Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-10-30
(By II. n. Rackey.)

washington, d. Co., Oct 3O.-Thll
article is not an alibi for Herber
Hoover. the food administrator. Her
bert Hoover needs no alibi and he Il
aware that it is dangerous bushes.
predicting what is or is not going tt
happen ever from day to day In
these times Of world upheaval.
But I am going to make this pre-
diction about Herbert Hoover-if he
lives and Is permitted to continue In
the position of food administrator, he
will emerge at the end of the war one
Of the few really great figures-one
Of the perhaps dozen or score Of men
in the allied nations who will have
contributed the most toward the de-
feat of Germany and making the
world safe for democracy.
Tfeel safe in making this predic-
three years has been subjected to the
acid test Of having to accomplish
seemingly impossible tasks, with the
eyes of the world upon him, and he
has accomplished them. For over
two and a half years he kept the
breath. Of life in millions of starving
Belgians, overcoming difficulties that
would have defeated any man less
we'll qualified as to energy, patience.
diplomacy. organizing and directing
ability, and above all unsellsh pa
triotfsm. p
For Five Months Hoover Has Been
Food Dictator Of the World.
Five months ago, on May II, to be
exact Hoover accepted the most i'm
portant and most difficult task, ex-
ceptfng only the presidency itself, that
any American has ever been called
upon to undertake-the administra-
ton of the nations food supplies.
Because of the fact that the world
was facing the greatest food shortage
of modern times and that America
was forced both by duty and military
necessity to supply her allies with a
large part Of their food, this job
which was handed to Hoover made
him virtually the food dictator Of the
allied world.
1t is important that we get clearly
in u eyes this picture Of the job
which Hoover undertook, and which
for the past i've months he has been
working at night and day with the
full force of his tremendous mental
nervous, and physical energy, and
with a patriotic zeal exceeded
by any man in the service Of his
country.
! And it also IL important that We
remember that Hoover is carrying
this great burden not only without 8
cent Of pay, but at financial sacrifice
so great that it should bring the
blush of shame to those who camou-
fage as patriots by buying a $50
Liberty bond when they should have
bought a $4,000 one, and sneer al
Hoover because he hasn't cut the cost
Of fhofr Nfnnr ar hoov
One Of the. reasons I have devoted
some hours to investigating the work
of Hoover and his organization /,
that I have heard these sneers.
have sat in hotel cafes and lost my
appetite when I heard some over-fed
ivory-headed war-profteer, slim,
with his blood money, "kid" Hoover
because he found on his table 8
Hoover card suggesting that he eat 8
little less so that an underfed woman
or child in France or Belgium coulG
eat MORE. I have .leard silly women
who never denied themselves any
luxury, between deals at bridge (ant
save n mark, during the play Of thu
hand, which makes their stiffness 8
Icrime), laugh at Hoover and say tina
he was a failure because egg wer,
55 cents a dozen and they could af
ford porterhouse steak but twice +,
week.
Real Accomplishments Lie
In What Has Been Prevented
Rather Than Done.
Now I know that euch people ar
In a small minority, but having ha,
some experience with Knockers O
both sexes, and knowing how cor
tagious is the habit, 1t seemed to m,
that 1t was well worth while to d,
what I could to interpret Hoover an.
his work for the great family Of read
ers of this newspaper.
This is not an talibi then, for as
said before, Hoover doesn't need one
1t is an attempt to interpret in tn,
priefest space possible the work o
Hoover.