Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 26 April 1937 — Page 1

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FORECAST: Cloudy tonight and tomorrow; probably occasional showers; continued cool.

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SCRIPPS — HOWARD VOLUME 49—NUMBER 39

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1937 | .

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis, Ind.

20000

PRICE THREE CENTS

rr a rE HE

FLOODS IMPERIL 3 EAS

Will This 1936 Flood Scene Be Repeated?

ARTIST SAVES 2 WOMEN FROM FLAMING HONE

Fire Sweeps Four-Family, 20-Room Apartment House in E. 19th St

ANTIQUES ARE LOST

Randolph Coats Mother to Safety, Aids Neighbor.

(Photo, Page 8)

“Two women were rescued today when flames swept a four-family, _ 20-room apartment building at 418 E. 19th "St. Firemen estimated damage at between $7000 and $8000. Total loss to furniture of occupants was unestimated. Furnishings broken included valuable antiques owned by Mrs. Ella Coats, mother of Randolph Coats, artist, who occupied one ‘of the apartments. Nine fire companies battled the flames for about two hours before bringing them under control. Water from nine hose lines were poured on | the burning building as flames and | smoke shot skyward.

Artist's Mother Ill

Mrs. Coats, who has been ill, discovered the fire and called her son, who summoned firemen. Her lungs were reported to be filled with smoke before he could assist her to the home of Mrs. Catherine Dunn, 417 E. 19th St., where she is under the care of a physician. Mr. Coats returned to the building to assist Mrs. Etta Wilkinson, occupant, of the other second-floor apartment, to the home of another neighbor. “Save my canary,” shouted Mrs. David L. Milligan, who with her husband ocupies one of the firstfloor apartments and operates the Scientific Beauty Shoppe in part of their home. Neighbors carried the bird out. Mrs. Milligan was near nervous collapse. | Mr. and Mrs. John W Ansley, occupants of the other first-floor apartment, were not at home when the fire started. Investigation of the cause of the blaze was directed by Assistant Fire , Chief Roscoe McKinney, Battalion Chief Robert Simms and Fire Prevention Chief Bernard Lynch. The assistant chief said an overheated furnace and heat pipe were responsible. He said the pipe was only six inches from the rafters and that the fire ate its way through the walls, under the floors "and resulted in an accumulation of fumes which exploded in the attic. Roof Caves In The upper half of the structure, which is frame, burned quickly and the attic roof caved in. The lower half of the building is brick veneer. Because of hose lines stretched across the street, the Indianapolis Railways had to transfer passengers on its Central Ave. lines. Mrs. Florence Mellett, 3460 N. Meridian St., owner of the building, said it recently had been decorated. Mr. Coats said he could not estimate the lcss suffered by his mother when about 100 pieces of old china and other antiques were broken or crushed. The Ansleys said there loss would be $400. The Milligans said theirs would be about $200. Mrs. Wilkinson did not estimate her loss. Firemen from Engine House 26 pumped water from a cistern a half block away to extinguish flames which last night damaged the home of Bert Carson, 5305 Madison Ave. in Perry Township. Damage was estimated by firemen at $500.

BOB BURNS Seve HI

Sometimes when you git to thinkin’ of the world as a whole, she looks like a pretty cold, tough proposition, put when you take the people individually youll find that they're a pretty sympathetic lot and if you'll take the trouble to explain ,-your troubles, they're willin’ to help

ya. Uncle mother - in - law ‘came to spend the week-end with ’em one spring and late the following fall, she said one day that she’ll jest have’ta tear herself away. . Uncle Slug called a cab and helped her pack her luggage and they started for the depot. Uncle Slug noticed that the cab driver was a tough, hard-lookin’, unsympathetic appearin’ man and he was jest pokin’ along, but| when Uncle Slug tapped him on the shoulder and said: “Would ya mind drivin’ a little faster. I want my mother-in-law to catch that train!” The cab driver stepped on the gas and said: “Brother, I'll drive jest as though she was my own mother-in-law!” | | (Copyright, 1937) |

Carries

Slug’s

Pleas Greenlee Nominated for New Coal Post

Times Special WASHINGTON, April 26.—Pleas Greenlee, one-time secretary .to former Governor McNutt of Indiana, was one of seven men nominated by President Roosevelt today to serve on the National Bituminous Coal Commission.

