Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-18
WOMEN AND
WAR ECONOMY
Mr.. Hoover Told That Men
Should Cut Out Tobacco.
Press Agents for the
Politicians
Special Correspondence Evening Ledger

profits" has had a SOLDERING effect upon some
Of the patriotic business men who have
been doing their Dit" toward Fastening
large contracts. It has started many dis
pptes as to who is the real patriot and who
is the faker in the great wal game. The
recent fanfare in the Cabinet concerning
coal prices the Shipping Board quarrel
over steel prices and the charge that cer-
tain men associated with the Council OF
National Defense we're In the delicate posi-
tion Of passing upon contracts that meant
large profits to themselves threatened
scandal in Washington which the Presi-
dents proclamation has helped to allay
In preparing for war it may be expedient to
cut red tape and concentrate our energies
in the hands Of experienced men, but men,
bers Of the Senate and House are not all
satisfied that some of the big brains repre-
scented in the Presidents advisory counsel
have been noglecting their own interests
while serving the Government
The Presidents proclamation has been in
terpreted as confirming this point Of view.
Whether It will have the effect of changing
the attitude Of many legislators, who now
think Congress should remain in session
continuously, will develop later. Congress
IS growing more inclined now to stay on the
job for a longer period than those who
hoped for an early adjournment believed
1t would dc. Il is held by some 70 be ad-
visable TO hold oven just because of such
conditions as might be inferred TO exist
from the Presidents warning. They have
heard the gossip about easy" contracts
and large expenditures and are inclined to
think that Congress had better remain in
session while the President is wrestling
with great problems. the execution of which
he must relegate to subordinates, some Of
whom Congress does not know In this
connection reference is frequently made to
the tremendous discretionary power that is
conferred upon small officials who do the
detail work and who pass up their con-
clusions to larger officials for ultimate APP
provaL 1t is not only the man seeking
Government contracts who thus comes
under discussion, but the little fellow who
handles the business primarily or some
where along the line, before it reaches the
Cabinet officer
High Cost of Living
The high cost of living is a grave issue
which Congress, being responsible TO the
people, cannot well shake off. Hence the
Presidents plan Of placing Mr.. Hoover in
complete control Of the food supply remains
a matter of discussion. 1t is true that Mr..
Hoover has not yet been given money to
proceed with his work, although the Presi
dent has appointed him, and he is gathering
around him agencies which are already
operating with him in the attempt to con-
serve the food supply But the cost of
living is not coming down to the satisfac-
tion Of consumers, and probably will not,
so long as the Government Itself is making
vast expenditures for food supplies for the
| army and navy at prices which the average
consumer must meet. The women of Wash
| ington have not joined so heartily as might
have been expected in Mr.. Hoover's wheat
less" and "meatless" day program, and, II
report be true, Mr.. Hoover has been re-
| Ceiving some tart letters from women in
other sections of the country. Members
| Of Congress are hearing from women who
| want to know why they should be singled
| out for criticism for wastefulness at the
| dinner table, when a halt might more prop
| erly be called upon the wasteful tendencies
| OF the men in the matter of liquor and
| tobacco. "Cut out your cigars" say some
! of the women, "and you will save more
! than you will in the attempt to stint the
! dinner table" Insistent reports that food
| prices are lower in London and Paris than
| they are in the big cities Of the United
| States are believed by some OF the women
! writer's, who contend that such an equality
| should be adjusted before wastefulness is
! charged up to the American housewife.
The Press Agent Abroad
The many conflicting reports that affect
| Mr.. Hoover's work and the war situation
| generally may be attributed TO the activity
| of press agents, who are almost as thick in
| Washington as statesmen themselves. II
| is notorious that CONGRESSES proceedings are
scantly reported in Washington. Any State
| Legislature or city council would receive
| more attention from the local newspapers
| than is accorded TO Congress by papers
! here. This is one reason why the rumor
| factory is so busy. The business interests
| Of the capital city are dependent, in large
measure, upon Government employees, and a
| bill to increase the clerks salaries, which
| means more money to circulate iE Washing.
ton is generally Of more Importance to the
| reading public here than debate upon a
| 800, 100000 appropriation bill which affects
! the whole country. SO Washington has lis
independent and special press agents of al
| most every description. Innumerable So
cieties have their representatives here and
| many wel-to-do Senators and Representa-,
tves enjoy the luxury Of special repre-
sentative to do press work. Sometimes
statesmen do not have TO be In Washington
when celebrated in dispatches. Even Cab
met officers are now provided with publicity
agents and the Government itself, not L
be outdone by any of its individual mem
bers, takes care of itself in the OficiaI Bul
letln, which Is published daily at the in
stance Of the President, under the direction
of George Creel.
It is because of Creels activities in pro
claiming all the White House and depart
mental Information that the ordinary pres
agent has been brought into the limeligh
recently. Some very remarkable storie
are being told about the efforts of the indi
vidual press agent One Cabinet office
at least Is being boosted for the Suprem
Court or even for the Presidency If he wer
! eligible, to the prejudice, II Is believed q
certain other members of the Cabinet VIII
receive occasional kicks because their pres
agencies are not so we'll managed. II is nc
unusual for glowing stories to leave Wash
ington about the public service Of men VIII
very seldom figure at all in the activitie
of the capital But this is a part of tn
game Wartime brings its heroes TO III
front, Just as leaders are sometimes mad
in politics, and once made. II is difficult
undeceive the public. Many Washington
ians therefore, are somewhat grateful
Mr Creel, the Government press agent, fc
, having owned up like a gentleman" to
| bit of taking, or elaboration" as he put
It, in connection with the alleged attac