Evening star., 1932-02-20

President Hoovers decision to give up
the practice Of shaking hands with the
great mass Of visitors to the White
House receives hearty commendation
from the press. It is felt that the ply
sical strain resulting in this usless, If
traditional. custom should not be de-
manded by the crowds of Washington
tourists, so numerous in the period Of
the Bicentennial Celebration.
Though disappointed" says the
Washington Evening News. "the dele
gates to the scores OF conventions that
are to meet in Washington during this
Bicentennial year will doubtless accept
the situation cheerfully and In a spirit
of patriotic cooperation. They will be
handsomely entertained and amply ac-
commodated while in Washington. and
if they miss the presidential handshake.
they will at least see the Government at
work and probably will leave the Capital
with the feeling that their interests are
being better served by the concentra-
ton Of the President upon his weighty
responsibilities than by the grant of a
formal. crowded reception"
Doubtless a good many men and
women have gained sort Of satisfac-
tion out Of the quick grab. flop and go
ahead that 1t all amounted to-" thinks
on the President. just the same" The
Providence Journal offers the opinion,
He owes it to himself and his office,
especially in such period OF stress
as the present, to put an end to this
great drain upon his physical and men
tai resources. The ancient practice is
nothing short of barbarous. Mr.. Hoover
is anxious that his position in the mat
ter shall be understood; he will receive
spokesmen for organized bodies so far
as opportunity permits. and Mrs. Hoo
yer will be as hospitable to visitors as
possible But the old-time promiscuous
inroads upon his time and strength
must come to an end. This sensible
conclusion should have been reached
long ago."
"If Mr.. Hoover can establish prece-
dent in this" according to the Sioux
City Journal. che will serve admirably
those who follow him. The Chief Exec
utive of the Nation should not be re-
garded as q curiosity" The Jersey City
Journal concludes, THE head of the
greatest business in the world should
be allowed to dispense with these affairs,
which are supposed to show him as a
regular fellow and to humanize him
before the people. This country OF ours
should long ago have grown away from
this silly practice" The Ann Arbor
Daily News holds that "it is a custom
that should be abolished for all time"
stating that there is nothing personal
In a handshake, from either the point
of view of the caller or that OF the
President" The Boston Transcript
comments, "Mr. Hoover has borne the
infliction like stole for three years,
of hNrci
preat that he must relinauish such
pleasure as he may find in the process
of greeting organized groups of men
and women frem all parts of the coun-
try. From one point of view he must
regret discontinuance Of the custom'
from another, his relief must be mex
pressible." The Transcript maintains
that the practice should not be re-
sumed, If Mr.. Hoover or any otner
President is to do the work properly"
TRY to put yourself in the place OF
the harassed Chief of the Nation" ad-
vises the Spokane Spokesman-ReView.
Think of the strain upon your vitality
to shake hands on an average with 500
people daily, giving to each smile, a
nod of recognition. or few words OF
conversation. That would be q sizanle
dav's work for q vigorous man or
woman of leisure. It is unreasonable
to expect it from the President Of the
United States at this time Of SURPRISING
stress and anxiety. With the possible
exception of President Wilson, In the
war period, it Is questioned If another
President since Lincoln has borne 50
many anxieties as now weigh upon the
patient, uncomplaining Hoover. He
needs every ounce OF his reserve
strength. His breakdown would be q
national calamity and a world loss"
"Mr. Hoover. in the present COM
plexion of human affairs" says the New
orleans Tribune, has a good deal to
do that is more fnoinentous than shak-
Ing hands," d thought which IS voiced
also by the Roanoke Times, and the
Texarkana Gazette contends that "his
time and energy both are worth too
much to the Nation to be squandered
IN such manner" On the other hand,