Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-08

One Of the dearest of G. o. p. wishes
for 1892 has been that the Democrats
might hold their national convention
before the Republicans have theirs.
Since time innmemorial the Republicans
have met first. Particularly on account
of prohibition, the G. o. P. would ike
the opposition to nail its colorS to the
mast this time before it's necessary
for the Republicans to do so. Until this
week there seemed no hope that so
great a boon could or would befan the
organization which is preparing to re-
nominate Herbert Hoover for President.
Now comes John j. Raskob and does
something that the Republicans regard
as the next best thing to prior Demo-
cratic convention action on prohlbl-
ton. He proposes, more than 1uil
year before that merry war, 10 commit
party leaders to stand on the liquor
issue It is reasonable for the pluto
cratic Democratic chieftain to expect
that as 90 the national committeeman
and women so goes the convention.
Hence, therefore and ergo, the Repup-
licans are chuckling that they won't
need to wait now to see what tnelr
friends the enemy do about booze. Ihey
can proceed to fashion their own
liquor plank in sweet leisure ana WIN
the priceless advantage OF knowing
the foes position. Cynics already are
chortling that the donkey, as usual,
is doing exactly what the elephant
wants-the wrong thing at the rlgnt
time.
At the very moment Chairman Ras-
kob initiated the poll OF the National
Committee on his home rule" pronlpl-
ton plan. the first formal inkling OF
high Republican strategy was 1orth-
coming. Up in New Hampshire, WIFI
out rhyme or reason, Senator George n.
Moses burst into Nationwide print WIN
an interview designating Al smith as
"the most formidable force within the
Democratic party" 1t will be Smith at
the head of the ticket In 1882, opines
the crafty President pro tempore OF the
Senate. or somebody put there at ms
behest. No cat is let out OF the oag IN
saving that It would realize the Repub-
licans' fondest dream to have Smltn
pttted against Hoover next year. Iney
do not think the New Yorker would
make quite as lamentable showing IN
the electoral college as he did IN 1923
But they are Serenely con1loenI ne
would trail by minority so heavy that
the G. o. P.'s troubles would cease with
fhe hour of Smiths denomination.
When a Republican of the New Hamp-
shire Senator's authority and craftlness
comes out for AL Smith as the Demo-
Gratis best bet. they're justified IN be-
waring of even Moses bearing sucn
gifts.
William r. Castle. jr., is due in Wash
ineton this week to assume his new
duties as Undersecretary OF State. Sec
rotary Stimson's new right bower re-
ceiyed the news of his appointment on
x.yl3iJ
San Francisco to visit the bedside OF
sister who was taken critically Ill. Har-
ward now rules almost supreme at the
State Department. Both StimSon ana
Castle own it as alma mater. The Sec
retary of State has a dual allegiance,
being a Yale A. B. in addition to a
Harvard Law School LII. b. So mas MS
special assistant, Allen T. klotS lYale,
09: Harvard Law, '13). The Crimson
waves all through our ministry of foreign
affairs Tied" Mariner, who may be-
come Castles successor as an Assistant
Secretary of State, is, like him, Cam
bridge alumnuS and one-ttme instructor :
there. Wallace S. Murray, chief OF the |
Near Eastern American division, Is Har- |
ward. 10, and Robert F. Kelley, chief OF
the Eastern European division, Harvard,
is.
Since Empress Nagako Of Japan re-
Gently bore her exalted consort, En- |
peror Hirohito, a fourth successive |
daughter within seven years, the Japa- |
neSe embassy at Washington has been !
deluged with communications from
American irth-determination" ex- |
perts. Sure-flre ways and means of |
realizing Nippon's yearning hopes for |
an heir to its ancient throne have been |
submitted Thus ian the very diplo- |
matte pouch which the accomplished |
Ambassador Dubuchi forwards to Toxic |
from week to week has not been bur-
dened with any of these Yankee sug~
aeetions for the dara nese tmneE ahatorkl