Evening Star Newspaper, April 16, 1931, Page 2

CONFESSION TELLS OF HOLD-UP PLOT Clerk in District Auditor’s Dffice, With Accomplice, Is Held. (Continued From First Page) _ equipment necessary to do the job and we told him yes, we could get the guns and the gang to pull the job. He then gave us a layout of the place, teliing us how many would be there and all ihe details. He said that on Saturday or Sunday he would go down to the District Building and make a_drawing of the whole place, showing the situa- tion at the vault, the number of em- ployes on duty in the auditor's office, and that the plot he wpuld draw would show the means of getting in and out of the office and building “About_three days after Fisher tore up the first plot, Jack went back to Fisher's apartment and Fisher gave him the second drawing (now in possession of the police) and Fisher said that the | second drawing was the one that he said he would make. In the meantime, | Jack got in touch with Fisher and made arrangements for a meeting with us at | the hotel yesterday evening. ! “Jack and I were in our room at the hotel and about 4 c'clock in ihe after- noon a man came into the room &nd Jack introduced him to me as John McHugh, and said that the Jatter was known as Johnny Mack, and that ht was one of his mob and had been 0% a number of jobs with him. W2 =4 got together and carefully studied ti= map and laid our plans to pull the job, this being done while awaiting the ar- | val of Fisher, who arrived at about ?215 pm. We discussed the various things that we had to consider and when Fisher entered the room Jack Jntroduced Johnny Mack and told him that Johnay was the machine gun man and that he would provide all the equip- ment necessary to pull the job, includ- ing the automobile. Plans Discussed Thoroughly. “The map was placed on & table in the room, and the four of us discussed thoroughly the hest way to tackle the job and make our getaway. During our talk Fisher said that there would be about $250,000 in checks in_the office and about $120,000 in cash. Fisher also informed us that if the pay roll was completely made up all of the money would be in envelopes and that if the pay roll had not been completed some of the currency would be on some of e desks. ul“We then discussed with Fisher the manner we would use to gain control of the situation when we had gotten inside of the office, and it was agreed that one man would take care of the iser and Johnny Mack, the ma- gun man would stand off in a corner of the room, where he could Keep the employes on duty in the office der cover of the machine gun and ve full control of the s’l:.uluant.e -;d smaking the get away it was tenta- '.h‘:t we_would leave by the south door on Thirteenth street, jump into our car and proceed south 0 D street, west on D street to Four- teenth street, our further progress at that point being dependent upon con- dition of traffic. “During a part of our conversation stated that he had passed through the office of the man in charge of the auditor’s office and in passing| the superviser's desk he noted that the middle drawer of the desk was o] lndt.hlthzuwlyinglnme id drawer, a revolver, Whic! being of .38 or .45 caliber. told us that this information was something new and that it should have our_consideration. “Fisher formed us that at one of the wind in the office you could look direct back in the direc- the vault and safe and that could be seen from the window, myself were present, we discussed the manner in which we would .split the money in the event we Were suc- cessful. Says Fisher Demanded Half. “Fisher said he wanted half the amount secured and that Jack and myself would split the remainder. Later on after Johnny Mack came into the scene, Jack said Johnny Mack would look the job over and that he would look it over the next day, and if it appeared necessary to make any change of plans, Johnny Mack would get in touch with Jack and Jack could reach Fisher at his office in the District Building or at his apartment. This concluded our plans for the day, and the four of us fogether started to leave the room and had opened the door when detectives took us into custody and brought us to headquarters. “At one time during our discussion there was confusion in cur minds as to what office occupied the south side of the District Building, between Thir- teen-and-a-Half and Fourteenth street, and to clarify this in our minds, Fisher took a pin and made some marks on the map showing what part of that south side of the building was used for offices. This statement is made volun- tarily without urge or pressure and without promise.” Detectives on Guard. De Ward and Trainor met Fisher and Stumm, who aiso is known as Rob- | ert Dixon, at the hotel on Fourteenth street. With three detectives on guard in the next room, De Ward and Tr2inor induced the men to review their plan. | Pisher and Stumm, according to po- lice, said they intended to stage the!