Evening star., 1937-09-27
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Among the vivid impressions of might
and main made upon New York City by
the American Legion avalanche last
week was the vision OF political power
which the buddies represent. The serv-
ice mems organization now occupies, as
force in national affairs, the place held
for generation by the Grand Army Of
the Republic. It's potency was demon
strated on successive bonus occasions in
Washington and is an unfailing factor
in congressional elections. From Grant
to Mckinley the Republican party NOM
mated none but Union Army veterans
for President. The Democrats followed
suit in 1880 with Gen. Hancock. The
G. o. P, true to its fondness for soldier
standard-bearer. put up Col. Teddy
Roosevelt of San Juan Hill in 1904.
Barring F. D. RS third-term candi-
dacy-the President himself is vet
eran-the chances today strongly favor
a Legionnaire as head of the Democratic
ticket in 1910. McNutt of Indiana, Earle
of Pennsylvania. Murphy of Michigan,
Clark Of Missouri and Tydings of Mary
land are all World War veterans.
McNutt is an ex-national commander Of
the Legion. Available Republican tim
ber includes several 1917-18 veterans
Mayor La Guardia, former Secretaries
of War Pat Hurley and Dwight Davis,
ex-Assistant Secretary Hanford Mac
Nider, also a Legion ex-national COM
mander; young Teddy Roosevelt, Repre-
sentative Hamilton Fish, exGov. VIM
ant of New Hampshire and National
Chairman Hamilton.
~
More than one New Dealer IS under
going off-the-record anxiety over the
persistent prediction of certain economic
soothsayers that the panicky slump in
the securities market is the forerunner
OF another depression due to roll along
about 1910, or q little before. Should
suchsa calamity descend on the eve of
the presidential campaign, or in its
midst, most politicians concede that the
Democratic ticket would suffer the fate
that overlook Hoover In 1882, and for
the same reason. Should Roosevelt
aspire to succeed himself under such cir
cumstances, not even his 1933-1937
"happy days" record would save him,
unless the American electorate aban-
doned its traditional habit of Furnishing
the party in power during depression.
Twenty-three years ago, at this identi-
cal time of the year, the United States
roared from coast to coast with the fran
tic rival efforts of pro-allies and pro-
Germans to win Uncle Sans sympathy.
Something of the sort is again in viru-
lent progress, with spokesmen OF Japan
and China in the roles OF propaganda
suppliants. As far as Washington can
judge, national sentiment, the country
over, is overwhelmingly pro-Chinese, or,
rather, anti-Japanese. It has been i'm
measurably famed by the bombing out
RACES at Nanking, Canton and elsewhere.
The National Press Club, true to the
fourth estates tradition of hearing both
sides, is about to open its weekly lunch
con forum on separate days to Ambassa-
dors Saito and Wang. Club President
Gridley has met the ticklish question Of
which should speak first by giving prece-
dence to Nippon's representative, in
accordance with his seniority In the
diplomatic corps.
Members Of the District Of Columbia
bar launch the interesting suggestion
that the moment Catholic, Jewish or
Negro litigant or lawer appears at the
bar of the Supreme Court. the matter of
Mr.. Justice Blacks eligibility to sit On
tha case may b Questioned a tho