Recommended by Senator Minton, he will, if the Senate approves, represent the public on the Commission, set up under the Guffey Coal Control Act. His salary is to be $10,000 a year. Other Commission members, all of whom are to serve four years, and interests they represent are: C. F. Hosford Jr. Pennsylvania, producers; C. E. Smith, West Virginia, public; Walter H. Maloney, Missouri, public; Percy. Tetlow, Ohio, miners; John C. Lewis, Iowa, miners, and Thomas S. Haymond, Kentucky, producers.

EXCEL IN MUSIC

Mme. Stokowski Demands:

Blind Test to Prove Feminine Equality.

(Photos and Program, Page Three)

The National Federation of Music Clubs today heard from one of the nation’s most distinguished women pianists a plea for a fuller and more honest recognition of women's musical talents. Mme. Olga Samaroff Stokowski, born in Texas. and musically educated abroad, made the plea at a luncheon at the Columbia Club. Earlier, Mrs. H. A. Patterson, Minneapolis, choral and choir festivals chairman, urged organization of a national chorus with representatives from the 48 states. She spoke at a conference session in-the Clay-+ pool Hotel, before presiding at the Choral Day program held at the Indiana Theater. For the first time in the 40 years of the Federation, a full day was given over ‘to choral singers, who came here from Florida, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Missouri and Ohio to appear on the program. “At present, 36 state choral chairmen, 30 chairman of choral festivals and 25 chairmen of religious choral music—all members of the Federation—are doing much to promote choral singing in all states,” said Mrs. Patterson, who later presided at the morning choral program in the Indiana Theater.

Five Cities Seek Meeting

Meanwhile, spirited: bidding was under way for the 1939 convention, with five cities seeking the biennial session. They are Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Invitations are to be delivered by representatives of these cities from the convention floor Thursday morning. The decision may be referred to a committee for later action, Federation officials said. Mme. Stokowski turned her attention to Jose Iturbi and his statement that women musicians are (Turn to Page Three)

GETS 25 YEARS FOR ‘TORTURE ROBBERY

Salesman Pleads Guilty to Theft and Beating.

Robert Rawlinson, alias O'Day, 38-year-old ‘ salesman, today was sentenced to 25 years in the State Prison when he pleaded guilty before Criminal Court Judge Frank P. Baker to beating and robbing Mrs. Della Gavins, 80, of 23 W. Merrill St. He waived grand jury action on affidavits charging “him with robbery and physical injury in the commission of a robbery. Rawlinson, who was arrested Friday night in a Greenfield tavern following the attack on his aged landlady, said he was drunk and that if he did beat her he did not remember. : The aged woman, her face marked as a result of the beating, appeared in court to repeat the story of how she was beaten and robbed of val. uable trinkets and gold pieces. She said that Rawlinson picked up a glass crucifix and that he threatened to strike her with it. “If you do,” she said she cautioned him, “the Man whose figure is on there will not let you hurt me.”

16TH ST. PROJECT GETS BOARD'S 0. K.

Widening and resurfacing of 16th St. between Alabama St. and Central Ave. was ordered by the Works Board today following a hearing. The cost was estimated at $14,625, of which the City is to pay 75 per cent and property owners the remainder. : Removal of street car tracks and paving of Pennsylvania St. from 43d to 46th St. also was approved, with the City paying 75 per cent of

2

the estimated $15,000 cost. ¢ K a

HERNDON FREE BY 5-4 RULING OF HIGH COURT

Georgia Statute Improperly Applied, Majority Decision States.

ROBERTS READS OPINION

Communist’s Conviction Is Held Not Justified by Evidence.

