, Fla., September 20.— Final survey of the West Palm Beach and Lake Okeechobee hurricane areas was planned here today with eight amphibian planes of the Pan-American Air- ways as a means of ting the isolated portions of the Okeechobee region, A big mail plane erdinarily used in the island mail service was reserved for a trip today over the affected zone. . After an airplane ride through the lake region, Dr. A. W. Zie- bold, manager of the Miami Chamber of Commerce, recom- mended cremation of further bodies found in the e-erglades area because of rapid decomposi- tion. He said further food sunolies for the area should be held up, as all towns were now overstocked. By the Associated Press. : WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Sep- tember 20.—While the count of loss of life and the injured and homeless from Florida’s tropical hurricane went forward in the storm area today, additional relief was speeding to the district from every direction. , clothing, medical supplies and building material we ed into the stricken Lake Okee- chobee area by train and boal, while trucks and other convey- ances continued their missions of mercy to the injured and sick or brought the dead out for burial. Adjt. Gen. Vivien Collins al- ready was here making a survey of the conditions, and Gov. John Martin was en route to lend his aid if needed. 285 Are Buried. Manager A. G. Parker of West showed that 35 wi negroes, all victims of the hurricane, Seventeen were known dead in the fll:in‘i’l.y of Okeechobee City, while re- ports from fleld workers said bodies were piled at several places in the lake region -‘nmns transportation to high d for L 'fl;’“l-l:'kex said that 100 rough coffins heve been sent to: the glades area to care for bodies already recovered, or which may }se h:uund in the saw grass d debris of houses. -n“ulnlm of the total dead range from 45¢ to 600, with hundreds missing, but Porker stated his belief tha* the boxes d.spatched will take care of the|pit ainder of the fatalities. m(gmmls believe that many of those missing will be found in refugee camps and a¢ other wvl;'n.s tzhere they fled be- ore and after the storm. 4 Before leavirig Tallahassee last right, the governor, in response to urgent re- quests for aid from local authorities, called upon the people of Florida to contribute funds to the sufferers. Estimates of the dead in Florida con- tinued to vary between 325 and 400 persons, the majority negroes who were emnloyed as laborers on the farms and Red Cross officials placed the numebr of homeless at 15,000. Approximately 350 persons are dead in the Okeechobee section, swept both by hurricane winds and by a wall of water loosed from the lake when the dikes broke, Gen. Collins reported to Gov. Martin, Howard W. Selby, chair- man of the Palm Beach Chapter of the Red Cross, estimated the death toll would reach nearer 400, saying that 200 were known dead to his workers. Riots Are Reported. Collins' report said that there were | 4,000 homeless refugees in the city and | that an equal number more were expect- | ed here tomorrow. While the food situ- ation was good, he said. there was great need of clothing, especially among col- | ored refugees. The city of Pahokee, in Palm Beach County, has been ‘“devastated by the storm.” Dr. A. T. Eide of the Haines City Red Cross Chapter teldgraphed to national headquarters in_Washington | today from Morchaven. The city has| asked for military aid to quell riots, he said, and most of the population is homeless. His message follows: “Have covered east side of Lake Okeechobee from Okeechobee City to Miami locks, with Dr. Arms, State health officer, by boat. Area between Okeechobee City and Canal Point in good shape. Ganal Point in good shape. Pahokee, 3 miles south, devastated. ©ut of population of 3,000, 2,500 home- fess; 600 in schoolhouse. Miss Nell williams (national headquarters work- er) on hand. Oivilian aid only. Es- timated 250 deaths: 47 in one place piled on road. Mostly negroes. Bodies in bad shape. Area south to Miami Locks, including Kramers Island, de- vastated. Loss of life considerable. Cannot estimate. Probably several hun- dred. Miss Williams needs aid. Medi- cal, food, clothing, rubber gloves and supplies, which applies to entire area. “Roads to Palm Beach being washed out. Traffic becoming bad. Practical way to handle relief by boat, either ““&ontinued on Page 