davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-01-15
Woman, Trapped by Fire,
Climbs Down Rain Spout
(Picture on Page A-5.)

Forced to climb down a rain
spout after being trapped on the
second floor of her Arlington Coun-
ty (Va.) home at 3434 Washington
boulevard, Mrs. A. F. Thomson last
night saw the building almost COM
pletely destroyed by fire.
Mrs. Thomson was upstairs super
vising the polishing of floors by a
colored workman when the fire
started.
The flames spread rapidly and
trapped both upstairs. Smoke soon
drove Mrs. Thomson and the man
to the windows. She stepped out
on ledge over bay window and
climbed to the ground. The colored
man made his exit by similar
means on the opposite side of the
building. Neither was injured.
Two fire companies extinguished
the blaze. Chief A. G. Scheffel said
the damage would total about 5000.
Fire and swater almost completely
destroyed inside furnishings. Fire
men said they Thought the blaze
started in the basement and quickly
spread through the walls to the
attic.
Mrs. Thomson said she left q
purse containing $45 in@the house.
She lives at 2009 Wyoming avenue
NV. and had until yesterday rent
ed the Virginia residence, She was
preparing the building for new
tenants when the fire destroyed tho
building.
Evening star., 1939-01-15
Woman Is Found Dead,
Telephone in Hand

Hortense Gieseking, AZ, was found
dead in her apartment in the 170O
block of K street NV. last night by
a telephone company trouble shoot
err investigating why there was
constant busy signal on her tele-
phone.
The telephone was clasped firmly
in the dead woman's right hanA,
the receiver of the hook.
Coroner A. Magruder Macdonald
said he would perform an autopsy
today to determine the cause of
death. Capt. Ira E. Keck, assistant
chief of detectives, said Investigators
found a sleeping potion bottle near
the body.
A friend of the dead woman told
detectives she had talked incoher-
emily in a telephone conversation
about II am. yesterday. She ap-
paYntly had been. dead several
hours when found.
Evening star., 1939-01-15
Beauty treatments in Homes
Backed by Commissioners

Granting the pleas of more than
200 prominent Washington women,
the District Board of Commissioners
has directed Corporation Counsel
Elwood H. Seal to draft an amend
ment to the Cosnetology Ac. to
permit operators to give beauty
treatments at thsir clients homes,
Commissioner Hazen announced
yesterday.
The amendment, now being pre-
pared, is to be submitted shortly to
the Budget Bureau with a request
that the Commissioners be author
lied to forward it to Congress for
consideration, officials said.
Serious question was raised as to
the constitutionality of the ban in
the present act against home treat
ments, except in cases of "emer-
gency," in q brief flled with the
Commissioners by ]. Harry Covins-
Evening star., 1939-01-15

ton, former chief justice Of District
Court.
The present act was sponsored by
organized operators, rather than by
the Commissioners. and the board
created under the law is ipdepend-
ent of the Commissioners except
for housing and other routine fiscal
arrangements.
Mrs. Louis D. Brandies, wife of
the Associate Justice of the United
States Supreme Court, and many
other prominent womeh protested
against the wording of the present
act, emphasizing that the rule
against home treatments had forced
many independent operators out of
work.
On this point, the petitioners had
stated: without the means to
(see BEAUTICIANs, Page A-30
Evening star., 1939-01-15
Sir Montrose Graham
Of Brooklyn Dies;
Kept Title Secret
B, the Associated Press.

~ VIC HooOSldlCo 1ACoS.
NEW YORK, Jan. 14.-Sir
Montrose Stuart Graham of
Esk, retired Brooklyn coal deal
er and one of the few Ameri-
cans to hold a British title,
died Thursday after a long ILL
ness. He was So.
Sir Montrose was eleventh
baronet Of Esk, Cumberland,
England. a 300-year-old inher-
tied title which he kept a social
and business secret.
I'VE don't believe much in
titles" a member of the family
explained tonight. Sir Mont
roses son, Sir Montrose Stua1t
Graham, jr., now becomes the
twelfth baronet of Esk. He
works for a hank here.
Sir Montrose was born in
Brooklyn. His family. noted in
Scottish history, traced its an
cestry back to Robert Bruce,
an early king.
Evening star., 1939-01-15
Bid 10 Visit Spain
Accepted by Remedy
8y the Associated Press.


