The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1920-01-16
HOOVER RECEPTIVE
CANDIDATEIN RACE
Places Principle Of Liberalism
Above Party.
HIS HAT IN THE Ring

Although a Republican He Would Run
as Democrat to Beat the Reaction
aries.
Washington, Jan. 16.-HerberS c.
Hoover is definitely in the race for
the nomination for the presidency
No other construction is put upon
the speech of his friend, julius Barnes,
of New York.
AS to the much-debated question OF
the Hoover party, Mr.. Barnes mases
that clear. Mr.. Hoover is more inter
es+ed in liberalism than he is in eitber
party. The parttsanship of Mr.. HoaS-
er extends only to insistence on fhe
maintenance of equality of opport4n-
itv in this country and to the suppert
of the party exemplifying that ideal4
This in crest in liberalism is such
that Mr.. Hoover, although by ins+lnqts
and associations a liberal Republican,
would be willing to run on the Demo
cratic ticket, "if over-confdence in It's
own political prospects blinds the Re-
publican party to adopt nonprogres'
sive platform and to nominate candi'
dates of reaction"
Mr.. Hoover is thus put forward to
make the fight for liberalism, If 1t
necessary To make that fight.
Mr.. Hoover is in a difficult position
as many a man is who has always
,ul, hn " nnt have
been active, in one party, but whose
chief support is in the other. Mr.
Barnes statement has one great merit
that of frankneSS.
Mr.. Hoover could not have maintain
ed silence long as to his party allegi'
ance. He is now out in the open a
Republican, but one more interested
in liberalism than in his party and
willing to become the Democratic can
didate, if otherwise the cause of lib
eralism is not presented to the public,
As to the prospects of his nomina-
ton, the Barnes speech will not
change his chances in the Republican
convention. There is no Republican
talk of Mr.. Hoover. There was no
discussion of him at the Republican
national committee meeting here in
December, except of the question
whether or not he would accept the.
Democratic nomination.
Parties only nominate men of Ats=
Hoover's independence when they are
driven to 1t by fear of defeat. And
the Republican party is in no fear of
defeat. Its danger lies in being blind
ed by overconfidence, as Mr.. Barnes
says in his speech.
And Mr.. Hoover's willingness,
though a Republican, to run on the
Democratic ticket in case blindness
leads the Republican party into reac-
ton will not make him any more ac-
ceptable to Republican politicians. He
is guilty of the unforgivable offense
from the organization standpoint of
preferring principles to party.
The Democratic attitude is much
more chastened, and this is Mr.. HOOv-
er's opportunity. a Democrat close
70 the president summed up the Demo
cratic view of Mr.. Hoover: Let US not
run madly to Hoover. Maybe we won't
need him"
The real chance of Mr.. HOover's
nomination lies in that word need"
If the Democratic situation looks des-
perate enough and the public support
of Mr.. Hoover grows big enough by
convention time, the Democrats may
take him.
The decision will rest with Presi-
dent Wilson and in less deree with
William ]. Bryan. Mr.. Wilson is not
committed 20 any choice for the presi-
dency.
Even the presidents son-in-law, Will
liam G. McAdoo, does not know where
he stands, nor what he will do, and
is accordingly embarrassed in his own
campaign for the nomination.