4, Column 1) WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ¢ Foening Star. - “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers every city block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. Yesterday’s Circulation, 102,113 Entered as second class matte; post office, Washington, D. C. BYRD PLANE - Leaving | By the Associated Press. by the big hoisting cranes. Everything Throng Shows | The throng on the pier displayed North Pole. service for the final 900-mile flight to that it is planned for scientific gain. complete final business arrangements. to join the October 6. and will set sail as soon as the radio they had ever encountered, and not a she hove to in the roads. STORM DIES 0UT ALONG EAST COAST Small Shipping and New Jer- sey Resorts Suffer Béfore Gale Ends. NEW YORK, September 20.—The storm that roared up from the South like a destructivé lion, devouring all in its path, had become a playful lamb to- day, disporting itself under a late Sum- mer sun. Waves 'still pounded somewhat roughly on the coast of the eastern States, but the wind had lost its men- ace. Last night there was considerable damage, but it was negligible in com- parison to what was done in the Carri- bean and across Florida. Trees and wires were blown down, fruit crops suf- fered some loss, small shipping was en~ dangered, several light craft being driven ashore. Wind Dies Away. But today the wind had died almost away, the sun shone warmiy, and there were scant signs in the upper Atlantic States to remind inhabitants of the lit- tle taste they had of a dying wind which before it weakened had spread lation and death further South. . ‘Winds ranging from 80 miles an hour down to 25 miles in protected sections of the metropolitan district swept away many small boats. The chief damage in this section was along the New Jersey coast, where seaside resorts were hard Four deaths were attributed to the storm in New Jersey. They were due tq falling trees or traffic accidents. High tides invaded New York harbor, causing readjustments of the landing bridges at the ferry slips. The tide was three feet above normal in the harbor. Air Mail Delayed. High winds delayed two sections of the national air transport air mail at Hadley Field and J. S. Bogart of St. Louis, an inspector of the aeronautical division of the Department of Com- merce, was forced down at Wilkes- Barre, Pa., in his big Fairchild plane. He was en route from Buffalo to Curtiss Field. He continued his trip by train. Two persons were slightly injured in Manhattan when blown through store windows by the gale. Many signs were blown down and water in the telephone cable conduits put 1,000 phones out of order for a time in downtown Manhattan. The big liners entered New York harbor and left without difficulty. Incoming liners, now fighting the worst of the storm off shore, would dock on schedule, their offices here announced. Several coast-wise steamers delayed their sailings from Boston. NATS’ GAME POSTPONED. Rain Prevents First Clash in Series at Cleveland. CLEVELAND, September 20 (). The Washington-Cleveland base ball game scheduled for here today was WASHINGTON, D. C, SHIP SAILS QUIETLY FOR ANTARCTIC; THIRD BOAT MADE READY Three Pilots and Four Aircraft for South Pole Dash Ahoard Whaler Larsen | Norfolk. NORFOLK, Va., September 20.—Comdr. Richard E. Byrd's aerial fleet will be bound for the great adventure at the bottom of the world today. Casting off her moorings shortly after 8 o'clock, the giant whaler Larsen, said to be* the largest in the world, swung slowly into the stream of Hampton Roads, and the second ship of the Antarctic expedition was under way. Aboard were the four planes and the three pilots who will guide them over the unknown frozen mountains that guard the South Pole. ‘There was little ceremony today—only another ship sailing from the port. Loading was completed yesterday as hundreds of spectators gathered to see the Floyd Bennett, the aerial flagship of the expedition, swung upward to the deck was securely crated except the fuselage of the big tri-motored Ford plane, which will be crated at sea. Interest in Plane. unusual interest in the Floyd Bennett, named in honor of the gallant companion of Comdr. Byrd on his flight to the It was generally regarded that the huge plane would be called into the pole itself. The dash for the pole has held public interest as the