Evening Star Newspaper, March 9, 1931, Page 1

‘WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Fore Falr tonight and tomorrow; not much temperature; lowest tonight ‘High y; lowest, 32, report on-page change in about 40 ye Full Closing N.Y. Markets, Pages13,14 & 15 No. 31,723. HUNDREDS PERISH ASMANY DISASTERS OVER WORLD CAUSE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE New Quakes in Balkans _After Deaths Reach 200. 3 Jépanese Isle Is Shaken. U. S. Storm Toll Heavy. HUNT BODIES AFTER BOAT WRECK IN NEW ENGLAND Accidents Kill 23 Around New York—Central States List 16 Dead—Gales Rage Over Atlantic. London Snow Sets 20-Year Rec- ord as Cold Grips Continent. ‘By the Associated Press. New quakes rattled the Balkans today and panicked an isle of Japan; bitter cold gripped Europe; French rivers swelled higher and higher; snow covered much of the Western Hemisphere; gales con- tinued pellinell over the Atlantic, heckled the North Atlantic sea- board and pitched high the waters of the Great Lakes. Death, destruction and injury were being slowly counted in the third day of world-wide turbu- lence.: From Port Louis, Mauriiius, came first news that a hurricane of last week left 11 dead. danger anxiety. | 23 Killed Around New York. ‘Twenty-three were counted dead accidents ~ attributable to the storm Wt ang ey Engian and New i out of drifts that blocked their i, Sl T e v g mml{fm New York State was under ml were ) hest; 45, at 5 pm. ats a.m. today. Entered as second class matte; _post_office, Washington, D. C. Honest Citizens Help Auto Thieves Shove Machine From Drift By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, March 9.— Bliz- zards make strangs companions sometimes. Police said they found eight honest men trying to help two automobile thieves geét a stolen car out of a drift. They were just trying to be helpful, and were unaware that the machine had been stolen. A woman who heard the li- cense number over the radio gave police their information. They hurried to the spot and found two men, Joseph Nangle and +Thomas Nolan, trying to get the car started, assisted by eight oitizens pusing in the rear. Hi- ram H. Rockenbach of Fairbury, 1L, identified Nangle and Nolan, the police said, as the two men who took his car and tossed him out on the pavement. EMPLOYMENT GAIN l Conditions Better in South- east, Southwest and New England, He Reports. By the Associated Press. Col. Arthur Woods, head of the Presi- dent's Emergency Committee for Em- ployment, today said conditions were improving over a considerable portion of the country. New England territory, the Southwest and - the Southeast were speeifically cited, little change being noted ig the Pacific Coast zone and in the Central portion of the United States bordering the Great Lakes. Willlam Phillips, representing the committee in New England, reported “a distinct upward trend in New Hamp- shire employment,” mentioning par- ticularly “speeding up of leajher, tex- tile and shoe operations.” He estimated that 1,500 workers had been returned to watch making in Waltham, Mass, and 400 cotton mill employes added to pay rolls at Fall River. ‘While less specific in detail, J. F. Lucey, Southwestern r ntative, that “employment is pick- up gene: in Southwest.” the activit summary of ‘public , it was estimated tal ly presented to the commit- that 183 and semi- HOLD-UP PLEA FAILS T0 FREE JAILED VET Judge Given Grows Impatient as He Finds Five Non-Resi- dents Guilty. A story of how a World War veteran, %hu bonus money gone, was left on the in street by hoodlums after he had failed to comply with. demands for money Saturday night, was told in Folice Court this morning when Philip Gray- son of Philadelphia, Pa., who came here to get a loan on his adjusted service compensation certificate, was arraigned WS | petore Judge Ralph Given on a charge wnke‘o! a 54-mile gale that swept over its The Province of Quebec, Canada, was kS ling as best it could against the stiffest March winds and Worst snow- storm of 50 years. United States weather officials indi- cated fresh fury of the elements with a warning to ships to hug shelter from Sandy Hook, N. J., to_Eastport, Me. Scientists the Balkans exxecud more earth shocks because of séttiing of the globe's crust there, 25 on Train Marooned. In Pennsylvania six State highways were closed to unm!clmednl’“x}mw- drifts in Susquel A an ayne Counties. Snow wes still falling today in the north