(Editorial Page 10)

BULLETIN WASHINGTON, April 26.— The Supreme Court today agreed to pass onrthe validity ‘of old age pension provisions of the New Deal's Social Security Act, under which 26,000,000 workers and 2,700,000 employers are paying taxes.

By United Press » WASHINGTON, April 26.—Angelo Herndon, Atlanta Communist organizer, today was freed by the Supreme Court by a.five-to-four vote from the 18-to-20-year jail sentence imposed on him after conviction on charges of violating a Georgia reconstruction days’ statute forbidding the advocacy of forceful resistance to the State, The Court held, in an opinion by

Justice Owen J. Roberts, that the |

reconstruction days’ statute was improperly applied to Mr. Herndon and that there was no evidence in the record to justify the conviction. The Herndon case had aroused widespread interest because of the unusual legal process under which he was proceeded against. He was prosecuted on the theory that membership in the Communist Party indicated revolutionary opposition to the State and that.organizing work on behalf of the party amounted to advocacy of forceful revolution. Other Decisions In other decisions today the Court: Condemned orders of the Ohio Public Utilities Commission

‘which directed the Ohio Bell Tele-

phone Co., to refund more than $13,000,000 to telephone subscribers and to establish new rates in accordance with a valuation fixed by the Commission. i Held that the State of Minnesota may impose taxes on stock of Montana and North Dakota banks held in Minneapolis by the First Bank Stock Corp., a Deleware corporation. Upheld the Maine law requiring registration of cosmetics sold within the state. Upheld the appeal of Hiram Steelman, Federal trustee in bankruptcy for the estate of William Fox, motion picture pioneer, to prevent AllContinent Corp. from prosectiting in Philadelphia a counter-suit against Mr. Steelman’s effort to obtain AllContinent’s property for the estate. The law involved in the Herndon case was passed in 1866 and amended in 1871 to permit the imposition of the death penalty. Mr. Herndon charged that, as applied to

"his case, the law was invalid since it

unduly restricted freedom of speech and assembly guaranteed by the Constitution. Roberts With Liberals Judge Roberts’ decision found him again with the Court's liberal group. His opinion held that Mr. Herndon was improperly deprived of his freedom of speech. ‘The decision condemned the ancient law under which Mr. Herndon was prosecuted as so vague that it violates the Federal Constitution. Justice Willis Van Devanter wrote a vigorous dissent in which Justices James C. McReynolds, George Sutherland and Pierce Butler concurred.

CONTINUED COOL AND SHOWERS FORECAST

LOCAL TEMPERATURES 6a m... 40 10 a. m... 7 m... 41 11 a. m... 8 a. m... 42 12 (Noon) 9a m.. 44 1p. m...

43 4 41 4

The weather is to continue cool, and occasional showers are probable, the Weather Bureau predicted today. At 6 a. m., temperatures were 12 degrees below normal for the day. Today and tomorrow will be cloudy, the bureau said.’

J vestigate | which had threatened a strike of 25,000 employees of eight Eastern | peace. :

The Franklin St.

This picture, taken during the March, 1936, flood, shows raging flood waters covering . the business district at Johnstown, Pa. foundation, is shown in the center.

bridge, torn from its

President Names 3-Man Board to Forestall Walkout of 25,000. ¢

By United Press President Roosevelt today

ap-

F. D. R. Delays Rail Strike; C. of C. Hears Ami ty Plea

| Labor, ‘Capital Asked to

Unite in Cutting Industrial Pie.

