The Beaver Man

Nominee Hoover listened at his radio in Washington to Nominee Smith's speech on Whispering in Oklahoma City (see p. 10). Chairman Work of the G. 0. P. called the next day to talk things over. Nominee Hoover had no public comment to make.

Towards the end of his New Jersey visit, he had said: "It is not, and should not be, a campaign based on personalities." Prior to that he had forsworn Intolerance, in his speech of acceptance. He left to Chair- man Work a further repudiation of Whispering. The way his mind was working was revealed by two things he said to some Marylanders who came to see him: "Membership in a political organization is no disgrace," and, "Our campaign is based upon our issues. It is not a campaign of opposition. It is a campaign in favor of the issues and conditions in the Republican Party."

Avoiding personalities and outwardly ignoring the opposition seemed as well suited to the exigencies of the campaign as they were characteristic of the Hoover nature. In conducting a campaign of un- concern and inattention towards the Democrats, Nominee Hoover had no less a precedent than Calvin Coolidge, with whom he went to lunch as Nominee Smith was nearing Denver. What Nominee Smith said next, about the Hoover position on Water Power, might have shaken a less resolute nature. But only spokesmen replied. The Hoover silence on .Smith con- tinued and showed no sign of breaking.