Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-26

White House desk is a list Of some
$50 would-be Secretaries. Eliminat-
ing the price fixing apostles and
other SNAKE DOCTORS" the list has
been reduced to four. or it may be
five. in the hunt for an acceptable
Secretary.
If the President gets the man he
wants. he may as we'll brace himself
against the wrath of the embattled
bur eaucrats in the department, pre-
pare to feel the steel of the farm
blocs of Capitol Hill and fight the
swarm of paid farm lobbyists tooth
and nail. Unless, also. there is a
housekeeping in divers bureaus of
that department.. the Administration
may find itself betrayed from within
as we'll as assailed from without.
Evidently. the White House under
stands the situation. 1t should. Last
winter the bureaucracy went over
board on the McNary- IIaugen bill.
With the subsidy hunters and farm
er banks of the Northwest. the i'm
plement makers, the professional
friends of the farmer and sundry
farm organizations. the bureaucrats
spilled price fixing propaganda
everywhere. In their opposition to
the Administration policy they were
as busy as rabbit chasing puppies in
high rye. Price fixing a la McNary-
Haugen was hand polished in the
department and preached on Capitol
Hill by palpitating bureaucrats.
If the Administration farm pro-
gram is to have a Chinaman's
chance the next Secretary OF Agri-
culture must swing the AK and let
the heads fall where they may. Bur-
eau cliqueS have dominated for
years. For a generation they have
dug in and consolidated. The webs
they have spun run into every con-
gre ssional district and reach to the
farthcst county farm bureau. They
have their fingers on farm organiza :
ton pulses. Going up and down the
horse high. pig tight and bull-strong
fences. The enormous expansion of
departmental enthusiastically build
ing, farm education, marketing,
county agencies, demonstration work
and a score of others--has widened
their influence and frightened their
grip.
For generation they have not
been much concerned about changes
in Washington. Administrations
come and pass. One party today,
another tomorrow. rules in Congress.
Secretaries come and so, but in the
departments the bureaucrat goes on
forever. He is patient. Time is
something he can afford. Some day
there will be another President and
another Secretary. but his is king
dom that endures the passing of
Presidents. lie takes Secretaries
and bends them to his patient will.
Ripping off the barnaclcs of this
bureaucracy may mean battle roy
al They will be able to bring pres
sure to bear from many unexpected
angles. There is certain to be a
mighty wailing. from the farm lob
bies who will rush to the rescue of
their friends and the salvaging of
their pet price fixing and Treasury
tapping projects. The farm bloc may
br,stlc with indignation in both
House and Senate.
Even so. shattering this depart
mcnt CLIQUE should be a splendid
thing both for agriculture and the
national interest. 1t has been too
high handed. It's tactics have been
vicious. New faces in some of its
old places is one of the needs of
American agriculture and will serve
as Il warning and check to bureau
cracy in general. The Department
of Agriculture needs more than a
new head. 1t needs new blood. as
we'll as new discipline and a new
loyalty.