Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-02-12
HOOVER SAYS He
IS NOT CANDIDATE
EX-FOOd Administrators Declares
He Has No Organization"
and no One Is Authorized to
Speak for Him Politically
FOR NOPARTi YET
win Vote with No Group THAT seeks
to Control Govt. for Profit or Priv
nege. or That stands Cor Any Form
OF Social isn

Sew york Feb S.-Hcrbert tioo"er
MS attitatc toward the presidency. He
anncunccd tina, he IS net I? candidate
for the nomination and tnat no ono
IN authorized TO spoah for him poiit-
icaily. Il the League of Nations is
made an issue in the election he sa.s,
he Wi. voto for IN" party ihdi stands
for ne leacr,e. In Response to 20
Guests that ne declare alleGianc" 10
eithe- one o. the other OF the great
political parties. Mr.. Hoover s'lys he
VIII wait until Il more definitely APP
Years what the party managers stand
for and will exercise q 2reroRative
OF American citizenship AND decline
to pledge my vote bindfold
Ills statement follows:
"!n order 20 answer 3 ldrLo number
o. questions ali Al once, let me en-
phasiIe that have taken . Jay off
from tho Industrial conference Ia
Washington to New York solely to at
,end 20 pressing matters IL connec-
ton with the children's relief. | want
to say again: Il have not sought and
am not seeking the presidencY ! am
not n candidate. | have no 'organiza-
ion. No one is authorized to speak for
me politically.
AS an American citizen by birth
and of long ancestry, | am naturally
deeply Interested in the present crit
ical situation My sincere and only pol
itical desire is that one or both of the
great political parties will approach the
vital issues which have grown out Of
the war and are new, with clear
purpose looking TO the welfare of our
people and that candidates capable of
-i,,,y .,tls CHI "a hD
mated.
IF the treaty goes over to the presi-
Dental election with any reservations
necessary to clarity the worlds mind that
there can be no infringement of the safe
guards provided by our constitution and
our nation old traditions) then | must
vote for the party 'hat stands for the
league With it there is hope not only
OF the prevention of war, but also that
we can safely econonZe in military
policies. There Is hope Of earlier return
of confidence and the economic recon-
struction of the world | could not vote
with party If il We're dominated by
groups who seek to set aside our con
stitutional guarantees for free speech OF
free representation. who hope 10 re-
esta blish control of the government for
profit and privilege. | could not vote
groups who hope for any form Of socia l.
ism whether it be naturalization Of in
dustry. or other destruction of individual
initiative. Both these extremes. camou-
tagged or open, are active enough in the
country to-day. Neither of these DONNA
tons would enable these constructive
economic policies that will get us down
from the unsound economic practices
which Of necessity grew out of the war.
nor would they secure the good will to
production in our farmers and workers
or maintain the initiative of our bust
ness men. The issues look forward, not
back
"a do not believe in more than two
great parties Otherwise combination Of
groups could. as in Europe create a
danger of minority rule. ! do believe in
party organization 10 support great idea Is
and to carry great issues and consistent
policies. Nor can any one man dictate
the issues of great parties.
IT appears to me that the hope Of a great
majority Of our citizens in confronting
this new period in American life is that
the great parties will take positive stands
the many issues that confront us, and
will select men whose character and as
sociations will guarantee their pledges
II am being urged by people in both
parties to declare my allegiance to either
one or the other. Those who know me
know that am able to make up my mino
when a subject is clearly defined Con
seuuently, until it more definitely APP
pears what the party managers stant
for, | must exercise prerogative OF
American citizenship and decline 10 pledge
my vote blindfold.
~ am not unappreciative Of The man,
kind things that my friends have ad
vanced on my behalf Yet ] hope the,
will realize my sincerity in not tying
myself to underlined craftsmanship