Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-20

and women could: gather ana read ana
play games and Mix with the church
people would do q lot of good. It u
not what the church does for the good
people, who are already good. but what
1t does for those who are not SO good
and who need the kind handshakes and
friendly personal greetings and practi-
cal help.
There are many people who belong
to the church and pay their money
cheerfully, who are not useful az
church workers because the church
furnishes them nothing practical to do.
They are church workers without work.
This Kansas City church proposes to
organize itself into q useful human in
stitution that will help people who
need help while they are alive. The
old prayer meeting was a power in its
field, but that field was restricted and
may we'll be enlarged. 1t may properly
develop into q practical force recogniz-
ing and meeting the needs Of modern
church communities. There is a large
field adjoining every church for min
istrations of temporal as well as a
spiritual nature, and the weekly prayer
meeting may become the center and
inspiration for such work.
H1TCHCOCK'S LONE HAND"
[Sioux City Journal.l
Is the covering of the telegraph
lines into the postoffice department. a
practical. economic proposition? Will
1t prove a live political issue? These
questions are suggested by an author
lied interview in which Postmaster
General Hitchcock declares for this
form of government ownership and
announces his intention to recommend
it to congress. Discussion Of these
questions, however, probably will wait
until the practical politics of the post
master generals little surprise party
has been thrashed out
That Postm aster General Hitch
cocks interview was an all around
surprise party is indicated by all the
subsequent comments from Washing
ton. President Taft. 1t appears. knew
nothing about the intention of his
cabinet officer to break into print.
Neither did any other member Of the
cabinet. Neither did the leaders Of
either party in congress. 1t is init
mated that the postmaster general dis
cussed the matter with the president
year or so ago, and was authorized to
investigate it. But there is nothing to
indicate that the postmaster general
had authority to commit the admin
istration or any part Of il TO the plan
at the time he released the big story"
for publication. The postmaster gen.
eral made his annual report to con-
gress only a few weeks ago. At that
time he had nothing to offer. Had
the issue ripened later, in the ordinary
course Of events, it would have been
discussed by the department head
with the president and the cabinet,
and If Recommendation was to be
made to congress it would have been
made by the president in special
message to congress, based perhaps
on a formal report by the postmaster
general. Instead we have the amazing
spectacle Of a cabinet eoffieer pro-
posing policy on hisrown. account
and taking the public Unto his conf
dence ahead Of the president and his
fellow cabinet officers.
What is the inside politics" Of this
extraordinary situation? We, will have
to wait for the all wise Washington
correspondents for an explanation,
with a prospect that there will not be
one. but several. Meanwhile 1t would
be a rash assumption that ME-. Hitch
cock was trying 10 dos the presiden:
any good In disregarding ibis .prerog-
alive Of commander In chief Of the
administration. Which offers reminder
that there have been numerous stories
during the last year referring to
crossed political wires between the
postoffice department and the White
House.