Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-12-23
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Of speech makers known as the District
of Columbia During his years term OF
office Mr.. Fleming delivered about 80
country, besides innumerable informal
speeches. but never employed ghost
writer. Every one of his delivered papers
was exclusively of his own composition
and preparation, barring occasional re-
search assistance. More than once the
Washington financier put in matter
of 20 hours concentrated labor on a
single address. including the original
manuscript, redrafting, etc. Mr.. Flem-
ing's leadership of the A. B. A. conceded
with the 1886 presidential cam
paign and the major part OF the election
campaign. embracing an era in which
the banking industry was under I'M
precedentedly close public scrutiny and
monetary conditions were generally in
the melting pot. That meant that the
A. B. A. chief had to watch his oratoricai
step with scrupulous care. His friends
are not sure that Mr. Fleming would
have acquitted himself with such flying
colors If he had depended on ghost.
4
One of the most interesting PROPOSE
lions likely soon to be submitted to the
new Congress will be memorial from
the Andrew w. Mellon trust, formally
presenting to the Nation the great
national gallery of art which the former
Secretary of the Treasury has arranged
to establish at Washington. By or be-
fore the time Congress considers the
project, the Fine Arts Commission and
the National Capital Park and Planning
Commission are expected to reach a
decision regarding site for the gallery.
John Russell Pope, famous New York
architect, who was commissioned to de-
sign the $10,O00,000 building, has COM
pleted his plans. Those who have had
a peep at them say they provide for
what is destined to be Washington's su-
preme architectural gem. and in every
respect worthy OF containing the $780,
100000 collection of pictures which Mr..
Mellon will place in it. Mr.. Pope, archi-
tect of the Archives Building in Wash
ington, was recently chosen to design
the new wing for the British Museum at
London, which will house the world
famous collection of Elgin marbles pre-
scented by Lord Duveen. It Is the first
time that John Bull ever selected nom
British architect for so distinguished q
commission.
Senator Peter Norbeck, Theodore
Roosevelt Republican" as the late South
Dakotan continually described himself
in his one-line autobiography In the
Congressional Directory, was one OF the
most unobtrusive but effective members
of the Senate during his more than 10
years in Congress. He was proud OF his
occupation of an oil well driller and
specialized at the Capitol in matters az
fecting conservation of natural resources
It was his interest in that field which
first stirred his enthusiasm for T. r., and
resulted In Norbeck's identification with
the old progressive movement. Though
ofiicially catalogued as Republican, the
Senator consistently enacted the role Of
an independent and was factor in the
insurgent bloc which was SO long
thorn in the G. o. p. side. Born in
Dakota while that wide open space was
still an undivided territory of the United
States, Norbeck became South Dakota's
first native-born Governor. serving two
terms, from 1917 to 1921. He would have
his third successive term in
the Senate had he lived until 1899.
John Edgar Hoover, Oman No. /,
was New Year day baby. having been