The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-04-28
The Hoover Tide Continues

A month ago in these columns we
wrote at length of "The Return to the
President" We attempted no fore.
cast of the effects of this shift upon
the election returns Of next Novem-
Der. But that the movement was then
countrywide, that it was strong, that
it was still growing, we noted as in
controvertible political facts.
1t is equally unmistakable, we
think, that the return of support to
the President has continued without
abatement during the last month. 1t
has, indeed, been accelerated by new
occurrences. For, while it is too soon
to predict with finality the predomi-
nant issues of next autumns cam
paign, Mr.. Hoover has become in
creasingly the spokesman of the
sound business sense of the nation
and it's chief defender against the
quacks and wild men.
In tracing the causes of the move
ment in the first week of March we
stressed two main items. One was
the series of vicious, libelous and ut
terly unfair attacks upon the Presi-
dent, which naturally stirred wave
of sympathy, since Mr.. Hoover, by
reason of his position, was unable to
answer back or halt the lying state
ments. The other was the leadership
of the President in behalf Of his pro-
gram Of emergency credit legislation.
1t is not too much to say that these
ably devised and we'll timed laws
saved the banking system Of the ma
ton from an appalling disaster. At
that time, it should be noted, the
Democrats of the House, under
Speaker Gamers skillful direction.
We're cooperating in passing the
needed legislation and deservedly
sharing in the credit therefor.
The last month has seen the addi-
ton of two new factors to the nation
al political scene. One was the col
lapse of the Garner leadership, ac-
companied by the stampede Of the
Democrats of the House after their
old gods of middle and change. From
sharing in an able job well done, these
legislators became an obstacle, if not
menace. They reawakened the
country's old fears of the trustworthi-
ness of the Democratic party as
national agent. To be sure, it was a
Socialistic Republican who stampeded
the Democratic majority. And Speak
er Garner, after week Of hesitation,
succeeded in stampeding his charges
back into a semblance Of obedience.
But the mischief was done.
The second factor was the revival
of the old greenback radicalism in
Congress. The Democrats have no
monopoly of this heresy. Senator
Capper, who ought to know better,
spoke kindly of the idea of printing
enough unsecured notes to pay the
bonus. Beyond question the desire
"to start the printing presses" has
been smouldering in Congress for
some time. 1t usually appears at the
bottom of a depression. In this case
its advocates have seized hold OF the
bonus as an excuse. The leaders OF
the Legion have courageously rejected
the handout proposed. But the radi-
cal elements in both parties care
nothing for reason, or, it would seem,
the financial safety of the nation.
They want money, plenty of money,
and never mind what it is worth.
Start the presses!
The sound leaders on both sides of
the House are fighting the bonus
courageously. They know what fatal
effects a huge issue of fiat money
would have upon the nations credit
and currency. We have confidence
that they will win-that, at least,
they will be able to sustain the veto
that awaits a bonus measure at the
other end of Pennsylvania Avenue.
These two factors are plainly bring
ing a rapidly increasing number of
voters to the Presidents support. In
a very real sense he has been, through
the last months, the spokesman of the
whole nation, of it's integrity, Of its
common sense, of it's will to stand
fast. There has been, there could be,
no question of his soundness on all
the issues presented. He has insist
ed that the budget be balanced. He
has made it plain that he will veto the
bonus. Through his able Secretary
of the Treasury he has constantly in
fiuenced the House on the side of
financial justice and good sense. There