Indianapolis Times, Volume 39, Number 188, Indianapolis, Marion County, 15 December 1927 — Page 9

Second Section

TRADE CHIEFS SEE 1928 AS BUMPER YEAR Even Presidential Bugaboo Is Discounted by Business Leaders Here. FARM MAIN PROBLEM Some Doubt Expressed as to Rural Prosperity in Next 12 Months. Hoosierdom will be blessed with the "horn of plenty” in 1928 if the prophecy of several Indianapolis bankers is fulfilled. Observers generally are optimistic over what the new year holds for the financial and business world, some think President Coolidge's withdrawal from the presidential race will cause somewhat of a slump, but the majority believe that 1928 will be one presidential year which will not be "uncertain” from a financial viewpoint. Bankers were cautious over expressing their views on the threatened “financial war” between the Ford Motor Company and the General Motors and the effect of such fight in event it breaks. “Gravy” for Big Business it is the general belief that "big business” will “get the gravy” of 1928 business, as there is a growing tendency to chain store operation and large corporations. That oil and steel interests are "holding back” until 1928 was advanced as an indication that the coming year will bring a measure of prosperity.

Financial observers mostly are hopeful over the agricultural situation, while farm leaders are more pessimistic. "The wheat yield depends about 85 per cent on weather conditions anu I would not attempt to forecast them,” declared L. L. Needier, Indiana Farm Bureau Federation secretary. "The Government has a policy for about every form of industry except agriculture. We have had seven years of depression in agriculture and I do not look for any improvement until farm products are worth 100 cents on the dollar for industrial products,” Needier said. Improvement Forecast William H. Howard. Indianapolis Board of Trade secretary, said he expects "1928 will bring an improvement over conditions the last five years.’? Opinion that the Republican '‘housecleaning,” as a result of the political corruption investigation, will be beneficial to local business and things will soon be “back to normal” was expressed. "The entire economic tone of the United States, and particularly of the central portion, has shown and is showing constant basic improvement. The deeper currents which indicate fundamental stability constantly are becoming more in evidence and doubtless will continue to develop and permeate all industry and buisness activities during the first half of the coming year,” asserted Felix M. McWhirter, Peoples State Bank president.

Savings on High Level "Production has continued at a high level 1 generally and while the buying of luxuries and even commodities have been to a large extent on the contract or payment plan, yet purchases are being made thoughtfully. "The savings of the people are at the highest level in the history of the country and we gradually are assuming a per capita savings balance equal to that of the older and most thrifty nations—now well over S2OO per capita. "On a per capita average basis, Indianapolis has furnished more than nine millions dollars during the last eight years to the Treasury of the United States by way of corporation income tax more than was needed or used to run the Government, including the amortization of public debt of the United States in accordance with provisions for liquidating the debt laid down by Congress,” said McWhirter. Depends on Public Attitude Scott R. Brewer, State Savings and Trust Company president, thinks "public attitude” will have a great deal to do with restoring normal financial conditions. L. G. Wild, Inland Bank and Trust Company president, expects Congress to help the farm situation, which greatly will improve general conditions. “We have had so much to retard things in Indiana the last year. If we go ahead and conduct business on a square and sound basis, there is no question of the outcome,” Wild said. COURT BECOMES PRISON TO PREVENT ‘TIP OFF’ HUmmond Judge Held Everybody Pending Liquor Raid. Rif Timr* Rnerial HAMMOND, Ind., Dec. 15.—The city court room here became a prison for about an hour because Judge Todd feared an alleged bootlegger against whom he had issued a search warrent would be “tipped ofT” in advance of a raid. While Joe Gragorczyk was on trial accused of being drunk, his wife from the witness stand told of the alleged source of liquor. Judge Todd haired proceedings and issued a warrant. As all in the room heard the judge kept specta■feMjgrsand other prisoners. at the home of gallons in the

Entered as Second-class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis.

