Indianapolis Times, Volume 41, Number 182, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 December 1929 — Page 1

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INCOMPETENCE IS CHARGE OF HAITILEADERS Alleged Heads of Student Strike Say Teachers Ignorant of French. St ' RIES ARE GENEROUS All Assert Their Innocence of Any Attempt at Conspiracy. nY SAM LOVE, United Press Staff Correspondent PORT AU PRINCE. Haiti, Dec. 10.—A group of political prisoners alleged instigators of the student strike which precipitated the present crisis in Haiti, charged from their cells today that nearly a dozen American instructors of the Damien agricultural school and practical farm extension work are drawing generous salaries and expense money while unable to speak the native French, and otherwise are unfitted for their work. The United Press correspondent interviewed three employes of the Service Technique, which administers the farm extension work, who were arrested after martial law w’as declared last week immediately after students and anti-government leaders joined in a series of disorderly demonstrations. Two newspaper editors, confined for their activity against the marine-supported administration of President Louis Borno, also were interviewed. Also Draw Expenses The instructors named by the prisoners were said to be drawing salaries ranging from $4,000 to $5,000 annually in addition to expenses paid by Haitian taxpayers. The prisoners were interviewed in the national penitentiary, a yellow painted, rambling masonry structure about a half mile from the presidential palace. The first three prisoners were members of the employers’ committee of the Service Technique, who voted to strike five days before martial law was declared. "We don’t consider ourselves political prisoners,’’ the three said. "We don’t know what we’re charged with.” Gaston Woel of Port Au Prince, one of the trio, was sitting on a straw mattress furnished in lieu of beds because of the crowded condition of the prison. He was reading “Thais.” Placed Under Arrest “I was arrested Friday morning,” Woel said. "I had driven to my office in the Service Technique at Damien school to obtain personal papers from my desk. I was stopped by the garde at the edge of the city and told I wak under arrest. "Our association is entirely nonpolitical. Its chief aim is to improve the members and to correct grievances. We held no public meetings before or after the strike.” Woel and his companions then named ten professors of the Service Technique anjf charged that not one of them could speak French and that usually they did not appear at classes, but merely wrote out their lectures and had them translated to the students by assistants. On the other hand all three had high praise for some of the American instructors, including some whose French was poor. Some Are Inefficient "Some of the inefficient men can be replaced by Haitians,” Schiller Nicholas, president of the committee of employes, said. “We’ve been five years now preparing men to work into places, but haven’t obtained a chance yet.” "Last Wednesday, we decided to visit General Evans (General Frank E. Evans, commander of the garde of Haiti and colonel in the United States marines) to protest. Evans said he had instructions from the government not to see any committee and asked to speak to me alone. He then told me that I was the cause of all the trouble hapv pening Wednesday. He told me I was under arrest.’ ”

‘lmperialism’ Attacked Ha United I‘ress LONDON, Dec. 10—The Manchester Guardian, commenting editorially today on the present American position in Haiti, said: ‘•The disturbances in Haiti repre- . ent only the latest outburst against the United States’ least successful experiment in imperialism. Obviously it is desirable that the date for American withdrawal should be fixed and proclaimed as soon as possible.*' JAIL FOR COMMUNISTS Youthful Reds Get $2,500 Fines; Five-Year Terms. United Press ST. CLAIRVTLLE, 0.. Dec. 10. Sentences of five years imprisonment at hard labor and fines of $2,500 each today were imposed upon two of the three communists convicted here Nov. 20 of criminal syndicalism. The two were Tom Johnson of Cleveland and Charles Gwynn of Lansing, O. Miss Lil Andrews. 19, Cleveland, the third members of the trio, was sentenced to an indeterminate sentence in the Marysville reformatory, the sentence not to exceed ten years.

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The Indianapolis Times Occasional rain tonight and Wednesday; no decided change in temperature; lowest tonight about 35.

