Evening Star Newspaper, December 16, 1935, Page 1

B WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast) Fair and slightly cold perature tonight about 32 degrees; Tues- day increasing cloudiness. Highest, 44, at 1:30 a.m. today; lowest, 41, at 5:30 a.m. today. Full report on page A-. ClosingN. Y.Markets, Pa; No. 33,466. FIGHT ON- CRITICS| OF PEACE PLAN MAPPED BY BRITISH Emergency Meeting of Cab- inet Is Called by Baldwin. post office, Wa ETHIOPIAN OFFENSIVE AWAITED ON FRONT Italy's Southern Forces on De- fensive—"Sanctions” by Ford Hit by Fascist Leader. BACKGROUND— Eany Italy, bursting with military might created by Mussolini, last Spring determined upon conquest of Ethiopia as outlet for energy, field for colonization. October in- vasion brought November rebuke jrom League of Nations, decision to impose trade bans against ag- gressor. More recently England and France submitted proposal for peace megotiations, suggested land cessions to Italy, aroused sterm of political protest in own coun- tries and League opposition of small nations. In Ethiopia, Ital- ian advance continued slowly and without outstanding success; fea- ture of drive has been occasional air raids by strong aviation units of Mussolini. . By the Associated Press { A counter-attack on critics of the Anglo-French plan for ending the | Ttalo-Ethiopian war is'in preparation by the British government. In receipt of a crescendo of protests | against what sharpshooters of the plan contend is a formula for dis-| membering the kingdom of Haile| Selassie, Prime Minister Stanley Bald- win, informed sources said today, is collecting material for presentation to the House of Commons. The British cabinet, in token of the | seriousness with which Britain has received tke storm of criticism at Geneva and in various European capi- tals evoked by publication of the Paris scheme for ending the war, met in an | emergency session. Ethiopian Offensive Awaited. News of a distinctly difterent flavor | came meanwhile from the southern front, the area in which Premier Mus- solini would garner many thousands of square miles of territory if the; Franco-British plan were accepted | without reservation—that it will not be was regarded as a foregone con- clusion. 1 There, where Gen. Rudolfo Graziani | a few weeks ago was pushing per-| sistently northward in a strategic move to establish an Italian corridor between Northern and Southern Ethiopia, the Fascist army conceded | it had taken the defensive. From Dolo, the Associated Press! correspondent dispatched, via courier | to Mogadiscio, Italian Somaliland, a ! report that Italy’s weary southern forces were braced for an attack ex- | pected momentarily from a mass of 40,000 Ethiopian w rriors under Ras Desta Demtu. This would constitute the first major | s Ethiopian offensive. The Ethiopian | army consists of three main columns, driving forward on a front 30 miles from Dolo on the frontier of Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland. The Italians, however, planned a drive of their own if the Ethiopians did not act soon. Ford “Sanctions” Hit. The Italian commander on the| southern front attributed to Henry Ford, the American automobile manu- facturer, “private sanctions” which, he said, has held up his northward drive. Ford, he said, failed to deliver | 800 caterpillar tractors which had been | contracted and paid for. The contract | was canceled, he said. An official communique issued at | Rome said Italian airplanes bombard- | ed an Ethiopian force near Neghelli, on the southern front. It added, “There is nothing to report on the Eritrean (northern) front. There has been only some action of patrols along the Takkaze River.” In a secret consistory, where he created 20 new cardinals, Pope Pius purposely avoided discussion of the pending peace proposals because, he said, any observation he might make “would not be well understood, or would be deliberately misconstrued” in many places. His holiness did, however, “pray God fervently for peace with justice, the truth and with charity.” An Exchange Telegraph dispatch from Dessye, Ethiopia, Emperor Haile Selassie’s field headquarters, quoted the Emperor as saying his government believed the Leageu of Nations Council would reject the Anglo-French peace plan. The King of Kings further was quoted as reiterating that the terms (See WAR, Page 3.) —— DX KILLED IN FIRE, . SEVEN ARE SAVED Young Farmer Rushes Into Burn- ing Home Four Times to Rescue Family. By the Associated Press. CARNEGIE, Okla., December, 16.