Evening star., 1932-08-12
HOOVER CAMPAIGN
SEEN AS CLEAR CUT
Paramount Issue Declared
One of Conservatism
VS.. RadicaIiSm.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

has put the national campaign on
definite and clear cut basis. Mr.. Hoo
yer appealed for another chance on the
ground that he has done the best he
could with a difficult situation, that
things are on the mend and that Amer
lea will slowly but surely overcome the
effects of the depression under his con-
tinued administration.
While Mr.. Hoover went further than
he ever did before toward the wet side
of the prohibition controversy, he made
tiveism versus radicalsm. 1t furnishes
the keynote of the whole campaign, ex-
pressed in single sentence:
"A representative democracy, progress
sive and unafraid to meet its problems,
but meeting them upon the foundations
of experience, and not upon the wave
of emotion or the inSenSate demands OF
radicalism which graSps at every
opportunity to exploit the sufferings of
a people"
Force in Delivery.
Mr.. Hoovers speech sounded over the
radio much more emphatic than 1t
reads in cold type. Inspired by the en-
thusiaSm of his visible audience in Con-
stitution Hall, the President put more
lOlCC anu dBb blCOolfC Al AlAo SehAh
than is his custom.
The speech, nevertheless, was more of
a presidential address, written in the
style of message to Congress, than
campaign grafton. Much of the ad-
dress was given over to a review of
economic conditions and the efforts
made by the Government to keep the
economic structure from diSintegration
and collapse. This is hard thesis to
eXpound because people do not easily
visualize the dire things that might
have happened and are only concerned
with the distresSful things that do hap
pen. Politically, however, it was deemed
necessary for the President to give the
background of the crisis in order to
gain the sympathy of his hearers.
AS to promises for the future. the
policies he proposed present nothing
that has not been known in the last
several weeks in connection with the
economic reconstruction of the country.
but it was Mr.. Hoover's opportunity
just the same to call attention to the
remedial measures in the hope that if
they bear fruit the voters will give him
full credit at the polls.
BY giving his own position unequivo-
cally on prohibition. Mr.. Hoover ended
many months of speculation. He went
further than the Republican platform
in the sense that the plank adopted
in Chicago did not commit members of
the Republican party either to reten-
ton or repeal of the eighteenth amend
ment. but merely proposed that the
question of revision of the Constitution
be submitted in the regular way for the
consideration of the people.
Mr.. Hoover, after pointing out that
bo DrocidaT1f hoe authority RI Phannp
the Constitution and that he will con-
tinue to enforce the law, made it known
that he was opposed to retention of the
eighteenth amendment in its present
form. He declared in favor of a change.
He did not merely say the question
should be voted upon by the people, but
announced that on such a vote he would
personally register his opposition to the
eighteenth amendment.
Makes Definite Choice.
1t is as if on the concrete proposal
suggested by the Republican platform
Mr.. Hoover voted no" on the subject
OF the retention of the eighteenth
amendment and voted AYE" on the
question of revision of the amendment.
In other words he made his choice
definitely instead of accepting the Re-
publican platform position Of merely
submitting the question without a COM
mitment either way.
While Mr.. Hoover, therefore, will not
satisfy the extreme vets, who want re-
peal and nothing else in its place, he
will capture those of the wet group who
recognize that revision of the eight
zenith amendment, giving virtually
complete power to the States. has a
better chance of bringing back the
lawful distribution of alcoholic bever-
ages than a long g-draWn- out fight on
repeal alone. The President also will
retain the dry vote, with the exception
Of a few who will support a prohibition
third party. Many millions of drys
when presented with a choice between
MI. Roosevelt, who favors repeal, and
Mr.. Hoover, who favors revision, will
prefer the latter because those who
are normally Republicans will vote the
Republican ticket anyhow, while the
extreme vets, who care more about
economic issues and happen to be reg
ular Republicans, will prefer their
President to remain in power on
grounds other than prohibition.
Surmounts Difficult Position.
Looked at broadly, therefore. Mr..
r1OONtI Has WORKED OUT OF dlflcuit
position thrust upon him by the plat
form plank, and now that he has ex-
pressed himself on prohibition he can
devote the rest of his campaign largely
to economic issues, on which he feels
the presidency should be decided in No
vember.
The Hoover speech leaves many OPEN
ings for Democratic attack, and even
on prohibition he will be asked to ex-
plain how the saloon or speakeasy can
be eliminated under his plan without
continuing Federal interference in State
affairs. Mr.. Hoover says American
craftsmanship is capable Of working out
solution which will protect the dry
States against invasion and will avoid
the return of the saloon.
While he will be asked to make a
specific proposal as to how this can be
done, the chances are he will try to
keep aloof from detailed discussion. If
Gov Roosevelt takes up the attack on
other issues besides prohibition, he will
find Mr.. Hoover ready to respond, as
Republican strategy will be to keep the
attention of the country focused on
economic questions, especially If i'm
provement in business becomes notice.
able between now and the election.
fCopyrlgh., 1922
Strassburg. France, will hold It's sew
enth annual sample fair September