Richthofens Death Spin Pictured Here by Fellow Ace

Flier in Famed German ‘Circus’ in City to Become U. S. Citizen

BY BEN STERN A STREAM of leaden death poured into the cockpit of Baron vcn Richthofen’s plane from a red-nosed pursuit craft that had slipped down on his tail from above—and the greatest of German aces went into a spin—and death. In a “dog fight” of his own a few hundred yards away, Frank Armbruster, 1948 Ashland Ave., saw the defeat of the baron and brought the story back to brother officers behind the German lines. It’s a long jump from three years of daily playing with death —killing and awaiting the wrong break for yourself—to the quiet life of a draftsman in Indianapolis. That is what Armbruster has done. He is trying to become a good American citizens and to forget the horrors of war he saw while a member of the baron’s deadly circus of airmen. He is employed by Johnson-Maas Lumber Company. Ambruster has lived in Indianapolis for three years and only his intimate circle of friends knew that he was a bemedaled German ace until he was arrested Wednesday for driving his automobile fifty-six miles, an hour. "I forgot I was gbing that fast and just ‘stepped on it’ until an officer stopped me,” he said. Haled into court he was questioned and told his story. tt n n i<T IJEUT. FRANK ARMBRUSTER, if you please, meinherr, holder of two iron crosses,” five other medals for which Germany’s soldiery sacrflced life to obtain; member of the famous Von Richthofen Jagdstaffel, twice wounded and now “Anxious, yes, very anxious. Sir, to become an American citizen, for I love this country and expect to live here all of my life,” he very earnestly tells you. The number of planes he brought down won’t be revealed by Armbruster. "I don’t like to talk about it—l want to forget the war, but, never did I have contact with an American plane. “If they were all like that great Lindbergh, the

HOPE FOR MINE PEACEFADING Congress May Be Asked to Aid in Solution. Bn United Press WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.—Representatives of soft coal operators and striking miners continued - to strive for a settlement at Secretary of Labor Davis’ peace conference t6day, but with the feeling that Congressional action to govern the whole industry may be necessary in the end. Secretary Davis issued a statement late Wednesday saying “it is useless for small operators to attend any conference unless the major operators attend and agree to remedial measures.” This was interpreted to mean,.that refusal of big ifrining interests of Pennsylvania and Ohio to attend the peace meeting had jeopardized its chances of success. The conference contihued today mainly in hope that its findings could be submitted to the nonattending operators with a view to calling of a possible full conference later. Davis said the conferees had established that while 100,000 men are on strike in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia for continuance of former wages, production goes on and new mines constantly open. This leads, he said to “cut-throat competition,” raising the question of whether Congress should create a body similar to the Interstate Commerce Commission to supervise the industry. DRIFTSHNn^TIIWEST 12-Inch Blanket Covers Minnesota and Dakota Section. ST. PAUL,' Minn., Dec. 15. Transportation in North Dakota and western Minnesota was crippled today by drifting snow. Twelve inches of snow was reported over most of the area, with fifteen inches at Fargo, N. D., and Moorhead, Minn. Six inches fell in St. Paul and Minneapolis.

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The Indianapolis Times

Quixote! Modern Knight Shoots Self in Hand to Win Girl Friend’s Smiles.

T ENGTHS to which a youth will go to win a girl friend’s sympathy were impressed on the minds of unromantic police officers when they questioned Paul James, 21, of 343 N. Elder Ave., with a bullet wound in his hand. James first told police he had been shot in an encounter with a prowle- at 122 Neal St., where lie had been visiting Miss Mary Lynch. That, too, was the story James told the girl when he came back wounded a short time after they had quarrelled. Lieut. Patrick O’Connor said James later admitted he went home, obtained a revolver and shot himself in the hand. The gun was found hidden in the weeds on a vacant lot. James was ordered held at City Hospital detention ward on a vagrancy charge. AIR FIELDS ORGANIZED Mayor Thompson Heads Group Formed at His Conference. Bn Unitrd Press m CHICAGO, Dec. 15.—Formation of a permanent organization called the National Airports Association w'as the outstanding development of the three-day meeting of morl /than 300 mayors called by Mayor William Hale Thompson to consider development of aviation. Mayor Thompson was elected president of the new organization. Other officers elected are: Vice Presidents; G. B. Hegardt, Oakland, Cal.; J. H. Willis, Birmingham; M. E. Wells, Phillipsburg, Pa., and Frank Sudheimer, Bt. Paul, Minn.; secretary treasurer, Howard C. Knotts, Springfield, .111.