— George Balley, young farmer who rushed four times into his burning dwelling to save members of his fam- ily while six others died in flames, cried today: - “It seems a fellow could have done more. But after the ceiling fell, I Jjust couldn’t get the rest.” “I don't know what we'll do” Baifley’s wife said, holding close her only surviving child. Three of her children, two nephews and Bailey’s half-brother were burned to death. Seven others escaped the fire, believed caused by a defective flue, “The whole family picked cotton during the Autumn months and saved $65,” Mrs. Bailey said. “This money was burned up. It was all we Everything is gone.” 4 hi across Murry Hill apartment of Caleb and er, lowest tem- ‘Temperatures: 20. ges16,17,18,19 Entered as second class matter shington. D. C. Surgery Preserves 10 Fingerprints of 8-Fingered Man Whorls of Digits Lost in Accident Grafted Onto Wrist. By the Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS, December 16.— Richard Growe, 28, two of whose fingers were amputated 14 years ago, was arrested on a minor charge—and provided police Bertillion clerks with a complete set of 10 fingerprints. A clerk had recorded the amputa- tions when Growe explained that didn’t mean prints of those fingeis were unavailabje. Growe pointed to the back of his hand. Grafted there after a machine shop accident 14 years ago, the skin of the amputated fingers still thrives, with the two finger whorls up near the wrist. MILNE'S FAMILY FEARS KIDNAPING Actor’s Wealthy Grandfa- ther Accepts Theory as G-Men Join Hunt. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, December 16.—Spurred on by a tailor’s story and the grow- ing belief of relatives that Caleb J. Milne, 4th, had been kidnaped for ransom, officials today intensified their search for the mysteriously missing 24-year-old scion of one of Philadel- phia’s first families. The youth’s grandfather, Caleb J. Milne, jr., retired textile magnate, re- luctantly agreed with the kidnap abduction reports. While Federal G-Men joined New York State’s “Scotland Yard” in the search for the handsome young actor, J. Schwartz, whose tailor shop is the street from the modest is brother Frederick, told how a strange man accosted them last Mon- day night. Note Sent to Brother. It was to Frederic that a “ransom” note indicating Caleb was kidnaped when he disappeared last Saturday | right, was addressed. “Your brother he isn't in Phila- delphia, we got him out in the coun- try,” the letter postmarked Pough- | keepsie, N. Y., said, “but he will be| returned living if you will follow the letter we will send you. “Available cash must come from New York. Keep in touch with your| grandfather and phone. The letters | will be signed Zwitler.” The note was written in newspaper type pasted on brown wrapping pa- per. It was wrapped around a Christ- mas card of the 10-cent type showing a man and woman in a sleigh with a Winter background and bore the legend, “Greetings to you.” Clarence D. McKean, New England chief of Department of Justice agents, | sald at Boston Federal men had been called in. G-Men Silent. @ WASHINGTON, D. C, MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1935—FORTY-EIGHT PAGES. #*#% STUDENTS HURT IN'PEIPING RIOT ON TOKIO AGGRESSION Swords, Guns® and Fire Hoses Used by Police to Disperse 1,000. DEMONSTRATION HALT DEMANDED BY JAPAN National Strike Called by Youths Insisting on Resistance by China to Invasion. BACKGROUND— Making effective use of their mil- itary might, Japan sponsored “in- dependence” of Manchuria and Jehol, North China provinces, in 1932-33. Last month, while Itcly held world spotlight, five more provinces were declared desirous of “independence”; movement later simmering down to Hopeh and Chahar. Compramise agreement reached with Chinese central gov- ernment. Not included in area affected by “compromise” is East Hopeh, where local military leader yesterday seized Tangku and em- phasized “independence” while Jap= anese troops stood by. (Copyright, 1935, by the Associated Press.) PEIPING, December 17 (Tuesday). —Chinese sources reported tonight 60 student demonstrators, protesting “Japanese aggression,” were injured when 1000 students clashed with | police. Swords, butts of guns and fire hoses | theory. He had previously scoffed at| Were used by the police in breaking up the outbreak, the most serious | since Sino-Japanese tension recently increased, it was stated. | Lieut. Col. Tan Takahashi, Jap- | anese military attache at Peiping, | warned Mayor Chin Teh-Chun that continuation of the student rioting | would constitute a violation of the | Sino-Japanese understanding of last June and must be halted. Demonstrators Marooned. With the gates of the city locked, several thousand student demonstra- tors were marooned for the night in- | | side