Louis Kennedy of New York,
chairman of the Keep the Spanish
Embargo Committee, last night ac-
cepted an invitation from Fernando
de los Rios, the Spanish Ambassa-
dor, to visit government Spain and
see the condition of religion there.
Mr.. Kennedy said there were other
members of the committee who
would go If the Ambassador would
send them personal invitations. He
said he would provide their names
on request.
Ambassador De los Rios publicly
invited Catholic dignitaries and
others week ago to visit Spain, as
serting there was no truth in reports
Of oppression of religion in the terri
tory controlled by his government.
Archbishop Michael j. Curley of
Baltimore, one of those to whom the
invitation was addressed called it
sham and trickery." Some others
questioned its sincerity.
The Keep the Spanish Embargo
Committee is sponsored by the Ma
tional Council of Catholic Men.
Evening star., 1939-01-15
War Veteran Underooes
9th Blood TRANSMISSION
g. the Associated Press.

g. the Associated Press.
HEMPSTEAD. N. Y, Jan. IA
Charles E. Schilling. Al, went back
to a hospital today for another blood
transfusion-a visit that has become
almost routine.
It was his 87th trip for the opera
ton, necessitated by a wartime ac-
cident overseas.
Within 10 minutes after a police
teletype appeal for blood donors, 10
persons volunteered.
Evening star., 1939-01-15

would be the opening of modern
wireless transmitting station Feb
ruary / in Buenos Aires.
Another station is being built for
installation at Lima, but it Is un-
likely that it will be ready for opera
ton before November.
Such, apparently, is Germany's
answer to efforts of the American
and most other delegations to last
months Pan-American Conference
to curtail inroads already made in
this hemisphere by off continent in
f1uences and to prevent further pen
etratiOn by them.
"Transocean" is the German gov
ernment's official propaganda serv-
ice and has functioned effectively
in Latin America for five years. It
provides worldwide news coverage
to newspapers at small cost.
On the surface all this propaganda
is aimed at taking over the markets
OF Latin America for German manu-
facturers, but there are indications
(See PROPAGANDA. page A-4O
Evening star., 1939-01-15
Sharecroppers
Driven From
ThreeCa|nps
Families Give Woy
Slowly Before
State Police

BACKGROUND
Some 1900 men, 1D0nlen and
children. sharecroppers and farm
laborers OF the Missouri Boot
heer country, left their homes
for roadside camps last Tuesday
in Dhdt 1Cds called mass pro-
test against their lou economic
status. Many said they had been
eUicted from tenancies by o,Dn-
ers instituting day-labor systems
to aDoid sharing Federal benefit
payments. Landlords said DEM
onstratton, continued despite
sno,D, rain and lack OF food, Uas
inspired by agitdtors.
Evening star., 1939-01-15
Ransom Of German
Jews Hit in Talks
By Leaders Here
Palestine PorIey Opens
As Pickets Represent
Views of Arabs