VOLUME 41—NUMBER 182

Haiti Situation Well in Hand

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United States marines are pictured above leaving Norfolk, Va., for Haiti, aboard the transport Wright. Major Louis E. Fagan, in command of the twenty-four officers and 469 men, is shown at the upper left shortly after receiving orders to. proceed to Haiti. The “Devil Dogs” were rushed to the aid of their beleaguered buddies on the island. The cruiser Galveston already has arrived at the port of Jacmel.

By United Press WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.—The navy department today ordered the aircraft carrier Wright, bearing 492 marines to Haiti to put in at Guan-

'S’*jf, QoWQWr day?# QqiSTHAS A USEFUL CKFTS DOLLARS AND

TINSEL TIME IS HERE

Egyptian Diamonds ‘Dirt Cheap’

BY ARCH STEINEL IT’S tinsel time. Chalked in crass lettering on the door, the windowpane of a West Ohio street hole-in-the-wall are signs, “Egyptian Diamonds. Closing-out sale. Any ring 40 cents.” Her nose smearing the chalk marks on the window and flattened to a snub, as she peered in on the charlatan sets. She was old. Old enough to knot her money in kerchiefs.

She fumbled at the knot. The knot bucked and dumped three times on the sidewalk. A passerby helped her gather them in from the sidewalk, one, two. three times. She looked at the window, then walked on. as the window looked at her and said: ‘‘Egyptian diamonds. Closingout sale. Any ring 40 cents.” a a a IT’S tinsel time. Christmas trees pretend they grow from buildings on Monument Circle. fitting beneath one of them is Charles Bennefield, Merrill and Missouri streets. Bennefield sits on the sidewalk and his hands bob a black velour hat up and down. His head boos in unison with the hat. He mutters for alms. He is blind. Six nickels and a dime are in the hat. Forty cents! ‘‘Forty cents that’ll go to helping my son and his four children. He’s out o’ work,” he explains. But on West Ohio street is the chalked doorway “Egyptian diamonds. Any ring 40 cents.” a a a IT’S tinsel-time. Shoppers bump each other, grab Yuletide cards out of hands, crab at saleswomen, eat hurried luncheons, look worried over whether "Aunt Lucy’ll like this tablecover.” The cash register in a drug store at Illinois and Washington street clangs. A fur-collared, be-spatted man waits impatiently for his cigars. “Three of those 20-cent cigars. That’ll be sLxty. And sixty out of a dollar. Here’s your change and your cigars, Mister, 10, 20, 30, 40 cents.” While on Ohio street are “Egyptian diamonds” and a woman knots her money in kerchiefs and peers at a window that says, “Any ring 40 cents.” You see, it’s tinsel time.

tanamo Bay, Cuba, and await orders. The move apparently resulted from reports of improved conditions in the Negro republic. . The Wright sailed from Hampton Roads at noon Saturday following

UTILITY ATTORNEYS ATTACK STAND OF OPPOSING COUNSEL Letters Read Into Record of Insull Merger Project, Denying Representation; Harmon Is Among Missing.

Position of opposition counsel in the $70,000,000 Insull utilities merger hearing was attacked by utility attorneys today. Harvey Harmon, former public service commissioner and leading opposition lawyer, has not been on hand at all this week and his cocounsel, Oscar L. Pond, stated today that he went to his home at Princeton Friday and hasn’t been heard from since. Hannon, Pond and Oscar L.

TROOPS AVERT RIOT Striking Miners Are Dispersed by Armed Guards. Hu United Press TAYLORVILLE, HI., Dec. 10.—A mine strike demontration which threatened to grow serious was broken up today at the Peabody mine No. 7, in .Kincaid, near here, by national guardsmen, who went on guard Monday night with machine guns and bayonets. One man w T as placed under military arrest. Union miners at four Peabody workings in this vicinity refused to go to work this morning because of the presence of troops. Nationalists out on general strike attempted to march on the Kincaid mine, but were dispersed by the troops. Mother, Son Seek Divorces Bu United Press WORCESTER, Mass., Dec. 10.—A mother and son appeared in probate court here seeking divorces. The mother, Addie Beron. was divorced from Adolphe Beron of Putnam, Conn. The case of the son Ernest, was taken under advisement. He sought divorce from his wife, Leona.

