Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-01
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Never in the history of the Govern
ment, and never, OF course, in the young
annals of radio, has there been quite
such an event as the forthcoming series
of Government broadcasts to be given
weekly in the National Radio Forum,
beginning tomorrow night. The talks,
arranged by The Star and to be de-
livered over the coaSt-to-coast network
of the Columbia Broadcasting System.
will be delivered by different members
of the cabinet in succession, until all
10 have been heard from. Secretary
of the Interior Wilbur leads off. BY
the time the series ends on July 4,
with Secretary of Labor Doak at the
microphone, every major problem FAC
ing the Hoover administration will have
been discussed. The use Of the air to
bring Uncle Sans business directly to
the peoples attention has the enthusi-
astic indorement of the President. For
years he has held that it is exactly the
sort of thing for which radio is de-
signed. The heads of the executive
departments themselves are keenly in
terested in the unique opportunity to
take the folks back home through the
inside of the Ship of State at this
vital juncture of national history.
X X X
When the Hon. Vincent Massey
former Canadian Minister to the United
States, quit his post in Washington a
year ago, ne expected he would shortly
be sent to London as Canadian high
commissioner, a blue ribbon appoint
ment. The accomplished young diplo-
mat did not reckon with impending
Canadian elections, which were about
- La. n~txr AIn1 7 how lie
Office. The result was that in the midst
of his preparations to go TO England
Mr. Massey suddenly found himself
statesman out Of a job. Prime Minister
Bennett handed over the London high
commissionership TO prominent Con-
sentative politician, former Premier
Ferguson of Ontario. The explanation
was that the Dominion'5 representative
in the Old country ought to be somebody
in close political sympathy with the
party in power at Ottawa. Washington
friends hear that Mr.. Massey, who Is
man of scholarly attainments, is slated
to succeed Sir Robert Falconer as pres
ident OF the University of Toronto.
New England has another Republican
candidate for the speakership OF the
House besides Representative TllSon OF
Connecticut. The latest aspirant is Rep
resentative Robert Luce of Waltham,
Mass. He makes the third fastener
who has his eyes on the gayel, the other
being Representative Smell, Republican,
of New York Supporters of Luce base
their hopes on the belief that neither
Tilson nor Smell will be able TO swing
the full G. o. P. strength, and that
therefore there's a good chance for a
compromise candidate from the Atlantic
seaboald A quiet canvass now under
way reveals that the Massachusetts man,
being the second choice of some mem
bers, might prove a dark horse satlsfac-
tory TO all groups. Luce Is one OF the
most cultured students Of government
IN Congress, and is perhaps the foremost
authority on parliamentary procedure.
x 4
Both heads of the Government
President Hoover and Vice President
| Curtis-will be on the once embattled
sell of Pennsylvania on Memorial day,
ing at Valley Forge, Mr. Curtis will hold
| forth at Gettysburg. Peace Is expected
to be their joint theme.
X X X X
In a speech last night at Philadelphia,
Huston Thompson OF Washington. for
mer chairman of the Federal Trade
| Commission, took direct issue with his
fellow Democrat John J. Raskob chair
man of the National Committee. on
economic issues. 1t is RaSkob's plan
| to have the Federal Trade Commission
rule in advance on projected industrial
mergers that arouses Thompson's oppo-
sition. Rsskob would have it so that
| in the Federal Trade Commission OK. d
plans submitted by big business, COM
bina ton might be formed without fear
Of criminal prosecution. THE trouble
with Mr.. Reskob's scheme" said
| Thompson, lis that irreparable damage
might be done to the public or COM
| petitor before the commission could
determine whether proposal or policy,
which had been approved. was going to
turn out so unfair or wrong as to merit
condemnation. Exactly that kind of a
situation was in the late Pierpont MGR
! gan'S mind in 1912 when he told SEN
ate committee that You can't unscram-
BILE that which has once been
scrambled"