Political Notes: Nov. 12, 1923

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. . . ."