Indianapolis Times, Volume 47, Number 27, Indianapolis, Marion County, 11 April 1935 — Page 1

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EIGHT STATES SHROUDED BY DUST STORMS

Farmers Flee From Barren Lands; Traffic Halted by Darkness. CRY FOR FEDERAL AID Wheat Crop Ruined; Worst Silt Blizzard of Year Covers West. ll', r ni'"l Prn KANSAS CJTY, Mn„ April 11.— A thick dust pall hung over eight states today. It appeared to be th'nning but with maddening slowness. Visibility from central Missouri to Tucumoari, N M., was zerozero most of the way. In the Oklahoma Panhandle the shifting silt blotted out the wheel tracks of automobiles, trucks and tin sons bearing the household goods of farmers fleeing trom the dust. More than 100 families have left alrt ady. Ip western Kansas the dust shrouded ruined farms and blasted hopes. From Garden City southwest, the wheat crop was a complete failure. Discouraged farmers applied for Federal funds with which to leave their once fprtile but now harren farms. They learned therp was no money for that purpose. In the Texas Panhandle, the disintegrated topsoil moved before the wind in great slow waves, drifting over railroad tracks and highways, making travel hazardous. Fear Dust Pneumonia In Eastern Colorado, where the dust three weeks ago claimed six lives, the inhabitants wore masks to prevent recurrence of the dread ‘ dust, pneumonia ” The Baca County correspondent, of the United Press wired from Springfield that • we can not. hold out much longer without relief or rain.” All traffic was stopped, schools were closed lights were kept burning 24 hours Dust from Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado and Texas spread east, west, north and south over lowa, Nebraska, Missouri and New Mexico. In Washington. Congressmen and Senators pleaded with President Roosevelt for Federal money with which to list dust-breaks in the afflicted regions. But in many counties of western Kansas, where $250.000 already is available for supplying oil and gasolinp, for tractors, farmers could not get ta town to claim their supplies. Eastern Kansas communities experienced a light “rain of blood." Ram falling through the dust-filled atmosphere left reddish splotches on pavements and the sides of buildings. Dust Frozen Into Snow Snow bringing up the rear of the dust storm at Goodland. in northwestern Kansas, fell in muddy flakes which Nebraska farmers had termed “Snust.” Communities which received the dust second hand from the areas where it was lifted from the already denuded farms were naively alarmed. The staccato phrases of press telegrams told the story: Tulsa, Okla.—Worst dust city's history. Visibility two blocks. City lights turned on in daytime. Hutchinson. Kas.—Terrible dust storm. Visibility less than block. Cars can not .Irive safely. CofTeyville. Kas Worst storm of year. No sign of abatement. St Joseph. Mo—Dust arrived at 6 o'clortt. Visibility two blocks. Winfield. Kas. Unprecedented dust storm. Visibility hundred feet. Merchants Are Discouraged From western Kansas, the Oklahoma Panhandle and eastern Colorado the reports contained a tone of panic, but not surprise. The series of storms, of which the present one is merely the latest and worst, started March 1. There had been earlier intermittent storms. Dodge City merchants were discouraged. Not for nearly two months has there been a week-end when farmers could get to town to shop. Few days of brisk, sunshiny weather and then the inevitable wall of dust, first seen as a towering, billowy mass on the horizon, then experienced as an omnipresent fog against which neither buildings nor automobiles could be sealed. Before this storm came the farmers of the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles and western Kansas adopted a grin and bear it" attitude. The dust became anew subject for wisecracks. Now the farmers are too weary and discouraged to laugh. Harry B. Cordell, president of the Oklahoma Board of Agriculture, said the storms were "the worst I've seen, and I came to Oklahoma in 1901. Situation Looks Bad "The situation looks bad: through all the western area the wheat is either drying out or blowing out.” The Kansas Board of Agriculture and the Federal Bureau of Crop Economics reported that the condition of the Kansas crop on April 1 was 47 per cent of normal, second lowest ever recorded for that date. "In western Kansas." the unemotional report said much of the wheat was blown out by high winds, covered by soil drifting from adjacent fields or perished from want of moisture ” What wheat existed on April 1 has since blown out. Not even heavyrains could save more than “one half of 1 per cent" of the crop in the a: ea eouth and weist of Garden City, i ccording to the lam bureau.

