The Washington times., 1934-09-04
EX-PRES|DENT'S 8
NEW DEAL RAP
ST|RS HILL
Writing Carefully Scanned for
Some Evidence of PoIiti-
cal Intentions
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES
Copyright. 1884, by International
News Service.)

Copyright. 1884, by International
News Service.)
Herbert Hoover'S open con-
demnation of the Roosevelt New
Deal as being destructive of Amer
lean liberties was carefully Pc
rused today by Republicans and
Democrats alike-eager to discern
the former Presidents future
political ambitions, if any.
Mr.. Hoover broke his silence OF
18 months with a rather vigorous,
although philosophical, onslaught
on the policies of his successor.
It appeared today in the current
issue of the Saturday Evening
Post, and is part Of a book
which will appear later under his
signature.
Strictly ImpersOnal
The politicians sought in vain
for something between the lines
that would indicate Mr.. Hoo
ver'S personal program. His
criticism of the New Deal was
strictly impersonal, so far as
they could gather.
He contented himself simply
with deploring the trend of the
times, particularly the concentra-
ton Of authority in the hands
of the Executive.
He carefully refrained from
mentioning Mr.. Roosevelt by
name, but he did rather pointed
ly enumerate the powers his sue
cessor has gathered unto him.
self, and expressed grave concern
because of it.
Scores RegimentatiOn
This concentration of power
IN the White House. Mr.. Hoover
said, was the "first step in eco
nomic reginentation."
"POwers once delegated" he
said, "are bound to be used, for
one step drives to another. The
whole thesis behind this program
Is the very theory that man is
but the pawn of the State. 1t
is . usurpatiOn of the primary
liberties of man by govern
ment.
"And," he concluded, "it is a
vast casualty to liberty If it
shall be continued"
Mr.. Hoover's first literary ef.
fort since his retirement was re-
ceived with mixed emotions in
Washington.
G. o. P. Regulars Cautious
Republican regulars, most of
them cautiously anti-New Deal,
approved it in principle, although
generally they asked to be ex-
cused from comment. Privately,
they declared the former PreSi-
dent has put his finger on the
weak spot in the New Deal.
But there were differences Of
opinion as to whether he has
struck a keynote for the cam
paign this fall which the Repub-
icanS can use to advantage.
The Republican irregulars, most
of them ardently New Deal,
merely smiled and said little.
Not so the Democrats. The
Hoover dissertation aroused in
Democratic breasts varying de-
GreeS of resentment and ridicule.
"Oh, that mine enemy might
write a book" said Representa-
tive Joe Bryns, of Tennessee,
Democratic leader Of the House,
and probably its next Speaker.
Asks Hoover Define Liberty
Recalling the dark days between
1929 and 1888, Mr.. Byrns said:
"What does MIR. Hoover mean
by liberty?
"Does he mean liberty for the
unscrupulOus banker to play
fast and loose with his depOs-
itOrS' money, cause banks to fail
by the hundreds and bring mis-
cry and suffering to millions?
"DOeS he mean liberty for the
unscrupulOus dealer in securities
to unload worthless stock upon
the unSuspecting public?
"DOeS he mean liberty for the
selfish 10 per cent Of an indus
try to sweat its labor, engage in
cutthrOat competition and thus
lower the whole standard Of
American living?
"DOeS he mean liberty for
agriculture to go on heedIessly
piling up huge surpluses, undi-
gestible, unstable, and thus
drag all American agriculture
down into the bOttOmlesS pit Of
bankruptcy?
"DOeS he mean liberty for un.
considerable utilities to go on
gOuging forever the consumers
of this country?
Lets have a definition of
liberty - Mr.. HOOver'S defini-
tiOn."
It was Mr.. Hoover'S listing of
the alphabetical recovery agencies
and his pointed criticism Of them
that provoked most Of the Demo
cratic resentment.
Hoover Powers Cited
Mr.. Byrns pointed out that Mr..
Hoover himself instituted the RFC,
which put the Government in
business on rather grand scale.
He also emphasized that many Of
the powers which Mr.. Roosevelt
now has Mr.. Hoover asked Con-
greSS for and did not get. He
mentioned, among others, the
power to fix tariff rates and ne
gotiate reciprocal tariff agree