Evening star., 1926-03-19
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM. VILE.

In this citadel of rumor. recrimina-
ton and remorse called washington
weird stories and weirder theories
gain easy circulation. The collapse of
the League Of Nations meeting at
Geneva has set afioat one Of the prize
warns OF the season. 1t in to the ef'
feet that the Coolidge administra tion
and Republican party brought about
the iasco. The alleged purpose OF
the Machiavellian n plot was to discredt
the league In general and wreck the
disa rma ment conference In particular
The story does not end there. There
was q dark and devious plot behind II
all. The scheme 10 to reveal Europe
as inca pa BILE Of holding 3 disarma
ment conference and to disclose Amer
ica as the one and only source OF 40
beneficent a boon to world peace. To
achieve their shrewd object. the ad-
ninjstration and the G. o. P.-so
the tale runs-comman ndeered the
services Of both Germany and Brazil,
whose unyielding attitudes. respec-
tiyely, were responsible for the futil'
ity Of Geneva.
There is probably this much truth in
this precious piece Of international
bunk Calvin Coolidge undoubtedly
would like to immortaiiZe his admins
tration as the author and arDltef OF
world wide disarmament. II would %
both an ideal listic and politically
profit a BILE achievement, and the Presi.
dent would have no objections to II
| on either Of those scores. On Capitoi
| hin it is a fairly open secret that the
administ ra ton went into the lea que
conference somewhat reluctantly. Mr.
Coolidge and his cabinet believe IN
| limitation of armament. But they
never we're ANYTHING but half.hearted
| in their belief that Geneva's pia ms
| in that direction were either sincere
| or likely to succeed. Americas &c
ceptsnce Of an invita- ton to the pre-
| liminary parley was sent in order
that IT, by any cha nee, success would
| be obta Unable. no one in the world
! should be In position TO say that the
United States abstention doomed the
project to defeat in advance. At one
| time Washington hesitated on ac-
count Of the probability that Uncle
Sam would have to sit at the confer
ence table with an unrecoEniZed Rus.
sia. But Charles Evans Hughes and
| Elihu Root, who were consulted, are
"a id to have given the opinion that
America could take full and legal part
!
| Soviet government.
washington, where all three Of them
have hosts of friends a. we'll a.
Iegions of foes. is intensely amused by
the opening fireworks in the Pepper
| pinchot Ware senatorial fracas in
pennsvlvania Senator Pepper has
lust paid his compliments to Reprs'
sentative Ware in terms that do not
smack much of brotherly love, though
both hail from Philadelphia. II am
eoins to lead q short and decisive
campaign to rid Pennsylvania OF
ware" says Peppers Introductory pro
nuncia mentO in the primary fight. 1T
| will be no pink tea affair. When at
Wa shington and through the country
ueople are skeptical about the sesQui
| centennial because they believe the
/ hest efforts of the mayor of Philadel
phia are being hampered by Ware. ii
will be fine to be able to assure them
that we are going to celebrate our
Independence by pitching Ware into
the river
Gov. Clifford Pinchot, who is fighting
both Pepper and Ware with impartial
ferocity, meantime has addressed ar
open letter to the Senator. beginning
Dear George" and containing the
following little love tap:
There IL a limit to the amount Of
bunk a ca andidate can properly ask
the public 10 swallow. When you
were FIRST running for the Senate
and the Ware gana promised you
its support you were - uplifte0
that you said you were ready TO