| hold-up on Decoration day. While the plot still was being_dis- cussed, DeWard sauntered over Yo window, threw it open and exclaimed: | Signals for Police. “Whew! It's hot in nere!” ‘The remark was & prearranged sig- nal, and a few moments later Detective Lieut. Charles J. P. Weber and Detec- tive Sergts. Chester C. Stepp and John W. Wise entered the room with drawn revolvers and arrested Fisher and Stumm. A hold-up?” Pisher “What is this? demanded. “You bet it is,” Lieut. Weber replied, “and it will be finished at headquarters.” De Ward and Trainor carried out their roles until they reached head- quarters, where they conferred with Inspector Shelby and the three de- tectives, to whom they related their to patrolmen and placed in cells in two widely separated precincts, tr at the twelfth and the latte fifth, ‘Trainor told police he first thought the men were joking and agreed to par- ticipate in the robbery. He became alarmed when he later learned the pair actually were plotting to rob the dis- ‘bursing officer, and told police what he had learned, without giving Fisher and Dixon cause for suspicion. A day or two later Stumm set about gotaining & machine gunner to help i t=e payroll hoia-up at the District Building. Learing of this, Inspector Bhelby requested Trainor to go through ‘with the alleged plot, and then enlisted the aid of Inspector De Ward to pose as a “killer from Brooklyn.” Trainor introduced De Ward to Fisher and Dixon, and the conference to prepare their plans was arranged for yesterday. Inspector Shelby said today he eniisted th: aid of De Ward rather than run the risk of having a headquarters detective Tecognized by Pisher. Detectives Weber, Stepp and Wise hid in a room adjoining that used for the conference late yesterday and over- heard the wmn‘% making arrangements "fi-fiqhh ormer at the l Held in Alleged Hold-Up Plot 1 ] fi. k. N Fmrroewe N 13fasTreer to hold up the District Disbursing Offict up of the Disbursing Office wove their al Upper—Arthur A. Fisher, left, and Philip K. Strumm, held in an alleged plot | Lower—The diagram about which, police say, the two men planning a hold- e, lleged scheme. | hold-up because the men ‘thought the | pay roll for June 1 would be counted | on that day and pleccd in envelopes, | preparatory to paying off District em- | ployes the next morning. One of the “mob” was to “take care” of the po- liceman on duty there. Police pointed out today, however, the idea that employes of the disburs- ing office would be making up the pay roll on Desoration day was a mistake, for May 30 is a legal holiday and ali | employes of the District would have | been paid off on the preceding day, May 29. Fisher's part in the robbery, police say, w2s to make sure the two latches | on the doors leading from the disburs- | ing office to Thirteenth and a Half | street were unhooked to permit the en- | trance of the rest of the gang. Arranged for “Split.” The robbers were to escape over the Highway Bridge into Vi ia end later return by train to a studio to be rented | by Fisher, where the payroll was to be divided. Inspector Shelby placed Fisher under constant surveilance, and on Tuesday be was observed in the office of Maj. Lusby, ‘with no apparent reason being there, A sketch of the ground floor of the District Building, showing the location of the vaults, the position of the grill work, the avenues of escape, the loca- tion of all guns in the cffice and the place where the money would be found was taken from Pisher at the time of his arrest, Shelby said. Pay Roll Plans Changed. After a conference in the office of Commissioner Reichelderfer, D. J.| Donovan, District auditor, was author- | ized to arrange for the discharge of | Fisher from the Government's employ. Fisher's dismissal probably will take place today or tomorrow. It was also stated at the District Building that drastic changes in the method of handling salary cash were contemplated. It was decided to have iwo policemen, instead of one, as here- tofore, posted at the disbursing office on days when employes are being paid. Regular annual employes of the Dis- trict government, heretofore paid by cash, probably will be given checks gemi-monthly, a plan of payment that kas been tried out satisfactorily with re- spect to the District Repair Shop. Per | diem employes, who have been receiving their pay weekly, each respegive de- partment being ailotted a different pay day, probably will be paid semi- monthly. A plan to rearrange the layout of the disbursing office also was considered. MITCHELL CITES ANTI-TRUST POLICY; OPPOSES COMPROMISE | Continued From First Page) sion or to the Department of Justice find out whether their proposals are likely to be the subject of attack by the Government and no criminal prose- cution under the anti-trust laws has ever been instituted when the men in- volved had any reasonable ground (o contend that what they did received any previous indorsement or approval or was even acquiesced in by these Gov- ernment agencies.” Persons Acted in Bad Faith. sometimes prosecutions have been threatened because in some aspects -previously presented to Gov- ernment agencies had changed