Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1920-03-02
HOOVER LOOMS LARGE
ON NATIONAL HORIZON
Prominent Men Of Both Parties
Favorable to His Nomination.;
Methods Like Rooscvelt's.
washington Correspondence. Boston Trans
cript of February

washington Correspondents. Boston Trans
cript of February
While the managers of the Democratic
National Campaign are resting on their
oars. having given the word that dele
gate contests shall cease and an open
convention should be held in San Fran
cisco, the Hoover drive for the nomina-
ton goes on merrily if not alarmingly
Not only are Hoover clubs being formed
from California to Massachusetts, often
composed OF members of both parties, but
Mr. Hoover himself while denying that he
is in politics and without going step out
Of his wav in any political direction, new
ertheless is giving an impetus to the
Hoover movement perhaps greater than
all other factors combined. While other
aspiring gentlemen III both parties are
talking platitudes, Mr.. Hoover gets
down TO brass tacks upon the vital issues
of the day, and addresses himself TO them
with Rooseveltian balance which indi-
Gates his capacity TO view impartially
both sides of proposition. Mr.. Hoover's
speech before the American Institute of
Mining and Metallurgical Engineers this
week has formed the subject of more
strictly political discussion than any,
thing else in the field of politics; and upon
every hand the comment is heard that
Hoover is not afraid to discuss the issues
of the day and to suggest a con-
structive platform for the use of whatever
party may desire it. His contributions may
prove wholly gratmtous, as far as their
approval by partisans is concerned, never
theless they are focusing attention upon
Mr. Hoover in a manner which must de-
light his friends. Equally, they are dis
turbing some of the leading Democrats
and their friends, who are now beginning
to believe that a Hoover tide is setting
in which eventually may wash away a
good many pet ambitions. 1t would be
disappearing the situation TO say that
the Democratic managers are alarmed
for fear they must nominate MIR. Hoover
at San Francisco, for not only they, but
practically all the delegates elected TO
that convention are strong party men,
who would no more dream of nominating
a non-partisan than a standpat Republi-
can. On the other hand, Democrats close
TO the inside admit that should Mr.. Hoover
declare his utilization with the Democratic
party. or should President Wilson say a
word in his favor, probably nothing could
stop his nomination by that party for
the presidency, as things look now.
AN EXTRAORDINARY SITUATION.
The political situation is extraordinary
in several respects. As the Republicans adj
nit that three men of the party. Wood,
Lowden and Harding, are leading the pres
idenfiai race, so also is IL true that the
Democratic lineup, so far as there has been
one, presents three men who are a little |
in advance of their co-aspirants. These |
are William G.. McAdoo of New York. A. |
Mitchell Palmer of Pennsylvania and Gov |
srnor James NJ. Cox of Ohio.
OjIl,- anouyb aifhough a dnzer, bone /
ful Democrats are lying around where the |
lightning conveniently can strike them, |
only three have fatty announced their |
candidacy for the presidency. These are |
James W Gerard of New York, former Am /
bassador TO Germany: Governor James NJ. |
Cox of Ohio, and Senator Robert l.. Owen |
Of Oklahoma. Mr.. Gerard appears TO |
stand about as good chance of COM |
handing the votes of the New York dele |
CATION at San Francisco as DE-. Nicholas !
Murray Butler will at Chicago. Senator /
owen will make his campaign largely |
IN the Southwestern States, starting with |
ms own, which undoubtedly will give him
its backing. No doubt he can count more
or less upon the friendship of Mr. Bryan if
that gentleman does not decide to enter
the lists himself. However. the drive
against Bryan in the Democratic party,
influence OF Hoover, has accomplished
something in the way of results in mini
mixing the Bryan influence and defeating
his hope of controlling the Democratic
national convention. The fight against
Bryan ID Nebraska has had the effect
OF forcing Senator Gilbert NJ. Hitchcock
into the presidential race, at least to the
extent that the senator will try u have
delegates elected who will be friendly to
him and opposed to Bryan; but he has
not announced his candidacy for Presi-
dent, and he may not. Senator Atlee
Pomerene of Ohio, one OF the first TO
enter the lists as an avowed candidate,
has now suddenly discovered. as he put
it, that it is of more consequence for him
70 do the work for which he was com
rn,ssioned by the, voters of Ohio than
to neglect them to seek new hoDors, and
ne has withdrawn. This action leaves the
field clear for Governor Cox; and In
circles it is regarded as OF
some consequence IN probably committing
his great Middle Western State, with its |
iorty-eight delegates, 10 the governor.
Mr.. M'ADoo's sHREwp LETTERS.
Mr. McAdoo's letter TO q bovhood
'rieDd Ii Georgia Is regarded as an ex- {
.remely shrewd move which nevertheless
bears all the earmarks of sincerity. Mr.. s
McAdoo declares that he is mot seeking :
he nomination" and he expresses the
nope that the next rational convention
vii be "a great Democratic conference
where the utmost freedom of actor should
prevail and where the motive of high
ervice alone should control" But the (
orner Secretary of the Treasury does
rot positively forbid the use of his name,
md it Is announced from Georgia that
t will appear on the preferential ballot
n, Georgia, April 20, unless he should
'pecihcally request that it be removed
Mr.. McAdoo undoubtedly is 10 the frame !
Il mind of many other HcandidafesD who |