central counties. Twenty-five passengers Were ma- rooned in a New York Central passenger | train, stuck for five hours in a snow | bank at Rosiere, N. Y., last night. Western Massachusetts, Vermont andi New Hampshire were buried in one of the deepest snows of the year. Snowdrifts from 5 to 20 feet deep blocked highways in North Adams, Mass. Pifteen automobiles were stalled along " (Continued on Page 32, Column 1) MT. VERNON HIGHWAY CONTRACTS AWARDED Salisbury, Md., and Atlanta Firms to Start Paving Projects Immediately. { Secretary of Agriculture Hyde today awarded contracts for paving the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway to the MacDougald Construction Co. of Atlanta, Ga.. and o the Roberts Pay- ing Co. of Salisbury, Md., in the sums of $605,618.25 and $557.208.07, respec- tively. Contractors will start paving operations as soon as they can get their machinery placed. The MacDougald Construction Co. will build section No. I of the highway, from Columbia Island to Hunting Creek, south of Alexandria, a distance of a little ;.:orz than 7% miles. The Rob- Co. will construct section | fim ;}: 2, from Hunting Creek to Mount Vernon, a distance of more than 7% miles, [e) section No. of intoxication. He was fined $25 or sentenced to serve 30 days on the charge. Policeman R. M. Kesseling of No. 2 presinct sald he found Grayson sitting on the car tracks at Seventh and M streets. Kesseling said Grayson told him he had been robbed and “left there to die.” Grayson said this morn- ing that he had spent all of his loan | at the time the alleged “stick-up” took lace. % Other veterans who arpeared before Judge Given this morning were told &e Police Court magistrate that his ‘patience was exhausted” and that they “did not deserve to be given freedom on their bond.” Those sentenced today included @ - SHOWNBY WooDS WASHINGTON, » ‘WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ¢ Foening D. C., MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1931-THIRTY-EIGHT PAGES. U.S. MAY NOT SIGN PARIS-ROME PACT, RATING IT REGIONAL Japan Seen Taking Same Po- | sition, Leaving Treaty of London Undisturbed. WOULD AVOID SUBMISSION OF ACCORD TO SENATE Tokio Worried by Submarine Ton- nage Allotted to France—Text | Publication Uncertain. | By the Associated Press. | PARIS, March 9.—Delay by the United States and Japan in approving the naval accord among Great Britain, France and Italy has given rise to an | impression here that the agreement | may be regarded officially as a regional arrangement among the three coun- tries to run until 1930 without official modificaton of the London and Wash- ington naval treaties. It is felt here that there is a tend- ency in Tokio and Washington to avoid a new five-power conference to ratify the accord and to avoid, if possible, the hecessity for formal approval, which would mean submission of the agree- ment to the United States Senate and the Japanese Diet. Dispatches from Tokio today were interpreted as indicating that the po- litical opposition there was attempt- ing to impede indorsement of the ac- cord on the ground that the French submarine . tonnage allocated in the 2greement is not satisfactory to Japan. Under the agreement France gets about 81,000 tons of submarines, while Japan has only about 52,000 tons. There is an impression also that France gets the right to retain two old battleships of the Jean Bart type for patrol service in the Far East, although the Washington treaty re- quired that they be scrapped. | "In the face of these developments there was a growing belief that the text of the accord may not be pub- lished next Wedneeday, as scheduled. TOKIO FINDS OBJECTION. Submarine Tonnage Allowed France Causes Concern in Japan. ‘TOKIOQ, March 9 (#).—The Tokio na2- tive press today said Japanese naval au- thorities had to all the figures m-m naval ac- of the cord reached at Rome & week ago ex- cept those for submarine tonnage, Which are to be accepted only with reserva- tions. | It was authoritatively intimated that & final decisicn had not yet been made, | and that the agreement might be ag- ted without reserve. WOULD INCLUDE GERMANY. | cep | Herriot Sees Need of Wider Disarm- | N ament Policy. | LYON, France, March 9 (F)—Re-| gret that Germany did not participate in the naval accord among Great Brit- ain, France and Italy was expressed | 1ast night by former Premier Herriot in |an address to maimed war veterans. “It is wrong to believe,” he said, “that we seek peace always with the | treaty of Versailles in our hand. Do not forget the lesson of history—after Tilsit, | which closely limited armaments, Prus- | sla was able to hide her force. . We will | achieve peace and security only when Germany is linked to a general system of disarmament.” BOMBINGS PREVENT CUBAN CLOCK-SETTING iExp]osions Drown Out Eveningv | Gun by Which Havana Citi- zens Fixed Time. | By the Associated Press. | HAVANA, March 9.