The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-06-06
HOOver's Leadership

From the maneuvering In congress and at the
White House regarding the bion-dolIar tariff bill
u Is clear that too many handling this as a
partisan political matter instead OF menace to ma
tonal prosperity and international peace
Most OF this week has been spent by the senate
IN futile moves for partisan advantage. The Re-
publican old guard plumbers back and forth. The
Democrats are unable to maintain solid front of
opposition, because minority are almost as high
tariff advocates as Grunoy, and because another
group is on the fence.
The latter group Of Democrats dsapproves the bill
IN principle. But they want suicidal tariff law as
q November campaign issue. Therefore they want
10 sent to the White House by Republican votes and
signed by the President
But they not be certain that the President
will sign it, If it is to be killed, they want the
Democratic party to get the credit If the President
were to veto it, he not only would get the political
credit but the Democrats would be robbed of their
best campaign issue. So they don't know whether
to take chance and let the bill slip through in
the hope that the President will sign it, or to kill
the bill before it gets to the President.
Such considerations may seem important to the
politicians of both parties, but to the public which
has risen in unprecedented protest against the
ure, they seem little better than petty intrigues
The President has not helped matters. His latest
contribution is announcement that he is OPEN
minded
No leader could have heavier responsibility for
action than Hoover has today. AS President it is
his duty to prosperity at home and friend
ship abroad. This bill jeopardzes prosperity and has
started trade war and hatred abroad In such
emergency it is the clear duty of Hoover to condemn
this menace for what it is.
He has an added duty party leader He and
his party elected on the basis of definite plat
form pledge and Hoover's campaign speeches
against any general tariff increase. His party in
congress has betrayed that pledge. BY remaining
silent he has-wittingy Northumberland to
approve the betrayal
It can not be said that the President should keep
hands OF while the bill is pending in congress. He
has interviewed repeatedly He interviewed in calling
the special tariff session. He interviewed against the
farm debentue provision. He interviewed against the
senate flexible provision
There is nothing to prevent his intervening against
the bill as a whole with its extortionate rates Moth
ing unless he is willing violate his campaign pledge
and sign the bill Indeed. that is precisely his posi-
tion according to the old guard.
Now In the midst of all this dangerous uncer-
tahlty-when a frank repetition of his warning of a
year ago would kill the bill in congress-the President
announces he is keeping an open mind.
What is there to be open-minded about? He can
be for or against, but why should he be undecided
at this late day2 The bill has been debated for
than year. Virtually all the thousand-odd iniquitous
rate increases have been fixed and publicly known
for several weeks.
Representatives and senators have had plenty of
time to study the rates and make up their minds.
Hundreds of newspapers have had time to study the
rates and make up their minds The 1923 leading
economists who protested have had time to study the
rates and make UP their minds.
The time for indecision is past Those who are
pt against the bill are for it. Silence now means
proyal. Indeeision INV means support
Hoofer.is leader, he VIII lead now.