Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-08-11
Hoover Warns Failure
ToCurbU. 5. Spending
Will Rob Posterity
(Tert of Mr.. HooDer's Address
on Page A-16.)
By the Associated Press

By the Associated Press
PALO ALTO, Calf, Aug. IL
The nation today had the sober
warning of its only living former
president that its spending poll
cies. if unchecked, will rob pos
terity of its inheritance.
Former President Herbert Hoo
yer, in a significant address, as
serted last night that the United
States "is blissfully driving down
the back road to collectivism at
top speed"
1--WE have not had a great socia-
lization of property" he said, but
we are on the last mile of collecti-
vism through governmental col
lection and spending of the saw
ings of the people"
10000 Persons In Audience.
The country's president from
1929 to 1888 spoke before an esti-
mated 10000 persons in the beau
tiful grass-carpeted Laurence
Frost Memorial Bowl on the STAN
ford University, campus, virtually
In the shadow of the Hoover In
stitute and Library on War. Revo-
luton and Peace.
The occasion was his 18th
birthday celebration. sponsored
by the university in tribute to its
most famous son, graduate of
its first class in 1895.
President Truman's message of
CONGRATULATIONS and good wishes
was among the thousands which
came from all over the world.
Some of them came from foreign
lands where Mr.. Hoover's admin
istration of relief established Ills
name as a great humanitarian.
Heads Special Commission.
Mr.. Hoover headed a special
commission on government Or
ganization which recently COM
pleted two-year study with a re-
port recommending economies OF
$4,000 100000 a year.
In his talk, broadcast by the
four major networks, he said:
my word to you, my fellow
citizens. on this 18th birthday Is
this: The founding fathers dedi-
Gated the structure of our govern
ment to secure the blessings OF
liberty to ourselves and our pos
terity.' We of this generation in
herited this precious blessing. Yet
as 4pendthrifts we are on our
way to rob posterity of ITS In
heritance.
The American people have
solved many great crises IN ma
tional life. The qualities Of self
restraint, of integrity. OF con-
science and courage still live in
our people. 1t is not too late toI
summon these qualities.
Spending Proposals Assailed.
Assailing new Federal and State
proposals for spending taxes, he
said:
Along this road Of spending
the Government either takes over,
which is socialism, or dictates in
stitutional and economic Life, ).
which is fascism."
He said "the American mind Is.
troubled by the growth OF col
lectivism throughout the world"
The few hundred thousand
Communists and their fellow trav-
elers in this country" he termed a
nuisance" who require attention
but who cannot destroy the Re
public. And there are also 1.-The
doctrinaire Socialists who peace
fully dream of their utopia"
But he expressed concern about
"a considerable group OF fuzzy
minded people who are engineering
a compromise with all these Euro
pean infections"
European Systems Left Behind.
"They fail to realize that our
American system has grown away
from the systems Of Europe for $50
years. They have the foolish no.
ton that collectivist economy
can at the same time preserve
personal liberty and constitutional
government"
He pointed to the "austerity"
in England as "a sufficient spec
tacle."
Mr.. Hoover said "Mr. Average
Working Citizen" now must work
81 days a year to support local.
State and Federal Government.
Proposed additional Government
spending would take another 20
days work. he said.
He estimated the cost of all
Government to the average family,
exclusive of Federal debt service,
had jumped from 5000 to $1,000 a
year in the last 20 years, and that
this might go to $1,000 with debt
service and new proposed expendi-
lures. About one person in seven
now is a regular recipient Of Gov
eminent monies, he asserted.
He placed much of the blame
for heavy Government spending
on the people themselves, as rep
resented by "the multitude of
great pressure groups"
He urged thinking and debate
in the schools and in every corner
grocery on the problems Of Gov
eminent.
1--WE dare not see the birthright
of posterity to individual indie
pendence, initiative and freedom
of choice bartered for a mess of
collectivist system" he declared.