Evening star., 1924-12-07
Secretary H. NJ. Gore
Is Real Farmer In
Official Position
New Cabinet NJ m b e r
Proves Revelation to
Washington Society.

Now that Washington must know
Mr.. Howard Mason Gore in the fnti-
mate social way that it knows all
the members of the Presidents Off
cial family. many are beginning tc
regret that the new head OF the De-
partment of Agriculture has been
allowed to be almost a recluse while
he filled his minor post. For a man
who acknowledges that his fayorite
diversions are the activities involved
In his well known devotion ana con
stant attendance on his venerable
mother, his efforts in behalf of young
children on the farm and his love OF
flowers presents social possibilities
which it was unwiSe to overlook. How
ever, Secretary Gore will lead strenu-
Gus three months in Washington before
he rstires to become Governor of West
Virginia.
The new Secretary is one of the
youngest heads of an executive de-
lie has just passed his forty sixth
year and he is the first cabinet Off
cial appointed from West Virginia
since the late stephen 3. Elkirs was
Secretary of War. Like the recent
Democratic candidate for President
Coolidge's high Office, when Secretary
Gore lifts his eyes to the enCirclins
hills Of Clark sburg he may say that
many generations of his people have
gazed on the same inspiring scenes
and now sleep among it's mountains
His mother, now in her eighty-fourth
year, resides in the old farm home
stead with her two sons, both OF
whom are bachelors, while the third
is now the Secretary of Agriculture
Once a month MIR, Gore journeys to
the pretty mountain city, often by
motor, TO have Sunday dinner with
his mother and brothers. One of the
popula~ anecdotes told of his brisk
personally conducted campaign for
governor was, that he had been sched-
ulcd to make an address in com
mHuity Indifferent to his candidacy
when. 10 the horror of his friends, he
wired that this engagement he can
crled. Pressed for q reason, he said
that the day OF the speech was his
mothers birthday and that he had
never missed being with her on that
day and no political consideration
would cause him to disappoint her
Farmer All His Life.
Secretary Gore is the son Of the late
Solomon u. Gore, who, like several
generations of the family, had been
born on the farm. three miles north
Of CIarksburg, and, like them, had
titled The soil and reared the fine cat
tie and other stock common to the
blue grass hills. His mother was be-
fore her marriage Marietta Payne
Rogers, and she comes Of a well es-
tabIished and honorable family Of
that section. Until he came to
Washington three years ago, to be
come the aid of the lamented Secrc-
tary Wallace, Mr.. Gore had never left
his farm, except for the four years he
spent at the University OF West Ntr-
Einia so that in few instances has
the Agricultural Department possess
ed an executive SO entirely and per-
sistentIy a dirt farmer" Shortly
after taking his degree the young
student farmer was married to one Of
his classmates in college, MISS RoNi-
lene Corder Bailey OF New Fleming
ton. W. Va Mrs Gore died ir 1896.
Since that time the present cabinet
official has devoted himself with an
almost unbelievable Intensity to
work, farming in AL its aspects, and
the breeding of the best cattle and
such por5ers as make that ham which
is such an essential of the good din
ners which are served III the noun
tain regions of his State.
Paramount among the interests of
the new Secretary is his flower gar
den and the movement which he in
stituted about 10 years ago which is
locally known as the Al clubs for
boys and girls on the farms, which
are ia reality only another name for
better homes and better opportu-
mites for the young people and the
Improvement of the rural masses.
These 4-H clubs, founded first in
West Virginia. are now established i'm
every State of the Union and many
in foreign countries. Suitable prizes
are offered for the best calves and
pigs raised by boys and girls, for the
best specimens in canning, sewing
and knitting. The spirit of competi-
tion hEhtens the drudgery of farm
work, whilst the social meetings nee
essary tor organization have resulted
in bringing amusement, as well as
instruction and profit, to many lone
Iy homes.
Secretary Gore has been a frequent