Evening star., 1933-03-13

Over the week end more or less cir
cumstantial reports fluttered through
the Capital that President Roosevelt
might unlimber the patronage big
stick and brandish it in the face OF
Democratic Senators who won't play
ball on the economy bill. Before in
auguration hints were heard that this
might happen, but F. D. r. had such
smooth sailing during his first six days
in Office that it didn't seem any such
necessity would arise. Then came Sat
urday's near revolt among House
Democrats on economy, and now
there's the certainty Of tussle IN the
Senate before the budget
measure can be enacted into law.
Whether the patronage club has been
held in reserve, to be welded over the
heads of recalcitrant Senators, or not.
it Is a fact that relatively few Federal
plums have so far been bestowed upon
the Democratic faithful. Jobs IN which
State political leaders are interested,
like United States judgeships, attor-
neyships, marshalships and postmaster
ships, departmental posts in Washing
ton, and places In the diplomatic serv-
ice. with few exceptions, are still to be
distributed. Applications have been
filed in stacks. But the President Is
heart-whole and fancy-free. 1t would
be in strict accord with the eternal Mt
ness of things If Democratic members
of Congress who desert the admin1stra-
ton at this critical hour run into tne
cold shoulder at the White House,
esueciaIly If they come on favor asking
missions.
Democratic Presidents seem to run
to men Of the pen for Ambassadors and
Ministers to represent the United states
abroad. In that respect Franklin
Roosevelt Is treading in the footsteps OF
Woodrow Wilson. Designation OF Rob-
ert w. Bingham Of Kentucky for Lon
don, Claude G. Bowers for Madrid and
Josephus Daniels for Mexico City indi-
Gates that the new President thinks
that diplomacy and Journalism nave
much in common. President wilson N
his day named as ENJOYS editors ana
writer's like Walter Hines Page. Thomas
Nelson Page, Robert Underwood Jonn-
Great Britain this country has ois-
patched literary men over long sue
cession of years, including such notables
as Edward Everett, John Lothrop MOI.
lev, George Bancroft. James Russell
Lowell. John Hay, Whitelaw Reid and
George Harvey.
Fate has brought responsibility and
opportunity to an able young Ameri-
can in the person Of F. G. Await, act
ing controller of the currency. "A
World War veteran and MARYLAND law
yer, he was deputy controller unoer
John w. Pole, who retired from the
controllership last September to enter
private business in West Virginia: Pre-
vious to that service, Mr.. Await was
senior legal counselor to S. Parker Gill
bert when the latter was Undersecretary
of the Treasury. Still on the sunny
side of 40. the acting controller now
shares actively In the dictatorship which
the President and the Secretary OF the
Treasury for the indefinite future Will
continue to WELD over the banking sit
uation. Mr.. Await has wide acquaint-
ance among the bankers OF the coun-
try, and IS highly regarded by them.
** **
News filters down from New York
that Herbert Hoover may succeed the
late Calvin Coolidge as director
of the New York Life Insurance co.
One of the former Presidents visitors
In Manhattan on Saturday was Thomas
A. Buckner, president OF the company.
II the Californian were to join the
board and take his job as conscien-
tiously as Mr.. Coolidge did, 1t would
require his frequent presence In Man
haitian. All the intimations left be-
hind at washington convinced his
friends that Mr.. Hoover intends pitch
ing his tent on the Pacific Coast.
~ X Il +
I Provided he adheres to present plans,
the Nations radio audience will listen
. frequently to President Roosevelt. His
heua6ca& IT evening", a. IL hankml