The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-11

rect and inquistive manner of Secre- tary of War Baker; the placid, calm demeanor of Secretary of Interior Lane and the stern. resolute look of Secre- tary of Agriculture Houston. In the matter of voice. the soft, deep pitched voice of Secretary Lane contrasted with the clear. ringing-voiced queries of the Secretary of War.
 But in the private car National the problems of state did not burden the statesmen.
 LANE NEWSPAPER MAN
 Secretary Lane confessed that he man.
 q started in newspaper work when was l6 and remained in the gam- until I was at the head of an even ing paper" he commented. "When the panic of 1893 hit Spokane the paper busted and I entered another profess sion--law
 T suppose I did everything there was to do, from reporting to editing. It is indeed interesting work"
 MT. Houston. the high cost of liv- ing is said to be one of the most largely discussed subjects in the Uni = ted States today How do you think it may be reduced?'
 "The southern people ought to plant more winter and spring vegetables the Secretary of Agriculture advised. Tt would help them considerably. There is one criticism that might bc made of the southern farmers, When cotton goes higher than 16 cents a pound it seems that the farmers de- crease the amount of other products. This is a misfortune
 q suppose that the department ol agriculture is offered many new pat ented devices to kill the boil weevil?'
 BOIL WEEVIL KILLERS
 Those offered are generally dupli- cates of previous ones," said MT. Hous- ton "The best machine to combat the weevil is a combination of brain and muscle The boil weevil would be a great blessing to the south if, without damaging the cotton. it had been the cause of crop diversification and the boon of stock raising"
 In relating of his rather precipitate manner of getting out of the news paper world MT. Lane told how bank after bank in Spokane failed in 1899 This brought forth 4the mention that the federal reserve had made pancs an impossibility." the war cry of the democrats in the campaign of 1916
 How did Birmingham feel about not getting the regional bank of the federal reserve act?"
 It was explained that while there was some disappointment Birmingham did not expect to get everything.
 q suppose that it will be satisfied if the government locates the nitrate plant at Muscle Shoals" said Secre- tary Lane with a chuckle. But who knows that there was n,. some sig nificance to the little hint of pacifying Alabama?
 The secretaries admitted readily that they had been impressed with the tour of Birmingham and Secretary Houston. conceded by the cabinet mem- bers to be the only dancing man" i'll the party--though strenuously denied -waxed warm in praise of the Bir- mingham girls
 PRETTY GIRLS HERE
 'Birmingham certainly has a bevy of beautiful girls Mr. Houston avowed. and good dancers, too. You know, visited the Country club once previously and I was struck by the beauty of the Birmingham fair sex. l recall that they had such rosy com plexions."
 From the ladies the trend of con- versation drifted to the local patriot ism.
 "It is somewhat remarkable how, no matter where We go. the people per- suade us that their city is really tla center of the surrounding country" said MT. Lane. But I never object to listening to their boasts. I suppose that civic pride is a noble sentiment.
 At every hearing the statement has been made that it is the desire of all that the nitrate plant be located where it will be of the greatest service. to the nation" said Colonel Keller How ever. it is generally added that a fear flu! mistake would be made in over looking the advantage of the site they. propose.'
 Birmingham never entertained three honored guests who were less assun. ing and more easily approached than the three members of the cabinet.