The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-02-08
HOOVER STANDS
FOR LEAGUE, NOT
FOR NOMINATION.
Declares He Is Not Candidate
Presidency
NO ONE SPEAKS FOR HIM
VIII Not Declare Himself Further
Until He Knows What Party
Managers Endorse


New York, Feb. S.-Herbert Hoover
tonight issued statement defining
his attitude toward the pres dency He
announced that he is not candidate
for the nomination and that no one
is author zed to speak for him polit
cally. II the league Of nations is
made an issue in the election, he
says, he will vote for the party that
stands for the league. In response
to requests that he declare allegiance
to eithe one or the other great poll
teal parties. Mr.. Hoover says he will
wait until 1t more definitely appears
what the party managers stand for,
and W II exercise prerogative OF
Amer can citizenship and decline to
pledge my vote bl ndfolded."
His statement follows.
Sin order to answer a large number
of questions all at once, let me en-
phasize Ihave taken day off from the
industrial conference in Wash ngton
to New Yo solely to attend to pass
ing matters in connection with the
children's relief. / want to say aga n:
have not sought and am not seek
ing the presidency. | am not can
candidate. IYhave no 'organlzat on
No one authorized to speak for me,
politically.
AS an American citizen by birth
and of long ancestry, l am naturally
deeply interested in the present criti-
cal S tuation. My sincere and only pol
itical des re is that one or both of the
great political part es will approach
the vital issues VIII ch have grown out
of the war and are new, with clear
purpose Of look ng to the welfare Of
our people and that candidates capable
of carrying out his work should be
nom mated.
IF the treaty goes over to the presi-
Gent al eIessiol1 tMsth any reservations
necessary to clarity the world S mind
that there can be no infringement of
the safeguards p. divided by our consti-
tuition and our national traditions,
then l must vote for the party that
stands for the league. With 1t, there
Is hope not only of prevention of war,
but also that we can safely economize
in IN litary pol cies. There Is hope of
earlier return OF confidence and the
econom reconstruction of the world.
I could not vote with party II. 1t
were dominated by g cups who seek to
set aside our constitutional guarantees
for free speech or free representation.
who hope to re-establish control of the
government for profit and privilege. /
could not vote with party if it were
dom mated by groups who hope for any
form of socialism whethe 1t be ma
tonalizat.on OF industry or other des-
truction of individual initiative. Both
these extremes, camoufiaged or open,
are active enough n the country today.
Neither of these dom nations wou
enable those constructive economic
policies that will get US down from the
unsound econom C practices which of
necessity grew out OF the war, nor
would they secure the good VII and
production in ou farmers and work
er5 or maintain the nitiat We of our
business men. The issues look for
ward, not back
u do not believe In more than two
great parties. Otherwise combinations
or groups could, as IN Europe, create
a danger of minority rule. / do be-
lieve In party gan zation to support
great ideals and to carry great issues
and consistent policies. Nor can any
one man dictate the issues of great
parties.
ut appears to me that the hope of
a a-great majority of our citizens n con-
front ng this new period In Amer can
lie is that the great part es will take
positive stands on the many issues
that confront us, and will select men
whose cha acter and resolution will
guarantee the pledges.
Il am now being urged by people in
both parties to declare my alleg ance
to either one or the other. Those who
know me know that am able to make
up my mind when subject is clearly
defined. Consequently unit it more
defin tely appears what the party man
ayers stand for, must exercise a
prerogative OF American citizenship
and decline to pledge my vote blinds
fo,d.
Il am not unapp ec,ative of the
many kind tn ngs that my friends have
advanced on my behalf. Yet hope
they will real ze my sincerity In not
ty ng myself to underlined partisan
ship"