Evening star., 1932-02-01
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS

Gov Franklin D. Roosevelt of New
York Is so far out in front now in
the race for the Democratic presi-
Dental nomination that few observers
see much chance of his being denied
the prize. The Garner presidential
boomlet Is being carefully nursed and
has interesting possibilities, but by it
sell VIII not be big enough soon enough
to stop Roosevelt. Newton D. Baker
has done an amazing back track on
the League of Nations question, Great
ing widespread inference that he is
willing to be drafted despite his out
ward detachment. Ritchie of Mary
land seems to have hosts of friends
everywhere, but all too few convention
delegates in sight. Al Smith continues
in the role Of the great question mark.
and by his reticence and his bearing
creates the impression that he secretly
coyets second try at the presidency.
The South, under the implied threat
OF the Smith candidacy, is rushing to
the Roosevelt bandwagon, fearful that
If they don't put Roosevelt over they
may get Smith as the Democratic
standard bearer
x
Sooner OF later the wearer Of the
brown derby will be compelled by cir
clare himself in the presidential race.
and maybe driven to come out openly
for Smith delegates II later. it is
likely to be too late to halt Roosevelt.
In the opinion Of many of the political
bystanderS there is still chance. how
ever, that If Smith goes into the pre-
convention campaign in big way he
may corral enough delegates in the
North and East and Garner in the
South and West. so that between them
they can prevent Roosevelts nomina-
ton. If the latter does win it and
becomes Mr.. Hoover's opponent in the
campaign, the Presidents friends and
managers are prone to view that event.
uality as lucky break for Mr.. Hoover
Roosevelt Is the one Democratic presi-
Dental possibility in sight whom the
Hoover high command are supremely
confident the Republican nominee can
defeat.
A battle royal between Col William
j. Donovan, former assistant to the
Attorney General, and now engaged in
private law practice, and his successor
in the Department of Justice, John
Lord OBrian, impends in consequence
Of the demand of the Department Of
Justice that the bituminous coal opera
tors halt their plans for the creation
Of a general sales agency for the CO.
operative marketing Of their coal, and
the determination of the operators to
go ahead with their program. Col.
Donovan as counsel for the operators
passed on their plans and oked them
as not in violation Of the antitrust
laws. Mr.. O'Brian has served notice
that the department holds contrary
view and regards the Donovan -vised
plan as clearly Illegal. A test case is
to be brought and the issue threShed
out with an appeal to the Supreme
Court as the final arbiter. Donovan
and o'Brian will cross swords then,
with both supremely confident of VIC
tory.
Representative Willis c. Hawley is on
the defensive with his constituents back
home in Oregon all on account of a
new overcoat which the veteran Re
publican stalwart purchased in his
home town Of Salem this Autumn pre-
paratory to his journey to Washington.
The Salem merchant mentioned MFR.
Hawleys purchase to the Portland
Greg, house that supplied the coat.
The latter wrote Hawley for testi-
monial and he responded with a glow
ing letter in which he declared the
overcoat was the finest that he had
ever worn or ever seen, that he espe-
cially liked its fine texture, fine work
manship and fine fit. This letter was
promptly published by the wholesale
clothing house, together with the in
formation that the Hawley overcoat was
one of their exceedingly modish i'm
ported English fabric and English tailor
ed coats. Hawleys political enemies
pounced upon this with glee and are
riding him hard, for Mr. Hawley, as
chairman of the House Ways and Means
Committee, was co-author of the
famous Smoot -Hawley tariff bill, and
If any member of Congress has excelled
the Oregonian in championship of the
cause of the domestic producer and de-
nouncement of the iniquities Of foreign
goods in our home markets, his identity
Is unknown.
The prayers offered daily by the Rev:
James Shera Montgomery, chaplain OF