Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-04
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

asset" and do the wrong thing at the
right time. If prohibition divides the
@. o. P, 1t Ia quite as capable, as this
weeks events in Washington may show
Of cleaving the opposition. All in all
the Californian enters upon the crucial
second half of his term stout-hearted
He spent the first half digging in and
presents the aspect Of man ready now
for the real tug Of war.
Unquestionably Mr.. Hoover's ap-
pointmentS, broadly speaking, have
not come up to expectations. Sold
and oversold-to the country as SUI
perman in 1923, hope ran high that
Hoover administration would be con-
spicuous for the shining lights he
would put in high places. Few will
claim that there has been any such
dazzling array. But no consideration
of President Hoovers appointments
would be fair or complete without
Stressing a point that gives him con-
slant concern-the growing unwilling
ness of good men to risk hard-earned
regulations by submitting to the at
tacks which Turk in ambush for public
servants at Washington. Times with
out number men whom Hoover sought
to induce to take Federal Office have
refused his invitation on the frank
ground of their reluctance to face the
political gunner" on the Potomac.
In scores of notable cases the Presi-
dent has not appointed the men he
preferred, but the only ones he could
get.
Andrew w. Mellon ends today 10
consecutive years as Secretary of the
Treasury record that has not been
equaled by any cabinet officer for more
than 100 years. No occupant of the
Secretary of the Treasury, ever held
it approximately as long as Mellon.
Gallatin functioned continuously from
May IA, 1901, throughout the two JEFF
ferson administrations and for nearly
five years of the succeeding Madison
nistration-altogether a period of
roundly 13 years. Mr.. Mellon is thus
within three years of the Gallatin rec
ord. Hale and vigorous in the early
seventies, the Pittsburgher gives no
sign OF either reason or desire to quit.
He walks to and from his work He
likes dining out and meeting people.
He loves his paintings far more than
his millions. He wants to live long
enough to see the new and magnificent
Washington a thing in being.
+ 4
Representative Henry Allen Cooper,
beloved father of the House, who has
Just left the scene he so long adorned,
had two absorbing hobbies in life
Fighting Bob" La Toilette and music.
Only his intimates knew Of Cooper
fcndness for the piano and his skill as
a player. Those who were privileged to
see the noblest Wisconsin Roman of
them all at Cleveland in 1924 will never
forget the dramatic figure he cut when
he rose, like Ajax defying the lightning,
to nominate La Toilette for the presi-
dency. The Coolidge controlled multitude
began by Kissing and hooting Cooper,
but. as he stood his ground unflinch-
ingly and the limelight chisled his
commanding figure in cleaning relief,
the crowd that came to scott stayed to
cheer, and the old Badger patriarch
took his seat amid a hurricane of ac-
claim. Dean of the House Foreign At
fairs Committee, Cooper'S counsel will be
especially missed in that important
body.
If Senator Caraway, Democrat, of
Arkansas, terror of all congressional
evil-doers, we're less modest in his Con-
eressional Directory autobiography ct.
H. Caraway, Democrat, Jonesboro," is
all 1t says), he would doubtless point
with pride to the fact that both of his
sons have been educated by Uncle Sam.
The elder, Paul W. Caraway, was grad
uated at the Military Academy with
the West Point class of 1929, and is now
embarked upon a promising career in
the Army. The younger son, Forrest
Caraway, is a senior at West Point and
will be graduated with the class OF 1881
in June. Neither of the Senator's sons
received the Academy appointment
from his father, but both apparently in
herited their warrior blood from him.
(Copyryaht, 1881