davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1934-06-23
JUST SCOFFS FOR RAIN MAKERS
Government Weather Bureau Takes No
Stock In Plans To Force Nature

Another common theory assoc
iates rain with battle. That, Also
is wrong, Humphreys declared. To
the rain-soaked troops of 19l4-18
the idea seemed reasonable. Many
thought the constant thunder of
artillery was blasting the sky open.
Humphreys said it was not.
Plutarch, in his "lives" called at
tention to the fact-Humphreys
said it was coincidental-tha rain
often occurred after great battles.
He listed three theories to account
for this:
/. The Olympian Gods, outraged
by mans conflicts, sent showers to
cleanse the CORY earth.
g. The clash of swords on shields,
cries of the wounded and other
sounds of battle Shocked" the
clouds into opening and pouring
forth.
g. Mass evaporation of blood and
sweat produced rain.
When 1t comes to warfare as a
rain maker, Humphries is pacifist
Imperial Valley press., 1934-06-23

Imperial Valleys long-hoped-fo
All-American canal, first contracts
for which were let today, was first
authorized by congress on Deem
ber %, 1928, as part of the Boulder
dam project.
Next important step came in the
contract between the bureau of
reclamation, which is to be in
charge of construction, and the I'M
perial Irrigation district the con-
tract being dated December l, 1882.
On October "a, 1888, the project
moved one step nearer to realiza-
ton with approval of construction
of the canal by the Public Works
Administration, $6,000,000 being
made available to start work. Con-
tracts for this work are the ones
let today.
Works Described
This gigantic project includes the
diversion works to be located on
the Colorado river Az miles above
Laguna dam and approximately 20
miles above the town of Yuma; I'M
perial dam, which is to be the rock
filled type diversion weir about
ITO feet long and 25 feet high;
and the desilting works to be con-
structed at the head OF the canal
to remove heavier silt which will
be settled and sluiced back into
the river below Imperial dam.
AS for the canal itself, its capac-
ity from the head to Siphon Drop
dncluding 1000 second feet for the
Yuma projec) is $4,000 cubic feet
per second; from Siphon Drop to
Pilot Knob, is $4,000 cubic feet per
second; from Pilot Knob to west
side of sand hills (start OF Coach
ella branch) is 10000 cubic feet per
Continued On Page 81
Imperial Valley press., 1934-06-23

WASHINGTON, June 90. U.P)--
The weather man looked exas-
peratedly at hill of letters tell
ing President Roosevelt how to
break the drought and announced:
mo power on earth can make
1t rain"
All the ideas on how to produce
rain-and they are innumerable-
just produce so many good laughs
at the United States weather bur-
eau. w. J. Humphreys, meteoro-
logist to whom most of the we'll
meaning suggestions are referred,
is getting fed up with sticking
factual pins into pet theories.
The popular notion that noises
such as are made by the deton-
alton of cannon or dynamite can
shake the sky lose of its moisture
burden is entirely fallacious, Hum
phreys said Against the weather
bureaus advice, the government
once tried out the idea in a
drought-afflicted part of Texas. 1t
didn't work and the weather men
laughed up their sleeves.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-06-23
Los ANGELES
WOMAN WILL
Be EXECUTED
Jury Convicts Mrs. Madison Of
Staying Her Fourth Husband
In Apartment.

LOS ANGELES, June %. U.P)-
Nellie May Madison, dark-haired
and middle aged, convicted slayer
of her fourth husband, was des-
tined today to become Californias
first woman to die on the galloWs.
A superior court jury last night
spurned leniency and returned a
verdict carrying the extreme pen
atty for the alleged murder CT a
man the defendant insists is still
alive.
The verdict was as astounding
to the courtroom as was Mrs. Mad
ison's plea that a man shot to
death in her Burbank apartment
was a stranger, and not her hus-
band, Eric B. Madison, studio cm-
ployee and reputed scion of for
mer Danish politician.
The jury was out 80 hours be-
fore it marched in with the Ner-
dict condemning to death this
plumpish woman whose courtroom
demeanor had won her the Sob
riquet of "the Sphinx woman"
Eight men and four women COM
prised the jury.
Barristers recalled that a woman
was sentenced to die in California
more than 20 years ago, but her
life was spared by Communication
of sentence.
The Sphinx woman" accepted
her fate laconically. Her cheeks,
however, gave way to a pallor, the
only indication of her strain.
"They gave me the works. she
muttered in her cell, guards dis
closed. "They gave me the worst
they could give me. I'm innocent
and I'm confident of the outcome" I"
Then she went to sleep.
The widow told the jury her
husband, cashier in a studio cafe,
abandoned the marital union the
night the stranger" was slain in
her apartment, and drove to Bak-
ersfield. She has not seen him
since, she said.
Story Supported
roborated partially by three friends
of her husband, who testified they
were unable to identify three pic
lures of the man in the casket as
Eric B. Madison.
Several residents of the apart
ment testified they heard a series
of pistol shots one night in March.
They rushed to the hallway and
were joined by Mrs. Madison, who
told them all was quiet in her
apartment.
She drove away the next day,
calmly, and body was found in
her suite.
She was charged with the mur-
der of her husband and she ac-
companied the body to the grave.
Mrs. Madison denied killing the
stranger" and the state offered
no motive.
J. w. Grace, jury foreman, said
a few of the jurors held out for
life Imprisonment. There was new
er any doubt about her guilt"
he said.
Mrs. Madison, sister of former
Montana sheriff, divorced her three
previous husbands.
Sentence is to be pronounced
next Tuesday but it may be de-
layed by defense plans to appeal
Imperial Valley press., 1934-06-23
HEWES HAPPY.
ABOUT NEWS.

