The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1924-01-03
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
Resume of Things Political and
Otherwise in the Capital


Especial Correspondence Of The Re
publican.)
Washington, d. c., Dec. 31,-Pres
ident Coolidge, according to appar-
entity trustworthy information which
reaches me from inside sources, is
planning a great political coup on the
eve of the national convention. Mr..
Hughes and Mr.. Coolidge are seeking
the assent of the European powers to
another limitation-of-arms confer
ence, this one to deal with the con-
struction Of aircraft and submarines.
Thus far the reaction to their sug-
gestions are said to be favorable BIZ.
very general. The need for such
conference is obvious. Noticing els
can check the extravaganza Of thu
European nations which are spending
money out Of all proportion Of their
revenues for this type Of war mater
ial. My informants declare that Mr.
Coolidge and his political advisers
are convinced it would be fine politi-
cal strategy to announce on the eve
Of the national convention that such
a conference had been agreed to by
the leading powers of the world and
to hold the conference between the
nominating convention and the cleo
ton. They hope thereby to enlist the
great body of peace lovers under the
banner of Calvin Coolidge.
Reports from inside sources are to
the effect that Mr.. Coolidge is seri-
ously contemplating reading the riot
act" to the progressives in Congress,
especially those who are holding up
the reorganization of the Senate by
refusing to vote for Senator Cummlns
for chairman of the Interstate Com
MERGE Committee. Thus far, the pro-
gressives are standing pat for Sena-
tor Couzens, although many Of them
predict that when the break does
come it will result in the election Of
the ranking Democrat, Senator Smith
of South Carolina. The wiser OF the
Democrats are by no means anxious
for this empty honor. They realize
it will mean responsibility without
power. The indications are that the
sole result of the deadlock will be a
situation in which it will be impossi-
BILE to pass any railroad legislation
during this Congress.
Secretary Hughes has set his Shout
der to the wheel in an effort to pro-
cure information refuting the denial
of the Russian Soviet that it is re-
sponsible for the propaganda looking
to the overthrow Of this government
and a victory for illegal communism,
and friends of the Secretary insist he
is meeting with even more success
than he had hoped. There is to be a
Senate inquiry by subcommittee Of
the Foreign Relations Committee Of
which, presumably, Senator Borah
will be chairman, so that thorough
investigation can be counted on. The
Third International is unquestionably
working through the communist party
in this country to capture control Of
the labor unions, and the only posi-
bly, difficult part of Mr. Hughes
task will be to establish the response
bility of the Soviet for the activi-
ties of the Third International.
With Congress in recess interest in
the national capital has been devoted
largely to the illicit traffic in liquor.
A large quantity of liquor was seized
by prohibition agents in the home Of
a Polish diplomat and international
complications are threatened. A MEM
Der Of Congress who votes dry and
lives wet is in trouble because the
wife OF a prohibition agent rented an
adjoining apartment and discovered
be was liberal patron of bootleg