The New York herald., 1920-01-22
BOOM
STIRS CAPITAL
Political Leaders Want to
Know if He Is Republican
or Democrat.
WILL HE HEAD NEW PARTY?
Republican Chiefs Scout His Candi-
dacy for President and Demo
Gratis Are Cold.
WILL HE HEAD NEW PARTY?
ESPECIAL DESPATCH TO THE HERALD ]

ESPECIAL DESPATCH TO THE HEsALpl
WASHINGTON. d. c.. Wednesday,
Herbert Hoover's candidacy for President
was brought to Washington today and
startled the pc litcal leaders of both
rarties. 1t aroused intense curiosity Us
to its backing and purpose. as we'll as
focusing. attention on the question of
whether Mr.. Hoover is a Republican or a
Democrat. or il the movement back of
him represents the boom of a new party
which is aiming to make Mr.. Hoover its
head.
There have been simmerings of the
Hoover candidacy for some time. the SEN
timent evidencjng itself here and there
throughout the country. Some Of it has
been spontaneous. while part apparently
has been the result Of well laid propa-
ganda in favor Of the former Food Ad-
ministratcr.
Up to this time the Hoover for Presi-
dent" talk has created slight interest, but
the espousal of Mr. Hoovers candidacy
by as staunch Democratic organ as the
New York World placed an entirely new
color upon the movement and caused it
to receive more serious consideration
than u has hitherto been given. The
Hoover boom to-day was the sole political
topic.
Among leaders in Congress there was
no favorable response to the suggestion.
Senator Hitchcock, for the Democrats,
was practically the only leader OF promi-
nence who reacted favorably to the idea,
while most Of the others stood on their
right to discover first what party Mr..
Hoover belongs to and what the move
ment means.
Vice President Won't Comment.
Vice President Marshall cannily said
II refuse to make any comment on Mr..
Hoover until we see which party noni-
mates him." a sentiment that was immedi-
ately echoed by Senator Underwood, of
Alabama.
Senator Hoke Smith, of Georgia, was
even more pronounced, saying:-"I don't
think we'll OF Mr.. Hoover or of the Food
Administration. He did well for the Eng
lish, however"
Senator McKeller curtly declared
Il never voted for Republican, and /
never WILL
Among the Republicans the suggestion
was even less favora bly, received. Senator
dronna, OF North Dakota, who represents
an agricultural State, greeted the sugges-
ton with sarcasm, saying that Mr.. Hoover
was not taken seriously "out his way"
and then asked, why not nominate the
Prince OF Wales?"
Representative Kahn. OF California,
called attention to the fact that Repub-
lcans were not likely to forget that Mr.
Hoover had appealed to the country for
the election of a Democratic Congress,
suggested that IL Mr.. Hoover wished to be-
come candidate II would be we'll for him
TO select his party
See Interesting Possibilities.
While these comments were typical of
the attitude of Congressional leaders they
did not minimize the fact that the sug-
gestion of Mr.. Hoover. from a prominent
Democratic source, coupled with a subtle
propaganda INDUCED in by publications
without avowed political affiliation, sug-
gested interesting possibilities.
Administration circles we're frankly
alarmed. The Democratic backing of Mr.
Hoover's candidacy intimated a flouting
of the forces that have appeared to rep
resent the President politically since his
Illness and was regarded as being espe-
cially aimed at A. Mitchell Palmer. At
torney General and the group which
Joseph p. Tumulty, secretary to the Presi-
dent, Is supposed to speak for.
If the comment Of Republican leaders
is a criterion, there is little or no chance
Of Mr.. Hoover being seriously considered
by that party. Those who favor Mr.
Hoover's candidacy. outside of the
charmed circle of political leadership, say
Mr.. Hoover's candidacy would be expected
to invite their opposition. and that it is
tased on support from the people.
His Life Is Discussed.
Mr.. Hoover's history has come UP for
consideration in connection with the dis.
cusson. and attention is called to the fact
that he comes originally from California: /:
hat he chose TO dwell for a long time in
Europe; that he Is generally regarded as
cosmopolitan rather than as a nation
alist, and that discussion OF him as
Presidential possibility without knowledge
Of his political affiliations is somewhat in
congruous His work in Belgium is ac-
cepted as showing remarkable efficiency
and as his introduction TO American af-
fairs from which he had long been sep
aratcd
His management Of the Food Admins
tration is praised in some quarters and
condemned in others. The condemnation
comes especially from dwelers in the
agricultural regions, where they charge
Mr.. Hoover with responsibility for fixing
the price of wheat. 1t Is declared that he
would meet with strong opposition from
the Mississippi Valley agricultural sec
tion.
ThatMr. Hoover may receive some Of
the support which did much in making
President Wilson a Presidential possibility
Is indicated by reports OF activity n his
behalf by men who were identified with
this movement.
Possible support from the business world
also Is Indicated by the fact that Mr..
Hoover recently has held conferences with
men prominent in affairs and in politics.
He held a long conference here yesterday
with Frank A. Vanderlip, Of New York.