The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-08-01
FIVE MONTHS OF HOOVER

President Hoover has been in office
for less than five months. His record
is one of quiet but extensive accom-
plishment. Whatever expectations
may have been entertained of the ad-
ninistration of an executive of such
large prior accomplishments, no reas-
enable person believed that his pro-
gram for national advancement would
produce overnight results. Years are
not too long a time in which to work
out comprehensive plans for perma-
nent betterment. But in less than half
a year enough has been done to prove
that given reasonable time and proper
support in Congress, President Hoover
will fully fulfill the expectations of
those who believed that his Inaugural
ton would usher in new and brigh-
ter era in national government.
In less than five months farm re-
lief measure in conformity with the
pledges of President Hoover have been
enacted and put into operation under
the direction of a board of experts of
national reputation along agricultural
and general economic lines. Properly
enough the activities of this board are
now centered upon a quick review of
conditions preliminary to mapping a
practical course of action. The proper
approach is being made to the difficult
question of prohibition and the broader
question of general law enforcement
and observance through commission
which because of its personnel COM
mands general confidence. Curtail-
ments have already been made in ma
tional expenditures, and a survey of
this field is in progress which undoubt-
eddy will result in reorganization of
the executive departments along the
line of greater efficiency and econo-
my. Oil conservation, which so many
politicians and industrialists have been
talking about, but doing nothing about,
is on the way toward realization, and
oil scandals, the chief provendor of
political scandalmongers for a decade,
has been made impossible by changes
in land-leasing regulations. A tariff
measure which will give needed and
Just relief to American industries suf
fering from unfair foreign cheap-la-
Dor competition, and which will give to
foYY11a1c foII, Iolou N fhnlT
own home market, is nearing compile
ton, and despite the cutlery of those
who may always be depended on to
take the alien side of any domestic
auction, this law, when passed, will
erect some additional protective bar
riers between the foreign low stand
ard and the American home standard
of wages and living. Foreign relations
have been distinctly improved, and
there are signs abroad of more reas-
enable and friendly attitude toward
the United States both in France and
England; undoubtedly the worldwide
prestige of President Hoover prior to
his election as President is a factor of
Importance in this improvement.
There is some sniping at the Hoover
administration, as might have been
expected. On the political and pat
ronage side of the administration,
there has been some disappointment
and complaint. But the primary in
terest of the people is not in personal
politics or in patronage. President
Hoover will be judged by the effect of
his administrative policies on national
economic and social conditions. So far
these have been such as to strengthen
him with the people. Today American
industry is running with record break
ing swiftness and steadiness. Unem-
ployment is diminishing. Wages
measured in purchasing power of the
dollar are higher than they have ever
been before in the United States, and
much higher than they have ever been
in any other country. The shibboleths
of demagogues are getting thread
bare, and their output is attracting
less than the usual amounts of re-
spectful attention, though carried in
great volume by the public press, a
large section of which does not under
stand that this sort of thing does not
command the old-time popularity.
Those who circulate among the peo-
ple-and fortunately members of Con-
gress have been so circulating during
the past few weeks-know that Presi-
dent Hoover's strength with the great
mass of every day people is even
greater than at the time of his inau-
guration. The people intend to give
President Hoover a fair trial in his
effort to put good intentions and gen.