Evening Star Newspaper, August 25, 1937, Page 2

VIGE RING BLAMED |[Washingeon.| | TRADE BARRIERS | MONTAGUE AWAITS IN PARK SLAYING Investigators Hold Theory Racketeers Feared Loss of “Meal Ticket.” BACKGROUND— Herbert W. Lee, known in Broans- tom, Ill, as Robert T. Burns, was shot down in Grant Park, Chicago, while strolling in the moonlight with Grace Synder, a 22-year-old dlond. Miss Snyder said they were discussing marriage plans when they were approached by two men, one of whom slapped her in the face while the other killed her escort, By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, August 25.—A theory that vice racketeers killed Herbert W. Lee to avoid losing a blond “meal ticket” was projected today by in- vestigators as the motive for his mys- terious moonlight slaying in Grant Park. Two vice operators whose names police would not divulge were hunted as the slayers of Lee, shct to death while strolling in the park early Sun- day morning with Grace Snyder, 22- year-old blond. Lieut. Thomas F. Kelly, chief in- vestigator for the State's attorney's office, said he believed the slayers were angered because Miss Snyder intended to marry Lee, her companion on night life tours for a month. “We believe they decided not to Jose a good meal ticket,” said Lieut. Kelly, “so they followed Lee and the girl to the park and shot him down after slapping her.” Two more persons were arrested as the investigation progressed. One of them was a red-haired young woman who gave her name as Sue Braune. Kelly said she was a close friend of Miss Snyder and was found in the same hotel occupled by the two men sought. The other was Harry Mickish, whose connection with the case police refused to discuss, Lieut. Kelly said the slavers not only wanted to prevent Miss Snyder from marrying Lee, but also might have killed her escort “to show that outsiders cannot take girls away from the ring and be safe.” Miss Snyder was held in custody under $100,000 bond. Judge Michael L. McKinley said he fixed a high bond figure because the woman “refuses to co-operate” in solving “a murder com- mitted just about 50 feet from the busiest thoroughfare in America.” The scene of the slaying was near Michigan avenue, — COIN COLLECTOR BANQUET TONIGHT Three Honor Guests to Speak at Event Closing Six-Day Convention. Mrs. Nellie Tayloe Ross, director of the Mint; Alvin W. Hall, director of the Bureau of Engraving and Print- ing, and Theodore T. Belote, curator of history at the Smithsonian Insti- tution, will be honor guests at the annualF banquet of the American Numismatic Society, at 7 o'clock to- night, at the Washington Hotel. The event will close the six-day conven- sion of the national organization. The guests, all honorary members of the Washington Mumismatic So- elety, will speak briefly, according to ‘Thomas H. Chapman, chairman of the Publicity Committee, who will act as toastmaster. A musical program will conclude the banquet. A brief business session was sched- uled at 10 a.m. today. Society members yesterday visited the Smithsonian, and later toured the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. NEW OFFICERS NAMED BY FORTY AND EIGHT John B. McCabe Is Made Grand Chef de Gare by Veterans’ Group, John E. McCabe, 2603 Twenty- fourth street northeast, last night was elected grand chef de gare of Grand Voiture 174 of the Forty and Eight at the organization's grand prome- nade of 1937 at the Potomac Boat Club. - Others elected to the strains of “Mademoiselle from Armentieres” and other famous overseas songs include: C. Cassard Schroth, grand chef de train; Willam H. Hargrave, grand conducteur; Ferdinand G. Praser, grand commissaire intendant; C. Frank McCarthy, grand correspon- dent; Edward L. Marthill, grand avo- cat; Walter Griffith, grand garde de la porte. Eugene G. Flester, grand commis voyageur; T. G. Baisden, grand au- monier; Dr. Charles W. Tegge, grand medicin; Joseph L. Koehl, grand garde aux chevaux; A. E. Graham, grand lampiste; John B. Keller, grand historien; Ralph Kelly, grand pub- liciste; John Long and Al C. Somers, grand dra ; R. Jess Chaillet, cheminot nationale, and Horace W. Lineburg, alternate cheminot na- tionale. HENRY M. CRAVEN DIES; LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER Veteran Railroader Had Been Ill Several Weeks—Funeral to Be Friday. Herry M. Craven, 57, veteran loco- motive engineer of the Washington ‘Terminal yards, died yesterday at his home, 534 First street southeast. He had been ill several weeks. Mr. Craven was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Ann E. Craven; five sons, Leo, John, Paul, Gerald and Arthur Craven; a daughter, Miss Mary Laura Oraven; four step-sons, a step-daugh- ter; his mother, Mrs. Mery L. Craven, and a sister, Miss Ellen L. Craven. Puneral services will be held at 9 . Friday in St. Peter's Catholic urch, after brief services at Cham- bers’ southeast funeral home. Burisl ['m be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. 