Show r 0 BY RADFORD MOBLEY washington BUREAU special to the park record washington D 0 july eth the weeks that have elapsed since president hoover made his notable suggestion lor for 2 a debt moratorium to the european governments ern ments have served only to strengthen his position when a week later he backed it up by a suggestion to the federal farm board that it withhold its surplus of 0 wheat until the domestic price had gained a satisfactory level he only added to his prestige in both moves he has done what the country has been demanding of him assume active leadership mr hoover has never been accused ot of lacking force but many observers bad come to wonder whether his bis lifetime habit of proceeding ta the head bead 0 of a big business was not handicapping him as tar far as results were concerned acting as head of a concern staffed with politicians Is far different from initiating the policies of a private business concern and his attempt to adapt his old methods method Is said by many here to have been the cause for many of his decisions that have aroused criticism twice within a a month he has broken through red tape each time his action being met with such a storm of approval that it will undoubtedly hearten him to similar actions As will rogers one of the most astute of all commentators on public officials says the coming Is almost certain to be a contest between hoover and curtis on one side and gov roosevelt and some running mate on the other the strong tide that is setting in favor ot of vice president curtis threatens to overturn one political pre that no vice president ever succeeds himself in the years of this I 1 government there has always been a different vice president every tour four years and curtis curels if he be Is reelected re elected will hold a unique honor his choice Is by no means sure as political trades tor for votes tor for the head ot of the ticket at next summers convention t ton may return him to his kansas prairies john J raskob the executive head ol of the democratic party who has just returned from a months trip to europe has nothing but praise for president hoovers debt proposal but declares it has nothing to do with the coming campaign which will be ought fought so on a the old oia familiar lines of prohibition nd and the tariff what he does not say however Is that the president has unquestionably tion ably won votes by his display of eminent statesmanship and his evident desire to give the country the leadership it had bad s a right to expect from a man ot of his known ability foreign newspapers frankly explain that the debt proposal means less in actual financial relief relict than in its pay psychological ch aspects the first announcement resulted to in a healthier tone in all business lines including the big exchanges where the greatest sensitiveness la Is always shown to political moves stocks stock have kept climbing and both wholesale and retail business in this country and abroad have shown marked improvement nobody expected six an overnight return to the prosperity of 1928 so there Is no feeling that the plan Is merely a political gesture instead ot of a practical project for releasing the restrictions on oil capital which ill concede is the real cause of 0 the pre sent hard times along with drou drought t an and overproduction the presidents attitude towar towards helping el out the south american republics rep I 1 I 1 in a financial way Is another thing that Is adding to his popularity south america Is a market that must always be fought I 1 for by this country europe being actually I 1 nearer to it in sailing time than new york besides being closer in blood ties and culture by initiating plans for financial help mr hoover has made a strong bid tor for that should result in substantial gains in trade observers assert the importance ot of such markets Is best shown by the recent good will trip ot of the prince ot of wales to all the leading countries ot of south america the need ot of something to offset the effects ot of his visit has been met by the president it Is considered here by government advisers sam mckelvie McKelv le who recently retired as a member ot of the federal farm board tools took occasion on presenting his formal rl resignation ignation s to the president to outline the work the board has accomplished in the past year he points out that the government has undertaken successfully to save sate the former farmer irom from the immediate price debacle that has always alway followed previous periods ot of economic readjustment the board has eased the condition due to lowering prices in such manner as to lessen the shock to all growers he says and they owe the government a debt of gratitude |