Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-21
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Though Walter Newton denies Presi-
dent Hoovers interest in beer and the
chances Of per cent stuff in the COM
ing Congress are slim, the bung has
Enthusiastically been pulled out Of the
prohibition barrel. Light wines and the
foam that made Milwaukee famous will
not How from it soon, but that modih-
cation is on the march is plain as a
pikestaf to everybody not blinded to
developments by prejudice. To this OBJ
servers attention has just come straw
showing how the wind Is blowing. In
some respects, it is a more important
wisp than resolutions even Of organi-
cations like the American Bar Associ-
alton, the American Federation of
Labor, the American Medical AsSoci-
alton or the American Legion. 1t Is an
intimation, straight from his innermoSt
sanctum, that one Of the conspicuous
advocates Of rohibition-perhapS the
noblest experimental Roman of them
all-is wavering In his belief in the en-
forceability Of the law and leaning to-
ward revision. He cannot be quoted,
or even named. He would probably
deny the suggestion that he Is no longer
seated immoVably on the water wagon
SO much can be said-when the per-
sonage in question (his name is not
Hoover Is ready to speak out In meet
ing, the modification cause will acquire
been the first time that he blazed a
trail.
Complete mystery pervadeS all off,
eial quarters regarding the recall of
Mexican Ambassador Teller. His most
intimate friends here are confident that
1t took him wholly by surprise. The only
reason they can surmiSe Is that home
politics is Tesponsible-the ambition of
some other man to grab the choicest
plum in the Mexican diplomatic or
chard Relations between the United
States and the Rio Grande republic
have grown steadily better during Am
baSSador Tellez's representation Of his
country in Washington. At the time
and for some time after, Secretary
Kellogg put Mexico on the spot by pub
licly proclaiming that she was zen trial
before the world" Teller and the State
Department were not in kissing mood.
The Ambassador outlived that hectic
period and today is persona gratissima
in the StimSon bailiwick, as far as any
body knows to the contrary.
y \
If Teller quits the Potomac, thereTI
be bonfires on the Tiber, for Mlissoiini's
exceedingly active envoy. Mobile Cha
como de MARITIME, will succeed to the
coveted deanship of the diplomatic
corps. The post goes by seniority. Tel
leZ only beat MARITIME to 1t last year,
when Sir Esne Howard departed, by a
week, for the Mexican was accredited on
February "a. 1925, and the Italian on
March 2, 1925. 1taly's ardent desire to
be on the best possible terms with the
United States could only be promoted by
the accession of her Ambassador to the
leadership of the Washington corps.
The dean has to speak en- occasion for
the entire group OF So Ambassadors
and Ministers. He enjoys CORRESPONDING
prestige, not only among them, but at
the State Department and the White
House.
II President Hoover hadn't at the
eleventh hour called OF last Friday
afternoons seni-weekly press confer
ence, he'd have been bombarded with
questions about Gerard Swope's plan
for stabilizing industry. In It's funda-
mental aspect It Is on all fourS with
Mr.. Hoover's ideas of business and gov
eminent. The President consistently
holds that the business Of business is
to help itself and not lay It's troubles
on Uncle SANS doorstep. Whatever OBJ
sections csn be leveied against It on
othe, counts. the General Electric es-
ecutive project is a definite and dar-
ing effort en- the part OF big business to
work cut the unemployment problem
with a minimum of governmental as
distance. Congress is sure to ring with
the pros and cons Of the Swope scheme
when the dome Is shaking with unem-
ploynient debate next Winter. One
thing sticks out OF the plan with the
world. It reveals that industry Il alive
to the necessity Of doing something OF
haytng sonsthing done to n. So :