Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-11
HOOVER IS DOOMED
IN WEST VIRGINIA
Organization in His Interest
Is Formed-Gen. Wood
Gaining Strength.

CHARLESTON, W. Va. April 10
(SpeciaD.-The outstanding political
development Of the past week In this
state was the launching of an organ
ization designed to make Herbert
Hoover the republican presidential
nominee. This tangible move for the
former food dictator was made by W.
Ward Smith. New York business man,
associated with lumber interests and
instigator and organizer of the Hoo
yer Republican Club Of the metrop-
oils
Mr.. Smith was Joined here for a
conference by W. A. Bratton, an at
torney of Marlinton. w. Va. and an
enthusiastic Hooverite. Among the
Charleston republicans brought into
the conference were Charles E. Krebs,
a mining engineer. and Councilman E.
l.. Whitney. Mr.. Bratton will serve
as state chairman.
Resigns From Wood C0mmittee.
Following this conference. Mr..
Whitney sent his resignation as vice
president Of the Leonard Wood
League for West Virginia to State
Auditor J. 8. Darst. state manager for
the soldier candidate. and made pub
lie announcement that he had accepted
the Craftsmanship Of the Hoover Re-
publican Club for Charleston. declar-
ing that Mr.. Hoover is the truly ma
tional candidate for the republican
presidential nomination"
Two other states-Virginia and
Maryland-had been organized by Mr..
Smith before coming to Charleston.
He said that the most remarkable de-
velopment personally encountered by
him is the number of Wilson demo-
Gratis who declared they would sup
| port Hoover on the republican ticket.
From the information we have in
hand" said Mr.. Smith. "it is reason
ably certain that Hoover. If nominated
| at Chicago, could carry several OF the
southern states.
| Mr. Smith stated that the New York
Hoover organization liz composed OF
substantial business men. we have
been careful to keep our membership
clear of Wall street interests and
| the strictly capitalistlc class gener-
ally" he said.
| Hoover may cut in largely on Gen.
Wood should the former decide to
| enter the state primary, but there Is
nothing at present to indicate such a
detection. Wood is gaining strength
to the early and aggressive campaign
of the West Virginia manager, Mr.
Darst. Nine large Wood clubs al
| ready have been organized, at keyser
Sistersville, Huntington. Charleston
Wheeling, Morgantown. Parkersburg
Fairmont and Clarksburg.
Senator Sutherland Stin Silent.
Senator Howard Sutherland has not
vet announced whether he Is to con-
test at the primary AS the list stands
now with the secretary or state there
are only two declarants for the re-
publican presidential preference
I Cen Wood and William Grant WEEP
ster of New York city.
Organized labor Is united as never
before in this state to carry OUT tne
non-partisan political policy recon-
mended by the American FeoeratioI
of Labor President c. F. Keeney OF
District IT, United Mine workers, ano
the dominant figure of the organiza-
t;on declares that over 100000 work
ers will back as a unit the candidates
approved. ~,
waive their party obligation for the
common interest of labor, says MT
Keeney, who is himself socialist
! With State Labor Commissioners
Samuel B. Montgomery, one of the
three republican candidates for gov
ernor. carrying the Endorsement OF
the Parkersburg labor convention, the
stock of that candidate has shot up
ward. and many astute political OBJ
servers are picking him as the pri.
ma HERBERT L. GRIMM.