Reading Times from Reading, Pennsylvania • Page 1

Cooc Morning! There were no big shota in Mays court, I'll swear by law and code; There were no big shots, still it's true It made the judge explode! Weafier Forecast U. S. Weather Bureau Mostly cloudy today; tomorrow fair; little change in temperature Yetterjay'e Temperature! High, 46. 6:30 P. M.

Low, 33, 1 A. M. Complete Weather Statistics on Page 3 3Iembe "J1 Telephone: 6101 Volume 81, No. 27 Whole No. 24,522 READING, PA.

FRIDAY MORN I.N MARCH 31, 1939 Published Every Morning Except Sunday. Entered as aecond rlass matter at tne Post Office at Reading, under the Act of March, lff7. 3 Cents A Copy C' BRITAIN I IS WADED Press SiSpe TT1T7 PJTTT7 i MMl The Merry Go Round Drew Pearson By Robert Allen Doc Townsend Refuses To Compromise On Pension, Gives Congress Jitters; Both Paities Aim to Avoid a Record Vote; Defeat Is Just What He Wants. V7ASHINGTON Most hilarious behind the scenes situation on Capitol Hill is the way Dr. Francis Townsend is giving his followers cat fits.

Ever since the session began, the boys have been trying to squim off the hook regarding their Townsend campaign promises. This is particularly true of those Republicans with presidential ambitions, who are fearful that their Townsendism will boomerang. Recently, therefore. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge and other Townsend ite leadprs secretly proposed to the Doctor that he come out for a compromise whereby Social Security pensions would be lipped to a flat $45 per month. The senators argued that there was no hope of putting his scheme through this session, so the logical thing to do was to back a plan that did have a chance.

But the aged "funny money" crusader grimly set his cadaverous jaw. To all entreaties he replied, "Nope, no deals. It either ail or nothing." Townsend knows full well that his panacea has no chance in this Congress. That doesn't bother him at all, and he sees no reason to compromise. He is in no hurry.

A compromise would wash up his movement and him as a political whip cracker. He is counting on a turndown this Congress and already is building castles in the sky for 1940. "We'll not only capture both the house and senate next year," he is telling intimates, "but also elect our President. They can't beat us. and then' we'll rule the roost and make them come to us." Townsend is as much a headache to Democratic leaders as to the GOP.

They hatre been wondering for weeks whether to kill his bill in the house appropriations comnvt tee or allow it to be voted down in the open house. Some are for reporting it out, in order to put the Republicans on the spot. Others point out that this is a knife that cuts both ways. Inner circle advisers urge that the bill be stalled in commutes until near the end of the session, when all important legislation has been disposed of, and then kill it in committee. They argue that although this strategy will save the Republicans from embarrassment, it will also save a lot of Jittery Democratic hides, also prevent Townsend from obtaining a count of noses and claiming he is within sight of victory.

Sir Willmott Lewis, astute correspondent of The London Times, was addressing the Army War College on the international situation. The War College is made up of the alleged best minds in the army, and after each lecture the officers put the lecturer through a stiff cross examination. "Can you tell us. Sir Willmott," asked a colonel, "how long Great Britain will continue to expect the United States to pull her chestnuts out of the fire?" "As long," replied Sir Willmott, "as the United States relies on Great Britain as her second line of defense." It looks as if Marine brass hats were ganging up on Colonel Charley Price, the new Smedley Butler of the Marine Corps. Colonel Price is the man who commanded the Fourth Marine Corps Regiment in Shanghai during the tense days of the Japanese bombardment, previously ran the Nicaraguan elections and has held many important foreign posts.

Like Smedley Butler in his daring, but with more balance, he is con (Turn to Page Sixteen) HOMES For Sale our inspection is invited of the large selection of properties advertised in today's Times Want Ads prices and terms most attractive. Real Estate is Still a Preferred Investment Get Higherup In Three Weeks, Rieser Is Told Judge Also Stirred By Tale Racket King Vanished Alter Arrest Charges that the big shot of the gambling racketeers vanished be tween the time a bus was loaded with 38 prisoners, taken in a raid on a horse race establishment at Penn and its arrival at the West Reading barracks of the state police provoked Judge Mays in court yesterday to instruct District Attorney John A. Rieser to learn another racketeer chief's identity in three or four weeks. Judges Mays and Shanaman, who presided in sentence cfturt, also gave seven lottery defendants until April 6 to jog up their memories and reveal who employed them or else Charles W. Matten and M.

