Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-04-03
MOVE BY HOOVER
IS DISCUSSED BY
DAVIDLAWRENCE
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

the R6puDllCdu llChSl anu IIc SlA~
cumstances under which he would
accept the presidential nomination il
offered to him.
This is not a surprise, but log
ical first move toward the effective
use of the name and personality of
Herbert Hoover to crush, not mere
Iy the professional politicians in both
Republican and Democratic parties,
but to prevent the two parties from
adopting either an extreme reaction
or extreme radical standpoint in
their respective platforms
There is another move coming. 1t
probably will make it clear just why
Herbert Hoover could not accept a
Democratic nomination if offered.
After that may come another step
announcement that the choices or
the two political parties do not salts
fly the liberal thought of the coun-
try, and a willingness to support
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, constructive plat
form on the treaty, on our economic
issues" or if it fails to propose
| measures for sound business admin
lstration of the country" and is
either "reactionary" or radical in
| it's approach to our great domestic
problems, or if it is not backed by
| men who undoubtedly assure the
contamination of these policies and
| measures" Mr.. Hoover will not sup
port the Republican ticket. He says
nobody has a right to dictate what
party shall do, but an individual has
| a right to say what ticket and plat
form he will support.
Way Paved for Judgment
So Mr.. Hoover has paved the way
| fork a judgment of the Republican
| convention upon it's 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 Republican plat
form or nominee so far as his ,indt-
| vidual support is concerned.
Would that mean the selection Of
| Mr.. Hoover a week later by the
| Democratic convention at San Fran
| cisco? The chances are against it.
| Mr.. Hoover is not. Democrat, even
| though he supported Mr.. Wilson'S
| appeal in 1917 for g. Democratic con-
| gress. He will apply to the Demo-
cratic platform and nominee the
same test he has outlined for the Re-
| publican platform.
The Democrats already have been
| in power for seven years, and those
who are in position to know Her.
| bert Hoover's mind intimately say
! he is disappointed with the way the
| Democrats have administered the
| government in those seven years.
He refers to incompetency in high
| quarters and is unable to under
| stand how the Democrats have any
| right to call themselves forward
| looking" or progressive when Presi-
| dent Wilson has repeatedly ignored
| not merely the Overwhelming Senti-
| ment of the Democrats of the coun-
| try expressed to him by Democratic
| Chairman Homer Cummings, but the
| de1nan1 Of non-par tisans that POST
| master General Burlcson be removed
| from office.
| -. Hoover a "Dry"
Another thing: Mr.. Hoover is dry
a thorough dry. He looks askance
at the wet inclinations Of the Demo-
! Gratis. Though he may have views
upon certain amendments to the Vol
| stead act which would make that
| law less offensive to individual lib
| erty, he hasn't any 1eanings toward
the wet side of the argument. He
thinks prohibition is a good thing
and that national efficiency will be
promoted by it's enforcement.
Mr.. Hoover's declarations on the
treaty show that he doesn't approve
| of President Wilson's uncompromis-
ing position and in his letter to Mr..
| Gregory, of San Francisco, just made
public, the former food administrator
practically draws himself away from
what he calls the presidents Eek
IRENE view on participation in Eu-
ropean affairs" This is even more
clearly emphasized in the letter writ
ten by Mr.. Hoover in Paris a year
ago, which was inadvertently made
public ten days ago.
Mr.. Hoover is neither President
Wilson'S choice nor in the good
graces of the White House. He has
committed the objectionable sin OF
differing with teh president on the
peace treaty. He has been of course
supported by the leading admins
tration newspapers and by some in
Ifiuential administration men.
T. But that support has not been OF
his seeking. Nevertheless, there was
keen qualification in White House
quarters today because of the fact
that Herbert Hoover had entered
himself in the Republican primaries
Of California on the League of Ma
tons issue. This means he will
| fight it out against Hiram Johnson,
who wants neither league, nor treaty,
nor reservations.
Politically, this part of the Hoover
| letter is the most important. 1t
means that Hiram Johnson probably
will lose in his own home state. For
under California laws, anybody can
| vote in either Republican or Demo
| cratic primaries without regard to
| previous utilization.
"The Way the Wind Blows"
| So Democrats can vote for Hoover
| combination Of Democrats who
favor the league and Republicans who
think likewise is enough to defeat
Hiram Johnsno.
Many of the supporters of avowed
| Democratic nominees like Palmer
| and McAdoo were glad Hoover had
written a letter saying he was mat
urally affiliated" with the Republi.
cans. This removes their most dan
! gerous competition-at least they
think ne has been removed. But the
most significant fact of the whole
business Is what is happening under
the surface in both parties-namely
a demand for Hoover, irrespective
| of party.
1 Here is something that shows
which way the wind blows:
Several members of congress who
have been back home sounding out
their constituents have come back tc
| Washington. A man who went tC