Evening Star Newspaper, July 7, 1933, Page 5

"BiG STICK' STOPS LORTON TROUBLE Bad Actors Put in Solitary Confinement as Heavily Armed Police Watch. (Continued From First Page.) said. “I don't care if it takes a day or a week or a month. “What have you to say to that?” The prisoners stirred, but made no reply until one voiced a question about “No. 17,” a building of cell blocks for the solitary confinement of prisoners who are unmanageable. The man asked Capt. Barnard if he was going to allow prisoners to be “chained to the door.” Won't Chain Men. “No,” replied Capt. Barnard, em- phatically. “You men know there must be some form of punishment here, but I don't believe in that kind of punish- ment and never have believed in it. I won't have any men chained and when I have heard of such cases I have always criticized the officers. “I don’t consider you men rats. As long as you obey the rules of the insti- tution I will fight your battles for you; but if you try rioting, or if you try to run off the reservation, I can't be re- sponsible for what may happen to you. “You ought to be proud you were as- signed to Lorton instead of one of the walled prisons. We have a humane in- stitution here, and I propose to keep it that way. I don't want to send you men to other prisons where you may not fare so well, and I hope you won't force me to do so. None With Him. “If you are mad about Tawse, I can tell you he left you shortly after the trouble started. He has resigned and gone away. “How many of you are with me The prisoners maintained a stubborn silence in the face of this query, and in a moment Capt. Barnard continued: “Agree to obey the rules or stay here until you do. That's my proposition, and I think you'll agree it's a fair ome. T am not begging you to take it now. I want vou to take glenty of time and make up your mind as to what you're going to do.” Eat in Two Shifts. Contrary to the usual custom. the prisoners ate their noon-day meal to- day in two shifts. They marched into the large dining hall through double lines of uniformed metropolitan police- men and Lorton guards. At least 1.000 prisoners, who. according to the guards, had no part in the disturbances, fin- ished their meal quietly and were re- turned to the dormitories. The prison officials continued this morning to bring additional trouble- makers by twos and threes from the dormitories into a central building, called “the rest hall.” where more than 100 alleged ringleaders are segregated. This building is one of the few equip- ped with barred windows and doors which can be locked. Throughout the morning the incor- rigibles crowded to the barred doors of the rest building. shouting taunts and insults at the other inmates as they passed by to dinner and singling out various policemen and guards for their abuse. Prison officials said at noon to- day that only about 100 prisoners were rebellious, and that while hundreds of others showed signs of discontent, they probably would be won over to & promise of obedience to the rules. CITY HEADS.PLAN TO NAME TAWSE'S SUCCESSOR SOON (Continued From Pirst Page.) there were reports that an investi- gation might be made to determine whether any action should be taken sgainst the resigned superintendent. Commissioner Reichelderfer denied that such a move was contemplated. Dr. Reichelderfer also denied reports that the commissioners proposed to ask the Department of Justice to make an investigation of the Lorton rebellion. He indicated that the problem was one for the District to handle. The action of the Commissioners in accepting the resignation of Tawse met with the full approval of the Commit- tee on Penal Institutions of the Board of Public Welfare at a meeting after noon. The action was unanimous. Members of the committee at the session were M. M. Doyle, Frederick W. McReynolds and W. W. Millan. Mrs. Charles A. Goldsmith, the other com- mittee member. who was not present, sent her approval of the action. Judge Doyle, speaking for the group, expressed full confidence in the ef- 1 ness of the “open system” of ling prisoners at the institution and said the committee had not even concidered the question of any change in the honor system there He said the committee felt the Com- missioners