The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-02-28

| HERBERT HOOVER
he saw in business, means of max
! ing political machinery count for
world of greater happiness and wider
opportunity for humankind.
That motive has animated men who
have done more harm than good in
the world. 1t is usually linked with
lack of practical sense. 1t often in
spires men with patent processes for
making the world over in a night thru
some device of economic or political
legerdermain. Men with their eyes
on the stars usually walk into some
bog and drown and draw others after
them. 1t is often affected by dema-
gogues who publicly profess love for
the people in order that they may ex-
plot the people for personal advan-
tage. 1t is often proclaimed by fan
atics whose real inspiration is not a
love for humanity, but class hatred
The world has a right to be suspic-
ious of men who loudly proclaim their
love of the people. They are mostly
Missionaries or counterfeits. Herbert
Hoover does not wear his heart on his
sleeve either in politics or private life
and he does not megaphone his ideal
of service. But he lives it. That is
better.
| Now what are Mr.. Hoover's quail
fcations for making his ideal real
ity? No more practical minded man
has ever come to the presidency. His
profession is that of engineer. That
was side line with two other presi-
dents: Washington and Lincoln. Lin
coin was surveyor and an inventor;
he studied Euclid to make his think
ing exact. Washington was land
surveyor who took an active interest
in engineering projects such as the
building of canals and highways. An
engineer is pre-planner who must
know, not guess, what materials will
do when they are put together. Pol
itical and economic doctrinaires do a
fiourishing business in showing fancy
blue prints of structures that may
cave in before half finished, if ever
started at all. President Hoover will
be no revolutionary. He will build
carefully, but surely.
81 H.
rather than the inexact sciences, Mr.
Hoover has a respect for facts. The
extent to which he acquires and as
Stimulates them impresses everyone
| who discusses a problem with him.
Men who consider themselves, and are
experts is given lines, are often as
tonished to find that Mr.. Hoover can
match his knowledge with theirs in
their own special fields.
Respect for facts involves willing
ness to give up a belief if the facts
interfere with holding it. Therefore
Mr.. Hoover bears no label, such as
conservative" or radical" liberal"
or "reactionary." Such labels involve
preconceptions which facts often can
not overcome; and they are often
,, greatly misapplied.
The explanation of Mr.. Hoover's
| mastery of facts is found in his I'M
usual power of concentration. He
works long hours, but what is more
| important, he does not waste his time.
Few of US utilize very much of the
time we are supposed to employ in
serious work. Most of US would be
surprised if we could be confronted
with the record of our wasted mo-
ments. Mr.. Hoover's callers do not
have their time or his wasted by the
usual small talk about nothing in par
ticular. While listening, Mr.. Hoover
often occupies himself with drawing
geometrical designs on piece of
paper. His mind, however, is not on
that job, but in digesting what is said
to him, without diversion through
gazing out of a window or watching
the gestures or facial expressions of
the speaker. Mr.. Hoover has lively
sense of humor, but he spends no time
in persiflage. He spends as little
time as possible on the meaningless
formalities of society" The only
amusement he cares much for is oc-
casional outdoor activities, especially
| fishing.
Mr.. Hoover has little audacity;
some of his friends think too little.
Audacity, however, does not go with
engineering. He does not under