The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-09-28


: ed States as that attending publica-
ton and release today Of Herbert
Hoovers new volume, The Challenge
i. to Liberty by Charles Scribners
Sons, New YORK.
Mr.. Hoover presents in an author
itative way the reactions OF the Old
Order to the New Deal, something
which has been very badly needed in
order to make sharp differentiation
between the policies Of Mr.. Roosevelt
and those which have dominated the
nation in the past.
Essentially, Of course, 1t IS one
mans reaction to the changes in the
American scene, but New Dealers and
Old Dealers alike will read it with
interest because it bids fair to become
a Republican campaign text book, not
only for the remainder Of this year
but for 1886.
AS a political document it shows an
unchanged Hoover. The man who
struggled nightly with the forces Of
depression from 1891 to March, 1888,
still is the same strange combination
of realist and optimist. A tonic to
tagging Republican hopes, he sounds
anew the battle cry Of individualism
at the same time that he looks for
ward. a little vaguely it is true, to an
improved social order.
It is a well-intentioned and sincere
criticism of the New Deal by one who
helped. at least indirectly, to bring it
into being, for there is no escaping
the belief that the events of Hoover's
last two years in office paved the
way-even forccd-the Roosevelt ex-
Fermentation.
The book, Of course, does not con-
Germ itself solely with recent Ameri-
can developments. It goes abroad to
disclose the rise OF relationships and
subsequent loss OF liberty there. It
analyses the economic forces which
are the master key to political situa-
tons.
Sees Social Disintegration
In a time when social Indignation
is the announced intention of gov
eminent, 1t discerns the seeds of So
cial disintegration as having been
widely sown. The spirit Of the book
is best disclosed by the author him
self in the words Il should be un-
true to that service (his record as q
public mani did not raise my voice
in protest, not at reform. not at
emergency actions, but at the threat
of the eclipse of Liberty"
Discussing emergency measures,
Mr.. Hoover sees danger that they
may be made permanent and notes
therein the pathway to the danger
Gus quicksands Of governmental die
tation." He doubts that Americans
can espouse governmental control,
even for q time. without unhappy
permanent effects. He sees no paral-
lei between this nation and ancient
Rome which called Cincinnatus from
the pillow to the seat Of power In time
Of emergency, only to return him to
the farm when it had passed. There
III, perhaps, lie Is right American
politicians, of whatever party, have
never reltnquished authority SO easily.
Raps Roosevelt Theory
Thrusting directly at the Roose-
veltian theory of using public money
to prime the economic pump" Hoo
Yer asserts that the printing water i
is really an exhaustion Of the living |
water Of the public credit" and there
fore both ineffective and harmful.
Besides, he contends, the power de-
livered to the pump IS being dimin-
ished by Sitting confidence and en-
terprise.' In essence he borrows
from Poor Richards almanac to OBJ
serve that so far no nation or In
dividual has been able to sQuander
itself into prosperity and adds that
history dtscloses the only ways bor-
rowing government has Of discharg- |
ing Its obligations Is by mortgaging |
the social development OF the next |
generation or by desperate measures
Of reputation, brought about by in
flatio:1 in its own generation.
Denying oft repeated assertions
that revolution" has swept the coun-
try, Mr.. Hoover sees little chance Of
this but comments on the vocal
technique Of those who apparently
are trying to bring it about. One
has to use little Imagination as to
who is meant when he says Their
slogans; their promises Of utopia:
their denunciation Of individual
Weaknesses as II these were the
wards Of liberty: their misrepresent-
alton of deep-seated causes. thnir
Will to destruction Of confidence and
consequent disorganization in order
to justify action: their stirring Of |
class feeling and hatred; their will
to clip and atrophy the legislative
arm; their resentment Of criticism:
their chatter Of boycott, Of threat and
OF force-all are typical enough Of
the methods Of more violent action"