By United Press

WASHINGTON, April 26—Colby

pointed a three-man board to in- | M. Chester, president of the Na-

the labor controversy

rail lines. The emergency action was taken after the Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express and Station Employees, postponed for another twp days %he strike which had been scheduled for noon. Under the law, no strike may be called for at least 30 days after the fact-finding board reports to the President. Company Union Abandoned In Detroit police smashed through barricades of lye in barrels and bags today fo remove a score of sit-down strikers who held possession of $2,000,000 worth of drugs and narcotics in the closed plant of Parke, Davis & Co., said to be the world's largest manufacturer of pharmaceuticals. : The Federal Government entered the strike, when it was determined that part of the strikers held possession of $2,000,000 worth of drugs and narcotics. Federal supervision over drugs and narcotics is maintained constantly, company officials explained. .- The Carnegie-Illinois Steel Co, largest subsidiary of United States Steel, promised the National Labor Relations Board to abandon its 3-year-old company union plan and allow free unionization of its plants. In Auburn, Me, Justice Harry Manser of State Supreme Court ruled that commissaries and soup kitchens may remain open to feed 2000 shoe strikers. Attorneys for mainuaftcurers had asked the court to close the commissaries. National Guardsmen continued to patrol the region. In New Haven, Conn. James H. Rand Jr. president of RemingtonRand Inc., and Pearl Bergoff, head (Turn to Page Three)

MISSING PLANE HUNTED By United Press ; " CARACAS, Venezuela, April 26.— A military airplane left today in search of a plane, unreported since Friday. Aboard were Frederic D. Grab, New York, and William Armstrong Perry, a New York Times correspondent.

Delicious Steaks! Balanced Meals. Charley’s Restaurant, 144 E. Ohio + St.—Adv.

| tional Association of Manufacturers, | today called on labor and industry

to join in a three-point program to build industrial prosperity and

Speaking before the 25th anniversary meeting of the United States Chamber of Commerce Chester asked labor-management co-operation and an acceptance by unions of their responsibility, payment of wages sufficient to support mass purchasing power, and creation of private jobs for those on relief. & He requested that: 1. Organized labor co-operate with management in distributing “a fair division of the industrial pie” and exemplify “a consciousness of its responsibilities.” 92. Businessmen realize “that - the success of the American system of large-scale production and distribution from now on depends largely upon a consuming public having a purchasing power which grows steadily.” 3. Industry should “work toward a goal of making jobs in private industry so attractive and accessible that thousands now on relief will work in industry and in the various businesses and services.” : Prices Reduced

Chester told the 1500 members of the chamber’s council that “the rift in our national thinking today is between those who feel that our progress in human betterment has been slow, and those who feel that, considering all circumstances, our progress has been as rapid as could be expected within the complexity of our modern civilization. . “Nevertheless, in 25 years, prices to consumer have come down greatly and quality of merchandise has gone up to an even greater rate. The hours of labor are shorter, pay is higher, and working conditions considerably better.”

M’NUTT TAKES OVER POST IN PHILIPPINES

MANILA, P. I, April 26.—Paul V. McNutt, former Indiana Governor and American Legion commander, arrived today to take over his duties as High Commissioner of the Philippine Islands. A squadron of U. S. Army planes greeted McNutt and his party and escorted them to the official residence.

Heart-Broken Ft. Wayne Midget, 80, Dies Nine Days After Death

By United Press FT. WAYNE, April 26.—0ld age and lonesomeness today took the last of the famous midgets who toured the American continent a half century ago as the American Lilliputian Opera Co. Eliza Nestel, 80, died last night. Her brother Charles, 88, died nine days ago. They were the last survivors of the famous Lilliputian troupe, and had earned enough fame in their own right to win personal audiences with Queen Victoria and President Abraham Lincoln. Both had been feeble, blind and crippled for several years. They lived quietly in the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Sallot, friends who shielded them from reporters and photographers. Old age and general debility caused Charles’ death. He was

| buried quietly, in a small casket.

v

Eliza, unable to walk, was carried to the funeral. She ran her fingers

Already in fragile health, she was unable to stand the grief and lonesomeness of her brother’s death.

blacksmith, and had a sister and brother of normal size, who still live in Ft. Wayne. The midgets started their theatrical career in 1861, when they appeared in the late Col. Ellinger’s production, “The Little People.” The famous midgets Mary Doyle, Col. Dotte and Jennie Quigley played with them. Jennie Quigley and Charles fell

love remained a secret until Miss Quigley’s death in Chicago a year ago. In the eighties the Nestels joined P.T, Barnum and toured the world.