Betty Bronson

INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, DEC. 15, 1927

Americans must havi been wonders. “Von Richthofen was cold-blooded in the extreme. I never saw him perturbed. He was never ruffled. I doubt if there was another Jagdstaffel commander who was as gentlemanly to his subordinates as the baron. “I flew in his command for three years. "Twice I left the Jagdtsaffel, both times for the hospital. The first time my whole right side was shot up by machine gun bullets. The second time my ship was brought down my head was hurt. “I was back in time to take part in Von Richthofen’s last flight.”This was April 21, 1918. # St St From the German side of the bleak space, thirty fighting aircraft, giant Albatrosses, took the air. Leading all was a red-painted tri-plane carrying the famous air fighter, Baron Manfred Von Richthofen. To his left and close flew Armbruster, who carried with him an observer. “Suddenly from the allied line rose a nock of red-nosed camels. I don’t know how many. “We met them when they hit the air and separated Into a number of ‘dog fights.’ I knocked off one of the planes attacking me. My observer motioned to the east—there was Von Richthofen’s plane coming down on one ship while another was slipping down on his tai’. "Turning to help him I saw the Red Knight’s plane dashing to the ground. That was all I saw before I turned back toward our lines. “‘He was a great air fighter—l suppose the greatest—we all thought so anyhow.” Finally, word by word, you learn that Ambruster came to this country in 1923, settling for a year in Philadelphia. Because there were friends in Indianapolis, he came here. It is here that he met his wife, formerly Miss Valeska Puhlman, and it is Indianapolis where he intends to stay. “ —And some day after I become a citizen, I shall ask to be permitted to join the reserve air force—for although I hate war, yet I will be an American.”

CHINESE ORDER BANONSOVIET Nationalists Sever Relations With Russia. Bn United Press SHANGHAI, Dec. 15.—Nationalist authorities today handed to Russian Consul B. Koslovsky a note announcing severance of relations between Russian and the Nationalist '-ovemment. Koslovsky was handed passports for himself and colleagues. The Russian trading organization and hank were ordered closed immediately. The Russian government at Moscow was notified of the break. Hundreds were arrested immediately following the announcement, in a Nationalist round-up of Reds in the Chinese city. Soldiers were sent out to pick up all Reds. There had been an influx of them from Canton and elsewhere during the week. DUCE TO MEET BRIAND Suspicion Over Treaty Signatures to Be Discussed. Bii United Press ROME, Dec. 15.—Premier Mussolini announced at a cabinet meeting today that he would meet French Foreign Minister Briand in conference as soon as preliminary diplomatic conversations could be finished. The meeting would be designed to remove recent mutual suspicions over the signature of rival FrcnchJugoslavia and Italian-Albanian treaties. '

Toys for Whole World Is Offer of Papa Browning

Bu United Press NEW YORK, Dec. 15.—Edward “Daddy” Browning, Cinderella man and tango enthusiast, laid aside his ballroom clothes today and prepared to don a Santa Claus suit for the holidays. “Daddy’s” generosity will rise to new heights between now and Christmas. He announced he had bought ten thousand “mama” dolls, red toy roadsters, musical Teddy bears and goodness knows how many other things, for distribution all over the world, effective immediately, but no African honking ganders or rubber eggs. “Daddy” will send a toy to any poor child on earth kho will write him a letter, he announced. High up in one of “Daddy’s” midtown office buildings he invited re-

