Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-06
HOOVERS ELECTION CIAXES CAREER FOUNDED ON HARD WORE
DEVOTION TO DUTY
NODDED HIS LIFE.
Celebrates Reward Seen as
Reiteration of Americas
Equality of Opportunity.
BY REX COLLIER,

BY REX COLLIER.
The election of Herbert Clark Hoover
as the thirtieth President of the
United States is the climax of a career
founded on the theory that success is
the result not Of heritage, or of chance
TO ones fellow man, qualities which, in
the case of Mr.. Hoover, were found
in the son of a village blacksmith and
q Quaker woman preacher.
Half century ago the muscled arm
OF Jesse Hoover rose and fell method
ically and powerfully in pursuance of
his humble vocation as molder of iron
and steel in a little shop at West
Branch, Iowa. Come the Sabbath day,
and the smiths wife, Hulda, betook
herself and her family to the Friends
Meeting House as an exhorter of a
simple faith. the principal tenet of
which was avoidance of sham and
''worldliness"
Herbert Hoover was deprived of the
personal counsel and inspiration and
companionship of such sturdy parents
before he reached the age of 8. His
father died when Herbert was 4 years
old, and his mother passed on three
years later
The Quiet-mannered, good-natured
Quaker orphan was alone in the world.
But in his veins flowed the blood of one
who had learned the true worth of
honest sweat, f1rmneSS of purpose and
clear vision, and of another who had
despised ShallowneSS, deceit and ostenta-
ton.
Works His Way to Fame.
Just as the ORDERLY hamnerinc of tho
Iowa blacksmith bent steel to the pur-
poses OF its master, Herbert Hoover
modeStly but determinedly, has been
hammering himself a niche in the hall
OF fame. In the clamor of the crowd
the telling blows at times passed almost
unnoticed. But the blows were taking
effect.
Hoover has put his theory of hard
work and organization to supreme test
IN the presidential campaign Just ended.
He had tried it out successfully as
young mining engineer, as a world-re-
spected humanitarian and as a states
man. None gainSaid the practicability of
such theory as applied to engineering,
relief work or governmental administra-
ton.
Apply such homely philosophy to
politics?
The multitude smiled and shook its
kdSDGQ,
1t could not be done. Politics, it was
argued, is peculiar science, Outlines
demanding of its followers a sacrifice
OF personal dif1dence, conflicting stand
ards OF character and distaste of make
believe.
Hoover Not Politician.
Hoover, not being a politician in any
sense of the word, could not get the
Cxysnxv Nsx.A II
much for politicians and their ways,
anyhow. He had pet theory of his
own about getting ahead in this world,
politics to the contrary Notwithstanding
He had proved that theory to be work.
able hundreds of times in the past. He
had hammered his way into college and
to his degree through, hard work. He
had hammered his way to the pinnacle
Of engineering affluence without sacri-
flcing one iota of his reputation. His
constant, compelling pounding away at
to him worldwide fields of opportunity
and hitherto unfathomed spheres of
public service.
He determined to try out his proven
theory in the field of politics.
It was with some feeling Of reluctance.
however, that the then Secretary of
Commerce decided to acquiesce to the
swelling tide of popular demand that
he present himself as a candidate for
the highest Office in the power of his
country to bestow He weighed the
question in his mind for months before
he acceded to the pleas of his friends.
Perhaps he felt that his pet ideas about
equality of opportunity-hi somewhat
oid-faShioned theories about American
individualism-were being challenged.
Wlseacres Discount Boom.
Political wiseacres winked when the
Hoover boom was launched, prior 10 the
Kansas City convention
Presidential candidates, they con-
tended, were made, not born. 1t might
be all right to talk of the "unbounded
hope" with which free citizens OF the
United States may look forward to the
White House and way points, but poll
ticians know that candidates are select
ed at those mysterious am. huddles
in a hotel room just before the roll
call Of the morrow.
HE doesn't stand a chance. The
politicians are against him" Those
were the statements going the rounds
at Kansas City last Spring.
But Hoover's friends trained in the
Hoover methods of getting things done,
were beating an memorable, diStracting
tattoo on the craniumS of Republican
leaders. Adopting Hoover plans Of or
ganization, the thought was hammered
into their brains that 1T must be
Hoover" There was little ballyhoo to
the Hoover pre-convention boom, but
lots of systematic, forceful, constructive
campaigning, nevertheless.
Candidate Declines to Talk.
Hoover himself maintained a char
acteriStic silence. He explained he was
in the hands of his friends. Since he
possessed the widest circle of loyal
friends, perhaps, of any man in Amer
lea, it may be seen this was well
considered statement. Organization
again had gained him this valuable
asset of friendship. Any one who had
ever worked with Hoover in any OF
his far-flung national and international
relief enterprises-from the Boxer up
rising. through the World War and to
the Mississippi food emergency-be-
came a Hoover booster. The Hoover
enthusiasm and loyalty we're con-
tagious.
Insidiously the hard-boiled politicians
found themselves, to their own amaze
nent, repeating the crescendo chorus
who But Hoover?" It was just beyond
comprehension, somehow, but what can
one do in the face Of such overwhelm-
ing odds?
Hoover, as all the world knows, re-
the first ballot, something almost un-
heard of in modern political history.
The first step in what had beer
regarded in Informed" circles as ar
impossible undertaking had been nego-
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