central episode of the expedition despite the fact Only one stop lies between the Larsen and Dunedin, New Zealand, where she will join the steamer City of New York, already through the Panama Canal. Comar. Byrd, going to Baltimore on the Savalo, yacht of Van Lear Black, will pay a short visit to his old home at Winchester before going to New York to He will then rush across the continent Larsen at San Pedro, Calif., for the voyage across the Pacific Bernt Balchen, who accompanied Byrd across the Atlantic; Harold I June and C. Dean Smith, all pilots, found berths aboard the big whaler today, bpt the commander, expected to remain in Norfolk temporarily while a new radio genera- tor is being installed in the Eleanor Bolling,'a small freighter. The radio equipment installed in New York failed on the voyage to Norfolk, causing some uneasiness for the ship when she came through the West Indian hurricane 40 hours late. Bolling Takes on Foodstuffs. . ‘The Bolling, tossing about on the waves at the dock as the-towering Larsen pulled out, was loaded with 600 tons of foodstuffs and equipment. Today she was to be loaded with a small amount of equipment and supplies left by the Larsen installation is completed. ‘The seaworthiness of the Bolling was regarded as assured by the crew after the storm. Several members expressed the opinion that it was the worst storm few persons Sboard were seasick when Relatives of members of the expedition were among those who gathered at the docks as the loading of the Larsen was completed. With Comdr. Byrd were his mother, his wife and small son. Richard III, and his brother, Gov. Harry F. Byrd. of Virginia. The governor returned to Richmond last night, but the other relatives expected to accompany him to Winchester. Relatives and friends of > (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) RED CROSS HEADS CONFER ON APPEAL Capital’s Contribution Hurricane Relief Passes $6,000 Mark. to ‘Besiéged with further appeals for im- mediate aid from the hurricane sufferers in Florida, Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands, officials of the American Red Cross went into conference- here today to discuss plans for hurrying financial assistance to the stricken territory. It was likely that some definite figure might be set as a goal toward which the people of America might bend their ef- forts in raising the relief fund. Since original estimates of relief needs hourly are being revised upward, there were indications that the goal might be fixed at from $6,000,000 to $10,000,000. Capital Passes $6,000 Mark, ‘The National Capital, always generous in such emergencies, today had passed the $6,000 mark in the campaign for its tentative quota of $40,000, and scores of contributions continued to pour into the relief coffer, presided over by Finance Chairman Victor B. Dey- ber. The Star has received $2,410.50, the District of Columbia chapter has received checks totaling $1,632 and Chairman Deyber has received $1,190.81. It was emphasized that checks for the fund should be made out to the Ameri- can Red Cross, Hurricane Relief Fund. Checks sent to The Star must not be made out to The Star company or its cashier. Contributions will be received for the fund by the cashier of The Star and forwarded at once to the Red Cross. National headquarters of the Red Cross was spurred in its efforts to meet the financial demands of the emergency by the gravity of reports received to- day from relief workers in Porto Rico and Florida. The best available estimates indicate that 15,000 people are homeless and des- titute in Palm Beach County, one of the two counties which suffered most from the disastrous storm, A. L. Schafer, Florida relief director, reported to Vice Chairman Fieser. Two Camps Established. ‘To care for the refugees two camps have been established, one for 500 per- sons at Miami and the other for 1,000 at Pompano race track, while thousands of others are being cared for at 12 refugee centers in West Palm Beach and at 18 centers in the county outside the city. Only -women, children and the aged are being sent to the Miami and Pompano camps. The refugee centers are being supplied from Palm Beach and West Palm Beach. “Have sufficient doctors,” Schafer wired, “but Miss Ruth Mettinger, Red Cross nursing field representative, is getting in more nurses as refugee situa- tion demands. City water at West Palm Beach now in good condition. “Sanitary situation in western part of Palm Beach Cotnty, along Lake Okee- chobee, increasingly serious. Bodies coming to the surface. Necessary to bury bodies without identification. New negro cemetery established at Loxa- hatchie, 16 miles west of Palm Beach. “Original estimate of 400 deaths w changed, but there is a strong poss postponed on account of rain. (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) Grain Crop Failure KHARKOV, Ukraine, Soviet Russia, September 20 (4).