"This starts it. 1 am sure
all the people of the valley are
as happy as 1 am to learn that
the actual start of the ALL
American canal is now in
sight," said Evan T. Hewes,
president of the Imperial Irri-
CATION District, when informed
this morning by The Press that
the government had awarded
the contracts for the canal.
1--WE have felt confident that
the government would approve
some of the bids submitted at
Yuma on June 7, and later the
board of directors of the dis
trict went on record as having
faith in the reclamation serv-
ice, which will build the canal,
and the department of the in
terror, of which it is a part,
to do the right thing by I'm
perial Valley on the bid.
'Tt is happy day for Impe-
rial Valley and all of us should
be thankful that the long
fight started by the pioneers
over two decades ago, has at
last been crowned with sue
cess.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-06-23
Currier Talks To
Banks Employees

Warren Currier, secretary and
general sales manager of the I'M
perial Valley Hardware company,
was the principal speaker at the
meeting of Bank of America en-
ployees held last night at the local
bank headquarters.
Currier talked on salesmapship
as applied to bankers and on Gus
toner turnover as it applies to any
successful business.
Noel Smith of the local bank
staff presided at last night IS ses-
sion. These meetings are held
monthly with all officers and en-
ployees attending for the purpose
of gathering ideas that will give
the public better banking service.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-06-23

NEW YORK, June %. U.R) -
Mad Max Baer. heavyweight lover,
at last has supported his claim
that he's turned deaf ear to
women.
The lady he needed not was none
other than Sally Rand, famed fan
dancer, who bowls 'em over with
a feather.
Doubters who demanded proof of
Champion Baer's avowed retire
ment from the curved ring, were
considered to have found it when
Max was not seen running in Gems
trail Park.
This is what Sallys dulcet voice
carried over the wire between their
Imperial Valley press., 1934-06-23
Branion Free On
Deposit Of Bond

LOS ANGELES, June 49, U.P)-
R. c. Branion, state emergency re-
lief director, freed under $4,000
bond after indictment along with
eight other former CWA and Ma
tional Regional Employment Off
cials on charges of conspiring to
defraud the federal government, to-
day maintained his innocence Of all
charges.
'I haven't the slightest idea
what this is all about, - Branion
said after surrende1ing himself.
"But 1 do know that I never vio-
lated a federal law
Branion was the sixth of the de-
PENDANTS to give himself up. The
other three are expected to sur
render by Monday.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-06-23
EXPECT MORE
INDICTMENTS

LOS ANGELES, June %. UP)-
Further indictments in the asserted
$10,000,000 insurance swindle for
which nine officials of the Nation
al Security Life association are un-
der arrest, may be returned soon,
federal officers said today as they
pressed investigation of the con-
Germ and affiliated companies.
The officers studied the concerns
books in search of further evidence
following indictment of the nine
men by the federal grand jury,
Upwards of $4,000 persons had
policies with the defendants and
their various organizations, fed
eral officers declared. Many of the
policies were asserted to be fraud
ulent, holders receiving nothing
when they presented their claims.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-06-23
Actress Stricken
With Paralysis

