Evening star., 1928-04-20
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Norman Thomas OF Marion, Ohio,
nominee of the Socialist party for Pres
ident of the United States, doesn't really
expect 10 move into the White House
on March 4. 1929 A million votes is
the high-water mark so far scored by
Socialist for President, and that record
was achieved by the party's longtime
idol. Eugene Y. Debs. When Debs FIRST
ran, in 1900. the Socialists rolled up
fewer than 100000 votes. Heading the
ticket again In 1904. he received over
400 600 In 1908 there was a slightly
heavier Socialist vote for President. and
in 1912 Debs' total was S97 900. In the
1916 election the party's fortunes
slumped to 5a5. 900 votes, but when
Debs ran against Harding and Cox In
1920 he mounted to his peak Of 100000.
AS the Socialists Endorsed La Toilette
in 1924 1t Is impossible TO estimate
what portion of Fighting Bob's" pop
ular vote Of 4,822.856 can be allocated
10 them. New York. Wisconsin, Illinois.
Minnesota. Ohio and California are Or
dinarily the principal Socialist strong
holds. Socialism isn't Communism.
Presidential Nominee Thomas. Princeton
man and Union Theological Seminary
graduate, Is violently Communist.
%&
Representative Nicholas j. Sinnott.
Republican. OF Oregon. whom President
Coolidge has just appointed TO the
United States Court Of Claims Is a
long, lanky son OF the State that has
sent him 10 Congress for the past eight
terms He Is famed in the annals of
his alma mater. the University OF Notre
Dame, from which he was graduated
In the class OF 1892. Long before the
-Four Horsemen" gave the Fighting
Irish" fame, Sinnott was not only a
foot ball star of Notre Dame, but the
holder of its all-around athletic cham
plonship. He carries a gold medal
which attests his prowess on the dia-
mond, on the track. in the swimming
pool In the boxing arena and on the
gridiron Sinnott gave promise 36
years ago OF becoming q congressional
orator, for he was class valedictortan
at Notre Dame in g2. AS chairman of
the House public lands committee. the
Oregonian has been potent factor In
contemporary legislation on Capitol
Hill. His colleagues In the House re-
ioice at a promotion In public service
which will keep the other Nick" a resi-
dent Of Washington.
Representative MGiFll ~ Rhaas lNF~
publican. OF Minnesota, who wants
Congress 10 turn the searchIieht OF In
vestigation on the pacifist lobby against
national defense. Is a fighting veteran
Of the World War. He enlisted In the
Marine Corps Immediately upon the
outbreak OF hostllities and served In
the aviation branch overseas for 10
months. He is now n captain In the
Marine Corps Reserve. This Is Mas
FIRST term In the House. Of which he
Is a baby" member. being still under
30 lie iS an insurance man by pro-
fession.
Senator Steck, Democrat OF Iowa,
recently had a controversy on the floor
Of the upper house with Southern
member who has never learned 10 pro-
notlnce The name Of the Corn Belt COM
monwealth. Steck's Iowa colleague and
pet aversion. Senator Hrookhaft. once
discovered that even the cultured
French have their troubles trying to
master the pronunciation Of Iowa
| BTookhart was calling ut the French
| foreign Office two or three years ago In
| The course OF giving Europe the once
| over. He never carries cards. So he
| identified himself. when secretary
asked him 10 do so by scrbhlng his
name and address on scrap OF paper.
Presently he was ushered into the for
| eign minister's presence and cordially
greeted as Senator Br0okhart of JO~
| Vah" The French, 1t appears, pro-
n0unee 10" and 10" the same way,
| and iva" as yah" At least, that's
what happened TO the Hawkeye State
the day BTookhart turned up on the
Quai d'Ofsay.
| One OF the fatthest out-in~front can
| didates for the presidential nomination
on a certain ticket evidently needs a
press agent Al last weeks convention
| NJ the League of American Pen Women.
said candidates gracious spouse t0ok
her place demoeratieally among the hoi
poll0i at luncheon. instead of accepting
an invitation Ia the table dhonneur. A
e0Tnan across from her Al table, wanting
10 impress 4 guest shed brought 10 the