National Affairs: Farewell Message

As required by the Constitution, President Hoover last week sent to Congress his farewell message on the State of the Union. Its undertone was that of the late campaign and the principles it preached were those which the U. S. electorate had rejected for a “new deal.” The President might be defeated but he was convinced he was still right. Excerpts from the message:

Union, “Our country is at peace. . . . Education and Science have made further advances. The public health is at its highest known level. . . . There should be no hunger or suffering from cold.”

Depression, “Continued constructive policies promoting the economic recovery must be the paramount duty. . . . Confidence in the future.”

Budget . . . “must be balanced” (see p.11).

Public Construction . . . “over four years will amount to $2,350,000,000—or eight times as great as the Panama Canal. . . . The nation is well ahead of its requirements.”

Veterans, “Many abuses should be eliminated. The nation should not ask for a reduction in allowances to men whose disabilities rise out of War service nor those with substantial service who have become totally disabled from non-war-connected causes and arc without support” (see p. 11).

Taxation, “Further revenue is necessary” (see p. 11).

Reorganization, “I shall issue executive orders in a few days grouping or consolidating over 50 agencies. A host of interested persons will at once protest.”

The U. S, Banking System . . . “has failed to meet this great emergency. . . . [Needed] is complete reorganization at once. A solution should be found now.”

Europe. “We must cooperate . . . for organized world recovery. … In a world disarmament conference we should reduce our own tax burdens. . . . Successful results from a world economic conference would bring courage and stability which will reflect into every home in our land.”

Debts “We do not approve of suspension of the Dec. 15 payments.”

Principles . . . “must dominate. Ours is a government consciously dedicated to a faith in the inviolable sanctity of the individual human spirit. . . . We have builded a system of individualism. . . . The background of our American system is that we should allow free play of social and economic forces. . . . Social and economic solutions will not avail unless they conform with the traditions of our race, deeply grooved in their sentiments through a century and a half of struggle for ideals of life rooted in religion and fed from purely spiritual springs.”