davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1931-12-12
EXECUTIVES GIVEN
RAIL PAY QUESTION
Union Leaders, Non-Commit-
tai, Ask Presidents to Me-
gotiate Agreement.
BY the Associated Press,


CHICAGO, December 12.-Wage cuts
and settlement Of railway labor's bid
for relief of its unemployed await the
call of joint conference of plenipo-
tentiarieS of the railroads and their or
ganized employees.
The meeting Of brotherhoods ad-
journed last night without taking a
stand for or against the suggested VOL
untary wage reductions of 10 per cent
The men offered, however, to meet
with the arrangements and negotiate
to a conclusion" the issues Of unem-
ployment and wages.
The employers moved Immediately to
bring about such conference Daniel
Willard president of the Baltimore &
Ohio and head of the rail executives
that asked the men to accept voluntary
wage cuts, said he had arranged to call
conference Of all railway presidents
next week to lay the matter before
them.
without committing themselves in
any way the 1900 general chairmen
representing the principal railway
brotherhoods, last night invited and
urged" the presidents to meet with
union leaders and negotiate an agree
ment.
The brotherhoods made 1t clear, how
ever, that any agreement must be based
upon measures to relieve unemploy-
ment and to better labor conditions
and they notified the railways that
their representatives must be empcw-
cred to consider these matters.
Otherwise, the chairman said, union
executives would be authorized ITO
take all the steps necessary for con-
certed and cooperative action in con-
formity with the provisions and spirit
of the railway labor act to protect the
interests Of our membership in existing
rates of pay and working conditions"
Willard issued statement in which
he said, in part:
The resolutions propose a confer
ence between committee representing
the railroads and committee repre-
senting the employees and the terms Of
the resolution seem to promise that an
amicable understanding may be arrived
at. I am hopeful that an early and
satisfactory understanding may be ar
rived at"
Willard refused to say where the con-
ference he had called would be held.
Evening star., 1931-12-12
DOUBTS GOLD CHANGE.
New York Head of Yokohama Bank
Says Fears Are Exaggerated.
Nv The Associated Press,

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, December 12-Fears in
America that Japan will suspend the
gold standard are very much exag-
gerated. Saburo Sonoda, head of the
Yokohama Specie Bank in New York,
said yesterday
There were no reasons for any new
government in his country taking such
action, he added. Japan, Mr.. Sonoda
pointed out, is in an entirely different
position than any of the European
nations that have gone off the gold
basis.
In the first place" he said, I'VE have
no foreign short-term notes and there
are no foreign balances in Japan. It
is true that we shipped to the United
States about S125, 900, 900 in gold this
year OF this amount about 500 600, 900
was used for the purchase by Japanese
citizens Of our countrys dollar bonds.
The remainder was largely used in
cotton purchases.
Secondly, Japans trade balance is
in the best condition that it has been
for years. In 1880 we had an adverse
balance Of some 1913 900, 900 yen about
$96000, 10000 This year, up to the end
Of October the excess of imports over
exports only amounted to some SO 0oo,-
600 yen about $4,000 ,000). At the
same time our invisible exports this
year will show a favorable balance of
some 100 900 900 yen (about $50 900, ,000) &.
so 1t can be seen that there is abso-
lutely no reason for us to suspend the
gold standard or place an embargo on
gold. cannot speak for the Japanese
government, Of course. but my deduc-
tions are made from the standpoint of
banker"
Evening star., 1931-12-12
PRESIDENT Is URGED
BY BANKER TO FREE
ID J0BLESS MARCHERs
lCCntlnued From, Eirrt pnnAN

continued From First PageD
menu IS excessive and oppressive. cruel
ana unusual, and it woul1 be the na RI
OF justice as we'll as wisdom for Won tn
issue pardon to the entire ID. without
waiting for their friends to request it,"
Full Text Given.
me tun text of Col. Cooper's letter
to Mr.. Hoover follows:
Honorable Herbert Hoover,
The White House,
Washington, D. C.
My dear Mr. President.
am nclosing clipping from The
washington Evening Star of two or
tnres Gays ago, stating that Judge Isaac
~ HleC hso sentenced the IA, the ad-
vance guard OF the hunger marchers, to
lan lor SIX months for an illegal parade
in front of the White House, All 7
know about this is what the cl,nnino
shows.
Under the Constitution of the United
States, our people have a right tn
assemble or to petition for their priev-
ances. Under our Constitution, punish
ments shall not be inflicted which are
excessive and oppressive or cruel and
There Is nothing wrong per Sc
In these men parading in front of the
White House, whether they are hungry
or not; they. only violated a police
regulation and 1t strikes me that this
punishment is excessive and Oppressive
cruel and unusual, and it would be the
part of justice. as well as the part of
wisdom for you to issue a pardon to
the entire IA, without waiting for their
friends TO request it.
Believe Penalty Excessive.
II imagine these people were hungry,
or at least out of employment, and
when man is hungry he is ready TO
do almost anything. think it contrary
to the spirit of our Constitution and
our statutes to lock men up for six
months simply because they make
manifest by a parade their desires or
grievances.
II am writing this without any sug-
gestion from any one, solely because I
believe 1t is fair and just and for the
good of our common country"
Evening star., 1931-12-12
HURLEY TESTIFIES
TO GOOD FAITH In
BUILDING PURCHASE
Continued From First Page. }


