Evening Star Newspaper, September 10, 1935, Page 19

- *+ what Communists believe is not to A =paper which constantly carries repor- % Prettyman Holds Teachers May Outline Theories of Communism. BARS TO ADVOCATING PRINCIPLES REMAIN Corporation Counsel's Ruling for Education Board Is 0. K.'d by City Heads. Public school teachers of the Dis- trict may outline to their pupils the facts and theories of communistic governments and parties so long as they do not advocate such doctrines, or show any shadow of favor for them. the Board of Education was advised today by Corporation Counsel Prettyman. The ruling, approved today by the District Commissioners, was sought by school authorities as an interpreta- tion of the “rider” inserted in the current appropriation act forbidding use of school funds for “teaching” of communism. The ruling is scheduled for atten- tion at tomorrow's meeting of the School Board. It now represents the position of the District Gvernment. Depends on Interpretation. The opinion turns on the interpreta- tion of the word “teach.” Prettyman, after weeks of study, found: “The mere recitation or study of factual data is not the ‘teaching’ pro- hibited by this statute. But I am also this morning and astride it in such touched ground. Ell Appelbaum, 130 Webster street, astride a street car loading platform on F street between Ninth and Tenth he Fpening Shar TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1935. WASHINGTON, D. C, “Was Driver Embarrassed?” ]filz |ND|AN TUWN suddenly found his automobile a fashion that none of the wheels All he could do was wait until the police arrived and ask him embarassing questions. He told them another car forced him on the platform, but he was charged with reckless driving nevertheless. —Star Staff Photo. CONSTITUTION DAY Part in Celebration Next Tuesday. of the view that any shadow of favor or support of communism shown by or reasonably to be drawn from such recitation or study, is prohibited.” The corporation counsel found that communism refers to the govern- | mental forms and theories of the present-day Communist parties com- posing the Internationale, as re: to the recently adopted law. Chief | among their economic and political | tenets, he found, were: Abolition of | private ownership of property and the substitution of a system of common | ownership, control of the government by the proletariat {wage earners with- out property), that is, a dictatorship | by the proletariat, and destruction of present systems of government and the substitution therefor of other sys- tems adapted to the theory of prole- | tarian dictatorship. Opposed to U. S. System. “These tenets are, of course, directly | cpposed to the established American system, which includes among its | principal bases private ownership of property, governmental control by a majority of all classes, periodically expressed, and a governmental system, legislative, executive and judicial, de- signed to function in accordance with these concepts. “The congressional intent in the present statute was obviously directed to the protection of this system against internal attack.” He defined the word “advocate” as meaning to plead for, or to urge the adoption of. The word “teach” is much more difficult to interpret within the exact delineation of the intent of Congress, he said. Clearly, any teach- ing of communism which has for its purpose or its intended effect the nur- | ture, training or the indoctrination of | toric events. the pupils in communistic thought is | forbidden by this statute, he ruled. After giving his ruling on the point at issue, he said: “Obviously, Con- gress did not mean to prohibit com- ment or instruction which is adverse to communism, that is, teaching against it. Neither does it seem to me that the congressional Intent reaches to the recital, without any shadow of favor or support, of fastual data, whether historical, economic or political. Distinction Is Made. “There is a vital difference here between ‘teaching’ and ‘teaching about” To state that communism exists is not to ‘teach’ it. To state| ‘teach communism’ within the mean- ing of this statute, provided that the| method or manner of statement doesl not imply approval.” Prettyman then alluded to the prac- tice of Father Edmund A. Walsh of Georgetown University, who for some «years has given lecture courses con- cerning the history, beliefs, purposes “and practices of communism as it exists in Russia and elsewhere. “But would any one familiar with ‘Washington say that this lecturer *teaches communism’'?” Prettyman asked, “The suggestion is laugh-pro- voking. Similarly it would be ludi- erous to say that the morning news- torial articles on conditions in com- munistic countries aad the purposes of communistic parties is ‘teaching communism.’ * Press Freedom Cited. He believes the purposes o: the stat- ute would be “fully met” vy the opin- fon adopted by the Commissioners. “So long as we have a freedom of the press for the uncensored reporting of world news and the untrammeled ex- pression of editorial opinion, no cause can well be served by an attempt to suppress factual data,” he continued. “The danger to be apprehended breeds in ignorance and not in knowl- - edge. The mere failure of public . school teachers to mention com- munism would not prevent their pupils from knowing that such a 'school of thought exists. This was not the purpose of Congress. That purpose was to protect the American system from an insidious internal attack through the Government-sup- ported public school system. Ad- vocacy, and not information, is the objective of the statutory mandate.” - Prettyman’s opinion said the “only Bafe course” for school authorities to follow “is to avoid close cases, by intrusting such teaching only to those not likely to impinge upon the for- bidden territory.” — Schreibman Joins Hecht Co. Louis Schreibman, advertising ex- ecutive and former art director for the Ludwig Baumann stores, has been r-med director of sales promotion and { ballet number, izations announced their intention to | participate in the Constitution day celebration next Tuesday as pians | went forward for a patriotic demon- stration. | The Washington Beard of Trade m- lated day was to consider a program calling | for circulation of a Constitution day | letter and pamphlet on the founding of the United States Government, and | the entry of an elaborately decorated | automobile in the night parade. The letters will urge display of flags at homes and business places on the | day of the celebrations and will be | distributed among the more than 3,500 | members of the trade body. Constitution Upheld. At a meeting yesterday the Com- mittee on American Ideals of the Board of Trade passed a resolution re- affirming faith in the Constitution and | | condemning those who would offend it. Similar action was taken at a | recent mpeeting of the Association of Oldest Inhabitants of the District. Arthur Clarendon Smith, president of the Federation of Business Men's Associations, has called a meeting of | his organization for 12:30 p.m. at 1313 U street to consider plans for taking part in the celebration. The grand finale of the celebration will be a night pageant on the Mon- ument Grounds. Groups of dancers and a fireworks display will be high- lights. Ballet Number Planned. In costumes representing the 13 original States, a troup of Marion’ Chace dancers will participate in a | while other dance | groups will depict early American his- | The night parade preceding the pageant will start at 7:30 o'ciock from Fourth street and Constitution avenue. The route will be alcng Con- stitution avenue to Sixteenth street, where the marchers will disband. Committee chairmen, under the leadership of Maj. Gen. Amos A. Fries, U. S. A, retired, will hold a special meeting Thursday afterncon in the board room of the District Building, CITY NEWS IN BRIEF. TODAY. Meeting, Buffalo Club, Hamilton Hotel, 8 pm. Meeting, City Fige Fighters, Hamil- ton Hotel, 8 p.m. Meeting. Robert E. Perry Ship, Ham- ilton Hotel, 8 p.m Dinner, typewriter dealers, Hamil- ton Hotel, 6 p.m. Meeting, Daughters of '98, National Auxiliary of Spanish War Veterans, Carlton Hotel, 8 p.m. Meeting, Beta Chi Sorority, Carl- ton Hotel, 8 p.m. Banquet, Daughters of America, Mayflower Hotel, 6:30 p.m. Meeting, Women's Union, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, N. F. F. E., Willard Hotel, 8 p.m. Meeting, District division, Young Democrats of America, Willard Hotel, 8:30 pm. Meeting, Georgetown University Dental Hygienist Alumni Association, Columbia Medical Building, 8 p.m. Meeting, Service