While pickets marched outside
presenting Arab demands, Jewish
leaders from all parts of the United
States, meeting at the MayfloWer
Hotel for National Conference for
Palestine, last night heard a pro-
posed ransom" of German Jews
denounced as premium on
brutality"
DR.. Abba Hillel Silver of Cleve-
land, chairman of the United Pales-
tine Appeal, described the plan as
"a degrading and debasing offer"
that would, If adopted, plunge Jews
In Europe into greater slavery. He
spoke after Jan Masaryk, until re-
Gently Czecho-Slovak Minister to
England, opened the conference pro-
gram with radio address in which
he pleaded that Palestine, major
hope of Jewish refugees, not be al
lowed to suffer the fate of his
country.
The first national assembly of
American Jewry since the intensi-
fled Nazi persecution of the Jewish
population of Germany, the confer
ence has for its major purposes Cd
action on the plight of Jews in Ger
many, and CD planning a program
Tor American Jews to give maximum
assistance for settlement in Pales-
tine OF German Jews and Jews from
other lands of oppression.
Called Step in Humiliation.
Mr.. Masaryk, in an impassioned
talk, described the dismemberment
OF his country by the Munich pact
as the --latest step in Europe's
humiliation"
my people were ready to die for
an ideal" the son of the founder
OF the Czecho-Slovak Republic de-
clared. They were betrayed, and
their ideals trampled under foot by
the heavy, totalitarian, goose
stepping boots"
Mr.. Masaryk, who resigned his
diplomatic post on January /, ar
rived here yesterday to take part
IN the conference. In addition 10
his radio address he will appear.
along with Solicitor General Rob-
ert H. jackson, on the conferences
main program today.
I have no fear for nv PEOPLES
ultimate victory y he said. The dev-
llsn Vaccinations cannot continue
II our civilization'is to be savee."
Mr.. Masaryk said that as his
country cannot use his services now
he is devoting himself to helping the
Jews rebuild and settle Palestine,
because like "the Czecho-S -Slovakia of
a little while ago Palestine is to-
day trying to preserve democracy"
Confidence in Palestine Ideal.
Mr.. Masaryk and others on last
nights program expressed conf
dence in the future of Palestine as
Jewish national home. He de-
scribed the idea of a Jewish ma
tional home as "one of the most
important pillars of home in these
dark hours"
when this last super-pogrom
broke out in the land of Goethe,
Heine, Bach and Handel" the
speaker said, II realized that my
place was with my Jewish breth-
rem, and that the suffering of my
people has made my cause your
cause and your cause my cause"
While DR.. Silver and other speak,
ers asserted that Great Britain,
which holds a mandate for Pales-
tine, can show its interest in solv-
ing the German refugee problem
only by lifting restrictions it has
placed on Jewish immigration into
1cao pAI ECTINE pano ~
Evening star., 1939-01-15
picture on Page A-8.)
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW MADRID, Mo-, Jan. IA
Southeast Missouri's bedraggled
army of road-camping sharecroppers
and their families gave way slowly
and reluctantly today before the
efforts of State highway patrolmen
to end their dramatic protest against
a low economic status.
Acting on orders of DR.. Harry
Parker, State health commissioner
who said the situation constituted
"a menace to public health" the
patrol began breaking up the crude
camps that have dotted $50 miles
Of highways in the "Bootheel" cot
ton county since Tuesday.
The 1900 men, women and chill
dren, who had endured inclement
weather, lack of food and miserable
living conditions in their makeshift
highway novels, complied stub
bornly with the officers command
to get packing in hurry"
May Ask for Militia.
With the patrol not having the
success it anticipated in carrying
out DR.. Parkers orders, j. " Con-
ran, prosecuting attorney Of New
Madrid County, commented:
If they Cthe sharecroppers) don't
get off the highways, it may be nee
essary for us to request Gov. Lloyd
C. Stark to call out the State militia
to remove them"
Sheriff A. S. Stanley of New Mad
rid County conferred at Sikeston
tonight with Capt. A. D. Sheppard
of the State patrol on what pro-
cedure to follow.
BY nightfall only 3 Of the 13
groups had been disbanded and it
appeared the job of ending the DEM
onstration would take another day
or two. The patrol had hoped that
once the flrst groups were broken
up the others would leave volun-
tarily.
State police planned to work
through the night moving the DEM
onstrators to their former homes, If
possible; otherwise to temporary
camps.
There were no reports of violence
or disorder.
However, at Memphis, H. L. Nit
chell, secretary of the Southern
Tenant Farmers Union, said he had
been informed the Missouri police
had escorted j. r. Butler, president
OF the c. I. O. affiliate, and two
organizers to the State line and had
told them Ito get out and stay out"
"Shacks No Healthier"
Earlier in the day Capt. A. D.
Sheppard of the State patrol said
Mr.. Butler had conferred with him
at Sikeston and had promised full
cooperation in moving the share
croppers back to their homes. He
said Mr.. Butler then left, presum-
ably for Memphis.
In st. Louis the Rev. Owen H,
Whitfield, colored minister and ten
ant on the Government rehsbilita-
ton project. at La Forge. Mo-, de-
clared the police probably will
have to use force before they can
clear the highways. Mr.. Whitfield
had urged the mass demonstra-
ton.
Told that the camps were or
dered broken up as "a menace
to public health" Mr.. Whitfield
said:
DO you think those shacks my
people have been living in are any
healthier? If they are sent back
to the conditions from which they
fled the same situation inevitably
will occur again."
Landowners have demanded
Federal investigation of the &C
tlVitles of Mr.. Whitfield and of
Hans Baasch. supervisor of the La
Forge project,
Evening star., 1939-01-15
30Cases Of Fraud
Or Chise|ing Charged
In Relief Report
Added Chapter Declares
Case Workers FuiIed
To Act Upon Facts
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
FOLLOWING conflicting claims of
relief needs here last year, Con-
gyess appropriated $4,000 for an
investigation. Burdette G.. LeUis,
Investigating expert, Uds selected
oy q citizens advisory committee
to make the surrey. Results of
his inquiry hare been released in
sections and charge fraud and
ndladministrotion in local re-
lief. An alternate setup is sug-
gested. Relief officials deny NAL
administration and say fraud is
lou considering the small stat
handling the problem.
Evening star., 1939-01-15
B.. DON s. WARREN.

