Gunnison news-champion., 1920-03-05

language Aor ys4 his visvA eoaps9-
ing tho they y, vhieh have impee4e-
ed ne, % much as his visw-ppinE
he Hoover viewpoint. in . verd.
y baned ea humsn nature. He OBJ
serves whst men will do in . givea
situation and from this pro0ise be
draws his conclusions This sounds
simp1e, deesat it! Ard Il h aimp1e.
So simple that in the complexities Of
statescraft il IL often lost sight Of,
and men have even become presi-
dent without ever having seen il ut
all. The basis Of the Hoover philos-
ophy Is well illustrated in the follow
ing paragraph on government owner
ship:
-Nationalixafion fails on the issues
on which all socialism fails-that il,
means the destruction Of the impulses
which create efficiency either in en-
ployee or employer, and in the impulse
to initiative, which is necessary for i'm
provement and extension. No scheme
based on political appointment has
yet developed the ability to replace
competition in its selection Of ability
and character in management, and
no government under pressure Of
local political influence can proper
ly conduct the risks Of initiating ex-
and improvement"
This striking statement may be
BY the following:
"The development and selection Of
ability and Character for Ieadership.
direction and invention in industry,
state or the politician. The infinite
ntx - ~ a.
its maximum development, equality
Of opportunity and position only thru
the fire of competition"
Hoover has simply observed that
when YOU rob man of the spur of
and the incentive of re-
ward and hand him a pension, he lays
down on the job, hence he is opposed
to the system The same observation
as to what men will do under a given
condition determines Hoover's views
on taxation, rs seen from the follow
ing quotations:
"The use of increase in income
taxes to secure better distribution of
wealth breaks itself down at q GER
tain point because it discourages in
itiative and effort more than does
the use Of inheritance taxes for such
purpose"
"The use Of excess profits tax for
this purpose or even for revenue-ex-
cept as . war emergency measure
coupled with controlled priccs-breals
down not only from the discourage
ment to initiative, but worse, because
it stimulates rank waste and is in
the main passed onto the consumer
and contributes to the high cost Of
living"
These views may not find favor
with those who advocate confiscation
or what is termed "expropriating the
but the only point Il
am making is that here again Hoov-
er grasps and applies the human
equation. He is dealing with human
nature as it is and not as he would
have II.
Here is a single paragraph cover
ing several pressing issues in which
l believe Hoover plants himself
] believe Hoover plants himself
squarely with the sober judgement of
the great majority Of the American
people: ell, :. 49,. -, . ;. :.
were dominated by groups who seek
to set aside our constitutional guar
antees for free speech or free repre-
sentation, who hope to re-establish
control Of the government for profit
and privilege. ! could not vote with
a party il it were dominated by groups
who hope for any form Of Socialism,
whether it be naturalization Of in
dustry, or other destruction Of indiv-
idual initiative"
At this point want to say that re-
gardless Of the question Of Hcover's
political aspirations, the country
ought to be thankful that . man Of
his great prominence and influence
50 clearly and courageously speaks
on matters Of such vital Importance to
the country and to the world. The
country needs such announcements.
Compare the paragraph have Just
quoted with the trimming, hedging,
lodging, vote-catching platitudes Of
many so-called leaders today and see
II am not right. It q pity that
partisanship blinds 20 many newspa-
pers, which are in accord with Hoov-
ers views, but fear to say 20 be-
cause It might spoil some pet party
candidacy. Il anyone. can produce
better present day Americanism or de-
AuOEkoGt CU81 .tk1c L88b 8OOtc -QoOtcU
paragraph, ] shall be Obliged to have
my attention called to 1t.
But It 10 hardly fair to Hoover to
pick random payasraphs from COM
prehensive Statements that are well
worth quoting in total. He covers
the Peace Treaty, the labor questions.
military policies, profteering, over
growth. Of corporations and other IL
sues in fhe same original and incisive
way. l merely make few quotations
to illustrate his viewpoint and style
Of expression rather than to expose
to indiyidualism and competition ~
the main springs Of American eff
cheney and supremacy, he recognizes
that these principles. like taxes, have
their limitations; and thruout he ID
broad, sane, progressive and optomis-
tic. Hoover knows that the time has
not yet come to put an enactine
clause on the Golden Rule and the
Ten Commandments. with appropri.