Americus times-recorder., 1920-04-05
HOOVER TO GIVE
JOHNSON REAL
FIGHT FOR LIFE
Wood-Hoover johnson
Lineup For G. 0. P.
Last lap
By H. N. RICKEY.

WASHlNGIUN, April o.-Ine
Hoover letter to the Republicans OF
California; declaring himself 70 be a.
Republican and stating that he would
consider nomination by the Repub-
lican national convention as a call to
service which he could not refuse,
definitely puts him in the list of lead
ing candidates for the Republican
nomination and eliminates him from
consideration as a Democratic possl-
bility.
IT. is entirely too soon after the
event and too far away from the
Chicago convention to say with any
certainty what position among the
candidates Hoover will ultimately
occupy.
The enthusiasm among Hoover's
friends and followers in all parts OF
the country is such that we may pref
ty safely discount their sweeping
claims that his nomination is fore
gone conclusion.
On the other hand the hostility to
Hoover among the other candidates
and their followers, particularly
Wood and Johnson, is so bitter that
it is equally safe to discount their at
tempts to show that he hasn't
chance for the nomination.
1t may be said that in both cases
the wish is father to the thought.
Hoover a Candidate.
We must await the developments
of the nextfew weeks to have enough
facts upon which to base even a rea-
sonably intelligent estimate of the
A,situation as it relates to the Hoover
candidacy.
use the word candidacy in con-
nection with Hoover advisedly for
while he distinctly stated in his let
fer that he would not make per-
sonal effort for the nomination, the
very fact of his writing the letter
nnder the circumstances that it was
written. puts Hoover in the category
of candidates. .-4.a4
inc nhase of the Hoover candidacy
at this time is that it is a challenge
to Senator Johnson in California IN
tha issue of the eLague of Nations.
Until Hoover entered the contest,
the Johnson candidacy, next to that
of General Wood, seemed to have the
greatest strength. But the ultimate
Fate of the Johnson candidacy de-
nended upon the ability of Johnson to
secure the delegates from California,
his own state. He would have gotten
these delegates by default, but Tor
the Hoover challenge.
Bvt the same token, it is hard to
figure that Hoover's candidacy VIII
oct anywhere if he fails to win
eeGsinst johnson in California.
The Calofirnia primaries will be
hold Nav 4. The month between now
and then will undoubtedly, witness
fight for the California delegates TO
the Republican convention uhequa1Il-
ed for bitterness in the history OF the
hectic politics of that state.
A Fight For Life.
Johnson, twice the governor OF
the slate and now one Of It's senators,
will be fighting not only for his place
among the candidates at the Chlcago
convention, but for his pohtlcal HE
Hoover will be fighting to get his
feet on the first rung of the LADDER
which may make him the Republican
nominee and take him to the White
House. u.
Johnson battle for the California del
e0ation will be the League of Ma
Johnson in and out of the Senate
has led the fight against the league.
He has taken the most extreme posi-
ton of any senator. 1t is summed up
in his terse demand that the Whole
nefarious scheme to involve the
limited States in foreign entangle-
ments be thrown out OF the WIN
Hoover's attitude toward the
League of Nations is that it is neces-
sarv for the future peace and safety
of The world that the United States
/ shonld ioin it, but that we should
make certain reservations to protect
our own national rights. -,
The California primary, therefore,
will he tremendously interesting not
only because of its bearing on the Re
nublican nomination, but also because
It will furnish the first opportunity
for a clean-cut test of statewide SEN
timent on the League of Nations.
Fortunately this test will not be
confined to mere male voters, as the
women of California vote at the pri-
maries.
Disclaiming to have the slightest
Gift of political prophesy, it seems to
me that the contest for the Republi-
can nomination will rapidly crystal
lize into a three-cornered battle
among Wood, Hoover and johnson,
and that the final round at Chicago
will be between Wood and either
Hoover or Johnson, depending upon