Bernard Hoffman, representing six defendants in a horse book raid, threw a bombshell into the court proceedings with the charge that the higher up in the gambling underworld had mysteriously disappeared leaving the little fish to "take the rap." Name Jersey Man Matten and Hoffman named the higher up as Harry Waters, of Atlantic City. They declared that witnesses were available to tell of his connection, his presence in the horse bookie establishment and his disappearance. Rieser questioned the source of the information, denied knowledge of the escape but conceded that he had heard of a higher up named Harry. Matten and Hoffman declared that they had attempted in habeas corpus proceedings to show that their Clients were not the operators of the establishments, just employes down on their luck and forced to accept any kind of employment. The upshot was that the court jailed two of the defendants, fining four others and placing them on probation.

Hoffner Jailed Harold "Tiny" Hoffner, erstwhile pugilist and cabaret figure in pre repeal oays, ana uiarenre Keiner catch a forward pass. But then you drew jail sentences of three months never can tell, they admitted Dia to one year and $100 fines because mc nd In the rough and that sort of they had run afoul of the law before. Fines of $300 each and a year's probation were meted to Jacob Bas sing, Daniel Endy, George Paul and Samuel L. Spadafora, who were termed as just horse book employes. Who was the proprietor of the place?" Judge Mays inquired as the sextet were called before him.

On the bench with Judge Forrest R. Shanaman, he asked the same question as 18 gambling defendants were called before him. One by one they were told tb stand aside as the next case was called "to get a picture of this thing." "I wouldn't know," District Attorney Rieser answered the court. ''I interrogated them and they all said they were working there." "That is not so." interjected Matten sharply. "They all gave statements and they gave him the name of Waters.

I don't recall the first name." "Thai's it," exclaimed Judge Mays. "Harry Waters, of Atlantic City." "And I understand that he was over at the police barracks," continued Matten. "If he was, I don't know of It." replied Rieser. "After all, we were inside working, taking statements and questioning the group. The state police took them all over together and I don't see how it was possible for anyone to get away." Concerned About Waters Interrupting, Judge Mays said the I court was not interested in the dis cussion.

"But we are concerned in i Harry waters, we think there are one or two more," he said. (Turn to Page Six) WPA To Drop 29,000 From Penna. Projects HARRISBURG, March 30 (Pi Lee Walker, deputy state administrator of WPA said tonight 29.000 workers would lose their jobs this week end in conformity with an order from Washington headquarters. Col. F.

C. Harrington, federal WPA administrator, has ordered the state office to reduce its case load from 243.000 employes to 204.000 because of a congressional reduction in appropriations for WPA. The order is effective April 1. Walker said the reduction would affect principally the highway, work program, cutting deepest into districts with major hiahway programs although projects all over the 'state would be affected. The men to be laid off reprp.sent a total of between 87.000 and 90,000 WPA statisticians Did Mike Bonner of Albright Win Qoldfish'Qobbling Title? Claim That Grid Ale 34 Is Disputed As Fish Story Albright College went on the goldfish standard last night.

Or did it? Mike Bonner, captain of the 1938 football team, announced between belches, early In the evening, that he had wolfed 34 pretty little goldfish. He claimed the championship of the colleges of the United States, its territories, and possessions. But the Rev. Leroy Breininger. public relations counsel at Albright (press agent is an ugly word!) denied the infamy.

Says It Isn't So "It isn't true," the publicity man who didn't want any publicity declared. "Bonner called my wife early tonight and told her it wasn't true!" But a Times reporter, wisting that he must be about his master's business and bitten by a consuming curiosity, had interviewed the hefty Nesquehoning fin nlbbler and Bonner had made no bones (well, no goldfish bones, at any rate) about his fish gulping capacities. "Sure I ate 'em," said the slightly green gilled Bonner. "Look at me! Don't I look as though I had eaten 34 goldfish? Would anybody say he had eaten 34 goldftsh if he hadn't? And you ran say I didn't need any catsup. either.

