Show r GRASSROOTS When Herbert Hoover Talks All America Listens By Wright A. A Patterson I I HEN HERBERT HOOVER talks WHEN all aU of ot America listens When the people of ot the nation have the opportunity of ot both listening and seeing they take advantage of both opportunities They had both on January 27 when the man whom the people recognize as a national leader lead lead- er was on both r radio and television Then millions of ot Americans regardless regardless regardless re re- re- re of ot political affiliations both looked and listened Those letters that Hoover appreciated most were from the homes of ot the nation writt written writ writ- t ten in longhand on plain stationery nearly of them Those letters indicated a willingness to accept the leadership of the former president on so vital a subject as our national defense For him those letters letters letters let let- constituted a a warming heart experience but there were many others coming from those recognized as experts in defense lines and expressing expressing expressing ex ex- pressing firm approval in what he ba had i said From the army there were letters letters letters let let- from Lt General Albert W W. Lt General Leslie B. B Groves Lt Gen Harold L. L George Major General Hugh Knerr and General General General Gen Gen- eral Brice P P. P Bisque From the top brass of ot the navy there were letters fetters of approval and commendations with the privilege of quoting them from such officers as Admiral William WIlHam V V. Pratt Admiral Ad Ad- miral William H. H Standley Admiral Harry E. E Yarnell and Capt James lames E. E van Zandt now a congressman From the realm of diplomacy Henry P P. P Fletcher former under- under state secretary and ambassador r I to o Chile Mexico Belgium and Italy William R. R Castle former director European division department of ot state tate under state ambassador am- am to Japan Hugh Gibson former ormer ambassador to Belgium Spruille Braden former assistant secretary of state and ambassador to o Argentine Colombia and Cuba Joseph A. A Kennedy former ambassador ambassador ambassador ambas ambas- to Great Britain Arthur Bliss Lane ane minister to Estonia Latvia and Poland Jesse Jones former secretary of ot commerce chairman reconstruction finance corporation All of ot the above endorsed Hoovers Hoover's statements that the nation should concentrate on the construction of more sea and air power rather than on additional ground round forces as a defense defense defense de de- against Russia and that we must also protect our economy and not waste our resources In fn Europe It was the agreement with and the approval of or those statements in the long hand written letters received received received re re- by Mr Hoover from American Ameri Amen can homes which he so much appreciated ap ap- i 1 It would be well for tor those of us who are interested only in provable facts that we prepare in advance for tor the storm of Invective mud filth and generalities that will be showered upon us by political orators orators orators ora ora- tors of both parties through the period period period pe pe- of the coming presidential ll campaign cam cam- of July August September and October The coming one will be such amud a amud amud mud slinging campaign as has not been known since the days of the I I and of ot the last century and both joth parties will indulge In the same type of invective President Truman set the keynote of the campaign in his address before before be be- fore tore the national Democratic Woman's Womans Womans Woman's Womans Woman's Wom Wom- ans an's club at Washington in Novem Novem- ber He was greeted with applause because he was talking to an audience audience audi audi- ence who have voted Democratic because father and grandfather voted that ticket His generalities did not change any votes nor will the orators of either party who indulge in the same type of generalities Those whose votes can be changed want provable facts For example the president charged the Republicans with the expenditure re of vast sums contributed by a small minority for tor purely selfish selfish selfish self self- ish reasons in an effort to attain a result in which they failed i J iThe The fact tact is the Republicans spent in that campaign a total of 1444 In the same campaign the Democrats spent The figures are those submitted to congress congress congress con con- gress as required red by law by the national chairmen of ot the two two par par- ties In the Ohio senatorial campaign campaign campaign cam cam- he charged that Senator Taft received vast sums from special Interests in their attempt to influence in fluence legislation for tor corporate wealth but he said nothing about the assessments levied against all members of organized labor and spent to defeat Taft that organized labor bosses might benefit from legislation legislation leg leg- in behalf of a minority |