Like Hoover
Sirs:
. . . Your elucidation of Hoover and "Hooverism" [TIME, March 26] was the clearest thing we have had yet. We recently had a city election in Seattle. A successful business man, unknown in politics, opposed by every newspaper and every political agency in the city, won out by the most sweeping majority in the history of Seattle. Like Hoover, he was a "rotten" talker; knew nothing about politics, but the people were willing to judge him by his accomplishments and looked with scorn upon the scathing efforts of the political agencies that sought his defeat. . . .
As the national election approaches, it might be well for us to don our gas masks and read TIME. And by the way, TIME, within twenty years, Seattle will be the largest city in the United States. Put a check mark after that statement.
R. B. HOYT
Seattle, Wash.
No Dealer
Sirs:
In your otherwise admirable write-up of Hoover as the "The Beaver Man" in March 26 issue, there is, I believe, one startling misstatement. You say, "He is a very, very bad public speaker."
Now I have a more than passing acquaintance, both with public speaking in general and with Hoover's public speaking in particular, and, although it is true that the Secretary of Commerce is no spellbinder, no dealer in mellifluous mouthing, he is nonetheless a straightforward, direct, matter-of-fact speaker, who never talks unless he has something to say and who, when he has, says it in language that no one can fail to understand. His delivery and voice have both improved in recent years and still leave much to be desired. They are certainly far from being so poor, however, as to justify your superlative "very, very bad."
FRANCIS A. THOMSON
Dean, School of Mines
University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho
Burst
Sirs:
. . . Senator Heflin "makes" almost every issue of your magazine, and in every issue his name is invariably written with the phrase ". . . who mortally hates and fears the Roman Pope." Sometimes you do it twice or thrice in a single issue. If I see it again, I'll scream. No one hates the Roman Pope more than I do, but this constant repetition is getting nerve-wrecking. If you must explain this not wholly unique hobby of Senator Heflin's, whenever you write his name, for God's sake sit down and compose fifty or more variations of the phrase ". . . who mortally (I can't bear to write it) . . ." and then schedule them for successive mentions of Heflin's name.
Now that I've said what I have, I feel like apologizing for making such a big splash about such a little thing, but I hope to be helpful to TIME, as well as to myself in letting out this criticism before it became so inflated in me that I blew up and burst. Thank you for your indulgence.
R. W. GRAHAM
Philadelphia, Pa.
Because Dawes
Sirs:
There is no charge for this. If you care to reprint it you have my permission to do so. I am sure the American people believe in fair play.
This is what really happened on the Eighteenth of April, in 1775:
THE LONG NIGHT RIDE OF WILLIAM DAWES
by John C. Wright