holders against the bank, it was charged
that on the following day the funds in
this special account were transferred by
check to the general account of Swart-
zell, Rheem & Hensey Co., and that the
$685., 900 borrowed from the bank was
then repaid by check on the general
account
Louis Titus, representing Mr.. Hurley,
asked the witness whether there was
anything to suggest any irregularity in
the manner in which Rheem proposed
to get the money to pay of the original
trust.
Company's Books Open.
mot a thing In the world" Mr.. Hur-
ley declared. Had there been, l would
not have gone through with the deal.
Furthermore, there was not the slight
est thing to indicate that SWartzell.
Rheem & Hensey Co. might use the
money to pay obligations other than
those imposed by the deed of trust. My
check specifically stated on it's face that
it was to be used in payment of the
money due the original note holders
l firmly believed that the original trust
had been released and that the note
holders under it had actually been paid
in dollars and cents"
After he had been cross ss-examined
by Attorney E. Hilton Jackson. Mr.,
Hurley said he had a statement he
wished to make to the court.
I'd like to say" he stated, that the
Shoreham Investment Co. has no
secrets in connection with this trans
action. It's books are open and anv
further information the court may want
is available"
Evening star., 1931-12-12
AUSTIN MAY SERVE
OND. c. COMMITTEE
Vermont Senator Slated to
Succeed to Place Left
Vacant by Gould.
CTrom the $50 Edition of Yesterdays Star.

CFrom the $50 Edition Of Yesterdays starD
Senator Warren R. Austin, Republic
an, Of Vermont was understood today
to have been selected as one of the
new members Of the Senate District
Committee.
While the work Of filing vacancies
on the various standing Senate COM
mittees is not yet completed, indica-
tions we're Senator Austin would be
assigned the Republican vacancy on
the District Committee, succeeding for
mer Senator Gould of Maine.
II, as seems likely, the ratio of the
committee Is fixed at seven Republic
ans and six Democrats. 1t would
mean there will be two new Democrats
named on the District Committee
There has been no intimation, however.
who the Democratic members will be
and the finsl slate of new members
may not be known until Monday.
Senator Capper, Republican, of Kan
sas. who has long been close student
Of Washington affairs, is continuing as
chairman Of the District Committee.
Senator Austin was elected to the
Senate last March TO finish out the
term of the late Senator Greene of
Vermont. The new Senator was born
at Highgate Center, Vt, and is 50 years
old. He graduated in 1899 from the
University of Vermont and is lawyer
Evening star., 1931-12-12
DEMOCRATS START
FUND DRIVE JAN. 4
"Victory Cam
paign" Plans Under Way.
Success Predicted.
Ey the Associated Press.

