Evening Star Newspaper, February 19, 1937, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Partly cloudy tonight and tomorrow, followed by rain tomorrow night; slight- ly warmer tonight; minimum about 38 degrees; gentle winds. Temperatures— Highest, 42, at 10:30 a.m, today; lowest, 34, at 5 a.m. Full report on page A-3. Closing New York Markets, Page 14 85th YEAR. No. SIT-DOWN' GROUP USES ACID TO ROUT OFFICERS SEEKING T0 ENTER FACTORY Strikers Defy Sheriff’s Men Attempting to Enforce Eviction Order at Plant of Hinois Firm, SIX HURT IN SKIRMISH; MISSILES ARE HURLED Battering Ram Attack on Door' Is Checked as Workers Loose Stream of Pulleys, Wrenches and Bolts Against Force of 125 Deputies and Police. By the Associated Press. ‘WAUKEGAN, Iil, February 19.— *Sit-down” strikers replied with a bare rage of acid, wrenches and bolts to deputies trying to evict them from a Fansteel Metallurgical Corp. plant near here early today. They turned back the officers after a two-hour battle. Casualties numbered six in the early counting, none of them seriously hurt. The plant involved is one of two held by “sit-downers” in adjacent North Chicago. Leading 125 deputies and policemen, supplied with tear gas bombs and armed with base ball bats, Sheriff L. A. Dooling of Lake County set out about 5 a.m. to enforce a court order issued yesterday to oust the men, members of a Committee for Indus- trial Organization Union. They have demanded recognition of their local as a bargaining agency. Dooling opened his assault, when She strikers refused to heed the court order read to them, by a battering ram charge against one of the factory doors. Deputies Driven Back. Strikers loosed a stream of pulleys and other throwable objects and acid to drive the deputies back from the door which had previously been nailed down. While a crowd looked on, the two forces battled on until the officers ran out of tear gas to end the first phase of the conflict. The sheriff then withdrew his forces and conferred with company officials. His chief deputy said the officials ad- vised them, in effect, to “go the limit” in ousting the sitdowners. A member of the strikers’ committee, not inside the plant, was called to a conference in the administration building. Of the six slightly injured, a deputy and a policeman were burned by acid and another deputy was burned by tear gas. The other three were strik- ers. None required hospital treat- ment. ‘The crowd which gathered near the plant threw bundles over the fence, the police reported. Officers rushed to the scene in automobiles, but did not disperse the crowd. The sit-downers were in a jolly hu- mor. They claimed that a woman had taken a club away from a deputy sheriff. ‘The plant grounds cover 7', acres in the southern section of North Chi- cago, which is on Lake Michigan, ebout 20 miles north of Chicago. Two Main Buildings. There are two main brick factory buildings, with several smaller struct- ures. Outside the surrounding steel fence is an experimental laboratory. The company turns out small metal parts for other manufacturing con- cerns. About 300 persons are employed in the plant, approximately 225 of them in the factory. The strikers sent 60 (See STRIKERS, Page A-5.) MEASURE TO EXTEND TRADE ACT IS VOTED Senate Finance Committee Re- ports Resolution, Rejecting Seven Changes. ‘The Senate Finance Committee re- ported without amendment today a resolution to extend the reciprocal trade act for three years. The present law expires June 12. The resolution already has been ap- proved by the House. Before report- ing it to the Senate floor for debate, the Finance Committee rejected seven proposed amendments. One of them—a proposal by Sen- ator Vandenberg, Republican, of Michigan—would have prohibited the President and State Department from incorporating in trade agreements any restriction on the authority of Congress to fix internal taxation. Another Vandenberg amendment Which was defeated would have stip- ulated that no tariff could be reduced below an amount necessary to equal the American cost of production. The committee also rejected an amendment by Senator Capper, Re- publican, of Kansas, which would have required Senate ratification of all trade agreements and would have terminated the “most-favored-nation” policy now in effect. .HAIL PACT IS REPORTED Roosevelt Withholds Details of Retirement Board Plan. President Rooseveli said today the Railroad Retirement Board would an- nounce in a few days an important agreement between the railroads and the railway brotherhoods. He would go no further in telling newspaper men of the expected an- nouncement. The board has been trying, among other things, to bring the managements and employe repre- sentatives together on a satisfactory retirement plan, 33,897. Entered as second class matter post office, Washington, D. C. Board Revamped ARTHUR J, ALTMEYER. | | o JOHN G. WINANT. PROBE IS ORDERED INTO SHIP BLAST | Capt. Trumble of Alexandria Among 7 of Marines Killed. 