Indianapolis Times, Volume 47, Number 9, Indianapolis, Marion County, 21 March 1935 — Page 1

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WORKER DIES IN EXPLOSION AT CITY PLANT Circulating Tube on Boiler Spouts Live Steam After Blast. SECOND LABORER HURT Youth Is Trapped Inside, Scalded: Three Others Escape. One laborer was scalded fatally and another seriously injured in a boiler explosion today at the Indianapolis Bleaching Cos., 900 w. Wabash-st. A circulating tube in a boiler exploded, scalding William Akins. 22, of 354 Hanson-st, and Paul Smith, 25 of 3115 W. I6th-st. Akins was inside the boiler at the time. Smith, who inhaled some of the spouting live steam, died three hours after the accident at St. Vincent s Hospital. Three other men in the room at the time escaped uninjured. The room was filled with blinding steam, thwarting anv attempt at rescue until the 150-pound pressure died down. Smith was discovered hanging on to a small railing. Akin had rushed from the boiler and was able to walk to the plant infirmary. Nearly 40 minutes after the accident, police and an ambulance were called. The scalded men were sent to St. Vincent’s Hospital. Ernest McAfee. 50. of 354 Hansonst. stepfather or Akin, was in a piperonm adjoining the engine room and was forced out by the steam. He was unable to rescue his stepson because of the pressure.

DEFECT IN LAW HELPS FREE PAIR IN STONING Pharr r 3 Against Textile Workers Dismissed by Baker, Partly because there was no such thing in Indiana as a bus in 1905, charges of attacking a public conveyance against William Barron Sr., 745 W. New Yoik-st, and William Martin, 1132 Centra 1-av. were dismissed today by Criminal Judge Frank P. Baker on a motion by the state. Judge Baker said that the statute on the attacking a public conveyance charge, passed in 1905, does not specify busses. The two men were alleged in the indictment to have thrown stones at a bus conveying Indianapolis Bleaching Cos. workers during the strike last fall. Miss Bertha Harrison. 2739 W. 16th*t. was in.ured at the time. No evidence was presented showing that either Mr. Barron or Mr. Martin had thrown the stones. MAP IN BARKER CAR BARED KIN'S HIDEOUT Dicoverv l.ed to Slaying of Bandit's Brother and Mother. iCnprricht. IM. bv Um*l Press! j?T PAUL. March 21.—A crumpled road map. discarded in the rear of Arthur Barker's automobile, gave Federal agents the clew by which thev tracked down and killed Fred Barker and his mother in Florida, it was revr led lOdar. The map was prepared by Russell Gibson. Barker-Karpis gang lieutenant. * Leaving that map was one of the dumbest things T ever did." Barker said today in his cell at Ramsey County Jail where he is awaiting trial on a charge of kidnaping Edward G. Bremer.

LA FOLLETTE DEMANDS WORK RELIEF INCREASE Haris Threat of Sharply Higher Taxes During Debate. B •/ United Press WASHINGTON. March 21—The threat of sharply higher taxes was hurled into the Senate work relief bill debate today by Senator Robert M La Fbllette. Prog.. Wis h as he waged a vigorous fight to double the relief appropriation to $9,880,000,000. Senator La Follette argued strongly for adoption of his amendment although it is believed headed for certain rejection. The La Follette proposal is one of the last which remains for Senate consideration before the final vote. COMMUNIST CHARGE IS TRUE. SAYS STRACHEY British Author Insists Beliefs Not Ground for Deportation. By f nited Press CHICAGO. March 21.—Evelyn John St. Loe Strachey. British author ana one-time member of parliament, admitted at a deportation hearing today that is a Communist but insisted that it was “no reasonable ground” for his banishment from the United States. PODERJAY SENTENCED Bigamist Held in Tufverson Case to Serve ! to 5 Yeorv B-! 1 nstfd Press NEW YORK. March 21—Capt. I\ an Poder jay. eccentric former army officer m*ho confessed to marrying bigamously the missing Agnes Tufverson of Detroit and New York. as sentenced today to from two and one-half to five years m Sing Sing Priann.