Ey the Associated Press.
The Democratic victory campaign"
to raise 81 500 900 will be launched on
Nationwide scale Thursday evening
January IA.
Jouett Shouse chairman of the Dem
ocratlc National Executive Committee,
laid plans for the launching before
State chairmen, meeting today to dis
cusS final arrangements for q simultan-
ecus start IN every State.
John H. Fahey of Massachusetts,, pre-
siding officer at the meeting announced
that a definite effort to raise $500 900
before asking for public subscriptions
was meeting with pleasurable success. ="
A series of victory" dinners in larger
cities throughout the country, built
around national broadcast from New
York of campaign keynote speech by
John w. Davis, Democratic nominee in
1924, will mark oficial Inauguration
Of the drive
John j. Raskob, chairman of the
National Committee, who was present
at today's meeting; Shouse and other
party leaders also will speak at the
New York dinner.
The Democratic party is out to win
in 1882" Shouse said, in announcing
his plan. The prospects for national
triumph have never been brighter"
Evening star., 1931-12-12
SURETY HEAD URGES
JOBLESS POLICIES
Insurance Firms Asked to Lead
Way in Protecting Their
Employees.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, December l2.-Life in
suran2e companies were urged 10 lead
the way in developing unemployment
Insurance for their employees by Archi-
BALD A. WEIGH, president of the Phoenix
Mutual Life Insurance Co. of Hartford,
Conn.,, yesterday.
Speaking at the twenty-fifth annual
convention of the Association of Life
Insurance Presidents, Mr.. WEIGH pre-
dicted that unless industry does take
the initiative in insuring employees
against unemployment, to a degree at
least, Government will provide q system
OF It's own which may include dole"
Charles F. COLLISION, farm editor of
the Minneapolis Tribune. asked the con-
vention' consider "ten-year plan"
for the rehabilitation of agriculture
which has already worked we'll in Min
nesota, the two Dakotas and Montana.
The plan consists of finding the
farmers who now are making money
despite economic conditions, and then
giving wide publicity to their methods
with the cooperation of business men.
Evening star., 1931-12-12
Of GOLD BASIS
ELEVATED BY TOXIC
Leader of Wakatsuki 0pposi-
ton Summoned to Form
New Ministry.
Continued From First Page.)

authoritative quarters it was said the
japanese militarists still hope to over
awe the Chinese without neceSSitating
serious fighting.
There are already about 10000 Japa-
nese troops in Manchuria, but Toxic
contends this number is allowed by eX-
isting treaties because of the emergency
M Inukai had the busiest day of
his political career after an almost
sleepless night. His residence was
crowded by politicians soon after day
light. The greatest excitement pre-
vailed among his followers when the
first summons came from the aged
Prince Saionii and again soon after
ward when the call came from the
palace itself.
It was the greatest day in SeiYukai
circles since April. 1927, when former
Premier Tanaka was called to form a
cabinet.
Among politicians and his friends
Inukai is known as the old fox" be-
politician almost from his youth and a
member of the Diet ever since the first
session in 1890
1t is said of him that he seldom
misses even a committee meeting, so
intense is the interest in political af-
fairs which led him today to the goal
he has sought for so many years.
Veteran of Journalism.
He is small in stature, with features
betokening good nature, a full though
wrinkled face, short gray beard and
sharp, shining eyes. He is known as a
great orator, is fond of interspersing
jokes in his speeches, is a deVotee of
art and likes to write. He has had a
long experience as a journalist.
When he was young, his chief recrea-
tion was hiking. He has villa on the
slopes of Mount Fuji, and whenever he
was not engaged in politics, his friends
always knew he could be found some
where on hike, accompanied by a
companion or two.
Kenkichi Yoshi5awa, japanese repre-
sentative at the League Of Nations
Council and the countrys ambassador
to Paris, is his son-in-law and as con-
sequence the Ambassador already has
been mentioned as a possibility for the
post Of foreign minister in the new
cabinet. Other possibilities to succeed
Baron Shidehara as foreign minister
include Jotaro Yamamoto. former presi-
dent of the South Manchurian Railway.
Three additional telephones were in
stalled in the Inukai home early today.
The residence was one Of the busiest
spots in Toke. The house was iammod
with callers and nearby streets were
congested with automobiles.
Evening star., 1931-12-12
BATES WILL INVESTIGATE.
Prison Bureau Chief Leaving Today
for Leayenworth.

Tor LeaFenWOrtn.
BY the Associated Press.
The Prison Bureau began a prompt
study of the break which cost the lives
Of three Leavenworth prisoners.
By long-distance telephone and other
wise officials kept in close touch with
each succeeding development. Justice
Department agents were dispatched to
the prison to inquire into the circum-
stances surrounding the escape and
learn the nature Of outside assistance
given the prisoners.
In the meantime F. G. Zerbst. as
siStant warden. who led the posse from
the prison after the escaped convicts,
was designated by officials here as act
ing warden
Assistant Director J. V. Bennett Of
the bureau said he was satisfied the
break was not caused by dissatisfac-
ton with conditions in the prison.
Bennett added that the escape ap-
paared to be almost exactly like one
at the prison IS years ago.
AT that time some prisoners cap
tured the warden and used him as a
shield in getting out" he said. They
had no automobile waiting, of course,
but they had assistance outside"
Prison Bureau officials said White,
was one of the most popular wardens in
the service, both among his fellow
workers and the men under his charge
in the prison. White became warden
nine years ago after serving as an in
vestigator fer the Justice Department
Sanford Bates, director of the Fed
eral Erison Bureau, was to leave today
for Leavenworth TO go to the bottom
of the break
Hurrying back here from an inspec-
ton trip in Pennsylvania after hear
| ing Of the trouble, he said Austin H
Mccormick, an assistant director of the
bureau now in Chiliicothe, Ohio, would
Join him in ferreting out the source OF
the weapons used
Bates expects TO arrive koy. Sunday
night.
Evening star., 1931-12-12
BAND CONCERT.