I merely washed 'em down with water to give 'em something to swim in. Im kind that way." Little Albright In Front And so little Albright, in compe tltion with big Harvard, apparently had annexed the goldfish gulping championship of the world or, anyway the United States and its territories and possessions, including Guam. The championship 29 previously was held by a Boston College gulper. Or had The Rev. Mr.

Breininger had his fingers crossed. Pub ncnys puoneiiy, nut goiansn are goldfish. "That wasn't Bonner your man spoke to," the dominie said. "Somebody passed himself off as Bonner." Meanwhile college circles were agog at Bonner's prowess, never dreaming until yesterday that he could gnaw a goldfish as well as thing. Hard On Goldfish Humane Society circles also were i agog or about to go agog.

Mrs. Florence Sidel, secretary of the I Humane Society of Berks County, expressed emphatic disapproval of goldfish gulping. It wasn't only hard on the gulpers' tummies, she pointed out. It was also a bit tough (Turn to Page Sixteen) Marian Anderson To Sing In Capital Will Give Free Concert At Lincoln Memorial WASHINGTON, March 30 (IP) Marian Anderson, Negro contralto whose failure to secure the D. A.

R. auditorium for a concert here, stirred up a controversy extending to the White House, received permission today to sing at the Lincoln Memorial. Secretary Ickes, as head of the National Park Service, authorized use of the grounds at the shrine of the great emancipator for a free, outdoor concert Easter Sunday. The singer first sought to rent Constitutional Hall, huge audi torium owned by the Daughters of the American Revolution. This was denied on the grounds that it had been reserved for an afternoon symphony.

Sponsors of the Anderson concert had asked for use of the hall at night, but were told it was against the D. A. policy to grant permission for two different organizations to use the hall the same day. It had been proposed to charge admission and to pay the contralto a fee for singing in the auditorium, but park officials said they assumed she would not receive anything for the free concert at Lincoln Memorial. Fail To Find Plane Down In Mississippi PRENTISS.

March 30 No trace had been found late today of an unidentified airplane which residents of the Chem community told Sheriff A. H. Polk fell last night Into a swamp near Prentiss. The sheriff today led a ground searchinu party throueh the swamplands while Alton Hessier, manager of the Laurel airport, made an air survey. is 'ft 4' 1 0 I hit urn umi iiiiiim mum if Mike Bonner, captain of Albright's great football team last year, who yesterday claimed guppy gulping title.

Hosiery Wage Rise Urged 46,000 Would Benefit By Probers' Request WASHINGTON, March 30 Minimum wages of 40 cents an hour for full fashioned hosiery workers and 32'a cents for seamless workers were recommended today to Wage Hour Administrator Elmer F. Andrews. The wage recommendations were made unanimously by the special advisory committee appointed by Andrews in February to recommend minimum wage scales for 140.000 workers in the hosiery in dustry. Dr. George Taylor, of the University of Pennsylvania, headed the committee.

Affected Taylor said that his committee's recommendations, if approved. would mean increased pay for 46. 000 workers, increases would go to 30,000 workers in the seamless division of the industry, and 16,000 to full fashioned workers, he ex plained. Different recommendations for the two branches of the industry, he said, were made because, in the lull fashioned division, 19.4 percent of wage earners were receiving less than 40 cents an hour, compared with 734 percent in the seamless industry. No Change Here Fixing of minimum wages for hosiery workers at and 40 cents will have little effect in Philadelphia, where wages in most cases exceed these figures, Charles Leh muth, administrative secretary of the Full Fashioned Hosiery Manu facturers of America, said.

believe," said Lehmuth, "that the minimum wage scale proposed i will have little effect anywhere in i the North, for wage scales of has iery workers are generally well 1 above the minimum recommendations in this section. Mostly In South "In the South, however, there doubtless are a number of factories where wages paid to hosiery workers are below the committee's recommended rate." Believes Stone Marker For Virginia Dare COLUMBIA, N. March 30 (4') Thomas B. Shallingtnn, county surveyor, said today he had in. his home a stone which he believes to have been a marker for the burial place of Virginia Dare, first white child of English parents born in the new world.