Thirty cases OF fraud, deception or
chiseling in one degree or anotner
are cited in an addendum to the
report of Relief Investigator Bur-
dette G. Lewis. released for publica-
tion today. which contain. a broad
side of criticism OF the casework
staff of the Public Assistance Divi-
sion.
The supplement, the work of Jay
T. MCCOY, one of Mr.. Lewis chief
investigators. charges the casework
staff generally with lack of ability
or determination to run down fraud
cases and to prepare proper evidence
for their prosecution. Supervisors
and directors were accused of being
tot<p-one to "temporize" with CHS
elers.
Mr.. Mccoy. whose chapter is some
$4,000 words in length, calls for Gre
alton of a complaint department
under the Board of Public Welfare,
which would be given the special
duty of investigating, reporting and
securing legal disposition of all in
stances of fraud or pretense in relief
cases. He would place an assistant
corporation counsel in charge of the
department.
Standards Held Lacking.
In summarizing his findings, Mr..
Mccoy declared: When considered
as a whole, there is presented a series
Of events of poor judgment, incom-
pleteness of investigation, careless
casework, improper and illegal rul-
ings and such a total lack of stand
ards and propriety in handling
frauds that this investigator Is I'M
PEELED to recommend that this mat
ter become the subject of immediate
serious concern of those responsible
for the safe and proper conduct of
the Public Assistance Division"
Mr.. Mccoy opened his analysis
with declaration that his special
survey was limited to a reflection
of incidents pertaining only to a
sample number of known fraud
cases and that the citing of but 30
cases should not convey the impress
sion that that was all the fraud
cases.
He then cited provisions of law
providing for fine or imprisonment
of persons who obtain relief by
various kinds of Misrepresentation,
in the cases of old age and blind
Evening star., 1939-01-15
Brazilian Foreiqn
Minister Coming
Here for Talks
Various Questions Of
Greet importance
Will Be Discussed
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
DR.. OsWaldo Aranhd, Brdzils
foreign minister, Serued for Sep
eral years as 'BrasHs Ambas-
sddor in Washington and 1Dhen
he returned to Rio de Janeiro
more than year ago to become
foreign minister he carried 1Cith
him strong liking for the
United States and its system, OF
democracy. He is the leading
proponent of democracy in the
Vargas government.
By the Associated Press.
President Roosevelt has invited
DR.. ,OsWaldo Aranha, Brazilian
foreign minister, to come to Wash
ington next month as the Govern
ment's guest to discuss various
questions of great Importance to
the two countries.
This was disclosed yesterday by
State Department officials, who in
dicated the conversations would
centey on trade expansion and on
exchange difficulties which have re-
stricted American exports to Brazil,
where Germany has centered her
intense trade drive in Latin America.
President Roosevelt's invitation
was extended to President Getulio
Vargas on January 9 and was ac-
cepted Friday. DR.. Aranha will ar
rive February 8.
There have arisen during the
recent months various questions
of great importance in which our
two governments are equally in
terested," the President said in his
lSee BRAZILIAN. PAGE A-4l
Evening star., 1939-01-15
Depth Bomb Inventor Dies

SEATTLE. Jan. IA R).-Frank ].
Hemen, 68, inventor of depth bomb
used by the Navy during the World
War, died here last night. During
the war he organized the American
and Allies Inventors Association,
designed to aid the invention of war
devices,
Evening star., 1939-01-15
Meningitis Epidemic
FutuI to IS Indians
B. the Associated Press.

SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 14.-A
serious meningitis epidemic in the
Navajo Indian reservation has
taken Is lives in three weeks, the
Utah State Board of Health an
nounced today.
The board warned all travellers to
avoid the reservation, one of the
widest portions of the continental
United States. 1t extends into Col
orado, Arizona, New Mexico and
Utah, and has a population of
about 31O,
Evening star., 1939-01-15
Merger Of All Relief Agencies
Into New Public Works Unit
Proposed in Senate Report
Stringent Provisions
To Curb Politics
Included in Plan
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
President Roosepelts request
for $S75,OO0, 900 to meet relief
needs until July set of demands
OF w. P. A. foes in Congress for
revision of policies and drastic
curtailment OF spending. w. P.
A. setup has been under par
ticular fire since misuse OF funds
for political purposes 1Uas
charged BY Sheppard Commit
tee. House cut $4,000. 900 off
fund asked by President in send
ing deficiency appropriation
measure to Senate.
Evening star., 1939-01-15
By the Associated Press.