—Aside from the | harassed and worried police, the tele- | phone company probably has experi- | enced the greatest effects of the bom- | children were burned to death when the Frank J. Curry, who, appearing before | bardment of Havana with firecrackers, | Judge Given for the third time within| petards or small bombs the past few a week. was sentenced to pay $50 Or| ..y serve 60 days; Edward C. Williams, who . was fined $10 or 10 days; John J. Leary,| The phone company reports that re- $10 or 10 days, and Joseph M. Com- quests for the correct time have in- isky, $10 or 10 days. All of the veterans creaged many fold since the explosions arraigned said they were non-residents | started. This it explains as a conse- of the city. quence of the habit of Cubans to set S B — their clocks by the 9 o'clock gun at FOUR CHILDREN BURN Cabanas Fortress. But most of the bombs explode about that time, making time-telling more difficult. Another in Hospital as Fire De-|, Another story told of the small bombs stroys Farm Home. CARIBOU, Me., March 9 (#).—Four has to do with the questionable wit of taxi drivers, who play on the over- wrought nerves of police and pedes- trians by making their motors back- fire. A police order has been issued against this form of pastime. The government, in an attempt to bring the bombardment to an end, has placed a small corps of plain-clothes { men on the streets to mingle with the crowds and single out the guilty, but thus far without result. ere were more than a score such bombings dur- | ing the last week. Most of them were | harmless. VOICE LOWERING AT HOLLYWOOD IS SUCCESSOR TO FACE LIFTING farm home of Robert Searles, in Wood- land, was destroyed by fire. A fifth| child, suffering from severe burns and | Gxposure, wis brought %o s local hos- | pital. ‘The fire started from an undeter- mined source while Mr. and Mrs. Searles llilld two other children were in the village. John Gilbert, Charles Farrell, Dolores Costello and Greta Garbo Find Deep Pitch Most Pleasing. By the Associated Press. HOLLYWOOD, Calif,, March 9.—The have their ups and downs. 3:& it wag face lifting. Now i¥'s voice The lower voice in the talkies, direc- tors say, is the more netural and pleas. ing. Thin sopranos are be! trans- into contratos, and falsgttos, where possible, into bassos. John Gilbert, a leading star of the silent films, lost tavor in his first talkies. & hard time changing the pitch. I try to keep it low now all the time* Charles “Buddy” Rogers is studying the deeper tones. An exception among the silent film players was Noah Beery. The talkles revealed his deep basso, v;:lee pitched one note lower than that than soprano. 3 whose volce nnurllg Is low, is seeking z J:mwo .ed trw huskiness. Mary T yeamn escape timentally sweet roles given her in the silents. talkies, revealing a rather I'm A THE GUY & G e \i‘ A GENERAL FILIBUSTER q )l L L 2 “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s ca rier system covers every city block and the regular edi- R tion 15 delivered to Washington homes as fast as the vapers are printed Saturday’s Circulation, 114, Sunday’s Circulation, 124, (#) Means Associated Press. TWO CENTS. ALDWELL, RAMSEY AND LEA INDICTED Two Financiers and Publish- er Accused of Violating U. S. Banking Laws. [ =) the Associated Press. NASHVILLE, Tenn. March 9.