THOSE CELEBRATED DIONNES TURN MERMAIDS—JOIN IN THE SWIM—ON PAGE ONE OF THE SECOND SECTION .. * ‘ w it

The Indianapolis Times Partly cloudy and slightly colder tonight becoming unsettled and warmer with probably showers tomorrow.

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VOLUME 47—NUMBER 9

SPRING IN EVERY STEP AND—HEY. HERE COMES THAT BALL!

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Photo by John Hawkins, Times Staff Photographer. Harold Mountain and Bob Kearns . . batter up! The Sandlots. a widely publicized baseball circuit containing more players than any other, went into spring training in Indianapolis today as Harold Mountain, 111 E. 38th-st, tried out for catcher and Bob Kearns. 3736 N. Pennsylvania-st, stepped into the batters box for a healthy swing at what usually is referred to among the sandlotters as the “ole apple.”

7 INDICTED IN PWA SCANDAL Wealthy Californians and Texans Named by U. S. Jury. By t nite.l Press * WASHINGTON. March 21—Seven prominent engineers and contractors were indicted today on charges of plotting to defraud the government on a 54.853.000 Texas irrigation project, the major scandal in the Federal Public Works program. The indictment, returned by the first special Federal grand jury called here since the Teapot Domp oil scandals of 10 years ago. named a former high PWA official, three wealthy California lumbermen and three Texans. They were accused of to provide for use of 250 miles oi California redwood pipe in the Willacy County. Texas, irrigation project which under plans originally approved by PWA called for use of no pipe at- all. Those indicted: Col. Charles R. Olberg. discharged engineer examiner in charge of PWA irrigation work and an internationally known engineer. Harry W. Cole. San Francisco, president of the California Redwood Association and vice president of the Hammond and Little River Redwood Cos. Leonard C. Hammond. San Francisco. vice president of the Hammond Lumber Cos. James P. Barn*. San Francisco, engineer for the Hammond com-, panics. William A. Harding. Raymond - ville. Tex., director of the Willacy County water control and improvement district No. 1. Frank P. McElwrath. Corsicana. Tex., contractor and banker. Harry A. Welty. Ft. Worth. Tex.. former engineer examiner for the Texas PWA. The blanket 18-page indictment, citing 28 alleged overt acts, charged the government would have been defrauded of more than $400,000 if the conspiracy had been successful. BOY," 4." STRUCK BY CAR Youngster Rushed to Hospital With Serious Injuries. Jack Webb. 4. R. R. 3. Box 474. is in a serious condition at City Hospital today from injuries received late yesterday when he was struck by a car driven cv William Kugelman. R. R. 7. Box 338. in front of the boy's home. Thi boy ran into the road to recover a rolling baseball. Times Index Bridge ** Broun Comics *5 Crossword Puzzle • 25 Curious World 25 Dionne Babies 17 Editorial 18 Financial . 20 Junior Aviation 11 Radio 14 Simms Sports 22-23 State News 4 Theaters 6 Woman's Pages 12-13

SEATING CAPACITY OF POLICE SCHOOL POSES ‘WEIGHTY PROBLEM’

City officials today set out to find the seating capacity of the average policeman—and they used Capt. Lewis Johnson as a blue print. It all happened when Albert Losche, city purchasing agent, went to buy some seats for the newly created police school. At the Columbia School Furniture Corp., 314 W. 17th-st. Mr. Losche found only high school sizes, and. as he contemplated the generously planned policemen, he knew these seats wouldn't do. So. today, he took Capt. Johnson out for measurements for custom built chairs. Capt. Johnson weighs between 210 and 220 pounds and his chair displacement is regarded by best police minds as being the tqual of any on the force.