3 Realty Sales Total $27,000. | ALEXANDRIA, Va, August 25 (Bpecial) —According to the figures ~compiled at the office of E. F. Hoff- .man, clerk of the Corporstion Court, -real “estate sales made in the city .during the past week totaled $37,000, -and deeds placed on record numbered ~11. .The largest transastion was for $5,550. Wayside Tales Random Observations of Interesting Events and Things. 8YMBOL. WARE that hot weather makes people absent-minded, a ma- tron we know set out on a shopping tour the other morn- ing crammed with resolutions against forgetfulness. All day long she shopped, and, counting each bundle every hour on the hour, arrived home safely with everything she had pur- chased. With, in fact, & book she hadn’t purchased at all in a local book store. She had been looking it over, and brought it along in the rush of the forget-me-not movement. Called up the store and told them she was sorry, but she'd swiped a book, would re- turn it. The title of the volume was “In- troduction to Crime.” EXPATRIATE? A writing fellow who s also a sleuth by profession tells us that Col. Charles A. Lindbergh, although he presumably has left this coun- try to live abroad forevermore, maintains a room in a Sirteenth street hotel all the year around. Pays for it, too. It's no gift of the management. * % k % PROTEST. SCARCELY had the paper come out with that story about the ‘“one woman” working on the Greenbelt project of Resettlement Administra- tion when we were deluged with post cards, letters, handwritings on the wall and telephone calls informing us that there are two women at work out there. One is Lenore Thomas, the subject of our first story. The other is a registered nurse, whose name we didn’t catch amidst all the shouting (not from her). She has worked at Greenbelt for two years. Weary of the argument by the time the last person called to correct us, we tried to differentiate by asking, “Does the registered nurse also work on bas relief?” “How do you mean ‘bah, relief?’ ”, “said the voice. “Bah, inaccuracy, I say.” * ok ok % REMINDER. T 3-SOMETHING o'clock Mon- day afternoon the telephone rang. A voice said: “This is August 23d.” “Yes,” we said, amiably. “Eleven years ago today Rudolph Valentino died,” said the voice. “'Yes,” we sald again, Bilence. “Yes?” we repeated. “That is all,” said the voice sol- emnly, and chucked it. ¥ ox % FORM. “Hello” and “yes” are passe as the opening words in telephone conversations, according to Mr. H. R. Davidson of the local company. Neither is it considered good form to use the English “Are you there?” or the old Bronz “Go ahead, it's your nickel.” Army posts require their inmates to say “Maj. Whatsis speaking” or just “Maj. Whatsis” when answer- ing theclarion call, and the tele- phone company thinks you should do the same thing in your own home. Only don’t say Maj. Whatsis. Say “Mrs. Jones” or “J. Feather- head Toddlewot.” In bilsiness houses, the telephone company thinks you should an- nounce both your name and the Arm’s, which leaves the way open Jor almost any kind of conversa- tion. The company’s little booklet on the subject also notes that “though no smile or gesture can be seen at the other end of the wire, you can put a tone or sparkle in your voice which will serve equally well.” This will help you to influence people and make frenties, while a voice lacking the personal touch and decarbonated as to sparkle is ezpressionless, mechanical, indif- ferent, inattentive and repelling, and may persuade the party on the other end of the line not to take up your entire day gabbing about notMing. * x X X BTOWAWAY, (:HAELXE ALDRICH, who works for this sheet and lives in the suburbs, acquired a pet squirrel around his house by taking care of one when it was both young and hurt, as aren't we all? The squirrel makes a habit of climbing into and all over every- thing around the house, making no particular nuisance of himself, and occasionally sitting around on some one's shoulder or taking a look at Mr. Aldrich's wrist watch. Other morning Mr. Aldrich caught the bus as usual, took up a good strong bus rider's stance, calculated to last all the way downtowh, and was think- ing of nothing in particular when he hea-d a squeak from the general direc- tion of his pocket. Reached in and pulled out the squirrel, which looked elfin but pleased. Everybody on the bus “laughed horribly,” as Mr. Aldrich puts it, so he climbed off at the next atop, walked back home and left his pet, after speaking sharply to it. Hunch Fools Burglars. MANITOU S8PRINGS, Colo., August 25 (M.