Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-17
BY WILLIAM HARD.

The end of the first fortnight Of the
voyage Of the Hoover administration
finds the captains hand firmly and de-
cisively on the tiller. A lot of people
may not like the course the ship is
steering. Nobody denies that the ship
Is being steered.
Hoover Is on the bridge in oilskins,
and likes the Job. A visitor asked him
how he was enjoying it. He said, "Ill
get the feel Of the ropes In few days, "
and grinned like boy with his first
earned dollar.
The executive wing Of the White
House has an air of easy serenity. The
Presidents desk is as unlittered as 1t
was under Coolidge. The press confer
ences have been Familiarity expanded.
Twice day George Akerson, one Of the
Presidents secretaries. submits himself
to the questionings of the correspond
ents. He is undoubtedly the original
author OF the sentiment that "all is
we'll" He is the only known Norsernan
with an Irish temperament. II all
Scandinavians had been like him Ibsen
would have been ruined through having
no gloom for his plays. Akerson tells
the correspondents the news, morning
and afternoon, with the air Of happy
AuhOiIl6 tiiC OLlWdIus
Lawrence Richey. the Presidents
other secretary, has thrown all the filing
boxes out Of front room and has es-
tablished himself In 1t in spaciousness
and orderliness and peace. He has quiet
and unobtrusive missions He looks aft
er correspondence, but also goes on
political and other deep errands. The
ktan v1a
tary and Richey the black-hand secre-
tary. Akerson is right there in full view
and keeps the sky shining. Richey
tinkers--so to speak-with the insides of
the clock, and carefully pockets the key
to 1t, and radiates genial reticence as
Akerson radiates genial news items.
y Il X
To Mr.. Akerson and Mr.. Richey-as
the third side Of the equilateral tri-
angie Of the Hoover secretariat-is now
added Mr.. Walter H. Newton, recruited
from the House Of Representatives.
where he long has represented the Min
nesota fifth district, situated In Mime
apolis. Mr.. Newton Is thus, in a way,
linked to Mr.. Akerson, who Is a Min
neapolitan. too. His duties In the field
of the organizing and recognizing of
the activities of the Federal Govern
ment's executive departments" and
independent establishments" will de-
mand mind-and a familiar intimacy
with Mr.. Hoover's mind. Mr.. Newton
has both. He is an inside Hooverite."
In the room next to Richey's are three
of the positive pivots Of the administra-
tion--Miss Shankey. Miss McGrath and
Miss Eastman. They have been han
ding Hoover letters for long. long
time. and they could tell everything
and do tell nothing. The beaver Is their
emblem and the clam is their motto.
They are persons Of high character and
of tried character.
In word. Mr.. Hoover has taken with
him into the White House six familiar
faces-six trusted and trustworthy per-
sonalities-Mr. Akerson, Mr.. Richey,
Mr.. Newton, Miss Shankey, Miss Nc
Grath and Miss Eastman-who bring
to him in his new duties all the ease
Of long acquaintanceship and of old
times. There has been no break in the
continuity OF his intimate Official fam
lily" He is no fish out of water. He
has taken the aquarium bowl with him.
This Is characteristic of him and
fundamental to his method. He Is al
ways expanding his contacts. He almost
never drops any of them. He rolls
onward, not like hoop, but like a
SNOWFALL.
Twice week he now prepares him.
self to give answers to inquisitive cor
respondents on major questions Of ma
tional policy. Mr.. Akersons twice-a-
day interviews with the press are dedi-
Gated to immediate Srot news nv
Hoovers twice-a-week conferences are
supposed also to include the possibility
of informing the public on policies and
issues. Through Mr.. Akerson Mr.. Hoo
yer has earnestly and diligently re-
quested the correspondents to write out
for him the deepest questions they can
and please, to write them out "a hours
ahead Of time in order that he NAV
have an evening to give to bordering
them before answering them He takes
this task extremely seriously and he
prepares his answers-his written an
swers-with the most laborious care,
He then, as the public will have noted.