HOLLYWOOD, June %. U.P)-
Ida Lupino, English film actress,
today was waging a successful fight
against infantile paralysis, DR.. T.
Percival Gerson, her physician, re-
vealed.
Miss Lupino, member of famous
British family of actors and daugh-
ter of Stanley Lupino, famous COM
edian, was stricken i'll several days
ago. Prompt use of serum has eff
fectively blocked danger of paral-
ysis, the physician stated.
If the actress condition contin-
ues to improve, she will suffer no
permanent effects, DR.. Gerson de-
clared
Imperial Valley press., 1934-06-23
canal CONTRACTS AWARDED BY GOVERNMENT
County Offices Sought By 169 Candidates
PRESS EXTRA
BRINGS NEWS

AT 9:15 this morning, a
United Press dispatch report
ing that contract for con-
struction of the All-American
canal had been awarded in
Washington, was received at
The Press office.
At 9:45, half an hour later,
extra" was on the press and
was being distributed on the
streets five minutes later, Civ
ing to Ell Centre the first in
formation on the most mcm-
entOus news to come to I'm
perial since President Coolidge
signed the Swing Johnson
bill in 1928, mot 1923 as our
"extra" said, but what's a lit
tie error like that at a time
like this?)
First news of the awarding
of the contracts, was given
by The Press to the Imperial
Irrigation District, which had
not as yet been advised of the
action taken in Washington.
The Press is doubly happy
that the canal is to be
started and that this pub,ica-
ton was first with the news.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-06-23
T,Uo Killed When
Trair, Strikes Car

LOS ANGELES, June IS. (U.P) -
Two persons were dead today, vic
Tins of head-on crash between
their automobile and a Pacific
Electric interurban at u south side
crossing.
The victims, Frank W. Clark, SO,
of Walnut Park, and Thelma Egan,
80, of Huntington Park, were killed
instantly late yesterday. Their ma
chine shot around three lanes of
traffic and turned squarely into
the face of the oncoming inter-
urban, witnesses said.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-06-23
PRESIDENT To
TAKE HAND IN
COAST STRIKE.

SAN FRANCISCO, June %. U.P,
The President of the United
States and the Governor of Cali
fornia trust their executive pow
ers today against the wall separ-
ating capital from labor in the
Pacific Coast maritime strike.
Interrupting his vacation off the
coast of Connecticut, President
Roosevelt responded to the appeals
of civic and business organizations
by directing Madame Frances Per-
kins, secretary of labor, to act i'm
mediately in the dispute.
The Presidents Intervention
his first direct move-was fol-
lowed by a declaration by acting
Governor Frank Merriam that the
state was ready to act independ-
emily if the federal agencies failed
to cooperate with Madame Perkins
in forcing a peace agreement.
All other mediation efforts had
slowed to a standstill when the
President called on the head of
the labor department for action.
The dispute over the CLOSED shop"
principle erected a barrier which
several peace plans failed to shat
ter.
While awaiting for the labor
secretary to act, shipowners con-
tinued their efforts TO break the
shipping deadlock b. moving car
goes under arms. In Seattle crew
of 40 strikebreakers worked under
the protection of special deputy
sheriffs. Union men refused to load
Alaska ships until the guards are
withdrawn at the other piers.
Motorcycle policemen accompanied
trucks hauling goods from Oakland
piers to factories needing raw ma
terials. Strikers threatened a world
embargo in retaliation
There was much discussion OF
the probable course Madame Per-
kins will follow.
1t was expected size would use
he powers Ct the lab" mediation
bl to set up an arbitration board
to adjust the dispute.
Charges that Communistic lead
ers control the waterfront strike
produced a stormy session of the
San Francisco Central Labor Coun-
Gil last night.
After hours of argument, the
council passed a resolution, 129 to
%, advising the strikers to dis
avow any connections with Com
munistic elements and warned
against tactics of such elements in
preying upon legitimate trade
unionists.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-06-23
SALLY RAND THREATENS CHAMPION
an Dancer Would Spank Make Baer With
A Hairbrush If He Calls

Park Central hotel suites when
Make called up and asked if he
could come up and see her.
Listen, you big bum, go chase
yourself around Central Park"
Newspapermen, listening to Miss
Rand's plans for a bubble dance"
at the Chicago Worlds fair. heard
the telephone ring, heard Sally
otherwise Miss Helen Goldbeck of
Hickory county, Missouri-retort.
and heard her add this
IF that guy does come down I'll
smack him with hairbrush. He
tried to crash in on me in Chi and
in Frisco. I'm giving him plenty
icel i. and anyway, I'm already
engaged .
Imperial Valley press., 1934-06-23
Claim Dillinger
In Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS, June %. W.H -
A warning that John Dillinger and
three or four companions were in
Indianapolis was sent out to all
police radio squads today by Capt
Jesse McMurthy.
Police refused to divulge the
source of their information but
said it was hottest Dillinger tip
in long time"
Imperial Valley press., 1934-06-23
Light Rainfall
In Border Cit,

