Evening Star Newspaper, December 23, 1936, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8 Weather Buresu Forscast.) Pair, not so cold tonight, lowest tem- perature, 28 degrees: tomorrow, partly cloudy, warmer: Priday, cloudy, moderate temperature. Temperatures—Highest, 37, at 2:30 p.m. yesterday; lowest, 32, at 7 am. today. Full report on page A-21. The only evenin, in Washington vgi ‘t);: Associated Press News: and Wirephoto Services. ening Star Yesterday’s Circulation, 137,683 Closing New York Markets, Page’ 20 85th YEAR. No. 33,839 GONEL BACKERS PREPARE 10 FLEE - ASOUSTER NEARS | M.rs. Simpson History-making events that preceded and followed Wallis Simpson’s departure for France are described by Newbold Noyes in this, the eighth of a series of articles authorized by Simpson. Mr. Noyes, Associate Editor of The Star and a cousin of Mrs. Simpson, was in London at the time. 3 . BY NEWBOLD NOYES. WONDER if there was in all history a more poignantly dramatic four hours than the morning spent by two persons at Fort Belvedere on In that interlude Edward VIII, King and Emperor, lifted a crown from his head and laid it at the feet of a woman he loved. In those four hours Wallis Simpson ceased to be a potential queen, but took Congressmen Obtain Pass- ports and Members of Cabinet Resign. PRESIDENT DEMANDS _HEARING AT TRIAL Judicial Leaders Divided in Opin- ion Whether Senate Will Grant Request. BACKGROUND— » President Miguel Gomez's oppo- sition to the $1,500,000 sugar tax measure sponsored by Cuba’s strong man, Col. Fulgencio Batista, brought about his impeachment by a wote of 111 to 45 in the House yesterday. Gomez opposed the legislation on the ground it might lead to Jascistic education. Col. Batista, backed by the army, Jarmers and workers, proposes to use the revenue derived from the levies to finance army-taught rural schools. 8y the Assoclated Press. HAVANA, December 23.—Congres- sional champions of Miguel Mariano Gomez obtained passports today in an emergency prelude to Cuba's army- sped impeachment of the seven-month President. Representative Radio Cremata said all pro-Gomez Congress- men had offered to resign when the President was ushered out of office. Gomez, however, urged the Con- gressmen to keep their seats and Rep- resentative Cremata said it was likely the President’s supporters in the House of Representatives—numbering 45 on the impeachment vote—would not have to use the passports. ‘The secretary of the presidency, however, announced he was ready and anxious to turn over his papers to his successor, and the secretary of public works left his desk with his personal effects, planning not to return. The presidential secretary, Dr. Do- mingo Macias, said secretaries of state sand communications, now at the Buenos Aires Inter-American Con- gress, had cabled their resignations. Gomez Stands by Guns. President Gomez was standing by his guns in his demand that he be permitted to make a personal sppear- ance before the Senate court late to- day, but neither he npor his closest Benate friends knew whether he would succeed in his move. The President busied himself about his office all morning, refusing to see any one but a few intimates. Judi- cial leaders were of varying opinions as to whether he would be permitted to appear as his own attorney. Some said they believed the Presi- dent’s plea would be granted, others felt that Senate_rules definitely barred him from being present at his trial; &till others thought there might be a compromise which would permit him to attend as a spectator. At any rate, palace attaches in- dicated Gomez would make an im- portant public declaration at the con- clusion of the trial. His congressional foes said they would be ready for trial proceedings at about 6 o'clock this evening, but predicted there would be no verdict before early tomorrow morning. Plea Held “Forlorn Hope.” The President’s appeal, outside the law of Cuba in the unprecedented case of impeachment, was regarded as.a “forlorn hope” in his fight against Juridical action to oust him from the presidency. The law provides that the President must submit his defense in writing, leaving oral arguments to attorneys. Gomez declared that, as an attorney in good standing at the Cuban bar, he should be vermitted to appoint himself his own counsel. * His plea was taken under consid- . eration by a committee of the Senate. which will sit as a court of justice in the case. Charged With Coercion. ‘The House of Representatives, in impeaching the President, charged him with attempting to use political coercion to stifle opposition to his veto of the army-sponsored $1,500,~ 000 sugar tax bill. ’ Although most official quarters ex- pected the President’s ouster would be concurred in by the Senate, which (See GOMEZ, Page A-2.) STEEL MILLS PAY WORKERS $6,250,000 88,600 on Largest Christmas List Since 1929 in Pittsburgh District. By the Associated Press. PITTSBURGH, December 23.