Political Notes

At an Amherst Alumni dinner, held last week in Manhattan (which Alumnus Calvin Coolidge was unable to attend), anecdotes of the President were told, including:

1) Colonel John, when his son was 15, conceived that Calvin might do better in a drugstore than at college. In those days, druggists sold liquor openly. When Calvin was told, he answered:

"Father-- sell rum?" (By President Olds.)

2) President Coolidge at dinner at the home of Representative Allen T. Treadway of Massachusetts did not eat much. The host asked whether he would like anything else.

"Yes, Allen," answered Mr. Coolidge. "Get me a dish of stewed prunes." (By Alumnus Treadway.)

A new engraving of an old hero is about to appear on U. S. postage stamps. Nathan Hale, who was sorry that he had but one life, will be engraved on a new 1/2-cent stamp (to be used on third-class mail under the new law). The portrait of President Harding which was recently used on a memorial issue, will reappear on a new 1 1/2-cent stamp and 1 1/2-cent stamped envelopes (in sepia) also for use in third-class mail.

The new Ambassador from Germany, Baron von Maltzan, arrived in this country, made a number of statements:

1) To customs inspectors: "Gentlemen, here are my keys if you care to go through my effects. I assure you I have no forbidden fruit."

2) To reporters: "We have but one child. Diplomats in Germany cannot afford to have any larger families."

3) Also to reporters: "The Republic of Germany will go on forever."

In Montana, the trial of Burton K. Wheeler, Senator, Democrat and Progressive, indicted a year ago for accepting a fee to appear before a department of the Government, was set for Apr. 16, at Great Falls.

In Massachusetts, the state Senate defeated a bill to repeal a fine of $100 for any woman wearing a long protruding hatpin. The House had previously passed the repealer (TIME, Mar. 9) on the ground that the law was no longer necessary. The Senate argued that fashion might repeat herself.

In Texas, was passed a law forbidding any organization or person to appear in a public highway masked, and providing a severe penalty for people entering public buildings or private homes while masked.

The Texas Legislature passed a bill to remove all disqualifications (principally the inability to hold office) of James E. Ferguson, impeached ex-Governor and spouse of the present Governess. The law will go into effect about the middle of June. Before its passage, the state Attorney General pronounced it contrary to the Texas Constitution. Mr. Ferguson will probably run for office in order to have a Court determine the bill's legality.