Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-09-23

President Roosevelt's plans to leave
Washington for several weeks are re-
garded in all ofncial quarters, especially
foreign diplomatic circles, as proof posi-
tive that the United States Is not going
to be embroiled in any European or
African war fracas. Were there any
real prospect of such complications, it's
altogether improbable that the COM
mander in chief Of Uncle Sans Army,
Navy and foreign relations would absent
himself from the White House for any
protracted period. BY every available
sign, American interest in the Italo-
Ethiopian conflict or associated war
events will be confined exclusively to
moral influence on behalf Of peace. If
and when further demonstrations Of
Americas anxiety for a bloodless settle
ment are desirable, they will be made,
but they are not likely to take any other
form than the platonic generalities in
which President Roosevelt and Secretary
Hull have hitherto INDUCED. Rugged
and uncompromiSing neutrality is WASH
ingtonis watchword. There will be no
departure from 1t except under grave
circumstances directly affecting Amer
lean interests. Few hereabouts look for
any developments answering that de-
Scription.
These are times which must remind
Mr.. Roosevelt forcibly of his service in
the Navy Department in 1914-l5-16.
Those were the days, preceding our entry
into the World War, when the United
States faced the ever-present possibility
Of involvement because OF our insistence
upon neutral shipping rights. The
recent action Of Congress in imposing
q mandatory embargo on sale of 'im-
plements of war" to belligerents makes
the situation considerably different than
it was 20 years ago, but until 'imple-
ments Of war" are definitely defined
whether they include such things as
wheat, cotton, copper, oil and foodstuffs
there's bound to be a question of just
what and what not Americans are at
liberty to export to warning nations
overseas. With hostilities confined to
Italy and Ethiopia, the contraband prob
lem would present few difficulties. 1t
would be horse Of different color If
Great Britain and her navy should
have stake in the game.
- r
Although there is lingering curiosity
about what happens in Louisiana, in
succession to the Kingfish Dictatorship,
1t is an amazing thing that popular in
terest in Huey Long and his fate has
already practically subsidized, despite the
tremendous hullabaloo stirred up by his
assassination. Sic transit gloria mundi!
Despite efforts Of some Of Longs hench-
men to keep the share the wealth move
ment going concern, political opinion
In Washington is that, deprived of
Longs dynamic leadership, the crusade
is not destined for perpetuation on any
noteworthy scale, at least as q Nation
wide proposition. As q menace to the
Roosevelt cause, Longism is now gen.
orally regarded as dead as its fallen
chieftain.
Republicans undoubtedly feel that
they're getting lucky break with Gen.
Hugh Johnson's plans to deliver series
Of speeches in the West, assailing the
New Deal. Despite its friendly criti-
cism' character and the generals deep
personal devotion to the President, poll
iticians cannot figure out how the john
son expedition can result in anything
but damage to the Roosevelt cause.
The former N. r. A. boss is Democrat
and frequently has been credited with
political ambitions. Some authorities
think there's just the barest possibility