because the persons involved “bave been acting in bad faith or have gone beyond any to these Government The Attorney General thinks that if fon.nal approval were given in advance by the Federal Trade Commission through advisory opinions, questions would continually arise as to whether the things actually done went beyond or and Stumm were turned over | th> proposals submitted and the crimi- | nal prosecutions “would be, as they are | today, nct for anything frankly' dis- ! closed In advance, but for matters de- These points have been very much discussed by business men recently, and { while Chairman Raskob of the Demo- | cratic National Committee gave cur- rency to the idea of submitting mergers in advance to the Federal Trade Com- mission, the proposal has really been made from time to time in the past by Republicans, as well as_ Democrats, prominent in public life. Mr. Mitchell says he has no serious objfection to try- ing such an arrangement, but doesn’t think it will work. The importance of the Attorney General's speech is that the administration is recognizing th ! ! modernizing the anti-trust laws. (Copyrisht, 1931.) Find Liquor on Majestic. NEW YORK, April 16 (#).—Customs officers said they found 218 bottles of assorted liguors valued at $1,000 aboard the liner Majestic today. was found behind & crew’s but unable to fix responsibility, 1U. S. FAMILIES LEAVE ‘What Mr. Mitchell does say is that | situations | { public discussion as to the need for Mé’:&mm TALK SCHEDULED | ON MEXIGAN ARTS Count Rene d’Harnoncourt | Speaks Saturday at Cor- coran Gallery. Count Rene d'Harnoncourt, who is in charge of the special exhibition of Mex- ican arts now on view at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, is to give an informal talk on “The Arts of Mexico” Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the gallery's auditorium. This announcement was made today by C. Powell Minnigerode, director of the institution. No admis- sion fee will be chagged. The public is | cordially invited to®ttend and will have opportunity to visit#he display following the lecture and untd] the regular closing hour of the gallery, 4:30 o'clock. Count d’Harnoncourt has lived for the past five years in Mexico and has made 2 close study of the Indian population | and their artistic creations. His various trips into the interior and his contact with the Indians enable him to speak with authority on ‘the subject, which will close on Wednesday afternoon, April 22, Since the opening of this exhibition it has aroused marked interest and has been visited by approximately 20,000‘ persons since April 1. It is in view of | the interest manifested that its curator | has consented to give this special talk. NICARAGUA AS NEW (Continued Prom First Page) that Marines there are supposed to fight | only to defend lives. It was recalled at the department that four years ago a considerable force of Marines was sent to Eastern Nicaragua to protect property. Some feeling was evident that this move had led to difficulties, forcing the main- tenance of a Marine brigade in_the isthmus country. Plans already have been made for complete withdrawal of the Marines by January 1, 1933. REBELS LOOT VILLAGE. American Flyers Fired On—Missionary Is Reported Killed. | PUERTO CABEZAS, Nicaragua, April | 16 ().—Nicaraguan insurgents, after | | attacking and capturing Cabo Graclas a | Dios in the extreme northeastern corner | of their country, were believed today to | have fled from the village, looting it of a large quantity of stores. Marine Corps aviators, made suspi- | clous by silence of the radio station | there, flew over Cabo Graclas a Dios yesterdey and were fired upon. They dropped 14 bombs but could not de- termine the number of casualties. They said the insurgents appeared to be | shoving off in a number of small boats loaded with loot. The insurgents attacked the little town at about 2 a.m. yesterday and at least one of the Amecricans there, the Tropical Radio manager, Albert C. Les- ter, a native of Texas, escaped to Puer- to Cabezas. Other American residents include Albert and Edwin Fagot of New Orleans and William J. Green of Al- leghany, Pa., of whom no information has been received here. ‘The insurgents burned some of the houses in the village. Their activities on the Atlantic Coast have the ap-| pearance of a general offensive. Most of the American interests and invest- ments in Nicaragua are in this section. Apparently rellable reports _today sald that Rev. Karl Bergener of Water- town, Wis, a Moravian missionary in the Prinzapolka district, had been kill- ed by the insurgents. PUERTA CABEZAS QUIET. Flyers Report Eight of Sandinos Men Are Known Dead. CORINTO, Nicaragua, April 18 (P). —Arriving here from Managua, pilots of a United States Marine airplane re- ported today conditions were quiet in the vicinity of Puerto Cabezas, where nine Americans have been killed by in- urgents in the past week. Augustino Sandino’s forces sustained eight known dead, including one of his chief lieutenats, Fedro Blandon, who was in