Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-12
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

'Wanted-A Wayne b. wheeler.
Must be skillfu1 politician and resource
ful money-raiser. Apply to United
Dry Forces, Washington" No such
advertisement has been published, but
everybody knows the job is open and
that there Is urgent need, from the
prohibitionist standpoint, Of filing it
pronto. Practically for the first time
since Uncle Sam was hoisted onto the
that organized ways and means for
keeping him there must be invoked.
The 1880 elections prove conclusively
to them that the old gentleman is Slip
ping from his arid perch. That is why
a captain-genera1 of Wayne Wheeler
stature Is being sought with such zeal
as marked Diogenes' historic search for
an honest man. Bishop Cannon once
upon time ranked as the likeliest field
marshal for the crusade to preserve
prohibition. Now Senator Fess of Ohio
Is talked about for the place. His
views on prohibition are not a matter
of general knowledge, but Frederick j.
Libby, executive secretary of the Ma
tional Council for Prevention of War,
Is one of Americas most effective
propaganda generalisSimos. Water has
been Ldbby's natural element ever since
the paciflst group, under his astute
leadership, sank the big Navy 71-ship
program couple Of years ago.
4 \ + 4
One of the explanations for the
grounding of the dry craft Is said to be
its shortage of funds. The exchequer
is VIGOROUSLY not nearly so richly up
holstered as in the Wheeler days. In
deed, according to an insider, the drys
during the past two or three years have
been so busy paying on debts that
they've lacked money for the kind of
active, aggressive campaign they used
to wage. Also, 1t is explained, the Vol
steadians have been reluctant till now
TO realize that the Sahara cause was
in peril. They surveyed their safe"
majorities in both houses of Congress
and treated the wet agitation with con-
tempt. During the past week the scales
have fallen from their eyes with VEN
geance. Dry leaders now confess that
battle Of Lexington" was fought on
November 4. The war for liquorless
America Is not lost, but they know it
has now begun in earnest. A Phil
Sheridan, who can rally somewhat
denaoralized army into another tri-
umphant and Irresistible host, is the
man the drys are looking for. If the
unemployed lists contain any such, a
good job awaits him.
y y
Senator Henry j. Allen Of Kansas
the title is still his, and will be until
Congress assemblies on December 2--is
in Washington, wearing the most in
vincible smile that e'er o'erspread a
losers countenance. The White House
senatorial spokesman and captain of
the Hoover Young Guard on Capitol
Hill insists he is not candidate for
lame duck consolation. Suggestions
that the President might make Allen
Secretary of Labor or Republican ma
tional chairman make no appeal to the
Napoleonlike statesman from Wichita
This is the season when misery loves
company. Allen and Ruth Hanna Me-
Cormick were bitter rivals, though per-
sonal friends, at the Kansas City con-
vention in 1928. Henry was running
Hoover publicity and Ruth was bally-
hooing Lowden. Now both the Kansan
and the lady from Illinois find them
selves on the great political outside.
81 ~
Representative Britten, Republican, of
Illinois, who was reelected In Chicago
last week without opposition, is busily
preparing for the impending fight in
Congress over naval legislation. The
chairman of the House Naval Commit
tee expects a battle royal over the
cruiser Observation-Disclosures the United
States should build the 6-inch-gIIn ships
authorized by the London treaty or
concentrate on a-inch l0.000-ton ships.
The administration, supported by ADJ
miral Pratt, new chief of operations, Is
6-inch-mihded. Britten says his House
committee, which customarily Is ale
influential, Is 20 to /, or Whereabouts.
against "squandering" any money on
6-inch cruisers and will oppose them
tooth and nail.