Evening star., 1942-05-22
Formula for Victory

TVtItluIU IVI VISlVty
Herbert Hoover has never appeared
to better advantage before his coun-
trymen than in his address to the
National Industrial Conference Board
Wednesday night. Speaking from
the vantage point of one to whom
the hard adjustments to war are not
new, he undertook to outline a
formula for maintaining the maxi
mum of democratic procedure that
is consistent with victory in total
war But he did this without Sug-
gestion of partisanship or petty criti-
cism; without in any way disparaging
the efforts of those now at the helm
of government; without the slightest
pretenSe that he has the answers to
great problems of the day which are
beyond the comprehension of other
men.
Keying his remarks to the central
theme that we are in this war and
that the only road out is victory. the
former President, champion of indi-
vidualism that he is, was nevertheless
wholly candid in stating that some
of our cherished personal liberties
must be suspended If we are to win.
The alternative, he said, is to lose
the war, and that would mean the
end of all personal liberty.
ITO win total war" Mr.. Hoover
declared, president Roosevelt must
have dictatorial economic powers.
There must be no hesitation in giving
them to him and upholding him in
them. Moreover, we must expect a
steady decrease in economic freedom
as the war goes on" That is sound
counsel, and it should impress itself
UPON those who are not yet recon-
ciled to what is an inescapable fact.
Mr.. Hoover acknowledged that this
amounts to a Fascist economy, but
in applying it during total war in
democracy, he said, we must strive,
first, to keep free speech. free press,
free worship, trial by jury and the
other personal liberties alive and,
second, I'VE want to so design our
actions that these Fascist economic
doctrines are not frozen into Amer
lean life. but shall thaw out after
the war"
If this is to be accomplished, he
continued, it is essential to maintain
freedom of criticism. But to those
inclined to hasty criticism, he added
a word of caution-a reminder that
democracy Is not. a war machine,
that in each of our wars the admins
tration has made many mistakes,
and that this administration must
have time and a chance to create
new organizations and learn strange
duties.
In this same restrained fashion he
advanced two other major sugges-
tions-a word of warning against
attempting social and economic re-
forms which interfere with the war
effort, and an appeal for an end to
intolerance of loyal Americans who
were opposed to the administrations
foreign policies prior to Pearl Harbor.
rs all this name calling the way to
national unity?" he asked. ITO have
unity we need the healing OF our
pre-war differences, not this pouring
of acid into the wounds"
The speech as whole was charac-
terized by philosophical and good
tempered understanding of the fact
that human frailties will prevent the
full attainment of these objectives.
1t is idle to expect complete unity in
all matters, but, as Mr.. Hoover put
it, we have unity on the only thing
that counts noW-on the determlna-
ton of the American people to fight
and suffer and die for their country.
1t is in this spirit of his address
in this firm faith in the capacity OF
the people to rise above their i'm
perfections when the life of the
Nation is at stake-that the war will
be won and the peace insured.