—J. E. Ritter had a.hunch, instead of putting his restaurant cash receipts in the stove, as was his wont, he found & new mdi;:n place. Next morning he d burglars had nl::dnd the siove, touched mothing e [ SEEN PEACE BAR High Administration Offi- cials Express Belief They Must Be Eliminated. BACKGROUND— One of the earliest major enter- prises of Roosevelt administration was enactment of reciprocal trade treaty legislation by which State Department and Tariff Commission were authorized to negotiate trad- ing agreements with other nations. B the Associated Press. High administration officials ex- pressed the belief today the world's chief hope for peace is by eliminating trade barriers, ‘Without specific reference to con- flicts in China and Spain, they said that restrictions on free commercial intercourse among the nations had prompted unsettled conditions in the last 18 months. They recalled that William C. Bul- litt, Ambassador to France, suggested in a Washington birthday address that world amity could be developed by re- duction of trade barriers and limita- tion of armaments. Later Hugh R. Wilson, then Minister to Switzerland, told a meeting of the Bureau of the General Disarmament Conference in Geneva the time had not arrived when nations could agree on armament reduction, because they had not adjusted their political differ- ences and were stifling world trade. The trade agreements the United States has made with 16 nations are predicated on this philosophy, the officials said, Authority Extended. The Fifty-seventh Congress ex- tended for three years—until June 12, 1940—President Roosevelt's authority ‘to make trade agreements. It did not consider any major phase of the armament question. The United States has trade agree- ments with these nations: Cuba, Brazil, Belgium, Haiti, Sweden, Co- lombia, Canada, Honduras, the Neth- erlands, Switzerland, Nicaragua, Guatemala, France, Finland, Costa Rica and El Salvador, In addition, the State Department has announced that negotiation of an agreement with Ecuador was contem- plated. Negotiations with Spain and Italy, started almost three years ago, are inactive, Foreign Trade Increased. ‘Without attempting to interpret the figures, the State Department dis- closed today that the United States’ total trade with all countries the first six months of this year was 38.8 per cent greater than in the correspond- ing period of 1936. Trade with “trade agreement coun- tries” rose 37.2 per cent, exports 41 per cent and general imports 34 per cent. Exports to non-agreement countries rose 28.6 per cent while gen- eral imports, reflecting increases in imports of raw materials such as rub- ber, raw silk and tin, jumped 52.1 per cent. The value of the agreements has | been disputed, however, by many, perticularly farm groups alarmied by increase in imports of farm products. | Senator Capper, Republican, of Kansas, yesterday denounced them as “selling out the farmer for the benefit of Eastern manufacturers.” He said he would speak during the next three months at more than 40 fairs and farm meetings in the Middle West in a “grass-roots campaign” against the agreements. PARENTS’ DAY CIRCUS TO OPEN TOMORROW 180 Scouts at Camp Roosevelt Are Divided Into Six Provisional Troops. ‘The third annual parents’ day cir- cus at Camp Roosevelt, Boy Scout en- campment near Seaside, Md., will open tomorrow with the 180 Scouts divided into six provisional troops, each with its side show and parade display. Under the direction of Percy Smith, scoutmaster of Troop 43, the partici- pants have been practicing their acts for several weeks. The program will occupy the entire day. Each of the troops—Santiago, Buckskin, Elkhorn, Chimney Butte, Powder River and Radio—will have its freaks, wild beasts and other oddi- ties. “Albanian elephants,” bathing beauties, jugglers, smoke eaters and wild men will cavort in sideshow tents. A bag of peanuts will be the price of admission. The “biggest cow in the world” will head a parade of grotesque and color- ful entrants, free to all. Encamped since July 11, the Scouts are scheduled to leave for their respec- | tive homes September 5. R NEW DEMOCRAT CHIEF MAKES APPOINTMENTS IN CELL FOR BAIL Mystery Golfer Sleeps on Iron Cot as Sheriff Pledges “No Favors.” By the Associated Press. ELIZABETHTOWN, N. Y., August 25.