The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-14

doubtless continue to be an ins he is marked as man who fai fact that Postmaster General Burle- son was going to leave the cabinet and return to Texas for the purpose of laying plans for capturing a senator ship. This was promptly denied. Secretary Houston had determined, according to rumor, to relinquish his position at the head of the agricultural department and resume his place as a university president, which had been held open for him since 1913, but that was myth.
 As all the rumors of cabinet changes had gone a-glimmering, gos- sip made one more effort to make the situation interesting. The newspaper men, or some of them, thought it but natural that a portfolio be found for Vance Mccormick, and in order to find one they revived the rumor that the Attorney General was to vacate his office, that Secretary Baker would be transferred from the war depart ment to the department of justice and that the efficient chairman of the democratic campaign committee would be invited to succeed him. Mir. Me Cormick would doubtless make an ad- mirable Secretary of War, but an of ficial statement, once more and for all, makes it plain that MT. Gregory will continue to be a part of the ad- ministration and that MT. Baker will continue to administer the business of the war department.
 The President has some juicy plums to hand out to those who are capable and especially deserving, but they will not be of the cabinet variety.
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 Food Price Probe
 and ReGremcarraene
 ENH HE United States government in
 ll probing the food trust" will be able to bring down extortionate prices, and now that President Wilson is deeply interested in the question reme- dial legislation may be expected that will prevent a recurrence of present conditions
 Everybody is disposed to make al- lowance for a moderate advance in prices of commodities when a reason such as crop shortage or other unto- ward happening is clearly in evidence. But the excessive price of food and other things that people need for their bodily comfort cannot be justified from any point of view.
 Let the government keep up it's investigation. When prosecutions against "egg kings" and other food trust magnates are under way prices will tumble. In the meantime the ultimate consumer should heed the ad- vice of the United States health serv- ice and learn to cat less--this for the good of the body as we'll as the purse. The sin of gluttony is being stressed now as never before. But the gour- nand or the man who eats three heavy meals a day is not the only one who needs reform.
 The common run of men eat too InuCIl. lHey WOuiu cltJOy pStVSI ucdlII if they ate light meals instead of big ones. If light dietary regimen were in vogue year in and year out there would be little cause for complaint about the prices of food. The govern ment experts are urging lighter diet primarily from health point of view; secondarily for economic reasons. Both are worth while, especially now. Prick as Patr01a
 of MusIca Age
 1H HE steady progress that is being U made in musical art in this country is due in a large measure to the benefactions of a few wealthy citizens. It has not been many years since the symphony orchestra was a rare institution. Although symphony concerts were attended by large audi ences the orchestra had struggling