command cf the rebel's eastern operations. sconte: crkers of ted |the Standard Fruit & Steamship Co. | American newspaper editor today is to (Tecovery from its present disorder. EDITORS GONVENE FOR 3DAY SESSION Hoover Will Hold Informal Conference With 100 Mem- bers This Evening. ‘The most imperative task of the encourage discussion of the best means of readjusting the industrial world for Some 100 members of the American | Society of Newspaper Editors, who met at the National Press Club this after- noon for a three-day convention, were assured by their president that “there is no agency or means other than the newspaper press” for the adequate ex- position of the national problem. Will Visit White House. Fred Fuller Shedd, editor of the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, told the editors the newspapers have done their share in furnishing practical relief, but pointed out much yet remains to be | done toward preventing a recurrence of economic depression such as the country has passed through during the past 18 months. Prince Takamatsu, second brother of the Emperor of Japan, and his bride, at the White House yesterday afternoon shortly after their arrival in the Capital. Left to right, front row: Lieut. Comdr. Mizuno, aide de camp to the Prince; Capt. Charles R. Train, naval aide to the President; Japanese Ambassador Katsuji Debuchi, the Prince and Princess and Richard Southgate of the State De; A feature of the convention will be | an informal reception at the White House tonight, when the editors will | be received by President Hoover for a | round-table conference. Only society members will be present | and nothing will be published concer: ing subjects which the President dis- cusses. \__ Conference to Set Precedent. ‘The visitors are expected about 9 o'clock and probably will be closeted with President Hoover for two hours. At the convention last year the President addressed the annual banquet of the society. It was said this will be the first time the President ever has re- ceived and talked with newspaper edi- tors in such an informal fashion. As a preliminary to the opening ad- dress, the society sent friendly greet- ! ings to 12 newspaper editors in as many different countries of the world. The messages were dispatched direct from the meeting place in the Press Club Auditorium by telegraph, cable and! wireless. “Have Done Full Part.” Continuing his opening address, Mr. Shedd said that “the newspapers of the | United States have done their full part in a national movement of benovolence, of friendliness, of sympathy and prac- tical relief from misfortune without equal in the history of the people. “The readiness with which those who have responded to the need of those who have not, thousands of those who had but little having denied them- selves to give relief to those who had less, has been a striking demonstration that the heart of humanity still beats, steadily and strongly, and is the con- vincing answer to those who have dis- cerned nothing in_the modern life of America but the chase for the dollar.” Predicts Hard Times Again. Mr. Shedd predicted that times will come again,” adding that “the experiences through which we have been passing ought to have con- vinced us that something more than relief is involved in the problem, and that our minds ought to be directed diligently upon the discovery and ap- plication of remedy and of means for forestalling and przventing a recurrence of the misfortune, “I believe there is no problem more seriously threatening the fundamental welfare of the people of the United States and the institutions of social and economic order which have served us so well and which are typical of our national ideals. Shedd said “disemployment” did not follow “solely upon the folly of the stock market,” blunders actual or alleged in tariff making, and was not a reverbera- tion of the World War, but was defi- nitely related to conditions in our eco- nomic theme and its development. Newspapers Must Be Active. If we do not want to risk the danger of such blundering négligence, if we do not want to incur the peril which gov- ernment doles have brought upon Great Britain, if we want properly and scien- tifically to diagnose the ailment and to determine a remedy adequate for our ills, the newspapers of the United States must be prepared and active,” Shedd sald. “* * * There is no pending or prospective issue of politics, whether it be peril of a power trust or a matter of international relations, more perti- nent and more imperatively remanding newspaper service in news and editorial columns, than this readjustment of the industrial world for recovery from its present disorder. “There is no agency or means other than the Newspaper press by which the discussion of such a national problem, its adequate exposition, the considera- tion of its various phases and angles, the differentiation between true and false remedies, can serve the public and aid in formation of desirable sentiment and competent opinion.” Many Addresses Listed. Other features on the program of | the afternoon ipcluded a welcome to Washington extended by E. S. Leggett, | president of the National Press Club, and en address by Lincoln B. Palmer, | general manager of the American Newspaper Publishers’ Association, on publicity. Willlam _Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, will ad- dress the society tomorrow. “hard TEXAS OIL FIRE FATAL One Dead, Two Hurt When Auto- mobile Sparks Off Tanks. KILGORE, Tex., April 16 (#).