Evening star., 1927-09-26
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

John Dyneley Prince, American
Minister to Jugoslavia Belgrade), has
just completed as unique a commits
sion as ever was intrusted to a
Yankee. He was invited by the gov
ernment Of Latvia to invent a new
language for that country. A COM
plete grammar, bearing his name as
author, is now out. The first copy to
reach America is in the hands Of DR..
Princes friend, Albert p. Dennis, vice
chairman of the United States Tariff
Commission. Latvia-one of the Dor.
der countries carved out of old Russia
lis mostly populated by Russian or
German-speaking people. But as Lat.
vians don't lie awake nights blessing
either Russia or Germany, they de-
termined to emancipate themselves
from the languages Of both countries.
So DIR. Prince, world-renowned
authority on the Slavonic and Semitic
tongues, was asked to produce some
thing that would be all-Latvian. He
has evolved distinctive branch Of the
Fino.Ugrian languages. Before ap'
pointment to Belgrade last year, DIR.
Prince was Minister to Denmark. He
was active in New Jersey Republican
politics for many years, and once was
acting governor of the State.
X X X
Baron Ago Won Nathan, the Ger
man Ambassador at Washington, who
crashed to his doom in a German air.
plane, achieved a lifetime ambition
just before he returned to the Father
land for his fateful vacation. He
toured the United States from coast
to coast, north and south. Nathan
spoke of it as voyage of discovery"
He undertook it not only to carry out
a long cherished personal desire, but in
order to acquire what he considered
part of the indispensable equipment
of q foreign diplomat stationed at
Washington-namely, first-hand knowl-
edge of America. No more human"
envoy was ever sent to our court.
Maltzan's noble Mecklenburg lineage
outstripped in both age and rank those
of the Hohenzollerns themselves. Yet
the Ambassador accepted democracy in
Germany unreservedly, and here, his
first post under the Republic, he acted
the part of a democrat. Maltzan's s
maiden Autumn in Washington fell in
the midst Of a world series. He be.
came infected with the base ball mi.
crobe and remained fan. One of his
first moves in this country was to
drop from his name the won" which
Is the sign of German nobility.
*** *
Reports that Chairman Butler is
convening q poWwow OF prominent
Republican national committeeman to
consider drafting Coolidge" are indig-
nantly repudiated by friends who claim
to know the Butler viewpoint. They
J, ,i,,~ - - a n
primarily because it would "discredit"
the President and impugn Coolidge's
good faith. Others may talk draft, ."
knights of the inner White House cir
Gle declare, but never the faithful But
ler, or the equally devoted Frank w.
Stearns. either. Naturally, these Cool
idge field marshals would welcome the
prolongation of their heros reign, but
only, tits said. If he chooses 1t. This
observer hears In Amherst quarters
that Stearns has in the past opposed
another Coolidge term. But that re-
Quires confirmation by the merchant
prince of fremont street, who Is once
again star boarder at the White House.
~ 4
Minnesota is speculating over what
1928 will bring forth in the United
States senatorial situation. The lone
sentinel of Farmer.Labor, Henrik Ship.
stead-upon whose vote organization
of the next Senate may dependencies
up for re reelection. At present, his most
likely opponent Is Gov. Ted" Chris
tianson, Republican. Whether Chris
tianson Is to be nominated for third
term in his present office or run for
the Senate is to be decided at Repub-
lican endorsement" convention next
Spring. In any event, Shipstead is
conceded to be a foeman worthy of
any steel that can be pitted against
him. Though his Senate record has
been consistently Farmer Labor, he is
seldom as rabidly anti-administration
as many colleagues who wear official
G. o. P. livery. Just how formidable
a vote-getter the blond young Scan
dinavian giant Is may be gauged by
the fact that IL the Republicans nom-
AuafA Gov Chrisfta n ,, SON n will hA hA.