The Indianapolis Times Cloudy with rain tonight and probably tomorrow morning: colder tomorrow.

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VOLUME 47—NUMBER 27

A Little Eden Right in Indianapolis Situated tv a shaded glen of sylav beauty, this little wooden footbridge spanning Pogue's Run in picturesque Spades Park long has been the meeting place of the community. It is the centerpiece of a restful , rustic spot irhich seems far removed from the hum of traffic on nearby Brookside-dr.

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MISS PERKINS ACTS IN RUBBER DISPUTE Meets Heads of Industry in Washington. r.u r nitrri Pres, WASHINGTON. April 11.—Heads of thp rubber industry at Akron met with Labor Secretary Frances Perkins this afternoon to seek some method of preventing an impending walkout of union labor in a fight for recognition. The industry officials came to Washington at Secretary Perkins’ invitation, following a conference yesterday in New York. At that rime the labor Secretary said she believed a line of action had been found which would develop a solution of the dispute. She arranged to confer with American Federation of Labor officials later today. Aquitania Is Refloated C’l f pitrrf Prrs SOUTHAMPTON. England. April 11—The Cunard liner. Aquitania. grounded since yesterday on the Brambles Mudbank. was refloated at 5:10 p. m. today (11:10 a. m. Indianapolis'.

Two States Investigate Trust Fund Conspiracy

Police of two states today pressed an investigation of a conspiracy under which thousands of dollars of trust funds have been fraudulently withdrawn from p counts of Indiana county clerks. The investigation came to light late yesterday with the filing of a *2500 suit in Superior Court. Room 3. against Glenn B Ralston. Marion County clerk, and two of his former bonding companies. The suit was filed by Mrs. Orleva Wilson Dyer. Geneseo. 11l . formerly of Ft. Wayne, who demands that Mr. Robinson pay her $2500 under the terms of an order issued in November. 1932, by Probate Judge Smiley N. Chambers According to affidavits in th° clerks office, the money was paid Nov. 29. 1932. on a sight draft upon Mr. Ralston, through the First National Bank of Minneapolis, wliich is said to have guaranteed the signature on the draft. According tp Mrs. Dyer the signature is a forgery and says in her

State Suspends License of Pfaff-Hughel Company Action Taken as Double Inquiry Is Launched Into Failure of Local Investment Firm. ... The license of Pfaff & Hughel. local investment securities firm which went into bankruptcy this week, was revoked today by the state securities commission as a double investigation into the circumstances of the collapse of the company was inaugurated by state and county authorities.

Action by the Securities Commission in cancelling the license of the company to do business, which was announced by Chester R. Montgomery. commission, automatically withdraws the licenses of agents for the firm. Revocation of the license was preceded by announcement that both the Securities Commission and the county prosecutor's office would launch investigations into the company's affairs. Herbert M. Spencer, county prosecutor, declared that he will study the bankruptcy petition of the company which was filed in Federal Court Monday. Late yesterday complaints against Pfaff & Hughel were lodged with the Securities Commission. The deDartment. after hearing the several

comp'&int she never has received the money. Charles A Ettinger. chief deputy county clerk, disclosed that similar frauds had been practiced upon other Indiana county clerks, and had resulted in the adoption of new methods to safeguard the funds. Official files show that Mr. Ralston received the draft from Minneapolis with signature guaranteed. The draft for $2085.50. purportedly in favor of Mrs. Dyer, was paid through the Indiana Trust Cos. Minneapolis bank officials informed Mr. Ralston they recalled making an investigation before guaranteeing the signature. The draft was signed by Orleaba- Wilson." whereas Mrs. Dyer's maiden name is Orleva Wilson. To forestall repetition of the fraud Mr. Ralston said, his office now requires complete identification and a court order entitling claimants to receive money. Defendants with Mr. Ralston are the Amsterdam Casualty Cos. and The Ohio Casualty Cos., which bonded Mr. Ralston for $150,000,

INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1935

stories, decided that the charges were sufficient to warrant an investigation. Meanwhile, operations of the company are being handled by A. R. C. Kipp, who has been appointed receiver by Carl Wilde, Federal referee in bankruptcy.

