News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 1

FORT MYE MEW; DvpvtiMBt Advert Uing, ClmlttWa Job Print. 0VOL. LIII NO. 173. 53rd Year.

FORT MYERS, MONDAY MORNING, MAY 10, 1937 FIVE CENTS A COPY '3 Thomat A. Editon Said: Tbr Is olf on Part M)mrt ud tO nUlioa people art goinc to find It out." Windsor and Wally Together Again! Actors to Call Strike Unless Zep Crew Will Testify Today To Start Probe Six Boys Killed In Chattahoochee School Bus Crash Economy Bloc Plots to End WPA Projects Democrat Foes Join Willi COP in Move to Place Relief Problem on Stale Setups WASHINGTON', May 9-(J') Die Enroute to Farm Meeting as Truck Rips Into Side; Four Injured 0 VP A. Conservative democrats and senate republicans headed toward the same economy goal today with a demand that relief administration be returned to the states. Republicans, who incorporated such a policy in their party platform last year, were expected to stand almost unanimously for state control of relief spendings. Senator Bailey (D-NC Kaid a big group of conservative democrats, were ready to join them.

The quasi "coalition," he said, would support the bill by Senator King (D-Utah) to dismantle WPA as a federal project and appropriate to be matched by state aid for relief work. Under this bill the states would handle the entire administration of relief. Federal allocations would be made by the president. Urge for action swept toward the house where minority leaders called republicans to Tuesday night conference in which the intertwining issues of economy and relief probably will be discussed. Representative Woodruff (It-Mich), conference chairman, said economy was a proper subject for discussion because "we have got to begin real economizing or we are going to be headed for complete economic destruction." Hits Administration "The administration," he said, "never has done" anything but shadow box with economy." President Roosevelt has summoned senate and house leaders to conference on the "general legislative situation" when he returns to- the White House on May H.

Some believed economy and relief would be prominent topics. Senate "middle of the road" Reunited after months of separation, the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Warfield Simpson beam happily as they it together under a flowering chestnut tree in the Chateau de Cande garden at Monts, France. "We always are very happy," said the former king of England who gave up his throne for the "woman I love." This picture, transmitted from London by radio, is the first of the famous pair together since Mrs. Simpson's divorce decree became final. Dawes, Prosperity Prophet, 2 i Crash in 1939 Pepper, Peterson To Fight Increase Of Sugar Imports Kcnly to IJIock Raie in Cuban Quota; Would IJf relays Ban May Secretary of State, Hull's plea for a Cuban sugar quota brought a protest this week from members, of Florida cwigres- sjpnahhdolegatioD, who insist on a sharply increased i quota for their own state's sugar industry.

Representative J. Mark Wilcox, West Palm Beach, argued for the removal of all continental quotas, and declared he would vote against the administration's sugar bill unless it contained a substantial increase for Florida- Representative J. Hardin Peterson, Lakeland, said he, too, would be "inclined" to oppose the bill on the floor. The two representatives and Continued on Page Two Wally and Windsor Get Hair Trimmed MONTS, May 9 P) It was hairdressing day at the Chateau de Cande. Mrs.

Wallis Simpson's Paris hairdresser spent the morning dressing the hair of the former Baltimore belle and giving trims to the Duke of Windsor, and Herman L. Rogers Besides getting a haircut, the duke spent his first Sunday morning at the chateau playing a round of golf and receiving two unidentified friends who arrived by air from England. With the coronation but three days away, the duke last night had lengthy telephone conversations with his brother, King George VI, and their mother, Queen Mary. It was not disclosed whether their conversations concerned Wednesday's ceremonial in London or the forthcoming wedding of the duke and Mrs. Simpson, or both.

Studios Agree To Contact Film Moguls Before Walking Out; Large Producers Ready to Sign HOLLYWOOD, May 9 The screen actors' guild by a practically unanimous rising vote tonight, accepted the program of the board of directors to obtain guild shop recognition. The pro gram as announced by Robert Montgomery, guild president, to 4,000 members in Legion stadium, was: uuring trie coming weeks re will contact studios that have already committed themselves to the guild shop agreement and ob tain their signatures. Any studio failing to sign the guild shop agreement will be declared unfair and a strike will be called against it." Action of the producers in ac cepting guild demands will have no effect on the federated motion picture crafts strike which began ten days ago, Charles Lessing, its head, said. We will continue our picket ing of the studios," said Lessing, "and that of local theaters. If the producers do not meet our de mands soon we will have all the theaters in the country picketed.