could do mothing but accept the resignation of Tawse in the light of his statements concerning Capt Barnard, the general superintendent. and because of the tone of Tawse's letter of resignation. Several Years of Friction. Tawse's resignation was submitted to Capt. Barnard late yesterday as the climax to several years of friction be- tween the two officials. A few minutes later Capt Public Welfare with a recommendation that it be accepted. Wilson indorsed the recommendation and turned the letter over to the Commissioners for action. “For more than two years I have urged you to make the necessary changes in personnel here to remedy the food situation, which gave rise to the yecent outbreak.” Tawse said in his let- ter of resignation. “The men had a Jezitimate kick and when the situation became tense. for which situation your neglect to follow my judgment was re- sponsible, I think I was responsible for queting the matter. “However, in the reports in the press you claim entire credit for it and leave me under the false charge of incom- petency. Wanted Full Authority. “Under these circumstances I feel compelled to say that unless I am given full authority and control over the per- sonnel in the'management of the insti- tution I will have to submit my resig- pation to take effect at once. Under no circumstances will I permit myself again to go, through such an ordeal as the past few days, and my authority must be equal to my responsibility. “Please let me know your conclu- sions.” Tawse had his letter of resignation written several days before he presented it to Capt. Barnard. A few days ago he announced he intended to run the institution without interference “or get out.” He chose the latter course when the “showdown” came. The breach between Capt. Barnard and Tawse brought to a bitter close the Jong perlod of friendship between the two. Capt. Barnard openly charged Tawse with disloyalty. Tawse retaliated with the complaint that Capt. Barnard had “hamstrung” him, and ignored his rec- ommendations. Tawse Seeking Votes. Even before the friction reached the crucial stage, Capt. Barnard said Tawse had men going through the dormitories getting the prisoners to “vote for Tawse or Barnard.” touard “Those who expressed favor §oe,” Capt. Barnard declared, “were Barnard transmitted the Jetter of resignation to the Board of | | guns_in readiness. Reformatory, who resigned yesterday. | The picture center right is of M. M. Barnard, superintendent of District penal institutions. Bottom left is A. C. Tawse, superintendent of the H As Capt. M. M. Barnard moved swiftly at the Lorton Reformatory today to quell any disturbance that might have followed. the forced resignation of its| | superintendent, Alexander C. Tawse, the scenes pictured above were snapped by a Star staff photographer. | | The top picture shows the long line of prisoners marching from the dining hall into the building where the “bad actors” were | The second scene shows the heavy police guard thrown around the entrance to the building, whence the prisoners were taken to the cell blocks. It was here that | | one prisoner threw a chair at a guard and another fired a pepper shaker through the window. | 1 The strong precautions taken by the police are evidenced by the picture next below, showing polf gated from the rest. icemen wearing gas masks and holding a rifle and tear m‘ Lorton —Star Staff placed in solitary confmement on the‘; pretext of shielding them from the | other prisoners because of their refusal | to join in the food demonstrations. He wanted to get the men thinking that if | he went away from here they would not gt the consideration that he gave em.” Capt. Barnard pointed out that after he had pacified the men Monday morn- ing following the disturbances over the week end, all of prisoners in the mess hall raised their hands in a vote of confidence when he Fromi.sed to remedy any legitimate complaint. “Then Tawse got up.” Capt. Barnard sald, “and shouted to the men: “You know what the trouble is here. | The food is not good. It is not fit to eat. I told Mr. Barnard this morning | that if the steward was not fired I| | would quit.” | Statement Causes Disturbance. | | That statement. according to Capt. | Barnard, turned