Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-09
Washington Briefs

Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
WASHINGTON, March 0.--It is the
role Of the oracle that President Harding
is called upon to fiji twice a week after
Cabinet meetings. when the Washington
correspondents Assail him for news.
Contemplate the pot pourrie Of subjects
on which he was cross examined recently
without notice except for the written In
structions handed IN q moment before:
The Fall Wallace controversy about
forestry control in Alaska.
The Mexican situation.
The Genoa conference.
The SesQuei- Centennial Exposition at
Philadelphia.
The Lansing-IshI agreement.
The treaty fight IN the Senate
The soldier bonus"
The merchant marine subsidy.
The threatened coal strike.
The allied debt funding commission.
Never forgetting the days when be him
self hustled for copy" Mr.. Harding is
a generous provider Of news. After he
d!sposes Of instructions the President
usually volunteers the high spots Of
Cabinet proceedings.
Looking and feeling like a giant re-
freshed Secretary Hughes returned to
the State Department after his fortnight
in Bermuda, and plunged into noun
tain Of accumulated business with typi-
cal vigor After an hour Mt hts desk.
he went to the White House for brief
audience with President Harding. II
the Secretary Of State came home wor-
rled over The prospects Of the conference
treaties in the Senate he IS master
dissembler Of his emotions, for the cele-
brated Hughes smile was in full evil
dence and working order He has not
heard Of any scheme to hale him before
the bar Of the Senate or Foreign Rela-
lions Committee to furnish conference
Information not already supplied. II
there Is any material of that kind. 1t WAS
indicated al The State Department the
Secretary is ready to supply 1t on de-
mand.
One Of the first prescriptions Of Mr.
Hughes Will be to fill mp the state De
partment official ranks depleted by the
assignment Of Under Secretary Fletcher
and Assistant Secretary bearing TO diplo-
matte posts abroad, and the resignation
Of Solicitor Nielsen. Apparently the
selection Of their Successors have not yet
been made There is no dearth OF candi-
dates.
Mr. Fletcher says his Brussels ad
dress to date, is n storage warehouse
The embassy occupied for the past eight
years by Brand Whitlock was recently
sold over the Ambassadors head Con
gresham Porter Of Pennsylvania, Is
credited With a plan to induce Congress
to take tardy and commensurate action
in the direction of building United
States embassies aud legations abroad.
Mr.. Porter intended to bring up TIN
project last year. but decided to with
hold It until after the Washington con
ference.
~ s. s. Typewriter" otherwise the
late flagship Columbia Of Rear Admiral
Hilary p Jones of the Atlantic fleet has
arrived at Chester. Pa, to be reftted for
her former role as a merchantmen and
sold 10 private owners. The Navy is sore
ut heart over the loss Of the Columbia
formerly the liner Great Northern. Her
installation as n flagship carried out q
long advocated policy OF the Navy gen
eral board. The board decided that in
the interest Of both ST rategy and tactics
the place Of the commander in-chief OF 81
battle fleet was not, as Of yore, in a ship
Of tina line. but like that of an army
gencralissimo, far back Of the line. But
that doughty Washington warrior Gen
eraI Economy" has decreed otherwise and
our admiraltissimoS now must return to
their old places in battleshlps. When the
Columbia became the &C. II. O." of the
fleet, It received the nickname of ~. s.
s. Typewriter" because Of its essentially
business aspect.
It Is announced NJ the White House In
categorical fashion That the policy of the
United States toward Mexico remains un-
changed. Os in days OF old we are wait
ing watchfully for things to turn mp
south IF the Rio Grande. The Mexicans
are the molders Of their own destinies
as far as relations with Uncle Sgn are
concerned. Practical moves in the di-
rection Of recognition evidently are mp
to them. Meantime President Obregon's
diplomatic representatives in Washing
ton pursue the even tenor Of their way.