New-York tribune., 1920-02-18
Tells Engineering Society
He Favors Peace League
and Prompt Ratification
of Treaty of Versailles
Has Plan to Cut
High Living Cost
Urges National Budget,
Greater Distribution of
Government Authority

I
ills that aff1ict the nation and out
lined a policy for the future tri-
umphant prosperity of America in
an address delivered last night in
assuming the presidency of the
American Institute of Mining and
Metallurgical Engineers.
Speaking before that body in the
Waldorf-Astoria on the work of a
broad national scope that confront
ed the engineering profession, Mr.
Hoover constructed what practically
amounted to platform on the prob
lens facing America. In this ad-
dress he proposed the following
things:
Favors Rail Return
Immediate ratification of the
treaty and cooperation of America in
league to promote peace;
Return of the railways by the
government to their former owners,
placing predominant private owner
ship on it's final trial.;
Establishment of private shipping
enterprises on q firm basis and the
gradual withdrawal of the govern
ment from control in the field Of
building and operating ships;
Immediate considers tion of steps
70 reduce the high cost of living;
Improvement of the nations trans
portaton facilities as a stimulus to
trade and industry:
Elimination of the waste caused in
national government by lack of coor-
dination between bureaus and depart
Ments:
Endorsement of a national budget,
out with the understanding that it
!. mot the remedy for all admins
irative ills;
Greater recognition of the human
actor in industry and government
mutation Of efforts at cooperation
between employer and employee;
Rejection of the doctrine of re-
ectionaries and radicals alike as re-
9Ngnant to American ideals, institu-
ions and philosophy;
Endorsement of the national tenets
q equal opportunities for all, free
speech ard legislation indorsed by
he ajority;
The turning over of all preachers
If unlawful radicalism to the po-
ice.
Lawrence Addicks, POSTMASTER, in
reduced Mr. Hoover as man who
mas been introduced as everything up
10 the next President of the United
tates"
instantly the dining room was filled
ith shouting. The yelling and whoop-
e continued until Mr.. Addicks
'aecked the ovation by pounding vig-
rouSly for order.
Europe Still at War
In beginning his address Mr.. Hoover
poke of the work that the engineers
ad done for the nation during the war
nd Of the greater task that now faced
en- in solving problems left by the
enAict
Even more than ever BEFORE" he
said, "is there necessity for your con-
tinued interest in this vast complex of
problems that must be met by our
government. We are faced with a new
orientation of our country to world
problems We face a Europe still at war;
still amid social revolutions; some Of
is peoples still Stacking on production;
millions starving; and therefore the
safety of its civilization is still hang
every wind that blows carries to our
shores an infection of social disease
from this great ferment; every convul-
sion there has an economic reaction
upon our own people. If we needed
further proof of the interdependence OF
the world we have it to-day in the
practical blockade of our export mar
het
"The world is asking for us to ratify
long delayed peace in the hope that
such confidence will be restored as will
enable her to reconstruct her economic
life. We are to-day contemplating
maintenance of an enlarged army anc
navy in preparedness for further up
neavals in the world, and failing tt
even provide some insurance against
war by league to promote peace.
The war naturalization of railways
and likewise the war nationalizatior or
of shipping are our two greates
problems in government control await
ing rehabilitation. There are many
fundamental objections to continuation
Of these experiments in socialism ne
cessitated by the war. They lie chief.
In their destruction of initiative in oul
people and the dangers of politica
domination that can grow from gov
ernmental operation. Beyond this thu
engineers will hold that the successful
conduct of greater industries is to I
transcendent degree dependent upo1
the personal abilities and character O
their employees and staff.
mo scheme of political appointment
has ever yet been devised that will re
place competition in its selection o
ability and character. Both shippinl
and railways have to-day the advantag
of many skilled personnel, sifted ou
IN the hard school of competition, ant
even then the government operation o
these enterprises is not proving salts
factory Therefore the ultimate in
efficiency that would arise from tn
deadening paralysis of bureaucracy ha
not yet had full opportunity for devel
opment
Our business is handicapped o.
every side by the failure of our trans
portation facilities to grow with tn
country. 1t is useless to talk about in
creased production to meet an in
creased standard of living in an in
creasng population without q greatl
increased transport equipment. More
over, there are very great social prob
lens underlying our transport system
to-day their contraction is forcing
congestion Of our population aroun
the great cities, with all that thes
over-swollen settlements import. Eve
such great disturbances as the Goa
Continued en- neat page