Evening Star Newspaper, December 23, 1928, Page 14

FORD WIDOW ASKS . FOR LINGOLN CHAIR Requests Secretary Davis to Return Relic to Relieve Financial Stress. The pitiful plea of a widow, destitute in the few remaining years of her life, for an old high-backed, satin-uphol- stered rocking chair which once adorned her home; and which would give her the means to live in comfort and inde- pendence the rest of her life, has touched Secretary of War Davis, and on his orders, a search of the files of the War Department is being made to determine the legal status of the chair, and, if necessary, to have the chair re- turned to her. The old rocker is that in which Abra- ham Lincoln was seated when the bul- let from the Derringer, fired by John Wilkes Booth, placed the seal of death upon Lincoln’s fate. ‘Widow of Ford Theater Manager. The request for the chair is from Mrs. Blanche Chapman Ford, now 73 years old, who lives in Rutherford, N. J. On April 14, 1865, her husband, Harry Clay Ford, manager of the old Ford Theater, on Tenth street, for his brother, John T. Ford, owner of the theater, received a White House mes- senger who wanted tickets for the presidential box of the theater. He went to see that everything was straight in the box for the reception of the President. Not satisfied with things as they were, he went to his home, ad- joining the theater, and brought back the high-backed rocker for the greater comfort of President Lincoln, Following the shooting of President Lincoln, the rocker figured in the pro- ceedings of the commission which in- vestigated the assassination. ‘It prob- ably was one of the sexhibits -in the proceedings. At any rate, it came into the possession of the Government, and now rests in the basement of the Smith- sonian Institution. It is not on display. The footlights never again blazed at Ford's Theater, Young Ford weni to another business. When he died there wasn't much left for his widow. Now all that is'gone. . Receives Offer for Chair. She has received a big offer for the chair. Dependent upon her sons for support, Mrs, Chapman sees in that offer the means for her independence and eom- fort in the span of life that is left to her. So she has written to the Secre- tary of War, asking for the return of the chair. “I will not deceiye . you,.sir,” she penned to Secretary Davis. “I am of- fered a price for the chair by a man who is a great lover of .Lincoln, and who wishes to add it .to his private col- lection. “Will you not return the chair to me (the rightful ownér) thereby placing me in a position to relieve my sons of their great responsibility and keep me for the few remaining years I have left at least comfortable?” : Mrs. Ford heavily underscores the ‘word private, referring to the collection. There are many in Washington who remember Mrs. Ford .as one of the Chapman sisters, stage stars. LARGE QUANTITIES OF LIQUOR SEIZED Police and Dry Agents Make Big Pre-Holiday Haul in Dis- trict Raids. Acting under orders-of. Maj. Hesse to make the city an' is for the Christmas holiday peasonh,”members of the two dry squads and police precinct commands last week seized large quan- tities of intoxicants intended for the holiday trade: . 7 Included in the work of the squad under Sergt. George, Little ‘was - the seizure and destruction of what prob- ably was the largest still ever seized in this city, while the squad under Sergt. ©O. J. Letterman made a big haul of mssorted beverages. Members ‘of several precinct com- mands also arrested numerous alleged offenders and seized much liquor and several automobiles. "Arrests for sale, possession and transportation cf intoxi- cants during the seven-day period totaled” 140. There were 313 arrests for drunkenness and eight for driving sutomobiles while_intoxicated. PLANS FETE FOR 500. City Club to Give Party on Friday Evening. ‘The City Club Chummers, an organ- ization of City Club members, created to foster good fellowship, will give a Christmas party Friday evening, at 7 o'clock, for children of the club. About 500 youngsters .are expected to be present. The ballroom will be thrown open at 6 o'clock. Then there will be an en- tertainment, with clowns, singing. acts and motion pictures, after which Santa Claus will distribute presents. Ll g LISTS DEBTS AT $124,923. Voluntary Bankruptcy Petition Filed by Earl I. Klein. Earl I. Klein, 5318 Forty-second street, formerly connected with the Red Top Cab Co., yesterday filed a petition in voluntary bankruptcy. He lists his debts at $124,923.12 and esti- mates his assets at $550.93. He is ;{z‘presen(ed by Attorneys Newmyer & ing. Merry Chyistmas To You! THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C. FAMED CHAIR SOUGHT BY WIDOW The old satin-upholstered, high-back rocker which was taken from the home of Harry Ford and placed in the President’s box at Ford’s Theater on April 14, and