Evening star., 1932-05-18
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

1t will be denied in every quarter
qualified to know, but the most circum-
stantial reports circulate that by Mid
summer something resembling a coali-
ton government, with far-reaching
powers, will be formed at Washington
to take command Of the situation after
Congress adjourns. The scheme calls
for a non-partisan rather than a bi-
partisan set-up of a dozen or more key
men, headed by the President and
clothed with emergency powers similar
to those vested in the wartime Council
OF National Defense. In this connec-
ton 1t Is recalled that Mr.. Hoover last
week publicly advocated the use in the
present national crisis of the same sort
of emergency powers" employed to
win the war. The suggested coalition
government, 1t is said would be a
crisis cabinet" of all the talentS-in-
cluding political, financial, industrial.
agricultural and labor leaders Their
purpose would be to advise the admin
istration and to exercise certain execu-
tive functions on behalf of their re-
spective interests. Cabinet officers
would continue to carry on, except that
their orders, under the new arrange
ment. would come from the coalition
group. An insider, who appears to be
informed Of the project, says that any
thing savoring of a dictatorship
would be avoided, but that many of
the practical merits of dictatorship
would be obtained-principally prompt
action on needed occasions.
X x x
Immediately the news of Owen D.
Young'S remuneration of Democratic
dark horse honOrs percolated through
the Capital rumOr associated his action
with the thought that the General Elec-
trio chairman would be one of the first
men invited into crisis cabinet" by
President Hoover. The other, and far
more common, thought about Mr..
Young's choice not to run is that New
ton D. Baker now has a clear path to
the winning post, if a dark horse is to
capture the Democratic derby Still
one more idea churned to the surface
by the New Workers. self-sacrifice Is
that Mr.. Baker. If he is equally COY,
now has a chance TO emulate another
distinguished Ohioan, Gen. William
Tecumseh Sherman, who said on a
historic occasion when there was talk
of drafting him for the presidency: Il
will not accept If nominated, or serve
If elected"
X x
First in the field with a chapter-and-
verse forecast of the November election
Is that SCARED and seasoned political
Wiseacre, c. BaScOm Slemp, Republican
national committeeman for Virginia.
President Coolidge's first White House
secretary calculates that there are 288
electoral college votes reasonably sure
for Hoover" while the maximum con-
ceded to any Democratic opponent is
243. Mr.. Slemp figures that the Demo-
Gratis can carry New York. Massachu-
sets. the Solid South and the border
States of Kentucky, Missouri, TenneS-
see. Oklahoma and Arizona. with Mon
tana and Nevada thrown in for good
measure, and still lose The Virginian' S
288 votes for Hoover include Maine
New Hampshire, Vermont, Ccnnecti-
cut, Rhode Island. New Jersey, Penn
sylvania, Delaware. West Virginia, Ohio
Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota
Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska
North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho
Washington, Oregon, wyoming. Utah
| Colorado, California and New Mexico.
+ X X
If the circus crowds that filled every
| nook and Granny under the big top il
Washington this week are any sign OF
the times, there's no such word as de-
preston in the lexicon hereabouts. The
showmen tell you that so far this sea-
son business has been astonishingly
good. 2he greatest circus On earth