HILLMAN TURNS ON SENATE HECKLERS Defends NRA and His Own Personal Record. By lnitrd Press WASHINGTON. March 21.—Sidney Hillman, battle-scarred veteran .eader of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union. Uirned on senatorial questioners today with a stirring defense of NRA and his own personal record. “My record will stand up with that of any man in this country.” he shouted after Senator William H. King (D., Utah i, had peppered him questions about his Russian birth. “I came here to speak of the NRA.” said Mr. Hillman, “and I am questioned about the record of the Amalgamated and I’m asked about whethei I was bom in Russia, as if I had anything to do about where I was bom.”

Spring Arrives, Ending Erratic Year of Fierce Heat and Unusual Drought

BY TRISTRAM COFFIN Tinn Staff Writer At exactly 7:18 this morning, the sun, moving slowly in the heavens, cut across the celestial equator and spring was bom in Indianapolis and the western hemisphere. In 365 days, 5 hours. 48 minutes and 45.51 seconds from 7:18 another spring will push aside winter. Spring this year follows a 12month period that has been one of the most erratic in the history* of the local United States Weather Bureau. Heart-breaking drought, the blistering heat and rapid changes in weather conditions, all are recorded for the year. For six consecutive days last July, the mercury rose to above 102 degrees. an all-time record for the local bureau. On July 21. the temperature rose to 105.5 degrees. .4 degrees below the record set in 1901. The dev before the John Dillinger funeral, July 24. a high wind storm

INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 1935

DEATH IS NEAR FOR COL. HOWE Physicians Say President’s Aid Clinging to Life by Slim Thread. By United Press WASHINGTON, March 21. Death of Louis McHenry Howe, chief secretary to President Roosevelt, appeared but a matter of hours, his physicians said early today. Mr. Howe, who has spent 25 of his 64 years as friend, adviser and secretary to Mr. Roosevelt, has been slowly losing ground for a week against bronchial disorders, complicated by a weakened heart. President and Mrs. Roosevelt remained near his bedside. A physician and nurse were in almost constant attendance. Mrs. Howe came here last week to remain with her husband at the White House. At the White House it was said there was no change since Mr. Howe's condition was described last night in an official bulletin as “extremely critical.” Relatives of the stricken secretary were summoned. His son. Hartley Howe, a Boston newspaper man. flew here, while his daughter, Mrs. Mary Baker, came from her home in Urbana. 111. Physicians marveled ai the tenacity with which Mr. Howe clung to life in his frail body. He suffered no pain, it was said. Much of the time he passes sleeping, or in a coma. Few were admitted to his room. Those there during brief periods of consciousness were recognized and greeted with a smile. President Roosevelt was among those who chatted with him briefly. Plans for the President's departure this week-end for Florida may be altered, it was indicated, because of the critical condition of Mr. Howe.

swept down buildings and utility lines in the south and w*est portions of the city. As the Dillinger funeral cortege entered Crown Hill cemetery* in the afternoon of a blazing, cloudless day, a strong wind suddenly lashed the trees and brought a short, but fierce, rain storm. October w*as the driest October on record. The temperatures were 4.4 above normal in November. On Jan. 21. the temperature dropped from 50 at midnight to 7 by the next midnight. February was the second driest February on record. Early this month flooding rains raised the Wabash River and White River above flood stages. But the future is more promising, according to J. H. Armington. .senior meteorologist of the local Weather Bureau. Past records indicate that it will be neither as warm nor as dry as last year, he said. The croßg, especially plants and trees, are about two weeks ahead of

EUROPE ‘MARCHING TOWARD WAR,’ SHOUTS BRITISH LABOR LEADER AS HOUSE OF COMMONS OPENS DEBATE

Dust Brings Threat of Billion-Dot tar Disaster in Midwest Wheat Area Dirt-Laden Winds Shroud Crop Hopes and Bring Acute Discomfort to All; Thousands of Acres Are Denuded; Rain Needed Badly. By United Press KANSAS CITY. Mo., March 21.—Middle America today turned dust inflamed eyes toward a sickly sun and saw in spring’s first day not a promise of fruitfulness, but a portent of repeated disaster. Dust from the fields and barrens of half a dozen states shrouded crop hopes of farmers and brought acute discomforts to every living creature, from humans to barnyard fowl. Drought, which left the soil without an anchor against March gales, persisted in the middle, south and northwest.