—Pitts- burgh's steel mills distributed more than $6,250,000 of Christmas pay today to the 88,600 workers in the district— the biggest steel pay roll since 1929. The pre-Christmas pay for some 80,000 workers in the 19 Carnegie- Tllinois Steel Corp. plants alcne amounted to $3,860,000, including ap- proximately $386,000 added by the Tecent wage increase. The 25,000 Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. workers are getting $1,650,000 and 13,500 employes at the Weirton, ‘W. Va., plant of the Weirton Steel Co. Braddock, Pa., $298,000; Duquesne Works, $411,000; Homestead, $729,000; Mingo Works, Mingo Junction, Ohwo. $95,000; Youngstown, $572,000; Farrell Steel Works & Central Furnaces, $128,000; Isabella Furnaces, $24,000; the Lorain Division, $121,000; Farrell- Mercer Works, $158,000; Laughlin, $139,000; National, $141,000; New Castle, $85,000, Shenango, $215,000: Canton Roll & Machine Shop, $25,000; andergrift, Pa., $231,000, and Wood, $39,000. Entered as second class matter post office, Washington, D. O. The King and December 3, 1936. and much becomes clear. Hatt. Rickettson-Hatt is head of the evening three of us, Mrs. Merryman, with the King and Wallis. the next day with his mother, Queen what that decision was. | Simpson appeared impossible. | told Parliament later, referred to it again.” BRTAN REQUESTS ENSTENTBAN 27 Nations Asked to Join in Preventing Spread of Spanish War. By the Associated Press. LONDON, December 23.— Great Britain, taking the lead in efforts to prevent the Spanish civil war from spreading’ over Europe, asked 27 other member nations in the Non-Interven- tion Committee today to halt foreign enlistments in Spanish armies by January 4. The British proposal asked specific pledges from the international dele- gates that their governments would not allow fresh volunteers to leave for the Spanish frontiers. Informed sources declared the re- quest invalidated any pending negoti- ations with single nations—such as Germany—in an effort to stop foreign enlistments and made the suggestion all-inclusive among the 28 countries which joined in the non-intervention accord. Previous Proposal Eliminated. It also eliminated a previous pro- posal, these sources said, that neutral observers be sent to Spanish battle- fields to determine what part foreign | soldiers might be playing in the civil war. The committee adjourned for a holi- day recess, ignoring & demand from Spanish ‘Insurgent Generalissimo Francisco Franco for further informa- tion regarding the neutral observers. ‘Two subcommittees were appointed to review neutrality suggestions for reports at the next session. One, tomposed of military experts, would inquire into participation in the domestic conflict of volunteers to- gether with foreign shipments of Arms to both sides. The other would consider the prob- lem of halting foreign financial as- sistance to Spanish opposing forces. Gen. Franco, in his request to the (See BRITAIN, Page A-3.) RIGHTS GRANTED JAPAN E\ll-»lil Extends Fishing Agree- ment Year, Averting Trouble. MOSCOW, December 23 (#).—Rus- sia agreed today to extend for another year the rights of Japanese to fish in Russian Siberian waters. Details of the fishing treaty exten- sion were not disclosed, but it was garded as a stop-gap to avert trouble Until one of those two speaks, no one can say precisely what occurred that morning. But consider the chronological sequence of known events On the evening of Wednesday, December 2, I dined at 16 Cumberland terrace with Wallis' aunt, Mrs. Bessie Merryman, and Mr. and Mrs. Rickettson- Agency and a genuine intimate of the ex-King and Mrs. Simpson. During the It developed from those conversations that the King, only that evening, had arranged for his friend to have lunch or tea And yet, by lunch time on Thursday, preparations were already under way for Mrs. Simpson’s “flight” to France. The social appointment which would have established the King's friend as acceptable to his royal mother had been canceled. A momentous decision had been made. We know now Conferred With Premier Baldwin. On Wednesday the King had conferred with Premier Stanley Baldwin. He had been told that legislation approving a morganatic marriage with Mrs. “His majesty said