10 Are Hurt. By the Associated Press. SAN PEDRO, Calif., February 19.— The death toll of a gun explosion aboard the old U. 8. S. Wyoming was raised to seven today when Sydney Emsley, Marine private, died from his injuries on the naval hospital ship Relief, Emsley, whose home was in Atlantic City, N. J., was among the 11 injured rushed here to medical attention by the training vessel late yesterday. His death came even while a naval board was being formed to investigate the naval tragedy, A 30-pound powder charge of a 5- inch shell went off yesterday in the breech of a starboard gun on the de- militarized Wyoming during maneu- vers 60 miles off shore. “I saw one boy sort of drift past me, floating through the air, half his head shot off, and land on the deck,” said & Marine aboard. “It was awful.” ‘The Wyoming was laying down a barrage to cover evacuation by a land- ing party on the beach of San Clemente Island when the explosion sent fragments of steel and iron through the bodies of the gun crew and against bulkheads. “The blast blew out parts of the bulkhead around the casemate, a small gun room projecting from the outer skin alongside the hull,” said the eye- witness. “Terrible,” Says Captain. “It was a terrible accident,” said Capt. C. N. Hinkamp, commander of the Wyoming. “The dead are of the regular Marine personnel and the fleet Marine force brought out from Quan- tico, Va., for the battle problems here.” This was the second major tragedy to strike a United States warship in the San Clemente Island drill grounds in seven months and the fifth acci- dental explosion aboard a battleship (See BLAST, Page A-3.) —_— MIHAI RETURNS HOME Rumanian Crown Prince Recovers From Operation. FLORENCE, Italy, February 19 (). —Crown Prince Mihai of Rumania left here today for Bucharest, recov- ered from an emergency appendectomy and an attack of influenza. The 15-year-old prince was oper- ated on January 23 at a Florence hospital. He was stricken while on a ;1‘:11; to his mother, former Queen n, ah ‘WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1937 —FORTY-FOUR PAGES. ALTMEYER HEADS SECURITY BOARD, WINANT RETIRING Acting Vice Chairman to Take Over Duties With- out Confirmation. MURRAY W. LATIMER NAMED TO VACANCY Former Agency Director Likely to Join New Deal Again, Roosevelt Intimates. BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG. President Roosevelt today announced withdrawal of the nomination of John G. Winant for reappsintment as chairman of the Social Security Board and promotion of Arthur J. Altmeyer to the chairmanship to replace Winant., Altmeyer, a former Assistant Secretary of Labor and one of the original appointees to the board, has been acting as vice chairman and will not need Senate confirmation. At the same time, the President sent to the Senate the nomination of Murray W. Latimer, chairman of the Railroad Retirement Board, to fill the Security Board vacancy. His term would expire in August, 1941. The third board member is Vincent M. Miles. Winant, whose nomination has been before the Senate for some time, had asked to be relieved because he wanted to devote his time to personal mate- ters. In announ.ing the changes to- day, Mr. Roosevelt intimated, how- ever, that he expects to have Winant back in some capacity in the New Deal in the future. He already has returned to his home in Concord, N. H. Ardent New Dealer. Winant, former Governor of New Hampshire, is a Republican, but has been an ardent supporter of the New Deal. During the last election campaign he resigned as chairman to take the stump and personally defend the so- cial security act from bitter attacks made by the opposition. When the campaign was over he was re-ap- pointed to his old place, which had remained unfilled. Latimer, a New Yorker, is an expert cn industrial pensions. He came to Washington several years ago as an essistant to the co-ordinator of rail- roads, but later was appointed chatr- man of the Railroad Retirement Board. This board has been busily engaged in working out a satisfactory retirement arrangement for the rail- road industry, and Latimer has de- voted his efforts toward bringing about an agreement between