Blue

Into the White House one day last week marched eleven solemn-faced churchmen. It was hot. Few of them wore waistcoats. Newsgatherers in the lobby were about to mistake them for businessmen on an economic mission when they recognized Bishop James Cannon Jr., of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, leading the procession back into the president's office. Also recognized were Rev. David G. Wylie, Lord's Day Alliance president, and Rev. Harry Laity Bowlby, its secretary. Ranged around President Hoover, they made six small speeches each asking the President's support for a Sunday closing law for Washington, where baseball, cinema, sports, now enliven the Sabbath. "Thank you for calling," said the President as the delegation marched out again. In the lobby a newsgatherer asked Mr. Bowlby about the "blue law." He replied: "Not blue, but red-white-and-blue. . . ." Chagrined that the President had not committed himself, Messrs. Wylie and Bowlby returned to the White House next day, sought an expression of opinion from him. President Hoover was "too busy" to see them. Secretary Akerson told them the President had no statement to make, thanked them again for calling.* P: The Hoover headgear has been put under comparative study. Results: The 31st President wears a 7 1/4hat, 1/8 larger than Lincoln's, 1/8 smaller than Grant's. President Hayes had the smallest head (7 1/16), President Garfield the largest (74). The Hoover head, unlike Chief Justice Taft's and Alfred Emanuel Smith's,/- has no notable bumps or bulges. P: President Hoover last week accepted the resignation of Ben F. Wright as auditor of the Philippine Islands, appointed Maj. General Creed P: Hammond to succeed him. Also appointed was Robert Ridgeway, Chief Engineer of the New York Board of Transportation, as a U. S. delegate to the World Engineering Congress in Tokyo next October. P: A caller at the White House: Minnesota's Governor Theodore Christiansen. His message to President Hoover: The northwest is dissatisfied with the tariff bill, will make trouble at the polls unless husbandry is accorded better protection (see p. 12). P: When the Hoovers moved into the White House, the East Room was wired for talking cinema. Two nights a week sound pictures are shown there. President Hoover does not care much for "talkies" --"They demand too close attention." P: Last week Billy returned to the White House. Billy is the Hoover opossum. In the spring the President lent Billy to the Hyattsville (Md.) High School as a mas cot. Hyattsville, thanks to Billy, won the county championships in soccer, basket ball, track, baseball. Wrote President Hoover to the school borrowers: "I am glad to have your report on the efficiency of Billy Opossum. . . . Precautions will be taken to preserve his health and spirits for the further needs of Prince Georges County high school teams."

* The President of the U. S. is responsible for the governance of Washington. Municipal officers are three commissioners appointed by the President. /-The tilt of the Brown Derby is a cranial inevitability.