he was not surprised at the answer to him,” Baldwin “He took my answer without question and he never From what we know now it seems logical to deduce that the reason the King “never referred to it again” was because he waited only a few hours | after*that conference to chart the course he was to take. On the surface it appeared that Baldwin's answer still left the possibility that Edward might make Mrs. Simpson his Queen if he could not make her his morganatic wife. But the events of Thursday morning indicate otherwise. " (Continued on Third Page.) he Zy WASHINGTON, D. C, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1936—THIRTY-EIGHT PAGES. ##% King Edward and Mrs. a place in history that no other woman ever had occupied. London bureau of the Reuters News Rickettson-Hatt and myself, conversed Mary. U MINERS KILLED ‘WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION JDAY ARMISTICE 1S WON IN CHINA BY CHIANG'S WIFE Plea Granted, Negotiations for Generalissimo’s Re- lease Are Sped. VICTORY IS REPORTED FOR NANKING TROOPS But Aid for Mutineers Is Seen on Advices of Alliance With Red Leaders. BACKGROUND— Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang, Jjormer Manchurian war lord, who was forced out of his domain by the Japanese invasion, 12 days ago kidnaped China’s dictator, Chiang Kai-shek, and 20 of his aides. Alternate threats and pleas by Nanking officials have failed to gain the generalissimo’s release. Meanwhile Chang is reported to have been busily seeking alliances with provincial leaders unsympa= thetic to the Nanking government. By the Associated Press. NANKING, December 23.—A three- day armistice halted China’s civil war today at the urgent request of Mme. Chiang Kai-shek and her brother, Dr. T. V. Soong, after their flight to Sianfu to rescue the National government's captive leader. Shortly after Generalissimo Chiang's wife and her brother arrived at Mar- shal Chang Hsueh-liang’s rebel strong- hold, Dr. Soong telegraphed Nanking asking for a cessation of hostilities. After a hasty conference with other Nationalist leaders, Dr. H. H. Kung, acting civil head of the government, granted an armistice until Decem- ber 25. Victory Reported. ‘The proposal to end hostilities came on the heels of a reported strategic victory for the Nanking troops of the punitive expedition pressing to rescue - INMEXIGAN BLAST Five More Bodies Sought 35 Others Injured, Some Probably Fatally. By the Associated Press. EAGLE PASS, Tex., December 23.— An explosion-torn mine which yield- ed at least 34 bodies was searched today by digging rescue crews 80 miles to the south in Mexico for five miners believed entombed. Thirty-five injured miners were treated, several for severe burns which may prove fatal. This border town’s information from | the mine at Nuevo Rosita, Coachuila, | failed to confirm a report from Tor- reon, Mexico, that the recovered bodies totaled 47. 700 in Mine. About 700 miners were scattered | throughout the underground shafts of the Rosita Coal Mine Co.'s No. 6 op- erations when the blast occurred yes- terday about a mile from the entrance and 400 feet below the surface. Officials suggested sparks from an unknown source may have set off fire- damp gas. Mass funeral services were arranged for the 'victims, recovered from the No. 1 shaft. Escaping gas and rocks and tim- ber which blocked the shafts ham- pered rescue work. All Victims Mexicans. Reports received here said all of the victims were Mexicans. Rescue work began immediately after the explosion, and physicians from five other towns were sum- moned. News of the blast attracted large crowds to the shaft head from Rosita, city of 30,000. Manuel Reyes of Eagle Pass was advised by a brother who works for the company that the explosion rocked Rosita. The mine is owned by the Companie Carbonifera de Sabinss, S. A., Mexican subsidiary of the Amer- ican Smelting & Refining Co. Twelve mules in the mine escaped death because, observers said, they remained at one place, wlhile frantic miners rushed into the deadly gas. Safe-Crackers Take Diamonds. SIOUX CITY, Iowa, December 23 (#).