Evening star., 1924-09-16
TRIAL OF OFFICER
MAY Be VOTE ISSUE
Senators Await Verdict in
Hibben Case, Involving Views
/ on Soviet Regime.
BY ROBERT T. SMALL.

Official Washington has begun to
take a real interest in the inquiry
belng conducted under the auspices
OF the War Department at New YORK
to determine whether man who has
expressed sympathy for Soviet Rus
sia, and a belief that the existing
government of that more or less un-
happy land should be recognized by
the United States, is fit to hold pub
lie office or any position of trust.
The particular position of trust
involved in the hearing is a commits
sion in the officers Reserve Corps of
the Army. Some persons may look
upon that position as possibly unim-
portant in the piping times of peace
and the dawn of world disarmament,
but the War Department and the Re
serve Corps have no such ideas on
the subject.
What worries Washington is that
the verdict of the New York court OF
inquiry is likely to be against the
accused officer His name is Capt
Paxton Hibben, but that really is IN
important.
Senators Hold Same Views.
If, however, IA board of Reserv.
Army officers, acting in unison with
two officers of the Regular Army, de-
eide that man who has expressed
public trust, what is to become OF
half score of United States Senator S
VINO consider themselves very impor-
tant and are very much in the public
eye at the moment?
Will the United States Army take
the offensive against them? Or will
II be content merely to blaze the way
and then toss the torch to some
newly organized special Senate inves-
bgatlng committee and Ia au,-uSt
upper chamber of the National Con-
eresS purge itself of its unfit men,
hers? Probably some of the Senators
soon Will inquire to know"
Senator William Z. Borah of Idaho
has been one of the most outspoken
OF the elder statesmen advocating
recognition for Russia. He doubtless
Will read the conclusions of the New
York board of inquiry with unusual
interest, and in due course of time
may have something rather pertiIenr
to say upon the subject
La Toilette Might BE Hit.
Senators La Toilette and Wheeler,
WHO, respectively, would fain be
PRESIDENT and Vice President of these
united States on and after March
next. if only they could convince
enough people of the Righteousness
OF their cause, also are classed prom
'NHNiS olhohS tht II IelluS Oh 1luSSld.
AS matter of fact, both Senators La
Toilette and Wheeler recently visited
itussia, along with several colleagues
Including Senator King of Utah. and
a II of them came back with praise of
the conditions they found in a SUBJ
posedly benighted place.
Ever since that Russian trip and the
exchange of intimate views it per-
nitted, Senators La Toilette and
Wheeler have been close friends and
there was no surprise when Mr.
w heeler was chosen as "FightinS
Bobs' running mate. Some politicians
nave gone so far as to say that such
an arrangement was understood in
advance, and that is why no vice
presidential nomination was made by
the ''Progressives' at Cleveland
If the board of officers sitting in
Capt. Hibben'S case brand him an inn
proper person because of his leaning
toward the Russian government. tha
heads of the Progressive" ticket
unquestionably will regard the v.r-
dict rs an attack by the administra-
tion upon them and the Hibben incl
dent may become an issue in the cam
paign. The campaign, by the way, s
in such fluid condition at this time
that anything may become an issue
at any moment.
Hibben Well Recommended.
So perhaps Capt. Hibben isn't such
an unimportant person after all. H.