Evening star., 1933-12-01
HOOVER AND ROLPH
CLASH ON LyNCH|NC
Ex-President's Critics m
Draws Attack for Troop
Use Against B. {. F.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated freSs.
SAN FRANCISCO, December L.
Former President Herbert Hoover and
Gov. James Rolph, jr. exchanged rapid
cross-fire of criticism yesterday over
the lynching Of the kidnap-slayers OF
Brooke Hart at San Jose last Sunday
night.
Said the former President: "The
Governor has been advocating lynch
law. It is a. subversion OF the very
spirit of organized society,""
Said the Governor: It deplore the
use of troops against our own people.
Look at the mess we got into when
troops were called out in Washington
against the bonus marchers."
The exchange followed rebuke to
Rolph for his stand condoning the
lynching of John M. Holmes and
Thomas Harold Thurmond, which was
contained in joint statement issued
Wednesday by group OF prominent
California citizens, including MT.
Hoover.
Cites Troop Summons.
Rolph retorted yesterday morning
from Sacramento with his thrust at
the Hoover administration for having
called out troops against the oous
marcherS.
Men with guns and bombs were sent
out to attack good American citizensL
our World WAR veterans VINO IoushI
for U.S." Rolph declared. ,,.,
II refused to call out troops LOT use
in the San Jose trouble because one
I1o tai what
of such an action will be. Hot-heaoeo
vo,lng men armed with bayonets, rines
and bombs are liable. to kill good citl-
zens needlessly.
TT is up to local peace officials to
maintain order, and only after tney
have admitted they cannot handle q
situation should Governor step IN.
The former President promptly issued
a statement from his home on tne otan-
ford University campus, breaking the
long silence of his retirement.
"One trouble with Gov. Rolph's state
ment Is his gross ignorance OF the tacts.
Not a single shot was fired, not a single
person was injured by the troops caneo
out in Washington in response TO the
appeal of local authorities. The troops
ended the bloodshed which was tnen = IN
progress through conflicts between
rioters and police.
Lynch Law Un-American."
1.-THE issue here is plain, and not to
be obscured by such miSstatementS. The
Governor has been advocating lynch
law. It is a subversion Of the very
spirit of organized society. 1t IS un-
American and is reflection on the
State of California. 1t is not supported
by its citizens"
In answer to questions yesterday, Gov.
Rolph emphatically declared he was
not recanting or apologizing for his
previous statement that the lynchlng
was "a fine lesson to the whole Nation
and that kidnapping would be stopped In
California, mo matter what the cost
will be-"
After word of the Hoover reply to his
statement today had reached the Gov
ernor here, he again issued an answer.
Unwilling to Dispute.
"I do not think that the ex-President's
statement calls for any response by me"
he said. His statements and mine speak
for themselves; the American people
think for themselves. 1t is unbecoming
for me as Governor of this State to be
carrying on controversy with the ex-
President.
II cannot allow to stand, however,
the ex-President's statement that I
advocate lynch law On the contrary
I have said and I repeat that I always
will have profound respect for law and
the sane and orderly conduct OF justice
through the courts. And I repeat what
I said in my original statement that
while the law should have been per-
mitted to take its courA, the people by
their action have given notice to the
entire world that in California kid
naping will not be liberated"