in which Abraham Lincoln was seated when the fatal bullet from Booth’s derringer struck him. Ford's widow, eeks the chair that she might accept an offer for it that would mean financial independence for the remaining years of her life. —Star Staff Photo. Child’s Condition Prevents Removal‘ Of Toy Tin Motor Cycle From Throat By the Associated Press. CINCINNATI, Ohio, December 22— A week ago Frank Brooks, 18 months old, of Asco; W. Va., swallowed a tiny metallic toy motorcycle, which came as a prize in a package of popcorn. Physicians and surgeons have tried un- successfully all week to dislodgs the toy from the child’s throat, and tonight the boy was in a serious condition at a hospital here. The toy was about one and one-half inches long. An X-ray showed it lodged in the child’s pulmonary region. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Brooks, the parents, took their son to a local physi- cian, who was unable to remove the ob- struction. Then he was taken to Blue Field, W. Va. Surgeons and physicians there made an examination but. could not remove the toy. . Mrs. Brooks last night took the boy to a hospital .here, where surgeons found that his condition would not per- mit an operation. . Hospial attaches said the child can take only milk for nourishment. He was given sedatives to relieve the pain. Nurses said he had difficulty swallow- ing milk- but seemed to breathe freely. J0BS GIVEN 41 CONVERTS, MISSION HEAD REPORTS Central- Union Supe!inwndent Makes Radio Address on Be- half of Institution. Forty-one men who professed conver- sipn:at the Central Union Mission's eve- ning services during November were given jobs and 10 of them now are living in the -mission’s, :rented, rooms, indicating that through *“soup, soap and salvation” -the ‘District: has made | re: 41 self-supporting residents, John S. Bennett, superintendent of the mission, declared in an address over WRC last night. The talk wgs Mr. Bennett's sec- ond radio address of the week on be- half of the mission’s work. Contending that charity alone, with- out the strengthening element of re- ligion, cannot provide the ‘“‘chance” that a down-and-out man needs, Mr. Bennett declared that food and clean- liness restore self-respect to any man. Citing the mission’s records for last year, Mr. Bennett said 1,969 men de- clared in open services their intention of returning to their churches. Mr. Bennett concluded his address with mention of the' mission’s ‘appeal for funds for Christmas expenses. The appeal is for $9.872 and donations are being received at mission headquarters, 613 C EST. 1879 A STSTCT SR e S SRS S S e ST REHEARSALS SCHEDULED. Community Drama Guild Holds Preliminary Readings for Play. Rehearsals for the Community Drama Guild's coming procuction of the com- edg, *™i~ Dover Road,” to be presented January 23 and 24 at McKinley High School, @re scheduled to begin the first week i® January, under direction of Clifford Brooke, formerly with the Na- nn_:;l ‘Theater. Players h adings. Mrs. Albert N. man of the, casting committee, assisted by Russell Burchard and Will Hutchins. A number of players from various dr: matic groups of the District have en- tered the try-outs. . “Keep your eyes to the front and your mind on driving.” >, e ere. > e guild is now holding preg.mlmx;y‘ FESTIVAL CONDUCTOR ARRIVES THIS WEEK First Meeting With Mass Chorus Directors Will Be Held Thursdey Night. Prederick Alexander, who is to be guest conductor for the Festival Massed Chorus in Washington next Spring, will come to the city this week and have his first meeting with choral directors here at the Men’s City Club at 8 p.m. Thurs- day, according to an announcement by Mrs. Joseph M. Stoddard, president of the D. C. Federation of Music Clubs. 500 singers have given their names for the list to attend rehearsals. Two years ago the Federation of Music Clubs here presented the first of such festivals. Mr. Alexander is head of the Con- servatory of Music at the Michigan State Normal College. There will be a men's chorus, a wom- en's chorus, and for the finale a chorus of all participating, united, this year. The music to be used will range in type and age from works by Bach and crusaders’ hymns of the twelfth cen- tury to much more recent works by Tschaikowsky, Brahms, Lvovsky, Gou- nod, Hegar and Rosseter Cole. Mrs. Stodard states that both the church and club organizations sponsor- ing this program extend an invitation to all directors of choral groups in ‘Washington and environs to attend this preliminary meeting Thursday night, when Mr. Alexander will give a first reading of the music to be presented during National Music week in May, using the piano as his accompaniment on this occasion. G. 0. P. Senate Group to Move. Headquarters of the Republican sena- torial committee will be moved to of- fices adjoining those of the Republican national