the mess hall into -‘ hooting and cheering bedlam. “A ranker piece of disloyalty,” he said, “I have never witnessed.” Fearing another disturbance Tawse's resignation, Capt. Barnard said | | he pleaded with the superintendent to | remain and “fight the issue out.” | | “I told Tawse when he handed me ;the resignation,” Capt. Barnard said, “that his action would throw a monkey wrench into the machinery now that things are being ironed out. “You wouldn't do that?” Capt. Bar- nard said he asked him. Capt. Barnard said Tawse replied, “that is now out of my hands” and he | walked away. | Capt. Barnard said the reason Tawse had been fomenting trouble over the | food was because he did not like E. C.| Coffin, the steward. Coffin, who was | | removed temporarily after the series of | rebellions, had been a steward for more | than 20 years. | In reply to Capt. Barnard's charges, | | Tawse said he was “not the bad fellow” (he had been pictured. He declared also that the complaints made against | | him for permitting prisoners to come to | | Washington occurred three years ago, | and that he had not been called upon | by the Board of Public Welfare for a | defense of his action. Tawse said as soon as he can remove his personal effects from his home on | the reformatory reservation he would | establish a home in Washington and | | live here. Tawse said he had no intention of looking for another job, but proposed to rest after his long and arduous duties | at Lorton and “live like a gentleman.” Capt. Barnard and Tawse had been! close friends for years. | a number of times in their prison work, and when Capt. Barnard was looking for a man to head his model re- fg;mu!ory he asked Tawse to take the 3 over | That was nine years ago. Tawse left | | his position as head of the industrial| | activities at the Virginia State Peniten- | | tiary in Richmond to take charge of | the reformatory. He succeeded in de- veloping its industrial activities there to a point where the plants were ranked among the best prison industrial in- stitutions in the country. I told Capt. Barnard two years ago,” Tawse said, “that trouble would de. velop unless the steward was changed. He refused to listen to me. The show- i down had to come.” ‘Tawse, accordng to Capt. Barnard also has complained a number of times in recent years that he was not getting the proper credit for his operation of th> institution. “Every time anything happened.” Capt. Barnard said, “Tawse claimed thet I would get the credit, and the public never knew that he was running the institution. BANQUET IS PLANNED Gamma Alpha Fraternity Meets Tuesday Evening. ‘The annual banquet of the Phi Gamma Alpha National Fraternity will be held in the Mayflower Hctel Tues- day evening. Spencer Gordon, attorney and suthor of regular articles in the Journal of Accountancy, will be the principal speaker. The fraternity is composed of ac- countants. Local arra) ents for the affair are being made unfer the tion of W. J. Bruce and M. Kent, Phi ors direc- | Neal A. Melick, United States construc- tion preside. ALIMONY PAYMENTS JUMP Bettlements Reported 7 Per Cent Larger in Chicago. ol'iHICAGO, July 7 (#).—A business note: Alimony payments in Chicago during the first six months of 1933 were 7 per cent larger than for the corresponding period in 1932. The figues, respectively, $69,547.37 and $64,461.88. “A good many husbands who were unemployed now have jobs,” said Miss Ruth Coleman, assistant director of the Cook County Welfare Bureau, in ex- plaining the increase. LICENSING DENIED IN LK DISPUTE Farm Act Administrators Re- fuse Demands of Chi- cago Group. By the Associated Press. | Administrators of the farm act today refused to invoke the drastic licensing power provided them under the farm act to enforce trade agreements in a case affecting the Chicago milkshed. | As a result the first agreement pre- nted to them may be withdrawn. This was submitted by producers and distributors in the Chicago milkshed who drafted it to end what they de- scribed as “ruinious competition.” | It was reported that in conferences with administrators they threatened to withdraw their proposal uniless they were assured that it would be enforced, and that they insisted that enforce- ment be through