—Col. Luke Lea, publisher; Rogers Caldwell, financier, and J. Basil Ramsey, banker, were revealed today as the three men indicted Saturcay in the Federal Dis- trict Court at Greenville, Tenn., on charges of violating Federal banking laws in transactions with the closed Holston Union National Bank at Knox- ville. Two indictments were returned against each defendant. Ome charged con- spiracy to violate the national banking Jaws and the other alleged two specific violations of the Federal banking laws by Ramsey, aldéd and abetted by Caldwell and Lea. Today the Davidson County grand jury returned a secret indictment against Rogers Caldwell, financier, in connection with operations of the Bank of Tennessee, now defunct, a subsidiary of_Caldwell & Co. The Federal conspiracy indictment al leged that on March 31, 1928, Lea, Cal well and Ramsey entered into a co) spiracy whereby Ramsey made a $98,000 false entry in the bank’s records and misapplied the bank's credit in that amount. Specifically,” tne indictment charges that Ramsey, in eptering the total in- dividual deposits, Included an item of $98,000 scredit to the joint individual account of Lea and Caldwell, when no such transaction had taken place. It was the purpose of Ramsey, the indictment alleges, to “deceive” the offi- cers of the Federal Reserve Bank, of which the Holston Union was a mem- ber, the controller of the currency and the Federal bank examiners. The second indictment charged “will- fully misapplying” $98,000 of the bank’s credit to the joint individual account of Lea and Caldwell. Prominent in Probe. All three of the defendants have been mentioned prominently in testimony be- | fore the State legislative committee in- vestigating the tie-up of State money in bank failures. Ramsey also stands charged in five indictments in the State court at Knox- ville with fraudulent breach of trust and larceny in connection with trans- actions in the Holston Trust Co. Lea, Caldwell and Ramsey were re- ported ready to make bond. W. J. (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) TRIO NAMED TO PASS ON LOANS IN DROUGHT Committee Announced by Secretary Hyde Will Begin Work at Once in_Capital. By the Assoclated Pres: Secretary Hyde announced today that he appointed ,Lewis T Tune of St. Louis, B. C. Powell of Little Rock, Ark., and Maj. Gen. B.. P. Cheatham of Washington as the national committee to pass on loans under the drought re- lief act to individuals to increase or set up agricultural credit corporations. Hyde made his announcement at the White House after discussing the mat- ter with President Hoover. ‘The committee will start functioning immediately. It is now studying regu- lations alread” set up by the Depart- ment of Agriculture and expects within a short time to begin to make loans under the drought relief act. PERSHIN Takes formal com- mand of independent + American Army. Read about this great moment in America’s war effort Tomorrow in Thye Eu'mtun‘r Star “Victim’ Knocks Out Bandit Completing Third Cafe Robbery By the Associated Pr ST. JOSEPH, Mo., March 9.— Frank Alexander, 27, was in the bruised and tims of three sandwich shop robberies were awaiting an accounting. Police said Alexander, traveling in a stolen taxicab, was just leav~ ing the last shop when Gene Cary, a mechanig, entered. “'Get in here,” the robber shout- ‘and stick ‘em up.” p they go,” returned Cary as | | he sent a’'hard right to the rob- ber's jaw. ‘With the gunman on the floor, six customers dropped their hands, cne throwing a sugar bowl and another a vinegar jug. The others hurled themselves upon the robber and held him until police arrived. R OFFIIAL TS 1. TRADE POEY | Molotov Challenges World on l Economic Prosperity—Calls Fish Bill “Foolish.” 1 | | | i 1 | | [ By the Associated Press. | MOSCOW. March 9 —The Sixth Bi- ennial All Union Soviet Congress was | under way here today in the Grand | Opera House after a rousing inaugural by Viacheslavf Molotov, president of | the Council of People’s Commissars, | Molotov in his opening address assailed | the United States and other capitalistic countries, thus providing a background | against which to paint the progress of Russia umder Soviet and Communist rule. Delegates Applaud Stalin. | Sitting on the stage behind him dur- | ing a long address were the Russian | strong man, Joseph Stalin; the commis- | sar of war K. E. Voroshilov, Michael | Kalnin and other Communist chief- ! tains. Stalin laughed and talked with | vorosk:tlov and the others as Molotov spoke. | Once the speaker alluded to Stalin, | who is secretary general of the all- | powerful Communist party, and the | hall, occupied by 1479 delegates, went | into an uproar of applause. Stalin rose, | but when the shouts and tumult did not | die down sat down himself in signal that it was to be ended. Hits U. S. Legislation. Molotovf challenged the rest of the world on economic prosperity, pointing out that there was no unemployment in Russia. He denounced charges of dump- ing, and_declared that the American “foolish Fish bill,” framed by Repre