Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21
Real Friend of Ruralist

square, around the courthouse, and
many q traveller paused to do little
shopping.
Reads About Towns.
The Hyde plan to curve his highways
around town meant the loss Of this
transient trade. Some towns even ap-
piled for injunctions to restrain this
madman In the governors ONCE. But
Hyde won out. The n1otorist can now
spin along perfect roads from st. Louis
to Kansas City without having to slow
down every few miles to negotiate a
courthouse square.
Hyde had Republican Legislature.
the first since reconstruction days, and
he put through q comprehensive plan
for consolidation Of State departments,
modelled after what Gov. Lowden had
done in Illinois. This was too much
for the Democrats for 1t meant the re-
tirement OF veteran jOb-hOlders, mostly
Democrats, and a new batch Of ap-
pointments from Republican governor.
This was one Hyde plan which met de-
feat. Democrats had the referendum
as a reserve weapon. they invoked it,
and in the tempestuous campaign of
1922, when the old Democratic war
horse, Jim" Reed, was fighting for his
political life. there were enough votes
to knock the Hyde consolidation In the
head.
The battle with the insurance COM
panies is still going on, seven years after
| 1t started. Hyde had appointed his
brother Ben as insurance commissioner,
and in 1922 the companies were ordered
to knock 10 per cent off their rates.
| They defied the Hydes and went to
the State courts. They continued to
| collect the old rates, but under court
orders they were compelled to set aside
| 10 per cent for refunds If the judicial
decision should 60 against them.
Courts Uphold Hydes.
Thus far the State courts have upheld
the Hydes. The case is now In the Fed
eral courts, headed for the Supreme
Court In Washington, and the reserve
fund has now reached $l3, SOC, 900. Hyde
and his supporters are still supremely
confident that eventually that huge sum
is going to be returned to the pockets of
the farmers and business men.
This, in outline, is the political back
ground of one Of the real dark horses
Of the Hoover cabinet. That hundreds
of Republicans could be mentioned for
the cabinet, and this vigorous ex-gov-
| ernor from an important State be
overlooked, Is one of Washington's un-
explained mysteries. He had what Mr..
Hoover was looking for-courage, ability,
experience. an appreciation Of the
| farmers plight-and yet speculation
never centered about him. It was one
secret Mr. Hoover kept almost to the
last, which is rather surprising when
1t Is known that Hyde fatty rejected
the offer twice, and yielded only after
third request had chased him into
his Winter retreat in the sunny South.
Perhaps the failure of Washington
| to spot" the new Secretary Of Agricul-
ture until the night of March /
was due to the belief that the new
President was looking for q dirt
farmer" a man who has steered pillow
driven a harvesting machine, or pulled
weeds with his own brawny fists
| Secretary Hyde Is not dirt farmer, -
even though he owns and operates TOO
acres near his home in Trenton. His
major business interests have been real
estate and life insurance, and when
selected for the cabinet he was presi-
dent Of the Sentinel Life Insurance Co.
Encounters Jim Reed.
This provided some Of Mr.. Hoover's
critics with vehicle Of attack when