—Joe Lamb, 25, was burned to death and two other workmen were seriously in- jured when a battery of oil tanks at the Humble company camp near here were destroyed by fire early today. The oil tanks were ignited by back-fire from an automobile, which set off a RESUMES BUILDING OF BIG APARTNENT Westchester Corporation Halted Work Due to Failure of Rheem Firm. Constriction of the huge apartment project of the Westchester Corpora- tion, which was halted since the failure of Swartzell, Rheem & Hensey, realty finance firm, in January, was resumed today. Although the mew building in the 28-acre development tract at 4000 Cathedral avenue, was not being financed through the bankrupt mort- gage house, its construction was stopped by the builders because the Westchester Corporation was involved in the faflure of the finance house. This was due to the disclosure that trusts on the first two bulldings of the development, now completed, had been released by Swartzell, Rheem & Hensey. Announcing the renewal of work on the third unit of the extensive apart- ment project, Gustave Ring, president of the Westchester Corporation, pointed out it would provide employment for | about 300 bullding mechanics. The building is to be rushed to completion, which is expected by Fall. Mr. Ring points out the Westchester building is the first of a number of construction projects, halted by the failure of the mortgage house, on which construction has been resumed. A large part of the assets of Swart- zell, Rheem &l‘{)emey'}x{, Ring adds, are represen y & on the un- improved ground of the Westchester Corporation. Completion of the new unit will enhance the value of this ground, he states. ‘The Westchester will be the largest group of housekeeping apartments in the city. —_— GAR WOOD FAILS TO BREAK RECORD Boat Racer Comes Within Quarter of a Mile an Hour of Kaye Don’s Mark. By the Associated Press. MIAMI BEACH, Fla., April 16.—Gar Wood raced his Miss America IX at 103.249 miles an hour one way over, the Indian Creek course here today and came withing .25 of a mile an hour cf equaling the world’s speedboat record of 103.49 miles an hour, held by Kaye Don of England. Wood's maximum speed thus far in today’s trials was made in his fifth run over the measured mile. On the pre- vious run he went 102.892 miles an hour. Prior to that he had made one run at 102.534 miles an hour. After the fifth trial he halted tem- porarily and brought his boat to the dock to inspect the motors. Wood said conditions were not ideal. The wind was from the west with a velocity of between six and eight miles an_hour across the course. On both his runs great sheets of spray were hurled into the air as the craft raced over the course with its | two_12-cylindered motors roaring. ‘When Wood climbed out of the boat, his 13-year-old son, Gar, jr., himself a racing enthusiast, rushed up and aske back?” “Yes,” Wood replied, “but only to the point of cracking it.” “Well,” said Gar, jr., “on your new run go out and pull the throttle back s0_hard you break it off.” ‘The veteran racer laughed and said: “O. K, son. We've still got lots left in the old boat.” Wood decided to install a tank of oxygen to be fed into the carburetor. He believed forcing the oxygen into the cylinders with the gasoline would cause @ hotter explosion, resulting in greater power. On out run he was forced to shut off his motor as a baat carrying a party of spectators pulled out on the course almost directly in his path. He swerved sharply to avold striking the craft and finished the rest of the mile at com- gas pocket. paratively low speed. “Did you have the throttle clear | partment. JAPANESE ROYALTY JUST FOLKS TODAY ON TOUR OF CAPITAL __(Continued From First Page.) _ standing decorative note elsewhere in | the reception suite. | 'The princess paid her own_thor- oughly feminine tribute to the Nation she is visiting in the novel design of the pink satin evening gown she wore to-the dinner. Tiny velvet stars ap- Ellqued upon the satin were chosen,. er maid revealed, to do honor to the stars in the flag of the United States. The gown shimmered with sequins. The prince wore traditional evening attire, with the Japanese chrysanthemum dec- oration across his shirt front from the left shoulder. The decorative scheme gave the royal couple its first glimpse of the famed Japanese cherry blossom and revealed to the Princess that she had something more than nationality in common with them. Seated between President Hco- ver and Secretary Stimson, she inquired, in her excellent English: “How long have the Japanese cherry trees circled the