And Why Not? Bu United Press LONDON, Dec. 10.—Shanghai’s photographers think that Douglas Fairbanks should stand on his head when they take pictures of him. A Daily Mail dispatch from the Chinese city said that Fairbanks and Mary Pickford arrived there Monday from Hong Kong and were welcomed warmly by Chinese admirers. Photographers asked the athletic actor to stand on his head for a photograph.

INDIANAPOLIS, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10,1929

an appeal from Brigadier-General John H. Russell, American high commissioner in Haiti for troops as a result of an uprising there. The Wright was scheduled to arrive in Haiti today.

Smith entered apearances as representing the Indianapolis Federation of Civic Clubs, Utilities Service Inc., “and other cities and towns.” The list of these communities has dwindled until only the town of Macy remains. Deny Representation Today, communications from officials of Westfield and Bloomingdale were read, denying that these lawyers represented them. David Watson of the Insull counsel presented a circular letter from Smith soliciting permission to represent the trustees of Valley Mills. Smith acknowledged the letter, but took exception to the Watson allegation that he was opposing the merger “for revenue only.” Smith later left the hearing and remained away. Pond and Smiley Chambers, representing the city of Indianapolis, were the only attorneys remaining in the opposition chairs. The city, as such, has taken no stand in the matter and Smiley is merely on hand to “listen in,” it was said. Figures Analyzed Remainder of the morning session was devoted to analysis of the commission figure in the case byHarry Boggs, consulting accountant. He listed 1928 revenues of the combined properties as $10,737,067, of which 73.53 per cent was derived from electric light and power. His figures showed constant decline in . interurban revenues since 1925. Chairman John W. McCardle of the commission was absent and Commissioner Howell Ellis, who is presiding, conducted the questioning. He phrased one question for the benefit of Commissioner Calvin Mclntosh to get Bogg’s opinion on who pays bond discounts. Boggs pointed out that it is a fixed charge and must be deducted from possible dividends of the stockholders and that the money comes from the rate payers. Mclntosh accepted the challenge and brought from Boggs the admission that rate increases will be asked when dividends cease.

AGED RAILROAD MAIL CLERK DIES AT HOME Retired Postal Employe Wrote Volume of Poetry. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p. m. Wednesday at the Flanner & Buchanan mortuary for Peter E. Grimes, 69, who died Monday at his home, 4934 Broadway. Mr. Grimes was for forty-two years connected with railway mail and United States mail service here. Following his retirement he began writing poetry, and published a volume, “Silence and Snow.” Surviving him are the widow, Mrs. Anna Grimes; two daughters, Mrs. lona Stark and Mrs. Dorothy Rayle, Indianapolis, and two sons, Edward Grimes, this city, and James E. Grimes, Cleveland, 6. Hourly Temperatures 6a. m 35 10 a. m 38 7a. m 36 11 a. m 38 Ba. m 37 12 (noon).. 41 9 a. m..... 38 1 p, m,.... 41

LIES ASSAILS PLAYGROUNDS’ MANAGEMENT Survey Director Urges Use of Merit Instead of Political System. ASSERTS SCOPE SMALL Only One-Fourth of Staff Competent, Council of Agencies Told. Attacking the political system of appointing the staff of Indianapolis playgrounds, Eugene T. Lies, director of a recreational survey of Indianapolis in progress for six months, today urged drastic reorganization of city recreation department on a basis of strict merit. That the department, under the political system, is only 20 to 25 per cent efficient was his statement before a joint meeting of the survey advisory committee and Council of Social Agencies at Christ Episcopal church parish house on the Circle at a noon luncheon.

