Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-05-01
HOOVER CHAL|. L |:NGES
JOHNSON'S STAND,
LAWRENCE ASSERTS
by DAVID LAWRENCE

|
WASHINGTON, April 29.-Herbert
Hoover has just taken a step that
has satisfied the Providence Journal
| that he was not a party to any plan
or conspiracy by which the Wilson
| administration was planning to per-
petuate it's policies. And the Provi-
| dence Journal has published an edi-
| torial declaring that after examining
proof submitted by Mr.. Hoover, it is
| glad to tell it's readers that there
| is no truth in any suggestion of col
| fusion (between the White House and
Mr.. Hoover) and that there is an
| entire lack of sympathy on Mr..
| Hoover's part of the political, eco
nomic and industrial policies of the
president"
This makes it possible to disclose
cumstances about which the story
was constructed of collision between
Mr.. Hoover and the White House. In
deed. largely because the New York
World, which had been a staunch
supporter of President Wilson, also
came out for Mr.. Hoover for presi-
dent on either the Republican or
Democratic tickets and largely be-
cause members Of the Wilson adj
ministration did not conceal their
enthusiasm LOT MT. hoover, lue Gull
cIusion was Immediately drawn of
Democratic plot to divide the Re-
publican party.
But the truth is Herbert Hoover
tried to prevent the New York World
from coming out in his behalf And
Democratic officials or politicians.
The writer has been told both by
Frank I. Cobb, editor of the New
York World. and Herbert Hoover
himself, the facts of a converse
ton that preceded the EDITORIAL an
caused such a sensa ton in American
politics
Advised Against Editorial
Mr.. Hoover learned ' OF the the in
few days before it's announcement
was made and promptly telephoned
20 Mr.. Cobb. whom he had known in
timately for many years, suggesting
that it would be unwise for the
Democratic ticket. Whereupon Mr..
Cobb replied that it wasn't the
Worlds intention to support him on
the Democratic ticket alone but that
it was for him on either ticket.
But" protested Mr.. Hoover you
don't know my views-you don't
know when I might give my opinion
of the administration policies and
you might be embarrasse d-"
Mr.. Cobb good naturally told the
former food administrator not to
worry about that: He reminded him
that the New York World was an
independent newspaper and tied to
no party and that when he read the
New York Worlds editorial an
nouncement he would see the point.
Just about the same time officials
,t Washington began talking en-
,h1siastically about Mr. Hoover and
:, story was printed by the New York
American to the effect that the
former food admin H6ra Tas the
supposed to have doomed him at a
luncheon attended by Lord Grey.
The fact was Mr.. Hoover didn't at
END the luncheon and American
politics wasn't discussed;
In Awkward Position
This chain of incidents, however,
together with the frequent praise OF
Mr.. Hoover coming from Democratic
officials put him in an awkward po-
sition. He cannot indulge in blank
of friendship because in measure
he stood for some of the poncies of
President Wilson in Europe. In
deed, even the Providence Journals
statement of IAN entire lack of SYM
pathy" with the Wilson administra-
sense, for in today's New York Tri-
bune, Mr.. Hoover expresses himself
in a special article outlining his at
titude en- foreign policy-and much
of what he says is in accord with
the views of the mild reservationists
in the senate as well as President
Wilson.
For instance, Mr.. Hoover says in
answer to the Tribune's request for
his position:
mo greater mistake can be made
thin the assumption that our people
have lost their national aspirations
and idealism because they have gone
back to business. In defining these
great standards, the Repu can par
ty must reach into the aspirations
of our people and into the social
philosophy upon which our national
life is founded. q
Challenge to Johnson
"Our people have an ideal of world
service. 1t was not. passing favor
in which we made the sacrifices of
the past three years for the great
ideal of the prevention of war and
the freedom of the oppressed. 1t is
lican leaders-including Roosevelt
first proposed a league of nations.
This ideal cannot be ignored by the
party. It's Lying force will insist
upon our joining in the organization
of the moral forces of the world to
and relieve oppression. Our people
do not desire to see us pledged to
use force in these purposes; further
more they have no more sympathy
with the growth of mllitarism at
home than abroad. They will be
faced with this growth and cost if
we insist upon isolation that we
cannot maintain. Failure to support
the League of Nations with proper
reservation would be a shock to the
spiritual aspirations of the Ameri-
can people,"
The foregoing is plainly chal-
lenge to Hiram Johnson who is con
tending for isolation and the nom
entry of the United States into the
League of Nations with or without
reservations. 1t means that Herbert
Hoover's hesitancy to pledge him
self to support the next Republican
nominee depends upon what the plat
form and the candidate says.
Clearly, Mr.. Hoover will not sup
port Hiram Johnson. Nor is it logi-
cal to suppose he would support
General Wood, Governor Lowden or
Senator Harding, unless they took a
Numerically opposite point of view
from the California senator on this
issue at least. Mr.. Hoover still is
not committed to either party. He
is merely trying to have the Repub-
lican party, utilization with which he
personally prefers, adopt a con-
structive platform in favor of the
peace treaty with reservations.
Hhon1nion Irich RuII