MR. HOOVER’S POLICY

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1932, Page 7

MR. HOOVER’S POLICY

OPTIONAL PROHIBITION WAR DEBTS PAYMENT [BY CABLE—PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] WASHINGTON, August 11. President Hoover, in accepting renomination for the Presidency, declared that he believed that a change in the National Prohibition Law was necessary to remedy present evils that have grown up under it. As to the economic situation, he spoke of new plans looking to a movement from defense to a powerful attack upon depression. This assertion is said in high quarters to embrace carrying out his recently-enunciated nine-point programme as wel las other propositions not ready for announcement. His declaration for a “new prohibition” to be set up was to the effect that States should be allowed to be “wet” or “dry” as they wished', but this to be subject to constitutional guarantees to protect each ‘‘from interference and invasion by its neighbours; also that in no part of the United States will there be a return to the saloon system.” Mr Hoover lashed out at the Democratic Party’s platform proposal for the outright repeal of the Prohibition Law as meaning a“return to the saloon system with its corruption, moral and social x abuse.” Under the Eighteenth Amendment, of late, he said, there has grown up an increasing traffic in liquor in some areas, and a spread of disrespect “not only for this law, but for all laws.” This constitutes a grave danger of the practical nullification of the Constitution, and of degeneration in municipal government, and also of an increase in subsidised crime and violence. “I cannot consent to the contamination of this regime,” he declared'. -He reviewed his Administration’s record for the alleviation of the economic situation, saying that measures taken repelled attacks of fear and panic. He promised to propose more measures to speed a recovery.

Mi* Hoover reiterated his opposition to the cancellation of war .debts, at the same time expressing an assurance that the country would consider adjustments “if for any particular annual payment we are offered some other tangible form of compensation such as an extension of markets fox* American agriculture and labour.”

He said he favoured sound currency, a protective tariff, immigration restriction, revision of the railway laws, the federal regulation interstate power, the conservation of natural resources, tax and' banking reform, balanced v federal economy, the St. Lawrence River seaway, and adherence to the World Court, with reservations. He made reference to foreign affairs but without mentioning the Japan-Clxinq situation last winter, or the current Gran Chaco dispute in South America between Bolivia and Paraguay. He told of having projected into international diplomacy a new doctrine, “that we do not, and never will, recognise any title to' the possession of territory -gained in violation of peace pacts.” y

COUNTRYSIDE RESPONSE

(Rec. August 13, 11 a.m.) WASHINGTON, August 12.

Saying. that he had received the greatest flood of telegrams that had ever come into White House, on his acceptance speech,/Mr. Hoover, to-day told the newspapermen it would be impossible to reply to each message. He asked them to make a general acknowledgment.

INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE - WASHINGTON, August 12. Mr. Hoover announced to-day, that he was ready to call a general conference of business and . industrial leaders to seek : united action over a wide front, towards economic recovery. The date will be decided on Monday. Mr Hoover said the conference would engage in a general discussion aimed at loosening credit, and speedy ing the movement of agricultural commodities into consumption, eliminating slum districts, and stimulating railway replacement and repairs.