—Eight hundred and fifty thousand persons will be fed through public funds during the com- ing Winter in the Ukraine, the grain crop having fallen far below the needs of the population. Ordinarily the Ukraine is one of Russia’s best granaries and in good years has wheat both to eat and to export. ‘The Moscow government has appro- priated 31,000,000 rubles, the Ukl’l?nlln government 10,000,000 rubles and social service organizations have begun a cam- 8 in Ukraine Puts 850,000 People on Soviet Bread Line paign to raise an additional 6,000,000 rubles to provide nourishment is Winter for the stricken pulation. One-third of the Moscow advance is a gift and the balance is a loan. Among those to receive this largess will be 300,000 children, who will be THURSDAY, SE PRESDENT TORS THROUGHVERMONT Inspecfs Flood Reconstruc- tion Work—Mrs. Coolidge Visits Mother. ° BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG. Stadl, Correspondent of The Star. ABOARD PRESIDENT COOLIDGE'S TRAIN IN VERMONT, September 20.— After an hour's. stop earlier in the morning in Northampton, Mass., their home town, which afforded them an opportunity to look in on their rented home in that city and to visit Mrs. Lemira Goodhue, Mrs. Coolidge’s mother, at the Dickinson Hospital,. where she has been ill for nearly a year, Presi- dent and ‘Mrs. Coolidge = today are traveling through Vermont. Aside from the visit to Mrs. Goodhue, this two-day trip away from the Capi- tal was arranged primarily to see what the people of Vermont have done in the matter of reconstruction after the dam- age caused by the heavy floods of last year. Gov,{Weeks of Vermont, at whose invitation“the President is making this inspection tour, came aboard the train at White River Junction, and through- out the remainder of the trip is to point out and explain to the President just how the State has struggled to recover from the destruction and damage. Although the reconstruction has been remarkable, there is yet much to be done, and it is hoped by the State offi- cials that an appropriation of two or three million dollars will be forthcom- ing from the Federal Government to assist. ‘This money is to be used in road.and bridge work principally. Steady Rain Mars Program. ‘The rain which beat down upon the presidential party as it left Washing- ton at 9:35 o'clock followed 1t on its trip throughout last night and today. Despite the incessant downpour, the President’s program.’ while somewhat marred, was not interrupted or changed. At Bellows Falls, which was reached just before 10 o'clock, Park H. Follard, a first cousin of the President, joined the party. Despite the fact that Cousin Park is a Democrat, and a Smith Democrat at that, he and the Presi- dent are greatly attached to each other. He was warmly greeted oy the Presi- dent and Mrs. Coolidge when he came aboard the train. Mrs. Sargent, wife of the Attorney General, “7ho has been staying at the Sargent home, in Ludlow, Vt., joined the party when the train reached White Diver Junction. She and the Attorney General will stay at Ludlow tonight, while the President and Mrs. Coolidge are at the old Coolidge homestead at Plymouth Notch. Mrs. Coolidge found her mother weaker today than when she last visited her, prior to going away for the Sum- mer, Mrs. Goodhue was greatly cheered by the visit. She was happy to know that Mrs. Coolidge had recovered from her own illness of last Spring, and that she looked so well. Few Witness Homecoming. The President and Mrs. Coolidge mo- tored directly to the two-story white frame, semi-detached office, on Massoit street, which has been their home for more than 15 years. A few of the neigh- bors were either out on their front porehes or in their front windows to wave welcomes, but otherwise there was no crowd of curious people gathered about to witness the homecoming. ‘Before going into the little