Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1943-01-14

m nj purchasing &$& r.;
agencies to bid = sskssak = =
separately and against each other for
scarce foodstuffs is obvious. Unco-
ordinated buying of this kind un-
doubtedly results in higher prices
than would be paid if a single agency
were made responsible for procuring
supplies. Moreover, as Mr.. Taft
points out, rivalry among govern
ment purchasing agencies often leads
them to grab for scarce materials,
regardless of the consequences to the
civilian population. Under single
responsible procurement head bet
ter balanced and more economical
program could be developed that
would provide for the needs of the
armed forces and provision our allies
without imposing needless sacrifices
upon civilians.
A Great Address.
In my time I have heard a num-
Der of inspiring and statesmanlike
addresses in the House that have gone
down in history for their beauty OF
diction and loftiness of expression.
Such a speech was the one delivered
by Speaker Sam Rayburn on the
opening day of the new Congress, i'm
mediately following his election for
third time as Speaker of the House.
Not alone did he pledge the legisla-
tive branch of the government to
100 per cent cooperation in dealing
with the titanic problems of the day
but he promised that he would re-
store to the House of Representatives
the power and the glory that was
once its dearest possession. Speaker
Rayburn's remarks were greeted with
unusual enthusiasm on both sides of
the aisle, as they deserved.
If l read the signs Alright, the day
of executive usurpation and intimida-
ton has passed. While the Presi-
dents war effort will have every pos
sible cooperation, that day is gone
when he can send must" bills to
Congress and tell us to pass them,
as is, without dotting an 81" or
crossing st." or else.
The American people do not yet
realize what a narrow escape they
had from totalitarianism and please
don't think me partisan when I say
that it was the Republican victory
last November that saved constitu-
tional government in North America
A Changed President.
President Roosevelt is beginning to
show signs of wear and tear under
the heavy responsibilities that he
bears. When he addressed Congress
last Thursday he appeared haggard
and tired. Gone was the jaunty air
that characterized him in bygone
years and missing was also the chip
that he has usually carried on his
shoulders when dealing with Con-
gress. On Thursday the President
came before us carrying an olive
branch and bearing tidings of mill
tary progress in all parts of the
world. There was nothing in his talk
that could give the least degree of
comfort to Hitler, Hirohito and Mus
solini.
The figures that the President gave
Congress on production of planes
and war material were almost be-
yond comprehension and he has
promised us a further step-up in '43.
While the President did not make
any specific forecast as to when the
war would probably end, his hearers
got the impression that we may look
for something along that line next
year.
Pretty Soft for Harry.
Harry Hopkins, former director of
WPA, must have been born under a
lucky star. For long, long time he
has been living at the White House
as a non-paying guest of President
and Mrs. Roosevelt. Recently he
married a beautiful and most charm
ing lady from New York, who also
took up her abode at the Executive
Mansion.
Reports have it that the Hopkinses
will shortly take possession of the
Presidential suite in the new Statler
hotel, the two top floors of which
will be taken over by the President
for the use of White House guests.
Presumably, the rent money will
come out of lend-lease funds. And
that reminds me that we are pretty
apt to have an investigation of how
the huge sums voted by Congress for
lend-lease have been and are being
cpanf