However, I do not think it will be necessary for us to take this drastic action." When Montgomery -completed his statement in the stadium, virtually every one leaped to his feet, cheering and applauding. Among those in the speakers' stand who smiled broadly and led in the applause were Joan Crawford, Fran-chot Tone, Frank Morgan, Ralph Morgan and Jean Hersholt. BIG SHOTS AGREE HOLLYWOOD, May 9-(P) Settlement of the threatened Screen Actors' Guild strike was indicated tonight when Joseph M. Schenckj chairman of the film producers conference committee, announced the majority of pro ducers had agreed to recognize the guild's chief demands. Ilia statement was issued just before the guild met to take final action on a proposed walkout and was to be read at the meeting.

"Speaking for my own studio and the executive heads of all the other studios whom I have been able to reach," Schenck said, "I am pleased to be able to say that alf important questions discussed by-, committees representing the motion picture producers and the film actors have been settled satisfactorily to both sides. "Including Columbia Pictures, R-K-O, Paramount, M-G-M. Universal and 20th Century-Fox, the producers have agreed to deal with the actors under guild shop, the specific divisions to be worked out." STARS GATHER HOLLYWOOD. May Screen stars rubbed elbows with bit players and extras tonight as they jammed Legion stadium to decide whether they will strike tomorrow. Screen actors' guild spokesmen said that if its demands upon producers for better working conditions are met there would be no strike.

If not they said, stars, featured players and extras will picket nine major studios tomorrow. In a secret meeting, producers conferred tonight on steps to take if actors strike. Producers hold a mighty weapon over the highly-paid stars such as Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Joan Crawford and others. The weapon suspension of contract legally would be brought into play the instant any star quit work. Studio lawyers said the producers could sue for breach of contract and obtain a writ of attachment on the actors' bank accounts and property.

One lawyer said the 12-week layoff clause existing in most con-Continued on Page Two unexpected- He had been critically ill for several days and had not been expected to live through the night. New was a native of Indianapolis, but lived at Chevy Chase, since he retired from political life. He was chairman of the republican national committee in 1907 and 1908. In 1916, he was elected to the senate. Harding, a colleague of his in the senate, appointed him postmaster general in 1923.

Early in New's administration, the postoffice department established transcontinental air eti mt no nr. A Vi. i-aa Jncfril- mental jn its further development. I Clue to Disaster Hoped In First Stories by Escaped Workers; Doubt Sabotage LAKEHURST, N. May 9 CP) A commerce department in quiry was given precedence today in moves to clear up the cause of the Hindenburg disaster as a naval board delayed its own in vestigation into the dirigible wreck which cost 35 lives.

Hearings by both three-man boards had been called to start at 10 a.m. (e.d.t.) tomorrow. Captain Gordon W. Haines, named head of the naval inquiry, announced through the naval air station press representative this afternoon that the latter would be delayed until completion of the commerce department investigation. Heading the latter directed by Secretary of Commerce Roper is South Trimble, commerce department solicitor.

Sitting with him will be R. W. Schroeder, assistant-director of the air commerce bureau, and Dennis Mulligan, chief of the. bureau's regulations and enforcement division. Star Witnesses First accounts from surviving crew members on what occurred aboard the giant zeppelin just before it burst into flames as it was preparing to land here Thursday night were counted upon by the investigators to throw possible light upon the cause.

Among the most important witnesses were expected to be Rudolph Sauter, chief engineer, and two members of his crew who were in a rear fin of the ship near where the fire first started. Those of the crew who escaped have their first opportunity at the official hearings to tell their stories pub licly. The cost of the tragedy in ad dition to the complete destruction of the $3,000,000 skyiiner, stood at io dead and 30 injured in hos pitals. One of the dead was a member of the ground crew. Thirty-three other persons aboard the ship on its first vovacre to Lakehurst this year survived the holocaust.

"Just an Accident" German Ambassador Hans Lu- iner wno interviewed crew survivors said "some of them mentioned that it was just an accident and that everything had been done to keep the ship safe." Put the cause remainea 10 De lixea it pos sible by the investigators. Possible sabotage was not eliminated from the long list of theories being pursued, though preliminary investigations were said officially to have revealed no evidence of it. A report that a pistol had been found in the wreckage was one of many rumors springing from the mystery but like others it lacked confirmation. The most widely held theory as to the cause, however, appeared to be that lightning perhaps unseen Continued on Tage Two! Legislators Turn To Financial Bills TALLAHASSEE, May 9 (P) Both houses of the Florida legislature have calendars full of financial matters to occupy their attention during the sixth week of the session. House and senate will devote a major portion of their time to studying measures to spend money.

