The daily worker., 1926-01-16
BY MANUEL GOMEZ.

the entire galaxy of millionaire func-
tionaries with which Coolidge has sur
rounded himself, Hoover is the only
one who has any sense of unified,
co-ordinated governmental policy en-
bracing various fields. AS a result
he has had to absorb to the depart
ment of commerce many functions
(such as the bureau of mines and the
leasing of naval reserves) formerly
belonging to other departments. Most
conspicuous Of all have been his in
cursions into the field Of international
relations. Secretary of State Kellogg
INDUCES in official escapades and from
time to time explains his mistakes in
public, but Secretary Hoover's utter
ances on foreign affairs are nearly al
ways connected with a definite object
i've. They are worth noting and pom
dering because they show us what the
government is really striving for.
For the past few months Hoover
has devoted himself with tremendous
energy to writing articles, issuing
statements and making speeches
about rubber. And now congress is
engaged in special rubber investi-
cation, with Herbert Hoover as the
star witness. Meantime, the govern
ment has conducted a widespread
campaign encouraging American in-l
terests to acquire lands suitable for
rubber growing. Harvey S. Firestone
has startled the world with his re-
ported acquisition of an immense rub
ber empire in Liberia. Machinery has
been set into motion to modify the
land laws of the Philippine islands in
order to make possible the establish
ment of vast rubber plantations "un-
der the American flag" So imminent
does this prospect appear to be that
the Filipino nationalists, seeing their
last forlorn hope of independence un-
der the Jones law going glimmering,
have raised the cry of alarm through
out the islands. Undoubtedly rubber
has suddenly become a factor Of con-
siderable significance in American and
international policy.
The climax was reached a few days
ago in the congressional investigating
committee when Mr.. Hoover, shaking
a fguratiYe but none the less defiant
Est in the direction of Great Britain,
Illuminated about "a growing menace
in international commerce and rela-
tions." Apparently not all the con-
flicts of the world were settled at
Locarnol
The essence of the great rubber
problem is struggle between Ameri-
can tire manufacturers and British
rubber producers. Ownership of vast
plantations in the Dutch East Indies
gives the British virtual monopoly
of the worlds rubber supply Less
than three years ago crude rubber was
selling as low as 16 cents a pound
Rubber shares were steadily declining
on the London stock exchange: the
British rubber companies were at the
mercy of the American tire manufac-
turers, who constitute their greatest
market. Then the British government
stepped to the forefront, adopting the
now-famous Stevenson price control
act limiting the production of rubber.
Under the stimulus Of the Stevenson
act the price of rubber rose as high
as $1.25 pound and has remained in
the neighborhood of 80 cents. 1t is
a perfect example Of the methods of
present-day monopolist capitalism,
with a government functioning as the
active political arm Of gigantic busi-
ness combines.
But that is only one-half of the
picture, which is a moving picture,
promising plenty of action" Mr..
Hoover makes his appearance here.
He is highly indignant at the action
Of the British government in inter-
fering with the divine law OF supply
and demand to the detrlment Of A.
merican tire interests. This, he says,
is governmental monopolization" and
neither American business nor the u.