the carriers and the railroad brotherhoods. In announcing the selection of Lati- mer for the Social Security Roard, the President intimated this agreement has finally been worked out and will be announced shortly. Letter Made Public. ‘The President made public today a letter from Winant, addressed Jan- uary 9, explaining his reasons wishing to retire: “My Dear Mr, President: “At the end of September I felt that 8 situation had developed in relation to the social security act that did not permit me to continue on the board as the Republican minority me...” -=. “I believed in the act, although I recognized the need for change and amendment. Those who were spokes- men for the Republican party opposed it. Therefore, I resigned in order to speak for it. “Immediately following the election you asked me if I would return to the board, ‘say until the first of the year,” because we were in the midst of regis- tering many millions of beneficiaries under the act and were also faced with other unfinished business. I feel that it is proper for me to now withdraw. “The board is already through its early difficulties of organization. A large majority of the States are al- ready co-operating with the Federal Government under public assistance | and unemployment compensation, and the mechanics of ledger accounting under old-age benefits is well under way. “The need for additional space for this operation is recognized, and ade- quate building facilities are planned; technical and substantive amendments limited to our developing experience have been prepared for submission to the Congress; careful and conscientious preparation has been made by actu- aries, economists and attorneys to as- (See SECURITY, Page A-4.) % Slayer Goes to Chair. EDDYVILLE, Ky., February 19 (P). —George Underwood paid with his life in the State’s electric chair early today for the murder of Wallace Van Fleet, Lebanon Junction, Ky., marshal. The young Bullitt County man en- tered the death chamber at 12:05 am. and was pronounced dead seven minutes later, Blond Fights Character Attack By Rubinoff Lawyer at Trial BY the Associated Press, NEW YORK, February 19.—Blond Peggy Garcia, hat check girl who took her stage name from a cigar, amused everybody in Supreme Court except Dave Rubinoff today as she fought off attempts in her $500,000 heart balm suit to show that she was intimate with several men. Rubinoff, squat, partly bald radio violinist, flanked by his three brothers, held his head in his hands at times as the determined young woman from Virginia testified under cross-examina- tion that there were three names on the mailbox in the vestibule of the apartment house she lives-in in Astoria. “Don’t you know there are only two names on the box?” demanded Abra- ham Halprin, counsel for Rubinoff, who denies that he ever promised to marry Peggy or was intimate with her on two occasions in 1933. Confused, Peggy demanded of the lawyer if he never had “made & slip” and all but Rubinoff joined in the laughter. Miss Garcia, who testified yesterday that her new and unidentified husband “socked” and left her when he heard about the alleged Rubinoff romance, belligerently opposed Halprin's efforts to prove his opening charge that she wis of rather poor moral character. She was bolstered at one point by Supreme Court Justice Salvatore Co- tillo, who broke up bickering between and days” on the trial. “It’s up to you (Halprin) to prove that she is the prostitute you say she is,” the justice commented. “The question is did Rubinoff or did he not promise to marry her? “I want tangible evidence; I don't want a fishing expedition.” Halprin brought into court Joseph I FORTS ON BORDE ALARM' FRENCH Paris Informed Gen. Ffanco Has Trained Heavy Bat- teries on Territory. BY the Assoclated Press, PARIS, February 19.—France, con- cerned over her unfortified Pyrenees border, moved toward an investigation today of charges that Spanish insur- gents, under supervision of German engineers, had trained strong bat- teries of artillery on French territory. Refugees from insurgent territory were said by the Basque government at Bilbao to have declared Generalis- simo Francisco Franco’s troops were throwing up strong fortifications along the Spanish side of the international line. Large trenches were being con- structed, the Basque communique as- from Irun eastward to the border. From the top of Mount San Marcial at Irun, the Bilbao officials declared refugees from Guipuzcoa Province re- ported, artillery implacements were pointed at France. Send Troops to Border. French officials declined