The Hoover Week

Herbert Clark Hoover never spent a more eventful week than last.

He listened attentively at the radio, nodded approvingly as Senator Smoot droned the G. O. Platform into the Missouri microphones.

On the evening, friends assembled in the living room of the Hoover home. Negro butlers, directed by Mrs. Hoover, served lemonade. There were carnations in the vases. Associate Justice Stone, of the U. S. Supreme Court, and Mrs. Stone were there; also the Vernon Kelloggs, George Barr Baker, assistant to the Attorney General, William J. ("Wild Bill") Donovan, Mrs. William E. Borah, and the Herbert Clark Hoover Jrs. Herbert Clark Hoover III and Peggy Anne Hoover were put to bed long before anything exciting happened.*

The radio was going. Shortly after the monstrous voice of John L. McNab was heard, at about eight o'clock, the radio sounded as if it had broken. It began to roar, hum, shriek, blare, clatter. The Beaver Man's name had been placed before the convention.

Mr. Hoover walked in and out of the living room, gnawing cigars. A bat flew in at the window. Guests and butlers chased it upstairs.

The balloting began coming over the radio. Guests kept score. When the nomination was complete, Mrs. Hoover went to her husband and took both his hands in hers, but said nothing. A few minutes later, he appeared to newsgatherers in an outer room. "I can't say anything tonight, gentlemen. Of course, I'm very happy," he said.

The radio reported the telegram which Chairman Moses was sending from the convention to its nominee: "It is not so much that we give you this nomination as that you have earned the right to it ... etc., etc."

But the greatest moment in the Beaver Man's life up to that time did not arrive until the actual telegram came and he could issue his acceptance.

"You convey too great a compliment when you say that I have earned the right to the presidential nomination. No man can establish such an obligation upon any part of the American people. My country owes me no debt. It gave me, as it gives every boy and girl, a chance. . . .

"My whole life has taught me what America means. I am indebted to my country beyond any human power to repay. It conferred upon me the mission to administer America's response to the appeal of afflicted nations during the War. It has called me into two Cabinets of two Presidents. By these experiences I have observed the burdens and responsibilities of the greatest office in the world. That office touches the happiness of every home. It deals with the peace of nations. No man could think of it except in terms of solemn consecration.

"You ask me for a message:

". . . At a later date I shall discuss it (the platform) fully, but in the meantime I may well say that under the principles the victory of the party will assure national defense, maintain economy in the administration of government, protect American workmen, farmers and businessmen alike from competition arising out of lower standards of living abroad, foster individual initiative, insure stability of business and employment, promote our foreign commerce and develop our national resources.

"You have manifested a deep concern in the problems of agriculture. . . . We will and must find a sound solution that will bring security and contentment to this great section of our people.

"But the problems of the next four years are more than economic. In a profound sense, they are moral and spiritual. This convention has sounded a note of moral leadership. . . .

"The government is more than administration; it is power for leadership and co-operation with the forces of business and cultural life in city, town and countryside. The presidency is more than executive responsibility. It is the inspiring symbol of all that is highest in America's purposes and ideals.

"It is vital to the welfare of the United States that the Republican party should continue to administer the government.

"If elected by my fellow countrymen, I shall give the best within me to advance the moral and material welfare of all our people and uphold the traditions of the Republican party so effectively exemplified by Calvin Coolidge."

There was no pretense of work next day at the Department of Commerce. Telegrams rained in from President Coolidge, Vice President Dawes, Charles Evans Hughes, Andrew William Mellon and all the obvious people also from Dr. Frank Crane, sermonizer, who said "tickled to death," and Morris Gest, theatrical producer, who said: "My father and mother have been praying for you in Berlin."

"I wish you to know how greatly I welcome your nomination," wired Nominee Hoover to Nominee Curtis.

Mrs. Emma C. Barker, who serves "the chief's" 60-cent luncheons at the Department of Commerce, told the New York World that "the chief" relishes peanuts.

The Secretary's secretary said that the Secretary would continue being the Secretary of Commerce probably until a few days after he had received the notification committee headed by Senator Moses in Palo Alto, Calif., early next month.

Gentlemen with important seats on the Hoover bandwagon flocked towards Washington to discuss ways and means of bandwagon locomotion this summer and autumn (see p. 15).

A prompt caller was Senator Charles Linza McNary of Oregon, co-author of the late McNary-Haugen bill. He wanted to let bygones be bygones, including the famed equalization fee. Not so Representative Gilbert N. Haugen of Iowa, the other half of the team. He sulked in his tent.

On Sunday the Hoovers went to the Friends meeting house on I Street where the nominee has been an occasional but not regular attendant.

After 15 minutes of silent meditation, one man and three women in the congregation were moved-by-the-Spirit. Each stood up and talked briefly. The man, a civil engineer, named Robert Brown talked about religious pioneering as compared to scientific pioneering. Nominee Hoover wore a double-breasted dark grey suit, white canvas shoes. In the afternoon, Nominee and Mrs. Hoover motored.

* These are the only Hoover grandchildren. Allan Hoover, 21, Stanford University Senior, is unmarried. He attended the convention as a page. Herbert Clark Hoover Jr., 24, is an instructor in economics at the Business School of Harvard University.