-~John Montague, Hollywood's fab- ulous golfer, became “just another prisoner” today to Percy Egglefleld, Adirondack Mountain sheriff. As the grinning, debonair friend of stars of stage, screen and radio ad- Justed himself to life behind the bars of Essex County's modern, stone jail- house, Sheriff Egglefield remarked: “He'll receive the same treatment as any other prisoner.” Brought here from the West Coast to face seven-year-old robbery charges, Montague was locked in one of the jail's 20 barren cells to await decision by Supreme Court Justice O. Byron Brewster on his application for bail. The decision is expected to- morrow. He slept last night on a hard, iron jail cot. Nearby were 14 other pris- oners, most of them serving short sentences for minor Iinfractions of the law. A deputy said he “rested comfortably.” Today Egglefleld said the gojfing “wizard” would be allowed to leave his cell only for the regular exercise periods and to confer with his at- torney, James H. Noonan of Albany, N. Y. Montague is charged with partici- pation in the hold-up of an Essex County road house in 1930, under the name of Laverne Moore. At the hearing yesterday his attor- ney introduced depositions signed by Bing Crosby, Andy Devine and other movie actors attesting to their “high regard” for him. P.W. A WILL ALLOT $120,000,000 SOON Total to Be Given Out in 10 Days. $100,000,000 Placed for Proj- ects Yesterday. By the Associated Press. A Public Works Administration official predicted today that one-third of the $359,000,000 fund available for “moral obligation” projects will be allotted in loans and grants within 10 days. Congress, in extending the life of P. W. A. for two years, provided that further loans and grants could be made in cases where the projects al- ready had been authorized by State or local action or where bonds or other obligations had been voted to finance the projects. One of the largest single day's allot- ment of funds in P. W. A. history yes- terday added $100,000.000 of new public construction to the new works program, bringing the total to about $182.500,000. The Pederal Govern- ment’s share of the 648 projects in- volved will be $48,115,977. C. P. HICE, UNION LEADER, REPRIMANDED BY JUDGE McMahon Warns Him After Ar- raignment on Wife-Beating - Charge. Cecil P. Hice, 34, president of the local bus drivers' union, was repri- manded by Judge John P. McMahon in Police Court today following Hice's demand for a jury trial on a charge of assaulting his wife. After he had been arraigned Hice was called back by Judge McMahon, who said: “I noticed a smirk on your face when your wife came up to in- quire whether you are now on a peace bond. This is no laughing matter. If there is any trouble between you and your wife before your trial your bond will be increased a considerable amount.” The union leader’s wife, Mrs. Doro- thy Hice, lives at 1707 F street. IMPROVEMENTS LISTED FOR EASTERN AVENUE Stretch Between WRittier and 8ligo Mill Road to Be Fixed, as Is Kansas Avenue. Plans for improvement of Eastern avenue between Whittier street and Sligo Mill road have been included in the District's condemnation program for 1939, Robert E. Light, president of the Takoma Park Boundary Citizens’ Association, announced today. Light said Capt. H. C. Whitehurst, director of highways, also assured him that improvement of Kansas avenue near the District line also is con- templated in 1939. & Widening and paving Eastern ave- enue will provide an Eastern gateway to Takoma Park via New Hampshire avenue extended and Laurel avenue, John P. Kohn, Jr., of Montgomery, Ala., Is Maner’s Choice for Legal Adviser. By the Associated Press. Pitt Tyson Maner, newly-elected president of the Young Democrats of America, announced his first four major appointments yesterday. ‘They are: John P. Kohn, jr, Montgomery, Ala., legal adviser. John A. McKenna, Newark, N. J,, attorney, chairman of the Advisory Committee. Earl B. Mayfleld, jr., of Tyler, Tex., chairman of the Executive Committee, Charles Bernstein of Phoenix, Ariz., chairman of the National Campaign Committee. — e RACKETEER SLAIN ‘Wheeling Lottery Operator Shot Down as Wife Looks On.