to com- ment pending an inquiry. Picked troopers were on the march to the Pyrenees border, however, to enforce the ban on volunteers which France has ordered under the inter- " " |national non-intervention agreement. The Bilbao authorities, who are al- lied with the Spanish Valencia gov- ernment, charged the fortifications were erected under the direction of German military engineers. The Communist newspaper L'Hu- manite headlined the communique in Paris today as “Germany installed on the frontiers of France.” ‘The organ linked the charges with reports Gen. Franco had reached an accord with the Reich, placing his government in the German-Japanese anti-Communist line-up and pledging mutual assistance in case of attack by France’s Soviet ally. Farmers Built System. France, bound to Russia by & mu- tual assistant pact, has been showing growing concern over the vulnerability of her southern border in case the peninsula civil war altered her tra- ditional friendship with Spain. The Bilbao communique said the refugees, many of whom were from San Sebastian, declared farmers had been impressed into the insurgent service to build the system of fortifi- cations. Some of them, the reports said, were Live 28 Years Of ‘Wedded’ Life Without Rites Bufjalo Couple Learn Ceremony in 1909 Was Not Legal. BY the Associated Press, BUFFALO, N. Y., February 19.— Mr. and Mrs. Frank Draver looked forward today to a wedding ceremony —confident they “are making no mistake” after 28 years of what they call their “trial marriage.” Draver, 64, explained he “gave a fellow $5 for pronouncing Margaret and me man and wife” back in 1909. “We thought all the time we were legally married,” he said, “until the Emergency Relief Bureau informed me last week that there wasn't any record of the marriage.” Granted a license to wed, Draver said they would be married by Rev. Herman J. Hahn, pastor of the [em Evangelical Church, —— THO CONVTE IN VOTE FRAUD Federal Court Jury Unable to Reach Verdict on Three Other Defendants. By the Assoclated Press. KANSAS CITY, February 19.—A Federal Court jury today convicted two Kansas City election officials of a vote fraud conspiracy in last No= vember's general election. It was un- able to reach a verdict on three other defendants, two women and a man. Convicted were Edson M. Walker, Democratic judge in the thirteenth precinct, twelfth Kansas City ward, and John H. Drummond, precinct cap- tain. The jurors reported to Federal Judge Merrill E. Otis they were unable to agree in the cases of Mrs. Anna V. O’Laughlin, Democratic clerk; Miss Loretta McEntee, Democratic judge, and Elijah Burke, youthful Republic- an judge. The five defendants, first to go to trial, were charged specifically with miscounting votes in the congressional contest won by Jasper Bell, Democrat. Bell was credited with 686 votes and his Republican opponent, Paul R. By=- rum, with nine in the election offi- cials’ report, while evidence showed Byrum actually received 162 votes and Bell 686. Two woman Republican judges, Mrs. (See FRANCE, Page A-4.) (See VOTE, Page A-4.) 0| Bonds improve quietly Short Story-A-11 Society .. -B-3 Sports __ ‘Woman's Pg. C-14 Obituary -__A-10 FOREIGN. France alarmed by report Franco guns are trained on border. Page A-1 NATIONAL. Senator Robinson sees debt settlement likely. Page A-1 Altmeyer to succeed Winant as social security chairman. Page A-1 Two are convicted in Kansas City vote fraud conspiracy. Page A-1 Violence and intimidation charged to General Motors. Page A-1 Roosevelt to recommend granary plan to Congress. Page A-4 G. M. C. employes in Canada go on strike. Page A-5 WASHINGTON AND VICINITY. One dead, five injured in D. C. and nearby traffic, Page A-2 Mrs. Norton opens new fight for Dis- trict representation. Page A-3 Drive launched in committee to shift Commission ap- proves design and site. Page B-1 Trial of Rhodes, Fidelity official, set for March 8. Page B-1 Senate committee votes favorable re- port on Mellon gift. Page B-1 (table). A-13 Cotton mill activity jumps. Page A-13 Freight loadings gain. Page A-13 Steel and coppers lead stock rally. (table). Page A-14 Curb rise uneven (table). Page A-15 Trade up on wide front. Page A-15 EDITORIAL AND COMMENT. Editorials. Page A-8 This and That. Page A-8 Answers to Questions, Page A-8 Political Mill. Page A-8 ‘Washington Observations. Page A-8 David Lawrence. Page A-9 Paul Mallon. Page A-9 Page A-9 Crossword Puzzle, City News in Brief. Braddock is defying Garden to battle Louis in Chicago. Page C-1 Array of mile aces threaten record in New York A. C. meet. Page C-1 