Evening star., 1933-08-04
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

No matter what the Hull truth may
be about Prof. Moley's Temporary de-
tachment from the State Department
he ought to eat up his new assignment
to make a survey Of the racketeerine
and kidnapping situation for President
Roosevelt. Criminology is Moleys pro-
fession. He calls himself Q professor
Of public law. He's been engaged on
crime surveys all Of his mature life. In
1926-27 he was research director of the
New York State Crime Commission
1t was during the course Of that work
that he first came under Mr.. Roose-
velts eye. Since then Moley has either
conducted or participated in crime sur
veys in Illinois, Missouri, Pennsylvania
and Virginia. In 1881 he was research
director Of the New York State Com
mission on Administration Of Justice.
Dr. Moley's publications include the
Cleveland Crime Survey" in 1922, and
a book on Politics and Criminal
Prosecution" published inI929. Prob
ably no man in the country Is 50 well
equipped to codify and coordinate all
and sundry connected with crime and
crime prevention.
4 + +
Speculation is bound to run riot as
to whether Moley, despite his oficial
retention as an Assistant Secretary OF
State, is on. the way out or not. In
light of late events in London, it's dihn-
cult to escape the conclusion that the
professors transfer from the State De-
partment Is one up for Secretary Hull,
4Ix Al ~
compromised by the presence in his
public estimation as President RooSe-
yelt,s closest confldante, Col. Howe
alone excepted. Moley's friends insist
that popular gossip, rather than actual
facts, has given him the extraordinary
White House status he has never had
or claimed. From 1882 campaign days
onward, Moley,s associates say his only
lob under F. D. R. has been that OF
uper-researcher. told of on occasions
to dig up material, give advice about IL,
and recommend men and measures, Just
as he Is now to do in connection with
crime. BY q coincidence, DR.. Moleys
wife was q born Dali, but not related,
as far as known, to the Presidents SON.
in-law, Curtis Dali.
Apropos the coal mine troubles In
Pennsylvania, chatter Is current 10
Washington to the effect that John l.
Lewis, president of the United Mine
Workers Of America, is being talked
about as, a possible successor to VIII
liam Green, president Of the American
Federation Of Labor. Most people IA
the know are disinclined to place much
credence In the story. Green's tri-
umphant reelection as head OF the
federation is looked upon as g GER
tainty at its forthcoming annual con-
vention here in October. He has been
jealous and effective in the guardian
ship Of organized labor's interests
is the trusted coadjutor Of Gen. john
son in all matters affecting industrial
workers.
Over at the State Department they've
long had the system of using "chits," of
which President Roosevelt habitually
avails himself-little memoranda on
which instructions can be hastily scrib-
bled, saving conversation and letters
There has just been dug up an inter-
esting chit dated 1890 bearing former
Secretary of State Stimson's initials
and the following legend: This IS q
long report and It Is submitted to the
Secretary for Sunday reading" Col
Sttmson returned the many -paged docu-
ment Of Undexsecretary Of State Cot
ton with chit reading: "Thts is not
Sunday"
Al Smith has Just canonized Mrs.
Charles II. Sabin Is the Joan Of Arc of
prohibition repeal. In the current New
Outlook Mr.. Smith says: When the
ideas Of the fanatics began to lose their
hold upon the women Of the country,
when courageous women like Mrs. Sabin
risked public condemnation hy attack
ing the whole theory Of the eighteenth
amendment, the drys, who had had