It appeared the $1,000,000,000 damage to crops wrought by drought last year might be repeated. Today the storm area extended from Texas to the Dakotas, from Oklahoma to Illinois. Hundreds of thousands of acres of fine wheat land were denuded. Other hundreds of thousands of acres were covered with a plant-stifling layer of dust that settled to earth as the wind subsided. Rain Is Needed Badly Only rain or snow can clear the air, but no precipitation of any sort wus indicated over the plains region until tomorrow. Then showers of muddy water may fall over Missouri and lowa. Snow is forecast for the Dakotas. Nebraska may get scattered thunder showers. In Kansas and Missoori housewives and municipalities could only await the settling of the dust before starting the seemingly hopeless task of cleaning homes and streets. Shovels displaced brooms in some communities. Kansas, the greatest wheat growing state in the world, now has the worst crop prospects since 1866, according to R. I. Throckmorton, head of the Agronomy Department of Kansas State College. Wallace Lifts Restrictions Secretary of Agriculture Henry A. Wallace removed all restrictions of 1935 spring wheat planting. This emergency action in the face of a threatened wheat shortage had little bearing on Kansas and adjoining states where, little spring wheat is planted. J. C. Mohler, secretary of the Kansas Agriculture Department, said that unless restrictions were removed on winter wheat, there would be a serious shortage. Oklahoma wheat conditions were subnormal, and the Texas crop was below normal with the western onefifth of the state needing moisture badly. Nebraska agronomists reported wheat severely damaged in the western half of the state by three successive dust storms following a long period of drought. TOUGHEST KILLER DIES Four Charges Required to Electorcute Boastful Slayer. By United Press CHICAGO. March 21.—Chester Novak, 30-year-old holdup man. made good his boast that he would be “the toughest guy who ever went to the hot seat in Chicago.” thosfe in charge of his electrocution revealed today. Sheriff John Toman said that four charges of electric current were sent through his body at oneminute intervals before attending physicians pronounced him head. TODAY’S WEATHER Hourly Temperatures 6a. m 57 10 a. m . r ,B 7a. m 56 11 a. m 59 Ba. m 55 12 (noon).. 60 9 a. m. k ... 56 Tomorrow’s sunrise, 5:45 a. m.; sunset, 5:59 p. m.

their growing schedule now. This may prove dangerous because the last killing frost in Indianapolis is generally around April 17. The dryness of the soil has resulted in the roots pushing further underground in search of moisture. Because the high and low pressure areas are moving more swiftly than usual, it is almost impossible to predict exactly what the weather will be tomorow or next week. Mr. Armington believes that the dust., which yesterday blinded Kansas. will probably be in the air for several years. The dust on the dry western plains was lifted into the air and above the clouds and will be pushed about by the winds, according to Mr. Armington. Mr. Armington, along with most weather experts, believes that the year should properly begin with the first day of spring, because, at that time, the earth begins to renew itself.

Entered as Second-Class Marter at Poßtoffice, Indianapolis. Ind.

