The Washington herald., 1920-04-04
G. 0. P. LEADERS
FACE DILEMMA
Old Guard Uncertain About
X Accepting Hoover's
= Lead.
DEMOCRATS SEE HOPE
~
Fear Former Food Admin
g g istrator More Than
!" Anyone Else.
DEMOCRATS SEE HOPE
ny FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.


"fNominate Hoover and clinch a
Republican victory in November.
Rut up an Old 0uardsman and risk
defeat" That is the argument
watch friends of Herbert Hoover are
advancing with the utmost vigor
within the hierarchy of the Repub-
lican party. They are basing their
Plea on the ground that the cock
sureness with which Republican
leaders look to the 1920 Presidential
election may prove, as overconfi-
dence before has proved, to rest on
shifting sands. 1t can be asserted
with assurance that the deepest
heart-searching is at present in
progress among the G. o. =. high
command over the issue which
Hoover's avowal has projected into
the forefront of Republican consid-
erations. If the Chicago convention
were to be held tomorrow. Republi-
cans say. Herbert Hoover would ind
the cards pretty heavily stacked
against him. But the developments
of the past three days already haze
demonstrated that the deck will be
radically reshuffled before June s.
Foreign Affairs Helped.
Hoover has strong supporters
among the elite of Will II. HAYS
mfttee of III on policies and plat
form. The treaty fiasco and the
gathering storm on the interna-
tional horizon have, in the iudg-
ment of those supporters. vastly
augmented Herbert Hoover's avail
ability as Presidential timber. What
they are trying to persuade their
colleague to realize is that no Re-
publican aspirant now before the
country or Democratic aspirant,
for that matter-begins to measure
up to Hoover as the man of the
troublous hour. They are trying
TO drive home their argument with
another reason-with one designed
to make even a livelier appeal to
an Organization" imagination. They
are pleading that Herbert Hoover
Is the one absolutely certain win
ner in the Republican party stable
this year. They concede that Wood,
Lowden. Harding. Johnson and the
rest all have their strong points
and undoubtedly. faithful following.
But they declare that Hoover is the
single candidate who is as sure as
anything in politics can be sure to
snow under any Democrat put up,
from Woodrow Wilson downward.
Democrats See Hope.
In the incessant discussion of
Hoover now rampant in Washington
one note is struck of outstanding
Significance. That is, that the Dem
ocrats are secretly rejoicing over
the Republican Old Guards anti
Hoover stand. Hoover is said by
Democratic leaders to be the Repub-
lican they really fear in 1920. 1t is
because they comprehend his incom-
parable vote-getting qualities that
National Chairman Homer S. Cum
mings feels so sad over the defec-
ton of 'an essential Democrat"
But the sadness of Democratic lead
ers is assuaged by the belief that
If the Old Guard sidetracks Hoover
at Chicago. it will, after all, be
worth while for the Democratic
party to make a campaign. The
Democrats consider in that event
that they would have a fighting
chance in this Republican year"
A dozen Democrats of national
renown could be named in this dis
patch who would favor one of two
things making it unanimous or
renouncing the futile worry and ex-
pense of a canvass. On the other
hand. with an Old Guardsman as
thsir opponent and a wet plank in
their own platform. Democratic lead
ers believe that 1920 could by no
means airly be set down as a Re
publican year"
Public Ledger Seryice)