The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-04-11
IS
ANNOYED
At CASE

The heavy cannonading and
furious musketry that have
featured the Capitals great
social war died down today
to desultory sniping.
The main engagement is over. and
Mrs. Edward Everett Gam, half
sister and official hostess to Vice
President CuFtlss, energies victori.
Gus.
Tonight she will taste the first
sweet fruits of her victory at
formal dinner to be given by the
Chilean ambassador. She will march
proudly to her seat on the arm of
her host as the ranking lady pres
emit. In her wake will trail the
wives OF diplomats and other ladies
of the official set.
1t took the concerted, IL reluctant,
action of two-score harrassed and
embarrassed diplomats to insure
Mrs. Gam her seat, and all the
shipping from the vantage point OF
washington tea-tables now cannot
dislodge her. Henceforth at all cere-
monial and official dinners, Mrs.
Gam is to be seated as the ranking
lady whenever Mrs. Hoover Is not
present.
Cloud on Horizon
The only cloud on the horizon
that might disturb Mrs. Cams
serenity is the possibility that
capital society generally will not ac-
cept the ruling of the diplomatic
corps at its private and more init
mate affairs. However, she can al
ways stand on her prerogative OF
declining to 20 to homes where she
Ii not accorded the rank for which
she fought such spectacle battle.
Thus is answered. temporarily at
least. a question that has stood
social Washington on its ear for a
week. In the course of its being
decided letters passed between the
Secretary of state and the dean of
the Diplomatic Corps, foreign gov
eTIiments were consulted by their
representatives here, Congressional
action was threatened. and an in
yestigation begun that threatens a
slake-up in the State Department.
But it's over now. all over. the
stars are in their courses and the
Government at Washington still
lives.
Courageous as they were in set
Ting the question Of Mrs. Cams
social ranking. even the austere
gentlemen of the Diplomatic Corps
quaiIed before the question of de-
Gliding where Mr.. Gam is to sit.
He is a Washington lawyer. and
the consort of the Second Lady.
Asked the blunt question of
where Mr.. Gam is to be ranked in
society's scheme of things. Sir
Esme Howard. the dean of the
corps. smiled slow British smile
and replied:
Hoover Annoyed.
'Mr. Gam, am informed. is a
very estimable gentleman"
Meanwhile, there are some nervous
young men In the State Department
today.
President Hoover and Secretary of
Solate SlllSOH are S&GGeuTnSiy an
noyed over the whole affair, and the
division of protocol in the depart.
ment is in for thorough overhaul.
ing. 1t was the division of protocol
that decided for Secretary of State
Kellogg that Mrs. Gam was TO be
seated below the wives of diplomats
That decision was like the bomb ct
Serejevo which touched off the
World War.
Secretary Stimson was quite en-
phatic in stating that something is
to be found for the division Of pro-
tocol to do besides giving aid, clun-
sci and comfort to the Ilarassed hos.
tess of Washington by relieving them
of their social secretarial work
Hereafter IL Mrs. Whoo-zisi wants
to know whether to seat the wife of
Congressman Gazinkus ahead OF the
the wife of Congress What.of.it she
will have to make the momentous de-
cision herself. The State Depart
ment won't.