The Minneapolis Star from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page 1

News 'Boy Is Well' Spurs Kidnaping Hunt Star Tie Minneapolis URn Minneapolis, It's The star -f I I 1V1 iJ NOVEMBER Average Daily Net Paid Circulation Exceeded 125,000 Vol. 31, No. 119 Price Two MINNEAPOLIS, MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 1937 PRESS (INS) INTERNATIONAL, NEWS SERVICE PIRACY Ma PJ mm Barrymore Leaves Ariel After First Spat AT START OF Benson Takes Over Reins as Governor of Minnesota MWMMMWlyIIMMHUWllllll MMIlMllWIl.8WyulW:a,;i.)yjjlJlllll4'' 1 f. lwns CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN P. DEVANEY AND GOV.

ELMER A. BENSON The Farmer-Labor "Croivn Pnncc" takes the throne MR. AND MRS. JOHN BARRYMORE Elaine now home alone Elaine Says Quarrel That Cents in Minneapolis MERCHANTMEN OF 4 NATIONS ARE INVOLVED Madrid Declares Germany Is at War With Spain 'INCIDENTS' GRAVE By International News Service With Madrid newspapers declaring Germany is at war with Spain "for all practical purposes," piratical conditions on the Spanish main confronted the world with another grave crisis today. Merchant vessels of four nations Great Britain, Germany, Russia and Spain were involved in a spectacular series of naval "incidents" which kept European chancelleries on edge with the fear that the Spanish civil war might finally drag outside nations into armed conflict.

Summary of 'Incidents' Following is a summary of the ship GREAT BRITAIN British steamer Etrib stopped by rebels at Cadiz. British destroyer rushed to Cadiz to protest, and diplomatic protests to Burgos government were ordered. British steamer Black Hill was fired upon by armed rebel trawler, and protests also were ordered over this. GERMANY Berlin charged Spanish loyalist trawlers halted German steamer Pluto by firing at her 21 miles north of Bilbao. As for seizures of loyalist ships, spokesmen say Germany has given no ultimatum and is not looking for trouble.

The German case is that a German steamship was seized illegally and part of its cargo Mexico City (INS) The Mexican government today pledged that no airplane or other war materials originating in the United States will be permitted to pass through its territory en route to Spain. and one passenger retained, also illegally. In return, Germany undertaking a series of retaliatory seizures which will cease the mo ment the cargo and passenger- taken from the Palos are restored. RUSSIA Russian steamer Kom- iles halted by Spanish rebels and escorted to Ceuta, Morocco, rebel base. Moscow charged also Rus sian steamer Krasny Profintem was stopped near Gibraltar by Spanish rebels.

SPAIN Spanish steamers Soton, Aragon and Marta Junquera all seized by the German cruiser Koen-igsberg off Spain's north coast in reprisal for Palos incident. Other international developments today included: President Roosevelt will clamp down an arms embargo against both Germany and Spain immediately relations become sufficiently strained. Inhabitants of Bilbao, Spanish loyalist port, facing starvation. Four thousand Italians have landed at Cadiz to serve as "volunteers in the Spanish tionalist army." Four American fliers have demobilized themselves from the loyalist air force. Madrid Bombed Again Meanwhile, France moved toward British co-operation in a naval blockade of Spanish waters to forestall German naval action.

At the same time, Madrid was subjected to a slashing insurgent Piracy Continued on Page Tuo TWO CONFESS $30,000 PLOT Winona, Minn. Charged with attempting to extort $30,000 from W. W. Norton, treasurer of the Laird Norton Lumber company, two men were under arrest here today. They are F.

H. Frey, 41, and Frederick E. Brown, 51. The men have confessed, ao. cording to Police Chief H.

Riebau, who said they also admit, ted considering making similar threats against R. H. Watkins, an officer of the J. R. Watkins Co.

fir Vtifc i ROADS GUARDED AFTER HOT CLUE IN KIDNAP HUNT Governor Personally Is Leading Search for Suspect ONE RAID FAILURE Seattle, Wash. (U.R) Gov. Clarence Martin today personally directed a statewide manhunt for two men who informed Dr. W. VV.