Calexico reported an extremely
light rainfall shortly afternoon to-
day. 1t was hardly enough to wet
the streets in the city and was
only slightly heavier in the sur
rounding country.
The rain extended as far north
as Heber and was reported to be
moving westward.
Although the sky was cloudy the
greater part of the day in El Cen
tro, no rain was reported here.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-06-23
NEW CONTRACT ON WEIR TO SAVE
DISTRICT ABOUT $4,000 YEARLY

A saving of approximately $4,000
annually by the Imperial Irriga-
ton District, will result from the
execution of a new contract with
the Yuma Valley Water Users as
sociation, covering construction of
q weir each year during the low
water season in the Colorado river
near the heading Andrade.
The new contract supersedes one
signed by the district and the Yu-
Imperial Valley press., 1934-06-23
CUBAN SAILORS MUTINY

HAVANA, June %. WP)-Reports
of mutinous action aboard the war
ship Cuba, at Antilla, were con-
firmed today by the war and navy
department.
Naval Commander Gambia was
sent to the port by airplane to re-
lieve the present commandant.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-06-23
HEARING DATE SET

WASHINGTON, June 23. W.p)-
The AAA today set July 3 for a
in Phoenix, Ariz., on
proposed milk marketing agreement
for that area.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-06-23
AhMlLL
{3R!So],ee;ERs R!S],e;


HOLLYWOOD, June %.
(SpeciaD-What' IS this l read
in the paper today about Bar
ney Baruch quitting Wall Street
and starting writing? That's
what / call leaving a business
when you are at the top. He
knew more about it (and every
body else) than anybody. But
just think of the novelty of a
man being in the writing game
that knows what he is talking
about.
Say, we are holding the Am
erican Olympic Games here
today. Every great runner and
jumper are here. Nearly ev-
cry state has sent one or more
great athletes. yet in the big
games that's held in Washing
ton every year not single
state seems to be able to send
a statesman.
Yours,
M<k Ro74><
&!ssI. NsNsurht Syndicate. IHA
Evening star., 1934-04-22

vt WOULD not prove a surprise to
learn that one of the questions
the casting director for the Thea
i ter Guild always asks an actress
who nay he applying for an en-
gagement as a leading woman Is,
How old, or rather how young were
you when you first vent upon the
stage?"
1t certainly Is an interesting CO.
incidence that every one of the promi-
nent actresses who have been seen in
Theater Guild plays in Washington
this season had an early start at act
ing. The two Helens in Mary Of
Scotland" Miss Hayes and Miss Men
ken, each began when but five years
old. Ina Claire, the star Of "Biog-
raphy," was proudly speaking lines
Of ten to twenty words when she was
only ten years OF age. And now along
comes Spring Byington, who will be
seen at the National, playing oppo-
site Ernest Truck in the Theater
Guilds production Of Jig Saw" and
she can boast that she has been on
the stage practically all her life.
According to Miss Byington, she
first blinked at the glare Of the foot
lights when as tot in her mothers
arms she was carried on the stage
during scene in an amateur produc-
ton her parents were giving in the
loft Of a barn at their home in Colo
RADIO Springs.
Miss Byington no longer blinks at
footlights,- for she has become i'm
mune to their glare as she has stood
before myriads of them in theaters all
over the country as well as down in
South America, where she spent five
years appearing in the magnificent
Evening star., 1934-04-22
BANQUET APRIL 28
T0FETEVETERANS
S. U. v. Sponsor Affair for
G. A. R. and Others in
Union Ranks.