sentative Hamilton Fish, jr, after congressional investigation of Comm: nists, undoubtedly would affect trade relations between the two countries. “America must remember,” he said, “that the imports of the Soviet Union depend upon her exports.” Commenting upon charges of forced labor in the lumber camps, Molotoff repeated the Communist adage that “only he who works may eat.” He sai that the United States of Soviet Russia expected every able-bodied man and woman to do his share. He asserted that there was little, if any, convict Jabor in the timber districts, but that it practically all was used in road con- struction and municipal work. _ 323 FACTORIES REPORTED. Delegates Cheer as Premier Relates In- dustrial Program Advancement. By Cable to The Star. MOSCOW, U. S. §. R., March 9.—The All-Union Soviet Congress jumped to its feet cheering at its session in the Bolshoi Theater today when Premier Viacheslav Molotoy-Skriabin dramati- lly disclosed that 323 new factories and industries were put into operation in the four years ending 1930 and 518 more are expected this year. tinuing his review of the domestic co:;’dli!?m, Mr. l‘(% said that while only 1.1 per cent of the peasants were on collective farms in 1927, and 8.1 in 1929, last year this ratio jumped to 22.2, and March 1 of this year it was 35.5 per cent. Grain_collections on the date were 23,634,000 tons. Discussing foreign affairs, Mr. Molo- tov emnh-tfnd the charges of religious persecution, trade dumping and com- pulsory unjust. He characterized the lack of diplo- matic relations with the United States labor ‘against Soviet Russia are |in the | Seaboard Investment Trust GAS HOLDING FIRM FACING INQUIRY IN CHANGINGOF NAME Bond Issue of $6,500,000 Accompanying New Title Also Interests Officials. PROOF SOUGHT ’I:HAT ACT HARMONIZES WITH LAW Be- comes “the Washington & Suburban Co.” Surprised by an announcement that the Seaboard Investment Trust, which more than a year ago acquired con- trol of the Washington Gas Ligbt Co., had assumed the name of the Wash- ington & Suburban Co., and had cov- ered the stock by an issue of $6,500,000 in 5!4 per cent collateral trust gold bonds, the Puhlic Utilities Commission today planned an investigation to ascer- tain whether the change conflicts in any way with provisions of the La Fol- lete anti-merger law. Richmond B. Keech, people’s counsel hefcre the commission, aiso declared he CHANGE IN SOVIET - POLIGY 1S UNGEEN ZCastIe Intimates Stimson’s | ' Study Is Only to Gain Facts | in Situation. | Assistant Secretary of State William | R. Castle, jr) in the absence of Secre- | tary Stimson today intimated that the | Secretary’s projected study of Russian affairs would not result in a change of policy by the United States of recogni- tion of the Soviet. | The Secretary’s purpose in the pro- with the whole general subject of the Soviet, beth political and economic, the Assistant Secretary said. Stimson was in New York attending to private ' Hughes' Policy Followed. As enunciated eight years ago by Charles Evans Hm when Secretary of State, the Am policy has been that Russia must settle its official and private obligations to the United States and its citizens and cease its propa- ganda activities intended to overthrow the American Government. Repudi- ated Russian obligations to American citizens are estimated to be near $400.- 000,000, while there also is in the bal- ance a $187,000,000 credit extended by the United States to the provisional government which followed the Czar. Recent agitation of embargoes on Russian goods has been responsible to some extent for Secretary Stimson’s de- cision. The Stats and Treasury De partments have been facing an unusual problem under the Smoot-Hawley - tariff act, which forbade the importation of I;o:fldx produced by forced or convict abor. . Trade Question Vital. ‘The question of trade is not & small one. In the Soviet's fiscal year ended last October American exports totaled $145,000,000 and imports $32,000,000, or 28 per cent more than ever before. Most of this was handled through the Amtorg Trading Corporation, unofficial Soviet agency, which drew some criti- cism from a special House committee after its investigation of communism.. The unofficial relationship between the United States and Soviet Russia has been strained frequently. The most re- csnt tension was that which followed the United States’ suggestion to the Soviet during the latter’s dispute with China. Secretary Stimson suggested the Soviet adhere to the principles of the Kellogg pact, and Moscow replied in what was considered by some officials to be a critical and somewhat satirical vein. 