Evening star., 1935-09-20
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM UILE.

Whether he is doing so deliberately or
not, Herbert Hoover continues to cut the
figure of a man who wishes to be re-
garded at least as a receptive candidate
for denomination. Those who persist
emily aScribe this attitude to the Cali
fornian are strengthened anew in their
belief by his Constitution day address
at San Diego. In any event. the former
President is omitting no opportunity to
keep himself in the limelight. Nothing
savoring of an organized Hoover move
ment is visible, BUT that the sage of
Palo Alto is keeping his fences in repair
through far-flung system of grapevine
contacts is generally taken for granted.
Some of his friends profess confidence
that when the dozen-odd ''poSSibiliteS"
now out in front have run their conven-
ton course the Chief will loom either
as the logical choice or as dictator of the
nomination. Mr.. Hoover is unqueStion-
ably the Democrats favorite son for the
Republican leadership in 1886. They
say he is so indelibly tarred with the de-
preston brush that he would be far and
away the easiest man for Roosevelt to
beat.
OSIldIOI oI6lWeT Ot foIeSOIl
continues to find favor as a Republican
white hope. Of all the Constitution day
spellbinderS who lambasted the New
Deal, the Oregonian delivered the most
violent attack. He drew a parallel be-
tween RooSeveltiSm and the Long die
tatorship in Louisiana, declaring that the
comparison on the whole is favorable to
the latter "The New Deal excels,"
Steiwer said. sin subtle method and fur
tive approach, but lacks the candor, con-
siStent purpose and fulfillment of prom
ises which characterized the Long
regime" One of the lighter notes struck
on Constitution day was the suggestion
of Mrs. Robert Lincoln Hoyal of Arizona,
new director of Republican NomenS
activities, that the presidential theme
song of Happy Days Are Here Again"
ought to be replaced by I'm Forever
Blowing Bubbles"
+
Primary elections on September II
were a Waterloo not only for Democratic
Gov. Earle of Pennsylvania, but also for
neighboring Republican Gov. Hoffman of
New Jersey. Senator Joe Guffey's CO.
boss was overwhelmingly defeated in his
effort to bring about a constitutional
New Deal" for Penn State. He had
assailed the existing keystone conSti-
tuition, in President RooSevelt's idiom,
"as relic of horse and buggy days" By
the time all returns are in, it's expected
that Earle's plan for calling constitu
ton revision convention will have been
rejected by 250,000 votes. In Jersey, Gov.
Hoffman suffered a rebuff in the vote
which foreShadowS that the Legislature
will repeal the per cent sales tax re-
Gently. enacted under his leadership.
Apparently the only chance of saving
the tax is in the Senate, where the Gov
ernor may be able by vote or two to
prevent the overriding of repeal veto.
The sales tax setback is not designed
to bolster Gov. Hoffmans presidential
availability, though New Jersey doubtless
will present him as her favorite son.
Ocean County, N. j., nominated Ulysses
S. Grant for freeholder on the Demo-
cratic ticket.
As evidence of unremitting devotion
to his job, it is related that Gen. Douglas
Macarthur, who will quit as chief OF
staff in December, to become military
adviser to the new Philippines govern
ment, has served nearly five years without
4 single leave of absence. He has left