Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-16
Hoover Puzzles Politicians

NJ n AAASSAAo
Hoover was deficient in this particular
and ought to be instructed. So he
wrote q small volume comprising cpl
grams bearing upon Washington, poll
ticians and the presidency. which was
intended to school Mr.. Hoover de-
fensively against the formidable array
of skilled politicians who were even
then bent upon blocking his political
advancement
WHAT Country May Expect.
Excerpts from this brochure, Presi-
dent Hoover's comment on 1t and the
subsequent conduct of the Hoover cam
paign and of the administration to date
explain much Of the present disconcer-
ton of some politicians and throws
light at least on what the country may
expect in the way of politics from the
President.
Among politicians jungle rules gov
ern in most instances" this political
primer counseled. "If you decide to
lick q man, lick him plenty. Even then
his wife may now take you on.
There's an important time element
in politics. Don't go into intensive
training when limbering-up exercises
will do just as well.
THE sound motorist never permits
himself to be Unanswered into a posi-
ton where the other fellow can play
the fool The sound politician protects
himself alike from his friends and his
enemies.
When politicians need a candidate,
they usually look outside the trade for
their man.
I'm politics performance will outdis-
lance the best press agent.
Make the other fellow come to YOU
and make 1t just little hard for him
to get In.
Always Make Friends.
Never miss chance to make friend
Be gracious without effusiveness. When
you decide to be ungracious, be unmis-
takably ungracious.
Don't carry the ball for the other
fellow unless you know you can score
on the play. The other fellow will
sometimes ungenerously swipe the ball
on the i-yard line and score himself.
Don't surround yourself with adula-
ton. Have some skeptical fellow
around He is a good insurance against
complacency and q safeguard against
the yes man
Remember that public estimates are
not all derived from panegyrics Of
praise. Choose your enemies and con-
spire to have them annihilate you pub
licly on invlllnerable points; then ignore
them.
Don't be a crusader. They never
have q chance to enjoy their monu-
mentS.
Choose your political allies to repre-
sent true cross-sectional influence in
any electorate you desire to impress.
There are few real bosses left in Amer
lean politics.
Women in Politics.
Don't depend too much on the as
surances of women in politics. They
mean we'll, but they are still for the
most part politically inexperienced and
therefore impractical. And they love
them en- maSse.
avoid association with controversies
that contain elements of racial or reli-
giouS prejudice, save only where con-
sideration' of national patriotism out
balances them Enthusiastically. Support
every proposition that has moral issue
or avoid all comment about It, Remem-
Der that most humans are towards
when It comes to morals.
Don't identity yourself with any in
tellectual caste. Always have an ex-
Always differentiate clearly between
labor costs and wages. Never assign
mechanical values to human services.
ut will take you two years to con-
vince a farmer, and two more years to
persuade him, about something you can
sell to q bank president in is minutes.
But the farmer is likely to stay sold,
while the banker goes around the cor
ner and buys a hedge.
Genius Burned ut Stake.
Don't, be a public prodigy. Genius
has been burned at the stake and 1t Is
usually under suspicion.
Candidates are reelected by reason
of things accomplished. But they are
first elected through public belief that
they will be able to accomplish things
yet undone.
Many of our leading citizens mani
fest the same detached interest in poll
tics that they do in their wife's MILL
merry. They invest in one political party
and pay insurance premiums to the
other. This enables them to play golf
with good conscience on election day.
"A large proportion of the population
Of Washington are Thespians. Most of
the rest are stage hands.
ANY man who has to underwrite
more than pro rata share of hts CAM
paign expenses, whatever his resources,
ought to stay out of politics.
Place Bets on Favorite.
1.-THE man bearing the legend of sue
cess does not lack campaign funds.
Most party philanthropists place their
bets on faVorite.
Don't slam doors behind you in pol
itics. 1t Is sometimes awkward to re-
open them, and fire escapes afford I'M
dignified exits
Avoid explanations The best de-
Tense is q counter ATTACK.
while men under emotional stress
will fight and die for ideals, in normal
times the preponderant majority expect
their ideals translated into terms Of
work, bread, business and opportunity.