Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-04
The New Chief Magistrate.

the New ChleI magistrate.
On this day, appointed by the law,
the United States of America changes
its Chief Executive. 1t undergoes a
revolution, peaceful and by a process
established at the beginning of the ma
tional existence. BY virtue OF a vote
of the people, cast In accordance with
the mandate Of the trainers OF the
Constitution, q man has been named
10 take the office of President, replacing
him who has served his allotted term.
The people did not in theory vote d.
rectly for this new Executive, but for
electors. who IN turn chose him. But
IN fact the intervening process Of dele
gateship has become-has been, In fact,
almost from the beginning-a fiction.
when in November the voters expressed
BY 0 majority of several millions pref
erence for Herbert Hoover as the next
President no power existed in the law
TO keep him from taking the oath and
assuming the duties of the office.
Thirty-five times the people Of the
United States have thus cast their
ballots and declared their preferences
for the presidency. Save for slight
alteration of method, to prevent con-
fusion. this process remains as 1t was
established in 1889. And save in q
single instance, in 1851, it has since
that time operated without such con-
fusion or uncertainty of result. The
great experiment Of the founders OF
the Republic, that of intrusting the
selection of the Chief Magistrate of
the Nation to the votes of the people,
has succeeded.
Today, in obedience to the will of
the people 50 plainly and emphatically
expressed IA November, Herbert Hoover
takes the oath of officc IS President Of
the United States. while Charles Curtis
becomes Vice President. There is no
feeling Of uncertainty regarding their
qualifications or their abilities. Both
are men tried and tested in Official
capacities. Both step forward along
the path Of experience into new roles
for which their past performances have
lifted them.
President Hoover has been called the
hast equipped man who has ever been
chosen for the great ONCE which he
assumes today. He has served for
eight years In highly responsible posi-
tion. as administrator Of Federal de-
partment which vitality concerns the
economic and industrial life of the
people. He has in that work displayed
exceptional powers Of judging the
capacities Of other men, and Of choos-
ing aides and agents highly qualified to
carry on the Governments business.
He has shown the possession Of keen
knowledge Of affairs, national and In
ternational. He has established an I'M
usual record Of indefatigable industry.
In preparation for his administration
Of the Nations business for the coming
four years. President Hoover has chosen
for his cabinet ten men Of pronounced
ability. It Is plain, from what Is known
Of them. that these men will serve him.
and through him the Nation, with the
utmost loyalty. Their qualifications for
their several assignments are either
fully demonstrated by past perform
ances in the same positions or clearly
shown by their accomplishments in
other lines, in public or private ae-
tivities. The Hoover cabinet impresses
the country as fully in keeping, in point
Of ability, with the capacity Of the
President for his new responsibility.
This peaceful revolution. this change
Of leaders within the law. finds the
American people uplifted with conf
dence In the soundness Of the system
OF government under which they live.
They feel that the Judgment they rem
dered In November was the right one
They believe that the problems confront
ing them, economic, legal and social,
viii be attacked in spirit Of courageous
honesty by an Executive who has shown
by his acts heretofore and by his decla-
rations In speech a sense of dedication
TO the highest principles Of humanity
With such an equipment Of knowledge
and character and experience, and with
such confidence on the part Of the
people whom he today takes oath to
serve to the best Of his ability. Herbert
Hoover should succeed In his task,
should make record Of one Of Amer
tea's greatest Presidents.