Evening star., 1928-03-23
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

C. Bascom Slemp's hop onto the
Hoover bandwagon Is the political piece
de resistance of the hour. All concern
ed-which includes rival Republican
presidential candidates--concede that
the Virginian's adhesion to the Califor-
mans cause Is an event OF the first
magnitude. President Cdolidges for
mer adiutant has reputation for back
ing winners. Slemps friends say tnat
he has consistently trained with The
victorious crowd for the past 20 years
or more. Al the Chicago convention OF
1920 It Is well remembered how Slemp
led the Virginia delegation, which was
for Lowden. into the Harding camp at
a psychological moment. His decision
TO go over to Hoover at this relatively
early stage OF the pre- e-convention con-
test is an indication 10 all who know
Slemps mental processes that he looks
upon the Commerce chief as the man
of destinv at Kansas City. IT wouldn't
surprise Washington politicians IL Slemp
were 10 emerge as Republican national
chairman. in the event Of HooverS NOM
nation and as a cabinet officer In case
OF Hoover's election.
-
With the passing OF william G. Sproul.
Republican, OF Pennsylvania, there goes
from the scene still another q. o. p.
leader who might have been President
OF the United States. That Is 10 say,
Gov Sproul was one OF several men
with whom the bosses at Chicago trat"
ficked for second place on the Harding
ticket. II was offered TO Senator Hiram
Johnson, who turned II down. Senator
nN~Et a NfVNa n
have had the tail-end place. but de-
clined it. Senator Boios Penrose. from
his sickbed In Philadelphia. long dis
tanced To Chicago that Bill" Sproul
should be named for Vice President.
but the governor would have none OF
il. 1t was finally determined behind
the scenes that Senator Lenroot OF WIS
consn should be made Hardings run
ming mate. But before the convention
managers could accomplish that pur-
pose, Delegate Wallace McCamant OF
oregon stood up on his chair. placed
Calvin Coolidge OF Massachusetts In
| nomination. and the rest Is history.
= -
Dexter 8. Kimbah. dean OF the Col
lege OF Engineering at Cornell Univer-
s.ty, achieved the miracle at q dinner
/ In Washington this week Of telling a
/ new story about Scotchman. SANDY
| was recently presented with a radio
set" says kimball "and tlxM donor
shortly afterwards asked how the APP
| paratus~swas working. 'Weel.' replied
Sandy. the reception seems to be all
right. but the lights are wee bit dim
10 read by"
There probably aren't two more ardent
! drys or devout Protestants In the whole
| United States Congress than Senators
| Dill Of Washington and Barkley Of Ken
| III y, but Gov. Al Smith could not
! have wished for two more valiant de-
| tenders than these Democrats proved
| themselves when they Joined In the at
! tack on Senator Robinson Republican
| Of Indians for his ill-atarFed effort Ia
impiicate the New Yorker In the Sin
clair oil muck. No less significant was
! the ylgor with which Senator Pat Har-
rison Of Mississippi, Democratic Prot
estant dry, went to the bat for Smith
II Is acknowledged on NEARLY all hands
! that the Prstiter0us Pat scored neatly
| on Robinson with the birds -nt a
! feather" comeback The young indis
aninn had bracketed Smith and Sinclair
as birds" that flock together" but
when Harrison reeied of the names ot
/ convicted and indicted Republican poll
tieians In Indiana with whom l.ohinsan
had been c0nsnrting throughout his po-
litieal career, the Mississippian worked
The "birds-of "a feather" motif al the
tio0sier's expense with deadly effect,
| y
On August 2, 1927, Coolidge said. II
do not choose 10 run" On December
d, 1927 the President admonished the
Republican national committee that
| my decision will be respected" On
March 81, 1898 he declined Wyoming
Republicans request 10 be permitted tu
lisa his name la connection with ihia
| Years presidential campaign. II "thFee
times ana ont has the rams siantfis
eanne IN politics that n has In haas
ball. Calls eAit would nov paem " be
maj