Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-27
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS

Democratic National Chairman Ras-
kob has once more departed from the
ordinary rules of the political game.
| The calling together Of a party's ma
tional committee "out of season" Is
quite unprecedented. Next weeks meet
| ing here of the Democratic National
Committee with a view to formulating
plans now for the 1882 campaign is a
daring experiment. Many of the Demo-
cratic chieftains are far from enthusi-
aStic and particularly disturbed by sug-
gestions that now is the time and the
National Committee the agency through
which the party should take its stand
squarely on the wet side Of the prohi-
bition issue. Chairman Raskob's pri-
mary objective in getting the commit
tee together Is to decide now on a pro-
gram for rehabilitating the party's
finances and replenishing the money
chest. But more than that he. wants
to carry on with renewed energy the
Democratic publicity campaign, and to
do that effectively must have chart
of Democratic policies and some defini-
| tons thereof. The party in power has
its President as its policy-shaping
director. The party out of power is
without directing head. Mr.. RaSkob
looks to his National Committee as the
only substitute in sight as party spokeS-
man, but the chances of the committee
undertaking this role at the present
time look mighty slim.
4
It is obvious that Speaker OF the
House Longworth Is destined to remain
on the anxious seat until the new Con-
gress convenes and organizes next De-
| cember. The detection of only hand
full of the irregular Republicans then
tNrFrr = ersfE pfo 81 fJNa ali
ton of the Democratic minority leader,
Jack Garner. In all reasonable proba-
bility Longworth will retain the speak
ership in the final showdown, but in
the meantime the subject will continue
TO furnish the theme for endless con-
lecture and argument. At the moment
he Is being pulled and hauled by con-
flicting factions within the Republican
ranks of the House. BY force Of cir
! cumstanceS all are in a position to
dicker and demand this or that under
threat Of a bolt when the Speakership
roll call is taken. Diplomacy of a high
order by the genial Roosevelt Son-in-
law is being required but so far he has
proved equal to the exigencies Of the
situation.
The reign of Uncle Joe" Cannon as
Speaker of the House Is often thought
OF as If it had spanned a couple of
decades. In fact, it was only eight
years-through four Congresses-but
even so, 1t was length of term never
exceeded, and only twice equaled. in
our entire history Andrew Stevenson
of Virginia, in days long ago, and
Champ Clark of Missouri, in contempt
rary times, were the only ones besides
Uncle Joe" who had four terms as
Speaker to their credit. Speaker Long
worth is now finishing his third term
six-year stretch as presiding officer
of the House. There have been half
dozen three-term Speakers, of which
the more notable include Gillett of
Massachusetts, Longworths immediate
predecessor, and James @. Blaine Of
Maine. But If LongwOrth is reelected
Speaker of the Seyenty-second Con-
gress he will have equaled the all-time
| record in this Office.
&*
AS a harbinger of Spring came this
week to the White House the first of
the annual outpouring Of Summer va
cation invitations to the President, call
! culated to give fleeing fame to little
known bits of paradise within the con-
| tinental limits of the u. s. A. The in
vitation of the Commercial Club of
Pelican Rapids, MINI. may we'll be
adopted as the standard approved form
for all such invitations. 1t reads, THE
scenic beauties Of" (here insert appro-
pirate name), ats splendid accommoda-
tons and the innate aptitude and
inclination of the fish in the numerous
lakes of this wonderful vacation area
are such as to give the fisherman very
little time between bites" Meantime,
steps are being taken to transfer some
thousands of the brook trout from the
waters of Secretary Richeys fishing and
game preserve at Catoctin, Md, to the
drought-depleted streams of the Rapi-
dan at the Hoover Virginia camp.
X 4
Though it viii soon be q year since
Vincent Massey took his leave of Wash
ington, he still remains accredited to
us as the Minister Of Canada. The Ca