Tidal Basin?” Secrétary Stimson replied they were planted there 19 years ago. “Just as old as I am,” laughed the Princess, “19 years! Asks About Prohibition. Having seen crowds of woman advo- cates of prohibition reform wearing buttons in the Mayflower Hotel, lobby, Princess Takamatsu asked how long prohibition would last. The Secretary of State diplomatically suggested that was a question which she had better ut to the President, but the Princess laughingly dropped the subject. The and Madame Debuchi, the Secretary of State and Mrs. Stimson, the Secretary of War and Mrs. Hurlx the Secretary of the Navy and Mrs. , the Sec- retary of Commerce and Mrs. Lamont, Senator Willlam E. Borah, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Mrs. Borah; Senator Claude A. Swanson of the same committee and Mrs. Swanson; Senator and Mrs, David A. Reed, Mr. William R. Castle, Under- secretary of State, and Mrs. Castle; the Counselor of the Japanese Embassy and Mme. Sotomatsu Kato, Mr. Takeo Yamagata, master of ceremonies of the royal suite; Mme. Takako Ochiai, lady in waiting to her highness; Mr. John Hays Hammond, Mr. Stanley K. Horn- beck, chief of the division of Far East- ern affairs, State Department; Mr. Richard Southgate, Treaty Division, State Department, and Mrs. Southgate; Lieut. Comdr. Koyosuke Midzuno, Lieut. Comdr. Ellis M. Zacharias, U. 8. N., aide de camp to the Prince, and Mrs. Zacharias; Mrs. Herbers Hoover, jr., daughter-in-law, and Mr. Allan Hoover, son, of the President and Mrs. Hoover; Capt. Charles Russell Train, Naval aide to the President, and Mrs. Train, and Col. Campbell B. Hodges, the Presi~ dent’s military aide. Second White House Call. ‘Their attendance at the state dinner was the second call Prince and Princess Takamatsu had made at White House since their arrival in the Capital at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The visitors were cfficially received by the President and Mrs. Hoover during their first two hours here. From Union Sta- tion, where a semi-state greeting, marked by an honor guard of United States Marines, had welcomed them, they were taken to the Mayflower Hotel, their residence on their six-day stay in Washington. Following a brief rest the couple went directly to the White House, where their Ambassador presented them to the President. ‘The prince’s talk with President Hoo- ver was private, but informal. It was devoted to personal exchanges between the Chief Executive and the 26-year- old prince. Breaking an agevold precedent, Prince ‘Takamatsu yesterday granted a brief interview to newspaper men. Speaking through an_interpreter, he expressed pleasure at being in the United States anc his own gratification at the wel- come extended him and his bride in New York. Throughout yesterday the prince wore formal dress. He will ap- pear in uniform only once during his stay here and that will be tomorrow, when he visits the United States Naval Academy, at Annapolis. Then he will ‘wear the uniform of the Japanese naval lieutenant, as he is the imperial fam- ily's representative in the Jananese Navy. “BONESETTER” REESE ILL YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio, April 16 (#).— John D. “Bonesetter” Reese, nationally known, is seriously ill at his home here. He is 75 years old. Power Glider Takes Flop Into Potomac were reported to have joined the rebel forces. 'il“lht ployes, who travel around the country, even calling from hmu.lo bouse, Ut olo.he'alephm. 8 being E d by 650 government STRANGE EXPERIMENTAL CRAFT GETS MIRED WHEN TRIAL FLIGHT FAILS. ~—Wide World Photo. RED CROSS T0 SEEK 7,000,000 MEMBERS Minimum Goal Nearly Double "Present Enroliment Set " for 1931-32 Year. 4 minimum goal of 3,000,000 addi- tional Red Cross members during the golden anniversary year of 1931-32, nearly equal to the present member- ship of the relief agency, was voted today at the closing session of the American Red Cross Convention. The heavy drafts upon the cash re- serves of the Red Cross to supplement | the amount raised by popular subscrip- |tion to care for drought victims and |the desire that the Red Cross should continue to finance its work, including the average annual cost of half a mil- Lon dollars for disaster relief from its annual membership dues, prompted the establishment of & 7,000,000 member- g)elg ‘x:ocl for ne;et“yherr.un present the ToSs memi slightl; - cess of 4,000,000. o e Good Will Created. Now is the opportune time, in the opinion of the Resolutions Committee, to start this great membership drive by taking advantage of the widespread good will created through drought re- lief, which has made the Red Cross, more than ever, a household word. By way of setting the pace in this increased membership drive, the Dis- trict of Columbia Chapter and the Junior Chapter of the District today were awarded the high honors of the convention, the flags bestowed annually to chapters showing the greatest percentage increase in membership. For the District Junior Red Cross this is the second consecutive year i has cap- the Crosby flag. it was presented to Albert Thompson, Junior chairman, at the closing general session, which was attended by all the Junior Red Cross delegates. 