licensing. They took the position that the agreement without enforcement through licensing of all dealers would fail to halt price-cutting and other competi- tive practices which they blamed for keeping prices of milk to producers in | Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin lower | than the cost of production. They were informed by administra- | tors that wage scales and hours of labor se: covered in a code subject to the ap- | proval of Hugh S. Johnson, administra- | tor of the industrial recovery law. | Representatives of the Chicago group | were reported to have contended the | policy of the farm administrators in | insisting on the labor provision and its refusal to license would have the effect of “making the farm act serve the purpose of labor instead of the farmer.” The Chicago group conferred with Secretary of Agriculture Wallace and | George N. Peek, chief administrator. tAor:inmer conference is scheduled for late ay. LAY HEATING PLANT CORNER STONE TODAY L. W. Robert, Jr., Will Officiate at Exercises at New Building in Mall Triangle. The corner stone of the new $3,500.- 000 Government heating plant, which is to furnish steam heat to 38 Federal structures in downtown Washington, in- cluding the White House, was scheduled to be laid at 3 o'clock this afternoon at Thirteenth and C streets southwest. L. W. Robert. jr., Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, was seletted to officiate at the exercises, and planned to deliver the principal address. T. A. Fairchild of the United Engineers and Construct- of Philadelphia was also to speak. engineer in charge, was to CHAMBER INDORSES 1933 CUP REGATTA Trade Organization Praises, Civic Value of Annual Sports Event. ‘The 1933 President’s Cup Regatta was | indorsed by the Board of Directors of the Washington Chamber of Commerce at a meeting yesterday in the trade or- ganization's headquarters, in the Homer Building. ‘The event was described as “an out- standing civic event which features Washington's beautiful water front and promotes yachting, motor boating and water sports of all kinds.” A. G. Neal | was appointed to attend a meeting of the Sponsoring Committee Tuesday. Progress on Ferry. Progress in the movement initiated by the chamber to add 40 miles to the Washington trade territory by the con- struction of the Chesapeake Beach Ferry to the Eastern Shore was reported | by Thomas P. Littlepage, president. | The board indorsed the proposal of the Washington Home Building League to construct a model small home at the southeast corner of Seventh street and Pennsylvania avenue to stimulate small house construction in the District. This project, backed by leading building ana building supply firms, differs from tae renovize movement, which concerns re- pairs and remodeling of existing struc- | tures, as it deals entirely with new | housing. Five-day Week Put Off. Mr. Littlepage said the chamber's re- quest that the five-day week be not enforced at the navy yard had resulteu in the subsequent indefinite postpone- ment of this proposal. He stated also that the chamber had dgreed to create a trust fund to defray cost of the local food products grading service of the Department of Agricul- They had met | in milk distribution would have to be |tUre and that recent developments pointed to the early undertaking of work upon the final steps of the D. C.- Cumberland “airline” highway route, which will save 25 miles for East-West motor traffic through Washington. ASSISTANT PLUMBING INSPECTOR OF D. C. DIES William A. Sparrow, 64, Expires at Home in Falls Church, Virginia. William A. Sparrow, 64, assistant to the plumbing inspector of the District government, died yesterday after a lingering illness, at his home in nearby Falls Church, Va. Mr. Sparrow had been-in this posi- tion since 1907 and assisted greatly in the development of the northwest sec- tion of Washington. He leaves his wife and three sons. Mr. Sparrow lived in Falls Church most of his life, but his sons have scattered. A eles and R. in Falls Church. The funeral will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday from his late home. He will gehbm;ed in Oak Hill Cemetery of Falls urch. “FLYING ANTS (Termites) Cause $40.000.000 Dama, tfe Weodwork in Homes a GUARANTEED TREATME! Vaeatis ‘Unnecessary—Free Inspection Terminix Co. of , Washington 1102 National Press Bldg. Annually ings MOTORISTS TURNED BACK Photos. | LORTON IS UNIQUE PRISON EXPERIMENT Barnard Made Reformatory “Country Club” Jail and Awaits Test. | Capt.