Then they will take up bills to raise revenue. A widely debated bill to appropriate $400,000 for teachers' retirement fund is order hen the house convenes tomorrow morning after the weekend recess. Another major piece of legislation, to establish an unemployment insurance system for the state in accordance with the federal law, has right of way in the senate beginning in the afternoon. Rules committees on both sides plan to push through other measures that call for expenditure of money, including old age pension and other social security legislation, special appropriations for the state hospital for the insane at Chattahoochee, and funds for buildings at the hospital and other institutions. A house-approved measure to repeal the slot machine law will reach the senate along with proposals to increase liquor taxes, place levies on out-of-state cold storage poultry and eggs, and repeal the one-half per cent gross receipts tax.

Both houses will meet twice a day in an attempt to clear up their crowded calendars, and both will have several night sessions to act upon local measures. Bills to define medical practices ad healing arts will be debated to morrow night beiore the house public health committee, Merrill Would Span Atlantic 34th Time NEW YORK, May 9-() There have been S3 non-stop transatlantic airplane flights. Twenty-five of them have been from west to east. Eight of them have been solo. The latest was by Captain James A.

MoPi-son from Harbor Grace, ew-foundland, to Croydon Airport, London, on Oct. 30, when he set the transatlantic nonstop flying record of 13 hours and minutes. The transatlantic non-stop flying record is held by Molli-son, who has made the trip four times, three of them alone. The other time was with his wife. Amy Johnson.

The last non-solo and last east-to-west flight was made by Hick. -Herri 11 and Harry Richman from Southport. Kngland, to Harbor. Newfoundland, cn sept, v.m. Merrill Takes Off To Flv Ocean, Get Coronation Photos Reports "Every thing OK" Over ISova hcolia in Head for Sea NEW YORK, May 9 Speeding toward the open sea on his second flight to London, Pilot Dick Merrill reported his twin- engined monoplane over Nova Scotia at 8:15 tonight, five hours and 40 minutes after a perfect take-off from Floyd Bennett field.

"Over the Sidney, N. airport at 4,000 feet everything O.K., Merrill and his co-pilot, Jack Lam- bie, radioed Eastern Air Lines. The heavily loaded plane had flown 802 miles from New York, at an average speed of miles ai hour. Making their first ocean flight together, Merrill and Lambi regularly pilot and co-pilot on a New York to Miami air line run- considered the venture practice for i the New York to Paris race to be held next August in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Lindbergh's flight. They were among three American entries.

They planned to land there in about 19 hours, flying at 140 miles an hour. They carried pictures of the Hindenburg disaster and were to bring back coronation news and fashion photographs. "See You Thursday" "So long, I'll see you Thursday night," shouted Merrill, ace commercial pilot and trans-Atlantic flier, to friends as they left. Lambie, his regular co-pilot on a transport run from New York to Florida, was to serve in the same capacity on the trip over and back. Airport Manager Ken Deher called the takeoff "one of the cleanest I've ever seen." The ship was loaded with about 1,200 gallons of gas.

The plane, bought from Harold Vanderbilt, carried twin 450-horsepower engines, an "automatic pilot," a gyro-compass, and two-way radio by which the fliers planned to keep in communication with the Eastern Air Lines office in New ark, N. J. Take Tomato Juice William C. Zint, official tinier of the National Aeronautical as sociatiort; recorded the takeoff time at p.m. Weather con ditions were reported favorable, with a constant tail wind of 25 miles an hour in prospect.

Rain squalls off Ireland were expected to pass before Merrill and Lambie reach there. The fliers took only tomato juice, sandwiches and coffee, and a collapsible rubber boat. If com pleted, the flight will be the 34th trans-Atlantic airplane non-stop crossing, and the second round trip flight, the first round-trip was made. last fall by Merrill and Harry Richman, singer. The distance to London over the "great circle" course is about miles.

Milton Untermeyer, of Butler, N. Wall Street broker who had planned to go along as passenger for an announced 000 said he was prevented by the plane's license restriction. BEACH CAR CRASH L. E. Tiner was lodged in the Lee county jail last night by Deputy Sheriff U.

Furen after he had crashed into the car of Mrs. Logan Lovelace on the coun ty road at Fort Myers Beach. i iner was held on a charge or reckless driving. CHATTAHOOCHEE, May 9-(P) The second greatest school bus tragedy in Florida's history cost the lives of six Greensboro, boys here on Mother's day. They were killed when a fiat-bodied truck and their bus collided.

'turning a happy convention trip into a ride of death. Four other boys were injured, but 25 more in the hi? bus were unhurt. The dead: Francis Sheppard, iS; Edwin Walker, 17; Bernard Rowan, 14; Harry Van Landing-ham, 14; Hugh Eubanks, 17, and Russell Rowan, 15. The Rowan boys were cousins. Mack Sheppard, 15, and Henry Dones.