over his face, and was carried home. | d

They were the children of a husky-

in love, but they separated and their |b

of Brother

In 1881 and 1882 they had two audiences with Queen Victoria in Lonon. Charles, frustrated in his desire for a soldier’s life, wore a soldier’s

uniform at every performance, and.

welcomed the nickname ‘“Commander.” He was known on the stage as “Commander Foote.” It was said the only timé the Nestels were separated publicly was early in their career, when Charles slipped through a stage door in Washington for a personal audience with President Lincoln. They were more inseparable than ever when they came to Ft. Wayne several years ago. Eliza will be uried in a specially made casket beside her brother in Lindenwood Cemetery tomorrow. afternoon, following services by the Rev. James McNeil Wheatley in Trinity Episcopal Church.

$s

HOPE FADES FOR PWA SCHOOL AID

Board to Ask Bids on New Irvington High Despite Lack of Funds.

2 2 The school board has abandoned all hope of obtaining Federal funds to help finance this year’s $875,0( high school building program, Allan Boyd, president, said today. He added, however, that despite lact of anticipated PWA grants, the program must be carried through as planned to meet building needs.

The board president said that final approval of working plans for the new $450,000 Irvington High School is to be given by the board tomorrow night... He added that A. B. Good, business director, will be authorized to advertise for bids. The board had received approval of WPA grants several months ago, but allocations were deferred pending a Federal decision on whether PWA would be continued after June 30. These grants included $202.500 for the Irvington building; $167,000 for an addition to George Washington High School and $33,750 -for - a junior high school addition at School 26. atic, Mr. Boyd said that recent communication from Horace Hackett, assitant administrator of Federal emergency relief, was construed by board attorneys as “a ‘denial of grants.” He said that since the State Tax Board approved the School City levy last November, school commissioners and executives, State WPA Director F. M. Logan, Senators, Representatives and others in Washington have made every effort to obtain Federal funds to finance 45 per cent of the building program cost. The board president cited that since the estimate was made on the Irvington building, material costs have advanced and that this year it may be impossible to erect one of the planned wings.

JOEL BAKER BOOKS REPORTED IN ORDER

Welfare Department Records Are Checked.

The State Accounts Board today reported that Marion County Welfare Department books for the period Joel A. Baker was director were in order. Field examiners who made the audit returned a “no charge report.” The examiners said there were a few minor errors in accounting, but that -the books were in “as good condition as any similar department. There always are small discrepancies,” it was said. The examiners reported that $21.54 due Mr. Baker at the time of his dismissal Had not been claimed. Mr. Baker, reached at his home, said he had no comment to make on the report.

TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES

Merry-Go-R’d. 10 2 Mrs. Ferguson. 9 Mrs. Roosevelt. 8 Obituaries ....12 Fashions Financial

Scherrer ...... Serial Story ..14 In Indp’l’s ... 5 Jane Jordan .. 4 6

Johnson eesee dl State Deaths .12

A

. »

By United Press

The worst April flood in

great Ohio. Four deaths indirectly

Baltimore & Ohio tracks.

waters.

Weather Bureau reported.

Ohio River at Pittsburgh to

Capt. J. R. Hil of U. S.

mountains.

There was no cessation

been started. _ Once the rise is started

river cities.

WOODRING PREDICTS CONTROL OF FLOODS

Program Instituted by U. S. ‘Is Lauded.

By United Press WASHINGTON, April 26.—The Federal Government has instituted a flood control program which eventually will eliminate the major damages now caused by rampaging streams, Secretary of War Harry H. Woodring declared today. Addressing the National Rivers ‘and Harbors Congress at the opening session of its 32d annual convention, Secretary Woodring said the Flood Control Act of 1936 “established as a national policy the participation. of the Federal Government in the construction of flood control measures on streams tribu-

tary to navigable waterways.”

