The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-02-24
HOOvER'S COAL
is u. S. DEBATE
ON new DEAL
Stokes Finds Ex-PreSident
Fighting for Principles
of Government.
BY THOMAS l.. STOKES
Times Special Writer


retreat of Herbert Hoover, the COM
Portable Spanish house which looks
down from its hill across Stanford
University's campus to the hills and
an arm Of the bay beyond.
Then I wondered how a man
would exchange this for that glass
house on Pennsylvania in Wash
ington with its cruel drafts.
Now, more than seven years later,
I stood on the same spot and en-
joyed the prospect before visit
with the eX-President and wondered
anew why man who had served
four years in the Heartbreak House
should be stirring himself so actively
in behalf Of party which seems to
want little of him.
True, Herbert Hoover is the
titular leader of his party-and he
is a conscientious man.
Regards Principles Violated
But beyond that he is imbued
with deep sense of responsibility
to certain principles of government
and he believes that those principles
are being violated by the New Deal
So today you find in the house on
the hill determined man, an ener-
getic man, a man with mission
who sits by the hour in the study
with its wide window where l talked
with him, drafting a series of mes
sages to the American people, work.
ing out a program Of his own TO
meet the changing times.
Ever so often he descends into
the outside world, now for an adj
dress, now for a conference with
political leaders He knows what's
going on everywhere in the country.
He misses nothing. No one, would
say, keeps better informed than
does he. His observations and ideas
roll forth smoothly as he fingers a
pipe with one hand and drums upon
the arm of his chair with the other
He is a man physically dynamic and
fresh. The proof of forthcoming
address is on the desk before him.
Seeks to Promote Debate
The mission he has initiated-of
promoting a debate by the Ameri-
can people on the issues raised by
the New Deal-absorbs him COM
pletely. For that he has given up
his fishing trips, and that recrea-
ton is dear to him.
The Republican Party must rec
kon with Herbert Hoover. He can
not be ignored. He will demand
voice in the writing of the platform
and selection of the candidate, al
though he does not discuss these
matters.
His objective is a convention of
uninstructed delegates-made up of
serious minded men and women
and not politicians. Now is not the
time to talk OF candidates. 1t is
the time to talk of principles and
issues. Candidates can come later.
He dismisses talk of his own posi-
BILE candidacy. He is not trying to
get delegates.
Still-and this is not an impress
sion you get from Mr.. Hoover, for
he insists now on his particular
mission the exclusion of all other
considerations feel that deep in
the man there is the hope that
situation will develop where the
convention will turn toward him.
Hoover Will Be Ready
Alfred E. Smith nurtured the same
hope in 1882.
Herbert Hoover will be ready if
the time comes.
BY the time of the convention he
will have analysed the New Deal
from his standpoint and, suspect,
will have proposed some semblance
of counter program to be offered
for the Republican platform.
Herbert Hoover processes to ap-
prove many of the New Deal OBJ
jectives. There was some good in
NRA and AAA. Stock market, Sc
curlty and utility regulation had be-
come necessary. Abuses had to be
corrected. The necessity OF old-age
pensions must be accepted by every
body.
Certain restraints by the govern
ment on the economic machinery
are essential. The Republican Party
had failed for too long to apply such
restraints. For himself, he was over
whelmed by the immediate emer-
gency Of the depression.
Considers New Deal Obstructive
His complaint with the New Deal
is that its restraints, its remedies,
were devised too hastily so that, in
his view, they fail of their purpose
and cripple individual initiative,
where it should be free to function,
under proper regulation. Beyond
that they run contrary to the Con-
stitution and now all of them may
be wiped from the statute books.
Legislation of this character can
not be written, in his opinion, by
putting a dozen intelligent men in
a room to draft it, no matter how
intelligent they are, but must be de-
veloped gradually after thorough
consideration.
The social security program was
pun IOSClllCI tOO 1ldob11Ss n yCdA
should have been given to public
debate on the best method. He
feels the Federal machinery is too
cumbersome. His idea would be to
vote a direct subsidy to the states
to be financed by Straight-out
tax, perhaps manufacturers sale
tax, enacted avowedly for that pur-
pose, and let the states administer
the program.
Favors Consumer Tax
The states, themselves, should
contribute, for the sake of efficient
management, and so should indus
try. The cost of old-age pensions
will be taken from the consumer
in the end. so direct tax on the
consumer would seem the best way
to pay for it.
AS for unemployment insurance,
that should be administered by in
dustry itself. under government SUI