One of the more cheering decors of the Potomac shore-line is the vision of that veteran inflationist, Senator Thomas of Oklahoma, in cahoots with Mr. Carl Conway, the president of the board of the Continental Can Company. Normally, one would suppose them to be separated by intellectual and political incompatibilities too great to be reconciled. That these should have been forgotten, even temporarily, is a beautiful tribute to the power of an ideal. Human frailties, vanities, all the pathetic weaknesses of politicians and capitalists recede into the deep diminuendo of momentary oblivion. Oklahoma and Continental Can are at one! Osanna!

What deep in the Senator has cried unto deep in Mr. Conway? With infinite regret, we must record that it is merely silver. Senator Thomas desires the remonetizing of silver, a desire not unnaturally shared by a number of his colleagues from the silver states of the West. Many are their converts, like Mr. Conway, who see in silver the pillar of flame which shall lead us out of the Egypt of depression.

So many people have supported so many things, that a Senator supporting silver is in itself almost exquisitely normal. But of the others, this cannot be said. It has been discovered, with pained surprise, that some of these men are relatively large holders of silver contracts, with which they are speculating or hope to speculate soon. The Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Morgenthau, has expressed his suspicion, "informally," according to one report, that some of the supporters of the movement are not altogether "disinterested" in their activities. (Mr. Morgenthau displays a commendable restraint of phrase in these days of flaming crescendi of indignation). The newspapers, with their usual acuity of perception, have reached the same conclusion, which must be extremely gratifying to Mr. Morgenthau.

When interviewed (possibly at a into hour) on the pleasing coincidence of interests, Senator Thomas is reported to have expressed a feeling that there is no reason why silver should be less an object of speculation than wheat or gold. This is a very beautiful thought, indeed, but it is to be hoped that the Senator's remark was torn ruthlessly from its proper context. As it stands, it is a rather pitiful revelation -- of the Senator.