Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-09
Firmly in the Saddle,


Hoover's administration Of affairs in
Washington is meeting with the ap-
proval Of the people back home" is
given by Senator Simeon D. Fess OF
Ohio, who has spent the congressional
recess in the Buckeye State. Praise for
Mr.. Hoover comes not alone, however,
from this stalwart Republican member
Of the Senate. Senator Burton K
Wheeler of Montana, a Democrat and
also one of the progressive group IN the
Senate, holds no brief for Mr.. Hoover,
nor does he approve of everything that
Mr.. Hoover does or recommends as
President. But Senator Wheeler never
theleSs believes in giving praise where
he considers it due. For the attitude of
the President In meeting the new Brit
fish Labor government half way for the
consideration of further naval limita-
ton, the Montana Senator has only
good words and in an interview frankly
says as much.
Mr.. Hoover has been in the White
House little more than Ave months.
But those months have been signifi-
cantly full Of incidents that indicate
Mr.. Hoover's grasp of public questions
and his grip upon the administration of
the Government. They have been full
Within another ten days, the congress
sional recess, so far as the Senate is
concerned, comes to an end and that
body will be in session again in WASH
1ngton. When Mr.. Hoover called the
Congress into special session on April
IS, little more than month after he
had been inaugurated as Chief Execu
tive, there were dire forebodings of evil.
Nothing but trouble could be expected
Trouble, however, is nothing new to
Mr.. Hoover. Overcoming difficulties has
kept him busy for the greater part of
his life. And he has overcome them.
The first Of the problems on the list
which confronted the new President
was farm relief legislation. 1t was a
nut which his predecessor had striven
in vain to crack. But the farm relief
bill Is now a law, and the Federal Farm
Board Is already at work. The farmers
Of the country seem perfectly willing to
let the new President and the new law
have a fair trial. The Presidents ap-
peal for the passage of this law was in
effect a demand that start be made
at last to aid the farmer. He did mot
close the door to further measures OF
aid If they become necessary. The en-
pi1asis was laid on the need Of getting
under way in dealing with a problem
that has hung over the Nation for
decade. And so 1t was in the matter OF
getting something done about further
naval limitation. The President took 1t
upon himself to suspend-temporari
the construction of three cruisers
authorized by Congress, after Premier
Ramsay Macdonald of Great Britain
had announced the desire of his gov
eminent for naval limitation and also
the suspension Of construction on three
naval vessels. Mr.. Hoover has been
criticized in some quarters on the
ground that he did not have authority
in law to suspend construction of the
three cruisers.
But here again Mr.. Hoover has CIV
en- an indication of his desire to get
things done, and done in a practical
way. His Interpretation of the law IS
that he has authority to halt the build
ing Of these ships temporarily. If there
is opportunity to bring about an agree
want for naval liy,oitotioY3 EJa has MT
thrown overheard the idea of parity Of
naval strength with Great Britain. Far
from it, for that Is what Mr.. Hoover
believes in. But he prefers to making
a beginning Of considering the question
of naval limitation with Britain, and
the friendly gestures made by himself
and Ramsay Macdonald have been of
value. The American people, it may be
predicted with assurance, will back up
the President in this attitude.
The croakers still continue to visual
lie trouble for Mr.. Hoover over the
tariff bill. The passage Of tariff act
means work and frequently trouble.
Despite the croakers, the prospects Of
q tariff bill more nearly meeting the
Presidents recommendation for Tim
tied tariff revision" are growing
brighter.
The country has as its Chief Execu-
tive q constructive worker. II the rec
ord Of accomplishment of the first few
months Of his administration are to
be considered forecast of what is to
come, the record will be long before the
close of this administration three and a
half years hence. The presidential no
vitiate may be said to be at an end.