Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-22
DOVER BOOM GROWS
DESPITE HIS SILENCE
Growth of Movement Brings Out
Strong Opposition, But Gains
Strength.
Correspondence Baltimore Sun.

Hoover candidacy for the Presidency has
assumed concrete proportions within
the last few days. Ii Is impossible 10
talk TO the leading men of the two great
parties IN Washington without commine
to that conclusion.
Not that Mr.. Hoover himself has done,
said or promised anything 10 promote
this candidacy He has remained silent
and in the background. He has kept At
work on the things that engage his most
passionate interest. To all appearances
he has allowed matters To drit with the
tide. indifferent alike to the ebb and flow
OF the political currents
But the fact remains, nevertheless,
that the sentiment for Mr.. Hoover Is
crvstalizing. 1t Is no longer nebulous
affair. but has taken u very definite form.
But as inevitably happens when move
ment of this sort becomes serious, the
opposition is aroused. There Is oppoSI-
tion IN the nomination OF MIR, Hoover,
not on the part of the Republican leaders
alone. but on the part OF Democratic
leaders. :.
This opposition did not manifest itself
IN anv open fashion as long as the Hoover
candidacy was an uncertain and unstable
matter, But now that powerful inter-
ssts have come out boldly IN ms behalf /,
other interests have let it I've understood
that they are not for him and have no
hesitation In saving 50. This npposI-
tion. for the time being, seems most
potential In the south. SouthernerS ~
4he House and Senate said openly today
that they would oppose the nomination
of Mr. Hoover by the Democratic party.
southern Democrats do not appear
70 like Mr. Hoover for the primary reason
that he is not Il Democrat, or, at least
has never said that he was one. hey
want Democratic candidate Tor nc
Presidency. Many OF them would rather
ln>r the next election with 3 Democrat
NJ ,hc head of the ticket than win 4
ui,h anv other kind Of nonncc leading
thcir fight IF Mr. Hoover will become
even measurablv i party man this south
crp opposition psr,iaIly viii dissolve, II
uas admitted today But II he remains
A. independent or . progressive Rt-
publican. il may To- impossible - line
III 4 large part oi the southern delegates
Meanwhile the mystery Of Hoovcr's
politics remains Infathamed. Tie has
never classified himself and hls friends
insist that he Is not disposed ~ Do ~
nov. lie may have had an impulse very
recently Ia opcak publicly on thc SUBJECT
but II he did uI,on reflection hr drcidcsi
IA lesy, lnsald tho things hat nlGhJ have
hecp said and might have hccn miSlmdor-
stood bv tho country il- Democratic
friends rontinur - heheye mn is go"d 4
Democrat ~ rthcy themselves, and hl>
Republican admirers arslc that, iunda-
mentally. he i 5 HteEubhcan.
But If Mr. Hoover Should bc \ candlua't
il viii not be 3 candIdacy Ct the oid oT1eT
That much can bc sald upon thc acth"r1N
Of some of his most inttnaie advisor
HI will hsye platform Scrt inlcli "i his
oun nnking. That plstform vii ~ limit
81 10 those policies which are closest N
the Hoover heart. And for ta, present.
tbcre are hi7t two interests which cng4gt
his icepcst thought. The fIrsi i suffering
Europe and the economic rehabilitation
Cf hat continent and tho next L INDUS trla!
r.sa4,e and good VIII 81 home.
The first is represented by TIC rciiCi
rrleasurc9 which Mr Hoover Is advocating
measures which have hcou puhhclN dis
ctssed by him for months Inc other II
represented hx the work q the scron1
industrial Commission now approa ching
lis final stage. Nj Hoover i working
morning. noon and night upon the report
and program OF this commission, and Ia
TRENDS say thst lie regards tins labor ~ of
monumental Importance To the nation
In fact, It IS said that II Mr., Hoover
should be candidate Of either l,ar.N er
o. both. he would insist that The rcppr'
OF this commission be made the car1nai
plank In his platform. Alrc,sdN : pre-
hnlinary report. Of the industrial Com
mission has been made public, but 1h,s
merely touched the high spots ho
more complete findings viii be g}ven out
IN The course OF the next 30 days, II Is sald
and viii lsy down complete new system
o. industrial relationships IN this country
There Is another phase or two s. ihe
Hoover candidacy which il L poSS'b,c -
discuss with some degree q defnlleues>
AZ this time. In the trst place those per
soraI friends most interested ID max
NJ him President want 70 make MN the
Republican nominee They feel That he
rould have an infinitely better chance
If election. IL iaci it was lutIuated to-
day that i he should be nominated BY
the Republicans al Chicago ! movement
would be started To give him the indor-e-
nent of the Democrats 1T ian Francisco.
But i Is saId that Alr. Hoover per
soIially does not feel that he can achIeve
sht Republican uomIns ton without PAY
ing 8 price for II which he would not
pay even FOR :. dual nomination. 1tla
price Is al agreement 70 do business with
The Republican leaders after lie should
be elected Mr.. Hoover. II j. declared
vill Dot accept the Republican or tic
Democratic nomination, for that matter
# he Il pledged ii advance 10 :. partisan
course IN thts event of election
L u proved impossible TO uomuato
Nj Hoover On the Republican tlcact
Except At the sacrifice Of hls Independence
n ,se friends viii give W thl efTort aud
await the plea>ure Of the Democrats
Il s nov believed very generally yin Wash
lngtou that h speech of sir Barnes
'ev DAYS ago. pronoInrlng Mr. Hoover
progressive Republican, was /. direct
bid on the part Of Mr.. Hoover personal
Republican friends for tile nomination
Il Chicago As il nov turns out however
there has been little Or nc response IN
the part Of Republican leader They
have not shown any marked inclination
Il embrace the opportunity offcred To
them.