committee in the Barr Build- ing here. Chairman Work of the national com- mittee announced yesterday the two offices would co-operate in the 1930 senatorial campaigns. W.R. & E. Sued forWDeath. ‘The Washington Railway & Electric Co. has been sued for $10,000 damages for the death of James H. Acton, who was struck by a bus of the company December 12, 1927, and received in- juries, it is alleged, that resulted in his death December 24, last. The sult is brought by his widow, Mrs. Fannie J. Acton, as administratrix of his estate. She is represented by Attorneys Bram- hall & McCabe DECEMBER 23, 1928—PART T CONGRESSWOMEN RELIED UPON TO AID NATIONAL DEFENSE Florence Kahn- on Military Affairs and Ruth McCormick on Naval Matters Expectecl to Favor Preparedness. BY WILLIAM HARD. Welcome to a couple of woman war- riors! Mrs. Florence Kahn, Congresswoman from the fourth district of California, deserving promotion in her committee assignments in the House of Representa- tives, has got herself elevated to mem- bership in the commitee on military affairs. Mrs. Ruth McCormick, new coming Congresswoman at large from Illinois, is getting attentive consideration from the high powers of the House of Repre- sentatives for membership on the com- mittee on naval affairs. She has ex- pressed, it is understood, a deep interest in naval preparedness. Both ladies can be depended upon to vote for the strongest sort of strong national defense, within reason. i However, this does not make them particularly peculiar among Congress- women. There will be seven Congress- women in the next House of Repre- sentatives. A poll of them indicates that the percentage of anti-navy and anti-army pacificism among them is perhaps even actually smaller than among their man colleagues. One of those colleagues has remarked: “It occurs to me that women are strong for peace and law and order, but also strong for security and a good police force.” There may be something to that. PFive of the Congresswomen in the next House of Representatives will be Republicans, while only two will be Democrats. Can it be that the party of “conservatism” is more feminist than the party of “progress”? Can it be that the “reform” of woman suffrage will strengthen our “stand-pat” element? It 1s odd, certainly, that the so-called “radical” or La Follettite element is not producing any feminine Representatives at all. The parliamentary weight of the feminine contingent in the present House and in the next House and will be, distinctly toward the “safe and sane” point of view. _One of the notable proofs of their “safety” and “sanity” is that they are virtually unanimously extremely oppos- ed to any such thing as a “woman bloc.” They repudiate the notion that they will herd together among them- selves in any special feminine “party” or “clique.” This may be taken as an A Subscription to The Star Makes a Welcome Gift To any one away from Washington it will be a real pleasure to receive The Star—Evening and Sun- day. It will be sent regularly upon your order. Rates by Mail—Postage Paid Maryland and Virginia Evening and Sunday........$10.00 Evening . Sunday .. All Other_St_ates and Canada Evening and Sun:l-y. Evening . Sunday . Sizes 3 to 9 | | | | Spectacular Pre-Holiday Sale ‘Famous Dr. Jones Arch-Support Shoes 52.8 We didn’t think they would get here before the holiday—but lucky for us and for you—they just arrived in time for this advertisement. ~ The splendid Dr. Jones comfort shoes that have made so many friends for us—offered tomorrow for only $2.85. A genuine orthopedic, combination last shoe with double duty steel shank in arch. Tanor black kid and black patent leather. One Year Six Months $5.00 $3.00 $2.00 $6.00 Oné Year .. $12.00 $8. Six Months FERNENERENERNERERNERERN mdirect announcement to the effect that they intend to associate with the men. Every one of them—Rogers, Kahn, Nor- ton, Langley, McCormick, Pratt, Owen —has a “Mrs.” in front of her name. They have been associating with men a long time and they apparently in- tend to continue to do so. Which, again, does not render them peculiar except to the theoreticians, who thought that the nineteenth amendment, the wom- an suffrage amendment, was for the purpose of freeing women from men. It was really for the purpose, as all soliticians now perceive, of freeing wom- en to be among men more. There are railroad officials who are sure of it, On one of the crack trains plying southward from Washi a smart railroad official set aside a fine special room for women in the lounge car. He expected them to flock into it and spend their time exchanging feminine infor- mation and wisdom. Smarter officials— made smarter by experience—are now about to deprive that room of its spe- cial dedication to the higher and better sex. The women have been wholly un- willing to stay in it. Their historic mission of social