Evening star., 1932-04-27
The Richmond Conference.

President Hoover and twenty-seveu
Governors of States met in Richmond
today to discuss the problems which
confront the American people. The as
semblage may also be said perhaps to in
clude the President of the United States
for the term beginning March next. 1t
has been conceded that Herbert Hoover
will be the Republican standard bearer
And three of the Democratic Governors
attending the conference, Gov. Frank
lin D. Roosevelt Of New York, Gov. Al
bert c. Ritchie of Maryland and Gov.
George White of Ohio, all of whom are
candidates for the presidential nomina-
ton Former Gov. Harry Flood Byrd of
Virginia, another of the Democratic
presidential possibilities" also is in
Richmond.
The Governors conference this year
has taken on a peculiar political sig
nificance. Although at these confer
ences, held annually by the Governors
of States, efforts have been made to
keep away from political and contro-
versial subjects as much as possible,
the conference this year in Richmond
offers a great forum for the expression
of the views of the presidential candi-
dates, and it does not seem humanity
possible that they will be able to refrain
from politics. Certainly what they say
in their public addresses will be
scanned closely with view to its pos
sible effect on the coming campaign.
President Hoovers acceptance of the
Governors invitation to 60 to Rich
mond to address the conference took
many Of them by surprise. In a meas
ure, the contrast between the views Of
the Chief Executive and his Demo-
cratic opponents will be emphasized as
a result Of this speaking in the same
forum. Opportunity will be afforded
to compare the proposals and the poll
cies Of the President and those Of Gov
Roosevelt and the other Democratic
leaders. President Hoover certainly
could have picked no better time and
place for calling the attention of the
country to some Of the problems that
confront the Federal and State Gov
ernments today.
All idea that the American people
can be cured of their present distress
by quack remedies and panaceas has
vanished, except from the heads Of
few demagogues. But careful planning
for the future by the leaders Of the
Nation In government and In industry
and finance may be exceedingly help
full. Out Of this meeting Of the head
of the Federal Government and the
heads Of State governments may come
many valuable suggestions for the con-
duct Of governmental affairs. 1t will
be unfortunate If at this conference
too much stress Is laid upon the So
called controversial and political issues
of the day. With the Federal Govern
ment facing a huge deficit and many
Of the States and their subdivisions In
similar straits, the questions of taxation
and economy 60 hand in hand as the
most acute which face the executives.
The President is struggling with those
problems today, torn between the need
of balancing the Federal Governments
budget and the added burden Of tax
alton which must be laid upon the
shoulders Of the people. The Governors
of States have their own particular
problems along the same lines. While
expenditures Of the Federal Govern
ment have grown greater in recent
years, the appropriations and taxes
made and levied by the State govern
ments have been enormous. The Gov
ernors Of States cannot with justice
place the blame for the pressing burden
of taxation at the door Of the Federal
Government alone. Their own State
governments are he chief offenders.