The Hoover Week

A busy-buzzing bee was President Hoover last week. He was notified by a joint committee that Congress was in session. Said Representative Snell afterwards: "He seemed quite surprised, but said he would communicate with the Congress in writing. ..." The opening of Congress brought a mass of legislative detail to the President's desk. His State-of-the-Union message had to be whipped into final form for the printer. He paraded billion-dollar columns into regimental front for the 1934 budget (see p. 11). Between times he held a series of conferences with Secretaries Stimson and Mills on British and French War debt notes (see p. 8). Suddenly changing his plans, President Hoover decided to send Congress a special message this week on Debts, Disarmament and the World Economic Conference, Senators and Representatives, many of them "lame ducks," kept interrupting by popping in to "pay their respects," and explain volubly the whys & wherefores of election results. Ambassador Edge called to say good-by before starting back to France. Another caller was John Work Garrett, bearded, limping Ambassador to Italy. Dr. Don Ricardo Alfaro had his credentials to present as the new Minister from Panama. A Hoover handshake was all Charles Hann Jr., U. S. vice president of the Federation of Interallied Veterans, wanted. The President also found time to step out on the South Grounds and receive the first platinum medal ever struck off by the Philadelphia mint--as honorary chairman of the George Washington Bicentennial Commission.

P: One group of White House callers who did not see the President last week consisted of nine socialite women from New York and Chicago petitioning for the "constitutional rights" of the oncoming hunger marchers (see p. 10). Included in the delegation were Mrs. Corliss Lament, daughter-in-law of Morgan Partner Thomas William Lamont, New York's Mrs. William Osgood Field Jr., Chicago's colorful Mrs. Polly Chase Boyden. Secretary Joslin met them, told them they could not see the President. "Who made that decision?" asked Mrs. Field. "I did," replied Secretary Joslin. "Is this the usual procedure for receiving petitions?" "Each case is judged on its merits--and I am the judge of the merits," explained Secretary Joslin. Boiled Mrs. Field: "The crux of this matter is the apparent inability of American citizens to petition their President. We merely asked to be allowed to present our petition. . . ."

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