PROF. SCOTT LAUDS HOOVER AS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

Comparing Herbert Hoover with General Wood as a presidential candidate, Professor Austin W. Scott '09 of the Law School declares that where General Wood has resorted to platitudes Mr. Hoover as clearly defined his position in regard to the two great questions of the day--foreign relations and the labor situation.

"Mr. Hoover," writes Professor Scott, "is not a politician; but he is a statesman, a statesman, I believe, of the first rank. Among the potential presidential candidates I cannot see that there is one who begins to approach him in qualifications for the executive office.

"As a practical administrator he is surely excelled by none. In view of the tremendous-scope of the administrative duties thrust upon the president today, it is of first importance that the president should be a man of great administrative capacity. The danger of a serious break-down of the administrative machinery of the nation is so imminent, and the effects would be so far-reaching and disastrous, that we cannot afford to elect a man whose administrative capacity has not been tested and proved.

"The need is still greater of a man who has the breadth of view necessary to cope adequately with the great problems both at home and abroad which now confront the nation. Mr. Hoover has clearly shown that he has this breadth of view, and I cannot see that one of the other possible presidential candidates has shown it. While other candidates have taken refuge in platitudes, he has announced in no uncertain terms the policies to which he adheres. They speak the language of the era of McKinley; his mind is concerned with the problems of today.

"There are two classes of questions which today stand out above all others; those relating to our foreign relations and those of the relations in industry between capital and labor. General Wood has announced as to both of these that he believes in "a square deal." Of course, but that means nothing. Mr. Hoover has shown, both by act and by word, that he really understands the tremendous difficulties of the problems involved, and that he has definite ideas as to the solution of, and at least a method of approach toward solving, these vital questions.

"The chief arguments used against him are that he was gathered wisdom from experience abroad as well as at home--but perhaps a fatal objection; that he lacks the qualification which Professor Hart placed first among the qualifications of General Wood, he is not a Harvard man--a serious but again not a fatal failing; and that he "straddles" because he cannot be definitely placed in any of the existing political parties. The traditional lines of party cleavage have for the most part become obliterated. Mr. Hoover does not "straddle' when he says that he cannot announce his adherence to the one or the other of the great parties but that he adheres to certain policies.

"Mr. Hoover should be an ideal candidate to all except extremists, and the hope of the nation at this crisis in its affairs does not lie in the extremists. The man in the street, and the women too, trust him, and with reason. I should like to vote for Mr. Hoover whether he is nominated by Republicans or by Democratics or by neither.