house the President and Mrs. .Coolidge paused while Kurt Haesler. a 14-year-old boy, member of the Boy Scout troop of which Calvin Coolidge, jr. was a member at the time of his death, raised the colors to the top of the flag staff in the front yard of the Coolidge home. As a tribute to the memory of young Calvin, the members of his troop have raised and lowered the colors in the Coolidge yard each day since his death, Mrs. Coolidge remained within doors only a few moments and then hurried to the bedside of her mother. The Pres- ident joined her at the hospital about 20 minutes later, having remained at the house to dispose of some matters of business. Make Stops in Vermont. ‘When they left the hospital they mo- tored immediately to the station and after greeting a few friends at the plat- form and waving to the half hundred or so who had gathered about the rear end of the irain, they were off on their journey through Vermont. The first stop after leaving North- ampton was an hour later at Brattle- boro, Vt. Several hundred persons were on hand to extend greeting. The train remained there five minutes, during which time the President talked with the mayor and a committee. Other given food from October 1 to August, 1929. In order that their cattle may survive, the peasants will be given for- age on two years' credit. ’l‘hei\; will also receive state insurance for the benefit of their families. Agricultural taxes and payments on loans will be deferred. stops during the morning were at Bel- lows Falls, Windsor, White River Junc- tion, Bethel and Montpelier Junction. This afternoon stops will be made at ! Burlington, Middlebury, Brandon and “(Continued on Page 2, Column 3. PTEMBER Hoover to Ignore Questions Put to Smith by Omahans By the Associated Press. At Herbert Hoover’s personal head- quarters it was stated today that the Republican presidential nominee would not take cognizance of the questions put to his Democratic op- ponent, Gov. Alfred E. Smith, at Omaha. The inquiries, which dealt with prohibition and farm relief, among otNer subjects, have not been sub- mitted to Mr. Hoover, but it was reiterated that the Republican stand- ard bearer would follow his policy set down at the outset of the cam- paign to confine his public an- nouncements to his prepared ad- dresses and formal statements. OKLAHOMA CROWD Candidate Center of Monster State-Wide Demonstration on Arrival. By the Assogiated Press. OKLAHOMA CITY, September 20.— Arriving in the capital of Oklahoma today, Gov. Smith immediately found himself the center of a monster State- wide demonstration. A great crowd which had been waiting since early morning “sent up a tremendous shout of welcome as the Democratic, presi- dential nominee’s special train pulled in to the Rock Island depot at 10 am.,, an hour late. i Delegations from every county in the State, which the Democrats carried in the last presidential election, were in- cluded in the reception throng, as well as thousands of citizens of Oklahoma City, all dressed up for the New York *xecutive. Lining' the streets on the route to the governor's hotel were additional thousands waiting for a huge parade arranged in honor of the nominee. Makes Second Speech Tonight. ‘Tonight Gov. Smith will make the second - speech of his campaign in the West in the Capital's Coliseum. By working late last night while his train moved - through south central Kansas he had completed a rough draft of his address, which is expected to be one of the ‘most important of his series of six_in the middle and far West. Sincé daybreak, when an extra car carrying 16 members of a reception committee joined the 11-car Democra- tic special at Enid, crowds had watched the governor’s train speed by. A stop of 10 minutes was made at El Reno while Bruce Kremer, Democratic na- tional ' committeemen from Montana and a member of the governor’s party, spoke to a large group that had been wméng to give the first real Oklahoma greet. l Charles W. Berry, comptroller of New ! York City and Gov. Smith's physician on his two weeks' tour, also addressed the El Reno citizens, expressing regret that the governor could not appear because he had been up late working on his Oklahoma City speech and needed rest. Mrs. John A. Warner, Gov. Smith’s daughter, went to the rear platform and greeted the group on | behalf ‘of her distinguished father. She was presented with a