- WHEELING, W. Va., August 25 | (A).—Mike Russell, identified by Police Lieut. James Stanley ss & numbers lottery operator, was shot to death early today in front of his home while his wife looked on from an up- stairs window. “ Mrs. Russell collapsed and was un- able to give police a coherent account of the shooting, but neighbors told Stanley they saw a “short, stocky man” run down an alley. Russell, & brother, ‘Theodore, and two other Wheeling men were sched- uled to go on trial Monday in s District Federal court at Clarksburg, W. Vs, on charges of making s fraudulent income tax report. L) Light pointed out. New Hampshire avenue is being extended beyond the District line by Maryland authorities. Bids have been adveriised for con- struction of a second extension of New Hampshire avenue from the pres- ent terminus to University lane. PRESIDENT REQUESTED TO SIGN SUGAR MEASURE Three Senators Urge Approval, but “No Commitment” Made to Them. By the Associated Press. ‘Three Western and Southern Sena- tors - urged President Roosevelt today to sign the gugar quota bills but said afterward that he had made “no commitment.” The Senators were Pope, Idaho; Murray, Montana, and Ellender, Louisiana, all Democrats. Pope said they asked Mr. Roosevelt to approve the measure because they felt it was “in the interest of growers and the sugar industry generally.” ‘There have been forecasts that the President would veto the bill because it impozed restrictions against imports of refined sugar from Hawaii and Puerto Rico, which he regarded as discriminatory. Most Sumptuous Home. +The Morse Libby house in Port- land, Me,” is one of the most sumptuous Victorian American resi- dences remaining. It was built about 1859 by & Portland citisen who made & fortune in the New Orleans business. S | By the Associated Press. John Montague, mysterious Hollywood golfer (right) ] answ in court at Elizabethtown, N. Y. He was arrested in Californi ufter waiving ertradition. center. District Woman Wins $5,000 In Cigarette Puzzle Contest < Mrs. Emma Barlow Is' Local Victor—Naval Flyer Takes First. A Washington woman won $5,000 in the Old Gold cigarette puzzle con- test, it was announced today, while the first prize of $100,000 went to a naval | flying cadet who participated in the search for Amelia Earhart 3 The local winner was Mrs. Emma | Barlow, mother of two children, who lives at the Roosevelt Hotel, on Six- | teenth street. Her husband, Lundi W. Barlow, is an employe of the Fed- ' eral Deposit Insurance Corp. In the absence of his wife Barlow explained today that the $5,000 the | family was expecting from the puzzle | promoters was going to be invested in annuities for the children, Joan, 16, and Lundie, jr., 13 Winner of first prize was William R. Staggs, naval flying cadet aboard the U. 8. §. Ranger, according to an announcement from New York by the Associated Press. Staggs, a native of Valparaiso, Ind., is 25 years old and the son of Lieut. Col. R. L. Staggs of the Corps of Engineers, Chicago. | Florence Zimmerman of Peoria, Ill., won second prize of $30,000. Third and fourth prize of $10.000 each went to R. J. Johnson, Seattle, Wash., and John E. Roberts, Philadelphia. Fifth and sixth prize winners, who received $5.000 each, were Wilmer C. Anderson, Beaumont, Tex., and Mrs. Barlow. ‘The contest sponsors said a list of the 200 minor winners will be an- nounced in the next few days. A visitor to Peoria will find Miss | Zimmerman behind the prescription counter of her father's 54-year-old drug store. BShe's 35 a registered pharmacist. Johnson sells automobile access- sories. He is the father of four chil- dren. Roberts, 33, and married, is & dye-works engineer, A graduate of Baylor University, in Texas, Anderson received his Ph. D. from Harvard. He is the father of one child. PRESIDENT SIGNS CROP RESOLUTION Measure Pledges Congress to Consider Control Leg- islation in ’38. President Roosevelt, the White House announced today, has signed the Jjoint resolution under which Congress pledged itself to consider crop surplus control legislation at the outset of the next session. The President had exacted this pledge in return for a promise to make Federal loans on the large 1937 cotton crop designéd