-Morris M. Barnard, veteran m! the fild of prison administration, waited grimly today at his Lorton, Va., | “country club for prisoners” for a pos- | sible outbreak that will put to a crucial test his long-nurtured “honor system.” A ploneer in the modernist theory of | prison freedom, based on the old saying that there is honor even among thieves, | the white-haired general superintendent of District penal institutions has at- tracted wide attention among penol- ogists for his remarkable success at Oc: coquan and Lorton. Capt. Bamard came to Lorton in 1916 with the doctrine that “stone walls do not a prison make” and straightway he proceeded to eliminate the old-time | hard-boiled prison atmosphere in favor | of an easy-going humane routine de- | signed to make confinement almost & | Ppleasure. Prisoners Great Boosters. i The prisoners themselves were great | boosters of the reform—begun largely | as an experiment—and it was they who first dubbed the penal establishment on | Occoquan Creek a ‘“country club.” Court attaches tell stories of “regular ' visitors” before the bar who have asked for 30 or 60 days at Capt. Barnard's sylvan retreat. | Capt. Barnard was brought here from the Midwest to carry out drastic reform | recommendations of a Federal commis- | sion composed of John Joy Edson. then | chairman of the District Welfare Board, | ‘Wendell P. Stafford, then a justice of | the District Supreme Court, and Supt. | La Dow of Federal prisons. The com- | mission had advanced ideas on prison ! reform, ideas that shocked the old | school of jailers and wardens. | The commission's plan coincided ex- | actly with Barnard's theories on prison | management. Lorton was a young “reformatory” in those days and it suffered the usual growing pains re were & good many escapes at if you can call playing hookey from Lorton an “escape.” It is a com- paratively simple matter to make a “break” down there, if you want to. Bars and Walls Lacking. Prisoners are not restrained by bars or high-walled battlements at Lorton | or Occoquan. There are no picture- type or story-book guards marching up | and down with rifles on their shoulders. | A Government official who attended a | base ball game there not long ago was | surprised to find that no cne stopped him as he drove his automobile into the reservation and even more sur- prised when he drove out again without being either stopped or questioned. “I could have carried one or two prisoners | away with me easily, I believe—but | maybe they know all the prisoners,” he | remarked afterward. | There are radios to bring the in-| mates into close contact with the out- | side world and its news, music, sports and fun. There are newspapers to read during leisure periods. And, of course, | there is work to do, too. From time to time there have been unconfirmed stories about brutal treat. | ment inflicted on a few unruly con- | victs. Released prisoners have sought | to have newspapers run sensational | stories about their alleged mistreat- | ment, but usually further inquiry has, shaken these claims. There have been several official investigations of “such | complaints, but always the institution BY POLICE AT LORTON | s been vindicated. Those Who Followed Screaming Po- lice Sirens to Reformatory Not Allowed to Stop. Curious motorists who followed the screaming sirens of fire apparatus en route to Lorton Reformatory last night were turned back without being per- mitted to stop when they reached the reservation. Maj. Ernest W. Brown, chief of po- lice, Teturning from the scene of the threatened rebellion shortly after 11 o'clock, met the apparatus at Mount Vernon, and was surprised to find it leading & caravan of about 100 auto- mobiles. He stopped at Mount Vernon and telephoned Occoquan, where a squad of 80 District policemen was on guard, and gave the order to bar the unwelcome visitors from the reserva- tion. Accordingly, when No. 16 Engine Company with Fire Chief George 8. Watson leading