Milford chronicle., 1932-10-28
MIR. HOOVER FORCES
THE FIGHTING

MI. HOONerS stirring speech at
Detroit Saturday night demon
strated low completely the roles
of the. major presidential candi-
dates have been reversed since
the beginning of the campaign. In
the ordinary course the "Outs"
attack and the "ins" defend. And
the burden of proof that it de-
serves continuance in power is
put upon the Administration.
But Mr.. Hoover has done more
than meet this challenge. Begin
ming with his Des Moines speech
and following up the good work
at Cleveland, he has now, with
this latest and most searching an
alysis of the fallacies and dangers
of the Democratic candidates pro-
posals and promises, put that gem
tleman squarely on the defensive.
The President has not been con-
tent with establishing the wisdom
of his own policies He has shown
that the policies which Governor
Roosevelt proposes constitutes a
threat to the continued revival of
business and industry. These mill
tant tactics are imposing a great
strain on the Governors eXplana-
tion department. 1t has had to
work overtime throughout his lat
est trip. And the Presidents
speech at Detroit has given a lot
more to do.
The Presidents attacks have
forced Mr.. Roosevelt to try to de-
fend mis- proposals with regard to
the tariff, farm and unemployment
relief and the balancing of the
Federal budget. Mr.. Hoover has
stripped the competitive tariff"
proposal of the pretense that it
would somehow inure to the bene-
fit of the American farmer and
eEage-earner. He has challenged
his opponent to show how it
would help American labor to
place its hcme market, which
consumes ninety-three per cent Of
it's products, "at the disposal of all
countries in the world"
Mr.. Hoover has exposed the fu-
tility of Mr.. ROosevelt's farm-re-
lief program so far as that agglo-
meration of nebulous suggestions,
largely conflicting with each
other, can be understood. But
perhaps the greatest service Mr..
Hoover has rendered to the cause
of clear thinking has been to de-
fate the Governors boastful
promise that if elected President
he will Immediately reduce the or
binary Federal expenditures by a
billion dollars year.
These expenditures for the cur /
rent fiscal year are estimated at
S3,647, 900 900, or $1,OOO,OOO,000 be-
low those for last year. OF current
year expenditures there is an item
of $1,980,000,000 covering the pub
lie debt and the army and navy.
This cannot well be cut. Of the
$1,667 100000 of routine
only $505, 100000 is left
for the costs of Government after
deducting $946OOO,0O0 for the
veterans and $216,0O0,000 for or
binary public works. The ordi-
nary budget, as Mr.. Hoover plain
ly shows, affords no opportunities
for wholesale slashings of eX-
penses such as Mr.. Roosevelt
would have to make to produce
his saving of a billion dollars a
year. His rash promises lead
to a financial absurdity.
Every one knows that President
Hoover stands for the strictest
economy. But he is
not COINS to make any promises
ne cannot fulfill.
%
If Mr.. Hoover had not stood
3tead-fast against extravagant
by Democratic leaders
1t the last session of Congress,
here would have been an addi-
ion of $3,500,O0O,O00 to the Gov
expenses. Mr.. Roosevelt
las yet to attempt a defense of
hose proposals. But his silence
speaks louder than any words.
here is every reason to believe
hat the same Democratic leaders
re planning 10 revive llSo6 DlO-
Dosals at the first opportunity. If
hose measures come before Pres
dent Hoover. they will be vetoed.
he country has received no as
urance of like action by his op-
Ionent.
AS The campaign enters on its
NAL two weeks the difference be-
ween Mr. Hoover and Mr.. Roose-
elt is sharply drawn. 1t has been
ccentuated by their latest
peeches. The Republican candi-
ate has met every issue with
characteristic clearness and force.
IN every issue but one-prohibi-
ion. on which the candidates are
Roosevelt is vague
nd evasive. And when he essays
} discuss problem of govern
lent which lies outside his field
f experience-and there are
lany such problems-he betrays
disquieting ignorance which
oes not recommend him Cor pro-
lotion to the highest Office in the
Ledger.
Milford Grange News
milford