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

| If anything were needed to Justify
Charles Evans Hughes right to be
| called the biggest man in the country,
his presence at yesterdays Woodrow
Wilson memorial meeting In Washing
ton should suffice. The Capital in
years has known no finer act of politi-
cal generosity and craftsmanship. The
| Chief Justices attendance was COM
plete surprise to the organizers of the
meeting. He came merely in response
| TO the notice that the memorial -func-
ton was open to the public. Probably
Hughes intended not only to pay
tribute to the memory Of the man who
defeated him for the presidency in 1915,
but also to honor a one-time member
OF the Supreme Court, John H. Clarke,
who was the speaker of the day. The
other justices accompanied Hughes to
the Wilson meeting-Butler and Van
Devanter-all three of them, RepubH-
cans. The Chief Justice, who is about
to celebrate his first anniversary on
the woolsack, radiates invincibly good
health and spirits. There was no trace
OF remorSe in his bearing on Sunday
afternoon, when he heard DR.. Clarke
give him (Hughes), rather than Hard
ing, chief credit for first submitting the
World Court protocol to the Senate in
1928.
No single job he's had to give since
becoming President outStrips in i'm
portance the one which Mr.. Hoover now
has to f1ll-the place just vacated by
George Akerson. Otficially, the post is
known as assistant to the President"
Lawrence Richey is special assistant"
Walter Newton Is secretary to the
President" and French Strother Is lad
ministratiYe assistant" The berth which
hna a., H.
secretarial position in more respects
than its mere rank. The man who
occupies it can come pretty close to
making or breaking his chief. Not only
is he responsible for White House press
relations, but he is the Presidents first
line Of defense against an importunate
public in general. Almost literally, the
assistant to the President must be capa-
BILE of being all things to all men. He
has to know how to refuse a caller a
favor and send him away smiling. He
must never say yes when he should say
no, and vice versa. He Is often keeper
of the Executive conscience What
Hoover Is looking for is a man with
the wisdom of Solomon and the virtues
Of the saints. .....
Washington's political phrasemakers
have just coined a pair Of new ones.
4llc spun II bLlClL ePAI4lGL III
the tribunal into which the Senate
balks at taking the United States
and 1.-The spearless leader" is their slam
at a certain celebrated Progressive OF
shaggy name and DemoSthenian tongue.
< y
Mobilization of public opinion" is
the Hoover method for stopping threat
ened war anywhere in the world. The
railroad brotherhoods, which oppose the
proposed big four" consolidation of
Eastern lines, purpose invoking the
same idea for derailing the merger.
Their spokesman say that aroused pub
lie opinion in the Northwest Sidetracked
the projected Great Northern Northern
Pacific consolidation. What rail labor
evidently has up the sleeve Of its jump
ers is to stir up the country along SINH
lar lines with respect to the Atterbury-
Crowley Willard-Van Sweringen pool.
The brotherhoods, Of course, will not
have the complete right of way. There's
mass of persuasive argument to be
adduced in favor of the consolidation.
| It's supporters-to use an appropriate
| figure of speech-will not be found
asleep at the switch.
| y X
From the sunny South a Democratic
member of Congress was recently re-
elected for another team by the biggest
IIldJOIlIy ever ildu. WIldL NSIc JOuI
issues?" Capitol cloak room colleague
asked. THE three DIS" the man from
Dixie replied. DE tariff, de Priest and
depression"
| n II Il
The Federal Farm Board recently
asked agricultural experiment stations
to report on practical experiences in
feeding wheat to cattle, hogs, sheep,
horses and chickens" Former Gov.
Sam" McKelvie of Nebraska, wheat
member, makes the all-star contribution
to the symposium. 1t gets the place of
honor as a predatory note in the report,
| just fresh from the Government Print
ing Office. Here 1t is:
MIR. COOLIDGE EATS WHEAT"
when the President and Mrs. Cool
idge were summering in the Black
| Hills. Mrs. McKelvie and were over
| night guests at the Summer White
House. At breakfast a food was
served that l very much enjoyed.
The President said he ate it Fegu-
larry for breakfast, and added:
eYk a uadA nf ~ naxtR az Whaat