Hoover Stresses Equality of Opportunity Without Regard to Race or Creed

Herbert Hoover, Republican candidate for the Presidency of the United States, in his address Friday night ? St. Louis, Mo., stressing the American principle of equality of opportunity, declared:

“If we would maintain America as the land of opportunity, where every boy and girl has the chance to climb ## that position to which his ability and character entitle him, we shall need to be on increasing guard. If I could drive the full meaning and importance of maintained equality of opportunity into the very consciousness of the American people, I would feel I had made some contribution to American life. It is the most precious of our posessions that the windows of every home shall look out upon unlimited hope.

“Equality of opportunity is the right of every American, rich or poor, foreign or native born, without respect to race or religion. I insist upon the most strict regulations of public utilities because otherwise they would destroy equality of opportunity. I object to the Government going into business in competition with its citizens because that would destroy equality of opportunity. And equality of opportunity is the flux with which alone can we melt out full and able leadership to the nation.

“The first step to maintained equality of opportunity among our people is, as I have said before, that there should be no child in America who has not been born and who does not live under sound conditions of health who does not have full opportunity; who does not have full opportunity for education from the kindergarten to the university; who is not free from injurious labor; who does not have stimulation by ambition to the fullest of his or her capacities.”

Making clear his stand on immigration, the candidate stated:

“I may also add upon the subject of protection that the limitation of immigration is a fundamental part of our protective system, because it prevents a flood of labor from abroad which can only break down our levels. I stand against any increase of the present quotas and for the principle of the 1890 census, with only such changes as prevent separation of families, but not increase in total numbers.”