Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-18
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Once upon a time Calvin Coolidge
told a man that Mrs. Coolidge is just
the kind Of wife a President needs,
because she always leaves the politics
of the family to me-" Now, Mr.. Cool
idge may think he's the only politician
in the executive household, but re-
ports drifting in from the Black Hills
are distinctly to the contrary. Accord
ing to them, the First Lady of the
Land is very much in the Presidents
Summer picture. The friendships he
is forging in South Dakota are to a
visible degree Of her making-largely
if not entirely. To Mrs. Coolidge's
smile all and sundry are captivating.
1t may just be that Grace Coolidge
will turn out to be the Maggie
Shand" Of this administration. Ameri-
cans who've seen the Barrie play.
What Every Woman Knows" will
recall that John Shand, M. P, as
cended to dizzy political heights-sup-
posedly on his own merits exclusively.
But it was his smiling, subtle, faith
full Maggie who was the power behind
the throne.
Henry White, who adorned the
American diplomatic service so many
years, once told this observer how he
learned to be careful when plain
American folk turned up in Europe.
One day in the 'nineties a modest lit
tie white-haired gentleman presented
himself at the American embassy in
London, asked to see the Amba ssador,
and was shown in to Mr.. White, who
was charge d'affaires. Without intro
ducing himself, the caller. said he'd
just arrived in England, with his wife
and family, and lowed as If they'd like
to be presented to Queen Victoria at
Buckingham Palace. 1t was hot in
London that day, and Whites nerves
were on edge. What do you suppose
this is, anyhow tourist bureau"
the young charge d'affaires calculated.
do you think we have nothing to do
but take care of American travelers?"
The white-haired little gentleman
smilingly inquired, "Well, what else
have you to do?" White nearly ex-
ploded, then spluttefed, "Who are
your" The visitor withdrew card
from his vest pocket and handed it to
the Acting Ambassador. 1t read,
John Sherman, Ohio, Chairman
United States Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations"
* X X
in the outcome of this weeks Demp-
sey-Sharkey fisticuffs in New York.
Its money is on Sharkey, who was
a COB during the war. IT the Bos-
tonian turns off the eX.champion's
sunshine and thereby earns the right
to meet another Navy man--Gene
Tunney Of the Marines-for the
heavyweight championship, the fleets
affections will be divided. AS all the
world knows, there's no love lost
between gobs and devil dogs.
Sharkey recalled that fact in CONVEX
sation with a Washington newspaper
man at his training quarters the
other day. He's confident he'll have
go at Tunney and is living In an
ticipation thereof. Asked If he fear
ed the outcome, Sharkey, in accents
Of whitening contempt, said, "Who
ever heard of a marine that could
lick a gob?"
Suggestions current in Geneva, and
which have had consideration in
Washington, London and Toxic, aim
at temporary transfer of naval con-
ference affairs from the hands of the
delegates to those Of their home gov
ernments. The suggestions are de-
signed to withdraw the influence Of
the naval experts" from negotiations
| now obviously become delicate in the
extreme. 1t is proposed. in other
words, to sidetrack the experts and
give statesmen a chance. 1t is to
| most persons plain as pkestaff that
as long as the professional sailors
astute and sincere though they be-
dominate the scene, agreement on
broad principles is difficult. if not i'm
possible. Diplomacy has a habit of
finding a way, where there's a will.
The governments of America, Britain
and Japan are profoundly anxious for
results at Geneva. The world needn't
be surprised if Washington, London
and Toxic presently pick up the ball
that Geneva has fumbled and race
across the line with the victory that
a tax.burdened universe Graves.
X X X *
Not since the World War has any
American presidential utterance, not
concerned with an international event,
been found worthy Of full reproduc.
| ton abroad. Such a distinction has
| Just been conferred upon Calvin Cool
| idge's address on George Washington.
delivered February %, 1927. A firm
of London bankers, which issues for
it's clients, under the title of Casual
! Letters" a series Of periodical PAM
phlets, has just published the speech