Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-06
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE

Probably few, If any, of our Presi-
dents ever set about their jobs SO
naturally and easily as Herbert Hoover,
when he took the helm at the White
House, dark and early on the morning
of March S. After all, the President
has been knocking about the Capital in
an executive capacity for the better
part of - years. He came here as
food administrator in 1917 and carried
on" as Secretary of Commerce from
1921 onward. The White House has
been very familiar terrain to him all
that time, so he takes to it more or
less like duck to water. Hoover Tugs
his favorite working clothes into the
blue serge suit, stiff double rundown
collar, gray soft hat. and all. The
President must have other kinds of toys,
but he dons them only on dreSS-parade
occasions like goodwill tours in South
America and inaugurations in Washing
ton. Sartorially, Herbert Hoover is as
plain as an old shoe. He will never be
the hero of advertisements Of Snappy
effects in male attire.
X X X y
The Presidents first press conference
was an unqualified success all around.
The scribes liked 1t so well that they
burst into hearty applause when 1t was
over. Mr.. Hoover smiled one of his
broadcast Schoolboy grins in apprecia-
ton. What the writing fraternity likes
best about the Presidents press policy
is his readiness to see individual cor
respondents whenever they desire to
consult him privately. The Californian
Is far and away at his best under four
eyes," as the Germans say. He has
never quite overcome an innate SlIyness
IN talking to crowd, even if it's only
the 30 or 60 persons who assemble at a
White House press pow-wow. Amid
the intimacy OF conversation with a
single person, Hoover shakes off all re-
serve, throws a leg over the arm of his
chair, tugs at his pipe, and thinks aloud
freely and informatively. It can be
| toreshadeWed with certainty that the
correspondents will often take him at
/ MS word to see them ION application. "
Millions in the countrywide radio
audianee on Inauguration day must
nave caught one of the outstanding
eplsodes CT the ceremony on the Cap
itol front when Mr.. Hoover was sworn in
Chief Justice Taft was its hero. He was
reading to the President-elect the his
toric oath of office. Mr.. Taft had pro-
! ceeded In solemn, modulated, uniform
tones to the final words, land defend
| the Constitution of the United States -
AT that point Taft raised his voice
/ TO almost stentorian pitch. 1t was plain
| ly symbolical of the paramount stress
which the Supreme Court, the inter-
prefer and guardian Of the Constitution
lays upon our Magma Charta.
X X x X
Are we acquiring "ruling families
in the United States? The Hoover cab
| met contains only few names that
| are unfamiliar in Federal Washington
We've had Stimsons, Adamses, Melons,
| Wilburs, Davises and Lannon'S in high
places in the District of Columbia for
| 10, these many years! The names of
| Hoover and Curtis themselves are not
wholly strange. In Congress, too, the
country needn't trouble to accustom it
| self to new Technology With the Long
worths, Watsons and Robinsons centin-
uing to WELD power ON Capitol Hill,
| Uncle Sam is doing business at the old
stand and more or less under the old
| firm names.
| y X X X
Curtis d. Wilbur was a guest, a few
| days before March A. at luncheon in
llOilUt VI tIlc 1loOC NOiA-
| ference. The host called upon him I'M
expectedly to speak. I'm the Navy"
said the Secretary, we've only got one
trade mark, and that's the anchor. I
guess I'll stay anchored" and then Will
| bur sat down. Whether that was the
Federal judge-to-be's way of signaling
that he expected to remain at the Navy
Department is not known. If 1t was,
! he cast his anchor to WindWard W1ttty,
but in vain.
X X Il 4
John Caribaldi Sargent doesn't have
to 60 back to his country law practice
at Ludlow, VT, If he doesn't want to.
He has worked up for himself In Wash
ington quite tidy trade as repaireI
of clocks. Tinkering with clocks Is the
former Attorney Generals favorite in
door sport. The clock hasn't yet beer,
invented that Sargent can't take apart
put together and set ticking again. He's
been known TO tackle, a grapdfathsr's
MsSs1Rsss'sss -, ~ s-Ssas sks