DUST STORM SWEEPS CITY

Western Topsoil Fills Air Over Indiana; Sore Throats Result. There are today 2000 tons of Far Western topsoil in each square mile of air over Indiana. This startling statement was made by C. A. Malott, Bloomington, head of the Indiana University geology department, only a few hours after a gritty dust storm raged over Indianapolis for six hours early today, obscuring the clouds and reducing the visibility to three-quarters of a mile. Dr. Malott estimated that there w*ere approximately 300,000 dust particles a cubic centimeter in the air. This is five times more than normal, according to J. B. Dutcher, I. U. physics professor. So thick was the dust that TWA pilots flying here from Kansas City early today had to fly by instruments up through it to a clearer area above. They described the ex(Turn to Page Three) BONUS COMPROMISE OFFERED IN HOUSE Billion-Dollar Slash Asked by Democrat. By f nited Pres• WASHINGTON. March 21.—1n a desperate, last minute maneuver to halt the surging bonus drive in the House, Rep. Sam D. Mcßeynolds <D., Tenn.) today offered a compromise bill which would cut the cost of immediate payment to $1,000,000,000. Rep. Mcßeynolds’ plan was offered in a finai effort to head off the apparently irresistible sweep of House members toward passage of a bonus measure. He said his plan had not been discussed with the Administration. However, Mr. McReynolds is a recognized Administration spokesman. In offering his proposal to reduce the cost of the bonus from $2,000,000,000 to $1,000,000,000, he warned that neither the Vinson nor the Patman plans of paying the veterans’ benefits ever could become law. GASOLINE PRICES WILL BE RAISED TOMORROW Threc-Tenths-Cent Hike to Apply Throughout Indiana. A state-wide gasoline price increase of three-tenths cent a gallon, effective tomorrow, was announced today by officials of major oil companies. The boost applies to all three grades of gasoline. By United Press CHICAGO. March 21. —Standard Oil Company of Indiana today announced a gasolione price increase of three-tenths of a cent, effective tomorrow at service stations and from tank wagons in nine states. The region affected covers Michigan, Indiana. Illinois, Minnesota, lowa, Missouri, Kansas and the Dakotas. OFFERED $20,000 FOR STAMPS; WORTH $6 City Philatelist Loses as Price on L’ngummed Issue Falls. Some time ago a philatelist bought from a friend of Postmaster James Farley a sheet of ungummed stamps for S3OOO. He was offered $20,000 for them later but held out for 830,000. Today the stamps are worth $6. Floyd Shockley, 24 S. Arsenal-av, a stamp enthusiast, vouches for the story. He has bought a sheet of the ungummed stamps, which he placed on exhibit at the Circle Stamp Shop, 18 W. Market-st.

Citizens of AT Nations Mentally in Mood for Bloody Conflict, Cries George Lansbury in Discussion of New Crisis. POINTS TO "‘DREAD EXPECTATION’' Demands Empire Fling Down Counter-Chal-lenge for Abolition of Aerial Attacks; Willing to Take Chance, He Says. By United Press LONDON, March 21.—“ We are marching toward war, George Lansbury, Labor leader, declared in the House of Commons today in opening full debate on foreign affairs and the European crisis. Mr. Lansbury was interrupted by cries oi “No, no, not yet,” but he continued to declare that the citizens of Britain and other countries are living in a state of war mentality and demanded that European statesmen act.

“Never have I observed such a feeling of dread expectation that something dreadful was going to happen as during last week-end,” he said. Mr. Lansbury said Germany had flung a challenge to the world not only demanding equality but the right to tear up the treaty and embark on a policy which ultimately would plunge civilization into war and destruction. He demanded that Britain fling down a counter-challenge at the

France Demands Showdown in Arms Crisis; Nazis Are Defiant

BY RALPH HEINZEN United Press Staff Correspondent (Copyright, 1935, by United Press) PARIS, March 21.—Europe's arms crisis moved swiftly today toward a historic climax. France, in a citation to the League of Nations, charged Germany with deliberate repudiation of the Versailles Treaty military clauses.