BY GEORGE H. BEALE United Press Staff Correspondent TTOLLYWOOD, Dec. 15.—A *■ girl from Grundy Center has a chance in Hollywood, but it’s a small, fleeting and fickle one. She needs a certain amount of histionic ability, good looks, graceful features and a great deal of good fortune. The Central Casting bureau, in figures just released, showed that the thousands of extra girls in Hollywood averaged less than three days of work a week. Extra men were employed more often but were unable to ■total three full days out of seven. However, a recent survey on the Paramount lot indicated that more than a half dozen noted players made the ordinarily difficult climb in one leap. Heading the list was Betty Bronson. She heard that a giri was wanted for Sir James Barrie’s “Peter Pan.” She left her home in East Orange, N. J., rushed to Hollywood and after days of fort was finally given a test for the role. .This test, together with hun-

CHANCE IN THOUSAND FOR RAPID FAME IN FILMS

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BEVERIDGE BOOK ON LINCOLN OUT SOON

The late United States Senator Albert J. Beveridge’s unfinished work on “The Life of Lincoln” probably will be put on the market late next summer, according to friends. Worthington C. Ford, historian, and close Mend of Beveridge, has been granted a leave of absence for several months by the Massachusetts Historical Society, of which he is secretary. He will spend thp time at Beverly Farms. Mass., working with Mrs. Beveridge and the Senator’s two former secretaries to assemble the Lincoln manuscrips. Because of his famous “Life of John Marshall,” the literary world has expected Beveridge's Lincoln work to be the greatest book ever written on the life of the martyred President. * Beveridge "had visited every State in which Lincoln had lived, and spent months checking records to insure accuracy. It originally was planned that the work appear In two volumes, the first running from Lincoln’s boyhood through the Illinois Legislature, but it has been indicated that there may be a third volume. Beveridge’s manuscripts are running longer than was contemplated, and those who are preparing it for pub-

porters to inspect a “faifyland of toys” that occupies almost an entire floor. Rows on rows of dolls, stacked high as the ceiling, filled two large rooms. Thousands of little fire engines, red automobiles and tin soldiers occupied several others. Sitting happily in the midst of them, “Daddy” was scooting a miniature motorbus along the floor when his callers entered. “I’m going to get a big kick out of this,” said the Cinderella man as he started packing a “mama doll” in a cardboard* box. “How many children are you going to take care of this Christmas?” he was asked. “All I can. I’ve got enough here to take care of ten thousand, and there’s another ten thousand where these came from, if needed.”

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Ruth Taylor

dreds of others, was sent to England, where Sir James viewed it. Miss Bronson leaped to fame in this picture. Mary Brian came to Hollywood from Dallas, Texas, failed to get screen work, but joined a revue in which she was seen by a director,

Frank Armbruster

lication by Houghton, Mifflin & Cos. do not choose to cut the copy to keep it within two volumes. It is expected that the book will be released by the publishers some time in July or August, 1928. There is some possibility that the name of the book, "The Life of Lincoln,” may be changed because Beveridge was not permitted to complete the work. He had finished writing the life up to the White House period.

GERMAN AIRSHIP TO HOP SEA AND U. S.

BY LEO R. SACK WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.—A continuous flight from Germany to the Pacific coast, via the Atlantic Ocean and continental United States, will be undertaken next spring by the new Zeppelin airship now being constructed for Spanish-Argentine service. Dr. Karl Amstein, former chief constructing engineer of the NURSES SPONSOR SALE Proceeds Will Be Used for Poor Families’ Christmas Cheer. Nurses of St. Vincent’s Hospital Nurses’ Training School will hold a rummage sale in a room in the 800 block Indiana Ave., Saturday. Ruth Zlnkan, HeleA Yeager, Louise Kaby and Rosamond Hope are the committee in charge. Proceeds of the sale will be used by the nurses to provide Christmas cheer for Indianapolis poor families. Since September the nurses have given one evening a week to sewing for the poor. BLOCK FA~MILY TO PARTY 2,000 Employes Will Gather Tonight at Indiana Ballroom. William H. Block Company employes and their families will have thenr annual party and frolic in the Indiana Ballroom tonight. Vaudeville acts will be provided between the dances. There will be card tables in the lounge for those who do not dance. Attendance of 2,000 Is expected.