the city, unable to return to their | universities. They shouted anti-Jap- anese slogans in the bitter cold night. | The students, defying police clubs, warning volleys of rifle fre and| streams from fire hoses, had stormed | through Hsipienmen gateway earlier | in the day. In a huge mass meeting at Chien- | man Railway Station, just outside the legation quarter, 7,000 demonstrators decided to call & national student strike. They voted to send a circular tele- | gram throughout China, opposing autonomy of North China, denounc- ing Sino-Japanese negotiations, de- manding that China yield nothing to Japan and calling for abolition of the semi-autonomous Hopei-Chahar polit- ical council. Many Saved From Beating. Many students were saved from be- | Their investigations were cor.ducted in the utmost secrecy. Police and | Federal authorities here refused to| discuss the case. Milne was listed at | ploice headquarters only in the miss- ing persons’ file. ‘The youth's disappearance was re- ported yesteiday by Frederic, who is 18. Frederic told police his brother left a note Saturday saying he had | gone to Philadelphia with a “Dr. Green (See MILNE, Page 4.) JOB PROMISE CHARGED IN OHIO LIQUOR FIGHT House Member Says Davey’s Aide, State Chairman, Defeated Probe by Strategy. By the Associated Press. COLUMBUS, Ohio, December 16.— Charges by blind Representative George J. Harter of Akron that Fran- cis W, Poulson, Gov. Martin L. Davey's patronage dispenser, offered jobs to legislators to obtain votes against a proposed investigation of the State Liquor Department came before & grand jury today. Donald J. Hoskins, Pranklin County (Columbus) prosecuting attorney, said Poulson, State Democratic chairman, requested the inquiry. Harter has declared himself “ready to prove” assertions that favoritism and irregularities prevail in the Liquor Department. Harter said Poulson promised Rep- resentative John Hewitt of Youngs- town jobs in exchange for a vote. The ing unmercifully beaten by the in-| tervention of foreigners, who were among the spectators. | ‘The demonstrators stood tfor two hours ‘in the railway station shouting | their favorite slogans: | “Down with Japan.” “Down with traitors.” “Down with the new council.” “Save China.” Earlier, in the midst of the week | end student strike, the “inaugural | meeting of the council was indefinite- ly postponed. Gates Hurriedly Closed. The gates to this ancient one-time capital of China were closed hurriedly when students from outlying universi- ties marched on the city. This correspondent saw hundreds of students of the National Normal University fight through lines of po- lice armed with swords and riot guns apd invade the north end of the city, shouting slogans against autonomy and “Japanese aggression.” Some students suffered sword cuts and broken heads in the scuffiing. In most instances, however, the dem- onstrations were broken up almost im- mediately. An attempt by 500 students of the American-supported Yenching and Tsinghua Universities to march into the city was frustrated by the clos- ing of the gates. The 7,000 demonstrators attempted to march to the offices of the city government to present a petition, but police blocked their way and fired over the heads of the students. None was struck by bullets. Students also demonstrated near the House defeated the resolution. 50,000 Toys Are Collected At Special Film Matinees Money and Clothing Gifts Also Set Record in Generous Response to Appeal for Needy Children. Nearly 50,000 toys were collected for the poorer children of Washing- ton as a result of the toy matinee campaign. All day long on Saturday, in re- sponse to The Star-Warner Brothers- National Broadcasting Co. appeal for toys, money, clothing, and what-do- you-have for needy boys and girls, people poured in the 11 motion-pic- ture theaters that co-operated in this gigantic collection. A final check-up by “John J. Payette, zone manager of the Warner Brothers Theaters, ac- counted for a turnout that broke all Nearly 20,000 boys and girls thers and all to see had. | sion; but, said Frank La Falce, (See CHINA, Page 3. (who just wanted a peek insi “There some people dfin't believe just ‘one toy' was enough.” At Toy Heaven, 933 G street, they're WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION THRow IT ('_gvfi?. "CAP AND FINISH THE TEAPARTY. 