Evening star., 1935-10-18
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC/UILLTAN VILE.

Our politicians are X-raying the recent
Canadian elections in order to discover
whether the results suggest anything,
as far as 1896 is concerned. The in
triguing point is that Canadian voters.
who ouSted an administration in 1880
on the depression issue and installed a
New Deal government, have now re-
instated the old regime. Will history
repeat itself here next year? That's
the question: The respective Canadian
and American issues involved are, of
course not identical. But Canadians are
like ourselves in so many things. with
kindred economic problems. racial mix
lures and general political outlook, that
men wonder If it may not come to pass
that the U. S. A. will do year hence
what Canada did this week, viz, return
to the allegiance it previously renounced.
and for the same reason-diSSatiSfac-
tion with New Deal. Republicans pro-
fess to think such a prospect grows
stronger every day. Democrats contend
that Canadas political somersault has
about as much to do with what's going
to happen in this country as the rainy
season in Ethiopia. One thing occurred
in the Dominion that's likely to find
independent party movements proved
q complete flop.
Col. Edward NJ Houses recent radio
talk is widely interpreted as an appeal
to the United States to join the League
of Nations, in order to make anti-Italian
sanctions 100 per cent effective" The
broadcast recalls the proposal, once
eSpoused by Woodrow Wilson's wartime
adviser, that this country should become
'an associate member" of the League,
in order to do its part on just such occa-
sions as the present Effort to stop blood
shed in Africa. In view of the peril of
Anglo italian conflict and general Euro
pean war, interest attaches to Col.
Houses revelation that President Wilson,
foreseeing the World War, was arranging
for a peace mission to Europe when the
Archduke Francis Ferdinand was
assassinated in 1914.
Assistant Attorney General Frank j.
Wideman has just made an interesting
record. In June, he argued the last
case before the Supreme Court in its
old quarters. 1t was the Sandy Fox
suit, involving the Governments right
to tax Uncle Sans Indian wards, and
affected many who have grown rich out
of OIL The court decided for the Gov
ernment. The other day Mr.. Wideman
argued the first case heard by the Su-
preme Court in its new quarters. 1t
involved the question whether taxes on
alimony are collectable from the husband
or the wife. The Government holds
that this time 1t is the man who should
pay. Mr. Wideman, who heads the tax
division of the Justice Department, has
dealt with some 1000 injunction suits
relating to processing taxes. He is now
supervising preparation of the brief in
the Hoosac Mills case, which will pro-
duce a Supreme Court decision as to
the constitutionality of A. A. A. Another
record chalked up by Attorney General
Cummings able young assistant is that
Wideman, who halls from Florida, has
argued personally for the Government
in every one of the Federal appellate
courts of the Union.
If Judge Robert E. Healy Of the Sc
curities and Exchange Commission ever
wants to break into the movies, he
should find an opening awaiting him
either as understudy for or successor
to Lewis Stone, dignif1ed and popular
character actor. At least. the judge
and the Hollywood star look almost
enough alike to be twins. Mr.. Healy,
before achieving a national reputation
as general counsel of the Federal Trade
Commission, was judge Of the United
States Court of Customs Appeals and
later q member of the Vermont Supreme
Court bench. He is Q native Of the
famed Revolutionary community Of
Bennington.