Evening star., 1934-04-13
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE

Reaction In Washington about the
Writ investigation depends upon the
political complexion Of the quarter
in which it's sought. Democrats are
practically a unit in declaring that
the Gary educators story proved to
be dud, lop, a fiivver, bunk and
all the other modernistic synonyms
for dascc. Republicans are no less
united in asserting that Dr. Writ gave
q creditable and convincing account
Of himself, showed up" his censor
ious inquisitors, and would have done
even better If the Democratic ma
jority of the House Committee had
not applied the gag. Democrats con-
slider that the whole episode has
blown up and that any subsequent
developments will only result in big
ger and better laughs. Many of them,
especially in the Senate, rue the day
they decided to dignity DR.. Writ with
attention. Republicans hold that
while Writ has not conclusively
shown that the new deal has gone
Communist, he did elucidate un-
mistakable trends"
That DR.. Writ has concentrated
the country's attention on the "Roose-
welt revolution" and dramatized the
issue cannot be doubted. No matter
how thoroughly his hearsay charges
are exploded, they have set the
country to cogitating, and the train
Of thought thus started will 60 on.
If that was the Hoosier school,
masters purpose, 1t unquestionably
has been accomplished. The incident
will probably cool the ardor Of new
deal radical satellites" and at
least curb their conversational ex-
uberance. Nobody expects any poll
cies to be scrapped or any heads to
roll in the sand. But it is FORE
gone conclusion that the Writ affair
will ramify into the 1884 Congress
sional campaign and be exploited by
the Republicans to the uttermost
limit. They feel the Democrats have
presented the G. o. p. with a we'll
advertised issue.
No more sumptuous diplomatic en-
tertainment has ever been witnessed
in Washington than the Soviet house.
warming reception. Jaded Capital
society was dazzled by its regal
splendor. It sets a high mark for
Uncle Sam to shoot at II we plan to
60 in for commensurate glamour at
Moscow, where million dollars Is to
be spent in constructing and equip
ping an American embassy. The sin
rr1- 90 ~ x,fe Tho
red, gold and crystal effects of the
gittering Soviet embassy was supplied
by former Senator Smith w. Brook
hart of Iowa. who turned up in his
sack suit working clothes, true to his
tradition of never affecting evening
dress. First Assistant Secretary Of
the Interior Theodore A. Walters. who
halls from Idaho, was accompanied
to the party, as usual, by his 10
gallon hat. A conspicuously missing
invited guest was Senator Borah,
father Of Soviet recognition. He was
represented by Mrs. Borah and by
his secretarial adjutant, Miss Cora
Rubin, who visited Russia two years
ago. A United States Senator Who
was among the gala throng said. as
he surveyed the scene in the en-
bassy ball room, "If this is Com
munism, I'm for it,
X \ \
Representative George Holden Tink-
ham, Republican, of Massachusetts,
one Of the only two Republicans in
Congress who voted to sustain the
Roosevelt veto on veterans and gov
ernment pay, has disclosed that he
acted in accordance with a principle
consistently followed during his 20
years in Congress Mr.. Tinkham makes
it rule never to vote in favor Of
overriding q presidential veto. He may
hold . unique record en- Capitol Hill.