162nd ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOSTON TEA PARTY. ¢ Foening Star ROOSEVELT PARES ‘B RELIEF BUDGET Afternoon Conference Fixes Tentative Slashes in Expenditures. BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG. President Roosevelt today concen- | trated on slashing that part of the | budget for next year which will deal with work-relief and unemployment. The President set aside the greater part of this afternoon for this task and summoned a group of his asso- | ciates who have been assisting him | in working out preliminary figures. In this group were Secretary of the Treasury Morgenthau, Daniel Bell, acting director of the budget; Harry Hopkins. works progress administra- tor; Secretary of the Interior Ickes, public works administrator; Frank Walker, chairman of the National Emergency Council, and Dr. Rexford G. Tugwell, rural resettlement admin- istrator. This is the first time this group has been called together to discuss next year's program. Inquiry Is Sought. Meanwhile, provision for a sweep- ing investigation of all Federal relief | activities is being written into a bill which Representative McLeod, Re- publican, of Michigan, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, intends to introduce as soon as Con- gress meets next month. Representative McLeod said today he expects to hold several conferences next week with other House members on the relief situation. He empha- | sized that “the policies of the admin- istration, whether intentionally or not, are creating in the minds of the pub- lic the very definite impression that the administration is fostering a class of people who will remain on some form of relief indefinitely, if not per- manently, Mr. Roosevelt long ago decided re- duction in next year's expenses could not be effected in estimates for the old-established departments of the Government. Therefore, estimates for work relief and other emergency expenditures must be slashed as low as possible. Amount of Cut Is Secret. Mr. Roosevelt has carefully avoided giving even a hint as to what may be expected along this line. He has gone out of his way to discourage predictions made by others, saying no one but himself will know what the completed budget figures will be un- til his final approval has been given the printed document just before it | is sent to Congress. Chairman Buchanan of the House Appropriations Committee, an ardent advocate of balancing the budget, has declared he and his committee will work earnestly toward a large reduc- tion in the budget, although an ac- tually balanced one cannot be ex- pected this year. ‘While, as has been said, the Pres- ident has given no hints to serve as a basis for calculations, there are some in the admipistration’s high command who are expecting at least a $1,500,000,000 slash in the relief and emergency budget. Others are looking for the President to pare this part of the budget down to one-half of what is was for the current year— $4,880,000,000. Mr. Roosevelt is hopeful of material reductions because he is satisfled the depression is over and that conditions throughout the country generally are improving and that from now on busines and industry will be absorbing those on the unemployed list. Readers’ Guide Lost and Found Philippine Situation . Yields Bombs and Dynamite in Raid By the Associated Press MADRID, December 16 —Police awakened a 9-year-old boy today to seize a quantity of arms and explosives under his bed. They discovered nine bombs, nine pistols, about nine pounds of dynamite and some chemicals. The materiel, said police, be- longed to a young anarchist as- sociation. One arrest was made. MODEL D. C. FIRE CONTROL ASSURED Chairman O0’Connor of House Rules Committee to Draft Measure. BY WILL P. KENNEDY. As a direct result of President Rooseveit’s comment, following the Post Office Department fire, that there be better control over fire haz- ards in the Government buildings, a model system for the Capital is to be established, partly through act | of Congress and partly executive order, it was learned tod: Chairman O’Connor of the House | Rules Committee is preparing to draft legislation to carry out the Presi- dent’s wishes. Backing with him is Chairman Colden of the Committee on Disposition of Useless Executive Papers. Meanwhile Representative Cochran, Democrat, of Missouri announced he would confer Wednesday with Public Works Administrator Ickes to push his plan for a warehouse to store Government files now creating a fire hazard here. Plan Given Favor. Cochran said last night a majority of the Appropriations Committee fa- vors his plan. He declared the Archives Building would be wholly inadequate to care for the vast ac- cumulation of old records. The features of the new fire con- | trol system probably will be: (i) Establishment of a board of inspection with a continuing func- tion of systematic survey of fire hazards in all Government buildings. This board would include the District