The Washington herald., 1920-04-11
Of the Flashed the National Capital Whs
Herbert Hoouer Discussed
By Paris Figaro as Leading
Candidate for Presidency

He Is a candidate by the will of mis-
friends, by the force of events, and
finally. by incontestibly personal
value.
His Chances Held Good.
"The unanimity with which he Is
acclaimed makes him appear over
all others to have the best chance.
His election would mean not the
accession of a party. but of an in
tellectual class-untif now too indi-
rectly called to conduct a nations
affairs. IL would mean an era OF
scientific technicians succeeding a
prolonged era of jurists and politi-
clans.
Before the increasing popularity
of a man who never sought an off1-
cial post, the two parties are fnd-
ing themselves disconnected and put
out of countenance. Therefore.
many are springing to attack MT.
Hoover On. the Republican side
one finds too many candidates with
out real popularity. save Gen. WOOD.
who personally is popular. but whose
role does not seem TO have been
sufficiently striking to warrant nus
entry into the White House. A clev-
er press campaign has presented
him to the nation as ~Col. Roose-
yelt's representative of American
ism" Piously guarded memories OF
Col. Roosevelt give this aureole TO
his companion in arms.
The Democrats are in disarray..
| President Wilson, despite the tradi-
ton against a third term. hitherto
respected and also despite his lack
of health, Is visibly pursuing prof.
, ect tc present himself for thiro
term. Bryan, eternal candidate. pre-
pares for the fracas by entering MS
| fourth candidature-as vain as the
three preceding ones. Other candi-
dates between these two either are
frustrating or grumbling.
Cosmopolitan Vision.
Theoretically. Mr.. Hoover is a
Democrat. He is not a man OF
grandes affaires or of Wall street.
He is an engineer who has lived
much abroad and to whom the en-
terprises to which he recently was
attached were foreign. He thus ac-
auired n cosmopolitan vision and
clear understanding from various
points of comparison. He has es-
caped the influence of the big in
terests and morally his experiences
in traversing the earth and the en-
tire spectacle of war have made him
understand the danger of narrow,
dominating, conservative opinions.
This removes him from old-line Re-
publicanism. Hoover has a brutal
hatred of mediocrity. and. unfor-
tunately, the Democratic party Is
not specially composed of lumina-
ries. There one finds too many dem
agogues. too many brilliant but shall
low orators, too many politicians OF
middle quality. MIR. Hoover thus
finds himself between the two par
ties, and as 1t seems etiquette to
have a party. one might suggest
that he take utlto himself the Pro-
gressive Republicans.
American problems now are
world problems-European and Pa
| cific-Mr. Hoover knows Australia
as we'll as he does Europe. Every
| where he has exercised the func-
| tions of a director. He understands
! Asia, perfectly, that continent of
! old and new civilizations toward
which two continents now are turn
| ing with some inquietude. As for
] Europe, from every point of view.
he has made a profound study of 1t.
| nus 10 a VI WV -
! competence.
! His enemies reproach him for
having lived long abroad. particu-
larly in England. william Ran
| dolph Hearst has unclaimed his
press against him and the unruly
| Senator Reed has presented him as
a British subject. Also he Is re-
preached for not being an orator.
True. he has not the inspired elo-
quence nor faggots of phrases Of
double meaning possessed by Mr..
Wilson. No. but he has q mind
filled with facts and can develop
an exact logical expose presented
in series and remarkable for clear =
ness and force.
Reports, Not DiscOurses-
1T also is a mistake in the eyes
of certain portions of the East to
have a President from the West.
New England makes a grimace be-
fore this new conner and considers
him rustic. True, Mr.. Hoover is
brusque and hasty and wears no
masque. But what he knows, he
knows we'll; what he does not know
he makes haste to learn, and he
! says what he has to say with a
strength of analysis that leaves his
phrases engraved on the memory.
He does not make a discourse, he
presents reports.
Last May no one could see a
candidate possible to replace Will
son. A caricature symbolized the
situation. Before a beautiful auto
) mobile, Mr.. Wilson seated on an
old fiacre, asked for popular suf-
frage in the person of a woman
waiting on the sidewalk. Having
no chauffeur for the rapid auto
:. America resigned itself to the an
cient vehicle and accepted Mr.. Will
son for a third term. But '~day
the automobile of the ConstitL Ion
may be directed by an expert
chauffeur"
Copyright. 1920. by Public Ledger