The Washington times., 1919-12-31
.H0OVERFAvORED
BY HOUSE IN 1920
Presidents ErstWhne Adviser to
Back Food Chief or
Underwood.
fContinued from First Page.)


be regarded as for the Administra-
tioI., Of the Administration and by the
Administration, makes 1t futile to
nominate him, Colonel House is said
to believe by those who pretend to
speak for him.
ITO what extent the influence of
Colonel House may be felt in the COM
ing campaign Is a matter Of consider
able doubt, but there Is believed to
be no doubt that he can be a very po-
tential factor, If he chooses to be. He
has a multitude of powerful friends.
He is reported to have served hum
dreds of them in one way or another
during the two Wilson administra-
tions, and it is said placed so many
under direct obligations to him per-
sonally that all he needs to do, II he
wishes their support, is to command
them. This is regarded as . fact by
most officials in Washington and of
course is not discounted by powerful
interests in New York, which are re-
ported to have dealt with him when
they needed a White House medium.
May Keep Hands Off.
But this does not mean that Col
onel House will throw himself into
Democratic politics during the COM
ing months. He may prefer to remain
inactive through both the preconven
tion and the prediction campaign
He has not been in robust health
since his return from Europe. He has
rarely ventured from his home, and it
would not be unexpected IL he remain
ed In a passive attitude for some time
to come.
H. L.. - f1pf
quietly to work out a campaign pro-
gram in behalf Of Mr.. Hoover or SEN
ator Underwood or any other man
whom he believed to have fighting
chance against the Republicans, ii Is
thought he would throw a great deal
Of weight into such a campaign. He
could bring to the support Of the can
didate whom he might elect to back
strength which would have volume
and substance. 1t Is predicted.
Hosvers Many Appeals.
SHOULD Colonel House take UP tho
cause of Mr.. Hoover. however, 1t is
believed in Washington that he could
give to that cause a direction and
an impetus that it has not hitherto
had. He could put behind it, 1t is
held, a group Of strong men widely
but advantageously scattered VIII,
would put Mr.. Hoover safely In the
running and at the same time give
to him a Democratic identity. a thing
that he has lacked up to now.
"The circumstance about Mr..
Hoover which Colonel Houses friends
here say appeals most strongly is the
belief that the former Food Admins
traitor is In an admirable position to
pront by tho finer achievements of
the Wilson AdniRistraticn without.
having to bear q onul Of the ieas,
popular acts Of tho present regime
In other words. he mig ht, go ai,og
as q Democrat and even as Wilson
appointee without necessarily sharing
In the temporary unpopuiarity OF
outright Administration men.
"Another strong point, 1t was SAID
today, Is the support which Nj.
Hoover might be able to attract from
the millions Of women voters. 1t was
Mr.. Hoover who commanded the army
of American women during the war
as successfully as General Pershing
commanded the army of American
men. He put every patriotic AmeFi-
can woman to work. gave her a GER
tain definite thing to do, named a spe-
cifc sacrifice which she was to make
and thereby gave her the conscious
ness of having contributed directly
and effectively to the victory over the
Central Powers.
"This achievement. II Is said. COM
mends Mr.. Hoover to Colonel House
and to many other practical politic-
ians. although it cannot be said that
the Presidents former adviser actu-
ally has taken UP the Hoover fight
or the fight in behalf of any other
candidate. The most that can be said
Of him, his friends here assert, is that
he will not throw himself into a cam
paign for the nomination of any of
the proposed candidates whose asso-
citation with the Administration is SO
close as to handicap him at the polls. n