given a test and made a featured player. Ruth Taylor seemed resigned to playing leading leads in small comedies when she was selected as the ideal Lorelei in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” She was thinking of returning to her home in Portland, Ore., when she received that offer. HOUSE AGAIN HIS GOAL Maryland Man, Father of Parcels Post, to Be Candidate. B,u T'niled Prrxx WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.—David J. Lewis, former Democratic Maryland Congressman, known as the father of the parcels post act and as a tariff expert, will try to regain his old seat in the House, now held by F. N. Zihlman, Republican. Lewis, formerly a member of the Tariff Commission, was displaced by President Coolidge after he would not sign an undated resignation before being reappointed. He will run for the Democratic nomination from the sixth Maryland district.

Second Section

Full Leased Wire Service of the United Press Association.

HONORS OF KING PAID UNDY BY MEXICO CITY; WELCOME ONE OF GREATEST OF LIFE

Fog Did It Old Foe, Often Beaten, Is Cause of Lindy’s Delay at Mexico City.

Bn United Press ■myJEXICO CITY, Dec. 15. Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh today explained to Mexican officials just what happened yesterday to delay him—usually the most punctual of men, who had been used to drop down on time to the minute, if not before schedule, after a flight of hundreds to thousands of miles. It was fog that did It, fog, his old enemy, that he has battled and beaten in taking the mails over mountains in zero weather, in flying the Atlantic alone from New York to Paris, and finally in accomplishing the greatest single act in Mexican-American history toward strengthening friendship between the sister republics. “I couldn’t see anything,” he said apologetically to newspaper men. "There was a fog, and I couldn’t find the names of the towns I passed on my map. “After I left Tampico I was flying blindly for two hours; I was not able to locate on my map a single place I passed. I steered by compass (as he did for a great part of his Paris trip) all that time. Then I read the name Toluca, on the railroad station there, and came on to Mexico City.” u m tt TOLUCA is thirty miles westsouthwest of the capital. So Lindbergh had passed westward of Mexico City in his blind finish of a 2,100-mile flight. Flying by dead reckoning over strange country, he had missed the dot of an aviation field by less than twenty miles as he passed westward of s it on the way to Toluca. "I figure I lost about two hours,” Lindbergh explained. "I didn't follow the railroad tracks. I always use my instruments. “I don’t know when I passed over the frontier or when I arrived over Tampico. "There was fog over the mountains in the Tampico district. I could see the mountains, but nothing else.”

Zeppelin company, announced today. The flight will start at the Zeppelin plant at Freidrichshafen, Germany, and will have as its objective the Navy mooring mast at San Diego, Cal. If the ship is performing well, Dr. Hugo Eckener, president of the Zeppelin company, who will be in charge, will continue, after refueling, across the Pacific and thence back to Germany. Dr. Eckener hopes to circle the globe in five hops, Dr. Arnstein says. The new ship will be of 3,500,000 cubic feet capacity. After its initial flight to the United States—and possibly around the world—it will be flown to Seville, Spain, to begin a regular service to Buenos Aires. Dr. Eckener flew the Navy dirigible Los Angele* to the United States after the war. The new ship will be one-fourth larger than the Los Angeles, and will have a greater cruising capacity. “The flight of the new Zeppelin will demonstrate, in my opinion, the feasibility of airships for transAtlantic navigation,” Dr Arnstein said. ASK FOR WINE, BEER Bu J’nited Press CHICAGO, Dec. 15.—The Chicago city council passed its annual preChristmas resolution for light wines and beer last night. The resolution asked Congress to order a referendum on modification of the Volstead act.