to stabilize the price. Continuation of loans on surplus crops, he has said repeatedly, must go hand in hand with measures to control production. No decision has been made as to the amount of the new cotton loan. Sec- retary of Agriculture Wallace has urged a loan of 9 cents a pound, while cotton State Senators want it to be 10 cents. & The Government, under the plan, would pay the farmers next year a subsidy on this year's crop. Payment of the subsidy would be conditioned on compliance of farmers with the pro- duction control measures yet to be enacted. The subsidy would assure them an ultimate return of 12 cents. ‘The bounty would be equal to the dif- ference between the average price at 10 spot markets and 12 cents. Meanwhile, A. A. A. officials dis- closed yestérday—to their disgust— that “faithful” cotton farmers who curtailed acreage this year may re- ceive less under the new loan and subsidy payment plan than farmers who phnted every possible acre to cotton. N The resolution approved by Con- gress, A. A. A. spokesmen said, re- quires adjustment payments on the entire crop this year. Meantime, President Roosevelt told reporters no decision had been reached on the amoun’ of the loans. Aides of Wallace said he had planned to limit the subsidy or adjust- ment payment to about 65 per cent of the large crop this yesr, but the congressional resolution was a man- date to cover the entire production. Early Christian Art. The National Museum in Dublin, Ireland, contains some of the finest hotel | productions of early Christisn art in ' Burope, MRS. EMMA BARLOW. LEWIS-GREENFIGHT HITS MARINE BODY Maritime Commission Asked by A. F. L. Head to Give Jobs to His Union. By the Associated Press. The struggle for labor supremacy be- tween the American Federation of Labor and the C. I. O. added a new complication today to the Maritime Commission’s problems in rebuilding the merchant marine. William Green, federation president, wrote Chairman Joseph P. Kennedy asking that the commission “frankly and courageously” give employment preference to the International Sea- men’'s Union. Without mentioning John L. Lewis’ Committee for Industrial Organization by name, Green said other sailor unions have “no regard for sclemn agreements.” They might, he said, hamstring operation of ships by sit- down strikes. Kennedy, who recently declared that labor factionalism and disloyalty will not be tolerated, said he would reply soon. Guffey Plans Legislation. Meanwhile, Senator Guffey, Demo- crat, of Pennsylvania, who is in New York to start a trip abroad, said he intends to introduce legislation at the next session of Congress to prevent labor disputes from interfering with maritime service. He said he had in mind an act similar to the raliway labor act. It is the commission’s duty to lay down wage, hour and living standards aboard ships in the new program which Congress approved as a means of building up trade. ‘The commission’s tentative plans call for building $800,000,000 worth of new ships over the next few years. Part of this aggregate outlay is to be met from the Federal purse through construction subsidies and it hopes private investors will furnish the re- mainder. Ship Work to Begin Soon. A major reason that investors have shied away from the shipping in- dustry in the past, it was said, has been instability of investment in this fleld. ‘To eliminate this, the commission is pushing to completion & comprehen- sive study designed to bring about a definite, long-time Government policy for new ship construction, vers 7-year-old robbery charge | @ and returned to New Jersey Sheriff Percy Eggle‘icld is at left and Otto Krueger, movie actor, —Copyright, A. P. Wirephoto. WOMAN IS FOUND CHAINED IN GABIN Peonage Charges Are Filed Against Employer in Mississippi. By the Associated Press. CLARKSDALE, Miss., August 25.