Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-09-11
Washington Observations
War Enhances Third-Term Chances
Because Of RooseveIt's Troininq

/ without asking Attorney General
Murphy for the green light. At
present, espionage and profiteering
are the things which mainly
threaten to turn his red hair gray.
Though in Office only since Janu-
airy l, Murphy has crowded an ex-
traordinary mass of activity into
eight months as head of the great
est law Office in the world. In
hammer and tongs fashion the
Michigander has tackled the i'm
provement of the Federal judicial
system, providing for more vigorous
and honest law enforcement and
abolishing certain privilege and IA
voritism practices which had crept
into the national administration of
justice hither and yon. During Muir
phys first six months in Office there
were 100 more criminal convic-
tons than in the corresponding 1898
period. The record of 1858 cases
shows 97.1 per cent of suits disposed
OF by final judgment following trial
or pleas Of guilty, representing a
percentage of convictions said never
to have been exceeded. For this
achievement the Attorney General
gives chief credit to the United
States attorneys and their stats.
Murphy Grapes laurels, too, on the
shapely brow of Solicitor General
Bob Jackson for the unsurpassed
record of victory" attained by the
Justice Department before the Su-
preme Court this year. A civil
liberties unit" is one of Murphy's
innovations. It's purpose is to throw
the full weight of the Federal ju-
dietary for the first time behind
the preservation of liberty, tolerance
and democracy"
-
Minis Coming at Record Rate.
Gov. Nellie Tayloe Ross, Director
of the Mint, reports that Uncle
Sans real money-making depart
ment was never so busy as now
with no thanks to war. The de-
mand for coin, despite fluctuation
in business conditions, is at the
peak. All the country's minis have
been on regular full time work
schedules for weeks, but recently
the Philadelphia Mint was ordered
onto a 24-hour shift. On the whole,
the former first lady of Wyoming
thinks the boom in coin Is an I'M
deniable sign of recovery.
**+
The Diplomatic Front.
In one of the most eminent quar-
tiers in Washington this observer
learns that British diplomatic dick
ering with Mussolini is now the
crux of the war situation, apart
from actual fighting operations. The
democratic powers are not only ask
ing" II Duce; they're telling" him.
Undoubtedly, Italy can strike a good
bargain and have almost anything
within reason respecting Djibuti.
the Suez Canal or colonial conces-
sions as quid pro quo for 100 per
cent neutrality or, better still, for
an alliance with Hitlers enemies.
With the Italians out of the war,
| immediate advantage would accrue
to Britain and France.
! For one thing. Anglo French
naval strength, now pegged in Eu-
ropean waters, would be released
for use in the Far East. Japan
would sing in different key, once
Singapores vast war harbor were
filled with British battleships and
battle cruisers, with corresponding
French sea forces in support. All
this may explain that certain live
illness on the London Toxic diplo-
matte front. Japan has just in
formed Britain that she docs not
intend to be involved in Europes
war" and requests Britain to re-