Council, Jewish Community Center, Sixteenth and Q streets, 8:30 p.m. ‘Meeting, Brookland-Woodridge Busi- ness Men’s Assocaition, twelfth pre- PLANSARE PUSHED |Business Groups to Take Business groups and other organ- | cinct, 8:30 p.m. TOMORROW. Luncheon, Rotary Club, Willard Ho- tel, 12:30 p.m. Luncheon, Soroptomist Club, Wil- lard Hotel, 1 p.m. Luncheon, Lions’ Club, Mayflower Hotel, 12:30 p.m. Meeting, Daughters of America, Mayflower Hotel, 9 am. Luncheon, Electric Institute, Carl- ton Hotel, 12:30 p.m. Luncheon, Zonta Club, Y. W. C. A, Seventeenth and K streets, 1 p.m. Meeting, Anacostia Lions’ Club, Es- ther Memorial Hall, 6:30 p.m. Dinner, National Sojourners’ Club, La Fayette Hotel, 6 p.m. Meeting, Washington Philatelic So- clety, Carlton Hotel, 8 p.m. publicity for the Hecht Co., it was sanounced last night, i Meeting, Chi Sigma Sorority, May- flower Hotel; 8 pm. Stricken BRIG. GEN. WILLIAM E. HORTON, —Underwood & Underwood. APHASIA STRIKES GEN. W_ E. HORTON Washington Lawyer Found Near Auto on Road, Unable to Speak. Apparently suffering from motor | aphrasia, Brig. Gen. William E. Hor- ton, retired, was transferred to the 2d Corps Area Hospital on Governors Island, N. Y., today from a hospital at Sommerville, N. J., after he was found by State troopers yesterday afternoon seated on the side of the road beside his automobile near Som- merville, and unable to speak. Gen. Horton, who left Washington August 14 for a vacation with rela- tives in New England, was driving home after spending Sunday night in New York City. He apparently became faint and puiled his car to the side of the road, where troopers identified him from papers in his pockets. Gen. Horton's friends were advised here he presumably suffered a slight hemorrhage and his condition was favorable. Plans were made at first to bring him to Walter Reed Hos- pital, but this was abandoned for fear the longer trip might tire him unnecessarily. Gen. Horton, who retired from the Army in 1929, has been practicing law here, with offices in the Munsey Building. He long has been active in social and civic affairs in Washing- ton. Gen. Horton was one of the most popular bachelors in Washington so- ciety. He was active in the *“old” Bachelors’ of Washington over 20 years ago, and in more recent years the organization of the Bachelor’s Cotillons, of which he was president. FALL WEATHER RULES CAPITAL AFTER RAIN and Fair Tonight Warmer Tomorrow Is Forecast. Fall weather prevailed in the Capi- tal today as the aftermath of yester- day's rain. Tonight will continue cool and fair, but tomorrow rising temperatures and clear skies will be in order, according to the Weather Bureau. More than half an inch of rain fell yestekday, bringing the total rainfall for this month to 7.61 inches. From 83 degrees, the high registered at 4 pm, the mercury dropped steadily overnight, reaching 58 at 6 am. today. At 11 am. it was 65. No more rain is in sight, but cooler weather is predicted later in the week. Deaths Reported. Anm Clark. 88, Gallinger, na-pn ! Maltby, 81, St. Elizabet] Dital sninuel Beachum, 80, Home for Aged and sualty Hospital. inger Hospital. Cool and Willllm . A ul';lg? .I D John W Wyatt, 85, Un“ed Bhlu Soldiers’ Hom wmll_;lm Lane. 66, Home for Aged and In- n.ob;:‘ Reed, 64. Home for Aged and In- Lonis W Williams, 63, Home for Aged and wl"llm Reame, 60. Galli r Hospital. Reginald Ashton. 33, Tubersulosis Hos- mnry Holmn 28. 42nd and Van Ness sts. Margaret Washington, 15. Preedmen's Hos- ml’-‘{n Robert L. Butler. Gallinger Hos- Tfant - to Jobn and Edith Irvine. Chil- drens B Infant & fl'om- and Helen Jenkins, Gal- linger Hoswital. N Attorney Ball Argues 1612 Map Supports State’s Right to Area. AIRPORT DECLARED IMPERILED BY CASE Ruling Favoring Government Would Wipe Out Half the Field, Counsel Says. An Indian village once was located on the “point of land” formerly known as Alexanders Island, where the Washington-Hoover Airport now is located, Frank L. Ball of Virginia to- day told the District-Virginia Boundary Ccmmission. Holding in his hand the famous so- called “John Smith” map of the Poto- mac River as of 1612, former State Senator Ball said the maker of the map was unknown to history, but it had been definitely established that John Smith himself learned the name | of the Indian village on that point when