Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-13
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC HILLI4M VIE.

Who'd ever have thought that Sem
ator George w. Norris would take a leaf
out of Calvin Coolidges notebook ana
also not choose TO run? II the Farmer
Labor party which nominated the Ne
braskan for President at Chicago on
July IL had troubled to read the letter
Norris wrote a day or two ago TO
Doremus Scudder OF Claremont, Calf,
it might have spared itself the rebuff
the Republican progressive has given it.
Ignore party labels and send the right
men to Congress" was the counsel which
Norris, in a nutshell, gave to would-be
third partyites. In sucb movement
only. he thinks. progressive salvation
lies Abolition OF the electoral col
lege by the right kind of Congress" is
one of the specific reforms Norris wants
to bring about. in order that the people
may vote directly for the presidential
candidate of their choice. This year
the Nebraskan advocates support Of
progressives, no matter under what
party label they may be running, for
House or Senate.
Seldom. If ever. has there been so
distinguished n love feast as now pre-
walls on the fourth floor of the Senate
Office Building. In one of the spacious
corridors of those marbled premises Is
room 404-the Office of Senator Joe"
Robinson Of Arkansas Directly across
the hall is room 405--thc Office of SEN
ator Charley" Curtis OF Kansas Both
candidates for Vice President were
within carshot and eyesight Of each
other for the first time since their re-
| spective nominations when Robinson
came TO town yesterday. They made
valiant attempts to get together, but
| conflicting engagements prevented
| Joe" and "Charley"-as they We been
| To each other for more than 20 years
! plan to have a heart heart pow WOW
| before many more hours are past Con-
! gress knows no closer friendship than
| the Arkansan and the KanSan have
! maintained. Each boasts that they've
never had quarrel, though roll calls
| usually place them Iii opposite camps.
| As leaders Of their own parties IN The
| Senate, Robinson and Curtis have found
| IL constantly necessary to confer but
always possible not to disagree.
| "
John j Raskobs appointment as
| Democratic national chairman set
Washington political tongues To wag-
| ging AS no other event since the prcsi-
! dental nominations themselves Demo-
cratic leaders hold divided opinions az
| to the wisdom of the selection, but I'M
re8erVedly recognize Smiths right to
name his own field marshal AIS done
! IT, and that ends IT, said "A prominent
| New York Democrat TO this observer
| Most criticism Of Raskob's chairman
ship ranges around the alleged "inadviS
| ability" OF rubbing certain Democratic
SusceptibiIities The wrong way by ask
/ Ip la "a
| lie national chairman along with Il
| Roman Catholic nominee. Smiths an
| sWer to that suggestion his apokeSmen
| say, Is that anybody who's going tn vote
! against "At" on religious grounds would
do 30 no matter what the faith of his
chairman might be, and, conversely, no
j Protestant chairman would be likely 10
| convert any anti Catholic voter to
| Smiths cause
The Coolidge era wnnes, but GRIM
visagcd economy continues 70 present
an unWrinkled front in administration
| high places The July issue Of the Stale
Department blue book, or Diplomatic
List" AS It's officially termed, was ac~
Companled by notice that the useful
little pamphlet hereafter will not be dis
trtbuted gratis, in accordance with I'M
memorial custom, but supplied only az
8 cents copy on 80 cents year, The
superintendent of public documents at
the Government Printing ONCE Is au~
thoriaed to receive subscriptions. The
blue book Is ma Indispensable weapon
In the arsenal of Washington high so
cirty. II ~ an up eto~dale and anthem
tic register Of The 300 al COO diplomatic
ladies and gentlemen who comprise the
Capitals most exclusive "set No
hostess OF caterer can do without it,
Il x II
Next year Pulitaer's journalism
prize for the editorial bull OF the