Evening star., 1927-04-18

William Gibbs McAdoo took sur
vey of the political horizon from the
vantage point of the Capital for a few
days last week. He kept his observa-
tions 10 himself. 1t was Mr.. Nc
Adoo's first visit to Washington in
many months. His wife accompanied
him and was given prominent notice
in the society pages. The Democratic
presidential contender declared it was
simply legal business that brought
him East at this time. Inquiry at
the headquarters of the Democratic
national committee developed the fact
that he paid no call there. But the
idea persists that his own presidential
aspirations and the onrush of the Al
Smith boom was the subject of his
social visits with his friends and sup
porters here.
The largest assemblage of American
naval craft ever seen in recent times
will be gathered at Hampton Roads
by the end of May. Secretary Wilbur
and the admirals want to stage a great
naval review and have the President,
their commander.in-ch participate.
Mr.. Coolidge is pondering the sugges-
ton and the chances are better than
even that he will fall in with the plan
and arrange to go down to the Vir-
ginia Capes on the Mayfiower and
stand on the bridge of his yacht while
a hundred ships steam by and fire in
turn the presidential salute of II guns.
1t will be a great spectacle and pro-
vide a patriotic news reel for millions
Of movie fans, showing that the Amer
ican Navy is not entirely composed
of paper ships. If the President con-
cludes he cannot spare the time for
such a trip, it remains to be decided
whether the review will be held just
the same with Secretary Wilbur hold
ing the spotlight alone.
X X X
Senator "Jim" Reed of Missouri is
fighting on two battlefronts simultane-
ously-defending Henry Ford in the
Sapiro libel suit in Detroit and defend
ing his slush fund committee in
Washington. 1t has been suggested
that he ought to charter an airplane
to shorten his week end Journeys be-
tween Detroit and Washington. His
latest broadside in defense of his COM
mittee, delivered at the Capital, hit
the enemy target at half a dozen diff
ferent points. He averred: "a The
status of the committee is not Illegal
or irregular. (2) The committee is not
going to disband or suspend. (3) Fess
had disqualified himself" from serv-
ice on the committee before ever he
declined the Dawes appointment to
the vacancy. az Lack of fifth men,
Der will prove no hindrance. (5) The
conduct of Keyes in refusing to per-
NIT drafts on the Senate contingent
fund for committee expenses was
purely political and wholly disgrace.
full" (6) Lack of Senate funds Is not
going to hamper the committees
work. Having delivered himself of
these pungent paragraphs, the Mis-
souri, Senator hurried back to Detroit
to carry on" for Henry Ford.
The latest utterance of the White
house spokesman regarding rumors
OF impending cabinet changes was
extraordinarily precise and to the
point and would seem to permit of no
misunderstanding. He said, "Secre.
tary Kellogg is not intending to re-
sign, and If he should resign, Secre-
tary Hoover will not be appointed in
ms place" Nothing more, nothing
less.
X x
One of the bureaus in Washington
which have large dealings with mem.
perS Oh congress- bureau which is
constantly being appealed to by Con.
gfessmen on behalf of constituents
or friends and relatives of constitu.
ents whose eases" come before If for
declsion--has adopted a simple nlan
10 Keep posted on the political status
or the congressional letter writer's.
Underneath the glass top of the bu.
reau chiefs mahogany desk is a
neatly typed alphabetical list headed.
Members of Congress not reelected, .
In other words, no lame ducks need
apply for favors. Their letters are
promptly spotted. The bureau in
question is not the Veterans Bureau.
y X X II
The new Canadian Minister. Mr.,
Vincent Massey. with s5oo.oo0 to