Evening star., 1931-06-16
The Hoovey Plan.

diana Republican editors and several
thousands of their guests last night,
proposed an American plan," a twen-
ty.year plan. looking to development in
this country to care for an added 2o,-
100000 Of population within the next
score Of years. He preached courage
and common sense. He refused to be
stampeded by the ioea OF the Russian
five-year plan, with the Soviet govern
ment of that country practically max
ing serfs of the great body Of the peo-
pie in the effort. The plan Mr.. Hoover
outlined is strictly American and is In
accordance with American Ideals, look
ing to the people themselves, not the
Federal Government. as the instru-
mentality to put the plan across sue
cessfully.
I'VE plan," said Mr.. Hoover, 'to take
care Of 100000 increase in popula-
ton in the next twenty years. We plan
to build for them 100000 new and
better homes. Thousands Of new and
still more beautiful city buildings,
thousands of factories; to increase the
capacity OF our railways; to add thou
sands of. miles Of highways and water
ways; to install 25,000.Oo0 electrical
horsepower; to grow 20 per cent more
farm products. We plan more
leisure for men and women and better
opportunities for Its employment.
|" We plan to secure q greater
diffusion of wealth. a decrease in pow
erty and great reduction in crime"
The plan as it was unfolded by the
Chief Executive was cheered by the
diners. as 1t will be cheered by millions
of Americans throughout the country
who heard it over the radio or who
read it in the newspapers: He pointed
the way to greater effort on the part
Of the American people and pictured
the great record they have made in the
past. But the Americans of today must
have courage, he warned, as did the
Americans of century ago when they
started on their great adventure, the de-
velopment of huge new country. we
are suffering" the President said, more
from frozen confidence than from frozen
credits" calling attention to the lag in
industry and business effort He made
no attempt to minimize the depression
which has had this country In its grip
for nearly two years. But he urged
American business men to take their
courage-and their money-in their
hands and to venture forth again. The
whole country must realize now that
there Is tremendous amount of wealth
stored away, timid wealth, which If
occupied would give employment to the
millions who are now out of work.
The President urged his fellow coun-
trymen to remain steadfast against
foreign nostrums and panaceaS which
have been advanced In some quarters
In this country as cure for the Ills
which now beset America. The condi-
tionS which confront the Nation today,
he said, are due in large measure to
the depressed state in which the world
finds itself. America, he said, should
lead the way out Of the valley.
During his address the President en-
tered defense of the tariff Jaw, which
has been aSsailed by his Democratic
opponents over a period of many
months. He asked why it vas con-
sidered necessary to break down the
walls which give projection to Ameri-
can labor and the American farmer
at the instance, not only Of the Demo-
ocrats, but of the foreign nations where
cheap labor and the farmer are eager to
compete in the great American mar
ket. 1t is a question which the Demo-
Gratis will And il difficult to answer in
the campaign next year, IL they persist
in their demand for a revision Of the
tariff downward. No more convincing
statement of lhe Republican tariff pol
icy has been advanced than that put
forward by the President last night.
Proposals that the Federal Govern
ment, instead of American industry,
should undertake through a huge build
ing program, through entrance itself
into business, to bring about return
OF employment and prosperity in this
country, were attacked by the Presi-
dent as unsound. And he was right.
But to any student Of the situation it
must become apparent that If the in
dustry of this country does not gather
its courage and employ its brains in
advancing and carrying on q program
such as that outlined by the President,
there will be an ever-increasing demand
that the Government itself enter upon a
program. President Hoover urged that
the Government confine itself to the
protection Of the citizens In their own
right Of development, in opposition to
the proposal that it go much further
and provide employment and the very
means of livelihood for the citizen.
Once the Government undertakes such
q plan, 1t becomes not the servant of
the individual citizens, but their master.
The Hoover plan is an American
plan. 1t will strike an answering chord
in the breast of America.
No member Of the Merchants and