—Robbers blasted the safe of the W. E. Ehlerman Wholesale Jewelry Co. and escaped with diamonds valued at $36,000 and $1,000 in other jewelry between Russia and Japan over the recent Japanese-German anti-com- munism pact. By Bishop By the Associated Press. Tribute to Edward Voiced. of Manchester severity of their criticism of the former Chiang. Aid for the rebellion was seen in reports that Marshal Chang had ef- fected an alliance with Communist leaders farther to the northwest and | | was actively co-operating with them. | ~ The young marshal was said to have flown 200 miles to Fushih, important city of Northern Shensi Province, for a conference with Communist leaders. bringing one of them back with him to Sianfu to greef Mme. Chiang and Dr. Soong. The telegram from the “unofficial” emissaries was the first word since their plane nosed into the fog over the Yangtze River Valley yesterday for the flight to Sianfu. Comment Is Refused. Officials refused to comment on the sudden development or on Dr. Soong's | terse telegram, which gave no details | of conditions at Marshal Chang’s headquarters. The Central Executive Committec of the Kuomintang, indicating prep- arations for a long delay before the generalissimo’s return, named high government officials to take over two of Chiang’s offices. The Kuomintang is Generalissimo Chiang's Nationalist party and all- powerful in the government. Lin Sen, chairman of the national government, was selected acting vice chairman of the Central Political Council as well, and Chu Cheng, presi- dent of the Judicial Council, took over the duties of vice chairman of the Central Executive Committee. The action provided heads for the highest Kuomintang administrative organs as their chairmanships are temporarily vacant. It was indicated that the armistice meant long negotiations were under ‘way. The government at Nanking was (See CHIANG, Page A-6.) FATHER LYONS WEAKER WESTON, Mass., December 23 (). —Rev. Dr. Charles W. Lyons, 8. J., former president of Georgetown Uni- versity and Boston College, was “a little weaker,” officials at Weston Col- lege reported last night. Father Lyons suffered a heart at- tack last week. & Finance .. - ety ...~ B-3 Lost & Found A-3| Sports A-16-17-18 Obituary ...A-12| Woman's Pg. B-12 NATIONAL. organizing of Page A-1 Hopkins reported as resigning unless relief gets $750,000,000. Page A-3 Borah says U. 8. must give up profits to enforce neutrality. Page A-4 FOREIGN. 3 34 miners killed, 5 missing in Mexican explosion. Page A-1 Three-day armistice called in China to - aid in negotiations. Page A-1 Gomesz backers prepare to flee as im- . Page A-1 YES, GOVERNOR, | HAULED IN SWAPPING FISHING STORIES? NEW CLUE FAILS N PLANE HONT Officials Say Ship Turkey- Buyer Saw Was That of Searcher. By the Associated Press. LOS ANGELES, December 23— Western Air Express officials said to- day the report its lost transport was seen making a forced landing about 12 miles northwest of 8t. George, Utah, December 15, proved unfounded. M. D. Talley, Los Angeles turkey | buyer, really saw an airplane in that vicinity, but it was one of the search- ing planes and was piloted by Jimmy | | James, Western ai- officials said. The transport plene, with seven persons aboad, has been missing eight days. James, in a westbound air transport, had left Salt Lake on the same night that the missing plane left Los Angeles for Salt Lake. He was due in Los An- geles 12:25 a.m. December 15. Due to storm conditions he set down his plane At Las Vegas and the passengers were sent on to Los Angeles by train. At dawn December 15, with in- formation that the eastbound trans- | port was overdue at Salt Lake James took off to search the area between Las Vegas and Salt Lake. At 7 am. he passed the point where the turkey | buyer reports he saw the transport. | Carefully checking the turkey buy- er'’s story, the line officials were con- | vinced that it was James' transport | Talley saw and not the missing sky- liner. Meanwhile, ground parties in North | Idaho called for aerial help, because of blizzard conditions, in locating the | (See PLANE, Page A-4.) 'MANY GIFTS DESTROYED | BY FIRE ON TRAIN Parcel Post Packages on South- ern Railway Heavily Dam- aged En Route. By the Associsted Press. LEXINGTON, N. C., December 23. —Fire did heavy damage to a solid carload of parcel post, including thou- sands of Christmas packages, on a Southern Railway train here today. Lexington firemen extinguished ‘the blaze after the train sped here from Linwood, six miles away, where smoke was first noticed seeping from the sealed car. Postal officials estimated a third of west of Salisbury and was destined for Greensboro and points beyond. Prospects for “white” Christmas re- mote. Page B-1 1. C. C. to decide District “metropolitan area” under carrier act. Page B-1 Plans for White House Christmas are completed. Page B-1 Postal business here sets all-time record. Page B-1 EDITORIAL AND COMMENT. 