Evening star., 1932-08-16
HOOVER GAIN SEEN
/. IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
Acceptance Address Makes
Strong Impression on
M0derates.

KEENE. N H., August 16.-To get a
croSs-section OF political sentiment even
at this early stage of the campaign
may prove interesting as indicating the
trend of the contest for the presidency
Definite predictions as to how New
Hampshire will go in the Autumn cleo
ton are, of course premature, but the
currents already are astir and conver-
sationS with people of all classes mere
would seem to reveal rather early
formation of prejudices and preferences
The Hoover speech of acceptance
made a decided impression. 1t either
won votes or did not bulge those VINO
were unconvinced. 1t did not leave
many in the middle ground. 1t did not
seem to produce mixed point Of view
Extreme vets didn't like it. Extreme
drys didn't accept it either. A vast
number who aren't extreme about the
prohibition situation, but want some
kind of change, did feel the Hoover
message was an utterance in the right
direction.
Congress Is Unpopular.
Translated into votes this means that
in a State like New Hampshire the
speech won the rural and dry sectior.s
to the Hoover standard and that it re-
tanned many in the wet sections. Prob
ably the common denominator OF prel-
erence. however, judging by various
talks the writer has had with people
who express their views frankly-just
folks and not politicians or political
leaders-is a tendency to select the
presidential nominee on the basis OF
personality and economic sounoneSs
rather than on the prohibition issue.
The comments run somewhat more TO
an analysis of Hoover the man and
Roosevelt, the man, rati1er than their
views though 1t Is surprising the eX-
tent to which a knowledge OF funda-
mental issues involved has percolated-
Thus where one finds an enthusiastic
word spoken for Roosevelt. 1t is often
tempered by an expression OF regret
that Speaker Garner by recent ad-
dresses has weakened the Democratic
ticket or that in his management OF
the House of Representatives ne did
not succeed in suppressing pork bar
rel bills. Undoubtedly this reflects Mr..
Hoover's criticism Of the Garner bills
and shows that much of what the
President said in his controversy with
Congress did make an impression. AS
a matter Of fact, Congress IS regarded
as an institution far from popular:
hence the Presidents struggles with 1t
did not rebound to the favor OF those
who were opposing him.
Praise HoOver's pep"
What stands out in the trend Of SEN
timent hereabouts is sudden reallZa-
ton that Mr. Hoover is determined
individual who showed more fight in
his speech of acceptance than he ever
did before People talk of the pep
and "vigor" in the Hoover address, and
they are bound to look at future polit-
ical utterances from the candidates
from the point of view of aggressive
ness plus a concrete program for the
relief of the economic situation.
Undoubtedly in this Republican sec
tion the Hoover speech recaptured
votes that were either lost or slowly
straying from him. One prominent
man said he had been converted from
an Indifferent Republican to an enthu-
siastic supporter. He said the speech
did 1t. Similar expressions can be
heard on every side.
There Is no doubt that Mr.. Hoover
has immeasurably strengthened him.
self in the last few days and that the
people are going to challenge both
presidential nominees to give them
more constructive and definite accounts
of their records and their pledges than
ever before in national campaign
The Hoover speech set standard to
which he himself will be held and tc
which his opponent will have to rise
The prospects are that the battle will
be on a high plane and that it will
have to reveal specific proposals OF
betterment rather than vague generali-
ties before 1t is over. d. l..
! Copyright, 1892, by North American News
paper Alliance, 1ncD