Found in an old graveyard once submerged in the Alligator River near here, Shallington said the stone bore an inscription in rude and almost illegible characters which he deciphered as "Virginia Dare B. August 17. 1587 D. 1597." The fate of this child and other members of the colony planted on Roanoke Island by Sir Walter Raleigh is still one of the mysteries of American history. Pipe Smoking Widow, 83, Is Burned To Death HARRISBURG, March 30 (ff) The pipe smoking habit of 83 year old Mrs.

Ellen E. Weirich, a widow, led to her death today. Liehting the pipp, she dropped a match and it. ienited her dress, burning her fatally. A son, Frank, was burned in beating out the flames.

3 Autos Plunge Into River; 12 Lose Lives Flood Washes Out Mississippi Span In Darkness VICKSBURG, March 30 (yp) Twelve bodies were recovered today from receding waters of Clear Creek bayou, where a spring flood raced In darkness last night to carry away a 100 foot bridge and leave a deadly abyss in a heavily traveled highway. Divers said they believed nine automobiles plunged into the bayou one after another before survivors waved down other oncoming cars. Seven automobiles were recovered. Five more bodies were recovered late today when a sedan was pulled from the water. The occupants ere tentatively identified Mr.

and Mrs. Robert M. Schilling, Mrs. Sam H. Campbell, 36, her three year old daughter, Annette Campbell, and Mrs.

Tom Bradley, all of Oak Grove, La. Gasoline tank exploded as the car was pulled from the water. Burning gasoline was sprayed on the bayou and rescuers In boats learby had to dive into the water. No one was injured. Two Still Missing Bodies of two other persons, Miss Aim Turner, Memphis, nurse, and Claude Cox of Jackson, were sought.

Eight injured survivors were taken to a Jackson hospital. Some of them told of futile efforts to reach the highway quickly to give a warning. vThe dead: Norman Schlemnier and R. B. Jones, Vicksburg business men.

Miss Margaret Guice, Memphis nurse. Mrs. Mary Sehrark Murray, Mansfield, nurse. S. M.

Wilson, Jackson, Miss. Marrus Meeks, Canton, Miss. M. W. Beaver, Jackson, Miss.

The missing: Mrs. Ann Turner, Memphis nurse; Claude Cox, Jackson, Miss. State Highway Commission Chair I man E. D. Kenna said debris piling against the span supports apparently caused the washout.

Two middle concrete piers gave way, dropping the bridge Into the water. Rupert Lewis, truck driver, said that about 9.35 p. he saw tail lights on a car in front of him disappear. In an instant his own machine was falling. Lewis said his truck stuck nuse down in the mud.

He reac hed the surface by breaking through a window. L. C. Mcintosh of Vicksburg said he believed his car was the first to go into the bayou. He opened the door under water and got to the surface with his son, who was unhurt.

Then he heard cries of others, he related, and saw other automobiles toppling into the chasm. Some of the occupants clung to passing driftwood, Mcintosh said. Indict 2 More In Phila. Poison Plot Deaths PHILADELPHIA, March 30 Jf) Murder and manslaughter Indictments were returned today against Paul Petrillo, 45 year old tailor, and Mrs. Assunta di Martino in poison deaths Assistant District Attorney Vincent Carroll says were part of a plot to collect insurance money.

Petrillo is a cousin of Herman Petrillo, a salesman convicted last week of murder in the poisonings. Mrs. di Martino is the widow of one of the men who died. Two other women are awaiting trial on charges of conspiracy to murder and defraud insurance Sulfapyridine Found Boon In Pneumonia Cases Here Mother Mrs. John Roettiger, daughter of President and Mrs.

Roosevelt, gave birth to a son yesterday, and presented her distinguished parents with their ninth grandchild. Roosevelt Grandpa Again Daughter's Son Is Ninth Grandchild SEATTLE, March 30 (d' A boy, weighing nine pounds, one ounce, was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Boettiger at the Swedish hospital here, and the announcement was immediately telephoned to President Roosevelt, his grandfather, at Warm Springs, Ga. The baby was born at 12:43 p.

m. (3.43 p. m. Reading time). Mrs.

