Evening star., 1932-10-23

direct contact itself.
BY way of the microphone. Presidents-elect
and their party supporters stand within the
hearing of 100 900 900 people Mr. Hoover HIM
self is now giving such direct returns on MS
first term as Chief Executive, making disclosure
also of further plans already on their way Oh
fulfillment Mr. RooseI elt too by the same
marvellous means OF self-pros section is submit
ting for airwide approval ard acceptance pro-
grams and promises of a Democratic party IN
power.
The atmosphere itself is for the moment pure
politics One is likely to turn in natural
curiosity therefore, toward other presidential
campaigns and candidates. toward other po-
Gtical turning points of the country. Unluckily
no radio of reminiscent mood and powers is
available But there are always books. And
after ALL good book is hard to beat
Here is a good book about one former Presi-
dent Mr. Taft A good book because it Is
staunchly backed by fund of fact that Is both
authentic and direct in its bearing 1t Is simple
and unpretentous Pleasantly anecdotal in
part it is thoroughly substantial in its analysis
Of both the measure and value of William How
ard Taft's public service as trained and COM
petent official, as man of high character and
kindly heart At the moment is likely to
set aside geographic routine of birth, ancestry,
youth upbringing and so on Inclined, rather,
to hasten toward the period in Mr.. 1afts lie
corresponding to the one now uppermost in
common concern. tempestuous political pc
ROD that one also. The monster of monopoly
menacng the country, calling for ST.
George of deliverance. The office of House
Speaker was developing tyranny inimical to
free legislation. Feelings were bitter. Parties
split Lifelong friends became bitter political
foes. The of undertaking set in. 1t is an
Did story.
Summing up the difficulties that beSet the ad-
ministration of President Taft the author cites
in fashion Presidents
power to meet and in large measure to sur
mount them. He quotes from various writer's OF
political importance to the effect that Mr.. Taft
was better equipped lin many ways for the
high Office and more familiar with the duties
of that administrative role than any other
President. As Secretary of War, Civil Governor
of the Philippines Solicitor General Of the
United states, and in other important judicial
capacities, the training of Mr.. Taft for public
life comes impresSively forward in such sur
vey The outstanding work Of this President
is summed in the progressive legislation Of his
first Congress, in his enforcement of antitrust
laws in the changes worked by him in the
Supreme Court. History all but offered rather
in the spirit of narrative than in the hnpersonal
recordings of historic event. full photography
follows the study itself. There is index.
Any book designed to give substantial mforma-
ton and to invite study suffers distinct loss
through the omission of this valuable source
N nelpIuuleSS "A minor pOlIlt HdyDe Ohe Aot
to be named, perhaps, where otherwise so much
of usefulness is given. But it is not a minor
point to readers who students also.
GODS GOLD: The story of Rockefeller and his
times. BY John T. Flynn. New York:
Harcourt B~aro =
DY the end OF the y. - W..r Americas buSi-
u ness method was ready for the Junk pile.
rTV,1 sat4 ~4T4 Df hot 4l0v,
was to bring revolution to the economic situa-
ton of the South. revolution that passed
slave labor over to the free list and that forced
industrial adjustment upon the planters of that
section. An effect that turned great bodies of
volunteer soldiers, war survivors, back into
peaceful industry. Meanwhile immigrants are
arriving, Emigrants are stringing their wagon
trains Westward, under the lure of cheap land
and free land Settlements are squatting along
the way. A gold rush to California builds other
settlements of the less adventurous and more
easily disheartened The discovery of oil in the
East gives added flip to the general movement.
After the war railroads set in they, too. helping
to populate areas along their lines Tremendous
activity of business for its time. And the old
ways would no longer do. dozen little shops,
or factories, where one could supply local de-
mands, were sheer waste and disorder, and the
sharp practices of competition, with its trickery
and cruelty and complete studpity became un-
bearable. An average housekeeper even, look
ing vaguely comparable scene in her
own domain would begin to clean up the mess
at once, working order out of dsarray and
confusion. And at that very time of complete
business inadequacy Of purpose and plan
housekeeper was in the making.
Out in Cleveland young office fellow, John
Rockefeller, was poring over accounts on week
days and on Sundays devoting himself to the
pious practices of his Baptist Sunday school
and church service. A silent, thrifty, unplay-
full lad whose moments of appeared to be
only a deeper absorption in setting things out
in order in keeping matters straight Not