'SMOKE SCREEN ACID | BURNS TOKIO CROWD Chemicals Fall on Hundreds as Planes Demonstrate War Methods at Pageant. By the Associated Press. ‘TOKIO, March 9 (#).—Hundreds of men, women and children received burns on their faces, hands and clothes today while watching an aerial pageant. Military planes were demonstrating methods of laying down a smoke screen by spraying chemieal. into the air. Some of the liquid fell on the crowds. Man Finds Son Drowned. HELENA, Mont., March 9 ().—At- tracted to a hole in the ice on Lake Helena by the barking of a dog, Harvey B. Marcum, rancher, yestetday found th: body of his 3-year-cld son, Jimmy, floating in the water. | tion,” he declared. Jected study will be to acquaint himself | i Vo proposed to inquire into the transaction for the same purpose as soon as he can procure official information. Neither the ccmmission nor Mr. Keech has yet.been officially advised of the change and were unable, on the basis of press re- ports, to measure its significance. Attorney's View Stated. Wilton J. Lambert, attorney for the Washington Gas Light Co., however, said the change in the name of the helding company is the only significance attached to the new bond issue. This issue, he explained, represents securities not only in the Washington company, but the Alexandria Gas Co. and other suburban preperty, thus offering “a more comprehensive investment.” George A. G. Wood, president of the Washington company, also declared he did nct expect the mew financing'to affect in any way the operating of his concern. “It is largely a legal situa- “It does mot con- cern us. We are going along just as we always have.” ‘The commission's investigation will Teo| vate interests. friendly suit by mmission in w? Court, and established the legal- ity of the sale under the provisions of the La Follette act. Object of Suit. The suit was designed to compel the Seaboard Investment Trust to dispose of 108,806 shares of the capital stock of the gas ccmpany, alleged to have been held in violation of the La Follette act. This act forbids a foreign public utility corporation,’ or any foreign or local holding corporation, -directly or indirectly, to own, control or hold or vote stocks or bonds of any public utility corporation in the-Distriet. - - ‘The court held that the Seaboard In- vestment Trust. existing under the laws of Massachusetts, was a trust of the type familiarly known as a “Massachu- setts trust” and classed upon a com- mon-law trust rather than as an asso- clation or gnrtnmhlp. ‘The distinction set forth by the court was that in a common-law trust the property is vested in trustees. who have complete control, whereas in those treated as as- sociations or partnerships the control is in the cestui que trustent, the trustees being the agent. Mr. Keech pointed out that there would be no change in the legal status of the new holding company if it is similar in character to the Seaboard Investment Trust. However, lacking in- formation as to the make-up and char- acter of the new holding company, he reserved comment until the details of the change are forthcoming. Comment Is Withheld. Members of the commission also were reluctant to pass opinions on the sig- nificance 6f the transfer, pending re- ceipt of more detailed information than carried in press reports. It was pointed out that the commission had not been officially advised of the change because the new bond issue was floated by the holding company and not the utility and in such cases it lacks jurisdiction. The commission, like Mr. Keech, is concerned with the legal phases of the transaction because of the provisions (Continued on Page 2, Column 4. JUROR’S WEDDING DATE FINDS JUDGE LENIENT Case in North Carolina Continues With 11 Men After Plea for Release. By the Assoclated Press. WILMINGTON. N. C., March 9— John Donnally was on the jury, and the case looked like it might take several days to settle. John had an important engagement in_Charlotte. He was supposed to be at a wedding—his wedding. “Judge,” sald John, “I've been try- to get married for 39 years. Now the time has come and I'm on the j Can’t you do something about it?” Judge and lawyers held a conference. The case continued with 11 jurors. As things