uplift has impelled them to come forth out of it and sit helpfully in the lounge rooms inhabited by the men. This is identically the ex- perience that was gained by the local transportation company in New York, which essayed to run special cars for women during rush hours. Those cars traveled almost empty, while the others were more crowded than before. You cannot “Jim Crow"” the ladies, either on railroads or in Congress. And you cannot stop them from pull- ing any stuff that a man would pull, if he had the wit to do it. They say that Elizabeth Marbury of New York. dis-| tinguished Democrat, met a lady in ‘Texas, at Houston, during the Demo- cratic convention, who was for Hoover because Hoover had done so much for women, to lighten their labors, through T T t00. | inventing the Hoover -cleaning machisit! 1 Was Miss Marbury daunted? Not at. She persuaded that lady that Smith had done much more for women, and for the salvation of their bables from croup, by inventing the Smith cough drop. 1ew more Miss Marburys would perhaps v;’hally ;olve the problem of “getting out the vote.” PRISONER EXPIRES. Man Held on Drunkenness Charge Succumbs to Pneumonia. Held at the third precinct on a charge of intoxication, Jesse L. Howard, 56 years old, of the 2400 block Penn- sylvania avenue, was taken to Gallinger Hospital Wednesday after he became {Il in his cell. He died today of pneu- monia. Police are seeking relatives. ‘The Chinese Consolidated Benevolen® Association has been functioning in San Francisco for 60 years. It was formed to settle controversies amol Chinese in that city and is composes of eight members who act as_judges. As a matter of honor its decisions are obeyed. ‘ FOOTWEAR #ron HAHN’S The Gift that wins them all — fitting every foot as it fits even the most mod- est purse! Sensible Gifts for Children SLIPPERS Ys5¢ $1.39 $1.69 $250 @9 $1.50, Sports Hose 3 prs., 1 Aretics $2.19 Boots, $2.95 to $4.50 Swagger Boots 3 10 5 Other Shoes for Girls Storm Shoes $5.50 & $650 Other Shoes for Boys $3:50 to 3550 Pretty Little Shoes For Baby $1.65 to $3 - Give “Her” The silk stock- ings to give for Xmas are those s0 many women buy for them- selves — “Lady Luxury!” Fine, clear, sheer all- silk chiffons and service weight silks of utmost elegance, 3212 14th 7th & K “Women’s Shop,” 1207 F “Man’s Shop,” 14th at G Xmas Eve Sale Slippers Women’s Special reduction, $1.69, warm, wool-lined moccasins, so comforting chilly mornings and nights about the house. Modernistic suede moccasins, as pictured, “with large fluffy pom- pon, vari-colored designs, kid trim, soft pad- ded sole. And these extremely dainty, check- ered satine bedroom slippers trimmed with French braid and large side rosette. A great group for-last minute slipper shoppers— At 98¢ pair! Many other splendid slippers for women. Satin boudoirs, - $1.29. Colored - kid - boudoirs and French heel D'Orsay slippers, $1.45 & $1.95. Satin mules, $1.95 to $6. Daniel Gréen quilted satins, $3. At all our stores. , . Special Selling Men’s Fine Slippers $2.95 Exceedingly fine hand-turn slippers of the usual $3.50 and $4 quality. Kid lined Operas and Everetts. Romeos with 'elastic sides. And others in a special selling of slippers slippers. Green morocco "opera sure to be royally welcomed. Striking novelties in red, blue. And tan calf, kid and patent leather slippers Special selling men's noveltiy socks. 65¢c Dr. 3 Pairs $1.50 Warm, fleece- 1ined 'sheepskin moceasins, o, $1.89 Give “Her” $3.95 Patent full dress shoes, $6.50 to $10 leather ve: kin evening Evening Shoes Beautiful white crepe satin opera pumps or strap effects for evening wear. Readily dyed to match one's costume, High or low heel. $6.50 Silver kid strap or opera pumps for holiday parties. High or low heel. Styled ™ with fine distinction. $6.50 $1.45 $1.95 2 prs. $2.75 2 prs. $3.75 Attractively boxed. And may your New Year be as bright as “Murco,” The Lifelong Paint E.J.;\Iurphy Company,Inc. 710 12th St. N. W.—Main 2477 AT A Rhinestone slipper buek- les and ornaments X artistic gifts, $1.50 1o $12.50 Rhinestone slipper heels make brilliant gifts and are very special at.. Also Included in the Group Are $4 and $5 Novelty Shoes sz.ss SRR 0 ive “HIM” FLORSHEIMS Give S! Any’‘man welcomes a splendid pair of shoes as an Xmas' gift. When you give him Florsheims, you display fine judg- ‘ment_in picking topmost shoe fashions and values, Most styles. $10 “Hahn Specials,” our great oup of popular priced style its — another field for wise choosing ....icieeeeie ’6,50 2,000 pairs of smart shoes from regular stock—reduced for this great sale. Operas, strap pumps, oxfords and novelties with all type heels. Velvet, patent, suede, black kid and combinations in all sizes. Second Floor—King's Palace 810-818 Seventh St. N.W. {INGS PALA(T Satisfaction Since 1859 AR IBARIRIE T 3 Warm Galoshes $4 to $5.50 e «mmmfi%&mm&x&@iw -