Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-07-10
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

rejoice in the revelation that the major
ity of Oklahoma Democrats is evidently
loyal to Roosevelt. but the fly in the
ointment is that some 10000 regular party
voters supported man who has declined
blindly to follow F. D. RS lead. Gov.
Landon has many friendships in Okla
homa dating from his earliest days in
the Southwestern oil fields, and the State
IS one of Kansas neighbors most con-
ddently claimed on his behalf. The
primary vote rolled up for Senator Gore
encourages LandoniteS to believe that
the petroleum commonwealth must now
be considered at least doubtful territory
* y
Washington newspaper men will watch
with special interest the 1886 ballyhoo
duel now to be fought between two of
their former associates, the Democrats
propaganda chieftain, Charles Nicholson,
and Alfred H. Kirchhofer, just appointed
publicity director of the Republican Ma
tional Committee. They are themselves
old friends from mutual days in the
Capitol press gallery The Buffalo man
aging editor Is an intimate friend of
Roy Roberts, Gov. LandonS old Kansas
University pal and maStermind of the
G. 0. P. leaders pre-convention cam
paign. Like Nicholson, Kirchhofer is of
the quiet, scholarly type of scribe, but
he knows his professional onions from
A to z, has wide acquaintance among
editors, news writer's and politicians, and
is capable of putting plenty of punch
into the business of selling" Gov. Lam
don and depopulsrizing the New Deal.
The G. o. p. has long been aware of the
necessity of matching Nicholson with
the highest caliber publicity talent dis
coverable. Chairman Hamilton has come
to the conclusion that in Kirchhofer the
right man has been found for the all
important job.
Richard N. Elliot, now acting controller
general of the United States in success
sion to John r. McCarl, played an i'm
portant role in the creation of the archi-
tectural splendor of present-day WASH
ington. While serving as the Representa-
tive from the sixth Indiana district for
half a dozen terms, Elliot was for six
years chairman of the House Commit
tee on Public Buildings and Grounds,
which was conspicuously concerned with
the inception and execution of the
$500, 100000 Federal building project in
the District of Columbia. Former Secre-
tary'of the Treasury Mellon, under whom
the great construction scheme was
launched, paid public tribute to Mr.
Elliots work in connection with it. Chief
Justice Taft credited the Hoosier Repre-
sentative with having mainly paved the
way. for erection of the magnificent Su-
preme Court Building. The acting con-
troller general was for years one of for
mer Senator Jim Watson's political
buddies and longtime power on Capt.
tol HILL
While Secretary Hull and other ad-
ministrationists on the stump this Sum-
mer and Fall glorify the virtues Of the
Roosevelt reciprocal trade agreement
policy, the State Department will be
busily engaged in negotiating four more
pacts under that program. Among Euro
pean countries, diplomatic dealings are
under way with Italy and Spain, and, on
this side Of the Atlantic, with Costa Rica
and Fl Salvador. Fourteen trade. agree
ments have already been concluded.
Their jointly favorable effect on Uncle
Sans foreign trade will be q big New
Deal talking point during the campaign,
despite Republican attempts to depict the
treaties as injurious to both American
agriculture and industry.
t0oDyTight. 1850