The Wilmington morning star., 1940-04-15
WASHINGTON
DAYBOOK
By JACK STINNETT

WASHINGTON. April 14.-The boys from the
South rule our navy and if any enemy is
blasted off the seven seas with an American
war cry, it'll be the Rebel yell.
Investigation by one of the government de-
partments recently disclosed that three out OF
every four gobs call Dixie home. A FEDERAL
labor department investigator found that there
were more applicants for enlistment IN the
navy from Raleigh, N c., and Macon Ga,
than from either New York or Chlcaso.
The same holds true of the army, but to a
lesser degree, The reason, of course, has to do
with unemployment in the army and navy en-
listment age range.
Gordon Dean, of the department Of justice,
without making a single slip OF tongue or
memory, found himself confronted with one OF
those embarrassing moments the other DAY
that should only beset the bedeviled.
Before a large assembly of august district
attorneys, Mr.. Dean was called upon to intro
duce brawny, nervous O. John Royce, assistant
attorney general in charge of criminal prose
cution. Mr.. Dean glanced briefly at Mr. Rogge,
sitting a row or two in front of him, took the
rostrum and launched into an encomlum-
praising the accomplishments of the man who
has directed many of the governments recent
important prosecutions.
At some length, he finished with: Gentle
men, I give you Mr.. o. Royce. -"
The moment of silence heightened to agonlz
ing seconds. Mr.. Dean stared wildly at the
spot where Mr.. Rogue should have been and
saw only an empty chair.
Ushers in the back of the room scurried into
the halls. A block away down the long depart
ment of justice building corridor, Mr.. Rogge
was found arguing a point of law with an
acquaintance. Unable to sit still any longer,
the big, restless prosecutor had walked out on
his own Introductory address.
TravelogJ
In the halls of the bureau of investigation,
every few yards present a big sign: Quiet.
Please-School in Session.
In the old Ford's theatre-Which now is. a
Lincoln museum-in of the
18TH anniversary of the assassination of the
Civil war President, there recently were placed
all the items connected with Lincoln's death
and the trial of John Wilkes Booth. One of
the exhibits is a boot, supposedly hacked from
Booths leg as the injured murderer paused in
flight from the scene of his crime.
One of the capitals most famous sea-food
restaurants is an old-fashioned river-front
building which was a renowned bawdy house
during the presidential reign of General Grant,
Only remnant of its days of infamy is a huge
painting of a nude that s~tartles I'll newcomers
when they cross the threshold. Otherwise all is
quaint responsibility and good food at moder-
ate prices. It's a favorite haunt of legislators.
If you want to learn all about the army's
new guns, don't go to the munitions building.
Drop into the corridors of the department Of
commerce. There, hour after hour, expert gun
ners in uniform spiel the qualities of machine
guns, anti-aircraft guns, howitzers and such.
Spies are also welcome.
Alexandria, Va, the historic Washington sub
urb (when the folks over there hear l called
it a suburb, there'll be mayhem, murder and
arson-but how else could you describe a town
that is knitted closely into a cityO is holding
its annual open house.
One of Americas most famous ports 200
years ago, Alexandria is one of the most fas.
cinating spots hereabouts. Every year, in the
spring, residents of the famous old houses
throw their ZONES or gardens open for a tour
ist trek that sends historians and antique col.
lectors into a swoon. This year, on the timer.
airy, is the beautiful old Georgian home of Mr..
Justice and Mrs. Hugo Black and the narcis'
sus-clouded garden of Mr., and Mrs. Norman
H. Davis.