The Journal

A TRIBUTE TO HERBERT HOOVER

Wilbur D. Matson, editor and publisher of the McConnelsville Herald, represented the 15th Congressional district at the National Republican convention in Philadelphia, Pa. He winds up his convention sidelights with a glowing tribute to our nation's only living ex-president.

Noble countians, as a whole, will agree with Editor Matson and read with pride his tribute to a great statesman. It is as follows:

"For us personally the highlight of the convention was the tremendous ovation which Mr. Hoover received when thousands marched around the hall singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." We have long held the personal belief that Herbert Hoover and Winston Churchill are the outstanding statesmen of the present century. Mr. Hoover was president when the great post war economic collapse occurred. It did not matter that the entire world was in the throes of hard times before the depression struck America.

Mr. Hoover was blamed for the economic disaster and most Americans will stand for anything except hard times. Mr. Hoover was the target for a shower of abuse and vilification which finds few counterparts in violence and volume in American history. He was denounced by radicals, vilified by victims of the financial collapse and abused by empty headed columnists and radio windbags.

"During all the storm of criticism and abuse which followed, Mr. Hoover stood firm for what he believed was right and sound. He refused to open the door of the United States treasury and buy his reelection or to resort to unsound nostrums suggested as panaceas of relief. Most fair minded people of today will admit, that had we tightened our collective belts and ridden out of the storm as we did in 1896, we would now be enjoying a sound economy with recovery upon a substantial basis. Instead of wallowing in the quicksands of inflation. we would know what a dollar is worth and what our savings, life insurance policies and bonds will be valued at tomorrow.

"For 16 wild minutes, there was a spontaneous demonstration of affection and admiration for Herbert Hoover- Herbert Hoover, the poor Iowa boy who was orphaned, who worked his way through college and who earned a million by the time he was 40 years old. Since then Mr. Hoover has selflessly given his great mind and abilities to his country and his great heart and organizing capacities to the cause of humanity throughout the world. Most fair minded people, regardless of politics, have come to know that the country did Herbert Hoover a great wrong and more or less in a spirit of contrition. attendants of the convention Sought to redress the wrong before it was too late.

"We fancied that as he awaited the dying down of the uproarious ovation in convention hall, so that he could go on with his address, Mr. Hoover's hand trembled slightly and that he was having some difficulty in keeping his eyes from dimming with moisture although most Quakers are not an emotional people. But it seemed to us that this would be the human reaction to such a reception, following years of public injustice and misunderstanding. "Truth crushed to earth, shall rise again, the eternal years of God are here."

Most of the thousands in that convention hall knew that when Herbert Hoover appeared on the platform, they were looking at the greatest living American statesman. They knew he was asking for nothing other than to serve as a patriotic American, the cause of human liberty. They knew that nothing on earth could swerve him from what he believed was right. They knew that here was an extraordinary man who was intellectually superior, who had a great heart as well as a great mind, and who through an undeviating obedience to conscience, had reached a state of moral grandeur. It was a moving scene, which warmed our heart and one well worth a long, hot trip to see."