The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-06-02
HOOVER ADOPTS
BIC STICK TO
PUSH CONGRESS
Appears Before Senate in
New Role; Lacks
Teddy'S Fire.
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER
United Press stan Correspondent


WASHINGTON, June 2. - After
more than three years in the White
House. President Hoover finally
picked up the big stick Of one Of
his famous predecessors, Theodore
Roosevelt.
His personal appearance before
the senate was the climax Of re-
cent growing aggreSsiveness.
Il was in complete contrast with
his attitude during the enactment
OF the Hawley- Smoot tariff BILL
when senators we're unable to find
out what he wanted before they
passed the bill
It was Mr.. Hoover's theory then
that the President was not supposed
to influence congress. but. instead.
was ordained by the Constitution to
sit passively in the back ground, and
then accept or reject whatever leg
islation congress decided TO send
him.
Appeal Tor AggresSiveneSs
Now on the eve Of the presiden-
tial campaign, under the prodding
OF numerous advisors. he suddenly
has thrown aside that theory, and
lashed out to try to drive a disor-
gained and indecisive congress in
the direction he wants it to go.
Many times previously, friends
had told him he ought TO be a
Roosevelt" and 60 after congress.
But I'm not like Roosevelt was,
and I can't pretend to be some
thing I am not" Hoover replied in
substance.
But in the last few weeks. as con-
gress floundered deeper in the con-
plicated tax legislation. friends in
creased their pressure on him.
Finally, he was persuaded 10 issue
one or two strong utterances.
They we're not strong enough and
a group of newspaper editors re-
Gently appealed to him to be still
more aggressive.
So he broke his custom Of send
Ing written messages to congress,
and appeared in person.
Air Of Reluctance
There was, however, the air OF
a reluctant appearance in his man
ner. He spoke in low tone, bare
" audible voice. There was none
Of Roosevelt's sharp pounding of
desks. the brandishing Of manu-
script, the ironic falsetto, the bit
inc off OF short, hard words.
Neither was there in Mr.. Hoover
any Of the authoritative, command
ing. facile eloquence, which Wilson
summoned in critical situations.
Though Mr.. Hoover was unable to
throw himself with spectacular per-
sonal force into the role he had
suddenly chosen. he very fact of
his appearance before, the senate
registered an important decision on
his part-an attempt to assume an
aggressive rather than a passive
part in shaping legislation at this
crisis.
What political effect this sudden
energizing will have in the cam
paign Just opening will be matter
of widespread speculation. Many
Republicans feel that assertion of
aggressive White House leadership
will help them.
Wants Uncertainty Ended
It is probable, however, that Hoo
yer viewed the situation in a broad
er light, for a heavy foreign run on
American gold. the fall of the con-
ciliatory Bruening government in
Germany. and the uncertainty over
the American tax program had
created a worldwide state of APP
prehension somewhat resembling
that which spread almost year ago
whc1 the collapse Of the Austrian
Central bank prompted Mr.. Hoover
to propose a war-debt and repara-
tons moratorium.
The main need. in his mind, was
not so much which form Of tax is
adopted. but the necessity of imme-
date decision to end the uncer-
tainty.
It was uncertainty which caused
Europeans, who well remember the
disastrous effects Of their own in
fation and failure to balance bud
Cets. to be more apprehensive Of the
stability OF the American dollar than
conditions justify.