hasket of flowers. Among the 16 who joined the special at Enid were three former Governors of Oklahoma, Cruge, Walton and Trapp; Scott Ferris, . Democratic na- tional committeeman from the State; George Key, State chairman, and Otis Lorton, publisher of the Tulsa World, which has come out for Smith. Predicts Oklahoma for Smith. Mr. Ferris, who also is a vice chair~ man of the Democratic, national com- mittee and a former member of Con- gress from Oklahoma, advised Gov. Smith and. membefs of his party of the political outlook in-the State, de- claring .conditions from the Democratic standpoint . were steadily igiproving, with vigtory .for the Smith-Robinson ticket a certainty. “I've .been all over the State deliver- ing speeches,” said Ferris. “Things didn't look so good a while ago, but there is a pronounced trend our way. Three weeks from today the situation will be.twicevas good as today and by efection time Oklahoma will be safely Smith’s. “It's . just like. the pre-convention period. A long time before the conven- tion there was opposition in Oklahoma to Gov.. Smith, but it gradually dis- solved as. the Houston convention drew near.” . Reports were current on the Smith " (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) 20, 1928—FIFTY-TWO PAGES. WELCOMES SMITH = ORDERS WARRANT INDRY SQUAD RAID Policeman W. F. Burke to Be Charged With Assault in Rickert Case. The issuance of a warrant charging Policeman Willlam F. Burke of the local liquor squad -with assault upon Earl E. Rickert, 2112 Eighteehth street, was directed today by United States District Attorney Leo A. Rover, follow- ing an investigation of the raid made on August 3 last at the Ambassador Oyster House, 2106 Eighteenth street. Mr. Rover said he has directed As- sistant United States Attorney Ralph Given to lssue the warrant when Mr. Rickert appears this afternoon and to bring the case to trial promptly. Mr. Rover fixed the bond which Burke will required to farnish at $500. The district attorney exonerated John J. Quinn, deputy hibition adminis- trator for the trict of Columbia, of any unlawful ‘acts in connection with the. raid. - Capt. dbr.rgt attorney, who made the inves- tion, reported, Mr. Rover said, that le the evidence gathered by him is highly conflicting, and that for this rea- son it is t to form a deliberate opinion as to just what took place on these premises, the fact remains that if Rickert’s story is true Police Officer Burke, is guilty of aSsault. Mr. Rover said Rickert swears that Burke kicked him, and on this testimony Mr. Rover said it was his duty to authorize the issuance of the warrant for 3 Mr. Orcutt’s report, Mr. Rover said, shows that while the raid was in prog- ress a large crowd congregated in front of the Eighteenth street premises and assumed an attitude rather hostile to the agents and officers, making uncom- plimentary .remarks. Rickert admitted, according to Mr Rover, that he was in the crowd, and that he passed a remark to the officers, and alleged that Quinn grabbed him, dragged him through the door, threw him the length of the room on the first floor and then turned him over to some one else. Rickert further charged thai he was foreed upstairs, where, he said, he was struck and beaten. Mr. Rover said, however, that Rickert did not charge that Administrator Quinn struck him or beat him, his complaint, so far as Quinn is concerned, referring merely to the fact of his being taken into the building. Rickert stated, Rover said, that he cannot identify the man or lrlr;en who are supposed to have struck m. Agent Says Riot Was Brewing. Quinn is said to have informed the investigators for the district attorney's office that shortly after he arrived on the scene there were indications thut the crowd might become unruly and commit acts of violence and that a riot might ensue. Quinn 1s further repre- sented as saying that he saw Rickert standing in the middle of the, sidewalk immediately in front of the outside door (Continued on Page 2, Column 8.) ORGANIST IS ARRESTED ON VAGRANCY CHARGE Grand Larceny Also Placed Against Parisian, Who Claims Noted Lineage. By the Associated Press. LOUISVILLE, Ky. September 20.