Roosevelt visiting here, was at the hospital at the time. No decision has been reached as to a name for the child, associates of the family said. Mrs. Boettiger, the former Anna Roosevelt Dall, has two other children Anna Kleanor Dall, 12. and Curtis Dall, 8.

Dr. Richard O'Shea, the attending physician, and his associates reported the mother and child were both "doing beautifully." Boettiger, former Chicago and Washington newspaper man, is the publisher of the Seattle Post Intelligencer. Mrs. Roosevelt arrived last Sunday for an Indefinite visit. The infant is the President's ninth grandchild and the fifth boy among them.

James Roosevelt has two children, Sara Delano, 7 and Kate, Elliott has three, William Don uer Roosevelt, 6. Ruth Chandler, 5, and Elliott, 2, and Franklin, lias one, Franklin, one year old. M'Nary Delays Approval Of Douglas As Justice WASHINGTON, March 30 UP). The Senate deferred today at the request of Minority Leader McNary, (R action on the nomination or William O. Douglas to be a member of the Supreme Court.

McNary said that Senator Frazier, N. who was absent, desired to make a further study of the nominee's qualifications and had requested that action be put over until tomorrow. Howe, a defense witness, testified i that in the longtitude of Charlotte, 80 degrees and 51 minutes west, the solar time was 23 minutes and 24 seconds later than local time. Judge Frank K. Sims accepted the contention, and dismissed the case, but coupled with his decision a warning to theatre managers that the rule would work two ways.

"Hereafter when you managers want to run a. Sunday midnight show," he said, "you must remember that solar time governs that too, which means that you can't begin operating at 12:01 a. on Monday, as some of you have been doing." When It's Midnight In Charlotte It's Really Only Saturday Night CHARLOTTE, N. March 30 (P) Because there is a difference of some 23 minutes between solar time and standard time in Charlotte, a theatre manager won acquittal in police court today of a charge of violating the city's Sunday' ordinance. But that is only half the story.

Neil McGill, the manager, admitted that his Saturday night show ran until 12:15 Sunday morning. Eastern Standard time, but his attorney argued that, the time contemplated by the law was solar time instad of that kept by watches and cl'vks. U. S. Meteorologist James M.

Pathologist Reveals Almost Miraculous Results In Reading pneumonia may soon rank with mankind's lesser ailments. The basis for this prediction was the disclosure yesterday that along with remarkable results elsewhere in the United States Reading physicians have been successful in conquering all bu: one of more than 20 cases of pneumonia during re cent weeks with the use of sulfapyridine, a new drug hailed as one of the outstanding discoveries of the medical profession. The use of the new drug in experimental studies conducted in the Reading area was revealed dm ig an interview by Dr. H. Ivan Brown, pathologist at St.

Joseph's Hospital, who said the institution is one of the many throughout the nation which have been conducting original investigations into the results produced by the compound. Cooperating in the experiments. Dr. Brown said, were members of the staffs of St. Joseph's, Homeo pathic and Reading hospitals.

Of ficial findings of the experiments will be presented at a regular staff meet ing in St. Joseph's Hospital next week with a series of lantern slides showing the action of the drug en the system and the effects it pro duces. Patients Of All Ages The experiments, Dr. Brown said. were conducted on patients ranging from less than one year to J9 years of age and, with the one exception.

all were successfully treated through carefully 'gulated doses of the drug. Two practicing physicians. who asked that their names be withheld, also reported that they received 'highly satisfactory" results through administration of the compound, one explaining that he had treated two men 75 and 80 years of age. Both recovered he said, although the death rate among persons of that age suffering with pneumonia is "terrific." The lone exception. Dr.

Brown said, was a patient who contracted what is known to the medical profession as type three pneumonia after undergoing an operation for another ailment. In thus case, the pathologist reported, the sulfapy ridine compound was administered to the patient for six days during which physicians observed that the use of an oxygen tent was less frequently necessary than before the drug was administered. The patient continued to live for three days after treatments were stopped because they had not produced satisfactory results. Excellent Results With Babies "Among the cases that were reported to me." Dr. Brown said, "were two babies, both under one (Turn to Page Two) Franco Rounds Up 100,000 Prisoners 600,000 Now Captives Of Victor In Spain MADRID.