Matt-son of Tacoma through an intermediary that his 10-year-old kidnaped son, Charles, was well. G-men and state police stressed this "break" in the seven-day-old abduction following apparent failure of a sheriff's raid on a Seattle suburban home. Sheriff deputies sped to the home on report of a neighborhood grocer he had heard a boy crying there. Roads Blockaded After being questioned, the two men, one of whom had a police record, were returned to the county court house for further investigation. They explained the crying as a voice coming from their car radio.

A deputy said the men satisfied officers they had no connection with the kidnaping. Today every available police patrol car, state highway patrolman and deputy sheriffs were called out to blockade the maze of roads in the Shelton-Olympia-Tacoma district, south of Seattle. Objects of their all-night vigil were the two men who stopped by the Reed sawmill camp north of Shelton last night and told E. R. Grubbe, gale-man: "Notify Dr.

Mattson in person that all is well." Grubbe, who relayed the message to Sheriff G. E. Byrne of Mason county, said the man who talked to him was "a medium sized, dark-complexioned fellow, wearing a soft brimmed brown hat pulled well down over his face." Check Cars for Clues The man sped away In a dark coupe after giving Grubbe the message. Police and state division of motor vehicles reported from Olympia that two cars found abandoned in the vicinity of Shelton were being inspected for possible clues. One of the cars, reportedly answering Grubbe's description, was found in Isabella valley, 12 miles west of Shelton.

The other car bore a California license. G-men Tress Hunt Governor Martin, when informed that two men believed to represent the kidnapers were in the vicinity, went lo the Olympia police station to direct co-ordination of the numerous state police agencies participating in the manhunt. An army of G-men also was pressing a separate search for the kidnaper. Led by Harold Nathan, assistant to J. Edgar Hoover, director of the federal bureau of investigation, G-men sought to solve the abduction.

SNELL STILL GOP LEADER IN HOUSE Othfr News of Congress Inside Washington, p. C. (INS) House Republicans today re-elected Ber-trand Snell of New York minority floor leader for a fourth consecutive term. Snell was also nominated for speaker of the house, a post to be retained by Representative Wil-lim B. Bankhead (D) of Alabama.

The bitter fight over the house Democratic leadership showed a marked trend for Sam Rayburn Texas) as the Tennessee Democratic delegation. John J. O'Connor N. Rayburn's opponent, directed a charge of "treason" at Congressman Thomas Cullen, titular leader of the New York Tammany dele-'gation, who has decided to second the nomination of Rayburn for leader, it was announced. Senator Joe T.

Robinson of Arkansas was re-elected Democratic leader of the senate. THE WEATHER Partly Cloudy Tonight; Tuesday Fair; Severe Cold Wave To-night and Tuesday Temperatures Midnight to Noon H12! 1 2 31 4 5j 7 9101112 10:12 35 36 34 34 Highest year ago, 19; lowest, 3. Complete data, Editorial page. Can Be Patched Hollywood, Calif. (INS) John Barrymore was in seclusion today at an unannounced refuge while his bride, Elaine Barrie, the Ariel of his tempestuous romance, was at their home, wondering when the first real post marital lovers' quarrel, which began New Year's eve, would be patched up.

"It's nothing serious," said Mrs. Barrymore. "I hope he will come home today. Of course I don't know definitely because I haven't seen him since he left me." Barrymore first went to the home of Jhis trainer following tke quarrel. Then he disappeared and could not be located.

Elaine reproachfully asserted that her marriage to Actor John Barrymore still was a fine romance. Friends said Mrs. Barrymore told them she was placing her husband on probation, but expected him to return home. Barrymore became angry when he could not persuade his wife to abandon plans for a stage engagement starting next month in San Francisco. HONEYMOON Began New Year's Eve STATE OPENS WAR ON DRUNK DRIVERS Minnesota started its three-way war against drunken and careless drivers today as a national survey showed that at least 191 lives had been lost over the first week-end of 1937 through traffic fatalities.

