Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-13
Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.
Member OF the Associated Press.
Trust the Peoplei

Much American history is written In
the form of letters between friends.
The documentary files of government
do not comprise all the records of hap
penings or developments, especially of
the purposes and detectives, the ideals
and motives of executives. Much light
Is thrown upon the policies and prin-
eiples Of officials by their unofficial
correspondence.
A recent exchange Of personal letters,
fortunately available for publication,
between President Hoover and a friend
in Ohio, furnishes just such a medium
Of understanding, valuable to the coun-
try, regarding the concepts of his office
held by the present Chief Executive. It
moreover, in the terms of the Presi-
dents reply, affords an understanding
Of his feeling Of confidence In the ca
pacity of the people to reach sound de-
cisions on matters submitted to their
judgment.
The occasion Of this exchange was
wholly unofficial. DR.. william o.
Thompson, president emeritus OF Ohio
State University, wrote letter express
ing the seasons greetings, with SYM
pathy for the difficulties of the presi-
Dental position and some advice re-
garding the need Of patience and cour-
age In the face of criticism and fault
finding. Mr.. Hoover, in reply, states a
creed Of faith in the good sense Of the
people and their love Of the truth and
their ability to find the truth, despite
the vast clamor Of half-truth and I'M
truth and injured facts" which I'LL the
air and intoxicate the emotions Of the
public.
Referring to Lincoln's great formula"
the President holds that the most i'm
portant one-third is government by
the people" To the end that the people
shall govern themselves, their wishes
and ideas are to be ascertained. But
the President. who is their servant and
their exponent, cannot easily or quickly
ascertain those wishes and ideas. He
must seek them by means of inquiries.
Mr.. Hoover writes to DR.. Thompson:
So you will know why, when you hear
OF more and more temporary COM
mittees, commissions, conferences, re-
searches, that they are not for executive
action (for which they are anathema),
but are one of the sound processes for
the search, production and distribution
OF truth. And they are more. They
spread cooperation with government
among our best citizens, not only In
finding truth, but also they aid to
spread 1t and to get action upon it.
The letter which evoked this reply
was somewhat touched by cynicism, or
perhaps it would be better to say sad
ness. DR.. Thompson has heard "the
empty echoes Of falsehood for which
there Is no excuse" and which the
President should not permit to dis
hearten him even though they discour-
age. The Presidents reply is optimistic.
He looks back over history and gees
periods of either moral, social, eco
noEnic or political Stagnation while the
truth was en- route and some variety Of
untruth occupied the scene" This is
the correct view for any responsible
public official to take, to see present
conditions in the perspective Of political
and social evolution. There was never
o time in the history of man when
there were such facilities for the spread
Of truth, for the exposition of fact and
the development of sound judgment as
today. It is with knowledge and COM
plete understanding Of that fact that
President Hoover writes, as he acts, with
faith in the ultimate judgment Of the
people.