6 Huskies sad, Panthers cheered as Rose Bowl game draws near. PageA-16 Page A-7 Page A-7 Page A9 Page B-S Page B-11 Page B-11 Page B-12 |- Page B-12 Page B-16 FINANCIAL. Corporate bonds improve (table). trigl | Stocks irregular (table), Ourb list higher (table). - & BUT YOU (Some returns not yet received.) P Means Associdted MR PRESIDENT 1 CAUGHT A COUPLE OUGHT T0 SEE THEA%?IMT o e "fll iON D. FESS. EX-SENATOR FESS DROPS DEAD HERE Former G. 0. P. Chairman, 75, Dies While Making Telephone Call. Simeon D. Fess, former Senator from | Ohio and one-time chairman of the Republican National Committee, died | suddenly at the Carlton Hotel this morning, soon after arriving in Wash- ington for an ~xtended stay. The former Senator, who passed his 75th birthday anniversary on Decem- ber 11 of this year, was making a telephone call from his hotel room when he was seized with a heart at- tack. Before the call was completed he fell back upon the bed. Mrs. Margaret L. Welsh, the ex- Senator’s former secretary, was with him at the time, as they were pre- paring to make a Christmas shopping trip. She immediately summoned Dr. Samuel H. Becker, house physician for the Carlton. Fess was dead, how- ever, when Dr. Becker arrived. The former Senator is survived by three sons, Lehr Fess of Toledo, Ohio; Lowell Fess of Yellow Springs, Ohio, where the Senator lived, and Charles 8. Fess of Washington. The latter was summoned to the Carlton imme- diately. Later Charles Fess said the body probably would be returned to Yellow Springs tonight, with burial there on Saturday. Native of Ohio. Dr. Fess, a Republican throughout his political career, was born in Allen County, Ohio, on December 11, 1861. His father died when he was very young and he lived with an older sister Receiving a law degree during this period, he became dean of the uni- versity’s Law School in 1897, serving in that post for three years. In 1902 he was called to the University of DANAGE S00 N HALARN FRE Blaze at Chalfonte Apart- ments Is Confined to Top Floor. (Pictures on Page B-1.) Truck and engine companies from | the whole Northwest section responded to a four-alarm fire in the top floor of | the Chalfonte Apartments at 2116 Pi street this morning and checked the | flames, which had threatened to| spread to other buildings. Damage was estimated at less than $10,000. The first alarm was turned in about 10:15 a.m. by P. B. McGhee, president | the roof of the four-story building. | The fact the Chalfonte is located | alongside other residential buildings prompted firemen to sound successive | alarms to prevent the flames from | spreading. | The blaze started from some unde- | termined cause in a top-floor apart- | ment rented by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Loveless. The apartment was unoc- cupied at the time. When firemen ar- rived and opened the door they found the fourth-story apartment a mass of flames. Residents Flee to Street. Residents were able to make their way unassisted to the street because of the fact the flames started on the | top floor. Many were unaware the | building was on fire until apparatus | began arriving in the street outside. | A canary and a Maltese cat were | the only victims. Firemen found two | unconscious birds in a cage in a fourth- | floor apartment. They revived one | Mrs. Loveless arrived at the apart- ment after the fire was under con- trol. Her first words were “Where's | my cat?” The pet died apparently | from the smoke. | When Miss Barbara Dille, who lives on a lower floor, learned the building was on fire, she thought of 5-year-old | Bobby Deeter, who was on the fourth floor, in charge of an elderly colored maid, Cora Brooks. Miss Dille ran upstairs and led the badly frightened pair down through the smoke. ttalion Chief Edward O’'Connor rted the damage was confined al- most entirely to the fourth floor. Traffic Tied Up. ‘Trafic was tied up for almost an hour. and a large throng of spectators gathered in P street, where busses had been brought to a standstill by the| arrival of fire apparatus and the| stringing of hose lines. Firemen erected two ladders to the | top of the building in order to carry water lines to the roof. Residents of the apartment said they smelled smoke, but supposed the janitor was burning trash. Many did not know about the fire until the fire- men began to string hose up the stairs. Earlier in the morning another fire broke out at 617 D street, forcing three women and their five children to hurry to the chilly street clad only in under- and bathrobes. The fire, which did little damage, but caused considerable smoke, started in the basement beneath Pete’s Lunch Room. Peter Mantis, proprietor, had just opened the place