J

ERN STATES RIVERS SWOLLEN BY HEAVY RAINS; 4 KNOWN DEAD

Three Railroad Workers Killed Repairing Washout; Woman Dies of Fright at Johnstown, Pa.

FLOOD STAGE TOPPED AT PITTSBURGH

Troops Called Out at Cumberland, Md.: Wheeling Warned of Record Crest; Indiana Danger Discounted.

BULLETIN

EAST LIVERPOOL, 0., April 26.—A flood warning was issued late today by Ohio River lockmen at Dam No. 8.

By United Press

recorded history today periled

the tri-state area of Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia, where mountain streams, fed by heavy rains and snows, poured torrents of water into the tributaries of the

attributed to the incessant rain fall were reported. Three railroad section gang workers were struck and killed by a train near McKeesport on their way to help clear away a slide of earth and rocks from the A Johnstown, Pa., woman died of a heart attack, induced by fright over the rising flood

In Indiana, streams were rising slowly but there is no indication of critical flood stages now, the United States

Principal cities threatened by the sudden rise were: Johnstown, the “flood city,” which reported its highest water since the disastrous St. Patrick’s Day flood of 1936. Evacuation of business houses was started and lowland residents were ordered to evacuate. Pittsburgh, its rich “golden triangle” threatened by the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, which flow together in the steel city to form the Ohio. Brotzman warned residents of the possibility of a major flood and predicted a 35-foot river stage, 10 feet above flood level before noon tomorrow. The predicted rise would carry the

U. S. Meteorologist W. S.

a stage exceeding by several

inches the height reached in January. Rise Is Rapid :

The Pittsburgh stage at 11:30 a. m. (Indianapolis Tim ); was 26.1 feet, one foot and one inch over flood stage.

8

Dam 12 warned Wheeling to

prepare for 48 feet, the worst April flood on record. The 10,000 residents of Wheeling Island were ordered to be ready, to leave their homes on quick notice. Cumberland, Md., where a National Guard regiment, the American Legion and Works Progress Administration works ers were called out on emergency duty, business on a main street was suspended when Willis Creek left its banks to flow through the middle of the city. The rise followed continuous rains over 36 hours and snow to the depth of five inches in the western Pennsylyania With the ground already drenched, the water rolled from the hills into the mountain streams. .

of the rain and the Weather

Bureau predicted no let up before tomorrow. . : Reach Ohio at Pittsburgh

The rise began in the headwaters of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, which feed into the Ohio. The Governe ment has planned the construtcion of a number of reservoirs along the Allegheny and Monongahela to prevent recurrence of major floods but no actual construction work has

in the watershed, the waters

pour into the Ohio at Pittsburgh and continue down the river, imperiling Wheeling, W. O.; Huntington, W. Va., Cincinnati, Evansville and lower

Va., Portsmouth and Marietta,

Emergency orders went out to all police and firemen in

oriver bordering cities and towns of the three-state area. In _ Pittsburgh, Safety Director George E. A. Fairley canceled all police and fire leaves and ordered his men to emergency ‘duty. In Johnstown, officials said the site uation was “decidedly dangerous.” The city lies in a basin in the hills and is flooded whenever Stony Creek and Conemaugh River overe flow their banks. : Apparently the most. seriously

Johnstown, twice hit, by major flood disasters. There in the hill basin turbulent Sfony Creek rose out of its banks, washed away a foot bridge in the business section and flooded cellars. Merchants in the business section were ordered to remove their stocks. Trolley Traffic Paralyzed In midmorning, Stony Creek ap=proached close to the 17-foot flood level. The overflow from the creek paralyzed streetcar traffic on Vale

main thoroughfares. At points along this highway, the depth reached two feet. w Along the Johnstown waterfront, (Turn fo Page Three)

affected city in the early rise was

ley Pike, one of the “flood city’s” .

Sve pls

wT rn ae we