HENDAYE, France, Jan. IA
Insurgents announced tonight they
had reached the border of Barce-
Iona province and were only 37lk
miles from the government capital
in their drive for a decisive VIC
tory in the Spanish civil war.
Generalissimo Francisco Franco
put an army of 100000 men into
action against government lines de-
Tending the capital, Barcelona.
Insurgents were said to have en-
tered Barcelona province on it's
western boundary through capture
OF Codom Peak in the Sierra De
Queralt. This marked an advance
OF nearly 13 miles since morning
for the northern column of the
Central Army Corps.
The column sent back word of
capture of important villages and
towns in quick succession through
out the day.
Counter Offensives Futile.
Government -offensives in
southwestern Spain and in the Bru-
nete sector west of Madrid appeared
to have failed as diversions.
Besides the occupation of Codom
Peak, Insurgents reported that 20
miles to the south their troops had
captured the walled town of Walls,
government air base II miles north
OF the port of Tarragona. Govern
mept reports denied this.
Insurgent reports said seven army
corps taking part in the big push
in Northeastern Spain had speeded
up operations over a 100-mile front
extending from the Pyrenees Noun
tains east of Andorra, near the
French border, southwark through
Lerida and Tarragona provinces to
the Mediterranean.
1nsurgent infantry was supported
by artillery fire on a World War
scale, and airplanes were massed in
squadrons of 100.
In Barcelona the government was
reported pressing both men and
women into defense.
All Spanish citizens between the
ages of II and SIS, including women,
were drafted into the military re-
serves. A government decree author
lied the defense ministry to use the
new reserves in any service.
The government, which said it's
forces had effected an orderly with
drawal without suffering heavy
losses, reported it was entrenching
for strong stand in the Tarragona
sector. The civilian population of
this principal port of Southern
Catalonia was said to have left,
excepting only able bodied men who
could strengthen the Notifications.
Coverage From South.
A second insurgent force con-
verged on Tarragona from the south
on the coastal road from a spectacu-
lar push in the Sierra de Balaguer.
This column, insurgent headquarters
announced, captured the village of
Montroig. within miles of the
Mediterranean coast.
This maneuver, by forces operating
east of Falset, enabled the insurgent
artillery to cut the main coastal
highway Is miles below Tarragona
and to block retreat northward Of
large forces of government troops.
Their retreat southwark was impos-
sible because the insurgents already
control the coast in that direction.
Insurgent center divisions ham,
mered government defenses west of
Cervera, their next objective along
the main Lerida-Barcelona high
way. Occupation of Agramunt and
other villages along the network of
roads northwest of Cervera seriously
menaced government defenses west
of Barcelona Province.
Evening star., 1939-01-15
Vast Aluminium,
Power Alliance
Study Asked
BerIe Tells Monopoly
Group Inquiry Would
Aid State Department

BACKGROUND
TUelue-mdn Federal Monopoly
Committee last month began er-
tensiDe inquiry into Nations
business system, With promise
that it Would be strictly fact
fnding and not "1Uitch- -hunting"
expedition. In recess since study
OF patent system and other
phases of automobile and glass
container industries, the CON-
m.ttee resumes hearings to-
mOTrOlC.
Evening star., 1939-01-15
BY EDMUND CHESTER,

Associated Press Foreign Correspondent.
LIMA, Peru, Jan. 14.-Germany's
"Transocean' News Service, already
a powerful weapon in the campaign
to spread Nazi economic and polit-
ical influence in Latin America, will
be rebuilt and streamlined to meet
United States efforts to keep "the
Americas for Americans"
This was learned today from
agents of the Nazi government who
said the first link in the new setup
Evening star., 1939-01-15
France 10 F|aunt
Sea Power Amid
Tension With Italy
Orders Fleet Muneuver
OFF Northwestern
Africa Coast
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
France and Italy haze been at
odds since November 80, when
Italian Deputies in Rome shout
ed for Tunisia, Corsica, Nice and
SaDoy. French haze made clear
to Premier Mussolini that theu
aDiH surrender no part of their
territory and are ready to fght
to keep it. Army preparations
haze gone tor1Dard in Tunisia
against threat of Italian inpasion
from Libya.
By the Associated Press.
PARIS, Jan. 14.-France TODAY
ordered displays of force from one
end OF the Mediterranean to the
other. apparently against what the
Daladler Government considers the
aggressive attitude of Italy.
The French Atlantic and Medi-
terranean fleets were ordered to
show their strength of Africa S
northwest coast in maneuvers which
will coincide with the Mediterranean
visit Of the British home fleet on
regular spring cruise.
Three submarines received in
structions to proceed to Syria where
demands for freedom from French
control have caused rioting. French
army and navy commanders In
chief were told to make tours OF
inspection of African colonial forti-
fications.
Little Appeasement Reported.
The French government received
from its Ambassador to Rome a re-
port indicating that little If any,
thing had been accomplished in
"appeasement" conversations be-
tween Premier Mussolini and Prime
(Ceo TT EE>TC pora AAA