67 Per Cent Enrolled. The presentation to the Junior Dis- trict Chapter was made by J. W. Crab- tree, secretary of the National Educa- tion Association, who cited its record of enrolling 67 per cent of the school children in the District in its member- ship . dus the past year. “These boys and girls,” said Mr. Crabtree, “are among the best Red Cross workers in every community. They are less likely than other chil- dren to be overthrown by corrupting influences. They have higher ideals as t.: result of their activities in the Red The Junior banner, awarded for the fourth time, was made possible through the generosity of Gov. Crosby of Mis- sissippi, who was impressed by the work of the Junior Red Cross during the great Mississippi River flood. R. E. Bondy Speaks. ‘The Red Cross flag to the District Chapter for enrclling the greatest per- centage of members was_donated by Miss Mabel T. Boardman. In presenting it to the District chairman, Brig. Gen. Frank Keefer, retired, Robert E. Bondy, manager of the Eastern area, declared it was appropriate that the banner should be returned during the golden was the winner last year. ‘Want 1932 Convention Here. Before adjournment the convention adopted resolutions asking the Central Committee to consider Washington for the 1932 convention. Chicago was rec- omme as the 1933 meeting place; Washington, again, in 1934, and San Francisco in 1935. The Central Committee, at its De- cember meeting, also will vote to con- firm the recommendations of the con- vention that Mrs. Frank V. Hammar of St. Louis and Samuel Knight of San Francisco be re-elected to membership on the committee and that Cornelius N. Bliss of New York and Eliot Wads- worth of Boston, whose terms expire in December, also be re-elected. Other resolutions adopted extended the thanks of the Red Cross to the American people at large for services rendered during the drought-relief cam- paign, including the railroads, in ren- dering free transportation of supplies. Thanks also were extended to the Drought Committee appointed by Presi- dent Hoover. Policies Are Approved. “Hearty approval and support of the policies which prevailed in the volunteer raising of funds for drought relief was given in another resolution extended to the President and national officers of the organization. Judge John Barton Payne, chairman of the Central Committee, in his clos- ing address, declared that the volunteer services rendered during the drought crisis made possible the exvenditure of as much money for drought relief as some members of Congress wished to appropriate. The final report of the Credential Committee showed 1,299 delegates in attendance, the largest convention ever held by the organization. Norman F. Egger of Middleboro, Mass., reporting for the Junior Red Cross, was given an ovation. He particularly thanked the McKinley High School Juniors for their hospitality during the convention. BAND CONCERT. . By the United States Soldiers’ Home Band this evening, at Stanley Hall, at March, “Legion of Victory”. Overture, “Robesplerre” . Suite romantic, “Don Quixote, “In a Spanish Village.” “Sancho ‘' Panza.” “Duleinea. “Don Quixote.” Scenes from grand opera, “Carman” «.Paull . Litollf Safranek Bizet Qo the Mcon- anniversary year to the jurisdiction from which it is given. New Hampshire 5:30 o'clock. John S. M. Zimmermann, | bandmaster; Anton Pointner, assistant.|St. Elizabeth’s Hospital tomorrow evee WOMAN ANTIDRYS HAIL PARLEY WOR 1,000 Per Cent Satisfaction, Says Mrs. Sabin After Adjournment. Characterized by the chairman, Mrs. Charles H. Sabin of New York, as "1,000 per cent satisfactory,” the second an- nual conference of the Women's Organ= ization for National Prohibition Re= form adjourned at the Mayflower Hotel late yesterday after adopting & resolu- tlon ‘assalling the dry law and calling upon the members “to support only those candidates for public office who have openly declared themselves in favor of the repeal of the eighteenth amendment.” The Executive Committee remained over today to pick up some looss ends, and later in the year, at one of its quarterly meetings, will chooss the site for the 1932 gathering. Several States are in the running for this conference, Mrs. Sabin said. Offic’rs are elected only every two vears, so that matter goes over until the next meeting. The resolution brought in at the close of the conference backed up another, adopted earlier in the day, which was presented to President Hoover by a del- egation of more than 500 women. In this resolution the President and Con- gress were called upon to take such ace tion as would allow the States to vote on another constitutional amendment repealing the dry law and putting liquor control back with the States. “Roll of Honor” Proposed, Explaining this afterward, Mrs. Sabin said the action that the President could take would be to recommend such an amendment in a message to Congress. Before -adjourning the women also adopted a resolution calling for publica~ tion of & “roll of honor” which would carry the names of all those members of the Congress who are in favor of 1epeal, The crganization, it was said by Mrs. Sabin, will seek inclusion of wet planks in the platform of both major parties next year, and likewise, in the platforms of the vn{‘!fius States. Meanwhile, the women are proceedin, with 0 g?