Horton Smith is most feared golfer in Augusta tournament. Page C-2 More than 25 horses likely to start in Santa Anita handicap. Page C-2 Steele already world middle champ to Pacific Coast fans, Page C-3 ’ ROBINSON EXPECTS DEBT SETTLEMENT Something Definite Next Year Likelihood, Declares Democratic Leader, BY the Associated Press, Senator Robinson of Arkansas, Democratic leader, told the Senate today that “there is a strong likeli- hood that in the next year something substantial may be accomplished look- ing toward a final settlement of the war debts.” Robinson spoke after Senator Lewis, Democrat, of Illinois, proposed in a resolution that no reciprocal trade treaty be made with any nation which repudiates or “refuses to pay” or adjust its debt to the United States. He said undischarged and unad- justed debts exceed $12,000,000,000, and “with interest and premiums, ap- proach $25,000,000,000.” Interrupting Lewis, Robinson said his forecast was based on & turn in sentiment about the debts issue in debtor countries, Opinion in Debtor Countries. “There is a growing public opinion in some of the debtor countries,” he said, “which recognizes the unavoid- able, absolute necessity, for declining to permit themselves to be perma- nently committed to a policy of re- pudiation.” Senator Borah, Republican, of Idaho asked Robinson if a reduction of the debts was involved. “No proposal has been submitted,” Robinson replied. “No plan has been formulated. My only point is that now there is the beginning of a movement in some of the important debtor coun- tries which will build up public opin- ion to work out some plan of final settlement. “I do ‘not speak for any public au- thority other than myself.” Borah replied there undoubtedly was a movement abroad to obtain recon- sideration and readjustment of the debts, He added, “The whole propo- sition is based on & reduction of the present debts.” No Forecast at Present. “I do not think it would be possible at this time to forecast what may be accomplished,” Robinson said. “I would not say I would be un- willing to agree to any reduction. Nor would I say it was essential to ad- vance & proposal for a reduction.” He noted again, however, that there was a growing recognition of the debts abroad and a desire to “sustain na- tional honor by declining to repu- diate.” “No doubt some countries,” Borah interjected, “would like to sustain their national honor. But I have yet to see any statement by any official indicating payment of the debt as it now stands.” —_— FRENCH FOR PRICE CURB Socialists Approve Bills Authoriz- ing Penalties. PARIS, February 19 (#).—Socialist members of the Chamber of Deputies approved today a group of bills au- thorizing Premier Leon Blum to punish French merchants who raise their prices without justification. The only evening paper in Washington with the Associated Press News and Wirephoto Services. Yesterday’s Circulation, 143,838 (Some returns not yet -eceived.) ¢ Foening Star [ AedkekoR Troops Asked To Force Fight On Dust Blight Oklahoman W ould Compel Planting of Forage Crops. BY the Associated Press. GUYMON, Okla., February 19.—A crop-destroying. shroud of dust de- scended again today as one wheat planter of this Panhandle area sug- gested martial law to force farmers to fight blowing soil with forage crops. ‘The plowed prairies continued to blow for the sixth consecutive day, the longest sustained period in mem- ory of pioneers. Across the Kansas line in Hugoton, Dr. T. G. Gammell, city health offi- cer, announced two more deaths, bringing to 12 the pneumonia and in- fluenza deaths there in the last few days. Northwest at Lamar, Colo., thinning dust clouds gave some indication the storm was lifting. Brief rains in parts of Texas allayed dust and a light veil covering much of the Panhandle-Plains area was re- ported vanishing. Dr. B. F. Garst, pioneer Panhandle physician, who has a large wheat acreage, suggested that strong meas- ures be taken to make farmers “toe the mark.” “I think they should put the whole Panhandle under martial law,” he said, “and make us fellows toe the mark and plant forage crops to stop the dust.” “I had 600 acres of wheat planted, and it looked pretty good, but it's all blown away now.” In Oklahoma City Gov. E. W. Mar- land called a conference of residents of dust-ridden areas, seeking a solution to the problem of eroding soil. H. C. Dyer, Texas County farm agent, declared most of the wheat crop “has been abandoned due to blowing conditions. The farmers need what- ever assistance can be given.” Mrs. Helen Fritz, assistant Texas