stood today, it looked as :: be:fl'ml;h 11 be called a high: g scheme 1t we! called a - ly successful failure. Mr. Pranks, who owns a jewelry store at 434 Ninth street, is a believer e theory that the first rule of ad- to the eye. his bank diwork. WAS lumv;:m DISPLAY SUCCEEDS FAILINGLY AS THIEF GETS $600 IN BILLS Bank Notes Used for Advertising in Jeweler’s Window Attract Wrong Eyes. Wm one, stood out like & front gold ard Franks' latest advertis- | toof AL SMITH'S ATTACK ON DIRECT PRIMARY MEETS DISFAVOR {Comment of Leaders of Both Parties in Main Is Unfavorable. PROPOSAL CRITICIZED SEVERELY BY CARAWAY D. I. Walsh Is Against Change. Progressives, Meeting Soon, Like Present Plan. BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. The attack on the direct primary system of selecting candidates fcr nome ination for public office, made yesterday by Alfred E. Smith, Democratic nominee for President in 1928, brought an im- mediate response today from members of Congress in both political partfes, In the main, they declared that the pri- mary system is far better than the old caucus and convention, The declaration by former Gov. Smith that the direct primary system had not been a success and that something | should be done to get away from it and back to representative form of govern- ment, contained in an article by Gov. ! Smith widely published is, however, in line with an address delivered several weeks ago by Representative Will Wood of Indiana, chairman of the Republi- can Congressional Campaign Commit- tee. The Republican leader, like Gov. | Smith, assailed the primary as de- | structive of party government. Like the Democratic leader, Mr. Wood insisted that only a small percentage of the voters really takes a hand in bringing about the ncmination of a candidats for office. La Follette Voices Views. Senator Robert M. La Follette, jr., of Wisconsin, Progressive Republican and an active member of the committee which has called the Progressive eon- ference which meets here Wednesday, said today: “The direct primary system and the 10| direct election of Senators have been of great value. They have made the the people In"ll‘- wfi“ to 3 a mistake nwwnmat. old con- vention system of candi- dates for office. are easily manipulated. Such a step would be backward and not forward.” Caraway Assails Proposal. Senator David 1. Walsh of Massachu- setts, a liberal Democrat, a strong sup- porter of Gov. Smith in the Iu‘c cam- Repul posal to do away with the direct primary ‘was “undemocratic.” The launching of this attack on the primary system comes on the eve of the meeting of the “Progressive conference” in Washington, called by a group of Republican an¢ Democratic Senators, some of whom supported Gov. Smith in the 1928 campaign, among them Sena- tor Norris of Nebraska. The primary system is dear to the Progressive heart. Gov. Smith, however, has the cour- age of his convictions. What effect his declaration against the primary system may have on his own political future cannot be immediately forecast. But to some of the politicians here Gov. Smith’s attack on the primary seemed clear evidence that he was not to be a candidate for the Democratic presi- dential nomination next year. Senator Walsh’s Comment. Commenting upon the primary sys- | tem. Senator Walsh of Massachusetts said_today: “While I have been disappointed in some of the results that have followed since the adoption of the primary sys- tem yet I am not prepared to abolish it and return to the old convention system. The primary system may mot give us always as intellectual or com- placent personalities as the convention system but, in my opinion, it gives the people frecrer public servants.” Senator Caraway of Arkansas was far more_severe in his criticism of the (Continued on Page 5, Column 2.) EMBARGO ON RUSSIAN WOOD TO BE TESTED Steamer Loaded With Lumber for Soviet Trade Organization Sails for New York. Ey the Associated Press. MOSCOW. March 9.—The steamer Aaversole sailed {rom Leningrad Fri- day for New York, loaded with lumber for the Amtorg Trading Corporation. Soviet trade organization in the United States. On February 10 Secretary Mellon placed an embargo on Russian lumber and wood puip from the four districts of the White Sea of Northern Russia, holding that convict labor is used in their production. Advices from ° ussia thereafter said that the Soviet government, through the lumber trust, would send a ship-