he sailed up the Potomac and, in turn, told this to the mapmaker. Ball was using the map and refer- ence to this place in support of his argument that Alexanders Island in reality was a point of land and never officially considered by the Govern- ment as an island. Ball called it a | “peninsula.” Fears Ruin to Airport. Claiming the District-Virginia boundary should run at low-water mark, Ball charged that the Federal Government's claim to high-water | mark would take over so much of the | airport that it would “practically ruin” the airport. The burden of proof lay on the Government, Ball claimed, to show that the high-water mark was the correct boundary, and | 1o do that, he declared, the Govern- ment would have’ to “contradict every one who had looked at the land per- sonally in 1791 or anywhere near that.” Ball referred to several other maps in support of his contention, but concerning the John Smith map, the Virginian said it “shows beyond any peradventure of doubt that John Smith saw an Indian village there, and got from the Indians the name of their village, and that his attention was directed to this point of land.” Counsel for the United States pre- viously had claimed that Alexanders Island was an island, that the “strait” between the island and the mainland of Virginia was “bed of the Petomac River” and belonged to the: United States. Of the 147 acres of the airport, which cost $1,600,000, it is understood that the disputed portion consists of about half the airport, or about 7632 acres, formerly a marsh, which had been filled in and is now used for runways and part of the landing field. Other Property Discussed. These runways and part of the land- | ing field claimed by the Federal Gov- ernment were declared by Ball to be “necessary to the airport and to its very existence.” The Virginia State counsel also took up the question of several other pieces of property in the dispuled‘ area to the south of the airport along the river front. Recent agreement as to the bound- | | ary line at Alexandria, however, was believed to have disposed of the largest | part of the controversy as regards property values. The agreement, for- mally filed by Judge G. A. Iverson, special assistant attorney general, has been approved by representatives of both Alexandria and the United States and it is understood will be recom- mended by the Commisison to Con- gress and to the Legislatures of Vir- ginia and Maryland. Remaining in controversy now are principally the airport lands, Roose- velt Island, Roaches Run and some other property. Originally the dis- puted property was estimated to be valued at more than $300,000,000. 14 ARE QUIZZED IN MAN’S DEATH Six Men, Six Women and Two Girls Held in Stabbing of James McGowan. Police today were holding 14 per- sons for questioning in an effort to solve the fatal stabbing, September 1, of James McGowan, 30, of 833 Fourth street northeast. McGowan died last night in Casualty Hospital, where he was taken after being found at Fifth and H streets northeast shortly after the stabbing. Of those held, six are men, six women and two young girls. Police are seeking another man and say they expect to clear up the case today. Police believe they know the mo- tive for the stabbing, but decline to give details until they have run down additional angles which they believe will result in a solution of the crime. Detectives talked to McGowan at the hospital, where he first refused to throw any light on the affair. Mean- while they obtained information which led Yo the arrests last night after the man's death. Panic Follows Street Car Fire; One Cut Leaping Out of Window Passengers broke out window glass with their heels and leaped or fell to the street shortly after 7 o'clock this morning in a brief panic which fol- lowed a fire in the control box of an eastbound street car on Pennsylvania avenue in front of the White House. One passenger, Lynwood Davis, 20, a P. W. A. worker, of 2015 M street, was treated at Emergency Hospital for cuts on the hand, said to have been received when he leaped from \a window after breaking the glass. Spectators said several others were FEDERATION GIVES CUPTOCLEVELAND FOR GIVIC SERVICE Kensington Man Is Awarded Star Trophy at First Meet- ing of Season. TELEPHONE MANAGER INVITED TO SESSION Montgomery Body Hears Com- mittee Reports Drafted Dur- ing Summer Recess. BY JACK ALLEN, Staff Correspondent of The Star. BETHESDA, Md., September 10.