Leaves by Jan. 1. The survey will be completed by Jan. 1. Lies will leave the city then, but will return in February to address a number of meetings and give a complete report on all public, semi-public and private recreational agencies. R. Walter Jarvis, superintendent of parks, and Jeffrey McClure, city recreational director, attended the meeting and heard the denunciation of the political control of appointments. “Politics has been the important consideration in appointment of workers in the recreation department,” Lies said at today’s meeting. “Fitness has been secondary and often has had no determining influence whatever. The result is that only from one-fifth to onefourth of the summer playgrounds staff of 150 persons during the last summer was competent and really earned the wages paid. “The result has been that programs of activities has been limited largely to baseball and apparatus work whereas there are scores of other possible things worthy of promotion which appeal to deep human hungers for expression and which promote health, character, happiness and good citizenship. These are in fields of music, games, handicraft, nature study and dramatics. Below Many Others “Though Indianapolis ranks high in the quality, distribution and upkeep of its parks and fairly high in the number of playgrounds, it is below many communities of its size and of smaller towns in the nature and richness of its public recreation activity program. It does_ not cater sufficiently to adults, especially to women. Its community house program has been weak, although this now is being strengthened.” Lies recommended adoption by the city of merit systems of appointment based upon examinations conducted by competent committees selected by the park board. He suggested an examining group comprised of representatives of Butler university, Teachers’ college, Indiana university and Normal college of the American Gymnastic Union. Additional recommendations were for better attendance records, larger cooperative service to churches, clubs, homes, hospitals, social workers and industrial plants in the way of counsel on entertainment programs, drama production, picnic plans, back yard and home play; portable shower baths to be taken through congested districts for use of children in the streets; improvements of shrubbery, surfacing and equipment on playgrounds; better pay for a merit-placed recreational staff, and extension of the playground season into early October. Commends Efforts He commended efforts of the city library, Art institute and Children’s Museum to reach into the schools and serve them through traveling exhibits and lectures. He urged larger financial support for the Children’s Museum. The recreation survey covered 159 firms with 59,677 workers, Lies reported. Ninety-four, or 59.1 per cent, of these firms, v/ith 47,847 workers, were found to have some sort of recreation facilities while sixty-five, or 40.8 per cent, had no such facilities. In eleven firms, recreational directors are employed, forty-eight give annual picnics and thirty-one promote inter-firm athletics. Luther L. Dickerson, public librarian, reported to the meeting on a special study of adult education opportunity, declaring the public library will pay more attention in the future to this problem. APPOINTED AS ENVOY Castle to Be Special Amabssador to Japan During Parley. Bu United I're** WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.—Nomination of William R. Castle Jr. assistant secretary of state, to be special ambassador to Japan for the period of the arms conference in London, was announced by President Hoover today. The Tokio post has been vacant since the res ignation of Ambassador Charles MacVeagh, a year a go.

Euteriu as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis

Rockefeller Is Balked by Speakeasies

Bv United Pres* NEW YORK, Dec. 10.—One version of why John D. Rockefeller Jr. failed in his attempt to build an opera house in mid-town New York, has been bared, and it placed the blame on some half a hundred speakeasy proprietors, who could not be ousted from their quarters by all the might and millions of the Rockefellers. Rocekefeller’s project called for the leasing of the three square blocks bounded by Forty-eighth, and Fifty-first streets and Fifth and Sixth avenues. The property owned by Columbia university, was turned over to Rockefeller on an eighty-seven-year lease, and then came the problem of persuading tenants to move so the demolition could start on the site in preparation for the opera center. an u SOME of the tenants moved; others clutched their leases and decided to stay. Among the latter were several persons who had leases on old brown stone front houses with grilled doors, which, as every New Yorker knows, often are where some of the city’s best speakeasies are located. T. M. De Bevoise, Rockefeller spokesman, made no reference to the speakeasies when he announced recently that the project failed. He referred all inquiries to Columbia university. A check of the neighborhood, however, showed that few of the speakeasies were planning to move from the valuable locations they now occupy. tr n tt IT was pointed out that for the Rockefeller interests to oust reluctant tenants, litigation against each individual would have to be started. On the assumption that the losing side would appeal, it readily was seen how the opera building could be delayed indefinitely. The speakeasy proprietors, of course, attempted to convince Columbia university that they were running legitimate businesses and they often employed a "dummy,” it was said, to negotiate leases ■with university officials.