gre marshal, the fire prevention ex- pert from the Bureau of Standards and the archivist of the United States. (2) An inspection plan with ex- act instructions regarding details and completeness of the investigation re- garding all fire hazards, human safety and protection of valuable Gov- ernment records. (3) Institution by the board of a code of safeguards and regular inspec- tion that must be inforced in all Gov- ernment buildings. (4) Establishment of a special wrecking crew, whose duty it would be to be on hand as promptly as the fire marshal, including those who under- stand the value of records, prepared to wrap up and carry away such rec- ords before they would be damaged by either fire or water. (5)Installation of a fire prevention and detection system, rather than a fire extinguishing s¥stem, known as the “rate of rise” (in temperature) system, with half-hourly inspection. How serious may have been the damage to Government records in the Post Office fire has not yet been (See HAZARDS, Page 2.) U. S. SLAYER CONVICTED Italy Gives Volpe Brothers’ Slay- er 30 Years. SALERNO, Italy, December 16 (#). —Giuseppe “Big Mike” Spinelli was sentenced today to 30 years’ imprison- ment for “premeditated homicide” in the slaying of the three Volpe brothers in Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1932. Spinelli returned to Italy a short time after the triple killing in Pitts- the move | BROTHER SLAYER, SHOT, SURRENDERS Lays All Night in Fairfax Woods After Shooting Self in Chest. (Picture on Page A-2.) By a Staft Correspondent of The Star. FAIRFAX, Va. December 16.—With | a self-inflicted bullet wound in his | chest that may prove fatal, Fred Mar- | tin, 40, caught throughout the night | by a sheriff’s posse ror the murder of his brother Isaac, 42, early today stag- | gered into the home of an uncle, Ray- mond Washburn, a short distance | from the scene of yesterday’s shoot- ing. where he later gave himself up | to police The shooting was witnessed | by the 76-year-old mother of the men. | Weak from loss of blood and ex- | posure he admitted to Sheriff E. P.| Kirby that he shot and killed his brother yesterday in a quarrel over a second-hand automobile that cli- | maxed a long-standing feud between them. Taken to Hospital. “I am in a mess,” he told the| sheriff prior to being taken to the Alexandria Hospital. “I ran off in the woods and shot | myself and did not come to until this morning.” he said. Sheriff Kirby said he would swear | out a warrant today charging Fred | Martin with murder. | The shooting occurred about 4:30 | pm. yesterday at the home, about 3 | | miles from here on the Burke Station i‘road, where Fred and Isaac lived, with | their mother, Mrs. Sarah Martin, 76. ‘The brothers had argued through- out the afternoon over damage to ni 1931 coupe owned by Fred, Mrs. | Martin told police. She tried to make peace between them, she said, but Fred suddenly | whipped out an automatic revolver and shot Isaac twice, through the heart and head. As the latter fell at her feet, the (See SLAYING, Page 2) KIDNAPED CUBAN FOUND BY ARMY Millionaire Held for $500,000 Ransom, Discovered on Out- skirts of Havana. By th- Assoclated Press. HAVANA, December 16.—Nicholas Castano, millionaire, who was kid- naped a week ago and held for $500,- 000 ransom, was found alive today by the Cuban Army. Details of Castano’s recovery or whether the huge ransom had been paid were not immediately available. Police believed the kidnaping was staged by Leftist revolutionary groups. ‘Thousands of men had been thrown into a search for the wealthy snatch victim, including the National Army, Navy and Police. Army headquarters announced sol- diers had found Castano and his chauffeur hidden in a house near the town of Santiago De Las Vegas, on the outskirts of Havana. Two men guarding the prisoners were arrested, it was stated. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, December 16.—Capt. Victor G. Malone of Miami, Fla. a liner Siboney ready for fisticuffs with the man who, he says, refused to aid him when the Hallie K. foundered. “If T can only get hold of the skip- per of the Stella, he promised, “we’ll settle it pronto on the floor.” The boat which drew almost along- side in a storm off the Florida coast Ship Wrecked at Sea Denied Aid By Freighter, Captain Charges The only SATURDAY'S Circulation, in Washington wit! Associated Press News and Wirephoto Services. 