The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-09-24
PRINCESS ALICE
MAY TAKE c. O.P.
POSITION IN Ohio
Washington Bit Doubtful of
News Regarding Its
Lady of Mystery


WASHINGTON, Sept. 24.--Wash-
ington's lady of mystery and power
behind the throne is said to be
abandoning the intriguing roles she
has played for years.
Alice Roosevelt Longworth, Prin-
cess Alice, is, they tell us about to
take an ordinary political appoint
ment, an open job without any mys-
terry at all to it, one which other
women have filled before her.
She is to be offered the job of Re
publican national committee woman
from Ohio.
But will Alice accept this post.
Her past career would make it seem
unlikely, Ever since she was a
young girl in the White House, do
ing things to shock and disturb peor
pie, and make them talk, the coun-
try has looked at her admiringly,
ends around her. which event Wash
ington believes.
Anything in Politics
"She is the one woman" men say
admiringly, "who could have any
thing she wanted in politics herself
anything and she'd be smart
enough to handle it after she got it
too, but she prefers boosting Nick"
Say others:
"She has a finger in every Repub-
lican pie"
"She is the political confidante of
every important man III the party"
MANY a young politician owes
his step-up to the fact that Alice
I Roosevelt has taken pains to remark
when the right ears were present
that young So-and-So was good ma
terial for the party"
All Know Alice
Everybody In Washington knows
Alice by sight. At the Capital she
is a daily observer, hat off, leaning
forward interestedly, of every i'm
portant political debate which takes
place on the floor Of either the
Senate or the House.
Republican leaders come up from
the floor to the gallery for whispered
chats with her. She attends i'm.
poptant committee hearings.
Yet she is always reticent, at least
as far as. giving out her views Of
ficially. She never comments. Like
the Supreme Court. she never gives
out interviews to newspapers.
One feels that it is the zest of the
battle between personalities which
Interests her more than the cause,
whatever it may be. Her power is
sensed as hidden subtle thing, all
the more tantalizing and interest
ing on that account.
Independent Of Society
Until her husband became speaker
Of the House, a position entailing
certain social duties which Mrs
Longworth could not ignore, Alice
was noted for her complete inde-
pendence in regard to Washington 8
social laws. She simply refused to
go through the rigamarole of paying
endless calls, and playing the game
in conformance with the rules obeyed
by most of the congressional set.
Nobody in Washington could re-
fuse an invitation to one of her in
forrral little suppers and most of
Washington indeed waits In vain for
such summons. Her parties are
famous, but select in a way, which
battles even the highest social climb
ers. She invites those who interest
and amuse her. nobody else.
lima eining the rare spirit of Prin-
cess Alice doing the work of ma
tional committee woman from Ohio
is difficult. Washington considers it
an inferior role to the one which she
has played in the past and will have
to be told the news very emphatical-
ly before twill believe it.