Evening star., 1938-01-10
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

too smart man to have made those
Philadelphia talks, when he charged cap
ltal with being on strike What Id like
to have told him is this: You are a CAP
italist. You have money What are YOU
putting your money into these days? Are
you putting it into public utilities to face
Government competition. or into rail-
roads that are so nearly busted, or into
chain stores, or what? If, as suspect
you are holding onto your cash. then
what do you mean by striking. and en-
barrassing the President?'" The would
floor.
Washington on January Is, rs and q
Will be the scene of an impressive effort
to stem the peace ce-at-any-price sentiment
which has swamped the country during
the past year and spawned such move
ments as neutrality legislation and the
Ludlow war referendum. The occasion
will be the thirteenth "Women's Confer
ence on National Defense for an Endur-
ing America The meeting is described
as expressive of the whole movement
toward the intelligent safeguarding of
American democracy" and as evidence of
american womens determination to
preserve it." There will be more than
1000 delegates from 40 organizations
with combined membership of 2,5OO, 900.
Hitherto the annual conference has de-
voted itself to a, single aspect of national
defense-the armed forces This year,
because OF critical international condi-
tions. the conference has REDEEMED it's
scope to include other safeguards of ma
tional defense-safeguards both at home
and abroad. Speakers will include for
mer Ambassador Gerard, Prof. James
Harvey Rogers of Yale, c. C. c. Director
Fechner. Federal Commissioner of Edu-
cation Studebaker, and President RAY
mond Leslie Buell. OF the Foreign Policy
Association.
From an admiring wartime buddy of
Senator-elect Lester Hill of Alabama
comes gentle remonstrance against this
observers recent designation of Tom
Helms conqueror as a World War buck
private. Hill, his comrade states, was
first lieutenant in the list Infantry at
Camp Meade. He was also battalion ad-
jutant and Judge advocate of the regi-
ment's general court.
*
Not long ago an Army mule, having
reached retirement age, was mustered
out of service with full military honors
at Fort Totten, N. Y. Despite increasing
mechanization Of land defense, the mule
continues to render valiant duty, es-
pecially when the caissons go rolling
along. The loyal pack animal has long
been glorified in Army song and story.
nf
tillery ballad, "The Mountain Battery"
and Representative John Steven Nc
Groarty, poet laureate of California, has
immortalized him in Kiplingesque verse
In "The Army Mule" The mealy -nosed,
long -eared hybrid is universally acknowl-
edged to have been one OF the contribut-
ing forces in Uncle Sans successful
World War effort. Military men unite
in acclaiming the loose -jointed beast of
burden, famed for his stubbornness and
endurance, as an indispensable adjunct
Of the United States Army in the field.
Foreign armies also appreciate the mule.
Italy imported large numbers Of the Mis-
souri, and Texas breed for her Ethiopian
campaign.
Appointment of Charles v. Mclaughlin
Of Nebraska as Assistant Secretary of
Labor represents q triumphant effort by
President Roosevelt to sidestep the A. F.
of L.-C. I. o. feud. Mclaughlin is vice
president of the Brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Firemen and Enginemen, one of the
Big -Four rail labor organizations, none
of which rich and powerful bodies a.
unionists is identified with either the
Green Of the Lewis cohorts. By going