— Paul Franck, 26, Parisian organist, who claims to be a nephew of the late Cesar Franck, Belgian composer, suf- fered an interruption in his recital tour here today by being under arrest for grand larceny, vagrancy and being A fugitive from justice. Franck, whose name is the same as that of a protege of Charles Camille Saint-Saens, French composer, was ap- prehended driving a sedan which police sald was stolen August 2 in Atlanta. ‘The organist protested that the auto- mobile was his own, stolen from him at Savannah, and restored to him private detectives in Atlanta. ¥ Harold W. Orcutt, assistant | w») M s Associated Pre TWO CENTS. Assassins Besiege I Trotsky; Soviet Is Deaf to His Pleas Report Says Sharpshoot-| ers Fire Into House in Turkestan. By the Associated Press. LONDON, September 20.—The Daily Mail asserted today that dramatic at- tempts had been made to kill Leon Trotsky. once powerful as head of the Red armies, in his place of exile in faraway Turkestan. The paper, dis- playing the story prominently, said the plot was hatched in Moscow. Moscow was stated to have admitted that Trotsky had been shot at, but explained it was the action of individ- uals. Soviet authorities were greatly perturbed by the revelations, and the Moscow Newspaper Izvestia as stated the authorities had dispatched a spe- cial commission to investigate. For three successive nights Trotsky's cottage at Alma-Ata, Turkestan, was asserted to have been besieged by sharpshooters. They hid behind trees and fired while Trotsky’s son defended the home with two sporting rifles, All of Trotsky's appeals for help to the local Soviet authorities were disre- garded. After the sharpshooters failed to kill the- former commissar for war, persons described as local enemies were stated to have blockaded Trotsky. For many days he and his family were not allowed friends saved them from starvation. Medical assistance, lights and news- papers were also denied him. Evidence of the plot was furnished by Trotsky himself. He eluded the vigilance of the secret police and smug- gled out letters to Christian Rakovsky, former Soviet envoy to Great Britain and now himself in exile. It was sug- gested that Trotsky in smuggling the letters was aided by Jewish Soviet offi- cials. These officials were stated to have collected . among themselves a large sum to enable Trotsky to escape. APARTMENT RAIDED ' BY NARCOTIC SQUAD Occupant Arrested and Large Quantity of Supposed Opium Seized. Acting -on the complaint of neigh- bors, who said young girls were to be seen entering the place at all hours of the day and night, Federal Narcotic Agents Rakusin, Rabbitt and McDonald and Detective Robert Saunders and Charles Mansfield last night raided the apartment of Robert de Soto Miller, 42 years old, ten hundred block of Rhode Island avenue, and arrested him on a charge of violation of the Harrison nar- cotic law. place, the police say, it was refused. They broke open the door. which was secured with two heavy locks. n;.om:]b ‘woman and another - T accepted man. Mil- place, the police say, and the girl and other man were not arrested. A search of the apartment rsvealed what authorities say was a large quan- tity of opium in its various forms, two improvised pipes, the lamps for preparing the mflfl? for smoking and ott_:_et:ptnmwpm f the e of tment house said that Miller hafimv!d there three-and-a-half months ago. DRIVER SENTENCED TO JAIL FOR SPEEDING Judge Mattingly Scores Mandatory Provisions of Traffic Law in Fourth-Offense Case. Asserting he did not approve of the existing traffic law' which makes jail sentendes mandatory for cumulative speeding offenses without regard to the time of the last previous offense, but pointing out that he was obliged to np-~ hold his oath of office and enforce the law, Judge Robert E. Mattingly, today sentenced William S. Palmer, taxi driver, of 1439 Fourteenth street, to 90 days in’ jail and fined aim $300 in default of which he will have to serve 30 days more. Palmer was found guilty ot fourth-offense speeding by a Police Court jury last Friday. o The judge's remarks were in answer to a statement by Defense Attorney Harry T. Whelan, who poin.ed out that Traffic Director Harland, has recently recommended alterations in the speed clauses of the traffic act. The court replied that if the changes were en- acted while Palmer was serving time, he would alter the sentence accordingly. , Palmer’s first speed -onviction dates back to 1925, his attorney says. The offense on which he was today sen- tenced was committed on August 28, when he is alleged to have dcivea aown Pennsylvania avenue. southeast at a high rate of speed. Assistant Corpora- tion Counsel Chester H. Gray, prose- cuted the case. CLEMENCY URGED. Prison Commission Makes Appeal for Doomed Georgia Woman. ATLANTA, Ga., September 20 #).