BY the United States Soldiers Home
Band this evening at Stanley Hall at
5.20 o'clock. John S. M. thinner
mann, bandmaster; Anton Pointner,
assistant.
March, The Emblem Of Liberty"
Smith
Overture, The Far West" Kopuitz
Sacred, "Sanctus," from Mass st.
Cecilia" ................. .Ciounod
Gloria" from Mass in B Flat"
Hstden
Grand fantasia, "Fsvorite Songs OF
Robert Schumann" ..... Roberts
Oddly, Overture Miniature,
Tschaikowsky
Waltz suite, Hawaiian Moonlight"
Hickman
Finale. "Folie- -Bergere" ... Eincke
The Star Spangled Banner"
Evening star., 1931-12-12
y the Associated Press


= ECRETARY MELLON, in his
statement giving assurance that
the administration opposed can
~ collation. of war debts. said:
There should be no misinter-
probation as to the administration
recommendation to the Congress re-
lating to the debts due us from foreign
governments and the recreation of the
World War Foreign Debt Commission.
The administration is opposed to can
collation., No recommendation made
carrieT any such implication.
1t is. however. the duty Of those In
authority to deal with realities, and
there is no escaping the fact that some
Of our debtors cannot meet in full the
payments due us until there has been
substantial measure Of economic
recovery, and that the position of 9TH
ers is so changed as to call for consid-
Grafton Of their present situation in
the light of existing circumstances.
Our debt settlements were effected
on the basis of the capacity Of the
debtors to pay. As the President said
in his statement Of June 20: AS the
basis Of the settlement of these debts
was the capacity under normal condi-
tionS of the debtor to pay, we should
be consistent with our own policies and
principles II we take into account the
abnormal situation now existing in the
world
Cites British Change.
TAKE the case of Great Britain, our
best customer, which even in the de-
preston year 1880 took 1918 000, 900
worth Of American agricultural and in
dustrial products The economic and
financial changes Of the past year have
immensely increased the burden of her
payments to us. The series of events
through which Great Britain was forced
off the gold standard are too recent to
require enumeration. Today the pound
sterling is selling at $3.3l5 to the pound,
which is 80 per cent discount as
compared with last year when it stood
at parity. or $4866. All debts to Great
Britain from foreign governments, ex-
cept reparation paym9 ntS which are
not being collected at all this year and
are not likely to be collected in fun
next year, are payable in sterling. Her
debt to US is payable in gold dollars.
The combined effect of these unfavor-
able factors results in an enormously
increased burden for the people Of
Great Britain.
Payments due during the present
fiscal year will serve to exsmplify the
magnitude of the additional burden.
With the pound sterling at par, the
British treasury needs $4,000 900 pounds
in order to pay us s159,500,0 600 With
the pound sterling at the rate at which
it sold on December 10, 1881, it would
take 48,100000 pounds, or an increase
of 15,300000 pounds, or Al per cent.
Or in other words, the burden on the
British taxpayer is increased by almost
one-half.
Evening star., 1931-12-12
Mellon Urges Caution
Warns u. S. Cannot Force Large Debt PAYMENTS on
Aheady O,erbudened Emope-Denies
Cancellation Considered.

