POLITICAL NOTES

Andrew W. Mellon, Secretary of the Treasury, made his second public speech since taking office. His first speech was made last May at the unveiling of a monument of Alex- ander Hamilton at the south end of the Treasury Building. Last week Mr. Mellon attended a ball given in Washington by the Investment Bankers' Association. Persistent demands brought him from retirement and the rear of his box to speak--barely a mouthful of words.

The modest Secretary was not to escape so easily, however. " A beautiful bobbed-haired girl" approached the box, and with the spotlight playing on her and the Secretary, she sang: "We Love You, Andy."

Mrs. Warren G. Harding let it be known definitely that she would spend the Winter at Washington. Social statisticians at once drew up a table of " White House" personages who will be in the capital: two ex-Presidents, Taft and Wilson; three former mistresses of the White House: Mrs. Taft, Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Harding; two Presidential sons: Robert Todd Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.; one Presidential daughter: Mrs. Nicholas Longworth; one Presidential daughter-in-law: Mrs. Frederick Dent Grant.

The Smithsonian Institution received a gown from Mrs. Harding to add to its collection of gowns worn by mistresses of the White House. The national collection of gowns is complete, beginning with one owned by Martha Washington.

Magnus Johnson, Farmer-Labor Senator from Minnesota, naturally does not approve the choice of Frank B. Kellogg, one of his Republican opponents, to be Ambassador to Britain. A reporter suggested to Magnus that Mr. Kellogg, like Colonel Harvey, might take to silk knee breeches, " Magnavox " roared: "Those black pants on Frank Kellogg would sure be a sight for sore eyes."

The ways of Socialists are not very different from those of capitalistic politicians. Eugene V. Debs is regarded as likely to be the next Socialist nominee for President. In Manhattan he stepped on a platform to address an audience of 2,000 people. Two little girls brought him a bunch of posies. He stooped and kissed them.

In speaking, Mr. Debs referred to his stay in the Atlanta penitentiary for War-time offences. Said he: "I stood where Woodrow Wilson stood within five weeks of the entry of America into the War. But he changed suddenly. I didn't. He was elected President for keeping us out of War. I was sentenced to ten years for trying to do the same thing. I refused to allow the United States Government to put a padlock on my lips. I had rather a thousand times be a man without a country than a man without a character."

Mabel W. Willebrandt, Assistant U. S. Attorney General, spoke on prohibition in Boston, saying: "The 'upper crust' which 'feels itself above and superior to the law, and the 'dregs' who strike beneath the foundations of American liberties-- these two classes exist everywhere, especially in Boston, where the oldest families . . . violate the law. . . ."

An unequivocal opinion issued from the lips of Mrs. Emily Newell Blair of Joplin, Mo., Vice Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. The subject of her opinion was President Coolidge, the object a group of Democratic women in Hartford, Conn. Said Mrs. Blair: "I believe that he has not won favor with the women, largely because women voters are thorough modernists and they cannot see that an 18th Century man, such as our admittedly Puritan President is, is fitted particularly for the problems of this rushing 20th Century. A great amount of propaganda has been sent out about his ' cautiousness,' ' thriftiness ' and ' silence,' and the women, I believe, do not find these particularly commendable virtues in a President. Caution is easily synonymous with lack of courage, thrift often degenerates into stinginess and silence does not always connote wisdom."

The National League of Women Voters favors U. S. participation in the World Court. Senator Wadsworth, Republican, of New York, has declared himself on the contrary side.

Last week a committee from the League called upon the Senator. Said he: "I am ready to urge American entrance into a world court or international tribunal on condition that our entrance does not include political entanglements of any sort. ... All other things being equal, I would be glad to see the United States support an international tribunal."

This is known as the evasion politic.

To friends, Detroiters, citizens, Senator James Couzens of Michigan spoke:

" I love him as much as it is possible for one man to love another. . He has been quoted in recent newspaper interviews as criticizing me on my desire to have the Volstead Act changed to permit old-fashioned beer. . . . When he says I knew better than to propose such a change, he challenges my good faith and sincerity. It comes with poor taste from a man so politically ambitious.

"Ford wants to be President. . It is ridiculous. How can a man over 60, who has done nothing except make motors, who has no training, or experience in Government, aspire to such an office? . . . Ford is my good friend. I love him in his proper place as I love no other man. I have said these things to save Ford the greatest humiliation that could possibly come to any man and to save the United States the humiliation of having him elected President."

Sitting in the Senate Chamber of the Oklahoma Legislature, corn cob pipe between his teeth, Governor J. C. Walton attended his impeachment trial. Five lawyers defended him. Members of the State House of Representatives directed the prosecution. The members of the Senate sat as a Court of Impeachment.

First the Walton attorneys asked for ten days more in which to prepare their case. It was denied. They asked for the privilege of demanding of each Senator whether he is a member of the Ku Klux Klan. It was denied. They moved to quash the impeachment charges. It was denied. They filed demurrers to 14 of the 22 counts. One after another the demurrers were voted down. The actual procedure of the trial was then set for Nov. 8.

There was small doubt that Mr. Walton would be convicted of the charges. His lawyers were preparing to take an appeal to the Federal courts.