The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1925-02-12
government keep faith with the peo-
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial to Sank Centre Herald)

| Especial to Sank Centre Herald)
Washington, Feb. 11-Visitors t,
Washington are always seeking tn
facts behind the hodge podge of new
items sent out by news associations
Everybody wants to know what i
transpiring behind the scenes. TIL,
whispering gallery, as Washington il
known, makes it difficult to sift fac
from rumor. These two are so close
ly related at times that the line Of
demarcation is not easily apparent.
If a political observer in Washing
ton had the time to write a persona
letter back home this week he woulC
confine his discussion to two or three
subjects in the ordinary run OF
news. First he would tell the folks
that President Collidge has real
problem on his hands in finding g
Secretary of Agriculture. There are
at least 160 capable men who have
been recommended for the post by
organizations and friends who recog-
nize their particular merits. Ordin-
arily, it would be an easy matter to
designate the head of the Agricultural
Department.
Nobody should envy the next Sec
rotary of Agriculture if he fulfills the
job as now expected by the Presi-
dent. 1t is task comparable to the
fable of Hercules cleaning the Aug
can stables. The report of the Presi-
dents special Agricultural Commits
sion gives an inkling of the problem.
In their official report this week they
complained of the lack of harmony
among the various bureaus of the De-
partment of Agriculture. They mere
ly confined the conclusions of other
agencies that the Department orig
inally established to assist the farm
ers, is gradually dying of dry rot.
The fungi is said to be too many bur-
eaucrats.
Privately, those familiar with the
situation say that the new Secretary
of Agriculture must of necessity be
a hard-fsted, two-gun man, similar
to the old-fashioned western hero who
cleaned out troublesome nests with
steel-encased conscience.
1t is taken for granted that there
will be wholesale decapitations of
minor officials who have he'll I'll cir
jobs through political influence while
working at variance with department.
al policies. According to the current
story, this condition has existed for
many years but has been aggravated
of late by the investigation of the Ag-
rciultural Commission.
The President realizes that the in
coming Secretary of Agriculture must
be resigned to his fate as a storm
center. He will be required to deal
in action and not platitudes in order
to bring the Department up to the
highest stage of efficiency. That is
the reason for the delay in naming
the new Cabinet member. He also has
a reputation for consulting his csbi-
net on matters of state.
Outside of the Department squab-
BILE, the various groups of agricultur-
al interests cannot agree upon leg
lslative program. The President has
made it clear that there will be no
prolonged session for the farmer. SEN
ators Norris and Howell, of Nebras-
ka, were especially active in promot-
ing the idea of farm relief in COM
pany with Senator Borah, of Idaho.
However, Howell is now conducting
fillibuster against the French
spoilation claim. Hiss colleague, SEN
ator Norris, threatens similar tactics
to force the adoption of resolution
calling for investigation of the cleo
trical interests.
Outside of public debates there
mas been some private discussion as
to whether or not another myth has
been exploded. Many persons in
close contact with political develop
ments say there is nothing to the
story that Mr.. Coolidge owes his cleo
ton to Senator Butler. The convic.
ton is growing that Mr.. Coolidge
would have been reelected if Mr.. But
er and the entire committee had
stayed in their headquarters and said
nothing. These opinions are appar-
emily based upon inquiries in vari-
ous states as to what inspired people
TO vote for Mr.. Coolidge.
Mr.. Butler is by no means as pow
erful as his press agents would have
is believe. Everybody knows that
Mr.. Coolidge has always done his
own thinking alohough occasionally
asking for counsel from his friends
and associates.
Military circles are stirred up over
he charges that the "gag' rule has
been applied to various offices with
regard to the aviation program. The
Departments have made it clear that
hey do not want the personal views
IF commissioned men confused with
he official attitude of the War and
Navy Departments. At present Cm-
sress sympathizes with the men who
are prohibited from talking under de-
oartmental regulations.