— A story that a colored woman tenant farmer was chained to a bed in a Mis- | sissippi sharecropper cabin was related today by Sheriff H. H. Dogan. Federal authorities investigated peonage charges against the employer. The defendant, J. S. Decker, 30, op- erator of a 200-acre farm near Sumner, Miss., was released on $1,500 bond yes- terday by United States Commissioner W. H. Fitzgerald, jr., pending formal | arraignment next Monday. Assistant United States District At- torney Lester M. Sacks said Federal agents brought charges that Decker held the woman, Ethel Davis, and her husband, J. W. Wiggins, another col- ored tenant, in a “forced condition of servitude™ for payment of a $175 debt. Sheriff Dogan said Wiggins com- plained to him two weeks ago that Ethel was held in chains on the farm. Woman Found Unharmed. “I went to the Decker place,” the sheriff related, “and in a cabin I | found the woman chained to a bed With a trace chain locked around her neck. She had been there several days. She had been fed well and, other than being chained, apparently had not been harmed.” Sheriff Dogan said Wiggins told him | Decker was “afraid his tenants were going to leave his place and not pay their debts.” He said several share- croppers already had left the farm. Wiggins told officers he had been threatened with being chained to a tractor but that this punishment was | not imposed because he promised to stay on the farm until he paid the debt. Seven or Eight Families on Farm. Decker has seven or eight families working on a farm he rents; the sher- iff said. Decker furnishes the ten- ants implements and materials, food, clothing and housing in return for a share of their crops, principally cot- ton. Decker could not be reached for a statement. The charge of peonage is the first of its nature to be made in the rich cotton country of the Delta. A.F.L.LAYS PLANS FOR MARINE FIGHT Water Front Unions May Be Re- organized—Green Is Ridi- culed by Martin. | By the Associated Press. ATLANTIC CITY, N. J.,, August 25. —Reorganization of East Coast water- front union men still loyal to the A. F. of L. to combat the C. I. O. invasion was discussed behind the scenes today by American Federation of Labor lead- ers here for the Executive Council meeting. Although these leaders so far have not formally approved any definite plan for reorganization, they said pri- vately that consolidation of ‘“loyal ranks” would have to precede any anti-Lewis campaign. A. F. of L. President William Green and Homer Martin, president of the C. 1. O.s United Automobile Workers, were locked in controversy anew today over the sit-down strike. Green declared here that Martin's statement that the sit-down strike would remain “an effective weapon” of the U. A. W. was “evidence of tne Communist influence in the United Automobile Workers.” Martin replied last night in Mil- waukee that “I cannot seé how any man who has been on a sit-down strike as long as William Green has can say anything about the automobile work- ers, In my opinion Bill Green has been so long out of touch with the workers and their problems that, ever: if he had the inclination to do so, he could not speak with authority con- cerning theéir welfare. Furthermore, I don't think Mr. Green knows com- munism from rheumatism.” ELECTRIC AID TO VIRGINIA Allotment of $100,000 Is Made for Bowling Green Farmers. The Rural Electrification Adminis- tration announced today an additional allotment of $100,00q to the Farmers’ Rural Utilities, Inc, Bowling Green, Va. The allotment will be used to con- struct 100 miles of line to serve 350 ad- ditional customers in Hanover, Caro- line, King and Queen, Louiss, Orange and Spotsylvania Counties, 4 MARTINPREDCTS FORD WL SN “We Will Get Agreement, No Matter What It Costs,” He Tells Convention. BACKGROUND— Successful in collective bargain- ing campaign against General Motors and other large automotive manufacturers, United Automobile Workers, an affliate of C. 1. O., turned eflorts toward organizing plants of Ford Motor Co On May 26 Richard T. Frankene steen, organization director for U. A A. W., led a group of unionists to the Ford Rouge plant in Detroit. This eflfort was repulsed with the unionists receiving a sound beat- ing. Since that time the U. A. W. organizers have been working quiet- ly and under cover to win over Ford workers. By the Associated Press. MILWAUKEE, Wis, August 25— A C. I O. chieftain said today fac tional strife within the United Autn- mobile Workers of America was “cool- ing off” as the membership rallied for a fight which its militant presiden: declared would “lick Henry Ford.” Enthusiastic delegates to the U. A W. convention cheered Presid Homer Martin’s prediction *He; Ford, or some one for him, will sign an agreement with the U. A. W.” “We'll get the agreement, no matter what it costs or what it takes,” Martin told the convention in his annual re- port late yesterday as he challenged Ford to “get ready” to put the union lapel on his cars “if he wants to eon- ‘tinue making and selling them in America.” Admitting