County superintendent of schools, said all rural schools were remaining closed until the dust subsides. Eight rural schools were closed permanently be- cause of & drop in enrollment. Many of those withdrawing were children of parents who had moved away to escape the dust, she added. b. M. “VIOLENCE” CHARGES RELATED Witnesses Say Workers in Flint Plant Gassed, Beaten and Shot. BY JOHN C. HENRY. Violence and intimidation were charged against General Motors Corp. by three witnesses appearing before the Senate Civil Liberties Committee today. Workmen were gassed, beaten and shot in Chevrolet plant No. 9 in Flint, Mich., by a squad of men led by Plant Manager Arnold Lenz, it was testified by James H. Mangold, as a strike was getting under way on Feb- ruary 1. Plant gates were closed while this went on, he said, and the at- tacked workers were allowed to escape only when the gas became so thick the attackers had to leave. $40,000 Voted to Inquiry. ‘The Senate this afternoon voted an additional $40,000 to finance the civil liberties inquiry. This action was taken on recommendation of the Sen- ate Committee on Audit and Control after a request by the La Follette committee for $50,000. In accepting the lower figure Chair- man La Follette told the Senate he feared further funds would be neces- sary, but that the $40,000 sum is ac- ceptable at the present time. In a preliminary report the com- mittee stated that additional funds should be provided to probe the extent of privately maintained police and espionage forces and the activities of such vigilante groups as the Black Legion. These manifestations, the committee said, are among the most dangerous threats to the civil liberty of individuals. At this morning’s committee hear- ing, Mangold had told of being Automobile Workers, also was a rep- resentative of employes on the Works Council, the compan, union set-up. Mangold told previously of being “thrown out” of the plant superin- tendent’s office when he complained of a speed-up and of circulation by foremen of & “loyalty petition,” which stated that employes were satisfied with their jobs and against the Com- mittee for Industrial Organization strike action. Employes were threat- ened with loss of their jobs if they (See LA FOLLETTE, Page A-2.) Flatbush Couple Unexpectedly Chats With Royal Family BY the Assoctated Press. LONDON, February 19.—Fred E. Fuller, American businessman from Flatbush, Brooklyn, hugged his wife in & London hotel room today and ex- claimed proudly: “Oh, boy! We met the whole darn royal family!” Mrs. Fuller still was so excited she couldn’t remember what Queen Mother Mary said to her Wednesday at the cutlery section of the British Industries Fair in Olympia. “We were just standing there when the Queen mother walked over and held out her hand to my wife,” related Fuller, who is president of a Man- hattan cutlery works. exchanged a few words and then Queen turned to me and said: ‘How's business in the United States?’ " About that time, the American con- later the Duke and Duchess of Kent and the Princess Royal Mary, Count- ditions in the United States, and Fuller said he replied, “We need lower tariffs.” “See Runciman (Walter Runciman, president of the British Board of Trade),” Queen Elizabeth countered, quickly, the American said. ‘The Duke of Kent entered the con- versation by “cornering me and dis- cussing business matters,” Fuller de- clared, “while the princess royal talked with Mrs. Fuller—who can’t remember & thing she said “They all talked business except the King—who didn’t say anything except: ‘How about having lunch?'” the American said. He added quickly: “He didn't say that to me. He was asking the royal party. They were all just like real folks.” The Fullers, who arrived in England a week ago on & combination business and pleasure trip, were principally concerned about their family back in Flatbush. “Wait until we tell tje children” Mrs. Fuller exclaimed, referring to Roslyn, 15; Selmg, 13, and Harris, 8. (UP) Means Associated Press. TWO CENTS. WAGE-HOUR BILLS EXPECTED BEFORE AGTION ON COURTS Roosevelt Battle for New Social Laws Seen by Advisers. NEW ANALYSIS OF N.R. A. STUDIED BY PRESIDENT Indirect References to Constitu- tional Questions in Farm Mes- sages Seen Clue to Aims. BULLETIN, Chairman Ashurst, Democrat, of Arizona of the Senate Judiciary Committee, described President Roosevelt’s court reorganization proposal in the Senate today a&s “the mildest of all the bills that could have been introduced” under the circumstances. By the Associated Press. Some administration advisers