POLITICAL NOTES

One of the advantages of a republican form of Government is that no man need deny himself the pleasure of being in politics if he will dub himself a third party.

In Chicago, J. A. H. Hopkins of Manhattan, who styles himself " Chairman of the Committee of 48," held a conference of a party without a name. A convention was called to meet in St. Paul on May 30, 1924, for all those who object to " special privilege "--the question of a name to be taken up later.

In Omaha, Roy M. Harrop, President of the American Economic League, held a conference of the "People's Progressive Party," which endorsed Henry Ford for President, and announced it would send delegates to the Ford-for-President Convention in Detroit on Dec. 12.

President Coolidge was called from work on his message to Congress to act in the movies. The Highway Educational Board is producing a picture as propaganda for "better roads." Henry Ford is understood to be the financial backer of the enterprise. The Washington correspondent of the Public Ledger (Philadelphia) reported the scenario as follows:

"The picture in which the President will appear tells the story of a poor country boy--the hero and everything. This lad, it seems, has been impoverished largely as the result of bad roads. He wins a scholarship by writing an essay on the subject of good roads. Naturally, he comes to Washington to have the President present him with the scholarship. The natural consequence is. the bright young lad returns to his home with a civil engineer's degree and devotes his life to making the country a finer and safer place to ride in."

The first biography of (John) Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States, is in process of preparation. Author: Edward E. Whiting, political columnist for the Boston Herald.

Senator Henry Fountain Ashurst of Arizona was reported " in distress at losing his Senate leadership." It all came about because Governor Sweet of Colorado appointed Alva B. Adams to succeed the late Senator Nicholson from that state. Mr. Ashurst pathetically exclaimed: " I have not aspired to leadership of many sorts, but I have some very real regrets over losing my alphabetical leadership.

" About the only consolation I can obtain in the matter is that they could not take it away from me at the polls. It was done by the stroke of a pen in the hands of a Governor of a friendly and neighboring state."

A comedy of appointments came to an end. In June, 1922, President Harding nominated Joseph W. Tolbert, National Committeeman from South Carolina, as Federal Marshal. Senator Dial of that state charged Tolbert with political simony and the Senate failed to confirm the nomination. Subsequently:

In October, 1922, President Harding gave Tolbert a recess appointment.

In November, 1922, the President again sent Tolbert's name to the extra session of Congress.

In December, 1922, he again sent Tolbert's name to the regular session of Congress.

No confirmation by the Senate.

In March, 1923, Mr. Harding gave Tolbert another recess appointment.

Last week Mr. Tolbert resigned and President Coolidge immediately announced the nomination of Tolbert's nephew as Federal Attorney for western South Carolina. Now there is peace in the nether Carolina --unless Senator Dial chooses to visit his displeasure for the uncle upon

the nephew.

Magnus Johnson, great-voiced Farmer-Labor Minnesotan Senator, went, under the tutelage of Senator Smoot of Utah, to call on Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, scholarly representative of Massachusetts aristocracy. The three chatted undeterred by their several dialects.

Afterwards, to newspapermen, Senator Lodge said of Senator Johnson: " A most engaging and impressive personality."

And Senator Johnson was variously reported as having termed Mr. Lodge " a fine gentleman," " a nice feller," " a very nice man."

" Magnavox ", bantering with reporters, declared that he would challenge Secretary of Agriculture Wallace to a milking contest among some of the thoroughbred cows on the Government's model dairy farm at Beltsville, Md. The rules:

" Dry-hand, pail between the knees, two quarters at a time straight away, with tail holders and anti-kicking devices barred, and none of those fudging tricks used by farm hands who can milk but don't like to."

The Minnesotan was confident of victory because " his grip was good and his wrist was supple."

The trembling cities wait--until Dec. 11, until Jan. 15. On those dates the Republican and Democratic National Committees, respectively, will meet to determine the place and date of next year's National Conventions. The date of the Democratic Committee meeting is not absolutely fixed, but Jan. 15 K most likely, according to its Chairman.

Applicants for the Republican Convention: Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, San Francisco.

Applicants for the Democratic Convention: Manhattan, San Francisco, St. Louis, Louisville, Atlanta-- with Chicago and Cleveland as possibilities if they fail to get the Republican Convention.

Said Chairman John T. Adams, Chairman of the Republican National Committee: " Chicago has no chance of getting the Convention unless it can assure that hotel rates charged delegates will be more reasonable than they were in 1920 and 1916."

Said Fred W. Upham (Chicagoan), Treasurer of the same Committee : " It's a cinch that the Convention will be held in Chicago next year."