The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-10-06

power and challenged an inheren,
weakness in the Democratic leader.
ship which must be Corrected. These
were references to the Garner pork
barrel legislation and the bonus pay.
ment measure passed by Demo
cratic house and defeated by a Re.
publican senate. These are politica
issues which will develop as the cam
paign progresses. Bound up in the
bonus demands in this national
stringency is the issue of a sound
currency. The one cannot be extri-
Gated from the other. President
Hoover, despite the unpopularity OF
it, is sound in opposition to the bonus
payment at this time. But, on the
other hand, Republican congresses
have repeatedly passed bonus meas
ures too, SO there is no use in the
pot calling the kettle black.
X X X
AS for the Garner pork barrel
measure, Republican challenges come
of course in rather bad faith. Early
in the depression, President Hoover
proposed program of public build
ing which compared favorably with
the Garner measure. Both parties
have craved pork barrel appropria-
tons. That shortcoming cannot be
placed exclusively at the door of the
Democratic party. Early in the de-
preston, Mr.. Hoover asked great
corporations to launch construction
programs promising to match it with
government activities along the same
lines in order to reduce the bread
line and cut down the number of un-
employed. Mr.. Hoover was firmly
told that such an initiation in bust
ness enterprise would be bad for gov
ernment as we'll as for business and
the scheme was abandoned. Few
presidents, however, have embarked
the government in more expenditures
for questionable ventures than Mr..
Hoover. The stupendous growth of
bureaus, commissions and confer
ences is factor which may bring
about his defeat despite his aca-
demic soundness upon economic is
sues.
Mr.. Hoover doubtless draws too
dark picture of national calamity
should the Democrats come into
power. Here he speaks as the con-
ventional politician, a role he has
most studiously stunned until Jared
into action following returns from
the Maine election. Whether Roose-
velt wins or not, it is practically as
sured that the Democrats will con-
troll both the house and the senate.
Canvasses to date indicate that this
control cannot be wrested from the
Democrats. Mr.. Hoover, if elected
will have little left but his veto
power. 1t is this situation which will
influence millions of voters to throw
their support to Roosevelt.
The picture of outer darkness
drawn for the farmers by. Mr.. Hoo
yer at Des Moines smacks of the
Mckinley Hanna threats of 1896.
The president mentioned that cam
paign and referred also to green
backs. seeking to place in the minds
of the voters the ancient fear that
the Democrats will tamper with
sound money. He defiantly declared
that matters could be worse and cau-
toned voters not to be misled by
any such appeal.
X * u
1t was good exposition of Repub-
lican doctrine and fundamentally
sound, judged from the tenets as laid
down by his party. 1t is doubtful,
however, whether farmers depressed
by the debacle of agriculture, whether
100000 unemployed, millions of
veterans asking for immediate bonus
payment and millions of trades peo-
pie fighting the sheriff away from
their places of business and the
wolves from their doorsteps at home,
Will receive with any degree of en-
thusiasm or hope, Mr.. Hoovers as
surances that the first major victory
has been won or that We have passed
from the defensive period on depres-
sion to one Of attack. They still re-
member of his discovery, not so long
ago, of prosperity just around the
corner and the outlawing of poverty
under a Republican label. Many
voters feel that as prophet Mr..
Hoover lacks some skill and much
authority in such a crisis as this.
But he still persists in prophecy.
There is. defeatist spirit in his
own political camp which his lead
ership cannot dispel easily. The ma
ton will wait with deep interest, re-
action to the Des Moines speech.
He spurned reference to the
noble experiment Iowa, usually
dry, is not recorded as particularly
interested in revision Of the volstead
act.
Nothing but a miracle can swing
the tide toward Hoover, but this Is
an age Of miracles.
WHO'D HAVE THOUGHT?
Berlin.-Perhaps it sounds strange,
but any germ that falls on linoleum
is bound to meet almost certain death