Mary Brian

Name on Every Tongue and Thousands Wait Today to Cheer Him. NONCHALANT AS USUAL! Praises by Calles When He Lands; Morrow Periled in Crush. BY G. F. FINE United Press Radio Editor MEXICO CITY, Dec. 15. After a long rest from the most exciting of his history-making flights, Col. Charles A. Lindbergh today received assurances that his airplane, Spirit of St. Louis, was safe and then prepared to accept the royal homage that Mexico was onlyj too anxious to tender him. An official visit to President Calles, who had paid him a ruling soverign’s honors by going personally to watch his tardy arrival at Val Buena flying field from Washington yesterday, was the American Aerial Ambassador’s principal busi,ness of the day. But Lindbergh’s greatest triumph, as usual, was among the ordinary people. It’s Lindy Everywhere It was Lindbergh everywhere—in the newspapers, in homes, in the streets, in offices. Mexico City awaited with intentness only secondary to that with which it watched for his plane yesterday the beginning of “Slim’s” program today. He slept late, for him, at the American Embassy, where he was the guest of Ambassador Morrow, and at his own request the final fixing of his day’s program was delayed until he had rested from his great flight. Mexicans and Americans were frantically anxious to entertain him, even to see him. On his progress from the flying field, after the world had learned with relief that its greatest aviator was safe, the usually reserved Mexican girls, of all classes, threw bouquets and kisses at him, and many of them followed for some blocks the American Ambassador’s automobile in which he was taken to the Embassy. Morrow Is Endangered From the moment that his plane landed—perfectly, as usual, despite the crowd at the field—Lindbergh's visit has been a triumph. Ambassador Morrow was the first tr shake Lindbergh’s hand. For this piece of daring, he nearly was crushed by the throng. Members of the general staff and others near by had to use all their strength to hold him from being caught in the jam.

A motorcycle fell directly in Morrow’s path and the crowd tripped over it and piled on top of one another. The ambassador was dragged out just in time. L'ndbergh was carried part way to the presidential box on the shoulders of admirers Half way there he was transferred to an automobile. Calles greeted him with “we were proud to invite you here.” Lindbergh replied, “I am proud to come.” Then the president added, “You are a brave man to make this extraordinary flight.” Passageway Is Forced Ten minutes after this tribute from the president of the Mexican republic, Lindbergh was on his way to the American embassy. Motorcycles forced a passageway through the throngs that lined the streets. Every foot of the way was guarded. The demonstration that followed while he passed through the streets was unlike anything ever seen before in Mexico. The roar of the welcome could be heard blocks away. Once at the embassy, Lindberg refreshed himself and telephoned his mother in Detroit. At 4:40 the call to Detroit was put through and the aviator talked to his mother for ten minutes. He said he experienced difficulty hearing at first. The roar of his motors had deafened him temporarily. At the embassy, Lindbergh gave a general press interview. “Don't you ever get tired?” a reporter asked. Lindbergh only laughed. NEWS SMOKER PLANNED Sigma Delta Chi Will Entertain Fourth Estate Jan. 10. Indianapolis Sigma Delta Chi alumni today planned a smoker for all newspapermen Jan. 10 at a downtown hotel. Members of the professional journalistic fraternity at Butler, De Pauw, Indiana and Purdue Universities will be invited. James A. Stuart, managing editor of the Star, who was elected national president at the recent thirteenth convention at Lawrence, Kas., was honored with a dinner at the Severin Wednesday night. Alumni Secretary Edwin V. O’Neel outlined the convention’s actions. John H. Heiney, local president, announced a dinner will be held April 17 to observe the founding of the organization at De Pauw in 1909. A noted speaker will be secured. Retired General Dies B.u United Press WASHINGTON Dec. 14.—Brigadier General William P. Hall, 70, retired, former adjutant general of the army, died at Walter Reed hospital *jiere today.