ex- pressed the belief today President Roosevelt would submit recommenda~- tions on wage and hour legislation be« fore Congress acts on his court ree organization program. Although a few days ago they had expected him to wait for possible au- thorization to increase the Supreme Court, they revised their opinion in the light of developing strategy in the judiciary battle. They noted Mr. Roosevelt’s indirect references to constitutional questions |in his farm tenancy and crop insur- ance messages and said it was logical to follow soon with suggestions for attaining N. R. A. objectives. In urging liberal credit for farm tenants, the President said: “Most Americans believe that our form of government does not prohibit action on behalf of those who need help.” He made a similar statement yester- day in proposing crop insurance. Some. observers also saw in these remarks an effort to win support of farmers for the court program. N. R. A. Report Ready. Another factor that led officials to look for recommendations on labor | standards and fair trade practices was the completion of an analysis of N. R. A. accomplishments and failures by Commerce Department and busi- ness experts. Mr. Roosevelt was believed to be studying this report, which may be made public shortly. His court program has been before Congress and the Nation for two weeks, but formal consideration has not been- started. Debate over its merits has spread from coast to coast. Many Congressmen, however, are re maining non-committal until they be- lieve public opinion has crystallized. Some of the 37 silent Senators—30 others have announced opposition and 29 support for the program—have made up their minds, but are with= holding statements on the theory the bill may be altered by the Judiciary Committee, President Sees Senators. The President is conferring daily with small groups of Senators. Yess terday he talked with three Democrats, and today he called in two more— Senators Thomas, Democrat, of Okla= homa and Murray, Democrat, of Mone tana. Mr. Roosevelt declined at his press | conference this morning to comment on the conferences, but indicated he would see more legislators over the week end. Altogether he has discussed his court program with 24 Senators, 6 Representatives, the Vice President and Speaker. In response to a question, the Presi- dent said he had not yet reached a decision on filling two vacancies in the Federal Circuit Court embracing Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. Twenty-six House members—33 Democrats, two Farmer-Laborites, one Progressive—drew up last night a “campaign of information” in support of the President’s program. Their members will broadcast speeches to separate regions. Martin Is Chairman. Representative Martin, Democrat, of Colorado is general chairman of the group, and Representative Lewis, Dem- ocrat, of Maryland was named head of a central committee. Others attending the meeting were: Representatives Ramsay, Democrat, of West Virginia; Leavy, Democrat, of ‘Washington; Keller, Democrat, of Iili- nois; McFarlane, Democrat, of Texas; Luckie, Democrat, of Nebraska; Han- cock, Democrat, of North Carolina; Izac, Democrat, of California; Teigan, Farmer-Labor, of Minnesota; Amlie, Progressive, of Wisconsin; O’Connell, Democrat, of Montana; Voorhis, Dem- ocrat, of California; Harlan, Democrat, of Ohio; Bernard, Farmer-Labor, of Minnesota; Allen, Democrat, of Penne sylvania; Eckert, Democrat, of Penn= sylvania; Hildebrandt, Democrat, of South Dakota; Phillips, Democrat, of Connecticut; Bigelow, Democrat, of Ohio; Dewey, Farmer-Labor, of Min=- nesota; Hill, Democrat, of Washing= ton; Ford, Democrat, of California; Scott, Democrat, of California, and Koppleman, Democrat, of Connecticuts Oppesition Group. Another Democratic House group, led by Representative Cox of Georgis, is organizing opposition to the court= enlargement proposal. Senator Wheeler, Democrat, of Mon= tana, an opponent of the President’s recommendations, will broadcast s speech tonight, making a special ap= peal to farm and labor groups whose support the administration is seeking. Although Mr. Roosevelt has s2id he had no immediate plans for a radio address, ba’a proponents and critics of the program were taking such a possibility into consideration. One Killed in Smuggler Battle. EL PASO, Tex., February 19 (#).— One Mexican was killed, two were waunded, one was captured and seve eral sacks of liquor were confiscated in a gun fight between the United States customs patrol and & band of smugglers on the Rio Grande near San Elizario Wednesday night.