127,553 Bome Returns Not Yet Received. (®) Means Associated Press. evening paper the SUNDAY'S Circulation, 141,091 TWO CENTS. TRANSIT HEARINGS OPENED WITH CASE AGAINST SERVICE Elgen Predicts Order for Bus' and Rail Improve- ments Before Jan. 1. COMMISSION ENGINEER IS FIRST WITNESS Three Volumes of Complaints on Hand and 150 Civic Repreuentn-{ tives Are Due to Speak. Surrounded by three large volumes of written complaints about Capital Transit Co. service, and a score of clvic leaders standing by to add a| verbal protest, the Public Utilities | Commission today began its long- contemplated series of public hearings ‘o find out what is wrong with Wash- ington's mass transportation system. Before the hearings started, how- ever, Riley E. Elgen, chairman, pre- dicted orders would be issued by Jan- uary 1 for improvements in both the bus and rail service of the company. The three piles of written protests, containing 333 letters, were placed in| fron. of members of the commission by James L. Martin, its secretary, as | exhibit A against the transit company. | All the letters were received either by | the commission or People's Counself Wwilliam A. Roberts, since August 1,/ and many of them included more than | one indictment against the company’s | service. Civic Representatives. Approximately 150 civic representa- tives are scheduled to testify before | the hearings close. Arrangements | | have been made to call them in re-| lays to prevent any undue waste of time. The commission itself started at the | outset of the hearings to make a case against the transit company by call- ing as the first witness the commis- | sion's chief engineer, Fred A. Sager, who supervised the recent “trouble shooting” investigation of both bus and rail service. Sager introduced in evidence a series of 30 graphed charts, depicting by lines and figures some of the frailties and shortcomings in the transit com- | pany’s service. These charts, however, | covered rail operations only. Schedule Seen Ignored. Sager took up the entire morning | explaining the charts, pointing out | where faflure to maintain uniform | service due to so-called “broken head- ways” had caused overcrowding on some cars while other cars that tratled closely behind were without a full passenger quota. In other cases, Sager revealed, the company did not send cars out according to schedule, but sandwiched them in at different periods thereby creating irregular service, The severest criticism was leveled at the Fourteenth street line. Ome of | Sager’s charts noting observations of northbound service at Thomas Circle December 10, between 3 and 5 p.m, it was explained, showed an extraordi. | nary situation of “extreme overload- ing” of cars and a shortage of 29 scheduled cars. The most comprehensive chart re- vealed the observations of commission inspectors at Nineteenth street and Pennsylvania avenue December be- tween 1:50 and 3:30 p.m., in connec- | tion with westbound service on the Cabin John, Potomac Heights, Rosslyn | and Tenleytown lines. Failure of cars on these lines to maintain an | even headway, Sager said, resulted in | a large excess in passenger seats. Car 17 Minutes Late, Charged. ‘The chart depicting service on the New Jersey avenue line based on ob- servations of northbound cars Decem- ber 2, from 1:45 pm. to 3 pm, showed that three cars scheduled on that line ran on the Florida avenue line and that another car scheduled | to arrive at the point of observation at 2:04 pm. did not arrive until 2:21 pm. Observations at Fifth and F streets December 12 of operations of west- bound cars on the Mount Pleasant line between 7:30 am. and 9 am, according to Sager, revealed that some cars did not start on schedule, that there were a number of breaks in headways, and seven cars sched- uled to run did not run, but that seven others not scheduled to runm, did run, but were from 20 to 30| minutes behind the time of those scheduled. Chairman Elgen announced that proposed one-man car operations would not be considered at this time, but would be made the subject of a separate hearing. He regards this subject as so large and believes it will involve such a quantity of testi- mony it should be considered inde- pendently. Bulgarian Historian Dies. SOFIA, Bulgaria, December 16 (#). —Prof. Vassil Clatarski, 70, & his- torian, died today. ‘manned the pumps all night on their storm-tossed ship. Then: “We sighted the cargo steamer Stella, flag and hailing port unknown. We signaled her by blowing our fog- horn and lighting a line-soaked sponge. The course of the Stella was CLEVELAND SEEMS LIKELY CHOICE FOR b.0.P. CONVENTION Ohio Representatives Feel Sure of Winning Over Chi- cago and Kansas City. DRIVES FOR CANDIDATES UNDER WAY AT SESSION National Committee Elects Mem- bers to Fill Vacancies Caused by Death and Resignations. BULLETIN. Republicans today chose Cleve- land for next Spring's party con- vention