POLITICAL NOTES

Ohio, mother of Harding, Taft, McKinley, Benjamin Harrison, Garfield, Hayes, Grant, is the sponsor of two new booms for the Republican Presidential nomination in 1924. Senators Frank B. Willis and Simeon D. Fess are the objects of attention. Both have been Representatives, both are Senators, both were professors of history.

Samuel G. Blythe, whose Calm Review of a Calm Man (TIME, Aug. 13) appeared opportunely in The Saturday Evening Post as a tribute to President Harding just before he died, is in a fair way to have his sudden fame extended somewhat beyond the usual nine days.

The Cosmopolitan Book Corporation has republished the essay, in book form. Now it is a compact little volume in large type, hardly any thicker than The Saturday Evening Post, about one-quarter the latter's size and retailing at just 15 times the latter's price. The book omits the two cartoons which accompanied the essay originally and lent point to its remarks about a quiet, hard-working, soft-spoken, pestered man.

Attorney General Daugherty was the first Cabinet member to fire a gun for the renomination of President Harding in 1924. Secretary of the Interior Work recently did the same for Mr. Coolidge. In a letter to a politician in Denver--just made public--Dr. Work said of the President: If he will consent, the public already appreciates his quality and I am sure his election would follow. He has inherited the Harding organization and policies, and logically should be supported for the nomination . . . ."

Elihu Root, ex-Secretary of State, one of the few veteran statesmen that this country can claim, accepted the first place offered on the jury which will award Edward Bok's prize of $100,000 for a practical plan to promote world peace--a plan in which this country can participate. Announcement of the appointment of six more jurors is expected before Sept. 15.

Senator Johnson ("Magnavox"), newly elected from Minnesota, has been assigned to suite 125 in the Senate office building. It is said that in consideration of the Senator's extraordinary vocal power, " buffer rooms" (extra, empty rooms) have been provided adjoining his personal office, so that his voice will not disturb his colleagues.

The thin partitions of the Senate Office Building make such a consideration imperative. During the last Congress Senator Glass was obliged to telephone Senator Heflin in an adjoining office a request not to denounce him so loudly--he had heard it all and was tired of it.

Back from Europe on the Hamburg-American liner, Albert Ballin, came Victor L. Berger, the only Socialist who will sit in the next Congress. (The only Socialist in the last Congress was Meyer London of Manhattan.) Berger will represent the fifth Wisconsin District (Milwaukee)--which he has done before by successful appeals to the Socialist, pro-German and wet sympathizers in his district. During the War he was ejected from Congress and sentenced to 20 years in prison under the Espionage Act.

Mr. Berger has just attended the International Socialist Congress in Hamburg and has made an extensive tour of Germany. On coming back he delivered himself of his impressions.

"All America got out of the war was prohibition, the 'flu,' $18,000,000,000 in debts and 323,000 casualties. . . . The Ruhr situation is the greatest crime committed by the white race. . . . The only Government that has taken a sane attitude has been England."

Worn by the cares of office, Prohibition Commissioner Roy Asa Haynes returned to his home at Hillsboro, O., for rest. Washington, during his absence, buzzed with rumors that he would be a candidate for the next Republican nomination for Governor of Ohio. His qualifications: 1) a close friendship with the late President Harding; 2) dryness enough to make him acceptable to the Anti-Saloon League and the two Ohio Senators, Willis and Fess.

In Michigan, Chase S. Osborn, ex-Governor, believes that " Mr. Couzens [Senator] is an honest man," but "speaks from the fullness of his stomach and from the viewpoint of the Florida houseboat crowd." Accordingly Mr. Osborn announced that he would not refuse to be a candidate for the Republican Senatorial nomination next year in opposition to Senator Couzens if the prohibition forces felt it imperative that he fight the Senator's " 5% beer" platform ( TIME, July 16). Mr. Osborn added: " I could not refuse the nomination for the office of dog catcher if there was a real need for me in such a position."

In San Francisco subscriptions were started to erect a $500,000 memorial to Warren Gamaliel Harding.

In South Dakota Governor William Henry McMaster started a " gasoline war" by cutting the retail price to 16-c-. a gallon (TIME, Aug. 27). Governor McMaster is now talked of as a possible Vice Presidential candidate on the Republican ticket next year.

In Nebraska George W. Norris, Senator, progressive Republican, announced that he will retire at the end of his term (March 4,1925). He has served two terms in the Senate (twelve years) and five terms in the House (ten years) and wishes to rest and devote himself to legislative reform in his home state. He advised ex-Congressman C. F. Reavis, not so progressive, to go ahead with a campaign to succeed him.

In Oklahoma Governor Walton continues to march down the hill. And education did it. Not the Governor's education, but the Governor's project for education of the farmers, by the farmers, for the farmer vote. Jack Walton was elected Farmer-Labor Governor of Oklahoma and immediately appointed red-headed George Wilson, Farmer-Labor organizer, head of the State Agricultural School. The American Legion, the Ku Klux Klan, the Chamber of Commerce and the united Rotary Clubs filed demurrers, exceptions, writs of error and habeas corpus proceedings. Walton had handed the education of Oklahoma over to the Reds. For a month the Governor held on. Then he fired Wilson without specifications. And that was the end of Jack Walton. That and his statement that his opinion of radicals was " unprintable." He is now John Calhoun Walton, Democrat and candidate for U. S. Senate, with no chance of election by radical votes.