in his automobile, reached Occoquan, a score of motor cycle police was on hand to direct the curious drive and back the way they had come. PLAN PRICE CODE followers around & circular |- | Retirement Held Up. When Capt. Barnard was slated for | retirement & year ago because of his age, Dr. Luther M. Reichelderfer wrote | a strong plea to the Civil Service Com- | mission for a special executive order extending the superintendent’s term of service. The request was granted by | President Hoover. In his letter to the commission, Dr. Reichelderfer, president of the Board of District Commissioners, declared that Barnard “cannot be separated from the | service without detriment to that serv- ice” and added: “The reformatory at Lorton being de- veloped under the direction and man.' agement of Mr. Barnard is & unique | penal Institution. At Lorton _the experiment is being tried to afford prisoners a more nearly normal mode of life. The safekeeping of the prison- ers depends more upon educational effect and the development of a higher morale than it does upon physical re- straint.” Eugene O'Neill's “Strange Interlude™ | has sold to the tune of over 110,000 copies to date. galurdayispccml [ Fried Minute Steak, Mush- 50c Roast Leg of Lamb At a meeting attended by more than 300 members, the District Retail Clean- | ers and Tailors Association last night decided to draft and submit a price code to the Commissioners. ‘The meeting, held in the Jewish Com- | munity Center, was addressed by Hy- | man Waldman and Milton F. Blrretfn“ attorneys. rooms, Chicken r, Other Dinners. 55¢, 65c. 75¢ AIR-COOLED 18th and - Long & Short INSTALLATION- JUST PLUG IN * * 4 Genuine RCA Tubes * Tuned Radio Frequency * Dynamic Speaker * Static Suppressor * Excellent Tone Control Wave 12 INCHES HIGH 9 INCHES WIDE Beautiful Cabinet ONLY 4550 OWN 14 50¢V{:/’E EK LOOK FOR THE SCHWARTZ GOLD CLOCK ON SEVENTH ST. Chas.[Sechwartz & Son HOME OF PERFECT DIAMONDS 708 Sevel#LSL N.W. VISITS AMERICA Rumanian Delegate to Find What | Makes Nation ‘“So Fine.” NEW YORK. July 7 (#).—Mme. Wolly Alexandrescu, Rumanian dele- gate io the International Congress of the National Council of Women in Chicago this month, said yesterday she is here “to find out what it is that makes America s0.great and fine.” 2 “Your depression—it will be over WASHINGTON'S FINEST MEN'S WEAR STORE “-Hour SA Saturday *+ A—S soon,” she predicted with a shrug and a gesture of dismissal. “You can teach us to be prosperous. We hardly ,believe about your depres- sion in Rumania. We are astounded. but we don't think your industrial leaders or your economic system has failed.” Dickens used to laugh heartily at the comical things Sam Weller said. as though hearing them for the first time. instead of being their creator and author. . LE 8:30 to 2 Clearance of broken assortnents. The earlier you get here Saturday morning, the better your selection. MEN’S $16.50 TROPICAL to $20 WORSTED SUITS $13.85 TANDARD Raleigh qualities, superb- ly styled and finely tailored. All in the smart desirable shades: Blues, Greys, Tans, Browns and mixtures. All sizes for Regulars, Shorts, Stouts, Longs, Long-Stouts Tropical Suits; were to $29.75. and Short-Stouts. -$17.85 Tropical Suits; were to $35.00 White Flannel Trousers; special Sports Coats; special 272 Prs. of Hose; were to 75¢; now....29¢ 479 Pairs Hose; were 75¢ & $1.........49¢ 487 Shirts & Shorts; 543 Ties; were $1 were 75c¢............35¢ 601 Ties; were $1.50 & $2_. 45 Sweaters; were $1.95 to $3 311 Handkerchiefs; special $1.65 6 for 59¢ 371 Handkerchiefs; were 25¢ ea., 6 for $1 $1.95 & $2.50 SHIRTS 1.29 117 Pairs Pajamas, special $2.50 & $3.00 SHIRTS #1.89 -$1.15 218 Pairs Pajamas; were $2.50 & $3_$1.69 47 Bathing Suits; were $3.95 111 Pairs Golf Hose; $2.95 were $1.95 & $2.50 37 Ratinee Robes, special $6.00 &787.00 KNOX STRAWS *4.35 Entire Stock of RALEIGH “8” Sport Shoes $4.65 !1?10 F $8.00 & $10.00 Knox Panamas $12.00 & $15.00 Knox Panamas...$7.85 $3.00 & $4.00 Knox Straws $4.00 & $5.00 Raleigh Panamas Hanan Sport Shoes; were to $16.50..$9.85 RALEIGH STRAWS $1.55 $5.35 Broken Lots Of RALEIGH “6” SHOES $3.85 ¢ OPEN SATURDAY, 8:30 TO 2 e SEE OUR WOMEN’S SHOP AD IN SOCIETY SECTION Charge Accounts Invited RALEIGH HABERDASHER Street