Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-19
HOOVER'S PRESTIGE
SAVED IN CRISIS
Presidents Foes ConCede
Master Strokes, Though
lust in Nick of Time.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.
Herbert Hoover is by way of estab-
fishing his qualities as political leader
in contradistinction to his already ac-
knowledged talents as an executive ana
and organizer. The manner in which
he has taken the bull by the horns in
the business crisis and the formation OF
the Young Guard" In the Senate are
conceded even by the Presidents foes TO
be a master stroke. They are so de-
scribed, even though each was mace IN
the nick Of time. The net result Is an
unuuestionable enhancement OF admin
istration prestige at the moment 1t had
reached about the lowest point touched
since March 4.
Mr.. Hoover in neither case had q day
to lose. All over the country there were
rumblings that, however detached the
Federal Government might be from the
causes Of the Wall Street crash, II could
not continue to stand ndeflnitey WIN
folded arms and see things go COM
pletely to smash. The President,
whether moved by these arguments ana
complaints or not. determined to act.
Conference Is Result.
The consequence is this weeks mo-
mentous and impressive gathering OF
the Nations foremost business captains
at the White House for consultation and
conference on the economic situation.
The psychological effect of their pres
ence in Washington can hardly be over
estimated.
THE "mess" (Senator Jim WatSon's
epitome of affairs in the Senate) into
which Hoover'S purely political for
tunes had deRenerated was as chaotic
as conditions in Wall Street. November,
1929, marks only the first anniversary
of the Presidents landslide victory,
which carried both him and the Re-
publican party into power by unprece-
dented majorities. Yet at that early
stage Of Hoover'S executive career he
found himself as powerleSS to impose
his will on majority" of his own
organization as If he were Democratic
President asking a Republican Congress
to carry out his policies. Ducks and
brakes were played with White House
programs right and left.
The Senate Republican finance COM
mittee reported tariff bill which went
even further than the Hawley House
bill in ignoring the Presidents recon-
mendations for limited" changes in In
dustriaI rates. Things came to a pass
whereby a coalition of minority Demo-
Gratis and Republican Progressive in
surgents was COMFORTING itself more in
consonance with Hoover tariff views
than his own So-called regular sup
porters. It is true that the coalition de-
fed the Presidents wishes on the fiex-
ible tariff and on farm debenture. But
In the determination to keep industrial
rates within limited bounds, while
giving the cream Of tariff revision to
agriculture, the Democratic Republican
Progressive alliance was miles nearer
the Hoover position than the g. o. p.
StalwartS In the Senate could bring
themselves to be.
Young Guard Enters.
At this stage the 'young guard"
bers Of the Senate serving their first
terms in that body. Ostensibly acting
entirely of their own bat, the "young
guard is operating along strict Hoover
lines. It is carrying out the presi-
dental injunction of a fortnight ago
to leave no stone unturned to get
action" on the tariff BILL at the special
session, If possible, or, If impossible,
as early in the regular session as con-
ditions permit The young guard" Is
proceeding on the principle that the
Republican party, following the tre-
mendouS vote of confidence it received
from the electorate in 1928, cannot
afford to be discredited by the failure
of Congress to function as recommend
ed by the tftuIar leader OF the party
the President Of the United States.
That Herbert HooVer's hand has been
the directing force behind the young
guard" move to retrieve the G. 0. P.'s
prestige in the tariff controversy is rec
ognized in all well informed quarters.
That the President is prepared to let
this new group of administration
spokesman in the Senate make certain
compromises in the interest of an
agreement on the Hawley-Smoot bill Is
widely believed, though not definitely
known.
Hardly any one thinks Hoover will
countenance compromise which would
include acceptance of the farm de-
benture, though concessions concerning
the technical operation of the flexible
system are considered possible.
A powerful force working in the adj
illustrations favor, and to which the
young guard" is not blind, is that the
Western Republican progressive mem
beers, with reelection campaigns in 1880
confronting many of them, are not
anxious for agricultural tariff revision
to fail. Their acknowledged desire for
legislation opens up various avenues Of
hope.
(copyright, 1925