The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-03-19
HOOVER FRIENDS
LINE UP G. 0. P.
Hitherto Unpublished Letter
Shows Party Leaning.
Hearst Says "EngIiSh."
(BY DAVID LAWRENCE.1


righted for The Chattanooga News
Herbert Hoover is cunning for the
republican presidential nomination
or rather (to use political vocabu-
lary), his friends are doing the gun
ming.
The latest proof of Mr.. Hoover's
republicanism has just been issued
in the form of a hitherto unpub-
lished letter dated April II, 1919,
which shows that approximately the
position of Senator Lodge, If not
Senator Fall, on many phases of in
ternational policy and that, while he
advocates league of nations, his
conception of what the measure of
American participation shall be dif-
fers considerably from that OF Presi-
dent Wilson.
Just what Is the purpose of the
revelation of letters, written a year
ago, but bearing on the situation to-
day, cannot be discovered from the
Hoover supporters, but other revela-
lions are promised. Before long it
will be disclosed.
That Herbert Hoover is not IAN
Englishman," as the Hearst press
has branded him, but, on the other
hand, fought the British more Bit
terly than anybody in Paris, and at
one time threatened a complete ex-
posure of his negotiations with the
British over food matters unless
pledges which Mr.. Hoover considered
had been given by Great Britain were
kept.
That Herbert Hoover is not the foe
of the farmers, but that he is their
friend, and that he had nothing to
do with the fixing of the price OF
wi Tryhf oh -
commission appointed by President
Wilson and which was entirely in
dependent of Mr. Hoover's control or
nuuence.
That Herbert Hoover doesn't ap-
prove OF the seven years of Wilson
administration, especially its domes-
TIC policies and especially its post.
office department and other branches
of the government.
More Like Republicans.
FINALLY, 1T is averred that Mr..
Hoover is more closely Identified
with the republican than democratic
s7toint of view.
Now 1t must be clearly understood
That Mr. Hoover is not defining his
political affiliations or inclinatfons.
lie has asked, What is going to be
the difference this year between the
republicans and the democratic plat
| forms? ! shall wait and see which
is progressive and which is reaction
ary."
But the politicians in both parties
don't like that and insist upon know
ing what Mr.. Hoover thought or did
IN the past. So the record is being
unfolded.
The unpublished letter is a more ef
ectlVe argument than any member of
the republican party in the senate has
lnade Tor disassociation by the United
plates from European entanglements,
-nr. Hoover wrote his views to Presi-
tient Wilson in Paris in April. 1919, long
before he could be suspected of gum
nlng FOR any nomination. He said in
part:
Against Relationship.
II feel strongly that any combination
OF the United States in such an allied
relationship would initiate against the
|elhclency OF the league of nations. My
reasons are as follows: First, these
commissions are primarily to secure the
enforcement of reparations and other
conditions imposed upon the central en-
pires
AS. the United States is not calling
FOR any form of reparation that re-
quires continued enforcement, our pres
nee on these commissions would be for
one of the following purposes:
(a) TO give moral and political sup
port to the allied governments in meas
pres generally to their benefit. It cam
pot be conceived that in the PROSTATE
condition of the enemy that the allies
y i'll require any physical assistance to
HE enforcement of their demands In
thls event the United States will be
s&nding itself to the political and finan-
|clal interests of other governments dur
big a situation that must be entirely
repulsive to our national interests, ira
ditons and ideals.
RepulslVe Position.
(b) Another objective might be that
[He should remain in these commissions
With a view to securing justice and
Federation in the demands Of the allies
AGAINST the central empires. We would
|thuS be thrust into the repusive posi- |
Bon of the defender of our late enemy.
in order to secure what we would con-
Gcive to he constructive and statesman
Ike rehabilitation in Europe. Our eX-
|poriences during the last few months
have shown us bitterly that we thus
sllbpect ourselves to complaint and at
tck from the allied governments and |
such a continued relationship should |
only breed the most acute International |
|fiiction.'
Mr.. Hoover goes on to say that the !
practical result of our experience al |
|ready is that the American who sit on |
siICh commissions if they don't ac-
qIiesce and assist in enforcing any pro-
Positions from various government OIL |
cials because Immediately and person. |
ably subject to their interests and with |
the powerful engines OF propaganda |
which they employ in Europe and our |
own country. No such man can en-
dilre for long"
He Was Embittered.
It was known to newspaper cores |
pondents at the Paris peace conference |
That Mr.. Hoover felt particularly en- |
Filtered over what he believed to be n |
hostile British propaganda directed to- (
ward him, and I have no doubt he had
tiis I'm mind when he wrote the fore
going passage in his letter.
Mr.. Hoover's communication does not
Impose a league of nations, but says
~ we can bring to an early end our
whole relationship to these political
in Europe which grew up
&Afore and during the war, and can
f41d our strength to the league OF ma
lions that body will gain stability ana
Importance which 1t could not other
wise attain" g..
Mr.. Hoover sees the league ss "a
strong and independent court OF appeal
Hat will have our authority. He con-
df1es with this observation;
"a New Policy Is Seen.
III am convinced that there has grown
up since the armiStCe the policy. per
I'D rs unconscious. but nevertheless oI-
I'd ctive, Of dragging the United states
into every political and economic ques-
4 ON in I-tIrone and constantly endeaNoT-