Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-21
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE

and return to the East via New Or
leans and Atlanta. When he reaches
the White House six or eight weeks
hence. Hilles will have conferred with
virtually every Republican political
Of consequence in the country. The
'lowdOwn" he brings with him on
Coolidge sentiment in the four quar-
ters of the Nation will include a re-
port on prohibition trends. DR.. Mich
olas Burray Buffers recent affirma ton
that no Republican can he elected
President next year on a dry plat
form has given the G, o. p. high com
ma nd lot to think about.
Americas sole woman diplomat
Miss Lucille Atherson of Ohio. has
just been promoted for meritorious
service in the field. She was sent
abroad a couple OF years ago as third
secretary of the United States legation
in Switzerland. and now she has been
advanced a rung up the ladder of the
foreign service by transfer to the sec
ond secretaryship of our legation in
Panama. Miss Atcherson is a Smith
graduate, owning to 80 years of age
She passed thu state Department ex-
animation with flying colors in 1922
and is now in the midst of her fifth
year in diplomacy. Prior to Miss
Atchersons appointment to Switzer-
land. she was on duty in the State De-
partment. once she was general sec
rotary Of the American Committee for
Devastated France.
Government officials and members of
Congress are much interested in the
proposal of the Milwaukee Journal for
a simplified form OF ballot. Although
designed to bring about more intelli-
gent voting in Wisconsin. the suggest
ed ballot would be applicable to cleo
tons in all States. Today ballots in
all parts of the country are the size
of pillowcases or newspaper pages,
because of the staggering array of
candidates names that fill them. The
Milwaukee Journals new type of bal
lot combines two innovations. 1t ar
ranges candidates by Office instead of
by party. and it shortens the list of
candidates by removing to the appoint
i've category some officers who are now
elected These changes" says the
journal, are in line with progressive
thought everywhere and Wisconsin
could make no mistake In adopting
them. 1t would be wiSest. perhaps. to
make the change first in the Statewide
section of the ballot, later bringing
county and city officials into line
x X *
Senator Joseph r. RansdeH, Demo
crat, of Louisiana made an eloquent
public appeal in Washington the
other day for his project to found
national institute of hygiene. He
describes it as a West Point and
Annapolis of public health. The
veteran Louisianian argues that IL
Uncle Sam finds it right and proper
to train young men to destroy life in
the Nations defense-a policy with
which Ransdell declares himself un-
qualifiedly in accord-there's no valid
reason why young Americans should
also not be educated by the Govern
ment in the preservation of life.
Ransdell doesn't believe that Treasury
funds exclusively should endow a
national institute of hygiene. The
Senator thinks American millionaires
should immortaliZe themselves by
bequeathing to it generous sinews for
warfare on disease. Congress APP
propriated $10.000.000 with a whoop
for the fight on the corn-borer, and
1t always votes money gleefully when
the farmers get on the job" said
Ransdell. Human life in this country
Is as precious as corn crops
" X "
Diplomatic relations with Canada
have begun inauspiciously. An adj
dressing clerk at the State Depart
ment IL to blame. The first official
communication to Mr.. Massey, the
anyOy Of eur nAighbdk Ia thu roYfh