16, are in the Florida state hospital here. Dr. Ralph Stephens, chief physician of the hospital, said they showed improvement during the afternoon-He believed they would recover. A negro suspected of driving the truck that crashed into the heavily-loaded Dus was held in the Jackson county jail at Mari-unna for safekeeping. Officers arrested him several hours after the accident as he walked across the mile-long Victory bridge over the Apalachicola river, just west of here, near where the crash occurred.

Florida's greatest school bus disaster occurred at Crescent City in 1935 when 11 children died in the grade crossing crash between a bus and a train. Were Future Farmers The 35 Greensboro boys were members of the Future Farmers of America club at the Greensboro consolidated school- They came from rural homes around the little town. They piled into the school bus for a trip to Marianna where J. F. Williams, state siiiemsr of agricultural etfuca-tion, addressed a district conference, of the Future Farmers.

After the meeting, the boys started the return trip. Thomas'' Smith was the bus driver. One of the passengers was his brother, Sam Smith, who received a slight head injury in the crash. Their father, J. S.

Smith, owned the bus. As they neared the Jackson-Gadsden county line at the Apalachicola river, the truck ripped into the side of their bus- Wheels of the trucks did not collide. The floor of the truck body struck the side of the school bus tearing a gaping hole in it. Driver Escapes The boys killed were ranged along a lengthwise seat on the side of the bus. The truck struck just opposite the bus driver's seat but the driver was not injured.

"It was terrible," said Sam Smith. "I was in the back of the bus on the side where the truck hit. I didn't see it coming, and didn't know anything about it until it hit us. We were on our side of the road. "I don't know much about what happened.

Some of the boys were screaming about their brothers being killed when somebody took me out." Both the bus and the truck were driven away from the scene under their own power. Funeral services for four of the dead were held this afternoon at Greensboro. Two others will be buried tomor-row. CAB DRIVERS STRIKE JACKSONVILLE, May 9 WV-Jacksonville's 150 taxi cabs were idle today as 350 drivers sought lower rentals and cheaper gasoline. Committees composed of five drivers from each of the three companies met with their employers to discuss demands of the strikers, but there was no sign of a settlement tonight THE WEATHEB In Fort Myers yesterday OIay9)i High 88, low 71 part cloudy; 11-raile northeast windt barometer 29.93 (S a.

and p. Forecasts Light variable-wind and fair weather. Tides at Fort Myers Beach i High 12 low a- m. ind p. m.

Sun rise 5(13 and sets 7:09. Moon rises a. and sets 7:39 p. m. Million Brave Rain ToWatchRehearsal Of CoronationShow Masses Take Only Cliance To tSce What Pagoant Will Look Like LONDON, May 9 (P) Un daunted by a cold, drizzling rain, throngs estimated at nearly persons fought and jammed their way into the streets between Buckingham palace and tb-U morning to watch the final rehearsal of the coronation procession, It was the show for the, niasscs, the chance for those who not- witness Wednesday's, brilliant spectacle to.

get an idea of what the progress of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to their coronation will be like. The outpouring was the largest crowd in Ijondon since the funeral of King George 18 months ago. a vast assortment of shivering, bedraggled but happy human beings who cheered wildly at the sight of the empty gilded coach of state and the various mounted military contingents. Stay t'p All Mght It provided an excellent pYe-vievv of the" throngs that will swarm through London on coronation day, three days off. Thousands stayed up all night to make sure of vantage points, With the bus strike still in progress thou-saids walked miles for the chance to see and to get soaked to the skin.

By fi a. the streets along the route were black, with men, women and children huddled un-. Continued on Page Two Roosevelt Fishes, Talks to Reporters (JALVESTO.V, May 9 (TP) Roosevelt cruised leisurely up the gulf coast today toward Freeport where he will do his last fishing tomorrow before starting back to Washington. He said he intended spending the day resting and signing mail the local postmaster took to him yesterday on the 231-mile auto ride to Port Aransas. Reporters also went along for the first press conference of the trip.

