The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-09-14

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Washington, Sept. 14-[Special. J.
More powerful than any cabinet officer
Is Herbert G. Hoover, the food admin
istrator. OF course when we get right
down to bottom facts the power of
Hoover IL In the president, but that is
true of all the cabinet members and
other appointees of the president, par
ticularly those who hold their positions
at the pleasure of the president.
But In regard to Hoover, his power Is
so extensive, so farreaching and so i'm
portant that II can scarcely be COM
pretended. He not only controls the
foods and everything that enters into
their production In this country, but
his power extends to the food supplies
Of other countries.
Must Trust Somebody.
The grant of power. given I'm name
to the president, but actually TO
Hoover, was criticised severely In on
gress, but the fact remains that the
country had to trust somebody. II
could not trust those who produced.
bought and sold the food products
They would naturally make all they
could out of the demand for food. That
was foreseen, and II became apparent
that the government through the ex-
ecutive should take control. And Hoo
yer Is the man chosen to exercise the
great power granted to the president.
Men From the Ranks.
Senator Gronna of North Dakota and
Senator Calder of New York were ex-
changing comments about incomes OF
the farmers and ~workingmen.
Can the senator" asked Gronna.
SAY whether any of the laboring men
living In the city of New York have
incomes amounting to a million dollars
or 100000 or $10,0O0T'
"Of course" responded Calder, mo la
boring man working with his hands all
the year has al income OF $4,000. But
likewise many of the men returning
incomes OF the magnitude suggested
were, In the beginning. laboring men.
Many OF them began their lives upon
the farm. / will venture the statement
that rs per cent Of the men whose
names are returned az earning incomes
exceeding $1,000, 900 and residing I'm the
city OF New York came from the farm
and made their beginning there and
then established themselves beyond the
limits OF their farms I'M the great me-
tropolis."
II want to add a striking illustra-
tion," said Senator Penrose Of Pennsyl-
vania. 'The greater part of the exec
utive heads Of the iron and steel indus
tries In Pennsylvania literally rose from
the ranks. from positions where they
only earned a dollar and a half or less
a day and rose to the heads OF these
great concern and acquired whatever
capital they may possess on account OF
their remarkable ability as executives
and their knowledge Of metallurgicaI
processes"
And you might go q step further"
remarked William Alden Smith OF Mich
igan, land say that practically all the
heads Of the great transportation sys-
tens OF the country started away down
the line In humble positions"
Holiday Attendance.
OF course 1t is well understood that
the holiday attendance at ball games,
theaters, excursions, picnics and other
places OF pleasure Is greater than on
other occasions, but It does not follow
that such should be the case with q
hard working body. And yet the holt
day attendance Of the senate on Labor
day showed seventy senator's present
and answering to their names. And
this when nearly everybody else were
trying to have a good time.
Purchasing Power Of . Penny.
Some expert In mathematics or good
Mt guessing has put forth the state
ment that the purchasing power Of a
penny Is 80 per cent less than a decade
since. 1t was about that time, per-
haps before, that the hue and cry was
raised about the high EOS of living
and a great movement set on foot to
reduce that cost. And, although the
campaign against this cost of living
WAS vigorous and earnest, there was
no change. On the contrary, there was
a steady increase ven before the war
came along to Increase prices still fur
Their.
Senatorial Curios.
There are senators who will speak
for half a day OIL a subject and then
ask for a vote. Commenting on this
fact. n OF the senators remarked:
Our colleagues who ask for a vote as
soon as they conclude their speeches
are like the man who says, When |
have concluded there is nothing more
to say But the senate does not ac-
cept their Judgment"
There are other senators who speak
often and long, who frequently COM
plan Of lack OF attention and yet who
will leave the senate when they con-
clude their remarks and will not listen
to the other side. They are In the cat
egory Of those who think there Is
nothing more to be said when they