10-DEGREE DROP IN MERCURY PREDICTED Temperature Slide to Follow Rain, Is Forecast. The drenching spring rains that fell in Indianapolis early today and are expected to continue through tomorrow morning will be followed by a 10 to 15-degree drop in temperature late tomorrow, J. H. Armington, Federal meteorologist, said today. The rain began lightly at 12:46 a. m. and waned to a drizzle at 3:12 a. m. At 4:41 a. m.. a steady rain began pouring from the clouds and did not let up until after 8 a. m. Autos swished through streets covered with water early today and taxicabs were having a rush business taking persons to work. All day the skies remained dull and heavy-laden with showers expected intermittently. While there was some rise in the Wabash River and White River m the southern part of the state due to the rains, there is no immediate danger of them rising to the flood stage. Mr. Armineton said.

TODAY'S WEATHER

Hourly Temperatures 6 a. m 45 10 a. m. ... 48 7 a. m 45 11 a. m 48 Ba. m 45 12 moon).. 51 9 a. m 45 1 p. m 52 Tomorrows sunrise, 5:11 a. m.; sunset, 6:30 p. m.

LAWRENCE PLANT IS DESTROYED BY FIRE

Blaze Sweeps Cellulose Cos. Building; Loss Unknown. Fire destroyed a frame storage building of the American Cellulose Cos., Lawrence, and exploding chemicals endangered eight or nine other structures of the company near by last night. No estimate of the loss could be obtained. The fire started, presumably spontaneously, at about 9 and Ft. Benjamin Harrison fire department and No. 22 company from Indianapolis responded. There was little that could be done by them, however, since :he only water supply was contained in a tank and only small hose could be used. The company is owned by Louis R. Sereinsky, 4447 N. Delaware-st, and it reclaims old motion picture film. SCRIPPS' DAUGHTERS RALLY IN HOSPITAL Youngsters Spent Comfortable Night. Not Yet Out of Danger. By United Pm* HONOLULU. April 11.—Improvement in the condition of two young American girls injured in an automobile accident Tuesday was reported today by physicians at Queens Hospital. The girls. Margaret Scripps. 14, and Nackey Scripps. 11, daughters of Robert P. Scripps of the ScrippsHow r ard newspapers, were said by physicians to have spent a “comfortable night.” Both appeared improved slightly, hospital attendants said, although neither was regarded as completely out of danger. Times Index Page Auto News 23 Bridge 10 Comics 25 Crossword Puzzle 25 Curious World 25 DIONNE BABIES 3 Editorial 18 Financial 22 GAS 15 HUGH S. JOHNSON 5 Junior Aviation 26 Pegler 17 Radio 13 Simms 17 Sports 20-21 Stamps 11 Story of Easter 2 Theaters 14 Womans Pages 10-11

Enf*red *s Seeend-ClMf ■ t Postoffice, Indianapolis, Ird.

