The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-08-17

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tracts are being let for the government
through the operation of the advisory
committees Of the council Of national
defense have been severely criticized
by Senator Kenyon and others and be-
cause these committeeman often are
interested in great business concerns
that are being called on to furnish sup.
plies to the government, they are &C.
cused of seeking their own prmofit
In most cases such charges are mani.
testify unjust. While the senators were
carrying on their interminable discus
sion Of the food bill, violent attack
was made on Mr.. Hoover by Senator
Reed, who said Hoover had been gam.
bling in food and clothing as chairman
Of the American commission for relief
In Belgium. The swift denials of
Hoover's associates and friends really
were unnecessary.
The food control bill, as finally ar
ranged In the senate, contained the
compromise amendments eliminating
from the operation of the measure cot
ton, steel, hides, lumber and all other
articles except food, feed and fuel, and
creating board of food administers
ton consisting Of three men. The
first Of these amendments is In ac-
cord with the wishes of the admins
tration, and the second Is not diSpleas-
ing to 1t, for Hoover will be made
chairman of the board. He and his
associates in the food conservation
campaign are not depending too much
on the. actions of congress.
The federal trade commission began
Its inquiry into the costs Of produc-
ing and marketing food commodities,
starting with tie Chicago packing in
dustry. TIL" Investigation is to spread
to steel, iron, coal aad oil costs, in &C.
cordance with the "fair profits" order
Of President Wilson and may be COM
pleted In six months. Francis J. Heney
is In charge of the legal end Of it.
Hampering Our Government.
AS the United States swiftly ap-
proaches more active participation in
the war, the German agents and spies
and their friends in the country be-
come more bold and enterprising in
their efforts to hamper the govern.
ment. These efforts range all the way
from ridiculous stories of American
soldiers dying like flies from disease
in Europe, designed to discourage en-
listing; plots to prevent the harvesting
of crops in the West by doctoring court
plaster with tetanus bacilli; burning
of elevators and warehouses and ex-
plosions in factories; killing Of live
stock; fomenting Of strikes and riots,
up through attempts to involve the
country In international troubles with
friendly nations, to deliberate blocking
of much needed legislation by United
States senators whose constituents
number large numbers Of German
Americans. The hyphenated term is
used still because the people alluded
to themselves seem unwilling to have
1t discarded. Their press and the ac-
lions and words Of many of them make
this clear.
An instance Of the way in which
legislation is delayed was supplied last
week. The aviation bill appropriating
$640, 100000, passed by the house and
admittedly Of prime Importance, came
up in the senate, the government and
all its expert advisers In the matter of |
aviation urging that 1t be made law
before the week closed. But Hard
wick of Georgia and Owen Of Okla.
homa proposed amendments that made
certain long debate, and La Toilette
Of Wisconsin and Gronna of North Da-
kota aided in the blocking process In
order to make attacks on the draft
clause. No one will accuse these men
IF being personally disloyal to their
country, but the course Of action fol-
owed by them and others often is as
sffectual as If they were.
The professional pacifists and the So
.ialists are singing smaller these days.
The former meet with little sympathy
md support, and the Socialist party is
osing some of it's choicest members
because of its pro-German attitude.
More Trouble for Russia.
Russia's progress toward victory and
stable government met with two set
JACKS last week, though both 1t Is to
'e hoped are only temporary. In the
fort to check the great drive Of the
Flaws in Galicia, the Teutons rushed
Ip large re-enforcements drawn from
he French and Italian fronts, and
hese forces compelled the Russians to
the important town dt J