FOG TO REMAIN FOR36HOURS No Change in Temperature Is Predicted. Dense smog that enveloped Indianapolis this morning probably will not lift before Thursday, J. H. Armington, meteorologist, forecast today. Weather conditions throughout the Mississippi valley, from Texas to Minnesota, are unsettled, t he said, and the blanket of mist that covers this area is moving so slowly that no relief can be expected for thirty-six hours. There will be no change in temperature tonight, said Armington. Thermometers probably will register 35 as the lowest in Indianapolis. The smog today, so thick at 7 a. m. that lights could not be distinguished a block distant, cleared somewhat as the morning wore on, but will return again tonight, according to the United States weather bureau here. 46 BELOW IN FAR NORTH Bitter Cold Wave May Sweep Down Into U. S. Bn T’nHrri WINNIPEG, Man., Dec. 10.—A bitter, punishing cold wave swept out of the Mackenzie river area today battering temperatures down to 46 below zero in the notorious bad weather zone. At The Pas it was 38 below and Prince Albert suffered in temperatures 14 degrees less bitter. It was believed the storm would pass down over a southeastern course into the United States.

OFFICIALS REVOKE PAROLE OF BUCK

Efforts of medical science and Governor Harry G. Leslie to reform a self-admitted forger have failed, it was revealed today, when revocation of a temporary parole given to Howard Buck, former university football star, was announced by state officials. Buck was returned to the state reformatory at Pendleton several weeks ago to complete a two-to-fourteen-year sentence on a forgery charged, it was learned. His recommitment to the penal institution followed his failure to keep steadily at work at a job provided him in the drafting division of the state highway department, statehouse officials say. He is said to have left his job two weeks ago, to go to an Ohio city, where he married a young woman. He was detained there, return’d to Indianapolis, and then sent to Pendleton. Beit Fuller, Indianapolis insurance man and sponsor for Buck, requested that he be returned to the reformatory when he failed to fulfill conditions of his parole,

NINE LOSE LIVES AS SERIES OF BUSTS SWEEP THROUGH PATHE FILM PLANT STUDIO Rescue Squads of Firemen Balked by Intense Heat From Inflammable Sets and Films; Many Are Injured. EXPLOSIONS OCCUR IN SUCCESSION Girls in Scanty Ballet Costumes Routed Into Cold Streets; Escape Cut Off by First Fire Flash. Bv United Press NEW YORK, Dec. 10—Seven explosions in rapid succession swept the Pathe company’s sound film studios at Park avenue and One hundred thirtieth street today, killing nine persons and injuring many others. It was nearly twenty-five minutes after the first explosion before the first rescue squads from the fire department could enter the building.

READY TO FIGHT ROOTFORMULA Borah, Johnson and Moses Against World Court. Bv United Press WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.—Formidable opposition is preparing to contest adoption of the Root world court formula when President Hoover sends the proposition to the senate for ratification. The old irreconcilable group which fought against the League of Nations treaty in the senate still controls the senate foreign relations committee and most of its members have expressed themselves publicly or privately against adoption of .he Root scheme. Included in the group are Chairman Borah of the committee, Senator Hiram Johnson (Rep., Cal.) and Senator Moses (Rep., N. H.). Both Borah and Johnson declined to comment on the signing of the formula Monday at Geneva, but expressed themselves ready to fight out the issue as soon as the tariff bill is out of the way. Moses declared himself formally against acceptance of the Root proposal. It is considered possible the President may not send the new reservation to the senate until the next session to congress, beginning in December, 1930.

SUICIDE IS VERDICT Coroner Holds Clippinger Took Own Life. Verdict of suicide in the death Thursday of Gilbert B. Clippinger, 40, of 3619 North Pennsylvania street, was returned today by Coroner C. H. Keever. Clippinger opened the window of his investments office on the eleventh floor of the Fletcher Savings and Trust Company building, and plunged seven stories to death on a sub roof above the fourth story, Dr. Keever determined. No probable motive for the suicide was found by the coroner. Clippinger was Indiana and Kentucky representative for Dillon, Reed & Cos., national investment firm. HAWLEY BILL FAVORED House Committee Votes to Ratify French Funding Agreement. WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.—The house ways and means committee today voted to favorably report the Hawley bill to ratify the MellonBerenger French funding agreement.

