The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-04-01
THE BRATTIEBORO DAILY REFORNIER,

of Herbert Hoover to crush not merely
the professional politicians in both Re
publican and Democratic parties, but to(
prevent the two parties from adopting
either an extreme reactionary or extreme
radical viewpoint i'll their respective
platforms.
There is another move coming. 1t
will probably make it clear just why Her
bert Hoover could not accept Demo
cratic nomination if offered After that
may come another step-an announce
ment that the choices of the two politicaEt
parties do not satisfy the liberal thought |
of the country and willingness to sup |
port third and independent ticket This
part of the program is not yet admitted |
| by Hoover supporters, but in the event
that the Republican convention does not
adopt. "a forward looking, liberal, con- |
structive platform on the treaty and on
our economic issues" or if it fails to
propose measures for sound business adj
ministration of the country" and is
either 'reactonary" or radical" in its
approach to our great domestic problems
or if it is not backed by men who UNI
doubtedlv assure the contamination of
these policies and measures Mr.. Hoover
F
He saws nobody has right to dictate
what party shall do, but an individual
has a right to say what ticket and plat
form he will support.
So Mr.. Hoover has paved the way for
a Judgment of the Republican convention
upon its merits and not by reason of any
previous obligation to support a party
with which he is naturally affiliated"
He is free to accept or reject the Repub-
lican platform or nominee so far as his
individual support is concerned.
Would that mean the selection of Mr..
Hoover a week later by the Democratic
convention at San Francisco? The
chances are against it. Mr.. Hoover is
not Democrat, even though he support
ed Mr. Wilson's appeal in 1918 for q
Democratic congress. He will apply to
the Democratic platform and nominee
the same test he has outlined for the Re-
publican platform. The Democrats al
ready have been in power for seven years
and those who are in a position to know
Herbert Hooyer's mind intimately say
4 he is disappointed with the way the
Democrats have administered the govern
ment in these seven years. He refers tC
incompetency in high quarters and is un
able to understand how the Democrats
have any right to call themselves for
ward looking or progressive when Presi
dent Wilson has repeatedly ignored no.
merely the overwhelming sentiment O
the Democrats of the country expressed
to him by Democratic Chairman Home
Cummings, but the demand of n-parti
sans that Postmaster General Burlesol
be removed from office.
, Another thing, Mr.. Hoover is dry
thorough dry. He looks askance at tn
+ wet inclination of the Democrats. Thoug
/. he may have views upon certain amend
j. ments to the Volstead act which woul
make that law less offensive to ind
yidual liberty, he hasn't any leanings to
ward the wet side of the argument. II
thinks prohibition is a good thing an
that national efficiency will be promote
by its enforcement.
Mr. Hoovers declarations on the treat
show that he doesn't approve of NJ
Wilson's uncompromising position and
Its letter to Mr. Gregory of San Frai
cisco, ilSt made public. the former Zoe
administrator practically draws himse
away from what he calls the President
extreme view on participation in Eur,
pedl diIdiFS MS Is even more clear
emphasized in the letter written by NJ
Hoover in Paris a year ago, which W;
inadvertently made public 10 days az
Mr.. Hoover is neither President Wi
sons choice nor in the good graces of Il
White House. He has committed the II
pardonable sin of differing with Il
President on the peace treaty He hi
been, of course, supported by the leadil
administration newspapers and by son
influential administration men But TIL
support has not been Of his seekin
Nevertheless, there was keen gratifcati,
In White House quarters today becau