— Following the recommendation of its | Executive Committee, the Montgomery \Counly Civic Federation unanimously | voted to award The Evening Star Cup to W. L Cleveland of Kensington when | it met for the opening of its Fall and Winter schedule at the local elemen- | | tary school last night. | | Presentation of the trophy, highest | ;clvlc honor attainable in the county, was made by Col. Alvin B. Barber, | former president of the federation and himself a winner of the cup in 1927-28, featured a meeting which otherwise | was devoted primarily to the receipt of informative reports on public utility, school and legislative matters. Safety Drive Indorsed. The only formal action which the | civic body took beside selecting Cleve- land as the trophy winner was to pass a resolution indorsing The Star’s traf- fic safety campaign and another in- \\mng Howard J. Waters, manager of | the Wisconsin and Shepherd telephone exchanges, to appear at the October meeting. | Col. Barber, in his presentation | speech, lauded Cleveland for the high- | ly efficient manner in which he has | | served as chairman of the Legislative | and Legal Action Committee and for | his “long and untiring efforts in behalf of the federation.” Cleveland, in addition to being chair- man of the legal group, is vice presi- dent of the federation and president of the Kensington Chamber of Com- | merce. He is regarded as an out- ‘l!andmg candidate for the presidency of the federation next term. Rates to Be Discussed. Waters will be asked to appear be- | fore the federation next month to | | state the position of the telephone| | company with respect to prior and| possible future reductions in the rates of telephone subscribers in Montgom- | ery County and in an ecort to pro- mote better understanding between that firm and the federation. ‘The civic tody appealed to the Maryland Public Service Commission some time ago to direct the telephone concern to set its rebates and rates at the District of Columbia scale, but no formal action has been taken with respect to county subscribers because the entire Maryland rate question is now before the United States Su- preme Court. Col. O. P. M. Brown, chairman of the Public Utilities Committee, recom- mended in a report outlining the rate reduction situation that the federa- tion permit the question to remain in its present status until the Supreme | { Court disposes of the matter next month. Reports Presented. Exhaustive reports were presented on the school building program pro- posed by the Board of Education, the | successful civic campaign for aboli- tion of the Rockville trolley line and | the county legislation enacted by the last session of the State Assembly. The reports were submitted by Rhees Burkett, chairman of the Schools Committee; Brown, chairman of the Public Utilities Committee, and Cleveland, chairman of the Commit- tee on Legislation and Legal Action. It was announced by President Robert E. Bondy that the federation will select its Nominating Committee for the annual election of officers at the October session and that the elec- tion would take place the following month, e RITES FOR J. F. GILL Assistant Director of Parks Died While on Vacation. Funeral services were held yesterday for James F. Gill, assistant director of the National Park Service, who died of a heart attack in Danbury, Conn., last Thursday. Interment in Mount Olivet Cemetery followed solemn requiem mass at the Church of the Nativity. Mr. Gill died during a vacation trip. He had been employed by the Govern- ment in Washington for more than 40 years. e MRS. TOLSON’S RITES Funeral Scheduled for Washing- ton Social Worker. Funeral services for Mrs. Jennie Castleman Tolson, Washington social worker who died Sunday at Chateau- gay, Adirondack, N. Y. were to be held this afternoon from the chapel in Oak Hill Cemetery here. Mrs. Tolson, the widow of Judge Alfred Tolson, was a life-long resident of the District and & leader in mothers’ organization work. cut slightly when they broke glass from windows and doors. However, Davis was the only one to receive hospital treatment. * The street car was damaged only slightly by the blaze in the control box. The sudden