Americus times-recorder., 1920-03-31
G.O.P.LEADERS,
} SCARED, FIGHT
HOOVER BOOM
Vicious Wood and John
son Attacks Betray
Fright
BY H. N. RICKEY.

WAOhlNG lON, Marcn oil ne
attack on Herbert Hoover by the
Wood managers in New York is the
most significant thing that has hap
rened in the fierce battle which is
being waged for the republican
presidential nomination.
1t is perfectly clear that one of
the leading candidates for the re-
publican nomination would not have
permitted such an attack unless he
and his advisers have reason to fear
that the Hoover sentiment is grow
ing to such proportions as to en-
danger his candidacy.
1t is interesting to note that at
about the same time that the Wood
sentiment was given out an even
more vicious attack was made
against Hoover by the eastern man
ager of Senator Johnson's campaign.
Each attack approached the
Hoover situation from a different
angle and it is quite likely that they
were made by pre-arrangement.
Only One Answer.
When one considers the bitterness
of the contest between Wood and
!, hnson, which has already reached
the point where it is alarming the
republican national committee, there
can be but one answer to their join
ing hands in an attempt to eliminate
Hoover as a possible candidate for
the republican nomination.
The answer is that they have heard
from their lieutenants in the various
states where they are fighting for
delegates that the sentiment for
Hoover among the rank and file of
the voters is real menace.
The Wood attack opens with the
frank admission that "for several
weeks inquiries have been made at
the Wood headquarters regarding
the candidacy of Herbert Hoover
and so persistent have been the i'm
! brortunities of late that it has been
decided to make the following state
ment with regard to the Hoover
boom"
The Wood statement contains this
gem:
at is obvious that the political
leaders in the various states are
giving the Hoover boom no consid-
Grafton, for he has not obtained a
single delegate either in the primary
elections or in the conventions that
have been held"
Humorous Incident.
AS Hoover has not permitted the
use of his name as candidate and
as those who are urging his candi-
dacy are using as one of their chief
arguments that the time has come
for the old political leaders to get
off the peoples backs, this feature
of the Wood attack is deliciously hu-
morous.
The Johnson attack charges that
the Hoover boom is financed by a
group of international bankers; that
Hoover is more British than Ameri-
can and a lot of other equally ri
1iculous things.
1t is quite possible that aside
from the idea of sounding a general
alarm against Hoover for it's effect
on the general public, where his
strength lies, the political purpose
back of the Wood and Johnson at
tacks is to force Hoover into the
open as a candidate for the repub-
lican nomination.
The managers of the republican
party, as well as the candidates
would like nothing better, knowing
that the Hoover sentiment is a thing
they have to deal with, than to get
Hoover into the rough and tumble
fight for the nomination at the
earliest possible time. ley would
know better how to deal with this
disturbing Hoover person if he would
only play the game according to
their rules.
Neither Old Guard Likes Him.
In the meantime the Hoover cam
paign or boom or sentiment or what
ever one is pleased to call it, has
begun to take decided republican
slant.
During the past week or ten days
it has been crystalizing very rapid
" as a movement on the part of
men and women of all political par
ties in all sections of the country,
mostly under the leadership of pro-
gressive and Independent republi-
cans.
That this is as pleasing to the old
a Democratic leaders as it is displeas-
y ing to the old Republican leaders,
goes without saying. For the old
Democratic leaders don't want Hoov-
er and the platform he would force
on them any more than the old Re-
publican leaders do.
Whether or not it is pleasing to
Hoover, nobody but Hoove~ knows.
If Hoover continues to run true
to form, he will tell when he gets
ready; and nothing that any Of the
Republican managers or candidates
can do or say will have the slightest
effect.