On June 11 of this year Buck was given a temporary parole when prison officials, Fuller and Governor Leslie interested themselves in an injury which he had received in a football game against the Governor’s alma mater, Purdue. He was brought to Indianapolis and an operation was performed at the Robert Long hospital to relieve a slight bone pressure on his brain. The operation was a success medically. Governor Leslie extended Buck’s temporary parole to enable him to accept a job in the state highway department and gave him a chance to make good. “He was a fair worker in the drafting department until recently. He began coming to work late. I understand some of his fellow employes loaned him money which he didn’t pay back. Since then, I understand, the money has been paid back by Fuller,” William Titus, chief engineer of the highway department, asserted. Buck was sentenced at Vincennes, Feb. 6 of this year, for forging small chgrirß An several store keeoera. 7 w

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While they tried to fight their way against the intense heat of the inflammable sets and the film, merchants from nearby stores and people from apartments took the lightly clad women and girls, who had run from the building in their ballet costumes, into their places for shelter. The day was cold. Joseph E. Flynn of the Pathe company and his secretary, Mrs. Frances Walsh, were in Flynn’s office on the second floor of the building when the explosions began. They escaped io a balcony and were rescued by firemen. Throws Money in Safe Morgan Bauer, controller of the Pathe company, was in his firstfloor office making up pay envelopes to pay off the ballet at the end of the recording. He swept the money into the safe, banged the door shut “and fled, with the fire following almost at his heels. S. J. Cuppen, delegation of the motion picture operators’ union, made the identifications of four men, the first to be identified. They were all motion picture operators. Girls who lost their lives were members of the ballet. The explosion came just as a stage in a rear studio had been prepared for the recording of a film by Eddie Elkins and his fourteen musicions. In a room above, thirty women of the ensemble were gathered, in their filmy and scant costumes, awaiting their call for a ballet. Ready for Filming Just as the recording was to begin there was a sudden flash—the first of the explosions. Those in the studio began to make for the exits, but six more explosions followed in rapid order, cutting off escape for many. The second explosion brought the first fatality. Then the others took their toll. 5 Flames spurted from behin<y around and through the big blacjp velvet drop which had been set M. the rear of the stage. Women screamed as they fled® ' their filmy costumes. The soH was one of Intense confusion, Os the dead, five were men alp four were women. Their bodies WeH brought from the building and lase on the curb while ambulances fire apparatus came screarißS through the streets from all neKgl by stations. The fire was out by noon and squads were searching the ruins, fearing more bodies would be found.

BLIGHTED BY LOVE, MAN TAKES POISON Bride of Four Days Admitted She Was Mother, Victim Claims. A romance that soared swiftly in four days from a casual meeting to matrimony went into a tailspin Monday night, when Orville Graffa. 26, 142 East Ohio street, attempted sulfide by drinking poison. a week ago Sunday he met Miss Fayetta Cleveland, 18, of 5432 Central avenue, in a downtown motion picture theater. They were married Thursday. Sunday night, Graffa says, she confessed that she was the mother of a 4-year-old child. Qraffa tried to get the marriage annulled, and failing, drank poison. City hospital physicians say he will recover. BRITISH SHIP IS SEIZED 500 Cases of Liquor Found Aboard Boat by Coast Patrol Guard. Bu United Breen NEW LONDON, Conn., Dec. 10.— Seizure of the British oil screw ship Elizabeth, with 500 cases of liquor aboard, was reported in a radio message intercepted at the coast guard base here today. The patrol boat CG-13 of New York reported the capture, south of Long Island, to coast guard base 2, New York. Seven prisoners were taken, thej message said. The being convoyed to New Y > i patrol boat. m. .. &g3j Igj