Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-03
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS

1t is obvious that prohibition will
plague the Hoover administration for
many months to come and that once
the tariff Is out Of the way prohibition
will occupy the center of the congress
Sional stage. The President is properly
agitated over the situation and is using
all his personal and official influence to
stem the tide Of criticism. The White
House finds itself with few champions
and many critics on Capitol Hill But
as between Congress and the President
In the prohibition controversy, WASH
ington observers for the most part in
cline to the view that in the long run
the country will sympathize with Mr..
Hoover. The administration stand for
adequate and impartial law enforcement
is clear and unequivocal. The President
is ready with concrete legislative pro-
posals, which, as far as they 60, are on
the constructive side. Congress seems
likely to find itself in the position where
1t must either put up or shut up:" at
least that is likely to be the Judgment
OF the country. Yet judging the future
by the past is not apt to do either.
The movement to draft Mr.. Coolidge
for the seat shortly to be vacated by
Senator Gillett of Massachusetts died
aborning. The silent Calvin was in
scrutable as always, but managed with
out saying word to convey the very
positive notion that he did not choose
to run. Nor is he mixing in any way
in the political affairs OF his home
State. His detachment Is absolute.
The latest manifestation in this respect
was incident to the testimonial dinner
rendered this week to the retiring mayor
Of Boston. Republican. All the Repub-
lican bigwigs of the State were in at
tendance. Mr.. Coolidge was invited. His
note of declination was in the best
Coolidge vein, laconic but not without
the touch of what is customarily
labeled Yankee" humor. Dear Mr.
Mayor" wrote Coolidge, sorry can't
attend your dinner. 1 hope you enjoy
getting out of Office as much as I did"
Since 1t is thoroughly understood in
Massachusetts, that the mayor retired
from Office only because a provision of
the Boston charter precluded him from
being candidate for another term, and
since, stating it mildly, he is entirely
agreeable to taking the Massachusetts,
senatorship If it comes his way, the
Coolidge note was fairly subtle.
X X X
Senator Gould of Maine accompanied
the formal statement of his decision
to make his first term his last and
to retire year hence with some high
ly spiced comments on men and affairs.
Seldom do Senators speak their minds
so freely for publication, particularly
with respect to their colleagues. 1.-The
most poisonous tongue in the Senate
Is that Of Norris Of Nebraska, with not
a good word for any one" Gould de-
clared, land then there is Walsh OF
Montana. He has not a kindly thought
in his system" Such utterances are
hardly chubby" and Washington OBJ
servers are waiting to see what notice,
If any, Gould's eliminates will take of
his personal remarks when the Senate
reconvenes next week.
X Il X
Secretary of Interior Wilbur this
week addressed the National Student
Calf, without leaving his desk In
Washington. DR.. Wilbur's talk was not
transmitted by radio, but shipped
across the continent in a small tin
container and delivered to the con-
vention audience via the talking pic
ture, which visualized the speaker at
the same time that 1t reproduced his
spoken words with all the naturalness
of expression and delivery that goes
with individual habits of oratory. Gen.
Charles p. Summerall, chief Of staff,
in similar fashion, recently addressed
a reunion Of his famous wartime 1st
Division, in New York, on the same
date that the general himself was
in Chicago on urgent Government
business. Paramount Sound News was
the mechanical medium in both in
| stances. The rapid advance toward
perfection in the art Of sound pictures
bids fair to revolutionize the business
Of official speechmaking, always ali
onerous burden upon the shoulders or
high Government officials. Just as the
radio broadcasting has largely sup
planted. the old-time political rallies
| and stumping tours. so the sound pic
ture Is providing the vehicle for con-
vention and banquet speechmaking,
without recurring attendance Of the
speaker In the tlestA. - >