Evening star., 1936-12-09
WASHINGTON, OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

It's long. long way to Tipperary, but
Republican leaders are already scratch
ing their heads over the burning issue
of who is to lead the elephant out of
the wilderness in 1910. That dilemma
will be out in front. though not openly
discussed, when the national committee
meets at Chicago on December II to
decide Chairman Hamilton's fate, and
again when party magnates foregather
in Washington four days later during
Gov. Landon's presence in the Capital.
Republicans concede their immediate
need is to formulate future policy at
least in broad outline-to decide whether
1t should adhere to the conservatism of
the past or be li5eralized to match the
needs of the era typified by the New
Deal. Whatever the trend, it's agreed
that no unnecessary time should be lost
in picking leader capable of mobilizing
public sentiment in the name of the
100000 men and women who cast
Republican ballots in November. Until
such man is found, G. o. P. supporters
fear the party will founder and drift
hopelessly, while laboring under the dual
handicap of lacking both a destination
and a pilot.
Admission Is universal that in this new
Winter OF its discomfort the Republican
party is without q pre-eminently out
standing personality of presidential pro-
portions, with the single exception of
Senator Vandenberg of Michigan. In
consequence, certain Republican eyes
turn once again to the Supreme Court,
in the direction of either Justice Roberts
or Justice Stone, notably the former
His boosters think that if Roberts could
be persuaded to re-enter law practice
and politics, he would be far and away
the party's best bet There's lively in
terest in the records young Senator'S
elect Lodge of Massachusetts, and Bridges
OF New Hampshire may chalk up in
Congress. Should either capture the
popular Imagination, he would have dis
tinct 1910 possibilities. Senator McNary
OF Oregon is not disregarded, nor is Gov.
Landon's denomination considered alto
gether out of the question. President
Frank Of the University of Wisconsin
and President Dodds of Princeton are
being honorably mentioned. Charles
Evans Hughes, jr. former solicitor gen.
eral Of the United States, is thought to
possess some availability.
81 y
One Of Uncle Sans private grudges
against John Bull, in connection with
the British constitutional crisis, is that
1t has been crowding the Inter American
Conference at Buenos Aires of the front
pages at the very moment Washington
craved the maximum of limelight for
the New Deals most ambitious venture
IN the realm Of foreign affairs. There
may be less remorse on this score If
proceedings at BuenoS Aires, as momen-
tarily threatened, do not turn out to be
quite the love feast that was expected.
King Edwards romantic tribulations
have not only sidetracked the Pan
American conference in both the Amer
tcan and European press, but reduced the
Spanish revolution to relative inSignifi-
canoe, along with two other great events
which ordinarily would rivet world at
tention-the Popes illness and the i'm
minence Of Sino-Japanese war.
Reports that Mr.. Roosevelt plans to be
country gentleman after January,
1941, and not aspire to a third term
naturally kindle speculation about the
next Democratic presidential nominee.
Kansas City Boss Pendergast,s boom for
Senator Bennett Champ Clark of Mis-
souri, spurs the discussion. To date only
four names have figured with varying
degrees Of prominence in the 1910 Demo-
cratic dope-Secretary of Agriculture
Wallace, Gov. Earle Of Pennsylvania,
Gov. McNutt Of Indiana and Senator
Byrd Of Virginia. Because Of his grow
ing international stature, Secretary Hull
ID being talked about as q possible sue.
cooooe to ,. .. \. Should the Tennesseo.