Sponsored by the Sons Of Union
Veterans, patriotic organizations af-
f1liated with the Grand Army of the
Republic, will give banquet in honor
of the G. A. r. and other Union
veterans April 20, at 240O Sixteenth
street, at $50 pm. Dancing will fol-
low from to II.
Members Of the Grand Army Of
the Republic now resident in the Dis
trict are 81 in number.
The special guests will be Dept.
Comdr. Kline, G. A. R.; Mrs. E. Helen
Temple, president Of the Department
of the Potomac, Woman's Relief
Corps; Miss Lavina Bashford, presi-
dent Ellen Spencer Mussey Tent No.
/, Daughters Of Union Veterans; Mrs.
May D. Lightfoot, president, Depart
ment Of the Potomac, Ladies Of the
G. A. r.
Maryland Represented.
Mrs. Cora E. Michael, president
Maryland Department, Auxiliary to
Sons Of Union Veterans of the Civil
War, and Michael Casey, commander
Maryland Department, Sons Of Union
Veterans of the Civil War Those on
the Reception Committee will include
presidents and commanders of all
patriotic units
The toastmaster will be Lieut.. Col
U. S. Grant, Sd, past department
commander Of the Sons Of Union
Veterans of the Civil War. The
speaker Is yet to be announced.
Chairmen Named.
Comdr. A. Van Ness Burst, Cushing
Camp, Sons Of Union Veterans, chair
man in charge of the banquet, has
selected the following chairmen to
assist him: Decorations Mrs. Catherine
Hood, Gushing Camp auxiliary: enter
tainment, Mrs. Clara Mckee, Ladies
OF the G. A. R.; floral, o. A. C.
Oehmler; hotel. Everett F. Warner,
Lincoln Camp. S.. U. W: music, Irving
w. Bucklin, Lincoln Camp, S. U. ";
printing and tickets, r. J. F. McElroy,
Harding Camp. S. U. "; publicity,
Miss Mary E. Sheads, Ellen Spencer
Mussey Tent No. !, D. U. "; recep-
ton, Dr.. Paul F. McNally, commander
Lincoln Camp, S. U. "; speaker, Mrs.
May D. Lghtfoot, Ladies Of the
G. A. r.
Tickets can be purchased at
Oehmler's Florist Shop, 734 Eleventh
street. or at 2400 Sixteenth street.
Evening star., 1934-04-22

Ned Grifith took boat ride to
France, stayed In Paris for one day
and came home, but nobody thought
anything of 1t. The Hepburn hats
came in for some light kidding. Also
q couple Of the Hepburn friendships.
And the cruelest cut Of all was the
pronunciamento Of exhibitors conven-
ing In Los Angeles-who are being
fed, rushed and talked to death by
producers eager to get and keep their
good will-that Katharine Hepburn
isn't a world-smashing box-office draw
at all. Those same exhibitors assert
Garbo isn't the death-dealing money
snatcher any more. They criticize her
last vehicle as "too sad, too solemn
and too serious" And here all the
time I thought it was Just too monot-
onous!
Exhibitors have q deeper analysis Of
these things than have critics, I sup
pose. Anyhow, none Of this answers
the question, why can't Katie Hep
burn get away with it?" Hollywood's &
answer Is, You've got to be sincere
and consistent. II you are, you can
get away with murder"
tcopyright. 1884. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance. 1nc)
Evening star., 1934-04-22
Rebekah Lodges.

Naomi Lodge was visited officially
by Mrs. Marian S. Geiman, president
of the Rebekah Assembly, I. o. o. F.,
accompanied by her officers, Grand
Master Charles B. Lampe and his
corps of officers and Grand Patriarch
Foard on April Is. Remarks were
made by President Geiman, Grand
Master Lampe and Deputy Grand
Master James H. Solt, the latter Civ
ing an account of the biblical charac-
ter Naomi" for whom the lodge Is
named. Gifts were presented to
President Geiman, Grand Master
Lampe and to Mrs. Minnie Draeger.
instructress of Naomi Lodge. A pro-
gram was rendered by children and
refreshments were served.
The next official Rebekah visitation
will be May 3 to Mount Pleasant
Lodge in I. o. o. F. Temple.
At the last meeting Of Martha
Washington Lodge the charter was
draped in memory of Past Grand Sire
E. w. Bradford and Sergt. John
Schaefer. Noble Grand Mireille Cor
dele appointed Miss Callie Pitts as
representative to the Memorial Com
mittee. services for which are usually
held in June of each year.
Evening star., 1934-04-22
About Spring Byington

opera houses for which every capital
city in those republics are noted.
AS with almost every actress of to-
day who has reached tn, heights, Miss
Bytngton looks back with grateful ap-
probation to the experience she
gained In different stock companies
as well as travelling troupes.
Although she had portrayed prob
ably a hundred different roles in her
own native land, it was not until she
returned from the South American
tour that New York first condescended
to notice her. Then in quick success.
sion she enjoyed engagements In "Tns
Great Adventure" !" I'VE Are No Longer
Children" and "Once in a Lifetime"
John Golden witnessed her per-
formance In this last-named play, and
signed her to do the part of Bridge
in his production Of When Ladies
Meet" which Washington playgoers
saw. He liked her work so much he
re-engaged her for the lead in ASK
No Questions" which was produced
early this season.