Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-24
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Postmaster General Walter F. Brown
has courteously but resolutely declined
to shoulder the burdens of the Repub~
lican National Committee Craftsmanship.
He told the President that the mas
terry of the mails, being the first public
Office he ever held, is much to the
Ohioan'S liking and he thinks he'd
like some more of 1t. Brown was Mr..
Hcover's choice for the job, which
Hubert Work held, Claudius Huston lost
and Senator FesS temporarily occupies.
The Postmaster General is understood
10 have represented to the Chief" that
he can render the administration al
most as effective political service in the
cabinet as in the Barr Building. Ever
since Brown sold Hoover, not with
out considerable sales effort, the idea
of invading the Ohio primaries in 1928,
the Willis candidacy TO the contrary
Notwithstanding. the Toledoan has
ranked in the Californian's estimation
as something akin to political miracle
man. Capture of the Ohio delegation
is still regarded as the thing that as
sured Hooyers nomination at Kansas
City beyond all peradventure. Thence
forward, Walter Rrown became the
Allah of the Hoover cause. To organize
victory for 1882 seemed, in light of the
past. the job for which the WONDER
worker of 1928 was cut out. But Walter,
it appears, will have none of it.
- *%
Dwight Morrow evidently isn't the
only absent-minded member of the
United States Senate. Long Sam"
Shortridge of California deposes and
claims he has just developed some dis
tinction in that line himself. 1t hap
pens that Senator Shortridge and his
wife were bSsn on the same day-Au-
gust 3-but he forgot the date Of their
marriage. A week or two ago Iowa's
native son, who is now the junior solon
from California, wrote Mrs. Shortridge
to clear up the uncertainty. Senator
Shortridge has received a Christmas
card which evokes tender memories
1t is faded photograph Of country
school house in Napa County, CALI,
vintage of 1879, where he was principal
as a lanky youth of 18. The picture
shows Shortridge in the midst OF
couple of hundred youngsters squattlng
on the grass. In his quarters in the
Senate Office Building he has given 1t
a place of honor among politicians, big
trees, fruit groves and other photo
graphic souvenirs which keep Shortridge
from getting homesick for California.
X x X
Here's a tip for West Point cadets
and Annapolis ynidslipmen in Washing
ton for the holidays: Call on the mem
bers of Congress who appointed you to
your respective academies. Senators
and Representatives say it frequently
to realize his life ambition through their
favor fails to trouble to keep in
touch with them A letter Of thanks
at the time-and then, often, all is
forgotten. Our future generals and
adnirals may be doing a better stroke
for themselves than they think by "cul-
| tivating" the statesman who facilitated
their admission to a service school. He
may be chairman of a congressional
Military or Naval Committee by the
! time Cadet Jones or Midshipman Smith
! is looking for promotion. One case of
enduring friendship is that Of Mid
! shipman Kirn, star 1880 Navy haltback,
with Representative Schaefer OF Wis
! consin. Schaefer appointed Kirn to An
napolis, and the sailor lad has fire.
quently visited at his benefactor's home
in Washington. He is here for Christ
mas with the Schaefers.
I X x X
| Amelia Earhart, woman transatlantic
! flyer, evidently doesn't reach for a
| cigarette instead of sweet. Recently
! in Washington for business meeting OF
the air transport company which she
helps to administer, a luncheon was
| given in honor of the aviatriX who locks
| like & twin sister of Lindbergh. Every
| body at table was smoking a cigarette
except her. She's said to attribute her
GOODNESS at the controls to the fact that
she isn't an addict TO the almost uni
versal feminine habit Of the era.
| \ \
Senator and Mrs. David A. Reed of
Pennsylvania have just welcomed home
| their daughter. Mrs. Charles DENLY, jr,
who, with her young husband. has been
visiting in Russia. Mr.. DENLY, who is
o lawyer, went to Moscow on behalf of
a client. Mrs DENLY has a unique in
| ternaticnal background. After leaving
| q finishing school in Connecticut, she
spent a year in Florence Italy, and
then was graduated with honors from
the 6orbonne. in France. She speaks