As previously announced by John R. Arnoldly, chief of the Minnesota highway patrol, the patrol, the State Sheriffs' association and Association of County Attorneys will co-operate to cut down accidents and deaths resulting from careless driving. "In the said Arnoldy, "members of the three justice units will charge drivers arrested while under the influence of liquor with drunken driving, a charge which will take their cases into district courts where emphatic action can be taken." GOVERNOR ENTERS GMC STRIKE CRISIS Flint, Mich. (U.R) Gov. Frank Murphy entered the automobile la bor crisis as a mediator today while officials of the United Automobile Workers' union sought hearing on ar.

injunction barring their members from occupying two plants of the Fisher Body corporation, Gen eral Motors subsidiary. BURGLARS MISS LOOT Burglars entered the Skelly Gasoline station at Seventh street and Lyndale avenue early today, took a small amount of change from a cigaret machine but missed larger amounts in two other hiding places, police were informed. POLITICS PURGE FOR POLICE MAY GO TO MAY VOTE Amendment to Charter Aims to Put Chief Under Civil Service JUNIOR A.C. PLAN By BEN HOLSTROM Staff Writer for The Star Minneapolis voters may have the opportunity next May to vote politics out of the police department. Bringing to a head the movement to abandon the present method of frequently changing chiefs, an amendment to the city charter divorcing the police department from the mayor and putting the chief under civil service is virtually certain to be offered at the primary election.

Result of Six Months' Study The amendment is the result of six months' study of the police situation by the Minneapolis Junior Association of Commerce. Plans have been made to submit the amendment to the charter commission with the view of securing its indorsement. On Jan. 14, the proposal will come up for approval by the mem- bership of the association at a meeting at the Curtis hotel and may be discussed in a radio broadcast at that time. The junior association's study is an outgrowth of the survey of police departments of seven cities made by The Star last spring.

Placing of the chief under civil service was recommended at that time as the best means of eliminating evils of political influences in the Minneapolis police department. Under the proposed amendment the mayor would not be head of the police department and would no longer have the power of ap pointing and discharging the chief of police at will. The chief would be chosen by examination by the civil service commission, and after six months' probationary period, would remain in office indefinitely so long as his work was satisfactory. Removal for Cause Only As with other civil service em ployes, removal would be by charges before the commission. "We have gone into the subject very thoroughly," said Arthur ts Geer.

chairman of the association's municipal affairs committee which conducted the survey. "We examined the police systems of a dozen other cities. We also went into the history of our own department. "The present method of two-year tenure or less for the chief, seemed Politics Purge Continued on Page Two BLAST MURDER UP TO G-MEN U.S. Warrants Sought in Gang Dynamiting at Sioux Falls, S.

D. Sioux Falls, S. D. (U.R) To bring the G-mei. into the case, fugitive warrants were sought today from a U.

S. commissioner for three ex-convicts believed members of a mob that "executed" one member of their gang and also attempted to kill a woman in an explosion of five tons of dynamite New Year's eve. Although stumped as to the whereabouts of the trio named by wounded Helen Sieler, 25, Sioux City, Iowa, police held warrants for Lee Bradley Harry Reeves rd William Nesbeth for the slaying of Harold Baker, sweetheart of Miss Sieler and also an ex-convict. The search spread ever four states, but centered around the vicinity of Sioux City, Iowa, and in the Twin Cities. Miss Sieler was still in critical condition.

GOVERNOR BENSON, THOMAS, LOIS AND MRS. ELMER A. BENSON The governor family sees him lake the oath New Cold Wave Due After Mercury Rises Kunze Is Named New Grand Jury Foreman Public Inauguration Will Take Place Before Joint Session Tuesday Elmer A. Benson became governor of Minnesota today when he took the oath in the executive chambers at the capitol from Chief Justice John P. Devaney, thus taking the office for which the late Gov.

Floyd B. Olson had groomed him. The public inauguration will take place before a joint session of senate and house in the house chamber at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. After again taking the oath the governor will give his inaugural address, which will be broadcast.

Petersen on New Job Ex-Gov. Hjalmar Petersen will give his farewell address at the same time. Mr. Petersen today became railroad and warehouse commissioner, making that three-man board solidly Farmer-Labor. Others assuming office today or starting new terms are Mike Holm, secretary of state, Republican; C.

