Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-03
Country Reserves Decision
On Tri p of American Mayor;

AS the group Of American mayors
returns from its tour of France. which
had been made on the invitation of
the people Of that country as an eX-
preston of their gratitude for hospi-
tally extended to the French aviators,
Coste and Bellonte. during their visit
to the United States, the comment of
the American press is mainly directed
against the speechmaking propensities
of the group. Some Journals feel.
however, that the criticism of the
mayors has been overdone Political
results Of the trip are suggested, es-
pecially in connection with James l..
Key, mayor of Atlanta, whose reported
anti-prohibition expressions have drawn
much comment and whose welcome by
his home city, with parade and cele-
bration. is deemed worthy of attention.
Excess in speechmaking, trait so
common in this country that it evokes
only a tolerant smile" according to
the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, "can
become real nuisance in foreign
countries. Apparently it did. The
goodwill visit, in any case, turned out
to be very much of an old-fashioned
junket. Now that it is over" remarks
the Bulletin, ''it is plain that the
Hon. Harry Mackey was well advised
when he found that the press of public
business gave him ample ground for
courteous declination of a well meant
invitation. Some Of the mayors who
went will be busy for some time with
alibis and explanations"
There were only two real speakers
in the crowd, it seems, Mayor Baker
OF Portland, Greg, elected chairman
OF the mayoralty delegation, and the
mayor OF Ell PaSo, Tex, who preferred
to keep STILL" records the Indianapolis
Star, with the statement that, accord
ing to the representative of its own
city appointed in place of its mayor,
there were "a hours of speeches made
on the tour In that event." concludes
the Star, 1.-THE mayors must have been
more than delighted to hear nothing
but the tapping waves on the home
American mayors on tour are not
bound by precedent, as the history of
the trip shows" states the San Fran
cisco Chronicle. That paper recalls
that "uneasiness was stirred by greatly
exaggerated reports that the right hand
of one of the mayors had refused to
lift an official glass, and that, to en-
phasize his displeasure, the chief exec
utive of Los Angeles had walked out on
the toast to the two Presidents" The
Chronicle finds that the mayor corrects
the Misrepresentation stating as to this
"At the Havre banquet he had eaten all
he wanted, listened to the speeches
and, feeling in need of little exercise,
took bit of walk to help settle his
dinner. Surely the French, who are a
polite people, would not deny him that
comfort" AS to Mayor Baker of the
oregon city, the Chronicle adds, "It
may be confidently stated that his de-
lay in coming home Is not due to any
which at once broke a precedent and
the traditional silence the French OBJ
serve at the tomb Of their Unknown
Soldier"
ut seems clear" remarks the Chat
tanooga Times, chat the mayors &C
quainted the French with Americas
greatest three industries - upholding
prohibition, criticizing prohibition and
making public speeches" The Times
recalls that Mayor Keys "heart was
troubled" on the return, because "he
had spoken with great candor about
prohibition. declaring that he believed
want it, but when he reached
Atlanta he was welcomed with whistles,
sirens and bands, and in the parade in
his honor marched the Sunday school
class of which he is teacher" The
Chattanooga paper interprets this as
seeming ito indicate that Atlanta
knows Mayor Key has the low-down on
prohibition" The Cleveland News con-
cludes that "the dry South may be a
misnomer," and contends that Mayor
Key deserves credit for his OPEN
mindedness." The Springfield Mass
Union thinks "his denunciation of the
dry law has tended to make him the
most distinguished member Of the may
ors' touring party and the only one so
far to be mentioned for elevation to the
second highest office in the gift of the
country"
X 4 4
"Wl,as a weird it il. to he r1Irei"
exclgims the Birmingham Eews. While