Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-25
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS

The "stand-pat" attitude of the ad.
ministration with reference to the
naval disarmament parleys at Geneva
Is becoming increasingly evident. The
American position was revealed frank
ly and fully at the outset, and subse.
quent events have evoked no comment
in official quarters on this side of the
water. All sorts of stories on all sorts
of subjects-taxes, flood relief, extra
sessions, presidential booms, fishing
rods and rodeos-are coming out OF
Rapid City, but hardly line about
Geneva. Here in Washington, Secre-
tary Kellogg meets the newspaper cor
respondents almost every day and UNI
dergoes bombardment Of questions
regarding the conference, but with
small tangible result, from a news
paper standpoint. Mr.. Coolidge Is like
ly to have plenty to say when the
time to talk arrives. but that time
will be after the conference concludes,
and that, according to the latest dis
patches from Geneva. is still two
weeks or more hence. What the Presi-
dent says then will hinge on the out
come.
The recent mention of former Sena-
tor James w. Wadsworth Of New
York as a possible successor to Leon
ard Wood as Governor General Of the
Philippines has ELECTED from Wads-
worth's friends strong limitations that
he could not possibly be prevailed upon
to accept the island post. They dis
count also talk of Wadsworth's rum
ming again for the Senate. They sug-
gest rather that his eye is on the gov
-t-s- % Two fnfA
best vantage spot, If he can attain it.
from which to step forward as New
York's candidate for the Republican
presidential nomination in 1882. This
is all very fine, but it leaves out Of
the reckoning another prominent son
of the Empire State who has his eye
on 1882, namely, Col. Theodore Roose-
welt. When the talk gets around to
"T. RS" presidential aspirations,
Washington gossips are fond of pro-
pounding the unanswerable question
"When the time arrives, which one
will Alice Roosevelt Longworth be
boosting, her husband, the popular
Speaker OF the House, or her ambi-
tious brother?"
The Williams College Institute of
Politics, which convenes annually
during August at Williamstown, Mass,
blazed the trail, and now comes the
announcement of the organization of
the Institute of Public Affairs, under
the auspices of the University of Vir-
ginia. The two institutes are pat
termed after the same plan. The first
annual sessions Of the Institute of
Public Affairs will be held at beautiful
Charlottesville. Va, from August to
20. The speaking program includes
such notables as Gov. Richie Of
MARYLAND and Undersecretary of the
Treasury Ogden L. Mills, while Gov.
"Al" Smith, Frank Lowden, Col
Roosevelt and many others are listed
as prospective speakers" The adj
visory board comprises such diverse
personalities as c. Bascom Slemp, Wis
countess Astor, Glen Frank and Mrs.
Medill Mccormick.
X X X \
The sparsely settled but widely sold
town site of Muscle Shoals, Ala, has
put in brave bid to the War Depart
ment for a share OF Uncle sam s
Muscle Shoals power. Although the
town boasts only 1856 dwellings,, many
of them vacant; has but IA business
establishments, of which are gas
| filing stations, and cast but 81 votes
| at it's last municipal election, 1t mus
| tered a delegation of so persons VINO
recently journeyed from Alabama ana
called en- masse upon Secretary OF
War Davis and other officials to press
their petition for a contract to pur-
chase electricity for their municipal
| ity. They received scant encourage
ment from Secretary Davis, VINO lndl'
Gated his disinclination to fetter the
Muscle Shoals project with new COM
mitments, however small. at time
when Congress was wrestling with the
problem of it's permanent disposition
The town sites offer would net Uncle
Sam about $500 a year. At present
the War Department is receiving
more than million dollars year
from the Alabama Power co. Tor
Muscle Shoals power delivered under
a temporary contract terminable at
will.
In refreshing contrast to the talk
of the plight of the Western farmers
! which has permeated Washington Tor
the rast two years Is a bulletin issued