Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Editorial
June 2, 1931
The Milwaukee Leader
Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
What is this article about?
Editorial lambasts President Hoover's passive handling of the Great Depression and unemployment, likening his Valley Forge speech to an alibi and contrasting him with George Washington. Urges radical reforms like industry socialization for prosperity, warning Hoover is squandering a historic opportunity like Wilson did.
Clipping
OCR Quality
99%
Excellent
Full Text
The Easy Path
99
Herbert Hoover's address at Valley Forge sounded very much like an attempted alibi. An alibi for inactivity regarding unemployment and depression.
The idea of identifying himself and his administration with George Washington!
George was a leader of a revolution.
Herbert is a leader of standpatters.
The standpatters were all against George Washington.
The standpatters are all for Herbert Hoover.
And that "easy path" which Herbert warned against! He is taking the easy path himself. Letting things slide, muddling through, in the hope that they will adjust themselves, is surely the easy path.
Even in meeting the government deficit, the Hoover administration takes the way of least resistance. On one day he makes a speech warning against the easy path. On the very next day his administration takes the easy path by announcing that it will issue $800,000,000 of 18-year bonds at 3 1/8 per cent, instead of raising the taxes of the rich standpatters to make up the deficit. That's the easiest way with a vengeance.
George Washington was not so wonderful as he has been cracked up to be, but at least he did not lie down in the face of obstacles, as the Hoover administration is doing.
The spirit which actuated the American revolutionists, far from serving as an alibi for administrational inaction at this time, should be an inspiration for brilliant service. Mr. Hoover has the most wonderful opportunity that has come to any human being since Woodrow Wilson. Wilson lost the opportunity, and Hoover is losing his.
It is too late for Wilson to retrieve the loss, but it is not too late for Hoover to do so. He could announce to all the world that he favors an advance toward human brotherhood, by means of the socialization of the great industries so that, instead of being operated for the private profit of the few, they could be operated for the benefit of all, guaranteeing employment and permanent prosperity--and then go about doing it. His name would go down as one of the greatest in all history. But he prefers the easy path.
99
Herbert Hoover's address at Valley Forge sounded very much like an attempted alibi. An alibi for inactivity regarding unemployment and depression.
The idea of identifying himself and his administration with George Washington!
George was a leader of a revolution.
Herbert is a leader of standpatters.
The standpatters were all against George Washington.
The standpatters are all for Herbert Hoover.
And that "easy path" which Herbert warned against! He is taking the easy path himself. Letting things slide, muddling through, in the hope that they will adjust themselves, is surely the easy path.
Even in meeting the government deficit, the Hoover administration takes the way of least resistance. On one day he makes a speech warning against the easy path. On the very next day his administration takes the easy path by announcing that it will issue $800,000,000 of 18-year bonds at 3 1/8 per cent, instead of raising the taxes of the rich standpatters to make up the deficit. That's the easiest way with a vengeance.
George Washington was not so wonderful as he has been cracked up to be, but at least he did not lie down in the face of obstacles, as the Hoover administration is doing.
The spirit which actuated the American revolutionists, far from serving as an alibi for administrational inaction at this time, should be an inspiration for brilliant service. Mr. Hoover has the most wonderful opportunity that has come to any human being since Woodrow Wilson. Wilson lost the opportunity, and Hoover is losing his.
It is too late for Wilson to retrieve the loss, but it is not too late for Hoover to do so. He could announce to all the world that he favors an advance toward human brotherhood, by means of the socialization of the great industries so that, instead of being operated for the private profit of the few, they could be operated for the benefit of all, guaranteeing employment and permanent prosperity--and then go about doing it. His name would go down as one of the greatest in all history. But he prefers the easy path.
What sub-type of article is it?
Economic Policy
Partisan Politics
What keywords are associated?
Hoover Criticism
Great Depression
Economic Inaction
Socialization Industries
George Washington
What entities or persons were involved?
Herbert Hoover
George Washington
Woodrow Wilson
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Criticism Of Hoover's Inaction On Unemployment And Depression
Stance / Tone
Strongly Critical Of Hoover, Urging Bold Economic Reforms
Key Figures
Herbert Hoover
George Washington
Woodrow Wilson
Key Arguments
Hoover's Valley Forge Speech Is An Alibi For Inaction On Unemployment And Depression
Hoover Contrasts With Washington's Revolutionary Leadership As He Leads Standpatters
Hoover Takes The Easy Path By Issuing Bonds Instead Of Raising Taxes On The Rich
Hoover Should Pursue Socialization Of Industries For Employment And Prosperity