Evening star., 1926-05-03
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAu VILE.

information, as the "ambassadress
who looks after such Details" was not
at hand. A little later, in an apologize
tone. the 'plenipotentiary" called up
to say that he was extraordinarily
sorry. but circumstances now re.
qulred indefinite postponement of the
dinner. At lunch the next noon the
practical joker and the debt com
missioner met. The former mimicked
the previous days conversation in de
tail. There was tension, then screams
or mirth that echoed through a whole
hotel dining-room.
= x *
President Coolidge's DELAY in select
ing Summer White House is giving
rise to lively real estate speculation
IN a score of communities East and
West that have been "mentioned" as
his possible choice. Such sharp prac-
tlces were brought to the attention
OF the executive Offices in Washington
that it was decided to shut down on
pubic discussion of the various sites
pronered and under consideration
MIR. Coolidge has been offered some
thlng over 100 places ranging all the
way from Cape Cod to San Diego
In one case, after offering the Presi-
dent magnificent estate for the
summer, real estate firm went tn
the millionaire lessee and told him
II he wanted to keep the place he
must consent TO % per cent in
crease in rental. Having agreed 10
the increase in rent. the millionaire
was notified that the offer to the
President would be withdrawn. An.
other trick Is TO offer the Presi-
dent big estate and then try TO
rent places in the vicinity at a high
GrvVI frN 1N IL.
that they will be Summer neighbors
of Mr.. Coolidge. A score of resort
places have offered houses purely and
simply as an advertising proposition.
with the advance knowledge that the
President would fot accept the houses
under any circumstances. In some
cases Congressman have aided the ad-
vertising schemes. But the lid Is now
clamped down, so far as the White
House is concerned. The President
strongly objects to being exploited
by real estate sharks although he
is glad to consider the bona fide
offers of various communities.
Republics and political constitu-
encieS alike seem TO be ungrateful.
Not long ago Senator Samuel NJ.
Shortridge, Republican, of California,
by dint of long and finally successful
effort, induced Congress and the Presi-
dent to assign the people of the Santa
Barbara district a strip of oceanside
land known as Golita Beach. It had
long been used as popular recre-
alton and bathing resort, but was in
danger of passing into private owner
ship. Senator Shortridge cleared for
action and secured the passage of u
bill which perDetually preserves
Golita Beach for the people of Santa
Barbara. No sooner had Sam con
ferred that boon upon the Santa
Barbarians than he received word
that a Clarke for Senator" Club had
just been formed in the city. Robert
NJ. Clarke, q Los Angeles Judge, is
a contestant for Shortridge's seat III
the California primaries. The Sen
atorss friends seem entirely confident
that he will be renominated and
triumphantly reelected.
x x !; x
Death apparently does not still the
hand of the Ku KluX Klan when it
has a grievance to avenge or an
enemy to punish. Last January the
friends of Judge Ben B. Lindsey or
the Denver Juvenile Court were noti-
fed that following the death OF the
Klan- candidate who opposed him at
the bitterly fought 1924 election the
contest case instituted against Lind.
sey had been dismissed. On April
10 the Supreme Court, by a vote or
4 to 3 judges, granted the application
of the widow of the Klan candidate 10
reopen the case. Final action is ex-
pected during the Summer.
(Copyright, 1927