Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-26
HOOVER POLICIES
PRAISED BY SHAW
Letter EIucidating Term
"American System" Speaks
of High Standards.

An calculation of the term "the
American system" as used twice during
the 1928 presidential campaign by
President Hoover ana again by him
during the Kings Mountain ceremonies
recently, was offered. yesterday by
Leslie M. Shaw, Secretary of the
Treasury under President Mckinley
and President Roosevelt, in q letter to
Senator FesS, chairman Of the Repub-
lican National Committee. Mr.. Shaw
saw the term as the policy and results
OF protective tariff as practiced by the
Republican party, adding q plea to "the
sober minded in this time of stress. to
cast party overheard and walk the
mountain ranges with Hoover"
Mr.. Shaw's letter read in part:
1T will bear repeating that only in
America does industry know, and no.
where else is agriculture capable of
learning, that the American pay roll Is
the American market. It is estimated
that 80 per cent Of the purchasing power
OF our people comes directly or indirect
~ from the rewards Of industry, paid at
stated intervals like wages, salaries and
commissions. So when in 1929 utter
chaos seemed imminent and Mr.. Hoover
warned the captains of production and
transportation that the wage scale must
not be cut. nor the standards of living
well nigh universal cooperation.
Time Cut, Wage Same.
In some places men are now work
ing but three days q week, yet the
wage scale remains the same. Few
have been discharged, and all others
know their jobs, ct the old scale Of
wages, are secure when prosperity re-
turns. Hence we have had no labor
RtTfKAe rVSa.s
Is but part Of the American system
to which the President delights to refer.
In Germany the government has
oroereo reduction in the wage scale,
and that seems to be the policy every
Wnere except in America Whether
present tariff rates will prove suficient
to protect against this foreign system
OF lowering wage scales and Increasing
hours OF labor no man can safely pre-
dict. If it does we are safe. II It does
not, God only knows.
Democrats say Mr.. Hoover has no
remedy for unemployment. That rs a
noei. Pre-emtnent among his remedies
Is the preservation of the wage scale
ana our high standard Of living
Shortening hours, and even DAYS If
necessary, but preserve the wage scale
every one feel that his future Is ever
In the mind Of his Government and his
employer: This, coupled with the
promise In every Republican platform,
from the birth Of the party, every do
mestic producer from farm and fac
tory. shall have some slight advantage
in the market he makes, supports, de-
tends with his life and Is equipped In
part to supply. Always in the past
and commerce have made prompt re-
Spouse to correct governmental policies,
and they viii again.
Remedy Of Democrats.
"Democrats also have o remedy for
unemployment, and their leaders make
bold to assert 1t In nearly every speech.
It consists In q prompt reduction ia
tariff rates to the end that we may
import more OF the things our people
now produce. This they say will solve
the unemployment problem. I chal-
lenge any voter to name any other
remedy that has been so much as
squinted at by Democratic orators.
Their platform pledge Is such tariff
duties as viii promote effective for
eign competition Effective competi-
ton is what the corner grocer expert
ences when a chain store opens across
the street
1T would be well for every voter to
take into account the future of his
children. When I was born $3.50 In
vested in plant and equipment fur
>nished employment for one person. To-
day 1t requires an investment of nearly
$4,000 per employe. Unless q parent
can endow his child that child must
find q place upon the pay roll, join an
over-crowded profession or drift into
the ranks Of crime. The preservation
OF the American pay roll Is the out
standing issue Of this campaign, and
invite the sober-minded In this time
of stress to cast party overheard and
walk the mountain ranges with Hoo