Evening star., 1932-04-20
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Except within the ranks of his boost
erS, like Senator's Wheeler of Montana
and Dill of Washington, Gov. Roosevelt s
St. Paul speech has visibly failed tc
stir the emotions or arouse the enthuSi-
asm of political Washington. For the
most part it is assailed as a galaxy OF
| glittering generalities and pious plati-
| tudes. The principal criticism directed
at the St. Paul manifesto is that 1t falls
to define in concrete terms just exactly
| what Roosevelt would do to save the
country. The Governor also is not
| thought to have struck back at Al
Smith with the vigor that was called
| for. Smith adherents in MaSsachu-
sets and Pennsylvania, in which
respective States an acid test OF
strength between the rival New York
| ers is imminent at the primaries
are confident that Roosevelts first
real bid for the country's support
has harmed rather than helped him
They think the St Paul "dud," as the
Governors speech is being called. will
cost him thousands of votes in the Bay
and Keystone States next week. Be
cause of his failure to trot out brass
| tack remedies for the national evils al
which he tiltS, Roosevelt undoubtedly
diSappointS men and women who were
| ready to become his admirers. If he Is
presidential timber, these are now say
| ing, he has yet to prove it.
x X x
In the course of a flying trip to Man
| haitian Island this observer cleaned ink
| lings of an anti-RooSevelt pilot" in
! which Judge Seabury, counsel to the
legislative committee of inquiry, is as
! signed the villains role. Seabury for
some time has been engaged in secret
| investigation of Mayor Jimmie Wal
ker affairs. The story now going the
New York rounds is that about a week
! before the Democratic National Con-
ventiOn Seabury is coming out with his
report on the mayor, which will wind
, up with a peremptOry demand on Gov
| Roosevelt for Walkers removal from
office The idea is to hoist the Cover
! nor onto the horns of a first-class di-
/ lenma. If he attempts to give Jimmie
| the air, Roosevelt runs headlong into
| trouble with Tammany Hall, with pos
sible loss of the New York delegation
! at Chicago. or, If nominated notWith-
| standing. with loss of the Empire States
| vote in November through Tammany
| knitting. If the Governor refuses tC
move against the mayor he risks being
pilloried before the country as tool OF
! the tiger Just in whose interests Sea
| bury would spring a Machiavellian plot
| like this is obscure. He is credited with
q presidential bee of his own.
| Senator Borah's reputed intention to
do battle at the Republican Convention
! in Chicago as an opponent Of prohibi-
! ton referendum plank conjures up the
| welcome prospect of some genuine ora
tory. Idaho's biggest potato is at his
F., forensic best when pleading a moral
cause. In such a forum as the Ma
tional Convention Big Bill would play
with telling effect on all the stops in
! his silver-toned organ. His friends say
| he relishes the opportunity with gusto
Here's hoping he gets it. The big quad
rennial party conclaves in contempo-
rary times, with the exception of mo-
I mentS at the Democratic fracas In
Madison Square Garden in 1924, were
mostly marked by dullness. Borah
! standing up for the water wagon. in
Ajaxlike defiance of the wet lightning
will be worth travelling miles to hear.
u
Henry W. Taft, New York lawyel
! and brother of the late President anc
/ Chief Justice of the United States, il
the author of new book designed Il
secure a squarer deal for Japan il
| American public opinion. It's entitled
Japan and America: A Journey ant
a Political Survey" The United State
Senate comes in for drubbing at tn