March 30 Nationalist authorities imposed stern measures today to crush any lingering Repub lican opposition to the civil war victors. A technical state of war (in effect, martial law) was decreed in Madrij for a transitory period and military courts were given jurisdiction over all crimes committed during the 32 month conflict. PolUe began rounding up persons listed in a huge card index com piled by "the fifth column" Na tic: list agents and sympathizers throughout the war. More than ltMl.O(K) prisoners have been taken during the last two days, swelling the Nationalists' total number of captives to 600.000. They included all members of the Republican defense council except Gen.

Jose Miaja. Madrilenos were warned by posters that failure to surrender firearms, explosives and incidendiary and poisonous materials within 24 hours would mean summary court martial nd possibly death. King George Embarrassed Dy Rppr Fftuarrt RrPUpH "1 DCCI CUWdlQ DfeWCU LONDON, March 30 (JP). King George VI was given a bottle of beer today that had been brewed by his brother, the Duke of Windsor, I and he indicated embarrassment about it. The bottle was presented to the king when he visited a brewery in Hackney.

East End suburb of London. His brother had brewed it when he visited the place in 1932. "I can't very well carry the bottle around." the king said and handed it to an aide. London Hears Cabinet Ready For Bold Stand Chamberlain To Make Statement Today Before Commons (By Associated Press) LOXDOV, March 31 Friday) Diplomatic circles expected Prime Minister Chamberlain to announce to the House of Commons today that Britain intends to fight In case of German aggression against Poland but not against Nail annexation of Danzig. Whether Britain would fight for the integrity of the Polish cor.

I. apparently hinged upon Poland's attitude. Announcement of the decision to back up Poland in case of German aggression against the rest of Polish territory also apparently waited upon a reply from Poland. LONDON. March 30 P) Belief that Britain is ready to fight If Germany marches aeainst Poland gained ground tonight in diplo matic and other informed circles.

Officials were silent, hut one usually reliable informant said: "The British cabinet now is convinced that a bold course is the best course." His comment came as the British government feverishly hastened efforts to bind pivotal Poland into a ring of steel around expanding Nazi Germany. Concern was reflected in a day of swiftly moving diplomacy in which: The cabinet held a long and unexpected meeting after Prime Minister Chamberlain had cancelled a scheduled speech. 2 1 Secretary Viscount Halifax conferred with Count Raczynski. Polish ambassador, and later with Winston Churchill, former cabinet minister 3 Chamberlain thereafter called a session of the inner cabinet while Dominions Secretary Sir Thomas Inkip acquainted high commissioners of the British dominions with developments. 4 Usually reliable parliamentary sources said the Prime Minister would make a statement on the situation in the House of Commons tomorrow without waiting for the full dress foreign affairs debate for next Monday.

5 Chamberlain followed up yesterday's announcement of a drive to raise the strength of the territorial army to 340.000 men with indications that similar increases were being studied for the navy and air force. Count Raczynski was believed to have learned of the cabinet's position regarding Poland in his Interview with Viscount Halifax. British who previously had said Britain's scheme for a European "halt HitW front would reach a climax during the visit here next week of Col. Joseph Beck. Polish foreign minister, now atscrted more haste appeared necessary.

Aroused by Anti Polish Campaign They indicated that they resarripd Germany's anti Polish press campaign as mors than an attempt to wreck Colonel Beck's trip. The for eii'ii minister Is due here Monday. Officials in London, Berlin and Warsaw, however, denied rumors that the Nazis were planning an immediate drive against Poland's frontiers. One diplomatic source said "new British proposals were presented to the Poles today" after a cabinet "anti entanglement" faction had receded from opposition to far reaching British military commitments. (Turn to Page Sixteen) Strausstown is one of Berks County' busiest little towns.

Located on U. S. Route 22, an arterial thoroughfare between New York and the West, it hums with activity day and night. Reitil mare ahoul thin busiest and very old community in Rambles in Berks In The Times Monday.