— Clemency for Eula Elrod Thompson was urged today by the Georgia prison commission, which recommended that her death sentence be commuted life imprisonment. ‘The recommendation will go to Gov. Hardman, with whom rests the final decision as to whether Mrs. Thompson, convicted of complicity in the murder of Coles Osborne, Chattsworth filling station proprietor, shall serve a life by | sentence or die in the electric chair § tomorrow. Gen. Vanderbilt Is Declared Reconciled With Son After Four-Year Estrangement By the Associated Press. 3 NEW YORK, September 20.—The New York World said today that a rec- onciliation has ended the four-year 2strangement between Brig. Gen. Corne- ius Vanderbilt gnd his son, Cornelius, jr. ‘The youger Vanderbilt, whose tabloi newspaper blishing venture caused the break with his father, confirmed the report of the reconciliation before leav- ing with his bride, the former Mrs. Mary Weir Logan, for his Nevada ranch. Vanderbilt's newspapers in Los An- to obtain food. Only the kindness of | full responsibility for the | ! ngress to !‘l_xhnlzy to consider the merger CAPPER PROTESTS "IE BOLST WHLE NERGER S PENDIN Hasty Action Not Necessary, He Tglls Utilities Commission. SUGGESTS STUDYING OTHER CAR PROBLEMS People's Legislative Council Also Attacks Increase—Citizens’ Associations to Act. PRt RS Protesting against an Ancrease in car fare while Congress is still working on the merger legislation, Chairman Cap- per of the Senate District committee today wrote to the Public Utilitles Com- mission, expressing his personal view that the financial condition of the coms< panies does not call for hasty action, and suggesting a number of street car problems the commission could study pending the return of Congress. Senator Capper embodied in his let- ter a telegram he received from Sena- tor Vandenberg of Michigan, also & member_ of the Senate District com- mittee, opposing” any change in rates before the Senate concludes its investi- gation of the merger plan. The commission, which is about to resume consideration of the rate case, also received a protest today against an ~ increase in fare at this time from the People’s Legislative Council. The view: gf 1:‘2‘31-03-:%?““ were contained h:' com; i he commission from Mer " puble pelicies. rom e public utilities committee of Federation of Citizens’ Anocht.m; 12: last night and drew up a brief setting forth its reasons for opposing a rate in- mmlss!oA nhzmtll,: Druen' ted to the com- n when e ool |sumed tomorrow. e i Asks Scientific Study. In his letter to the commissior Sena- tor Capper stated that he was not in a position at this time to official- ly the view of the entire committee, or %!me special sul When they demanded entrance to the | rties Tully authorized by law to proceed in matter and v.’-h it ‘sees to pursue, and' that of commission s entitled to tion. Asks for Delay. “I am convinced, however, that it would be most unfortunate from standpoint to disturb existing street railway fare rates, pending completion of our investigation of the merger had md:::tillmfllw e the ad an op) pass upon matter. As you know, the reso- lution was not introduced in until late in the last session: hearings were not concluded by the House com- mittee " until shortly before final ad- journment of Congress for the session, and the Senate subcommittee has not %;ts. cgmpleted its "a‘l’lfi:u“m' which owever, been ntly prosecut- ed and will be continued with a view to decision and action early in the next will convene a li rge reserves. would, therefore, be fully in deferring its decision of the’ rate case until. after Cor has had oppor: proposal. e commission can, of course, in the meantime, if it study of the legal and. economic tions involved in the fact ’vlec. San Prancisco and Miami were | forced into bankruptcy, but he announc- ed last July that he expected to pay off claims ot the 3,000 stockholders from his inheritance. He was divorced by his first wife, Mrs. Rachel Littleton Vanderbilt, last November. He married his present wife in Reno, July 3 last, a few hours after she had obtained a divorce from Waldo Hancock Logan son of a Chicago broker. Radio Frogré:ns—fage 38