“(?oo%%%h::e helr present embership of 300, next ye chairman said. 4 s Reed Sees Mrs. Sabin. Mrs. Sabin believes the greatest ac- complishment of her grouo thus far is that it has “removed the bugaboo that terrified politicians, that all women favor prohibition.” Former Senator James A. Reed of Missouri, whose potentialities as a Dem= ocratic presidential candidate were hit here earlier in the week at the meeting of the National Woman's Democratc Law Enforcement League, visited briefly with Mrs. Sabin yesterday. The chair- man, it is said, voiced a wish that it had been known Mr. Reed was in the city, he might have been.invited to address their gathering. DENY AIDING “WETS.” Welfare Center Aldes Say Assistance ‘Was Refused. Deni‘fll thralhthey are furthering the campaign of the Women's Organization for National Prohibition Refoflnh'll made today by officials of Neighborhood House, 470 N street southwest; Juanits K. Nye Council House, 609 Sixth street southwest, and Friendship House, 324 Virginia avenue southeast. “I talked to a representative of the organization,” Mrs. Clara D. Neligh, head resident of Neighborhood House, declared, “and told her we could not take part in any such movement, or in any movement on either side of this question. This representative left cards for distribution, although I told her we could not distribute such cards among our workers, So far as I know, the organization has no members in Neigh- borhood House.” No representative of the Women's Or= ganization for National Prohibition Re- form called at Juanita K. Nye Council House, according to Miss Myrtle Cohen, assistant director. Miss Gertrude Co- hen, director, is out of the city. “Juanita K. Nye Council House is & settlement for the children of the neighborhood and their relatives,” Miss Cohen said. “It naturally would take no part in any movement of this kind and so far as I know, has not beén so- 1iéTted to take such part.” Members of the board of Friendship House, in the absence of Miss Lydia Burklin, head resident, stated that Friendship House is taking no part in the movement. Cards were left with Miss Burklin by a representative of the Women's Organization for National | Prohibition Reform, but were not dis- | tributed, it was stated. Board members also said that there are no members of the organization in Friendship House. CHALLENGE TO DEBATE. | Mrs. Jesse Nicholson Wants Mrs. Sabin to Meet Her. By the Associated Press. A challenge for a prohibition debate came today from the leader of a wome en's dry organization as an aftermath to the meetings here this week of anti~ prohibition and proh.\hlt)o% women ad- vocates. Mrs. Jesse W. Nicholson, chairman of i the Women’s National Democratic Law Enforcement League, invited Mrs, Charles H. Sabin of the Wcmen’s Or- ganization for National Prohibition Re- form to meet her in debate “if you are honest and sincere in what you ask for the millions in America.” Mrs. Sabin's crganization yesterday ended its meete ing with a White House call. In her challenge, the Democratic woman prohibitionist said: “No one could see your meetings in Washington and not be impressed with the number of women of wealth present. May we not ask you how many of these have felt the pinch of poverty that goes with liquor or who will be the victims if the saloon or any other place where liquor is openly dispensed comes back? “Are we not right in saying that it is not the protected woman of wealth, but the women who toil who will suf- fer should the old conditions return; the wives of laboring men; the mothers of little children who have no millions to separate them from the devastation liquor brings to_the home? “If you are honest and sincere in what you ask for the millions in Amer- ica, will you debate this question with me in Washington at your conven= ience?” Informed of the challenge, Mrs. Sabin responded, “I'm so sorry I didn't get it 3‘ !‘l‘m& I would have been delighted to ot Friends said they would be surprised if the leader of the Anti-Prohibition Women declined or ignored the invita- tion if Mrs. Nicholson made it direct to Mrs. Sabin. BRI OPERETTA TO BE GIVEN Legion Entertainment at St. Eliz- abeth’s Hospital Tomorrow. “Songlands Romance, minstrel operetta, will be presented by Vincent B. Costello Post, American Legion, at ning. It will also be presented Tues- day at the Soldiers’ Home. Lieut. Charles Riemer organized and {is directing the production. ' The cast ‘ashingtonians, is composed entirely of Wi g e i Floods Inundate 44 Towns, l ISTANBUL, April 16 (#)—Forty- i four villages in the Adana region have been inundlte(ll:{ floods of the Seyhan ivers. The Euphrates