Evening star., 1933-06-14

The London Economic Conference,
projected with high hopes and high ac-
claim, seems destined to 60 the way of
most of its predecessors of the recent
pasta plethora of wordy statements
and complete futility of measurable &C
complishments. Hopes for realization,
either at Geneva or London, of the
bright dreams cherished by the Roose-
welt administration but few short
weeks ago are all but abandoned. The
def1ation of conference hopes appears
to be worldwide. Premier Macdonald
calls for debt revision and settlements
as an indispensable prerequisite to any
agreements or understandings about
international finance and trade, spe-
ciflcally stabilization of exchange and
reciprocal tariffs. Secretary Hull, silent
on debts, speaks eloquently of a world
wide desire for an economic peace.
France, tariff truce to the contrary not
withstanding, slaps on an extra Is per
cent tariff boost against imports from
the U. S. A. A general default by our
foreign debtors of their war debt pay
ments appears to be right at hand. Mr.
Roosevelt seems in nowise disturbed.
He is engrossed with domestic problems
He Is bent on accomplishing industrial
recovery at home without reference to
what happens in London or elsewhere in
Europe.
A new voice-a square deal for the
little business man and the middle
sized business mans the mission of
the United States Board of Trade, with
newly opened Washington offices, and
with ex-senator Smith w. Brookhart
as general counsel and prime mover.
Charles W. Hunt, former chairman of
the Federal Trade Commission, is pres
ident. An active membership canvass
is under way. I'VE are not satisfied
with the attitude of the United States
Chamber of Commerce and Better
Business Bureaus and similar estab-
lished agencies" declares Mr.. Brook
hart. we want to reform the stock
exchange and the banking business.
We view the ups and downs in the
business cycle as wholly unnecessary
and due to bad business management.
Our organization stands for progressive
economics" Mr. Brookhart will COM
bine the management Of the United
States Board of Trade with his Gov
eminent job as foreign trade adviser
to the Federal Farm Administration.
,k x x
The purchase of the Washington Post
by Eugene Meyer Is the realization of
a long cherished ambition. The former
governor of the Federal Reserve Board
was ready to buy the newspaper four
years ago for a price five times as
much as his winning bid at the recent
receivership auction sale. His acquisi-
ton now assures an editorial policy
strongly Republican and emphatically
for sound finance, governmental and
private. Mrs. Meyer is the vice presi-
dent of the company organized to oper-
ate the paper, which may mean that
she will take an active part in its jour-
nalistic renaissance. She has a wealth
Of journalistic experience and training
to draw upon, gained in the days prior
to her marriage. In case Mrs. Meyer
takes the helm of the Post, the Capital
will have three rich and socially promi-
nent women in editorial roles-the
two others. Mrs. Eleanor Patterson and
Mrs. Evalyn Walsh Mclean. The lat
ter announces she is to launch her
own newspaper soon.
4
Bob Jackson of New Hampshire,
Mr.. Roosevelt's pre-convention New
England manager and secretary of the
Democratic National Committee, has
not yet received any appointment for
himself in the new administration.
Since the 4th of March his name has
not been often in print But he is in
Washington much of the time, and is
extremely active in behalf of his friends
and clients. A new and closer admin
istration contact is in prospect with
the report that his daughter, Mrs.
Sarah Coonley, recently divorced, is
to marry Forbes Morgan. Mr.. Morgan
is Mrs. Roosevelt's uncle He is also
director of personnel Of the Farm Ad-
ministration under Chairman Morgen-
thau, and in the dispensing of jobs in
this far-flung organization he is
potent figure.
n X
The Department Of Justice may or
may not put gold hoarders behind.