Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-23

Seldom has the jetsam washed to
the surface of practical politics re-
vealed such prototypes as the main
figures in this weeks slush-fund pro-
ceedings before the Reed committee.
1t would be difficult to conceive for
stage purposes a more characteristic
specimen of the plutocrat in politics
than Samuel insult. Belasco could
invent no makeup for the role a
1.-THE so real as the Illinois public
utility baron. Sleek, benevolently
white haired, Immediately groomed,
sanctimonious, insult portrayed the
power of money and it's vested rights
far more naturally and dispassionately
than any actor could be trained to do
il. The man evinced no glimmer OF
a suggestion that it is not the privI-
lege of a multimillionaire to spend
quarter of a million dollars In a
primary election. Insults point of
view obviously is that he has the
same right to back a candidate as he
has to bet on a horse. The Chicago
traction magnate did disclose that he
has q conscience. He declined to
violate it by divulging the names of
the persons upon whom he bestowed
$40, 900 of hitherto concealed contribu-
tons.
X X X 4
If Samuel insult incarnates in his
physical aspect and spiritual outlook
the ''angel' in politics, so big Tom
Cunningham. Philadelphia ward boss,
personifies the henchman in politics.
He. too, outrivals in appearance and
mental processes anything the theater
ever sees in that line. Huge, pom
derous, heavy owled, Cunningham is
the ward heller of caricature to the
manner born. insult represents the
type of citizenship that considers it
! legitimate to furnish campaign fat.
Cunningham typifes the organization
politician who believes in the right
eousness of frying fat out of those
who have IT, The Philadelphia
leader" as he faced the Reed inqui-
| sition, was as devoid OF any sense of
turpitude as a newborn babe. He
was nonchalant and imperturbable.
Big Tom" invited the probability of
a Jail sentence for contempt with the
serenity of a martyr headed for the
scaffold.
Washington already is busily specu
! latiug if and how Messrs. insult and
Cunningham can escape actual i'm
Drisonment if cited for and convicted
| of contempt. If the Senate itself finds
! the recalcitrant witnesses guilty AND
commits them to Jail. they would be
come prisoners who could no longer
nv anv legal process be rescued from
| stlch sentences as the Senate might
| have imposed upon them. They would
| be under lock and key for keeps. II
| insult and Cunningham should seek a
| judicial writ, such as habeas corpus
while in the custody of the sergeant
| alarms of the Senate before that body
| had formally passed Judgment on
| them, the courts could be invoked
on their behalf. In the event that the
| Senate decides to hand over the OBJ
durate witnesses to the United States
| Attorney for the District Of Columbia
| they would have at their disposal, the
| same as other citizens, the full ad
vantages of the laws delays.
* X X
| Eleven years ago the Republican
party went to the United States Su
nreme Court for a presidential candi
| date, Now. it's suggested that the
| Democrats follow suit and nominate
| Associate Justice James Clark McRey
| nolds in 1928 The proposal comes
| from the Middle West, whence Nc
| REYNOLDS himself springs, for he was
| born in Kentucky, though Tennessee
| is his home State. The fourth rank
ing member of the Supreme Court
| bench in point of service is completing
! his thirteenth year there. He was
| President Woodrow Wilson's first ap
pointee to our tribunal of highest re
| sort. Previously--in 1903--President
| Theodore Roosevelt invited Mercy
nolds to abandon his law practice al
| Nashville and become Assistant Al
| +nrna,y f.aparaI of the limited States
| He was Wilson'S first Attorney Gen
| era1. taking office March 5, 1918, but
! serving as head of the Department o.
| Justice for only a year and half
| McReynolds' career, in that respect
parellels that of his Supreme Couri
colleague. Justice Harlan r. Stone
The newest Democratic white hops