New-York tribune., 1920-01-26
WOOd'sChances
Benefited bv
Hoover Boom
Generals Friends Say Scnti-
ment Among Democrats
for Former Food Chief Is
Arousing the Republicans
Need a Popular Candidate
Professional Politicians Are
Losing Idea of Railroad
ing a Man Into the Chair
By Theodore M. knappen
Nem York Tribune
tf1sJliuutOn EureO3t

Washington EureOU
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-Gcneral
Woods adhcrents appear to consider
that the Hoover boom is putting steam
into the Wood boom. Their reasoning
is that Hoover has no chance for the
Republican nomination, but that a
growing sentiment for him among the
party leaders 20 abandon the idea that
any Republican can be elected this
year and cause them to give more def
erence to candidacy which some of
them are now trying to head off.
One of the original Wood sponsors
to- day canvassed the relations of the
Hoover boom TO the announcement of
General Woods prospects as follows:
'There is no denying that a big ma
jority of the Republican national COM
mltteemen are now opposed to Wood,
and think that is true of most of the
practical party politicians, Your pro
fessional politicians are always for Il
strong party man. with a record of
work and association with the party
machine, for the Presidential or any
other nomination.
Wood an Amateur
"They want President whom they
can talk TO and do business with. and
they can't count on that privilege with
any except Il man who has risen from
the ranks through the regular grades
OF party organization.
"Nobody questions General Woods
sincere Republicanism. but in the
nature of his career it has not been
possible for him to be working Re-
publican and the professionals don't
like the prospect or an amateur becOm-
ing President. SO, though they realize
that General Wood is The popular
favorite, they have begun the old game
OF littering up the field with favorite
sons with a view TO mani pulating the
convention in the good old way and
putting over a candidate not especially
desired by the rank and file OF the
party
This time-honored proceeding has
so far been favored by the conviction
that anybody the Republicans may
nominate Will have Il sure ticket Of
admission to the White House.
"There was nothing to disturb this
view until the Hoover boom came
along. Now the party leaders are be-
glnnlng to feel that perhaps there is a
possibility that the Democrats might
nominate Hoover and turn procession
into a smart race.
THE result is that alreadv tl4ev are
more disposed to consider nominating a
popular than q safe man. This tends to
break the ranks Of the professionals
and send some o! them TO the Wood
coors. The Wood boom has Il lot Of
power, but its steering gear has not
been equal to its power
Hoover Looks Winner
On the Democratic professionals the
Hoover boom is having a far more pro-
found effect than they are willing to
admit at this time. They don't cozon
to Hoover. for much the same reasons
that most of the Republican wheel
horses do not like the Wood candidacy.
With them there is the further un-
pleasantness that Hoover is not only
not Democratic profe Sional, but not
even an amateur being. on the record,
Republican. Bat while the Repuo-
lican party leaders have hitherto con-
sidered a Republican nomination equiv
dltNt 10 clecllOil. the DcllOcf2llc lead :
ers have felt that their nomination
would BE a certain prelude TO defeat.
They don't like Hoover. but they do
like victory. and Hoover begins to look
to them like Il possible winner. As
long ago as January s. when the Dem
ocratic National Committee met here,
it was discovered that two of the com
mitteemen were openly for Hoover and
at that time the Hoover boom was only
mild boomlet
1t is a maxim with Democratic ma
tonal leaders that no Democrat can be
elected President without Republican
votes As a party the Democrats are
always in the minority everywhere out
side the Southern states except on
some election days.
Consequently. Democratic strategy
behind the scenes always concerns
itself with the selection Of issues or OF
candidates that VIII attract the weak
krecd Republicans who make up about
,5 per cent of the independent vote,
which has a way of calling itself Re
publican 364 or even 365 days in the
year and yoting the Democratic ticket
at times.
With this sort OF Republicans in
mind the Democratic professionals are
gIavcly contemplating the Hoover boom.
Two Rescued From Hudson