A. Halverson, treasurer, and W. S. To Be Broadcast Gov. Elmer A.

Benson's inaugural speech as well as ceremonies of the inauguration in the house chamber of the state capitol will be broadcast by WCCO, KSTP and WTCN starting at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. The speech also will he carried by WDAY, Fargo; WEBC, Duluth; WMFG, Hib-bing, and KROC, Rochester. Ervin, attorney general, Farmer-Laborites, and Associate Justices Andrew Holt and Royal A. Stone, elected without party designation.

Schmah! Out After 30 Years Halverson succeeds Julius A. Schmahl, Republican, who has been in the state house in one capacity or another for more than 30 years. Ervin succeeds himself, although he has been in office only 20 days, having succeeded Harry H. Peterson, who resigned to become associate justice. It was ruled that Ervin could continue ia office, taking today the full two-year term as attorney general to which Peterson had been elected.

Barker Slated for Speaker themselves. In the senate Gottfrid Lindslen, Farmer-Labor, will be sworn in as lieutenant-governor and senate presiding office. Representative Harold H. Barker, liberal, Elbow Lake, will be elected speaker of the house. 2 Men Frozen to Death in Twin Cities Over Week-end A Minneapolis man and a St.

Paul man were frozen to death during the weekend of snow and subzero temperatures in Minnesota which also brought death to two men in their snow-stalled automobile in Itasca state park. Two other Minneapolis men ended their lives by poison and shooting, another was critically injured in an automobile crash and a woman was severely burned. Mercury to Dip As Minnesota plowed itself out of snowdrifts the weather bureau forecast a severe cold wave tonight and Tuesday with the mer- Down She Goes The mercury dropped 20 degrees in two hours today at Alexandria, reaching 5 above at 11 a.m. as the new cold wave moved southeast toward Minneapolis. Fargo, N.

D. reported 2. A high wind was whipping the newly fallen snow in the Detroit Lakes, area and driving was hazardous. cury expected to dip to 5 below by-Tuesday morning, equalling the lowest temperature Sunday in Minneapolis. The cold wave was expected to end the freak weather which saw Cold Wave Continued on Page Tivo Panel Gets 'Go Ahead' Signal to Probe Corruption "go ahead" sign to the new Hennepin county grand jury to in vestigate official corruption and all illegal enterprises in the city and county was given today by District Judge W.

W. Bardwell. In charging the jury, Judge Bardwell said there is nothing to stop that body from conducting any inquiry where it believes graft or other corruption exists, and added that it was the members' duty to make such investigations. Kunze Is Foreman As the new jury was sworn in with W. F.

Kunze, former mayor, as foreman, the controversy over the jury system and alleged tam pering influences flared up again. Mayor Thomas E. Latimer issued another lengthy statement again attacking "outside influences" and declaring that persons responsible should be cited for contempt of court. At the same time, Judge Bardwell indicated he would confer with the new jury frequently to see what it was doing and to keep its sessions down to a minimum. The mayor, who recently took up the demands of the Central Labor Union for an investigation of the influence upon juries of such groups as the Association of Former Grand Jury Foremen and the Law and Order league, declared in his statement today that there was nothing in the law to prevent a judge from falling to order a Benson May Pick City Judges First Governor Benson lost no time in getting down to business today after the oath of office had been administered.

With his secretary, Roger he took over the executive office immediately. It was indicated appointment of two Minneapolis municipal judges to fill vacancies left by elevation of Judges Taiil Carroll and Luther M. Youngdahl to the Hennepin district bench will ne among the governor's first official acts. jury impaneled "if there are no matters to be taken up." Hitting at the "outside influences" the mayor asserted that "if the grand jury system is to survive in Hennepin county, the judges should call in members of this and previous grand juries and learn the facts as to the guilty parties and should cite them in for contempt of court." Seldom Have Praise Rumors that Judge Bardwell might arrange to have the new grand jury sit only on call were not borne out. He saiS nothing about this in his charge, but mentioned afterward that he planned to confer with the jury frequently, and learn what the jury was doing with the idea of keeping ses- Grand Jury Continued on Page Two.