he was here to smootn inter-union differences as John L. Lewis' representative, John Brophy of ‘Washington, executive director of the C. I. O. with which the U. A. W. is affiliated, said: *“Our efforts have been toward conciliation, but this situation is not a split.” Battle Over Power. ‘The Martin-directed ‘“progressive faction and a “unity” group led by Wyndham Mortimer, first vice pres: dent, have been at odds over cen- tralization of power in the president's hands. The ‘“unity” group wants Martin's powers divided equally be- tween him and four vice presidents. The factional fight, Brophy said, “never threatened to become a serious split on fundamentals. There are differences of opinion, but nothing has occurred which I would call a danger to the union. And the situa- tion is clearing up rapidly.” Martin digressed from his prepared report to send the delegates into dem- onstration lasting six minutes with his challenge to Henry Ford. “By June of 1937,” he said, “we had signed an agreement with every single manufacturer of automobiles in the United States with the single excep- tion of the Ford Motor Co., and let me say we have working agreements with some of the outlying plants of this company. “Mr. Sloan (Alfred P. Sloan of Gen- eral Motors Corp.) said he would never sign a union agreement, Mr. Chrysler (Walter Chrysler of Chrysler Motors) said he would never sign an agree- ment. But they changed their minds. Has Changed Mind. “Mr. Ford has said he will never sign. Mr. Ford, or somebody for him, already has changed his mind. “And we believe that before snow falls Sir Henry will further change his mind.” The statement produced an uproar. Delegates waved flags and banners, mounted tables and cheered. As the din rose into a rhythmic drumming, Martin raised his hand and brought silence. “That, my friends,” he said, “is the drumbeat of the funeral dirge of the open shop in the auto industry.” The beating began again. Then Martin raised his hands for quiet once more “That, my friends, represents the discipline of a great organization.” Attacks William Green. Martin was given another ovation by the delegates when, again digress- ing from his report text, he said John L. Lewis threw the weight of the C. I. O. behind’the U. A. W. A. in its strike struggle against Gen- eral Motors Corp., while William Green, ‘president of the American Pederation of Labor, “like a Judas Iscariot, gave us the kiss of death. The report characterized Green as “s traitor” to the workers and in added remarks Martin referred to Green, saying: “His action at that time (Gencra. Motors strike) and of his confederate since causes us to brand them a friends of employers, enemies of lab~ and their organization efforts as com- pany unions.” In the first display of factiona strength, the “unity” group succeede yesterday in forcing reconsideratis of the credentials of nine Michig delegates contested by the Martin- dominated majority committee report Indorse Social Security. Convantion delegates adopted last night a resolution indorsing the Fed- | eral social security act as “the fi big step toward a complete and ade- quate system of Federal social legisla- tion.” The resolution, however, mended changes including: Extension to cover all workers with insurance against old age, disability due to sickness or accident and un- employment. Financing by special taxes on in- comes, inheritances and profits but “‘under no circumstances” by taxes on wages. Elimination of all provisions or ad- ministrative regulations that may in- terfere with full freedom of union organization or the right to strike. Granting labor representation in administration of social security laws. Signing Is Denied. DETROIT, August 25 (#).—Harry H. Bennett, personnel director of the Ford Motor Co., declared today that)| the company had made no agreement with the United Automobile Workers, of America “and never will.” He was commenting on the state- ment by Homer Martin, president of the U. A. W. A, at the union’s con- vention in Milwaukee, that: “Mr. Ford| has sald he will never sign. Mr. Ford, or somebody for him, has already changed his mind.” Bennett said strikes several months ago in the Kansas City and Richmond,| Calif,, plants were “settled by the union men themselves without any| agreement from the company.” recom- Paint Exports Double. United States exports of paint prode ucts are reported now to be double the shipments abroad the depression years,