FRANCE REVEALS APPEAL FOR ‘ACTION’ BY LEAGUE ON GERMAN REARMING

SAFE STREETS CRUSADE GOES ON UNABATED

Police Keep Up Constant Vigil; 55 More Face Charges. Showing no signs of abating, the safe driving campaign which police and municipal Judges have been conducting since April 1 continued today with 55 arrests for traffic violations in the lest 24 hours. There were 17 convictions in Municipal Courts this morning. Walter Rolley, 18, of 29 E. Minne-sota-av, was knocked from his bicycle today by a car driven by Ed Argo. 525 Worren-av, on Belmontav one-half block south of Washington -st. .'Several of Mr. Rolley's teeth were knocked out and he suffered cuts and bruises. He was sent to City Hospital. Drive .Special The Indiana Motor Traffic Association. Inc., gave special consideration to the traffic drive 8t its luncheon today m the Antlers. The part, which truck drivers and operators can play in the campaign was outlined by Sergt. Edward Moore of the police accident prevention bureau. The association plans to send safety instructions to all its members. The arrests included: Failure to stop at a preferential street, 16; disobeying an automatic traffic signal, 11; speeding, 7; making prohibitive left turns, 5; improper lights, 6; improper license, improper parking and no driver’s license, 2 each, and drunken driving, open muffler and driving through safety zone, 1 each. Mrs. John Crider, 42. of 2025 West View-dr, suffered head and body lacerations last night when the auto in w : hich she was riding with her husband was struck by Pumper Truck No. 13 at Kentuck-av and Maryland-st. Mrs. Crider was sent to City Hospital. The auto was wrecked. Burglar Suspect Trapped The traffic drive contributed to the capture last night of a suspect sought for questioning in connection with a burglary. Police arrested George Williams, 23, Negro, 2619 Rader-st, alias George Williams, alias Sugar, alias Codfish, after he was alleged to have driven through a red light at 30th-st and North-western-av. Police claim that Williams had no driver's license but attempted to pass off one sold to another. He was charged with no driver’s license, disobeying an automatic traffic signal and vagrancy. It was later discovered, police said, that he was wanted in connection with a burglary. Two men face charges of vagrancy and perjury in connection with alleged switching of license plates. They are Orville Shiel, 28, of 628 E. Michigan-st, and William Knowles, 25, same address. The men are alleged to have shared one set of license plats. They are held under SISOO bond each. Train Victim Improved Elmer E. Brown. 59, NoDlesville, was held on charges of drunken driving, disobeying an automa ic traffic signal and failure to stop after an accident last night after his car collided with a truck at 30th and Illinois-sts. Police 6aid that Brown fled after the crash and that they found him in a car waiting to have his auto repaired. F. H. Bell, 1525 Pleasant-st, injured yesterday when his auto was struck by a Pennsylvania railroad passenger train at the Pennsylvania railroad and Franklin-rd, was recovering in City Hospital today from a broken arm. shock and cuts. His condition was described as ''fair.''

Democrats Groom 3 as Successor to Boetcher

BY JAMES DOSS Times Staff Writer The Democratic County Committee will meet soon, probably next week, to elect anew chairman to succeed Walter Boetcher, resigned, it was learned today. The party has been without a chairman since Mr. Boetcher became city controller two months ago. although the election laws provide that an election shall be called 30 days after resignation, death or ouster. Democratic county leaders have been inclined to let the party ride along under the direction of Mrs. Edna Bingham, county vice chairman. but suddenly have thrown off their lethargy and' are casting about vigorously for a candidate The choice was reported to lay todav among three men James Scott. Twentieth Ward chairman, is reported to be the choice of E. Kirk McKinney, state director of the Home Owners Corp.. to whom gubernatorial ambitions have been attributed. Hendricks Kenworthy, present .Ninth Ward chairman, is another strong possibility and the candidate

Memorandum Is First Concrete Move at Impressive Stresa Parley; British, Italians Study Laval’s Note. SIMON DISCLOSES HITLER'S DEMANDS Mussolini and Flandin Question Sir John About Nazi’s Aims; Delegation From Paris Impressed by Session. > By United P*e** STRESA, Italy, April 11.—France submitted to Britain and Italy today the text of a French memorandum to be addressed to the League of Nations, calling on the council to act on the threat of war provoked by Germany's re-arma-ment. The French action was the first definite move in the three-power conference on the European crisis which started todav on Isola Bella Island in Lake. Maggiore.

BANKERS FACE NEW AFFIDAVITS Additional Accusations to Be Filed in Court, Says Prosecutor. affidavits, charging officials of defunct Indianapolis banks with criminal conduct, will be filed in Marion County Criminal Court tomorrow. Prosecutor Herbert M. Spencer announced today. The accusing affidavits have been prepared, Mr. Spencer said, and await only the affixing of the signatures of complainants. Mr. Spencer admitted affidavits have been prepared in connection with the failure of three banks, and indicated that additional affidavits will be filed against Scott R. Brewer, former head of the State Savings and Trust Cos., who has been charged w r ith embezzlement and perjury. Mr. Spencer said he had concluded his investigation of the closing of the Meyer-Kiser Bank, officials of which have already been indicted: the Washington Bank and Trust Cos. and the City Savings and Trust Cos. U.S. INCREASES PRICE ON DOMESTIC SILVER Future Monetary Policy Is Indicated in Move. Bfl T nilrrl Press WASHINGTON. April 11.—The Administration sought today to speed advancing commodity prices by paying more for domestically mined silver. Silver prices were boosted overnight from 64.64 cents to 71.11 cents an ounce. The action was expected to furnish the psychological effect for price increases and expand the money issuing base by increasing silver production. Although the action merely gives domestic silver producers a cent increase in price, or less than $2,000,000 additional annually on present production, its importance was believed to lie in its indication of the future monetary policy of the United States. Heavy United States purchases in the world silver markets during the past week, together with the higher domestic price, was believed to show the government's determination to rehabilitate silver.