fright which gripped some 25 passengers aboard the car was more & result of the smoke than flame. Eastbound street cars were held up for about 20 minutes. The car was operated by W. Miller, motorman, and | Harry E. R. Gooding, conductor, \ [ owert Receives Star Cup W. I. Cleveland (right) is shown receiving The Evening Star Cup presented annually to the member or committee of the Montgomery County Civic Federation performing the most outstanding public service on behalf of the county. The presentation was made by Col. Alvin B. Barber (left), former president of the assoclation and winner of the trophy in 1927-I8. THREE ARE HURT IND.C. TRAFFI[}‘ John J. Curtin, Most Se- riously Injured, May Have Skull Fracture. Struck by an automobile at Fourth and C streets northeast last night, John J. Curtin, 54, of 215 Seventh street northeast, is in Casualty Hos- pital today with concussion of the brain, lacerations of the scalp and a possible fractured skull. ‘The driver of the car, which struck Curtin as he was crossing the street on his way to evening church services, was Frank F. Cardwell, | M street northeast. In other traffic mishaps late yester- day Rev. Presbyterian minister, suffered scalp lacerations and bruises when the auto- | mobile in which he was riding crashed with a coal truck driven by Francis Middleton, 39, colored, 212 C sireet southeast. James McGee, 69, 1317 I streef, sus- tained minor cuts when struck by an automobile at Seventh and G streets. The driver of the car, James Hall, 17, was arrested and charged with operat- ing a car with bad brakes. As the result of a crash Sunday on the Mount Vernon highway in which Lieut. George M. Little, leader of the District vice squad, his wife and four others were injured, Fairfax County authorities yesterday placed a charge of reckless driving against J. J. Lewis, 22 Third street southeast, driver cf the car which collided with Little's | machine. Lewis has been released on | 8500 bond to appear in Fairfax Po- | lice Court on October 4. - News Carrier Celebrates. PRINCESS ANNE, Md., September 10 (#).—Joseph Ennis (Uncle Joe) Richardson, said to be the oldest news- paper carrier on the Eastern Shore, recently celebrated his 8%th birthday anniversary. He hasn't failed his customers in the last eight years. — Marriage Licenses. Benlamin D. Lewis. 2%, Johnston & C. a 24, Winsten- Angie Smith. Ro¥; . 23, Richmond. and MudredD Shianm, 54, 250 1th 5. ees W. 8. Abernethy. 21. Waldorf. M4. . Piscata- e Howard C. Dean. 10. 1 R. Cannon 21 804 Tiving s, mes Andrew H. Mihm charies H Mivashinston. sw. and Mary Simmons se. Rev. L. H. Schaefer. Douglas J. Long. 21, .nd Sallie C. Lips- comb, '19. "both "of 1715 Corcoran st.; Rev. D. F. Johnson, Cegil L Washingtor Sissiiline Ross. | James R. Ha Charies. Samuels. Mary McPherson, J. H. Randolph. “is 1300 3 32,1309 3d 86 53d pl. s. Rev. H. pbel ollva, Gideon, nd_Rachel A Colston. 44, both of 100 17th st Rev. 8. A Warl Richard rnneukl 30. 1321 M st. and Cath Roedel, 26, 643 6th st. Catherine' M. : Rev. Hoffman. Jnhn E Auslm .fl 901 K st. n. is, 21, .:a Park pl 24, Pawtucket. R. 4. 1758 Park i Maryland ave. Miller. 22, 2121 H n%"’E on st.. and 3°Emerson st.. a 23, Siver Sprine. Md.: o Gardner %8, and Grace B ri m‘nn of Fredericksburg, Va.: c Dl';'ee and Margaret Santora, 28 e lor nlladelphin: Reve 9o ¢ 121y 810, Kentucky ave ., SLlurione, ST 1055 in" Midgette, 37. 608 T m&’ew M 615 Morl E. Hough, 28 s.w.: Rev. K. G Newell. James K. Morris Lux, both of Richmond: Rev. P, T Jeter. ir. 32 ord lnd Edwina £ Pabst, 31 4058 5th st.: Rev. J. J. Queally. Lonnle Eo Dietrich. 2 mond. and 'l el!nl\e o "B‘EIK 2902 Porter Edwin W, Herron. 20, 4000 Cathedral ave., and Marle Standley, 26. 34th si. .nd Massachusetts ave.. Rev. 8. K. 1 x Bee Kt 23, 911 regi T E u-.:fa' :,' 19,008 ST autze Robert CI 1. and Clanges R. o fc:x""é%m of 1345 Q st Rev. 0. rring Dna 4802 3 . Hai ay. -nd l-‘iel!n 1;‘3 9, 4646 Hlyu ll H ! C. B. o .'né Winitred A Kin P W. nd Domthy E. z Cm\- Per: in B. Parker. 22, 1236 11th l !r'A:i M. ONI,.-'l. 1225 L L. Darb eiting. 