Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-08-12
ROOSEVELT REPLY
TO HOOVER SEEN
.ON WESTERN TRIP
Challenged to Make Known
Changes He Desires in
Constitution.
DEMOCRATS SEE BID
FOR 1886 NOMINATION
Influential Republicans Here
Hold View He Does Not Ex-
pect to Be Nominated.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Herbert Hoover's challenge to Presi-
dent Roosevelt to state to the people
before the close of Congress just what
changes, if any, he desires to be made
in the Constitution. remained unan-
swered at the White House today.
Whether the President at his next
press conference on Wednesday morn
ing will discuss the matter was not
indicated. However, in some quarters
the opinion was expressed that the
President, while ignoring the Hoover
challenge at this time. would under
take to deal with the matters involved
in speeches he will deliver on a pro-
posed Western trip in the Fall.
1t is understood that the President
will make swing through the West
in September or october. If he does.
the trip will be regarded undoubtedly
as preliminary to the political cam
paign which he and the New Deal
regarded rs essential either TO Re-
publican or Democratic victory in
1886.
Seen as Campaign Issue.
The Hoover challenge to President
Roosevelt to inform the people open
ly' and precisely just how he wants
the Constitution changed was hailed
in some quarters today as another step
toward making constitutional issues a
big feature CT the campaign. Mr.
Hoover made his statement in Chi
cago where he stopped yesterday on
his way East. He hit at the New Deal
and accused the Roosevelt admins
tration Of 'dictatorial demands" of
trampling on primary liberties" of
the people ana OF invading States
rights
While Mr.. Hoovers statement was
held by some politicians and observers
to be indicative of a desire to become
a candidate for the Republican NOM
ination next year. such intention on
his part was discounted by others.
MIR. Hoover. 1t was pointed out by
those who do not believe that his
statement could be interpreted as toss
ing his hat in the ring. is still the
titular head of the Republican party.
AS such. they say. Mr. Hoover has
been particularly modest and retiring.
With the approach of the national
it was to be expected that
Mr.. Hoover would issue statements
clashing with the position of Presi-
dent Roosevelt and his administcs-
ton.
Held Bid by Democrats.
The challenge issued by Mr.. Hoover
to the President was seized upon i'm
mediately by Democrats in Washing
ton as bid for the Republican presi-
Dental nomination Many of the
Democrats are planning to drag Mr.
Hoover into the coming campaign if
they can. They believe that they can
arouse support for Roosevelt and for
themselves by tying the. Republican
party firmly in with the crash and
depression days of 1898. They be-
lieve that the nomination of Mr.
Hoover by the Republicans would De
perfect set up for such a campaign
1t is not to be wondered at. therefore.
that the Democrats see Hoover bio
for the presidential nomination on
every possible occasion.
The view of influential Republicans
here is that Mr.. Hoover will not be
at the next Republican
and that he does not ex-
pect to be so nominated. They are
inclined. therefore. to take the Hoover
TO President Roosevelt at its
face value and to regard it merely
as emphasizing an issue which the
believe will be important
in the coming campaign.
Text of Statement.
His statement follows:
The past two years have made 1t
clear that the administration intends
to bring about fundamental change
in the structure and balance of powers
in our government as distinguished
from the normal development of the
(See HOOVER, page 81