whom the Statehouse group is likely to support. As in the case of Mr McKinney, there are persistent reports that Pleas Greenlee, patronage secretary to Gov. Paul V. McNutt, will seek the Governor nomination. Mr. Greenlee or some of his friends are reported to have approached Al.iert Gisler, Park Board member, but Mr. Gisler, however, is reported to have refused to be a candidate and is said to favor Kenworthy. The third possibility is Frank McKinney, county treasurer-elect. Overtures have been made but thereis a feeling that he could not find time to give to the job. He takes office next Jan. 1 and now is occupied with the presidency of the Fidelity Trust Cos. It has not become evident that the Courthouse factions dominated by Criminal Judge Frank P. Baker, Circuit Judge Earl R Cox and Ernest Marker, president of Board of County Commissioners, are committed yet to any candidate. Their strength may have an important bearing but the real determining factor, in the final analysis, is the attitude of Mayor John W. Kern,

HOME EDITION rRICE THREE CENTS

Franc e’s memorandum, which probably will be published Monday, bears out the French request for convocation of the League council to consider the threat to peace contained in Germany’s single-handed denunciation of the military clauses of the Versailles treaty. Containing eight typed pages, it is pessimistic in tone. It does not predict war, but stresses the seriousness of the crisis, although arguing that it can be solved if efforts are seriously applied. Laval Submits Text Foreign Minister Pierre Laval of France submitted the text to Premier Benito Mussolini, Prime Minister J. Ramsay MacDonald and Foreign Secretary Sir John Simon of Great Britain. He did not ask their approval because the memorandum will be purely French and needs no approval. M. Laval, however, prefers to acquaint the others with the arguments contained in it that Germany’s act may have serious consequences If respect of treaties is not imposed on all. Mr. Laval brought the finished draft of the memorandum from Paris. It was not considered likely the British or Italians w'ould suggest any modification. French Arp Impressed The first decision of the conference was to make the memorandum the first subject of discussion. The morning session opened, after Muasolini’s welcome, with a speech by Simon in which he outlined the results of the recent exploratory trips on the continent made by himself and Anthony Eden. A series of questions were put to Sir John by Mussolini, Laval and Premier Pierre-Etienne Flandm of France about points in his statement. Sir John enlarged upon the sketch he had already given the House of Commons about Adolf Hitler's attitude toward rearmament and Germany's demand forequality of strength and equality of treatment. The French declared their first, impression of the conference was better than they had expected. PERRY DIVORCE CASE TO START TOMORROW) 51,000,000 Alimony Asked by City! Sportsman’s Wife. The divorce suit brought by Mrs. Mae M. Perry against her husband|| Norman A. Perry. Indianapolis capi-1 talist and sportsman, will open toJ morrow in Superior Court. Fredj C. Gause will be special judge. J At a preliminary hearing Judg* Gause awarded Mrs. Perry an allow-1 ance of SIOOO a month for three’ months. Mra. Ptiry .s seeking $1,000,000 alimony. DOOMS TOWNSEND PLAN Speaker Byrns Says Administration Bill Has Right of Way. By 1. nitrd Prct* WASHINGTON, April 11.—Defeat I of the Townsend old-age pension plan was predicted by Speaker Joseph W. Bvms today as all legislation was pushed aside to give a clear road for passage of the Administration’s social security measure.

TVA—the Why No remote-control writing does Talcott Powell, editor of The Indianapolis Times, present in his survey of the great TV A project for Times readers. Talcott Powell is the only newspaper man who has made a face-to-face acquaintance with the vast TVA project, the only Indianapolis newspaper man who has managed to get behind the scenes in the mountainous Tennessee country to see first-hand what the TVA actually is trying to do. What TVA means to Indiana and Indianapolis is just what Talcott Powell will tell Tunes readers in his series of articles on what he saw in the Tennessee Valley. The articles start Monday on the popular Times Feature Page. -„ .