21, Alexandria. ch"'" Rl Hcl"um Ly ARTnanS: fev. Wis . o 0 nd Sims. a Srcanor L Nyar, TP ot of 1108 M st Rev. A{ ibert Evans. Step it 'n. u-rm ' Smith ',‘“i's Ceuteton: Vi naerich, 23, Henderson. and %me W n.;m‘L 3 a%.'"mu Ak R Rev. 1 34, of 1704 | school bus to pass other busses or S. M. Johnson, 75, retired | | present road, with its many —=Star Staff Photo. SCHOOL OPENINGS ADD T ROAD FIGHT [ Increase of Traffic Cited as Judge Joins in Condemn- ing Defense Highway. Inauguration of a school bus line on the Defense Highway today brought | forth new demands for elimination of | its dangerous features, as Police Ccurt Judge George B. Merrick promised | stern treatment for reckless drivers and those who use “Death Highway” as a speedway. Demand for widening and straight- ening the highway because its present width is barely enough to permit a| trucks was voiced by the mayor and | council of Capitol Heights last night Call on Cemmission. The municipality’s sentiments, ex- pected to be echoed by parent-teacher associations as soon as their Fall ses- sions start, were incorporated in a resolution by Councilman Wallace | Rollins calling on the State Roads Commission to seek Federal funds to | make the highway safe for school | children and adults. Rollins pointed out that traffic on the highway will be increased by the inauguration of a school bus line from Lanham to Bladensburg, which begins | operations coincident with the opening of the Fall term of the Prince Georges | County schools today. He also pre- dicted there would be further traffic increases due to many parents taking their children to school in private cars. j Another Council Acts. While Capitol Heights was adaptmg the Rollins resolution regarding the Defense Highway, the mayor and council of Seat Pleasant took similar action at the request of Councilman Joseph Gregory. They termed the death traps, a menace to the traveling public. | Judge Merrick, who has acquired a reputation for dealing severely with speeders and other traffic law violators | since he ascended the police bench in June, said he would back police “to the limit” in any effort they make to break up speeding and reckless driv- ing on the Defense Highway. The judge is thoroughly familiar with the road and its hazards. He said: “The curves between Priest Bridge and Annapolis are the worst in the world. When I go to the Capital from my home in Upper Marlboro, I travel the old road through Mount Zion and | the South River Bridge rather than the Defense Highway. I know that several members of the Legislature slipped off the road last Winter.” — SAILBOAT CAPSIZES OFF HAINS POINT Two Washington youths were res- cued from the Potomac yesterday aft- ernoon when their homemade sail- boat was capsized off Hains Point by the sudden gale attending a Sum- mer thunderstorm. The two pulled from the the choppy water as they clung to the sides of their overturned craft were Ralph Van Orsdel, 19, son of the general counsel for the telephone company, and Hilleary Hoskinson, 18, son of the vice president of the Riggs National Bank. Shouts of the pair, both of whom were good swimmers, brought assict- ance from the yacht Tech and Capt. E. C. Warren of Annapolis. The youths were helped into a speedboat and put ashore at the harbor pre- cinct. There young Van Orsdel's father met them and drove them home. Van Orsdel lives at 6511 Maple avenue, Chevy Chase, Md., and his companion at 68 Observatory circle. Neither suffered any ill effects from the ducking. e FUNERAL RITES HELD Funeral services for Kenneth D. Johnson, 57, father of Precinct De- tective H. D. Johnson, were held Sat- urday in Brooklyn, N. Y. He died at Garden City, Brooklyn, September 4. Mr. Johnson was well known here, having visited in this city often. He was & member of the Board of Educa- tion of New York City for 32 years until his recent retirement because of 11l health, and was active in church and Boy Scout work there. . He also is survived by a daughter, Miss Helene Johnson, of Brooklyn, and s granddaughter, Burial was in Brooklyn, .Y |defeat by | the Penn charges. Society and General PAGE B—1 FAGTIONAL BATILE BLAZESINAF.G.E; BABCOCK ACCUSED Miss Esther Penn Circulates Letter Charging “Political Chicanery.” HOLDS U. S. EMPLOYES JEOPARDIZED BY ACTS Federation Subordinated to Own Ends, Secretary Asserts of President. BY J. A. FOX. Staff Correspondent of The Star. CINCINNATI, Ohio, September 10.