She demanded an extraordinary meeting of the League Council which will be held during the firSf week in April. France, in a direct note to Germany, held the Reich responsible for any consequences of her laws reinstituting compulsory military service and militarizing her air force. But she left the way open fully for pacific negotiation. Italy, in an even more pacific note to Germany, maintained reserve on Germany’s decisions and pointed out that Germany could not enforce them under treaties by direct action. Baron Konstantin von Neurath, German foreign minister, to whom the French and Italian notes were delivered, formally rejected in statements to the French and Italian ambassadors the arguments the notes contained. The German argument was that the Versailles military clauses had been violated by the allied nations, in that they did not carry out the treaty’s promise to disarm themselves. Pope to Issue Peace Plea Pope Pius, gravely concerned over Europe's crisis, prepared to issue an encyclical analyzing the situation and renewing his plea for world peace. It will be issued at Vatican City in connection with the closing of the jubilee year, April 28. It was understood that the survey of the political situation would be of general character, not strictly religious. and that it would pertain to the social, moral and religious interests of humanity at large. League of Nations experts at Geneva forecast that if the Council were forced to vote on the German violation of the treaty there would be a majority vote rebuking her. Hope to Avert Vote This would be a development of grave import, and it was hoped that a vote could be avoided by previous pacific negotiation among the four powers most intimately concerned —Germany, Great Britain, France and Italy. The French and Italian notes and the formal German rejection of their arguments alike laid the necessary basis for the next stage in an effort of paramount importance to arrange for Germany’s rearmament on an agreed basis that will give her honorable equality and at the same time safeguard the peace of Europe through a system of security treaties. The next step is Sir John Simon’s visit to Berlin on Monday and Tuesday. There will be in the meantime an allied conference in Paris Saturday. Foreign Minister Pierre Laval will represent France, Foreign Under Secretary Fulvio Suvich, Italy, and Anthony Eden. Britain. It will be rather a window dressing meeting for a re-exchange of views already known and an open demonstration of solidarity. On Simon will rest the responsibility of presenting such arguments and such hopes to Reichsfuehrer Adolf Hitler as will permit a start toward four-nation negotiation for peace. After Sir John's visit, the three

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conference table in favor of abandoning aerial warfare everywhere. Urging that the world's airways be nationalized. Mr. Lansbury declared amid cheers: “I want the British Empire to say it is willing to take a chance in an earnest endeavor to end this foul business of fighting from the sky.” Mr. Lansbury asked Sir John Simon, foreign secretary, to say while in Berlin that Britain disagrees with the manner in which Germany is rearming. He urged reconvening of the world economic conference.

big allied powers will meet probably at Como, in northern Italy, with Mussolini, Simon and M. Laval representing Italy, Britain and France. This meeting will be a real one. The participants must keep a solid front as among themselves and at the same time try to bring peace, not war nearer. It may turn into a five-man conference, with Russia represented and Nicholas Situlescu, Rumanian foreign minister, representing the Little Entente nations and Turkey. The final certainty is that Germany will not consent longer to remain under the restrictions of the Versailles military clauses and that France will not consent that these restrictions be removed except by international agreement. Roosevelt Gets Data By United Press PARIS, March 21.—A story of a “confidential report” supposed to have been forwarded to President Roosevelt, at his request, by three American attaches at Berlin, was published today as from “an absolutely sure source” by the newspaper Agence Economique et Financiere. The report, said the newspaper, was on German conditions and asserted that peaceful evolution of the Reich was impossible. The report, it was said, argued that the Nazi government would endure, but that there would be first a financial, then an economic collapse in April due to lack of raw materials and limitation of imports to war materials. According to the newspaper, the report expressed concern lest industrial capital be requisitioned and advised Americans to withdraw holdings. The report said German resources were too restricted for the present population, the newspaper asserted, and ended on the note that a central European war was possible. S3OO Rosaries Stolen A Negro today stole S3OO worth of rosaries from Kreig Brothers, Catholic Supply House, the Hume-Man-sur Building, police were told.

ATTENTION Junior Aviators All members of The Times Squadron, Scripps - Howard Junior Aviators will meet in Tomlinson Hall at 9:30 sharp Saturday morning. After a short meeting, the squadron will march in a body to Loew's Palace Theater where they will be the guests of the Palace and Tht Times at a showing of "West Point of the Air" Starring Wallace Beery Your Junior membership card will admit you to the theater.