They had to wait over two hours while the first fisherman of the land played a five-foot, two-inch 77-pound tarpon to gaff. Replying to a running-fire of questions, the president said he planned general legislative and housing conferences on his return to Washington May 14, that he was uncertain whether he would send a nationwide power development message to congress soon, and that the Hindenburg disaster should not hinder further study of lighter-than-air He added ha was not certain whether he had the authority under existing law to lift restrictions on sale and export of the non-explosive helium gas to insure greater safety to foreign commercial dirigible travel. He will talk this over with Washington authorities when he returns, Sees Market FormerVice President ThinksLean 2 Years Will Trail Collapse CHICAGO, May 9---(P) Ocn. Charles Gates Dawes, who forecast the end- of the depression, predicted in a book for release tomorrow that would bring "another stock market collapse and a minor recession in business lasting one or two years." The Chicago banker and former vice-president wrote: "I predict; hairing Wars or inflation 'of 1 the "currency, that a' high "degiWof jVrdsperity will' maintain in th'isu-country tintif 11 -J 'v'That begiriningri'h'wf he 'latter part of; the; year October 1938" October '1939, in 'the summer or fall of there will be a stock market collapse. "That there will then ensue in the United States a minor recession in business of one to two years.

"That followed ity." In the polity?" larity in pressions this recession will be by a period of prosper- book "How Long Pros-Dawes traced a simi-the history of the de-of 1S73, 1893 and 1929 and concluded that the next market collapse should follow-' the last by approximately 10 years. Prediction Vindicated The book recites that Dawes, in December 1931, predicated a contra-seasonal rise, in demand for durable goods that would signalize end of the depression. 'His forecast was made in an address before the Chicago Association of Commerce and attracted nationwide attention. Of his forecast he wrote: "Validating this prediction there commenced, on July 5, 1935, the sustained rise in steel demand which now 20 months later (April; 1937) still continues "Current business commentators, in my judgment, have thus far considerably underestimated Continued on Page Two Jaycees to Meet Tuesday at Club The junior chamber of. commerce will meet at 7:30 o'clock Tuesday evening at the Town club for a luncheon of cold cuts and beer and a general discussion and smoker.

Frank AV. Bail, widely known architect who recently opened offices here, will be guest speaker of the evening on "Sense common and non of modem art, including the application of practical art in various branches of business to increase earning power." In addition there will be a program of songs and music, directed by Ralph DesRochers, manager of Al Lundquist's Mutineers or-' chestra. More than 50 members attended the last meeting as the result of a drive to strengthen membership and the campaign to keep the Town club open during the summer, democrats, likewise advocating prnnrmiv. threw their support to plan by Senator yrnos t.D-J SC) to increase state, parucipa-tion in the cost of relief but continue federal: Byrnes, proposed that states match, federal funds on their relief projects, and observers generally his plan a likely compromise between, the administration view nd the republican-conservative democrat plan. Representatives fiankhead (D-Ala) and Cannon (I)-Mo) urged the house to stick to the latter's proposal that the president be given discretionary power to impound 15 per cent of all appropriations.

The money would revert to the treasury unless the president decided it was needed- Senate conservatives have given support to a proposal for mandatory 10 per cent cut in all appropriations a suggestion which bears the endorsement of the senate majority leader, Robinson of Arkansas. Neither branch has suggested specific cuts as to the amount and the particular appropriation. Roth proposed to blanket in a stated percentage by which all appropriations were to be reduced after they had been made and leave it to the various government department heads to de termine where the axe shall fall. House republicans sharply contended congress itself should designate where and to what extent expenses were reduced. CE.

McLaughlin Dies, WasPioneerDairyman C. E. McLaughlin, 65-year-old Lee county dairyman, died yesterday afternoon at St. Joseph's hospital in Tampa after an illness of three months. The body was brought to Fort Myers yesterday to the Spooner and Engel-hardt funeral home.

Arrangements will be announced later. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Kate Stapleton McLaughlin; two sons. S. McLaughlin of Buffalo, N.

and James F- McLaughlin of Fort Myers; two daughters, Miss Dorothy McLaughlin and Mrs. Katherine Underwood of Fort Myers; a brother, J. B. McLaughlin of Los An Harry S. New 7 9, Former Postmaster General, Dies BALTIMORE, May 9 (P) Harry S.

New, former postmaster general, died tonight at the Johns Hopkins hospital. The former member of President Harding's cabinet died about 10:30 p. m. He was 79. Mrs.

New was with her husband at the time. She has been with him here since he entered the hospital a week ago. Dr. Dean Lewis, physician to New, said he entered the hospital for observation. The nature of his illness was not disclosed- The death of the man credited with inaugurat ing the air mail service was not geles; a sister, Mrs.

Leroy Hammond of Los Angeles; four granddaughters and one grandson. 0 Mr. McLaughlin, one of Lee county's leading dairymen, has operated a dairy in Fort Myers for the past 25 years, coming to Fort Myers from Bainbridge, 0., where he was born on June 16, 1872. His dairy, located on the Palm Beach boulevard east of Fort Myers, is one of the show laces of the county..