— The fires of factionalism in the Amer- ican Federation of Government Em- ployes were whipped higher today when Miss Esther Penn, the secre- tary, marked for the group headed by E. Claude Bab- cock, presideat, circulated through the con- vention here a letter she has sent t» Babcock, charging him with “politicai chicanery” in building up a per- sonal “machine” in the federation to the detriment of the organizatic and its purposes. Babcock declined to comment o After hearing ye terday that William Green, presider of the American Federation of Labo: would not be able to attend the con vention, the delegates were advise this morning by Babcock that the 'abo head would be here to speak late to morrow afternoon. In some quarters Esther Penn | it was thought he might seek to com pose the differences in the organiza- | tion, but Babcock said nothing of the sort was in prospect. Criticizing Babcock’s administrative acts Miss Penn accused him of sub- ordinating the federation to his own aims, declared he has injured the cause of Federal emploves by attacks on members of Congress, and echoec | the charge made last week by Luther C. Steward, president of the Nationa Federation of Federal Employes— “Your writing, introducing and advo- cating the so-called Sirovich omribus civil service bill was the main cause of failure of our legislative program.” Claims Efforts at Personal Gain. Reciting her own connection with Federal employe organization, going back 18 years, Miss Penn concluded “I cannot be cowardly enough to see the best interest of Government employu jeopardized by your actions and efforts at personal gain and aggrad izement without express- ing vigorous pro- test, even though I am well aware of the fact that had I gone along and played ball with you' you Very likely would not be opposing me today. “It is with great regret that I am compelled to cite these matters, but it is my firm conviction that your continuance in the office of the naticnal president will but mean further delays in securing legislaticn at the hands of Congress.” Correspondence Is Revealed. Along with the letter to Babcock, Miss Penn made public an exchange of correspondence with N. P. Alifas of Washington, president of the Ma- chinist's Union, and a circular issued from the Mail Equipnient Shops Lodge of the A. F. G. E. designed to acquit her of any part in delay of the leave bill by insistence that the posta workers be included in it. It was brought out that Babcock and Cecil E Custer, national treasurer, reputedly had laid the tie-up in the Senate tc her activity. The correspondence all was made public prior to the opening of the sec- ond session of the convention and was thought certain to have repercussions on the floor, sooner or later. Miss Penn’s attack on the Sirovict bill was heard with particular interest, inasmuch as Representative Sirovich Democrat, of New York, the sponsor, in an address before the convention yesterday struck back briskly at Stew- art accusing him of attempting to “sabotage” the measure. Sirovich also brought cheers from the delegates when he said that he spent last Wednesday at Hyde Park outlining to President Roosevelt the principles embodied in the proposed legislation, and that the President “told me this measure has his earnest and sincere approval.” The bill provides for a higher pay scale and a number of other employ- ment benefits. Meanwhile today the convention was grinding through reports while looking forward to the election of officers which now has definitely been set for Thursday. Some time in the interim, the legislative program to be pushed at the next session will be adopted. Babcock Has Edge for Presidency. From the trend the convention is taking it seems likely that Babcock will be re-elected to the presidency over Paul David of the Tennessee Valley Authority, of Knoxville, from whom the principal—if not sole—opposition is expected to come. John Donovan, president of N. R. A. Lodge, and rec- ognized leader of all the emergency ‘workers represented in the federation, is a potential candidate, but it is not unlikely his strength will go to David Miss Penn also is lined up with David in seeking to be re-elected secretary. On the Babcock ticket Miss Bernice Heffner of Detroit has been desig- nated for secretary. The administra« tion is also pushing several changes among the 12 vice presidents while some opposition also has developed to Custer, treasurer, & member of ths forces. E. C. Babcock.