When the British debt settlement
was made it was estimated that its pres
ent value at 44 per cent interest rate
was 80 per cent of the total amount
due prior TO funding. If the amount to
be raised in pounds sterling to meet
the obligations to us in dollars Is in
creased by AZ per cent, 1t becomes ap-
parent that from the standpoint, of the
British taxpayer he is asked to meet
not the obligation as established by
cur Debt Commission but an amount
considerably in excess Of such obliga-
ton
Nothing could more forcibly Illus
trate the changed situation which
places on the executive as we'll as the
legislative branches of Government the
duty Of re-examining the obligations of
our debtors and their ability to meet
them during period of worldwide
economic depression.
Does any one believe that Austria
or Hungary should be asked to pay the
instaliments due from them In view of
the extraordinarily straitened circum-
stances in which the people of those
two countries find themselves and the
great difficulty which they experience
in obtaining foreign exchange for the
| purpose OF carrying on even the mini
mum Of essential commerce with the
rest Of the world?
Does any one believe that Germany
should be asked by the United States
Government to meet her payments on
the costs OF the Army of OCCUPATION
when such demand by us must be
| inevitably followed by demands of
other creditors to pay her reparations
in full?
See Situation Altered.
These instances should suffice to
demonstrate that to stand on the letter
OF our bond, and to refuse to investigate
or to consider the facts, is to fail in
our responsibility to the American
people whom we represent and to the
debtors whose capacity to pay we our
selves undertook to determine.
What intelligent business man or
banker would blindly refuse to In
vestigate or to consider the altered
circumstances of a debtor whose un-
secured obligation he held?
The situation of our debtors has
been Immensely altered during the
course OF the last two years. New
questions in relation to those debts are
bound to arise in the course of the next
few months. The Congress should be
in position through a commission Gre
ated by it and composed in part Of its
own members to ascertain what the
facts actually are and to deal with these
new problems as they arise
1t is with such thoughts as these
in mind that the President recommend
ed the recreation Of the World War
Foreign Debt Commission. I am con-
fident that upon mature consideration
this recommendation will commend it
self 10 the Congress"
Evening star., 1931-12-12
KEEPS GRID TROPHIES

HOLLYWOOD, Calf, December IL
tP).-Willism Blackwell, actor, who
played halfback in a recent motion pic
ture featuring players of Notre Dame,
is placing foot ball mementoes in a
specially built case in the foundation
of his Hollywood home, now under con-
struction.
These include a battered foot ball
autographed by the late Knute Rockne
and Orville Mohler and Johnny Baker,
University Of Southern California stars,
and others. With the foot ball are
photographs and autographs of the
players who will compete in the South
ern California Georgia game today.
Evening star., 1931-12-12
LEM INCREASES
LEAD AT BRIDGE
Plays Great Cards Well to
Pile Up $3.50 Advantage
Over CuIbertSonS.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
NEW YORK, December 12.-Sidney
S. Lenz and Oswald Jacoby took ad-
vantage Of great cards to run away from
Mr.. and Mrs. Ely Culbertson in the
fourth session of the contract bridge
marathon ending early today.
BY taking of the u rubbers OF the
session representatives OF the Official
system Of bidding accumulated 1886
more points net for a grand net total
of $3.50.
1t was slam session. Lenz and
Jacoby bid three little slams, and made
them. Another could have been made
with correct choice of bids. Mrs.
Culbertson made one. Her husband
could have tried for another, but pre-
ferred a safe game and rubber.
1t was speedy session. More rubbers
we're played than during any other, and
the grand total rose to II for Lenz and
Jacoby to II for their opponents. Hands
dealt were As, reaching the grand total
Of l54. Lenz and Jacoby shut out the
Culbertsons in three rubbers. The Cul-
bertsons won one shutout.
Session Was Peaceful.
1t was peace session. Jacoby praised
the Culbertsons for being graceful losers
and poor winners. Culbertson remarked
that he found his opponents in excel
lent humor for a change.
Proponents of the rival systems found
grounds for argument. but neutral
kibitzcrs were impressed again by the
fact that shrewd old Lenz and youthful
nervy Jacoby know how to minimize
their losses when the cards are running
against them and also how to get the
most out of pianola hands or almost
pianolas. They have out-maneuvered
the Culbertsons in the tactics Of deliber-
ately being set in the hope Of keeping
opponents from going game and rubber,
And this is matter Of diagnosis of the
moment and not Of systems.
Lenz found in the last rubber OF the
session, the longest, which went 10
hands, much material to contrast
tactics Of the teams. Cubertson lay in
ambush, but the enemy refused e be
trapped. All the kibitzers said Ely
could have made game in no trump
but he let the official team get away
with a one-club make.
Strong Enough for Force.
After a minimum opening one-club
bid by Jacoby, Culbertson with 51a
honor tricks in front of him. second
hand. passed. The hand was strong
enough for the famous forcing two bid
of his system. He explained ne passed
for a swing; he expected Lenz to bid
and then he intended to unmask mis-
batteries and plank most proftab BILE
double on the surprised and vulnerable
officialiteS.
But LEM passed, and Mrs. Culbertson
passed. Their hands both were nigh
worthless. After the session Culbertson
alibied that there was no game in the
hand and Lenz insisted any palooka
could have made three no trump.