Evening star., 1925-01-09
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE

printed day. But the diverting sug-
gestion meantime is perGoiating
through Washington that the Presi-
dent may have a real surprise IN
store. 1t is to the effect that a
woman for the first time will enter
the cabinet and that the next Attor-
ney General of the Republic will be
Mabel Walker Willebrandt. Her ap-
pointment would follow a precedent
OF which Mr.. Coolidge has been
oemonstrably fond-promoting as
sistants who have rendered merit
torious service. Mrs. Willebrandt
has been Assistant Attorney General
since September. 1921. The public
associates her chiefly with prohibi-
tton law enforcement. But she has
also had charge of the equally import
ant division Of tax law cases at the
Department Of Justice. Californ la s
'Portia" has acquired a national
reputation as a. law officer. If Presi-
dent Coolidge is minded to "recog-
nize" the women's branch of the Re-
publican party. there would be en-
thusiastic approval of Mrs WILLIE
brandt's choice as Harlan Ffske e
stones successor. Be it said in pass
ing that she is young (S5), good
looking, tall, human and brilliant
x \ X <
spectacular marks official receptions
at the White House. The French call
them '1evees," the English drawing
rooms" and the Italians 'recevi-
m mentos." Mrs. Coolidge. in her con-
fidentia1 moments. probably would
call them just parties" The open
ing one of the season last night, the
so-called diplomatic reception, was
marked by that unostentatious dig
e., t-h Il
tions are famed. There is just one
touch of Old World ceremonial. That
is when the Marine Band, glorious
in scarlet, thunders Hail to the
Chief and the President and the
First Lady, preceded by military and
naval aides and accompanied by
members of the cabinet and their re-
spective wives, march down the
grand staircase rather solemnly and
form the receiving line IN the blue
room When the reception is over
the President and his consort are
escorted back to their private apart
ments amid another little procession.
That's a sign that the party is over.
= < X x
One of Benjamin Franklin's de-
scendants, Robert Irwin of Phila-
delphia, has just passed away at
Toxic, aged 81, after long and dis
tinRuiShed career IN Japan. Irwin
was a cotemporary of Dennison,
Durham and Stevens, who contributed
largely to the development of Nippon
in the Meiji era. For so years he was
trusted adviser in Japan's foreign
trade and political undertakings and
enjoyed the friendship and confidence
of two generations of influential
Japanese. Irwin was born in Dem
mark when his father was American
Minister at Copenhagen.
Z x i x
Vice e-President-elect Charles G.
Dawes will not come to Washington
until a day or two before inaugura-
ton. When he has been duly in
Quoted into Office he intends return
ing to his home. at Evanston, near
Chicago, and ,enacting the role OF
Cincinnatus until Congress has re-
assembled. 1t is understood that Mrs.
Henderson, Washington's Grand Old
Lady," is disposed to renew her offer.
made when Mr.. Coolidge become Vice
President, to place her new (and stIll
untenanted) marble mansion on upper
Sixteenth street at the Vice Presi-
dents disposal. Gen. Dawes has COM
pleted no private-residential arrange
ments, as far as is known.
Copyright, 1881