to nominate a 1936 presi- dential candidate. (Picture on Page A-7.) BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. Three cities — Cleveland, Chicago and Kansas City—were competing to- day for the Republican National Con= vention of 1936, as the G. O. P. Na- tional Committee opened its meeting in the Mayflower Hotel. Cleveland seemed to have the Inside track. Chicago s the home city of one of the most prominently mentioned prob- able candidates for the Republican presidential nomination—Col. PFrank Knox, publisher of the Chicago Daily News. Kansas City, Mo, is just across the line from the home State of Gov. Alf M. Landon of Kansas, another promi- nent probable candidate. Ohio has no candidate so far. Committee mem- bers therefore argued it would be bet- ter to take the national convention to neutral ground Furthermore, there has been a sug- gestion that Roosevelt Democrats might organize ar. A. A. A. march on the Republican convention if it were held in Kansas City or Chicago. or any otber city in the agricultural belt. Such a march might prove embar- rassing. Want Landon Nominated. While the supporters of Gov. Lan- don would be giad to see the conven- | tion go to Kansas City, they are more | interested in the nomination of Lan- don than they are in having the con- vention come to Missouri. The first bid for the convention was submitted to the committee by Chicago. Albert D. Lasker, chairman of the Chicago committee, opened the arguments. He announced that Chicago was ready to meet expenses up to $150,000. The committee was told that Chicago had been the site of more presidential conventions than any other city, and its central loca tion was urged as a reason y it should be selected for the convention. Its hotel and railroad facilities also were cited. It has a hall capable of seating 22,000 persons. Originally the Chicago committee asked that 4,000 seats at the con- venion be turned over to the city, presumably to be given to contribu- tors to the convention fund. Pro- tests from members of the National Committee, however, caused this to be withdrawn before the Chicago bid was formally presented. “We all know the New Deal is slip- ping,” said Chairman Henry P. Fletcher, as he called the National Committee meeting to order this morning. There was a ripple of ap- plause from the committeemen repre- senting all the States and Territories and the District of Columbia. “We have the Democrats on the run,” continued Fletcher. “It rer:inds me of what happened in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. Gen. Joe wheeler, leading a charge, shouted, ‘We've got the Yankees on the run.’ (Gen. Wheeler was a general in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, but later commanded American troops in the war against Spain.) The New Dealers are no more Democrats than the Spaniards were Yankees.” Drives on for Candidate. While the main business of the Re- Ppublican National Committee is to se- lect the time and the place for the convention, it was obvious that strong drives for various presidential candi- dates were under way, with the mem- bers of the committee being canvassed and canvassing each other. Col. Knox, Senator Borah of Idaho and Gov. Lan- don were the three possible candidates who received the most attention, al- though other names were brought up. Many of former President Hoover's friends were in attendance, either as members of the committee or as ob- servers when the meeting opened to- day. If they intend to press for the (See REPUBLICAN, Page 3. HOOVER REITERATES CANDIDACY DENIAL By th> Associated Press. ST. LOUIS, December 16.—This being Monday, former President Her- bert Hoover today gave his usual Mon- day answer to the question of whether he was ready to make an announce=- ment regarding his candidacy or re- fusal to be a candidate in the 1936 presidential election. “I have noticed,” he said, “that every Monday I have to answer that question, and my answer is, as it was last Monday and the Monday before, that my sole interest is in placing the issues clearly before the American people. The issues, in my view, are the greatest that have confronted our people in many years.” The titular head of the Republican party arrived here at 8:30 a.m. (Cen- tral standard time) from his Cali- fornia home to make the third in his series of addresses attacking the New Deal. He will speak tonight at a dinner of the John Marshall Republican Club, and it was indicated he will deal with the administration’s relief policies. (The address will be heard at 10 p.m., Eastern standard time, over Radio Station WMAL and s Nation-wide hook-up of the National Broadcast-- ing Co.) »