Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01

ed by more dlfHeult problems than he
has met in these two years. MIR. Hoover
inherited q cleavage of long standing
in his own party. The economic prob
lens Of the whole world, as they Affect
| ed and involved our wide-fiung inter-
ests, were laid on his doorstep. The
heavens refused TO rain on . section of
the country that had alreaay suffered
and been impoverished by too much
water few years previous. A new con-
cept Of government involving the sup
port of the people by the Government,
instead Of the support Of the Govern.
ment by the people, was being constant
ly promoted by those who appealed to
the self-interest of their audiences Be-
| cause he refused to yield he was openly
charged as being hard-hearted by men
who knew that the world recognized
him as its most humane personality
today.
On the floor of the Senate he was
gravely charged with having more SYM
pathy for foreign people than his own,
because he had answered the call of
Woodrow Wilson to administer the fund
when Wilson as President had requested
| 500 ,000, 900 to feed Europe, which was
threatened with starvation because Of
the collapse of the entire economic fab
ric as well as the hopeless confusion Of
governmental processes due to war.
Systematic campaigns were carried
on to bring about REIMBURSEMENT of
our Just claim Of billions of dollars
loaned to foreign countries when they
| were in peril. It was urged upon the
President that this would promote our
own prosperity by increasing foreign
purchasing power-ignoring and diSre-
garding the fact that our own people
would be obliged to repay billions Of
dollars in the form of wartime bonds.
A policy of reduce taxes, increase ex-
penditures, issue bonds, borrow from
Peter to pay Paul. was urged, regard
less of ultimate financial consequences
to the Nation. stop or slow up paying
the war debt" was another proposition
advocated.
Many q man with much more ex-
perience in public ONCE, with much
more political experience than Mr.
Hoover, might have been led from the
path of duty and right by such urgings
such pleas, such arguments, such
threats of political reprisal and ven-
geance for failure to take heed. Party
disruption was threatened, attempted.
On every side President Hoover was
surrounded by critics and enemies.
Systematic commercialized utilization
was practiced.
Through all the clamor and confu-
sion of attack Mr.. Hoover has steered q
straight course, guided by two beacons
his sense Of right and Of public duty
and the fundamental principles Of the
party that has endured 20 years In 3
position of leadership.
On the liability side It may be said
that President Hoover has had con-
fiicts with Congress. So did washing
ton, Lincoln, Jackson, Roosevelt, Wilson
and Coolidge, to mention but few Of
our Presidents.
Depression Dealt with.
Charged against Mr.. Hoover Is la
bility Is the business depression and Its
consequent unemployment. But has
any President ever dealt more broadly,
effectively and successfully with sim
liar unavoidable condition? Nation
wide organization of industry and labor
was made to minimize distress and
speed the day Of recovery. Strikes and
lockoutS have been reduced to one
tenth the level reached in the last pre-
vious economic adjustment. Wages
have been held to O high level, hours
Of work q day kept from extension and
even shortened. Relief agencies have
been better organized, better supplied
with funds than ever before.
Against the tnsidious and persistent
effort to make the Government every
mans keeper, President Hoover has
taken a firm stand with such words as
these, words that have guided his own
action despite criticism and savage
attack:
THE true growth Of the Nation is
the growth of character in its citizens.
The spread of government destroys ini-
tiative and thus destroys character.
Character Is made in the community Is
well as in the individual by assuming
responsibilities, not by escape from
them. Carried to its logical extreme, all
this shouldering of individual and COM
munity responsibility upon the Govern
ment cen lead but to the superstate
where every man becomes the servant
OF the State and real liberty Is lost
Such was not the Government that Lin
coin sought to build"
And so, as the first half of his FIRST
term of Office ends, President Hoover's
own strength Of character, Of will, Of
determination is more apparent than
ever before. Those who at the begin
ming Of his term whispered that he was
weak" have long since abandoned that
line Of attack; his strength Of mind and
character Is too apparent. Without
rancor or vindictiveness, he follows the
path of principle hewed by the leaders
of the party who preceded him in the
presidency, but with O distinctive and
distinguishing ability to accomplish
what is needed for the Nation that has
rarely been equaled.
The first and most essential quality
Of leadership. political or otherwise, Is
strengthen mind, of courage, of ideals.
And this is the great Hoover asset; the
asset that will bring lasting profit to the
Nation in the two years ahead-gain of
material prosperity and gain Of national
ideals.