Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-07
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Vice President Dawes enters Higor-
Gus and vehement denial that his in
terest in farm-relief legislation has
1928 presidential ambitions in view. Il
am not a candidate for any once. nor
will | be q candidate for any Office at
the expiration of my present term as
Vice President" Is the text OF a de.
menti issued by Gen. Dawes. 1t has
not quite the irrevocable ring of Gen.
Shermans I-willrefuse II nomin ed
and not serve-if-elected uksse. But
Dawes snaps it out In accents that
sound like business. II 1928 is to be a
Republican free-for-all, instead OF a
Coolidge closed shop, Illinois Ia sure to
trot out her favorite son of 1S20--for-
mer Gov. Frank o. Lowden. Perhaps
the Vice President thinks one favorite
son is q States fun quota.
1t Is not generally known that Brig.
Gen. Charles A. Coolidge. retired in
fantry officer. who has just answered
the last reveille. was related both to
President Coolidge and Vice President
Dawes A native OF Boston. Gen. Cool
idee was one OF the links in the un-
usual genealogical line through which
both Mr.. Coolidge and Mr.. Dawes are
kin. Mrs. Sophie w. Coolidge, who
was a Lowry Of Philadelphia. and who
survives her late husband, was dele
gate to the Republican national con-
vention at Cleveland in 1924. repre-.
senting a Michigan district. She had
the unique distinction of casting her
vote for two relatives on the same ia
tional ticket.
Curtis ID. Wilbur. Secretary OF the
Navy. probably has been considerate
toward Midshipman Zirkle. who tried
to renounce a naval career at the
Anna polls graduation. because of the
Secretary's own academy record.
Wilbur was graduated from Annapolis
with the class OF 1888. but resigned
from the Navy during the same year.
Apparently 1t was not incumbent upon
midshipmen SO years ago to give any
specified period VI service In return
for Uncle Sans naval education
America today Is full Of prominent
men who quit tho Navy more or less
soon after Annapolis days. John W..
Weeks. former Secretary Of war, was
graduated in 1881 and left the service
In 1883. Homer l.. Ferguson, presi-
dent and general ma mayer of the New
Company, got his diploma at Annap-
oils in 1892. left at once to take
course in ship construction at Glas-
cow University, and in 1895 became
naval constructor with an iron WORKS
in Baltimore. =
John Ericsson now stands immor-
taliZed on the banks OF the Potomac In
more or less enduring form, but dis
cussion of his life and achievements
still RACES. The American Associa-
ton for the Advancement of Atheism
is on the warpath against those VINO
acclaim the inventor Of the Monitor as
Protestant Christian" Charles
Smith of New York, president OF the
aforeme ntioned society for the spread
of Godlessness, in q public disavowai
of Ericsson's religious profession,
says, Robert G. Ineersoll said OF
Ericsson Works, vol. z, page SlS)
that he was one Of the profoundest
agnostics 1 ever met.
X + y
Andrew Furuseth, the hardy old
Norweg Ia n. American salt. who Is
president Of the international Sea
mems Union of America--and the
smartest man In the United States
| according to Henrik Shtpstead-has
gone to Geneva. The proposed new
interna tional code for seamen was set
down for discussion at the League Of
Nations International labor confer
ence this week. F'uruseth hurried to
Switzerland to take part In the dis
euesion and to rAneM his asht for