The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-02-09
HOOVER SAYS HE
IS NOT CANDIDATE
Ex-Food Administration Declares He
Has No Organization" and No
One Is Authorized to Speak
for Him Politically.

! lOl llLll
New York. Feb. 9.--H Herbert Hoover
last night issued statement defining
his attitude toward the presidency. lie
announced that he is not a candidate
| for the nomination and that no one Is
authorized to speak for him politically
If the league of nations is made an
issue in the election, he says. he Will
vote for the party that stands for the
league. In response to requests that he
declare allegiance to either one or the
other of the great political parties, MI
Hoover saws he will wait until it more
definitely appears what the party man
ayers stand for and will exercise a
prerogativc OF American citizenship
and decline to pledge my vote blind
| fold.
His statement follows:
"In order to answer large number o.
questions all at once, Let me emphasize
that | have taken a day off from the
industrial conference in Washington TO
New York solely to attend TO pressing
matters in connection with the chll-
dren's relief. | want to say again: !
have not sought and am not seeking
the presidency | am not candidate.
] have no organization. No one is au-
thorized to speak for me politically.
"As an American citizen by birth and
of long ancestry. | am naturally deeply
Interested in the present critical situa
Ition. NY sincere and only politiaal de
sire is that one or both of the great
political parties will approach the vital
issues which have grown out OF the
war and are new, with clear pur.
pose looking to the welfare OF orr peo-
nle and that candidates capable Of car
rying out this work should be noml-
mated
III the treaty goes over 10 the presl-
dental election with any reservations
necessary TO clarity the worlds mud
that there can be no infringement Of
the safeguards provided by our con
stitution aud our nation old traditionsi
then must vote for the party that
stands for the league. With II there
is hope not only Of the prevention OF
war, but also that we can safely econ
omize in military policies There y
hope Of earlier return OF confidence and
the economic reconstruction OF the
world ] could not vote with a party
lii il were dominated by groups who
seek to set aside our constitutional
guarantees for free speech or free rep
resentation. who hope to re establish
II, Trr Z
aud privilege. | could not vote with
partv ii il were dominated by groups
who hope for any form Of socialism,
whether il be NATURALIZATION of in
dustry, or other destruction of iudi-
yidual initiative Both these extremes,
camouiiaged Or open, arc active enough
in the country TO day. Neither of these
Nominations would enable these con-
structive economic policies that Will
get us down. from the nTwound econom-
ie practices which of necessity grew
out OF the war, nor would they secure
the good viii TO production IN our
farmers and workers or maintain the
initiative OF our business men. The is
sues look forward. not back.
II do not believe in more than two
great parties. Otherwise combinations
Of groups could, as in Europe, create a
danger of minority rule. | do believe
in party organization to support great
ideals and to carry great issues and
consistent policies. N6r can any one
man dictate the issues OF great par
ties
"lt appears to me that fhe hope OF a
great majority. OF our citizens IN con
fronting this new period in American
life is that the great parties will take
positive stands on the many issues that
confront Us, and viii select men whose
character and associations will glaran
tee their pledges.
Il am being urged by people in both
parties 10 declare my allegiance to ell
ther one or the other Those who know
me know that am able % make up
my mind when a subject is clearly de
fined Consequently, until it more def
nitely appears what the party manag
ers stand for, | must exercise pre-
roaative OF American citizenship and
decline to pledge my vote blindfold.
Il am not unappreciative of the
many kind things that my friends have
advanced ON my behalf. Yet ] hope
they will realize my sincerity in not
tying myself to underlined partisan
ship"