Evening star., 1920-04-04

THE WEEK IN POLITICS
Summary of National Developments, Based on
Reports From The Stars Special Core
spondents and Staff Writer'S

at the May primaries, the other re-
publican candidates having but
minor followings. The old guard
organization. republicans generally
are for Lowden. but the corre-
spondent reports that Hoover ap-
parently has caught the popular
fancy and that there is more talk
of him than of any of the other
candidates. Johnson has strong
and effective organization. and for
that reason it is believed he is the
only man who can muster strength
enough to head off the Hoover
movement.
The reaction in Washington state
also has been favora BILE to Hoover.
according to a dispatch from Ia
coma. More Hoover republican
clubs are being organized. and the
non-partisan clubs previously form
ed are being converted into straight
out republican organizations. Dem
ocratic members of these clubs, ac-
cord1ng to the correspondent. in
stead Of dropping out. are striving
to bring other democrats into them
Senator PoindeXter. who has been
looked upon as Washington's ia
vorite son, seems to be overshad-
owed. and the party "stalwarts"
are reported lining up behind Gen.
Wood. as the candidate most likely
~
to Hoover.
X * x x
From the Pacific coast to Massa-
chusetts is long jump, but if The
Stars Boston correspondent has
correctly sized up sentiment at the
Hub" Hoover sentiment flames
as high in that seat of conserva-
tism as it does in the red, red west.
Former Gov. Mccall, who is a can
didate for delegate at large to the
Chicago convention, has announced
that he is for Hoover, and talk
favorable to the former food chief,
according to the correspondent, is
heard everywhere. 1t is an interest
ing coincidence that on the day
Hoover sent his telegram to Cali
fornia putting himself in the run
ming for the republican nominal
ton number of the most promi-
nent democrats in Massachusetts
met in Boston for the purpose of
organizing a democratic Hoover
for-President club. There also is
in Massachusetts, strong inde-
pendent Hoover club, so that he is
being doomed in the Bay state by
republicans, by democrats and by
independents. And still it l. doubt
full whether the Massachusetts
delegation at Chicago will cast it's
vote for Hoover.
There is a tier of close but or
dinari!y republican atates in the
middle west where the Hoover
boom seems hardly to have Gre
ated ripple Of excitement. The
area embraces Ohio al it's eastern
extreme and Nebraska in the west,
with the vast territory lying in
between. 1t is true that during
the week there has been some talk
of a Hoover movement in Ohio
but it is confined largely to Gin
cinnati. which never has been
really friendly to Senator Harding.
even there Hoover talk is merely
a cloak under which Wood senti-
ment is masquerading. It is too
late. in any event, for Hoover to
enter the Ohio primaries and the
contest there will be one to the
finish between Harding and Wood.
The latter. according to a Colum-
bus dispatch. seems to be gaining
strength. and it is by no means a
Harding will have solid delega-
tion from his home state.
\ r \ X
Hoover's name is not on the pri-
mary ticket in Indiana and there
is no organized effort there In his
behalf. but it is assumed that a
good many Hoover republicans will
write his name in the blank space
provided. In Nebraska and a num-
ber of the other middle western
states it is too late for Hoover's
name to go on the official ballot,
and in such circumstances 1t is as
sumed that his friends will make
no organized efforts in his behalf.
To win would be almost impossi-
BILE, and the psychological effect of
having tried and failed would be
bad.
Whether Mr.. Hoovers announce
ment will get him any nearer the
presidency than he was before he
made it. it certainly has served to
give him the political spotlight
during the week just ended It
may not have totally eclipsed in
terest in the fortunes of aspirants
for the democratic nomination, but
there is no doubt that it reduced
them to a state Of exceedingly low
visibility.
Copyright, 1920. by The Washington Star