Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-30

1t Is the call of heredity that inspires
William Howard Gardiner, president OF
] the Navy League, with his fiery zeal on
behalf of adequate naval preparedness.
| Gardiner is a kinsman of the late Ad-
miral Mahan, celebrated author of
The Influence of Sea Power" AL
! though the Navy League executive Is
not a sailor by profession, he is a pro-
| found believer in the fundamental ten
| cts laid down by Great-uncle Mahan
F., Some of his friends think that Gar
diner may have let out too much can
vas in charging President Hoover with
| "abysmal ignorance" of the Nays
functions and ascribing it to his CON
genital pacifism." The Commander In
Chiefs economy wave has churned up
| a terrific resentment through all ranks
! of the fleet, ana Gardiner Is venting
| the indignation that fills them. He is
| Bostonian by birth, engineer graduate
| of the Massachusetts, Institute of Tech
| nology, was once associated With Henry
l.. Doherty in public utility financing
and quit business in 1914 fer war work
| Gardiner claims to have patented the
view that North America. particularly
| the United States, has ceased being v1r-
| tually Self-sufflcient and is taking on
| the character and outlook of a great
island centrally placed in the oceanic
| field" Hence the need for a mighty
] navy.
Seneca said. while you look at what
is given. look also at the giver." Demo-
cratic leaders survey in that spirit
| Senator George H. Moses blithe pre-
diction that the Democrats will organize
| the next House of Representatives.
They wonder where the catch is
whether the canny Republican Presi-
dent pro tenn of the Senate and the
rest of the G. o. p. aren't lying awake
nights praying that nothing may pre-
vent the Democrats from taking control
of the lower branch 1t is an open
secret that one of the things on which
| the Republican party pins its hopes OF
| victory in 1882 is that the Democrats
will handsomely discredit themselves in
| Congress this Winter. The idea is that
| the country. on the eve of the presiden-
tial election. would have an exhibition
| of Democratic Incompetence" that
would make the people hesitate to dis
place the party now in power. At this
| gloomy writing the trust that the.
| Democrats. running true to form, VIII
do the wrong thing at the right time
| Is the reed on which the Republicans
are mainly leaning. That refers espe-
cially to the presidential nomination.
Wall Street wisecracks now perco-
| lating through Washington; At present
the banks are carrying more people than
the railroads A movement is afoot to
erect monument TO the Unknown
Solvent.
American political history would prob
ably be searched in vain for the phs-
nonlenon Of brother and sister both
being mentioned simultaneously for the
vice presidential nomination. Theodore
Roosevelt and Alice Roosevelt Long
! worth qualify for that unprecedented
distinction. The Ted" Roosevelt boom
| acquired fresh momentum this week in
consequence of the presence of the Gov
erncr of Porto Rico and Mrs. Roosevelt
Young IT. r." rates as having given an
uncommonly good account of himself
at San Juan. Republican leaders say
he has grown" perceptibly and Is max
ing a progressively successful fight to
be himself and not the son CT q dis
tinguished father.
A reader of these observations writes
in TO say that not merely two, but three.
umpireS Of the German American
Mixed Claims Commission have passed
away in succession since that body was
organized in 1921. The first umpire,
former Associate Justice william r.
Day, of the United States Supreme
Court. did not long survive his service
an thu couamiegiou. In 1879 judge