Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1932-09-22

WASHINGTON
BY RADFORD MoelEy

WASHINGTON, ID. G., September 20.
There are almost no outward signs
visible in Washington of the presden-
tial campaign activities. True tt
publican National Committee is still oc-
cupying some of the offices in its per-
manent headquarters on Connecticut
Avenue, and great deal of mail, main
ly publicity matter for newspapers, is
going out from that address, but that
goes on all the time Likewise the
Democratic Press Bureau in Washing
ton continues to function. But there is
probably less public excitement over
the campaign and its issues in the CAPT
tai city than there is in any other part
of the United States just now.
In the beginning of the campaign it
was said that President Hoover would
make five or six speeches. The talk
now is that he will not make more
than two or three public appearances
before election. Mr.. Hoover is not an
orator He has none of the dramatic
ability of President Roovevelt, who
could stir up crowd to wildly cheer
ing enthusiasm He has no such mastery
of language as Woodrow Wilson had.
He writes all of his speeches, revises
and reshapes them and then has them
printed in large type on small sheets of
paper 50 that he can read them. His adj
dresses always read well in print, but
there are many other members of the
administration who are far more eff
fective on the platform. Mr. Hoover
knows this and is willing to let the
speech-making in his behalf be done
mainly by members in his cabinet.
Mills and Hurley
Considerably to the surprise of a
great many people, the secretary Of
tn treasury, Mr.. Odgen l.. Mills, has
become quite an effective public
speaker Mr. Mills kept himself SO much
in the background when he was un-
dersecretary Of the treasury that when
he was elevated to the cabinet to sue
coed Mr.. Mellon, even the Washington
newspaper correspondents hardly knew
much about his personality The i'm
preston prevailed that he was rather
| cold and ard-boiled, and that he
would never stir popular audience to
enthusiasm. In the few speeches that
he has made during the campaign. he
has developed an unexpected gift, and
has demonstrated, moreover, that he
has what is called "a good radio voice
There are great many public speakers
who make a good impression upon
those who can see them while they
are talking but whose voices do not
carry we'll in broadcasts.
| The other principal speech maker for
the administration is the secretary OF
war, Patrick Hurley. Mr.. Hurley has
a genuine gift of eloquence and has
been we'll trained in oratory. There
is good deal of doubt being expressed
this year. however as to the effective
ness Of mere oratory in this campaign
There is certainly much less reliance
being placed upon eloquence than has
been the case in previous presidential
contests.
Roosevelt and New York
Reports reaching Washington from
all parts of the country indicate that
Governor Roosevelt's handling of the
investigation of James j. Walkers con-
duct as mayor of New York has
strengthened Mr.. Roosevelt immensely
in the estimation of the general run of
voters. Walkers resignation, before the
governor was called upon to make a
decision, is regarded as lucky break
for the governor. And the fear ex-
pressed by democratic politicians that
the removal of Walker would ALLEVIATE
Tammany has been largely dispelled by
the growing belief that the voters Of
New York City are not so closely held
under Tammanys thumb as has been
believed. The conduct of the new MAYOR
of New York, Joseph " Mckee, is
hailed as showing up Of Walker,
while his defiance Of Tammany leads
to the belief that it is not at all certain
that political New York would ACCEPT
an order from Tammany Hall to knife
Roosevelt"
. The New York state political situa-