for business when the fire engines arrived. He rushed upstairs through the smoke to arouse his wife and their three children, aged Two other women and (See FESS, Page A-2) D. C. Postal Records Broken As Yule Rush Reaches Peak gl 2§ H il o F k= ] T il gains. December 15 qi6 i § 15,018,773 this year, an in. of 2,839,232, or more than cent. MAIL BEAVIEST SINCE '29. TWO CENTS. UNION BARGAINING POWER SOUGHT FOR ALL AUTO' PLANTS Collective Pact-Making for Every Unit in Industry Is U. A. W. A, Goal. Press. GENERAL MOTORS, FORD ORGANIZATIONS PUSHED Announcement of - International President Comes at Time of Acute Parts Shortage. By the Assoctated Press. DETROIT, December 23. — The United Automobile Workers of America announced as its goal today the sign- ing of collective bargaining agree- ments with every unit in the motor industry from the smallest manu- facturer of parts to the “big three”— Chrysler, Ford and General Motors. “We are going to have collective bargaining in all of the auto industry,” sald Homer Martin, international president of the union, “and we won'’t give up until we have it. By Federal legislation, collective bargaining is the law of the land, and it is sube stantiated by public opinion. “Right now we are trying to arrange negotiations with the General Motors Corp. We are going to organize Ford, too. General Motors and Ford do not have collective bargaining. Relations Satisfactory. “Our relations with the Chrysler Corp. have been very satisfactory,” Martin said. “There has not been a single case of union discrimination or discharge there. Chrysler, along with many others, evidently is seek- ing to abide by the law and play fairly. “The union’s objective is to establish collective bargaining agreements throughout the automotive industry in the United States.” This announcement came as execu- tives of automobile factories and re- lated industries watched apprehen- sively the effect of strikes in several Snns plants on car and truck produc- on. A shortage of parts, resulting from walkouts called by the Federation of lines in several motor plants and threatened further inroads on motor car production unless the disputes are settled soon. The Ford Motor Co. took steps to make its own brake parts. These fore merly were supplied by the Kelseye Hayes Co., in whose two Detroit plants “sit-down” strikes called by the United Automobile Workers are in effect. Ford officials notified the Kelsey- Hayes management that it was instie tuting replevin proceedings to obtain equipment which the Ford Co. owns, but which has been used at the parts factories. They said the machinery would be placed in operation at the Ford factory. i George W. Kennedy, president of Kelsey-Hayes, said his plants would be reopened as soon as the strikers leave and the minimum wage will be 75 cents an hour. The union workers seek wage increases and adjustment of overtime rates. Recognition of the union as the col- lective bargaining agency of the workers has been another demand in the strikes in,the parts plants and also in General Motors subsidiaty plants at Kansas City and Atlanta. Hold Conference. Martin, representing his union, and William S. Knudsen, executive vice president of General Motors, con- ferred yesterday at the request of the former clergyman whe now heads the union. The cgrporation later issued a state- ment saying that Martin had “pre- sented various alleged discrimination cases and grievances” and “was ad- vised to take the various matters up with the plant manager, or, if neces- sary, the general manager having jurisdiction.” The statement said this was “the corporation’s operating policy.” Martin said the conference with Knudsen was “entirely amicable” and the union would follow his suggestion, adding: “General Motors hasn't fully an- swered our request, but we expect it to later. We desire to hold a general conference to discuss matters of com- pany policy and hope this ultimately will lead to an agreement for collective bargaining. I don't feel that the cor- poration has turned us down; it simply hasn't answered yet on this point. “Mr. Knudsen .says he believes in collective bargaining anc that it is here to stay. So do we, but we do not believe it exists at General Motors. I am convinced that we can bargain collectively with General Motors, and I am convinced that this can be ac- complished without strikes. We prefer not to strike.” STRIKERS TO ASK LA GUARDIA’S AID Emergency Workers Will Ask Him to Intervene in Civil Service Test Row. BY the Associated Press. NEW YORK, December 23.—Emer- gency Relief Bureau workers, after an